Wells & Christmas & Ugly Things

Here's a picture of Travis lifting up the Well Drilling Rig on our driveway. I bet him a toonie he couldn't do it and now I'm out 2 bucks.


He can use it for their much delayed honeymoon and Christmas shopping.

It's been a longer year than usual because it really started back in October of 2008 when Dad died. Then we had Janna's broken foot, Janna and Travis's Wedding, my heart surgery, Brie heading off to Geneva, then my Mom moved into a home, then my Mom died, having to sell her house and having more heart problems. I'll be glad when this year is over. I think the low lights out weighed the highlights if not equaling them. It can only get better from here.

Sometimes when you review things you forget to include some bright little things because the ugly things seem so big. I wrote that last paragraph and thought, Wait a minute you forgot about all the visits we had over the year what a goof. My cousins came to visit, Allan & Deb, Phylis & Dave, Maureen, and the boys came Marc & Cory, then there was Norm & Helen, Sister Linda, Brother Jim and our friends Carole & Terry. I didn't include all the visits from J&T or Brie and I probably missed a few more visitors like Lynn and Dale. But hey I'm only human or at least a good portion of me still is. All in all I guess it was a difficult year but we have been surround by a supportive family and friends. I hate this time of the year I get even more mushy than usual. Sniff Sniff and then honk.

Finally, thanks to my parents we are Drilling a Well. This will give us some independence from the Strata. Right now they at the 240' mark and hopefully they will hit water soon. Either they hit water or I have very expensive 300' by 8 inch hole on the edge of our driveway. I guess I'll know later today.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

40 Words for Sorrow

I can't help myself, Tom Waits would comment and I must comment.

I have been reading a Canadian Author, and amazingly have read over 295 pages of point 8 type in little more than 2 days. That in itself is impressive, just ask my family. The book is call Forty words for Sorrow by Giles Blunt, pick it up it's worth the read.


The book of course has nothing to do with my rant other than the villains are monsters. In this rant the villains are the moronic media and the state of media particularly in the USA are monsters (we're not much better).

I am of course talking about Tiger Woods and the brutal disgusting, continual attacks on him and his family. I am not saying what he did was right. In my opinion Mr. Woods has been managed , controlled and been a Puppet for the Tiger machine since he was 4 years old. After every win at a tournament he has been told what to say, not what to say, when to smile, when to laugh, pump his arm in the air and look concerned.

Disaster always starts with one mistake. The minute he tried to escape the control in his life, the minute he rebelled, He knew his life was screwed and nothing would change that fact. It really didn't matter whether he got drunk, smoked a joint or cheated at mini golf, his life path was altered. That's when that dragon I mentioned before showed up. It doesn't matter who you are. It will wrap its' tail around you and say something like, "Hey, listen you already screwed up doing that thing you did and you're toast if any one finds out right? One more won't hurt, HEY damned if you and damned if you don't, know what I mean?"

In the book I'm reading Blunt mentions that the Inuit have 40 words for snow. He thinks we need 40 words for sorrow. Forty words for sorrow wouldn't help Tiger Woods because even if he had them and used them, the media would cheapen the words. I don't care how much he has made or is worth, I don't care who the central character of this story is!

The coverage of this 'situation' is a scandal. Shame on you, there are way more important stories to cover.

My Favourite Kid's Story

I am a big Tom Waits fan. He's not only a great song writer, he's a great story teller. This story is from his CD Orphans. He has new CD out called Glitter and Doom Live. It is live performances from around the world. Included is an extra disc of Tom Tales which is hilarious. Check out his website.

The images on this video were the only things I had on hand, they are of me, Molly and Brando during last summer's heat wave. We had heard that to cool the dogs we had to get a bucket of cool water and a towel. You then soak the towel and rub their tummies with the water. I knew what was going on in the video and it seemed funny. However my brother-inlaw stopped by yesterday for a visit and pointed out that it looked a little crude. I didn't realize how rude this looks on tape until I saw it through someone's eyes. It's still funny though.

I think I'll get busy and redo the little video to match the words.

There's your story, Night Night go to Sleep.

Abbreviations

I woke up this morning at 5am, pondering abbreviations. Why would any sane person ponder abbreviations at 5am? That is really the question and the answer is that perhaps my sanity should be questioned.

It all started yesterday afternoon after reading some information on Ejection Fractions and heart issues. There was a 3 letter combination that stuck out and helped wake me up at 5am.

I guess I'm sick of all these short cut combinations. Combinations like; 24/7, LOL, (even worse) 24/7/365, BPV(remember that one), CRIS, the list goes on and on everytime you turn around there is a new letter combination. BFF, WTF, when will it stop and why should it disrupt my sleep?

The one that got me yesterday was SCD, initially I thought why did they bother? I thought about it for a bit and decided SCD did work. SCD does sound better than Sudden Cardiac Death and maybe I should just let it slide. So this morning when I woke up thinking about SCD, I decided that SCD was the best three letter combination of 2009. So I guess that makes it B3LC09, doesn't exactly roll of the tongue but it will do. I just don't want to loose anymore sleep over letter combinations or stuff I don't have control over. Good Night!

Together Again

It is a strange experience when you loose a parent. It is a stranger experience when you loose two within a year. There is a certain sense of loss of control. You know that it is going to happen, and you have come to grip with the concept for a number of years but it is a strange letting go built part on sadness and at the same time relief.






Dad died October 1st, 2008 after his battle with cancer. He had no pain, this was a blessing. Mom died September 25, 2009 after her battle with loosing my Father. I am not going to go into details of the last year, but let me just say it was a long year for the whole family.

I have come to the conclusion that when we find ourselves (and I know we all will) in the final days of our lives time should be better spent. Time should be better spent mending bridges, expressing the love a family has for all its' parts and bringing peace to the person passing. Our family did its' best to achieve this goal.

In the end my Mother joined my Father as Brie said for 'Grilled Cheese Sandwiches'. Both my parents were cremated and I picked up Mom on Thursday October 1st. They both had their 'Grilled Cheese Sandwiches' in the laundry room of the house they shared for so many years.

I will be bringing them to Vancouver Island after I build a proper home for them both and Dad's climbing Rose Bush. Next summer we will have a family get together and speak of all the good times we had as a family and the journey they have taken together.

Where do they come up with this Stuff?

Just a programming note. I had the misfortune to be grinding through the channels last night looking for something half decent to watch after dinner. Other than the amusing SHAQ Vs series I was perplexed by the new crop of reality crap.

Have you seen Pregnant & 16 yet. I really can't believe that they have sponsors for this shite. If they think they are doing anyone a service by showing this, they must have lost their collective minds. It does not help 16 year olds cope with pregnancy, it does not educate, it does not inform. It shows a spoiled 16 year old cheerleader teenager and her posh life and the 'struggle' she goes through having a baby. Now I admit I only watched one episode which condensed 9 months of pregnancy, giving birth, fighting with her mother, buying a new car with grandpa into a half an hour. Hopefully that was the end of series and it will never be shown again.

What happened to content? This is not Reality TV, this isn't even TV. Somebody out there must be able to write a series, a drama, a sitcom that actually says something. Maybe after watching the complete 5 seasons of HBO's 'The Wire' I have become spoiled. We need to want more from TV.

Click

Dear Sigmund

Dear Sigmund,
Have you ever had one of those dreams that is so filled with symbols that you are actually a little worried about it? I did this morning.
I haven't been sleeping that well, lots of busy dreams for weeks now. I woke about 3am today and couldn't get back to sleep so I got up and watched NewsWorld for an hour and a half.

After finally dragging my sorry butt back into bed, I worked at getting to sleep for about 20 minutes which at 4:30 am seems like an eternity. Now I know I've got a lot on my mind, Painting, Mother, Daughter #2, Daughter #1, Wife, Gardening, Going Back to the Big Box and that is only a few on the list but this dream was strange.

The location was weird to start, a Soup Kitchen in North Vancouver at dusk which then led to a meeting with my Philosopher Tattoo Artist Friend. This was followed by a ride in his vintage Lincoln to New Westminster, which according to my dreamscape was only a five minute ride. Carrying a file folder I walked to our First House in Burnaby only to find that two of my deceased dogs and original cat from my childhood were loose in the backyard. Being that I was in a hurry I climbed into my old yellow GM Van which I haven't had for 28 years and started down the driveway only to slam on the brakes. I had noticed a man walking his dog, a Golden Lab about 6 years old. For some reason I thought I better put the cat and the two dogs into the house before they chased the man with the Golden Dog. Besides that they had been out all night as I had been and I didn't want to get in trouble with my wife who wasn't up yet.

I have spent a good part of the day trying to figure out what a Soup Kitchen, Tattoo Artist, Ride in a Lincoln, First House, Yellow Van, Deceased Dogs & Cat, Golden Lab and Sleepless Nights holding a File Folder means. I forgot to mention three Locations.

I'm not sure if I should be worried about my mortality or was this just a case of bad indigestion? I think I'll go with that.

Just a tip for all you dreamers don't do experimental cooking and drink white wine when you have too much on your mind. It gives you weird dreams.

Repetitive Mother Syndrome

The standing topic around here lately is my Mother. Seems that every weekend we are dealing with yet another crisis, either real or manufactured.

It's getting boring for our friends hearing us go on and on about the whacky non-adventures of my Mother. You can't imagine how tedious it has become for us. We would like a change of subject. We have made a concerted effort to stop whining, whimpering, bitching, moaning and groaning about her nonsense but with our best efforts it sneaks out. It is almost like having a tick of some sort.

At the beginning of August, Mother was moved into an assisted living facility. The doctor felt she needed help, especially with nutrition or her lack of nutrition. Each week following her incarceration she has complained about the food and anything else she could come up with. Each weekend, (starting now Thursdays) there is a new real or not real health issue to deal with. I may sound a little harsh here but if you had her full medical history you would understand where I am coming from. I am actually dreading weekends now. The only thing I find amusing is that Mother talks with my wife like she is just a gal/pal and says some of the weirdest stuff and shares ideas like I won't find out about them. This is even funnier because, over six months ago we started using the speaker function on the phone instead of trying to repeat theses bizarre conversations we both have with her.

Last night Mom asked Merete, "What do you think John would say if I hired a truck and moved all my stuff back into the house?" Luckily, Merete had to end the conversation because guests arrived, but she told to me what popped into her mind was two words ICE FLOW. After that I thought about having a competition asking everyone to send in 5 things I would likely say.

Before you all raise you arms up screaming at your monitors about what an insensitive bugger I am, I admit that it seemed funny at the time. It's really not that funny the next morning. I am not sure if she will actually ask me that question. If she does it will be on a Thursday or Friday just in time to have it run through my mind all weekend and stir the pot.

I am not looking forward to going to the mainland this week and visiting her one on one. You may not have heard the last of Repetitive Mother Syndrome, sorry.

Two Headed Dragons

I just posted this on my Heart Blog. This version is almost the same but with a few changes.

One of the side effects of surgery is depression. It’s not that I’m unfamiliar with depression, I have suffered from it on and off for most of my life. It never lasted very long except one time.

When I did seek professional help, I dealt with a Shrink. He was nothing like HUFF. He mostly looked bored and yawned a lot. In the end regarding my depression and how it manifested itself, he told me it was a reaction to stress. He also told me that stress and how we react to it is different for everybody.


I keep an eye out for stress now, it not only depresses me but it gave me a heart attack.

The hospital doesn’t talk that much about depression, either does the doctors. They just give you a prescription and send you home. It’s not quite right, if I hadn’t recognised the name of the drug I would have thought it was just another pain killer . The problem is that silence doesn’t help you. Most anti-depressives have side effects and they effect everyone differently.

Bupropian in too high of a dose makes me anxious. I may not feel depressed but it feels like the walls are closing in when I travel anywhere. I used to leave home for work in downtown Vancouver feeling great, by the time I got there I was a nervous wreck. Those other asshole drivers were trying to kill me. Later I found out it wasn't all the medication, they were assholes and most of were potential serial killers. The other thing they need to tell you is that you have ease off these drugs. DON’T LET YOUR PRESCRIPTION LAPSE AND GO WITHOUT THE DRUGS FOR A FEW DAYS. The next thing you know you’ll meet the two headed dragon.

The two headed dragon slides up to you and starts to work. The head with the short neck starts to whisper things in your ear. Self doubt, questions your actions, reminds you of the things you should be doing. While it starts to whisper, the head with long neck begins gradually to wrap itself around you, starting at the bottom and working upwards. You can't get happy, or high enough, you never feel like you've had too much to drink there is no effect. The next thing you know you are not sleeping well, you’re tired all the time. Puppies on TV start to make you cry and anything even remotely sentimental makes you well up. Any aches or pains you have drive you crazy but you don't want to sound like a whiner, so you shut the fuck up and mutter to yourself when no one is looking. While this is going on the whispering continues and gets stronger. Your subconscious won’t let you be, the next thing know you are staring into space contemplating the pile of crap your life has become. This massive pile of crap that you have created and have lost control, as if you can ever have control. If you do have control there is something wrong with you, SEEK HELP. Find some kaos, it makes for a full life.

Yes, I am the poster boy for stupid sometimes I ran out of pills just at the right time. I sent away paintings that I haven''t been paid for (no advice please), my Mother regained her title of DRAMA QUEEN and actually has us all worried about her health again. Enough about me.

Your prescription has run out so you get back on your medication. That’s what you do. If you have never had any medication for depression, you go see your GP and explain to him or her what has been going on inside your melon. You take extra vitamin B50’s, go to bed early for a few days and let things get balanced out. Before you know it, your life isn’t as big a pile of crap, you stop beating yourself up and start to deal with the minor problems that have been bothering you. One problem at a time.

It’s raining outside with sunny breaks much like life. I feel better having talked about after surgery and depression. The pain I suffer from is minor now, my breathing is stabilizing, the problems I have to deal with are not so bad, I am almost ready to get back to work at the Big Box and I am glad to be alive. I hate taking pills but you know they are keeping me alive in spite of my bad habits. That's a good thing, otherwise you would have to read another blog and I would have no one to irritate.

Don’t forget to take your medication whatever it is.

America Home of the ??

I haven't had a chance or a good reason to Blog until the last two weeks of news from America the beautiful.

It is really beautiful, but it's also a lot like one of those old Blonde Jokes sometimes.

Over the years I've kept track of 'Stupid' stories
from the States. It started before I moved to the
mountain way back in the 70's actually.


There was the MacDonalds' coffee incident, where a woman bought some coffee at a drive through. She had it in her lap and it spilled and burnt her legs and privates. This meant of course that she could sue Ronald and Gang, because of course it was their fault that she had a boiling cup of fresh brewed coffee in her lap. She did win millions.

Then, there was the Philadelphia Zoo Worker that had the bright idea that they could safely feed a Polar Bear grapes by hand. It doesn't take a lot of imagination to figure out how this idiot ended up with the nickname lefty. Again the Zoo was sued for creating a hostile environment for the Polar Bears that made them Aggressive. Aren't they wild animals when they are not in cages?

My most recent, 'What were you thinking, and Why would you let anybody know that you did this ?' A woman was at an animal park and was in the alligator cage with a handler. She preceded to put her face cheek by joule to the alligator as the handler held the head up in the air. Boy was she surprised when the critter grabbed her by the face almost removing an eye. Not only was the act 'Stupid', but then she went on TV and shared it with the world. I suppose to warn us all 'Not to Put Our Faces Next to Live Alligators cause it could be Dangerous'.

The other thing in the past weeks I enjoyed was Mr Obama's response to police arresting a Black Professor in his own house after showing his Identification. I agree, this was a stupid act and really shows the true state of equality in North America. I would also like to thank him for using the word 'STUPID', because somethings are just Stupid and should be declared so otherwise why do we keep the word. Yes it can be used inappropriately but come on when was used this context it was bang on the money.

But that's just my opinion and you are free to think it's Stupid. Oh, don't forget not to put your head in the Restaurant Bathroom Fabric Towel Dispensor Loop there is a hanging risk. Just look for the safety label made in America.

Financial Forecast & Bizarro

Right now across North America workers are winning a million dollars. I saw a piece on the news last night about a giant shopping mall north of Calgary that had a job fair that offered 3500 jobs to the local residents.

It should be interesting to see how many of these potential employees stay with these jobs and reach the million dollar goal.

Retail is not for everyone, believe me I know. My BBS experience has hardened me towards the public. These 3500 workers will be tested. It doesn't matter how smart you are, how talented, how quick, how funny or caring.



Once you are working in a retail centre in any position people will look at you differently. The vast majority will be good to deal with, but a large number of these people will treat you like third class citizens. You are nothing to them almost sub-human. You will learn to appreciate the good people and put up with the assholes. When you go shopping you will be a wonderful patient customers that knows how to actually use the stores system to get what you want.

Right now, seniors whose retirement income has been cut, unemployed industry workers, labourers and thousands of other out of work people as well as graduating students will be hoping to win that million dollars. Hopefully they will start at $10 an hour or more so that it will take them less time to reach the million mark.

Once I have recovered from surgery I will be back at the BBS on the hunt for my own million.It's just to bad that every 25 years or so we have to grow through this kind of economic nightmare. Really this isn't new, just go through the archives and you will see the trend. Get ready for the next "down turn" and slide some of you bucks into that mattress, the next "market adjustment" might be worse.

Thanks to Bizarro for hitting what I think is a reality nail right on the head.

Poor Reporting

Due to a lack of things to do on Sunday and a poor TV schedule, we had the misfortune of watching Global National Sunday Evening News.

What a horrendous waste of time. I watch a lot of news and I think like any good story there should be a beginning, a middle and an end. Somebody should point this out to these guys. They seemed at least this past Sunday to be more interested in the lead in headlines than the stories.

They also tended to push out the most outrageous headline prior to a commercial in an effort to keep you tuned in and then didn't follow up after the break until three stories later.


The topper for me was one of those "Breaking News" pieces. Sunday's breaking news story was the killing of 2 boys and beating of their mother and the death of their assailant . I"ll check my facts and update this later, I'm on a roll.

Global Nationals' Breaking News' headline before the break was "Two teens believed killed and mother injured in attack details after the break." After the break they came back with "Two teens, believed killed, mother injured in attack in greater Vancouver suburb." and that was it. What kind of reporting is that?

I'm not that media savvy but really why not just fill the time with a complete story about puppies or something. Give us something with a beginning, a middle and an end. If you don't have enough facts to do a proper story shut up until you do.

The Dance that almost killed me.

You know if there was a way to go this would have been it. Ain't dead yet....... dancing at one of your two beloved daughters weddings would have been the way, oh man yessss! This is the first version of my little dance movie. Once I can sit at my computer for a few more hours I will edit this and add pictures of all my beautiful nieces and nephews, friends and loved ones cutting a rug.

Man what a party Travis & Janna put on! Good on you, you can plan my next party!

This is what life is about loving your family and friends.

Cheers til sometime in the next few weeks. John

Did I mention it was sooo worth it!

Stand on Guard for Thee?

When is a bribe not a bribe? Apparently a bribe is not a bribe when you are the former prime minister of this country! The former PM must never have watched any of those fabulous old gangster movies that started out in the forties and then reformulated in the fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties and nineties. You know the ones where the gangster/mobster or sleaze bag villain slides the envelope stuffed with cash across the desk to the corrupt politician. The one where the envelope is tucked inside a folded newspaper and handed off to civil servant in order to sway a contract bidding process.

I always thought that Patronage appointments were the height of our political system scandals and the peak of government drama. Now we have a new benchmark. The dark under belly of the Canadian Political System has been exposed. Between the naughty Jean Jean and his honorable Fiburoney the true nature of backdoor Canadian Politics has been revealed and it is ugly.

In conversation with a Libyan National once, I was told that Arabs counted their fingers after shaking hands with a Canadian Business Man. I never believed it, however after the recent televised hearings, I may have to reconsider my views.

Who really stands on guard for thee? I know our troops believe they do but what kind of backroom deals sent them to the other side of the planet. Do we really want to spread democracy that is corrupted by backdoor business dealings. Was it really a case of "poor judgement" at the time and "regrettable" or is this similar to the greed which the world economy has fallen victim too?

Let's all be aware of the pitfalls of greed and make no room for the corrupt. If democracy is what we want to export then it should be transparent and for the better of the people that need it, not rich business men, corrupt politicians and civil servants.

I will now dismount my soap box and continue on with my day.

BBS Episode 1

Episode 1 - “The Oval Vanity Sink”

For the past three years I’ve work in a “Home and Garden Store”. I won’t name my employer but in this case it really doesn’t matter, it is the public that I find amusing. I have a thing about British people that makes me mental. They ask and refer to too many things that have nothing to do with the actual situation you are dealing with. I guess that’s why I love “Little Britain”. If you haven’t seen it you should. One of the things I love about the ‘Brits’ is that they make fun of who they are and how they react to things. The other thing that I am amazed by is that they don’t do anything about it and don’t seem to change. Maybe it’s their sense of comedy. In this next segment I will write in English but try to write in Brit as well.

Scene: The Vanity Sink Aisle of My Box Store

Woman standing alone, looking perplexed. I am passing by with an armload of faucet boxes surrounded by 4 customers all of whom are asking questions.

Brit: Excuuuuse me do yooou work here.......
Yes, I do.
Brit: I neeed some help if yer nawt too bizzzzzy!
I’ll be with you in a moment; as soon as I have helped these other customers.

2 minutes go by, I find the Brit pacing and muttering about the lack of staff to customer ratio. She is standing in front of the the vanity sink display.

Sorry to keep you waiting, how can I help.
(I’m thinking here it comes)

Brit: No probby,,,,,(as she taps her toe and standing with her back to the display, raising her arms she starts to make an oval shape, which is the identical shape to the sink behind her large Brit head)
Brit: I’m looking for a sinnnnk......it’s an ovaaaal in white enameled steel by American Standard buuuutt I can’t seeeem to find it . Can you help?

(oh fuck I think, raising my left hand I point over her right shoulder)
Similar to the white one behind you?

Brit: Ooooohhh, really? Is it white?
Why yes, it is American Standard white.
Brit: Is that bright white or warm white?
American Standard has a bright white.
Brit:Oooohhhhh
There is a pause as she ponders white.

Brit: Do you think my huuuzband would like it?
I’m not sure Maam, I haven’t met your husband.
Brit: He middle aaaaged, and baulding slightly overweeeeight.
I’m not sure Maam.
Brit: Does it commme in bowwnne?
Why yes it does.
Brit: I dooooan’t liiike bowwwnne!
Oh.
Brit: I think my faaaather woould like it.
That’s good.
Brit: He’s dead.
(fuck how long is this going to go on?)
I am sorry for your loss.
Brit: Diiied a number yeeears ago, tragiccc reeeally.
Sorry to hear that.
Brit: Wasn’t muuuch of a father but what can you do reeeally. I’m writing my memiors,
I haaave three children Bradley, Thomas and EEElizabeth, named after the Queen, the Queen of England of course. I was raised in a cult in South Aaaafreeca. Horrrible realllyy but fascinating. All raaather sordid really....... what a time I had as a child. Personal sacrifices, chicken sacrifices, develops you as a person reeeeally........... I require a toilet.......... Bradley is an accountant.
(Where is this going? I now have 5 customers watching and waiting)
Brit: I’d like one thooooose toilets then, how dooo I get oonne?
(pointing towards a box on the shelf) Like that one; how do I get it?
(the other customers have started to tap their toes on the concrete floor, time to wrap this nightmare up asap)
You place them on a cart and then you go to the cashiers.
Brit:Oooooohhhhhh
Do You have a cart Maaam?
Brit: Ooooh Noooooo
Did you want me to get you a cart?
Brit: If iiit’s no trouble.
No problem. (I slide an uncomfortable smile towards the other customers and then run like a maniac to find a cart and dispatch the Brit after prying her off my left teet)

This experience has lasted over twenty minutes. I deal with the next 5 customers all within 10 minutes and all leave happy. Life in a Box Store makes you tired.

Next Episode: What is the water level in these toilets?

Heart Hoochie-Coo

I just spent 3 fun filled days in the hospital being poked and prodded. It's not that I like that sort of experience but it was necessary. On May 28th I get to have my chest opened up and have a valve replacement. Sounds like fun doesn’t it!

I’m not really worried about the surgery, I really have no choice. The valve being replaced has been slowly deteriorating over my lifetime. I will be glad to have it fixed. For the past five years it’s been like living with a time bomb in my chest. It is a weird sensation slowly feeling this monster get worse especially over the past years.

I have been very active for all of my life, I work, play and live to the fullest. Yes I have done many things that are a bad for my body but I am still here. I smoke, drink and dance the hoochie-coo but this is not the real cause of problems. It hasn’t helped but I was born with this problem and when my stress level caused the original heart attack my world started to change. I did modify my behaviour to a some extent after the first incident, the biggest being getting rid of a external stress and eating better. However I still smoked, drank and danced the hoochie-coo.

The most fearful test I underwent over the 3 days was a angiogram. This is where they open an artery and shove probe into your heart to check the coronary arteries. This scared me more than the pending surgery. Amazingly enough my arteries are pristine, my last 5 years of stress free smoking drinking and dancing the hoochie-coo has not put me in this position. The time bomb was still a time bomb and was the inevitable course I was to take through this life. This said, I am going to modify my life style and concentrate more on painting, gardening occasionally drinking and dancing the hoochie-coo. The smoking issue still is a demon to deal with. I do plan to do battle with it just like I do with bouts of depression.

The staff at the hospital was amazing except a few that were just a bit tedious. I have to respect them all for their endless patience dealing with some of us morons though.

Case in point more than a couple of morbidly obese women from Great Britain. These morons could not understand why they were in the cardiac care unit at all. I was amazed. None of them tipped the scale under 280 pounds, all had the complexion of 3 week old sliced turkey luncheon meat. All had diabetes and probably hadn’t eaten a fresh vegetable in twenty years. One claimed to have her diabetes under control saying that her blood sugar was stable at a constant 8* until entering the hospital and they had messed up her life. She didn’t seem to appreciate that the staff had saved her life twice by putting no less than eleven stents in heart. How many stents do they have to put in a person until they appreciate the procedure?

Let me be clear, I am not dissing heavy people. We all have genetic predispositions in our physical makeup. You can be big and healthy too, there is nothing wrong with it. Being active eating properly will keep you alive. Boiling the nutrients out of your veggies, eating fatty meats, processed food and being sedentary will kill you.

Eating properly, being active, moderate drinking, an occasional toot and dancing the hootchie-coo won’t! Go eat a raw carrot, have a slice of banana and live you life.

Keep in mind that there are some things you have no control over like genetic time bombs. You just have to get out and live life and listen to your body.Find a healthier balance.

(*Check with your doctor having a sugar level at 8 is a wee bit on the unhealthy side.)

When is a Flu not a Flu.

This morning I sat in stunned amazement while a spokesperson from the World Health Organisation talked about Swine Flu. He actually didn’t say a single thing for at least ten minutes. Finally CBC NewsWorld went back to the anchor desk, realizing that he was talking in circles and not really giving any information other than they (WHO) were aware of Flu outbreak.

I am not joking, this spokesman using a well modulated monotone to keep the world from freaking out over Swine Flu never said a thing. He managed to call it a Swine Flu but then said it was not Swine Flu. This is not a Pandemic but is like a Pandemic. What is that? The fact that there were multiple cases in Canada, USA, Mexico and symptoms in a couple of other countries doesn’t mean it is a Pandemic. The fact that there has been about sixteen deaths apparently does not seem to matter. The American Centre for Disease Control had tested patients and had confirmed that these were “Swine Flu” like symptoms. Canada and Mexico have done the same.

What I keep wondering is when will the World Health Organisation actually give us lowly plebes a straight answer? I can understand their concern not wanting to spread hysteria around the globe but why set up a news conference to spread a bunch of double talk. Leave that to the professionals, our elected officials.

I sat there fixated on this spokesman, wondering if I was listening properly. When CBC cut away in the what appeared to be the middle of his talk, I could tell that the News Anchor and I were both hearing the same thing. Absolutely nothing at all was being said. The Anchor appeared as annoyed as I had become.

It really reminded me of an old comedy skit about CNN. The camera is set up with a microphone at a closed screen door. CNN keeps cutting to a live feed on the door because something or someone may make an announcement. Nothing ever happens but they keep cutting back to over and over again.

I have to give credit to CBC for cutting away and not wasting our time. I look forward to actually get some real information on the “Non Swine-Swine Flu”.

Greed, Corruption & the LifeBoy Bonus

I have watched with interest over the past months as the economy of world has fallen victim to greed and corruption.

It has affected us all, no matter what age we are. Here we are coming up to tax time and I have noticed a lack of information coming our way on regarding our retirement savings. Our advisors have fallen silent.




This does not really surprise me, the concept of Freedom 55 is not for the general public.

Freedom 55 is for financial planners and not for common working folk.

Just when the situation seemed beyond ridiculous, along comes the story of AIG bonuses. Call me old fashioned but I thought you received a bonus when you performed well and did work beyond your basic duties. A bonus is for excellence or it was until the new AIG definition.

I'm not saying that these people didn't deserve to get paid, they were after all working and just "following orders" from their leaders. Haven't we heard that before, say back in the late thirties in Germany. Now that may be considered a harsh comparison after all these workers aren't Nazis but really why didn't anybody stand up say "Hey what's going on here is wrong!" Didn't we learn the lesson last time?

Nobody spoke up back in Germany. Nobody spoke up when these financial institutions started to screw the pouch and let Greed rule the day. Our results are not as harsh as those in the thirties but Millions of people have been injured by Greed. To add insult to injury NOW they are using Tax dollars to bail the Greedy Buggers out and supply them with Bonuses. Shame!

I like happy endings, but I'm not counting on one this time. The pouch has been screwed and most of the workers have been given a LifeBoy bonuses.