Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas, Everyone!

What a wonderful, wonderful time of the year!

Christians across the world shout with joy! It's time to celebrate one of our most important Festivities of our Faith - the birthday of our Savior - Jesus Christ!

Over time, too many pageant traditions have made their way into our precious Celebration and have blurred the significance of Christmas. Fortunately, people from many European countries have managed to separate the mercantile-driven gift-giving from the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas, for them, is a Sacred and Holy Celebration.

But North Americans, in the main, have, sadly, become hypnotized and obsessed with the materialism side of Christmas, much to the chagrin of the true faithful, and much to the delight of the merchants who drain millions of dollars from our pockets at this time of the year.

If you are a Christian, I challenge you to make a stand, much like our European brothers and sisters have done: separate the gift-giving from the true Christmas Celebration. Reserve Christmas Day for gathering with your families to honour the birth of Jesus Christ, to go to the church of your choice, to enjoy good food together in the celebration of Christ's birth, and to remember why Christmas is our special Season.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy 2010.

Gary

The Swine Flu and Vaccination

How serious is the Swine Flu threat? That's the million dollar question everyone seems to be asking. A lot of us are confused. Is it really a more-than-normal serious flu? Or is it just a propaganda campaign backed by the drug companies who stand to make a fortune in sales? And, are the death rates going to be worse than in other years?

Both my wife and I batted these issues around in trying to get to the truth. In the end, we faced a few unchallengeable certainties. Amongst them:

- Otherwise healthy people seem to be dying, and they all weren't old . . . in fact, many of them were in the prime of their lives and athletic;

- The serum is basically the same as used in previous years for routine flu shots, except it was modified to suit this particular strain;

- The Swine Flu is a problem globally;

- Some older persons seem to have an immunity to it - perhaps because they may have had the same strain of flu back in the fifties; and

- Lastly, there seems to be no guarantee that healthy people who get the Swine Flu are going to have an easy time with it.

For moms and dads with children, the decision to get the shot or not should be a "no-brainer": the children are your wards - they cannot make the decision for themselves - and you are entrusted to protect them from anything that might, even in the remotest of possibilities, cause them harm. You and your children should be vaccinated with due haste.

For the remainder of us, a decision has to be made to protect ourselves, to protect others around us, and to help eradicate this life-threatening menace.
There's nothing macho about risking ourselves and our loved ones.

I was procrastinating. I hate needles - even the thought of them. Then last weekend, my wife and I baby-sat our two oldest granddaughters. That morning they were all vaccinated. Our oldest, Nicola, became the catalyst for me getting down to the clinic. Five years old, she acted more mature than a lot of us adults. When she arrived at the clinic with her parents and younger sister, she stepped forward and said, "I'll go first." And she did - never flinching - and set the example.

Later that evening when she sat with me, I mentioned that I would probably go on Monday for my shot. She put her index finger and thumb gently together on my fore-arm and said, "did that hurt Poppa?"

I said, "no, sweetie, not a bit."

She added, "that's what the needle will feel like."

On Monday, I got my Swine Flu shot and, you know what? Nicola was right, I didn't feel anything more than her gently pressing on my arm.

If you haven't done it, I encourage you to do so. It may save a life.

Gary

Another Memorable Ontario Town

When my wife and I first visited this Victorian-era town situated along the Rideau Canal and about 45 minutes from Ottawa, we were smitten with its quaintness and wonderful array of charming Christmas shops. Strolling its lazy, well-decorated streets seemed to bring one back to a period when time stood still. For just a fleeting moment, my imagination was caught up in a scene of horse-drawn sleighs, jingling harness bells, and puffs of steam from the horses nostrils.

After a couple of blissful hours poking around in the old-fashioned stores, we meandered down the street to one of a few excellent eating establishments fitting of the Victorian period.

The town - Merrickville.

If you have a special town, please let us know and we'd be glad to pay it a visit.

Gary & Jo Ann

Memorable Towns in Ontario

My wife and I frequently visit places that we haven't been to before. These are cities or towns within easy reach of Ottawa and are not often in the high-profile tourist-target-zone such as places like Stratford or Niagara Falls.

Recently we were treated to a very special place that caught our attention for its hospitality, late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century charm, cleanliness, excellent eating establishments, and tasteful shops. It was a breath of fresh air for anyone wanting to step off the fast-paced twenty-first century treadmill. Complimenting its gorgeous downtown buildings were beautifully groomed parks and a live theatre.

We tip our hats to the mayor and council of Port Hope, our latest addition to our memorable towns of Ontario.

The Ten Commandments

It seems to me, as each day passes into a new week, and each week into a month, and on into a new year, that we are witnessing an escalation of heinous, evil crimes against mankind. Crimes that not only appear globally, but randomly splatter our neighbourhoods, as well. It doesn't surprise me, nor should it surprise others.

As a student of history, I believe an excellent case could be made for the twentieth century being one of the darkest, (if not the darkest), in mankind's existence. A century in which evil reined unparalleled. Until now . . .

Although the book is yet to be written, the twenty-first century may, if it continues spiralling out of control, make the twentieth pale in comparison.

What has happened? What is going wrong?

Many of my generation can recall never locking our doors at night. Churches were always open. The worst crime was the odd Friday night tire-squealing, or the local drunk.

Although it's easy to generalize, and I don't particularly like to do so, there appear to be, in my opinion, a sharp decline in the mores and values being taught to today's youth. Family interaction is missing in many families and spiritual values have been waylaid and replaced by technological gods that leave children lacking in reality and an empathy for his/her fellow human-beings.

Although it may seem old-fashioned and out-of-touch with many of our younger parents, I contend that the following Ten Commandments would be a positive contribution to the welfare and good development of our next generations, if treated seriously and in the context of their intent:


The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17 NKJV)

1 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.

2 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My Commandments.

3 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

4 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

5 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

6 “You shall not murder.

7 “You shall not commit adultery.

8 “You shall not steal.

9 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.”

Wouldn't it be a much better world if these Commandments once again became a part of our way of life?

Gary

Summer, Summer - Where Have You Gone? Why Have You Forsaken Us?

In Ottawa, July was a real bummer - a write-off . . . unless, of course, you happened to be a duck. But even they, (the ducks), began to show signs of turning moldy, and their good-nature seemed to sour as they plodded through the muck.

August donned with a small ray of hope. Very small. The sun, now suffering from being heavily water-logged, was able, for five days, to push itself above the horizon. But, alas, it couldn't maintain its position and, by the third week, it was frequently pushed from the sky only to be replaced by its loud and brassy twin sisters: thunder and lightening, and, of course, its accompanying rain.

Today, as I write, I'm witnessing yet another deluge. Ankle-deep puddles stream down the roadsides and a rat-a-tat-tat of splattering, heavy droplets pounds the window pane.

The summer of 2009.

Is this a sign of the winter to come?

Gary

Time: The Eternal Thief of Life

The eighty year-old man sat sunken in his soft chair, his shoulders stooped with the weight of the years now behind him. He rocked gently. His face wrinkled and weather-beaten. His dashing blue eyes now a pale grey. His knees ached and his back felt as if a hundred small knives were piercing it.

His mind, still alert and honed, was that of a teenager. All he had left were his dreams and memories. He reflected back to his school years and a poem by Eugene Field that stuck with him. It was titled Little Boy Blue and went like this:

"The little toy dog is covered with dust,
But sturdy and stanch he stands;
And the little toy soldier is red with rust,
And his musket moulds in his hands.
Time was when the little toy dog was new,
And the soldier was passing fair,
And that was the time when our Little Boy Blue
Kissed them and put them there.

"Now don't you go til I come," he said,
"And don't you make any noise!"
So toddling off to his trundle-bed
He dreamt of the pretty toys.
And as he was dreaming, an angel song
Awakened our Little Boy Blue, -
Oh, the years are many, the years are long,
But the little toy friends are true!

Ay, faithful to Little Boy Blue they stand,
Each in the same old place,
Awaiting the touch of a little hand,
The smile of a little face.
And they wonder, as waiting these long years through,
In the dust of that little chair,
What has become of our Little Boy Blue
Since he kissed and put them there. "

A tear trickled down his wizened cheek as he remembered . . .

Gary

What is a Grandchild?

A grandchild evokes many special and different thoughts to all of us as grandparents.

They are very special little persons, who God has blessed us with in our golden years. They are beautiful beyond compare - their thoughts, questions, and phrases are simplistic and pure - the touch of their soft hand in our rough and weathered ones is like a mystical balm sent from Heaven - their laughter and chuckles are filled with sweet melodies that infect us.

When the world seems so complex and rift with hatred and evil-doers - when it appears that everything is about to cave-in - a grandchild erases it all with a hug, a simple smile or phrase.

A grandchild is God's blessing, his little angel, who provide us with hope for the future.

They are God's breath of fresh air.

They provide, I'm convinced, a window to what it must have been like in the Garden of Eden prior to the first sin - and, what it must be like when we reach Heaven. Simplistic and pure.

Gary

The Duel - a poem by Eugene Field

I though everyone might enjoy one of my favourite poems that relates a wonderful fanciful story about a wild and woolly battle that occurred just past the bewitching hour one dark night long,long ago. The colourful narration, in my opinion, is unparalleled and masterful. Please enjoy The Duel by Eugene Field:


The gingham dog and the calico cat
Side by side on the table sat;
'T was half-past twelve, and (what do you think!)
Nor one nor t' other had slept a wink!
The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate
Appeared to know as sure as fate
There was going to be a terrible spat.

(I wasn't there; I simply state
What was told to me by the Chinese plate!)

The gingham dog went "bow-wow-wow!"
And the calico cat replied "mee-ow!"
The air was littered, an hour or so,
With bits of gingham and calico,
While the old Dutch clock in the chimney place
Up with its hands before its face,
For it always dreaded a family row!

(Never mind: I'm only telling you
What the old Dutch clock declares is true!)

The Chinese plate looked very blue,
And wailed, "Oh, dear! what shall we do!"
But the gingham dog and the calico cat
Wallowed this way and tumbled that,
Employing every tooth and claw
In the awfullest way you ever saw -
And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!

(Don't fancy I exaggerate -
I got my news from the Chinese plate!)

Next morning, where the two had sat
They found no trace of dog or cat;
And some folks think unto this day
That burglars stole that pair away!
But the truth about the cat and pup
Is this: they ate each other up!
Now what do you really think of that!

(The old Dutch clock it told me so,
And that is how I came to know.)

Eugene Field 1850-1895

Another Classic Poem - Invictus

Whenever I'm caught in a situation where I'm facing a tough decision, I reflect back to William Ernest Henley's brilliant poem for inspiration. Throughout my life I've prided myself in being in control of my destiny. Whenever I've been challenged by things that seemed to wrap themselves around me and try to suffocate the life from me - such as smoking, I lean back on the strength of this classical poem to keep me going in the right direction:


Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley (1849-1903)

Enjoy,

Gary

Another of My Favourite Poems - "Trees"

I'm still in my reminiscing mood and am focused on those profound treasures produced yesterday by poets of immeasurable talent and depth. When I sit in the comfort of my cozy chair, reading these works of masters, I am drawn into a world of inspiration and intense clarity. I hope you gain as much pleasure as I do when you read the following poem by Joyce Kilmer:

TREES
by: Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

What a wonderful conveyance of imagery through word power.

Gary

No Time to Stand and Stare . . . A Poem

I've been thinking a lot recently about how we rush through life, full of well-meanings, but never finding the time to fulfill them. We are in such a hurry most of the time that, somehow, we manage to miss the things that are the most important, things that cost nothing. We get caught up in the windmill of life and, more often than not, life passes us by.

I remember the following poem well when I was in my earlier years and some of the Author's lines stuck with me as I trundled down life's path. I don't think anyone has caught the essence and purity of life better than William Henry Davies:

What is this life if full of care
We have no time to stand and stare?
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep, or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this, if full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

William Henry Davies 1871 - 1940

Can Soccer or Football Survive in Ottawa?

I love both sports! I would love to see both thrive in our fair city. But, can they?
Everyone has a limit to recreational money and might not support both, particularly, if they are competing on the same night.

As an east-ender, what bothers me most is that I might be asked to travel to the west-end to enjoy a good soccer match. Didn't anyone go to see the under-20 world championship games played at Landsdowne Park last year? The place was jam-packed and transportation to and from the game was easy.

And then there's football . . . what a sport!! Wouldn't it be nice to cheer for the Roughriders once again? Renegades?? Can't we do better than that? What about something like . . . Red Roughriders or, say, Broncos?

How about a stadium in central Ottawa that alternates football on one weekend and soccer on the next? Wouldn't that work? I think it might . . .

And, what if, one day, someone used some foresight and put a train stop right there at the stadium? A night out, a couple of cold beers and a hot dog . . . and a safe train ride home. Sounds almost too good to be true.

Might be worth thinking about, though . . .

What do you think?

Gary

The Good Ol' Days - Are we really Better Off Today?

I was raised in a rural setting in New Brunswick, where, as kids, we were accustomed to no electricity, dirt roads, horse and wagons/buggies, hand-cutting the hay with a scythe, raking with a hand-rake, and gathering in the hay with a horse pulling a hay-wagon,while someone tossed the hay on-board with a pitch-fork.

We had a well near the house from which we drew our drinking water, and we had an out-house. Rainwater was gathered in a wooden barrel and was used for washing our clothes. Our source of heat and cooking was a wood stove. We had a battery-powered radio, which was turned on in the early evening after the chores were done, (and everybody had chores), to which we listened intently as stories were narrated, (our version of today's movies and TV).

The door was never locked and frequently someone dropped in, particularly on Saturday evenings, often without knocking. It was taboo to do any work on Sundays, (other than milk and feed the cows and livestock), and everyone dressed as smartly as they could to attend Sunday worship. Afterwards, family gathered at grandma's and grandpa's house for a fun-filled get-together. Playing horse-shoes and story-telling filled the vacant time while everyone awaited the Sunday meal.

Neighbours gathered throughout different parts of the year for plowing, planting or harvesting frolics. Each farm was visited for about a week or so by neighbouring husbands, wives and children, to get a particular phase of work completed in a timely fashion. The men busied themselves doing the field work while the women prepared meals and, perhaps, (if time permitted), did some quilting and, of course, a bit of friendly gossiping. There was no unemployment.

I am now in my early sixties and have had a successful career. My wife and I have lived in Europe and in different parts of Canada where we were blessed enough to enjoy many of the finer things in life.

I don't pine for the "good-ol'-days", but I do reflect on the values of today's society where people are locked into the urban rat-race and driven by hedonistic pleasures. Granted, today's medical and social security systems are much better than that of yesteryear, but the social structure and values of today's society are seriously lacking.

Today, we are driven by the need to own things - trinkets, toys, and other worldly items. Back then, no one had much in the way of material possessions other than the necessities for farming. But everyone had the important things - friends, spiritual comfort, and camaraderie. When the chips were down, someone was there.

I believe we have paid a bill for our urban conveniences.

What do you think?

Gary

Ottawa Area Dining - Our Top Three Choices!

There are so-o-o-o many good restaurants in the National Capital Region! For us, atmosphere, service, quality of food and wine are of paramount importance.

Although a bit off the beaten path for those living on the south side of the Ottawa River, a visit to the Bistro Ambrosia Ristorante on rue Principale in Gatineau is a pleasant treat. We loved the fine atmosphere, service and excellent menu.

Another that we found most enjoyable with its romantic courtyard and interior quaintness is the Keg Steakhouse Manor on Richmond Rd in Ottawa. The service is superior, the food exquisite and the atmosphere very cozy.

Our third choice and certainly not our last in quality, is La Strada Restaurant on Bank St in the Glebe. Excellent service, a tasteful menu, masterful food preparation, and a delightful atmosphere combine to create a memorable, romantic evening.

For us, all three are worthy of re-visits.

Gary

President Obama - Finally, A True World Leader!

It's been a long, long time since the world was treated to a leader who possesses true wisdom. President Obama exudes wisdom. Coming out of the starting blocks like a seasoned sprinter, Obama has caught the curiosity of skeptics with his unorthodox tactics and down-home charismatic personality. He fits the mould, yet doesn't. Gone is the stuffy-shirt of yester-year, gone is the thinker who is paralyzed by the walls of the box. The world is bearing witness to new brand of leader. A leader with a mission to bring the world to a new level of consciousness about the lodestones that have, for decades, held mankind down. I'm not naive, far from it, but I am hopeful . . . hopeful that President Obama will carry us from the precipice of disaster where we currently hang by our nails.

May God continue to grant him the wisdom to fulfil his onerous mission. The world awaits . . .

Gary

Ravens or Gee- Gees - Which is the Best Basketball Team?

In the OUA Men's Basketball League there is little difference between the two. Looking at both the East and West Divisions, the two Ottawa based teams are, hands down, the best bets in the OUA to win the coveted Wilson Trophy this season. Their nearest rivals from the West, Western and Windsor, have 15 and 12 wins over 18 games, respectively.

After 19 games, Carleton has 18 wins and Ottawa 17. The top three scorers for the Ravens, Stuart Turnbull, Aaron Doornekamp and Kevin McCleery, have 847 pts between them while Ottawa's Josh Gibson, Dax Dessureault and Warren Ward have 785 pts - not much difference when you look at the big picture.

But, who really is the better? The Gee-Gees or the Ravens? Ottawa, during the season lost to Western and Carleton. Carleton, on the other hand, had its only loss against Windsor. Over the last five years, Carleton has won the Wilson Trophy 3 times. Ottawa's last win was way back in 1962.

The edge goes to Carleton to repeat . . . but wait . . . wouldn't a team that is as good as the Gee-Gees and who haven't won in such a long time be a hungrier team? Wouldn't that give them something? I think so.

I see an Ottawa - Carleton showdown and, if Ottawa can stay lean and mean, they'll win the championship.

Gary

H-E-L-P! What is the "Holy Grail" of Coffee?

I'm a coffee-aholic . . . I like a rich, dark, and bold tasting coffee with a full body aroma. One that makes me close my eyes and savour the succulent flavour. I like my coffee strong . . . strong enough that the spoon will almost stand-up by itself. Costa Rican grown coffee is great, but so is Starbucks' French and Italian Roasts . . . and what about Godiva varieties? Then there's Tim Horton's . . . is there anything more Canadian?

The above coffees are satisfying but, are they the best? Is there a true "Holy Grail" of coffee out there waiting to be found?

Gary

Are you interested in Ottawa Fine Dining? Try These Restaurants . . .

In my previous post, I mentioned some of our favourite restaurants along Preston St and in the core area of the city. There are, however, many others that have caught our fancy.

The following three restaurants have always provided superb service, elegant surroundings, and an exquisite menu with dynamite desserts! The first is Mr. B's on Bank St near Hunt Club Rd; the second, the Ritz Canal on Queen Elizabeth Dr; and the third, The Flying Piggy's Bistro Italiano on Bank St, not far from South Keys Shopping Centre.

If it's a romantic setting you're looking for, the Ritz Canal, located right on the canal, is an excellent choice. For each of them, make reservations or you might be disappointed.

I'm salivating just thinking of their wonderful menus!

More to follow . . .

Gary

Dining Out in Ottawa - So Many Good Restaurants!

As can be expected, Ottawa offers a myriad of excellent restaurants catering to a wide range of ethnic tastes.

My wife is partial to Italian cuisine while I love any establishment offering meat and potatoes and, of course, fish. We have our favourites, which might not be that of others. More often than not, we settle on one of the Italian restaurants, since most of them offer a good variety of main stream delicacies such as salmon, steak, and chicken served with potatoes and vegetables, as well as the traditional Italian cuisine.

In Ottawa, many of the finer Italian restaurants are located along Preston St or in the city core area. Amongst our favourites are:

On Metcalfe St - Chanti; on Bank St - Fratelli Restaurant; on Somerset West - Mamma Teresa Ristorante; on Preston St - Ciccio Cafe, Da Sergio, Giovanni's Restaurant & Dining Lounge, La Vecchia Trattoria, and Trattoria Cafe Italia.

There are many others, but these are the ones that we have no problem revisiting. Each has its own charm, service is above average, food quality is superb, and prices are reasonable. If ambiance is desired, try Chanti, Fratelli and Ciccio's but, truthfully, all of the mentioned restaurants have their own charm.

Try each of them - and if you're like us, you won't be disappointed.

Gary

Can the Senators Make the Playoffs?

Are the current Senators really competitive? Do they have the depth to win on a consistent basis? What can be done to bring them back to the days of glory? Is it the players? The coaching? How about management?

To win and stay competitive, the Sens need two solid lines that are scoring, a deeper defence, and a hungry, sensational young goaltender who wants to establish himself in the "big times" - and they need a healthy Alfredsson. The Senators have one of the most talented coaches in the NHL and, have good upper management.

What are the problems then?

The front line performs when Alfredsson is healthy. When he's ailing, the other first-liners play like the "katzenjammer-twins" of yesterday. They're all over the place and seem to be unfocused. The second line is a bit of an enigma. They are talented, hard-working, and are starting to become focused. The question remains, can they become consistent, reliable and dependable?

The defence is lacking a quarterback. Someone who can stick-handle, make the key plays, and be the focal point of the power play. They need a Gonchar-type of player. Is their one out there who's affordable and who is in a position to be moved? Is there one who wants to risk playing on a team that may not have a chance at winning the Cup? Good questions.

Would it be reasonable for the Senators to risk spending a lot of money right now when it might be a wasteful venture? Perhaps not. What they may want to do is to start a solid rebuilding with long-range, talented young players and, for the love of Pete, start grabbing some of the excellent talent from the Quebec Major Junior League! Pittsburgh, with Mario Lemieux's foresight, silently stole a whack of superb talent out of the "Q", and from right under-the-noses of the other NHL teams. Just imagine, Angelo Esposito, passed over in his draft year and grabbed by Pittsburgh after being overlooked by twenty other teams!

The best thing might be, for the long-range health of the Sens, is for them to bottom out this year and try to grab John Tavares in the opening round of the upcoming draft. It might also be time to look at the potential of dealing Alfredsson, as a hired gun, during the upcoming Cup-drive frenzy. He would add tremendous dimension to a bonefide Cup runner and could draw huge dividends in the way of picking up the quarterback blue-liner they so desperately need and, perhaps a forward such as one with similar talents to that of St-Louis or Lecavalier. Keep in mind that he, by hockey players life expectancy, has got about another two to three years remaining, if he stays healthy.

Do I think they can be a real threat during the next couple of months and, if they miraculously made the playoffs, could go deep? As a realist - no. I think it's time for the fans to suck it up this year, and put their faith in the hands of upper management to make some smart long-range moves.

I look forward to the next generation of glitzy, talented players, who can, once again, awe the Ottawa fans.

Gary

Do Pets have Personalities? What do You Think?

Scientists would have us believe that pets are incapable of having personalities. Pet owners might disagree. Who is right? Here is our experience.

For seventeen years we were co-inhabiters with a Seal-Point Siamese cat. It became very clear to us early on that he displayed unusual traits and reflected a uniqueness that differentiated him from other cats. I remember the times when he behaved in such a way as to cause us to be annoyed with him. Either my wife or I would point our finger at him and scold him for what he had done. He would chatter back to us and then go to a corner of the room, face the corner, much like a sulking child, and would occasionally look over his shoulder to see if we were going to forgive him, (or if he was going to forgive us).

After a while, either my wife or I would tell him it was okay and he would turn around, run over to whichever one of us who was involved, jump up into our lap and nuzzle and purr affectionately. We never taught him this trait. He just did it.

And then there was mealtime. If he didn't like the meal we prepared for him, he would display disgust that would rival that of our children. He was moody, possessive, lovable, and unpredictable. Does that sound like personality?

My Funk & Wagnalls Dictionary, unfortunately written by humans, defines personality as follows:

"Distinctive qualities or characteristics of a person."

Unfortunately, the dictionary doesn't talk about animals. If it did, then there might be cause to adjust the terms to include a broader range, which might include animals.

Am I wrong? What do you think? Have you had any experiences to support pet personalities?

Please let me know.

Gary

The Secret of Living With the Ottawa Transit Strike

Day thirty has passed and there still appears to be no solution in sight.

As affected citizens our job is to find ways to cope, and let the issues get ironed out by the union and our elected representatives.

How do we cope? Here are my suggestions:

- Exercise patience - patience with other drivers, pedestrians, and those trying to find creative ways to get back and forth to work and home;

- Show courtesy with other drivers, we use the zipper concept with merging and side traffic - we let others blend in with the flow;

- At work, offer assistance to others who might be struggling to find ways to get to work or home - pin a notice on a communal board offering anyone in need a ride - suggest car-pooling;

- Even though we all are feeling somewhat stressed, try to remain calm, cool, and in control, particularly in traffic - anger is an ugly emotion that too often leads to a disastrous situation;

- Leave for work earlier - try to beat the congestion - even though it might mean going to bed earlier, it will give you a more relaxing drive. It also means leaving work earlier and avoiding rush hour traffic. Most employers offer flexibility with work hours during crises such as transit strikes. Take advantage of the offer. By doing so, everyone comes up a winner;

- Use alternate routes. Even though the traffic may flow at a slower pace, it flows; and

- Keep your sense of humour and put things into perspective - the sun will rise tomorrow morning, the day will pass and, eventually, the strike will be over.

In closing, I'd like to add an old saying that I took a fancy to years ago. I had it framed and placed on the wall of my office over the years:

"Anyone can be angry. Being angry is easy. But, being angry for the right reason, in the right way, and at the right time - is difficult." Author Unknown

Gary

Are You a Smoker? Do You Want to Quit?

When you are young, you are invincible, nothing can happen to you, only to the other person. We all thought that way, in one form or another, although I'm certain that most of us didn't spend too much time evaluating the issues.

I started smoking when I was fourteen-years old and, by the time I was twenty-one, I was comfortably smoking two large packages of unfiltered cigarettes a day. I quit, "cold turkey", when I was twenty-eight and have not gone back to smoking since.

Both of my parents smoked. Before they died, they both suffered miserably as a result of their habit. My mother, although clear of mind, spent the last six years of her life bedridden and hooked to oxygen 24 hours a day - due to respiratory damage directly a result of smoking.

My father was luckier. He could walk - just barely. From the tips of his toes to just below his knees, he was a blue colour and nearing a point where gangrene was about to claim his lower legs and then, mercifully, he died. The root cause - smoking. His family doctor explained to me the cause of his problem: His routine oxygen intake, because of smoking, was not enough to feed all parts of his body so, the brain, (being the marvel that it is), had to subconsciously determine what parts needed oxygen the most in order to keep dad alive. It, accordingly to his doctor, chose: the liver, kidneys, brain, lungs and other vital organs, and then sent whatever was left to the more important extremities. It ran out of oxygen before it could feed the lower legs, which, it deemed, (and rightly so), were unnecessary for life.

Okay, enough of the reality check. I think you have the picture. Please don't get smug about what happened to my parents. If you are smoking, you are at a very high risk to experience what happened to them, and things might be much worse if you have gained weight.

There are many methods of quitting, none of them easy. The pharmaceutical companies are making a fortune on providing you with remedies. I'm not a medical practitioner so I won't comment on their effectiveness. I suggest that you check with your family doctor before buying any of the on-shelf items and take his/her advise.

Here's what happened to me. When I was twenty-eight, I started to have breathing problems and began coughing up globs of black phlegm. I went to my family doctor - very scared. In my shirt pocket was a large pack of cigarettes with about two cigarettes gone. The doctor knew I smoked and how much. He checked me over, shrugged his shoulders, and said rather coldly, that I was on the precipice of lung cancer. He gave me two options:

Continue smoking and the cancer would be upon me soon; or

Quit smoking and hope like hell that time would turn things around for me.

I quit. But it wasn't easy. I found that I had developed the habit of having something in my mouth, which was part of the smoking routine. So, to compensate for the cigarettes, I filled my shirt pocket with toothpicks. Whenever I had the urge to smoke, I plucked a toothpick from my pocket and chewed the dickens out of it. (Of course, I ran the risk of becoming addicted to toothpicks, but . . . ).

As well, I set small, reasonable, milestones in the beginning. When I awoke in the morning, I decided that I would quit until noon. At noon, I decided to quit until supper time, and so on.

After a day or so, I had reached a point where I didn't want to lose what I had achieved. After one week, I was over the steep hill and, in my opinion, had just about beaten the addictive phase. It became progressively easier from that point forward. Today, in my early-sixties, I thank my lucky stars for quitting when I did.

I encourage you to take the same steps. Don't put it off. First, see your family doctor for advise, and then toss the cigarettes away like I did, and jump in with both feet. After one week or so, you'll be heading on the down-slope of permanent quitting.

I also encourage you, in closing, to take a large cookie jar and put the daily amount that you would have spent on cigarettes in it. At the end of one year you'll have enough money to take an European vacation or, if you so chose, to make a good down-payment on a new car. The subsequent monthly savings from not smoking would be enough to cover the ensuing monthly payments.

Have a healthy and prosperous 2009 - smoke free.

Send me a note if you have any questions.

Gary

A Cat or a Dog - If You Own One, You Should Read This

It's an age-old argument: which of the traditional family pets, (dog or cat), is the better choice?

Let's start with the following two assumptions:

1) For guarding the house and family, a dog has the edge, (although, I've seen Siamese cats that I wouldn't want to meet in the dark); and

2) Most pet owners are urban dwellers.

Pros and cons of each pet:

Dogs: On the pro side, they are normally loyal, lovable, and easy to teach tricks.

On the con side, (outside of a few breeds), they shed hair, (allergy alert), eat a lot, bark when you least expect them to, have an odour if kept indoors, must be taken for a walk at least twice a day regardless of whether it rains, snows, or the sun shines, and you have to pick up their droppings when they do their business.

Cats: On the pro side, they are cuddly, affectionate, eat little, can be taught a few tricks, (if you have the patience) and, if you happen to have a mouse issue, they will quickly clear it up. They can be trained as house pets and don't have to be taken outside for morning and evening walks, since they use a litter box.

On the con side, (outside of a few breeds), they shed hair, (allergy threat), are fussy eaters and will tell you if they don't like the salmon you're serving, and they can be possessive.

I would argue that most dogs require more maintenance than the average cat. The owner/pet relationship is different, as well.

You own a dog. It lets you know so by being slurpy with its tongue and acting servile. A cat, on the other hand, although affectionate, can be fickle, independent, and moody at times. The cat loves to let you know that the relationship is tenuous, and that he/she is just living with you.

So, which is the better choice? A barking loyal, dog, or a quiet, fickle cat?

I lean toward the _ _ _.

Gary