85 and Counting

They made me work on my birthday!!!  Spent three hours this morning separating a few hundred pot covers and putting on stickers.

Meanwhile, the rest of the crew was separating plants by height and number of blooms.  This is when you discover that the mix of blooms you have doesn't match the orders you received.  A couple of customers will be getting some bad news.

The crew then selects the batch that matches the order, putting pot covers on them, boxing them and stacking the boxes on skids for shipping.

The Easter Lily crop is at a critical phase right now.  Shipping has started and timing is all important.  Thousands have to be shipped over just a few days.  And we're dealing with a temporary, slow crew.  Very frustrating!

David compares this event with a woman giving birth.  Terribly painful for a period of time, but two or three months later (when the shipments will hopefully be paid for), the pain has gone and you're happy about the result.

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Sister Judy picked up my Dofasco Christmas souvenirs for me (we were away when it was supposed to happen - it was delayed due to the virus).  I was surprised to discover that they had recognized my birthday!

What a great company!

Judy delivered it yesterday - she's getting a cataract fixed today.  Hope everything went well.

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On fairly short notice, Mardi gathered a motley crew to help celebrate my birthday.  I've known them all for a long time and they each have a special meaning in my life.

Sue and David - I've known him for almost 62 years, since the day he was born.  Unfortunately, as noted above, Lilys got in the way and he couldn't attend tonight.

Kathryn - For almost 56 years, since she was born at home.

Maureen and Matt - I've known Maureen from my Bar-Don Lanes days and through the Optimist Club.  She is also one of Mardi's best friends and her wedding to Matt was the first big event that I attended with Mardi.

Rose and Ed - Cupid has had his hip surgery cancelled again so he was able to join us.  As previously noted, he's a long time Optimist friend as well.

Jill and Gary - I've known Gary since he came in for an interview to transfer to Sales.  We've tromped together for almost 40 years.

Liz and Al - He was "donated" to Sales way back when (Fringer will understand why Systems took that approach) and Al looked after the Administration side very capably.

Most of these folks are fellow golfers as well.

It was a wonderful evening with people who are special to me.

There are other family and long time friends who couldn't be invited.  Hopefully, we'll see each other soon.

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I don't know what it should feel like to be my age but I don't feel 85.  More like a tired 58 if you know what I mean.  

A couple of months ago Al sent me a message about "keeping the old man out".  Keeping the old man out suits me just fine and I'll keep working on it.

 When I was a kid I remember watching a movie - I don't remember the name, just one line "he is a physical incompetent".  And I thought that phrase described me.  I was a skinny kid who had what appeared to be chronic bronchitis.  I figured that I would probably have a short life.  Who knew?

After it was determined that I was allergic to "dust, mould and vaccines" and I took wheat mostly out of my diet things calmed down.  I still have congestion in the mornings but choose to ignore it.  And now, MSG has been added to the allergy triggers - causing irregular heart beat.  So I have to read food content labels and avoid those that contain MSG.  Not a big deal.

And the chronic pain from the back that I broke half a lifetime ago is better than the alternative.  A bone fragment entered the spinal canal - I could have been paralyzed.  Instead, just pain in my back and right leg.

I've outlived my dad, both grandfathers, my uncles and other male relatives.  I was named after my great uncle Ralph Nightingale who was a Grenadier Guard and lived to be 92.  That's my target.

All of this is my way of saying that I am a lucky man.  Thank you to my family, my friends, and my partner in life for making that true.

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There are some recent words of wisdom from Monica and Jim which I will try to heed:  "Keep breathing as long as possible."

And remember, if you are determined to reach a goal, and have the patience to pursue it, the sky is the limit.  Be the architect of your fate (doesn't work for golf though).

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Malcolm tells me that this is Tartan Day.  But I'm going to celebrate that tomorrow instead.

Keep positive thoughts, keep breathing, and stay well.

Spring Training Is Over.

 Spent a couple of hours at the greenhouse putting bar code stickers on pot covers for orders that had to go out today.  I'll be back there first thing in the morning to finish a big order for tomorrow.

Judy dropped by but I'm saving that nugget for tomorrow.

Blue Jays 2 - Orioles 1.  That was the last game of spring training.  Their regular season starts Friday.  Can't wait!

Stay well.

 

Don't jump

 They are replacing balcony railings on our building.  The east side was done last year.  Now it's our turn.

The grinding reverberates throughout the building.  Terrible noise and voila!  We have no railings.  

The door has been blocked from the balcony side so we can't go out and fall over.  Hope we don't have a fire that blocks the other door before the railings are replaced!  

The bases will be chopped out, cement will fill the holes, a waterproof coating will go on the balcony and then the new railings will be installed.  Hopefully, by the time we want to sit outside it will all be done.  

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Blue Jays 2 - Detroit Tigers 4

Stay positive and stay well.

Day Off

Blue Jays 7 - Yankees 5.  Two more games, then two days off, before the regular season begins.

That was the excitement for today.  No news.

Stay well. 

42

 Happy Ramadan.

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Mardi and I stuck labels on pot covers for some upcoming orders and then planted some Gerbera Daisy plugs (South African dandelions as David calls them).

Just a couple of hours, but we made ourselves useful cleaning up some of the odd jobs while the Lily crew worked an extra shift.

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Blue Jays 2 - Phillies 2.  Called on account of rain.

That gave us a chance to watch the movie "42" about Jackie Robinson.  A moving historical narrative about the intense racism he faced and overcame.  Branch Rickey was played by Harrison Ford - a command performance!

Interestingly, the movie came with a caution: "This program contains course language (bleeped out for this showing) and mature subject matter.  Some adults my be offended."

Offended by the racism?  Some adults???  Does this mean that kids are not offended?  Not sure what meaning was intended, but it's an interesting phrase.

Jackie Robinson was a great man!  He met the Stoney Creek Little League team in 1965 when they lost in the Little League World Series at Williamsport, Pennsylvania.  We were sitting on the hill beyond left field and watched the towering home run that just scraped over the fence and cost Stoney Creek the final game.  That close to winning the Little League World Series!

Robinson's number 42 has been retired by all baseball teams.  Once each year, every player wears 42 in recognition of an exceptional human being.

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It's nice to be reminded of those special events in your life.  We have lots to be thankful for.

Stay well.

Apologies

 Several April birthdays coming up and the leader is Mardi's granddaughter Chloe who celebrates her 19th birthday today.  Best wishes Chloe!

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The Pope has finally made the first step in apologizing for the residential school situation.

Francis spoke of feeling "sorrow and shame" for the conduct of those who ran the schools.

"I also feel shame ... sorrow and shame for the role that a number of Catholics, particularly those with educational responsibilities, have had in all these things that wounded you, and the abuses you suffered and the lack of respect shown for your identity, your culture and even your spiritual values," he said.

Sounds good, but do I detect something missing?  Like accepting blame for the actions of the church itself?  Not just for "a number of Catholics".

When they continue to resist the release of records that would help define the true depths of the depravity of the church their apologies fall far short in my mind.

And, if they returned the cultural "gifts" that were taken from the children of the indigenous communities that would be a welcome step as well.

We're a long way from the end of this story!

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Blue Jays 6 - Pittsburgh Pirates 6.

Stay well.

Liliputtering

 A shoutout to Roger and Lynn on their anniversary.  It's been seven years since she dragged him out of the Pacific for their Hawaiian wedding.  Best wishes!

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Spent some time at the greenhouse.   Did some useful work for an hour or so but then I was in danger of just getting in the way so I bowed out.

Part of the crew is putting three 4 bloom, or four 3 bloom, Lilies together in 10 inch pots.

David's regular folks are doing a great job, but the temps in the back of this picture are just about the worst that David has had to put up with in a few years.

This guy has to really study a plant before he moves it.

 Oh well, it'll be over in a couple of weeks.

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Blue Jays 5 - Detroit Tigers 3.

Stay well.