Boxing is the theme of this post:

First of all, horray!, Rocky has another movie. I am very excited.

Second, boxing day. This is my time to shine, my 'Christmas' in a commercial sense. (I love the family and visiting side of regualr christmas, hate thhe commercialism) I am excited, and started my routine, which involves buying the paper the week before, not missing one. Still no ads yet. It is a wierd year cause the S.P. would normally print them on 24th, but taht is a Sunday, and they can't wait till boxing day to run it.

I was able to get some info from Futureshop. They open at 6 a.m. this year on boxing day.

I love the earlier openning times. Less waiting, and it weeds out the weak. I will aim to be in line shortly before 3 a.m. if there is something really good. Really, we are left with 2, maybe 3 good choices this year. Futureshop, visions, and maybe compu smart. And a door crasher is not a door crasher unless better than half price, and saving at least $200. We lost the legendary king of boxing day, A and B sound. They were also the only palce we had to buy non mainstream CD's.

Maybe my dad will join me this year, he will be in town. He is the one who taught me how to boxing day shop, taught me that all good deals to be had were off the shelves before 8 a.m., hopefully we reunite the team. Student and teacher.

I would tell you what I am hoping for out there, but that is generally not done in the boxing day lines, we are friends till the doors open, then jsut hope you are not going for the same thing as me.

Bye Buy, and a Merry christmas to my readers.

Staff Christmas Party

Leading up to the staff Christmas Party, I was pretyt excited, adn boasted of my unbeatable bowling game, as last time I won by a large margin, and it is my 'sport' outside of waterski season. By being prideful, I gave other staff members something to play for, and something to taunt me with every time I threw a bad ball( which was often).

I should have never talked the talk, cause by making a big deal out of it, it is a bigger deal that I did not have the high score in either game. Great sadness for me. I had a chance in teh second game but wasted a strike by hitting a 2 pin in the last frame. The next thing I know, I am in the lounge drowning my sorrows, and I don't remember anything after that...Merry Christmas.

Ah yes, the popular position of 'Point Man' or Leader.

Some conflicts on dates for an upcoming retreat. Conflict witha quiz meet. I already know what decision needs to be made. I told the peple in charge of quizing that their ministry fit under a larger picture of ministry right from the start.

Those it will impact are not going to be pleased. I think one will take it alright, being a little upset, and one will be more vocal about it. People need to understand that if I switch to another weekend, I impact others as well. I guess, even if they don't understand that, i do, and though I try to create understanding, I have never been one to wait for total agreement of everyone before making a decision.

I know I am called to this position, and sometimes it is fun. sometimes it is not. The wierd thing is, i don't feel sad about having to make the decision, I just feel it is part of life that people will need to decide between two good things. I have to do it all the time. Would love to see those concerned and how they respond when those two choices are a ministry opportunity and family. Sorry, that is not fair, I am sure there will be maturing by the time that happens. If I can 'mature' in my thinking, I am sure anyone can.

This blog is not in anyway a critisism of anyone and their concerns, simply voicing what I am feeling, the purpose of a blog.

Have a nice day.

What a wonderful day.

After an amazingly busy Sunday, I got to stay home with my kid yesterday. We went to the parent and tot swim and basically had the whole pool tp our selves. A red pool noodle submerged and popping up around jakes floaty mat served as a dragon or sea monster. He made the 'woo ha woo ha woo hahaha music as I went through the 'ring of fire' (bubbles from 'Finding Nemo') and he was tested by a life guard to make sure he was ready for an unparented swim class in january. Wow, things move fast in this life.

We stayed in for over an hour, and rented half the pool, it seemed, for $6.

gotta love Mondays off.

Mike

Who knew about this and why wasn't I told?!?

So, last week, shortly after telling my wife there is nothing I really want for Christmas, i see in the Walmart Flyer that they have re-released classic transformer characters. (I won't name any, want to see if any of my readers can name the classics, post comment)

I told her then that I wanted some of these, to collect, as this is huge part of my childhood and did not keep any from way back. So yesterday, just to see where this re-release was going (more characters or something) I googled the word transformers. THat brought me to a movie page. Not the 1987 cartoon movie, but a real transformers movie (I guess as real as a Semi that turns into a fighting robot can be). They showed a quick preview. I can't believe it.

This is my child hood, transformers and Turtles, there was nothing else on that level for me. (and transformers were more important to me than turtles.

If my wife has been diligent in searching the walmarts, then I may have at least one, hopefully more of the classic figures to set up in my room (guitar room.)

Jake would be allowed limited play time with them when he was old enough to understand. We were watching the movie (robots, as he calls them) and the car who becoems the leader later was running and transformed to a car. Jake said 'where did the robot go', and I thought 'that's the beauty of it all, amazing'.

Anyways, no tiem for all the new transformers and toys out there, if you see a classic, pick it up for me, please. And I will have a big party to go see the movie on April 4. Anyone want to come?

Mike

So those winter tires saved a big accident yesterday.

Travelling over the attridge overpass at 60 (posted limit) towards Canadian tire, an older couple in a truck come in off the freee way ramp, and do a tripple lane change right in front of me doing 30 and never speeding up. I slammed on the brakes (it was not the kind of close where you could just slow down) and my car angled a bit but continued to travel forward, slowiing down pretty quickly, while I layed my chest on teh horn. I came easily within 18 inches of them, and they never tried to change bakc or speed up. I am sure the other tires would have had me spin more around or continue faster forward.

Here is where the human side of me comes out. i intentionally parked right beside them in the lot as we were headed to same store, and as we got out, i asked him if he had any clue how dangerous that lane change of his was. they put their heads down and walked away quickly into the store. I think they could have at least appologized, but I will try not to cling to my rights, I guess. I have asked God to forgive my anger, but my attitude still is that they can at least say something about their stupid move. I make lots of mistakes, but at least I can admit when I did.

Would it have been 'my fault' in the eyes of SGI, since technically it would have been a rear end collision? Anyways, I hold to my belief that hesitant and slow drivers cause as many accidents as overly agressive ones. It is not a snotty arrogant statement, but teh truth, unless this day we all agree to drive 30 on 3 lane major roads during fair conditions.

That is my thought for the day, happy driving.

Mike

As of yesterday, our car is now winter ready.

Winter tires, winter 'reflex' wipers. The wipers come as Robyn asked me repeatedly while I drove her somewhere this week if I could see out my side cause she could nnot from hers. I agree it was a challenge, but not impossible. If I was on my own, I may try to stick it out and drive with a streaky windshield and normal all seasons, and invest that almost $600 into a snow blower. But with my son and wife, whom I love so much, I will error on the side of safety for the car, and continue to shovel with my back and arms. not being a martyr here, just saying it was tough to spend that much on something that I normally wouldnn't. last time I had winter tires, my dad was buying them for all our vehicles 7 years ago. Back then, he put studded tires on ym '86 Capri. That rocked.

Even if I changed my mind, tires are probably unreturnable if they did the job properly. Even for the guy who can return anything at any time.

In other news, I sold a Nintendo Wii at my cost, how stupid was that. It was to help a parent in youth group, so I did not try to make money, but then i saw what they were going for on E-bay.ca, ouch.

Just like the tires, the deal is done.
so long for now.