Joe Rooney

Sorry, Miss Hair, I am a little overbooked. I have 7 children, thankfully all grown and gone! 12 grandchildren, of whom only the oldest 3 are graduated, and working. But 2 of those are musing outloud about getting married. So you know what that means! And of course, 3 cats. But they pretty well look after themselves. But you always have my best wishes. Joe

Himself, I hope! Any improvement to the self esteem is to be welcomed. Joe

CK, my wife Linda, and now you all have birthdays in the Christmas zone. It's just not fair is it? But happy birthday to you anyway. Hope it is a good one to make up for the rotten timing1 joe

Recovering from a long hard Christmas season. Thats all! Joe

Same to you Pete! And to everyone else on the site. Joe.

Fifty three, is it? Youv'e got a few years to go before you can become a registered Curmudgeon. Then you'll have to ask Denzel for permission. I think he has connections in Wansbeck, because he appears to have the post of Curmudgeon Registrar General! But, until then. Have a happy birthday, and keep on aging. It's way better than the option! regards, Joe

Thank you all, wherever you may be, for another good year of interest, occasional humour, and a few "what was that all abouts ?". I wish you all a very merry Christnas, and a happy and fortunate New Year. God go with you all! (Especially Swalnalla) Joe Rooney

Very happy birthday Pete. All the best to you! Joe

Won't the queen mind? Joe

When is the unveiling of the new Denzel? Urbane, Smooth,Literate, Witty? C/W company car, I just can't wait for the collective shock to the system. By the way, is Pitmatic accepted as English South of the Yorkshire line yet? Again congratulations Denzel, I just knew the real you had to emerge sometime. Joe

A frequent problem, and too easy to do! Joe

Congratulations to both of you. I am always to pleased to hear of someone attaining their dreams! But Denzel, I am ashamed to admit that I don't know what a Brand Manager does. Is it advertising, promotion, or sales,production, and distribution? And you Madam, I feel like a Dutch Uncle on hearing of your good fortune. Is it in education, or in another field? Anyway, whatever it is, congratulations, and enjoy yourselves! Joe

I am glad that you told them, even if only because I hated reading the uninformed criticism. Life, and people are never quite what seems so apparent. God go with you, (My idea of god anyway!) Enjoy the days of the season! Joe

We didn't know about drugs in my day, couldn't afford them if we had! The drink fuelled violence sounds familiar. Joe

Does anything ever happen at The Bank Top Hotel? Joe

Thank god we can't control our future. We would miss so many of our greatest experiences! Joe

After reading some his responses, I have occasionally thought that Denzel desperately yearns to be fourteen again!

It is 9.40 AM, and it is now -33c with bright sun. And it is pronounced Saylin Dion, so if you want to blame her (Now down in Las Vegas in airconditioned splendour) then at least get the pronunciation right. And by the way I erred (O mea Culpa!) recently I gave the snowfall in MM, it should have been CM. Again I reveal my appalling ignorance, but I was educated at St Bede's. The important part of it anyway! Joe.

Repetition brings it's own reward. Keep applying for any job of interest, turn up looking fabulous, take a deep breath and plunge into the interview. Remind yourself that the person interviewing you had to go through the same process in recent times. Let your common sense flow, and remember how far you have come on your own. Once you have the job, wait sixty days to pay for important things like food, rent, lots of clothes, and then go out and buy a digital camera to take pictures of the attractive, employed person you now are! Lots of luck, but more importantly remember how far you have brought yourself. And of course you deserve a job that is up to your standard. Best wishes and go get em! Joe

And a happy "Harumph" to you too Denzel! No, never you Ms Hair, You remind me too much of my youngest daughter. Joe

I have been fortunate enough to have Gay, Atheist, orthodox, anti and pro Brit friends. and many others of different opinions. My wife's family in the US think of me as a damned soul since I enjoy all of these varied opinions, relationships and attitudes. I just think of them as hopelessly out of touch with the realities of life in this wonderfully multi cultural and multi interest world. Swalnalla is one the several people with whom I have enjoyed discussing all and sundry topics. He is a good friend, and a good man. My life would be much duller without his opinions, not all of which I agree with! God forbid that I be condemned to listen to, or read only those with whom I agree . I often find CK or Denzel, or several others a little mundane, or even boring. But I look forward to their opinions. They occasionally surprise, and delight me. Swalnalla has known for many years that I am a hopeless Deist. But my Father was an Irish Catholic and my Mother Greek Orthodox, and my 74 years of life have taught me that education comes from listening to and appreciating all people of whatever persuasion or belief system. Lets not catagorise anyone. That way lies total boredom and no chance of learning something new and interesting. Please don't attempt to shape this site to meet rigid requirements. Otherwise you will find life very dull, boring, and lonly. Joe

Overnight, the windchill was -42C. At two this afternoon we had bright sun, the temperature was -24, and the windchill was -39C. A heavy snowfall was also forecast but it veered and all we got was a fine gritty snow ( about 8-10 MM) during the night. I also heard on the TV weather report that the temperature in the Yukon Territories (Some 600+KM north of here) was expected to rise to -49C today. God knows what it will be if they have any wind. Its the politicians, I tell you! After all we have to blame somebody, and they take all the credit for anything remotely successful, so they may as well have all the blame too! By the way Swalnalla, Ontario weather is the pits too. I guess somebody is mad at them for voting against the Conservatives. Stayed home today, prayed for a Chinook to warm things up, but since my US friends tell me that god has a deal to only listen to Republicans and large oil companies, lord knows what we will get. Joe.

Coming home from downtown this afternoon, I felt anything but chuffed. My windshields wipers were frozen up, the windshield was fogged with ice, the windchill was -28C, and my rear window was totally obscured, despite -45c washer fluid, and rear window defrosters! And its only November 26. I love a lot about Calgary, it really does have a lot to offer, but the local weather is totally unpredictable. Last year at this time temperatures were in the 15-18C range, I could still barbeque on the deck, and life was overall enjoyable. But this year is different. In the last two weeks we have had nothing but cold, snow, Ice storms, and other yucky stuff. Tonight they are forecasting -32C, and tomorrow the "High" will be a balmy -30C. I turn on the TV, and hear some enthusiastic twit burbling away about the best Winter ever. I know that this is the earlyest ski season ever. It started on November 2nd in Banff, but I want it to stay in Banff. That way when I take my grandkids skiing and sledding, it will be far away from my door, and I won't have to have those damn noisy snow and ice removal crews waking me up at ungodly hours. Its quite acceptable for our mutual friend Hollymount to have had -30c two weeks ago. He lives some 400km or so north of here in Grande Cache, and he probably loves skiing and skating and winter activities of all kinds. But I live in the city by choice, and this weather does not improve the enjoyment of Calgary. What happened to "Global Warming" when you began to warm up to the idea. Its all very badly managed, and this new Conservative government and not doing a thing to help. I have to blame somebody, and Harper and his farmer friends fill the bill. And I am not too thrilled with Blair and his Nanny state either. So where do you go when all the politicians behave like politicians, and do absolutely nothing to improve my quality of life! To quote somebody from my bookworm past. Off with their heads! Just thought I would tell you that. Whats the point of having a captive audience, if you can't have a good rant every now and then. There now, I feel much better. God knows what I will feel like tomorrow. Joe

Thats what happens when the phone companies keep changing the local area codes. They just won't leave well enough alone!

YAY Threegee! Joe Rooney