Riders Win! Riders Win!

Yes, it's true! After an eighteen year hiatus, the Riders are the champions for the third time! I have been privileged to have viewed all three of them (1966, 1989 & now 2007), and about forty not so successful campaigns! In total they have been to the big game sixteen times, so their record of three wins bears witness to lots of frustration over the years. However, for now, all is forgiven (if not forgotten) and we celebrate as winners and anticipate next year as another championship season!

It was not much of a performance by either offensive team, but the defensive sides played well, and a Rider defensive back, James Johnson, had three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. Not surprisingly, he was named the most valuable player of the 23-19 victory.

And another Saskatchewan saying comes true—no, not the, "Wait 'til next year!" one, but the "Tough times don't last; tough people do!"

"We are the champions, my friend!"

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior, and its passing has moved us into colder weather, and even a few snow flakes.

We started the week with Eric, Erica and the boys who were visiting here over the weekend. Together, we enjoyed watching the Riders win the Western Conference final at BC, and proceed to the Grey Cup to be played next Sunday afternoon. Go Riders, Go!

My travels this week took me up to Red Lake where I worked with the teachers on Report Cards and with the secretary on those oh-so-troublesome reports to the ministry. The work with the teachers went fairly well. The secretary—not so much! Her reluctance to learn new things in the last year of her work, and her general sloppiness make for a bad combination. We get pages and pages of error reports! Yikes! Where is Bonnie when I need her!? As a result, the completion of two days of hard slogging does not have anything signed off with the ministry. Compare that to my record-setting school—two hours! I also have two other schools who completed the report in half a day, and two others who completed in one day. As a result, I shall have to try to walk her through the remainder of the work over the phone.

The remainder of the work week was spent in meetings in the central office in TBay, and work in my own office here at home.

Otherwise things continue well at home. Wendy has been busy in a swirl of fund-raisers and Christmas baking and other events.

Erin spent two days in Winnipeg with her work. Kristian seems to be confirmed as a full participant in his 'terrible twos' and often drives his mother and grandmother to distraction. (You could walk there—it's a short trip!)

And that's about it for this week.

News Update

Another week has flown by on the shore of Lake Superior. I've been away most of the week, so it's nice to be back for the cooking and comforts of home.

On Sunday, I got in another six holes of golf. That went fine, but the weather has turned colder this week, and most of the courses have their greens covered, so that could be the end of the golf season.

On Monday, Wes and I headed east 500 clicks to Hornepayne. We worked there through Tuesday and then moved on to Longlac, from where we drive out daily to work at Caramat. We completed our work at Caramat about noon on Thursday, so we headed back to TBay. The work in both centres went well. Caramat (that's Tamarac spelled backwards) now holds the record for October OnSIS completion—two hours!

I worked at the home office on Friday, and managed to catch up on phone calls and emails that had come in during the week.

Wendy has been caring for Kristian each day. She has taken on a batch of mending and alterations so the old Singer has been humming and singing! and stopping to clear its throat a few times as well! We bought that machine, second-hand, in Earl Grey back in the early 70's for about $40! It seemed quite a bit of money back then!

Erin continues with her work. She's doing well, and learning the particulars of a few additional roles beyond what she was hired to do.

We celebrated Trav's birthday over at Trav & Sylvia's this evening, since Eric, Erica and the boys are in town. He doesn't really turn twenty-six until the twenty-seventh, but it's good to celebrate whenever.

And that's the kind of week it's been.

News Update

The weather turns toward fall during this week on the shore of Lake Superior. We even get a few snow flakes although there is no accumulation. Still, it's a warning of winter to come.

I manage to get out for another six holes of golf on Sunday afternoon. That goes well; the drives are consistently longer and also consistently going left. I'm encouraged by the consistency and by the improvement in comfort on my left leg.

On Monday, Wes and I fly up to Pickle Lake. There we run into snow and more difficulties than we can even begin to address. As Wes noted (to my great amusement), "They put the fun back in dysfunctional!" I promised him I would steal that line! Nonetheless we got a lot done, but left on Tuesday evening with a lot left outstanding.

On Wednesday, Wes and I did a simulated meeting with Adobe Connect, and I presented a brief tutorial on Adobe Presenter. We feel these tools will be quite helpful in our work. I have already made a few 'webinars' (training seminars delivered via the web). If you wish to check one out go to:
http://totaltechcare.ca/mwphotos

The Regional Professional Network met on Thursday, so that occupied most of my day. And finally on Friday I was able to work around the home office.

All continues well around home with Wendy and Kristian in charge! Erin continues to expand her role at work as her own dealership is still growing in Winnipeg, so she is working for other franchises as well.

And that's about it for this week.

News Update

Another week has passed here on the shore of Lake Superior. I have spent most of the week working in my schools, although I did come back for Monday night.

I spent Monday doing a teachers' workshop in Atikokan. Then on Tuesday, Wes and I headed out to Upsala where we spent the day. We continued on to Ignace where we booked into the motel for the rest of the week. On Wednesday and Thursday, we drove up to Savant Lake and worked in the school there. On Friday, we headed back to Thunder Bay, stopping in Upsala to complete any outstanding issues there. So, we got back Friday afternoon. It was a good week, and two of my schools have already managed to sign-off the October report to OnSIS. This shows that the hard work of setting up a Student-Management System will facilitate our reporting requirements as long as we do it well.

Wendy continues with babysitting of Kristian. He seems to have a chronic eye infection, so we're a little concerned about that. By the time I got back on Friday, it seemed much improved. Anyway, he doesn't seem to be bothered by it, and doesn't seem to rub it or complain about it.

I managed to play another six holes of golf on Friday afternoon, and that was fun, even though it was a bit windy. My drives were a bit better (I hit the fairway on two out of six!), and a bit longer (about 220 yards). I notice my continued reluctance to transfer my weight onto my front leg.

And that's the kind of week it has been.