After visiting my friends at the club walk in Richmond yesterday, I came home and spent the entire day with Holly – sitting on the loveseat and listening to music (as usual).   

She has been having a rough time with her health, and I know she appreciates me being with her.

She’s almost 17 years old, and I want to spend most of my time with her.

I cannot watch the news because I find it too depressing, and there are enough things to get depressed about without the need to compound your misery by watching “Live at Five” with Irv Weinstein on Channel 7. 

If you’re as old as me and from southern Ontario, you would remember Irv Weinstein, the evening news anchor for WKBW in Buffalo.   

And every night, at precisely 11:00 PM, an announcer would say: “It’s 11 o’clock – do you know where your children are?” 

And then Irv’s smiling face would appear.

Maybe it is just me, but the news never seemed as bad as what we are seeing today, although I remember the many protests about the war in Vietnam.

I also remember the four university students who were shot and killed by the National Guard in Ohio – for protesting peacefully.

But I don’t remember any mass shootings like we are witnessing today.

By the way, on a clear day, you can sometimes see Rochester, New York from the harbor in Oshawa. 

We did not have cable television in the early days – at least in my parents’ home. Dad always thought that a tv tower was good enough. 

But I digress… 

So, while Holly Golightly and I listened to music, many songs brought back memories – some good, some bad. And some reminded me of you. 

I finally decided to turn on the television because the baseball game was about to start – and I love watching baseball.   I tape the pregame show as well as the game and the post-game show.

My favorite team is the Toronto Blue Jays, but I have many favorite players from several competing teams.   

And the annual games between the Seattle Mariners and Blue Jays were exceptional – because when they play in Seattle – the stadium is flooded with Canadian fans – most wearing Jays jerseys or hats. They drive down to Seattle from British Columbia – some come by chartered buses. 

My friend, Reg Dutton, used to organize bus trips from Vancouver to Seattle’s baseball and football games.   

During the opening anthems, every Canadian in the stands are singing Oh Canada, and it really gives me a chill to see that level of patriotism from them.

We Canucks are usually much more reserved and do not like to show our emotions.  Eh?

Many Canadians might cringe to hear other Canadians being so bold as to display such rude behavior in another country – but not me.

I have many friends in Washington state, and they are all die-hard Mariner fans – and we have that friendly rivalry, which keeps us amused. 

But I am still a huge Seattle Seahawks football fan and have gone to Seattle many times to watch them play. 

And I have also seen a few Mariner’s games in Seattle – I now prefer to watch the games on television. I tape them, so I can fast forward through the commercials. 

If the Jays do not make it to the playoffs, I’ll cheer for the Mariners – if they make it that far.

So, yesterday, just before getting ready to watch the game I taped, my television did not record the game!  It did not even record the pregame or Blue Jays in 30 post-show.

So, I decided to go to the channel where it is broadcast – and nothing was listed on the guide. I began scratching my head – puzzled and shocked that I would not be able to watch the game. 

I turned on the CBC National news, and the anchor – a charming lady – explained that Rogers Cablevision, the broadcast station, had had a significant crash in their programming. 

And to make it more complicated – Rogers Cable owns the Blue Jay team – and the stadium where they play in Toronto. They also own hockey stadiums in Vancouver, Toronto, and other cities. 

I do not have Rogers as my cable provider – I have Shaw Cablevision. 

And the news anchor explained that Rogers was trying to buy out Shaw – but it had not been approved yet, by the CRTC (a government agency regulating the airwaves in Canada). 

I did not know that Rogers was trying to have yet another monopoly – and we, as Canadians, should be protesting this outrageous display of greed by a corporate lizard of a company. 

It is now Saturday morning, and I still do not know the score of last night’s game. 

I feel like throwing something at the television – but it is a large-screen television that I bought last year – and it was something that I had always wanted. 

So, I’m biting my tongue and sitting on the loveseat with Holly, writing this rant for your enjoyment. 

I wish I had a television tower like the one my dad used to have in the 70s. But I do not think that you can even buy a TV antenna, much less a TV tower. 

Oh, and by the way – you should call your MP and demand that they end the planned merger of Shaw and Rogers. 

That’s all for now. 

UPDATE: Sunday, July 10th – 6:30 PM

Today has been very quiet – but I wanted to let you know some things that I learned today.

On my way to the drug store to pick up my prescription, I noticed that the Esso gas station was selling their gasoline for less than $2.00 a liter! It has usually been over $2.10 a liter, so at least it is a bit of a break for people living in British Columbia.

The other thing that I wanted to share with you is some photos I took from today’s Blue Jays game in Seattle. The Jays lost the first three games – even though the majority of fans in the stadium were Blue Jay fans.

And while I was watching today’s game – which I had taped – one of the color commentators showed how a Seattle Mariner’s fan – with a sense of humor – did to get back at the Canadian fans.

Here are the signs that he made for the game:

I think they are funny and hope that my friends in Washington state, enjoy the signs and the fact that the Mariners won all four games – a sweep of the series.

The Jays have let me down, yet again, so now I am going to pour myself a glass of rootbeer and vodka and try to get happy.

But I will always be a fan – in the bad times, as well as the good times.

Real fans never give up!

Have a great day! 

Dedicated to Blue Jays fans and to the city of Seattle

I hope my stories are a gift to your head and heart.

Hugs,

Danny

Today’s tune from Danny’s library (purchased):

I know somewhere, there’s someone you love, more than me
Someone you love, more than me
And I hate to say it, but you have a right, to be free
I know that’s the way, it should be

But I’m too far gone
Too far gone
I’ve loved you so much and for so long
And I’m too far gone

If ever, your new love should hurt you, or make you feel blue
Hurt you, or make you feel blue
Just remember, your old love will still be around, loving you
I’ll still be around, loving you

‘Cause I’m too far gone
Too far gone
I love you so much and for so long
And I’m too far gone

Songwriters: Bill Sherrill