5-Weeks Before Launch Date

Server From Hell

Bad Service

Speaking of bad service, my Rogers account finally lapsed this week. My old phone no longer works and I am saving $25 a month. Numerous service problems with Rogers resulted in my defection to Bell for TV and internet. Only a 3-year phone contract kept me from cancelling my cell service earlier.

I was so upset with Rogers horrific service, that I briefly exchanged emails with the Rogers president Keith Pelley. That resulted in a lecture from an underling that thought I overreached by contacting the boss. Even with the intervention at the very top of Rogers, I was still treated poorly.

My work phone is still with Rogers, but everything else is with Bell. I have been very pleased with Bell so far.

I'm still livid about the Jack Astors server from hell. I'm still trying to sort out what to do. The choice is to start an international boycott of Jack's, or confront Jack's management about this incident. For a server to refuse to serve customers at her own whim, is a gross violation of basic decency and respect. Failing to provide the most basic level of service, to customers that have been unfailingly polite, generous tippers and have spent $thousands in your establishment should not go unpunished, unreported and be allowed to pass without consequences.

Flaherty Finance Minister for Big Business

Jim Flaherty is handing out $7 Billion in corporate welfare to his business buddies this year. An insurance defence lawyer by trade, Flaherty managed to wipe out a massive budget surplus, BEFORE the recession hit. A recession in which he denied would effect Canada. He eliminated 2 cents of the GST/HST which has cost the government 10's of $Billions of dollars. He has ran up the worst budget deficits in Canadian history, even worse than Brian "I took a bag of cash for no services rendered" Mulroney.

Toronto/Ontario should impose road tolls to pay for subways, end of discussion.

I still do not know why people are against a casino in Toronto. I know there are a lot of leftwing artistic types in Toronto that are against everything, tall buildings, sporting events, Olympics, any developments. I don't understand why they want to live in a big city.

None of the 3 provincial party leaders in Ontario are fit to be premier.

My MPP Rosario Marchese is invisible. Someone take his pulse to find out if he is still alive. I only hear from him at election time. I do not want to highlight one ethnic group, but if there is a single competent Italian Canadian politician in Canadian political history, since confederation, at any level of government, please point him/her out to me. Just one!  Because there are a lot of really bad ones.
My last MP of Italian decent was sanctioned by the Ontario Securities Commission and banned from trading. His wife then ran in his place, with a different last name and no written, or photographic evidence of her husband's existence.  She threatened to sue a voter that dared mention his name.

Listen I'm a Canadian of Irish background and we had some really bad politicians, like Mulroney and Flaherty, but we don't hold a candle to the Italians.

Jack Astors Worst Server Ever

Attended Jack Astors on Front Street after work Thursday. The worst waitress in the history of bar service "served" our table. We had a couple of lawyers at the table and I asked them if I had a legal right to spray her with Heinz ketchup. The answer was no.  She was a very petite, short blonde and I do not recall seeing her before. People like her should be banned from public service positions.

I waited more than 30 minutes to get my first beer, she rarely returned thereafter, forcing our table to send emissaries to the bar to pick up pitchers of beer. This angered her, as it cost her tips. She then refused to get us beers. She was a surly despicable human being. I blame her parents for rising such a little piece of shit. It has been 24-hours but I still want to go back and confront her.

The service at Jack Astors has always been terrible. They do not care about customer service. It is a great location and has a very good patio, but I'm thinking about starting an international boycott of the chain.

Captain's Cape

Capes, Slips, Merilyn all Trending

I've been getting a lot of support for my idea of wearing a cape to work.
Donut Girl signed off on the idea the other day.

A cape frees up the movement of your arms. It is surprising to me that capes never really caught on. I want to be ahead of the fashion trend. I have little doubt that others will soon be wearing capes. I want to be the first one.

I was assigned a slip for my boat late last week. My slip will be within walking distance of my home. This is big news for me and takes some of the stress of launch day, less than 6-weeks from now, away.

I note that my Merilyn St. Martin tribute was by far the most visited piece I have written on this blog. I believe that she had a big impact on my many people in our industry.

I need to practise tying knots for the boat experience. I recall that during my Navy training I could never figure out how to tie a proper knot.

I'm struggling to find the right mix of crew for the boat. The H girls and Sailor Jimmy are a given. Crazy Paul and Ryan are onboard. CB is enthusiastic but irresponsible. Everyone will be given a chance to experience the boat. I was happy to see that Richard, my boat mentor has decided to keep his boat in Toronto. He was thinking of moving it to Peterborough. We should have fun times rafting the boats together and can have about 20 people out at the same time.

Mike Layton responded to my email within 24-hours.  You may not agree with their politics, but the Layton family, including Olivia Chow, are very responsive to their constituents.