Sunday Afternoon Relaxing

A Sure Sign of Spring

After a year and a half, Tim's house in Edmonton sold.
This is a good thing !

The Man Who Sold Hot Dogs

I have heard this story many times but really never tire of hearing it because it is so true.


MAN WHO SOLD HOT DOGS

THERE WAS A MAN WHO LIVED BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SOLD HOT DOGS.

HE WAS HARD OF HEARING SO HE HAD NO RADIO.

HE HAD TROUBLE WITH HIS EYES SO HE READ NO NEWSPAPERS.

BUT HE SOLD GOOD HOT DOGS.

HE PUT UP SIGNS ON THE HIGHWAY TELLING HOW GOOD THEY WERE.

HE STOOD ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CRIED; "BUY A HOT DOG, MISTER?

AND PEOPLE BOUGHT.

HE INCREASED HIS MEAT AND BUN ORDERS.

HE BOUGHT A BIGGER STOVE TO TAKE CARE OF HIS TRADE.

HE FINALLY GOT HIS SON HOME FROM COLLEGE TO HELP HIM OUT.

BUT THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED.

HIS SON SAID, "FATHER, HAVEN'T YOU BEEN LISTENING TO THE RADIO?

HAVEN'T YOU BEEN READING THE NEWSPAPERS?

THERE'S A BIG DEPRESSION.

THE EUROPEAN SITUATION IS TERRIBLE.

THE DOMESTIC SITUATION IS WORSE."

WHERE UPON THE FATHER THOUGHT, "WELL, MY SON'S BEEN TO COLLEGE, HE READS THE PAPERS AND HE LISTENS TO THE RADIO, AND HE OUGHT TO KNOW."

SO THE FATHER CUT DOWN ON HIS MEAT AND BUN ORDERS, TOOK DOWN HIS ADVERTISING SIGNS, AND NO LONGER BOTHERED TO STAND OUT ON THE HIGHWAY TO SELL HIS HOT DOGS.

AND HIS HOT DOG SALES FELL ALMOST OVERNIGHT.

"YOU'RE RIGHT, SON" THE FATHER SAID TO THE BOY.

"WE CERTINAILY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A GREAT DEPRESSION."

What a Son Did For His Father - This is pretty special

Winter just won't let go

Snow covered icy highways today and yesterday made for slow slow and dicy travel. With a degree of eagerness I headed to a new territory today. In 28 plus years with this company, I have never covered the North east portion of Saskatchewan. As my regular sales representative is off to Dominican Republic for some sun, he and I agreed it would be a good idea for me to cover his territory. My degree of eagerness turned to knuckle gripping, hanging onto the steering wheel just 50 kms out of Saskatoon as ice and freezing rain took over. However we stayed between the ditches and kept the greasy side down, made all the calls and arrived in Humboldt late afternoon. The radio was not recommending continued travel on to Saskatoon and I had already booked a hotel room in Humboldt so happily shut it down for the day. Forecast is for more of the same tomorrow which leaves me wondering will we have a spring ? Is summer coming ? Took a couple of pictures of the highway and they were terrible.

Diego 2009 Scrapbook

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

The Worlds Best Little Dog

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Warming Up

Finally some warmer weather today. I don't ever remember a winter that has been as long and as cold as this one has.
Mind you I probably say the same thing every year. After supper Louise and I cross country skied along the river. It was just beautiful. Awesome sunset but I forgot my camera. It is so great to have your health and be able to get out and enjoy the fresh air and exercise. Sometimes we, at least I, tend to take those things for granted.
Saskatchewan governments budget came out today. It seems to be all doom and gloom around us but this was a good budget.
Even forecasts a job growth of 11,500 new jobs this year which is pretty amazing considering all the layoffs that have been happening.
Something always to be thankful for plus jobs, healthy kids and lots more !

Top Ten Reasons Why Its Great To Be A Dog

10) Who needs expensive toys. An old shoe or for Diego a sock will serve just fine
9) Having a wet runny nose is considered healthy
8) Personal hygiene is a blast. No-one expects you to take a bath every day and someone else will comb your hair
7) No-one notices if you have hair growing in weird places as you grow older
6) If it itches, you can reach it. And no matter where it itches, no-one will be offended if you scratch it in public

5)) Every garbage can looks like a cold buffet to you
4) It doesn't take much to make you happy. You are always excited to see the same old people. All they have to do is leave the room for five minutes and then come back.
3) No one expects you to buy lunch or dinner. You don't have to worry about table manners and if you gain a lot of weight it really is someone else's fault
2) You can spend hours just smelling stuff
1) No one thinks less of you for passing gas. Some people actually think its cute

Put on his warm coat and Diego loves his walk along the Meewasin Trail

More thoughts on Life Isn't Fair

Louise and I went out to a restaurant last night for supper and as we were leaving we ran into a lady that we hadn't seen in years and her son, who I think is about one year older than Jennifer. The son had a cast on his leg extending from his his thigh to his knee. When we asked what had happened, he told us he had a cancerous tumor behind his femur and a doctor in Toronto had replaced the entire femur. He also had a mass in his chest and would soon begin chemotherapy. Talk about life not being fair. This guy, good looking young man, is only 24 or maybe 25. Now thats not fair.
Compared to the above this is largely insignificant, but woke up to another snowy, blustery day today. Yesterday was beautiful as Louise and I cross country skied for two hours and then took the dog for a long walk. Great to be outside for three hours or more. But today, yech, blowing snow, freezing rain, terrible highways and when will it end and spring arrive. I can't wait.

Life Isn't Fair

LIFE ISN'T FAIR, ITS JUST FAIRER THAN DEATH, THATS ALL

No Explanation Necessary

Making a Full Recovery

Has the internet made a change in your life?

So you think you have a tough job

Why I am sick of winter !

Even Frosty the snowman is discouraged. Why I hate winter
10) The car finally warms up two minutes from the office
9) Pumping gas in this weather
8) Dry skin
7) Nose runs when its cold
6) Hard to do anything with gloves on
5) Driving on ice and into snow storms
4) Going to an event and coming out to a cold car
3) Flu and cold season
2) Can't go outside without putting on lots of clothes.
1) People who say they love winter and snowstorms

Creamsicles in Saskatchewan

Thats it. It is official. Today, March 11, 2009 is the coldest day in history in the 125 years of official weather record keeping. I would raise my hands in celebration but they are frozen. We are making creamsicles in Saskatchewan

Nabisco Shredded Wheat

Its a cold cold morning today (-48 isn't that ridiculous for March 11th) and this truck, well at least to my questionable little mind, looks like its loaded with Nabisco Shredded Wheats. Remember those things we used to put in our cereal bowls and throw some sugar on top. Used to pour some hot water on them, drain it off, and mmmmmmmm good. Well if you really use your imagination, it even looks like these ones on the truck have frosting on top.
Have to do something (imagination or something) to keep my brain from freezing up today. Come on its supposed to be spring !

Saskatchewan at the Brier

Its not good folks

OakRidge Boys

Louise and I went out to see the Oakridge Boys last night at TCU Place. What an awesome group. Great musicians but also fabulous entertainers. Their bass singer, Richard is just world class. They put on a great show.
Its been quite a week in Saskatoon. The Oakridge Boys are here, The Eagles are here doing three sold out concerts, the musical Chicago starts in a couple of days and Tele Miracle, with all kinds of entertainers, just wrapped up. Saskatchewan did it again with TeleMiracle. 3.8 million dollars to help those in need.
What a great province !

This just about says it all

Tired of political promises. So was this truck driver

Amazing Grace

Managing the Risks

The other day while sitting on the, well never mind where I was sitting, I happened to pick up a copy of Good Housekeeping magazine. Never one to read this magazine, one article did catch my eye, an article on managing your health risks and minimizing heart attacks.
1) Measure your middle - a waist measurement of over 35 inches doubles your risk of a heart attack. - oh oh can I move from a 36 inch pant to a 34 - thats gotta hurt.
2) Know your family's health history - that makes sense
3) Give up cigarettes - no problem there - I hate those things
4) Transform breakfast - make it the most nourishing meal of the day
5) Go for an oil change - this caught my eye - eliminate the bad oils and replace with good like canola or olive oil. No more butter on my pancakes - what - no more pancakes !!
6) Nibble a few nuts - thats good - I love the trail mix from Costco - suppose the chocolate M & M's have to be picked out
7) Increase fruits and vegetables along with water - think I been told that a few times over the years
8) Once a week try fish - I love fish - don't know why I don't eat more
9) Get moving and get active
10) Gradually increase your tempo
All sounds pretty logical to me.

Michelangelos David returning to Italy

After two years in the United States, David returns to Italy

David described life in America as very good

David has been proudly sponsored by:

Saskatchewan Leads The Nation

The front pages of most major newspapers yesterday declared that Saskatchewan will lead the nation in terms of economic growth for the next couple of years.
And to top it off yesterday CNN's feature story was Saskatchewan - North America's hot spot for jobs. Wave the flag people. We're going places !

Todays thought for the day

Profanity makes ignorance audible

Cross Country skiing

Ventured out on our cross country skis today. Louise did real well as you can see from the picture. She is way out in front. But hey, someone had to take the picture right. I worked on my technique of falling down and I think I have that down pat now. But it was a real good workout and lots of sunshine today.