Winnipeg Free Press

Hey I didn’t even know that the my blog photos were not enlarging. For some reason I figured the problem had been corrected.. So I quit updating my Flickr page… A recent comment informed me that the pictures were still small so I upload every photo from this blog back onto my FLickr page… Please check them out as they give such a better depiction of what I was trying to capture..

www.flickr.com/photos/tomcanada44/ 

Please let me know if everything on the page is working.. To view the newest sets just scroll down to “more sets” on the right side of the page then click at will.. Hope you enjoy!
Pura Vida

Tom Canada

I have to post something about the amazing turn of event that occurred in the US presidential election last night.. This marks a day in history for the US as the first African American president was elected.. I’m sure Milt is upset because he thought either himself or is first born son was first for in line for the job, but he’ll get over it.. It is a huge shift in a national mind set that has plagued America ans it’s politics.. By no means does this marks the end of racism in the US, but it great leap in the right direction.. Racism aside the policies that surrounded the Obama campaign on energy, health care, climate change ect… are so further evolved then what we’ve had for the past eight years. The capitalistic, big money, war making administration that has plunged the US into the worst state in a century is finally on it’s way out.. It’s seems as if for once we might have a leader in the white house. Someone who wants change for the country and change for the world.. It’s not gonna happen over night but… wow what a breath of fresh air.. Looks like I don’t have to move to Costa Rica full time anymore.

Pura Vida

TC44

My final day in the Rockies was spent at Lake Louise. I was not sure exactly what to expect.. I’ve seen a lot of bodies of water in my time.. Most are hit or miss but this one could have been the most amazing and beautiful.. The Lake is super clean, crystal clear, aqua marine in color and surrounded by huge snowy peaks… When we arrived, their were quite a few tourist, but despite the numbers it was so quite.. It was as if everyone was speechless or giving respect like when you are in church or something.. We took a nice walk around the lake took hundreds of photos.. Then took a quick tour of the hotel next to the lake that was build in the early 1900’s.. The hotel experience was like stepping back in time… It was so grand and so much detail in every corner.. It was a great way to wind down the trip. We were a little strapped for time so we headed down the hill leaving the massive peaks behind.. The flight home was filled with happy reflections of the journey.. I had a smile on my face and had a positive warmth inside that has eluded me as of late.. When we touch down I felt the regeneration I had been seeking before I left.. What a cool trip… thanks for listening to it..

Pura Vida

TC44

Morning after the game we headed up the mountain to Banff.. The drive up the hill is this ultra climatic experience, with every mile becomin more beautiful and dynamic. Before you know it you are completely surrounded with towering white capped mountains.. It’s literally breath-taking. Got to our place and the first thing I notice was the amount of Australians there.. I guess Canadian mountain’s are very popular amongst Ausi’s because of the great snow and the great jobs on the slopes.. We heard about a place by the name of Johnson Canyon, that had a killer waterfall.. It was a 2.5 km up which takes about an hour and some change to hike up…. The hike was awesome… the trail was fully paved and meandered through and around the rocks and river.. It was great to see some whitewater… The river was fairly low but the crystal clear water was still flowing pretty fast.. The river was full of unique features and big drops. Definitely took me back to the raft guide days and gave me a great feeling… The large water fall at the top of the trail “Johnston Falls”  made the long hike all worth it… It was very tall and moving a lot of water and energy… The canyon adventure was a perfect way to spend the day.. But after the hike I was ready for a big meal and a warm drink….

Pura Vida

TC44

My second day in Calgary was game day.

It was a new experience to be a spectator in a place that I have always been part of the show.

I wouldn’t say that it was bad, it was just different.

It has really given me a different perspective of the game.

I see things differently. The little things I always noticed have seemed to fade. The grand scheme of the game is more apparent. It’s a trip…

We all know it wasn’t the best performance of the year.

Calgary is not the easiest place to play and it was apparent that night.

One thing that lighten the mood was the ref kept messing up his pronunciation of eligible. 

He kept saying e-ledgable. It was pretty funny: the crowd and the players definitely took notice. Gave a little comic relief in a game that wasn’t going our way.

After the game I took it easy to be rested for the journey to Banff the next day.

Pura Vida
TC44

Call me detached, but I had no idea about the Free Press strike or that I was a part of it. So I kept posting like I always do.

Then I was informed a couple weeks ago about the writer strike and that I was crossing the picket line. I would never want to burn bridges with the writers who so generously pitch my blog to begin with, so I gave my support by not posting. Hope you all understand…

So now I have to catch up for the past couple weeks. I guess a good place to start would be with Calgary.

As many of you have seemed to pick up on, I haven’t been myself as of late. The negative thoughts in my mind were beginning to take over despite my best efforts…

I felt a change of scenery was needed. So I booked a flight with a friend to go out west to support the boys in Calgary versus the Stamps… Then after the game head up to Rocky Mountains to take in some R&R in Banff and Lake Louise.

So we got to Calgary rented a nice whip and to the hotel downtown.

It was a beautiful warm day. Blue skies and the sun shining… a great day to be out west.

We got checked in and settled, then went out to meet my friends brother who lives in Calgary. We messed around town checking out the sights, grabbed some food and then headed down to the “Red Mile.”

We ended up at the Ship and Anchor, a local pub that was going crazy over the Flames home game… It was pretty neat to see the whole town coloured in red to support their team.

Every where we went we saw Flames jerseys and banners.. It was a real Canadian experience.

After the pub we decided to walk home just about 10 blocks away. The game had just let out and and hundred of Flames fans stumbled through the streets, saddened by the loss that night… It was a great beginning to the trip and a foreshadowing of fun times ahead..

Pura Vida

TC44

I took way to many photos to fit into one blog so I’ll spread them out over the next few… Didn’t take any the first night. So expect some in the next one.

Last night I attended a Variety fundraiser at Earl’s. If you don’t know Variety is an organization designed to raise money or children who have become seriously ill.

It is always a very uplifting experience to see how a community can rally together to help others in need.

For me it was a much needed mood-altering experience.

There was a young girl only 15 years of age that spoke at the event.

She was diagnosed with cancer the first time when she was eight.

Her life thus far contained stories of surgeries, procedures, medications, chemo, radiation that seemed to go on forever. In spite of all her trauma she, had such a strong spirit and awesome attitude… It kind of made me feel like a prick for ever feeling sorry for myself regarding my current situation.

My biggest problem these days is boredom, while she lives in a world of tests, hospitals and doctors.

It really opened my eyes and kind of brought me out of a bit of a funk.

I’ve come to a realization or a revelation. In life we get thrown curve balls that take us out of our comfort zone. It’s not what happens really, but how we deal with it. We can allow the bad to consume us and effect our lives in a negative way. Or we can use that energy to create good for ourselves and others.

This is definitely not the way I’ve been dealing with things thus far. It seems so simple when you really think about it. It’s just so hard to recognize while it’s happening to you. It’s amazing how in life you can get reminders from the oddest places on what really is important.

Hopefully this lesson will stick with me. Thanks for listening.

Pura Vida
TC44

It’s been a couple of weeks since my last post.

Until last night I didn’t have much positive to say.

I’m not going to go back on my own standards for this blog and write of the negatives in my mind.

Last night’s win shines some light on what could have could have been the worst season in years… It’s been a crazy ride so far.

We seen so much change…. Been in the worst of times and others that felt like we were on top of the world again. Now with a home playoff game right in front of us this season can be salvaged… Once in the play-offs we are only two games away from being back in the “Big Show.”

Who would have thought that a team would only have to get to 7-11 to make it?

That’s the wonderfully weird thing about the CFL. Anything is possible with any team as long as they don’t give up hope and keep believing. That’s the one mindset our players have had throughout all this diversity. We have always kept in mind that “it can happen”…”just keep believing”…..

Last night was a reminder to the players the staff, the fans and management that this is a good football team. Even if it hasn’t been the best of season it doesn’t matter.

It’s like the old saying “it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish”.. Hopefully we can keep this thing rolling into the post season and all the way home.

Pura Vida
TC44

First of all I’d like to give an apology for missing the signing in St. Vital mall last week. I had a small personal crisis and attending was not an option on that day…

For everyone who went out of their way to get something signed, from the the bottom of my heart, I apologize and hope you understand..

It’s been a weird week. It never fails to amaze me how fast the seasons change.

It’s like overnight the leaves have turned colors and hit the ground.

The sound of geese honking south overhead fills the sky. The air gets so cool and crisp. The winter seems to creep closer with each day leaving the warmth of summer behind.

I always get this weird feeling, kind of like butterflies during this time of year.

I think it’s the unavoidable event of change.

On the field, it always means the downhill portion of the season. The sweatpants, long sleeves, and handwarmers come out. The sideline begins to look like one big huddle like those penguins in the arctic.

It’s change. Change has been the name of the game in Bomberland. What a turnaround.

Maybe the cosmos have aligned with the seasons in favour of the Blue.

The boys head out to Edmonton tomorrow to finish off the series with the Eskimos. A win will take us one step closer to the playoffs. How sweet would that be?

Once we get to the playoffs anything is possible… Just wishful thinking and positive mental attitude (PMA) can go a long way. So send all you can out west for the boys this weekend…

Pura Vida
TC44

It’s awesome that we are digging our way out what seemed to be a dark hole of a season…

I’m really happy for the staff and the guys because there have been some extremely strenuous times thus far.

I have to admit, however, that it feels really weird looking from the outside in.

I haven’t really wrapped my mind around what it is exactly…

It’s like I’m stoked we are doing well, it just hard to feel that you are a part of it when you’re not on the field…

I know I wouldn’t want us to be doing terrible and the team to fold without me being out there.

It just leaves this bittersweet taste in my mouth.

It’s feels like you died and get to watch how life carries on without you…

Maybe not that drastic but you can catch my drift.

The reality of me being out the rest of the season is really starting to kick in.

It changes everything. It’s like that old saying… you don’t know what you have until it’s gone…

Watching the guys on TV is so surreal. It’s like I expect to see myself sometimes.. It could just be my medication but it’s very dream-like experience.

I know it’s just one of those moments in life in which you have to embrace change… Where one door closes ten thousand other doors open…

I guess I’m just venting a bit… Thanks for listening

Pura Vida

TC44