Say It Ain't So

Outside of Davey Keon, Johnny Bower was my favourite hockey player.

The ageless wonder played when goalies were goalies.

He also played when the world was in black & white. Colour was only invented sometime in the late 60's.

And after his playing career he was a constant presence at Maple Leaf hockey games.  Shaking hands and smiling every time the camera turned toward him.

Which was often, as (long suffering) Leaf fans haven't had much to cheer about since he retired.

He was the greatest ambassador the Leafs ever had - and will ever have.

We will all miss you, Johnny.

A buddy and my tribute to the last of those great Leafs teams.

[In case you are scratching your head, it's been not since 67 that the Leafs won the Stanley Cup.]

Finally, I Now Know What Excites Women!

And all that wining and dining......

Too Good To Be True?

A diet that encourages eating fat?

Wait. What?

There is an article in today's Globe & Mail that discusses just that.  Here is the link; Minimal Carbs Lots Of Fat. 

Turns out I just read this guy's book.

Now I am not necessarily fat, but this is more about reducing inflammation markers in your blood.  So I've tried to cut the carbs to reduce blood sugars.  And increase the fat.

Crazy?  Maybe, but even my doctor told me to do it.

Whoda thunk it.  After all these years, bacon & eggs is a health breakfast.

What's The Over/Under......

....on how soon these jokers wind up in jail, in Lithuania.

Some Background
LiAngelo Ball, on the left, was one of three UCLA basketball players arrested for shoplifting during a tournament in China. 

They were thrown in jail and faced ten years in prison.  Trump intervened with the President of China and had them sent home.

UCLA suspended them.  LaVar Ball, LiAngelo's father, then pulled his son off the team.

LaVar now has him, and his younger brother, LaMelo, on the right, playing pro ball in Lithuania.

How long will it take for things to south for them over there?


[BTW, LaVar blamed the UCLA coaches for his son's arrest.  Papa Ball said the coaches should have enforced stronger rules during the trip. Uh huh.]

I Finally Bought The Farm........

.....Equipment company.



[Okay, so I poached this from my Instagram account - so sue me. I don't know how to use it anyway...]

Another (Beautiful) One Bites The Dust

So looks like Hurricane Irma knocked one tree over that didn't damage my ride.

But she also knocked one over that was my favourite in all of the town.

Here is a picture of two big beautiful, and old, Banyan trees, as they used to be.

My fav is on the right, and here is a link (I Knew Things Were Old) to find out more about it, also in better days. Some of the pics in that link show the incredible majesty of those trees.

And here they are today, after Irma.

And, a Before & After in incredible 3D Surround Sound.....

[Double click to zoom in, eh.]

The one on the left was uprooted when a tornado blew through a year ago. As you can see, it's sort of growing back.

But they had to completely take down his partner of the right.

But he didn't go down without a fight.  It took those tree cutting guys a long, long time to cut that behemoth up......

....and haul him away.

Meanwhile, a couple of blocks over, the extent of damage at Mia Casa?  Ha! 

Is that all ya got, Irma?

[Okay, I wasn't such a big shot when I was lying like a baby on the floor when she came screaming up through the Gulf in September.]

Unbelievable!

I was at a bar last night (that's not the unbelievable part) and start talking to a guy beside me, who lives a few miles away.

I asked him how his place fared after Hurricane Irma.  He said, fine.

Then he asked me the same.  I said, Fine, except a tree fell on my car.

Buddy says, there was a lot of that. I saw a car with a huge tree lying on top of it.  I think I have a picture somewhere.


Dude, That's My Car!

What are the chances?  Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all.....

For those not in the know, here are some earlier, non-stranger pics of my baby in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

Ouff, day after Irma pic.

At least our condo was still standing.

Ouff, Part Deux.  That's gotta hurt.

One buddy said he thought he saw a palm frond sticking through the top.

Upon further inspection, I think a palm tree saved it as it broke the fall of the big boy.  And therefore it ended up just wrapping my little guy in a warm, leafy embrace.

Of course, at the time, didn't know that and thinking the worst.

This was actually the night before Irma, when tales of 15 foot storms surges and 140 mph winds danced through my squirrelly little head.

But a month later, five fellows with chain saws spent an entire day and voila - good as new.

What Does It Take....

This nurse murdered eight seniors in her care and tried to murder four more.

By injecting them with insulin, which is reportedly an excruciating death.

She was convicted on eight counts of first degree murder and is serving a life sentence.

The College Of Nurses Of Ontario finally got around to investigating and disciplining her and they also found her guilty.

Of professional misconduct, mister!  Darn right.

And let me tell you, this will mean a black mark on her file.  Permanently.

This will be helpful for me when the time comes time to asking questions of nursing home for me.

"Has my nurse ever been disciplined for anything?"

"Oh nothing much.  A couple of smaller issues.  Nothing more serious than professional misconduct."

"Have any of her patients ever complained?"

"No, no one's ever complained."

I think I know why.  "Bye bye."

From The "No Shit, Sherlock" File

Wonder how much we paid for that study....?

In fact whatever it was, I'd do it for half price.

Here are some other studies I'd do.  Also for half price;

Fat people weigh more
Cute girls are hot
Trump is a misunderstood genius

What Ever Happened To Prosecuted?

Because I didn't want to get electrocuted, I couldn't get a clear pic of this sign that says "Danger - Trespassers May Be Electrocuted".

And why "may be" electrocuted?  Is there some guy with a switch back there?  "Hey, that's Arnott."  ZAP!

"It Was 50 Years Ago Today....."

Missed It By That Much

You are in a century old building and fire breaks out.

You figure it is a death trap and you're doomed!

Then you look out the window, and see a fire escape down the side of the building.

You are saved!


D'oh!

Rats!  15 feet from victory.

Oh well, you were doomed anyway.

As Usual.....

....smokers don't get much choice anymore.......

"I Love Canada!"

Who says Canadian business is not as competitive as U.S. ones?

Sure, the U.S. has great Happy Hours and real deals on beer & wine.

But so do we!

Here I went on The Beer Store website, and found some excellent sales.

Just look here [double click for a better view] on 12 cans of Bud Light you save.....wait a minute, doing the math, carry the 7.....a nickel!

Better than a kick in the pants.

And it's not only Bud Light.  You can get other great deals on other beer, too.

Okay, in this case, Bud.

Another nickel saved!  Sweet!

And if you like them Tall Boys - and who does't - you save 20 cents.  Ka-ching!  That's four freakin' nickels.

You get to drink beer and save money.   "O Canada!"

I figured no need to check any more and headed straight for the Beer Store.

See ya there.

Where Most People Think I Go

'nuff said.........

Wheeeeee!

A turtle riding a jellyfish. Wrapped in an enigma.

How Lazy Do You Have To Be.....

...To Need A Drive Thru Laundry?

If he didn't look bigger - and meaner - than me, I would have taken a picture of who actually is.  The guy in the Lexus dropping off his boxers.

Knew It!

Based on an earlier post One Of These Things had a feeling one of his neighbours wasn't going to survive the winter.

And the winner is.....

Little dude on the left.

Because it wasn't long after the first post that the green Fence Of Death went up on that little guy.

And it won't be long before these guys just slide over next door and finish him off.

Okay, while I was sitting on my butt procrastinating on publishing this post, walked over yesterday and....

Boom boom, all gone.

Them wreckers shore make quick work them thar little bungalows.

Now the only question is, when does the next neighbour go?

Hey, I'm Working Here!

Even bugs are getting more than me!

I guess when you only live one day, you better get busy.

And in case you are thinking, that's two bugs?

Here's one feller by his lonesome.

Only 6 legs not 12.

And I guess a twist on the old joke would be;

"What's the fastest 12 legged game in town?"

"When it slips out".  Ba da boom......

And here there are again.  Taking a break, I guess.

But not too long!

Time's a ticking!

Guess I'm Not The Only One

Ha ha. A day after I post that I wouldn't want this guy's job, in today's paper, somebody else feels the same way.

Give me an Excel spreadsheet and a PowerPoint presentation any day!

You Couldn't Pay Me Enough

....to do this guy's job.

This guy being Sean Spicer and the job being White House Press Secretary, under Donald Trump.

Whereas under Obama, the Press Secretary had to field questions such as "Do you actually realize how incredible the President is?" and "Do you just pinch yourself when you think that you are working for the President?"


To now, a daily barrage of.......

I used to think being a goalie was a tough job, because every time you make a mistake, a red light would go off over your head and a horn would blare.  [Ed. Note: it must have been pretty noisy - and bright - in the old UC's office.]

But that seems like a walk in the park compared to this job.

Sure, everybody expects stressful days once in a while.  A big presentation, or important meeting with your manager.

But knowing that everyday, when you stick your head in your "office" you will be greeted with....

....I hope he gets paid a lot!

On the plus side, I don't see any red lights behind him.  Maybe it's not as bad as I think.

Well Isn't That Special

My idea of special is half price beer or 2 for 1 Fireballs.

Yeah, baby!

Old Barbatella and I may not be on the same wavelength here.

And while I'm at it, $14 for frickin' cauliflower?!  As a side dish?

And you couldn't pay me $12 to eat Brussels Sprouts!

So let's slide on down the road a bit.....

Two Fireballs, please!