Cold Irony

With the temps around town hovering around 0 it was still cold at the rink last night. I went straight from work to Delaney so I didn't have the Arctic gear on but never considered it would be colder inside. The rink attendant had the heaters on over the screaming hockey moms but not the penalty box. You'd think the bills for heating the rink came out of his pocket. They better be on high Friday as I'm on the clock for 9 straight hours.

Someone at our local paper has a sense of humour. The continuation of the story regarding the mayor's rosy state of the city address is subtitled "City On the Fast Track". Next to it is the coverage of "Call Centre Closing" and the loss of another 190 jobs. When the call centres and the sex shops close you know things aren't quite that rosy.

Canada's Game, Play It

Seems to me that Team Canada was good for the last 4 minutes of the gold medal game when they threw caution to the wind and desperation took control. Prior to that they played a game that was timid, over disciplined and definitely not the style of game we have come to expect or more accurately, demand. Do you remember even one big hit, that tone sending crunch that might result in a penalty but surely sends the message to keep the noggin up? Me neither. Remember the guy who got Phaneuffed in '05? Sure you do. Remember when Sweden's hot defenseman Hedman got hit early in a game against Canada and then developed an allergy to the puck? Me too. Canada has to play Canada's game Canada's way or we're just another bunch of Ovechkin wannabes trying to toedrag our way into the spotlight. How many times did you yell "shoot the puck" or "hit the GD net"? I lost count. Too cute and not enough grit. That's my two cents.

Choices

Imagine if as voters we had as many good choices in any level of government that Steve Yzerman and his crew had when selecting Team Canada.

Call Me

I came home from the rink after 3 1/2 hours and was tired. Every player's parent was given a personalized schedule for this weekend last Saturday. Those missing were all contacted. I must have had 1/3 call or email wondering when they practiced next. Everything fell into place as we secured a 6th goalie and the last player that had to be moved up did so without a fuss. I had a long time coach storm out because there's no team for him as he refuses to work with anyone else. The flu has about 10% of the kids at home so evaluating is difficult.

I put a pan on the stove with some olive oil to brown Italian sausage for sauce to go with pasta. As the element heated up I checked my email. We all know what happened next. I went back to a room full of smoke. I opened the windows and then grabbed a chair as the smoke detector went off. I was surprised that the ADT fire alarm didn't make any noise, "have to get that tested," I thought. I put a fan in the kitchen window and got back to supper and then the fire alarm went off. I hit 'silence' and put in the bypass key. Minutes later a fire crew was at the door. My neighbour from across the street came next as Sal had called there. ADT had called her sister at the club who called her at work and she called the neighbours thinking I wasn't home. Then Jen called because her friend who lives across the street had seen the pumper's light show.

I get so many phone calls that I don't want, why couldn't they just have called here instead of letting the world know I was having a bad day.

I Wouldn't Have Believed This One

July?

For the second time all summer? the weatherman was right. It was 4 degrees this morning when I hit the road for work. Our furnace was on to prove it. Back in the groove km-wise today. Hopefully Mr. Meterologist will be batting his usual .100 and be wrong about the rain.

But You Still Have to Push It

A few years ago we needed a new lawn mower and I got an old-school push mower. Everybody complained that it didn't work and that it was too hard to use so I broke down and got an electric mower so that they could help out. I grew up with gas mowers (my dad is thinking how I grew up watching gas mowers, not necessarily using them) and despise dragging cords around the yard. The funny part? is I'm still using the push mower. Anyone want to buy an electric mower?