As Goes Our Christmas Tree, So Goes The Year, The Decade...

Most decades, and most years (except this one), start out with great promise, optimism and hope, much like the trees we bring into our homes at Christmas, brightening them with lights and shiny decorations. However, these measures of time, or Norwegian spruce as the case may be, don't always live up to our exalted expectations. Sometimes, sometimes the needles don't stick to the tree worth a damn, no matter how much water and fertilizer you give it, and fall off like everyone's stock portfolios a year ago, or Stamps fans off the bandwagon. Sometimes, sometimes you just have to make sure there are no ignition sources nearby, then take a shovel, scoop up the year's debris, dump it into the garbage can of yesteryear, and once again, start anew.

Happy New Year everyone, and here's wishing you all the best in 2010!

It's Not Easy, Being Green...

The above images taken in September are of the skeletal structure for the temporary seating being built at the northwest end of McMahon stadium, for the Grey Cup. They were filled for several hours Sunday with very eager and excited (mostly) Rider fans, and now are once again empty, and soon to be dismantled. The images below are of the fans streaming off the Banff Trail LRT platform, and towards McMahon stadium, about 2 hours before game time. I suspect many are much less exuberant right now.

Hopefully, unlike the temporary stands, the Roughriders will not be dismantled (due to free agency), and will once again be a contending force for 2010's Grey Cup in Edmonton, their 2nd best "home away from home".

Saturday at the Grey Cup Parade & Festival

I headed down to watch the parade on Saturday. It began about 20 minutes late from the planned 11:00 am start, but it was a pleasant day around the freezing mark, and the crowd, being in a rather festive mood, was none too concerned. The parade had just under 2000 participants, a few colourful floats, many great marching bands, and of course, a strong western horseback ridden presence. Following the parade, and walked a few blocks over to Stephen Avenue, where the Grey Cup Festival took place over a few blocks. I spent an hour or so at the ScotiaBank CFL Experience in the Telus Convention Centre, testing the accuracy of my throwing arm, and taking in the memorabilia and photos. On the street were various booths, a concert stage, an encore by one of the marching bands, many creatively garbed fans, and very, very long lineups to get into Riderville.

Please note there are many more photos in the folder in my Picasa Gallery link at top left.

And So It Begins...

The Roughriders arrived in town yesterday, and were supposed to take the field at practice today. I wonder if the 'Rider fans have begun their pilgrimage west?

Never mind...

RRRIIIIIIDDDEERRRRSSSS!!!!!

I would say that Yola is looking past Calgary to the Grey Cup next week, but she's not, because we're in Calgary, and the 'Riders will be here in the Grey Cup. Sweet!!! With about 300,000 odd (and I mean odd) Sask. ex pats here in Calgary, this town will be painted green like it's never seen this week. Hard to believe that it's the first time in 78 years that the Als and the 'Riders will square off in the Grey Cup. GO RIDERS!!!!

Second Spring

After a winter-like October, the first 3 weeks of November have seemed almost like a second spring. The wildlife in Confederation Park, seem to be treating it as such. The redpolls, house finches, blue jays are among those enjoying the relatively balmy temperatures. The magpies seemed content to lounge around, curiously watching what Yola would coax out of the tall grass. Meanwhile, the resident muskrat was using the bonus extension of open water to gather some twigs and grass for his creekside larder.

Frightday the 13th

For those amongst you who go out of their way to avoid walking under ladders, breaking mirrors, the number 13, and oh-so-achingly-precious-but-cloyingly-vacant teen vampire dramas (the latter actually being a good idea), here are some photos to set your heart atremble. This formidably ferocious feline, he of black (okay, charcoal grey and white) fur and feverish focus, will furnish those who flagrantly afront his forays with fortune so foul, they will forever feel his fierce fangs inflict fiendishness upon their fleshy flank of fear. Yet, his stealth is so smooth, so successfully succint, seldom will you suspect his shadowy, surreptitious ubiquity. Behold: Charlie!

Jack o' Lantern Study: Day 10

From "movie star" to has been - how quickly they fall. Jack's predilection for leering at passersby from frosty porches has led to his demise - first developing a Popeyeish squinched face, progressing rapidly to something resembling an "orange hole", a warp folded into itself on the space-time continuum. Ah well, the squashed squash will be worm food in our compost bin soon enough.

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Scary (& Childish, Amateurish) Movie

Hope everyone had a Happy, Hale & Hearty Hallowe'en!

The Bronze Age

Due to this fall's weather pattern of a very warm September changing abruptly to a frigid October, many of the shrubs and trees did not have a chance to adapt for the normal shutdown of their foliage. The result was a more bronze to brown cast to many leaves. On the morning of October 23, I found the bronze cast of the willow, lilac and other shrub foliage to be quite striking in the morning light. I particularly liked the leathery texture of some of the lilac leaves.