Avoiding the paparazzi

Please excuse me. Trying to post a photo of the real me in my profile and having a few difficulties. Just give me a little time. I'm getting good advice from Russia but it takes a while to translate. In the mean time, I'm traveling incognito to avoid all those flashbulbs.

Snoopy is the real deal

Up til now, I've been a picture pirate. Taking stuff off the web seems so easy, but alas, I've run into a snag. The profile picture you used to see (or is it still there?) has disappeared. Not sure why. Maybe I was supposed to pay for it.

I could use Ken from Connecticut (see Feb. 13) for my stand in, but Snoopy might not like that. According to CanWest News Service, he is the real deal. And, he's certainly old enough, having done stints as a First World War flying ace.

Today's top dog

We're not sure what the Chinese had in mind when they announced last week that 2006 would be the Year of the Dog. It seemed to fit right in with the "old dog trying to learn new tricks" caption on this blog launched just the day before.

In honour of Chinese New Year, someone came up with a countdown of the 100 greatest dogs in pop culture history. Snoopy was chosen number one with Scooby Doo coming in second. Today's top dog is Ken (I'm not making this up). Thanks to the Globe and Mail, we see him peering over a snow bank after a major storm in Windsor, Conn.

It's all downhill from here

This is not a picture of Wayne Gretzky going downhill. It's Canadian skier Manuel Osborne-Paradis doing a bit of training for the men's downhill in Turin's 2006 Winter Olympics.

The Great One will not be far behind him, in more ways than one. Am I the only one confused about the rules of gambling? It's okay to make bets but not okay to take them? Or, it's okay to bet $20 at the office or maybe bet on a horse once in a while (did his "Bettor Half" say that?) but not okay to put down $5,000 on a coin toss? Who is making up these rules?

Choosing Sides

Many blogs become political soapboxes, which was never the purpose of this one. However, I can't resist commenting on the announcement of the new ball team. When we played scrub, it was usually obvious who was going to be picked first, and who would be the last ones standing. But on this day, there seemed to be lots of surprises.

One lady I truly admire in all of this is Diane Ablonczy. Did my eyes fail me or did the Calgary Herald really say she was from Calgary-Hose Hill. She got hosed, alright. And for all the right reasons, I guess. Can't have too many from Calgary, not to mention North Calgary. Whatever. The thing I like about this individual, though, is her dedication to the greater cause. Though disappointed, "I certainly understand," she said, "and I'll just work hard where Stephen has assigned me. . . .This is about governing a country, its not about regionalism." Now, there's someone you would like to have on your team.

What's in a name?

Musings. That's a good word for this new trick I'm about to try. The original meaning of the word muse meant "to stay with muzzle in the air" If you can imagine an old dog learning how to "stay" for his master, striking a reflective pose - trying to remember something important - that would be me.

Why would I do this? I've enjoyed so much reading other friend's blogs and engaging with comments of my own, that I would like to do some of the same.

And, as the name of my blog implies, I hope some of the offerings will make you smile.