Nov 10th
It is the day before November 11th - Rememberance Day.
As a Baby Boomer, Rememberance Day can take on a number of different importances. I have not been to war and have not had to defend myself, my family or country against tyranny. But I am old enough to remember the stories about those who did.
My uncle Max was in the Air Force and saw duty in Europe. My uncle Sam was posted hundreds of miles north of Edmonton is a desolate post, most of the time by himself, watching a screen and looking out for enemy planes. Herb, the person who interviewed me for my teaching job at CMCC in 1976 saw active duty in the Air Force over Europe.
I was at York University from 1968 to 1971 when students in my class, sitting beside me, were born and raised in the US - and were in Toronto as a result of the Viet Nam war. By the luck of birth, I was not subject to the draft but like so many other "middle class sociology students who were safe in the homes" I protested the war outside of the US Embassy.
I abhor war - as do all soldiers. They do it because they have to. If they had their choice they would be in the army for everything else it does when dealing with natural disasters. But because the world is not always a nice place, thank God they are there to deal with the issues that they are faced with.
Two years ago I was a soldier for a day. I was geared up and experienced some of the things that soldiers experience when starting their new occupation. I lasted about three hours -- I ended up with an issue on the obstacle course involving a climb and fall from about 10 feet. It wasn't quite as funny as serious when you begin to appreciate all that is required of a soldier.
I think about our soldiers more often than simply on Rememberance Day. God bless them and their families for all that they do and sacrifice.
As a Baby Boomer, Rememberance Day can take on a number of different importances. I have not been to war and have not had to defend myself, my family or country against tyranny. But I am old enough to remember the stories about those who did.
My uncle Max was in the Air Force and saw duty in Europe. My uncle Sam was posted hundreds of miles north of Edmonton is a desolate post, most of the time by himself, watching a screen and looking out for enemy planes. Herb, the person who interviewed me for my teaching job at CMCC in 1976 saw active duty in the Air Force over Europe.
I was at York University from 1968 to 1971 when students in my class, sitting beside me, were born and raised in the US - and were in Toronto as a result of the Viet Nam war. By the luck of birth, I was not subject to the draft but like so many other "middle class sociology students who were safe in the homes" I protested the war outside of the US Embassy.
I abhor war - as do all soldiers. They do it because they have to. If they had their choice they would be in the army for everything else it does when dealing with natural disasters. But because the world is not always a nice place, thank God they are there to deal with the issues that they are faced with.
Two years ago I was a soldier for a day. I was geared up and experienced some of the things that soldiers experience when starting their new occupation. I lasted about three hours -- I ended up with an issue on the obstacle course involving a climb and fall from about 10 feet. It wasn't quite as funny as serious when you begin to appreciate all that is required of a soldier.
I think about our soldiers more often than simply on Rememberance Day. God bless them and their families for all that they do and sacrifice.
Autumn
Months and months have passed since the last post. It isn't that nothing has happened. It is just that I didn't bother to post. So here goes in no particular order:
a trip to Washington; a trip to Boston; a couple of motorcycle rides; a lecture to 4th students at CMCC; a lot of office work; lousy weather in June and July, great weather in August; a graduation for an articling student; a lot of office work;
a lot of office work; a lot of office work.
I had ended my bucket list and replaced it with the new list to which I have been able to add a number items.
and that is it so far.
a trip to Washington; a trip to Boston; a couple of motorcycle rides; a lecture to 4th students at CMCC; a lot of office work; lousy weather in June and July, great weather in August; a graduation for an articling student; a lot of office work;
a lot of office work; a lot of office work.
I had ended my bucket list and replaced it with the new list to which I have been able to add a number items.
and that is it so far.
Sometimes stories just fall into your lap. Like today. I had to be in court at 10 am., but prior to that I had to take my wife and sister to the airport to catch a flight. The event was such a comedy that I posted it on the Tim Horton Facebook site. Here is the abbreviated story.....
My sister and wife have loved the coffee for years. I thought they were exaggerating until today when they were travelling from Toronto to Fort Lauderdale via Pearson Airport. Their flight was leaving at 8:50 am. I called them at 8:40 and found out that they were enjoying a coffee at the Tim Horton outlet at the Airport. They obviously missed the plane.
After being on stand by and ending up in Miami their only comment was:
Tim Horton's coffee is so good it is worth missing a flight for.
go figure.
Feb. 6
Ok -- it has been almost 2 months since my last post -- but it's not like I am being paid to put my inane remarks to paper. Besides, December and January are always busy with wonderful things to do or not to do. February on the other hand.....
Anyway, I have been crazy busy and the next few months will be even crazier. Besides sojurns to Banff, Halifax, Havana, Washington and Boston, there are a couple of "meetings, conferences, or talks" that I am involved in.
And then there is continuing education programs. I attended one yesterday through a webinar. It was involving fraud including internet issues. Some miscreant must have been attending because about two hours after the programme ended I was hacked, hacked and hacked some more. What a mess.
And finally, I am really working on my new list "the "f" list which rhymes with bucket list" -- so far it involves downhill skiing, snowshoeing, dieting and making sure that I do not adher to the adage -- if it smells good, tastes good and looks good then it is not good for you. I prefer relying on my favourite cooked vegetable -- french fries -- and if I want all the food groups I just make it an order of poutines.
--- and to the person who visited my site 24 times in one day -- I really hope you found what you were looking for ;-)))))
all the best
allan
Anyway, I have been crazy busy and the next few months will be even crazier. Besides sojurns to Banff, Halifax, Havana, Washington and Boston, there are a couple of "meetings, conferences, or talks" that I am involved in.
And then there is continuing education programs. I attended one yesterday through a webinar. It was involving fraud including internet issues. Some miscreant must have been attending because about two hours after the programme ended I was hacked, hacked and hacked some more. What a mess.
And finally, I am really working on my new list "the "f" list which rhymes with bucket list" -- so far it involves downhill skiing, snowshoeing, dieting and making sure that I do not adher to the adage -- if it smells good, tastes good and looks good then it is not good for you. I prefer relying on my favourite cooked vegetable -- french fries -- and if I want all the food groups I just make it an order of poutines.
--- and to the person who visited my site 24 times in one day -- I really hope you found what you were looking for ;-)))))
all the best
allan
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