The thing that I like about this is that it's an original song, not a karaoke version of someone else's music, which is probably why I don't usually watch Idol.
I think this kid's going to go somewhere in the industry.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Scotty McReery
I don't, as a rule, watch American Idol, but when they started talking about the 'country singer' on the radio and how he kept on advancing through every performance I had to tune in to the final and watch. The hockey gane was on that night and the first performer on Idol was Lady Gag (misspelling intentional), back to the hockey game. Then there were a bunch of performances by the losers people that were voted off the island, back to the hockey game. The runner-up (Lauren something-or-other) sang with Carrie Underwood, who was a winner a couple of years ago (we'll have to see how that works out for her{Ms. Underwood, that is}) and then Scotty sang with Tim McGraw. Wow, the kid can sing a little. Have a listen to his first single.
The thing that I like about this is that it's an original song, not a karaoke version of someone else's music, which is probably why I don't usually watch Idol.
I think this kid's going to go somewhere in the industry.
The thing that I like about this is that it's an original song, not a karaoke version of someone else's music, which is probably why I don't usually watch Idol.
I think this kid's going to go somewhere in the industry.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
the Thank You follow up
So I shot a quick email to Dad asking him if your comments helped out or just muddied the waters. His response follows.
Yes, Thank you and your friends. Now for the "rest of the story."
So I study all the good stuff and start to get my head around URL's and assorted other words and abbreviations that may as well be in some dialect from central Asia that has been on the verge of extinction for the last 3 centuries. So I register (like the 37th time I've registered with Google) and push the continue button and everything comes up in Spanish. I explain to Google that we've played this game before and just because my ISP originates in Mexico it doesn't give them the right to assume that I want all my communications in Espanol. No "click here" to change back to English so we search Google and obviously this is not a virgin experience because there are pages of answers and solutions from throughout the universe. I finally have one that seems understandable and we go "control panel, settings, formatting, ad nauseum", return to entire procedure steps one thru 18 and press continue and Bingo!! everything comes up in Spanish. Now it isn't that I can't read Spanish but I don't want part of my stuff in English and part in Spanish because sure as hell you'll get half way through something and click enter and your posting to people in America and Canada will come up in Spanish. At I this point I'm determined to reach for a giant jug of scotch and then I remember that I quit supporting that industry way back when I turned 70 so I resorted to "screw this for now" and hit the adios button.
If I resolve this challenge I will keep you informed. Love Dad
By the way he did get the situation resolved, visit his blog (shameless promotion). Warning, he and I are much the same breed, we write just like we talk. Enjoy D
Yes, Thank you and your friends. Now for the "rest of the story."
So I study all the good stuff and start to get my head around URL's and assorted other words and abbreviations that may as well be in some dialect from central Asia that has been on the verge of extinction for the last 3 centuries. So I register (like the 37th time I've registered with Google) and push the continue button and everything comes up in Spanish. I explain to Google that we've played this game before and just because my ISP originates in Mexico it doesn't give them the right to assume that I want all my communications in Espanol. No "click here" to change back to English so we search Google and obviously this is not a virgin experience because there are pages of answers and solutions from throughout the universe. I finally have one that seems understandable and we go "control panel, settings, formatting, ad nauseum", return to entire procedure steps one thru 18 and press continue and Bingo!! everything comes up in Spanish. Now it isn't that I can't read Spanish but I don't want part of my stuff in English and part in Spanish because sure as hell you'll get half way through something and click enter and your posting to people in America and Canada will come up in Spanish. At I this point I'm determined to reach for a giant jug of scotch and then I remember that I quit supporting that industry way back when I turned 70 so I resorted to "screw this for now" and hit the adios button.
If I resolve this challenge I will keep you informed. Love Dad
By the way he did get the situation resolved, visit his blog (shameless promotion). Warning, he and I are much the same breed, we write just like we talk. Enjoy D
Saturday, May 28, 2011
How cool is this?
Michael J. Fox, Robbie Robertson and Howie Meeker receive Order of Canada
OTTAWA — Michael J. Fox grew up recognizing things that were distinctly Canadian — Farley Mowat, hockey, The Guess Who and Robbie Robertson.
And sitting in Rideau Hall Friday, Fox found himself with people that were, as he put it, distinctly Canada.
Fox, Robertson and NHL hockey great Howie Meeker were among 42 recipients of the Order of Canada Friday, each recognized for a lifetime of contributions to sports, the arts and to their communities.
"Listen, you want a case of the imposter syndrome just sit in this room and in one of these chairs and listen to all these people's accomplishments and what they've done," Fox said following the ceremony. "I don't begin for a second to put myself in the league of any of these people, but when I listen to what they've done, that's Canadian to me. It's a seriousness and a sense of humour . . . It's enjoyment and a sense of life." (emphasis mine)
Well said Mr. Fox.
While best known as an actor, beginning with the television series Family Ties and the Back to the Future film trilogy that launched in 1985, Fox was recognized for his role as an advocate for Parkinson's disease research.
Fox was first diagnosed with the disease in the early 1990s and his foundation recently gained charitable status in Canada.
"Any recognition is humbling," Fox said. "I take it to be that I represent that part of Canada that means so much to me."
Robertson, a guitarist with The Band, is also considered to have influenced a generation of Canadian guitarists and First Nations youth.
"I wouldn't be so bold to say I'm any of those things," Robertson said with a laugh.
Robertson was one of several aboriginals honoured at the event. He said he was happy to see the country recognize the contributions of native peoples.
"I felt very proud of Canada today . . . that this is being acknowledged more so than I think anywhere else in the world," Robertson said. "Just the respect for the original people of Canada is much more so than you see in other places. So I know that we all feel like we have a lot more work to do and it's only going to get better."
He said that growing up on a First Nations reserve, he got into music because there was little else in the way of entertainment.
Robertson said he was also inspired by the storytelling abilities of the community's elders and wanted to be able to tell stories one day.
The Order of Canada has been given out annually since 1967 to Canadians who are recognized for a lifetime of achievements, dedication to their community or country.
I wonder when they're going to honor Don Cherry. Isn't he Mr. Canada?
jpress(at)postmedia.com
Read more:
OTTAWA — Michael J. Fox grew up recognizing things that were distinctly Canadian — Farley Mowat, hockey, The Guess Who and Robbie Robertson.
And sitting in Rideau Hall Friday, Fox found himself with people that were, as he put it, distinctly Canada.
Fox, Robertson and NHL hockey great Howie Meeker were among 42 recipients of the Order of Canada Friday, each recognized for a lifetime of contributions to sports, the arts and to their communities.
"Listen, you want a case of the imposter syndrome just sit in this room and in one of these chairs and listen to all these people's accomplishments and what they've done," Fox said following the ceremony. "I don't begin for a second to put myself in the league of any of these people, but when I listen to what they've done, that's Canadian to me. It's a seriousness and a sense of humour . . . It's enjoyment and a sense of life." (emphasis mine)
Well said Mr. Fox.
While best known as an actor, beginning with the television series Family Ties and the Back to the Future film trilogy that launched in 1985, Fox was recognized for his role as an advocate for Parkinson's disease research.
Fox was first diagnosed with the disease in the early 1990s and his foundation recently gained charitable status in Canada.
"Any recognition is humbling," Fox said. "I take it to be that I represent that part of Canada that means so much to me."
Robertson, a guitarist with The Band, is also considered to have influenced a generation of Canadian guitarists and First Nations youth.
"I wouldn't be so bold to say I'm any of those things," Robertson said with a laugh.
Robertson was one of several aboriginals honoured at the event. He said he was happy to see the country recognize the contributions of native peoples.
"I felt very proud of Canada today . . . that this is being acknowledged more so than I think anywhere else in the world," Robertson said. "Just the respect for the original people of Canada is much more so than you see in other places. So I know that we all feel like we have a lot more work to do and it's only going to get better."
He said that growing up on a First Nations reserve, he got into music because there was little else in the way of entertainment.
Robertson said he was also inspired by the storytelling abilities of the community's elders and wanted to be able to tell stories one day.
The Order of Canada has been given out annually since 1967 to Canadians who are recognized for a lifetime of achievements, dedication to their community or country.
I wonder when they're going to honor Don Cherry. Isn't he Mr. Canada?
jpress(at)postmedia.com
Read more:
Friday, May 27, 2011
THANK YOU
To all who have responded o my request for help regarding my Dad's request about Blogging about dogs and dog training, I have to give you a huge thank you. You have been a big help (as I knew you would be).
A huge shout out to the following:
Dan and Buck for their thoughts on Blogger's format and ease of use
And an even bigger one to Odie for his link to his Blogger help set-up.
You are all greatly appreciated.
Thanks for reading D
A huge shout out to the following:
Dan and Buck for their thoughts on Blogger's format and ease of use
And an even bigger one to Odie for his link to his Blogger help set-up.
You are all greatly appreciated.
Thanks for reading D
From the Op/Ed pages of the Calgary Herald
This one is way too good not to share.
Crackers for Canucks
Recently on our website, a Vancouver Canucks fan referred to Albertans as “hillbillie (sic) rednecks” and said he didn’t care if we cheered for his team or not. We prefer the pejorative of “cracker,” which is more inclusive. Hillbilly generally refers to Appalachian hill people, whereas cracker, although originally associated with rural people from Georgia and Florida, might be more applicable to Alberta because it derives from the whip crack of cattle drivers, according to one etymological theory.
Regardless of what they call us, we’re pulling for the Canucks in the Stanley Cup finals. Contrary to the deep-seated divisional animosity that exists between some Flames fans and the West Coast version of Team Sweden, we believe it is possible and, in fact, imperative, to cheer for a team you loathe eight months of the year.
If Vancouver wins the Cup, it will strengthen the regional rivalry between the Flames, Oilers, Canucks and, hopefully, Winnipeg. When the dreaded Edmonton Oilers were the dominant NHL team, Calgary stepped up its game to win a Stanley Cup in 1989. Good begets good.
Even if the Canuckleheads weren’t in our ‘hood, we’d still pull for a Canadian team — even, gulp, Edmonton, if it came to that.
Between Boston and Tampa, we’re pulling tonight for Boston, for two reasons. Playing hockey in Florida in June is weird. And, if Boston wins, it will sorely test the loyalty of Bruins booster Don Cherry in a Boston-Vancouver final.
Our loyalty rests with any team on Canadian soil, regardless of how many Swedish twins are on the roster.
Read more:
Crackers for Canucks
Recently on our website, a Vancouver Canucks fan referred to Albertans as “hillbillie (sic) rednecks” and said he didn’t care if we cheered for his team or not. We prefer the pejorative of “cracker,” which is more inclusive. Hillbilly generally refers to Appalachian hill people, whereas cracker, although originally associated with rural people from Georgia and Florida, might be more applicable to Alberta because it derives from the whip crack of cattle drivers, according to one etymological theory.
Regardless of what they call us, we’re pulling for the Canucks in the Stanley Cup finals. Contrary to the deep-seated divisional animosity that exists between some Flames fans and the West Coast version of Team Sweden, we believe it is possible and, in fact, imperative, to cheer for a team you loathe eight months of the year.
If Vancouver wins the Cup, it will strengthen the regional rivalry between the Flames, Oilers, Canucks and, hopefully, Winnipeg. When the dreaded Edmonton Oilers were the dominant NHL team, Calgary stepped up its game to win a Stanley Cup in 1989. Good begets good.
Even if the Canuckleheads weren’t in our ‘hood, we’d still pull for a Canadian team — even, gulp, Edmonton, if it came to that.
Between Boston and Tampa, we’re pulling tonight for Boston, for two reasons. Playing hockey in Florida in June is weird. And, if Boston wins, it will sorely test the loyalty of Bruins booster Don Cherry in a Boston-Vancouver final.
Our loyalty rests with any team on Canadian soil, regardless of how many Swedish twins are on the roster.
Read more:
Dirt Road Anthem, Jason Aldean
I'm not into Rap at all, but THIS is the exception. Love the reference to George Jones.
Yea I'm chillin' on a dirt road,
Laid back, swervin' like I'm Geroge Jones,
Smoke rollin' out the window an
Ice cold beer sittin' in the console
Memory Lane up in the headlights
Got me reminiscing on the good times....
Help please
What follows is an email from my Dad regarding his writing about dogs and dog training. Your thoughts on this one please.
Hi there, I've been kind of struggling with writing another dog book or a second and revised edition plus an additional book devoted entirely to puppies. Herein lies the snag. With my other activities I don't seem to find the time to tackle an entire book but I have the topics, knowledge etc. to write magazine columns but they are restricted as to the lineage because of publication size, frequency of issues etc. So the alternative seems to be an e book or a blog. E books will make more money but again they require more time and effort and frankly I'm not terribly interested in doing this to make money. I know that if you get enough regulars reading your stuff, they can become an attraction to certain advertisers if the blog is subject specific which of course is my intent.
This is a longish way to ask your advice and ideas for starting a blog. Do you suggest a service such as Blogspot or with your experience do you have other ideas? I start to research this stuff and pretty soon you've spent a couple of hours and really only have more questions than answers.
Your suggestions are appreciated. Love Dad
I've only used blogspot so far, but the experience hasn't been bad. I say go for it. You can post as often as you lilke or as infrequently as you like. Blogger also has a feature where you can have your work published which I haven't researched. The best thing about Blogger is that there is feedback from your readers. They can ask specific questions regarding the article or send you on a new thread.
I love you Dad and look forward to more of your writings. I know I'll definitely be a fan (and try to direct all 5 of my readers to your site {ok, I now have 12})
Hi there, I've been kind of struggling with writing another dog book or a second and revised edition plus an additional book devoted entirely to puppies. Herein lies the snag. With my other activities I don't seem to find the time to tackle an entire book but I have the topics, knowledge etc. to write magazine columns but they are restricted as to the lineage because of publication size, frequency of issues etc. So the alternative seems to be an e book or a blog. E books will make more money but again they require more time and effort and frankly I'm not terribly interested in doing this to make money. I know that if you get enough regulars reading your stuff, they can become an attraction to certain advertisers if the blog is subject specific which of course is my intent.
This is a longish way to ask your advice and ideas for starting a blog. Do you suggest a service such as Blogspot or with your experience do you have other ideas? I start to research this stuff and pretty soon you've spent a couple of hours and really only have more questions than answers.
Your suggestions are appreciated. Love Dad
I've only used blogspot so far, but the experience hasn't been bad. I say go for it. You can post as often as you lilke or as infrequently as you like. Blogger also has a feature where you can have your work published which I haven't researched. The best thing about Blogger is that there is feedback from your readers. They can ask specific questions regarding the article or send you on a new thread.
I love you Dad and look forward to more of your writings. I know I'll definitely be a fan (and try to direct all 5 of my readers to your site {ok, I now have 12})
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Uh-Oh
It's starting to look like shades of 2005. The snow finally stopped, it hasn't really got warm yet and it's started to rain. At first it was a gentle rain (but chilly) and then it started in earnest. Rainfall warning of up to 3" in 24 hours and the snowpack hasn't started to melt yet but will with all the rain on it. Flood watches issued for much of southern Alberta.
The good parts? The grass is really green and I no longer have to worry about being in the flood path.
Maybe I should borrow Buck's rubber ducks. ;)
UPDATE 06:45
High River declared a state of emergency last night and ended up with a lot of volunteers sorking through the noght sandbagging. Heavy raifall warning is still in effect for most of souther Alberta.
The good parts? The grass is really green and I no longer have to worry about being in the flood path.
Maybe I should borrow Buck's rubber ducks. ;)
UPDATE 06:45
High River declared a state of emergency last night and ended up with a lot of volunteers sorking through the noght sandbagging. Heavy raifall warning is still in effect for most of souther Alberta.
from my email inbox this morning
Thanks Tracey!
How BOOBS Got Their Name
No need to thank me....
just trying to keep friends informed and educated.
How BOOBS Got Their Name
No need to thank me....
just trying to keep friends informed and educated.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Chicken
Last Thursday on my way home, I had a yen for something off the bar-b so I stopped at the Co-Op across the street and grabbed 5 pounds of 'taters (which for me is a feat, I don't eat many 'taters), some mushrooms, onions and garlic, a couple of steaks and a whole chicken (I was undecided as to what, exactly, I wanted). I got home and had a beer out on the deck and sent PT a text, 'How hot do you make the bar-b for beer-can chicken?' No response. WTF? He showed up about an hour later and I asked him why he hadn't responded. 'To what?' 'My text.' 'Phone was in the truck.' 'Ok.' 'What did it say?' So I told him. I had made up my mind. So off we went. Set the grill on high-high and go prep the bird. Rub some spices on it, jam a half-full beer can up it's rump, turn the heat down to medium and put the bird on the grill. Let'r rip for about an hour (or until the chicken is cooked) and, Bob's yer Uncle, it's time to eat. Toss some sliced potatoes with a whole sliced onion, a couple of whole peeled garlic cloves and some fresh sliced mushrooms with butter in a tin-foil packet on with it, and there's most of your dinner, just add some veggies of choice. YUM. Dinner was delicious.
There were enough leftovers that I removed the rest of the meat from the bones and cut it up, sliced up the remaining potatoes, etc threw them in the bottom of a baking dish along with 9 eggs mixed with 1/4 cup of flour, baked for 45 minutes, and there you have it, quiche.
If you've never tried beer-can chicken give it a whirl. Very good, very easy and not very time consuming so you can get on to other things. (like drinking beer)
There were enough leftovers that I removed the rest of the meat from the bones and cut it up, sliced up the remaining potatoes, etc threw them in the bottom of a baking dish along with 9 eggs mixed with 1/4 cup of flour, baked for 45 minutes, and there you have it, quiche.
If you've never tried beer-can chicken give it a whirl. Very good, very easy and not very time consuming so you can get on to other things. (like drinking beer)
Chris, part ll
I've posted about Chris before and we had decided on a price for him to show up weekly to mow the lawn during the summer. For the bargain-basement-price of $130 a month he's here every weekend PLUS he does the dog-doin's. Last weekend he asked a great big favor of me. He wanted to borrow my mower to do another client's lawn (his had broken down), and I told him 'No problem'. Well he came over, got the mower and went to do the other lady's lawn and was back within an hour saying that he owed me a beer. Hell, I can go for that!
He was back agin this Saturday and needed my mower again to do a guy down the street a few houses and said that when he was done he'd bring some beer back, so off he went again. As promised, he came back with beer and we sat down and had a visit.
Seems Chris was in prison for robbery (apparently he had a girlfriend that had a kid and he was doing whatever he could to put food on the table). The first day he was 'in', there was a meeting of some kind going on and he attended. I'd like to say that he found God, but I don't think it was quite as radical (?) as that. He did end up seeing the error of his ways and decided that life would be infinitely easier with the church group than with the gangs, and stayed with them for the rest of his term.
He's very polite with me and calls me Little Lady and would prob'ly do anything for me, but I would never take advantage of that. Any time he's over and does extras I always pay him extra. Nobody works for free.
Poor guy. When he decided to hook up with the old coug' and drink beer, he prob'ly didn't realize that now he was peeing with the big dog. Oh dear. All I can say about that is it's a really good thing that he doesn't have a drivers license and never has!
I wonder if he was puking on the porch with the puppies the next morning.
He was back agin this Saturday and needed my mower again to do a guy down the street a few houses and said that when he was done he'd bring some beer back, so off he went again. As promised, he came back with beer and we sat down and had a visit.
Seems Chris was in prison for robbery (apparently he had a girlfriend that had a kid and he was doing whatever he could to put food on the table). The first day he was 'in', there was a meeting of some kind going on and he attended. I'd like to say that he found God, but I don't think it was quite as radical (?) as that. He did end up seeing the error of his ways and decided that life would be infinitely easier with the church group than with the gangs, and stayed with them for the rest of his term.
He's very polite with me and calls me Little Lady and would prob'ly do anything for me, but I would never take advantage of that. Any time he's over and does extras I always pay him extra. Nobody works for free.
Poor guy. When he decided to hook up with the old coug' and drink beer, he prob'ly didn't realize that now he was peeing with the big dog. Oh dear. All I can say about that is it's a really good thing that he doesn't have a drivers license and never has!
I wonder if he was puking on the porch with the puppies the next morning.
from my email inbox this morning
Thanks Dad.
What have we learned in 2,065 years? [Apparently, not much.]
"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."
- Cicero - 55 BC
So .... evidently nothing.
What have we learned in 2,065 years? [Apparently, not much.]
"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."
- Cicero - 55 BC
So .... evidently nothing.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
What a week
Over the last 5 weeks I have closed 2 jobs each week, at least one of them (sometomes both) between five hundred thousand and a million dollars. Can you say mentally tired? Very. At the start of the week I didn't have too much going on and figgered it would be a good thing to just coast. A couple of small jobs; a little-bitty bank renovation in Turner Valley and selective demolition (the officail title used at tender time was deconstruction, is that what they're calling it now, and why didn't I get that memo?) of a building that was built in 1948 that was being used as an Emergency Call Center. Both small jobs that were extremely easy (the bank) and very easy (EOC) for me to put together.
Then all hell broke loose Wednesday. The boss had put a budget number together in January for one of our favorite general contractors and got a call that they had drawings now, could we put a hard number together for it? They needed somebody on site for Monday. Didn't seem to be a problem 'til we had a look at the drawings. This is a bigger job than the general thinks. Going to be around five hundred and he wants a price for Friday. Wonderful. I'll do my best. I jumped on it first thing Thursday morning, got my bill of material out to the distributors and got down to the nitty gritty of doing a take off. Worked my ass off all day and was feeling pretty good about being ready to close it Friday afternoon when I left for the day.
When I got home I had the very first outdoor happy hour of the season (YAY) and went in to watch the hockey game. I would have liked to watch the whole thing, I think the outcome would have been different for Buck's Beloved Wings if there had been just one more out there rooting for them, but it all of a sudden reached up and hit me smack-dab up-side the head at 7:30; I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, I had to go to bed. And. Crashed. Then the door bell rang and someone was opening the inside door and knocking on the inside door and the girls went nuts, flying down the hall and barking. They don't usually bark when the door bell rings I think what set them off was the knocking on the storm door. I leapt out of bed, grabbed my robe, and went down the hall after them. When I got to the door there was a guy standing there with a clipboard in hand. I opened the inside door and told him I wasn't interested.
Him: "But I'm from Telus" (flashes fancy laminated ID on lanyard around neck)
Me: "I don't care. I've dealt with you highway-robbin'-bastards before and I'll never deal with you again. When will you people get it through your thick heads and leave me alone?!"
Him (glancing at partner, must have been a training session): "Whoa".
Me: "And don't you know it's quarter to ten?" SLAM, and LOCK.
I had been so out of it when everything started that I had glanced at the clock (of course without my glasses on) and mistakenly read 9:45, not 8:45. Sound asleep for just over an hour, great. I was so verily PISSED over the whole thing. First that he had the audacity to think that he could just kinda invite himself in by opening the storm door, second that it was fu**ing TELUS at quarter to nine, and third that he woke me from a very sound sleep. And of course when I went back to bed I stewed for a couple of hours.
And then last night at about quarter to 12 there was knocking, almost exactly like the night before. Of course the girls went nuts and flew down the hall. I jumped out of bed and went to investigate. Checked my front door (a quick peek through the glass), nobody there. Looked out one of the front bedroom windows to check on my truck, nobody out there and headed back to bed.
I had no sooner crawled back in and laid my head on the pillow when I heard thumping. Sat up and looked out the window to check on the canopy that I had put up on the deck, thinking that the wind was trying to carry it away (it hasn't stopped all week) and saw the neighbor's man door in the garage opening and closing almost like the wind was having a go at it when I realized that no, someone was in there trying to get out and somone else was in there trying to keep them in. The door slammed shut and there were some more thumps and the whole building shook like one of the parties involved was being slammed against the wall. The neighbor lady emerged and went to the house. Her husband (?) came out and followed her, stopping to unlock the house door when he went in. The lights were on inside and I saw him moving around and then come out and sit on the unfinished deck for a while and then try to go back in the house. The door must have been locked again with his keys inside because he went to the garage and closed the door and all the lights went out.
So what to do, Gentle Reader? I've been beat up enough times to know how it goes. And these two get into it often enough that I don't think it's healthy for their 3 little kids to grow up thinking that's how mommies and daddies treat each other. AND is he beating up on the kids too? Do I get involved, or not?
Then all hell broke loose Wednesday. The boss had put a budget number together in January for one of our favorite general contractors and got a call that they had drawings now, could we put a hard number together for it? They needed somebody on site for Monday. Didn't seem to be a problem 'til we had a look at the drawings. This is a bigger job than the general thinks. Going to be around five hundred and he wants a price for Friday. Wonderful. I'll do my best. I jumped on it first thing Thursday morning, got my bill of material out to the distributors and got down to the nitty gritty of doing a take off. Worked my ass off all day and was feeling pretty good about being ready to close it Friday afternoon when I left for the day.
When I got home I had the very first outdoor happy hour of the season (YAY) and went in to watch the hockey game. I would have liked to watch the whole thing, I think the outcome would have been different for Buck's Beloved Wings if there had been just one more out there rooting for them, but it all of a sudden reached up and hit me smack-dab up-side the head at 7:30; I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, I had to go to bed. And. Crashed. Then the door bell rang and someone was opening the inside door and knocking on the inside door and the girls went nuts, flying down the hall and barking. They don't usually bark when the door bell rings I think what set them off was the knocking on the storm door. I leapt out of bed, grabbed my robe, and went down the hall after them. When I got to the door there was a guy standing there with a clipboard in hand. I opened the inside door and told him I wasn't interested.
Him: "But I'm from Telus" (flashes fancy laminated ID on lanyard around neck)
Me: "I don't care. I've dealt with you highway-robbin'-bastards before and I'll never deal with you again. When will you people get it through your thick heads and leave me alone?!"
Him (glancing at partner, must have been a training session): "Whoa".
Me: "And don't you know it's quarter to ten?" SLAM, and LOCK.
I had been so out of it when everything started that I had glanced at the clock (of course without my glasses on) and mistakenly read 9:45, not 8:45. Sound asleep for just over an hour, great. I was so verily PISSED over the whole thing. First that he had the audacity to think that he could just kinda invite himself in by opening the storm door, second that it was fu**ing TELUS at quarter to nine, and third that he woke me from a very sound sleep. And of course when I went back to bed I stewed for a couple of hours.
And then last night at about quarter to 12 there was knocking, almost exactly like the night before. Of course the girls went nuts and flew down the hall. I jumped out of bed and went to investigate. Checked my front door (a quick peek through the glass), nobody there. Looked out one of the front bedroom windows to check on my truck, nobody out there and headed back to bed.
I had no sooner crawled back in and laid my head on the pillow when I heard thumping. Sat up and looked out the window to check on the canopy that I had put up on the deck, thinking that the wind was trying to carry it away (it hasn't stopped all week) and saw the neighbor's man door in the garage opening and closing almost like the wind was having a go at it when I realized that no, someone was in there trying to get out and somone else was in there trying to keep them in. The door slammed shut and there were some more thumps and the whole building shook like one of the parties involved was being slammed against the wall. The neighbor lady emerged and went to the house. Her husband (?) came out and followed her, stopping to unlock the house door when he went in. The lights were on inside and I saw him moving around and then come out and sit on the unfinished deck for a while and then try to go back in the house. The door must have been locked again with his keys inside because he went to the garage and closed the door and all the lights went out.
So what to do, Gentle Reader? I've been beat up enough times to know how it goes. And these two get into it often enough that I don't think it's healthy for their 3 little kids to grow up thinking that's how mommies and daddies treat each other. AND is he beating up on the kids too? Do I get involved, or not?
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
from the op/ed pages of this morning's paper
Hi, neighbours
Hi. I'm a 59-year-old American man, living in San Antonio, Texas. Nothing very special about me. I don't hold any political office and I don't represent anyone but myself. But I just watched a video about Canada that was originally broadcast during the 2010 Olympic Games. It features American newsman Tom Brokaw speaking about you and your country.
Watching it reminded me that I wanted to write this e-mail to a Canadian newspaper that might publish it for its Canadian readers so I could say, "Thank you, Canada" and "Well done, friends!" and something along the lines of, "I'm feeling rather glad and fortunate and respectful that you are who you are, that you're the neighbours America can look to for so many different things, and that I wish all of you well."
I guess that's kind of a vague, out of the blue sort of message to send to anyone, and certainly to an entire country at large, but it's heartfelt.
And if you're ever in San Antonio, look me up. I'd like to buy you a beer.
Stephen Maynard, San Antonio, Texas
And if I'm ever in San Antonio Sir, I will take you up on your offer of a beer. Cheers.
Hi. I'm a 59-year-old American man, living in San Antonio, Texas. Nothing very special about me. I don't hold any political office and I don't represent anyone but myself. But I just watched a video about Canada that was originally broadcast during the 2010 Olympic Games. It features American newsman Tom Brokaw speaking about you and your country.
Watching it reminded me that I wanted to write this e-mail to a Canadian newspaper that might publish it for its Canadian readers so I could say, "Thank you, Canada" and "Well done, friends!" and something along the lines of, "I'm feeling rather glad and fortunate and respectful that you are who you are, that you're the neighbours America can look to for so many different things, and that I wish all of you well."
I guess that's kind of a vague, out of the blue sort of message to send to anyone, and certainly to an entire country at large, but it's heartfelt.
And if you're ever in San Antonio, look me up. I'd like to buy you a beer.
Stephen Maynard, San Antonio, Texas
And if I'm ever in San Antonio Sir, I will take you up on your offer of a beer. Cheers.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
from my email inbox this morning
Thanks Dad
Ever wonder?
Why is it that rain drops but snow falls?
Do sheep get static cling when they rub against one another?
If love is blind, how can we believe in love at first sight?
If you dig a tunnel straight through the earth, will you come out with your feet first?
Do skunks think people smell bad?
Why do we wash bath towels? Aren't we clean when we use them?
If there's an exception to every rule, is there an exception to that rule?
What is a male ladybug called?
If croutons are stale bread, why do they come in airtight packages?
How come people tell you to stay a kid for as long as you can, yet the moment you do anything childish or immature they tell you to grow up?
Why is it called "after dark," when it is really after light?
Why is a Nautical mile shorter than a land mile?
If you were on a plane going the speed of sound and walked from the back of the plane to the front, would you be walking faster than the speed of sound?
And my own personal ones:
Why do clothing manufacturers place a tag at the neck and right at the waistband so it irritates the hell out of you all day?
Why do dog food manufacturers keep making the size of the bag smaller and keep charging the same price? Do they think that their customers are stupid?
Ever wonder?
Why is it that rain drops but snow falls?
Do sheep get static cling when they rub against one another?
If love is blind, how can we believe in love at first sight?
If you dig a tunnel straight through the earth, will you come out with your feet first?
Do skunks think people smell bad?
Why do we wash bath towels? Aren't we clean when we use them?
If there's an exception to every rule, is there an exception to that rule?
What is a male ladybug called?
If croutons are stale bread, why do they come in airtight packages?
How come people tell you to stay a kid for as long as you can, yet the moment you do anything childish or immature they tell you to grow up?
Why is it called "after dark," when it is really after light?
Why is a Nautical mile shorter than a land mile?
If you were on a plane going the speed of sound and walked from the back of the plane to the front, would you be walking faster than the speed of sound?
And my own personal ones:
Why do clothing manufacturers place a tag at the neck and right at the waistband so it irritates the hell out of you all day?
Why do dog food manufacturers keep making the size of the bag smaller and keep charging the same price? Do they think that their customers are stupid?
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Politics
As most of my faithful know I don't usually do politics but this one just can't slide. Yesterday was a national election day that was most historic. Prime Minister Stephen Harper finally pulled off a majority goverment. This is a wonderful thing. We have been to the polls far too many times over the last decade, all because of shenanigans of the opposition party whining about his policies and proposed changes. They have repeatedly voted non-confidence in our elected (minority) government forcing us (yet again) to the polls. Can you say "Voter fatigue"? 4 times in the last 7 years is more than enough.
Harper lands knockout majority in fight he didn’t want
Our peculiar Calgary prime minister has finally done it; pulled off a majority victory without changing anything about the cool, impersonal, lofty style that drives so many Canadians half mad with rage.
He’s a stubborn fellow for sure; and now, Harper enters Canada’s political annals as a hugely successful leader who managed two tricky minorities before scoring the knockout in a fight he didn’t want.
The win was even bigger than the numbers show, because he now faces an opposition that is almost guaranteed to be unstable and ineffective.
Most of these people have never been elected before and it's said that one gal who won her riding prob'ly couldn't even find it on a map and spent most of her campaign time in Vegas.
The NDP made off with Quebec, decimating both the Liberals and the Bloc Quebecois, while Harper’s party scooped up much of Ontario and the West.
Quebec has gone federalist, but still finds itself outside government. The rush to orange was so powerful that a novice Quebec NDP candidate won by rolling the dice from Las Vegas.
With more than half its MPs from Quebec, the NDP will be less a party of social democratic reform than Quebec nationalist discontent.
Layton will have immense difficulty reconciling this impulse with the purely social sentiments of his MPs from Ontario and B.C.
But a least Layton’s problem is born of success; the Liberal outcome is a disaster on every front.
The storied party of St. Laurent, Pearson, Trudeau and Chretien — long considered Canada’s natural government — no longer has the reach to to be considered fully national.
Harper’s relentless attacks on Ignatieff, starting long before the election, drove countless votes both to the New Democrats and the Tories.
(Who is a boob of the nth degree)
Ignatieff did his part with a weak campaign performance that left him squashed between the two surging forces.
The Liberals have only one hope; to dump Ignatieff as quickly as possible, and find a charismatic leader who can catch the public’s imagination.
As for the Bloc Quebecois, the bitter, cynical Gilles Duceppe finally gets his comeuppance for using Quebec nationalism once too often as an extortion crowbar into the national treasury.
The Bloc has been threatening for years to take their ball and go home, causing the rest of the country to say fine, let them go. See how well you do out on your own without the equalization payments that you recieve from the rest of Canada. We're quite sick of it.
Once an intellectually honest separatist, Duceppe ended up being less idealistic than most Quebecers. They dumped his party as surely as they ejected the Liberals after the great Adscam humiliation.
But the major result, obviously, is Harper’s majority.
I don't think so much that the large numbers for the NDP were so much for the NDP, but more NOT for Stephen Harper which is ok with me, the right guy got in.
Ignatieff picked a fight with the wrong person at the wrong time and I say "Good riddance".
Read more:
Update 08:53
This just in
Michael Ignatieff has announced he is stepping down as Liberal leader after suffering a crushing election defeat Monday that saw Stephen Harper's Conservatives win their first majority government.
Read more:
Harper lands knockout majority in fight he didn’t want
Our peculiar Calgary prime minister has finally done it; pulled off a majority victory without changing anything about the cool, impersonal, lofty style that drives so many Canadians half mad with rage.
He’s a stubborn fellow for sure; and now, Harper enters Canada’s political annals as a hugely successful leader who managed two tricky minorities before scoring the knockout in a fight he didn’t want.
The win was even bigger than the numbers show, because he now faces an opposition that is almost guaranteed to be unstable and ineffective.
Most of these people have never been elected before and it's said that one gal who won her riding prob'ly couldn't even find it on a map and spent most of her campaign time in Vegas.
The NDP made off with Quebec, decimating both the Liberals and the Bloc Quebecois, while Harper’s party scooped up much of Ontario and the West.
Quebec has gone federalist, but still finds itself outside government. The rush to orange was so powerful that a novice Quebec NDP candidate won by rolling the dice from Las Vegas.
With more than half its MPs from Quebec, the NDP will be less a party of social democratic reform than Quebec nationalist discontent.
Layton will have immense difficulty reconciling this impulse with the purely social sentiments of his MPs from Ontario and B.C.
But a least Layton’s problem is born of success; the Liberal outcome is a disaster on every front.
The storied party of St. Laurent, Pearson, Trudeau and Chretien — long considered Canada’s natural government — no longer has the reach to to be considered fully national.
Harper’s relentless attacks on Ignatieff, starting long before the election, drove countless votes both to the New Democrats and the Tories.
(Who is a boob of the nth degree)
Ignatieff did his part with a weak campaign performance that left him squashed between the two surging forces.
The Liberals have only one hope; to dump Ignatieff as quickly as possible, and find a charismatic leader who can catch the public’s imagination.
As for the Bloc Quebecois, the bitter, cynical Gilles Duceppe finally gets his comeuppance for using Quebec nationalism once too often as an extortion crowbar into the national treasury.
The Bloc has been threatening for years to take their ball and go home, causing the rest of the country to say fine, let them go. See how well you do out on your own without the equalization payments that you recieve from the rest of Canada. We're quite sick of it.
Once an intellectually honest separatist, Duceppe ended up being less idealistic than most Quebecers. They dumped his party as surely as they ejected the Liberals after the great Adscam humiliation.
But the major result, obviously, is Harper’s majority.
I don't think so much that the large numbers for the NDP were so much for the NDP, but more NOT for Stephen Harper which is ok with me, the right guy got in.
Ignatieff picked a fight with the wrong person at the wrong time and I say "Good riddance".
Read more:
Update 08:53
This just in
Michael Ignatieff has announced he is stepping down as Liberal leader after suffering a crushing election defeat Monday that saw Stephen Harper's Conservatives win their first majority government.
Read more:
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