Sports Accomplices

 Mardi and I both have kid brothers.  I'm 12 years older than Roger.  Mardi has two brothers, but today we're talking about Greg, younger by 10 years.  Happy Birthday Greg!

I'd tell you how old he is but then you'd be able to figure out that Mardi is 79.

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The PGA of America has decided not to play the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump National's Bedminster course.  They haven't yet announced a replacement course, but obviously felt compelled to ditch Trump.  Probably because they'd lose all their other sponsors, but for whatever reason good on them.

However, a few of their members still have some 'splainin' to do.  Jack Nicklaus, who spoke on Trump's behalf before the election; Gary Player, who accepted the Medal of Freedom from Trump the day after the riot; Tiger Woods, who has chummed with Trump for years.

And, what is more bothersome to me, Bobby Orr, who took out a full page ad for Trump before the election, has irreparably tarnished his reputation in my mind.  Shame on you Bobby!

I was a Leafs fan until Bobby came along.  From then on I cheered for the Bruins as Orr took the game to another level.  But, by the time he retired the goons had taken over the game and I haven't watched hockey since (except for a handful of Gretzky games).  Now, I wouldn't watch it even if Bobby was playing again.

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While I was at the greenhouse today Mardi saw two swans in the lake.

Nice!

Almost takes your mind off the reality show that is playing out in the U.S.

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Stay well.  Keep smiling.

Feeding The Bird

 It's time to feed "Disappointed in Burlington".

I don't quite know what to make of the fact that I got the most reaction to my blog the day I didn't publish it.  There's a message there I'm sure.

One thing that seems true is that many of us are needing to make contact with others during this unusual time.  Not as good as a hug, but it still feels great.  Thanks to all for going along for the ride.

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Barry has already sent the following post to the Tuesday golfers.  Mardi and I watched it earlier and were both very moved by Arnold's message.  Worth a minute of your time!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz3zFsTp2Pk&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR1A6uzws9kc-f7nEAeBgG1Y98vQ7RJDsJ0jAhhpFaohAynrQiFCTWvRsPQ

Every U.S. citizen should be required to watch it.

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My editor has alerted me to the fact that there is a birthday coming up tomorrow that was not on my calendar.  Stay tuned.

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Stay well.  Be kind.

Emergency

 We're out of wine!  So I made an emergency trip to the Grimsby LCBO for a box of Chardonnay, a box of Shiraz, and 1.5 litres of Canadian Club.

I shared the elevator on the way up with a lady.  Explained my purchases by saying "It's going to be a long winter".  She replied, "that will only last a week".  I didn't realize that she knew us!

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While I was in Grimsby, I made a side trip to the greenhouse.  My first visit since Christmas Day.

The Easter Lilies are coming along nicely.

And I got even better news.  I have three chairs to repair and two Muskoka chairs to put together and finish.  Yeehaw, I'm needed!

Had a nice chat over coffee with the family.  Sarah-Jean is heading back to Pembroke tomorrow so I had a chance to say au revoir. 

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It continues to amaze/disgust me that so many people actually believe the conspiracy crap that the right wing media spew.

I can understand the white trash fringe of the Republican party being that stupid, but we continue to see supposedly intelligent people soak it up.  I have to believe that they started out with white supremacist beliefs, looked for the echo chambers that support that belief, and soaked it all up.  I suppose that if the only people you listen to are Sean Hannity, Lou Dobbs, Tucker Carlson, Laura Ingraham, etc. you never expose yourself to the truth.

Pretty damn sad!

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Stay well.  Keep the faith.

The Soap Opera Continues

 Mardi went to church for the weekly choir recording today.  Just five people spread out in the sanctuary singing safely.  That's her most adventurous outing these days.

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Following her return we headed out for our daily walk along the shoreline.

Noticed a couple more painted stones along the way.  Someone has a project!

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And then I planted myself in front of the TV to watch the soap opera unfolding in the U.S.  Really unbelievable!  

Biden, who would ordinarily sound pretty boring, is a ray of hope and sunshine in their nasty world.

Haven't watched CNN this diligently since the first Iraq war.

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Stay hopeful.  Stay safe.

It Has Started

Our day started out very tranquil, as Mardi and I did our two kilometre walk along the lakeshore.  I was amused and pleased to see that someone had placed stones with messages along the path.

Although there was at least one message that appears very futile!

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 Yesterday I commented that Biden would need to have control of the Senate so that he could handle Civil War - The Sequel when Trump started it.  Little did I know that today would be the day it started.

Once we got back from our walk I turned on the TV and was glued to it for the afternoon.  Unbelievable!

Since I am not a believer, it is probably not appropriate for me to mention the "Jesus Saves" signs being carried by some of the insurrectionists.  But, surely they must understand that their exalted political leader has never had a conversation with their Saviour.  I wonder how their Jesus would feel about their hatred, racism, and incredible, apparently deliberate, stupidity?

May God help the U.S. get through the next two weeks, let alone through the rest of Trump's life.

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I've thought about the Optimist Creed today, but have found it difficult to follow.  I tripped over the first line: Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.  I'll try again tomorrow.

Stay well.

Part of Week Two

 Did our first curbside pickups this week at Home Hardware and WalMart.  The infection rates are increasing as we get closer to a vaccine and we are trying to be extra careful now - it would be a dumb time to risk exposure to the virus.

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Wished Anna a happy 25th birthday on Tuesday.  A quarter century!  How time flies!

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Mardi and I have continued our daily walks around the neighbourhood.  We try for at least a kilometre a day, most days two kilometres.  Keeps us from going stir crazy (actually, the jury is still out on that count).

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Watched Canada's dominant 5-0 victory over Russia on Monday.  And watched the U.S. take the gold over Canada Tuesday.

They played dominant hockey throughout the tournament - except for the first half of that last game.  By the time they got it all together  it was too late - the U.S. had scored two goals and then their goalie put up a wall that the Canadians couldn't get past.  

Really exciting hockey though!

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The painting of the interior doors is complete.  I looked after the hardware and the first coat and Mardi did the finish coat.  A team effort.

Time to find another project.

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Sounds like really good news from Georgia.  Joe Biden may have enough votes to control the Senate and actually get things done.

He'll need to have full control for when Trump's supporters launch Civil War - The Sequel.

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I'll close with an item reported by my strange friend Al Knapp:

My wife just returned from Walmart complaining that the cashier was a real bitch. I asked her if she was at the self checkout.

That's how the fight started.

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Stay well.   Stay safe.  Stay sane.

Week One - 2021

Well, we did manage to stay up past midnight New Year's Eve.  And celebrated by dancing a waltz together.

We also enjoyed a neighbour's impressive fireworks display.

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 Kind of a letdown after New Years.  Mardi and I did a couple of two kilometre walks (for my non-metric brother, that's about a mile and a half each time) but otherwise it's pretty boring.

I intend to make a pine dining room table as a start to replacing Mardi's somewhat dated dining room set.  So we headed for Lowe's to check out lumber.  Surprise!  Only online curbside pickup.  The table is just a picture in my mind right now so I need to see and touch the wood before I start.  I guess that will have to wait for at least a month.

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Watched Canada dominate Finland on Thursday in the World Junior Hockey Championship.  Saturday, in the quarter finals, they beat the Czech Republic in a hard fought game.

Next up will be Russia in the semi finals on Monday at 5:30 p.m.  Exciting hockey!

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Rada sent me a separate email that mentioned Hogmanay, the Scottish term for New Year's.  That triggered memories that I documented for my siblings and kids.  

The Scots believe that the first person over the threshold in the New Year should have dark hair.  Dad used to visit a few of the neighbours to be their "first footer" (he could also have been encouraged by the tradition of giving the first footer a drink or goodies😃).

Another memory has since come back.  My paternal grandfather played the violin, although in the half dozen times that I met him I didn't witness it.  He also wrote music, and I remember seeing, in Mom's trove of keepsakes, a professionally printed copy of sheet music called "March of the Double Eagle".  Wish I still had it.

I seem to have inherited Mom's keepsake bent.  Among the cards I've saved, I still have all the cards that were sent to me while I spent six weeks in hospital with my broken back.  And the letters that David sent home the summer he worked in Germany.  Just a sentimental old fool I guess.

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Stay well.  Keep smiling.