August 2006

Hockey is starting soon and it should be an interesting year. With all the changes on the teams and the salary cap it has made for an interesting summer. Managing a roster is now paramount to ensure team success. Changes may not be possible during the season due to the cap forcing teams to be more careful and leave some cap space. Teams can no longer afford to spend and then if something isn’t working just bring in more resources. Now it is a careful game of ensuring all the pieces fit within the cap, making it much more difficult to make changes.

I have been interested to watch and listen on the local media to all the rhetoric about how great the Vancouver Canucks will be this season. The Canucks have made massive changes from the coach to new forwards, some new defense and what has been the missing component for a long time, a top goalie. While the inclusion of Roberto Luongo should help Vancouver he has not won in the playoffs and has never lead the league such as Martin Brodeur, Eddie Belfour (in his prime), and Dominik Hasek. Each of these goalies has led the league and their teams to victory including winning the Stanley Cup. Well some may believe that Luongo never had a good supporting cast in Florida (I think the cast last year was quite good and getting better) the team in front of him in Vancouver is very different from last years entry and their will probably be an issue with team chemistry for the first part if not the majority of the season. Yes you can look at stats and say the players they lost were minus players and the players they added were all pluses last season but their is also team chemistry which goes way beyond individual stats. Luongo needs to lead the Canucks no matter how the team plays and he needs to steal victories on nights when the team does not show up. In the very tough Western Conference a team will not be able to take very many nights off or they will find themselves out of playoff contention very quickly.

As for my team the Calgary Flames the changes have been to help with the biggest shortfall last season lack of scoring. To add scoring the Flames did not have to kill team chemistry to add Alex Tanguay and Jeff Freisen should help Calgary score more goals. With the solid defense and most of the same forwards Calgary will again be in contention with of course Mikka Kiprusoff backstopping the team. Maybe even Tony Amonte will wake up and add to the goal production, if not I suspect GM Sutter will give him a Bus ticket out of town.

Having said all that Hockey is full of surprises and anything is possible. Should be an interesting season. Found this picture somewhere I thought it was quite well done, it is amazing what a little paint can do…..

and I haven’t forgotten about the so called “Center of the Universe” Toronto Maple Leafs, I just haven’t really heard much about them, much good that is…..

This week I went to the beach, I have a lake within 10 minutes of my house so trips to the beach happen pretty often. I have found a nice secluded area where I can be assured that the crowds will stay away and the area has a nice grassy area, a dock for easy water entry and of course a sandy beach area. As this place is secluded it is used mostly by locals like me who tripped over it. 

On this particular day it had started out a little gray but the sun poked through just before midday so My rubber arm was twisted and off to the lake I went with a magazine to read and my trusty IPod. Even though this beach is not on a tropical island or somewhere in the tropics it is still enjoyable to visit. While this is not the perfect beach (somewhere on a tropical island with bikini clad natives) it serves as a quick getaway. I am practicing to be a beach bum so when I do find that perfect beach I will be ready to go. Of course practicing to be a beach bum includes practicing my Margarita making skills and consumption of said margaritas as well.

Oh it is so tough living as a Man of Leisure!  

It was Saturday August 19th, a beautiful day without a cloud in the sky. A perfect day for a walk in the country. I was joined by my friend David S and as we drove up to the Legion Hall we saw a few people milling about. As we waited more people arrived and the start area was becoming very crowded. Start time was set for 10am and David and I decided to walk the 8 km route. The route took us along the Hope River and through the beautiful Fraser Valley with the mountains as the backdrop. Damn I am lucky to live in such a wonderful place.

After we finished our walk and returned to the start area, David and I were discussing the variety of people in attendance, there were all ages from young children to retired folks. It was nice to see entire families participating and the enthusiasm from the participants and the volunteers was incredible to experience. The registered attendance was 270 people and I am sure there was 300 or more, as I am sure some folks were not registered and over $13,000 was raised for Spina Bifida. For a first time event those are incredible numbers. A big pat on the back for Brad Hagkull, the organizers and volunteers for putting together such a great event.

I would like to thank my friend Jim and my Aunt Pauline for sponsoring me and I want to thank my friend David who walked with me. And always I appreciate the support and friendship of all of my friends and family. Thank you one and all for everything, I am a lucky person to have such great people in my life.

I have been taking it easy during the last few weeks and just enjoying my time off. Someone asked me today what I have been up to and when I told them that between trips to the beach and going on bike rides my days seem to pass pretty quickly all they could do was smile.

I cannot beleive that the summer has gone so quickly and really do not know where the time has gone. The weather has been pleasant and this makes it enjoyable.  I still have not gotten my Kayak which would really make my summer complete but I must wait until I am gainfully employed before that happens. Unless their is a Sugar Momma out there who wishes to be generous and give me a gift. Any takers

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Today is the fifth anniversary of the passing of my father Tom Jones and I was not sure how I would feel. I think about my parents periodically but especially on the day they passed away. Over the past four anniversaries I took a few minutes on the day to myself to remember. As this day approached I began to think about it and dwell on my memories of my dad. I guess not having work to fill my time has given me more time to dwell on the impact of August 15th and what is missing from my life. My Mom and Dad were my best friends and I have come to realize that time does heal wounds but never dulls the memory.

I am a better person because of my Mom and Dad and I am successful due to the advice and guidance of my Dad. I always strive to do the best and be the best I can be and sometimes when I fail I need guidance (a swift kick in the ass) to help me.

Dad I truly miss you and thank you for helping me become  the person I am today.  

Well I guess I must still be bored as I have some more of these very useful tidbits.

• Americans are responsible for about 1/5 of the world’s garbage annually. On average, that’s 3 pounds a day per person.
• In ancient Rome, when a man testified in court he would swear on his testicles.
• A raisin dropped in a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top.
• Most lipstick contains fish scales.
• About 200,000,000 M&Ms are sold each day in the United States.
• If you put a drop of liquor on a scorpion, it will instantly go mad and sting itself to death.
• In Disney’s Fantasia, the Sorcerer to whom Mickey played an apprentice was named Yensid (Disney spelled backward).
• Charlie Chaplin once won third prize in a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest.
• Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying.
• Sherlock Holmes NEVER said “Elementary, my dear Watson”, Humphrey Bogart NEVER said “Play it again, Sam” in Casablanca, and they NEVER said “Beam me up, Scotty” on Star Trek.

Damn so how do I get Scotty to Beam me up!

Well this is my first post and my Daddy is making me write something so I thought I would tell you about my favourite things. Of course I am a girl so these do change….. My favourite food is Ice Cream and my daddy is very nice and gives me a bowl especially when it is hot. I also love Milk Bones but the Vet says they are cookies so I only get them as a treat. My favourite drink is milk and of course a bowl of nice cold water. I also looooove apples and really love sharing an apple with my daddy. He is soooo good to me I think some people think I am spoiled but I say poo poo to them. I am just such a sweet cutie pie that people want to pet me and give me treats. Oh Oh my bestest treat is Rice Krispie Treats which I get two times a day….My daddy thinks he is fooling me into taking my pills by giving me a krispie treat but I don’t mind.

I like to go for drives, it does not matter where we go because I get a treat when we come home. Next time I will tell you about my road trip. Oh and check out my page on Dogster I have met quite a few new friends.

I am participating in the First Annual Hope River Classic Walk/Run/Wheel to raise awareness and funds for Spina Bifida. I was not going to collect pledges at first but I have decided I might as well so if you are not able to attend and would like to support this great cause please contact me…..I do have paypal if you want to donate from a distance.

I posted previously here

If you wish to sponsor me I have setup through Paypal to accept donations Please click the button (Pledges of $20 or more will receive a Tax Receipt if you are from Canada)

Sorry I am not able to accept Credit cards at this time.

If you have any questions or comments please use my Contact Form and I would be happy to hear from you.

Thanks to everyone.