Sept 1st

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 27 degrees, Calgary 27 degrees, Mesa 37 degrees”

There’s no better word for this trip than chaotic. What should have been a straightforward day turned into a marathon of emotions: pleasure, anger, impatience, frustration, annoyance, fear, and absolutely no enjoyment.

The weather tried its best to set a positive tone—cool, sunny, and perfect for a drive through the mountains. We left Calgary at 6:30 a.m. with a simple plan: get to Salmon Arm, pick up the motorhome, and return home the same night. That plan didn’t survive long.

A fatal accident shut down the highway, leaving us sitting for two and a half hours while police completed their investigation. When someone loses their life, the officers have a duty to be thorough, and they were. After the standstill came another hour of slow crawling before traffic finally opened up. When the two vehicles involved passed by on tow trucks, both were completely destroyed. It was shocking that only one person died. All of it caused by the same thing we see far too often—drivers making reckless decisions for the sake of saving a few minutes. And it didn’t stop there. On the way home, people were still trying to squeeze past closing lanes, cutting off semis and myself in a motorhome, and proving once again that common sense is not universal. I learned quickly to move over fast before the end and let the guy trying to pass suck it up. I watched the traffic in my mirror and could see Jackie struggling as she was following me with these idiots trying to save a few minutes.

By the time we reached Salmon Arm, nearly nine hours had passed. I checked in, picked up the RV, and asked for the rims to be retorqued after a short drive. They assured me everything was done. I didn’t even make it out of the yard before the ABS light came on. Dealerships and their “test drives”—another reminder of why I call them ripoff artists and hiring not well trained employees. They pulled it back in, cleared codes, and claimed a sensor had jiggled loose. An hour wasted, and we were finally on our way again.

We started the drive home already behind schedule. By 10 p.m., in pitch darkness with a filthy windshield, I had to call it quits. I couldn’t see with the oncoming traffic lights. We parked at the Field visitor center, ending a sixteen‑hour day.

During my usual walk‑around inspection, I found oil sprayed all over the front tires on the inside. In the dark, I couldn’t tell if it was brake fluid, but the reservoir was sitting at minimum—technically acceptable, but far from reassuring. A leak like that can lead to catastrophic brake failure, and the thought of a 30,000‑pound RV losing brakes on mountain roads is enough to keep anyone awake. I didn’t sleep at all. Jackie didn’t either. Between the road noise, trains every hour, bright streetlights, and the fact that we had piled all our holiday gear on the bed and were forced to sleep in the living room, rest simply wasn’t an option.

By morning, I had a plan. The brake pedal still felt solid, so I decided to risk it—drive slowly, rely on the grade brake for most of the braking, and avoid any sudden stops. We left at 6 a.m., and thankfully the roads were quiet. Even so, descending those long 6‑ and 8‑degree grades was nerve‑wracking. The RV gains speed quickly, and holding it back without relying heavily on the brakes is a challenge. My engine and transmission screamed their way down those hills, but I didn’t have a choice if we wanted to get the motorhome home safely.

We made it without incident—something I thanked the Lord for more than once while dropping down those steep slopes. When we arrived, I checked underneath again. Both front wheels were completely covered in oil.

The first call was to the repair shop. Predictably, the initial response was, “Not our fault.” That is BULLSHIT. After some discussion, the conclusion was that the front hub oil seals may have failed—something that is their responsibility. They may not have repaired them but they had an impact on them when removing the caliper. They should have noticed them and they were NOT leaking when I dropped it off. I started searching for a shop in Calgary and finally got booked into Shaw GMC for Thursday morning.

The plan now is straightforward: have Fountain Tire repair the issue, get the RV back into safe condition, and then pursue a credit from Gemm Diesel. If the parts themselves were defective, I’ll ship them back to Salmon Arm.

A horrible trip, another repair‑shop nightmare, and both of us exhausted. Jackie had a couple of important calls to make this morning, and I honestly don’t know how she managed to focus after the night we had.

After 51 years of camping, we may need to decide whether it’s time to stop. Maybe it’s time to spend more of our days out at Oasis instead. I’ll see how I feel in the spring. If we do decide to stay put, I’ll buy a new trailer—not to tow, but to leave there permanently.

Glad to be home.

With September the school year is here. I loved school. It is shame that we don’t allow frosh anymore as it was a fun event. Sure some guys got black balled, bras snapped, titty twisters happened, embarrassed and degraded but all in good fun. Kangaroo court, penalties for failure to behave like clean the hallway with a toothbrush etc.

Look at these kids. Handsome and smart. Look at Attie looking like a prep boy. He is going places in this world for sure. Grade 10, Grade 6 and Grade 3. Time flies.

Thought of the Day

Retirement is extremely hard. No one gets out alive !

September 2nd

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 24 degrees, Calgary 26 degrees, Mesa 38 degrees”

Wouldn’t you know it. The long weekend coming up and the weather looks dismal with getting to14 degrees Sat and Sunday and some rain. It is our parks early Halloween so that is very unfortunate.

I woke up this morning and for the first time since covid 2020 I believe, I did not feel well. Just body aches, tired, sore muscles and like fatigued. Rarely does any illness have an impact on me but I slept on the couch for the better part of day. I couldn’t beat it until about 5pm and started feeling a lot better. Oddity and annoying.

Jackie is a lot like me and dislikes illness, weakness and lack of effort and rarely is burden with a recovery. It must have rubbed off well. Jackie is the most caring person, attentive and helpful person ever but today I could have died on the couch and she would not have noticed. I beat her on the kill your husband game by making him drive in the mountains with no brakes maybe he will just croak now. LOL

I was sleeping so no checking on why I was there.

Our Viewpoint Golf group just got a little smaller today. Mike Probe who has golfed with us for a long long time at least 10 years or more just sold his house in Viewpoint. He is planning on doing other things but I have heard and seen this many times prior and most people miss Viewpoint dearly. Many come back and rent each year but end up staying a little less of the winter. Mike was one of my favorite guys with his three swing warmup and then whack that ball a mile. He also was a great bartended at the dances. He laugh is contagious.

The group is changing rapidly with many new faces and a much smaller group. Three years ago Jim sold his place, two years ago Denis started playing league, we added Bob Spenser back and Sandy along with Ian that play once a week. Barry had his place for sale also but I haven’t heard from him. I am hoping we find the odd other guy to fill with us as we will down to 6 players as the core.

I am confident Ron P will plays for years still to come as he is mid 80’s and scores in the 80;s the odd time. I play with a gentleman that is 90 yrs old at Turner Valley and still only shoots 120.

Thought of the Day

Change is inevitable—except from a vending machine.

Sept 3rd

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 19 degrees, Calgary 20 degrees, Mesa 38 degrees”

Woke up this morning and feeling well. Not perfect but quite good. Lucky !

First thing at 7 a.m., I took the motorhome into Fountain Tire for repair. I explained the entire situation from the Salmon Arm fiasco, and they couldn’t have been more cooperative. They’re taking photos and preparing a full report, which is a relief after everything that happened. We managed to beat the morning rush on the way in, and watching that traffic reminded me how grateful I am not to be part of that rat‑race routine anymore.

Afterward, I headed home for a quick shower and got ready for my men’s league round at Turner Valley. The weather looked questionable, and we even drove through a bit of rain, but by the time we arrived it turned into a surprisingly nice day. It was one of those classic Alberta golf days where the coat was on and off every other hole.

The round itself was a bit odd. I played quite well overall, but made too many mistakes—and then followed them up with some fantastic holes to balance things out. I won money in our side games, and for the second week in a row took first place in my flight. I actually held sole possession of first right up until the 18th, where a double bogey knocked me back. Even so, it was a solid day and a fun round. Always fun to take money from my playing partners.

It was a fun day ending in the clubhouse with us solving all of the worlds problems. Funny how the current world situation is so top of mind and everyone having a little different take on things.

On the course I received a call from Fountain Tire. Awesome job by these guys. Our motorhome is ready and they confirmed the mechanic that did the brakes screwed up and damaged the seals. Now to get some money back from Gemm Diesel in Salmon Arm. I am hoping no resistance but am prepared for it if they are not cooperative. Feeling great to know it is finally repaired properly.

Looking ahead for the long weekend and the weather is very crappy. We had a horrible spring this year and a wonderful July and August now September starting off wet , soggy and miserable.

Thought of the Day

Weather men are like politicians, always wrong !

Sept 4th to 7th

Winter has officially announced itself — not politely, but with 13‑degree highs, steady rain, and the kind of damp chill that makes you wonder why you ever thought owning a motorhome was a relaxing hobby.

Friday morning the motorhome was finally ready for pickup. And, surprise surprise, the issue turned out to be exactly what I suspected: the mechanic had damaged both hub seals. Oil everywhere, but thankfully no scorched hubs and the brake pads were still usable. If a pad gets contaminated, even brand new, it’s garbage — so that was a small miracle.

The bill? Another $800. The fun part? Now I get to see if the original garage will reimburse me. Getting a shop to admit fault for second‑party work is like trying to get a kid to take responsibility for knocking something off the counter. Technically possible, but unlikely.

I drove the rig out, got it parked, and started the whole setup routine — slides out, hookups connected, cleaning, organizing. It’s amazing how long it takes to make a motorhome feel like a home instead of a giant metal puzzle.

Luckily, I missed the long‑weekend rush. The park doesn’t love big rigs rolling around when everyone’s arriving, and neither do I. But timing worked out perfectly.

Jackie arrived and we continued prepping the lot for our guests: Jessica, Atticus, and August — coming out for early Halloween and the carnival.

At 9 p.m., just when I thought the day was done, a neighbor messaged: an alarm was going off in our unit.

After having a complete RV and deck go up in flames just recently in the park, alarms aren’t just noise — they’re instant panic. So off I went.

Turned out to be the CO detector. I reset it, blew out the filter, and it finally behaved. The manual says these things have a 10‑year lifespan. Ours is 19 years old. Basically vintage. As soon as the season ends, I’m replacing it with a proper built‑in model. Battery ones are fine, but peace of mind is worth the extra cost.

We headed back out Saturday morning to finish setup before Jessica arrived. Too bad the weather was miserable — the park closed the pool and eventually cancelled Sunday’s carnival. Honestly, they made the right call.

The Hickens arrived and we got ready for trick‑or‑treating. Both kids had blow‑up costumes, which are adorable but are not easy to maneuver around in. Jackie did makeup, and Jessica’s old‑lady mask was so convincing she could’ve asked strangers for coupons and no one would have questioned it.

Before heading out, I cooked a pork loin roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, and garlic bread. The kids devoured the meat like tiny wolves. Always a good sign.

They also loved the fresh carrots from our mini garden — and honestly, so did I. Garden carrots taste like actual food, not the crunchy water sticks from the grocery store.

Fewer people were out thanks to the weather and the park closing next week for electrical upgrades. When I was a kid, you could fill a pillowcase in no time. These days? Tiny chip bags. It’s Halloween — give the kids real treats! We handed out mini chocolate bars like civilized people.

But the highlight of the night was Atti’s Shrek costume. It caused an absolute stir. Kids ran up to him. Adults pointed. People laughed, cheered, and commented nonstop. He was basically a celebrity — a green, inflatable one.

August lasted a while, but Atti was in it for the long haul. Determination runs strong in that kid.

After the kids making their haul we headed to the dance. Great crowds here and a wonderful DJ. I liked his mix of songs. Atti danced up a storm and even drew attention from a east coaster guy that said he was the Scottish Ogre. He was at least 40 yrs old, Attis was a hit.

We were busy doing a lot of stuff. We had ice cream cones from the store. We played games in the gazebo with August being the master of Chinese Checkers and Atti dominating the Uno games. I liked the charades just to see how peoples minds work. Pictionary also was fun to throw in the mix. Getting beat by the kids at every game is just wrong !

I used up all of our wood for our last campfire of the season. We had a wiener roast supper with brown beans and marshmallows. Some on the little black side.

The boys also had a lot of luck on their side with both of them winning the “best” prizes possible at the store. They both won lunch bags with a drink container, sandwich container and a ice pak inside. Nice.

Atticus in particular spent a lot of time at the playground playing with new found friends a lot of different games.

We all slept very well each night. It was cool and quiet and the boys love the mattress on the floor.

I have to say I have never seen two brothers play fight for hours ever. If I did I don’t remember but these two go on and on for hours wrestling. The odd cry or yelp but a lot of energy spent.

Child labour as we had August make us breakfast

Some random pictures including our shooter girl and how beautiful the flowers are this year. Plus a real scary lot that lost two trailers and damage that were done by a recent fire.

A bit of clean up and we all headed into town for a family get together at Ricky’s. We picked up Audrey and Jess picked up Jackson. I love the food at Ricky’s but Jackie hates it as they use bagged lettuce, Everyone’s meals were excellent. I had the traditional turkey dinner. Jackie had a standard breakfast.

What was a cool wet September Long Weekend turned to be awesome and a lot of fun. The kids loved it, Jackie and I had a blast and Jessica enjoyed it. With everything we did it flew by.

The Stamps were robbed and i owe Fred 10 cans of beer now. Saturday better be a good game for us.

Thought of the Day

Twenty years ago NOBODY carried water with them EVERYWHERE. 8 am you left the house with no hydration strategy whatsoever. Somehow we all survived until supper without a 40 ounce emotional support tumbler.

I have to expand on this bit. This is a perfect example of how insane a society we have become. People are brainwashed with this, carbs, protein, gluten, CBD, Melatonin, vitamins, water consumption, additives etc . With the influence of the internet people are just more gullible today than ever.

The belief that humans have to drink 8 glasses of water a today is a pure myth. It came from a study in 1945 that was misunderstood. The human body is well equipped to regulate its water balance through thirst and hormonal signals, and there is no scientific evidence to support the need for a specific amount of water daily . In fact too much water is as dangerous as too little as you can deplete essential vitamins and minerals in your body like sodium plus actually overwork your kidneys trying to get rid of the excess fluid.

Sept 8th

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 22 degrees, Calgary 21 degrees, Mesa 41 degrees”

A long weekend and three questionable days and now today wonderful. Perfect as today is golf day. Hopefully not cart path only after all of the water.

First to the post office to register a letter, then off to Canadian Tire to pickup Stablok, RV Plumbing Antifreeze, and Bounce sheets for inside the motorhome.

Then off I went to Stage West, tickets already bought, plans already made, and one last‑minute cancellation hanging over my head like a rain cloud. Their policy is carved in stone — no refunds, no cancellations — which feels even harsher when the place itself is starting to look tired. A venue should never slip into “run down and dilapidated,” yet that’s exactly the impression the building gave as I walked in.

Inside, though, I was greeted by a genuinely pleasant young woman. I leaned into the “I need a little help — what can you do for me?” approach, hoping kindness might open a door policy couldn’t. She repeated the rule, as expected. I asked about gift certificates as an alternative. She considered it, tapped around on her computer, and we talked through a few possibilities.

And then came the moment that shifted everything: a simple, sincere “Wow, those are cool fingernails.” It broke the tension, made her smile, and suddenly we weren’t two people on opposite sides of a policy — we were just two humans trying to solve a problem.

She thought a bit more, clicked a few more things, and then offered what I hadn’t expected: a full reimbursement for both tickets, straight back onto my credit card. No receipt, just her word that the refund would process. A small caveat, but one I was willing to trust. She told me to give it a day or two and call back asking for her — Grace — if anything didn’t go through. I have a $200 refund coming from Stage West, a $800 refund coming from Gemm Diesel, and $1000 coming from AMA. It is not easy getting refunds but I am pretty good at hounding and threats if I have to.

Grace lived up to her name. A genuinely kind person who chose to help when she didn’t have to. A reminder that sometimes charm, patience, and a well‑timed compliment can accomplish what policy says is impossible. I hope I do not have to phone back.

Today we were golfing at McKenzie Meadows with Jeff & Wendy. The weather was awesome which was nice. We arrived right on time, did our bit of practice and we were off. I had high hopes but sometimes during games like this I do not focus well enough to score well. I thought today jeff played one of the his better games all year though. I do not know the final score but he had some incredible shots. I scored decent not well with just too many mistakes. Always happy with a low 80’s score but should have been a lot better.

i always have fun golfing wither it is in competition or casual but today it was a little off as Jackie’s mood was off. Pain in her leg, stress, being over committed and amount of work to accomplish was her nemesis today. Funny as a husband there is a high possibility it was something I did also. I do know it makes my stomach feel funny not knowing if she is going to blow and if there is something I could do to help ease the issue. She came around at supper which was nice. She needs to address that pain as it has gone for a way to long and I can tell it is painful with her walking and moving . Add the external factors of work, care giving and everyday chores she is one busy girl.

A great day with the course being in amazing shape.

We came home and Jackie left to do some errands. On her return Wordle in 4 so not bad.

Thought of the Day

Jackie and I always compromise. I admit I was wrong and she agrees withe me

Sept 09 ( 09/09)

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 23 degrees, Calgary 26 degrees, Mesa 40 degrees”

The temperature was perfect today. My dash even hit 26 degrees, yet it was still wonderful weather to work outside in.

It turned into a full and productive day — seven and a half hours of steady labor, up and down, lifting, hauling, and checking things off the list. My goal was to see how far I could get and finish everything by Friday, since the park is closing. I started with the motorhome: draining the hot water tank, storage tanks, grey and black water, and putting away both the water hose and sewer hose. Then came the winterizing. This year was the fastest I’ve ever done it. Every bypass, switch, and valve cooperated on the first try. I used about three‑quarters of a jug of antifreeze, ran every tap, toilet, flush hose, shower, filled all the P‑traps, and kept going until the outside shower ran pink. I was honestly shocked at how quickly it all came together.

Once the slides were pulled in, I finished disconnecting power and hoses. Then I switched gears for a bit — cut the lawn, put away the irrigation hose, used the air compressor to winterize the garden lines, and took down the gazebo screens and drapes.

Jacks were raised, tires covered, and power disconnected. Jackie arrived around 2:30, which was perfect timing. She sped everything up, and I’ll admit she’s better at getting the fridge emptied and cleaned. She gathered all the sheets, covers, and pillowcases to take home and vacuumed,

I used the air gun to secure the tarp over the outdoor kitchen and patio furniture. The packing job this year was excellent — I managed to fully encapsulate the area, with plenty of nails to hold everything down against heavy winds. All the chairs were stacked and covered.

And just like that, Oasis is wrapped up for 2026. It usually takes two full days to do all this, but with Jackie’s help — and maybe a bit of duress — we powered through. We packed up in Arizona in half a day when Mom passed, instead of the usual three, so I guess we have a track record. We’ll find out what we forgot when we return.

I removed the C02 detector as if you remember it went off a week ago. Now to find one the same size to fit the hole. Funny we walked past this thing a million times and never looked at. Right on the front of it is states replace before November 2011. The original company is bankrupt so fingers crossed.

The flowers are incredible right now, but without irrigation they’ll slowly fade.

On the way home, Jackie didn’t dodge a big rock and the Flex took a bullet hit to the windshield. Jessica had brought us Taber corn when she came up, so tonight we had corn on the cob with our pork roast, and the corn was heavenly.

Now I’m sitting on the couch, and I have to admit that nearly eight hours of steady work tired me out just a wee bit.

Thought of the Day

One needs to remember you are not as young as you used to be but with a little age comes great wisdom until that same thing, age, changes you in becoming forgetful, anal, delusional and a worry wart losing all common sense.

Sept 10th-11th

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 12 degrees, Calgary 13 degrees and Mesa 39 degrees”

My mission today — before golf, if I felt like earning my way to the first tee — was to hassle companies that owed me refunds. My mission if I choose, was a noble quest, really. And just as I was gearing up for battle, Stage West swooped in with a notification: refund approved. One down. Thank you, Grace — always nice when common sense wins a round against strict policy. $225 yes !

Next up: Gemm Diesel in Salmon Arm. A few discussions (read: polite but persistent pestering) with both the service manager and the general manager, and eventually we landed on a negotiated settlement. Sure, I would’ve preferred the full amount, but the compromise was reasonable, and at least we all walked away understanding each other’s positions. Two down. $300 yes !

That leaves AMA, the final segment of the refund saga. They give themselves up to 60 days, and on day 60 my hassling will begin with the enthusiasm of a man who has already warmed up on two previous opponents. AMA responded to an email stating the conditions, I will be ready. Looking for a refund from $500 to $750 hopefully.

Then came my men’s league at Turner Valley— nearing the end of the season. I’m just $5 away from breaking even, which means if I win that last bit, the entire season will have cost me absolutely nothing. A true golfer’s dream.

The weather tried its best to derail things. It rained most of the morning, but thanks to a tournament we were starting later. I kept checking the radar like a meteorologist with trust issues, and after talking to Larry P, we decided to go for it. It was pouring when we arrived, so we ducked into the clubhouse. Half an hour later, sunshine. Off we go.

At 12 degrees with a slight breeze, “warm” was not a word anyone would use. But golf is golf, and we had a good time. Neither of us played up to par (yes, I saw what I did there), and Larry — my partner — ended up winning the money. I think it was one of the highest-scoring games of the year, and not in the good way. Cold hands, wet fairways, stiff backs, and a generous helping of errors made sure of that.

We were lucky, though — only two holes of drizzle though. The course was quiet, so we made great time. It was a day of jacket on, jacket off, jacket on, jacket off… every second hole. The coolness definitely affected things, and the angry wasp sting on my wrist didn’t exactly improve my performance.

All in all, a productive day: two refunds secured, one golf game survived, and one wasp thoroughly unimpressed with me.

I did a lot of research and found an exact replacement for my CO2 sensor as I need to fill a hole in the cupboards and luckily I found a brand available. Not common though to find as Amazon ca did not carry yet Amazon.com did. I phoned Western RV as I hate the incompetence of Woody’s RV ( we have bought two brand new RV;s from them over the years) and history has taught me anybody but Woody’s. Last time when I was working on the toilet the same item was $60 cheaper at Western than Woody’s.

So Jackie and i whipped out to pick it up. I will try to install it on the weekend before they close the park.

A incident happened with a cook pan without any water in it on the stove. It wrecked the pan. Not me LOL

After picking up the sensor, we made a quick detour to Canadian Tire — because nothing says “errand day” like suddenly upgrading your entire cookware lineup. We figured the RV needed better pans anyway, and the condo could use something fresh, so why not? We ended up with a beautiful made‑in‑Canada set at 40% off. A patriotic bargain if ever there was one. Take that made anywhere else ! Buy Canadian !

This morning was oil‑change day, which always feels like a personal endurance test. When I bought the Jeep, they tempted me with “free oil changes for life.” I did the math: I’ve now collected over four thousand dollars’ worth of free oil changes. At this point, I’m convinced they’re plotting ways to make me disappear or at least trade the Jeep in. Today’s Express oil change took two hours. They will not break me. I sit there, watch TV, play Wordle, and enjoy Tim’s while they try to out‑wait me.

Today also carried two meaningful events. First, it would have been Peter’s birthday — Jackie’s dad. Peter Huggett would have been 92 and could have easily be around today except for dementia. ( Statin user) He was a character in the best sense: clever, witty, and occasionally overtaken by his English prim‑and‑proper instincts. I always enjoyed talking with him; he had a sharp mind and a unique perspective on just about everything. Genetics did their job well — you can see pieces of Peter in all three kids, each in their own distinct way.

The second event is one the world remembers: 9/11. Certain moments carve themselves permanently into memory — Elvis dying, JFK’s assassination, Princess Di and of course 9/11. Some memories are personal, some historical, but a few become universal.

I remember Elvis Day clearly because Jackie and I were vacationing in Penticton. JFK, not so much — I was six, so any “memory” is really just what I saw on TV years later or people talking about it. No one really remembers any thing as child. Princess Di was a huge event in the world but not to impactful and vague memories. But 9/11 is vivid. Every morning I took the sales reps and Ed out for a meeting before work. That day, Mike, Ed, and I were at Frank’s Casino, sorting out the day’s plans, when the TV in front of us showed the first plane hit the tower. We stared, frozen, as the second plane hit and then the Pentagon. Work could wait — the world had changed right in front of us. Travel especially would never be the same again.

Another event that hit me was the Gretzky trade in 1988 — a national shockwave only hockey can deliver. And then there was the NDP winning an Alberta election, which stunned everyone, including the NDP themselves. Watching a socialist, green‑leaning, union loving, woke party win in redneck Alberta felt like seeing a cow win the Kentucky Derby. Memorable, yes. Expected, absolutely not. And I had family and friends that fell into the trap ” we will show the govt” and then that happened. Thanks ! Luckily we were able to get back to reality and have a strong conservative government elected.

We wrapped the day with baby back ribs, mashed potatoes, and coleslaw — all of it excellent. A fitting end to a day full of memories, milestones, and one very patriotic set of frying pans.

Thought of The Day

I dislike people that don’t know if they are left or right, they are just lost or confused.

September 12th–13th

” Mercury Forecast Edmonton 14 degrees, Calgary 11 degrees, Mesa 39 degrees”

The start of winter is hard to get used to. So today pants on.

I started today with my breakfast which is different than I have had for years. Just changing things up for the last bit. Combined with my daily movement my weight is the lowest it has been since about early high school. I have to be cautious and hold this number for a few weeks to become my reset number. 14 years ago when I retired, actually just before that I decided to drop weight. I was holding at 230 to 240 pounds for 35 years. I lowered that to about 190 pounds but found it difficult to maintain so I used a number between 190 and 195 and I was able to keep it that for at least the last decade. I have blood work coming up and have grown a disdain of my doctor so I want my numbers as good as possible. This morning a weight of 180.4 pounds. I will hold for awhile and see what the numbers say and see what it is like to maintain. That is the important thing.

I headed out to the lot as it is closed on Monday. I started right away and got the new C02 sensor installed in relatively good time. My research paid off as the hole in the cupboards size wise worked out perfect. If you do a close up you can see one screw hole outside of the left side, A quick filler and it will be gone. The wiring was a little different as I was one wire too many. Good thing for camera pictures when I removed it. Got it installed and i was extremely pleased. I had to re hook up the battery to test it as with a change in wiring I wanted to make sure. Done and perfect !!

I did a double check of most things and done. The lot is all wrapped up, all bundled up and closed for the winter until spring. Flowers have slowly died and I will remove in the spring which is normally done before winter but the park is normally open until Nov.

When I was at Western RV they had a beautiful trailer in the showroom that I loved. It is an option. But we will need to figure out vehicles overall. Next year !

When I got home from Oasis Jackie had picked up Audrey and we were going to watch a movie called Song Sung Blue. Great movie about a Neil Diamond impersonator. Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman were incredible in it with their voices. It is actually quite an emotional movie.

After that the BIG game I love to watch with the Elks against the Stamps. If we take the Labor Day Classic on it’s own the teams are tied with 32 wins after our loss this year.

I have a bet with Fred every year ONE beer for every point difference. I can’t recall two many years but a few years ago I arrive in Mesa with 84 beer from Fred on my counter. Another year Fred owed about 13 beer so he bought a case of Ultra and one large bottle of Millar High Life. Another year I arrived with a sign saying NO LITE SHIT. I owed 46 beer that year ouch !

This year has been one for the books. I managed to lose 10 beers last weekend and another 37 this weekend, which is the kind of performance that really puts Fred ahead in the betting pool. I’ll be picking up a 48‑pack of Miller High Life in Mesa, and I’ll tip the extra one just to keep the universe inline. A 48‑pack in Canada is priced like a luxury import, so thank goodness Fry’s and Safeway usually have them on sale for something closer to “normal human” pricing in Mesa.

Despite sitting last in the West, we still have an outside chance at the playoffs. Our point total is high enough that we’d be third in the East, so the crossover dream isn’t dead yet. We could fluke out a win or two — the CFL has built an entire identity around improbable outcomes. And with the Grey Cup in Calgary, the football gods might decide to have a little fun.

The day itself was cool and damp, with rain arriving around 4 p.m. Jackie and I did a bit of running around: a stop at Sobeys, a visit to Sally Beauty (where they take Herbal Essence, put it in a fancy bottle, and charge $100), and then a trip to the memorial forest. The city is doing major work in the lower part of Fish Creek Park for the new sewage treatment plant, and unfortunately, the entire section where Peter’s memorial tree stood has been cut down or removed.

It may have been “just a tree” on paper, but it carried a lot of meaning. Losing it without notice was a real punch. You’d think they could have handled it better — maybe relocated the trees and informed us of the exact location or at least communicated with families. But according to their memorandum, no tree is officially designated to any individual. Bureaucracy at its finest.

With the cold weather my thoughts are already wandering to when do we get to leave this winter wonderland. There are those that love winter and I say go for it. Enjoy but I much prefer a warm climate, a green golf course, a cold beer on the deck and my own bed to sleep on in Mesa.

We are still of the mindset that Mesa cost wise and enjoyment wise is important to us and we get to enjoy it for 5 months for a cost that most would pay for 1 or 2 months of a vacation spot and it is a equity stake. We supplement that winter enjoyment with a big trip every second year and a smaller family trip in between that. For us it works out perfect. Each to his own and everyone has there own likes which makes the world go around. The most important thing is no matter what you chose JUST DO IT as time is short and health is fleeting.

Thought of the Day

Owning a winter home in the sun isn’t remotely comparable to taking a three‑week or a month vacation. They may both involve sunshine, palm trees, and escaping Canadian snow, but that’s where the similarities end. A winter home gives you equity, stability, familiarity, comfort, and the kind of peace of mind you simply don’t get when you’re living out of a suitcase. It’s your bed, your kitchen, your routines — not a rotating cast of hotel mattresses and mystery appliances and who slept in the bed before you.

An Arizona home for six months works out to about $1,500 a month, roughly $18,000 a year for two people. For that price, you get half a year of warmth, predictability, and the ability to leave your toothbrush in the same place every day. A three‑week overseas vacation, on the other hand, easily hits $10,000 to 15K— and after those three weeks of fun, exploration, new expereinces and questionable food, you come home to five more months of winter. The vacation gives you memories; the winter home gives you sanity.

One is a break. The other is a lifestyle. And when you compare three weeks of sunshine to six months of it, the math — and the comfort — speak for themselves.

I have at least 6 friends/acquaintances that have sold their homes in Arizona and had ideas of travelling, vacationing, trips etc but without a true commitment it sometimes just doesn’t happen.

September 14th

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 14 degrees, Calgary 13 degrees, Mesa 39 degrees”

Temperatures were far too cool for this time of year — let’s just call it what it was: COLD. I’m already daydreaming about Mesa, and at this point it can’t come fast enough.

I kicked off the morning by paying a whack of bills, checking a few things off the list, and getting myself ready for golf. The real victory of the day happened before I even swung a club: I finally managed to book Inglewood Golf Course. After years of trying, landing a VIP tee time felt a bit like winning the lottery — just without the money or the champagne.

We met Jeff and Wendy at the course and got started. Everyone was bundled up like we were preparing for a fall camping trip, and even then the chill still found us. But the course? Absolutely worth it. I love the layout, the greens, and the fact that you can actually play out of the trees like a proper golf course — not like Turner, where stepping one foot off the fairway is basically a search‑and‑rescue mission.

My game, however, didn’t quite match the beauty of the course. A handful of silly mistakes, a few missed drives, and suddenly I’m staring at a mid‑80s score. On Inglewood, that’s not exactly something I’m thrilled about. Wendy and Jackie both played quite well, and Jeff had one of his better rounds — great drives, strong second shots, the whole package. I’ll give him his credit as he has worked on it.

Despite the cool weather and my lukewarm score, it was a genuinely fun day. A little more warmth would’ve been nice, but the company and the course more than made up for it.

We decided to eat in the clubhouse after golfing, and since I’ve curled here before, I already knew the food was reliably good. I couldn’t resist teasing Wendy a little — just enough to make her wonder whether the kitchen might burn something. They didn’t, of course.

Jackie ordered her usual, which at this point should probably just be printed on the menu under her name. I went with the clubhouse on sourdough — because sourdough automatically makes everything better — plus the fries that every doctor would advise against but every golfer secretly loves. Jeff and Wendy split a plate, which always fascinates me. The special was a half rack of ribs, burnt brisket ends, beans, coleslaw, and cornbread. It looked fantastic, but let’s be honest: the portion was clearly designed for one hungry person, not two people pretending they’re starring in The Art of Sharing. A 1/4 rack of ribs each and sides would leave most hungry.

It is cost effective though.

The only other couple ever that I’ve seen share meals like that is Alan and MaryAnn. I just can’t do it. The idea of two people ordering the exact same dish, and wanting the same dish on the same night and then eating only half of it each… that’s not in my DNA. Jackie and I have shared desserts before — rarely — but that’s as far as I go.

My fear is that this level of sharing eventually leads to matching outfits, and I’m not ready to show up looking like the “his and hers” section of a catalogue. LOL.

All jokes aside, it was a wonderful time. Great company with Jeff and Wendy, a fantastic golf course, good food, and — best of all — no snow or rain. In Calgary, that alone feels like a small miracle.

Thought of the Day:

I once agreed to share a plate on a date. She said, “Let’s split it evenly.” I said, “Sure.” She meant half the food. I thought she meant half the bill. One date only.

September 15th

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 15 degrees, Calgary 9 degrees, Mesa 37 degrees”

Nine degrees. In mid‑September. A temperature so wrong it feels like Calgary is playing a practical joke on us. That’s the high, apparently — complete with showers, because why not add insult to injury. Meanwhile, Mesa is starting to look like a spiritual calling, and Jeff & Wendy have already demonstrated superior survival instincts by fleeing to the warm embrace of BC. Smart people. They’ll miss Jackie’s free Stage West show and buffet, but honestly, if I had to choose between prime rib and sunshine, I’m taking the sunshine every time.

Now, the elephant in the room — politics. I don’t wade into political commentary often because people tend to treat it like a contact sport and are super sensitive about it. I rather enjoy the discussion. Some which I bait. LOL

But I do appreciate that we live in a place where we can vote freely, even if the results sometimes make you scratch your head.

In hindsight I was bad. I used to promote my political thinking to my employees before any election with emails, pamphlets etc. Having said my political views were not always mainstream as I voted the Wildrose Party and I voted the Reform Party, I have always leaned to conservativism. I rather like a balanced budget and a platform that is fair but not giving away the farm.

The Shaw by‑election brought in an NDP win with a 53% turnout, which is not impressive.

Four things stand out. First, complacency has a way of sneaking up and biting you, just like the last time this riding flipped orange. Second, Shaw has expanded into several new districts with many new immigrants — a demographic that often leans toward parties emphasizing social programs, union support, and a more collectivist approach. Third, despite the UCP’s long list of accomplishments — and yes, a few head‑scratchers — people still get hung up on the idea of “free everything.” Fourth- a split vote between the UCP and the Tory Party 1000 votes and only 500 needed caused another election win for the left. Split right wing parties have to stop.

We’re talking about a government that’s delivered a budget surplus, rebuilt the Heritage Fund, hired 1,000 new teachers, in the process of restructuring AHS, signed MOUs on pipelines to BC and Ontario, handled U.S. relations with a level head, suspended the fuel tax, dropped corporate tax from 12% to 8%, invested in diversity‑driven industries like data centers, explored a provincial police force, discussed an Alberta pension plan, and even introduced some privatization within healthcare. Some of it controversial, sure — but you don’t move forward by sitting still.

I’ve always said that if I could rewind 40 years, I’d grab a union job. The benefits are phenomenal. But unions themselves? They’re the double‑edged sword of the workforce. They are the cancer of business. They create bureaucracy, entitlement, and unrealistic demands. They also attract a large number of immigrants — not because immigrants are gullible, but because unions offer stability, benefits, and a clear path forward. Then the union whispers, “We can get you more,” and suddenly it’s strike season. They have their place, but in today’s world, they often cause more friction than progress. And yes, unionized workers overwhelmingly vote NDP — that’s just reality.

So now the government has two choices with Shaw. Option one: treat the riding like a VIP, funnel in infrastructure funding, and hope to win hearts by the next election. Option two: take a hands‑off approach — no special projects, no targeted funding — and instead invest in the surrounding areas. Personally, I’d choose the second. If a district decides the NDP is the answer, then clearly they’re satisfied with what they have. No need to reward a riding that didn’t support the governing party’s direction.

Enough said.

Jackie has her physical therapy appointment today to figure why is she is a pain in the ass. Oops sorry, to figure out why she has a pain in her ass. Hopefully they can figure that out for her. This clinic also has a naturopath on staff that I would be interested in to discuss food options to health.

Not a lot on the agenda today. I will go to the gym today for a bit, take Daisy for an extra walk, and stare at the rain outside.

I tried a new thing this morning for breakfast which i loved. A piece of sourdough bread and make an dent in the middle and add a egg. Cook for bit then add cheese. Yummy and relatively good for you.

Rules and I have a long, complicated relationship. They show up uninvited, overstay their welcome, and usually make life harder for everyone except the one person they were supposed to address. If rules were people, they’d be that neighbour who installs a motion‑sensor floodlight because someone once walked across his lawn in 2014.

Most rules aren’t born from wisdom. They’re born from fear, laziness, or a manager who would rather wrestle a porcupine than have a direct conversation with the one employee who keeps “calling in sick” with suspiciously beach‑adjacent symptoms. Instead of saying, “Hey, Bob, we both know you’re abusing sick days,” leadership drafts a sweeping policy requiring doctor’s notes, affidavits, blood samples, and possibly a notarized statement from your childhood physician. Suddenly everyone is treated like a truant teenager because one person abused the system.

It’s the same energy behind my condo fob situation. One break‑in, and boom — Fort Knox protocols. Now you need a fob to get into the garage, the lobby, next the elevator, and the stairwell, and possibly your own thoughts. It’s not about safety; it’s about someone needing to look like they took action. Optics over logic. Security theatre at its finest.

The real tragedy is that rules created out of panic or avoidance almost always punish the wrong people. They inconvenience the responsible majority while the original troublemaker either finds a workaround or continues being a problem in new and exciting ways.

If leaders actually dealt with individuals instead of hiding behind blanket policies, we’d have fewer rules, and better workplaces and living spaces.

MEMORIES

Rules and I have never been close. Especially the dumb ones — the ones born not from logic or leadership but from someone, somewhere, panicking over a single incident and deciding the entire population must now suffer.

Take the tie policy from years ago when I worked at Sterling Dist. Some executive clearly woke up one morning, looked at a catalogue, and decided that professionalism could be achieved by forcing sales staff to wear a strip of fabric around their necks. Not only did we have to wear ties, we had to buy the company tie — at a “reduced rate,” which is corporate-speak for “still overpriced, but now you feel obligated.”

I kept my tie in the back seat of my car like emergency equipment. Walk into the office: tie on. Walk out: tie off before the door even closed behind me. It was a ritual, like shedding a costume after performing in a play no one wanted to watch.

And then there was the company car situation. Big logo on the door, like a rolling billboard announcing your presence to the world. One day, the sales manager calls me in — apparently someone had complained about my driving. Now, most managers would have reached for the rulebook, maybe added a new policy requiring defensive driving courses or mandatory “brand representation” seminars. But not Chuck.

Chuck listened. I explained — something I’m admittedly good at — and instead of punishing me or creating a new rule, he made a decision that actually solved the problem. He had the logos removed from all the sales cars. Just like that. No drama, no memos, no sweeping policy change. He dealt with the situation, not the entire workforce by creating a new speed limit rule etc.

That’s why I loved Chuck. He understood that leadership isn’t about inventing rules to avoid uncomfortable conversations. It’s about addressing the real issue, with real people, in real time. He was miles ahead of his era — a manager who led instead of legislated.