Build a Bridge...

This is an expression that I heard a long time ago, from a Newfie friend of mine - Malcolm has also used it on occasion -and it often creeps back into my thoughts.

I see people all the time that are dealing with things long past (or from their past), and they often don't even realise it - this is where one would use the Phrase "Build a Bridge, and get over it" - It doesn't work that easily and it's alot easier to say than live - but if you don't know that you should try to get to the other side, why would you bother trying.

Everybody has "hang ups" or "Triggers" they are the things that get their blood boiling and spur them on to acting the way that they do. I've been working on figuring out what sets me off (Turns out that I have an over developed competative nature), so that I know when it happens, and I am able to control myself. Not the fact that I am triggered, but how I react once triggered - you are only able to control how you react once you realise that you are reacting or something like that?

I guess in building a bridge you are alot like that famous Chicken or Frogger(Originally posted rabbit) that is crossing the road - you are simply trying to get to the other side...

We Can't All Be Beautiful...

Dad used to tell me this ( in a sarcastic tone) when I was being an ass, thinking I was better than somebody else. It always put me in my place -It's funny now that I think Dad was teaching me a life long lesson, a lesson that I learned back then, and now I've re-learned a slightly different more positive lesson with Sophie - I think the the expression should be more like "We can't all be Beautiful, but you're a Beauty"" - and that the trick is looking deep down for the beauty. The more that I think about it now, our beauty isn't really defined in how others look at us, but by how deeply we seek the beauty in others.

Everybody has something that makes them special, that makes the a beautiful person - that's very cool - because too often these days people are told what they are not - try telling someone something that they are, try telling them they are a beauty...

This is Sophie - She's definately a beauty...


And a big congrats to My Cousin Julee and Pony on the birth of their second daughter Emma Dianne who arrived on July 26th - Grampy Jim must be beaming, look forward to introducing her and Sophie.

They All Have Brakes...

I think Dad told me this when I was learning to drive. Everybody has heard of Defensive Driving - well this was more like Offensive Driving - I unfortunately learned the end of this expression 10 days ago, it goes like this "They all have Brakes, they won't all use them" (As was the case in the picture to the Left) and on the coner of Westmorland and Brunswick.

I've heard about Soft Tissue Injuries and Nicki got in a Car Accident 7 or 8 years ago and was in constant pain for the next three years, and then off and on pain from then on - I never knew it was as bad as it is - it's more annoying than anything else - new things hurt and ache everyday.

Anyways I have new respect for those that have "Soft Tissue Injuries"

I am going to see Gary Keeling and he is working his magic and I will take the field on August 5th when we start the defence of our 2005 New Brunswick Championship against the ever dangerous Belleisle Rovers.

Malcolm has always said that They all Have Brakes, and he's been hit by two different cars, so I guess they stopped after they hit him...

I Think It's Gone...

When I was growing up, every second Friday was very special, aside from being pay day, I assume, it was the day when the MacAfees (Sometimes the Paceys) went to the Cabin Restaurant - What a great spot, if you got there early you could get a booth, if not you had to sit at the back by the window or up at the counter. Anyways back to the booth - it was awesome - you could play 3 songs for a Quarter - nothing new, but they had a great selection from the late 60's and Early 70's - It was a very nice treat, and we'd all sit around and talk about what kind of week we had - then the waitress ( I think her name was April) would come over and she would say "The Usual?" to which we'd answer yes - My usual was always a Hot Turkey Sandwich with Gravy on the fries and peas on the side with a Chocolate Milkshake. I love the food at the Cabin - I still do, I don't go as often, maybe a couple of times a year - Grease For Peace...

But I digress the title expression comes from from Malcolm when, at the end of my chocolate milkshake I was trying, with my straw, to slurp every last ounce of goodness out of those old tin milkshake cups - Malcolm would look at me and politely say - I think it's gone. I would laugh - he was correct. The best was when you forgot that you had left some in the tin cup.

Working on a message that you could get out of this Malcolmism was tough - it was buried deep under Gravy, French Fries, 60's Music and meals with our parents, but here is it - Appreciate things, appreciate people and live in the moment and for the moment - All these things come and go, and sooner or later there gone, so you should try to suck them dry when you have the chance - and sometimes if you're really lucky there will be a little more in that Tin Cup...

F.I.F.O....

This is one of Dad's most favorite acronyms - it's not about inventory, it is about getting along when you find yourself in a new situation. This expression was no more evident than when Richard Borthwick recently came to Fredericton from Scotland to play for the Black Spruce - he fit in from the start, so much in fact that he would even qualify for another Malcolmism - he was in like a dirty shirt (I have no Idea) and even started to dress like the locals.

He left for a month long exploration of the land of oppurtunity - that's right the United Snakes. He was flying into JFK to tool around NYC. He would have been a welcome addition to our Loyalist Squad as we embark on another fall season, but alas he's been replaced with another Scotsman David Calder who himself has fit in quite nicely.

I've always figured that you should keep your mouth closed until you figure out how things work, adapt your style and then not shut up until you get heard. you learn way more while listening than you do while talking.

Anyways Richard, it's been a pleasure - enjoy your trip and we'll see you on TV one of these days...

Put your Hand on the Glass and Feel the Pane...

This is a Malcolmism, although I'm sure it's borrowed - Today is Dad's birthday and as per tradition, he is spending it at Little Forks on the Little South West Miramichi, I'm sure he's enjoying a Coors Light and a Nap between all the fishing - have a GREAT DAY DAD.

Now back to the expression At first it seems that you'd be putting your hand in Broken glass and feeling pain, but as a play on words, a window is called a pane of glass - so there's the funny part. On Friday morning I was rear ended on Brunswick St. It was a crappy way to start the day, both for me and the young dude that wrote his car off on the back of the X-Trail - He was probably going 60 or 70 kms trying to get through the lights in sequence as you can on Brunswick if you are going the speed limit - Lucky for me (Quick Goat Thinking) I saw him coming and pulled over to the Keft, so he could have more room to stop, but he didn't and ran into the back right hand corner of the X-Trail - The lucky part was that the impact was absorbed in my torso rather than my neck and thanks to Rugby, Pilates and Genetics my core strength is quite good, so my expectation is quite good - The bad news is that I feel like I got hit by a truck (It was actually a Neon) and that my entire body Aches (My Right arm doesn't feel too hot) I got into see Gary Keeling on Saturday Morning - and started down the road to recovery, afterall Rugby season is only 18 odd days away. Aaen used to tell Jackman daily that he hated Neons - I'm starting to see why...

Yesterday The Black Spruce lost their Final Super League match of the Season 27-12 against the Ottawa Harlequins - it was a banner year for the Spruce who won two games and should have won at least one if not two others - good work boys, you did New Brunswick Rugby Proud.

On a Sad note Nicki got a call this morning to let her know that her longtime co-worker Dave MacDonald had passed away on Saturday - He was always the life of the party and will be sadly missed.

Better than a Kick in the Pants...

This is Malcolm's expression for the more commonly known "Lesser of Two evils" or that you should look on the bright side of the situation. I always enjoyed this expression - there is an alternate version that involves a frozen boot - but the meaning and the lesson in the expression is still the same, in the end it's all about attitude.

Having a positive attitude is a wonderful thing - it makes every situation better than it was. Sometimes it is hard to maintain, as it seems that the world is lining up to kick you in the pants, but those are simply the challenges, the things that you need to overcome, so that at some point in the future you appreciate where you came from, and how it's led you to where you are. Hopefully a positive attitude will also allow you to enjoy where you are, at that time without having to always be looking for the next challenge. I am goal oriented, so I have a hard time living in the now, but Sophie is definately helping me along with that - because when you have a baby you always have to be present in that moment, both to care for your baby and enjoy that moment, because many of those moments are firsts.

I'm working on always having positive attitude and gladly accepting all the challenges that life throws my way - I think it will be more fun that way, and as Kramer said as he was Smoking and Drinking "Here's to Having Fun all the Time"

Last weekend was the World Cup Final and why I started to think of this expression - Italy won in penalty shots, Zinedine got kicked out for a Headbutt, but it was Better than a kick in the pants.

Cow Down...

I love this expression - I can't believe I actually forgot about it until now - I remembered it when I drove by the field beside First Wesleyn Church (They have a great Easter Musical) and there were cows lying down - Dad always told me that if you saw cows lying in a field that it was going to rain. But he most often used it to describe himself cowing down on a couch.

Today was a good day for cowing down - Aaen, Robyn and Si came over to drink a few beer in celebration of the previous days Spruce victory, we ate burgers and I got the play by play of the past weekends games - it was a good Monday.

We all packed up and went to watch the Loyalists of tomorrow take on Moncton - they won 17-7 and the future looks bright, it was good to see them wearing the same Jerseys that we wore last fall - a vision of things to come. Sophie had enough mid way through the second half and we bailed - last I heard Simon (who has tomorrow off) and Richard were off to Mexi's looking for some Nacho Libre - or Free Nachos to enjoy with Margarita or a Margarita - either way...

A.M.F and T.S....

This is a two for one deal - Try to figure out the expressions from the acronyms - they both go out to the Toronto Xtreme - because for the first time ever the Spruce beat the Toronto Franchise - 34-10 they won it going away and it was well deserved. Now just one more game to salvage a .500 Season.

Enjoy the flight boys -

Captain Canada...

Captain Canada - Circa 1996

So today is Canada Day, The GST got reduced, Gas got regulated (and went up5.54 cents) and all around our great nation the Red and White were flying proudly -

it was Sophie's first Canada day and to celebrate we went to the nation's biggest block party on the Green - what madness - it was like someone tried to jam the Frex, a Gong Show and 50000 people into a small box. We snuck away before the parade - but there were a ton of people that showed up for that very reason.

We then went to Boston Pizza for Supper and came home to feed and put Sophs to bed after a long day of being patriotic - the whole crew was exhauted and we all hit the hay at 8:30 pm - luckily the guy next door decided to mow his debris strew backyard at 9pm so sophie had a nap rather than a sleep - after I fed her we went to see the fireworks. We drove the bridges and the number of people was staggering - people actually parked on the bridge, and shut down one lane. I've always loved fireworks - years ago I can remember going to Tractors and Equipement, and watching the fireworks that were being launched from the raceway - It was very loud and Meghan didn't enjoy them, but Si and I sure did.

So Sophie had a great day - tomorrow we Pressure wash the house and the decks an eagerly await news of another historic Spruce win.