"We're more pretenders than contenders" said Bills coach Chan Gailey after the game. The highlight from the game? Bills receiver David Nelson caught a touchdown pass in the second quarter which made the score 21-7. That's not the highlight. After the touchdown, he jogged with the ball to the far endzone, found his girlfriend, Cowboys cheerleader Kelsi Reich, and handed her the ball. They embraced briefly, each knowing that the TV cameras were rolling. That was the highlight. The playoffs look like a pipe dream now. Injuries have taken their toll. Opposing defences have seen enough film and now seem able to stop Fitzpatrick and his quick release passing game. The defence can not stop the run or the pass. Things look bleak. But, after last night's game, they are once again tied with the Jets and one game behind the Patriots. Up next: at Miami.
I'm working on a submission for Canada Writes. It's a 500 word true story about winter, inspired by Adam Gopnik's A Winter Tale. He is also one of the judges. I am writing about an incident from a couple of winters ago where I rescued a West Highland Terrier from a hole in the ice on our lake in Muskoka. The dog almost died but she is still alive today. I originally wrote the story on my blog but I have had to cut and cut to get it down to 500 words. The first prize is $1,000 which might cover some Christmas gifts.
I have been engaged in an email discussion with my city councillor, Karen Stintz. In response to my initial rant about the mayor and my concern over her close affiliation with his administration, she correctly pointed out that, during the campaign last fall, she said that she would work with whoever was elected mayor. She was asked to be TTC Chair and was happy to serve. Fair enough, I said to her but she also commented that although the mayor is controversial at times, she feels that he is following through on his election promises. Well, I just had to swing at that pitch so I reminded her that his central campaign promise was to root out the waste and inefficiencies at City Hall and balance the budget with no tax increases or service reductions. The end of the "gravy train" was going to solve the structural deficit problem. I therefore asked her where the gravy actually is because we really need it now as the city is cutting services and deciding which assets to sell. I await her next response.
On the way to the cottage, I usually stop for groceries in Orillia. I did so this past Friday and who did I see in the produce section? Long time (28 years as he told me) Toronto city councillor, Michael Walker. I had met him 10 or 12 years ago when I was active in the tenants association in a building in hs ward. I decided to say hello. He has retired to a house on Lake Couchiching and keeps busy by advocating for improved recycling in Orillia. After about 20 minutes, I actually looked at my watch but he was still not finished lamenting the election of Rob Ford or telling me that Karen Stintz showed absolutely no interest whatsoever in transit in the time that he knew her. He looks like he still has energy to burn and Orillia will benefit from his involvement if he chooses to increase it - which I urged him to do.
One final note on US politics. As the Repblican presdential candidates continue their series of debates and the candidates seem to be self-destructing one by one (except for Newt Gingrich who may well turn out to be Romney's toughest opponent), the pundits are working full time on CNN. There are a number of Repblican and Democratic "strategists" whose opinions are now sought every day. They try to think of memorable catch phrases to support their parties and this fascinates me. One of the most effective strategists is Democrat Paul Begala who was a key member, along with James Carville, of the team which guided Bill Clinton to the White House. Last week, after the Republican debate in Michigan (where Rick Perry could not recall the third federal agency he would dismantle), Begala offered this: "When I look at the economy, I think that there's no way that the President can win the election. But when I look at the Republican field, I think that there's no way that the President can lose." Carville also had a good one a couple of years ago. In response to someone who was critical of the Clinton adminsitration, he said "Whenever I hear people complaining about America during the Clinton adminsitration, I always ask them which bothered them more - the peace or the prosperity".
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