Dog On A Root

- jim Young “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” - anon Who’s Calling The Kettle Black? It’s possible that when Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips booked his trip to St. Barts in the Caribbean, things seemed to be looking up a bit Covid-wise in Ontario. But by December 13 when he left for his vacation - not so much. Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips Still, we were not in a lock-down situation province wide nor was Phillips likely aware, like the rest of us, that we would be facing a lock-down situation immediately following Christmas. However that does not excuse Phillips’ poor judgement given that the province of Ontario was urging everyone to avoid non-essential travel during that time. When are politicians ever going to learn that they need to lead by example? Phillips’ decision to take that vacation was a monumental, stupid error in judgement on his part. Granted, Phillips is accepting full responsibility for this error in judgement and not trying to make ...

- jim Young "I’ll always feel you close to me and though you’re far from sight, I’ll search for you among the stars that shine on Christmas night." - anon In spite of what you might have learned from Bob and Doug McKenzie while listening to their version of the “Twelve Days Of Christmas”, the real Twelve Days of Christmas actually begin on December 25 and end on January 6. Over the years, however I have chosen to celebrate the Twelve Days Of Christmas on the days leading up to Christmas Day, beginning on the 13th of December and ending on the 24th. Some years, in lieu of stocking stuffers on Christmas Eve I would surprise My Shirley with 12 small individual gifts giving her one to open each day as sort of a cross between the Twelve Days Of Christmas and half of an Advent Calendar. When we were in the workforce we often celebrated the last 12 working days leading up to the Christmas holiday with employees taking turns bringing in a different snack each day for all to enjoy....

- jim Young 20201209  “When one door closes, just open it again. It’s a door. That’s how they work.” - anon One of the many challenges we have faced with the pandemic of 2020 has been how to cope with family gatherings and familiar traditions that are not permitted this year. Christmas traditions that will have to be cancelled or altered in some way will probably be the most disappointing for many people. Click on the picture to see a larger view.    The Barrie Chamber of Commerce  Santa Claus Parade is one such tradition for me that I have been involved with for the past 6 years. That may not be a long tradition but it’s a very special one as I have taken the seat of honour high in the sleigh at the end of the parade each year during that time. So it was understandably, with great disappointment that I read the Barrie Santa Claus Parade had to be cancelled this year, due to Covid concerns. Instead of just throwing their hands up in defeat however, the Barrie Chamber...

 jim Young “Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts.” - Janice Maeditere I am Santa Claus. I feel like I’m bragging when I say that and in a way I guess I am. It is a great privilege for me to be able to say “I am Santa” . In the movie “The Santa Clause” Scott Calvin, played by Tim Allen took over the role of Santa Claus almost overnight. All he had to do was put on the coat of the previous Santa. After his first Christmas as Santa, Scott then had just one year to get his affairs in order to become the “real” Santa. But that was just a movie. In real life, the ascent to this position of privilege is a process of evolution that takes a much longer period of time. Like every other child, I adored Santa Claus and looked forward to his annual Christmas visits.  My mother was largely responsible for keeping Santa alive for us for so many years. She was the Spirit of Christmas in my world. Well into her 80s my mother continued to buy gifts for all...

- jim Young  “The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” - Douglas MacArthur I remember as a young boy I would often prevent my father from taking an afternoon nap by laying beside him and barraging him with questions or begging him to tell me a story. My father never turned me away in favour of the nap he had been looking forward to. One such afternoon while he was relating some of his stories about his service in the RCAF during World War II, I asked my father why, when knowing he might be killed, he joined the air-force anyway. My father had a way of simplifying complicated issues and breaking them down to the core of the problem in a way that a young boy such as myself might better comprehend. “Hitler was a bully,” my father told me, “and he needed to be stopped.” That satisfied my curiosity for the time. Later I was proud to learn that my father had a history of standing up to the proverbi...

 

- jim Young “Based on the state of politics in the world today, is there really any such thing as ‘political correctness?’” - jim Young Dear Journalist Katie: (Or whoever is the true originator of this meme.) While I recognize your right to interpret anything I say or do based on your personal, past life experiences, I hope you will not be disappointed by my total disregard for this opinion you have shared. Actually, I kind of resent the fact that you are automatically including me in a group without knowing anything about me, based solely on my gender. Isn’t that in fact counteractive to the very point you are trying to make? I hold doors open for women and I will continue to do so regardless of your misinformed interpretation of what that might mean to you. I also hold doors open for men; and children; and the elderly; and the physically challenged; and people of any race, colour, age, sex, religion or political affiliation. Why? Because unlike you, my first assumption about everyone...

- jim Young  Thanksgiving chores when I was young, Was a weekend filled with laughter and fun. We’d head to Muskoka to tie off the docks, Then carry the boats up over the rocks. Stored in the shed were motors and oars, Gas cans, lifejackets, paddles and more. Things put away and stored for the year, Memories shared o’er a few pints of beer. The young ones scampered through the woods to play; Or fish from the rocks to help pass the day. Capture the flag, building forts, catching leaves, Hide and seek, or just climbing trees. We’d cut down a tree, sometimes two, maybe more, Cut, split and piled, near the back door. While the men worked hard at growing some blisters, Mom busied herself with the help of my sisters, Preparing stuffed turkey, potatoes and treats. There was always something good to eat. The meal was enjoyed in happy reminisce, With a tear shed in memory of loved ones we missed. Plates were emptied as we sat back with a sigh, Then dessert would be served in the form of a p...

 

- jim Young "I've had enough of reading things by neurotic, psychotic, pig-headed politicians."  - John Lennon Knowing how much of a Beatle fan I am, my nephew Kory recently sent me a link to a review of a new John Lennon album, Gimme Some Truth .   Gimme Some Truth is a “Greatest Hits” release of 36 John Lennon songs, selected by Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon , and remixed by Paul Hicks . It’s release was timed to coincide with the celebrations of what would have been Lennon’s 80th birthday on October 9th. When I was listening to the title track Gimme Some Truth , it occurred to me that this song is as relevant today, perhaps even more so, than it was when it was first released on Lennon’s Imagine album almost half a century ago. “Fake News” has become the battle cry of the opposition while the blatant lies of world leaders has become an accepted norm.  False information spreads like wildfire through Social Media with the flick of a click, with cries of censorship, dicta...

- jim Young  "Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment, that was known as Camelot." - Alan Jay Lerner I think if I had to compare Donald Trump to any previous U.S. President, it would be John F. Kennedy. They have a lot in common and they both have a very loyal fan base.  Kennedy and Trump are both man-whores that cheated on their wives. And let’s face it, Kennedy and Trump were both elected for pretty much the same reasons. Kennedy was elected in 1960 primarily because he wasn’t Richard Nixon. Trump was elected in 2016 primarily because he wasn’t Hillary Clinton. I’m not saying Kennedy wasn’t the best man for the job but I’m not saying he was either. What I’m saying is, Kennedy didn’t win his election based on his ability to do the job.  Kennedy was young, fresh and vibrant. Nixon was perceived as a dishonest used car salesman.  Nixon looked shady when he appeared in the first nationally televised presidential debate sporting ...

 

 

This is how a world leader explains to a crowd of thousands? how trees fall down, explode and create forest fires.

(He said ‘Doo-doo’) - jim Young  In some ways, siblings, and especially sisters, are more influential in your childhood than your parents. - Deborah Tannen We are all creatures of habit. We often do the things we do without ever really knowing why we do them or where we learned them in the first place. When asked “why do you do that when you do, do that?” the answer will likely be something like, “It’s just the way I’ve always done it.” But that doesn’t really answer the question “why?” Some people will put both of their socks on and then put both of their shoes on while others will put one sock on followed by the accompanying shoe before moving to the other foot. Whichever way you do that, you probably don’t know why you do, do that. I always check to see how others eat their corn on the cob. Some people eat their corn right to left with no regard as to whether the tapered end is facing left or right. Others will take their bites randomly at any spot on the cob, jumping all over t...

- jim Young This is a great recipe to make ahead when you're having overnight guests. Prepare it in the morning before they arrive, then let it sit overnight in the fridge. The next morning just pop this in the oven and an hour later breakfast is made. No fuss, no muss. Note: If you don't have enough room in your fridge and the evenings are cool enough, you can also store it overnight in the trunk of your car. Prep Time: 20 min. Ready to pop in the oven! Set Time:   2 hours to overnight Cook Time: 1 hour Total Time: 3 hours 20 min - 15 hours 20 min. Serves: 6-8 Stuff Required: 1 lb sausage meat 1 bell pepper, chopped 3 large green onions, chopped 10 eggs, beaten 2 cups milk 1 tbsp ground mustard 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 2 cups shredded cheese, divided ½ tsp basil 1 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper 10 slices of bread torn into small pieces 1 tomato, thinly sliced (optional) Do This: Use a large frying pan to cook the sausage meat, breaking it up as it cooks. When the sausage begins ...

- jim Young  “Good fences make good neighbors.” - from “Mending Wall” by Robert Frost Good fences make good neighbours. Living next door to the U.S. has been kind of like living next door to a pretty nice family. New families come and go every few years but they’ve all been pretty nice. Until a few years ago. Oh, the family is still really nice but the dad is a bit wonky. He lies all the time and cheats on his wife as well as all his business associates. The dad’s a bully and a fraud and prone to temper tantrums. He doesn’t have any respect for anyone, not even himself. Some of his family are willing to overlook his faults when he fools them into thinking he’s doing it all for the good of his family.  We don’t agree with how he treats his family a lot of the time but for the most part, that’s not really our business. He’s pretty rude to most of our neighbours though and sometimes even us and when he crosses those lines, it does become our business.  A few years ago some o...