I've been neglectful in updating my blog. As the temperature drops I should be getting back to more regular updates.
I will be putting The Brawler back into storage next week. Due to issues with a rogue mechanic I only put about 270 KM on the boat this season, barely half of last season's total. Still we had good times on the water. This past weekend we had a late season heatwave of 25C sunny weather. I still have not mastered parking the boat but I'm incrementally getting better. I've increased my skill set on the water including remote pick-ups in downtown Toronto.
I had Matt, the most experienced boating friend of mine, on The Brawler this weekend. He noted that the stick shifts for the twin engines are very stiff and that greatly effects the ability to conduct subtle shifting and fine motor controls. I will see if I can get that corrected over the winter.
I will be writing about atheism, premature Catholic Confirmations, Stephen Harper, Premier Wynne, Toronto's mayoral race, sports and other topics of interest in the next week or so. An update on By-Law Boy and a return of my popular Poker Nights.
Monday, 29 September 2014
Sunday, 14 September 2014
Office Tension on Moving Day
I have worked for my company for 13-years and we have moved offices about a half dozen times. Usually it is just moving to different floors in the same building. Last Friday was another moving day. As I am a veteran of offices moves I know all the tricks. I also know that you should order extra packing boxes. People usually underestimate the number they will need. I cautioned my co-workers to order more boxes.
Our assistant was mocking the number of boxes I ordered saying that it was too much. I told her that I knew I what I was doing and the lack of boxes come moving day was sure to cause chaos. Boxes arrived the Monday before the Friday move. Instantly other departments started to raid our box supply. I noted this and secured my allotted 27-bins. This is a another feature of moving day, peoples' true character is on display. Thievery and hoarding are openly practised. I even wandered over to a neighbouring department and told the workers that there would be internal tension come moving day. We would have to organise a post move pub night to repair relationships. On moving day all bets are off as it is every man and woman for themselves.
I do not steal what is not mine even on moving day. I just order extra boxes and other needed supplies. I put them in my cube and guard them like Fort Knox. If you did not order the correct number of bins, or failed to stop other departments from stealing your supply, you are on your own as I warned you that would happen. We were lucky this year that they ordered an emergency supply of bins at the last minute.
This next week we will be unpacking our boxes in our new cubes. By the way I secured a great new corner cube with a view, a result of seniority in the department. We will also be repairing fractured relationships in the office. A lesson learnt for the newbies.
Our assistant was mocking the number of boxes I ordered saying that it was too much. I told her that I knew I what I was doing and the lack of boxes come moving day was sure to cause chaos. Boxes arrived the Monday before the Friday move. Instantly other departments started to raid our box supply. I noted this and secured my allotted 27-bins. This is a another feature of moving day, peoples' true character is on display. Thievery and hoarding are openly practised. I even wandered over to a neighbouring department and told the workers that there would be internal tension come moving day. We would have to organise a post move pub night to repair relationships. On moving day all bets are off as it is every man and woman for themselves.
I do not steal what is not mine even on moving day. I just order extra boxes and other needed supplies. I put them in my cube and guard them like Fort Knox. If you did not order the correct number of bins, or failed to stop other departments from stealing your supply, you are on your own as I warned you that would happen. We were lucky this year that they ordered an emergency supply of bins at the last minute.
This next week we will be unpacking our boxes in our new cubes. By the way I secured a great new corner cube with a view, a result of seniority in the department. We will also be repairing fractured relationships in the office. A lesson learnt for the newbies.
Monday, 1 September 2014
TFC Fiasco
Toronto FC may finally make the playoffs this year after 8-seasons but not without a complete franchise meltdown. After the publicity of signing Jermain Dafoe and Michael Bradley during the off-season it appeared that TFC was headed for a golden year. One of the problems is they kept their rookie coach, Ryan Nelson, who had guided the team to a pathetic 6-17-11 record the year before.
Ryan Nelson who was an active player at QPR of EPL at the time of hiring had zero coaching experience. Instead of hiring assistants with long coaching track records he surrounded himself with other novices. The word is that veterans like Dafoe and Bradley found his training methods to be bush league and his in game tactics to be even worse. On top of that MLSE management overruled their new General Manager and favoured Nelson's in season acquisitions. It was only when the GM rightly called out the players to step up their game did Nelson get his well deserved walking papers.
Who did MLSE replace Nelson with? Greg Varney who has no head coaching experience. Let's hope this works out but don't hold your breath. Then oft injured Dafoe is heading back to England.
I've advocated this before but if TFC miss the playoffs this season it is time for the fans to walk away from this franchise. They are getting their 9th coach in 8-seasons. Just when they seem to get their act together it all blows up in their face.
Ryan Nelson who was an active player at QPR of EPL at the time of hiring had zero coaching experience. Instead of hiring assistants with long coaching track records he surrounded himself with other novices. The word is that veterans like Dafoe and Bradley found his training methods to be bush league and his in game tactics to be even worse. On top of that MLSE management overruled their new General Manager and favoured Nelson's in season acquisitions. It was only when the GM rightly called out the players to step up their game did Nelson get his well deserved walking papers.
Who did MLSE replace Nelson with? Greg Varney who has no head coaching experience. Let's hope this works out but don't hold your breath. Then oft injured Dafoe is heading back to England.
I've advocated this before but if TFC miss the playoffs this season it is time for the fans to walk away from this franchise. They are getting their 9th coach in 8-seasons. Just when they seem to get their act together it all blows up in their face.
Labour Day Weekend Thoughts
We had a great cruise Saturday to watch the CNE Toronto Air Show from Lake Ontario. We had 8-people on-board. I made two inner harbour pick-ups. We had to leave the Ontario Place Harbour early and dark clouds were chasing us from the west. I docked near Spadina with seconds to spare before torrential rains hit. We waited out the storm for about 15 minutes and the rest of the day was great, sunny and hot.
Sunday I had at the H-girls on The Brawler. We viewed the Air Show from my slip at OP. As I had learnt last year that is a much better area to view the show. The planes fly right over top of the boat. The ladies loved the air show. We then did a tour of the Ex (CNE). OP gave us free passes to the Ex as we need to cross their grounds to get to our boats. CB loves the air show but thinks it is better to view it from 2 miles out in the lake. That is clearly not the case.
I very pleased that my boat parking is much improved. I'm probably batting .900 in parking right now. If anything the backing up is more troublesome and even there I'm at least .800. i rarely draw a stern look from my neighbour who rarely takes his boat out. The remote boat pick-ups are a hit.
Sunday I had at the H-girls on The Brawler. We viewed the Air Show from my slip at OP. As I had learnt last year that is a much better area to view the show. The planes fly right over top of the boat. The ladies loved the air show. We then did a tour of the Ex (CNE). OP gave us free passes to the Ex as we need to cross their grounds to get to our boats. CB loves the air show but thinks it is better to view it from 2 miles out in the lake. That is clearly not the case.
I very pleased that my boat parking is much improved. I'm probably batting .900 in parking right now. If anything the backing up is more troublesome and even there I'm at least .800. i rarely draw a stern look from my neighbour who rarely takes his boat out. The remote boat pick-ups are a hit.
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