Blog or white ... because it never is.

  So, that is me and my bff Alison Kreviazuk.  Well, in my mind, we are bffs.  In her mind, I am just some crazy lady she met at a pool who wasn't going away until I got a selfie with her.  In actuality, I think she tolerated me quite well for three days that we spent pool side together.  I think she was impressed with my knowledge of curling and didn't mind talking to a true student of the game.  I think she got used to the fact that I knew more about her than she would have liked me to know.  She started to use my fanaticism to work to her advantage because I would be her runner for things like food and drink.  I also became her screener for other fanatics who wanted access to her.  If they couldn't get past me, they weren't getting to her.   Anyway, like I said, our perceptions of each other were probably pretty different.   That is usually the case.  Our perceptions of ourselves are usually quite different from others.  That is more often than not our fatal flaw.  

  It has been a struggle to look at the world through rose coloured glasses lately.  As we approach the New Year,  we don't have much positiveness left inside of us, but we seem to have heaps of negative energy.  There is lots to not like as we head into a New Year;  cases are rising and new records are occurring almost daily; really low temperatures;  backlogs in testing; no rapid tests unless you have a substance problems, if seems, lack of plans for a safe return to school, to name but a few.   In my own life, I have a pain in a region that it not known to have pains.  It is a place on the body designed to provide pleasure yet I feel like I have been hit with a baseball bat.  I know, I am over-sharing, but it hurts like a blazes.  My ex-husband was a cattle farmer and I am more familiar that I would like to be with the calving process.  Older cows often experience prolapse when they are giving birth.  It is not pleasant and the "cure" is temporary and also not pleasant

  Yesterday sucked.  December 25 usually sucked but yesterday achieved new levels of low in the suckdom meter.  It sucked so bad that I didn't even have the energy to take it out on my husband.  Later in the evening, I rallied somewhat and gave it a go but it wasn't my best work.  It was a horrible day.   Today, as sad as the news is, the Canadian Mixed Doubles Olympic Trials have been cancelled and my world seems to suck just a little bit less.  Earlier in the month, I wanted, no, I needed to go to the trials.  I wanted to go and cheer, just let off a little steam.  About a week ago, I decided I couldn't ethically attend.   Yet, they were still going to proceed.  Manitobans have a back-log in testing of over 5 figures.  Manitobans are told that if you have symptoms, don't get tested, just assume you have Covid19 and self-isolate.  I wonder how that is going to work for employees and usage of sick time in this untrusting society.  Worse, as Manitobans wait hours and day

  He told me this story more than once but I loved hearing it every time he told it.  His family immigrated to Canada from China when he was in Grade 5.  No one in his family knew a word of English.  But, the first day he arrived in school, his teacher took him under her wing.  She ate her lunch with him every day and kept him after school every day for an hour teaching him English.  It only took a couple of weeks before she took the whole family under her wing.  Not only would she see him every school day, she started visiting the family every Saturday and Sunday.  Helping them with English, filling out government forms, job applications, and just generally navigating them through life in a new country with a new language.  It didn't stop when the school year ended.  She continued to visit the family daily in the summer and when he was in a new class the following year, she still ate her lunch with him every day and kept him after school for an hour teaching him English.  Graduall

  The liquor marts and the casinos are going to be handing out KN95 masks to their patrons.  Apparently, a box each.  Calm down that is yesterday's news.   Here is today's news.  People who received these masks are selling them on social media for a profit.  Now, there is nothing illegal about this.  But, gosh, what a dick wad response.  Seriously, how can people be this immoral?   Well, this type of behaviour has been the problem throughout Public Health's efforts to control the pandemic.  People find ways to be immoral.  We are mandated to wear masks indoors while shopping.  People don't want to wear masks so they find places to shop that won't enforce the no mask policy.  People are supposed to be wearing masks in casinos unless they are actively eating or drinking.  Some people don't want to be wearing masks in casinos so they buy a bag of popcorn and eat one piece every time someone reminds them to put their mask on.  They eventually exhaust whoever is remi

  805 cars stopped 21 impaired drivers were processed 121 roadside breath tests were conducted  40 traffic tickets issued Highest BAC was 330mg - more than 4 times the statutory limit That is the reporting of the Winnipeg Police.  I admit I don't fully understand it.  When they say 21 impaired drivers were processed, does that mean charged?  When they say 40 traffic tickets issued, does that mean in addition to the impaired drivers or including them?  It does not really matter.  Catching 1 is too many. What I am really interested in is how many impaired drivers live with an addiction and how many just made the choice to commit a crime?  I am not suggesting that the law treat them any differently, but I am suggesting that if someone is living with an addiction, there is no legal deterrent that is going to make them stop.  They need treatment.  We all know that police officers have too much to do already, so we all have to do our part.   If we know or suspect someone may be living wi

  Do you remember when the first shut-down happened?  It was less than two years ago.  My husband and I had a great time together.  My watched everything on Netflix and drank shandees every night.  He learned to cook and to bake.  He couldn't wait to get home from work and try a new creation.  Everyone was making sourdough bread.  Social media was flooded with DIY projects and ideas.  We were all banging on pots outside our doors every night or we were watching people banging on pots on tv.  We went for long walks because that is about all that we could do and we were incredibly kind to everyone we met on paths.  I have a girlfriend who lives in Ontario who is not a fan of Doug Ford.  Yet, every day she would tweet how much she appreciated him and the work he was doing and to keep going.  I planned my day around watching the Prime Minister's daily update outside of his cottage outside of the GG residence.  That was everyday at 10 am and then there were a series of provincial up

  The reality is that I have lived longer without my dad than I have lived with him.  He lived a great life and died when he was 80. But, he didn't live long enough for my life.  Having said that, I was blessed that I got to share my first 25 years with him as my best friend.  I often wonder when I will finally be over it and when I will feel joy at Christmas.  From what I have been let to believe, there are some people who never get over losing their dad.  I think I am one of those people.   As sad as I am that he left us in 1992, I recently have become grateful that he left us in 1992 and not 2021.  Last evening, I read Winnipeg Free Press editor Paul Samyn's emotional response to his mother's death.  She did not die because of Covid19, however, there many factors because of Covid19 that may have contributed to her death.   My father spent a little over two months in St. Boniface Hospital before he passed.  The staff at the hospital cared not only for my dad but for our w

  The Winnipeg Free Press has just tweeted a story that will likely be published in tomorrow's edition.  The headline reads that "Mennonite Church in Grunthal Goes Vaxxed Only".  The story is an extension of the headline.  A Mennonite Church is Grunthal is going to only allow parishoners to attend in-person services if they are able to show evidence of being fully vaccinated.   Why is this a news story?   They are following the rules.  Big whoop. That is worthy of a news story?  They are doing what they should have been doing all along?   Just so you know, I, like hundreds of thousands of Manitobans, have been following the spirit and the letter of all Public Health Orders for the last two years.  It has been difficult at times but we wouldn't consider not doing what has been ordered by Public Health.  

  It took a long time for this to happen but the major sports leagues appear to have finally come to terms with their platform in regards to social justice.  It did take a long time for them to get on the right side of this one.  For long periods of time, they would turn a blind eye towards steroid use, addiction, mental illness, domestic violence, etc.  They pretended that it didn't exist in their leagues and even worse they used their platform to cover up stories where this existed.  Through an awakening of social justice issues, the NFL, the NBA, the NHL, the PGA and other major leagues have realised that they are just a collection of individuals who are representative of larger society.  So, they realise they have players and staff that struggle with issues that plague society such as addiction and mental health concerns. They realise that they will have some "bad apples" that will have problems with the law. If a story breaks, they are not happy about it, but they al

  You have no idea how much I was looking forward to attending the Canadian Mixed Olympic Curling Trials in Portage La Prairie later this month.  Not only was I looking forward to it, quite frankly, I felt I needed to go.  I, like almost every other person on the planet, is exhausted almost two years in to the pandemic.  I need a holiday.  I need a chance to cheer like an idiot to let off some emotional steam.  I need to get on a plane and go somewhere where I can feel sunlight on my body.  I need a chance to see some celebrities.  So, I know I am not getting on a plane anytime soon, so I was really looking forward to making the 50 minute drive to Portage La Prairie.  It was more than I was looking forward to it, I needed it.  I was looking forward to three nights in a hotel in PLAP.  Again, it is only 50 minutes away.  I could commute but I wanted to stay in a hotel just to stay in a hotel.  Just to feel like I am on vacation.  I wanted to patronise some small local restaurants in PLA

  This evening we were really looking forward to going to play Trivia at the Monday Night Good Will Social Club League.  I don't know if it is really a league, but, it sure is to me.  Prior to the pandemic, our week rocked it almost every Monday.  There were big prizes to be won.  Like a free beer for the next week.  Our time was especially strategic as the first place team is required to sing a karaoke song chosen by the crowd.  Our goal was to finish second.  It is harder than it sounds because that meant strategically letting other teams "overhear" an answer to an especially tough question to level the playing field. We had other tactics but I can't disclose them all.   Then, the shut down happened.  No trivia.  Having to spend our lives online.  Then, the circuit breakers or whatever.  There always seemed to be something.  Then, things basically came back to normal.  Sure, mask mandates continue but I sort have resolved myself that we will be wearing masks for the

  I feel blessed to have a circle of friends.  My friends are awesome and you can tell a lot about a person by their circle of friends, so my friends make me feel awesome.   My friends had a lot of news to share on social media yesterday.   One friend noted that she has been laid off work for the next three weeks.  That makes me concerned.  We are being told in the media that the average Canadian is only a paycheck away from not being able to pay their bills.  We are told that the average debt load of a Canadian reaches a new high every year.  She says that she is off work due to a slow time at work.  I wonder if this is predictable for this time of year or if this is Covid-related.  I guess the bigger question is what is normal anymore?   Some friends shared their worries for their loved ones back in the Philippines. Sadly, there seem to be so many typhoons in the Philippines that we seem immune to it.  I love the Philippines.  I have never been there but  have been blessed by having

  Yesterday, the Winnipeg Police Service tweeted that over the past year, they have received 7780 missing person reports, averaging 707 per month.   Holy crap.  That is a huge number. That averages out to about 24 each and every day.  That is basically one report per hour 24/7/365.   This is just too much.  The Police Service has responded by initiating Project Return.  The aim is to protect youth who are at a high risk of being sexually exploited and to locate those reported missing.   These numbers are just too high.  Our Police Service is just too busy.  We need to help out to keep each other safe.  If you see a youth at risk, do what you can to be a positive person in their lives so that they have always have someone to turn to when they are in trouble.  If you see something that you think may lead to a youth being exploited, say something.  Do what you can.  Let's look out for each other.  Our youth are our future.  Let's nurture them at every opportunity.  

  I was very sad to hear that allegations of sexual assault against Chris Noth.  There is something about him that I have always liked.  He was my favourite character on Law and Order.  He is the only reason why I watch The Equalizer.  He was the perfect Mr. Big.  Even when he was being an ass to Carrie, he always seemed to be one of the good guys.  I just got over ugly crying over his death.  Now, I know Chris Noth is not the characters he plays, but he is so handsome and appears so charming, well, he just is likeable.  His interviews have always made him appear to be thoughtful and a feminist.   Now, allegations of sexual assault have been made against him.  He has denied them.   Frankly, the timing is interesting, but I believe survivors.  Disclosure is always complicated and we shouldn't judge when and why victims disclose.  In this case, there is more than one accuser.    I have to admit though, that I am sad.  I always thought he was an ally and respected women.   I guess it

  WPSTraffic announced that they would be out last evening and they advised the public to expect increased enforcement for impaired driving via ongoing patrols and strategic Checkstops.  The police service added that if you chose to drink or do drugs, that you should not drive. Arrange for a DD, take public transit, call a ride-sharing service or stay overnight.   The Winnipeg Police Service also gave a virtual tour on twitter of their fancy van that they use for the Checkstops.  It looks state of the art, and if I do say, very clean.  I enjoyed the virtual tour because I will never have another way of seeing the inside.   This may not be a news story that becomes a lead story, but it certainly captured my attention.  I don't know if it makes me sad or angry.  Seriously, impaired driving.  People still do this?  Why?  How can anyone get behind a wheel of a vehicle while impaired.  Why is there still a need for Checkstops?  Why do we need deterrents in 2021 not to drive impaired?  

  This news item is a bit of a snore.  Of course, political parties establish their own way of doing things.  They set policy, they have their own constitution of how they conduct business.  The members decide how they are going to do things and it is the members who change it.  If you like it, you join that party by paying your membership.  If you don't like it, you either join the party and try and change things from within, or you don't join and go on with your life.   A couple of decades ago, I belonged to a club called the Rebekahs.  I didn't like that I had to wear a long pink gown to many meetings.  Essentially, I didn't understand or appreciate their traditions and rituals.  Guess what I did?  I quit.  It turns out I was under no legal obligation to be in the club and as it also turned out, the membership liked wearing the gowns and understood the traditions and rituals.  So, I do me and they do them.  I didn't make a legal challenge.   So, I never understoo

  Shortly after many of us celebrated the Bomber's success, our focus quickly changed to that of our other professional sports team, the Winnipeg Jets.  Let's just say that the Jets, so far, aren't meeting the expectations of fans lately.   Usually, we know that when a team is not doing well, that changes will happen.  (Don't make me talk about Team Bottcher roster change again.)  Often, it seems there is a change in coaching staff.   So, I sort of expected that POMO would either resign or be fired.  That is just professional sports for you.   I am glad that Paul was able to resign because he did so with tremendous class.  Much respect and gratitude is owed to this man.   So, even though I suspected it was going to come, what I wan't prepared for was the level of emotion of fans and media.  The level of emotion for this piece of news was intense and still continues 24 hours later.   This, on the same day, that new public health restrictions were announced.  Yet, the

  It kind of feels like my grandson is never going to be able to play in a ball pool again.  It kind of feels like no one's grandchild is ever going to be able to play in a ball pool again.   New restrictions announced in Manitoba to take affect Tuesday.  The restrictions were announced by Manitoba's Chief Public Health Official Dr. Roussin at 4 pm yesterday.  He was flanked by the Premier and the Health Minister.  It is good to see that, however, does it sound like Dr. Roussin's style to have a presser at 4 pm on a Friday.  I have to say that I am curious about the timing.  The end of the day and the end of the week while people are finishing their work week and on their way home.  It is almost like they didn't want to answer questions.  That does not seem like Dr. Roussin's style.  He seems unabashed, direct, decisive, and takes his role seriously.  I just really hope that he is running the show when it comes to public health.  Our public health really is too impo

  Sometimes you want to be in a bad mood.  Today, I want to be in a bad mood.  And, I emphasise bad.  I don't want to feel sad.  Sad is just too overwhelming today.  And, I want a change from feeling sad.  I don't want to wallow in self-pity, I don't want to be anxious, I don't want to feel desperate, and I don't want to feel angry.  Unfortunately, I have learned a lot of dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) skills over the last two years.  Unfortunately, these skills have become muscle memory.  So, when I am feeling "big" emotions, my mind knows strategies to reduce these big feelings.  Usually, I am grateful for these skills, but not today.  Today, I am determined to be in a bad mood.  It is really difficult because I am seeing nothing but happy people in a festive spirit.  And, for some reason, both the news and social media are doing nothing but sharing the good stuff.  Seriously, how annoying is that.   Thank goodness, I have a great go-to that will gu

 The first Christmas after you lose someone is hard.  You won't feel like celebrating but you will go through the motions  for the kids and your family.  It will hurt every moment.  You will focus on the presents you are not buying.  You will focus on the chair that won't be sat in.  The jokes that won't be told.  The rituals that will fall by the way side.  The memories of past Christmases will suck the joy out of the whole Christmas season.  But, you will get through it.  Someone in your life might be brave enough and kind enough to ask you questions about who you lost.  You will smile and cry as you talk about the good times and even the sad times. You will cherish all of it because it was still better when they were there.  You know they would want you to go on and create new memories.  But, the first Christmas after you lose someone is hard.   The second Christmas after you lose someone is hard.  You won't feel like celebrating but will go through the motions.   Th

 Toronto billionaires Barry and Honey Sherman were murdered in December, 2017.  The murders were especially heinous and there was no apparent motive.  I don't run in the Toronto billionaire circle so I had never heard of this couple until their murders.  It seems they were amazing people with obvious unlimited resources and were very philanthropic.  I can imagine that given the circumstances and the identity of the victims that this would be a top priority for Toronto Police.  Their four children, as the inheritors of their parent's estate, would also have unlimited financial resources and I am sure at least one of them would have hired a private investigator.  Their murder garnered international attention.  The media has especially been interested in this case, their estate, and all documents related to such.  Reporters often have sources unavailable to the police that can make them extremely valuable investigators.  There was a $10 million dollar reward for information leadin

  For a long period of time, we had no options to go out to a restaurant or an entertainment venue.  The shut-down kept us at home drinking shandees and watching Netflix.  Quite a few of us baked and experimented with new recipes.  I remember the first couple of months of the shut-down were kind of nice.  I learned that my husband and I will be able to be together in any circumstance and we actually really like spending time together.  But, it did get old pretty quickly.  I really wanted to get out and get back out there.  I will never take Winnipeg for granted again.  We have a great city with lots to do and adventures to have without spending a great deal of money.  Unfortunately, we lost a few local restaurants, but we also gained a whole array of new ones.  There is always something to do or so.  I know a retired couple that does "Winnipeg Wednesdays".  They pick a different neighbourhood in the City and just explore for the day.  They do all that they can do, shop in out

  Actual picture of me after eating Willy Dogs.  Face needs to be disguised due to being covered with bbq sauce.   Let's face it.  I love Willy Dogs.  I have loved it since it was established in 2018.  Some would say I have been stalking Willy Dogs since 2018.  If you ask me why I love Willy Dogs, I will tell you twenty different things.  Actually, I was recommending Willy Dogs to a friend last week when he told me that I forgot to mention the food.  I realize I have been taking the food for granted.  It is time to talk about the food.   The burgers are amazing.  Nothing like what you would get in a chain restaurant.  Actual home made hamburger patties, each one unique but all delicious.  My husband loves the chicken burger. I wish I could say I have tried it but he has never given me a bite.  I would like to try it but it is a hard enough decision for me deciding between the regular Soko Burger, the Super Soko Burger, of the Kolbassa Smokie that I just can't add another choice

  I would like to thank the majority of my loyal fans for asking me to write about poker.  It means so much to me to be asked.  Seriously, thanks to both of you.   People have asked me what is the best poker advice that you have ever received?  Well, I have received a lot of great advice but the best one has been "stare at your crotch for at least two minutes before making any move."  Thanks to Mike Postle for that one.  Although that advice hasn't worked out as well for me as it did for him.  Although, I guess in the long run, it didn't work out so well for him.  During the pandemic, poker fans were looking for stories to follow and the Mike Postle alleged cheating scandal captured our attention.  With every scandal, there is some good that emerges.  In this case, it is the rise of popularity of Veronica Brill.  I have to say that I like that a Canadian girl has become the resident Poker Superhero.  I am jealous that she is so beautiful.  What I really like about Ver