This Sucks

So enough denial. Enough trying to tell myself it’s not big deal. No more trying to ignore the tide of emotions that are building inside of me.

THIS SUCKS.

I’m talking about the Canucks. My beloved Canucks. The NHL’s 2011 President’s trophy winners. The Canucks with the league best defense and the league best offence. A Vezina trophy finalist in net, and a Jack Adams winner behind the bench. These were the Canucks with two Art Ross trophy winners and a Selke finalist leading the way.

If this team wasn’t a sure thing, then such a thing does not exist.

These Canucks dominated.  These Canucks prevailed. Injuries couldn’t stop them. Bad bounces didn’t affect them. They kept rolling forward with momentum no team could match. Their worst stretch of games in the regular season was when they couldn’t line up 2 wins in a row, but instead alternated win/loss/win/loss.

Until round 4 of the playoffs.

Suddenly, they ran out of steam. Suddenly, their potent offence dried up. Suddenly, their stellar goaltending faltered. Suddenly, their depth at defense appeared thin.

And they lost. They managed to get all the way to the 7th and final game of the final round, 60 minutes away from hoisting the coveted silver trophy, and they failed.

And it SUCKS.

It sucks for the players. It sucks for the organization. And it sucks for the fans.

At first, I tried burying my feelings of disappointment. I tried telling myself that it didn’t matter, that it was just a game, that they’ll be back soon. I tried focusing on the amazing season and great run that they had. I tried even being happy for a few of the Boston Bruins that I actually liked.

But today, I’m letting myself feel, today I’m dropping the facade. This feeling just plain sucks.

There’s no other way to put it. No other way to explain it. I’ve only been a Canucks fan since 2001, really. Since then, I’ve seen a team gradually get better and better, slowly making their way into the top of the NHL’s elite teams. This year, I didn’t want to let myself believe but they were so stunningly convincing in their play that I was suckered into hoping, believing, and before I knew it, I was convinced this WAS our year.

And by all rights, it should’ve been. In one week, in just a few days, what was a sure thing was suddenly ripped right out from under our noses.

And so my rant of the day is that this really SUCKS.

Sure, I know we have a great team. These Canucks deserved to be in the final. They didn’t get there by “beating the odds”. They didn’t get there by luck. They got as far as they did because they are an amazing group of guys, full of talent. And the majority of those guys will still be around next year, meaning that we can expect many years to come of being one of the elite NHL hockey clubs.

But that doesn’t mean a hill of beans right now. Right now, it hurts. Right now, the mountain of disappointment is too real to be satisfied by futuristic dreams and hopes. Right now, I need to simply face the emotions.

It’s just a game, but that doesn’t make this feeling any less real.

The Stanley Cup Finals and our Human Nature

Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals is tonight. And my beloved Canucks are playing for the coveted cup. But, before they do I have a rant that I need to get off of my chest today. This rant is too big for a simple Facebook post, so I will post here instead. And where else should I post it but here? This seems like the perfect spot. I come here to get things off my chest that annoy me, and lately there have been quite a few. So, without any further adieu, let me dive into what’s bugging me today…

• First of all, why are the bullets on this blog flowers and how can I change that? Not very ranty-like if you ask me…
• In regards to Luongo and the scrutiny he’s been under. He apparently can’t handle pressure. He did happen to win an Olympic gold medal for his country, but whatever that obviously doesn’t count. He’s also not consistent? That must be why his stats year in and year out have been in the top amongst NHL elite goaltenders. And, finally, he can’t be trusted to start in goal tonight. Really? If it wasn’t for Lu in games 1,2 and 5 this series would’ve been over at 4 games. Give your head a shake, people!
• Also, in reference to the Sedins being “weak”. All I can say is wow, wow, wow. Weak? Any fool can punch someone. It requires extremely little brain power and physical means to punch someone. My baby girl can’t stand on her own two legs, but can manage to slap me pretty good in the face if she wants to do so. Real strength comes through in spades when you are able to take constant abuse and walk away. Especially when that abuse goes un-punished night in and night out. Do you seriously think they enjoy turning the other cheek? Do you think it comes easily to not try and lash out in revenge? If you do, you have not had any hardships or unfair experiences dealt to you in your life. No dice, pal. We all know how hard this act is. By walking (skating) away, the Sedins have set an impressive example of what it means to truly be a man. How would they explain their retaliation to their kids? “No, little Sedin, you can’t hit people.” “But Dad, you did in your hockey game!” “Well, that’s different. Daddy was playing a game and that man wasn’t being nice. But you have to walk away even though I don’t do it in front of millions watching…” But, they are weak. Seems to me I recall many other great men of history that turned the other cheek and they are upheld as great examples of strength and resolve. Yet the Sedins are weak because they refuse to set an example to those of us watching of something bigger than a game of hockey.

And this is where our human nature comes in spades. The quick ability for us to focus on the negatives (Lu’s 3 losses, not his 3 wins that got us to game 7). Our desire to inflict pain as a method of revenge. Our lack of ability to see beyond the moment and look at the big picture.

That is all.

Office Etiquette

I’m in a growly mood. Mainly because of people! Some days, the ignorance and blindess of co-workers is enough to drive anyone mad! Or at least it’s enough to drive me into my own business…

Here’s my list of what’s bugging me today as it pertains to office etiquette (which I would hope would be common professionalism, but I obviously aim way too high):

• Talking with your mouth full of food – Seriously, if I can hardly understand what you’re saying, SHUT UP and finish what’s in your freakin’ mouth! You are in my office, have some respect! If what you have to say is so important, have your lunch at another time elsewhere…
• Say the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and… (do you see how annoying this is???) – This one REALLY bugs me. I’m not generally at work looking for something to do. Usually, I’m busy. As such, I do NOT appreciate having the SAME conversations over and over and over again! I especially do not appreciate that the same point is made 3 or 4 times in the same meeting… Say it once. Get it out. Let’s deal with it. Now lets move on, people!
• Clean up after yourself – This is home. Your wife/mom (aka “Maid”) does NOT work here (well for most of us). So, if you use a dish, WASH IT when you’re done. If your food explodes in the microwave, CLEAN IT OUT. And yet, we have to be told to do this? Seriously? GROW UP.
•  Learn how to unplug a toilet – Yep, this ain’t a joke. I have lost count as far as how many times I’ve noticed the toilet in the men’s washroom with 1/2 a roll of toilet paper jammed in it and the perpetrator has walked away. What is this attitude of “someone else can deal with my crap”??? Are you really that prissy? The plunger is RIGHT BESIDE THE FREAKIN’ TOILET. Pick it up. Put it in the toilet bowl. Push down. Repeat until plug is gone. There, was that hard? If you can’t unplug a toilet, I truly wonder about your ability to survive life… Seriously…

So there you have it. It is off my chest. If I could put this in an email and send it out office-wide (without getting fired or made to publicly apologize for being honest) I would do it! This will have to do. Maybe I can hope that one of you guilty parties will stumble across this post…

Pick up your dog crap

Here’s a rant that goes out to all you oblivious, selfish or otherwise just plain lazy dog owners. Part of the responsibility of having a dog includes cleaning up after him/her. It comes with the territory, no If’s And’s or But’s about it, that’s the way it is.

 

First of all, there are those out there that will let their dog relieve themselves on a sidewalk and still walk away, leaving it for the next unsuspecting sidewalk user to take it with them on the bottom of their shoes. For those of you like this, I’m not writing to you. Not because you don’t need to hear this, but because you’re hopeless. Truly hopeless. And no rant will change that. Also, this doesn’t even include those of you who take the time to pick up after your dog (probably because someone was watching), only to throw the plastic bag in someone’s yard or flower bed!!!! For you, there really is little help.

 

So, for the rest of you that consider yourselves somewhat of a responsible dog owner, this rant  is for you.

 

I ride my bike to and from work every day. In an effort to avoid being run over by crazy, angry or oblivious motorists, I stick to the trails as much as I can. And, of course, these trails are great not only for biking, but jogging, hiking or even an evening stroll. Most people that enjoy these trails do so with their dogs, and I commend those that are committed to properly exercising Spike and Little Miss Muffy alike. But what I absolutely abhor is your inherent lack of sense with what to do with your dog’s crap.

 

Fine, we’re on a trail, out in the middle of nowhere. So I maybe understand that you don’t think you need to clean it up. In fact, if my dog is breaking a new trail through the bushes, you’re darn right I’m not going to follow him to pick up the crap. But if my dog decides to leave a warm, smelly gift right on the trail, yes, it is my responsibility to do something about it! Grab a stick. Grab a rock, I don’t care what, but grab something and simply flick that crap OFF the trail! It really isn’t hard, but if you do find it difficult let me know and I can upload a You Tube video of the simple steps:

1.       Dog takes a dump on the trail.

2.       Owner picks up stick from trail.

3.       Owner flicks crap off of trail.

4.       Owner throws stick into bushes.

 

Pretty simple, really, so let’s all give this brand new technique a try, eh? Please, save the rest of us coming behind you from stepping or riding through it and then having to enjoy that lovely aroma all the way back home. There, a short rant for a simple process that really shouldn’t be an issue.

 

I just have to say it again, why isn’t common sense more common???

 

Water Mis-Use

Ok, I haven’t had much to rant about lately, so I suppose that’s a good thing, right? Maybe it means I’m becoming generally happier in nature and things don’t bug me as much. Maybe people are becoming less annoying? Maybe I’m just too annoyed to even bother writing... Probably the last one.

 

However, I have to write about people watering their lawns. We live in a desert. Sure, it’s Canada, but Kamloops is the Canadian desert. We have cacti, we have sandy, dry land. We have rivers and lakes that recede by extreme amounts during the summer months. We hit very high temperatures. Yes, it’s a desert. Sure, it’s no Sahara, or even Arizona, but this is a desert. And as such, you would think that those of us living here would have some idea of water conservation during the hot summer months. You’d think we would. But no, we do not.

 

Ok, I apologize for generalizing. I know there are a lot out there who do understand and comply. However, the reports don’t lie. Kamloops residents are indeed water wasters! The average water use per person per day is 790 litres over the course of an entire year. During the peak summer months, this average jumps up to 1800 litres (the average over the winter is 430 litres per person per day). This peak season is apparently 38 to 50% higher than other central interior communities, not to mention the rest of Canada.

 

Kamloops is going to be installing water metres, with a base charge for an allotment of 500 litres per day per household during the fall and winter months and an allotment of 1000 litres per day per household during the spring and summer months. This, in my opinion, is a good step. Granted, those of us who don’t even use the allotted amounts will still pay for the full amounts and that does annoy me to no end. But, those that use way more than these amounts will be charged additional, and that helps my annoyance to some degree!

 

For example, we just had three days with torrential rains this week. In fact, it’s rained probably every night so far at least once. And yet, the morning after people are out setting up their sprinklers and watering their lawns! Really people? Are you truly that clueless? Yesterday my wife went for a jog and saw a lady cleaning flower petals off of her sidewalk with the water from her hose! Seriously, is a broom really that difficult?

 

This is beyond ignorance. This is downright irresponsible and stupid.

 

Our neighbour across the street waters his lawn every day all day. And then, when Kamloops restricts our use during the hot months to only being allowed to water every other day, he must go nuts thinking his lawn is dying. Trust me, neighbour, it ain’t dying because of a lack of moisture. It’s dying because it’s drowning! And the kicker is his lawn looks very bad all summer, so you’d think he’d look it up and try and figure out what he’s doing wrong. The installation of these water meters must really irk him. Actually, it makes perfect sense. By watering every day all day during the spring, he creates a very weak and “lazy” lawn. One that doesn’t have to work to live. Therefore, when he is restricted to every other day, the lawn doesn’t have the strength to actually withstand a single day of heat. In other words, it’s a weak, fat, lazy couch potato of a lawn!

 

Anyone with internet access and half an ability to search online can find out within seconds how to properly conserve water, especially when watering your lawn. Leave your lawn longer (2-3” long, which helps retain moisture and even combats weeds). Leave the grass clippings on your lawn (they break down into fertilizer and nutrients for the roots and help retain moisture). Only water your lawn (so many sprinklers water half the street, driveways, neighbour’s cars, really?) And as for watering, water once a week. Yes, once. Not every day. Not all day. But once a week. They say water about 2 inches in the morning on the weekend (this would be about 2-3 hours). Granted, when the weeks are hot and sunny (40° or more consistently), a mid-week watering may also be necessary. Watering mid afternoon is futile as it will evaporate faster than the roots can soak it in. And during the night can actually cause rot!

 

So as I ride to work or back each day and see the countless people watering endlessly, whether it be their lawn or washing their sidewalks and/or driveways, I just want to stop and shake some sense into them. But then I might get charged with assault or something. So, I will stick to this rant for now and just hope that by some miracle, some Kamloops residents will stumble across this post this summer! But then again, if they haven’t found the other information about proper water use yet, what are the chances of them finding this?

 

He that knows not

A neat proverb I came across today:

 

"He that knows not, and knows not that he knows not is a fool.
Shun him

He that knows not, and knows that he knows not is a pupil.
Teach him.

He that knows, and knows not that he knows is asleep
Wake him.

He that knows, and knows that he knows is a teacher.
Follow him."

- Arabic proverb

 

What category do I fall into? Hopefully mostly the pupil. Sometimes maybe the teacher. But too often the fool. How can I remain more a pupil than a fool?

 

Don't mess with my routine

So, I think anyone that knows me knows that I can be a man of tradition. If I find a burger that I like at a particular restaurant, I will order that same burger every time I go there for the rest of my life. My mornings before work are very much ‘routine’. Get up, get dressed, do the bathroom things, make my lunch, have devotions, go to work. I get up at the same time and leave at the same time.

 

Now, as I’m commuting to work, I have fallen into a routine for the first while at work as well. I get to the office, put my bike up and log on. Turn on the fan (yes, I’m very hot from the ride!), and log my ride progress (speed, etc.). Then, I’ve even started blogging about my ride as well (www.kamloopscommute.blogspot.com). At that point, I’m usually cooled down enough so I go get changed and cleaned up for work. Then I get my Gatorade, coffee and toast and start the day.

 

Rinse, lather and repeat.

 

I realized today that I REALLY get annoyed if someone breaks that routine. Yes, if I am interrupted before I get changed, I get annoyed. If someone interrupts me while my toast is in the toaster, I get annoyed (this one is particularly bad because if I’m not there when the toast pops and it gets cold before I can butter it, then it is a waste of good toast and that REALLY annoys me...). I’ve even had people interrupt me while I was eating my toast with some “emergency” that really could not wait 5 minutes. No “When you’re done, can you come check this out...” Nope, just “Come now”. But I’m eating!!!

 

Anyways, just a realization this morning that as a creature of considerable habit, I really do not appreciate it when someone breaks that habit or routine of mine. It throws my day off! If I don’t get my toast before 9:30, then I’m not hungry for lunch, so I’ll eat late, which means I’m still full and digesting by the time my ride starts home which means my ride isn’t as enjoyable, I can’t catch my breath, I’m slow, etc. All because my routine was messed up!

 

So there. Don’t mess with my routine. It works, it’s efficient and the rest of my day benefits from everything else falling properly into place...

 

HAHA! I’m really not this serious about it all, just minor-ly annoyed really...