Penguins, Pot, and Other Stuff

Not a nice way to start the season!  Expectations of Tiger Cat fans were high.  Brother Mike & I went to the game and were accompanied by Dickhead-he got a free ticket from yours truly (the only way he would attend!).  Have to say though, Dickhead was generous enough to take care of parking & the purchase of a jumbo hot dog pour moi.  Will wonders never cease?!?  The lovely Paulo was also there to round out our quartet.

 

Unfortunately, the Tiger Cats didn’t show up until the first quarter was over.  By then, Toronto was winning 20-0.  Looking at it that way, we won the rest of the game 17-10!  Silly penalties at bad times, turnovers and some injuries took their toll.  Oh well, at least it only rained for 10 or 15 minutes; could have been a lot worse.

 

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Yes, that’s right.  As you can tell from the number of fishing posts I have put up on my blog, really starting to get into fishing again.  As a matter of fact, just received my Vans EZ Cast, a contraption that attaches to my wheelchair and helps me cast my fishing line.  Now, I need a boat to fish from!

 

I have been doing a lot of googling and it seems a pontoon boat is the way to go.  Should be able to allow wheelchair access without very much modification.  So, please keep your eyes open for me.  Preferably, something 20 foot or less in length.  Used would be nice.  If you see anything, please let me know!

Happy birthday to Canada!  It’s a great country we live in (except for the winter months).  If I had a choice, don’t think I would move to any other country.  Got an early start to the Canada Day celebrations: fireworks at Beasley Park last Friday.  Charlie, who is a friend of Paulo & myself & Terry, loves to set off fireworks.  He also happens to work beside a factory that makes them and sells them wholesale.  Every year, on Victoria Day & Canada Day, Charlie puts down about $500 of his own money to buy the most beautiful fireworks you could imagine.  Last Friday, he was going for a steady half-hour: one after the other!  It was simply a fantastic show.  Thanks Charlie!  I was there with Paulo & Jeannine & Kaleb & & Terry-a nice night out.

 

Today, off to Ivor Wynne Stadium to watch my Tiger Cats kick some Argo butt.  The Dickhead is even coming along to cheer for Hamilton!  Pictures to Follow.  It’s the first regular-season game and once again hopes are high in Hamilton.  Oskee Wee Wee!

Wait a minute: got a call from Brother Joseph.  Apparently Wentworth Heights, Mom’s Nursing Home, was having a Canada Day barbecue get-together.  Off we went.  Got Mom outside.  Brother Joe & I each had a hamburger with all the fixings.  Mom seemed to enjoy her time outside.

 

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Was in downtown Hamilton yesterday picking up a few things at Jackson Square.  On my way home, who do I bump into-Nurse Bea.  Bea was the very first nurse I met up at Chedoke Holbrook when I started my rehab after my accident in 1972.  She’s a big, proud Jamaican woman who always dresses super fancy.  Great person & great nurse.  Funny thing was, I was thinking about her just last week-wondering how she was doing!  Talk about coincidence.

 

Bea told me she’s doing well but is slowing down a little bit.  Also dealing with severe diabetes; lost her left leg to it just last year.  Still looks good though!  And, of course, still dressing like a movie star.  The first time I met Bea was a bit of a scare for me though.  She had come into my room to help, well, let’s just say she was going to have to do things with her fingers to help Mother Nature along for me!  And Bea had the longest fingernails I had ever seen!  She saw the look of horror on my face and said "don’t worry honey, you won’t feel a thing".  She was right!  Bea must have put on 4 or 5 pairs of rubber gloves but everything went smooth as silk.

 

So nice to see you Bea!

Yesterday was such a lovely day, Brother Mike & I made plans to head out to Waterford again for some fishing.  This time, Herb tagged along.  An early start and off we went.  Within the first half-hour Brother Mike hooked into a small pike & bass.  Herb caught the first decent size fish-a nice little bass.  Lots of panfish.  Brother Mike also pulled in a nice little bass.  Was a great day with lovely weather and some biting fish.

 

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It was a couple of weeks ago but I had to hold off on posting until a picture or two were available (thanks Heather & Janet).  Got together with Janet & Heather and Bernice for some lunch at Acclamation, a lovely little restaurant on James Street North.  Unfortunately, another coworker-Rita was a little under the weather and could not make it.

 

Was nice to catch up on how everyone is doing.  Heather & Janet have started their own businesses while Bernice continues to be with the Employment Supports Program of the Provincial Government.  It’s nice to be able to keep in touch.  And having some good food certainly adds to it!

 

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While I was dealing with that kidney situation back in December, x-rays showed I had a kidney stone that had to come out.  Today was the day.  Off to St. Joe’s Day Surgery Department for 8:30 a.m..  Got all the paperwork done and I was on a stretcher with IV in place by 9:30 a.m..  11 o’clock saw me in surgery.  Wasn’t long before the old sleep medicine did it’s trick.  I have to admit, I kind of enjoy going under.  Try to fight it for as long as I can but, in the end, I always end up in La La Land.

 

Next thing I know, it’s 12:15 PM and I’m waking up in Recovery.  Everything went well.  My blood pressure was a little elevated but once that settled, I was ready to go home.  Brother Mike arrived just as I was getting put back in my wheelchair.  Instead of going straight home, we drove by McMaster and he showed me the Ron Joyce Stadium that is now the McMaster Marauders playing field.  Quite a setup!  The Hamilton Tiger Cats are using it as their training facility.  Brother Mike & I might head out there this Saturday to watch the Black & Gold scrimmage.  Oskee wee wee!

 

Then, back home.  Needless to say, with fasting from midnight, I was ready to eat & drink.  I did get a head start as I had asked the information girl at St. Joe’s to have a coffee ready for me around 2 PM.  As I was leaving, lo and behold-she saw me and ran up with not only a coffee but a cookie too!  I will have to figure out a way to thank her for her good deed; maybe some flowers!  If she plays her cards right, dinner could be included.  Anyway, the cookie & coffee held me over until dinnertime when I chowed down on one of Lady Kathryn’s offerings that Brother Joseph had brought over.  All in all, a good day.  The surgery went well, I got coffee & a cookie from the info girl and then enjoyed some delicious chicken & rice.  Still, thank goodness it’s over!

Kaleb got another haircut yesterday.  Man, he likes to keep it short!  Reminds me of my younger days when they brush cut was the way to go.  No soccer ball designed on Kaleb’s head this time though.  Apparently it hurt too much to put it on last time!

Got an invitation from Liz & Charles (I will refrain from his real name in this post because he provided free food).  They wanted myself, the lovely Trish, Paulo, Jeannine & Kaleb to come over for a barbecue.  So yesterday, an absolutely perfect barbecue day, off we went.  The lovely Jenny (daughter of the one whose real name I will not use) and her friend Hannah were also there.  Before we sat down to eat, it was off to the Dundas Driving Park.

 

That used to be one of the favorite places for Mom & Dad to bring the family when we were younger.  When we got there yesterday, the memories came flooding back even though the park has changed quite a bit.  I recently put some old family movies on DVD for everyone and it was nice to match the scenes from the DVD to the current real-life scenario.  Gone are the old roundabout, teeter totter and slides.  Still though, a very nice park.

 

Then, back we went to chow down.  Charles took care of the cooking and he managed to get by without burning anything.  A lovely selection to choose from: burgers, sausages & chicken.  Some delicious salads and everyone was happy.  Unfortunately, desert proved too traumatic for Kaleb as the ice cream Charles brought out was not nut free!  We would have stayed longer but Trish was dying to get back home to watch the hockey game.  Since she did such a great job taking pictures, we said our goodbyes and went home.  A great day.  Thank you Liz & Jenny.  Yes, and I guess you too Charles!

 

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Very interesting reading http://www.thespec.com/Wire/News_Wire/Science/article/575685