OUR FIRST HYDRO BILL IN OUR NEW CARRIAGE HOME

If I make one claim now, you will know where this piece is going. “We hardly had any lights on and we didn’t use any electric heat, and yes we take a shower each day.”

That’s right. You’ve got it. We have lived in our new condo/townhouse/ carriage home complex for 60 days and yesterday we received our first hydro bill. We immediately took issue with the exorbitant total amount. A punch line is coming but before I deliver it, get this.

Smart Meters they’re called. BC Hydro in British Columbia, is implementing Itron smart meters to all customers by the end of 2012. They enable hourly remote 2-way communication between the meter and the central information gathering hub. BC Hydro promoted to consumers that smart metering offers potential benefits including an end to estimated billing, a major source of our collective complaints. When Christine called BC Hydro she was met with a congenial response and then this predictable default but now superfluous answer. “It is only an estimate.” Really?

Buckley’s Medicines

I know, I know. My blog postings are all over the thematic spectrum. One day it’s theology, the next painting, and another day, today, it’s Buckley’s.

I am 67 years of age and until this week I had never tasted the medicine that advertises that it tastes terrible but it works. I suppose that the ads convinced me. But this week I became congested and Christine who had a bit of a cold starting last week purchased a bottle of Buckley’s and was soon over the cold symptoms. Of course she willingly ingests awful tasting stuff, such as liquid oil of Oregano for a sore throat. Then conversations with her for the rest of the day invoke memories of turkey stuffing. I still can’t do that but I did try Buckley’s.

Well I tried Buckley’s and true to the company word, I shuddered and shook when I swallowed it. Fortunately, Christine had a chaser of orange juice for me to wash down the lingering aftertaste. If you smell it first it will turn you off. Buckley’s website answers the question for us. What makes it taste so bad? It’s a blend of unique herbal ingredients. I recall my mother rubbing camphor on my chest as a child. That’s in there. Camphor is a mild expectorant and respiratory stimulant with some mild anesthetic and antiseptic properties. It contains Menthol which decreases nasal congestion through local anesthetic action and stimulation of cold receptors with resultant relief of symptoms of bronchitis, sinusitis, and nasal congestion. It has Balsam, yes liquid oleoresin from Abies Balsamea, a plant found in Canada and Northern U.S. from Virginia to Minnesota. Balsams have traditionally been used as an expectorant for coughs and sore throats. Then there is Pine Needle Oil. Who would have thunk it? It has historically been used as an expectorant for the treatment of coughs and chronic bronchitis. Finally Tincture of Capsicum which has been traditionally used as a counter-irritant to soothe conditions of the throat.
And that’s it. And Buckley’s have rubs and meds for kids as well.

By the end of the first day, Buckley’s not only removed the symptoms but I fully improved by mid second day. I love this stuff and it’s no sugar, no caffeine, no anything bad. It’s all good, and it tastes horrible. Get well.