O Canada We Stand On Guard For Thee

Some men call their former girl friends when they get drunk, others call for help.

I ran across a news item about a man in Manitoba who dialed 911 (sometime last year) to demand the return of the Winnipeg Jets. Although I empathize with the man, he needs to realize 1: The Jets left Winnipeg about 14 years ago. 2: As witnessed during the last two weeks of the 2009-2010 season, Phoenicians will venture out to the worst named arena on the planet to watch hockey if the team wins a few games. 3: If the Coyotes move back north of the border, they are far more likely to land in Hamilton than Winnipeg. 4: He is lucky to have done this in Canuckistan where people understand what alcoholic beverages do to hockey fans. 5: Glendale is home to the WORST NAMED ARENA in the universe. I don't know what that has to do with the other 4, but "Jobing.com Arena?" The naming committee needs to present possible names to a group of 11-111 year old males before final approval. If there are snickers, guffaws, chortles, or laughs, the suggested name fails. Even a well-bred proper Mormon mom would shoot green Jell-O from her nose on that one.

I hope Manitoba does land a team in the future, but for now I am (Deleted Expletive) glad there is a team within 224km (metric as a nod to the denizens of "the True North strong and free") of where I live. If (when?) they leave I am likely to emulate the puck-head and dial 911 demanding the return of the team. Nobody ever said one needed to be smart to be a hockey fan. And for me even a fan of teams formerly known as the North Stars, or Colorado Rockies is a hockey fan. And as with firefighters, a brother is a brother, even if they like Dallas, or New Jersey.

Forget 12 step programs, try my 15 step program!

1) Get annoyed with dripping kitchen faucet and go to hardware store and buy appropriate cartridge/stem units.
2) Come home and replace units
3) Notice faucet still drips and go to same store and buy replacement spring/seat units
4) Replace seat/springs.
5) Readjust/tighten faucet handle/stem/spring-seat units when faucet still drips.
6) Remove "bonnet" to repeat step 5, realizing I forgot to make sure water was turned off.
7) Clean up water from ceiling/floor/self. (if you think this was stupid, wait till step 8)
8) Repeat steps 5,6,and 7. (with emphasis on steps 6 and 7) Tighten everything.
9) Dance around when there are no drips.
10) Stop dancing when water leaks from every possible place - including under sink.
11) Call friend for help.
12) Mess around with the whole thing repeating the steps, but making sure water is off.
13)Finally remove faucet from sink.
14) Discover why dripping stopped, but leaking started.






15) Go to different store to spend money on new faucet, because I don't want to play with solder. (Given my talent with step 8.)
15) Install new faucet. (it probably need replacing anyway)

Fun With Construction Stuff

While Flagstaff slept, alien conehead lumberjacks attacked!

Doubling Up On Typing Exercizes

As the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog, I packed my box with five dozen liquor jugs. All right, all right, I know I took some liberties here, but I have fake poetic license. I also am seeing double, and then some. Well, letters anyway.

WAAAAAAAAH! The Season Is Over

Well, it wasn't the team I wanted, (at least not publicly) but Chicago has won the Stanley Cup. The Cup, The Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup, The Holy Grail, The Meaning of Life, Life of Brian. Oops I digress. After a dismal third period, and even worse start of the overtime period for the Blackhawks, Chi town finally figured out that if they score, they win. Even in slo-mo that winning goal was damn fast. Marilee, did you have something to do with it? The good thing is that I like the Hawks and am happy to have seen them win. This hasn't happened since my older brother was a toddler. Congrats boys, and thanks to Marilee. I hope you had fun watching.

But Seriously Folks,

Despite the fact I have not lived in Thailand for over 20 years, I am annoyed and saddened by the events there over the past 72 hours. Well, the past 2 months for that matter. This level of violent disobedience is most non-Thai as the Thai have a well deserved reputation for settling differences peacefully. Sometimes I think the word Thailand is synonymous with "bloodless coup." Thus, I am bewildered, perplexed and frankly pissed off at the actions of the arsonists. Although I feel for the rural poor, (I worked in international development when I lived in Maha Sarakham) I do not condone setting buildings afire. That is just inexcusable. To the people of Bangkok, Mukdahan, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Chiang Mai and other towns who are just trying to go about their business; I am truly pained to read and see the reports on the news. I wish you all peace and love.

Dive Right In

Kim had her birthday party a couple of weeks ago, and I have been too lazy to post anything about it till now. We went bowling and all had a great time. This year she requested a "swimming pool" cake with her diving from a "3 meter" board. No, the board is not to scale.