General Fatigue

My wife turned the big 40 yesterday.

We had celebrated her birthday a little while back by going to Toronto and watching a play.

We are seeing another play tonight as a matter of fact.

The kids are performing in 'Joseph' tonight at the Imperial Theatre in town and tonight is the final performance.



They have really enjoyed it..but I will be glad when it's done...SO GLAD.







I hate Andrew Lloyd Weber. His music is garbage.


 The story of Joseph is one of the most idiotic examples of the Bible's idiotic stories and I have no interest in watching it played out to equally idiotic rock/calypso music.

The kids have worked hard on this..and it has value for them..and I am really proud of them for taking part.

But ....

Anyway...somethings you just have to do.

Last night Kim and I went to a local pub and hung out with the cast of the show in order to celebrate her birthday.
She is pretty hung over today..lol.

She doesn't cut loose very often and it was nice to see her relax....but I hate people and I saw some real human garbage in action last night.

Oh well,

Did get out fishing the other day and the conditions were shit....same old same old.
We caught fish in spite of it but I am really hoping that things shape up a bit before everything locks up solid.

Our contract will be settled in the coming weeks and today I went car shopping. The raise will just about cover the cost of a car payment and the Tercel is fit for the bone yard.

I went round and round with the Mazda salesman and he made me so tired.




The guy I used to deal with is gone. He was a rare straight shooter in a profession of douchebags. I will miss him...
Today I got up and walked out only to have him say "of course that quote in your hand is not the best we can do"

Sigh...

The dance...the tiresome dance.

I may buy out of town just because of that stupid shit.

It will be nice to have a reliable commuter car however.

Kimi wants white..and it is starting to grow on me too.

Come on..

Well here is a new Beer.

I might as well post about beer....the rivers are shit.

Rain, rain and more rain. That's been the theme this year and I am tired of it.




I have had three really good trips to the river...one that was truly amazing.

The 'Amazing Trip' just happened to be the first trip of the year solo.







I dared to hope that it would set the tone to an outstanding season of consistent fishy greatness but it's been a wee bit less than that.

We've caught fish on the few trips in that we've forced but the task of fighting through less than ideal conditions leaves me a little unsatisfied.
.. to say the least.

So we wait..and savour the moderate success ..

It is so easy to get spoiled.

Beer...

There have been a lot of new contenders this year and I admit that there has been a real shift in the Top Ten.

I still follow Creemore with something akin to a religious fervour but there were times this summer when beers like Hogsback and Rockcut were wearing the crown for sure.

Creemore is really not my first choice in the summer months but it is quintessential for the Fall.

...and too be honest...even though it is 09:13 right now...just typing this is making crave one.

That's something.  lol

Lugtread was introduced to me by a good friend and fellow alcoholic.


It is hard to track down but I have to believe that it has a promising future.
Highly recommended.

I have been playing guitar like a mad fool and my sound is awesome. It makes me want to be a better player and god knows I am trying.




I still love the guitar I am playing but I may grab something else in the new year if for no other reason than to provide a dangling carrot to help me get through what is sure to be a very trying winter.

Might make a road trip to Dave's Guitar Shop in WI with a pocket full of mad money and just see what jumps out at me.

I've never done that sort of thing before and the store itself is an industry icon with the owners very impressive personal collection on display.
Worth the trip in my mind...but as always...we'll see.

Dangling carrots are like that...

If the rain ever stops I may actually get some more fish up here, although on the last trip I left the camera at home.

It was kind of liberating.

Gotta Go

And when you gotta go you gotta go..

The river has been GIANT!!

Normally in October we are bitching and moaning about how little water there is.

Not the case this year. The rains came early and kept coming.














Just when you think the river is dropping another cloudburst rolls in off the lake and up she goes again.

Its a blessing really...but it can be very frustrating.

I had a dynamite first trip and I have been dying to get another shot at the water I love so much.

With more rain in the forecast you pretty much have to get in while you can. Some seasons are like that and the windows of opportunity can be very narrow. If you wait for the ideal months can slip by.

I don't like to fish water that is too high. It makes crossing the river a real pain in the ass and actually dangerous at times.

...especially when you don't have the discipline to curb your enthusiasms...

When the bite is on who does???

Oh well...the river has a really good  top on it right now.





 














Hopefully the rain that has been forecast will skip us and I'll get a chance to hit the river this weekend.

Now , with a sincere apologies to my Muslim friends..time for some some smoked porc chops!!

Got the BBQ preheating and the beer a chillin!!

Life Lessons Blow ...sometimes

I am slow...

I just got back from a run and I feel good because of it. I am in 'not bad' shape for an old fucker.

They have been 44 rough and tumble years and I have my aches and pains starting. With the start of every fall season  I inevitably begin to wonder just how many more years I have before I have to start toning 'er down a bit..

I am not out of this yet..and if I can keep the beer gut down by a wee bit of mild road work. well, that is a good thing.

Yesterday I got to watch my son compete in his annual cross country event.

It filled us all with pride and joy but it was also heartbreaking.

There is one boy in the city who unfortunately is just a wee bit faster than Owen.

He had Owens number last year and this year the situation was exactly the same.

It is a 3 km race through hills, fields and wooded pathways and on top of that yesterday was wet and miserable.
All the participants showed guts.

My middle daughter Ella competed in her age group and improved considerably from last year with a placement of 35 out of 96.

I am amazed that she can bring the energy she does to a sport where she is constantly in her big brothers shadow.
She does however, and not only that she is Owens biggest fan and really takes pride in his achievements.

Owen trained hard all year and was hoping for a win. He had decided to start his kick way earlier based on the way the route was laid out this year.
I think it was the right decision and when he came into the last 400 metres he was out in front...Oh my heart was in my throat...




However...the boy from last year was at his heels and out kicked Owen in the end...it broke Owens spirit and he actually fell off and let yet another boy pass him.



3rd place out of about 100 participants.





Poor kid was in tears...

He just kept saying ...I had him...I had him..

All the family was there with all the usual soundbite hallmark bullshit..

"not whether you win or lose"..."always next year"...bla bla bla

And to my boys credit he didn't want to hear any of that shit either. He got beat pure and simple...and that hurts..
It must hurt so bad to be so close....to prepare for something with a goal in mind then to see it slip away ...and only by a matter of metres..

It was amazing to watch really...these young athletes pushing themselves to their limits...a cool little rivalry has developed between them and they will be attending the same high school in a few years...





Both Owen and Jonathan could barely breath when they crossed the finish line and I know Owen left it all out there this time...and for that I am so incredibly proud of him.

Inspiring really.

Sigh
It really is a gift to be able for him to compete at such a high level and for that I am happy for him
.

BUT GOD-DAMMIT!!!!!

;o/

One of Those Days

I yap a lot about 'The Curse'..

And truly I now have my wife and children believing in it.

It is real...undeniable..and I am sure there will be entries in the future documenting other manifestations.

However...the sun shines on a dogs ass some days ..and today was one of those days.

I had missed the first push of fish this fall.



I was scheduled for my three year firearms recert and had to get that out of the way before I could have any fun.





I made a few moves at work in order to change my original scheduled date for re certification from Nov to early Oct.


Usually early October has us praying for rain while Nov is prime.


This year saw some heavy rain early on and the river was in great shape last week while I was playing cops and robbers in Ottawa.
(Re- above 'Curse' )

Morin got out and I was happy for him.

With Thanksgiving taking up most of the weekend I knew that the only day for me would be Tuesday.

Thanksgiving weekend was a really nice one full of food and family.

I don't travel well, and I missed my family something fierce while I was in Ottawa. I resent being away from them for anything.


It was a warm and fuzzy weekend but I have to admit that in the back of my mind I could picture a prime river full of fish falling out of what we consider optimum conditions.












I had made up my mind that I was going to fish Tuesday regardless, even if it meant only a beautiful walk through the woods alongside a river that had little to offer fishwise.

This fall has been a long time coming. The summer was busy and Sept was a write off as well with Union and Work obligations so today is the beginning of some 'ME time'.

What a great start!




The water was skinny but not unfishable and there was no sign of anyone else!!

Perfect day...full of fish..fresh air..and fall colours.



Every now and then it all comes together..and I needed it to.






I'll give thanks for that.
Thanks too for a world class river so close to home. Special thanks for a little roe tying helper!!...and thanks for a good friend..even though he had to work today ...and is a world class douche..lol

Turnaround

Well ... I just felt like it was time for a new entry.

The summer was a supreme test, on many fronts..

I think I passed.

Last year...and in many years previous, Kim didn't get much work as a supply teacher.
Her vocation hasn't quite worked out the way we'd hoped..

In the summer months it all falls on my meager income and I find myself working a lot harder than I would like.

This summer I decided that I would buckle down , man up and really try and put us in a position where most of our plastic debt was clear and we were able to find some breathing room.

This can only be done one way...and that horrible road is OT...From about mid July to just recently I have been working on average 70 hrs a week.
It hurt...hurt a lot..but its over now and the money is starting to roll in.

I am proud of my efforts but still recognize that we are living beyond our means.

I know myself well enough to know that I can't do this kind of push on a yearly basis.

The hope is that this proves to be a much more lucrative year for the teaching front or we may have to make some big changes.

I had been looking forward to the mid portion of Sept as the light at the end of my tunnel. I have most of the month off and really needed to get away from work and spend some quality time with the family.

I decided to take the kids out of school this past week and have some fun.

We bounced around some ideas but ultimately decided on camping at the Pinery Provincial Park.

The family is home a day early after being abused by lightening storms and biblical rainfall. I had images of tranquil campfires and starlit skies underscored by fresh air..
Instead it was test after test after test..

The kicker was when my wife locked the keys in one of the vehicles last night just before we were about to attach the tent trailer i'd borrowed ( reluctantly ) from my brother in law.



She had to drive halfway to Sarnia and meet my brother in law in order to get the spare set...

...meanwhile I am back at the campsite with the kiddies and the dog...all the gear is packed up but chairs around the campfire..trying to roast smores in the pouring rain..

Definitely not a chapter in the book of awesome...and definitely not the 'vacation' I was in need of..


HOWEVER...looking back now after having my morning coffee , talking to the kids and going over my pictures I have to say.. I had a great time.

You take your shots with a camping trip,.....but next year we'll be renting a cabin.









Avery loves the outdoors and was on a mission to locate the elusive Hognosed Snake.
We failed...however we did make contact with bullfrogs ,salamanders, walking sticks, deer, herons, snapping turtles, caterpillars ,wild turkeys and many other little critters that got her all excited.

That was worth it.

Off to Ottawa this week....that city makes me nauseous.
 

The Push

Well since my last post I have almost worked non stop.

I have decided to really buckle down and earn some dough in order to right the Norland ship.

Sometimes you just have to Man Up and get er done.

The amount of Overtime that is kicking around this year is absolutely obscene and I have taken just about every shift I can.
I was scheduled to work tonight but pulled the plug early on today due to just downright exhaustion.


 I have accepted another four O.T shifts for next week so I thought I'd better just relax and take it easy in preparation for it.

I have never worked this hard and it is making me extremely bitter.

We are still without a contract ( been over two years now ) and we  have taken our employer to court over unfair labour practices.

The hearing is tomorrow.

The outcome should be very interesting...and to be honest represents a real crossroads for me.

This country is fucked...and nobody cares.

Our government is so corrupt and out of control that it really is beyond belief...and I am running out of gas fighting the good fight on behalf of people that don't have the guts to stand up for themselves.

I miss my kids...

Today was a good day.

Owen has been watching master chef and has been inspired by it.
Today he asked me if I would help him make Eggs Benedict.

He did 95% of it by himself with very few suggestions by me. To be honest..I probably would've over cooked the eggs without him insisting they come out.
...They were perfect!!

That kid is something else.












Ella has finally learned how to ride a bike.
It took her forever , and it was really starting to get on her nerves... (and mine )..

For whatever reason, she seemed to have a mental block...almost a phobia about it.

I should've forced the issue a long time ago maybe..but either way...the training wheels are off...and she is so proud!!
I am proud to...I am even proud of myself.


This summer represents a terrible sacrifice for the benefit of these people I am responsible for....but that is my role and I am getting it done.

I am shooting for 30 O.T shifts and should be there about the 1st or 2nd week of Sept.

I missed the moment when Ella finally eschewed the training wheels, conquered her fear and began to ride....

Trying really really hard to forgive myself..

I was working an O.T shift...for an employer that is corrupt, and for a public that doesn't give a shit, at a job that I have really grown to despise...




Norlands Chrome from Brian M on Vimeo.


Fall can't come soon enough.