Tax Filing Deadline

Revenue Canada reminds everyone that tonight at midnight is the deadline for filing your 2008 income tax return.

Economic Sign Of The Times

Now you know things are getting tough out there!

Shhh Lloyd, Quiet Peter

Over a cup of coffee a friend made the remark, "You know the nice thing about the Swine flu thing, is we don't have to hear how bad the economy is every night". When you think about that it is so true, kind of sad but true. Sad that something like Swine flu would be the catalyst for improvement but true in the fact that every night, one at 10:pm, the other at 11: pm, the bad news bears,
Peter and Lloyd close out our day with how bad it all has been.
The economy worsens, GMC and Chrysler teeter on the verge of bankruptcy, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan continues with little hope of a win, little hope of ending and casualties on both sides.
Now I realize the television stations have to report the news, the newspapers have to sell copies and all of that but really how can the economy get better, how can investor confidence be restored, when all you hear is this negative stuff continually.
Bad news sells, no question, but shhh Lloyd, quiet Peter, can you tone it down just a bit?

Roll Over Little Shark, Play Dead Little Shark

First place in the entire league, The Presidents Trophy, first to be eliminated (well not quite) but you get the point. The over rated, under achieving San Jose Sharks have done it again. Eliminated by the 8th seed Anaheim Ducks.
Boasting the so called best goaltending tandem in the league, disappearing superstars such as Joe Thorton and Patrick Marleau, and a couple of supposedly strong free agent signings at the deadline, the sad sack Sharks are heading for the golf course again.
Someone keep an eye on Joe Thorton though. He may disappear after the first hole!

No More Pontiac - Say it isn't so

General Motors Corporation has announced plans to kill Pontiac in an attempt to save the company. Not Pontiac, say it isn't so.
My first car was a 1966 Pontiac Parisienne, two door, deep red in color and for its day, a dream car.
I was in Lethbridge attending LCC which then was connected with the University of Lethbridge. It was actually my brothers car and he and I shared a little house north of Lethbridge so a car was a must.
When he decided to return to our home town of Peace River, Alberta he left me his 1966 Pontiac. Somewhere along the way he purchased another car and the Parisienne became mine. Two doors, automatic transmission, power to spare, a sweet car which served me for several great years until I traded it off for a truck. The truck was needed but the memories from that first car always remain. I hope General Motors and Chrysler straighten the ship and get it righted again and Ford continues to move along creating more memories for people of their first cars. There's something special about that first car, kind of like first love or the loyalty of a great dog. Those memories never really go away.

The Beagle and the Bichon

You wonder if dog's can be best friends. Well these two sure can.
The Beagle, Trevor, and The Bichon, Diego follow each other around, play together for hours, share each others toys, and kind of look out for each other.
They could probably teach people a few things.

Bruins Hockey Rules - You gotta love this

We Want It

Boston 4 Montreal 1
Bruins sweep series 4 games to 0

Mere words can not express adequately the joy, the bliss, the sheer delight of having the Boston Bruins sweep the
Montreal Canadiens in four straight. Nothing could be better than this. Old child hood scars, haunting memories of the
Canadiens eliminating Orr, Esposito and the other Bruins will begin to fade.
A Stanley Cup would be great, but taking Montreal in four straight is pretty good too.

As a side bar - Montreal fans, lighten up on Carey Price. He will be a great goaltender if you don't destroy him first.

Thanks For Sharing

My alarm clock radio woke me early this morning as it seems to have a habit of doing. The first thing I heard, I mean the very first thing was the Bank of Canada forecasting that the recession is going to be much worse than they had predicted.
Well thank you for that. I mean I really want to bounce out of bed this morning and start making my sales calls. Start telling my customers that they should advertise, business is good, people are waiting to buy.
Sometimes I wish these financial people who sit in Ivory towers with their six figure salaries would just shut up. Sure things aren't rosy everywhere but in Saskatchewan, as we crawl out of our igloos, we haven't got it all that bad.
Reminds me of a missionary who once told me. They went to a foreign country where the people didn't have much, were basically quite poor, but they were a happy people. After several years of being there the people were still poor, still didn't have much but they weren't quite so happy anymore. Why? Because the foreigners who had come to visit them, and improve their lot had convinced them they didn't have much so they shouldn't be happy. Sad but true.
So thanks for the cheery news Bank of Canada. But tomorrow can you kind of keep it to yourself.

What"s Bru-in

Another day, another win and the Boston Bruins are just one win away from eliminating the Montreal Canadiens.
A 4 - 2 win tonight and one game closer to healing the painful memories of that other loss that the Esposito led Bruins had to Montreal.
The best would be a Boston Bruin Stanley Cup. Second best is always eliminating the Montreal Canadiens.
Remember the goal, I mean THE GOAL. The Bruins winning the Stanley Cup and Bobby Orr scoring the best goal ever.

My Saddest Story Ever Told

This is my 100th posting as a blogger. Now friends, family and most socialists who know me would say thats not a big surprise. He's an opinionated jerk with a big mouth. For what its worth, I happen to agree with that assessment.
But I wanted to make my 100th special so here it is:
MY SADDEST STORY EVER TOLD
Once upon a time, many years ago there was a Boston Bruins hockey team. Now this was no ordinary Boston Bruins team. It featured #4 Bobby Orr, the greatest player ever, and a supporting cast that included Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge, Wayne Cashman, and Gerry Cheevers. Their opponent in the playoffs - The Montreal Canadiens.
Now like most Montreal Canadiens teams, this team had no-one and what made the plum even juicer, they had some untested, untried goaltender from Cornell University of all places. Even better, everyone knows hockey players aren't smart.
That goaltenders name was Ken Dryden. Yes that is the SAME Ken Dryden who is now a
Member of Parliament in Ottawa and still opposing everything the West holds dear.
All those years of getting hit by pucks takes it toll. Anyway when the dust had settled Mr. Dryden and his Canadiens walked away with the Stanley Cup. Game set match.
Today the Boston Bruins lead the Montreal Canadiens 2 - 0 in their series. People say to me you're too hard on the Canadiens. You can't cheer against Canada. They're playing the Americans. These people just don't understand. I have scars.
There has been pyschological damage. Left untreated. Back then we didn't run to a psychologist every five minutes and we didn't blame our Mothers for every bump in the road.
I mean, they beat my team.
Todays Boston Bruins bear no resemblance to the old Bruins. There is no Orr, no
Esposito. But I look at the Montreal roster and Carey Price is no Ken Dryden.
So maybe, just maybe, my Bruins, todays Bruins can elminate the Montreal Canadiens and those scars will begin to fade.

THE PRICE IS RIGHT

Boston 5 Montreal 1
It did get better in fact IT GOT MUCH BETTER

Is Jonas Hiller the real deal?

Two things saved the Anaheim Ducks from quacking up in the opening game of the Stanley Cup playoff series. The first was an unbelievable hot goaltender in Jonas Hiller. Is this guy the real deal? Well one game a series does not make and I guess we will find out with the surety that there will be at least three more games.
The second thing - Have you ever seen a team so renowned for choking than the San Jose Sharks. These guys just choke in the playoffs. I could throw a Linda Lovelace joke in here, but this is a family blog. I think you spot the Sharks a couple goal lead and they would blow it. Joe Thornton disappears come playoff time and the supporting cast that rolls over everyone in the regular season forgets their lines in the playoffs.
Having said that though, has there ever been a better eighth seed than the Anaheim Ducks? Like these guys should have been way better than eighth. Its kind of like the Ottawa Senators. Take away their stinking start and if they had found a way to crawl into the playoffs, I'm not sure I would bet against them.
Meanwhile back to Mr. Hiller. We see tonight if he can do it again.

It doesn't get any better than this

Is there anything better than the Boston Bruins beating the Montreal Canadiens in the first game of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Yes there is. Its the Boston Bruins beating the Montreal Canadiens in the seventh game of the Stanley Cup final. Mind you we will be just as happy when the Bruins eliminate Vancouver, San Jose or anyone else to win the 09 Stanley Cup

Sure Bo is nice, but

Bo



Ok Bo is nice and now he will live in the White House. And he'll have great manners, taught by the aristocratic Kennedy family (hey even I could be taught great manners with that kind of dough)but really who is cuter - the soon to be pampered and
spoiled Bo or Diego. I'll take Diego

Yankees 3 Pirates 0

One Tired Easter Bunny

Man Rules Finally Written By A Man

Finally a guy has taken the time to write the man rules. We always hear "Man Rules" written by a female but finally Mans Rules from a Man.
These are the Man Rules. Notice they are all #1. That is on purpose!!
1) Men are not mind readers
1) Learn to work the toilet seat. If its up, put it down. You're a big girl.
We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1) Sunday sports. Its like the full moon or the changing of the tide. Let it be.
1) Crying is blackmail
1) Ask for what you want. Lets be clear on this one. Subtle hints do not work.
Strong hints do not work. Just say what you want.
1) Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to any question
1) Come to us with a problem ONLY if you want help solving it. Thats what we do.
You can get sympathy from your girl friends.
1) Any thing we said six months ago is inadmissable in an argument
1) If you think you are fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.
1) If something we said can be interpreted 22 ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, well we meant the other one.
1) You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both.
If you already know how best to do it, then just do it yourself.
1) Whenever possible, please say what you have to say during the commercials
1) Christopher Columbus did not need directions. What makes you think we do ?
1) All men see in 16 colors like window default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit. It is not a color
1) If it itches, it will get scratched. We do that.
1) If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing" we will act like nothing is wrong.
We know you are lying but its just not worth the hassle
1) If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, then expect an answer you don't want to hear.
1) When we have to go somewhere absolutely anything you choose to wear is fine.
Really.
1) Don't ask what we are thinking about unless you really want to talk about hockey
1) You have enough clothes
1) You have enough shoes
1) I am in shape - Round is a shape
1) I don't mind sleeping on the couch. Its kind of like camping

Old Cars

Took in the Draggins car show yesterday. I have always liked old cars. Wish I had the mechanical ability to do what these guys do. I asked one gentlemen how much time he spends restoring his cars. His reply "When I'm not working, every second of every hour" Guess thats what you call a labour of love.
I have posted a couple of pictures of cars that I like from the show plus I was reminded a lot of Cuba, where we visited in January. Cuba is like a step back in time so I have posted a couple pictures from there where their old cars are in everyday use.

Ah If Only

If only these were growing outside. It will come, it will come, it will come!
Yesterday I started the snowblower and snow blowed the back yard. I think the neighbors thought I was nuts. But I am trying to help Mother Nature with the melting process. Snowblower kept stalling so finally I got out the rake and raked the snow. I put a bag over my head so the neighbors wouldn't know it was me.
This whole Environment Canada weather prognosticators thing bugs me. These weathermen must be the highest paid guessers in the world. On Monday they tell you it will be plus 18 on saturday. So you get all excited about that and on Friday they change it and tell you saturday will be plus 12. Don't you wish you could be wrong almost all of the time and still keep your job?

Easter

Good Friday

Good Friday is almost here but more importantly Sunday's a coming

Stealing a page from McDonald's

If it works for McDonald's why not try a little variation of the slogan

Goodbye Cruel Winter

Finally it started to warm up today. Supposed to be plus 16 later in the week.
We've been like an island here with everyone else getting warm weather and us below normal.

The Sign Says It All

The economy continues to grow! Real job growth is predicted in 2009 and things are good.