I just wanted to take a quick moment to wish those of you who frequent Bundy's Blog a very Happy New Year for 2007.
Like me, I hope you're all getting better with age. We just find a few more hairs in some different places.
I look forward to posting more thought's and musings in the 2007 and I hope you keep visiting.
Thanks!
Bundy
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Bundy's Look Back at 2006
The past year wasn't the most memorable...or was it? I'm sitting here typing this and trying to think about the different events and moments that took place this year that are worth looking back on. Let me see what I can think of and we can decide together if it's worth remembering these things.
The FIFA/World Cup Snore-fest took place in 2006. I still can't figure out how soccer became the most watched sport in the world. It just goes to show you how many mentally unstable people live on this planet. I'm kidding of course but until they allow body checking, fighting and shrink the field, I'll stick to watching other sports for my entertainment. I have to admit that at least the head butt by Zinedine Zidane was fun to watch.
JonBenet Ramsey's killer was finally found and he admitted doing it. They he denied doing it and was released. So I guess that story is still looking for a conclusion.
Our suspicions about Belinda Stronach being a sleazy home wrecker along with being a sleazy politician were confirmed when we found out she was sleeping with a then happily married Tie Domi. I don't know what's worse, the fact she got horizontal with the ugliest man in professional hockey or....no...actually that's bad enough.
Kim Jong Il proved he's also mentally ill when he decided to contaminate some underground real estate in North Korea by testing some nuclear bombs and guaranteeing a spot on Santa's Naughty List.
Saddam Hussein was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging for crimes against his own people...namely killing a whole crap load of them. His family reunion with his sons can't happen soon enough.
Cindy Klassen became the latest Canadian Olympic sweetheart after winning a fist full of medals at the Turin Winter Olympics in Italy. She was also the winner of the Lou Marsh as Canada's Top Athlete in 2006. While I respect her and applaud her for her success...I don't think she deserved the Lou Marsh award. That clearly should have gone to Tie Domi. Come on, he slept with Belinda Stronach for crying out loud.
Bill Gates retired. I hope he has enough money in his pension to survive.
Dancing With The Stars was one of the most popular television shows in recent memory. What the hell has happened to TV? Someone give them a shake and wake them up, and while they're at it, bring back WKRP in Cincinnati and Baywatch.
Paris Hilton was still wearing as little as possible and keeping herself in the entertainment news. What has she done other than being born into a very wealthy family and star in a home porn video. Actually...it was an impressive movie.
Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" Irwin was tragically killed in an underwater attack by a stingray. I don't know what was more shocking about this...the fact he was killed or the fact he wasn't killed by a crocodile. I didn't see that one coming.Britney Spears finally came to her senses and kicked out her baby making partner Kevin Federline. I can't trash K-Fed too badly...afterall, he did get to sleep with the hottest woman in pop music before she got fat and ugly.
Tom Cruise and Katy Holmes (TomKat) were finally married. So it should be a few more years before they get divorced and Tom falls in love with someone else and gets the chance to jump on Oprah's couch again.
Mel Gibson ruined his golden boy persona in one quick drunken police stop. How is it possible that the man who brought us The Passion of the Christ could hate the Jewish so much. I guess that means that Mel isn't a happy drunk.
In Tech News, 2006 saw the popularity rise for items such as the iPod, Playstation 3, X-Box 360, Nintendo Wii, the Blackberry and other items that are too expensive for me to afford.
The popularity of Cartoons on primetime television continued as The Simpson's, Family Guy, King of the Hill and South Park stayed strong. Long live Homer, Stewy and Cartman.
And finally, 2006 saw the passing of some great people from all walks of life.
Here are some of the more notable folks who are no longer with us:Red Buttons, Mickey Spillane, Aaron Spelling, Kenneth Thomson, Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion, Kirby Puckett, Dennis Weaver, Don Knotts, Al Lewis, Coretta Scott King, Shelley Winters, Chris Penn, Lou Rawls, Wilson Pickett, Billy Preston, Jack Warden, Bruno Kirby, Ed Bradley, Jack Palance, Robert Altman and Peter Boyle. A lot of great people will be missed.
So that's my brief look back at 2006. I'm sure I've missed a lot of obvious events or happenings but my memory isn't what it used to be. All the best to all of you and may 2007 be more memorable for all of us.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
I Must Be Old, Today's Music Stinks
For years I wondered when I'd turn into my parents and complain about everything or most everything the cool young kids are in to. OK, my parents didn't complain about everything but when you're young it just seems like it.
Of course the biggest thing was the music I used to listen to. I could appreciate and I enjoyed the oldies that they liked. In fact I can recall dad and I sitting by the radio when I was just a kid listening to the Sunday Night Oldies on the radio. I don't recall the station but it was the music of the late 50's and the 60's.
Buddy Holly
We'd sit and listen and sing along with Elvis, Bobby Vinton, Bill Haley, The Crests, Supremes, Frogman Henry, Buddy Holly and all of the great performers of that era. Kids today don't understand that these guys were the beginning of Rock and Roll and they paved the way for the crap they listen to today.
Did I say crap? I mean music. No...I think I mean crap. Now I know I'm old.
It's not all music today that I don't like but to be honest, since about the mid-90's there hasn't been a lot of great music to choose from. I'll admit I'm not a fan of most Rap or Hip-Hop. By the way, for those of you even older than me, Hip Hop is not something the Easter Bunny does.
It also seems like every song that comes out has to have foul language in it. I don't know why today's musicians feel they have to swear to sell records. They say they're just being "real" and speaking from experience. I say they're just showing how poorly raised they were and how disrespectful they are. I don't care how much money they make or records they sell, there are plenty of other words that rhyme with "duck", "stitch" and "trigger".
There are some songs that have come out today that I enjoy but it's usually in the Adult Contemporary or Rock and Alternative categories. The odd dance song also grabs me from time to time but not too often. I don't go out too often anymore to the bars and certainly not the dance clubs of my youth but I will frequent a pub on a Friday night after the hockey game with my buddies and there's a small dance floor there where the 20-something girls are gyrating to some of today's biggest hits. Oddly enough, I don't mind that at all.
My all time favourite music comes from the 80's. I can listen to almost anything from that decade and I love it. Honestly; for me; that was the best decade of music. Who can forget bands like A Flock of Seagulls, Alphaville, Van Halen, The Cult, Kajagoogoo, Mr. Mister, Scritti Politti, Wang Chung and Depeche Mode? Or solo artists like Jackson Browne, Eddie Money, Howard Jones, Kim Carnes and Peter Schilling?
Kajagoogoo
So maybe you don't remember all of those or any of those great artists from the 80's but trust me, they were awesome.
No, my musical choices are an obvious giveaway that I'm getting older. Plus I don't even listen to my own music very loud anymore. I'm so uncool.
You may have noticed I haven't even talked about country music. There's a reason for that. I can't stand country music. My dad's a Johnny Cash fan and I can tolerate a little Cash from time to time but I'll only listen to country music if I'm forced to.
The only time that seems to happen is when I'm driving in my brothers truck in Florida since he's a redneck good 'ol boy in the south. He and his wife just built a new house and I'm sure it won't be long before he has an old Ford truck on blocks in the front yard and a swimmin' hole in the back where his future youngin's can swim when they're not whittling knives to kill the local wildlife. Yee Haw!
The one thing Country music is good for is some creative song titles. Here are a few of my favourites (these are real):
Of course the biggest thing was the music I used to listen to. I could appreciate and I enjoyed the oldies that they liked. In fact I can recall dad and I sitting by the radio when I was just a kid listening to the Sunday Night Oldies on the radio. I don't recall the station but it was the music of the late 50's and the 60's.
Buddy Holly
Did I say crap? I mean music. No...I think I mean crap. Now I know I'm old.
It's not all music today that I don't like but to be honest, since about the mid-90's there hasn't been a lot of great music to choose from. I'll admit I'm not a fan of most Rap or Hip-Hop. By the way, for those of you even older than me, Hip Hop is not something the Easter Bunny does.
It also seems like every song that comes out has to have foul language in it. I don't know why today's musicians feel they have to swear to sell records. They say they're just being "real" and speaking from experience. I say they're just showing how poorly raised they were and how disrespectful they are. I don't care how much money they make or records they sell, there are plenty of other words that rhyme with "duck", "stitch" and "trigger".
There are some songs that have come out today that I enjoy but it's usually in the Adult Contemporary or Rock and Alternative categories. The odd dance song also grabs me from time to time but not too often. I don't go out too often anymore to the bars and certainly not the dance clubs of my youth but I will frequent a pub on a Friday night after the hockey game with my buddies and there's a small dance floor there where the 20-something girls are gyrating to some of today's biggest hits. Oddly enough, I don't mind that at all.
My all time favourite music comes from the 80's. I can listen to almost anything from that decade and I love it. Honestly; for me; that was the best decade of music. Who can forget bands like A Flock of Seagulls, Alphaville, Van Halen, The Cult, Kajagoogoo, Mr. Mister, Scritti Politti, Wang Chung and Depeche Mode? Or solo artists like Jackson Browne, Eddie Money, Howard Jones, Kim Carnes and Peter Schilling?
Kajagoogoo
So maybe you don't remember all of those or any of those great artists from the 80's but trust me, they were awesome.
No, my musical choices are an obvious giveaway that I'm getting older. Plus I don't even listen to my own music very loud anymore. I'm so uncool.
You may have noticed I haven't even talked about country music. There's a reason for that. I can't stand country music. My dad's a Johnny Cash fan and I can tolerate a little Cash from time to time but I'll only listen to country music if I'm forced to.
The only time that seems to happen is when I'm driving in my brothers truck in Florida since he's a redneck good 'ol boy in the south. He and his wife just built a new house and I'm sure it won't be long before he has an old Ford truck on blocks in the front yard and a swimmin' hole in the back where his future youngin's can swim when they're not whittling knives to kill the local wildlife. Yee Haw!
The one thing Country music is good for is some creative song titles. Here are a few of my favourites (these are real):
- Get Your Tongue Outta My Mouth 'Cause I'm Kissing You Goodbye
- Her Teeth Was Stained, But Her Mouth Was Pure
- I Wish I Were In Dixie Tonight, But She's Out Of Town
- She Got The Ring And I Got The Finger
- You're The Reason Our Kids Are So Ugly
- She Got The Gold Mind And I Got The Shaft
- My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend, And I Sure Do Miss Him
- If My Nose Were Full Of Nickels, I'd Blow It All On You
Friday, November 24, 2006
Mr. Mayor...I'd Like New Shocks Please
Can I send a bill to the city for my car repairs? No really, I'd like to know because I'm pretty sure their lazy attitude and poor response in resurfacing the roads in my neighbourhood has cost me hundreds, if not thousands of dollars over the years.
I keep saying I'm going to drive down my street and count every noticeable bump I roll over. There are so many places where they've ripped up the street and tried patching it, or spots that have sunken over the years I'm sure I'd lose count.
I'm amazed each year how my street avoids being listed on the CAA website for Ontario's Worst Roads. I guess I need to vote more than once.
According to a poll on the CAA website, 89% of those who answered said the Ontario Government should dedicate a portion of the $3 Billion in gasoline taxes it collects from Ontario motorists each year to local road repairs. I'd agree with that.
My street is by far one of the worst in the city. In fact there are two streets I have to drive on to get out of my area and onto one of the major roads in town and both of those roads shake, rattle and bounce you all over the place. I can literally hear my springs and shocks saying, "Stop driving through a field you bonehead."
It's really quite embarrassing when the posted speed limit is 50 Km/h and if you go any faster than 30 Km/h you risk bottoming out and having to replace the muffler and everything else under your vehicle. It's pretty sad when you need a 4X4 truck just to drive to the corner store.
I've lived in this town trying to be a city long enough and know that nothing will change in the near future. After another winter when the road gets worse and the dips drop even further, the best we can hope for is six well paid city workers manning one shovel and a truck full of hot asphalt deciding which canyon to fill next.
In the meantime, a copy of my next repair bill will be in the mail to city hall asking them to reimburse me. I won't hold my breath of course.
I keep saying I'm going to drive down my street and count every noticeable bump I roll over. There are so many places where they've ripped up the street and tried patching it, or spots that have sunken over the years I'm sure I'd lose count.
I'm amazed each year how my street avoids being listed on the CAA website for Ontario's Worst Roads. I guess I need to vote more than once.
According to a poll on the CAA website, 89% of those who answered said the Ontario Government should dedicate a portion of the $3 Billion in gasoline taxes it collects from Ontario motorists each year to local road repairs. I'd agree with that.
My street is by far one of the worst in the city. In fact there are two streets I have to drive on to get out of my area and onto one of the major roads in town and both of those roads shake, rattle and bounce you all over the place. I can literally hear my springs and shocks saying, "Stop driving through a field you bonehead."
It's really quite embarrassing when the posted speed limit is 50 Km/h and if you go any faster than 30 Km/h you risk bottoming out and having to replace the muffler and everything else under your vehicle. It's pretty sad when you need a 4X4 truck just to drive to the corner store.
I've lived in this town trying to be a city long enough and know that nothing will change in the near future. After another winter when the road gets worse and the dips drop even further, the best we can hope for is six well paid city workers manning one shovel and a truck full of hot asphalt deciding which canyon to fill next.
In the meantime, a copy of my next repair bill will be in the mail to city hall asking them to reimburse me. I won't hold my breath of course.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Have A Gaudy Christmas
Here it is the middle of November and I've been seeing Christmas lights and displays in stores and at homes in my neighbourhood and around town.
I have nothing against people getting into the spirit of the season. In fact, I actually enjoy the holiday season...well, everything except the shopping. I like seeing the pretty lights, decorations and people seem to be in a better mood overall. It truly is a joyous time of year.
However some people seem to get carried away with the whole decorating process. I've always felt there's a fine line between tasteful and gaudy. I don't have any problem with people who put up a lot of lights on their house or in their trees or around their decks. Heck, go ahead and add some ribbons and bows if you like. These are decorations I can enjoy.
The decorations or eyesores that absolutely drive me batty are those damn inflatable monstrosities that have become popular in the last year or two.
So that's why I'm telling you now. It looks stupid! Don't do it. Save your money for some salt to melt the ice when winter gets really bad in January and February. If you really need to buy something you can inflate, try winter tires or wait until the summer and get one of those bouncy castles for the kids to bound around on.
Have you heard the old saying, "Less is more"? It's as true today with this issue as it was in the past. Do us all a favour and just don't do it. Please.
Have a Merry Christmas.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
New Election, Same ol Crap
I'm not usually a political person, however with the recent Municipal election I did pay a little more attention to things.
I'm the type of person that believes that no matter who is in power in politics you're never going to be happy any way. That doesn't stop me from voting. I also believe if you don't vote then you don't have a right to complain.
I have to admit that I wasn't really thrilled about the latest local election because there weren't a lot of choices that interested me. It was more with the council that I had trouble making a choice. The choice for mayor was obvious to me as I felt it was time for a change and I'm happy to say my choice was elected. It's not that I have anything against the previous mayor but I just think change can be good.
What also made it somewhat difficult was the fact that I knew all of the candidates personally. At some time in the past I had interacted with each and everyone of them. In the end I made my choices and not all of them were elected and a few of the same boneheads were reelected much to my chagrin. I know it won't make much of a difference any way because the real power isn't with council but the old boys network that pulls the strings and keeps things going to benefit themselves.
The things that need to be done and should be done to make our city grow and prosper won't happen because it might hurt their bottom line. I'm sick of hearing about the downtown and how it is hurting. Well I'm sorry that they're having a tough time but you can only visit so many banks and dollar stores in one day.
Some of the people in this city aren't motivated either. We have third and fourth generation welfare families. These people are simply satisfied living off the government and doing as little as possible. Lets not forget the teenage baby making machines that seem to congregate here. Once again, they get money for having these kids and it all seems to easy for them. What a nice image our city has as people drive through town and see society's uneducated misfits roaming our streets at all hours. But that's an issue for another day.
The city needs to expand and make use of its two major assets. It sits on a beautiful body of water and to sail into our city there is nothing worth stopping for along our river banks. In fact, I know several boaters have been told to just sail on by without stopping. Improve the appeal of the waterfront would be one priority. How about a hotel by the water. No, instead we have a factory on one side and the backside of a grocery store on the other shore. Just lovely.
The second asset is the world's busiest highway which travels right by our city and there's nothing out there to draw people in. You drive past our city and all you see are a few factories, a couple hotels, a Tim Horton's and an airplane on a pedestal. Not a lot of incentive to pull the car over is it? We need to develop that land adjacent to the highway with things that will encourage people to stop. Suggestions would include a shopping mall or big box stores like Best Buy, Lowe's or perhaps a restaurant or two.
I'm not a city planner or someone who gets paid to create traffic flow but when I go to other similar sized cities and I see what they've done I see the potential for our city to grow. This growth can even happen in the beloved downtown as well with some specialty stores and variety.
Perhaps this new council will remove the blinders, turn a deaf ear to the "old money", grow a set of "balls" and bring my city into the current century...but I'm not counting on it.
I'm the type of person that believes that no matter who is in power in politics you're never going to be happy any way. That doesn't stop me from voting. I also believe if you don't vote then you don't have a right to complain.
I have to admit that I wasn't really thrilled about the latest local election because there weren't a lot of choices that interested me. It was more with the council that I had trouble making a choice. The choice for mayor was obvious to me as I felt it was time for a change and I'm happy to say my choice was elected. It's not that I have anything against the previous mayor but I just think change can be good.
What also made it somewhat difficult was the fact that I knew all of the candidates personally. At some time in the past I had interacted with each and everyone of them. In the end I made my choices and not all of them were elected and a few of the same boneheads were reelected much to my chagrin. I know it won't make much of a difference any way because the real power isn't with council but the old boys network that pulls the strings and keeps things going to benefit themselves.
The things that need to be done and should be done to make our city grow and prosper won't happen because it might hurt their bottom line. I'm sick of hearing about the downtown and how it is hurting. Well I'm sorry that they're having a tough time but you can only visit so many banks and dollar stores in one day.
Some of the people in this city aren't motivated either. We have third and fourth generation welfare families. These people are simply satisfied living off the government and doing as little as possible. Lets not forget the teenage baby making machines that seem to congregate here. Once again, they get money for having these kids and it all seems to easy for them. What a nice image our city has as people drive through town and see society's uneducated misfits roaming our streets at all hours. But that's an issue for another day.
The city needs to expand and make use of its two major assets. It sits on a beautiful body of water and to sail into our city there is nothing worth stopping for along our river banks. In fact, I know several boaters have been told to just sail on by without stopping. Improve the appeal of the waterfront would be one priority. How about a hotel by the water. No, instead we have a factory on one side and the backside of a grocery store on the other shore. Just lovely.
The second asset is the world's busiest highway which travels right by our city and there's nothing out there to draw people in. You drive past our city and all you see are a few factories, a couple hotels, a Tim Horton's and an airplane on a pedestal. Not a lot of incentive to pull the car over is it? We need to develop that land adjacent to the highway with things that will encourage people to stop. Suggestions would include a shopping mall or big box stores like Best Buy, Lowe's or perhaps a restaurant or two.
I'm not a city planner or someone who gets paid to create traffic flow but when I go to other similar sized cities and I see what they've done I see the potential for our city to grow. This growth can even happen in the beloved downtown as well with some specialty stores and variety.
Perhaps this new council will remove the blinders, turn a deaf ear to the "old money", grow a set of "balls" and bring my city into the current century...but I'm not counting on it.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
I Can't Believe My Luck
I'm not a mean person and I certainly don't wish bad luck on anybody but sometimes things just happen and while it's a sad event for some, it's a happy event for others.
For example, there's a woman I've had an eye on for quite some time and although she's quite unattainable, there's still that hope that maybe we could get together. My odds, while slim, have improved with this news about Reese Witherspoon.
In case you hadn't heard, actors Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe have separated after seven years of marriage. "We are saddened to announce that Reese and Ryan have decided to formally separate," publicist Nanci Ryder said in a statement. Witherspoon, 30, and Phillippe, 32, have two children, daughter Ava, 7, and son Deacon, 3. The two married shortly after appearing in the 1999 film Cruel Intentions.
Of course I would never wish this on any couple, especially when there are kids involved but this is Reese 'frickin' Witherspoon we're talking about here and what's done is done. I've had a thing for her ever since I saw her in the 1996 movie "Fear". I hated Mark Whalberg after that movie because he got to spend all that time with her the lucky SOB. Ok, I don't hate him but he was still lucky.
I also loved the movie "Pleasantville" but with Reese in it, that made the movie just that much more enjoyable. Of course the most recent movie of hers that I watched was "Walk The Line" about Johnny Cash where she played June Carter. Awesome acting and that's why she won the Oscar.
Now before you start thinking I'm obsessed with this woman, keep in mind she's on my "list". All men have a list, even the married one's and if they say they don't then they're lying. The list isn't long but it contains the names of a few ladies we'd give up our right leg to be with. For me, Reese is at the top of my list.
I realize the chances of Reese and I hooking up are slim to none but there's always that hope and that's why we keep our list until the day we die. Besides, if it doesn't work out with Reese, I can always keep trying to hook up with number two on my list...Jennifer Love Hewitt. It could happen.
For example, there's a woman I've had an eye on for quite some time and although she's quite unattainable, there's still that hope that maybe we could get together. My odds, while slim, have improved with this news about Reese Witherspoon.
In case you hadn't heard, actors Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe have separated after seven years of marriage. "We are saddened to announce that Reese and Ryan have decided to formally separate," publicist Nanci Ryder said in a statement. Witherspoon, 30, and Phillippe, 32, have two children, daughter Ava, 7, and son Deacon, 3. The two married shortly after appearing in the 1999 film Cruel Intentions.
Of course I would never wish this on any couple, especially when there are kids involved but this is Reese 'frickin' Witherspoon we're talking about here and what's done is done. I've had a thing for her ever since I saw her in the 1996 movie "Fear". I hated Mark Whalberg after that movie because he got to spend all that time with her the lucky SOB. Ok, I don't hate him but he was still lucky.
I also loved the movie "Pleasantville" but with Reese in it, that made the movie just that much more enjoyable. Of course the most recent movie of hers that I watched was "Walk The Line" about Johnny Cash where she played June Carter. Awesome acting and that's why she won the Oscar.
Now before you start thinking I'm obsessed with this woman, keep in mind she's on my "list". All men have a list, even the married one's and if they say they don't then they're lying. The list isn't long but it contains the names of a few ladies we'd give up our right leg to be with. For me, Reese is at the top of my list.
I realize the chances of Reese and I hooking up are slim to none but there's always that hope and that's why we keep our list until the day we die. Besides, if it doesn't work out with Reese, I can always keep trying to hook up with number two on my list...Jennifer Love Hewitt. It could happen.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
My Extreme Christmas Wish List
Ok, I know there's still just under two month's until Christmas but I'm in the receiving mood. That's right; there are a few items I'd love to find under my tree after Santa's visit.
Sure there's no way it will happen but since the holiday season is a time for miracle's, maybe I'll win the lottery and play Santa myself.
So here's my brief but a tad expensive Extreme Christmas Wish List.
Nikon D80 Digital SLR Camera ($1600.00)
LG 60 inch HDTV Plasma TV
Bose Surround Sound System ($5000.00)
Dell Dimension XPS 700 Computer
- with a few modifications. ($4000.00)
2007 Cadillac Escalade ($72 000.00)
That's about it. I'd be happy with these things and several million in spending money. Of course I know I'm more likely to get socks, underwear and maybe a shirt or two.
I suppose as long as I'm spending Christmas with my family that's all that matters. Isn't that the politically correct thing to say?
Sure there's no way it will happen but since the holiday season is a time for miracle's, maybe I'll win the lottery and play Santa myself.
So here's my brief but a tad expensive Extreme Christmas Wish List.
Nikon D80 Digital SLR Camera ($1600.00)
LG 60 inch HDTV Plasma TV
Bose Surround Sound System ($5000.00)
Dell Dimension XPS 700 Computer
- with a few modifications. ($4000.00)
2007 Cadillac Escalade ($72 000.00)
New Home in Florida (approx. $5 000 000)
That's about it. I'd be happy with these things and several million in spending money. Of course I know I'm more likely to get socks, underwear and maybe a shirt or two.
I suppose as long as I'm spending Christmas with my family that's all that matters. Isn't that the politically correct thing to say?
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Another Reason Why I Love The Family Guy
Ok...I'll admit I'm normally not into "Fart Humour" as some people would call it but I am a fan of the "Family Guy" cartoon and I busted a gut when I saw this.
My apologies if you don't appreciate it or are disgusted by it. I'll do my best to get some more highbrow content for you in the future.
For the rest of you...Enjoy!
My apologies if you don't appreciate it or are disgusted by it. I'll do my best to get some more highbrow content for you in the future.
For the rest of you...Enjoy!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Tim Hortons...Why Bother
For those who live in Canada, the words "Tim Horton's" is self explanatory. We all know it's probably the world's best coffee shop franchise and it's named after a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey player.
Actually, Horton wasn't just a Leaf as he also spent time playing for the Rangers, Penguins and Sabres. He was still playing for Buffalo when he tragically died in a single vehicle car crash while driving back there after playing a game in Toronto. He was 44 when he died.
The very first Tim Horton's store opened in Hamilton in 1964, ten years before his death. Interestingly enough, he was born in Cochrane, Ontario and that town didn't get their first Timmies until 1994. I found that to be be a little odd.
Of course today most towns and cities have numerous Tim Horton's coffee shops. In fact, let me do a quick count. Here in my small city, we have six of them.
Why are they so popular? Is the coffee that good? Perhaps it's just the social aspect of it. People like to gather at Timmy Ho's for a coffee and some gossip.
I'm not a coffee or donut drinker so I don't know the joy of ordering a medium "double double" and a honey-glazed. The same goes for the Timbits which can only be described as the donut holes for those who aren't familiar with them.
I've tried their sandwiches which are so-so but the one item I always get when I need to cure some hunger pains and Tim's is the only place near, is their chocolate chip cookies.
They can keep their peanut butter and their oatmeal cookies. I'll have the chocolate chip cookies please. Actually, I always order six of them at a time because it's cheaper.
However, I shouldn't say "always" since I can't always get them. And that brings me to the subject of this little musing.
I would say that easily, and I'm not exaggerating, 94.8% of the time I go to a Tim Horton's in my town, they never have chocolate chip cookies. It's so bad that every time I go in or through the drive-thru, I won't say, "may I have six chocolate chip cookies please?" Instead, I'll ask "Do you have any chocolate chip cookies?"
Most times they don't even have to check, the already know the answer and away I go. Of course, If I'm in the drive-thru I have to wait behind all of the coffee drinkers in their cars before I can leave.
I guess my advice to Tim Horton's would be this. If you're not going to keep the cookies in stock or a steady supply of freshly baked cookies on the shelves, then stop selling them because you're only teasing me.
Commonsense tells you if you're always running out of them, then you should probably make more because they're popular. Instead all you're doing is making people like me angry and I'm forced to go without my cookies.
And when I'm cookie deprived, you don't want to be around me.
Oh and one more thing...their "Roll-Up The Rim" contest is no damn good for people like me who don't drink coffee. So much for my chances of winning.
Actually, Horton wasn't just a Leaf as he also spent time playing for the Rangers, Penguins and Sabres. He was still playing for Buffalo when he tragically died in a single vehicle car crash while driving back there after playing a game in Toronto. He was 44 when he died.
The very first Tim Horton's store opened in Hamilton in 1964, ten years before his death. Interestingly enough, he was born in Cochrane, Ontario and that town didn't get their first Timmies until 1994. I found that to be be a little odd.
Of course today most towns and cities have numerous Tim Horton's coffee shops. In fact, let me do a quick count. Here in my small city, we have six of them.
Why are they so popular? Is the coffee that good? Perhaps it's just the social aspect of it. People like to gather at Timmy Ho's for a coffee and some gossip.
I'm not a coffee or donut drinker so I don't know the joy of ordering a medium "double double" and a honey-glazed. The same goes for the Timbits which can only be described as the donut holes for those who aren't familiar with them.
I've tried their sandwiches which are so-so but the one item I always get when I need to cure some hunger pains and Tim's is the only place near, is their chocolate chip cookies.
They can keep their peanut butter and their oatmeal cookies. I'll have the chocolate chip cookies please. Actually, I always order six of them at a time because it's cheaper.
However, I shouldn't say "always" since I can't always get them. And that brings me to the subject of this little musing.
I would say that easily, and I'm not exaggerating, 94.8% of the time I go to a Tim Horton's in my town, they never have chocolate chip cookies. It's so bad that every time I go in or through the drive-thru, I won't say, "may I have six chocolate chip cookies please?" Instead, I'll ask "Do you have any chocolate chip cookies?"
Most times they don't even have to check, the already know the answer and away I go. Of course, If I'm in the drive-thru I have to wait behind all of the coffee drinkers in their cars before I can leave.
I guess my advice to Tim Horton's would be this. If you're not going to keep the cookies in stock or a steady supply of freshly baked cookies on the shelves, then stop selling them because you're only teasing me.
Commonsense tells you if you're always running out of them, then you should probably make more because they're popular. Instead all you're doing is making people like me angry and I'm forced to go without my cookies.
And when I'm cookie deprived, you don't want to be around me.
Oh and one more thing...their "Roll-Up The Rim" contest is no damn good for people like me who don't drink coffee. So much for my chances of winning.
Monday, September 25, 2006
My Latest Brush With Celebrity
Over the years I've met many people who would be classed as celebrities.
Back in my days as a radio annoucer most of my encouters would involve those in the music industry. I've mingled with such Canadian talent as Barenaked Ladies, Blue Rodeo both at concerts and I ran into Jim Cuddy at a liquor store in Toronto and chatted with him.
I had an opportunity to go to the Juno Awards several times but the best was at the O'Keefe Centre (now the Hummingbird Centre) as the radio folks and entertainers all hobnobed in one lobby area. Some of the stars I met there included Celine Dion, Anne Murray, Roch Voisine, Rush and so many others.
The sports world people I've met or been around include Tie Domi, Doug Flutie, Bobby Orr, Curtis Joseph and from Hockey Night in Canada, Dick Irvine, Ron McLean, Don Cherry and I golfed in a charity tournament with Chris Cuthbert who is now with TSN. There have been so many it's hard to remember them all but it was fun to meet them all.
My latest brush with celebrity came this past Sunday when I attended a hockey game in Bowmanville. The Trenton Sting were playing Brampton and after the first intermission, I ventured back to my place on the rail to watch the game. Upon my return I found a woman with her leg up on the bar stretching. I thought to myself; "who the hell is this crazy person and why is she in my spot?"
I moved up beside her and she turned to me after dropping her leg and asked if she was in my spot. I told her it was ok and then I clued in. It was actress Goldie Hawn. She was there to watch Wyatt Russell, the goaltender for Brampton and son of actor Kurt Russell. Not a minute went by and walking up to stand next to Goldie was Kurt.
They inquired as to what I was doing and what stats I was keeping. They were both very nice and quite the cheerleaders for their team. I didn't want to be one of those creepy guys that would cling to them and be a bother so I located some fans from our team and moved over to them just a few feet away.
So that was my latest brush with celebrity. I really should have kept a list over the years of the celebrities I've met or seen in person. I did meet Billy Ray Cyrus once but I don't know if I'd include him on my list. Boy do I hate that Achy Breaky Heart song.
Back in my days as a radio annoucer most of my encouters would involve those in the music industry. I've mingled with such Canadian talent as Barenaked Ladies, Blue Rodeo both at concerts and I ran into Jim Cuddy at a liquor store in Toronto and chatted with him.
I had an opportunity to go to the Juno Awards several times but the best was at the O'Keefe Centre (now the Hummingbird Centre) as the radio folks and entertainers all hobnobed in one lobby area. Some of the stars I met there included Celine Dion, Anne Murray, Roch Voisine, Rush and so many others.
The sports world people I've met or been around include Tie Domi, Doug Flutie, Bobby Orr, Curtis Joseph and from Hockey Night in Canada, Dick Irvine, Ron McLean, Don Cherry and I golfed in a charity tournament with Chris Cuthbert who is now with TSN. There have been so many it's hard to remember them all but it was fun to meet them all.
My latest brush with celebrity came this past Sunday when I attended a hockey game in Bowmanville. The Trenton Sting were playing Brampton and after the first intermission, I ventured back to my place on the rail to watch the game. Upon my return I found a woman with her leg up on the bar stretching. I thought to myself; "who the hell is this crazy person and why is she in my spot?"
I moved up beside her and she turned to me after dropping her leg and asked if she was in my spot. I told her it was ok and then I clued in. It was actress Goldie Hawn. She was there to watch Wyatt Russell, the goaltender for Brampton and son of actor Kurt Russell. Not a minute went by and walking up to stand next to Goldie was Kurt.
So that was my latest brush with celebrity. I really should have kept a list over the years of the celebrities I've met or seen in person. I did meet Billy Ray Cyrus once but I don't know if I'd include him on my list. Boy do I hate that Achy Breaky Heart song.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Family Values
As I've stated before, my family means a lot to me. I value the time I spend with any family members be it Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Grandparents (mine have all passed now) and so on.
There are a certain few relatives that for one reason or another have angered me a great deal over the years and I'm sure they know who they are. I won't get into that but suffice to say they've made it very difficult for me to forgive and forget and I haven't spoken to them in years. I have no plans to change that anytime soon either.
But there are other family members I spend a great deal of time with or I like to whenever possible, especially on my dad's side of the family.
Many of them are similar in a lot of ways but of course they have their own unique personalities that make our visits interesting. And the older I got, the more fun this time has become. Some of my cousins I don't see too often since they are spread out all across the country or lead busy lives but once a year it's good to catch up on things. Christmas isn't always that time but every few years it happens that the family gathers together to eat great food and share a lot of laughs.
Yes, I truly believe the older you get the more you understand the importance of family. Sure friends are great and a lot of fun but you can always count on family to be there when you really need them.
My parents have had the most influence in my life and I can honestly say I fear the day they are no longer with me. They've meant so much and have really been there for everything I've ever done and every up and down. My memories are filled with millions of little things and moments that I've shared with them. It's funny how the smallest thing can provide such a lasting memory.
As an example, I remember my mother helping out at my elementary school with the fluoride days or walking through a blizzard to walk myself and some other kid's home from school. I recall my dad letting me drive around in his transport while he worked and our afternoon break was a stop at the little drugstore downtown where we could get a meal of french fries and a pop. It also meant a great deal when I'd be playing football and even though he couldn't get off work, I'd see him stop the truck on the highway long enough to watch a bit of my game.
And that doesn't even scratch the surface for everything else they've done and sacrificed to feed me, dress me, get me home safely after a night of drinking with the guys. There was always love in our home. Sometimes my brother and I would step out of line and pay a penalty and we'd wonder where the love went, but looking back, even the punishment was a form of love and guidance to keep us on the right path.
And of course my brother Scott means a great deal to me also. He didn't always however. I'm not going to lie, there were times as kids I thought he hated me and I think I might have felt the same towards him. With five years difference between us it made it tough to be close as he didn't want his little brother tagging around after him. Oh boy did we have our confrontations over the years but the bruises healed and the scars faded.
The turning point in our relationship came when I made it clear to him that he could no longer pick on me or push me around. You see, there was that moment in time when my "big brother" was no longer the "biggest brother" and one quick toss of Scott into a pine tree turned the light bulb on in his brain and he realized he'd be better off having me as an ally.
Since that moment, everything changed for us and despite the fact he lives in Florida with his wife Erin (who I haven't had a good chance to torment yet) we get along better now then ever before. We're still very competitive with each other when we play computer games and cards but that's because we both hate losing.
Scott and Erin recently came home for a visit for Labour Day weekend and it was nice to have a big brother around to do things with again. It only lasted a short time but he'll be back for Christmas and I'm sure I'll visit Florida again soon.
Family is important to me. Life is too short as it is and that's why spending time with the people you love shouldn't be taken for granted. Cherish the time you have with your family because it will end all too soon.
There are a certain few relatives that for one reason or another have angered me a great deal over the years and I'm sure they know who they are. I won't get into that but suffice to say they've made it very difficult for me to forgive and forget and I haven't spoken to them in years. I have no plans to change that anytime soon either.
But there are other family members I spend a great deal of time with or I like to whenever possible, especially on my dad's side of the family.
Many of them are similar in a lot of ways but of course they have their own unique personalities that make our visits interesting. And the older I got, the more fun this time has become. Some of my cousins I don't see too often since they are spread out all across the country or lead busy lives but once a year it's good to catch up on things. Christmas isn't always that time but every few years it happens that the family gathers together to eat great food and share a lot of laughs.
Yes, I truly believe the older you get the more you understand the importance of family. Sure friends are great and a lot of fun but you can always count on family to be there when you really need them.
My parents have had the most influence in my life and I can honestly say I fear the day they are no longer with me. They've meant so much and have really been there for everything I've ever done and every up and down. My memories are filled with millions of little things and moments that I've shared with them. It's funny how the smallest thing can provide such a lasting memory.
As an example, I remember my mother helping out at my elementary school with the fluoride days or walking through a blizzard to walk myself and some other kid's home from school. I recall my dad letting me drive around in his transport while he worked and our afternoon break was a stop at the little drugstore downtown where we could get a meal of french fries and a pop. It also meant a great deal when I'd be playing football and even though he couldn't get off work, I'd see him stop the truck on the highway long enough to watch a bit of my game.
And that doesn't even scratch the surface for everything else they've done and sacrificed to feed me, dress me, get me home safely after a night of drinking with the guys. There was always love in our home. Sometimes my brother and I would step out of line and pay a penalty and we'd wonder where the love went, but looking back, even the punishment was a form of love and guidance to keep us on the right path.
And of course my brother Scott means a great deal to me also. He didn't always however. I'm not going to lie, there were times as kids I thought he hated me and I think I might have felt the same towards him. With five years difference between us it made it tough to be close as he didn't want his little brother tagging around after him. Oh boy did we have our confrontations over the years but the bruises healed and the scars faded.
The turning point in our relationship came when I made it clear to him that he could no longer pick on me or push me around. You see, there was that moment in time when my "big brother" was no longer the "biggest brother" and one quick toss of Scott into a pine tree turned the light bulb on in his brain and he realized he'd be better off having me as an ally.
Since that moment, everything changed for us and despite the fact he lives in Florida with his wife Erin (who I haven't had a good chance to torment yet) we get along better now then ever before. We're still very competitive with each other when we play computer games and cards but that's because we both hate losing.
Scott and Erin recently came home for a visit for Labour Day weekend and it was nice to have a big brother around to do things with again. It only lasted a short time but he'll be back for Christmas and I'm sure I'll visit Florida again soon.
Family is important to me. Life is too short as it is and that's why spending time with the people you love shouldn't be taken for granted. Cherish the time you have with your family because it will end all too soon.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Hockey: Please Don't Change
Two teams strap on the blades and cover themselves in their protective gear as they prepare for battle on the frozen field. Back and forth they go, each struggling for an opportunity to give their team a lead while striving for a victory. Elbows rise, sticks slash, bodies are banged against an unforgiving wall but if the powers that be have their way, gone will be the one thing that truly makes the game of hockey the exciting sport it has always been.
I consider myself a hockey purist. Nothing thrills me more then seeing a team move the puck down the ice; completing the perfect passing play; finished off with a puck in the back of the net. Afterall, that is the object of the game...to score.
However, there has always been the game within the game. Teams genuinely disliking each other, players trash talking in the hopes it may give them an edge. And above all else, fighting was a part of the game. I say "was" because for some reason, the mama's boys in charge of overseeing our game have deemed fighting to be unnecessary.
I truly believe the smart people in control of the games destiny never actually played the game and can't understand why fighting should remain an important part of the sport. Honestly, when was the last time you went to a game and the fans booed because a fight broke out on the ice? I'm betting never.
Fighting has its place in hockey. As someone who has been around the game for a while, mostly at the Junior level, I have witnessed first hand how a little intimidation can turn a game or series around. Several years back a team I support was trailing in a series against a more skilled hockey club. After a bench clearing brawl took place and our team put the fear of the almighty in the opposition, they were done. They were skilled but after that they shied away from every hit and wouldn't battle for pucks in the corner. We ended up winning a championship that season.
Some would say it's a scare tactic that doesn't belong and to them I say grab your purse and spend your time watching figure skating instead.
Of course a donnybrook doesn't happen very often and I don't think it's something I'd want to see all the time. Ok, once or twice a year would be fun. No, I think every team should have two or three enforcers to get the job done. The problem is the enforcer is becoming a thing of the past because people think we need to see the smaller, faster, skilled players.
Call me crazy but I can remember watching plenty of skilled players long before the sissies took over running the show. Those players could either fight their own battles or they had teammates who would do that job.
Gordie Howe was one of the best hockey players of all time and he could take care of himself. Wayne Gretzky had Dave Semenko to protect him. Al Secord scored 30 goals and had over 300 penalty minutes in a season. Chris Nilan, Tie Domi, Tiger Williams, Dave Schultz and Tim Hunter all had high penalty numbers but still managed to contibiute on the scoresheet.
My point is, fighting and enforcers have their place in the game. It is a part of the sport I love and while I appreciate the skilled players like Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin or Joe Thornton, I still enjoy watching guys like Donald Brashear, Brad May, Chris Neil and Steve Ott drop the gloves and settle things like men.
Last thoughts...when was the last time you saw a player seriously injured from a hockey fight? Now think about how often you see players badly injured by high sticks. I ask you, what is the bigger fish to fry?
Here's a fight video I thought you might enjoy. If not, then I'll try and find some exciting curling action for you next time.
I consider myself a hockey purist. Nothing thrills me more then seeing a team move the puck down the ice; completing the perfect passing play; finished off with a puck in the back of the net. Afterall, that is the object of the game...to score.
However, there has always been the game within the game. Teams genuinely disliking each other, players trash talking in the hopes it may give them an edge. And above all else, fighting was a part of the game. I say "was" because for some reason, the mama's boys in charge of overseeing our game have deemed fighting to be unnecessary.
I truly believe the smart people in control of the games destiny never actually played the game and can't understand why fighting should remain an important part of the sport. Honestly, when was the last time you went to a game and the fans booed because a fight broke out on the ice? I'm betting never.
Fighting has its place in hockey. As someone who has been around the game for a while, mostly at the Junior level, I have witnessed first hand how a little intimidation can turn a game or series around. Several years back a team I support was trailing in a series against a more skilled hockey club. After a bench clearing brawl took place and our team put the fear of the almighty in the opposition, they were done. They were skilled but after that they shied away from every hit and wouldn't battle for pucks in the corner. We ended up winning a championship that season.
Some would say it's a scare tactic that doesn't belong and to them I say grab your purse and spend your time watching figure skating instead.
Of course a donnybrook doesn't happen very often and I don't think it's something I'd want to see all the time. Ok, once or twice a year would be fun. No, I think every team should have two or three enforcers to get the job done. The problem is the enforcer is becoming a thing of the past because people think we need to see the smaller, faster, skilled players.
Call me crazy but I can remember watching plenty of skilled players long before the sissies took over running the show. Those players could either fight their own battles or they had teammates who would do that job.
Gordie Howe was one of the best hockey players of all time and he could take care of himself. Wayne Gretzky had Dave Semenko to protect him. Al Secord scored 30 goals and had over 300 penalty minutes in a season. Chris Nilan, Tie Domi, Tiger Williams, Dave Schultz and Tim Hunter all had high penalty numbers but still managed to contibiute on the scoresheet.
My point is, fighting and enforcers have their place in the game. It is a part of the sport I love and while I appreciate the skilled players like Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin or Joe Thornton, I still enjoy watching guys like Donald Brashear, Brad May, Chris Neil and Steve Ott drop the gloves and settle things like men.
Last thoughts...when was the last time you saw a player seriously injured from a hockey fight? Now think about how often you see players badly injured by high sticks. I ask you, what is the bigger fish to fry?
Here's a fight video I thought you might enjoy. If not, then I'll try and find some exciting curling action for you next time.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Blue Jays Memory
It's hard to believe that its been 13 years since the Toronto Blue Jays won their last World Series. It doesn't seem that long ago.
Do you remember where you were when Joe Carter hit his historic series winning homerun? I do.
I'd like to say I was at the game but that wasn't the case. I did want to be in Toronto in case they did win to take part in all of the madness in the streets.
My friend Matt Goodman and I drove up to try and watch the game in a Toronto bar but they were all full. You couldn't find a seat or table anywhere on or just off Younge Street.
So we did the next best thing, we made our way down to the HMV Music store to watch the game with thousands of other fans on their massive screen on the front of the building. We were a little ways back but we could see the game and there was a van with huge speakers broadcasting the play-by-play on the radio.
It looked hopeless until the final inning when the Jays managed to rally. The police were standing by in riot gear and on horses waiting for something to happen. The police command post was just down the road from us as well.
When Joe Carter hit the homer to end the game and the series, the streets exploded in celebration. We were hugging and kissing people we didn't even know. People were smoking maijuanna next to cops and they didn't care. Nobody tried to riot or cause distruction. It was very peaceful but insane as well. Thousands of people quickly became tens of thousands and we were shoulder to shoulder on Younge Street barely able to move. You were at the mercy of the crowd and where it moved. You had to struggle to get out of the crowd and by the time we did we were two blocks south of where we started. It was an experience of a lifetime but I'd never do it again. The noise was deafening.
People were hanging from trees and street signs and traffic lights. To this day I still can't believe that many people were jammed into the downtown core and no real trouble happened.
Do you remember where you were when Joe Carter hit his historic series winning homerun? I do.
I'd like to say I was at the game but that wasn't the case. I did want to be in Toronto in case they did win to take part in all of the madness in the streets.
My friend Matt Goodman and I drove up to try and watch the game in a Toronto bar but they were all full. You couldn't find a seat or table anywhere on or just off Younge Street.
So we did the next best thing, we made our way down to the HMV Music store to watch the game with thousands of other fans on their massive screen on the front of the building. We were a little ways back but we could see the game and there was a van with huge speakers broadcasting the play-by-play on the radio.
It looked hopeless until the final inning when the Jays managed to rally. The police were standing by in riot gear and on horses waiting for something to happen. The police command post was just down the road from us as well.
When Joe Carter hit the homer to end the game and the series, the streets exploded in celebration. We were hugging and kissing people we didn't even know. People were smoking maijuanna next to cops and they didn't care. Nobody tried to riot or cause distruction. It was very peaceful but insane as well. Thousands of people quickly became tens of thousands and we were shoulder to shoulder on Younge Street barely able to move. You were at the mercy of the crowd and where it moved. You had to struggle to get out of the crowd and by the time we did we were two blocks south of where we started. It was an experience of a lifetime but I'd never do it again. The noise was deafening.
People were hanging from trees and street signs and traffic lights. To this day I still can't believe that many people were jammed into the downtown core and no real trouble happened.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Boston Trip
I recently went on a trip to Boston with our local Junior Hockey team and had a great time.
It was my first time visiting the historic city and although I spent most of my time in hockey rinks or the hotel, we did spend one day in downtown Boston.
Here's a photo we took outside the original Cheers Pub on Beacon Street downtown and across from Boston Common Park.
I'd be lying if I said the walk to Cheers was a piece of cake because it wasn't. The bus dropped us off at Quincy Market which was filled with all kinds of stores and restaurants and another Cheers Bar that was made to look like the one on the TV show. However, that wasn't good enough for some of us. We needed to see the original bar which was called the Bull and Finch Pub and was the one the idea for the sitcom really came from.
It was probably the hottest day of the year as the temperature was a blistering 100F and I could feel the heat radiating off the sidewalks, cobblestones and pavement. I was dying before we even began. The distance one way to the bar was about 1.5 miles which isn't bad but we had to travel up and down Beacon Hill on Beacon Street in both directions. By the time we go there I was more then ready for a break and some air-conditioning.
The pub itself was quite small in the front but there was more seating upstairs and in the back. It was neat seeing the front of the building as we recognized it right away. Then we got to walk down the famous set of stairs into the bar. I could just imagine the other famous and historic people who have walked down those same steps over the years.
While there I managed to buy a couple of things for my dad and myself. We also took time to pose for a few photos to record the occasion before we started our journey back. The route also took us past the famous Boston Common Park which is quite huge and was filled with all sorts of people doing many different things. It was also interesting going by some of the old buildings and churches and seeing a couple of ancient graveyards right in the middle of the city.
The trip overall was well worth it. The visit to the city was exciting, the hockey was entertaining and the company was fun. I don't know if I'd ever go back just for a vacation but at least I can say I was there.
It was my first time visiting the historic city and although I spent most of my time in hockey rinks or the hotel, we did spend one day in downtown Boston.
Here's a photo we took outside the original Cheers Pub on Beacon Street downtown and across from Boston Common Park.
I'd be lying if I said the walk to Cheers was a piece of cake because it wasn't. The bus dropped us off at Quincy Market which was filled with all kinds of stores and restaurants and another Cheers Bar that was made to look like the one on the TV show. However, that wasn't good enough for some of us. We needed to see the original bar which was called the Bull and Finch Pub and was the one the idea for the sitcom really came from.It was probably the hottest day of the year as the temperature was a blistering 100F and I could feel the heat radiating off the sidewalks, cobblestones and pavement. I was dying before we even began. The distance one way to the bar was about 1.5 miles which isn't bad but we had to travel up and down Beacon Hill on Beacon Street in both directions. By the time we go there I was more then ready for a break and some air-conditioning.
The pub itself was quite small in the front but there was more seating upstairs and in the back. It was neat seeing the front of the building as we recognized it right away. Then we got to walk down the famous set of stairs into the bar. I could just imagine the other famous and historic people who have walked down those same steps over the years.
While there I managed to buy a couple of things for my dad and myself. We also took time to pose for a few photos to record the occasion before we started our journey back. The route also took us past the famous Boston Common Park which is quite huge and was filled with all sorts of people doing many different things. It was also interesting going by some of the old buildings and churches and seeing a couple of ancient graveyards right in the middle of the city.
The trip overall was well worth it. The visit to the city was exciting, the hockey was entertaining and the company was fun. I don't know if I'd ever go back just for a vacation but at least I can say I was there.
Bundy's New Blog Home
Sadly my previous host for the Bundy Blog has decided to call it quits, thus forcing all of us who used the service to seek shelter elsewhere.
So for the foreseeable future, this well be the new home for Bundy's Blog.
Please change any bookmarks you might have had to my previous site so you can be sure to read all my future musings.
Let me know what you think of the new look by adding a comment.
So for the foreseeable future, this well be the new home for Bundy's Blog.
Please change any bookmarks you might have had to my previous site so you can be sure to read all my future musings.
Let me know what you think of the new look by adding a comment.
It is also my intent to move some of my previous postings from my old blog site to this one so don't be surprised to see items that look familiar.
Thanks
Bundy
Friday, July 28, 2006
Canadians Are Dying, So Honour Them!
I sat in front of the TV tonight watching the repatriation ceremony at Canadian Forces Base Trenton (just a mere 5 minute drive from my house) and even though I'd seen similar scenes before I was moved by what I saw.
Cpl. Francisco Gomez, 44, of Edmonton and Cpl. Jason Warren, 29, of Montreal died last Saturday when a suicide bomber blew up his vehicle close to their troop carrier near the coalition base in Kandahar. Governor General Michaëlle Jean, Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor and Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier were among the officials attending the ceremony.
I am a proud Canadian; and as with all previous ceremonies to mark the return of our fallen Canadian soldiers from Afghanistan; I felt the need to pay my respects in at least some small way. I didn't know these men but I felt the need to be a part of the moment.
As the ceremony wasn't open to the public to attend, it was pointless to drive down to the base. I could have parked outside and watched from across the road, but there really wasn't a need for me to do this thanks to the coverage provided by the media. After the ceremony ended on TV, I did go outside and at the top of my street I could see the procession of police cars, hearses and limo's pass by as they began their journey to Toronto.
The debate over whether or not these scenes of our fallen heroes returning home should be seen has lasted some time and it appears the government has decided to leave the decision to allow media up to the families of the deceased. That seems more than fair. While I like to grieve with the family I also respect their privacy.
The Americans refuse to show the flag draped caskets arriving home from Iraq or wherever their soldiers have been killed for fear that the images will provide a negative view of the war there. Judging by President Bush's approval rating these days, the American people don't need to see them to know it's not worth the price of life to be there.
I support our Canadian troops in their fight against terrorism and the Taliban and I suppose it's better to fight them there than have them blowing buildings up in Toronto or Montreal or attacking our Canadian military bases. So I guess I do know what they are fighting for and agree with it...but it's still sad knowing that these young men and women have to give their lives to get the job done.
What makes me even more sad is knowing that while they are doing this and there are millions of Canadians supporting them, there are probably just as many Canadians who don't even know they're there or care. It truly amazes me when I try to talk to someone about world affairs such as this and they don't have a clue about anything. Ask them what brand of beer they drank on the weekend or how much they've spent on their toys for the cottage and they can tell you that. It disgusts me to know that they take their freedom for granted and could care less about the sacrifices being made by their fellow citizens on their behalf.
The same can be said of our veterans of past wars and battles. Just think what the world would have been like today if those men and women hadn't paid the ultimate sacrifice. A friend of our family is a veteran of World War 2 and although I'd love to hear the stories he has to tell about the experience, I realize how painful it must be to remember that time and his friends who didn't return home. I hope he knows that I appreciate what they did.
This world has and always will be screwed up. As long as there are terrorists, madmen and tyrants...as long as there is greed, religious differences and fanatics there will never be peace in this world. I just don't understand why the world can't get along. Why is it so hard?
Cpl. Francisco Gomez, 44, of Edmonton and Cpl. Jason Warren, 29, of Montreal died last Saturday when a suicide bomber blew up his vehicle close to their troop carrier near the coalition base in Kandahar. Governor General Michaëlle Jean, Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor and Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier were among the officials attending the ceremony.
I am a proud Canadian; and as with all previous ceremonies to mark the return of our fallen Canadian soldiers from Afghanistan; I felt the need to pay my respects in at least some small way. I didn't know these men but I felt the need to be a part of the moment.
As the ceremony wasn't open to the public to attend, it was pointless to drive down to the base. I could have parked outside and watched from across the road, but there really wasn't a need for me to do this thanks to the coverage provided by the media. After the ceremony ended on TV, I did go outside and at the top of my street I could see the procession of police cars, hearses and limo's pass by as they began their journey to Toronto.
The debate over whether or not these scenes of our fallen heroes returning home should be seen has lasted some time and it appears the government has decided to leave the decision to allow media up to the families of the deceased. That seems more than fair. While I like to grieve with the family I also respect their privacy.
The Americans refuse to show the flag draped caskets arriving home from Iraq or wherever their soldiers have been killed for fear that the images will provide a negative view of the war there. Judging by President Bush's approval rating these days, the American people don't need to see them to know it's not worth the price of life to be there.
I support our Canadian troops in their fight against terrorism and the Taliban and I suppose it's better to fight them there than have them blowing buildings up in Toronto or Montreal or attacking our Canadian military bases. So I guess I do know what they are fighting for and agree with it...but it's still sad knowing that these young men and women have to give their lives to get the job done.
What makes me even more sad is knowing that while they are doing this and there are millions of Canadians supporting them, there are probably just as many Canadians who don't even know they're there or care. It truly amazes me when I try to talk to someone about world affairs such as this and they don't have a clue about anything. Ask them what brand of beer they drank on the weekend or how much they've spent on their toys for the cottage and they can tell you that. It disgusts me to know that they take their freedom for granted and could care less about the sacrifices being made by their fellow citizens on their behalf.
The same can be said of our veterans of past wars and battles. Just think what the world would have been like today if those men and women hadn't paid the ultimate sacrifice. A friend of our family is a veteran of World War 2 and although I'd love to hear the stories he has to tell about the experience, I realize how painful it must be to remember that time and his friends who didn't return home. I hope he knows that I appreciate what they did.
This world has and always will be screwed up. As long as there are terrorists, madmen and tyrants...as long as there is greed, religious differences and fanatics there will never be peace in this world. I just don't understand why the world can't get along. Why is it so hard?
Friday, July 07, 2006
Late Night Radio & TV Stinks
I envy those of you who can jump into bed before 1:00 in the morning and go to sleep. However, you are really missing out on some quality entertainment.
I am not blessed with the ability to put head to pillow that early. Of course my current job has a lot to do with that since I work mostly graveyard shifts and my work day usually starts at 11pm and ends at 7am. Yes, while you're dreaming away the night, I'm at work. Of course that isn't a bad thing since I like being awake at night and enjoy having the afternoon's to do what I like and the evening's as well to golf or whatever.
The only real downside to staying awake all night is the quality of television and radio that is provided. I could listen to the radio but I don't care for a lot of the music that they play on most of the local stations except for one. And the fact that I used to work for one company and they screwed me over has left a bitter taste in my mouth. Even that has certainly lost some of its bitterness. I guess time really does heal all wounds. Of course I'd still like to have a chat with a couple of people.
The one thing I really hate about late night local radio in 2006 (and for the last 8 years or more) is that there are no live announcers on in the evening or overnight on most of them. It's all automated and if you do hear a voice, it was recorded earlier in the day by someone working at one of the other stations in the company. In fact, when I started in radio in 1992, we had five full-time announcers and we were live 24-hours a day. When I was "laid off", the station only had two full-time announcers and was automated between 6pm and 6am weekdays and even more so on weekends. The need to make money means more than providing quality programming. All storms, disasters or urgent events had better happen before 6pm or you won't hear about it until the next morning. You might as well just buy the newspaper.
Television isn't much better when it comes to entertainment. After Letterman, Leno, Conan or Stewart, the pickings become pretty slim if you don't have a bunch of specialty channels. Sure I can always watch CNN, TSN or Sportsnet but you can only watch the highlights so many times. Everything else is reruns of Raymond, Seinfeld, Friends or Drew Carey until 2am.
Now after 2am is when the really good stuff comes on. I just can't watch the "Little Giant" ladder infomercial enough times. If you are dieing to get your hands on a new amazing food processor, miracle oven, zit cream remedy or you just want to become your own boss and a millionaire, you should stay up late.
Of course the real people being catered to late at night are the single, lonely, sexually frustrated men sitting on their couches. And yes, maybe I am one of those guys but it hasn't been confirmed yet. No, nothing beats the sexually suggestive videos of scantily clad women playing by the pool, spreading themselves across rocks or lounging on expensive yachts. Just call the 1-900 number on the screen, empty your bank account and you can talk to some of the sexy women just like the one's on the TV. Call now and talk live with these girls...or some 50-year old mom pretending to be a hot 20-something boy toy.
Someone please tell me, where is this place that 12 women are lying around half-naked on a fur covered bed begging for guys to call because they're lonely and need someone to talk to? Tell me please and I'll take the money I would have wasted on a phone call and use it for gas to drive there and join them on the bed.
I really get a kick out of the girls on the boats. Here they have these women in bikinis on the front of the boat talking on phones that look like they're 20 years old. The phones have cords attached to them and even though I don't own a vessel full of hot babes, I'm pretty sure the phone company won't run a phone line to a boat in the middle of the bay. And maybe I'm just being picky, but could someone please give these girls a dental plan.
So as you can see, the entertainment provided to those of us blessed with a work schedule a little out of the norm or those who just can't sleep at night really leaves a lot to be desired. Now if you'll excuse me, there's a cute redhead in a string bikini that needs me to call her for a good time. Come to daddy.
I am not blessed with the ability to put head to pillow that early. Of course my current job has a lot to do with that since I work mostly graveyard shifts and my work day usually starts at 11pm and ends at 7am. Yes, while you're dreaming away the night, I'm at work. Of course that isn't a bad thing since I like being awake at night and enjoy having the afternoon's to do what I like and the evening's as well to golf or whatever.
The only real downside to staying awake all night is the quality of television and radio that is provided. I could listen to the radio but I don't care for a lot of the music that they play on most of the local stations except for one. And the fact that I used to work for one company and they screwed me over has left a bitter taste in my mouth. Even that has certainly lost some of its bitterness. I guess time really does heal all wounds. Of course I'd still like to have a chat with a couple of people.
The one thing I really hate about late night local radio in 2006 (and for the last 8 years or more) is that there are no live announcers on in the evening or overnight on most of them. It's all automated and if you do hear a voice, it was recorded earlier in the day by someone working at one of the other stations in the company. In fact, when I started in radio in 1992, we had five full-time announcers and we were live 24-hours a day. When I was "laid off", the station only had two full-time announcers and was automated between 6pm and 6am weekdays and even more so on weekends. The need to make money means more than providing quality programming. All storms, disasters or urgent events had better happen before 6pm or you won't hear about it until the next morning. You might as well just buy the newspaper.
Television isn't much better when it comes to entertainment. After Letterman, Leno, Conan or Stewart, the pickings become pretty slim if you don't have a bunch of specialty channels. Sure I can always watch CNN, TSN or Sportsnet but you can only watch the highlights so many times. Everything else is reruns of Raymond, Seinfeld, Friends or Drew Carey until 2am.
Now after 2am is when the really good stuff comes on. I just can't watch the "Little Giant" ladder infomercial enough times. If you are dieing to get your hands on a new amazing food processor, miracle oven, zit cream remedy or you just want to become your own boss and a millionaire, you should stay up late.
Of course the real people being catered to late at night are the single, lonely, sexually frustrated men sitting on their couches. And yes, maybe I am one of those guys but it hasn't been confirmed yet. No, nothing beats the sexually suggestive videos of scantily clad women playing by the pool, spreading themselves across rocks or lounging on expensive yachts. Just call the 1-900 number on the screen, empty your bank account and you can talk to some of the sexy women just like the one's on the TV. Call now and talk live with these girls...or some 50-year old mom pretending to be a hot 20-something boy toy.
Someone please tell me, where is this place that 12 women are lying around half-naked on a fur covered bed begging for guys to call because they're lonely and need someone to talk to? Tell me please and I'll take the money I would have wasted on a phone call and use it for gas to drive there and join them on the bed.
I really get a kick out of the girls on the boats. Here they have these women in bikinis on the front of the boat talking on phones that look like they're 20 years old. The phones have cords attached to them and even though I don't own a vessel full of hot babes, I'm pretty sure the phone company won't run a phone line to a boat in the middle of the bay. And maybe I'm just being picky, but could someone please give these girls a dental plan.
So as you can see, the entertainment provided to those of us blessed with a work schedule a little out of the norm or those who just can't sleep at night really leaves a lot to be desired. Now if you'll excuse me, there's a cute redhead in a string bikini that needs me to call her for a good time. Come to daddy.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Curse You Fast Food!
For Superman it's Kryptonite...for Valentino it was the ladies and although I do enjoy the fairer sex, my one true weakness is Fast Food.
As my finely sculpted body shows, fast food doesn't like me. I've always been a big guy. Even as a child I carried extra weight just in case I needed some spare body warmth, but since I graduated college I've really packed on the tonnage. I have more chins than a Chinese phone book and my love handles have taken on a life of their own.
So who or what is to blame for this? Sure I could do the right thing and look in the mirror and blame the person starring back at me but that's not the easy cop-out. I could blame my parents who always told me I had to eat all the food on my plate before I could go outside and play. No, it's much easier to just blame the evildoers of the fast food industry.
In high school I was a big guy but I was still in pretty decent shape and able to play football, rugby and baseball. Even in college and a few year's after I had added more weight, but not to the point that I couldn't track down a fly ball or run the bases. However it was during those college years that my love affair for quick and greasy fattening food took hold.
It all started to go really bad with my first real job at McDonald's. Yes, that's right, I worked at Mickey D's and it wasn't as awful as you might think. The girls I worked with were all cute and the steady pay was a nice perk as well. The trouble was I started out working full-time midnights on the grill. I was always busy as I worked at the restaurant on the Highway but one of the incentives to get people to work that shift was "free food" for the employees. It was the only shift where this happened and of course that was music to my ears...or mouth as the case was.
I'd found myself inventing menu items. Instead of the usual Big Mac's or Quarter Pounders, I was the first one to actually make double or triple Mac's (before they actually made it a menu item). How about the ever popular Quarter Pounder with Chicken and extra mayo? And of course my super size fries were always full. It wasn't long before my belly started to change to a "super size".
So that's where my love affair for fast food began. It was just a natural progression to move on to eating Whopper's at Burger King, Double Classic's with cheese at Wendy's and Double Cheeseburgers at Harvey's. If it was quick, dripping with grease and came with a toy, I was eating it. It was also common to see me inhaling a large bag of potato chips at night and drinking one Coke or Pepsi after another.
Now 17 years later I've moved from being a big guy to super sized guy who is nowhere near as active as I used to be. The aches and pains have begun as well. I still get some exercise rolling out of bed and going to the bathroom. Actually, I love playing golf and I try to walk the course as much as possible but some days the nagging ankle pains from my football and rugby injuries flare up and grabbing a power cart just seems too inviting.
I have certainly cut back on my intake of fast food and snacks today and I feel a little better but some days I just can't resist the temptation. Ask any overweight person and they'll tell you they'd like nothing more than to be thin, healthy and attractive...you know...one of the beautiful people; but it's easier said than done. Not a night goes by when I'm laying in bed thinking, "tomorrow's the day I get serious about losing weight." Yet, tomorrow comes and goes and the willpower just isn't there.
I've come to the conclusion that surgery is the only way I'll ever be thin and I just can't afford that, so I try to be as happy as possible with who I am and who I've become and I'm cool with that for now. I've never had my cholesterol checked but I can imagine my doctor would faint at the sight of the results. Oddly enough I went to the doctor recently and my blood pressure was just fine. I check my blood sugar from time to time and so far so good but I'm sure it's just a matter of time before I'm diagnosed with diabetes. It runs in the family and is likely to happen.
I'm trying to cut back on my fast food intake and I try to make smarter menu choices and I'm happy about that. I used to eat out every day and now I might eat out once or twice a week. It's not perfect but it's a step in the right direction. Now I just need to haul my ass off the couch and get more active. I think I'll go for a walk right now...right after I go to Taco Bell.
As my finely sculpted body shows, fast food doesn't like me. I've always been a big guy. Even as a child I carried extra weight just in case I needed some spare body warmth, but since I graduated college I've really packed on the tonnage. I have more chins than a Chinese phone book and my love handles have taken on a life of their own.
So who or what is to blame for this? Sure I could do the right thing and look in the mirror and blame the person starring back at me but that's not the easy cop-out. I could blame my parents who always told me I had to eat all the food on my plate before I could go outside and play. No, it's much easier to just blame the evildoers of the fast food industry.
In high school I was a big guy but I was still in pretty decent shape and able to play football, rugby and baseball. Even in college and a few year's after I had added more weight, but not to the point that I couldn't track down a fly ball or run the bases. However it was during those college years that my love affair for quick and greasy fattening food took hold.
It all started to go really bad with my first real job at McDonald's. Yes, that's right, I worked at Mickey D's and it wasn't as awful as you might think. The girls I worked with were all cute and the steady pay was a nice perk as well. The trouble was I started out working full-time midnights on the grill. I was always busy as I worked at the restaurant on the Highway but one of the incentives to get people to work that shift was "free food" for the employees. It was the only shift where this happened and of course that was music to my ears...or mouth as the case was.
I'd found myself inventing menu items. Instead of the usual Big Mac's or Quarter Pounders, I was the first one to actually make double or triple Mac's (before they actually made it a menu item). How about the ever popular Quarter Pounder with Chicken and extra mayo? And of course my super size fries were always full. It wasn't long before my belly started to change to a "super size".
So that's where my love affair for fast food began. It was just a natural progression to move on to eating Whopper's at Burger King, Double Classic's with cheese at Wendy's and Double Cheeseburgers at Harvey's. If it was quick, dripping with grease and came with a toy, I was eating it. It was also common to see me inhaling a large bag of potato chips at night and drinking one Coke or Pepsi after another.
Now 17 years later I've moved from being a big guy to super sized guy who is nowhere near as active as I used to be. The aches and pains have begun as well. I still get some exercise rolling out of bed and going to the bathroom. Actually, I love playing golf and I try to walk the course as much as possible but some days the nagging ankle pains from my football and rugby injuries flare up and grabbing a power cart just seems too inviting.
I have certainly cut back on my intake of fast food and snacks today and I feel a little better but some days I just can't resist the temptation. Ask any overweight person and they'll tell you they'd like nothing more than to be thin, healthy and attractive...you know...one of the beautiful people; but it's easier said than done. Not a night goes by when I'm laying in bed thinking, "tomorrow's the day I get serious about losing weight." Yet, tomorrow comes and goes and the willpower just isn't there.
I've come to the conclusion that surgery is the only way I'll ever be thin and I just can't afford that, so I try to be as happy as possible with who I am and who I've become and I'm cool with that for now. I've never had my cholesterol checked but I can imagine my doctor would faint at the sight of the results. Oddly enough I went to the doctor recently and my blood pressure was just fine. I check my blood sugar from time to time and so far so good but I'm sure it's just a matter of time before I'm diagnosed with diabetes. It runs in the family and is likely to happen.
I'm trying to cut back on my fast food intake and I try to make smarter menu choices and I'm happy about that. I used to eat out every day and now I might eat out once or twice a week. It's not perfect but it's a step in the right direction. Now I just need to haul my ass off the couch and get more active. I think I'll go for a walk right now...right after I go to Taco Bell.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Sleep Clinic Nightmare
I'm sure those of you who have first hand knowledge of the experiences you go through during your first visit to a Sleep Clinic will be able to relate to the hellish night I went through less than 24 hours ago.
After consulting with my doctor a little while back, he decided that some of the symptoms I was describing could be related to Sleep Apnea. For those of you who don't know what this is, sleep apnea is a serious disorder that causes your breathing to stop repeatedly while you sleep. And as I'm sure you can understand...to stop breathing is a bad thing.
So I was given an appointment to go spend the night at the clinic and have my sleep patterns monitored. It sounded simple enough to me. I'll just show up and go to bed and wait to hear my results.
Of course it just isn't that simple. I showed up at 8:15pm and was met by a lovely nurse and one of the two other patients for the evening. Lets call him Andre. He was French and is in the Canadian Armed Forces...go figure. His accent was thick but with a little effort he could be understood. The conversation was pleasant but I quickly realized this wasn't going to be a simple night of bed rest.
As I filled out a group of forms with a seemingly endless amount of questions, I watched as Nurse Gail (I think that was her name) prepared Andre for his nocturnal slumber. She was measuring his head and drawing red marks on his scalp in different places and then began attaching sensors galore. I don't know how many there were but I'd guess there were at least four on the head, one on each cheek and two on the chin. There was also a sensor attached to the neck and three on each leg and two belts were wrapped around his Chest and Stomach. Just to add to this madness, two more were attached to the back shoulder blades and then one inserted into each nostril.
I watched this and realized I'm next. How the hell was I supposed to sleep with all of this crap and their wires glued to me? Nurse Gail went through the same process with me and then placed the box containing the other end of all of the sensors around my neck so I could walk to my assigned room. Once in bed, nurse Gail hooked me up to the machines in the room at the top of my bed. There was also a camera at the end of the bed so I could be monitored from another room. I knew I had to behave myself now.
Nurse Gail then left the room and spoke to me through an intercom and had me do several things to test the connections. I was doing ankle flexes to eye movements and coughing. The best one was when she had me try to move my stomach like a belly dancer. Pardon my grammar but I ain't no belly dancer. I must have done alright as I was given the green light to sleep.
By this time it's about 10:30pm and as I'm used to staying awake late, I wasn't even close to being tired. I was allowed to read for a short period of time but by the time 11:30 rolled around it was lights out.
Now the fun begins. With no clock in the room I had no sense of time. I laid there for what seemed like hours before I finally nodded off but it was only for a brief time. I was forced to sleep on my back. I never sleep on my back. I sleep on my stomach so that just added to the torture. I could barely move with all of the wires hanging from me. The probes in my nose kept moving around and stabbing me. That was painful and the bed was too damn hard. A few hours in my back was aching. It was one of the longest nights I can remember.
I tried laying on my side but that didn't work well either. Nurse Gail had also attached a monitor to my right index finger to keep an eye on my heart rate so that was yet another obstacle.
I could hear every little sound and of course the harder I tried to talk myself into sleeping, the less chance I had of actually dozing off. Several times I was tempted to just call her on the intercom and say enough was enough but I stuck it out. I did manage to fall asleep a few times through the night but I kept on waking up.
At 5:30am Nurse Gail opened my door and said it's time to get up. She removed all of my sensors and I couldn't have been happier. I asked her if I'd slept and she said I had slept some but didn't say how much. All I know is it was probably the worst sleep I'd ever had. I used the washroom and gathered up my belongings and booked an appointment for a follow up chat with the Doctor. I have no desire to ever do that again.
I made it home and had a shower to remove all of the sticky gel and red markings from my hair. By the time 8:00am rolled around I was finally ready to go to sleep and I wasn't in my own bed very long before I was out like a light.
It was an interesting experience but I've come to the conclusion that if I ever have to do it again, I'd better try to stay up for 24 hours straight prior to going so I can be sure to fall asleep sooner and easier. Going to bed isn't supposed to be a job but after this experience I felt like I'd worked a 12-hour shift.
After consulting with my doctor a little while back, he decided that some of the symptoms I was describing could be related to Sleep Apnea. For those of you who don't know what this is, sleep apnea is a serious disorder that causes your breathing to stop repeatedly while you sleep. And as I'm sure you can understand...to stop breathing is a bad thing.
So I was given an appointment to go spend the night at the clinic and have my sleep patterns monitored. It sounded simple enough to me. I'll just show up and go to bed and wait to hear my results.
Of course it just isn't that simple. I showed up at 8:15pm and was met by a lovely nurse and one of the two other patients for the evening. Lets call him Andre. He was French and is in the Canadian Armed Forces...go figure. His accent was thick but with a little effort he could be understood. The conversation was pleasant but I quickly realized this wasn't going to be a simple night of bed rest.
As I filled out a group of forms with a seemingly endless amount of questions, I watched as Nurse Gail (I think that was her name) prepared Andre for his nocturnal slumber. She was measuring his head and drawing red marks on his scalp in different places and then began attaching sensors galore. I don't know how many there were but I'd guess there were at least four on the head, one on each cheek and two on the chin. There was also a sensor attached to the neck and three on each leg and two belts were wrapped around his Chest and Stomach. Just to add to this madness, two more were attached to the back shoulder blades and then one inserted into each nostril.
I watched this and realized I'm next. How the hell was I supposed to sleep with all of this crap and their wires glued to me? Nurse Gail went through the same process with me and then placed the box containing the other end of all of the sensors around my neck so I could walk to my assigned room. Once in bed, nurse Gail hooked me up to the machines in the room at the top of my bed. There was also a camera at the end of the bed so I could be monitored from another room. I knew I had to behave myself now.
Nurse Gail then left the room and spoke to me through an intercom and had me do several things to test the connections. I was doing ankle flexes to eye movements and coughing. The best one was when she had me try to move my stomach like a belly dancer. Pardon my grammar but I ain't no belly dancer. I must have done alright as I was given the green light to sleep.
By this time it's about 10:30pm and as I'm used to staying awake late, I wasn't even close to being tired. I was allowed to read for a short period of time but by the time 11:30 rolled around it was lights out.
Now the fun begins. With no clock in the room I had no sense of time. I laid there for what seemed like hours before I finally nodded off but it was only for a brief time. I was forced to sleep on my back. I never sleep on my back. I sleep on my stomach so that just added to the torture. I could barely move with all of the wires hanging from me. The probes in my nose kept moving around and stabbing me. That was painful and the bed was too damn hard. A few hours in my back was aching. It was one of the longest nights I can remember.
I tried laying on my side but that didn't work well either. Nurse Gail had also attached a monitor to my right index finger to keep an eye on my heart rate so that was yet another obstacle.
I could hear every little sound and of course the harder I tried to talk myself into sleeping, the less chance I had of actually dozing off. Several times I was tempted to just call her on the intercom and say enough was enough but I stuck it out. I did manage to fall asleep a few times through the night but I kept on waking up.
At 5:30am Nurse Gail opened my door and said it's time to get up. She removed all of my sensors and I couldn't have been happier. I asked her if I'd slept and she said I had slept some but didn't say how much. All I know is it was probably the worst sleep I'd ever had. I used the washroom and gathered up my belongings and booked an appointment for a follow up chat with the Doctor. I have no desire to ever do that again.
I made it home and had a shower to remove all of the sticky gel and red markings from my hair. By the time 8:00am rolled around I was finally ready to go to sleep and I wasn't in my own bed very long before I was out like a light.
It was an interesting experience but I've come to the conclusion that if I ever have to do it again, I'd better try to stay up for 24 hours straight prior to going so I can be sure to fall asleep sooner and easier. Going to bed isn't supposed to be a job but after this experience I felt like I'd worked a 12-hour shift.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
My Visit To The Hospital
How do you ruin an evening out with friends? How about chest pains and a trip to the hospital in the back of an ambulance.
Having never had a heart attack before I didn't know what to think when I was at the local arena last Thursday night with friends watching some other friends playing girls ball hockey when all of a sudden the most terrifying feeling I've ever had hit me.
Without going into all of the details, the pain in my chest was bad enough that I asked my buddy Dave Maybee to get help and my other friend Dan Jess grabbed his cell phone and called 911.
I managed to make it outside to get some fresh air and sat down on the cold pavement. The first to arrive were two fire trucks and a couple of firefighters I knew who gave me some oxygen. Of course the pain had subsided by this point but I was shaking from either nerves or the cold. Dave grabbed my cell phone and called my parents who were at the Lions Hall for Bingo and told them to meet me at the hospital.
The ambulance arrived and they assessed me and got me into the ambulance. They hooked me up to heart monitors and more I'm sure and asked me all kinds of questions. I'll be damned if I can remember any of them now. The trip to the hospital was swift and when the doors opened, ma and pa were standing there waiting to see me.
One thing I will say...if you have to go to the hospital, in an ambulance is the only way to go. There was no sitting in the waiting room with the masses for 5 hours hoping they'd call your name next. Instead I was ushered into the ER through a private entrance and right into the awaiting bed.
The nurses removed most of the sticky connections on my body provided by the ambulance and then attached their own hair ripping connectors and hooked me up to plenty of things that go "beep". The blood pressure cup was wrapped around my arm, copious amounts of blood was removed from my left arm and then I was left alone for 20 minutes until the doctor showed up.
The Doc was a nice enough guy and he asked me the same questions I'd already been asked several times. The tests all came back negative for a heart attack which was comforting news but the pain did come back a few more times and to this day (even as I'm typing this) I'm still getting some discomfort. The chest x-rays also came back negative except to say that I do have a heart.
After about 2 hours I was released and hitched a ride home with mom and dad.
So what is wrong with me? What caused and continues to cause the problem? It could acid reflux or some kind of spasm but I'm no doctor. I have to go to my family doctor to see if we can figure it out. I only wish I could take an ambulance to my doctor. Maybe I could get in to see him quicker instead of 8 days after this all started.
Having never had a heart attack before I didn't know what to think when I was at the local arena last Thursday night with friends watching some other friends playing girls ball hockey when all of a sudden the most terrifying feeling I've ever had hit me.
Without going into all of the details, the pain in my chest was bad enough that I asked my buddy Dave Maybee to get help and my other friend Dan Jess grabbed his cell phone and called 911.
I managed to make it outside to get some fresh air and sat down on the cold pavement. The first to arrive were two fire trucks and a couple of firefighters I knew who gave me some oxygen. Of course the pain had subsided by this point but I was shaking from either nerves or the cold. Dave grabbed my cell phone and called my parents who were at the Lions Hall for Bingo and told them to meet me at the hospital.
The ambulance arrived and they assessed me and got me into the ambulance. They hooked me up to heart monitors and more I'm sure and asked me all kinds of questions. I'll be damned if I can remember any of them now. The trip to the hospital was swift and when the doors opened, ma and pa were standing there waiting to see me.
One thing I will say...if you have to go to the hospital, in an ambulance is the only way to go. There was no sitting in the waiting room with the masses for 5 hours hoping they'd call your name next. Instead I was ushered into the ER through a private entrance and right into the awaiting bed.
The nurses removed most of the sticky connections on my body provided by the ambulance and then attached their own hair ripping connectors and hooked me up to plenty of things that go "beep". The blood pressure cup was wrapped around my arm, copious amounts of blood was removed from my left arm and then I was left alone for 20 minutes until the doctor showed up.
The Doc was a nice enough guy and he asked me the same questions I'd already been asked several times. The tests all came back negative for a heart attack which was comforting news but the pain did come back a few more times and to this day (even as I'm typing this) I'm still getting some discomfort. The chest x-rays also came back negative except to say that I do have a heart.
After about 2 hours I was released and hitched a ride home with mom and dad.
So what is wrong with me? What caused and continues to cause the problem? It could acid reflux or some kind of spasm but I'm no doctor. I have to go to my family doctor to see if we can figure it out. I only wish I could take an ambulance to my doctor. Maybe I could get in to see him quicker instead of 8 days after this all started.
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