2009 Submarine Races

and so the bickering continues..........as I've said all along nobody wins in a strike. The strike continues to divide people after we've gone back to work.

For 10 weeks we stood out in the rain and wind and cold and endured big promises from the Union, 'hang in there' 'we're all in this together' 'the employer is the enemy' and so on.

In the end the Union caved to the company's demands because they could no longer fight them. So what. The contract was a fair one and I was happy to vote for it. I was one of 42% that voted yes but 52% voted no so we were at a standstill.

They brought in Canada's best chief negotiator in labour, I was impressed. Way to go Vince. Vince looked at the contract and said, 'it's a good one, not much more I can do here' and to appease the people who wanted more money for driving he added a nickel an hour to our wages. Yup, a nickel.

And THEN he said, we're going to charge the company to give the Union a bonus of $400,000 to be distributed amongst the members.

But he didn't specify which members. The drivers understood it was the for them because we didn't get the wages being asked for. Then the office workers who make more money than the drivers wanted a piece of the pie. And I don't blame them. As a driver I made an extra $150/week driving an essential service shift.

So now, instead of deciding what to do with the money, we're voting on Super Bowl Sunday 'do we give the money to everyone who picketed or not'. What kind of lame vote is THAT? Of course we do! But, gee, wouldn't it be nice if those of us who were out there the whole 10 weeks got a little bit more than the ones who showed up the first week, said 'nope, not for me, I'm getting another job' and we never saw them again?

There's my rant for today. Grow up. Put your big girl panties on and grow up.

New Airport Security Rules

Anniversary Time

We don't usually make a public announcement so it's not like anyone knows to go out and buy us a card but every year Chris and I do something special for our Anniversary.





Anniversary of what you ask? Good question, you can make up your own answer in your own mind and then.......keep it to yourself. Understood? Good.






So this year on our anniversary we went for a 2 day getaway to the island to a fancy schmancy spa and resort place. Bee-yoo-tee-full!












It was fabulous, our own little log cabin with big girl soaker tub which opened doors to the living room! How cool is that! Except we didn't use it because we were across the street at the big ole Grotto Spa.









There we enjoyed swimming in the mineral pool with a cool refreshing shower at the same time. Swimming around the rocks and taking a dip in the really hot pool, then going back in the cooler pool. So refreshing!


The best part was eating tapas in our robes.......only spa attire allowed at the tapa bar and only accessible from the spa. Yes, just us being served in our spa attire. Very cool. And the prawns and scallops? To die for. If I ever have to list the menu for my last supper on earth it would be at the top. OMG. OK, I sound like a teenager here but really, it doesn't get any better.

We enjoyed a trip to the beach, watched a wedding party being photographed (boy did that chick in the strapless gown look cold) and a really nice relaxing weekend.

Airline Announcements

United Flight Attendant announced, 'People, people we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!

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On landing, the stewardess said, 'Please be sure to take all of your belongings. If you're going to leave anything, please make sure it's something we'd like to have. '

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'There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane'

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An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited, smile, and give them a 'Thanks for flying our airline.' He said that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane.

She said, 'Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?'

'Why, no, Ma'am,' said the pilot. 'What is it?'

The little old lady said, 'Did we land, or were we shot down?'

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As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Ronald Reagan, a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: 'Whoa, big fella, WHOA!'

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After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in Memphis, a flight attendant on a Northwest flight announced, 'Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because sure as hell everything has shifted after a landing like that.'

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Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: 'We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal.'

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Overheard on an American Airlines flight into Amarillo,Texas on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final approach, the Captain was really having to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Amarillo. Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!'

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'Your seat cushions can be used for flotation; and, in the event of an emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our compliments.'

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'As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses......except for that gentleman over there.'

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Heard on Southwest Airlines just after a very hard landing in Salt Lake City. The flight attendant came on the intercom and said, 'That was quite a bump, and I know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight attendant's fault, it was the asphalt.'

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After a real crusher of a landing in Phoenix, the attendant came on with, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Capt. Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we'll open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal..'

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Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement: 'We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of US Airways.'

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Heard on a Southwest Airline flight - 'Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking section on this airplane is on the wing and if you can light 'em, you can smoke 'em.'

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A plane was taking off from Kennedy Airport. After it reached a comfortable cruising altitude, the captain made an announcement over the intercom, 'Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Welcome to Flight Number 293, nonstop from New York to Los Angeles. The weather ahead is good and, therefore, we should have a smooth and uneventful flight. Now sit back and relax... OH, MY GOD!' Silence followed, and after a few minutes, the captain came back on the intercom and said, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so sorry if I scared you earlier. While I was talking to you, the flight attendant accidentally spilled a cup of hot coffee in my lap. You should see the front of my pants!'! !

A passenger in Coach yelled, 'That's nothing. You should see the back of mine!'

Yesterday my mom and I went to see my step-father Paul on Vancouver Island. It's a long trek over there from Abbotsford, takes about 5 hours each way between driving and sitting on the ferry. My mom gets very stressed out from it and it's an emotional time for her.

Paul was very confused as to who we were. He knew our faces but couldn't place our names. He smiled when my mom came in the room and stood up and hugged her. But he didn't know her name. He hugged me and said it was good to see me in his usual loving way but no clue as to who I was.

Conversation is difficult between him telling us about his 'new job' with the Govt Health Dept (?) and the young couple that comes and visits him every day with their baby (Picture of his granddaughter on the dresser). He doesn't seem to think anyone else comes although I know his daughter and son come regularly.

I wonder sometimes why God keeps people around. My Opa thought God forgot about him when he got to be 98 years old and still alive. Paul is 86 and his body lives on without his mind. I can never figure these things out and when I get to heaven I'm going to ask what it's all about anyways. Why does God take home people who have their whole life ahead of them?

Paul is a wonderful kind, loving man who adores my Mom and has treated her like a Queen. He's been generous to me loving me like a daughter. He loved my brother John and wept when we lost him. He doesn't know my other brother and wife because they're never around.

I grieve for the loss of Paul whenever we visit. It's saying goodbye in bits and pieces as we watch his mind fail and body grow weak. He's a shadow of his former self. I look forward to the day when God takes him home and gives him a new body.
Here's to you Mr. Paul, hope 2010 is good to you and God blesses you and gives you His peace.

Strike's Over, Back to Work!!!

and with that news we all shout Hallelujah! Back to picking up the peeps in the short bus! Yippee! Honk for the Handy's!

Happy New Years!

As in our usual tradition of 'we're too tired to stay up so late' we called it a night at 10:30. I worked an essential services run yesterday so came home at 7. We enjoyed appies and wine, then a movie about young love (ah, young love) and hit the sheets. I'd say 'hit the hay' but we all know I don't do country.

Chris and I talked last night about our life together and how blessed we are. Who knew 7 years ago that we would be here today? In this place, at this time? No one but our Heavenly Father who designed the whole thing in the first place.

We have a wonderful life together, we bring out the best in each other, and are very much alike in some things and different in others and aren't we glad about that. Chris is my rock and I very much appreciate all that she does for me. She supports my decisions and although her opinion may be different than mine, she still stands by me and helps me through it.

I'm Chris's biggest fan. She needs to be challenged (on account of those big brains of hers) and I encourage her to go for it. She's not one to grow complacent and just accept life in a box. That's me.

Here's to 2010. May it be the best year ever!

Oh, and the strike is over, can we all shout Hallelujah! 10 Weeks! Over!