Great Britian 2010 World Lacrosse Championships and Holidays

So holidays this year was going to Manchester England to watch my son Troy play for the Scottish 2010 National Team at the FIL World Lacrosse Championship.

It began leaving Calgary with the flight delayed 1 1/2 hours. We had paid the upgrade to premium so we went and had a few margaritas before boarding and to kill sometime. Once aboard we received the welcome champagne to begin the flight. We haven't even taken off and I'm feeling well pretty darn good! Then some red wine, more with dinner and after dinner drinks, Vodka's!!
Hmmm who was going to drive when we land in Glasgow.

Stopped drinking around 4 hrs in so I had 4 hrs to sleep and sober up before we land at 9am local time.
No problems in customs. The car was waiting and ready to go. So loaded up and off to Manchester England 3 hrs south. We received a Volkswagen diesel and was actually a great little car. As the trip progressed my left arm was feeling the effects of shifting. Guess I need to change hands once in a while. Checked into the B&B and had a nap before we set off for the opening ceremonies. After an hour in line to get our tickets and into the venue we needed to bust our ass to get to the stands to watch the teams beginning to March in.






Round Robin Games began the next day:


Lavitia 4 vs Scotland 20



New Zealand 8 vs Scotland 18



France 2 vs Scotland 19



They then advanced to the eights and took on Czechs beating them 17-14. Was a close game all the way till the last 5 or 10 mins.



Next they moved on to a final 4 qualifier Scotland 15 vs Ireland 9.


Scotland has now done better then they ever have before. They now would move on to play a one game elimination game against Australia with the winner moving into the medal round with the USA and Canada.

Panic what do we do now we aren't suppose to be here! We now needed to find a place to stay as we had only booked the B & B for five nights. With the victory we now need two more nights. The girls at the Heatherley B&B have a deal set with a local Premier Hotel. What a nice place, we get a king size room and premier breaky for the same price.
These ladies are way above awesome for client service so anyone going to Manchester let me know as I would let you know the address and contact numbers.




For special note an English Breakfast gives you the choice of eggs, bacon, sausage, beans, fried tomato and mushrooms or all of it :) Worked out well. The Pub had great tea(supper) and a great selection of beers, all in crawling distance of my bed.

Scotland 11 vs Australia 20
Was a mixed game Australia came out hard and built up a 9-2 lead when the game was postponed for lightning for 30 min. They came back finished the first half and after a quick break started the 3rd quarter. The break benefited Scotland as the started moving the ball the way they can and making good decisions on offence rather then playing like individuals. 11-9 at the end of the quarter and the Aussie fans were getting a little worried as we began to control the ball and take it to them. Unfortunately a few bad penalties and some breakdown on d allowed the Aussies to exploded with 4 or 5 straight goals so the dream ended. The boys had mixed emotions. Happy they did so well but still to get this far and one step away from getting to play the Canadians and Americans was huge. A few teary eyes but that went away when the team ran across the field to come see the fans and family's. After some sweaty hugs and cheers it was off to regroup as they still need to play their placement games.



They then played The Old Enemy(England) losing 23-9 and finishing in 7th out of 29 teams by beating the Dutch in what I have been told was one of the games of the tourney 11-10.



Awesome showing and the excitement will carry heading to the Europeans in 2012 as everyone wants to return to get the Old Enemy!!!

After the Aussie loss Elaine and I headed north for Scotland in the morning. Delayed on the highway because of a flipped Lorre for about an hour. Driving in Britain actually isn't that hard. Three lanes 70 mph. The trucks can only go 60 so passing is easy. Traffic circles are actually a great way of getting around no lights minimal stopping slow up, give way and floor it. Simple! It is a five hour trip to Kerriemuir from Manchester. On the way I see a sign for lunch, Burger King! I now have a mission I need Burger King. So we exit to the road side pull out. Get my burger and its horrible. Worst meal I've had. Tasted stale and like crap. Next exit was a Starbucks and another restaurant so much for urges.

So we arrive at Jill & Johns in Scotland and crack the duty free gin and poured some G&T's

More to come from Scotland!

On The Road

Wow! What a week so far. Troy took me golfing Saturday for fathers day. Thanks buddy it was fun and good to see you for a bit. I then turned
around and head for Medicine Hat to work on all the flooding.
The damage is incredible. Sink holes, washed out roads, sewer filled basements. Poor residents had no warning and were scrambling out at 9am to vehicles to get away from the rising waters. Each has a story to tell and they are really the same but different. Grab the kids dog and wife and start running or dragging them through waste deep water that arrived in minutes. Highways are washed out rural roads are mess. I am so glad I have a big four wheel drive. Actually having a blast mud bogging around. Between my truck and jeans I am not sure which is more dirty. Tons of work to do, lucky I am only around for a week as it's going to take months just to clean up. Made a man cry because we were covering his loss and putting up the family in a hotel as his kids had been through hell. On the other side made a woman cry as she is not covered.... Shitty part of the job but can't help everyone. Hmmm funny Scrubs is on and the theme song is I'm no super man.....
Back at it again tomorrow Wednesday, how busy are you when you tell people all day that you will see them Thursday meaning tomorrow! Opppps what's my name again??? Need some sleep!

6 Months Results

Six months ago I sat back in January after eating a huge meal and my size 38 pants were emm well lets say very uncomfortable. At that point I decided no way am I going to be wearing any size forty's.

Diet! I hate the word like everyone else. Life style change? Hmmm everywhere you read this is what they say you need to do, the GO word. Unfortunately I have seen so many friends lose the pounds and look incredible but then later gain it back becoming even worse off then when they started. So yes change but not necessarily in lifestyle.

So what could I do to change things up but still do and eat similar to what I do now. I am usually active but not consistently driven. Easily distracted. Procrastinator. So what is working for me:

1) I went to a Naturopath Doctor. I was skeptical of the witch doctors and their methods and was right up front and told him if he is selling me crap that I think is just for the sake of selling me crap we'd be done faster than Elaine can burn dinner....

Results! He cleared up my heartburn that I've had for three plus years. Every morning at three a.m. I was a wake eating Tums. Didn't matter when I ate or what I ate, the dogs and I got up at three. Factor was I was not producing enough acid to get everything digested so it was laying in my stomach, thus backing up. Two weeks and it was fixed. Next item he said things like my adrenal glands were out of sorts so boosted my energy system as well as other drives.....:)
Its been over three months since I have had to see him and the doctor told me things were fine to come back in July for a quick check then.

2) Pop! I am like an alcoholic having a drink when I actually get hold of a real Pepsi. You would think it was a drug. One can is over two hundred calories times two, three maybe four a day ouch no wonder! So I have joined in the fight whether real pop is better than these zero calorie pops. Sure water is best but when you actually need one a zero seems to be working. I still love Pepsi so keep your fingers away if I am coddling a can. Alcohol! haven't changed this up except the mix and I don't care what Sucha says I like my poofter drinks. Cran and Seven is refreshing and tasty. Wine with most meals. You need to keep one crutch right!

3) Back to the Doc. I was told what foods my body doesn't like. Not allergic but repels or does not digest well. Potatoes, Butter, Bananas, Rye, Broccoli. Again I want to make changes but not have to throw it all away or make it not a do able. So I need to cut down on the tatties with a little gravy. Banana's actual is where I noticed it the most as if I ate them heartburn right now. Who knew! I can cut them out but still eat them once in while.

This weekend was On sides Lobster Feast. OK I pigged out! Three lobster ya three plus the butter. OMG! Did not sleep well felt the arteries hardening and boy did my stomach talk. The pups were sure wonder what was going wrong inside me. Something was definitely trying to get out.

I adjusted my diet by making myself eat small meals leaving food on my plate(quit laughing). Yes leaving food on my plate. Started breakfast, I drink one of those small pro biotic drinks when I get up and then Yogurt and granola around nine or tenish. I have progressed to Bran buds ya me eating Bran...
When I do miss this meal I am starving. Small meals all day long is what all the articles and pros say, so ya eat all day long...Sure why not! It takes doing something two weeks to become a habit. I now can barely finish a foot long Subway sub anymore as I get too full.

4) Exercise! Started by jumping on the tread mill. Hooked up the heart monitor and away I went to get me into my fat burning range. I have always trained for hockey or lax where its go hard for the shift and get off to recover. So I turned on the Ipod and away I went for hour and a half. Actually it gives you tons of time to think of things that you need to work thru. It started as a walk at first but I now actually run. I have been able to cut the time down as I have been reffing lacrosse so much I actually need the rest or day off. Abs, Elaine has a video that is an easy 20 min workout 10 standing and 10 on the floor.(Turbo Jam) OK its not easy but I know I have done at least a crunch when its over. I have two of six abs showing which is exciting so I am not yet there for the Speedo?????

OK so your back from the bathroom after getting rid of that little throw up in your mouth.

Weights! I just do a small amount as if I go hard I bulk up easily and I like having my arms at my sides and not dragging my knuckles. So I do small sets to tone rather than bulk.



So how did I do.
Give me a Homer Simpson...

Started off at 235lbs and I am down to 215lbs. That's 20lbs for you short busers. Hit my goal just two days before my deadline. May be some fluid loss but that 215 number looked great on the scale.
I have gone from a size 38 to 34 jean. I don't remember being a 34. Maybe high school!
I needed new pants so went into the store and it wasn't very busy so the 5 girls decide here is a project. We looked at different styles and what nots and I said size 36. Tried the first pair on and they said nope need to drop another size 34. My cheeks were so sore from the smile I had on. I think my face stretched!

Inches wise I have lost so far:
Neck - 1/4
Arms - 3/4 on each but has started to increase again do to muscle growth.
Chest - 1 1/2
Diaphragm - 2 1/2
Stomach - 2 1/4
Waist - 2 3/4
Butt - 2 1/2
Thighs - 1/2 of each again has some increase but definite muscle detail
Calves - 1/4 off each

Total - 15 3/4

Now what?
I still have more of my stomach to deal with. I think I will continue on with what I have been doing as its working. I may join Pete with his circuit training after lacrosse and summer is finished. Girls call it Boot Camp??? Next goal hmm maybe a little less weight but same time length. Dare I go for the 190's That I can say I have never been in since high school for sure.

Anyone want to go for lunch or a frozen hot chocolate? I DESERVE IT!!!

A Surprise at Convention

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.

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!

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. :(

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.