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It’s so tough to shake off that turkey high

Hopefully most everyone was able to gather together with family and friends to give thanks for all the many blessings and successes

Hopefully most everyone was able to gather together with family and friends to give thanks for all the many blessings and successes we have enjoyed over the past busy year. The gala fall celebration moved around the big table that was likely decorated with your best cutlery, silverware and table cloths, and would soon be complemented with a magnificent Thanksgiving feast, along with all the traditional trimmings and treats.

During the week that followed, most households were enjoying what was left of the big bird that good old dad had carved to perfection; including turkey soup, salad and sandwiches, and maybe even an old drumstick and a little more of mom’s exquisite stuffing. During all the festivities of Oct. 8 you couldn’t help but feel just a little sorry for all those plump turkeys that lost out to the oven but after an extra piece of pumpkin pie, that sympathy was all soon forgotten.

If we are calorie counters, that jolly weekend did not get passing marks from our show but don’t tell bathroom scales. It is always great to let loose just a little and we can now get out in the brisk air and shake off the pounds that we don’t want. As for those perky young Tom turkeys who survived the annual fall holiday, they will continue to rule the farmyard, shaking their wattles, while strutting and fluffing their tail feathers to impress the ladies — at least until early December rolls around.

Will World Series fever make up for the loss?

Instead of being glued to the television set watching Hockey Night in Canada, many of us are likely satisfying our sport’s lust by enjoying the thrills and spills of football from both sides of the border or by getting involved in all the nightly baseball games that will crown a 109th World Series champion by Nov. 1. While the hockey millionaires continue to squabble over an even bigger slice of the National Hockey League pie, I really think that most of those millions of avid and loyal fans, young and old, are getting really tired of all fluff that is going on in the board room and getting nowhere.

After three hockey stoppages in less than a decade, maybe both sides need to shake off their pomp and pride just a little and realize that it is the hard working fans of all ages who have continued to dig deeper into their pockets to fill the rinks and set the stage for them to become rich and famous superstars and owners who always seem to want more than just a good game. How about a compromise to get this season going: the players take a pay cut and the owners reduce the admission prices by the same percentage? Just a thought. In the meantime, I am going to go down to the rink and catch some junior and minor hockey action or maybe even take in a Western Hockey League or Chinook League game, all of which will cost a whole lot less than watching those professionals that we have so faithfully cheered for and idolized for so many great seasons.

How to tame rude cellphone users

Yes, I do have a cellphone but I do believe that there should be a few rules of etiquette and courtesy when we are using one of these fancy electric gizmos in the presence of others. Along with someone fiddling with their iPod while you are trying to carry on a nice visit or enjoy lunch with them, how bad is it when the cellphone is always ringing and we must try to be a part of a three-party conversation?

Here is how one quick thinking lady solved the rude and often annoying problem.

After a busy day, a tired commuter had settled down into her seat and closed her eyes as the train departed from the station. No sooner had the train got up to speed when the guy sitting beside her pulled out his cellphone and began talking in a loud voice. “Hi sweetheart, it’s Eric, I’m on the train, and yes, I know it’s 6:30 and not 4:30 but I had a long meeting.”

Getting even louder after the reply from the other end he shouted, “No, honey, I was not with that floozy from the accounts office, I was with the boss, and of course you are the only one in my life, cross my heart.”

Fifteen minutes later he was still spouting off in high tones and when the young woman sitting next to him had finally had enough of his ongoing tirade, she yelled at the top of her voice: “Hey Eric, turn that stupid phone off and come back to bed!”

My guess would be that good old Eric had a hard time getting out of that one and does not use his cellphone in public anymore. In the meantime you can now start your outside decorating for Halloween and Christmas now but also take a little time to have a great week, all of you!