All posts by PapaGrande

The four horsemen of the internet apocalypse

We are all responsible for it. The internet has taken over our lives and we flat out allowed it to happen. In it’s early days, the internet was simply an information source for anything we wanted to know. It was a virtual replacement for this old Funk & Wagnals encyclopedias that my father paid handsomely for many moons ago. Now it has become a 24/7 obsession with information now, no now, no right now, no I mean now. It’s completely awesome but not without it’s issues. Im my eyes, there are 4 horsemen of the internet apocalypse that are tearing down my new normal. Let me explain.

  1. Password control

Who would have thought that I would even need to come up with more variations on my nickname/pet name/favourite numbers etc to open up any simple account or webpage. Can’t I just search the web freely without having to feel like I am making a commitment to the site. I really don’t want the hassle nor the continued follow up that these sites send me. While I understand the reasons to keep my information away from the ass clown hacker who cares about my world, these passwords are unmanageable and piss me off daily. Well we’re on the topic of passwords, I equally hate members only websites where you need a password or subscription to look at their stupid shit. I don’t care about your website.

2. Online Poker

There must be tremendous money is this industry because I can’t watch any edition of Sportscentre without a commercial telling me how fun this pastime is. If I ever get to the point in my life where staring at a computer screen playing poker against some fictitious card sharks around the globe. Not only is it boring and mindless, it’s a complete disrespect for my intelligence. No thanks.

3. Customer review sites

We can all agree that it’s is always worthwhile entertainment to read the comments that people choose to give on various topics around the web. There are probably some sites where opinion makes the most sense. There are others where I want to smoke the person in the face who posts their opinion. I really hate travel reviews. There are almost always contradictions within their comments and I leave more confused about the decision to travel or simply stay home. We have gone too far when you can rate your teacher, previous lover, and favourite Game of Thrones episode. There is zero value that I get from these sites.

4. Pop up ads and spam

These are the worst people on earth who send random messages at my websites and their idiot brothers and sisters are even worse for sending me spam daily on ways for me to:

a. Collect lost money from my Nigerian family

b. Cure a raging case of herpes

c. Enlarge my penis to the point that I am a tripod

I don’t know how to stop these bastards from contacting me daily but they drive me crazy. Actually, I probably will enjoy their regular communication one day when my email box dries up. They at least provide humour in a long day.

There are many more problems with the web and I’m sure that you have your favs. Let’s just focus on the fun stuff instead like cat videos, SNL clips and eBay and say that we are better off with the inter web than without it.

Marco

 

 

The interweb is killing my Christmas…

Christmastime is here again and with it comes my lifelong obsession with retail. This truly is the greatest time of the year and I live for the commerce that flows around it.

People say, “Christmas has become too commercialized”. It’s true. We are all driven to find the perfect gift for that special person, sometimes at whatever cost. I spent a few hours Saturday at the BMO Centre wandering the aisles of staving Calgarians who were desperately dropping money for unique and sometimes ingenious goods for that loved one. I couldn’t get enough of it. The craft fair is commerce at it’s roots. Make something, likely with your heart and hands, and sell it for profit. The world of retail used to always be this simple. Go to your favourite store, shoppe, bazaar, fair etc and buy, whatever you have to to make the season right. That is until the internet ripped the heart out of Santa.

 

Now I would be a hypocritical Grinch if I didn’t tell you that I have bought presents on the web. The sheer selection of items that you can reach via the web make this a retail phenomenon. Every year that goes by, I find myself buying new and novel items that I haven’t seen in stores. But every time I hit “click to buy” I feel the knife in my heart. I live and breathe retail daily and know the challenges that stores continue to have in finding the right mix of product and value to provide unique offerings to its patrons. If we just look at the art of online shopping for the selection, value and convenience it is, retail is doomed. But what about the experience?

I realize that the experience of hitting the malls is no picnic this month but we should embrace it. Is it really a special gift if I search it on eBay/Google/Amazon and have it shipped to my home while I sit on my couch drinking eggnog? Hell no! The real art is the experience in securing the gift within the marketplace we live in. That’s what makes it a special gift and what gives you the stories to tell for years to come. Everyone loves to hear “that” story about “that” tremendous find for “that” amazing person in their life. The only place this story can be formed is within the madness of the retail that Christmas brings.

 

So let’s all head out there this next 12 days and revel in the moment. There could be a day in our lifetime where we don’t have these gigantic commerce superstructures to visit. Enjoy the parking issues at Chinook Centre. Embrace the jostling and barging that goes on in Walmart. Bang carts with the people rushing to the checkouts at Costco. Cheer for yourself when you figure out your personal jigsaw puzzle of gifts that you have to solve before Jesus’ birthday. Most of all, buy some stuff because it’s good for your soul more than it’s good for the economy. Don’t go crazy and live within your means but come on buy some shit you don’t really need or likely want.

It continues after Christmas too. Boxing Day is like retail porn for people like me but admit it, you love it too. I know we can all buy electronics online much easier but get out and smell the money trading hands that morning. I will be the guy standing in Best Buy with a big smile on my face.

Happy hunting!

Marco

Back to School…again

I made it through High School and University pretty unscathed. It was no walk in the park at times but I fared out pretty well. Decent grades, lots of beer, worked full time throughout and the occasional all-nighter. There could be no greater pressure in my life to be balancing all of these pressures as a young adult. The working world combined with parenthood seemed easy compared to that. So why the hell am I so overwhelmed with the amount of homework that I am trying to help my boys with!

Mary and I are good parents. We ask the kids to do their homework and put in the time to study. Often this occurs at the kitchen table, all at the same time. Thankfully, we have very different and balanced post-secondary backgrounds and can tackle these issues deftly. My business and writing background meshes with Mary’s science and math savvy and we are almost all covered. It should be smooth sailing except this stuff seems so much harder than it did when we were less wrinkled and had better eyesight.

I am not ashamed to say that I am baffled by high school math, let alone the math my university aged son is taking. The shameful part is I took all the same stuff 20 years ago and don’t remember jack shit. Mary has to tackle that greek scribble and she has a remarkable ability to recollect it. She takes it as a personal challenge to solve the problem, even if it takes her 45 minutes and Nic’s eyes are rolling back in his head. I will hear a random “AH HA!” from the kitchen and she high fives herself for a job well done. She is a pro.

 

studying-girl

I get to help tackle the writing assignments. Last night I was lucky enough to spend 4 quality hours with one of my sons researching and structuring a project. Nothing I would rather have wanted to do between the hours of 11pm and 3am than do that! We could pull this out of our asses! He had to get a plan in a hurry last night as we started with selecting a topic, creating a framework and I stepped back as he managed to write, edit and reference the whole damn thing. The juices were flowing and I was young again! In typical flying by the ass of his pants fashion, it was due this morning and I’m sure he proudly ran this across campus to hand it in, thinking he had just pulled of a Christmas miracle. I did my best to not nod off at my office this afternoon as the thrill of the moment had long worn off on my old body.

 

studying-guy

It’s not going to end anytime soon either. We have more kids coming through the system and I suspect I have not formulated my last term paper nor studied subjects that I have never seen in my life. They talk about career students but I didn’t see this one coming when these kids were born. Be warned, parents of the future.

Marco

I am a very lucky man

Mary and I spent a fantastic 10 days in the Bahamas this month. It was wrapped around my pharmacy conference and it is always a tremendous time spent with friends we like a lot. It was special for another reason, I asked Mary to marry me.

The decision to ask her was an easy one. There are very few women I have ever met know can carry the attention of an entire room without being the complete centre of attention. People want to be around Mary and she makes people comfortable to hang with her. She is one of the most caring and committed women I know and she always, always wants to do the right thing for people she cares about. She has completely captivated my attention for 4 plus years and I am so thankful that she keeps me in line and makes me laugh while she does it.

The process in getting to this point was not as simple. When you are young and poor, you just make it as special as you can. The ring isn’t really as important as the event itself. You need to find a kitschy way to pop the question. As you get older and have a redo, you want to make sure that the details are looked after. The event is not as gimmicky and the ring and the details need to be on par. The challenge starts with trying to find the right ring in a world of diamonds. Let’s be clear, women like bling and not necessarily the bigger the better. Mary and I did a thorough search of  jewellery stores and the inter web before she found one she liked. Then I had to surprise her by buying it and keeping it on the down low. I successfully navigated those waters and the ring looked great when I received it. Next was a plan for launching this at her.

We had this trip planned for the Bahamas and what would be a better place than that. I really had no idea how I would find the moment but was committed that this was the time. We planned for a secured beach walk on one of the first days and this seemed this my chance. I shoved the ring in my shorts and held her hand down the beach. I figured I should take a few pictures of that beautiful morning on the beach and tried to capture some of the moments, for posterior sake. Then the moment arose.

I did what any self respecting dude would do. I dropped to a knee and presented the ring. I found out later that she thought I had hurt me knee, which wouldn’t have been a shock at this advanced age. I think I shocked her that it was happening at that moment. I’m sure she knew it was coming at some point but that day was not on her radar. I was the man!

Now I will tell you that Mary has reminded me several times since that day that she has never really said yes. She did cry and hug me which in man land means yes but in Mary land means some fun at my expense. She has told me a bunch of times since that day that she never really said yes, but I know those eyes. She is happy with me even though she will remind me for years (and every time I piss her off) that she never said yes. I know better, she is going to be my wife.

mary-marco-yyc

After the obligatory posting on Facebook and subsequent phone calls to family who are computer illiterate, we are engaged. We started a week long celebration with friends that was a nice treat to a great moment. In our quiet moments, we spent some time thinking about plans for the wedding but we need time to think out that next moment. For now, I have had to adjust my terminology from calling Mary “my wife” to “my Fiancee”. It feels really nice to say that. I’m sure we will have our moments while we plan this event but I plan to enjoy it. I love this woman. Nite babe.

Marco

The NBA is back and not too soon

For those of us in the hinterland who don’t live for the start of hockey season, there is good news. The NBA has returned to our TV screens. This is a great time of the sports year for sure. Hockey and basketball kickoff. The World Series captivates the baseball fan and the NFL juggernaut keeps us yelling at TV screens several nights a week. In my life, sports is not complete without a healthy dose of roundball. If you are fan of any sport, you have a long list of the reasons why it’s your sport. Here are my top 10 reasons that I am glad the NBA is back:

  1. Lebron haters.

Now that he has been able to bring a championship back to Northern Ohio, what is left for the King to conquer? The Lebron haters will always hate and his fans will always defend him. For me, I am having trouble keeping the man out of my top 5 basketball players to ever bounce a ball. What does he play for? All time greatness and he is right on the cusp of joining the immortals of this game.

2. The team that thought 3 superstars wasn’t enough

Yes that team is the Golden State Warriors and this season is fascinating to me in watching to see if they can play as strong as they appear on paper. They will have a target on their backs from game 1 and adding Durant to an already electric team is great TV. My prediction, they don’t gel and don’t get it done. It will be fun to watch though.

3. My Celtics are relevant again

No, Larry Bird is not walking through that door but the Celtics are back. They have a nucleus of talent and are stocked with young players making them poised to be the team of the future in the East. Brad Stevens should run for President because he would have a punchers chance in my eyes.

 

celtics-logo

4. The TNT pre and post game show

I know it’s not what you would expect but this is the best studio show in sports. The wit of Shaq mixed with the unabashed ignorance of Chuck Barkley is offset by the professionalism of Ernie Johnson making this basketball gold. I could do without Kenny Smith mind you but someone has to stoke the other personalities. I spend more time watching these guys than the game some weeks.

5. We the North

Last year was awesome if you are a Canadian basketball fan. The Raptors made an unprecedented run in the playoffs and took over from where the Blue Jays left us off in the fall. The city of Toronto is definitely seeing a sports renaissance and I will be interested to see whether it continues. Stack that on top of the plethora of Canadian basketball players who have jumped into the league in the past 3 years makes every night a visual reminder of why I spend those hours coaching the youth of the game.

6. Greg Popovich interviews

Google some of the finer moments of the best coach in the league. He is sure to say something that will make you smile before, during and after a game. I like the fact that he has earned his chops by winning 5 championships and he couldn’t care less what anyone thinks of him or what he says. I take personal glee in watching the way he dissects the sideline reporters during the in-game interview.

7. The battle for mediocrity

It has been a while since parody came to visit the bottom dwellers on this league. Unlike the other professional leagues, the “salary cap” seems to have very little impact on helping those teams on the rebuild. If anything it tend stop drive packs of great players to join together to make a run at a championship. This year, there will be a new crop of last place teams who will take a run at getting into the playoffs and re-igniting their fan base. Will they challenge the 4-5 teams that can legitimately win the whole thing? No way. But I like to see new blood rise up.

 

tnt-show

8. Bill Simmons basketball Ringer podcasts

This guy is an aficionado on everything that is happening around the Association. His podcasts are insightful and funny sprinkled with enough information to make you remember that he know his stuff. If you can afford the month it will take you to read The Book of Basketball, his epic novel will give you some insight into what his weekly podcasts sound like. He is worth the investment in time.

9. Old faces in new places

It is always intriguing the way free agency re-shapes a league. This was a particularly special year for some of this movement. We lost the pleasure of a few greats like Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett and now have to get used to Derrick Rose in a Knick uniform, Dwayne Wade wearing the Bulls jersey, Al Horford in Celtics green and of course Durant in GSW blue and gold. There are several other mid-flite superstars in new digs which means that 2K17 rosters will need to be updated early in the year and I will have to struggle though learning new rosters, again.

10. The joy that is League Pass

This one makes me and my boys most happy. It’s the first time I have jumped into this new world of having access to all the games of a league. This one makes a ton of sense not just to follow the Celtics around the league but to watch players and teams around the schedule. The value is certainly there if you love a sport and this has become a must have in our TV planning.

That’s what makes me keep coming back for more. The Association is back and the few million, hard core NBA fans who love the game can revel in the re-birth. If you are a tag along Raptor fan from last year, I encourage you to take a leap into the art of this game. There is room in the junkie club.

Go Celtics!

Marco

Cohabitation initiation

Well, it’s been over a year now and there remains some disconnect in the way Mary and I try to bring this family of men together. As they say, it’s like herding cats when it comes to trying to get 2 different groups of boys to co-exist. The age gap in the boys is real and their interests make it more interesting to evolve. One group of boys drive, have jobs and have girlfriends. The other group need video games, Tweener TV shows and endless supply of support just to comb their hair. I have seen the transition before and know that one set of needs does eventually lead to the other but not today.

The challenge for us is getting a diverse group of young men to move the mountain in the same direction. It would be nice if they TRIED to co-exist in this house but the hands of time make that a dream more than reality. Given the chance, the older boys will vanish to their downstairs bedrooms to stay clear of the younger boys. The younger boys have nothing in common with the older boys except their desire to pick up the bad words and terms that give them a leg up on their friends at school. So what do we do with this?

monopoly-family

Here is what I do know. This takes work, a lot of work. We also need our share of patience, compassion and cajoling to convince some glimmers of bonding between them. You see it at the strangest time too. Suddenly, the entire group is standing in the kitchen listening to one of them tell a story and you realize that this can work. Another day, they all end up outside shooting baskets and you think, they are all the same. And they are. Mary swears they have a cult that requires them to piss on the toilet seat for her benefit. That same club requires them to struggle to fold their clothes, put their dishes away and yell continuously throughout the day. These dudes are charter members of this club but I wish they would just try to appease Mary and I with the odd board game night or possibly a Sunday dinner.

I didn’t do a very good job insisting on those little moments of family bonding as my boys developed. I used the time we spent doing homework or playing basketball to bond. Mary has a chance to correct this in the younger dudes and is sticking to her guns on many things. Trying to get them on the same page at the same time, not so much. It remains frustrating and it seems that the hill only gets steeper as the outside influences take over their collective lives.

I’m sure our issues are common in this dynamic and time-poor lifestyle. Many families have this dilemma whether their boys span an entire decade or more. Take a note from me. Dig in early on the little moments with the kids and make it a part of their routine. Had I done this early, I might have been able to continue some form of the traditions today. For now, I will continue to schedule random dinners and try to bring the group together for small moments of family bliss. I will continue to fight to have them stay involved in this union and hope more so that I can alter their future fate when they come through this path with their own kids.

 

monopoly-game

Monopoly anyone?

Marco

 

The Roses that life brings

There is just not enough time in the day. Or the week or the year for that matter. I am perpetually looking for more minutes in my day and hoping that I can use them productively when i find them. The problem is, more often than not, I do find those minutes but I’m afraid that I don’t always use them for the best use.

It’s a struggle for me to take a deep breath and smell the roses. I am a very driven individual who tries to make valued use of the day that is presented. I had someone, many moons ago, teach me that lesson. She worked in a restaurant and described to me that she never brings a plate of food out without bringing back to the kitchen with her. It would be a wasted trip otherwise and your day would become an inefficient mess. She was right. I have lived to that motto my entire life and have become very comfortable multitasking within anything I am doing. My issue continues to be, should I be multitasking in everything I do? Can’t I just focus on one thing or one person at a time?

This makes relationships difficult, especially those who know me best. Mary and the boys know that that’s who I am, even to the point of laughing at my desire to be cleaning the floors while watching a movie. Or emptying the dishwasher while eating my breakfast. I wish I could just sit and relax. It would serve me so much better to be more involved in the moment, rather than thinking about what I should be doing to be productive. I want to be that person but this efficiency has become ingrained in me for a long time now and the habits are very tough to shake.

 

rose-1

My goal is to try and give myself more to those who need me. I need to become more focused on them and their story while remaining engaged in the moment. The rest will wait and still be there when the moment is gone. Life passes you by very quickly if you choose to let it. I need to have those conversations with the boys that they need as young men. I need to make time to work with them on their issues and walk through what it takes for them to navigate their ever complicated world. I know what needs to be done but can I do it?

More importantly, I need to devote that time to Mary. She is such a vibrant woman with great ideas and grand plans in this world. Not being focused on her is not only an injustice its plain stupid on my part. She has so much to teach me that I really need to know but I won’t learn it without some focus on that time. These are some of the best moments in my year, simply listening to this dynamic woman wow me with her knowledge and energy. Why must I be wiping the countertops while she is regaining me with her day?

The answer lies with me, as it does with most things in ones life. I need to smell those roses more and more. I have to realize that I just can’t do it all nor accomplish it all. It’s ok to not be productive at all times. It is most important to stop and listen, and in turn communicate with those around you who grace you with their attention. Most things in life can actually wait for a few minutes and most people can effectively understand those rare moments when it just cannot wait. It goes without saying that your phone or electronics only add to the difficulty. Find me a successful person and they will show you how important that tool has become to their world. There are a million articles written on that topic and all of them say that you should put the damn thing down. They all lead to the same problem for me. Those roses just won’t be there forever.

 

rose-2

Take a note from a chronic multi-tasker, when you find people that bring you roses, there is nothing more efficient than smelling them over and over and over. That’s what they are there for.

Marco

A true hidden gem – DJ Market

Mary and I heard from our friends Michelle and Alan about somewhere new to get fresh fruit and veggies. We decided this was the Sunday that we would venture over to the Blackfoot industrial area and see what the fuss was all about.

It was better than I expected. Although the location is certainly not on the beaten path (4645 46th Ave SE), it was an easy to find location just off Blackfoot Trail SE. As you approach the colourful quonset looking building, it looks nothing like your new world farmers market. As you come through the door, you realize quickly that this place is going you have some quality and selection in produce.

The first thing you notice is the variety of selection that this quaint place has within it. Seasonally, you will find choices in fruit and vegetables that your average grocery store will not have. I was surprised at the variety of vegetables that are in stock this weekend and we quickly started loading our baskets full. The second thing is the quality of the product. Fresh produce is not always in abundance in stores. We were pleased with the quality of the product and even more pleased when we sampled the goods lated that night. Lastly, we were stunned at the amount of product we were able to buy for less than $30. Things like hot peppers, grapes and baby carrots, which often go at premium pricing in grocery stores, went for bargain pricing here. I was cautioning Mary on the price of the Champagne grapes she was loading into bags when I realized they were priced at half the grocery store rates.

 

dj-market

The staff were very helpful to us and the patrons were even more helpful. You could tell that these customers were fond of this market and wanted to pass along their experiences testing some of the more unique samplings of the assortment. They would steer me towards their personal choices and give me the tasting choices of the selection. I can tell you that I tested their hypothesis that evening and they were right in all cases. I was well informed by them as to the seasonality of the foods and the fact that the market shuts its doors in mid-November as the supply of local veggies dries up.

Overall, we loved DJ’s Market! It was a refreshing change from the traditional farmers market experience and lended itself more to shopping at a farm, than a market. Is it worth driving from the far NW or NE corners of the city to buy? Probably not. But if you are living in the south central part of Calgary, this is a must try. We look forward to reloading our fridge there again next week.

Marco

 

Kenny Rogers rides into Calgary

Mary and I had a chance to see a legend tonight. The Gambler himself, Kenny Rogers made his final, self proclaimed visit to Calgary.

Mary and I have made a habit of frequenting the Grey Eagle casino to see these legends as they come through. This one was a special one for me. I grew up on his music. My parents were a fan and therefore I became a fan. I was even a fan of the bad 80’s movies that came from his music. The guy just has charisma and people wanted to be with him and everyone wanted to be him. Tonight, he showed that even at 78 years, he could tell a story with the best of them. He took the audience on a journey of his entire life in music, telling the stories and highlighting the people who made his amazing 60 year career possible. By his own admission, he has become old. His knee replacement made his mobility impossible and the old pipes just sounded more raspy than ever, making some of his trademark moments difficult to hear. But he can still entertain.

 

kenny-rogers-young

His music was always transcendent. Not country and not pop but somehow always mainstream. His duets with Dottie West and Dolly Parton made for some of the most memorable songs of this generation. His blockbusters like “The Gambler”, “Lucille” and “Islands in the Stream”, still brought the crowd to their feet and left you with a glimpse as to how great he was at commanding a room. He made sure to hit all of the highlights of his great musical anthology and we all left thankful for what we had witnessed. It allowed me to take my own journey down my Kenny Rogers connection as well.

My Mount Rushmore of under appreciated Kenny Rogers songs:

  1. All I Ever Need is You (duet with Dottie West). This is my go to song when I want to here the energy that he carried with his favourite female duet partner. Take a listen through this classic song once more and enjoy the playful voices within the song.
  2. Love Will Turn you Around. I loved the movie Six Pack, where this song was written for, because that was the way I remembered Kenny. The song has a tremendous meaning to me and always brings a smile to my face when I hear it come on.
  3. Something’s Burning. The buildup in energy within this song, makes this a song that has to be played when regaling this man. The way he slowly takes you through the intensity of this song makes it a masterpiece.
  4. Love Lifted me. Many versions of this song have been sung over the years but none this powerful. This has become one of the greatest choir songs ever but has so much more value. One of the best songs he wrote and one that many artists has enjoyed success from.

 

kenny-rogers-older

 

Better than all the music is that he genuinely seems like a great guy and someone who you would enjoy talking with if the opportunity ever arose. I will always remember the way he was able to laugh at himself on places like variety shows, concerts and even talk shows. Even last night, you could hear in his voice that he wasn’t willing to put on a concert anymore if he couldn’t do it well. He knows he isn’t the same performer that we all recognize and he will ride off into the sunset knowing he had that kind of showman impact on crowds everywhere.

I guess the Gambler does know when to fold em’ after all.

Marco

What I cherish most this Thanksgiving

Another Thanksgiving is upon us and it’s another opportunity to list some things that are most important to you. Here are some of my reflections on this day:

  1. I’m thankful for Mary. She has entered my life like a whirlwind of energy and she makes me so thankful to be alive. She is the most wonderful person I know and I can only hope to be as supportive to her as she is to me. You know how there is that person in your life that you look to for every emotion you are in need of. That’s Mary! I’m not sure where I would be without her holding my hand in life. I love you Mary.
  2. I’m thankful for my boys, and Mary’s boys too. These young men challenge me daily to be a good mentor for them and they teach me so many things about them and myself everyday. I’m thankful that I can be some small part of making them into great men one day. Peace out boyz.
  3. I’m thankful for my job. This one might not make most people’s list but it does mine. I am honoured to work with and for the customers and staff of my company. We make a difference to people and I am thankful that I can represent their passion for greatness. I am so thankful to have tremendous partners who make this business a joy for me daily. There are more good days than bad every year, for sure.
  4. I’m thankful for my Dad, brother and sister. I don’t get to be with them enough but they are the people who have made me who I am today. They remind me of all the things I need to be in this world. Love you all.
  5. I’m thankful for my mom. She is in a better world now but she was the person who shaped me. She was always there for us and her ability to communicate has inspired me to be better than ever. Those who knew her, will always remember knowing her and that’s a hell of a tribute. Love you Ma.
  6. I’m thankful for basketball. It was and remains one of the singular moments of joy that I have experienced. Nothing feels like the joy of winning and the pain of a loss. I still play weekly and stay involved in the game to pass that joy along to others.
  7. I’m thankful for my health. Like us all, we put ourselves through stupid pain and suffering. We should treat our bodies as temples but beer and wine taste so damn good. Hopefully I can drag another 50 years out of this body but I’m thankful for where it’s got me so far.
  8. I’m thankful for Calgary. This city and it’s people have given us a home and family. It’s a tremendous city that is underrated amongst the best. There are better cities in the world but not one that means as much to me. Thanks 403.
  9. I’m thankful for sports. The world of sports has given me so much joy since I was a young boy. Even though my beloved Celtics, Steelers and Blue Jays have lost far more than they have won in my life, those championships have been so sweet. I’m thankful that they continue to grab my heart and my imagination.
  10. I’m thankful for commerce. Where would the world be without effective commerce driving decisions on how we manage our finances through buying and selling. Commerce is a good thing and we should all thank our forefathers for the creation of the free-market system.
  11. I’m thankful for the internet. I know it has it’s warts but man this thing is awesome. We totally take this for granted but name the things you couldn’t live without in this world. Food, water, shelter and internet. Nuff said.
  12. I’m thankful for Mexico. And the Bahamas, and Jamaica and Hawaii and everywhere where the temperature makes us forget the world of winter. I am so blessed to be able to get a break from the cold during the winter and I’m thankful that these places exist.
  13. I’m thankful for Sirius Xm radio. I get so much joy from the eclectic variety of music and talk radio that I absorb everyday. It is quickly creeping into my Mount Rushmore of things I couldn’t live without in my life. Thanks Yacht Rock and Mad Dog Radio.
  14. I’m thankful for those slow moving moments in bed on Sunday mornings. As the kids have found a need for additional sleep in the morning, I now enjoy those slow moving Sunday mornings more than ever. They are a great replacement from a long week or getting up too early.
  15. I’m thankful for the gym that gets me out of bed the other 6 days of the week. Without that purpose, I would struggle to keep weight off and struggle to get my ever-stiffening Achilles tendon from functioning. Mostly, I get to spend 45 minutes a morning pulling myself together for the race that today represents.
  16. I’m thankful for family photos. Thos reminders of how far we have come. Although Mary and I continue to look like we are getting older, so are the people around us. It is a fascinating look back in time to days when your kids or your parents were younger too. Take a half hour and look at them someday.

thanksgiving-beer

I could go on and on with more things but ultimately they lead back to one thing. I’m thankful for today. I can’t say that everyday but I probably should. Everyday that goes by is one that I can’t get back and I am choosing to genuinely be thankful for the gift/challenge/struggle/joy/beauty (sometimes all in one day) that the day brings. Happy Thanksgiving 403.

Marco