June 1-2nd

” Mercury Forecast Edmonton 10 degrees rain, Calgary 7 degrees rain, Mesa 38 degrees”

Lots of rain. Oasis by rain gauge has received 42 mm already and it is pouring all day and tomorrow. It is the wind though that is bad. Flowers are soggy but will come back. I am hoping my lawn goes green as this is the first year I didn’t give it any attention early.

Looking outside it is nasty with huge winds and pouring. They say we are safe from river flooding but the rivers are very high.

I was looking thru pics for a upcoming wedding and two things popped up. Wow do people change over time and we did not take a lot pictures years ago.

This one picture though brought back memories. This was our first RV after tenting for years. A tent trailer with no furnace being pulled by a K car. Keith and us had very similar units but his had the furnace option.

I am guessing here but believe this to be 1987.

Still to happen on my to do list for this week:

• Go to watch Atticus play softball. I loved watching our kids and love watching our grandkids and i know they appreciate and like having us there.
• Go to Edmonton this weekend to finalize the storage locker from Mom’s place.
• Jeep repair on Wednesday.
• Doctors appointment on Tuesday
• Eye doctor appointment on Wednesday
• Golf on Friday
• Visit Kal Tire as we may need one new tire.

I do not about everyone else but it is busy. LOL I got all of the first of the month bills paid. Things are expensive, I will say that.

Next week we will get the lot completely opened up and ready. Took until June this year with all of the things that came up. The surgery being the biggest culprit.

The rain continues but is slowing down. Today on the way and back from the doctors the river is high, the Elbow has overfilled it’s bank but we are not close to over land flooding yet. It is COLD outside.

This clinic that was my doctor for surgery is unbelievable with it’s customer service. It is the most communicative, most diligent in making calls, follow up calls and pleasant workers ever. Jackie and I laughed as my doctor is a good looking “Hollywood” looking guy and today we had another younger ” cool” looking guy. Good appointment and one more call back in 3 months and all set to conquer the world again. What I thought were scabs stilling hanging on he thought it maybe super glue residue. I will try to rub in a couple of weeks if they do not fall off. You are not supposed to remove scabs due to infection.

We had a pleasant drive home taking a round about way to see different things. We drove by Jessica’s old condo in Bankview and enjoyed the drive by the river.

The young lady serving us at the window was hilarious. This Tim’s installed a new sign as you leave that says ” See you tomorrow” . As we were about to leave I said to her ” I’m sorry I won’t be able to make it tomorrow” Quite a puzzled look on her face until she saw the sign. Funny girl !

Jackie got her new laptop and is in the process of setting that up and we all know how that goes.

Started working on our river cruise for next year which hopefully we can get done soon. Always a little convoluted with different ideas, expectation and concerns. I think we can get this done relatively quick though.

Daisy got her walk today as the rain had subsided to a slow drizzle.

I don’t like to say anything about politics as people are a way to sensitive in todays world but I will make a small exception and just ask a few questions.

• Did you know that Canada is the only G7 country in a technical recession ?
• Do you know that Ukraine is midst a full scale war and is not in a recession yet we are ?
• Have you ever looked at Carney’s history and record on economics ? And “green agenda” ?
• Has anyone checked to see if the Liberals are giving the immigrants money with the condition they become a voting Liberal party member?
• Why is it that almost all of Edmonton and the entire NE of Calgary are NDPers ?
• How can people be upset in asking the public to vote on a referendum to see if the interest is high enough to have a binding referendum. Isn’t that democracy at it’s finest.?
• How long will even the most stout supporter of Carney accept the incompetence ? A MOU and the odd minor trade deal ( nothing with the USA) and that is all he has done except talk. Mind you he is refreshing as our PM as he is well spoken, respectable and not an embarrassment. Just poor policy.

It is a funny world. It is actually a toxic work environment now with DEI, and wokeism. I am not sure I could survive in this environment as a manager today. I do know the office would not be as fun to work at.

Pat & Bob Ferris our old neighbors in Mesa who live in Saskatoon have the most amazing backyard. On a RV trip thru Sask we stopped by and were amazed. I love plants and was very proud of every back yard I had but this one tops them all. It is designed to be a little maintenance free but it still has to be a huge amount of work. Love it.

I try to make our little lot now look good but not even in the same class. In fact I know of NO yard equal.

Our yard in Shawnessy was pretty nice, Huge deck, arbor, bridge, river, fountain, interlocking brick paving stones etc. Loved it but not enough pictures to showcase it but Pat’s out does it.

Notice my bonsai attempt on my cedar tree. Takes a few years. Funny story. One year i thought i would put frogs in my pond. The pump sucked them up to the screen and killed them all.

The Knights are going to win it all

Thought of the Day

You want your backyard to be so well landscaped that a weed has to ask for a reservation.

June 3rd

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 17 degrees, Calgary 16 degrees, Mesa 38 degrees”

Money Money

Just one of those days. First the very good news. It is beautiful out with a bright sun shining. it just makes everyone in a great mood. Every person I ran into today was awesome.

I had a pin hole leak in the radiator of the Jeep. How dumb to use plastic tanks but that is our world. I nursed it for a year with the risk of being stranded on the road but since we are heading to BC and the hot summer I needed it fixed.

i considered changing it our myself but after inspecting it it would be a two day job. The amount of stuff to remove is ridiculous . The shop quoted me 5 hours. They have the equipment and experience so I decided to buck up and pay. $1600 quoted last year $1900 this year. I had one small oil leak which I hate as this one was dripping oil on the belts. Another joke as it is 5 hours labor to change out a timing chain gasket. So another big bill. This Jeep Wrangler while i love it has been a little on the expensive side to maintain.

Then off to the eye doctors as we haven’t been there for a couple of years. The last time we went to Costco. I will say the Costco pricing is a way less expensive than this shop but I am 100% positive the quality of the eye care and lenses is not up to par from Costco.

Jackie was fine and her prescription hadn’t changed. Now mine did. My one eye that was my short distance eye has changed and the clarity of the new lenses is quite noticeable. The equipment, professionalism and knowledge this office has far exceeds Costco so I decided to get my lenses from them. They even are going to use my Coscto frames for them. I will be without my glasses for a couple of weeks but i will wear my old pair for now. Expensive but I believe worth it. I do believe as the old saying goes you get what you pay for. Yes volume will reduce pricing, lower margin will reduce pricing but will the end product be as good. NOT !

It is also Jeff & Wendy’s 31st anniversary. I have the complete video on tape that needs to be transferred to a drive. It was a very nice celebration. Jeff was crutches and needed to ride the golf cart to the top of hill. Naomi drove the girls in her convertible and we had a great after gathering at Jeff & Wendy’s house. Very few pictures due to the video. This is just a few of the celebrations

Thought of the Day

Anniversaries are like Wi-Fi signals—sometimes strong, sometimes weak, but you keep reconnecting because you’re invested in the plan

June 4th –5th

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 18 degrees, Calgary 18 degrees, Mesa 41 degrees “

Woke up to a sunny day. Yahoo. No arc needed. I did notice Mesa at 41 degrees every day this week. Plus I have been receiving emails with golf specials of $30 to play nice courses.

Today was my men’s league at Turner Valley. I will start by saying I won money from the group. I won money in my side game from Larry P. All 4 of us sucked once again though. I could come up with a plethora of excuses like, no roll due to soft fairways, tall grass around the greens as they were too wet to cut, we had rain on about three holes, taking no pills and on and on. But I won’t.

Pars were hard to come by and I was the only one with a birdie .

The course this year is in spectacular shape and the snow covered mountains are a beautiful scene on so many holes. A country course just is nice compared to in the city. Plus it is funny as being a small town every one is so friendly.

What is shocking to me is this group of 4 playing within our league of 40 guys are all pretty good golfers. Our scores today once again did not indicate that. We all were 8 to 17 strokes higher than net cap. Two games in a row.

I thought I had Wordle in two and then the last letter didn’t happen. Ended up taken 5 which after having four correct should never happen but it did.

A beautiful sunny day this morning and by morning I mean early as up at 7am.

We whipped to Tower Dodge to pick up my Jeep. Not easy to say about a dealership but this time I left feeling good. I had a awesome service tech which not only was knowledgeable but nice and very customer service oriented. In fact he saved me over a $1000 by using a aftermarket replacement. That doesn’t happen ever.

Mind you it still was close to $4K with everything done. But I understood the difficulty and the time needed to get it done.

Leaving the shop on the first corner I turned I used my signal light and the blinker is high speed and a warning comes up on the dash stating a front signal light is out. I figured they must have pulled a wire or something when removing the grill and front part of the Jeep.

I checked the wiring and it appeared ok so whipped to Canadian Tire and bought a new light bulb. Replaced it and working perfect. Coincidence ? Odd but I it is working and i am happy.

Whipped to UPS to drop off a package, dropped off Daisy with Audrey and headed out to Speargrass Golf Course. Once again we were forced to play in 40 kms gusts. Speargrass more than not is windy.

It was funny as Jeff & Wendy were running late. I saw them in the lot when we were supposed to be teeing off. I asked the Marshall which gladly obliged to announce their names over the intercom to come to the tee. Made me laugh !!

I like to arrive at a course at least 1/2 hour early to hit a few balls to loosen up or at the very least calm down and relax before playing not feeling rushed.

The golf– I thought Jeff hit the ball over all very well today. Some great drives but just too many errors, Wendy struggled again today. The adjustment to a new hip , lack of practice and a change up in swing for her driver for some reason is just getting to her, Jackie drove the ball very well today, some great chips but between the wind and mistakes the score was higher than her normal one. Myself it was a great day. 14 holes with a Par or Birdie. Any time below 80 I am happy. I especially liked it today as the wind did make it challenging to judge the distance needed. I loved the way I golfed today. So I had the lowest score in Canada for 2026 today and the highest 2 weeks ago. Go figure !

The clubhouse construction is a happening and i would say before the season ends it may be in use.

The current kitchen while very small turns out some great food. Tonight was no different with everyone seemingly loving their choice.

Golfing well, sunny, visiting with friends, great food and drinks after, is what i love about life. Great Day !

Thought of the Day

You can have your best golf day and still spend more time in the sand than a tourist in the Caribbean.

June 6th-7th

“Mercury Forecast RAIN

Pretty much rain everywhere except Mesa for the next couple of days. And COLD. On Sunday a high of 6 degrees, hail in parts of Calgary and rain pretty much across the province.

Our cousin Jack from Edson whose daughter is setting up to go to school needs furniture so a perfect place for it and some one who needs Mom’s stuff. Mom would like this as Jack was her favorite nephew.

We got it all loaded up and off they headed off and we closed down the storage. Another thing off the list to do’s. Darlene has done so much work with the sorting and boxing etc it is unbelievable.

Ending the storage was like closing a chapter as now Mom & Dad are both gone. Ironic as today would have been their 74th wedding anniversary.

It is amazing how much stuff a person accumulates over time and it is not easy to get rid off. We brought back Mom’s grandfather clock Jessica wanted.

We decided to have a quick bite to eat and ventured to State & Main. We all had great food and it was nice to sit on the patio and enjoy ourselves. Alfred was content in that we could see Brody in the truck from the patio.

We were lucky that Mary had free tickets to a concert so we said why not. Any time you can see a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band and in this case Trooper perform it is worth it. Two members, one with the band for 35 years and one for 37 years. The new lead singer looked like and sang as good as Adam Lambert, He was amazing.

First the bands. The first band Ten02 was a younger newer band but sounded great. A modern mix of rock and punk. I felt bad for them as the hall was only 1/2 full when they started to play. Up next was my favorite of the night. Captain Tractor. A band that mixed east coast sounds with rock. The first rock band I have ever seen with an accordion and a violin. Their music was very very good. Trooper had a lot of hits over the years and played a fair number of them. For them the arena was packed.

it was a lot of fun just watching the crowd. Young people having a blast and enjoying classic rock and a whack of grey hairs rocking out,

At our table we had Darlene, Christian, Mary, Mary’s brother John and girlfriend, Mary’s friend from Tofield and her niece from St Albert with her husband. Mary’s company was a sponsor so had the tickets to hand out. We were lucky as at $100 a pop I would not have gone otherwise.

I thoroughly enjoy the concert, Two things. They were very organized in everything except an error made in liquor ticket sales. They only had one line for tickets with 100 people in line and multiple people taking orders but with no customers as everyone was in line buying tickets.

The people watching as I said is fun. Young girls rocking out dancing and lots of older ladies doing the same. A group of young guys slamming back shots and barely walking. One oddity in a request for someone to sit down at a concert due to slightly blocking a large screen not the band on stage seemed odd to me.

Overall a great concert and surprisingly the venue had great acoustics.

Our drive back was filled with rain and dark clouds. Our temp gauge read 6 degrees.

Nice to get one more thing done.

Thought of the Day

The hardest part of an ending is knowing you cant go back no matter what.

June 8th-10th

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 22 degrees, Calgary 19 degrees, Mesa 39 degrees”

Beautiful day.

I missed the morning irritation cycle but left for the lot and started to work. Too much to do and not enough time. I had missing heads, plugged heads and had to rework a lot of my system. I have run out of parts so will need to reload. My lawn this year is dead. I thought it would green up after the rain but no luck. It needs work and care.

I worked away and got many little things done but not noticeable with the amount still do to, Between weather, surgery, and being busy it is annoying not to be close to opening the lot up yet,

Started up the Wifi. Clipped in both the electrical and water lines. Raked and cut the dead grass. Worked on irrigation for about 2 hours. Filled my mouse traps with more poison.

Time slips away and headed home about 5:30 pm.

Off to Lethbridge

First thing this morning was dealing with our travel agent for our upcoming river cruise. Our agent from another agency retired and she was going to pass our info on. We didn’t hear from anyone for at least 10 days. The new agent if on the ball knowing we wanted to book should have phoned us immediately. Not a sales person for sure. So I searched out and ended up going with The Travel Lady from the morning news which she is well know for. Walked in her office and everything was awesome including an agent contacting us right away. And one with a lot of experience. As you know we went from a great experience using this agent to a negative one and today feeling warm and fuzzy again. In fact we just were told our Prague package is approved and booked for our 3 day land extension. Our agent is my new favorite agent. LOL

Our travel agent managed to give us a mild heart attack when her pricing came in a full $3,000 higher than expected. Three thousand dollars is not the kind of number you just shrug at, so naturally we had a few emails — and one phone call — that were less than cheerful.

After doing some digging (and having an excellent experience with AMA’s chat and phone support), I finally uncovered the issue. The agent’s pricing was actually correct… but her communication skills were not. Let’s just say her tone had a bit more “attitude” than “assistance,” which never sits well with me.

So I called her again. As I’ve always said, I don’t mind an error — just own it. And to her credit, she apologized twice. That’s all we wanted. She had discounted the original pricing, and when the invoice came through, the numbers didn’t reflect that. Once we sorted it out, everything aligned.

Since that “make‑up call,” she’s been exceptional — clear, helpful, and downright pleasant. We decided to stay with her rather than start over with someone new, though it was a close call.

Jeff & Wendy are fully on board, deposit paid, e‑docs signed, and excited for Europe next year. Unfortunately, because of the earlier miscommunication, Alan & MaryAnn chose to stick with their own agent — a specialist for airline employees with perks and programs, so it makes sense. We’re hoping they can still line up their plans with ours, even if arrival and departure times differ.

And yes — we’re very excited. It’s shaping up to be a special trip. 2027 is a milestone year: Jeff turns 65, and I hit 70. I’m officially applying for the Super Senior Discount Program — benefits pending.

We had an easy trip down to Lethbridge, and it’s always great to be greeted by excited grandkids. Before the game we decided to have supper at Hells Creek Golf Club. This is a controversial name in a Mormon town but comes with a unique history. On the land they discovered a pitch fork with three prongs like the Devil has hence the name. Cool.

We went to watch Atticus play ball as his season is wrapping up, and the kid has transformed.

Back in his soccer days, he had a tendency to… let’s call it “pace himself.” But not anymore. He finished 1st in the 100m and 2nd in the 200m at school track & field, and you could see that speed when he rounded the bases. His team dominated — better hitters, faster runners, and more energy overall.

Jessica had a cool idea and each kid got a walk up tot he plate song played over aa speaker. Here is Atti but the music is not loud enough. Hilarious

At the end of the game, they ran a fun relay: one team starting at home plate, the other at second base, racing around the bases. Atticus’s team actually lapped the other team. A solid win and a victory lap to match.

Speaking of names like Hells Creek you sure can tell the world is changing. Listening to parents call out their kids names I thought I was in a different country. No Bill, Larry, Tom, Dave etc just names like River, Timber, Cash, Gauge, Merit, and on. It is a different time.

The girls’ home and yard are looking fantastic. I’ll spend a few days down there soon to fix a few things — nothing expensive, just time and elbow grease. The usual “Dad Maintenance Package.”

This is also Victoria & Corey’s wedding anniversary. I loved this wedding, we had a blast and it was hectic but planning and executing a plan is always fun. This was 19 years ago and cost a fortune even with our input and help. Jackie & I designed, created and printed on card stock each invite. We bought and installed all of the decorations. Everything about this wedding was done right and went off without a hitch. In hindsight one small oversight was too many in attendance so some tables had limited site lines to the head table. We had an excellent chef, the outdoor wedding venue was awesome, and the indoor dining and dancing area was perfect. Even though costly it is something the bride and groom will remember forever and there is nothing like walking down the aisle with your daughter or the first dance, Priceless. I even remember my wedding and smile with fond remembrance.

We have been to a lot of weddings over the years and have seen a lot of different ideas but a semi traditional normal wedding is still my favorite. I am not a fan of destination weddings, or elopements, A wedding is the strong foundation of a marriage to build on. Having said that I guess a 40% fail rate means some pretty poor foundations out there. What I like about a wedding is the gathering of friends and family to support the new couple, the passing on of some responsibility to a new person to care for your kid which closes a chapter and parental pride of watching your kid become a new family and adding a new family member. I think both parents and child miss out on a once in lifetime ( supposed to be) event that can not be duplicated. Memories and events of this magnitude have to be about more than the dollars.

This morning great news. As you know I ran into a Karen lawyer we hired for probate, Her threats and innuendo of “good luck” “breaking court orders” turned out to be just as I thought. Her firm wanted Mom’s small estate in their trust account and they would disperse the funds. A lot more money for them. First time in a long time where I was fired as a client. Threats and nastiness is not something any professional company should allow. I had the odd sleepless night worried that perhaps there are rules and regulation that I wasn’t aware of.

Our bank that ourselves and Mom dealt with have been awesome and today they collapsed the GIC’s and sent the funds to the estate account. Made me smile.

Wins in the last while : Travel agent scenario turned out wonderful, Miss Karen lawyer gets burned and it turned out like I thought it should have been in the first place, Funds were deposited to estate account. I got my refund plus credit from Kal Tire in my account. Inspector from Lethbridge finally gave up . So the world is becoming a happy place. LOL

Thought of the Day

Winning a controversy is like winning a pie-eating contest where the prize is… more pie. You’re full, but somehow still not satisfied.

June 11th

“Mercury Forecast ” Edmonton 14 degrees, Calgary 17 degrees, Mesa 41 degrees”

They are saying a decent day so wearing shorts and a light jacket.

REALITY= It turned out to be cooler and wetter than anyone predicted. In fact there was supposed to be no rain and we were poured on.

Today was men’s league at Turner Valley, and honestly, it felt like the golf gods circled our foursome on the tee sheet and said, “Let’s humble these guys.”

We went in with high hopes — the kind of quiet confidence that comes from years of being the “good golfers” in a group of forty. We’ve earned that reputation. We’ve lived it. We’ve defended it.
And today… we absolutely torched it.

Our scores looked like they belonged on a weather forecast, not a scorecard: 92, 98, 99, and 106.
Unheard of. Unacceptable. Unexplainable.
And yet, somehow, perfectly fitting for the kind of day we had.

What made it almost comical was the symmetry of the collapse. Not one of us showed up. Not one of us bailed the others out. It was like we all agreed — silently, telepathically — to play the worst golf of our season together. A true team effort.

Sure, I could blame the rain.
Or the cool air.
Or the rough that looked like it was fertilized with steroids.
But the truth is simpler and far more painful: we just played bad golf. All four of us. At the same time.

And here’s the emotional twist — I still love it.
I love the group.
I love the money game.
I love the course.
I love the banter, the chirping, the competition, the camaraderie.

I just hate the results.

There’s something almost poetic about caring this much about a game that refuses to love you back consistently. Golf is the only sport where you can feel like a champion on Wednesday and a complete beginner on Thursday. Today, we were beginners.

But even on a day where the numbers were ugly, the company was good, the laughs were real, and the story — well, the story is one we’ll be telling for a long time. Well as long as the beer lasts at the table after golf.

This scene every time I drive out or from the course is always spectacular. I always wonder who owns the castle on the top of the hill.

Darlene arranged to have Mom & Dad’s headstone engraved. It turned out good.

There’s a strange, quiet ache that settles in when your parents are no longer alive. It isn’t loud or dramatic — it’s the absence of something that once felt constant. For so many years, they were the people I could turn to with any idea, any project, any uncertainty. Their advice wasn’t just guidance; it was grounding. Their pride wasn’t just flattering; it was affirming.

Parental acceptance, acknowledgement, and simple observance shape a person in ways that are hard to articulate. Knowing someone is watching your life unfold — cheering your milestones, steadying you through missteps, believing in your potential even when you doubt it — becomes part of your internal architecture. It builds confidence. It builds character. It builds a sense of belonging in the world.

Parents aren’t responsible for the final version of who we become, but their influence is woven into every layer. Their presence leaves an imprint; their absence leaves a silence. And when they’re gone, you realize how much of your strength was built in the reflection of their eyes — in the way they saw you, supported you, and celebrated you.

Losing that doesn’t erase who you are, but it does change the way the world feels. A little less witnessed. A little less anchored. And yet, their impact remains — not in their presence, but in the person they helped you become.

Today I discovered two fraudulent charges on my card. I reported them immediately, assuming the payments would simply be declined. Instead, the system proactively cancelled the entire card as a security measure.

It’s reassuring to see how seriously they take fraud prevention — the real‑time notifications allowed me to react before anything escalated.

The downside, of course, is the inconvenience that follows. Now I’m waiting for a replacement card and working through the tedious process of updating my card information anywhere I have authorized payments. A bit of a hassle, but a small price to pay for strong security.

Thought of the Day

A perfect example of why using a credit card not a debit card is so much safer. You might get a fraudulent charge that you can dispute on your credit card but no one will have access to your bank account like with a debit card.

June 12th

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 16 degrees, Calgary 11 degrees, Mesa 40 degrees”

This spring has been one of the most challenging I can remember. The weather alone has been enough to wear anyone down — cold, wet, unpredictable, and easily the worst we’ve had in years. But the season brought more than just bad skies. Between surgery, a funeral, and a schedule packed with obligations, it felt like every week demanded something new while giving very little back.

As a result, the things that normally bring balance and joy simply never found their place. Oasis still isn’t ready, and somehow we’re already approaching mid‑June without spending a single night there. Golf has been very limited, and when we have played, the performance hasn’t exactly lifted the spirits. We haven’t travelled, we haven’t escaped, and despite being constantly busy, it feels like nothing meaningful actually got done.

Adding to the strain, this has been a year full of unexpected conflict with companies — issues that were eventually resolved, but only after far too much effort and frustration. It’s been a season of headwinds from every direction.

And yet, there is one bright spot that cuts through all of it: our river cruise. It’s fully booked, deposit paid, insurance in place, and the land package secured. After a spring that felt like a grind, this trip stands out as something genuinely exciting. Jackie and I are both looking forward to it.

With the wind cutting sideways, the rain settling in, and the temperature refusing to cooperate, today was not the day to head to the lot. Instead, I shifted into “productive mode” and tackled a few practical errands that needed attention.

I made a stop at Home Depot to pick up lawn seed, topsoil, and a couple of irrigation components I’d been meaning to replace. From there, I swung by the grocery store and stocked up for supper — ribs, corn on the cob, and garlic toast. Given the weather, the oven will be doing the heavy lifting tonight; no sense freezing on the deck for the sake of a barbecue.

Somewhere between the errands and the groceries, I found myself genuinely enjoying a task that most people would avoid: drafting a formal executor‑disbursement document. It’s not glamorous work, but there’s something reassuring about putting proper structure and legitimacy around a process that deserves clarity and accountability. It’s a safeguard — and a smart one.

While working on it, an old memory surfaced that still makes me smile.

When we sold our franchise, we made the bold decision to proceed without a lawyer representing us. That confidence evaporated the moment the buyer’s lawyer sent over a stack of required documents — many of which we had never even heard of. Panic set in quickly.

So we did what any determined, slightly desperate business owners would do: we turned to Google and went to work. We researched, drafted, and assembled specialized legal documents — dissolving our corporation, dismissing shareholders, preparing resolutions — all through a marathon overnight session. It was equal parts stressful and absurd.

We submitted the entire package to the buyer’s lawyer and hoped for the best.
To our surprise, everything passed with flying colours.

Looking back, it’s a great story — but also a reminder that some risks are better left untaken. That’s one experience I don’t plan to repeat.

Listening to Jackie talk to Audrey tonight as I was making supper made me smile. Corn is extremely loved in Alberta and has the world famous Taber Corn in our backyard. I know three people that are not fans of corn, two from England and one farm girl from Saskatchewan which is a HUGE anomaly. Everyone has dislikes of certain foods but this more of a mental and consistent brainwashing that has come to fruition.

City folk believe cows lay down in the pasture if it is going to rain and corn is animal feed and can’t get past that instead of enjoying the wonderful taste, nutritional value and versatility.

Corn is a global staple, deeply woven into food security, culture, and agriculture across multiple continents. It is also grown and consumed in the UK, though not nearly at the scale seen in major corn‑producing nations. And when it comes to terminology — maize vs sweetcorn — the distinction matters, especially in British English.

Corn (maize) is the most produced crop on Earth, exceeding 1.2 billion tonnes annually. It originated in the Balsas River Valley of Mexico and spread worldwide after the Columbian Exchange. Today it is a foundational food across the globe

The UK imports significant amounts of corn, over £627 million worth in 2025, mainly from Canada, France, and the US.

“Corn” in everyday British English usually means sweetcorn (the food).

“Maize” refers to the agricultural crop.

Historically, “corn” in the UK meant any grain (wheat, oats, rye), which adds to the confusion. The only country to do so.

In the UK maize grows only in select pockets of warm soil, its tall stalks standing like curious visitors from a distant land. Sweetcorn, however, has found a home. Children bite into buttery cobs at summer fairs, gardeners proudly harvest early varieties, and cooks toss bright yellow kernels into soups and salads.

Eating corn in its whole form may benefit heart health by helping maintain healthy blood pressure and supporting cardiovascular function through fiber and antioxidant content. Corn is a naturally gluten-free whole grain and provides a range of nutrients, including fiber, vitamins (A, B, C, E, K), minerals (magnesium ,phosphorus), and antioxidants such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and phenolic acids like ferulic acid

Though the UK will never be a corn superpower, sweetcorn has carved out its own place — a small but cheerful reminder of a crop that conquered the world and the British will learn to love it. I know I will never love blood pudding though.

There now you know the story of corn and the UK. It just took this country a little longer to catch on than most. There would have been no need for food stamps if they would have just planted a few kernels in the backyard.

EVERY farm kid had corn in many different versions as a food staple. I love kernel corn, corn on the cob, and creamed corn to use as a gravy. Corn, potatoes and beef made up most farm meals. Who didn’t love Corn Fritters or a corn dog.

People forget that corn is used to make tortillas, tamales, used in baked cooks. Corn is used to make bourbon and whiskey plus for breakfast cereals, and even a thickener for cooking.

Tonight’s supper was CORN on the cob, garlic bread, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots and baby back ribs. Awesome !

Daisy’s new hair cut is wonderful, She is ready for warmth come on spring, She did get quite a few stickies on her paws and stomache.

Thought of the Day

Corn is the only vegetable that can be sweet, salty, buttery, and still somehow stuck in your teeth for three day

June 13th-14th

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 21 degrees, Calgary 20 degrees, Mesa 41 degrees”

The first truly spring‑like weekend of 2026 arrived — and naturally, it’s also the last one before the summer solstice, because Calgary weather enjoys irony. Still, it was a gorgeous day, the kind that makes you forget the last six weeks of meteorological betrayal. I hate rain and I hate cold. 30 degrees every day for 4 months with rain on Tuesday evenings each week would be heavenly.

With Edmonton golf on Wednesday and Turner Valley golf on Thursday, I’m joining everyone in hoping the forecast is wrong. Temperature? Fine. Rain? Absolutely not. The golf gods owe me.

We headed over to Audrey’s to get her backyard summer‑ready. She has beautiful outdoor furniture, stored downstairs like museum pieces awaiting exhibition.

So we carried everything up — carefully, because one wrong turn and suddenly you’re explaining a mysterious dent in the drywall. Planters came out of the garage, the umbrella stand got filled and wrestled upright, and by the end of it the deck looked fantastic.

Whether it all gets used is another story. Calgary patios are like solar eclipses: rare, beautiful, and over far too quickly. This patio is perfect in the fact it faces west but the huge trees provide a abundance of shade. Add the umbrella and you can enjoy our warmth of the sun or the coolness of the shade

I whipped over to Tim Hortons for a bite. As nice as the weather was, we probably should have sat outside — but hindsight is 20/20, especially when the sun is involved.

Alan and MaryAnn stopped by with Tallow and Tia, giving Daisy a full afternoon of canine diplomacy.

• Tia: Not a fan of people or dogs. Daisy wisely pretends she doesn’t exist except for trying to steal treats out of her bag. Watching Daisy is like watching your kid on the play ground and no one wanting to play with them.
• Tallow: Allegedly grumpy, but he and Daisy got along just fine — in that aloof, “we acknowledge each other’s existence” way.

It was basically a dog version of a polite cocktail party.

Supper was a delightful change of pace: potato and cheese perogies with sour cream, bacon bits and a fresh salad. Simple, comforting, and absolutely delicious. The kind of meal that makes you wonder why you don’t have it more often.

Warm weather, productivity, friends dropping by, dogs doing dog things, and a fantastic supper — it was one of those rare days that just felt good. The kind you hope sets the tone for the week

Today is our 46th wedding anniversary.

Every long marriage has a beginning, but ours didn’t start with fireworks or violins even though I do own one.
It started with a city girl with attitude and a country boy with confidence, colliding in the Jasper Place social scene like two teenagers who had no idea they were about to change each other’s lives.

Jackie was 16 — sharp, stylish, and fully fluent in sarcasm.
I was 19 — a country guy rolling into the city to meet people, have fun, and maybe charm a girl or two with my small‑town swagger. Timing on the ages as it is only 2.5 yrs spread.

I’d seen Jackie around Jasper Place before. She had that presence — the kind that made you look twice and pretend you weren’t looking. But she also had that “don’t even try it” vibe that could stop a grown man in his tracks. I figured she was one of those uppity girls who could slice you open with one sentence.

Turns out… I was right.

The first time we actually spoke was at a friend’s house. Jackie was leaving just as I arrived, and I tried to make conversation.

“Is Kelly home?” I asked, casually.

Her reply — without missing a beat:
“No, I was in the house when nobody was home.”

That should have been the end of it.
But instead of scaring me off, it hooked me.
A smart‑ass girl with quick wit?
Now that was interesting.

Months later, we crossed paths again at a party at Keith’s house. It was winter, and Jackie walked in wearing a big puffy red down‑filled jacket. I’d seen her around enough to know I liked her — and enough to know she didn’t exactly have large breasts.

So, in a moment of youthful brilliance, I said:
“Why don’t you take off your jacket and stay a while?”

Not my finest line. I was just checking to see her reaction. I got her but she got me. Turns out small breasted girls don’t wear bras and country boys have a tendency to like that. I knew then I needed more time with her.
But somehow, instead of ending my chances, it made her even more fascinating.
Confidence is a must in this world — and apparently, so is surviving your own bad jokes.

After the party I asked Keith to get me her phone number. Easy, right?
Wrong.
I had to get past her Dad. The Dad gauntlet per say.

“Hello, is Jackie there?”
“Yes.”
Silence.
“Can I speak to her?”
More silence.
“What else?”
“…May I speak to Jackie, please?”

I didn’t know I was signing up for an English exam, but I passed.
Barely.

We talked a few times and set up a date. Then, a few days before, some drunk idiot T‑boned me and wrote off my beautiful ’69 Nova SS.

I had no car and not much money, so I bought a 1963 Pontiac for $50.

It wasn’t pretty.
But it ran.
And it was the perfect test:
Was she into the guy or the car?

Turns out, she liked the guy.

I dropped her off at 10 p.m. sharp — Dad’s rules — and asked if I could kiss her. Gentleman move.
Her answer?

“No.”

The smart‑ass strikes again.
But the kiss happened anyway. Eventually.

Our second date was memorable for a different reason. Jackie was sick, so instead of going out, I visited her at home. We were sitting on the couch, and I put my arm around her — romantic, right?

Enter Sadie, the family dog.
Sadie did not approve of me.
Sadie bit me on the cheek.

An hour later, Jackie was in the kitchen and saw a dog treat on the floor. Without thinking, she asked:

“Do you want a bone?”

Given that her dog had just tried to take a chunk out of my face, the timing was perfect.
We laughed — and honestly, that moment told me everything I needed to know.

She was funny.
She was unfiltered.
She was unintentionally charming.
And she was absolutely worth every sarcastic comment, every awkward moment, and every test along the way.

From a sarcastic first meeting…
to a red puffy jacket…
to a $50 Pontiac…
to a dog bite and a badly timed “Do you want a bone”…
somehow it all added up to 46 years of marriage.

And I wouldn’t trade a single moment. Well maybe a few.

Time is a funny thing. 5 years in the future seems like forever but 5 years in the past seems like just moments.

They say it is a small world and it is so true sometimes. We have two other couples from our 800 Street in Viewpoint living now in Calgary. So next Friday we have a Mesa/Calgary get together happening. It will be fun to see them in Calgary and then again when we all get back south.

What do you do on your anniversary? It has been so busy this year and the weather has been so bad since arriving in March we decided to get some stuff done. This was the first day in 2026 Jackie came to Oasis. And i am glad she did as we accomplished a lot. In fact I can rest tonight knowing we can use it now with very little effort.

I need to power wash the curtains, redo the gazebo interior and minor cleanup here and there. So many things done today as 4 hands is much easier 2 hands. I fertilized the plants and lawn, I top dressed and seeded the lawn. It will be a battle this year to get it back to looking good. Round up on all of the weeds. Pulled dandelions. We installed the screens and curtains. Cleaned up everywhere. Pulled a million nails from my boards that are strapped on tarps to protect my kitchen. Fixed up a few more heads with my new parts. Filled my wood pile. Piled in broken branches into the firepit. Dusted off the cushions and and organized and placed them. Re organized the tools in both the deck box and shed. Jackie finished off the box garden.

We worked from about 10 am to 5pm.

This is Daisy’s happy place just waiting for Bev to drive by with treats or even just to tell everyone here I am and this is my spot please pet me.

Anniversaries typically are an excuse to dine out in a fancy place. We decided after working all day we would have a ” easy” meal so between pizza and fast food Fatburger won out. It was good, quite good but not super delicious.

Resting, relaxed and watching the hockey game.

A different anniversary for sure but very happy to get done what we did. Mid June and just about ready compared to being ready usually before May Long. I am pretty sure after this horrible spring we are going to get a hot dry summer. Yahoo.

This is Daisy after a long day protecting our lot. Hard work you know.

As i said another busy week ahead. Monday Jackie is working, I have one small project to get done, Tuesday and Wednesday we are in Edmonton, Thursday I am at Turner league play and Friday we have a get together with our Viewpoint neighbors and a golf game with the Graces.

Thought of the Day

Anniversaries are like Wi‑Fi signals—sometimes strong, sometimes weak, but you keep reconnecting because you’ve already memorized the password.

June 15th

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 26 degrees, Calgary 25 degrees, Mesa 40 degrees”

Talk about a perfect day. No golf today as the Graces are supervising a reno project and Jackie had some work to get done.

Speaking of reno’s. If I operated a reno company this is one strict rule I would have. Even on my own I do not like and in a lot of cases will not work if the owners are on site. The normal layman has no idea of the process what things should or should not look like and at the end of the project then have a decision on the outcome. A simple task like caulking near the end makes a project look finished and perfect when just before a layman may say it was cut too short etc.

Since we are 90% ready at Oasis I decided to work on Audrey’s today since no rain and the perfect day. Too have a unfinished look and boards not secured drives me crazy so I had to get this done. On arrival I studied what I needed to do. We were covering up the egress access window well with decking. So to meet code it has to be able to be easily removed in case of fire. That means light yet strong enough to walk on. When ever you are doing a modification to any existing work or structure there are complications like different width of boards, cupped boards as they were out for a long time and even out of square.

I had limited tools and wood so came up with an idea and started screwing it together. Fail one as I could not get the support I needed without a drop support to the ground. So unscrew everything and move to Plan B. It was to create a complete structure frame supported under by cleats. This idea was solid and worked great. My hammer was a 2 x 4, My prybar was sheer strength and my drill bit was a small screw in and out before actually screwing. Tools make life easier but we got it done. I had to whip to Home Depot for a couple pieces of wood for my frame. I wanted 2 x 3 PWF but they only had spruce. I wanted 2 x 3 for less weight and thought 2 x 2 maybe too weak. Now spruce was our #1 decking material for years but will rot out in 10 to 15 years. That is ok in this instance.

I like to leave a project knowing I did the best I could and it looks great or as good as can be. Even considering the wood I had, lack of certain tools I walked away happy.

Great to get it done on such a perfect day. I couldn’t have asked for it being better as it was 24 degrees sunny warm and a slight breeze which kept it cool.

I went to get rid of the wood but when I walked into the garbage room they had signs everywhere saying fines for dumping building materials. HOA ‘s !!

So i loaded up all of the small stuff and dumped in our garbage at the condo. I had to leave the old window well cover in Audrey’s garage as I had no room in my Jeep for it.

I whipped to Golf Town who had a great sale on golf balls for Edmonton on Wednesday, Turner on Thursday and Speargrass on Friday. I am set. LOL

Off to Edmonton for some last dealing with the bank and off to play golf with sone buddies I haven’t seem since 1977. Golf and pub night how can you go wrong. A drive home after a nice day is the only negative. That 3.5 hours seems to take forever and it will at least midnight before i get home.

I arrived in Spruce Grove 5 minutes before our meeting time so pretty good judgment of time being 3.5 hours away. In fact the closest guy was the last to arrive.

We got everything fixed up at the bank and drafts made out. I tried convincing the teller to forgive the cost of drafts but she did not have the authority. This lady teller was awesome and one of the friendliest and most proficient tellers I have seen in awhile. She called over her supervisor and said to her before the manager arrived. ” This is your chance to show off your salesmanship skills.” She tried but once again the supervisor reiterated it is out of her control. She said we have to file a notice and perhaps the drafts charges will be reimbursed. Not upset whatso ever but in my mind charge for something like that should never need to be escalated and the teller should be able to make a judgement call. I failed in getting the charge removed but perhaps it still may. I doubt it.

I had some time to spare so I thought I would check out our old homes we lived in when In Edmonton.

Our first home in Mayfield has been left run down big time. The first year we owned it we put on a new roof, new gutter and soffit and all new windows. I was actually shocked how dilapidated it had become. Literally shocked as it once was an attractive home. Not anymore.

As I said the first stop of the day was a bit of a heartbreak. Seeing the old house with original Skirl Edge Cedar siding was… well, unbelievable. That siding was the crown jewel back in 1980, and replacing it with whatever they chose now would be so much better. Hardie or vinyl would’ve made a world of difference. But it’s not mine anymore, so I suppose I can only shake my head and move on.

Thankfully, the next home—our 1983 place in St. Albert—restored my faith in humanity. The new owners have updated it beautifully with modern siding, windows, and doors. Landscaping could use a little love, but my cedar tree more than makes up for it. That thing started as a four‑foot bargain-bin shrub and now stands about thirty feet tall. The whole subdivision has modernized nicely, and it was great to see it looking sharp.

Edmonton and St. Albert have grown so much that I actually had to use GPS to find places I used to drive to half-asleep. The old back road to Pineview, once a quiet country trail, is now a four‑lane bypass feeding into the Anthony Henday. Progress is great, but it sure makes you feel like you’ve been away for a century.

The weather didn’t look promising for golf, so I wore pants—yes, pants, in mid‑June. That alone should be illegal in Alberta. I picked up Keith, we met Buddy at the course, and Warren bailed on us. Sandpiper was new to me, and I’ll give it high marks. Long par 3s, great layout, and a solid course overall. Things were going well until the sky decided to dump a bucket on us. We hid out for a bit while the rain hammered down. My “waterproof” jacket proved to be more “water‑encouraging,” so someone definitely lied on the label.

I would say 4 holes of rain that was about it.

Wet fairways, damp air, and three guys playing like they’d never held a club before. But the laughs were good, and the company made up for the scorecard disaster.

After golf, Buddy took us to Barry’s place—The JOINT. Barry has always been a hard worker, and it shows. He built himself a man cave that could easily double as a small convention center. One bay includes a boardroom, billiards room, movie room, simulated golf, a massive bar, and a wine room. Most people would stop there, but Barry added an epoxy‑floored garage housing three classic hot rods: a 1963 split‑window Corvette, a 1973 Hugger Orange Camaro SS, and a 1972 Chevelle SS. The last two have 454s, and the Vette looks like it rolled straight out of a museum. People might call him lucky, but it’s all hard-earned—and yes, it’s still jealousy‑inducing.

Buddy’s Jasper Place High School group, the JP PINTS, meets monthly, and he invited Keith and me to join. Keith went to school with most of them; I was the honorary member who attended every party but none of the classes. I even went to Hawaii with three of the guys back when we were nineteen. Seeing about fourteen of them again was a blast, though I’ll admit—time has a way of rearranging faces. Some looked the same but older, some looked completely different, and a few I wouldn’t have recognized even with a name tag.

The conversations were great—funny, nostalgic, and occasionally sobering. A few guys have serious health issues, which is the reality of getting older. I was shocked to hear about a few who had passed away—suicide, sudden death, cancer. One had recently lost his wife. It’s tough, but it’s life.

Barry, Terry, and Buddy—the Hawaii crew—were there, along with Smuck, Lyle, Warren, and Rob, all former party legends. One funny moment: Rob asked Keith, “Who was that good-looking girl who hung around with Jenny? Higgins? Huggins?” Lyle immediately jumped in with, “Jackie Huggett—Larry Willard’s wife.” The table erupted, and Rob, slightly embarrassed, fist‑pumped me like he’d just solved a mystery.

We had a very attentive waitress who clearly knows the group well. She did her job well—maybe a little too well. Let’s just say her friendliness level was set to “enthusiastic.” It was like sitting in a barber’s chair with a big busted hair stylist continuously rubbing against you.

I got home just before midnight, but the drive was rough. Heavy rain, construction everywhere, no lane markings, and drivers glued to semis like they were trying to draft them. Staying in your lane apparently becomes optional after dark.

But despite the weather, the driving, and the pants in June, it was absolutely worth it. A full day of memories, laughs, and reconnecting with people who shaped a big part of my life.

I wish for a man cave. LOL