Happy Friday

Long weekend here in Canada, Victoria Day.
Happy birthday Queen Victoria.
Thank you for the extra day off with pay.....

I just spent a week in England to be with my ailing Father and support my Mother, so at least I feel something towards England these days.
I'm going to get back under better circumstances soon.

My parents were on vacation when my Father had a massive stroke.
The English healthcare system has been wonderful, can't say as much towards the insurance companies.
They've been harassing my Mother this week, but thankfully my siblings are there right now.
We need a bed in Canada, near Toronto, ASAP.

Anyways my Father is slowly making progress, but has a long way to go. I tell you one thing, a stroke is nasty and can make a strong man mere mortal in seconds....

Happy everything!

Not trying to be politically correct, but it's past Christmas and all, so....

I've had the last 8 days off and I figured that I would post here a few times and work out a bunch and this and that, but I've no bloody time to do anything.
We started by having close friends over last weekend, then Sunday after shopping, the kid's godfather shows up. Nice to see him but give us notice. Actually he was real generous to our son and actually read his report card and had some interest.
Christmas Eve, mass and more guest after.
Christmas Day is what it is!
Boxing Day my son and I got up at 4:30am to go shopping for specials. He didn't get the game he wanted, but bought a router for 75% off and I bought a camera, phone, MP3 and a scanner, and saved about 50%..
Went to a party that night and was cold shouldered by a friends wife.(more on that later)
Thursday went to a movie, and then just before we purchased a ticket, a friend phoned.
so instead of a movie, my wife and I went for drinks and food and got home at 1:30am.
Last night was free, but this morning went out downtown and met my cousin for brunch. Got home at 4pm and after laundry and dinner, here I am!
Oh yeah, tomorrow a childhood friend of my wife is in town and they are meeting at the science centre. I got out of that one!
Busy busy busy.....

Friend's wife is moody anyways.
Last time we played hockey, we were talking about Christmas day and what we were doing. Since his father died a couple months back, I had more interest than usual. He casually asked me over for a drink, no strings.
I said if I had time, sure but no guarantees.
I ran out of time on Christmas day.
Soon as I walked into the Boxing Day party, I knew she was mad and I said sorry.
I went to my buddy and said the same and he was fine and we had a drink and bitched about The Leafs.
When they met, she was rude to me for about 3 years, before she was nicer.
I felt bad and now I don't because she doesn't deserve it.
My buddy does though...

October already!

Now that about ten weeks have past since I last blogged, I thought I'd try to get my average up alittle.

For some reason, I had problems accessing this account, but I somehow figured it out.

I just had my 19th wedding aniversary, yeah 19!
We went golfing one day and out for dinner another. Not too romantic, but it was on a Monday and it wasn't 20.
Next year, I want to go to Puerto Vallarta, it will be our 20th then.
I've been researching properties and prices recently, so I think we'll be able to go for a good price. And tequilla of course!
I love tequilla, straight up, yum yum.....

One reason I haven't been blogging is that my son does mega homework on this computer and my wife does her work here.
That and I've been facebooking lately.(crackbook) It's cool that it's so easy to keep in touch with high school friends and relatives.

I'm going to make an effort to blog once a week, honest.

Much ado about What?

In my efforts to improve myself, my better half suggested we see Shakespeare in the park.
My son and I kind of went along with the idea, though my son less, as he brought his book to read.
Really nice evening out, bring the lawn chairs, some beverages and we were set.
This play starts...........
What is this......
More importantly.....what are thay saying?
This is English?

I couldn't understand a freakin word of this, nor could my son. My wife said she understood, but I have doubts.
I grab the program to at least see the storyline.
People in the audience were laughing. What? They understood?
Then the actors were playing different parts, I figure just to screw with my head.
The first half finished and I heard people chatting of much they are enjoying it.

Second half starts, I understand alittle more, so I enjoy it alittle more.
I'm thinking sub-titles would be good.
I don't mention this to my wife, who is enjoying everything.
The play is over and I stayed awake.
So did my son.

I can understand one's appreciation with this art, but it's not for me.

Next day my wife says we should go to Stratford Festival next year and see a couple plays.
Maybe with sub-titles.

Details....

Well my weekend post just happen on Wednesday, again busy busy busy.......
Mexico in more detail....
We arrived on the Saturday around 1sh in the afternoon. They lost our luggage at the resort until almost dinner time. We were not impressed!
Luckily I told my family to wear a bathing suit under their pants so we could enjoy the outside world right away.
First day was sunny and around 90, very tough to take.
On Sunday we started to explore and realized that this place is huge. So large that they have a trolley system to get you around.
The resort has 3 main hotels and a hacienda. Ours was the oldest, but right on the beach and very central. Our room had a lovely view of the Caribbean Sea, which I made every effort to enjoy everyday.
On Sunday we really did just enjoyed the whole resort and the weather.
On Monday we went to the other hotel to enjoy their beach and bar. They had this bar that had swings for seats, and I used them.
We took side trips the Playa De Carmen, Xel Ha and the Tulum ruins.
Playa is a quaint town known for shopping about 20 minutes north of where we were staying. I enjoyed sampling all the beer that I could not get at the hotel.
Xel Ha is a natural water park, snorkling and stuff like that. That was a good day!
Tulum ruins was interesting, but the beach there was gorgeous. That day we there it rained all morning at the resart and was hot and sunny at the ruins.
The beauty of where we stayed is that we could take the local buses to get to these places and it cost very little. Organized excursions from hotels are costly.
The food was good most of the time.
My son now likes sushi and lobster, nice $$$$$$
It rained half a day and 1 evening and the weather never got under 83ish.
My son and I loved it and would go back in a second. My wife thought it should be warmer and probably wouldn't go back.

I'll write more about it later....

Home and tan all gone!

Go home last Saturday from Mexico and have been busy ever since. Will write more on the weekend and will even visit other blogs.
My son and I had a blast and my wife, well........
The weather was good except one day and one evening, but rain and 85 is better than Toronto in January.
This place was huge and beautiful, abit too big.
Will explain more in detail on weekend!
Off to bed...

Little time till Christmas

My son and I went out yesterday shopping for his mother/my wife.
Everything was successful and we actually had a good time in the mall.
Crowded, but we seem to fit just in between the cracks and the line ups weren't that bad.
The parking lots were the worse, as people get behind the wheel of a car and they get instant stupid, or as my Father say's "another brain fart."

Then last evening went to this friends of the family Christmas party and had a good time. It might be their last one as the lady who is pushing 70, finds it too much stress and work.
It's funny, her hubby of 49 years is loaded and always wants this party, but does little of the work. He could have it catered no problem, but he insists that "they" do it.
How loaded?
Next year it's their 50th aniversary and he's taking all four of his grown children and spouses to a Caribbean cruise for a week. Minimum 3 grand a person!
The last cruise he tto with his wife was in Asia and it cost over 30 grand.

I would like to start having a annual Christmas party around now for a few friends, relatives and neighbours so if they cancel theirs I might do it in some similar form. Next year of course. And with my wife's approval.
Anyways Christmas is only 8 days away, yahoo....

Fresh and positive

Well my wife finally has gotten rid of her hangover. Saturdy night to Tuesday morning beats my record. I don't think our son is scarred over this and I don't think he wants to drink anytime because of her.

My neck is alot better today, but I still didn't play hockey. I figured 1 jolt and I'm screwed and I can't work with that much discomfort.

I was talking to a guy at work today, 37ish and the "flow" problems he was having.
Enlarge prostrate was one of the main problems. He's on medication for that now, after having it examined.
He said that wasn't that big of a deal compared to the probe they stuck up his uretha.
Never does he want that to happen again, along with the pissing of razor blades.
Sucks getting old sometimes.

Haven't got anything for my wife for Christmas, nor have I got any idea what to get her.
She wants perfume but we're going away in less than a month and buying it duty free will be about half price.
Thought about a necklace, but were on a $100.00 bdget.
I may be screwed!

Happy November

Wow, it's already November, where did the summer go?

Tuesday I had my follow up from my physical, and everything is fine! I just have to lose some weight, again!

I heard a commercial on the radio about hearing loss. I'm not joking! Why? I can understand it on television or in print, but on the radio?

I had a meeting with my pension representative this week. Good news is that eventually I'll be able to retire. Bad news, it's going to be in a couple of decades.

It's been almost two months since I had any beer, you know the weight thing. I've lost eleven pounds and I'm down to around 223. I figure I'll be around 215 for Christmas and the same for our trip to Mexico.

I've asked around and the concensus is that the place we're staying in Mexico is nice. Ten weeks away! I'll be drinking beer by then!

Getting old

After my last blog, I've decided to make a short blog about getting old.
Eye appointment because I need bifocals.
Physical because of those damn lumps and prostrate has to get checked because I'm older than forty and my Grandad died of this disease.(at age seventy-eight)
Orthotics because all those years of pounding my feet and legs took from being overweight and doing alot of sports.
Dentist, because I never looked after my teeth when I was younger and now those silver fillngs have to be replaced with inplants, crowns and white fillings.

It took me two full days to recover from my golf outing and I never even drank too much. American friggin beer even!
And now I'm going to wake my wife up from one of her rare naps now because she was in a early morning golf tournament.

At least when I got my haircut today, my hair was hardly grey and was full on top.(all natural I might add)

I guess getting old is better than the alternative!

Guy's weekend

Though a few days have passed, I thought I'd outlined my weekend with my son, minus the lasy of the house.

First was off the the video store, dvd's to be rented and it was a war theme . Movies that Mom wouldn't let son watch.
Then off to KFC to buy food(?) that Mom wouldn't let son eat.
We got home and ate in front of the tv.(again not allowed)
Saturday morning watched second movie until noon. Luckily the weather was not great so staying inside was allowed.
No beds being made, that's my rule.
Saturday evening went to friends house whose leading lady was also at same cottage.
Steak for Dads, hamburger for kids. Video games were also allowed.
Then we all went to Pirates 2, with Johnny Depp. Good but too long!
Sunday morning was raining so we watched 3rd movie during breakfast.
Afternoon cleared so we went to golf 9 holes and clouds to the west were almost black.
So driving range was all we could do.
Went to Chapters and kid bought a book.
Came home and started dinner and the lady came home.
House was cleaner than when she left and a roast was in the oven.
She didn't have a great time.
Too bad, my son and I did.

Just wondering!

A few things in life that make me wonder and ponder and maybe a few other things.
Why is it that when I was a teenager I never got zits, yet right now I have this huge one on my nose?
Why do women pluck their eyebrows, and then pencil them back in?
I'm listening to Michael McDonald right now on PBS. Why is it he sounds decent as a solo act and completely sucks as a member of The Doobie Brothers?
Why would someone cut a truck off only to turn a hundred yards down the road?
Why do we as Canadians complain about the weather in July when it is going to be minus 3 in about 15 weeks?
Why do people say beer tastes better in the summer? It's good all the time!
Why are all the fun things in life seem to be bad for you? Example: food and booze!

Side note: I poured myself a rum and coke this evening and realized it's my Father's last drop of rum from when he quit drinking a couple of years ago.
It tastes good as usual, but it seems alittle lonely. I usually have a drink with my father when he is in town, but since his heart problems he quit cold turkey.
He needed to quit and he is healthy and my mom is happy as well!

I'm back!

I've been on a self imposed exile for two reasons.
One, every night I've been trying to exercise on way or another instead of sitting here on my fat ass. Walking or biking at least 5 times a week with throwing in a game of hockey around 3 times a month. Lost around 5lbs and I can still eat pretty well what I want. (I've cut vasts amount of sugar out of my diet)
Two, I've felt I haven't had alot to say in a positive manner, so I didn't write. No sugar, pissy mood!

A few things about me that you may or may not know:
1) I can burp anytime I want. My son can fart anytime he wants. It's a gift that only a guy could understand and appreciate.
2)I have more restrictions in my life now than I did when I was growing up. My wife told me I was wrong.
3)I wear size 12 shoes
4)I have hazel eyes
5)Though I love hard rock music, I like dance music. Not to listen to in my truck or car, but at a party or a bar with friends.
6)I can't listen to The Rolling Stones anymore. Sell outs!
7)Same with Zeppelin and The Who.
8)Lately I've had this minor thing for red headed ladies.
9)I've only ever gone out or married brunettes my entire life.
10)I can't drive a boat.
11)It seems everytime I wash my car, it rains.
12)I've been so broke, I had to sell my first home.
13)I didn't like that house anyways.
14)I've told a owner/boss to go "F" himself in front of a whole office staff and I didn't get fired.
15)I don't think I would do that again.

Sunday in June

I woke up at 6am this morning, then lied in bed till around 7am listening to my wife's breathing.
Peaceful!
Then I went downstairs, made a coffee, went out to the front porch and read the newspaper for and an hour and a half.
The quiet was wonderful!
It seems like the simple things in life can be so grand.

We watched Electra starring Jennifer Garner this weekend. An older dvd(I had a free coupon) that had lots of action and typical cliches',but a scantily clad Garner made the decent movie much more watchable.
I don't know what it is about her, but she is like the girl next door, but not movie star gorgeous.
She is a good actress though, her tv show is good, though I've only seen it a few times. It's too bad she is married to Ben, one of the most over-rated actors of this generation.

I bought a cd last weekend from Jack Johnson, called "In Between Dreams." I haven't stopped listening to it in my car for a week now.
Mellow, bluesy, acoustic, beachy and maybe alittle jazzy could be a way of describe it.
I'd recommend it!

Expensive week

I'm driving to hockey on Tuesday afternoon, you know when it was 35 degrees celcius. I'm stuck in alittle traffic when I look down at the guage and it says hot.
I look at the hood and nothing and I keep driving and hoping.
No luck, I overheat on the 401 in Toronto at rushhour.
After getting a tow an hour and a half later I get the car to the dealership.
My wife picks me up at this place and takes me home.
At this point I'm hot and drained and I need cool.
I get home the the cental air is not working. 3 friggin years old and it's blowing room temp.
I not impressed!
Somehow my karma is F'ed up!
Breath deep...........breath deep.........
Think positive......think positive.......
Ok I feel alittle better.
Next day I get the news on the just paid for vehicle.
Thermastat and fan motor.
$$$$$$$$$$$$
Then we find out that the A/C parts are covered, but we would have to wait a week.
They said between 8 and 4, so my wife had to wait all day for this.
Peckerheads!
I need some positive news and karma in my life right now, so I'm purging all evil and negative thoughts out of my head.
No more peckerhead thoughts.
In laws are wonderful.
Yoga ladies from weekend out of my head.
Boss are good guys.....
Now everything will be wonderful.
Thanks for listening

Man it's hot!

35 celcius today, and really humid.
No complaints just yet, but the Toronto Transit Commission went on a wildcat strike today and left 800,000 riders to fend for themselves. Needless to say traffic sucked!

On the weekend we went to my cousin's party in Toronto. She had to get another apartment because the couple who owns these dwellings sold to a developer, so she had a eviction party.
Cousin is a single lady in her late 30s who happens to be a yoga instructer and massage therapist. So are her friends so most of her guests were healthy looking and flexible.
A single man would have been in his glory, but they weren't there.
Then at the end, they complained about all the jerks in the dating world and there seem to be a shortage of good men.
I disagreed for obvious reasons.
The landlords property taxes for his two properties is over 20,000 dollars and going up, so that's why he decided to sell.
To bad, they are in a beautiful area in the city and my cousin really likes it there.

Golf

We went to this quaint 9 hole course with our son and his friend yesterday at 5:30 in the afternoon.
Beautiful day around 17 celcuis, sunny and alittle wind.
Also a bonus was that it wasn't crowded at all, especially since that my son is new to golf and my wife is a slow golfer.
We're golfing the 7th hole (taking about 2 hours and 15 minutes at theis point) when the dude who runs this place drives over to us and says we're taking too long and we're holding him up.
Excuse me!
After him messing up my chip shot, I'm thinking this guy has a course that's empty on a beautiful evening in a year where we have had alot of rain.
We told him we didn't think there was a time limit on a empty course and we would finish the last two holes.
The next tee shot, I drove it about 5 feet from the hole.
The frigging nerve of the guy.
If you want to get home, then get out of the service industry.
You rotten bastard, you upset my kid and my wife and made me miss a easy chip shot.
Not going back for a while and I will tell about 50 people my experience.
Ha ha!

We have a long weekend going on right now, Victoria Day.
I know little about Queen Victoria, except what we read about her in the newspaper, but I would like to thank her for my paid "off day."

Why am I in here?

Saturday afternoon and it's nice out and I'm in here blogging.
Why?
They've been calling for rain all afternoon so I decided to have a power nap after lunch, then I wake up and it's nice still.
I'm going for a walk soon.
And I feel much better.

What's better than a game hockey with the regulars on Tuesday?
Free hockey, free beer and free food with the company you work with on Wednesday.
The only problem was that it was on an olympic size rink and being old, fat and slow, it really doesn't suit my style. I had fun though.
One guy I work with brings his two grandsons to play. One a goalie and the other a big, quick kid around 20 years old. I couldn't catch him on the large ice so during one play I decided to playfully tackle him. He fell on my stick and it broke in half. And to make it worse my back up stick cracked in the final moments, so I have to find 2 cheap sticks so I can play on Tuesday with my buddies.

This is a typical conversation with my wife:
Her, "I have no clothes!"
Me, "then why do you a a closet full then?"(she does)
"I don't know, maybe I'll clean up what I don't wear."
"If you need clothes then buy them."
She cleaned her closet out and now I'm going to pay.
That's alright!

My Hockey Game

I played like complete crap this evening.
I couldn't even trip and hack properly!
At least I was invited to a golf tournament in June.
But I play golf worse than I play hockey.
At least I can drink while I golf.
At work I was asked if I wanted to play on a soccer team this summer.
Hhhhhmmmmmmm........
I'm fat, so why would they want me.....
Last guy picked syndrome.
Maybe I'll play.
If their invite was a joke, then wait till they see me play.

One of my favourites

1994 in the spring, at a hospital in Toronto.
Was in the delivery room and was told to leave because they had to do a emergency c-section. Mil was there and she is a nurse so it was reassuring that she said it would be alright.
20-20 hindsight, I was kind of glad not being there, I had a really weak stomach for blood.
Anyway in the waiting room for the duration with my Mom and mil.
The're yapping away and I'm nervously pacing the hallways.
One asks if we picked a name, which we did on the way to the hospital.
They then ignored me and started yapping again.
About 1 hour had passed, but it seemed like forever.
The nurse that kicked me out walked by and I flagged her down.
"Well what did we have?"
She would of walked right by if I didn't get her attention.
She told me a healthy boy, 8lbs 3oz and they would bring him out in a few moments as they had to clean him up.
As my wife was completely out in recovery, I was the first to hold him.
They brought him to me and the first thing I thought of was "I have to hold a baby."
I then held him and looked at him, he looked exactly like me.
A tear welled up in a eye and a big lump in my throat.
Wow, love can be that strong.
I found out that holding your own baby is easy, as is being a parent.
My wife had a rough first week or so and a slow physical recovery to get to her somewhat normal self.
That baby is now my almost 12 year old it manager and almost the same height as his mother.
Oh yea, he still looks like I did at that age.