Not A Great Weekend (Somewhat Tongue In Cheek)

   It wasn't. Many parts of Canada, including Saskatchewan, celebrated "Family Day" yesterday. Why? Well, if memory serves (and it usually doesn't) the February holiday was added to break up the monotony of winter, since it can be a long haul between New Years Day and Easter.
   Normally, it would be a great weekend, but not this year. My poor wife has a terrible cold, so I had to help her out around the house. Not that I don't try to already, but I did get the laundry done for her, in addition to cooking and (a little) cleaning.
   It was also "free fishing weekend" in Saskatchewan, one of 2 held every year, with the 2nd one in the summer. That means anyone who wants to try angling can do so without a license on most waterways in the province.
   I used to do quite a bit of ice fishing many decades ago, and quite enjoyed it, even at -25 C. I had been thinking about grabbing the rod and heading out to one of the lakes. But then I remembered other times in the past when I went "ice-fishing", only to have this happen to my "catch" when I got it home and tried to cook it:

Cue the agonized groans.

TTFN

Has It Really Been 1/3rd Of A Century?

   33 years ago today, we said our "I do's" on February 12, 1983. It was a very warm day. We didn't need coats, there was no snow, and streets and sidewalks were dry that Saturday in Calgary as we started our journey together.
   I've been so blessed to have Susan as my wife and partner. I'm positive she'll say the same, even though I've given her a pretty rocky road. She's given me 33 years of love, support, encouragement and 2 great sons.
   She has very rarely complained about the many, many moves we've had to make due to my career choice. Some of those moves were voluntary, some forced upon us. She's put up with my shenanigans, although I sometimes wonder "why"?
   She's even served more "time" than convicted murderers do in many parts of the world. Still, she's stuck with and by me through it all.
   What can you say to that, other than "Thank You" and "I Love You". Which I most certainly do.

Happy Anniversary, Darling!

Happy Shrove, Or Fat, Tuesday

   It is pancake Tuesday, as Lent gets underway tomorrow, and Mardi Gras ends. And I've got to give a huge shout out to the morning crew at our sister station, Fox FM. Morning news guru Craig Read

   Went out in search of pancakes this morning, stopping in at a local Mc 'Ds. Not only did he simply stop by, he played "When The Saints Go Marching In" on his trumpet when he walked through the front door.
   And to top it all off, he brought back enough food for the rest of us as well.

   Thanks again Reader, Will Alexander and all at Fox FM for breakfast.
   Happy Shrove (or Fat) Tuesday!

TTFN

Bronco's Win!!

    The Denver Bronco's are the NFL champions, as they beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10 in Super Bowl 50. It's the Bronc's 3rd title, and 1st Vince Lombardi trophy since 1999. I did not watch the game (see my blog entry below this one), but people I've spoken with say it wasn't much of a game to see.
   As for the half-time show: Again, I've got to rely on people I know who actually watched. It's a mixed bag of  "yeah it was great" to "meh".
   As for the ads (which is what a lot of people tune in for), I have yet to see any. I might check them out on-line sometime in the future.
   Anyway, congrats once again to the Denver Bronco's, 2016 Super Bowl Champions!

TTFN

It's Superbowl Weekend

   The 50th edition of the NFL championship game is Sunday between the Carolina Panthers:

   And Denver Bronco's

   Who will be playing for the Vince Lombardi trophy at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. An awful lot of people I know will be watching Sunday. I won't. And there are a few reasons why. The biggest one is I'm not a big fan of "American Football", with their shorter, narrower fields and 4 downs, rather than 3. Not that I hate NFL football, far from it. I have been known to watch a game or 2 (or more) in the past. But since "my" team's not in it, I don't really care. It's rather like the Grey Cup in the CFL. I didn't watch last year's finale, because "my" team wasn't in it.
   Another reason is simply that the title game itself is usually not the best quality football you'll see. Neither team want's to make that one mistake which could cost them the title. Not that the play outright sucks, it's just (from my limited perspective) not the best.
   A 3rd reason is the half-time show. I don't like Beyonce's music. Nor do I like Bruno Mars or Coldplay for that matter. The reason can be boiled down to one factor. Me. I'm getting to be an "old fart". I like the music I grew up with, and it ain't Beyonce, Bruno Mars or Coldplay.
   But the biggest reason I won't be watching is one of the reasons a lot of people do. The ad's. We in Canada don't get the U.S commercials. At least not until next year, when the CRTC will actually allow American commercials to be shown, rather than subbing in Canadian ones. For a whole lot of people, it's the ads they tune in for.
   I guess I'll just have to watch them on YouTube.
   As for the 50th Super Bowl: Go team go!

TTFN

Is Winter Over Or Not?

   I guess it all depends on which groundhogs forecast you favour. 2 of the "big 3", Nova Scotia's Schubenacadie Sam and Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil did not see their shadows this morning, which portends an early end to winter. However, Ontario's Wiarton Willy DID see his shadow, meaning another 6 weeks of winter.
   This year's Groundhog Day festivities have already been marred by the death of Canada's westerly prognosticator, Winnipeg Willow. Groundhog Day celebrations have been cancelled in Manitoba due out of respect for Willow, who died last Friday. That just leaves Balzac Billy in Alberta as the lone hold-out. But he may not count, since he's portrayed by a man wearing a groundhog suit.
   Which brings me to kind of a sore spot. Quite a few years ago when I was in Regina, I pitched the idea of having the mascot for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Gainer the Gopher:

   Run onto the 55 yard line at Mosaic Stadium on Groundhog Day to get his forecast for the coming football season, and whether the team would have a wining season or not (depending on if he saw his shadow). The occasion could also be used to pump ticket sales for the club, not that it's really needed, or simply to get fans in the mood.
   Nothing ever came out of it, but I still think it's a good idea.
   Either way, it really doesn't matter if the groundhogs (or Gainer) sees their shadow or not. According to the calendar, there's still about 6 weeks to go until the vernal equinox which will be Sunday, March 19th at 10:30 p.m in Yorkton.


TTFN

Goodbye January, Hello February

   Hard as it is to believe, we are in February. January seemed, for a change, to slide right by. Normally, the month seems to drag on interminably. I don't know if the overly mild weather we had last month was a factor, but it sure helped. Last week, we had temperatures well above freezing, and considerably well above normal.
   But, that was last month. February can be just as brutal, or even more so, than January. And since we have an extra day this Leap Year, February will be longer than normal.
   In fact, according to legend, February was a lot longer than it is now. Until 2 Roman emperors, Caesar's Julius and Augustus, got finished with it. It seems Julius wasn't happy that "his" month (July) was shorter than others, so he "borrowed" a day or so from February. Not to be outdone, Augustus figured he'd take a day or so for "his" month (August). But again, that's according to legend.
   And tomorrow is also Groundhog Day, where prognosticating rodents are unceremoniously yanked from their dens to see if we get an early spring, or 6 more weeks of winter. We'll find out tomorrow if Punxsutawney Phil, Shubenacadie Sam, Wiarton Willie and Balzac Billy can agree. Tragically, Winnipeg's "Willow" won't be able to give us his/her forecast. Willow passed away just a few days ago.
   Personally, I'm hoping for an early spring. But all will be revealed tomorrow!

TTFN