Still rambling

Orphans of God

2010-08-17T20:17:00.003-04:00

This song ( by Avalon ) has been really touching me this week.....

especially this line :

Come ye unwanted, and find affection....
come all ye weary, come and lay down your head..

I find that just about as comforting as crawling up onto my mom's lap.....

sigh....

Listen HERE

Orphans of God
--------------------

Who here among us has not been broken
Who here among us is without guilt or pain
So oft' abandoned by our transgressions
If such a thing as grace exists
Then grace was made for lives like this

There are no strangers
There are no outcasts
There are no orphans of God
So many fallen, but hallelujah
There are no orphans of God

Come ye unwanted and find affection
Come all ye weary, come and lay down your head
Come ye unworthy, you are my brother
If such a thing as grace exists
Then grace was made for lives like this

O blessed Father, look down upon us
We are Your children, we need Your love
We run before Your throne of mercy
And seek Your face to rise above

Listen HERE

Fathers Day.......

2010-06-20T17:22:00.010-04:00

I've been pondering a lot this week... trying to get my mind around what makes a good dad.... What is it, that makes a dad successful???

As I've mulled on it, a lot, my mind inevitable returns to thinking about my dad.... and all of the qualities in him that I see, that I like.... and that , flat out, I'm trying to emulate.
So Dad.......... here are some of the things I've thought on this week........ all of which you are!
* A successful dad is.....
-------------------------------
one that is always watching for us..... Dad does that well... not just watching OUT for us... but watching for us!
I remember when we would make the trip to visit my grand parents in Quebec.... we would pull in to the driveway of their apartment, and we would see the outline of my grampie in the upstairs window.... watching.... waiting!! He would be to the bottom of the stairs before we would be out of the car!!

My dad is like that... when we go to visit mom and dad in Belleville, inevitably it's late at night when we arrive.... the outdoor light is always on... the door is usually ajar.... and before we are to the door, Dad is up, and waiting by the door to welcome us!
* A successful dad is ...
-------------------------------
someone with whom you can share your victories AND your defeats....
The day I lost my job in 2003, the first person I called was my dad.... At the end of a really good day, I often find myself texting my dad, to brag about how many inspections I'd completed today...
When Taylor got his first job, when Anna got accepted to University, when Abby's photo made it to the Habs website....I was quick to message my dad and tell him....

There's just something about having Dad there to share those things with, that is irreplaceable!
A Successful dad is....
-------------------------------
Someone that always shows up to watch your games. I don't think there was ever a hockey game, or band concert, that my dad didn't show up for..... It's a tradition that lives on with him....
Even Isaac knows this.... one night when Isaac was around 4, he was dreaming big... making plans to play for the Belleville Bulls..... He said to his mom " Mommy, if I play for the bulls, will you come and see me??? Papa will... he ALWAYS comes!!!"
that kind of "always there" is what makes you successful dad!!
A successful dad is ....
-------------------------------
someone that bails you out on a bad day.... I remember years and years ago, one Friday night, I stopped in at a car dealership to dream ....

I had my heart set on owning an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.... ( I still kinda want one!! maybe someday! ) ....
anyway, I was just dreaming.... but the salesman was smarter than me!!! I asked the guy - what did he think was their bottom dollar.... my naivety was my undoing... long story short, the guy talked me out of my ownership, AND my signature, all in an effort to "see" what the best deal was we could get from the boss.....
sigh.........
Saturday morning, My dad and I went back to the dealership to get my ownership AND my pride.......we left with only the ownership!!!!
....... that was more than 20 years ago, and it still embarrasses me... but BOY was it nice to have my dad bail me out!!
A successful dad is.....
-------------------------------
someone that is quoteworthy!!
The older I get, the more I quote my dad.......
"a fool and his money are soon parted"
"get the hay in while the sun is shining"
"small things amuse small minds"
"busier than a one armed paper hanger with a seven year itch"
"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth"
Dad was actually quoting scripture there, but he used it in reference of people who ramble onnnnnnnnnnnn and on and on, just to hear themselves talk!!
I find myself quoting my dad all the time!! and thats a good thing!
A successful dad is....
-------------------------------
a dad that has good habits, for his kids to follow....

My dad is a non drinker, and a non smoker... to quote my dad ( again! )
"I don't smoke, I don't chew... I don't go with girls that do!!!"
I remember dad being asked one time why he didn't ever "drink" .. he said " I came dangerously close to being hooked on Pepsi..... Imagine if it had been alcohol"
I love that, and I love your discipline Dad!
Another of your habits is your faithful church attendance! You put us all to shame at how diligently you attend church and how your life honors the one you go there to worship!
A Successful Dad ....
-------------------------------
is someone with work ethic....
My dad is a tank when it comes to work ethic!! I tell people " My dad is semi retired.... now he goes in to the office at 8:30 instead of 7"
At 71, he is still working more hours in a week than most anybody I know.....
when I grow up, I want to have that kind of work ethic!
A successful Dad..........
-------------------------------
is someone that loves my mother......
And dad has done that and continues to do that..... As I watch my mom and dad grow older, the shopping trips consist less of trips to Home Depot and Canadian Tire... and more of trips to Shoppers Drug Mart..... and I've watched dad consistently, for 47 years, drop what he's doing and rush to make sure mom has all that she needs.....
I can't, in a million years, ever expect to come close to that....
A Successful Dad.....
-------------------------------
is one that loves his grand kids as much as he loved us.
As I have watched 8 grandchildren come and go through mom and dad's house, I have seen a consistent theme: A loonie here, a toonie there, a hug and tickle , and a shoulder that every one of those kids felt safe snuggling on!
"The true measure of a man, is how you are made to feel in his presence"
If the way your grand children feel around you was the ONLY indication, you are an incredible man!
To quote my Dad again,.... "If I'd known grand kids were this much fun, I'd have had them first!!"
The truth is, dad.... You are a great Dad.... an Incredible husband, a true friend, and a very Godly man.....
and I love you very much!

Some days, I find it a staggering example to follow, and yet I strive to, because I want to be THAT KIND OF DAD, to my kids.
Someone said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.......
I keep saying.......... When I grow up, I want to be just like you!
I'd not want you to feel flattered, but I sure do want you to know that I'm proud to be your son, and proud to call you my dad.

Happy Fathers Day Dad!

To My Mom .....

2010-05-09T17:51:00.008-04:00

"When it comes right down to it, nobody will ever love you like your mom does!"

That was the note I got today from my friend Stephen... who lost his mom 15 months ago.....

he's right..... nobody has or ever will love me like my mom....

I am a product of a loving praying mom!

Thank you Mom!!

The older I get, the more I come face to face with the reality of life.... the frailty of it, and its brevity.

More and more of my friends have lost their mom.... so a day like today for THEM is a sad empty day.....

And even though I wasn't there today to share it with you , I am doing what each of those friends has told me .... Cherish every moment you have with your mom!

I never know where to start when it comes to thanking you for loving me.

Inevitably, I sit and think about it..... I decided today to make a list.... and I found myself making notes on my crackberry during church today...... I'm SURE the pastor thought I was sending text messages !! but I wasn't!

When I sit to think about you, mom... my mind races.... to all of the things that you have done for me.... The memories come flooding back....

I remember when I was just a kid.....coming home early from several Sunday School picnics over at the river by French's farm...... because you had run into the water fully clothed to save a kid that was drowning.....

back then, I felt ripped off because we had to leave before the ice cream cones came out!

NOW?? I look back at that with pride...... that some kid somewhere is alive today because of you!

Though I don't remember , I know that you gave up your job to stay home and raise us kids. After all your training to become a Registered Nurse, it must have been a bit of a let down to change diapers instead of medical dressings..... thank you for that!

I remember you bringing us to visit your uncles when I was just a kid.... I remember with a bit of shame, how boring I found those visits.... boring for us, but sooo cherished by your uncles....
As I get older, i have come to love the memory of those visits.... and am trying to instill in my kids a love for visiting people who sit by, lonely..... waiting.....

I remember you taking a refresher course so you could go back to work .... to help put us through college..... I remember Dad and Bruce eating out a lot of evenings cause you were working .... Wendys', Harvey's, McDonalds and I ALL thank you !!

I remember having a lunch packed for me, every day of my school life..... I remember wondering what on EARTH the word PATE meant..... but as I watched guys like Howie, sitting there, sad and hungry..... I realized pate wasn't all that bad after all!!

I remember playing in the water in the side yard of Sawyerville Elementary..... And I remember spending all afternoon sitting in wet pants..... The next week, I came to school with THE COOLEST pair of home made rubber pants to play in! I was the envy of Jeff and Danny ... when I sat RIGHT DOWN in the puddle and didn't get wet!!

I remember one saturday standing outside the United Church in Sawyerville... somebody in the neighbourhood was getting married.... and we hadn't been invited.... but you really wanted to see the bride come out..... so we hid in the bushes across the street and watched......... ok, I HID in the bushes and watched.... cause I'd spilled ice cream all down the front of my white t shirt....

bushes or not, its one of my favourite memories of a Saturday morning with you!!

I remember always wanting to invite my friends over to our house..... knowing that you would never be upset at me if I came home from church with a few friends in tow.... never once did you complain about having to put out another plate.... or three

I remember you driving up to visit me at camp in Owen Sound that summer I was there.... that horrible summer.... I remember you taking us to Blue Mountain to the water slide.... and how refreshing that was amidst a difficult summer.....

I remember many times at college... when the stress of my life then, felt like it was going to crush me..... I remember walking to the pay phone in Three Hills, and calling you.... and crying my heart out.....

I won't ever forget that....

There just seems to be something soothing about crying on your shoulder.

I remember you letting me take your car to school many many times for band practice..... I remember you giving me your credit card to put gas in that car one day..... what I DON'T remember was leaving the credit card on my dresser..... I remember walking up to the cashier and proudly slapping down my high school ID card as payment.....

I also remember the look in that cashier's eye!!

I remember you laughing, not scolding, when I got home in a panic, and had to race back to the Esso Station on North Front street, to pay the bill and get back the Timex watch I'd left as collateral!!

I remember you sending me cookies in the mail, when I was at Prairie..... I was the envy of every guy on first floor..... I remember that though the cookies were smashed into a bazillion pieces, it gave me more pieces to share.... or more to not HAVE to share maybe!!

I remember you letting me use your car when I got a summer job during college.....
I don't EVER remember you complaining about being stuck at home with no vehicle.

I remember inviting almost 3o of my chinese friends out for a BBQ after high school graduation.... I was proud then , and I'm proud NOW to bring people to visit my parents.

I remember laughing with you!

I remember when you moved into the house on Airport parkway....... Somebody that was helping with the move, brought a big old Tractor Chain out of the truck.... wondering if it should go in the shed, or the basement or the garage, he said : Marg, where do you want THIS???

I remember gasping as I heard you say with a giggle..... take THAT to the bedroom!

I remember coming in to see you last year and hollering from the front dooor

" Anybody HOME???

and you saying... NOPE....!!

When I got my boots off and came over and hugged you , I said...

" so, how are you REALLY? and your answer, again with the giggle, was....

I don't know.. NOBODY's HERE remember????"

Cherished, treasured memories I have, mom!!

When I think of you, I think of a selfless, never complaining woman.... who's lot in life has been far more difficult than any of us will ever know.....

When I saw you this week, preparing supper from your leather rocking chair, almost unable to breath, I realized what a gift God gave us, in you.....

When you told me that you use up 1500 calories a day just to breathe.... it took MY breath away.

I know lately, to quote Rusty Goodman..... You've got leavin' on your mind...... and I don't blame you...

I don't think any of us could have ever managed the pain and the suffering you have, with any where near as much quiet, and calm , and class as you!

So.... for the sacrifice you've made, to care and love and always be there,

from the bottom of my heart,

thank you

I love you mom

PK Subban

2010-05-04T18:00:00.005-04:00

PK Subban has been one of the incredible parts of this years Playoffs.....

Though I have never met him, he played for 4 years of Junior for the Belleville Bulls.....
He is a good friend to my brother Bruce and those connections somehow make you feel like he's your OWN kid playing up there...

it's been incredible to watch him... to see him excel, and in spite of that success, to remain focused and humble....
WAY TO GO PK !!!

Here is a story written about him in the Hockey News .....

THN.com Playoff Blog: P.K. Subban bolsters Montreal's excitement
04/05/2010 1:00:02 AMby Ryan Dixon

While the team has been winning upsets with great goaltending and gritty play, the way the young defenseman has stepped up is a great side story.

Regardless of how the rest of the spring plays out for the Montreal Canadiens, a few lessons will be gleaned from this unlikely voyage into the second round of the NHL playoffs.

For the sake of not bringing sand to the beach, we'll stray from the usual storyline of Jaroslav Halak and just focus on the fact the Habs have shown far more grit, heart and determination than anybody thought they had hanging around their collective bodies.

Not only has every member of the team shown a willingness to enter the physical fray by blocking shots and banging bodies, they've also demonstrated great mental resiliency, refusing to give up in the face of extremely long odds.

Another element of this playoff run that is sure to be talked about well into the summer is the emergence of P.K. Subban.

The smooth-skating blueliner joined the Canadiens for Game 6 of their first round series with the Washington Capitals and has been a staple on the back end since, especially with both Jaroslav Spacek and Andrei Markov out of the lineup.

Subban, who turns 21 next week, had a terrific year developing in the American League with the Hamilton Bulldogs and hasn't missed a beat since being called up to Montreal, notching a goal and three points in four high-pressure playoff contests.

The youngster has certainly been tossed directly in the fire, but part of the reason he's such a highly regarded prospect is due to his mental makeup. Subban carries himself with an outward confidence that falls just short of unwarranted swagger. He clearly believes in himself and his skills, but also gives you the sense he's willing to work hard for everything he hopes to achieve.

As good as he's been on a tandem with Roman Hamrlik, don't expect a seamless transition to big-league hockey. Pushing the play is part of Subban's genetic composition as a hockey player and learning when to attack and when to take a more guarded approach - thus avoiding costly turnovers - is key to his development.

Mistakes are going to be made and the world shouldn't be expected of a player so young.

Still, when all is said and done this season, Subban will be one of the reasons to get excited about what is yet to come.

Ryan Dixon is a writer and copy editor for The Hockey News magazine, the co-author of the book Hockey's Young Guns and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears Thursdays and his column, Top Shelf, appears Wednesdays.

Habs secret weapon in net.....

2010-05-03T10:18:00.003-04:00

Have you been watching the Habs during the playoffs this year????? and have you, like me... wondered how on earth their goaltending was so incredible????

this may or may not be one of the secrets to their success!!

Employment opportunities in Napanee

2010-04-12T11:34:00.000-04:00

Doesn't pay very well though...... ! Looks like $3 an hour to me!!!

Stopping Violence in Hockey

2010-04-10T12:32:00.005-04:00

With the onslaught of head shots in hockey lately..... and the irritation of so called gutless goons like Carcillo and Avery......

it's no wonder there is a whole new generation of head shots like this :

it's ok though... the kid on the right.... had it coming!!!

Sorry Gord ............

2010-04-10T10:20:00.004-04:00

I received this comment yesterday....... from my friend Gord....

It would seem to me that Mr. Mackay who titles his blogspot "Still rambling" has gone strangely quiet.

Has his imaginative writing style abandoned him or perhaps has he met with some untimely misfortune such as uninterrupted narcolepsy in which case should we call him Rip Van Mackay?

It also could be he doesn't realize how is unique perspective on the world influences us or at the least entertains us.

It could also be that the gent who left his cane on this side view mirror has tracked Paul down in which case I dont even want to ponder his fate.

I think we should all encourage Paul to pick up his pen again (and leave the microphone on the table where it belongs) and encourage him to once again to wax philosophically to inspire us all.

Otherwise, we may need to resort to good ole humiliation and embarrassment.

Not a threat, just sayin...

Come on Paul, turn off that hockey game (or whatever it is those Canadiens think they're doing)

( OUCH GORD ! )

and inpire us again.

Or shall we begin to circulate photos?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thank you for missing me Gord!!

Gord is uh.... the one on the right !! ;)

Sigh...............

2010-04-04T10:37:00.002-04:00

P.K. Subban .... THIS IS SOOOOOO EXCITING!!

2010-02-12T09:58:00.001-05:00

Hey Honey..................

2010-01-28T19:41:00.004-05:00

have you seen my cane anywhere???

Abbu

2009-11-16T17:29:00.002-05:00

Montreal for a night

2009-11-16T17:04:00.004-05:00

Abby and I have made our annual pilgrimage to Mecca....

Last December we came to a hockey practice at the Bell Centre....

Today we came to Montreal to watch the new movie about the Montreal Canadiens...

It will be released on December 4th but they are premiering the movie tonight at the Bell Centre...

We are soo excited!!

we have an hour and 50 minutes to get there...... we're gonna leave now....... it's only 21 from the hotel in Pointe-Claire... but we don't want to be late!!!

Don't waste it....

2009-11-12T19:39:00.004-05:00

do you ever wonder ... when you're going through something horrid... WHY you have to go through that kind of muck??

me too!

Back in 2000, I had the deepest darkest walk through life that I have ever had...
before or since....

Interestingly, the thing I wanted most during that time, was for someone to be able to look me in the eye and say.. ." I know how you feel"

but for whatever reason, nobody could....

I vowed, if I ever got to the other side of the crap, to spend my life sharing those very words.....

"I know how you feel"

someone shared these verses with me a while back... that brought it all into perspective:

II Corinthians 1:3 & 4

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God

I feel like I've been to the edge.....and back.... But I can honestly say that I'm not there any more....

and I'm committed now more than ever.... to not waste that experience....

Maybe you've been to the edge....maybe you're at the edge....

know this... that somewhere, somebody knows how you feel...

Tomorrow will be better....

Don't waste the trip

Rainy Days....

2009-10-30T15:28:00.004-04:00

Today is a nasty rainy day....

I'm sitting in a hotel room in Huntsville... soaked to the skin from inspecting in the pouring rain...

I got home.... and saw this cartoon and cracked right up.....

so maybe it's rainy outside...

but it's sunny in here!!!

H1N1 Vaccine....

2009-10-28T21:42:00.003-04:00

so................... I got the H1N1 vaccine.......

They promised there would be no side effects....

so far so good.....

Toronto

2009-10-28T00:01:00.006-04:00

I inspected in Toronto today... I had a late afternoon appointment.....

Traffic was NOT my friend today....

the GPS told me.... that the trip north from Gardiner up Avenue Road... would take 6 minutes...

The GPS was wrong....

and since, with this new hands free law, I couldn't use my PHONE to , you know... pass the time... or maybe call the client and explain why I was late, I had to just sit there patiently and drive...

In order to pass the time, I resorted back to my old pattern of behaviour....

I took pictures out my sun roof !! Hands free of course !!!

Happy Birthday Dad!!!

2009-10-03T11:12:00.003-04:00

My Dad.....

son of a store keeper and a teacher....

raised in Bury, Quebec......

then moved to Cookshire, lived on a dairy farm...

grew up delivering milk with a horse and buggy!

Married in 1962.....Lived in Montreal til mid 1963..... then moved to Randboro.....

Moved to Belleville in 1977 and is still there!!

a dad to 3 kids and papa to 8 grandchildren.... loving doting (obedient ) husband to my mom!

my dad.... a farm boy.... an auctioneer .... an insurance broker..

my dad.... and my friend!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Save me a seat at the table

2009-09-19T00:33:00.006-04:00

I have been soaking up a lot of music this week..... Dad bought me the webcast of the National Quartet Convention... and I have had it on every evening from 6 pm til almost midnight every night since Monday....

I can't even begin to tell you how it has touched me this week....
maybe this story will show you.....

tonight a group that is not usually one of my favourite groups, closed the evening program. It was almost midnight when they walked onto the stage.

I was about to shut the computer off and go to bed... and then thought... well I've waited til now, I might as well finish.....

I'd heard them sing Monday night.... noticeably absent was their bass singer...Jeremy LileHonestly, the only reason I noticed was because one of my favourite bass singers ( Jeff Chapman ) was filling in for him.

They explained that Jeremy was at home ... his dad was on his death bed, and they felt it was a matter of hours....

That was Monday.

I honestly never thought about it again... until tonight... when the same group took the stage... Jeremy Lile was back with the group....

Incredibly...

His dad passed away on Wednesday..... the funeral was today.....

In spite of the fact that he'd been told he was free take as much time as he needed,
as soon as the grave side service was over, Jeremy and his wife drove all the way to Louisville Kentucky.... They arrived 45 minutes before taking the stage....

In the midts of all of that, they featured Jeremy on a solo song...

the sound of his voice.... the sadness in his eyes..... and the powerful message of the words... will show you why I love this music....

Listen to these words:

I picture you there where you wanted to be

Finding your chair and then taking your seat

At the table where the Marriage Supper is about to begin…

I imagine the banquet that’s waiting up there

That the saints of all ages together will share

How I dream of that moment when I’ll finally see you again

Chorus

And I know there’ll be millions of millions who’ve gone on before

And together we’ll sit down to feast with our Saviour and Lord

And I know you will be there looking for me

And I believe that somehow if you’re able….

You will save me a seat, right next to you, at the table

I’d love to be sitting right by your side

Holding your hand when the Bride Groom arrives

And then standing to our feet to worship as Jesus appears

I imagine our voices and sweet harmony

As we join in the chorus with all the redeemed

How the thought of forever helps me live life without you down here

And I know there’ll be millions of millions who’ve gone on before

And together we’ll sit down to feast with our Saviour and Lord

And I know you will be there looking for me

And I believe that somehow if you’re able….

You will save me a seat, right next to you, at the table

Please save me a seat, right next to you, at the table.

Here's a Youtube Clip of that night... what an incredible moment...Listen HERE

sigh.

just some pictures.....

2009-08-20T08:52:00.005-04:00

Coping with heat and Traffic

2009-08-15T14:22:00.002-04:00

so how do you cope ..... in a traffic jam..... with a car that has no air conditioning???

Airing Dirty Laundry.....

2009-08-11T20:21:00.004-04:00

I don't normally air dirty laundry...... in fact, almost never!!

But I do enjoy when others do !!!!

Taylor spotted this sign on the way home from the Jays game Sunday

it made us laugh!!!

Sweet Sixteen - Happy Birthday Abby !!!

2009-07-27T11:29:00.019-04:00

Sixteen years ago today…

T’was Nineteen Ninety Three….

A precious gift arrived to us…

Your mother… yes, and me…

Twas such a tiny gift, you know

All cradled in my hand….

That God could make this tiny thing.

A precious baby grande.

Amazes me, e’en to this day;

How wonderful God’s plan

For on that day so long ago

Your precious life began.

A little sister, you became

For Anna, and T-Mac…

and oh the joy you brought us…

sigh

my memories go way back….

We named you Abby, that’s not news!

But let me clarify….

I’ll try to not be shallow

As I share the reason why!!

We saw it in a movie…

Goodness gracious, that’s so lame!

Cause giving names to babies

Surely’s not a silly GAME!

But really it was not

a shallow game we played that day….

Because the meaning of your name

Lives out in you each day!

For God knew then ,and we know now,

Just why we chose your name….

Twas not a movie star or theme

Though special just the same…

It’s who you are.... Miss Abbigail

You ARE who you are named…

You are a “Source of Joy,” you know

And this I’ve oft proclaimed.

You’ve often been the glue that kept

This fam-i-ly intact

Its hard to think you’re able

Since some think you’re just plain CRACKED!

But know this, on your special day

How much to us you mean

You are a special source of joy!

My baby….Sweet Sixteen!

I love you Tigger,

When You Come Home

2009-07-20T00:19:00.002-04:00

When You Come Home
By Mark Schultz

My first day of recess
They all laughed at me
When I fell off the swing set
And scraped up my knee

The nurse called my Momma
To say I'd be late,
And when she gave me the phone
I could hear Momma say
"I'm so sorry, son.
Oh I think you're' so brave"

And she was smilin when she said:

When you come home,
No matter how far,
Run through the door
And into my arms
It's where you are loved,
It's where you belong
And I will be here
When you come home

I waved good-bye through the window
As I boarded the plane,
My first job in Houston
Was waiting for me

I found a letter from Momma
Tucked in my coat
And as I flew down the runway
I smiled when she wrote:
I'll miss you, son,
You'll be so far away

But I'll be waiting for the day

When you come home
No matter how far,
Run through the door
And into my arms
It's where you are loved,
It's where you belong,
And I will be here
When you come home

Well, I don't think
She can hear you now,
The doctor told me
Your mother is fading,
It's best that you leave

So I whispered,
I love you
And then turned away.
But I stopped at the door
When I heard Momma say,
I love you, son,
But they're callin me away

Promise me before I go

When you come home,
No matter how far,
Run through the door
And into my arms;
It's where you are loved,
It's where you belong,
And I will be here
When you come home,
When you come home

you can hear the song here

eeny meeny miney mo

2009-07-12T23:11:00.006-04:00

For the last 5 years, I've bounced back and forth between two places...... home is a rented townhouse in Brantford...... WORK is either a room/board in Peterborough... or my parents in Belleville and sometimes my sister's house in Oshawa......

some Friday nights..... I am torn as to where I'll go home to.....

Every other weekend, I spend with my kids, so that one is a no brainer.... I head home.

But on the off weekends, sometimes I have farm appointments booked for the Saturdays.... and sometimes I just stay at my folks house and do paperwork from their basement....

Often, I don't fully decide where I'm gonna go until I've reached my last stop for the day.....

and when I get back into my car, I have to choose:

do I go back to Belleville..... or do I fight Toronto traffic on a Friday night and go to Brantford....

I usually let the GPS decide.... which ever is the shortest trip, that's what I pick.....

Friday night, my last stop was a farm at the North end of Pickering....... I wasn't sure whether I'd fight Toronto traffic and go to Brantford, or just go back to Belleville, sleep there and go home Saturday.......

so I did what I always do..... checked the GPS ...... Here's how helpful it was............

The Trip To Brantford :

I'd arrive home at 8:23 PM

The trip would take 1 hour & 51 minutes....

Total Distance - 155 kms

The Trip To Belleville :

I'd arrive there 8:28 PM

Trip would take 1 hour & 56 minutes....
Total Distance - 155 kms....

no REALLY!!!!!

Sigh...

2009-07-04T05:15:00.002-04:00

Remembering Uncle Doug

2009-06-26T22:52:00.009-04:00

My Uncle Doug died today.....he was 82.

it is a sad day for our family......

Uncle Doug was my mom's oldest brother.

I have 3 uncles....
My dad is an only child so all my uncles are on mom's side.....

I was close with all three uncles but my Uncle Doug and I had a special bond....

I'm not sure if it was his appreciation for the Montreal Expos.... or his prowess at Ping Pong.... or just the fact that he made me laugh... All I do know is that there is a sadness in my heart and in the heart of my family tonight....

I have many many fond memories of visiting at Uncle Doug's house in Huntingdon and spending time at their cottage...

We lived about 3 hours from Uncle Doug, growing up, and when we moved to Ontario, we were still about 3 hours.....

I recall many times when they would come to visit for a weekend.....either in Randboro or in Belleville.....

Nearly every time they would visit, we would usually end up shopping somewhere.... well the ladies would be shopping.....Uncle Doug would sit on a bench in the mall and do a cross word!!!

Here's a blog post from last May when they came to visit....

and this is a link to the facebook album with more pictures

Uncle Doug and mom have always had a very special bond.....
There is a special bond with an older brother and his little sister....

I know....

In the last while, Uncle Doug would call often to check up on Mom...
When mom got sick last year, Uncle Doug started calling nearly every day, to keep in touch with mom.... it was sweet to see ....

For all of his tough outer shell, Uncle Doug was a great big softie.....

a sentimental tender side that I have loved and will miss!

For all of the laughs and shopping trips and wonderful memories, Uncle Doug.... we thank you...

You are loved.... and will be sorely missed.....

Happy Birthday Carol

2009-06-25T10:00:00.002-04:00

A special day in history
This 25th of June
I’d rather write a poem
Than to sing a birthday tune!

A favourite verse of Scripture
Cause I’m SPURTUAL, don’tcha know…
Is in the book of Proverbs….
Just which verse I do not know

I guess I’d better look it up
I dare not be obscure
It’s found in Proverbs seventeen.
Which verse, I’m STILL not sure

But here’s the verse, in NIV
King James is not as clear
You’ll realize just why I love
This verse and hold it dear.

Proverbs 17:17 (New International Version)
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.

I took this verse to heart, you know
A “Calling” it became
I just would be a BLESSING
Is my true and honest aim!!!

But lest you think me shallow
Now the truth I must admit
I’m only really teasing you
And now I’d better quit!

And tell you why I wrote this rhyme
On this your special day
To tell you that I love you
In a loving brother way!

I rarely take the time to say
Just what you mean to me!
So here in blue and white are words
For all the world to see….

I love you…. And I’ve forgiven mom for not bringing home the brother that I’d asked for….

She made up for that 5 years later anyway!!!!

You truly are a wonderful sister… you have come to my rescue many many times, and I will never forget that….

I have such incredible memories of travelling and singing together ( you’re right… the 80’s was our time!! )

And I miss those days!!!

I hope you have a wonderful birthday……

I love you lots!!!!!!!!!!!

Paul

Dad

2009-06-21T09:36:00.009-04:00

The busier life gets, the fewer times I tell you how much you mean to me.....

I mean, we're men... we're supposed to be macho... and hugging and saying I love you isn't what some people call macho.

But the fact is... we do hug... every time I leave, you hug me....

and you DO say I love you.... I'm glad that you don't hide behind macho!

Thank you for being my dad....

Thank you for raising me in the nurture and admonition of the Lord... and for your consistent example...

Thank you for coming to every band concert that I ever played in as a kid.... some of those were PAINFUL .... but thank you!

Thank you for helping deliver all those boxes of oranges and grapefruit that the "band" sold....

Thank you for letting me bring my friends over to visit at our house.... Thank you for making your home a haven for me... and my family and our friends....

Thank you for being faithful .... in business, in life, and in your relationship with God.

Thank you for the integrity you show....

Thank you for never smoking.... Mom's lungs thank you for that too!!

Thank you for being faithful at going to church... you amaze me that way!

Thank you for coming to watch me play hockey as a kid.... and for picking me up after school when I missed the bus... or stayed late to skate out behind Bailey's meat market.....

Thank you for picking me up after school every Friday at Galt and taking us to McDonalds.... those are such fun memories!!

Thank you for picking me up every Friday at Centennial so I could bring the tuba home... and for taking me back Monday.... thank you for never complaining with that "blaattting" going on downstairs.....

Thank you for moving us to Ontario... not that it is better here than anywhere else, but when you gave up your home and your comfort zone to seek out a better future when your job was being threatened, it showed how much your family was a priority. Thank you for not being afraid to pack us all up and move to a very unknown future....

Thank you for encouraging me to sing... and to play the tuba... thank you for helping to pay for that tuba.... thank you for letting me store it in your basement!!!

Thank you for the many times you've filled my car with gas.....

Thank you for the countless hours you spent helping at the farm ... way back when. Thank you for helping me move all those times....

Thank you for letting me store all that stuff in your garage in Shannonville....

Thank you for coming to my rescue so many times when I needed a shoulder to cry on...

Thank you for loving my kids as if they were your own....

Thank you for not judging me when my life turned out different than we all hoped it would.....

Thank you for encouraging me to work hard... and for doing so by example....

Thank you for loving mom the way you do.... I admire you so much!!

Happy Father's Day Dad !!!

I love you !

Death is not Dying

2009-05-28T20:58:00.001-04:00

this is very moving......

http://deathisnotdying.com/

Rachel's story is not unlike what thousands of people around the world have experienced. A diagnosis that changes a person's life and inevitably takes from her what we consider to be most precious.

After four and a half years of vigilantly fighting breast cancer, the 37 year old wife and mother of two was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

But for Rachel the essence of life is found in her relationship with God through Jesus. And that's why Rachel is convinced that death is not dying.

THIS is her story

Cherry Blossom

2009-05-16T15:45:00.004-04:00

There's a beautiful tree next door to my place... that sheds it's pretty pink blossoms....

In the wind and the rain this weekend, the pink leaves have lined the grass around the complex here.... and I LOVE the look of it!!

Happy Mother's Day Mom !!

2009-05-10T09:59:00.008-04:00

Sometimes words can feel so insignificant..... they are an attempt to convey truly what you mean to me.......

It hardly seem its possible
that Mother's day is here....
it seems like only yesterday
t'was mothers' day LAST year

This year has been a tough one
as we watched you struggle through
so many ups and downs;
that really are not fair to you.

In spite of all the struggles
every hurt or every pain....
I find it quite amazing
that you never do complain!

You attitude's incredible
it's always positive
and even if you're hurting
from your heart you always give.

Your sense of humour, still intact
is such a gift from God
you make me laugh and often too,
and that I find quite odd!

Cause when I hurt and suffer,
or am feeling kind of bland....
I go and hide and keep the world
at bay! I'm SUCH A man!

But you are always chipper
and you make us feel upbeat
in spite of all you're coping with
you've stayed up on your feet!

So on this special day for moms
I tip my hat to you
though words seem insignifcant
I hope the truth shines through

To tell you just how much you're loved;
how MUCH you mean to me
and thank you for encouraging
and praying oft for me.

I pray that God will build you up
and as you've done for me
That He will bring encouragement
and bring it endlessly!

From the bottom of my heart....

Happy Mothers Day Mom....

I love you very much

Fire Hydrants in Tweed

2009-05-02T09:41:00.006-04:00

One of the more boring tasks of my job is to confirm the location of fire hydrants.... I was in Tweed yesterday .... and did not happen to see Elvis, by the way..... anyway, I saw some pretty neat fire hydrants.....

Some though.... were downright offensive!!!!

An expenisve hobby

2009-04-30T23:39:00.005-04:00

Taylor and I saw this boat yesterday in Bowmanville.... on it's way from the factory in New Brunswick to the Toronto Harbour......

When we saw this angle, my first thought was.... HOW MUCH FUEL DOES THAT THING TAKE, I WONDER......

So I walked over and asked the guy filling it....

How much does it take to fill this thing?

A LOT was all he would say...

I waited til he was finished... and clicked a picture....

$490.91 ..... ay yi YI !!!

This is the owner ..... walking in to pay for the fuel..... he seemed to be a lot lighter when he came back out!!!

World Traveller

2009-04-23T12:12:00.000-04:00

Yup................ I've arrived!!!

Leftovers

2009-04-21T10:01:00.002-04:00

In February 2006, at the 56^th Berlin International Film Festival, Filmakers were invited to join a Short Film Competition on the Theme: FOOD, TASTE and HUNGER.

3600 Filmmakers from around the world joined the competition

Only 32 films were chosen to be screened at the Berlinale Talent Campus….

This film topped the competition and was judged Most Popular Film.

If this doesn’t change your perspective….. then nothing will.....

It's a 6 minute film....

please.... watch.

Chicken a la Carte

Ice Road Truckers

2009-04-19T22:36:00.014-04:00

So I've become very fascinated in the last week or so, with a program on the History Channel...

it's called Ice Road Truckers....... for two months every winter, 3 diamond mines in the North West Territories bring in all of their annual supplies by truck ....

The roads are only open for 60 days..... The main road, in this show is just over 300 miles long... and it winds northeast from Yellowknife....

The road is 85% across frozen lakes.... and 15% across portages ... which are man made ice roads, across tundra..... bulldozers cut a path between the lakes, and then water trucks flood the paths and make it a virtual skating rink that trucks traverse....

The supplies are collected over several months, and stored in truck yards in Yellowknife...... From there, they are transported by truck ... in frigid temperatures..... the drivers at some points working and driving in 24 hours of darkness....

The task is mammoth......10,000 loads in 60 days....which works out to 4-truck convoys leaving dispatch every 20 minutes......

One of the diamond mines ( one is Tiffany's, one is Debeers, ) harvests 15 pounds of diamonds per day.... which is worth $4 million....The cash flow is staggering.

The truckers can earn a years' salary in 60 days.... but the risks are great...

The breakdowns are frustrating , very costly and can be life threatening if they break down somewhere along the lake .....

Sleep deprivation makes the risks even greater

This is an incredible show...

It's very very dangerous work.... and completely fascinating to watch......

If you have some time.... go to the history channel's website ( Click HERE )

Click on TV Shows and then from the drop down box, click Ice Road Truckers.... You can watch entire episodes from the first two seasons.....

sigh..... it's addicting!!!!

The roads are constantly flooded by water trucks.... in the end, the ice is much thicker on the "road" portion than any other spots on the lake..... the danger is if you go off the road, you could easily go through cause the ice is thinner off to the sides....

This is the sonar machine that measures the ice thickness

Cracks like this are a constant danger.....

Karine Blais

2009-04-16T23:45:00.005-04:00

Things I have learned lately......

2009-04-08T09:29:00.002-04:00

[1] Writing "Wood Stove Certification" exams, at my age.... is not nearly as easy as it was when I was younger....

[2] Drinking a lot of coffee to stay awake during Wood Stove Certification courses..... doesn't work... until you get home and get into bed... THEN it keeps you awake....

[3] There is VERY LITTLE good programming on tv late at night....

[4] SHAM WOW is on for only $19.95 and if you act NOW...... you will get a double offer.....

[5] Since men can't multi-task, ... doing laundry while trying to study for Wood Stove Certification exams.... is not a smart idea.....

[7] A Basket full of wet laundry that sits for two days..... is still a basket full of wet laundry

[8] iPods are not washing machine friendly

[9] iPod cases come out very clean after sitting for two days in a basket of wet clean laundry

[10] iPod cases, after two days of sitting in a basket of wet laundry .... DO dry out....
Socks..... do NOT

[11] iPod does not honour their warranty when you use MAYTAG AND STUPID in the same sentence.

[12] When laying in bed late at night being amazed at SHAMWOW.... one should not eat Jalapeno chips and rub their eyes.

[13] Neither should they pick their noses

[14] sigh....... gotta go... iPods are on sale this week

I have NO idea what this is...........

2009-03-26T20:00:00.002-04:00

Did you ever come across something in a drawer... or under your dresser..... that you have no sweet clue where it came from , or what it even IS for that matter??

That happened to me last week.... was cleaning up some stuff in my back room.....

and it's called that cause it IS my back room... I put stuff there that I rarely use... or in this case, something that I had no idea what to do with it....

do you have any idea what this is?????

Bah Humbug

2009-03-22T00:05:00.008-04:00

so .........I got some sort of virus on my computer againnnnnnnnnn.....

Know how I found OUT?????

Twice in 5 days, last week, in the middle of a marathon paperwork run, Rogers disabled my modem .....

TWICE....... ( did I say that??? )

because .........."a computer using my network" had a trojan virus.....I told the guy I have NEVER used a trojan .... he didn't think that was all that funny!

Anyway I had to have my work computer reformatted.... I took it on Wednesday this week..... and picked it up today.....

I found out later, much to my chagrin..... that it may or may not have been a virus on MY computer but on a computer that was using my network....

grrrrrrrr!!!!

I also found out on Friday last week that that my wireless router had reset itself as an unsecure connection..... so I went right out and bought a new router ..... I came home, set it up as a secure router so that no outsiders could use the connection without the password key.......

To further emphasize my point, when I left town on Wednesday to go inspecting, I shut the power off to the router......... I got home late last night and found out that my connection was UNSECURE AGAIN......

so I called Linksys tonight and found out that their wireless routers reset themselves if the router loses power... so all of my efforts to prevent hackers, only enabled them...

jeeeeeeeeeeeepers!!

So tonight, while watching a VERY LOUSY HOCKEY GAME..... I waited online with someone at Linksys tech support...... and had them help me re-configure my router, to never lose it's secure status, even if it does get unplugged... pfffff I could have done THAT on my old modem.....

sigh.....

When I got home with my newly wiped computer, I had to add all of the drivers back..... and my connection settings....

you can not believe how many things had to be reloaded/set up

-Download Adobe Reader
-Download a PDF creator
-Download Mazilla Firefox and set up all of the favourites
-Set up the VPN connection to log into the network at work
-Map the network drive for the inspection file server at work
-Set up the links ( in favourites ) to the evaluation sites for houses and barns...had to email the links to myself from the laptop for this one... jeepers!
-Reload Microsoft Office
-Reload my Scanner toolbox
-Reload the webcam
-Reload my printer
-Reload Messenger
-Reload Nero CD Burning software
-Reload ACDSEE photo viewing software
-Download the Apex house drawing software
- Transfer my address book to Outlook Express

I have yet to download iTunes..... and I'm presently trying to set up Outlook Express incoming and outgoing servers ... I am on hold for Rogers 24/7 technical support..... and at 12:22 AM after waiting patiently for 7 minutes at LEAST .... I have listened to this message replay itself every 11 seconds.....

Thank you for continuing to hold....all of our techincal support consultants are currently assisting other customers
Your call is important to us - Please Hold we will be with you shortly

DEFINE SHORTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I bet when they get to me, I won't be able to understand them anyway!!!

ok, I stand corrected..... Natalie at the New Brunswick Rogers Tech Support was VERY helpful, and ironically English was her mother tongue...

I thanked her for that......

and I did so with a paki accent!!!

made her laugh anyway!!

Happy Birthday Bruce!!

2009-03-09T13:12:00.002-04:00

Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
I'm immature yet
much older than you!

This short birthday rhyme
with sentiment true
is dripping with charm and
Best wishes for you....

The poem is cheesy
the thoughts hardly deep
My reason for writing
is cause I am cheap !!!

And being this honest
for me is quite hard:
I'm writing this poem
in lieu of a card!!

Many Happy returns!!!!

Good Morning Americans.... it's Friday

2009-03-01T08:40:00.007-05:00

for years, when my kids were little, we would listen to Paul Harvey...

I remember on many school mornings, driving them to school .... My fondest memory was on Friday mornings.... As 8:30 approached, I would start warning them to be quieter, and a hush would fall so we could all hear Paul Harvey's famous opening line on his Friday Morning News broadcasts.....

it always started the same way: Good Morning Americans.... it's Friday"

on Friday this week, Paul Harvey spoke those words for the last time....

Never again will a live ABC broadcast start with those words... Good Morning Americans... It's Friday....

nor will we hear his pointed thoughts, the "staccato" punctuation and smooth tone.....

and I will miss hearing ... " And NOW you know... the ressssssssssst of the story...

Paul Harvey died yesterday... at the age of 90 ... having broadcast on ABC radio for more than 50 years.....

His wife, whom her referred to ALWAYS as "Angel" died in May and they are now together again....

Somehow this morning, I envision a radio stream in Heaven..... that began with the words " Good Morning Americans....It's Sunday....

Cardboard

2009-02-22T01:22:00.000-05:00

This is very very cool.....

Cardboard Testimonies

Quote of the day.....

2009-02-07T10:37:00.000-05:00

I want the book of my life.... to not just be pictures of me!

author unknown

Football Schmootball

2009-02-02T14:05:00.003-05:00

so I'm not much of a football fan......

but I did watch the Superbowl last night.....

At some point this week, I got a virus on my desktop computer so while I was watching the football game, waiting for the commercials to come on,
I was fighting with an anti virus program, on the left, and had my laptop on the right.... and my feet up....

it was a unique kind of Superbowl party!!

Why we were late getting home tonight...

2009-01-29T21:01:00.003-05:00

Read

2009-01-29T13:40:00.000-05:00

Port Hope in the snow

2009-01-29T09:35:00.001-05:00

Grade 5 all over again

2009-01-22T23:46:00.002-05:00

I found this picture at Mom and Dad's today..... brings back some weird memories for me....

man it's hard to look back and wish I still looked young!! ugh!!

When I Cry.....

2009-01-12T10:46:00.003-05:00

After almost a full year without singing, I'm starting to sing again... a little bit....

this is one song that I'm learning.... it's a sweet song.... you can hear it HERE.

When I Cry

Makin' a list of all of the good things You've done for me
Lord, I've never been one to complain
But right now I'm lost and I can't find my way
My world's come apart and it's breakin' my heart
But it helps to know Your heart is breakin' too

When I cry, You cry, When I hurt, You hurt
When I've lost someone, It takes a piece of You, too
And when I fall on my face, You fill me with grace
'Cause nothin' breaks Your heart
Or tears You apart…Like when I cry

Alone in the dark, face in my hands, crying out to You
Lord, there's never been a time in my life
There's so much at stake, there's so much to lose
But I trust it to You
You'll bring me through
And it helps me to know that I'm not alone

When I cry, You cry, When I hurt, You hurt
When I've lost someone, It takes a piece of You, too
And when I fall on my face, You fill me with grace
'Cause nothin' breaks Your heart
Or tears You apart…Like when I cry

You're the one who calmed the raging sea
You're the one who made the blind to see
You looked through all of heaven and eternity
And through it all you saw me...

When I cry, You cry, When I hurt, You hurt
And when I've lost someone it takes a piece of You, too
When I fall on my face, You fill me with grace
Nothing breaks your heart, or tears you apart
Like when I cry

Hear the song HERE

Eyes only for Gramma

2009-01-06T16:24:00.002-05:00

My Mom

2008-12-20T19:40:00.001-05:00

Update on Mom

Yesterday was mom’s 70^th birthday … we celebrated in a small way, as the official family party is after Christmas when all the kids and grand kids can be there…

Mom went out for supper at Kelsey’s … and came home feeling good, at least that is what we assumed from what she said.

Around midnight, she complained of a large pain in her right shoulder… something she’d never felt before…. She took some Muscle Relaxants and went right to sleep….

But awoke around 3:15 or so…. She told dad that she was going to increase the oxygen … as she was having a hard time breathing.

( Mom has been on oxygen pretty much full time since May…. Her official diagnosis is

[ and please pardon the spelling ] Bronchiactis and COPD ….. scar tissue lines the lungs, making her lungs very weak and with a severe cough that often brings up blood…)

When the increase in oxygent didn’t work, she told dad that he had better call the ambulance as she was having a very difficult time breathing.

At 3:45 the ambulance arrived and gave her more oxygen with Ventolin … which didn’t seem to help. They took her to the Belleville General ER just before 4 am…..

They took her right in, though they made dad and I wait in the waiting room… it was hard for dad to just sit there, as you can imagine.

Shortly after they took her in, they did an X Ray and discovered the right lung had collapsed. They froze her right side, and inserted a tube into her lung….. Once the tube was in, the oxygen level went right back to normal….

This was at about 6 AM ….. and mom began to rest comfortably, able to breathe again.

Dad and I came home around 6:30 and by 7:55, dad went back to the hospital and stayed pretty much all day. He is home resting now. Bruce and his family and Carol and her family have been in several times today and we are going to all take shifts tonight staying in ER with mom so that she is not alone.

The prognosis at this point is this : the tube is inserted and is allowing the lung to function properly. They are going to admit mom as soon as a room is available …. They will monitor the tube for a couple of days, and then clamp it off…. And watch her again for a couple of days to see if the lung will function without the tube. They HOPE that she will be home in 4 or 5 days… we hope it will be before Christmas!

Mom is comfortable now, and has her twinkle and sense of humour still intact!!

We are a little anxious as to how well her lung will bounce back…. Without the tube, and are really hoping she can be home for Christmas.

Thank you for the many many who emailed and called and have been praying. I have very much felt comforted today and I know this is because of your prayers!

Thank you!

Rough Day......

2008-12-15T21:21:00.002-05:00

Footwear....

2008-12-14T00:14:00.003-05:00

I saw this truck in Hamilton last week... cracked me right up!!!

The Early Bird is an idiot.... pffffffff!

2008-12-13T14:52:00.003-05:00

so .... I started shopping early this year....

contrary to what everybody believes!! I have convinced most people that I haven't started yet when in actuality, i'm 95% done and have half of it wrapped already... so there!!

HOWEVER..... there is a draw back....

In late November I started.... and wrapped gifts as I brought them home... but no "tags" ... I didn't bother labeling them....which is fine when you have two gifts sitting in the corner of your office... you know exactly what you bought, what shape the box is and who it's for...

but by the middle of December when there's more boxes and bags in the corner, this uh... labellessness ( how's THAT for King James Version! ) is a little problematic...

Today I pulled a wrapped gift out.... and had NO SWEET CLUE what it was..... so I had to UNWRAP the blessed thing.... I was able to save the paper, but had to use half a roll of tape to cover my stupidity!

SO...... I went back through my gifts.. and ... since I STILL don't have any labels.... I am using Sticky notes til I can go and buy tags...

As I was finishing this morning, Anna walked into my office... spotted the sticky note with "ABBY" written on it.... and said.... " You have GOT to be kidding"

yup... nothing but class and HIGH SOCIETY here baby!

Tough times....

2008-12-13T10:12:00.003-05:00

I'm not a scrooge.... and I try to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn...

but....

there is a limit...

In a day when people are struggling to maintain their jobs and many many are worried sick about the future, I have a very hard time with THIS story .....

a baseball pitcher playing for Toronto, gave up the last 2 years of his contract in Toronto, where he would have earned TWELVE MILLION PER YEAR..... and has agreed to go play in New York for..... deep breath..... 16 1/2 million per year...

I don't care who you are.... it's not right.

Poor Little Kid....

2008-12-11T09:19:00.002-05:00

I was inspecting in Hamilton on Tuesday.... I was just coming off the 403 at Aberdeen... if you know that part of Hamilton, it's not residential ..... in fact, the only things there for about 4 or 5 blocks.... are the Camco plant and the Hamilton Spectator building......

As I was passing the large empty parking lot of Camco... I spotted a little kid on the side of the road..... looked like he was wearing a snow suit and a back pack....

I slowed..... he couldn't have been more than 4 .... and nowhere in sight could I see any cars stopped..... no adults with him.....

just him..... standing there all by himself ..... in the pouring rain....waiting..

My heart stopped..... I scanned again... no adults ..... no cars.. nothing.... WHO would leave a little child to walk around an area like this!!!!

As I frantically tried to change lanes to pull over, my windshield wiper cleared the rain and I could see a little clearer.....

and I laughed in spite of myself.....

it was a Fire Hydrant!!!

Delaney Osmond

2008-12-07T23:15:00.003-05:00

Please pray for Steve and Lisa Osmond and their daughter Delaney Osmond.... Delaney is 5 ... and was diagnosed with Leukemia on Saturday...

Delaney is a very close friend of my nephew Isaac.... seen in these picture....

Read more on my brother's blog

Some photos from this week.....

2008-12-06T12:47:00.000-05:00

THIS was very cool......... these are branches of a weeping willow tree in Welcome... North of Port Hope ...... the branches were blowing in the wind.... and dragging through a water saturated field..... the sitting water was on the verge of freezing.... and the air WAS .....

As the branches dragged through the water, and back up into the air, they were building up an ice cube just like a candle being repeatedly dipped into the wax.... it was very cool....

I took this picture while waiting at the door of a home, to do my first inspection.... by the time the inspection was done, the temperature had warmed up enough that the ice cub had fallen off... it was pretty neat!

This? needs no explanation!

Business must be a little slow!!!

This is down right annoying..... check out the GPS .... The blue line is the "ROUTE" that it is sending me..... This is in Port Hope .... and I was heading east on Jocelyn Street...

for whatever reason, DORA the Driver sent me on a detour through a residential area.... just to waste my time..... and to add to my anger issues... JEEEEEEEEEEEEPERS!!!

Montreal Bound

2008-12-06T00:24:00.004-05:00

I got a text from Abby this week ..... 3 words.... DAD CALL ME !!!

frantic, I called her.... she picked up on the first ring... and was nearly in tears......What Ab?? WHAT WHAT????????????????????

well.... here's the story.....

Several weeks ago, she joined the Montreal Canadiens Fan club ( I tried to join too but I was too old! ) ...... after walking to the mail box day after day after day, the club membership package finally came this week....

and in it, along with some wonderful Montreal souvenirs, was something very special :

Two general admission tickets to the Montreal Canadiens Open Practice on Sunday......

so the urgent text from Abby wasn't to tell me someone had died... or that anyone was in the hospital with a serious health issue... nor had there been a bad accident......

it was to tell me I was invited to go to Montreal with her !!

oh... .and I'm driving!

Her tears incidentally... were from excitement!!!

Today, Abby rode to work with her mom, and caught the GO TRAIN from Burlington, and I met her in Oshawa...... Tomorrow morning, we leave to go to Montreal.... we are hoping to take a tour of the Bell Center Saturday afternoon, and then watch the hockey game from the motel room ( which is about 2 blocks away from the arena ) ..... and if we have any energy left, we're going to walk over to the arena after the game..... and hopefully get some autographs.....

Sunday morning, the doors open at 8:30 .... we are going to watch Montreal practice, then head back home.....

It's a chance of a lifetime....... and we can't wait!!!!

Here is a Youtube Clip from last season's once a year open practice...

HOLY SMOKES!!!!

2008-12-04T22:26:00.003-05:00

This was tonight in Cobourg ..... incredible huh?!

Coalition

2008-12-03T22:51:00.001-05:00

Canada was stunned Monday when it was announced that The Stanley Cup will be awarded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, possibly as early as December 6th.

The cup will be stripped from the 2008 cup champion Detroit Red Wings and will be awarded to the Leafs, who didn't even make the playoffs.

How is this possible, Canadians ask?

Well, the Leafs have formed a coalition with eastern conference semifinalists the Montreal Canadiens, and conference quarter finalists the Ottawa Senators, now outnumbering the Red Wings.

According to current Leaf coach Ron Wilson "the Red Wings have lost the confidence of the league and should hand the cup over immediately to our coalition".

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is cutting short a European trip to try to resolve the unprecedented hockey crisis that could force a second playoff series, or see an opposing team coalition take the cup.

Global Warming.....

2008-12-03T11:44:00.001-05:00

well... Partial Global Warming.....

As you know, the sun's axis is tilted to the south... meaning that it is on the south side of center......

Which is why the south side of roof shingles curl before the north side.... and why the dew on the north side of the house dries slower than on the south side.... ( those little bits of information are free! )

anyway.... I saw this today near Castleton.... east of Cobourg..... The sun had passed and left a shadow on the north side of this fence.....

And it warmed up everything but the shadow...

What was left was this neat snow pattern.... way cool !!!

31 years ago today.....

2008-12-02T22:53:00.004-05:00

Have you ever heard the Kenny Rogers song... " Twenty Years Ago" ....? It's a really sentimental song..... which I love.....

Click HERE to hear it on Youtube

It`s been a long time since I walked
Through this old town
But oh how the memories start to flow
And there`s the old movie house
They finally closed it down
You could find me there every Friday night
Twenty years ago.

I worked the counter at the drugstore down the street
But nobody`s left there I would know
On Saturday mornings that`s where
All my friends would meet
You`d be surprised what a dime would buy
Twenty years ago.

All my memories from those days come gather round me
What I`d give if they could take me back in time
It almost seems like yesterday
Where do the good times go?
Life was so much easier twenty years ago.

I guess I should stop by Mr. Johnson`s hardware store
His only son was my friend Joe
But he joined the army back in 1964
How could we know he would never come back
Twenty years ago.

++++++++++++++++

..... 31 years ago today, we left a tiny little town like that.....

December 2, 1977 we moved from Randboro, Quebec to Belleville....

It was life changing for me....For all of us I think.....

We left Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, my grandparents who lived next door to us, and all our friends, and started a new life in Ontario....

For WEEKS before we moved, I would cry myself to sleep... every night..... sad that we were going, sad that we would no longer live next door to my grand parents.....

but in the ensuing years, God has proven over and over that, in spite of the sadness in leaving, that it was His plan for our life......

But every now and then, I have flashbacks of life back in Randboro...... mostly at Christmas time....When I hear Christmas carols, the Christmas memories that flash back are nearly ALL from Quebec....

I cherish those memories....

Mrs Johnson...

2008-11-25T23:57:00.000-05:00

so.... I met Mrs Johnson tonight......

I don't actually know who she is..... and I quite honestly didn't really MEET MEET her....

She called.....

I had barely gotten the word Hello out.....

and she started...

Hi Honey..... I'm going to be going right near you tomorrow on my way to Toronto.....maybe we could meet for coffee

and she paused .....

and my heart skipped a beat....

and I said....

uh............. I'm Paul ..... uh..... is it ME you were looking for?

and the phone got deathly quiet....

I'm SO sorry, she said.....

to which I replied...

oh... Don't be..... I haven't been called HONEY in a very long time.... I actually quite liked it!!!

she hung up before I could invite her over for coffee!!

I wish someone had told me.....

2008-11-25T18:19:00.009-05:00

I wish.... when I was shopping last week, that I had read all the labels......

I wish, when I was standing in the aisle.... putting things into my cart, that someone had told me that not all Stagg Chili is MILD.........

I wish that maybe the cashier might have noticed.... and said Paulllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll..... you can't handle stuff like that....

I wish someone..... ANYONE...... had taken the time to explain to me what the words DYNAMITE HOT means, when they are posted on the label of a can of chili

I further wish, that when I'd brought it home.... that maybe THEN i had read the label.......

and I ALSO wish that when I cooked it on the weekend, with my kids sitting in the room watching, that THEY might have told me....

Daddy..... you can't eat stuff that is that hot....

I wish that they'd told me...

sigh...but nobody did.... and I didn't notice.....

sigh.....

Now... I wish I had the appetite to eat something more than these!!

To quote Winnie the Pooh.... I've got a rumbly in my tumbly !!!!

Psalm 1:3

2008-11-23T21:49:00.002-05:00

He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

Volksbiken....

2008-11-23T13:27:00.002-05:00

I saw this way cool uh... motorwagen in a little town in Northern Ontario on Friday..... The best of two worlds...... or worst of two!!!!

Temagami Sunset

2008-11-22T07:37:00.003-05:00

God's Country

2008-11-19T15:25:00.003-05:00

I took the above picture out my front window in the little town of Raymond.... about 15 minutes west of Huntsville.......

The above picture is facing north....

the BELOW picture is taken at the same time... to the west out my side window....

Winter Wonderland

2008-11-17T22:42:00.003-05:00

Haven't seen THIS in a while.....

2008-11-15T01:18:00.000-05:00