A first time for everything

I nearly laughed when I saw "carrot juice" on the menu at the House of Kabobs, located on Edmonton Trail in Calgary. It sounds like something that The Simpsons would lampoon. However, when my new Iranian friend, Mehdi (spelling?) recommended it, I just had to try it. And not just the carrot juice, but the carrot juice float.


I was pleasantly surprised. The ice cream is flavoured with saffron and the beverage tastes wonderful. I was so glad that I listened to Mehdi's advice. I also told him that the first syllable of his name is now an official word in the English language, meaning "whatever" or "a form of indifference." So the next time Mehdi recommends a carrot juice float to you, don't say "meh."

The Kings

This Beat Goes On/Switchin' To Glide (by David Diamond and Mister Zero)

Hey Judy, get Trudy
You said to call you up if I was feeling moody
Hey little Donna, still wanna
You said to ring you up if I was in Toronto
I have lots of friends that I can ding at any time
Can mobilize some laughs with just one call
Like a bunch of lunatics, we'll act till way past dawn
Sure we'll be rockin' till our strength is gone
Yeah, This Beat Goes On
Hey, ladies. Ooh, you crazies
Me and Zero request you in the Mercedes
And then we'll ride, so zoomy inside
The sky's the limit, this time I'm Switchin' to Glide

I don't give a hoot about what people have to say
I'm laughing as I'm analyzed
Lunatics Anonymous, that's where I belong
Sure, 'cause I am one, till my strength is gone
Yeah, This Beat Goes On
I have lots of friends that I can ding at any time
Can mobilize some laughs with just one call
Like a bunch of lunatics, we'll act till way past dawn
Sure, we'll be rockin' till our strength is gone
Yeah, This Beat Goes On, this beat goes on,
This beat goes on, this beat goes on,
This beat goes on, this beat goes on,
This beat goes on, this beat goes...

Nothing matters but the weekend
From a Tuesday point of view
Like a kettle in the kitchen
I feel the steam begin to brew
Switchin' to Glide, Switchin' to Glide
Switchin' to Glide, Switchin' to Glide
Energy can be directed
I'm turning it up, I'm turning it down
Even love can be affected
Harmony's the sweetest sound
Switching to Glide, Switchin' to Glide
Switchin' to Glide, Switchin' to Glide
Balancing in my head..inside of me...
taking the glide path instead.

Everybody gets the no-no
Hear it ringing in they ears
Lots of ways that you can go GO!
Look around NO disappears
Switchin' to Glide, Switchin' to Glide
Switchin' to Glide, Switchin' to Glide
Switchin' to Glide, Yeah
Switchin' to Glide, Yeah
Switchin' to Glide
Oh... ah, ah, ah... Oh... ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
I'm switchin' to glide

I finally found some way
out of this hole, you know
out of this hole!

Losing two legends

We lost two legendary football stars this week, Sammy Baugh from the NFL and Joe "King" Krol from the CFL. Both were stars of the game long before my time, but I can appreciate the impact that they had on football from the history that accompanies them. Both were multi talented players. Most players played multiple positions back in the 1940s, but not all players excelled at all the positions they played, as Baugh and Krol did.

Sammy Baugh (#33) was a natural passer, a first round draft choice from Texas who played on two NFL champion teams for the Washington Redskins. He was also a talented defensive back and an outstanding punter. One year he led the NFL in passing, interceptions by a defensive back and in punting. Only recently has his record career punting average been exceeded by Shane Lechler of the Oakland Raiders. Baugh still holds several NFL punting records after being out of the game for over fifty years.

King Krol (#73) won five Grey Cups for the Toronto Argonauts in their hey day in the late forties and early fifties. Like Baugh he starred on offence and defence and was a talented kicker. A running back, Krol was named to the top 50 CFL players of all time. He is also a member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.

These two men lived to advanced ages, but we still mourn their loss as they were legends who helped make the great game of football what it is today.

Say it S'Aint so, Deuce!

It won't be the same without Deuce McAllister running out of the backfield, or just appearing on the New Orleans Saints sideline for the next four games. Deuce has been suspended by the NFL for using a banned diuretic, which can be used as a masking agent for steroids. It all seems a bit harsh when he claims to have been using the diuretic for losing weight, and was not aware that the med included a banned substance. It also seems harsh when you compare this situation to that of Ricky Williams, whose suspension resulted from marijuana use. Oh, I hope Deuce doesn't retire in the meantime and I never get to see him play again. We want you back, big guy.

"I did it for love..."

...what more can I say? It was a wonderful wedding day for nephew Ben and his bride, Stephanie. At the nifty backyard reception, we were treated to vinyl album 1970s music. Just cool. But even the best planned musical experiences can turn a little ugly.

The emcee introduced the process by which it would be determined which table would go to the buffet next. He explained that, after he put on a new song, the first guest to come up and give the name of the song could take their table to the buffet. I had no clue on the first few songs, but suddenly, one came on that was familiar.

I took off running in my suit and dress shoes, hearing someone breathing down my neck all the way to the head table. As I arrived I blurted out: "I did it for love," the title of any old song by a '70s group called Harlequin. All of a sudden I heard a feminine voice behind me say "Harlequin...I did it for love." That's when I got mad.

The emcee detected that he had a dilemma, but I made sure I made it worse for him. His first reaction was to declare the woman behind me the winner because she gave the name of the group, ignoring the fact that she was not the first one there and was not the first one to give the name of the song. I protested: "But you said all we had to do was give the name of the song!" By now the wedding table was turned, wondering what would happen next.

The emcee finally decided to let both tables go, especially since my opponent had only her and her partner at her table and we had only six out of eight at our table. I high fived the other competitor as we headed off. I was slightly embarrassed that I made an issue of it, but the literal lawyer came out of me suddenly. My table was pleased with my effort, as I took one for the team.

The highlight for me of the entire day, was the bride's wedding vows. She pulled a Rene Zellweger when she began her vows: "Ben, you had me at 'hello'". It was very moving.

Shockey the Saint

What a surprise! The spoiled brat of the New York Giants is now a member of my team, the New Orleans Saints. Actually, I am quite overjoyed, as I have come to appreciate Jeremy Shockey's skills as a tight end pass receiver over the past few years. I also appreciate the Saints taking a leap to add another weapon to their offensive arsenal. It should be another exciting season watching the black and gold, and it is only six weeks away! Time to order NFL Sunday Ticket.

Way to go, Junior!

Wow! Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 600th career home run tonight. Not bad for a player who has said that he is not a home run hitter.

I remember when Junior broke in as a sensational 19 year old with the Seattle Mariners. He popularized wearing his hat backwards, not to be different, but just to be cool. It was so neat when his dad, who was still playing in the majors at age 39, was acquired by the Mariners and got to play in the same outfield as his son, a first in major league baseball.

I feel really blessed to have seen Junior play in person once upon a time. It was one of the first seasons of interleague play, in the summer of 1997, and my family came with me to the Seattle Kingdome on a trip to the West Coast. The San Francisco Giants were the visitors that day, so we got to see Barry Bonds, in addition to Alex Rodriguez, Randy Johnson on the bench, and of course, Junior in the outfield.

There were lots of home runs that day, and Junior hit one of them. It was so exciting. I am sure that the experience and memory is lost on my family, but I will never forget being at that game. It was worth the trip from Saskatoon to Maple Ridge to Seattle just to see Junior play.

Congratulations Junior on this amazing accomplishment. You have joined the big sluggers of history, Barry Bonds, Henry Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Sammy Sosa in the exclusive 600 homer club. Way to go, Junior!