What we did on the Christmas Break

Hope you all had a great holiday.. And here is what the Wife and I did on our time off.
First we bought a new 42" Plasma TV. That took 2 days as we wento numerous stores till we found the one we wanted, then they were oiut exeptfor, demo model and being a cheap mennonite boy.. Had to get a deal which meant drivin to 3 different costcos on 2 different dys, taking pictures of sales deals and finally getting 150.00 dollars of the TV!! A deal not really.. Fun Damn Right!

Then the Install that started Saturday Morning
Here is the wall all the TV and new shelfs and lights and Bookcases are going 0n
















Drilling holes and pulling wires














Lights on ( notice all wires are hidden!!)














And TADA!! Finished..
















This ordeal took 2 days, with some swearin g and cursing involved but in the end looks really nice and the HD Plasma is AWESOME!!! Anyone want a deal on a 32" CRT Sony TV? Works great!

So it has been a while... Since last post. am still a non-smoker for 8 weeks nw. Still is very very hard. I got to play my guitar and sing at Hymntyme a couple of weeks back. Was great to sing in a Trio with 2 very very talented ladies. I miss singing tight close harmonies like that. Worship music nowadays is so easy to sing compared to some of that older stuff. Was also very nice to hear some of those old old hymns sung in 4 part harmony by about 600 older people. I miss that as well sometimes. Again worship music today changes so fast no one ever actually learns a song by heart, and for sure never sings in 4 part harmony. Don't get me wrong.. I love the new music.. I love leading a band.. I love playing my guitar, I love feeling Jesus join us some Sundays, ( I Know he is always there.. just sometimes I think I miss Him). I love to play get down rockin songs with a full 9 piece band. But I also love the old hymns. At our pastor Bill's funeral last week. We did some rockin somgs like Party in the House which is a rockin and I mean rockin tune.. was great, we did Blessed be his name like the newsboys do it. Led from a driving electric guitar.. and was awesome.. we did a song with a full on big distortion electric guitar solo. Was the kind of funeral Pastor Bill asked for and it was great. BUT we did It is Well.. I cried during it ( which kinda sucked cause I was leading it) LOL and we did some older hymns and they touched me.. So all that to say..I love all kinds of music and as I get older I start to understand that the old people in our congregation that fought and struggled with the bands years ago... they had a good point. We have lost the ability to sing 4 part harmony.. we ve lost the chance to learn a song.. and sing it by heart from the heart. and sing it whenever and wherever we are. We now sing alot of generic, same old same old pound them out songs. I miss songs like the old rugged cross, it is well, to God be the glory, Because he lives.. just to name a few. I can sing them at any time anywhere, all the verses.. and relate to them. I guess I am getting old..

Hooker at WORK??

So today at my work outside the windows where I sit at there was a hooker working the street!! In the middle of the day, in an industrial part of the city? It was really very sad. She looked maybe 17-18 years old. She was dirty ( and not that kinda dirty) but mud and dirt dirty with really stringy long unwashed hair, dirty clothes. She was actually stepping into the street and flagging people down. Then she would ask the guys if they "needed anything"? One of the guys at work here had her stop him last night when he left work at around 6:00 or so and again she talked to him this morning in our parking lot.I really fell sorry for her, but am at a lost on what to do. I have no money (NOT FOR THAT!!) but to just give her as I very seldom carry cash. So we just watched her all morning from our windows as she stopped cars, almost got hit crossing the very busy street and in general gave us something to talk about.

Last Smoke EVER!!

It is 4:00PM Thursday Oct 5th 2006 and after roughly 25 years... I have had my last smoke.

I am so looking forward to being smoke free!! But it is going to be hell for the next few days.

But I know I can make it.. My wife and kids are going to need the support as much (or more then me).. LOL

But hopefully by Tuesday will be good.

Tomorrow the day's!!

Well tomorrow is the stop smoking day.. and I am stressed about it already. The Zyban works great... But still is gonna be hard to break just the habit of having something in my hand and going outside for a break once in awhile. It is gonna be a long hard stress filled, shaking, longing bitchy weekend. And that is just what Bonny is gonna feel . LOL So wish me well.. I have told all my co-workers, all my family, all everyone here... so If I am a man of my word I will be done.

Stopping Smoking!

I have been thinking of quitting smoking for the last little while and today I have decide to do it. I am going to go get my Zyban today, Start taking it tomorrow and quit smoking forever on Thanksgiving Weekend ( well friday Oct 6th to exact). I enjoy smoking but the Cons outwiegh the Pros big time, so it is time.

here are some reasonsI like to smoke..
It relaxes me.. when I am stressed at work or wherever..

It gives me a break when I am at work.. a chance to get away from my desk and regroup.

I use to like the "bad boy" Image.. a good christian lad with some issues.. made me different then my goodie two shoe peers.. ( ok Iam 2 old for the bad boy image.. LOL)

I love to smoke when I drive (which I do alot of) gives me something to do when driving across Sask or Manitoba. ( this is gonna be the hardest for me to let go off.. Have to find something to do while driving.. any suggestions?)

I get bored easily and smoking always gives me something to do..

Reasons to Quit

I really do NOT wanna die earier then I have to. ( I know I Know heaven and all that.. but I kinda like it here.. and I will get there exactly when I need to..) Last Doc appoiment my Doctor pointed out that I was a HIGH risk for a heartattack. There are 5 things that they look for in potential heart attacks.. diabetic, over wieght, smoker, history of heart problems,lack of excercise!!.. HOORAY for me.. I have all 5..So I figure I will try to fix the ones I can.. So quit smoking, lose some wieght and get in shape. Smoking first, then the rest. ( and am I gonna be pissed if I go to all this hassle and get hit by a bus!!!)

Cost.. I figure I spend 300.00 bucks a month on smokes.. Could buy me a nice bike or a sled or a holiday.. or a new guitar.. all things I would like but cannot aford right now.

I freakin stink.. time to stop smelling like an ash tray.. My wife has been a trooper for kissing me all these years.. LOL ( not nearly enough of course.. cause we never get enough sex and kissing must lead to sex right??)

My truck stinks and I love my truck.. gonna be hard to get the smell out so I will get it detailed the day I quit..

No more Burns in my truck and clothes

No more yellow fingers and teeth..

I will be able to breath to sing.. That will be great..

SOOOOO.. I hope all my friends and family will encourage me and help me out. Gonna need all the support I can get as I have smoked for 30 yrs or so..

WISH ME LUCK

Touched Me!

So I am sitting at my desk at work.. having lunch ,with my earphones in...and tears running down my cheeks. What a softie I am LOL I am listeningto a group called the Martins singing old Hymns in Acapella and I cannot lie.. I am touched. Unbelieveable harmonys Unbelieveable voices.. BUT most important they are singing He Leadeth Me.. and this song is what I try to base my life on. ( although may not always live it) To condense.. I am led by a power greater then me. My god knows what is going on, He knows when I am hurting, when I am sad and need help. And he is always there leading me, guiding me and loving me. AND the best part ( Verse 4) LOL Someday I am going to see him and bow to him, see my little brother again. No more pain, no more hurts just light and love. My family all there. What could be better. Sometimes I drift from this and forget and then a song or something comes along and I am touched.

I do not often say what I feel and what touches me or what I believe BUT today right now.

I AM TOUCHED, gratefull and so glad I am his.

AND ANOTHER THING!!!

So here is another thing that just ticks me off...... I am driving on 16th ave today and why oh why do people not use there signal lights? Do they think they are just for decoration? Are they to lazy to go to all the work of using moving the lever? maybe the clicking sound or the blinking lights makes there terats act up? or are they just IDOITS?? There is this guy driving a big redneck dodge pickup with the big tires and the bush bar and lights.. ( Probably a NASCAR Fan!!) and instead if signalling he just weaves over and assumes the car beside him is going to jam on the brakes and give him room. and he just keeps weaving in till they let him in. Now being a Proud ford owner I would not have moved.. I mean come on his dodge would have hit my ford and fell to pieces.. And here is something I had not thought of.. Maybe because he is driving a dodge chances are very good the signal lights ( well most of the electronics) were not working.. So I guess I will cut him some slack.

On a lighter note I saw the best sticker on the back of another red neck ford with big tires... etc. It said.. To all the males driving Sunfires and Neons.... YOU GO GIRL...

To funny

Nascar Redneck

So as you may have noticed my lovely wife has joined the blogger nation. That means my whole family now has a blog.. Waht a techno geek family!!.. at least we're not redneck trailor trash..
Like we don't drive pickups... wait I do
We don't wear cowboy boats... wait I do
We don't own rifles... Wait I do
We don't wear Daisy dukes and halters... wait I ... well ok just around the house I do!
We don't LOVE NASCAR.. WAIT I DO!!!!
So I may be a redneck... but at least I dislike all people equally.. But.. I do love Nascar especially Jeff Gordon the #24 Dupont car. I love watching cars go fast turn left. I love watching crashes that don't involve stupid drivers on the deerfoot. I love the hype.. I love the Noise..I love the speed.. Now sadly I have never been to live race.. No time No money :( But My %$#%$# brother got a free all expense paid trip from our company to goto Indy and see the brickyard 400. Never even knew what a Nascar was.. Or who Jeff Gordon was ( LOSER!!) And I was suposed to go but he pulled rank on me.. Oh WEll.. ( just kidding by the way he is my boss and I LOVE MY JOB) LOL

Bu in his defence he did bring me back a bunch of stuff from the race like..

This beautifull 24th scale Jeff Gordon Car from the 2004 season















And a Hat














And a Program.

I am so happy.. I spent 3 hours tonight sitting on the floor going vroom vroom and driving my car.. You got it.. it circles going left.. LOL

Camping Frustrations

So the wife and I head off to beautifull Banff to spend some quiet time in the mountains for the weekend. We get there Friday afternoon.. Nice and peacfull.. setup camp.. Doe deer walks into our camp.. So quiet so peacefull.. and then BOOM!! Stupid damn kids move into the 2 sites beside us.. NO MORE QUIET.. NO MORE PEACEFULL... Drinking and noise and yelling and swearing.. Oh the inhumanity... why do some voices carry so well.. why do people not respect people beside them why oh why. Friday night I drink enough that I finally fall asleep but Bonny is up till 2:30 or so. Saturday I think maybe they will be tired and quiet.. WRONG... more drinking, more swearing more yelling. Bonny startsyelling at them to be quiet. I just swear under my breath. They finally got the hint and went to bed.. So I am lieing in my tent thinking finally some sleep. WRONG!! the nieghbours on the other side are having a chat about her grandmother dieing and all that crap BOO HOO.. go to sleep.. So after al that everything quiets down and then BOOM the camp aways away find the volume button on the Stero and they start yelling and screaming.. I am so glad they do not allow guns in camp .. or they may have been a shooting.. Finally around 4:30 or so they shut up. Needless to say I was very happy to get home Sunday and sleep... On a lighter note

The couple beside us are geting into bed... I think they were just dating becuase of the discussions they were having. I think they are crawling into bed and the they are going to DO IT!!.. and I think GREAT I will have to hear go baby go baby oh yea oh yea.. for the next 10 mins or so.. BUT... all I hear is this huge FART... !! LOL and the ladysays GOOD GREIF Brian that stinks you pig.. I burst out laughing and I am sure they heard me.. What a mood killer that was for him cause it got really quiet after that.. So note to self.. Farting is not good for foreplay.

Oh the things I learn late in life camping!!!

And another thing that ticks me off

Soo.. here is another thing that ticks me off. I hate it when people do NOT know how to train other people. I was at my local Esso and behind the counter is a older lady (we will call her the shrew) and a sweet looking young (like 15 or so ) the Shrew was attempting to train the sweet young thing. BUT she was talking down to her, barking at her, rolling her eyes and generally just being a big bitch. The poor young thing was embarassed, her face was all red, frustrated and getting pissed off. All the Shrew had to do was explain things without rolling her eyes or being a bitch and I am sure the young thing would have got it. AND another thing.. when your traing someone to handle customers and I am that customer.. PLEASE do not treat me like I am not there. For example.. she says, looking at the girl, now ask him him if he has an esso extra card.. well holy crap just ask me and she will learn to ask the next customer. Then she says now ask him if he he wants a bag? now ask him if he wants a car wash? Holy crap I am right there. I felt like I was back in high school and was having a fight with my girlfriend.. So.. People please get some friggin people skills and learn to trin people with some dignity and respect.


On a lighter note.. We had a great weekend at the Dragon boat races watching Craig (Our son) here are some pics of the handsome lad..(mad?) still me little boy sometimes..


Here is url for all the pics from the weeked racing and a nephews wedding we had the great joy to attend.. ( ok a little sarcasm there)

http://public.fotki.com/gesau/?cmd=neweditalbum

Here are some more pics of our trip to radium.. I am still trying to figure how to make pics look good here

This is a Picture I stitched together from 6 pics.. Looks great full size

This a Pic of more berries.. I know I seem to take a lot of pics of berries

Here is a pic of a moose that we saw as we were careening ( yes that is right CAREENING) down a mountain road

This is a pic of Crystal and Carmen as we hiked from the campground to the pool ( the whining was unbeliable.. My feet hurt.. my legs are sore.. and of course.. MY BUM IS ITCHY!!LOL)

And of course a pic of Bonny and I.. She is looking ravishing as ususal and I look.. well tired and ready for a swim

Pics from Hiking

Hi Here are some pics I took while hiking at Johnson Canyon with the wife... I tell you I love my new cam!!

Check out Moms face.. LOL

So time for my 2nd post. Wow this is sooooo fun. As I was driving in today I was thinking about things that tick me off.. Oh the List is long but here is my main one for today.

People that cannot merge. On Monday coming home from Banff in heavy heavy fast moving traffic( holiday and all) there is the LADY!! yes I could tell at 140k she was a she Stopped ( and I mean totally stopped!!) at the begginning of the merge lane from Calaway park onto the #1. Really?? I mean Really???? holy crap.. Traffic as far as you can see... all moving at 120-140k and she stops. Of course there is traffic backing up on the merge lane so now all of them are stopped as well. People in the "slow" lane could not move over so I am sure she is still sitting there.. probably crying in her broken english.. traffic so fast i velly velly scared. ( Ok that was a bit harsh) and yes she was also asian.

First Blog HERE WE GO!

So after much pushing from my kids I have decided to venture into this world of blogging. Do I have anything intelligent or interesting to say.. Probably not but it could be funny!
I need to explain the name of this blog. In our family whenever someone mentions they have an ailment like a sore toe or they banged there knee or they have wicked gas.. my standard answer is.. Well my bum is itchy!. It alwasy makes my daughter laugh, my wife cringe and my son roll his eyes.. but at least it gets a reaction!. Now if the ailment is actually serious we look after it. For example if someone had an arm cut off.. They would say OH Dear my arm is cutoff!! and I respond... really!! well my bum is itchy! ( it always has to be about me of course) after the correct amount of time giggling and eye rolling we then look after the serious ailment.

Of course I have to scratch first.

So that is my first blog.. read it.. don't read I don't care... so for now I am off for a little me time scratching.. and then back to work