This past weekend was the Alberta Association of Insurance Adjusters (AAIA) 2010 Convention in Red Deer. I've been an adjuster now for 8 years but this was my first go and they reminded me that I was the virgin/rookie many times.
Get this one. I was responsible and worked Friday instead of going to the golf tourney out at Riverbend. Should get some bonus points with the big guy!!!
So it all started off with the trade show around 4:30 till 9pm. Pretty much meet and greet. Get a thousand free pens and sticky notes. Enter some draws and eat and drink. My kind of thing, nothing wrong with networking... So you stand around talking with friends and people you have never met, but then you hear that voice you turn around and its someone you've talked to hundreds of times but have never met. Great to put a face to a voice.... sometimes. LOL
The food is now all gone and the bar is closed so we carry on to the hotel bars to dance and continue the contact and visiting. Yes its a whose who kind of gig. The top dogs are here from some of the major companies plus all the little people that actually do the work. Its great getting an open expense account to buy drinks.
Remember the bonus points earlier in the day, thanks Pete.
So the night is getting crazier as now the RD locals arrive with all the well lubed business people from out of town ready to party. Time to take an exist. Thanks to Janice, Shawna and Dallas for getting me home early. Lets not discuss my idea of early!
Next morning starts off early (anything before 9am to me is early) with Marianne picking me up and taking me back to my truck where it has had its sleep over.
Now its time to sit through the seminars to earn education credits towards our licenses. Nap time!
Actual it wasn't that bad except for the lawyer bit but who can blame them its lawyers.
So then this gets us to lunch. I love lunch! Ukraine Perogies, Cabbage Rolls and Sausaggge!
An elderly gentleman Philip Jones from Wales, who now lives in Canada is there as a luncheon speaker talking about "How to fit a heart attack into your busy schedule."
He started off and I thought OH this is going to be Corny.
As he continues on his British sense of Humour came through and the crowd had finished their lunch and was listening intently.
He explained he had done 12 things correct. Diet, exercise, non smoker, no money problems and so forth.
But he still had a heart attack.
So why Bother.
Well he feels he survived the attack probably because he had done the main 12 things correctly. Stress is the factor. He has 40 questions to ask yourself and they can be seen online at
http://www.hsconference.com/VARIOUS/SPEAKER%20HANDOUTS/Session%20103-handouts.pdf
This is when the room becomes quiet and what he is saying starts to sink in.
"If you don't take care of yourself who will" Mr Jones says.
WOW! How correct is that.
People ignore symptoms or lifestyles and just continue on the road to the heart attack. Women more than men we are told. If you are over weight and your colesteral is more than likely high. Why do we not get it checked or have a doctor prescribe something that will help us. We don't we ignore it and if something happens then we go on the drugs. To late...
Something happens and we think things will laways get better in a week, two or even months. Then its too late. How many times have I had that ache or pain and dismissed it as a pull or going little hard at lacrosse....
Whether your 15, 26, 44 or 65 how many times do we here of that young person having the heart attack and you think hmm close to my age and shrug it off.
"If you don't care about yourself what about everyone else in your life" states Jones.
All the people that love you, care for you and just want to be around you. Philip carries on "You impact more people then you think you do.
The obvious spouse, kids and family. But what about friends, coworkers, and the people you can't be with everyday but actually would lose out if your not their."
His main focus is stress from everywhere. Home, Work, Life, Relationships.
Do we smile a lot or laugh. We should.
We have all heard it, kids are mainly happy because they are always laughing.
Go to you tube and listen to them. Its incredible to watch that the simplest giggle can bring on the biggest smile.
I know I haven't been my self for months, so why?
Stress that you don't realize is there or you do know its there but don't handle it or stress that just won't go away!
I wish I had a recording or video as you don't know how just a common thought can impact you.
Jones calls it "Drift". Yes this is what people do drift along in life. Have you every seen a stick drift up against the current. No!
I can't do his speech justice, but he does leave us with this thought:
Management By Figuring Out Where You Are And Where You Want To Be And How To Get From Where You Are To Where You Want To Be THEN GO FOR IT!
Those that know me know if I'm not laughing, having fun and I am quiet something is wrong. I need to correct this as I hope you all you take a look at yourselves and if need be do something about it.
Enjoy life, its a short ride!
Back to the convention . So now I'm depressed as I need to change my life. What do we get next the sniffer dog. He looks for excelerants that would start fire. Amazing how this dog just sniffs and finds the smells. Great thing they didn't bring in the drug dog......Kidding. Animals are always a plus and crowd pleaser. Cole the dog did not disappoint.
We then had a few hours before the banquet. Was invited to go to the pool and have a few drinks before the banquet, again this little voice said go home and rest. When the hell did I get this angel on my shoulder. I miss my little red friend on the other shoulder where has he gone. Think I lost him in Vegas somewhere better go back and find him. So I went home and sat on the deck pounded a Java mint Frap from Starbucks and then some wine with Elaine. Went to the banquet Western Theme so jeans and hats. How easy was that in Alberta!!! The meal was incredible salad, asparagus soup, steak of course and then a molded chocolate cup with mouse inside. 8 at a table, me and seven ladies I do some things right! Get this, one doesn't want her dessert well we can't waste that. Me hyped up on not 1 but 2 rich chocolate desserts. The music hadn't even started and I was vibrating! Did some two steppin and rockin but Momma wasn't feeling well so again went home earlier, Midnight. This was not a bad thing as it saved the old body to do some reffing Sunday. Good decision.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Crabby Old Man
CRABBY OLD MAN (THIS APPLIES TO OLD WOMEN TOO)!!
When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in North Platte,
Nebraska , it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this
poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and
distributed to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Missouri .
The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition
of the News Magazine of the St. Louis Association for Mental Health. A slide
presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.
And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of
this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.
Crabby Old Man
What do you see nurses? . . . .. . What do you see?
What are you thinking . . . . . when you're looking at me?
A crabby old man . .. . .. . not very wise,
Uncertain of habit . . . . . with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food . . . . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . . . . . 'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice .. .. . . . the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not .. . . . . lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . . . The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? . . . . . Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse . . . . . you're not looking at me..
I'll tell you who I am. . . . . . As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, . . . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . . .. . . with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters . . . . . who love one another.
A young boy of Sixteen . . . . with wings on his feet.
Dreaming that soon now . . . . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . . . my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows . . . . . that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . . I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . . .. And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . . .. . With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons . . . . . have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me . . . .. . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . .. My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . . my wife is now dead.
I look at the future . . . . . shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing . . . . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . . . and the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . and nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles . . . . . grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . . . . . a young guy still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys . . . . . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . .. . . . gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . .. . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . . open and see.
Not a crabby old man . . . Look closer . . . see ME!!
Remember this poem when you next meet
an older person who you might brush aside
without looking at the young soul within.
We will all, one day, be there, too!
When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in North Platte,
Nebraska , it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this
poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and
distributed to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Missouri .
The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition
of the News Magazine of the St. Louis Association for Mental Health. A slide
presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.
And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of
this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.
Crabby Old Man
What do you see nurses? . . . .. . What do you see?
What are you thinking . . . . . when you're looking at me?
A crabby old man . .. . .. . not very wise,
Uncertain of habit . . . . . with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food . . . . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . . . . . 'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice .. .. . . . the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not .. . . . . lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . . . The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? . . . . . Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse . . . . . you're not looking at me..
I'll tell you who I am. . . . . . As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, . . . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . . .. . . with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters . . . . . who love one another.
A young boy of Sixteen . . . . with wings on his feet.
Dreaming that soon now . . . . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . . . my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows . . . . . that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . . I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . . .. And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . . .. . With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons . . . . . have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me . . . .. . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . .. My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . . my wife is now dead.
I look at the future . . . . . shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing . . . . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . . . and the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . and nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles . . . . . grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . . . . . a young guy still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys . . . . . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . .. . . . gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . .. . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . . open and see.
Not a crabby old man . . . Look closer . . . see ME!!
Remember this poem when you next meet
an older person who you might brush aside
without looking at the young soul within.
We will all, one day, be there, too!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Boyd comes to Grandma's
Well all the preparations are finished. The house is clean from top to bottom. Food and munchies prepared. Drinks and refreshments ready. Craig and Vanessa arrived with my new grandson Boyd. They arrived after the wedding they attend in Banff was over. It was an RCMP wedding(Phil) with groom and others in their Red Serge. Be like the kilts I think, pics looked great.
So we had an hour alone till all the friends and family in Red Deer came over to say hello to Boyd. Vannesa's relatives arrived first so my chance to hog and hold him was over. Then my sister arrived and she took over and did the feeding. Hmmmm still had to sit in the background. I am just way to polite.
This went on all afternoon as people came and left. I played the host feeding & water everyone. I pushed the cake as I'll have to eat anything left over not usually an issue but down 15 lbs I didn't want to wreck the hard work I've done.
Finally everyone left and we had some peace and quiet just to sit back and relax.
I was cleaning up carry the recycling downstairs when I stopped to chat with everyone in the living room. I was on the 2nd step and the new floor is a wee bit slippy in my socks. Wosh I was gone down for the ride. Luckily I was saved by landing on my ass. Ok not really but I think it took the main impact away from my back when I did crash to a stop. Everyone came a running to see if I was OK and as most people embarrassed as hell told them I'm fine. Which I wasn't as my back hurt like hell.
So some ice and ibuprofen and I said screw this i'm sitting down. No! Did the kids taxes on the computer good news they actually get money back. Boyd was sitting with momma Ness beside me doing the taxes and decides its time to shit myself. No not just poop but hey lets shit so much it comes out the back of the diaper and up to his arm pits.Bath time. Wow how something so small can make such a mess....
Finally every things done I have time to sit down get the baby in hand and its lets sleep on Gramps for the next 2 hours. Exciting as hell!!! No really loved every minute of it!
Then the next morning had to say goodbye and head off to work. Now its time to figure out when the next visit will be. Hope work stays slow so I can slip away for a quick 14 hour drive to see him. :(
Friday, April 23, 2010
Human Nature
So my out look on the human race has further diminished. I have decided the young generation will probably self destruct and cause us all great pain over the coming years. Their attitudes towards each other and everyone in general is brutal. No respect for others and in alot of cases for themselves. I know alot of great young people whom this would not apply its the few losers that everyone sees standout and receive the attention.
Why so down on life?
I went to leave work and was on my way to my truck. We park in a lot across the alley from the back of our office building. Not the best of locations, the alley just down the way is crack alley where depending on the time of day you have the drug dealers out selling and the line of cars for a city of under 100,000 is remarkable. The police do their thing maybe twice a year and nail them all. Should be a weekly happening if they actually wanted to try and fix the problem. We also have the young ladies of the afternoon up and down on occasion and this gets entertaining also.
Back to me heading to my truck after work. Pretty much the alley is now deserted. I Jump in my truck and this young lady is coming down the alley very upset and crying. Looks fine not like the usual crowd but very upset. So I pull away thinking she'll be fine and get over whatever.... A last glance and she is stumbling holding her chest and stomach area. OK now what. Do I help, say anything or do what most in today's society would and just drive away. I turned the corner and started going but you know me a big softy, gullible and a target. I circle around the block and roll down my window just to ask if she's OK or does she need some help?
I get the good Samaritan response "F--k You! leave me alone...." Twice in less than a week I have been mistaken for this F--K You guy. I must have a twin.
Not to be rude I ask "are you sure you seem very upset". Same response. So I roll up my window and drive away think why the hell even try. I am actually pissed off at the attitude. I hope if I had a daughter and she was not right someone would stop to at least to check on her.
Am I being to harsh? When she walked past me sitting in my truck she looked up right at me crying her eyes out like asking for help or some compassion. Some think I am probably crazy just putting myself in a bad situation.
For me, my conscience is clear and I haven't heard of some one found dead on the news, so all is fine in the world..... sort of.
Why so down on life?
I went to leave work and was on my way to my truck. We park in a lot across the alley from the back of our office building. Not the best of locations, the alley just down the way is crack alley where depending on the time of day you have the drug dealers out selling and the line of cars for a city of under 100,000 is remarkable. The police do their thing maybe twice a year and nail them all. Should be a weekly happening if they actually wanted to try and fix the problem. We also have the young ladies of the afternoon up and down on occasion and this gets entertaining also.
Back to me heading to my truck after work. Pretty much the alley is now deserted. I Jump in my truck and this young lady is coming down the alley very upset and crying. Looks fine not like the usual crowd but very upset. So I pull away thinking she'll be fine and get over whatever.... A last glance and she is stumbling holding her chest and stomach area. OK now what. Do I help, say anything or do what most in today's society would and just drive away. I turned the corner and started going but you know me a big softy, gullible and a target. I circle around the block and roll down my window just to ask if she's OK or does she need some help?
I get the good Samaritan response "F--k You! leave me alone...." Twice in less than a week I have been mistaken for this F--K You guy. I must have a twin.
Not to be rude I ask "are you sure you seem very upset". Same response. So I roll up my window and drive away think why the hell even try. I am actually pissed off at the attitude. I hope if I had a daughter and she was not right someone would stop to at least to check on her.
Am I being to harsh? When she walked past me sitting in my truck she looked up right at me crying her eyes out like asking for help or some compassion. Some think I am probably crazy just putting myself in a bad situation.
For me, my conscience is clear and I haven't heard of some one found dead on the news, so all is fine in the world..... sort of.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Getting Started
So how did this begin!
Well I watched the movie Julie & Julia , Yawn!
Tried to contact and make someone on Facebook my friend, but was never excepted as a friend and have been left hanging....kind of a male ego slap.
But I was able to read their blogging and was actually very interesting finding out and sharing in their experiences, holidays, views on life and events.
What an idea putting down my thoughts so others can read and comment on what I have to say. I've been told that I am loud and a bit of a know it all and I don't listen to others!!!
So why not, I am not a professional writer but I love to tell stories and share with other so here we go.
First off I've discovered that I don't have very many pictures of just myself. Halloween in Vegas is posing with others in costumes. Holiday photos are old castles with everyone else in them or me in the picture with somebody else. I guess I need to let someone else take the camera for a while or at least make an effort just to be in a shot alone. Found one, out on a restaurant patio in the sun. (Note to self: get a better picture) Now that I have dropping weight maybe I might even look a little better in them.
Box Lacrosse season has begun this weekend so out I went to referee as usual. First two games of the season midgets (16 years olds) full of testosterone and running like deer. Bonus as well, we get evaluated by the Referee and Chief. Did my usual tremendous job. The kids were happy, parents happy, coaches happy. We were all happy except my legs for running 3 hours straight on concrete. The tread mill is not the same. One young fellow did decide that the penalty I called, a head shot elbow was the incorrect call. I explained my to him my name was not F--k You and he was off to take a shower early.
For those who don't know I am a Grandpa for the first time. A Forty year old Gramps is kinda weird but Boyd is a 9lbs 4 ounce beautiful baby boy. Craig and Vanessa are extremely lucky to have such a nice boy. Yes I am byassed but he is definitely not a Seinfeld baby.... At 9lbs they are still pretty small and its been 22 years but I enjoyed meeting him for the first time over Easter.
Well there it is my first of many to come. This was boring but I know in the future they will get better.
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