Well there really does seem to be some spring on the way! There are lots of flowers starting to come through, with shoots for crocus, tulips and daffodils all coming up.
But yesterday!!! — We got our first bloom! Yep – it’s really spring!
We did some nice long walks around the park today – was really nice. Bright and sunny and while it’s still pretty crisp, you can tell spring is right around the corner.
When Trevor Linden retired, it was a no brainer that there would be some kind of tribute to him. He really was the kind of man we all wanted to be… Not just the way he played the game, with pride and integrity – you never got cheap shots from Linden – but the way he was in the community. And in “real” life, he gives his time to Canuck Place, a hospice for dying children.
There was something special about watching him play. You knew he gave you everything he had. He didn’t have to face the media and say, “gee I guess I didn’t come to play tonight” as we heard so many times from Markus Naslund last year.
That ’94 run was magical, and yes, I’m aware it says something about the state of the Canuck’s franchise when a run to the finals twenty years ago is as good as it gets. Linden was tireless and resolute. In today’s NHL, Messier might have been suspended for the crosscheck to Linden’s face at the end of game 6.
During the retirement ceremony lots of the ’94 team members were in attendance, including Pam’s favorite Martin Gelinas, Geoff Courtnall, Kirk McLean, Gino Odjick, Harold Snepsts and others. After the ceremonies were over, the uniforms the players wore went to an online auction site to be sold to benefit the Kid’s Hospital. Well, I won the Courtnall uniform! That’s right – that uniform you see Courtnall wearing in that picture is now hanging in our TV room!
ON ANOTHER NOTE:
Just been having a gas with Sports Action. I’ve been putting down a bunch of 2 buck bets over the last little while, and while I haven’t hit, I’ve got 4 of 5 right 3 times. So now I’ve learned about this Combo playing, we’re going to give it a whirl on tomorrow’s slate of games.
Saturday and Sunday are fun to play because you can have morning, afternoon and evening tickets – 6 bucks total bet. If you take a few ties, you can hit for 7, 800 bucks. Too funny.
I have no idea how the combos work, but every combo costs you a bet, so hopefully I’ll do a 4 of 5 and get some combo pays.
This is a government lotto; we get the tickets at our local 649/Super 7 dealer. For two bucks, it’s fun to see who can win some bragging rights!
Here is a link to the BCLC site for sports action. Take 3 ties and watch the payoff on a 2 buck bet! Hilarious.
Well as of today, it is one year to the Olympic Winter Games in February 2010 in Vancouver and Whistler.
Most of the infrastructure is in place. The speed skating oval and most of the skiing venues are being used already.
Today they revealed the torch for the games – a most unusual looking device. Not exactly traditional…
There is a lot of controversy here in town about whether the Games are good for us or not, and you can put me down on record as being in favor of them. I think they will be an economic stimulus for the province, reaching areas the government never can with their stimulus packages.
Sure we’re likely to be carrying some debt, but I really think the Athlete’s Village will be a boon for the city in the long run. And I do think a bunch of the venues will be very well used after the Games are gone.
The speed skating oval, in Richmond, not Vancouver, is really something. It is clearly state of the art, with typically west coast architecture. I’m going to take a drive up there and check it out.
It was originally scheduled to be on UBC land, but I think there was a ruckus from the Native Indians because they claim the land, so they moved it over to Richmond. (I think that’s the story about the oval… certainly could be wrong about that.)
Well here we are expecting more snow! How can that be?
Oh woe is us….
Last night we watched the Canucks plaster the Hawks, jumping out to a 6-0 lead… but what was particularly sweet was that Mike had a Sports Action ticket and the Canucks victory was his third correct guess and he picked up a cool 265 bucks.
My ticket was worthless, but I coulda won 800 bucks… Pam was too afraid to play – she talked a big game, but didn’t want to back it up with cash! (Ah…… quite rightly as it turns out LOL)
I’d be ahead 20 bucks if i hadn’t bought mine!
Anyway – here is a picture of Max protecting his toy, just like Mike was protecting his ticket!
Well spring seems to be on the way. Bulbs are coming up, and the grass looks to be waking up. Back to cutting grass soon!
Quite the winter we’ve had. Never dreamed we’d see one so bad after the one last year, which was so bad… figured it would be a mild one. Next year, we deserve one!
Anyway, here’s a picture of the sunrise today, from out our front door. It was pretty colorful for us! Hope you all had a good day.
Here we are and January is gone already! Pam and I took Max over to Serpentine off leash park and there were lots of goofy, fun dogs there today. Max was able to get in some serious running with a number of dogs.
This guy in the picture was, without a doubt, the clumsiest dog in the universe. He must have run into me 4 or 5 times. He was hysterical! There was also a little terrier of some kind, a little white guy, kept sticking his head in the puddles. Not to drink, but to get his face all muddy. A most unusual trait.
And you know what – I’m picking the Cards in the Super Bowl today. Hoping the old guy can do it. By old guy I mean Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals quarterback, who will be 58 on his birthday. But hey, I will take the points!
Just writing a quick note before the All Star game starts.
Max and I went to the off leash park for a brisk stroll. The weather has finally cleared, after 19 days of fog. So we took full advantage by getting out in the sunshine 
and enjoying the company of other dogs.
Max is super friendly with other dogs, and he is always scooting off for a big romp with one dog or another! He intercedes when other dogs get out of hand, too, like he’s the cop of the outfit or something. It’s a strange thing to see actually.
He races around with big dogs or little dogs, rough housers, or shy types – he just wants to go for a run! He was really good with people today, even let a few people (women) pet him and touch him without him reacting negatively. A great sign.
