Days left to the world changing! (No pressure Mr. Obama!)

I don't think George is a bad man, I just think that:
- he wasn't up to the job
- he really wasn't intelligent enough for the job
- he made really bad choices in his advisers and staff
- he did fully grasp what was happening around him
- he was completely out of touch with his country and it's priorities

Organising for America, a new Obama program

http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/thefuture
(Click the link above to watch the video.)

How exciting to find this in my email today! Yes I joined his on line team, yes I'm Canadian and yes, I'm excited!

What's wrong with this picture?

So much for the banana belt of Canada! I'm moving to the Yukon. My car made noises this morning that I did not know cars could/should make! Granted, it's a '92 Grand Am but that puppy started and the funny noise went away eventually while warming up in the driveway. The windshield wipers, however, did not defrost and start working until I was almost at work. Good thing it's too cold for any thaw and slush being thrown up by passing trucks.

Miracle on the Hudson and a heroic pilot!

I hope the next time Mich & I go to NYC this guy is flying the plane! It is so good to have this kind of news in the midst of the current dismal state of our world!

The big chill!

So I've been slacking on my blogging and apologize to all! Really, not much has been happening.

My furnace died again a couple of days ago! It was an easy, and again free, fix of a relay switch. Thank goodness it died before today and the next few days with -28 degree temps in the forecast! Not being willing to take any chances though, I have got 3 portable heaters, just in case. My theory; if you have 'em... you won't need 'em!

I still have the plague. I've canceled my trip to London for the weekend as everyone there has the flu and well... why ask for trouble?

I am terribly pissed at the Canadian Military truck contract being awarded to the USA as I think our tax dollars should be spent here, especially in times like this but... I'm just not in the mood to rant!

Try to stay warm!

2009 starts with the Plague!

Yep, after the sewer back up, (repaired at no charge!) The furnace break down, (repaired at no charge!) I get the Plague to welcome in the new year. January 2nd, it starts... January 3rd it has me in it's grip and is not letting go! Coughing, sneezing, (even in my sleep, who knew that could happen?) plugged ears but thankfully, no hemorrhaging was involved. It's only too bad, I couldn't have been repaired at no charge!

Sorry to those of you who keep checking in for updates, but I've really not been up to updating. Plus there's been nothing much to say other than cough, cough, sneeze, sneeze and that gets so boring after a while. :)

Oh, I did get the City to fix our street lights that had been out for over a week due to a wind storm. I mentioned how I was "tripping over the uneven sidewalks whilst trying to visit the neighbours in the pitch black!" They were out in less than 12 hours!

I can only assume the rest of the new year holds great things!

December 2008 wrap up. A busy, busy month, and Happy New Year everyone!

December 9th, clogged sewer backed up into basement a teeny bit. City comes out in 15 minutes, eels at no charge and all is well!

December 13th, -36 wind chill, 60kmh winds... furnace dies and Bob has to keep forcing it to come on! The help desk woman, in Manila, Philippines where it's 80 degrees is oh so helpful! I borrow space heaters and bring home a giant fire extinguisher from work! We carry on.

December 20th, Patty's annual Christmas Party, Bob, Mich & I have a wonderful time!

December 22nd, huge grocery shopping, for what Debbie & I didn't already buy in Detroit, for the Christmas Eve open house.

December 23rd, work & home to prepare the food for Christmas Eve.

December 24th, (furnace still acting up... making the best of it,) Open House... A grand time was had by all, no idea on numbers, I don't even bother to count anymore!

December 25th, 8am, furnace guy replaces the broken parts, (all covered by our contract so again, no charge!) Christmas breakfast crew starts arriving... 9:30am we're in full swing with at least 25 breakfast guests. Our London trip is canceled due to the furnace issues, so I make Christmas dinner for the three of us.

December 26th, we decide to make a one day trip to London to visit family. It was great!

December 27th, work. (I'm actually working everyday but most days there's something more interesting to talk about!)

December 28th, Michie's birthday Eve dinner and pie & ice cream with friends and family.

December 29th, the annual, Night Before New Year's Eve party at Nancy's, one Eve early! Bob, Mich & I have another wonderful time!

December 30th, work. But a bit more interesting as our firing site for the Chatham Family New Year's Eve fireworks show is under water as the Thames has risen way above normal and is expected to crest another 14.5 feet by New Year's Eve! There is much running around trying to find a new site at the last minute!

December 31st, work to 6pm at the warehouse then off to the City Hall roof top fireworks. Home at 10:30 and bed at 11:10pm, I slept through the midnight celebrations! Windsor's show is at 9pm for families. (Thank goodness!)

January 1st, 2009, back to City Hall at 9am for clean up. It was a tad chilly! Home to prepare dinner for 14, that ended up being dinner 1or 9 but still a good time was had by all! I am a very lucky person to have so many wonderful friends and family to share my life!

January 2nd until further notice... I'm sleeping!

Happy New Year everyone! :)

Pro-Life Parliamentary Caucus... did you know there was one?

Jeff Watson, the invisible M.P. for Essex speaks yet again. He was on AM 800 CKLW's afternoon show. Turns out we have a Pro-Life Parliamentary Caucus! Who knew... not me anyway. Now, Jeff was pretty much himself in his "knowledgeable, decisive and factual answers...

How long has this Caucus existed? Jeff's answer... well I don't know, but it's been in existence since before I was elected in 2004.

How many members are there? Jeff's answer... well, I don't really know but it's non Partisan and consists of all parties.

Are all parties represented in this Caucus then? Well, I don't know right now but historically I think they've all had members.

How many late term abortions are there preformed in Canada? Well... I'm not sure but I know there are some.

So... thanks for the details Jeff! Keep up the good work! Next time, how about you count the number of bodies around the table when you meet;come on Jeffy, you can do it... use both hands if you have to! Plus, I'm sure there's some kind of guide or list that you can use to match up the names to the party and then... ta da... you'll know how many of the parties, besides your own, have members in this oh, so out in the open Caucus!

Oh and may I suggest you do some homework BEFORE you go on air? Just a thought Jeffy!

Rod Marinelli fired! 0 - 16 record... Do you think?

So, what do you call 72 millionares sitting around a tv watching the Super Bowl?
The Detroit Lions! hahahahaha...


(Photo, Detroit Free Press)

Happy Birthday Eve Michie!

Due to work and numerous seasonal fetes, we held Michie's 22nd birthday today! We had a glorious dinner and then pie and ice cream at our house. Friends, family and lots of love... that's what these special days are all about. My baby is going to be 22 tomorrow! (gasp!)
I just love this picture, three very happy girls!

Grateful

It's 2:am, I've just blown out the last candle, tidied up the last of the dishes and have to be up before 8am. My sewer backed up last week, my furnace died last Sunday when the wind chill was -36 degrees, (they're coming Christmas morning to fix it, unlucky fellow,) but I am one lucky person. Tonight my house was filled with friends, family and loved ones. Little children, their parents and my dear friends. Nothing else matters than the fact that my steps are worn by the footsteps of people who wish to share my life. A life lived alone is so very sad, and I cannot help but at this time of year to reflect on how blessed I am to have such a full and loving house!

That my reader, is what life is all about. Merry Christmas to you and the loved ones who are gathered around you.

Ah the irony!

(Time Magazine)

Michelle said it best... He threw his shoes at the very man who made it possible for him to throw his shoes.

I am no fan of GW. I consider him a virtually complete failure in his job. However, the post he holds, the Office itself, deserves more respect than this incident shows. Had Saddam been behind that podium, the tosser would have been dead on the spot and his family tossed in jail.

The man; say what you will; the Office show some respect.

Vancouver Christmas party shooting suspect's online comments about stress and the work place.

You've likely read about the shooting at the company Christmas party in Vancouver a couple of days ago. A fired employee, Erik Kirkpatrick, who was invited to the party, brought a gun and killed the company CEO, Benjamin Banky.

I found a story in the Globe & Mail from 2007 entitled, "Stressful jobs can be fatal." In the comments section, there are only 9 of them, I found one from Kirkpatrick. I'm sure it's the same man as the news is reporting that his wife had died of cancer a few years ago. Actually, he was a rather regular poster of comments on many topics. If you google his name and city you'll find them.

He speaks of a prior firing from a stressful job, being hospitalized for stress and being put on meds for the rest of his life. It would seem that this man was a bomb just waiting to go off.

Kudos to the City of Windsor, Public Works Department

On Monday morning I noticed my tub wasn't draining as quickly as usual, then, forgot about it. On Tuesday morning I noticed it wasn't draining at all! I opened the door and saw the mat on the floor was a little wet around the grate covering the hole that would hold a sump pump, (if we had one.) I should mention I use the basement bathroom, cement floor not a "finished" basement. So, I lift the rug, lift the grate and the whole hole is full of icky stuff! Yep... sewer backup.

I wake Bob up with "Houston, we have a problem", (he was working afternoons,) and we go downstairs to look at the ick. I call 311 and report the problem, they call me back in 5 minutes and tell me the City guys will be here in 10 minutes! They took 15 but I shan't quibble. They eel, I stand in the basement over the hole and keep watching for the water to go down. Bob keeps sticking his head in the side door and asking if it was going down... neither of us wanted to have to dig up the basement 2 weeks before Christmas when we have our giant open house and well... drinking... eating... much toilet using! I tell him I'll let him know the instant it drains and to quit popping in and out! (Tensions were rising!)

Suddenly... it was gone, a little slurpy noise and the hole was empty! I went outside to deliver the good news and to see what the problem was. There were some tree roots and gunk. I ran hot, hot water from my tub into it and that night cleaned out the ick... dirty job but someone had to do it!

The City guys were great, oh I should mention that of course, it was freezing rain at the time. They told us we can get the system eeled 3 times in 24 months, no charge to keep the roots at bay.

WFCU Centre, Windsor Ontario

From this...


To this... in a week, what a change between my visits.

Though still not a fan of the name, awkward, and open to variations such as the FU Centre which I heard several times last week, the venue is great!

Snowball the dancing cockatoo, will make you smile!

He's a famous little guy. He's been on Animal Planet, on TV shows and has been studied by scientists. Not to mention his great taste in music!

Illinois governor taken into custody; Gov. Rod Blagojevich

Well well, it is alleged he was raffling off Obama's now vacant Senate seat! This is on top of the alleged kick backs being investigated. US Governors seem to have a hard time lately. If it isn't $800 an hour call girls, air borne wolf hunts, tax evasion, unreported gifts and now outright corruption charges... Those Gov's are a pretty busy bunch!

Oops!

I was coming in to write a new post and I think I accidentally flagged my own blog for objectionable content! So... if you do stumble in and see a warning, let me know ok so I can try to undo it! Good thing I don't have the nuclear code suitcase eh?

(I can easily see the time of flagging and what computer was here at this time and prove I did it myself if I have to! sigh...)

Stephen Harper, the man who tore apart Canada.

Are you proud Mr. Prime Minister? Are you happy you've managed to tear your country apart? Are you relishing the mass protests from both ends of the spectrum? Only you Sir, have managed to do this to our Country. Over 60% of this country voted against you... there is no mandate, there is no "right" to govern.

You have barricaded the doors of Parliament, inflamed the voters and what are you doing Sir? Where are you? Hiding, that's where you are.

Shame on you, shame on your Party and shame on us for letting it happen! We may as well be some banana republic with an army of gun wielding soldiers slamming the doors of democracy! Never did I think I'd see this in my country.

Prorogued : Harper gets the ultimate "do over."

The giant eraser came out and voila! In 7 weeks, it's a new session. New Throne Speech, budget, bills, laws... If the same old stone throwing, country splitting, Quebec alienating, arrogant, bully is at the helm we'll just start all over again.

I am not sure why Her Excellency chose to save the current PM's job, leave the country adrift at this incredibly tenuous time but she did. I cannot wait to hear the reasoning.