Aug 30 – Quick note to maintain my momentum. Labour day week-end has included some labour so far. Went out shopping today to support son number 2 and his techno wishes (as well as to sneak in a little goodie for myself).

Given that this has successfully posted, we have made the quantum leap from 802.1g to 802.1N – skipping all of the assorted vowels and consonants in between. I am informed that that this will get me 4 times the distance and 12 times the speed on wireless. All this of course provided that I have an “N” adapter. I don’t, but guess who does. I understand his main concern was to stream video faster when he is sitting out on the deck with his spiffy new notebook pretending to do homework – and I fell for it. No biggie – I just have to convince myself of the value of a wireless “N” card or key for my notebook so I too can be faster / farther.

Other than the installation CD and setup files would not work on my main PC CD/DVD drive it was a piece of cake to upgrade – Number 2 son “swears” it is much faster!

My toy was to pick up a combined USB hub / card reader as I never seem to have enough USB ports and my separate card reader seems to have gone “missing” – gee, I wonder where? With my nifty new toy, I now have 11 USB ports and can read 12 different kinds of memory cards! I may have to open my own service bureau. Now before you confirm your thinking that I am an idiot. Think about those insidious USB devices that are creeping into all aspects of my electronic life!

1. Wireless optical USB mouse

2. Wireless USB keyboard

3. Digital camera (my 3 plus others)

4. Docking printer USB port for my one camera

5. My multifunction 3 in 1 colour printer / copier / fax

6. Laser printer – scratch that – I moved it to the network

7. Backup storage drive

8. Web Cam

9. Blackberry data sync

10. MP3 player / charger

That only leaves me with 2 open for data transfer on my USB keys plus whatever new toys I want to play with. Try to do that with com ports and fixed interrupts under MS DOS!

Enough techno babble – keep your eyes and Gustav and wish him to turn away. This could get ugly and nobody needs that. Looks like tomorrow is D Day for the mandatory evacuation decision in the Big Easy. I hope it “blows over”.

Today in history – a bunch of boring stuff other than Cleopatra’s suicide in -30. How you have a -30 year intrigues me but that’s what they say.

Well – time to go “poison” the family. Seems I got a craving to BBQ some ham steaks. Problem is they are apparently scarcer than hen’s teeth. You know, the big one the size of a dinner platter. Checked a few stores – don’t have – sold out. Soooo – found some “individual sized at Sobeys. Bought four and brought them home for tonight. Did I mention they are Maple Leaf. Incubation, on them there Latin bugs is up to 70 days – start counting! Off to the BBQ I go.

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Aug 29 – Into the Labour Day week-end we go. Clearly a misnomer as I intend that this is a NO Labour Day(s) week-end pour moi! Blogging will likely be very spotty this week-end as I have taken today off to stretch a four day gap. I think I still have 2+ weeks of 2007 vacation to use up before the end of October and this year I am determined to do it. Then I can worry about 2008.

Email from number 1 son saying “I’m impressed – the blog works on the IPhone”. As you might guess my resident non-resident propeller head just had to have an IPhone. Therefore I expect he was impressed by the technology and not my blog. Number 2 son is now suffering IPhone envy and trying to figure out why it would be a good deal for him to have one – NOT!

I guess some people think its fun to try to watch a 3 inch phone LCD instead of a 22 inch flat screen or even a real television. If you are that addicted to surfing either buy a board or seek help.

I may have to pay more attention to politics as now we have a self proclaimed “Hockey Mom” running for VP – That is just too funny – has she got the referees supporting her too? With all due respect, I think McCain has just committed political suicide – he would have been better off to convince Hillary to cross the floor as at least she has some credibility with the voters. This campaign is now full of firsts - and for some people "lasts".

• An “older” guy who some say has lost his marbles because he does not know how many houses he owns.

• A war vet and POW – a hawk in a dove world

• The first woman on an Elephant ticket – from Alaska no less

• An African American leading the Donkey ticket – endorsed by Ted Kennedy of all people

• A younger guy picking an experienced older guy and an older guy picking an inexperience younger woman

• There’s more and it is just getting into full swing – this could be good. A new spectator sport.

As the Yanks (not the pinstripes but the "mericans) love to say, who would you rather have a “heart beat” away from the presidency?

Let’s get the Harper show out of the road in a hurry – it can’t compete with this (Oct 14?). Maybe I should run – I’m 0 for 2 in my last election bids so I must be due. There are probably enough people who want to run me out of town that they would vote me in to Ottawa. I mean if Frank Mahovlick can be a Senator, I should be a shoe-in for an MP.

Moving on - Three years ago today, Katrina slammed into the gulf and created a lot of stress and hardship for a lot of people. In a minor way it caused me grief as it created havoc on the supply side of the fuel business with a lot of uncertainty as to the full extent of the damage and long term impact to gulf off shore rigs and coastal refining assets. Lets hope with our friend Gustav heading in we do not get into that again. You think fuel prices are high now! You don’t want to think about what could happen with another Katrina / Rita scenario.

As a Beatles fan, today’s trivia is that they played their last tour concert on this day in 1966 – They played Candlestick Park in San Fran’s disco and retreated across the pond to become essentially studio musicians.

Hockey – crankin up (other than Mats Sundin) - stories, they are a startin.

Football – The real stuff starts – sorry CFL, I like the game but you just aren’t the big time. With my Steelers, I better savor my Wings victory “cause I think it is going to be a long season for the steeless curtain (I wonder if they can bet Brett?).

Baseball – JP is still talking about a shot at the play-offs. I need to look up his supplier.

Time to reeeelax – don’t know when I’ll be back again – and no, I am not leaving on a jet plane – especially if I had Zoom tickets wanna buy an airline?

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Aug 27 – Current score: Lawsuits 6, Maple Leaf 0, - Now it does sound like a Leaf score (OK – after two periods).

No problems at the Moorehead Cantina. When I put the burgs and sausages on the old BBQ I burn the ^#%^#@ out of them. That ought to take care of them Latin bugs. Having said that I just heard Shaun was knocked down yesterday by ye olde stomach flu. Hmmm – maybe I should get him to sign up for one of them there classy action suits and split $100 million with him.

The product list published by Maple Leaf may have surprised some brand loyalists. Maple Leaf makes Schneiders!! Yikes! Tell me it ain’t so! Next thing you know Coke will be bottling Pepsi (Hint – not going to happen)

Politics - It looks like politics are trying to monopolize the media. I am refusing to participate. Beyond the Donkeys self-aggrandisement this week and the Elephants next week it looks like the Mouse (Harper) is trying to roar and rev up the election machine. This could be a huge “who cares” yawner as long as they don’t come after me for gas pricing. Chase the big boys on that one. If you saw the Globe article, it was cute – the independents / retailers blame the integrated, the integrated blame the speculators and nobody knows who the speculators are! Rent a blame! I could tell you the real scoop but then I’d have . . . . .

Technology – my latest either complaint or triumph is the insidious memory stick / USB Key, thumb drive or whatever you want to call it. These things have become pervasive and are likely a corporate security nightmare as they make it so easy to copy or more data or handle it carelessly. With earlier media it was easier to protect against or much harder to deal with but these little devils are just too easy to scoop. Be honest now, how many of you have one or more “on your person” / pocket / purse right now. You just never know when you will need one - right. I am terrible for this as I use them for pictures, backup of web sites, transferring data, giving to people with “stuff”. Especially since like almost all technology they have become huge (capacity) and dirt cheap. Used to cost $40 or $50 bucks for a 256 Meg stick and that was seen as a great deal by us floppy / CD geeks. I just stocked up on a stash from Future Shop where right now you can get a 1 Gig for less than $4 and a 4 Gig for less than $10. And these are Kingston Technology Travellers which is a pretty good name. Better hurry they won’t last. I know even now my new stash has been raided – damn infidels! It’s pitiful the things I can get excited about these days.

Hockey – It seems the comments on House League and budgets has struck a chord with a number of folks – I have heard from both sides. With yesterday’s example, I did not include “equipment” which with growing kids and my personal bias to quality skates easily runs up your annual cost – let’s conservatively add $250 to my prior $1,000 comment (remember I’ve excluded all the incidental cost – at least $100 in Tim Hortons etc.) and at $1,250 that’s $50 bucks a week – sorry guys, I think that is getting out of line.

One of my next projects will have to be to figure out how to do web polling so you loyal readers can vote for or against my hare brained ideas.

History – Today in 1883 (I was 3 – remember I’m old) Krakatau blew up. This was the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history (I am not sure if Pompeii was recorded history or not but it was smaller anyway). The “book” says that the explosion could be heard 3,000 miles away – I find that hard to believe and that it created tsunamis with 120 foot waves (prelude to the Poseidon Adventure). Regardless, it must have been a big bang!

Those of you with an opinion on street racing regulations will like this – in 1904 the first jail sentence for speeding was imposed in Rhode Island. I am not sure what the definition of speeding was in those days – 10 mph? I can run that fast.

The countdown continues – Aug 27 – Labour Day Week-end, makes it September and then what time will it be?

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Aug 26 – For all of you sports couch potatoes, today in 1939 was a Landmark Day.

Baseball - In conjunction with the 1939 New York World’s Fair, the first major league baseball game was televised (to all of about 400 TV sets that existed in NY at the time). The game was between the Cincinnati Reds and the Dodgers and was played at Ebbets Field in Flatbush (aka Brooklyn). The game televised on W2XBS (to become WNBC-TV) featured two stationary camera and technology so crude a bat swing looked like a fan and the ball in motion was basically invisible.

Litigation - My “easy” prediction on the Maple Leaf (food company, not the so called hockey team) situation has come true in spades – so far four separate class action suits have been filed in four provinces. If the “value” of each is the same as the $350 M in Ontario, they are already being targeted for $1.4 Billion with more to come. Now I am not making any excuses for Maple Leaf, but they are a good company and what is “reasonable” in this type of unfortunate situation. With all due respect to the claimants (none of whom died from my info) what is the price tag on intestinal upset. While it is not me, I would like to think ambulance chasers at this magnitude would not be my response. Welcome to Canada 2008. Maybe they plan to donate the proceeds to developing our Olympic athletes for 2010 – guess what – it won’t be settled by then.

Hockey - I see that a number of Convenor assignments have been posted for MOHA for 08/09. In most cases, congrats to the folks who have stepped up to support the kids. It can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. There are a couple of “interesting” assignments on the list – but let’s not let history influence the future.

I understand there is also a movement afoot to increase the House League budget “cap” from $7,500 to a higher number – say $9,000. My unsolicited opinion is that this is flat out wrong, is going to exacerbate a situation that was becoming an issue in my tenure and promotes behaviour which is counter to the values in the Association’s Bylaw, especially if the “sponsor protection” is re-instated as I understand it will be. Anyone wanna buy a hockey team for their kid! I hope so because otherwise you are looking at increasing the “financial challenge” for a lot of people. “Keeping up with the Jones” and “sponsor envy” will run rampant!

There is a lot behind this issue that won’t get covered in a single blog but here are some basics – you can agree or disagree. Maybe I’ll just let people find out for themselves.

Decide and Announce (I did the leadership seminar on this) if MOHA is House League including Red, act like it. If it is going to run Select then run it properly and don’t pretend you are not. There are a whole bunch of arguments for or against HL vs Select – but that’s for another day.

If you want to be Select – fine, but tell people what they are getting into, put in your (and their) budget expectations, schedule accordingly, select coaches and HAVE TRY-OUTS so people know what they are getting into up front and don’t get the “big budget surprise” after the House League draft. I know it is hard to believe but there are a lot of people out there who do not want to or have difficulty coming up with this type of money for what they feel is winter recreation – not a stepping stone to the NHL for the player of aspiring coach!

 Does that mean their kid who is a good hockey player and wants to participate in a more developed “Red” division gets relegated to “White” because of money!

Do the math – at $400 registration and a $9,000 team cap (before all the hidden goodies – and yes I know you did them) you are asking each parent for $1,000 to play “house league” hockey. That’s more than Rep Hockey costs in some centres and typically not what they signed up for – especially if they are “unfortunate” enough to have a couple of interested youngsters.

On the “amount” issue – I keep hearing you can’t run a decent program for $7, 500. I disagree but decide yourself. Note – I don’t consider a lot of “non-hockey development” items necessary. If you want team jackets you can go to the Executive for an exception.

This activity, in addition to the weekly game and shared practice (which can be a good practice) is a pretty reasonable program. Guess what, if you are that “keen” you can get 6:00 or 6:30 AM ice every week for this amount or less. Remember some parents may want to have their kids with a life other than just hockey - here's a clue, maybe that is why they are playing House League in the first place.

Remember that related parent expenses – gas, meals, lodging, baby sitting aren’t in these numbers and are real expenses.

Oh, and I almost forgot, if the official number becomes $9.000, what is the unofficial one?

Don’t let what may be the selfish wishes of a few spoil things for the many (paraphrase Star Trek Spock)

Just an opinion and folks know I have lots of those!

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Aug 25 – Well I guess I picked the right Jays game to attend as they laid an 11 – 0 drubbing on the Bosox. Kind of a dragged out affair, well over 3 hours but a nice day to veg at the concrete convertible. $10 a beer is enough to discourage any serious imbibing which on a hot day like Saturday was probably a good thing.

I have never been impressed by the concessions in Toronto. Having been to a variety of parks, it seems each has it’s own “signature” item. Franks at Fenway, Cheese Steaks in Philly, Crab Cakes in Baltimore, Brats at Wrigley etc. Toronto does not have any profile item and the food in general leaves a lot to be desired. Part of the overall “atmosphere” problem.

Going to spring training games spoils you. Instead of sitting three feet away from the players – it’s three hundred. Instead of listening in on the Dugout chatter you get the periodic screech from the PA system. It is just not the same. Oh yeah – instead of $10, the seats are $50. Someone in Toronto thinks having little Junior Jays intro the players is cutesy! NOT!

I took the GO train to the game as this is as easy a way as any and forgot that the Ex was on. Does anyone care? There did not seem to be that many on the train or platform going or coming and this was a peak Saturday date. The last time I went was about five years ago (had to work at it) and even then I thought it was downhill. Is there still a continuing draw and if so, what is it?

Used to be top flight performers at the grandstand show but I couldn’t even tell you if they have one anymore. Clearly attendance is not high on my list of priorities.

Sunday was “what shall I do today day”. Rather than Blog or do other techno geek stuff I decided to play A/V Geek and redo my home theatre setup.

Gone are the days (for me anyway) when you plug your TV into the wall and cable and you’re done. With our accumulation of “components” and formerly two, now one young man who delighted in unhooking this to plug in that so he could cross wire this while watching that on whatever, I had a veritable snake-pit / rat’s nest of wiring behind my stand – including HDTV cable, HDMI cable, DVI cable, Coax Audio cable, Fibre Optic Audio cable, Component AV cable, VGA/component adapter, surround sound speaker cable, telephone cable as well as assorted power cords and five remotes. Guy Heaven!

Let’s see, cable goes from the wall to UPS/Power Chute then to the HDTV-PVR. Audio from HDTV-PVR – Coax Audio to DVD. - Fibre Opt Audio to Tuner/Amp. HDMI Video from HDTV-PVR to DVI on Projector, S-Video from DVD to Projector. Audio from Tuner/Amp to six speakers L/R Front, L/R Back, Centre, Woofer. Projector and HDTV-PVR to UPS power chute. All other components to non UPS Power Chute plugs. Phone line from wall through UPS/Power Chute to digital answering machine/phone base.

Assemble five remotes, confirm download programming to Logitech master controller (hide other four). Realign projector. Plug everything and turn it back on!

Voila – Good to Go! And I think I saved three cables that don’t seem to be needed anywhere, or at least until I hook up my notebook to play DOOM 3 on a six foot screen and surround sound.

Early notice – for those of you who look forward to the Tim Hortons Coaches Helping Coaches session, it is returning to ACC after a minor Ricoh detour and is scheduled for Saturday October 4.

Much as it pains me to do it, I will direct you to the Leafs site where you can register. Don’t know if the link will work (just like the Leafs) but CLICK HERE. It will be interesting to be a presentee instead of a presenter. If you register early (by Sept. 26) you get a chance to win tickets to the game that night against my Wings in the Tim Hortons private box. I think I should get that automatically! So register early, register often and give me the ticket if you win – you can keep the signed CUJO stick.

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Aug 23 – This will likely end up as a multi topic blog

Hockey – It’s back at it time as try-outs /  training camps are on the go. I saw in the Beaver that the “hockey school” was covered. Feedback – was the content as good as, better than or not as good as the former Mitron (excuse the profanity) sessions? Were parents, especially those with prior “school” experience satisfied with what they received? 80 seems like a pretty low number for participation?

Interesting Web update co-incidence for MOHA. No sooner do I comment on the missing tournament info then there is a Chair, Co-chair and Event Coordinator. Glad someone is reading my blog – Happy to have been of assistance. Question though, don’t you either have a Chair or two or more Co-Chairs? Not a Chair and a Co-Chair. Picky, Picky, Picky.

Complaint – I keep getting emails from people who are trying to get information on registering their children for hockey but can not seem to get a response. If you are reading this – please respond to your customers, it’s a service kind of thing. Use your fancy new emails if you want but at least reply.

As a public service announcement for people who seem to find my site but not the other guys, contact them at:

Email: info@moha.on.ca

Telephone (905) 338-9220

Address 1026 Speers Road, Units 8-9 (hopefully there is someone there)

Good Luck

Golf - I have now recovered both physically and emotionally (my self esteem) from my Wednesday golf game (and have formally apologized to my partners). I did enjoy it, brutal as my “game” was and realize that if nothing else, I served as entertainment for our group. The even better news is that we were very successful in raising money for the Canadian Time “Jump Start” program which helps financially challenged youth participate in sports. If any of you were contributors, my thanks.

Golf can be / is a hugely frustrating game – but a lot of fun. As I tell folks – you can not blame anyone but yourself for your performance. Too bad that does not carry over into more things.

The Olympics are winding down and it will be interesting to watch the rehash / analysis re Canucks performance. I was really hoping that Adam would pull off a gold in the K1 500. Unfortunately he came up just short with a silver which is not too shabby. However it gives us another edition of the Canadian laissez faire mindset. Going in, basically Adam was considered by everyone as a “lock” for the gold in his feature event – very clear expectations. After the poor 1,000 and the silver in the 500 – what is the headline? “Van Koeverden rebounds for silver” – Thank You Goat & Snail. Should this not be a “What Happened” – “Huge Disappointment”. Guess I’m just too competitive. At least Canada has ended up winning more medals than Phelps – but NOT more Golds – so it is still embarrassing!

On the Historical front in 1989 Charlie Hustle (Pete Rose) for the uninformed, accepted the settlement with Major League Baseball that included a lifetime ban. 29 years later it is still a controversial topic. To some extent, I think Rose was the sacrificial lamb used as an example as I find it hard to believe (yeah, I know, unproven), that others were not betting as well. I do think that regardless of his “betting”, Rose’s baseball accomplishments should allow him into the Hall of Fame as there are a number of “gentlemen” in there already who have some pretty interesting histories – look up Ty Cobb.

Quick note – the Americanization of Canada continues. Taking our lead from the most litigious country in the world, it seems like “class action” suits are now becoming the flavor of the day. Sunrise Propane (done like dinner and facing I believe a $900 Million suit). Good Luck! The apartment folks punted by the transformer fire are said to be filing and dollars to donuts the folks at Maple Leaf foods are going to be next. I am not saying that there should not be insurance or compensation but what is the reasonableness check and is the new trend to essentially bankrupt and force out of business any target of opportunity. Note to self – check liability insurance – don’t think I can afford the premiums on a $1 B policy!

Anyway – off to watch the Jays – see if I can influence another sport!

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Aug 21 – Today’s blog is brought to you by the letter “C” for “C”rackberry and “C”ommuting.

As many of you know I commute daily to Yonge & Eglinton via Go Train and Subway. Travelling on and to and from these carriers give one lots of time to observe human (mis)behavior. Today’s rant is on Crackberry 101. As additional “C’ items let’s add common courtesy.

Cell phones are bad enough when Billy Bob beside you needs to discuss a variety of personal matters in great and unnecessary detail – like he thinks you can’t hear him (or her, women are just as bad). However, add email and texting to the package plus surfing and people become absolute morons – especially when they are theoretically walking from Point A to Point B.

Now at the best of times pedestrian traffic can be congested moving through Union Station or the mad bail out for the parking lot at night from the Clarkson Station. Having Little Bo Beep wandering along, at an arthritic snail’s pace, with her head down trying to thumb out her response to an email is insane. Especially when beep, beep, they have to stop and look at “incoming” when they were walking about a foot in front of you on the stairs with 800 elephants charging along right behind you. Then when you hit the brakes and try not to pile into her and sent her to her just desserts at the bottom of the pile you get “the look”. Like people this is idiotic. Get control of your lives and look around. That is why I have resisted the Crackberry blandishments, the pseudo “image of importance” ego thing that some folks have and the perception that it is OK to expect me to be on call 24/7 for any silly reason.

I carry a phone. If it is serious enough that I have to be “disturbed” you can call me and tell me. I have no issue with that and feel sorry for these addicts who must feel they are indispensible because they need to be hot wired all the time. Having said that it looks like I am going down – but I put up a good fight. Just don’t expect Crackberry email responses at all hours. Again, I contend if it needs off hours response – it’s a call.

(By the way – have you figured out how much money RIM makes on playing this game?) No wonder Jimmy B can try to buy an NHL team like it’s Chump Change (More “Cs”). Good for him.

Speaking of hockey and stealing from my own plagiarism, “twas the week before try-outs and all through the league, not a creature was stirring as they plan their intrigue!

I see one of the Richard Bell Tournament Co-chairs has vapourized. I wonder if he knew it? Soon time to update the casualty list.

If population and kids are up and team count is down (as published) less than two weeks before the volunteers meeting there is something askew. If you are a parent with sons or daughters on a waiting list, you better ask why. Here’s a hint – don’t buy the “we can’t get / don’t have enough ice story. It would not fit the facts (Yes – I know it says “preliminary”).

Pretty low key "today in history, unless you are Hawaiian - in 1959 Hawaii became the 50th state, followed unofficially by Canada, the 51st. The US originally had to use armed intervention to depose Queen Liliuokalani, the last reigning monarch of Hawaii leading to a protectorate and eventually statehood. Financial takeovers are much more insidious.

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Aug 20 – Today was Canadian Tire’s Foundation for Families / Jump Start Charity Golf Tournament. Given that I was playing (sort of) – I had been trying to get out to at least pretend I had practiced before the event. Did not happen!

The event was a huge success – thanks to all of our sponsors and the participants. “Jump Start” is Canadian Tire’s program to support financially challenged kids to participate in sports and I am a big supporter of it.

We played at Glen Abbey, Rattlesnake and Glen Cairn (our group was at Glen Cairn.

First of all, my apologies to the rest of my foursome for my absolutely awful performance. In a scramble we ended up +1. Given the challenges of the course that was not too bad but I sure did not contribute a whole lot. For the record, some of those pot bunkers are just not fair. The only way out is backwards. While I hate to admit it, I shanked one of my “drives” so bad it ricocheted off of the tee blocks.

My fairway game was non existent and I could not putt worth a d__n. All in all “boat anchor” might be an understatement – but we had a great time.

Having not played a round in years, the unfortunate part is that as terrible as I played, I still enjoyed the day and it encouraged ne to get back into the game.

The Great Karnack also has to eat crow on his prediction that Phelps would win more medals than Canada. At 13 with potential for more, Canada has beaten their 2003 Athens totals, as was their objective, but is this enough for us. Do we want to have more of an athletic presence or is this performance OK for us?

For you auto folks, the first T-Bird, a 1963 model was produced today in 1962. For you football fanatics in 1920 Jim Thorpe and six other men met to organize a professional football league – the American Professional Football Conference, the forerunner to the current NFL – poolies give thanks.

Now time for a hot bath, massage therapy and post sun burn soothing ointment for yours truly.

A good day!

From the hockey front - last season MOHA had 232 House League teams. Oakville is growing. The MOHA web site has initial league team / game times shown and indicates only 222 teams. 10 fewer than last year - how come?

The preliminary schedule has also eliminated division rotation - if you are "early", you are early every week. if you are "late", you are late every week. Is this what members want?

By the way - changing the font colour does not eliminate the data - convenor info from last year is still on the contact list even though it looks "blank".

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Aug 18 – Canada finally racks up some medals at the Olympics. Classic wins, the men’s eights which is arguably the top rowing event and where we seriously under achieved in Athens.

Ian Miller (in his ninth – count em 9^th Olympics dating back to 72) gets an equestrian team silver – good for him. The third I’ll mention is Karen Cockburn (on the tramp – although I don’t think that was in Homer’s plans for Olympic events) has a nice story with her injury comeback and medaling in three consecutive games.

All of these are good stories as they show perseverance, comeback and grit. Hopefully we have more to come and can beat the 2004 12 yet.

There will likely (I hope) be a lot of $$$ speculation coming out of these games. Thoughts are that Phelps will likely net $100 million or more as a result ofv endorsements etc. Should countries pay their medalists a “bounty” or should they fund more / better? Should an athlete live at subsistence or below poverty levels for four to eight year for the slim chance of picking up $20,000 if they are lucky and good enough to pick up a gold. What are the Olympics all about and do you want to try to “buy” results. Let’s see what comes out.

Tomorrow is back to the Salt Mine and I hear “opportunities” have been piling up for me. I still have at least two more weeks of 2007 time to use up prior to the end of October so I have some serious planning to do yet. That is providing that the hurricane season doesn't knock out refining capacity.

I see Mat Sundin speculation is picking up again – New York? Hockey is not far around the corner as the balance of “official” Rep try-outs and training camps start next weekend (as opposed to the unofficial activities already underway).

September has to be one of the favourite months for sports fans. Hockey gets underway, NFL on the go along with the CFL. Baseball is in the home stretch towards the fall classic, there is still meaningful golf (PGA) going on and we are heading into the winter minor sports.

You will note I have ignored round ball as I could care less about Mr. Naismith’s game. Never got into watching that and the Raptors give me no reason to.

Kind of a slow day in history as well. In 1227 Genghis Khan died and in 1920 Tennessee signed the 19^th amendment to the US Constitution providing the 2/3 states support required for ratification and providing women with the right to vote! It would be unnecessarily dangerous for me to make any additional comments here.

It also seems that with a little issue I had over the weekend, my ISP had to do a full reset on my site / space which in turn reset my hit counter. Will have to check out my server stats and try to reconfigure to relative level!

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Aug 17 – D Day plus 1.

Short blurb for today

The Moorehead / Phillips clans enjoyed a very successful and memorable wedding week-end. Number One son is now safely married off.

However, as per usual I was punished. Whether it was my “No Rain”, “No Rain” rant or whatever, we enjoyed exceptional weather for all but the rehearsal dinner BBQ.

The rain was well timed – I start the old BBQ Friday night at around 7:30, the rain starts at 7:30. Everyone else gets to lounge in the house or under the gazebo but your truly gets to stand out in the rain soaking up the liquid sunshine as I cooked the burgers and sausages. No one would even come and hold an umbrella for me and I to threaten “no food” to even get someone to step out for 10 seconds to get a tray off finished product.

At 9:30 when I was done cooking and well “soaked”, the rain stopped! So much for challenging Mother Nature!

Saturday ceremony and reception went really well except nobody would go home. I think Jane and I got home around 2:00 AM and then sat-up and talked with our houseguests until 4:30 AM! I am simply too old for this stuff. But Shaun and Becky (the newest Moorehead) with the help of their team did a super job in planning and execution of the event.

Now that this minor domestic item is out of the road I can get back to the important stuff. Game on!!

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Aug 15 – D Day minus 1.

I sit here having been unceremoniously “dumped” from the golf squad. Apparently we ended up as a “9 some” which is not ideal so it became two foursomes with my departure.

Shaun must have read yesterday’s blog and took pity on his buddies, the course and fellow golfers. However, I’ll fool them – Andrew and I are going to head out separately. Losing hockey and horse racing, I can’t afford to give up another sport.

From the Olympics, paraphrasing Sonny and Cher, “The drought goes on”. Just remember, I identified it first and now it is being picked up by all the media. This blog is becoming a “media must”!

Preparations are in a mad frenzy for the rehearsal dinner (no rain – no rain, remember the Woodstock chant) and D Day Saturday. Soon time to get my speech ready but first it is get out of Dodge time.

Leafs are falling – McCabe – Is he off to Anita Bryant land (Florida – Tampa Bay for the uninformed). At least it gives the media something to talk about in a news starved hockey town.

So was the NFL game a bust? Seems like the tailgating turned out to be a dud. The claim I heard was that 54 k seats were sold and there were “48 k” at the game. I watched a bit and there seemed to be an awful lot of people disguised as empty seats. Maybe we are not as hyped up for an NFL franchise as people would have us believe. Then again, it was NFL exhibition which means nada.

I could get used to taking holidays, 8:00 AM is a much more civilized time to get up then 6:00. Saturday – Lottery – Big Win!

OOPS – scratch that plan. We were going to just go to White Oaks, hit a few balls and then play nine.

MISTAKE –We arrive AND, the course is overrun with “Blue Hairs”.

No way was I going to wait and then get smoked by a bunch of octogenarians. The fates are clearly conspiring against me. Got myself all lathered up with sun screen for nothing. Back to base and rehearsal dinner prep.

Today in 1969 Woodstock began. A pop culture iconic event. I was in California or I am pretty sure I would have gone. It seems now that according to casual conversation there were at least 3,000,000 people there, not the actual estimate of ??.

To date myself, I had the Woodstock 8-track and LP. To realize how big a deal it was you only need to go back and look at who played there and their place in music history or lore. . Joe Cocker,  Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Joplin, Fogarty, Baez, The Band  Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Who, Grateful Dead and on and on and on. Probably the biggest memory is Jimi Hendrix and his rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

I can pretty well guarantee there will be no “blogging” “ tomorrow. Rumour has it I will be busy.

Remember “No Rain”, No Rain”, “No Rain”.

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Aug 14 - It seems like I am suffering from the "every second day" blog syndrome. hopefully there is a cure but right now my loyal readers may have to wait with baited breath as your loyal scribe has a lot on the go.

I could say "I will not post again until Canada wins an Olympic medal" - but, that could be the end of the blog! Not true come on guys - GO Canucks GO!

Wedding countdown - 2 days. I think I have arranged to get all the rainy weather out of the way so we will have clear and sunny for Saturday. Tomorrow is "golf" day and rehearsal / rehearsal party (which remember I'm hosting - yeah Jane is helping). Somehow it appears to have grown from "maybe 20" to "around 30". Want to bet on the final count? I thought this was wedding party only - who are all the other free meal moochers? (Shaun - if you're reading this - just kidding)

However the plan is to venture out to the golf course tomorrow. Hopefully there are barriers along the fairways as "banana ball" Moorehead will be on the loose. The only question I have on distance is how far into the bush I go. They say you "drive for show and put for dough". However, you have to get to the green somehow - seven, eight, didn't see that one, nine . . .

As a Steeler fan, I am almost tempted to go downtown tonight to laugh at Toronto's attempt at tail gating. Note "almost". This is a foreign concept for both our gendarnes with our liquor laws and the general populace as participants. Already people are complaining about the closing off of a bunch of streets near ACC (as mandated by the NFL as part of the deal to host the game(s) - or at least that is what I heard).

To help folks out who are planning to go down and participate, here is a list of some of the required items:

• Beer

• Beat-up pickup truck with plywood sheet in the back to extend as table

• Beer

• BBQ - old fashioned charcoal model is preferred - hibachi's are bush

• Beer

• Flatulence food - beans, sausage, kraut, grits, cheese (especially for you Green Bay fans)

• More Beer

• Support utensils - funnel, coolers, portable TV, lawn chairs, lots of big knives and bottle / can openers, paper plates for all your friends and to throw around

• Enough Beer yet?

• Garb - ratty jeans, preferably with holes or cut-off, ugly T-Shirt with some disgusting slogan (front and back) or WB Muscle shirt with lots of belly room, favourite tractor brand ball cap and something with team colours or logo. Belts optional but with huge buckle if present.

• Even more Beer

• Toys - footballs, frisbees, shotguns, more footballs (none of this wimpy Nerf stuff either)

Final friendly caution - nothing with the words "lite" or "low cal" in the title and be prepared to share!

Sound like TO and our preppy "suit" crowd! We'll see. Check out Richard Griffen in The Star.

Today's thought is where were you in 2003? The world (at least us) went "black". I got caught downtown. Couldn't get a cab / bus whatever and had to walk most of the way from Yonge / Eg. to Union Station. Got to Union and was "promised" there would be trains - NOT! Finally got a bus to Clarkson and got home at 1:00 AM. Nice commute! Having said that, weather was nice, people were friendly and it was an interesting experience. Played "hell" with our supply side though.

From a sports perspective, in 1971 Bob Gibson pitched his first no-hitter. Great pitcher that he was I remember him (and his Cardinals) getting beat by my Tigers in the 1968 World Series. St. Louis was supposed to win with Gibson and Denny McLain (for Detroit - last 30 game winner) battling it out. Instead the story was Micky Lolich (a lefty - yeah southpaws) winning three including game 7.

Hockey - I keep getting requests for help because there seems to be a lack of response elsewhere. Check with the office (if you can), I'm clearly OUT!

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Aug 12 – The start of a rare event for me – a holiday. I have to use it or lose it from 2007 so I am off until next Tuesday to enjoy a leisurely run-up to Saturday’s nuptials and watch everyone else implode. Nothing planned, no commitments, I am not sure I will know how to handle it.

So one activity will be brushing up on my great Karnack impression and polishing the mayonnaise jar on the porch. I made a smart crack the other day about not how many but when Canada will win a medal.

My update on that is to lay odds that an individual aka Michael Phelps will win more medals than Canada (estimated population +33 M). What does that say about our programs – or lack of them. I guess some of the post event interviews with Canadian athletes have the – I found it hard when they pulled my funding”.

It also goes against my grain when the popular response is “oh, it is great just to be here and compete”. If you aren’t there to win, you don’t win. Some disappointment instead of a shrug of the shoulders would be nice.

Did not go to the races with the tribe last night and the pony finished third instead of last and raced well. Guess I am banned from the track now too.

Today in 1973, my all time favourite golfer – the Golden Bear won the PGA Championship to pass Bobby Jones with 14 Major titles. He won the huge first place purse of $45,000. Put that in context of the coin folks are pulling down today. What did Padraig Pocket for this year’s event last weekend - $1,350,000.

Isn’t inflation a wonderful thing. Look at it this way. They paid him $4,873.65 a swing. Jim Furyk, tied for 29^th got paid more than Jack’s win.

Technology is scary! I have a new toy to play with. I picked-up a pair of Microsoft LifeCam WebCams for $30.Essentially you get a mini videocamera (with audio) and a 1 megapixel still camera that lets you do whatever – no wonder people get into trouble with these.

No I am not launching the “Live Moorehead WebCam” show – isn’t that a scary thought, but I am going to work on a video hook-up with somebody (potentially son # 1 - remote or son #2 on the home network to see how well it works. Maybe I can use it to call him for dinner - like that's a problem!

Reduced snapshot of the star below – yeah you get all these goofy overlays you can bake into the picture.

Also from the sports world it is hard to believe that it is 30 years ago today that Daryl Stingley was paralyzed by a Jack Tatum hit in a preseason game between the Raiders and the Patriots. Daryl unfortunately passed away last year from complications but I can't believe it was 20 years ago!

Time is marching on in the hockey world. Lots of stories / questions floating around. “Coaches” starting to appear on the web site. Countdown clock is 22 days until the volunteer meeting. Looks like we will soon have lots of discussion topics. The silly season approaches!

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Aug 10 – Today’s blog is brought to you by the letter “R”. Obviously for “R”ain. Everyone seems to be talking about it but nobody seems to be doing anything about it!. Typical. So big guy – listen up! I want it dry for 15, 16, 17. There – that’s taken care of.

Woke up today to the big “propane” scare. Made a couple calls to make sure it was not a “work” issue for me and then just listened in. Just so you know, you do NOT want to be in the same postal code if a 200 k litre bullet of propane decides to expand suddenly. It would play heck with real estate values, not to mention your health. This is worth watching to see what the determination is. Chances are, someone got careless and “disrespected” what they were working with.

• ·         Shut down the 401

• ·         Close off several subway stops

• ·         Activate evacuation plans

• ·         Blow out nearby doors and windows

• ·         Set-up a “no fly” zone

Definitely something you don’t want to fool around with – anybody want to buy a “house next door”? Fortunately it seems there were limited injuries but at least one fire fighter died. Full details not in yet. Oh – by the way, most of us have these mini bombs for our BBQ’s.

Olympic hype and tripe is on.

Terrible news on the knifing / murder/suicide

Michael Phelps is being hyped as the “greatest Olympian ever” – One race, one gold so far – seven more to go to beat the Spitz total (I think Mark got 7 in one Olympiad but I am too lazy to look it up). If I am wrong I am sure I will be corrected.

The tripe (maybe true, is that our guy got jobbed in Gymnastics so that he did not make the finals. Quite the story for Kyle coming back from two broken legs a year ago to try to defend his Olympic gold. I saw his routine and while I know even less about gymnastics then I do about hockey he looked pretty gold. Congrats to him regardless.

At the risk of angering the nationalists, maybe the pool should be not how many medals we win, but when we win our first.

Under the title of hard to believe, today in 1948 Alan Funt’s Candid Camera debuted. Who does not remember the “Smile, You’re on Candid Camera” after some poor unsuspecting schmuck had been thoroughly embarrassed and, or humiliated. I did not know the show was a spin-off from “Candid Microphone”. Not sure how that worked.

Wedding Countdown – 6 days – we’re in the home stretch. Rumour has it that “the boys” crawled in last evening this morning at around 5:00 AM from their “Gentlemen’s Evening”. I say rumour, as Number two son has not resurfaced yet (5:30 PM). Today’s “youth” are wimps. When we threw a stag, it was typically a several day affair over the week-end and nobody missed work Monday (except the “groom” who we typically tried to stick on a bus or train heading West). Oh for the good old days.

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08 08 08 – Beats the heck out of 666. So in honour of the “date”, today’s blog is brought to you by the number “8”.

Finally got the squad together and hit “The Dark Knight” at Mississauga IMAX last night (I think the IMAX theatre is an extra $1 or $1.50 but it is worth it for this type of show).

Good News and Bad News.

While I am not a movie critic (I specialize in minor hockey association mismanagement), there is no way that Heath Ledger should not win a best supporting actor Oscar for his portrayal of The Joker. Even in my jaded perspective he turned in a phenomenal performance and I don’t see how the “Joker” can be recycled after the show he put on. In my view he literally “stole” the show and could actually be considered for best actor – not just supporting. For once, things lived up to the pre-event hype.

The movie – while I won’t comment on content for those of you who have not seen it – was otherwise nothing to write home about. Plot pretty transparent and predictable. However it is not your slap / dash comic book kids entertainment. So keep that in mind if you are thinking of taking the “rug rats” It is a DARK movie!

The REAL Bad News is the captive audience torture that you pay to have inflicted on you. With limited IMAX seating you get there to ensure a decent centre seat and first of all have to endure “lining-up”. I do not react well to waiting in line.

Then they let you in so they can bore the living &$^&8 out of you with the worst waste of film stock known to mankind – insurance ads, mindless Hollywood gossip drivel, . . . .  Used to be you go to the big theatre, get your seat, get to see an almost amusing cartoon, two decent previews of coming attractions and then “ROLL EM”. On a bad day they would swap the cartoon with some NFB dreck about igloos and orphaned seals. Ah the good old days!

Value – show $13.50. Bag of dry tasteless popcorn, watery “pop" and the skittles special - $15 (Andrew got ripped). Guess where the money is!

Wedding countdown – “8”. Pressures mount. Stress points increase. WRM keeping a _low profile. Move on.

Apparently the Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies were “stunning”. Big deal – not my cup of tea but I guess the Vancouverites are going “Oh Oh – how do we follow that one (with no money, no paramilitary power and no conscripted “volunteers}. Could be tough.

On with the show – this is it. Of the events, there are only a few in the summer games that I care to watch and I am not going to get up in the middle of the night to watch them “live”. I think the coverage and audiences here are going to be a “dud” from a ratings standpoint because of the “I already know who won” syndrome and the delays. We’ll see.

I guess everything is well in hand at the MOHA these days, or apparently nobody feels the need to work Fridays. Someone goes to office – door locked – no one there. Funny, that’s not what the hours of operation (or the paycheck) says. Maybe everything is by appointment only now to keep the conflicts to a minimum!

There has been such a wealth of information posted on the web site. I guess that is how they are keeping folks informed! Twenty-six days to the “big meeting” where all shall become clear?

For my loyal “This day in history" fans a very appropriate event – In 1974 “Nixon resigns” Who can forget Tricky Dicky’s “I am not a crook” – yeah – right! From the Sports world – the end of an era. In 19"88", the Cubbies played the first game under the lights at even then “historic” Wrigley field (after 74 years of day only games). I have been fortunate enough to hit Wrigley in my ball tours and it is a wonderful old park. Since the first game got “rained out after four innings, the first official game was August 9^th.

Hoo Rah – it’s WEEK-END!

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Aug 6 – Ten days to go – no wedding updates. I guess that means no “material changes” and nobody sent me any jokes. Today’s blog is brought to you by the letter “P” for “P”lethora – as in there are a plethora of events stacked up in This Day in History.

From a “cataclysmic” event basis we have the first use of Atomic weapons with the US dropping “Little Boy” on Hiroshima from Col. Tibbits’ B-29 bomber Enola Gay. The type of destruction was unimaginable with over 80,000 killed instantly. Thousands more died over the years from radiation sickness and resultant cancers.

From the “Macabre” side in 1890 the “electric chair” made its debut at Auburn Prison in New York (the first “use” took two tries. Clearly I have too much time on my hands.

With this spare time I have discovered a miraculous device called “television”. I lied, I used to watch it “years ago” but with my former hockey schedule I had not watched much of anything in the last ten years.

So sticking to the “military motif” I have been watching a show called NCIS – the military version of the CSI series. For those of you familiar with the show, they have a forensic pathologist or "Chief Medical Examiner" called “Ducky Mallard” – you have to be kidding - what a handle Now I have watched a number of episodes and there is something “familiar” about this guy but I just don’t place it. I don’t watch the credits so I don’t know and really don’t care who he is. But tonight I just happened to catch it and lo and behold it’s “David McCallum Jr.

One of my favourite shows as a “kid” was “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”  a secret agent show that starred Robert Vaugh as “Napoleon Solo” and his mysterious and cerebral “Russian partner “Illyia Kuryakin” – aka David McCallum Jr. They had a bunch of “cool” gadgets and exploding devices that appealed to an aspiring delinquent like myself. Remember this was early 60’s and they were portraying a “Russian” as a “Good Guy”. No wonder I liked the show – conformist that I am.

Check out the suits!

The show lasted four seasons starting in 1964-65. The concept was United Nations type good guys U.N.C.L.E. thwarting the evil empire in this case T.H.R.U.S.H.

U.N.C.L.E.  United Network Command for Law and Enforcement.

T.H.R.U.S.H. acronym never revealed in the series but quoted in paperbacks - The Technological Hierarchy for the Removal of Undesirables and the Subjugation of Humanity" – What a mouthful.

On the local front the Whitecaps gave it a great try but came up short for the Little League National play-offs.

From what I saw and heard at the park it seems that baseball is not unlike hockey and our GTHL friends Club structure system. The “haves” and “have nots” and the let’s recruit a good team concept. There is no taking away from the BC squad as being a very good ball team and by the looks of it they have a very good chance of taking all the marbles (or horse hides – really now cow hides). However, it is my understanding that they draw players from a “large” area, unlike the “local” teams that represent other regions – Oakville, Orleans, NDG etc. I guess I just don’t know all the details.

Anyway – good job guys – players and the org for hosting.

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Aug 5 – The last long week-end of what I consider the summer is over. We are now on the down slope heading for Labour Day – how I hate that word.

The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry (attrb. To Robbie Burns)..

The planned Triple Header ended up as a bunt single. By the time I managed to find my golf clubs – arrange to steal Andrew’s, nobody wanted to go and whack balls – too hot. That lead to a time conflict with the IMAX schedule as we had missed the 12:00 noon show and the 3:20 was a late out for the 7:20 races – especially since Jane wanted to be there in time to bet the Daily Double. So scratch the driving range, scratch the Dark Knight and hit the track.

The really annoying part is she did get the double – unfortunately it only paid $18 and change and I think she donated that later at the slots.

To cap off a perfect evening, the kinfolk’s horse who lead the pack to the wire the week before chose the other end of the queue and had a good view of ALL of his colleagues heading down the lane. So much for my exactor. I had the First and Last – does not pay much.

The good news was that it was a gorgeous evening and we sat outside in short sleeves watching the races (and a couple of very interesting fan spectacles – no, not what you think).

Wedding countdown – 11 days and counting and apparently I have to make a speech – undetermined topic, undetermined time, undetermined length. Tough ground rules. Any ideas. I don’t think this is the time for corporate 101 – tell em what you’re going to tell em, tell em, tell em what you told em. You are also supposed to start off with a joke to break the ice and get their attention. The only problem is that if I have to compete with dessert, I lose.

Anybody know any good wedding jokes!

The other challenge at weddings is that you usually have at least four diverse groups – the Bride’s Mom’s side, Dad’s side, Groom’s Mom’s side, Dad side and then “the friends”!. Essentially no matter what you say you are guaranteed to offend someone.

Maybe I should just tell a bunch of MOHA stories. Would that qualify as Pulp Fiction, Science Fiction or just plain old Horror!?

It looks as if I am amusing some folks or at least continuing to arouse morbid curiosity – the hit counter is over 5,000 and climbing. I guess everyone is waiting for my next comments on the carnival show – especially after their actions last week. For obvious reasons I am being careful what I say, especially with some of the “spin doctoring” and the insinuations I understand are being circulated. Feel free to pass them on – I am collecting them.

This is where you are supposed to say “some peoples’ behavior never ceases to amaze me”. Well I won’t because it doesn't.

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Aug 4 – Lots going on (in some places). I will just let Saturday’s (Aug 2) content simmer.

Today’s blog is brought to you by the letter “S” – for “Shaun” (or "s"immer) – Happy Birthday. With the wedding countdown at T minus 12 and counting, I not sure how much celebrating there will be today.

From August 3 – A belated “Happy Birthday” to my sister Colleen – I believe she and her family are cottaging (and I think I was supposed to be there – Oh Oh).

On Saturday I watched three of the Little League Senior Canadian Championship games at River Oaks. Some good and typically “bad” BB – but remember these are still young men playing in “pressure” games so mistakes (we call them errors in baseball) will happen. Unfortunately the local Whitecaps (they weren’t) came up short in their game. Over the day, a nice double play, a couple of sac bunts and a couple of “dingers” made for some entertaining watching whether you knew the players or not. Even got caught in a rain delay – but the wily old veteran had his umbrella. I figure it has been nine years since I coached the Juniors out of River Oaks.

Unfortunately the local guys lost again yesterday to Glace Bay. Check the site if you want to go and see a couple of games as the local guys have done a great job in hosting http://canadians.ollb.org/ They need support to finish at least fourth to make the play-offs which would be great.

As a side note “shame on the scribe for LL”. Will Brandes (listed as Will Bandis) was Oakville’s pitcher Sunday. Sorry I missed it – Will has been a great goalie in MOHA for years, playing Midget Red last year – with the dethroned convenor. His brother Ben played as well and years ago I coached Ben in Baseball. Small world. Hope they get this corrected for him.

Today is shaping up as a big “Double Header”. Plans are afoot to go see the Dark Knight (in IMAX format) as I suggested we would earlier – group TBD, followed by a trip to the ponies at Mohawk. One of the kin’s livestock is racing tonight. Another golden opportunity to spend and lose money at a government sanctioned event.

Correction on the above – it may be heading towards a “Triple-Header”. Turns out I am likely golfing in a charity event on the 22^nd and haven’t touched a golf club “in anger” for several years (whacking people doesn’t count). Lousy at the best of times, I need to try to come up with some semblance of respectability. So – time to try and find the clubs and go mutilate some golf balls. Hard Hat warning out for PGA Family Golf today!

The hockey world (the real one) is QUIET. You know that when the “Sports” page of the online Star has “0” hockey stories in its eleven lead articles and has two on horse racing. The lead on the Hockey/Leafs sub is “No Word from Sundin”. Surely they have something important happening with the Blue and White – like a new shipment of pucks arriving.

Probably the biggest hockey news has been the defection of Scotty to Chicago from my Mighty Wings. Scotty must be trying for the record of winning Stanley Cups with the most organizations! (You will note he did not come to Toronto). Is this a published record somewhere? I know his kid is in the Windy City but so what – it will take much more than that to knock off the pizza boy.

From the History vaults in 1958 Billboard introduced its first consolidated “Hot 100” list of pop singles. Topping the first list was “Poor Little Fool” by Ricky Nelson – know any candidates?

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Aug 2 – Today’s blog is brought to you “Without Prejudice”.

Or perhaps I should have said by “collateral damage”.

To follow-up on my comment from yesterday. . .

When I first started this blog after the cabal had taken over and I cut all ties with MOHA, I made it clear (as I was ordered to), that Jane was not to be involved, not a source, not to be brought into the blog and that office activities and events were not to be ammunition for me. Until now, I have respected that request – Why?

Mike brought Jane in to MOHA to assist in the office a number of years ago when the other individual could not handle it.

Jane took on the role because she loves hockey, loves working with the kids as well as most of the adults and frankly was good at it. That is also why she had convened for a number of years and had volunteered to continue to do so this year with the Midgets turning Juvie that she convened last season and had convened in the past. In fact she had been given the Juvie Red division until it was subsequently taken away – ask yourself why??

Any of you who have had dealings with Jane either as a convenor or through her role in the office know that a) she is her own person – not me, b) that she enjoyed what she was doing and c) was very good at it.

How many times has she bailed how many of you out by going the extra step to help?

That was why she stayed on after the election, despite the type of treatment she has received in the office since then. She just wanted “to do her job”.

An example of the way she has been treated: when the cabal changed all the locks after the election (to protect them from the previous regime) they would not give her a key – i.e., a paid employee was not given a key to access her work place. I guess they were afraid she was going to let me in in the dead of night to steal all their secrets That’s only one example.

So now what!

In July the MOHA office typically has reduced hours, somewhat shared by the two employees which also facilitated holidays. This year Jane was told to stay home, we don’t need you for July. Nice – but she took it.

Last week – the last week of July, Jane phones the office (to see what time she should come in Tuesday – remember she does not have a key) and is asked if she is ready to come back – of course she is! She asks what time and is told they will get back to her??

No call – Thursday she calls again and gets a we will let you know??

Friday (yesterday) she receives a courier delivered letter starting off:

“This is to inform you that the Executive of the MOHA has decided that the MOHA will no longer be requiring your services”

Real classy – treat an employee disrespectfully, have her sit at home for a month and then the work day before she is expecting to return to work fire her for no reason!

Since the board has accountability for MOHA decisions of this type under the bylaw, I hope they were consulted and agree that this was the right thing to do and how it should be handled!

I think it is pretty clear what I think of both the action and the people behind it.

Hence the “Without Prejudice”

I think that’s enough for today!

Aug 1 - The road to Hades is paved with good intentions.

Blog did not happen. Not because of technical issues – it was operator error – i.e., I had neither the time nor energy.

So with apologies to my loyal readers and with hopes that the "dancing in the streets" didn't keep you up , we move on with the travelogue

Flight to St John was wonderful. I was booked into 13C. aisle seat which I prefer. Minor detail – it was a Bombardier aircraft with 12 ½ rows of seats. Half because the other half of row 13 (lucky 13) is the “lavatory” with its lovely bi-fold door, sound effects, variable fragrance, and an estimated 3” of clearance from my seat. Interesting location to deal with.

St John was great. Super hospitality from all involved. Wednesday night after checking in on site I went back to the hotel and decided to take a walk for some fresh air, local culture and exercise before grabbing dinner. No one told me they roll up the sidewalks and “lock down” the town at 6:00 PM. I went to leave a building I had wandered into to view some “quaint” local items (you know I am a knick knack connoisseur) and found the gates were locked and chained. I was now imprisoned in “Billy’s Oyster Bar and Fish Market”. I wasn’t going to starve to death but it could put Thursday’s plans at risk. I finally tracked down “buddy” and found by sneaking out the back way through 3 “panic bar” fire doors that I could “escape” back to civilization or at least the outside world.

Thursday it was up “before the crack of dawn” 5:00 AM local – 4:00 AM my time, to get ready for the “Gas Sale” event we were running at our Three Mile site. While excruciatingly boring to some people, it is amazing how much excitement you can stir up with the local population by offering reduced gas prices. We were running this promo to support our Gas Advantage MasterCard and because of a variety of scheduling conflicts I had agreed to go out and spearhead the promo. It had had teaser ads that week so it seems everyone had heard about it. I get to the site and find that we are on a major intersection with a large forecourt (pump area) and four separate access points. That spells disaster! The key to an event like this is “control” and “organization” and things were not looking good.

By 6:45 AM the natives were lined up and getting restless so I had the team start the sale early. At 7:05 AM the Police show-up (late – we had booked them for crowd control) with only one officer whose first comment was “have you got coffee for me”? – not reassuring.

There were a few tense moments but the day / event was a huge success thanks largely to the hard work of our team at the site and the patience and understanding of “most” St John’ers. There were exceptions, one being the Hell’s Angels wannabe who cut into the line, chugged up to the pumps on his “hog” and figured he was next. Where was Officer DooRight when I needed him – so your intrepid warrior marches up to buddy and breaks the news “no juice for you”. The grizzled whatever pulls off his pot (circa 1914 Prussian Imperial Guard) looks me in the eye with the F%^%% Y%% - he was not waiting in no F$^&%*%ing line and I was a F&$^$y7ing Idiot if I thought he would. When I politely explained he would not be served he jammed the pot back on his charming pony-tailed moused head and roared off explaining what I could do to myself and that it was unfortunate my parents did not enjoy the benefits of matrimony.

News crews were out CTV, CBC and all the usual suspects for interviews and on the spot local features. I hear we made the news. Not sure I want to know what they said.

Anyway, I got to spend 14 hours on my feet on asphalt / concrete with a smile pasted on in the sun, wind and rain! By the end of the day we had made a lot of customers happy, started a mini price war, signed-up a bunch of customers and sold a top secret but HUGE number of litres of fuel (Oh yeah – we had to escort in a tanker – twice during the day to top up the tanks). AND I could not even bend over or down to pick up anything I dropped – Bad knees, Bad back and just all around sore. I had also developed my tan to an attractive shade of appropriately “lobster red”.

In case they see this, thanks again to the staff of our Three Mile site who did a phenomenal job of customer service, patience and tolerance for the day.

In from the Front

In from the back

Filling (note the tanker)

Flew back today – same Bombardier BUT I had improved my seating. I moved from 13C to 12D. Still “last row” but now I was ahead of the head!

I get home from all this excitement and demonstration of good will, respectful behaviour and customer service orientation to discover the cabal has done it again. I have to think carefully about what I will or will not say about their actions this time. I wonder how many on the Board knew about it and, or supported it?

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Wayne Moorehead

Hockey line (905) 829-1551

email at  Wayne@minorhockeyfan.com

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