I immediately regret my decision

I showed up to work today and there was free Timmy's for everyone. I am the only one in on my floor today so I felt I had to have a cup. I feel sick. I hate coffee.

Green Party

It may be fall..um winter around here but everything happening is still green.

One day the grass looked like this

and the next day like this

Article One: The Riders are done. They played good for about 5 quarters the entire season and went from one of the elite to the worst. That's fun hearing people bitch about them and now games aren't even sold out. Amazing how people only do whats in that year. We'll see who our coach is next year and I hope they give some young pup a chance, they can't do any worse.

Article Two: We also currently had a provincial election. I had thought about blogging this before but actually waiting was worth it. As I drove around the city in the months previous to the election I noticed a lot of billboards up for unions that might as well have said "If you want your cushy job vote for the NDP." I couldn't help but think this must be tough on the current Saskatchewan government who are not the NDP.

Here's the tough pill to swallow scenario I kept thinking of. The government gives tax money to all their organizations that run our world. This money pays people to do a job that we need in order to make things go round and our way of life generally happy. These people in turn have no choice but to join a Union. Which means a chunk of their hard earned dollar goes to this said Union. Basically the worker is a middle man and the government could have just paid the Union to exist. The only difference is the that the middle man makes it legal and more seemingly like the Union is not self serving. (In actuality all Union mandate is self serving, so just paying them to exist could actually be the case, they could continue to do nothing but take money from Joe Taxpayer) Meanwhile that said government that paid this Union to exist gets bashed by the Union. Hmmmm...How does that saying go; don't bite the hand that feeds.


So the election passes and the current government who has done a decent job of keeping the province moving forward wins the election and by a lot(2007 38-20 SaskParty to NDP, 2011 49-9). Which brings me to a few things. Moving linear:

1.

Joseph Garcea, head of the political science department at the University of Saskatchewan, said Wall benefited from the temper of the times, with votes averse to taking political risks

"people get mad, but at the same time they get scared," he said.

"They get mad at governments for certain things they do, but they get scared of change. We live in volatile times and people are not sure that they want radical change."

Maybe Joseph people get pissed off there is so much turmoil in politics. When they see a party get a glimmer of a chance and it doesn’t really affect them they think oh this isn’t so bad lets create more change. This is what I call dummy politics, our day to day life won't change that drastically when ever a change happens. In order to retain our day to day lifestyles must not. governments realize this and that is why they set aside budgets to say clear snow when you get 10 inches overnight. Also statistically speaking parties have slow rises to apex and slow falls. Remember when the Liberal were in power in the 80's? Maybe more accurately Remember the Liberals?

2. The NDP based their stance on spending more money. Money that just magically appears and is dependent on hard goods that sell in a market, this day and age the markets been pretty reliable. Also I’d like to see potash revenue, billions?? That’s a lot not sure if they understand how much that is? Also Lingenfelter, I am by no means a SaskParty advocate but when the leader of the opposition is you, what choice to Saskatchewan people have. Your not a leader and you never were. No wonder you lost.

3. The day after the election the Premier announces that they would like to make Unions "more accountable" basically giving Union Members (if your keeping up the middle man) the ability to control how the Union spends their money. "We'll focus on serving the members of the unions just like we're focused on serving all the members of the province." Legislation could happen soon even this fall. With the 49-9 count I'm thinkin it should pass. Personally I like the move, if the Unions want to continue to serve themselves and advocate politically this is a big f@!k you! Where's your table slapping to that NDP.

4. I wonder how the Green Party exists? It takes money to run and they are persistent and haven't ever gotten a seat. Maybe they save so much on energy they can afford the next years election.

5. Day 2 after the election I am driving home and see this.

Now this could be completely unrelated but it seems like it is. Can't wait to see how this turns out. Oh yeah the small print at the bottom says "We'll see you in court November 14" Turns out our tax dollar is going to pay court fees that will be through the roof. I predict $100 000 that we will see no benefit from. All thanks to the union looking out for their people. Send thanks to COPE for money well spent.


6. I have still received no word from SOSCrowns where their funding comes from. Somehow I feel they are more concerned with other things than me right now. I wonder if they will make it through 2012.


7. I hope the Union Members speak and get public disclosure on Union staff Salaries. Doesn't seem fair that all government employees get their wages released and scrutinized yet Union leaders don't. In other words if you work a government job under a Union I have the right to know your wage yet I can't know the wage of who you forcefully donate money to. When our tax dollar go some where we should have the right to know about it. I'm not real impressed I help buy those billboards and the workers should be less so as it was money taken directly away from them.


Article Three: Before I forget, I was out and about today because of the day off. Watching my clock closely. they were talking about remembrance day on the radio and I was thinking "I wonder if the radio plays 2 min of silence at 11? And what am I going to do?" Turns out I was in Walmart. Again watching my time. I was getting all prepared to take my hat off and stand still when over the sound system an Walmart employee came on and did a nice speech and asked everyone to pay tribute with 2 min of silence. It was really nice to see Walmart go silent. Excluding the few people who only lasted about 30 seconds. It all made me feel a little more patriotic.


Well that was a long blog but its over. Things were kind of exciting around here.

If I Don't Make Time, I Don't Got Time

I like think I coined this phrase a few months back, not sure if I ripped it off somewhere or not. If you have heard it before please let me know.

I said this once on a whim and at the time I thought it was a fairly good an accurate line. Now I'm just thinking that its pretty dam depressing. I say this because it is starting to dawn on me that I carry this from work to life. It seems I have to schedule time to do things with my daughter or with m lady friend. It seems I have to plan finances, nights out with the boys and juggle extra work. It gets more depressing when I realize I do this to myself. I like to think I am moving ahead but it just seems like I tack on more responsibilities and more commitment and in tune more time taken up.

I read a brief thing once on what people miss about their single life. One of the major things was spontaneity. The fact that being in a relationship takes away a spur of the moment ski trip or just the general feeling that you can do whatever you want when ever you want. I think this is fundamentally wrong. I don't feel my relationship has stopped these kinds of things I feel I have by becoming preoccupied with so much crap that doesn't matter.

Over the last few weeks I have been trying to just set aside time to write on this blog. I've neglected it as of late. But even if I am just writing about cooking fish it somehow relaxes me. I've taken the time for myself and no other time draining task has suffered that greatly. Sure I've got other things to do but you know what? If I don't make time to blog then I don't got time. There it is the sad reality full circle.

Chevy

A lady I work closely with became a grandmother for the third time a few weeks back. The little man was born at 26 weeks. That's 14 weeks short of where one would like; it actually skips the entire third trimester. He weighed 1lb 6oz and was only 11 inches long. He spent exactly three weeks in an incubator until he was finally taken out for his parents to hold him for the first time. Sadly, it was would be the only time. His lungs collapsed and this was the last act of benevolence offered by the hospital staff.

I remember talking to my co-worker and the expression of deep concern she had when the expecting mother went in with some complications at week 25. She did not know what to expect; she had a lot of people telling her things and she didn't know what the answers were. I'm not sure there were any. Then a week later, under the guidance of physicians and complications becoming more complicated, Chevy was born.

The next day at work, there was a jolly lady across the cubical from me, stricken with bronchitis but still glowing. We had a long talk about everything and things seemed to be going quite well. She still hadn't seen him yet, because she was sick. Our boss who often gets a little dramatic, yelled, "What are you doing here? Go home and get rest so you can go see your little guy!" She reluctantly went to the doctor only to find out that the aforementioned "itis" had infected her and she did finally go home and get more rest.

The next week when she came back, we had another talk. She was finally well enough to see Chevy. So the proud grandparents made their first trip in to see the new family--actually a spot that lay vacant as the newly christened parents could only have a short list of visitors which extended no further than the grandparents on either side.

She told me about her experiences and they learned that Chevy gained an ounce and a half in weight which was very good news. Everything seemed fine with him and he was fighting through all that he had to. We started to talk about the experience of the whole thing. It’s strange to think of a baby that small. She said her other grandchild's doll was about the same size. It seemed so surreal. She talked about being allowed to put your hands into the incubator and that was it. She didn't want to because she didn't want to harm him, but she did. She talked about how aware he was, that they had to move his IV once because he was pulling on it. Then after they moved it, he just grasped like any other baby would react to something of comfort.

Every action and every word was delivered with a hint of hesitation, my responses mirrored. This was the first experience with such a thing for both of us. An entire conversation blanketed in misunderstanding, inexperience and curiosity. All the simplest things we often take for granted were slightly different but somehow made sense. While we tried to grasp the reality of the situation, the ambiance of the conversation was uplifting and full of optimism.

Another week goes by and many conversations. Chevy gains more weight and tops out at 1 pound 13 ounces. Things look really promising. Then without warning, Chevy finds himself in the hands of his parents for the first and last time.

Now I sit here finding myself extremely saddened. The only thing I can do is write and that doesn’t seem to serve any justice. I’m disappointed because I thought he was going to come through. I wanted him too, I still want him too. I’m disappointed that this amazing lady I work with and her family had to go through all this. I’m disappointed that life isn’t always fair.

I guess it is all still a little too fresh, I still don’t know quite what to say or to think. The entire time I couldn’t really grasp what was going on, and even now, all I can think is that I can’t imagine what the family is going through. I’d like to tell them that everything happens for a reason but right now that is not my belief. Instead, I can only offer what seems to be insignificant; my sincerest condolences go out to them.

Tuesday Night Fish Night 3: Experiment #264

So right now you are likely asking yourself, "What's up with the bacon strips thing? Isn't this about fish?" Seriously, what is not up with Bacon Strips? They make everything better. Also seriously it will all come full circle. Even when it first dawns on you that the recipe has no bacon in it...although....

So for today's fish I went with the Sole, cause I got Sole. It's a fairly light tasting fillet that you can make taste like whatever you want. I found a recipe online that I am now going to call a fish lasagna. But if you google fish lasagna all you will find is lasagna with fish replacing some other meat. Not very impressive. Anyway here's the recipe I found that I didn't follow to a 'T' but I liked the idea. And by I found I mean my woman found and I still had to do the work. Shock.

Moving on, it turned out to be a fish lasagna where the noodle was replaced with fish. It's a bold idea to replace such petty food with meat, the man's food. An idea I first came across on Epic Meal Time. They made a lasagna where the noodles were replaced by Bacon Strips. Seriously it is more impressive than I am making it sound. But watch the video, it takes some time but once it gets into it you'll be amazed especially if you've never wandered into Epic Meal Time before. Cook your ass off and in the morning get drunk off pancakes!

Fine Tuning

First off I am in a meeting right now and really happy I got my lappy. Its a great way to pass some boring time. So I decided to live up to my boy Lyrics Born and actually practice the idea of Always Fine Tuning. Without further ado...

Yep that's right, I changed the bloggorino. I did it this past wed. night right after I posted the tuesday night fish installment number 2. I was horsing around and liked what I saw so I did it. I think it will be a work in progress may make some minor changes but I think I'll keep it to this general look for a while but just fine tune things. Not really important but fun for me in the 3 min. of spare time I get during a month... or during a meeting.

Chow!

Fish Night and Japanese WTF?!

Seriously Japan is messed. I google Japan fish and get a bunch of tatoo-ed naked ladies, weird jeans, and this:

Moving on, last nights dish was a classic fish and chips that I make often. Basa baked, grilled in butter is actually tasty-er, but baked is a little healthier. Also simpler when I am baking diced potatoes. Little lemon pepper on the fish and seasoning salt on the tots. Really what I usually have for fish night.

To make this a little special I have concocted a failsafe Tartar sauce. I find Tartar sauce when bought is sketchy, never tasting the same and some brands have a weird flavour (probably came from Japan just like that Kikkoman soya sauce). Its really simple and all it comes down to is Dijon mustard. I prefer Frenchs. Mix about 60:40 Tartar to Mustard. You can experiment with your own ratio. Likewise you will likely do this all the time as I now do. Happy eating.