8 Terrace Review. — Wednesday, October 2, 1991 The Way I See It... by Stephanie Wiebe A few weeks ago, my organized friend Kathy said, “Well, Steph, it’s time we started working on Christmas." I sat on my hands to keep from slapping her. "Nice weather we’re having. More tea?" I asked through gritted teeth. "We.can address the envelopes now, and start on our lists, at least..." "Shut up. Cream and sugar?" I don’t really care for the phrase "shut up", but sometimes manners are sacrificed for a good cause. Wicked words demand strong rebuke. , But Kathy was beyond any verbal abuse. She was in another dimension — sort of like Santa’s "Twilight Zone"."Have you seen the new Christmas catalog? We can order gift wrap right away." "Shut up." Kathy’s eyes glazed. "If we bake cookies all through October and freeze them...” "Shut up." Would her irritating babble never stop? Luckily, I spilled scalding hot tea on her leg, and her mind snapped back into present time. The subject was dropped. A day later, as I was browsed through the drugstore’s cosmetic shelves, the lady behind the counter noticed me examining some small make-up samples.. "Wouldn’t those be great stocking stuffers for teens?" she com- mented. Now, I’m generally a polite person, and I knew it wouldn’t be nice to say "shut up" to the cos- metics lady; so I quietly replied, "Please keep your subversive ideas to yourself," and walked away to report her to the man- ager. I thought I saw my evil friend Kathy lurking behind the - Scotch tape display. To me, organizing Christmas this early just doesn’t feel right. Santa’s elves are still on their off-season hiatus. Planning Christmas in the fall feels like . cheating. It removes some small bit of specialness and magic. It’s not right. It almost feels, well, immoral. Besides, I’m still coming to terms with the fact that summer is over. By the time that adjust- ment is made, it’ll be Thanks- giving, and then Hallowe'en. Next thing you know, we’ll be changing our clocks, and then suddenly, it will snow. That’s more than enough to digest for now. oo. But for Kathy, Christmas planning began last December 26. Kathy even bought her giftwrap and cards on clearance sale two years ago and has a closet, stocked full of "just in case" gifts, also bought on sale. She's got a cupboard full of cookie ‘ingredients, (she got ’em real , _cheap, by the case) and alphabet- ized recipes. Kathy could prob- ably whip up a Christmas cel- ebration for 200 anytime, on a day’s notice at a tolal cost of $22.95. wa Not me. My Christmas is late, unorganized and expensive. But it feels right. Oh, once I tried to be sensible and planned ahead — but the clearance gift wrap was ugly and thin, I didn’t like the cards 1’d bought a year before, and we ate all the cookies in ~ November. The "just in case" gifts I'd bought throughout the year never suited anybody, and J ended up with a closet full of junk. To top it off, the dog peed on the presents under the tree that year —- just expressing his opin- ion of my organized "on sale" Christmas. And I felt guilty through the whole thing, So did the dog, So, even though Christmas is a mere 84 days away (Kathy is - counting down), J won't even think about it until sometime late in November — just about the time Kathy begins planning the Christmas of 1995, My cards will be mailed late. I'll be burning cookies well into December, shopping for last minute gifts, and fighting my way through strings of coloured lights. The kids and I will be up until mid- night, stringing popcorn and wrapping gifts. And I'll be back at the drugstore, frantically searching the cosmetic shelves for those same stocking stuffers. My guess is, Kathy’s already bought them all. Bah humbug. Council won’t back = Bennett heritage © house proposal The City of Kelowna is seeking support from other B.C. areas in a bid to preserve the family home of both W.A.C. and Bill Bennett. In a letter to mayor Jack Talstra, Kelowna mayor James Stuart explains: "The Bennett residence at .1979 Ethel Street in Kelowna was the home of Social Credit teaders, W.A.C. Bennett and his son Bill Bennett who served as Premiers of British Columbia. The house was originally built in 1912 for former Mayor F, Dehart. W.A.C. and May Bennett bought the home in the early 1930's and the home was occupied by the Bennett family until September 1989, when May Bennett died." After offering ‘this little insight into provincial history, Stuart says his council has endorsed the efforts of the Central Okanagan Heritage Society to have the site retained as a heritage site. But Terrace alderman Ruth Hal- lock suggested they simply receive and file Stuart's letter. "The rea- son," she said, "is simple in my mind. W.A.C. Bennett and his son contributed a great deal to the province, I’m sure. But there are other people who have served the province ‘as well, and if we allow tax money to preserve them all... we're just opening up a perpetual can of worms.” F or es tr Y / n S i qd h ts = Continued from page 7 business that long... Which is pretty unlikely." Squish liked it. It was realistic. Many investors before Milton Jovial had proven it. And it had impact, impact that involved dol- lars... and that was something that Jovial watched. __ ‘Milton printed a copy of his spreadsheet, ripped it quickly off the machine and headed for his office door, And as he turned left. down the hallway, spreadsheet and tables. trailing behind, several office workers heard him say, "Milton... Here comes the real bottom line," "Is the boss in?" PROFIT timber quality Left after deducting 11% yearly decline in "Hiiii.... Herby. He’s..." Squish didn’t wait for the rest of Mercy Pringle’s response. A bit of shame, he thought... Mercy really did brighten up Milton’s outer office. Most men, including him- self, normally slowed their pace a little to take in the view as they walked by. But Squish was in a hurry on this particular day. He had, he believed, designed the ultimate weapon. Today he would bring this harvesting practices debate to an end. Bo But as he reached Jovial’s closed door, he showed a moment of doubt. Turning to Mercy, he stretched to the full height of his frame, and whispered quietly to Mercy: "Well... It’s time to drop the bomb. Wish me luck.” For a considerable length of time, Mercy Pringle listened intently for some kind of indication on just how the argument was going. It was impossible to tell. There were periods of loud talk, sharp words, and then silence. This cycle of calm and storm was repeated several times, but finally, the door to Jovial’s office opened and a triumphant Herby Squish emerged. Mercy waited for some kind of a comment. She needed a hint as to how to approach Milton Jovial. Or, in fact, should she even try. But Squish headed for the hallway in silence. HIGH GRADING — THE AFTERMATH This chart, drawn up by Herby Squish, demonstrates the deteriorating financial viability of Milton Jovial’s logging and sawmilling operations during the 15 years following a five-year spree of high grading. If Milton cuts all his best timber in the first five years of his 20-year forest licence, he'll make about $18 million during those five years and lose $36 million during the next 15. Pass the tranquilizers, Herby. LOSS Due to 4% yearly increase in manufacturing costs NET PROFIT ~ Left after manufacturing cost increase LOSS Due to 7% yearly increase in road construction and hauling costs "So what happened," she asked impatiently as he reached the outer door. Herby paused mid-stride and turned to face Mercy. After a brief silence for effect, and announced, "Oh... A bit ofa compromise... But he’s got the picture. Why don’t you go in and see?" Then, with a knowing smile, Herby Squish tumed and left the room. Trailing behind him, he heard Jovial wail: "Mercy! Bring me my Maalox...,and the aspirin... and.,." Herby’s smile broadened into a wide grin and for no real reason at all, he shouted for all to hear, "He deserved it. He really did, He wanted to bottom-line rape and pillage our land." NET RETURN After deducting all costs of high grading (LAST YEAR OF HIGH GRADING) 2.18 26.48 1.79 28.33 1.44 30.31 1.12 32.43 0.82 te 70 0.56 . 97.13 0,32 39.73 0.10 42.51 45,49 48.67 52,08 55,79 59,63 63.80