(For Grandma) If I ever change careers...

There is a fun game we have discovered over the last week at our house. This is a game where you torture your family members by making them stand for hours over a sink while you pull at hairs on their head and douse them with insecticide.

And then just for fun we washe every thing we own in super hot water and then dry it at extremely high temperatures. Or toss bags of stuffed animals into the freezer.

This fun games repeats itself once every five to seven days.

Whee what fun!

Yes. We have had an infestation of lice in our house.

Within the last 24 hours everyone has gotten treated again. Some of us for the first time.

Tonight we topped off this fun game with a hair cut. Mik's hair was starting to show damage and I decided scoping through tons of hair to find nits and lice for hours was getting to be not so much fun. Shorter hair is much easier to deal with.

So here is the result of their first hair cut by their mommy!

Logan looks rather glum, but he was really excited. I like to touch his head now.

And Mikaela "Loves her new haircut!"

Not bad for an amateur, eh?

Unpretty

Well, it certainly wasn't a pretty win at Commonwealth Stadium... in fact, in some spots it was downright ugly.

As I was watching with a bunch of friends last night, we began to debate whether or not we deserved to win.

So I've decided to address that here... because truthfully this is solely a Roughrider phenomena. You don't see Eskie fans wringing their hands in worry... did we deserve to win the Grey Cup?

Yeah, right!

Did we deserve to win that game last night?

P-shaw! WHO THE HECK CARES?

We won, didn't we?

Winning games we don't deserve to win is something new for us as a team and as fans. It's also the hallmark sign of a championship team.

That my dear green friends is not only a sign of character, grit, heart... green voodoo magic... whatever the heck you want to call it... that is a sign that we are right now cheering for a winning team.

GASP!

Did all the oxygen just leave the province?

It isn't always going to be pretty. Believe me, Edmonton in their day won more than their fair share that they didn't deserve. Quite a few against us, I might add!

So drop this perfectionistic attitude. It doesn't have to be a well-played, executed, planned or officiated game to be a good win. It still goes in the win column. And I for one, am not sad that Edmonton can now dust off their golf clubs and head south, while the rest of us dig out our parkas and mitties for the post season. Sign me up.

Now here are some other thoughts from the game...

1. While I feel for Flemming getting his 47-yard field goal called back due to holding, I've always said if it come down to your kicker for the win, the rest of your team has stepped on you.

2. Love, love, love that TJ Stancil hit on LeFors hit in the second quarter. Pops the ball lose - right into the hands of John Chick who ran 70 yards for a TD. Bet LeFors is feeling that hit today! And John Chick is having a friggin' fantastic rookie season, no?

3. Michael Palmer... where in the world has he been? Comes out of nowhere for over 100 yards rushing last night. Sweet!

4. Marcus Crandell makes me nervous, but he certainly won some brownie points this game. He never said die. He never caved in. He stayed in the game both mentally and physically and in the end saved the day.

5. To the D for holding Edmonton on 3rd and 1, not once, but TWICE... a great big hu-ha!

6. I love DJ Flick. This guy can come up with the plays when needed and take a beating and keep on running. He is the real deal. He has certainly stepped up to the plate since the Dominguez injury.

Speaking of Matt D... word is he had knee surgery on Friday here in Toon Town. Let's all send our thoughts and prayers to him for a speedy recovery and unremarkable rehab.

One more game to go, boys! Make Toronto feel it!

YES!! WE DID IT!!

Calgary lost to Winnipeg by like... lots... I don't know... cuz it doesn't matter now...!

The Roughriders have clinched a HOME PLAYOFF GAME for the first time since 1988!

Are you screaming and jumping up and down!

I am.

It's hard to type!

WOOHOO!

Super start to the weekend.

End of an era

Some of you may have heard already that my job at the non-profit I have worked for for almost two years, has come to an end.

I have enjoyed my time there. It definitely gave me a perspective shift that I wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

The timing, however, couldn't have been more perfect. Even as my boss was telling me they couldn't afford to keep on the payroll, I felt a hand on my shoulder and a calm voice saying, "Be at peace. Don't panic."

Peace was all I felt.

While I was sad to leave my job there, at the same time the centre was laying me off, the radio station was putting together a job offer. It officially came through yesterday morning.

I had several criteria of what I wanted in a job and these wonderful people offered exactly that and more. I got the exact hours I was looking for. Unfortunately, I don't get a lunch break, but I work 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Having worked retail for so many years before this I am still bewildered by normal office hours. And no weekends? Evenings?

And in three months I get into their shiny benefits package.

Um... benefits? What are those? I've never worked at a place long enough to qualify for benefits before!

While I titled this blog post the end of an era, endings always signal beginnings, too!

God has carried me through a lot over these past couple of years. I am so grateful for those times when I went to him with my knees bloodied like a kid learning to ride a bike.

And how many times he bandaged those scrapes and held me til the worst of the pain passed? More times than I can count.

And how many times did he prove my trust in him is never misplaced?

Again more times than I can count.

God has given us some very valuable lessons in patience this last year. And oh how painful they are at the moment. But looking back, I can see just how precious those lessons are!

Thanks to all who pray for us and read my blog. My message to you today is, God is never far away. His timing is always perfect and your trust in him is never misplaced. Don't be afraid to trust him with the things most precious to you.

God bless!

The blame

I'm going on record as saying the CFL is to blame for the fracas on the field in last week's Roughrider-Ticat game.

Why? you might be asking...

I've been thinking long and hard about this... why didn't Kerry Joseph just let go of the ball when Ticat #24 started clawing for it after the play was dead. Why not just give it up? The play was done, the whistle gone, etc.

I think it's for the same reason my heart started pounding the second he hit the turf...

KJ was probably thinking the same thing I was...

If Hamilton had gotten a hold of the ball... would it have been ruled a fumble? an incomplete pass? or some kooky weird clause of some bizarre CFL statute no one's ever heard of!? He probably didn't trust the officials to make the right call any more than you or I did!

I blame the CFL for this whole debacle. The reason being they haven't been consistent in years on what exactly constitutes a fumble, a catch or an incomplete pass. And if they could call those consistently maybe KJ wouldn't have had to endure a pummelling by the Ticats on the ground fearful of giving up the ball.

Yesterday, the league fined Eric Tillman and Kent Austin $2500 each for their comments this week regarding the Hamilton melee. What did they say that was so awful and offensive?

Why they asked for clarification on why exactly three of our guys got tossed from the game!

The audacity! The nerve! How dare they!

And what crime did the boys in green commit that was so heinous it meritted an ejection?

Piling on

Piling on? It's a freaking football game!

Jones and Abul-Mechrek were doing their job and protecting their quarterback. I, for one, am proud of them. (Of course, it goes without saying their conduct AFTER getting the boot was totally not acceptable!)

I am also equally proud of Tilman and Austin for standing up for our guys! If their comments were disparaging of the CFL it's only because the officiating in this beloved Canadian pasttime has become more than just a nuisance. It's become a disgrace to a game we all love.

What's disparaging isn't the conduct of two of the CFL's classiest coach/GM, it's the conduct of a league that refuses to adequately answer the valid criticisms leveled at it.

Instead, they fine and run. Don't ask these people questions, they are above answering for their mistakes apparently.

The only question remaining in my mind is... where do I donate to the Tilman-Austin CFL fine fund? Because at the rate we're going... this won't be their last...

And that my dear little green friends is truly sad.

So here is my open letter to Mr. Black, head of officiating...

Dear Mr. Black,

Read the rule book, please.

Thank you,
A Roughrider fan

What next?!

As if injuries on the field weren't bad enough (Eddie Davis out for half the season and Matt Dominguez out for the rest of it)... and as if personal issues doggin' DJ Flick's weren't enough...

Chris Szarka, #33, nearly severed two fingers yesterday in a table saw incident. Szarka is gone for the rest of the regular season, possibly the post-season too!

ARG!

The fullback has been a class-act all around and probably one of the most likeable guys in the CFL - not to mention possibly the best fullback in the game.

So...

Now what?

Knock on wood, we still have our quarterback, but perhaps some sort of rent-a-cop should be hired to keep him safe and healthy for the remainder of the season!

And for pity sakes, boys, don't operate any power tools til AFTER the Grey Cup, k?

So stinkin' close we can smell the beer from here...

We are 10 and 5 heading into the homestretch of the regular season. Our offense is clicking and our defense is managing (even in the face of losing two... mark that... three players mid-game... more on that later...), our receivers are finding space and our quarterback is finding the receivers.

And to top it all off, we are thisstinkingclose to a home play off game for the first time since 1988.

Do you love it? Or do you LOVE it?!

KJ threw several passes today that were nothing less than a thing of beauty. Fantuz's catch in the end zone... mark that... his THIRD catch in the end zone was absolutely breathtaking.

Honestly, the outcome was never much in doubt in this game, but it was still so much fun to watch.

The rumour is, that Fantuz (a native of nearby Chatham, ON) spent close to $2000 on tickets so that 90-some of his close family and friends could see him play.

Now I'm thinking if that's what it takes to get this guy to play this good (THE best showing by a receiver all year in the entire league!), then perhaps we should take up collection and get this group of people to attend all the games! I'm in. A worthy cause to be sure...

Now, of course, I can't blog about the game without also mentioning the fracas that broke out after Kerry Joseph ran the ball for a first down.

Now it could be just me, but I'm thinking once the guy is down, the ball is dead, the whistle has been blown, it's probably not worth it to grab the ball out of the guy's hands. After all the play is dead. Done. Over. He's got the ball and a first down. You don't. Back up and try again.

But nooooo...

Some Hamilton player has to keep clawing, keep digging, roughing up KJ in the process. Bad form people. Just plain undisciplined play. Stupid really.

What followed was equally stupid.

I do have some commendations to award:

First, to Austin for actively participating in controlling his players. Kudos on ya! Unlike some other coaches in the league who say nothing while his players beat, punch, knee, the opposing team and pin them to the ground with their foot... right, Wally? ... oh sorry... I digress...

Second, to Austin for actively defending his players, once they got ejected.

Both are signs of a good coach. Telling his players to check their emotions and then taking to the refs right up the butt to make sure they understand... You do not mess with my guys when they're doing their job!

Third, to Jones and Abul-Mechrek for defending KJ. It is, after all, their job to protect the quarterback. Granted throwing punches (and a helmet!) IS NOT!

Fourth, to the official who had to do what looked like some version of the hokey-pokey to get in all those penalties... I think he forgot to turn himself around, though! And that's what it's all about!

It will be interesting to see what the CFL does in regards to fines and suspensions. Though to be honest, if our defense functioned this well without two seasoned key players then perhaps I shan't be worried. Still, I hope we have enough guys left on the offensive line to actually form a line once the league gets done with them!

However... at the risk of sounding like a petulant sibling... HAMILTON STARTED IT!

How in the world, they got out of that bar fight without giving up just as a many players I have no idea! While I feel for the officials in trying to sort out that stupid mess - it looked like they were taking notes at point! - it wouldn't hurt if they could actually toss out the RIGHT players for once, without the league having to step in after the fact to right their wrongs!

I figure if a team starts it, we'll finish it. But at the end of the day, the team that started it had better be on the losing end penalty-wise.

But at the end of the day we won. And these fine teams meet again next week - which I'm certain will be hotly contested battle.

Can't. Wait.

One more game.

One more win.

And one more step closer to hosting a playoff game in Saskatchewan.

GO GREEN!

UPDATE: Give DJ Flick a round of applause people! He drove up from PA to make it to the game. He's practiced one day a week before each of the last two games. Last week he had a career day and this week ended up in the end zone again. Perhaps Kent should switch up his schedule for the rest of the season! : )

The saddest news for Rider fans...

For all the hand-wringers out there and those prone to panic, you may want to look away... cuz the news isn't pretty.

Dominguez is out.

Out for the season.

Wait...

Hang on.

Easy does it.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Quick! Put your head between your knees and breathe.

Whoa... Did I lose you there?

Tap the screen three times if you're all right!

Ok. So the loss of our number one go-to man is a bad thing.

A very bad thing.

Let's give kudos to Dominguez shall we... the guy was leading the league in yards when he was felled against Winnipeg. And for the third time in his career he faces a season-ending knee injury.

He'll have surgery and probably seven to nine months of rehab. And he's done this all before.

And through it all, all he wanted to do was play football for the green and white.

But it was not to be and we need to commend him for being such a consumate professional. Let us offer him our prayers for a speedy recovery and a killer season in '08.

In the meantime, the boys in green and white have something to prove.

Can they win without their number one receiver?

Ok.

I mean DJ Flick was awesome in the last game...

Wait...

His wife just gave birth to premature twins.

Wow.

Let us offer our prayers to DJ Flick and his wife, just in general, cuz when you got twins, that's a lot on your plate to begin with. DJ needs to be with his family now, so we wish him, his amazing wife and his two new additions well.

Ok. Back to football...

All is not lost. Sure our two top receivers won't be in the line up for Sunday's game. However, I think this team has proven they are not a one person train.

But we gotta get everybody on board for this one. NOt just this game. But for every game for the rest of the season. Yo Murphy, Corey Grant, they gotta get on board.

And the defense can not afford to sleep at the wheel ever, at all.

Hamilton has the worst record ever. They can play potential season spoiler here. I don't think they have a huge chance here, but they are not going down without a fight. Most of them are fighting for their next season. So don't count them.

I think it should be a good game.

Someone text me the score at church, will you!

It's about time!

I'm sure Rider Nation has been busy crunching the numbers and dreaming up senarios for the post-season ever since the delightful win at McMahon Stadium earlier today.

By the way, did anyone notice that half the stadium was wearing green? Just checkin'.

Now first off understand the win wasn't convincing, but we didn't exactly slide across the finish line either. A win is a win, right?

But this one was extra sweet for several reasons...

Eddie Davis is back. The defensive back is the backbone of the defensive line and having him out for nine games was almost painful.

He's not only back, but he brought with him that defensive magic the team possessed earlier this season. The defense not only looks like they woke up, they flipped on the switch to their brains too!

Now there were a couple of lapses. But did you see the way the team fought back from them?

A punt returner for Calgary finds a massive gap in the defense zips into the end zone, so the Stamps take a 7-6 lead.

Saskatchewan replies by marching the ball downfield 85 yards, six plays for a TD. Oh yeah baby!

Not only was ED back, but DJ Flick proved once again why I love him so much. Seriously, when you need a big play, toss the ball to DJ. He'll come through. In a big, big way. How many of the points on the board today wouldn't have happened if DJ hadn't been... on the ball? Literally.

So once again, the poise, that never-surrender-not-going-down-without-a-drag-'em-down-kick-yer-ass-fight attitude, that's what's winning football games.

Another thing that made this win so sweet is because it was against Calgary. A couple of games back, the Riders came absolutely unglued against the Stamps, so revenge is sweet. Or at least more palatable than another heart-wrenching defeat.

Now let me interrupt this little love-fest by once again, calling on the officials to take their whistles out of their butts and start calling some penalties. Since when is it ok to take a swing at a punter? Anyone? The Peders are lucky their boy didn't get tossed from the game for taking a swing at Jamie Boreham after Jamie kicked the ball. Like really... he didn't even have the ball anymore... Did he make a pass at your girlfriend after recess or what? Grow up!

Meanwhile, I'm seriously thinking the CFL referees should consider holding a one day seminar in Officiating 101.

But back to the sweetness... the most exciting reason we can all digest our Thanksgiving turkey a little easier this year, is because of Remembrance Day.

Say what?!

That's right. Remembrance Day. Mark this day on your calendar kiddies, cuz it's the day that play off football will return to this fine province.

Do you even remember what November football is like?

Perhaps we all forgot that it's possible to play past October. Let me sum this up for you...

We have five points on Calgary. Unless the wheels come off in the next few games for the green and white AND Calgary, somehow manages to find their butt with both hands, we can be assured that second place is ours.

Now... here's a senario that'll be keeping season ticket holders up at night... what if B.C. manages to lose their turnips? What if we not only play well enough to keep Calgary and Edmonton at bay, but also catch B.C. for first place in the West?

Do you know what that could mean?!

The Western final could be played on Saskatchewan turf!

It's the stuff of daydreams, people!

But let's get back to reality. I don't think it's delusional to start warming up the stands for a November 11 show down with the Esks or Stamps. (Warm them up now, cuz they gonna be cold by then...)

A home playoff game.

It's like Santa and the Easter bunny all wrapped up into one! And they don't even list it in the Wishbook!

Grateful Top Ten

I am grateful for so many things this year, but I thought I would share my top ten list: (in no particular order!)

1. I am grateful that I have a beautiful house to live in. It keeps me and my family warm and safe.

2. I am grateful I am married to one of the sweetest, most hard working, lovable, caring guys in the world. Just when I need a shoulder to cry on, he's right there. Just when I need a kick in the butt, he lends a boot, and just went I need to crank it, he turns up Def Leppard! : )

3. I am grateful for a little piece of the wild side that came to live with us last week. Mittens has given us hours of fun and laughter as she playfully attacks everything that moves... and a few things that don't. It's fun to watch a partially wild animal discover their new surroundings. Last night, for instance, she learned she can not stand on top of the table lamp. It fell over and the ensuing crash scared her, but not bad enough to keep her from exploring other new domains...!

4. I am grateful for the three writing opps I had this week. They were fun and though I am a little bleary eyed still, I made it through. I even managed to curb my most serious whining! I am also grateful for the extra money these types of opps generate.

5. I am grateful I got to party at Credit Union Centre with several thousand other people with two major bands from the 80's. Oh the memories!

6. I am grateful my son got to spend the night at his friend's house. He was so jazzed about it. It is so cool to see the things that make our kids light up!

7. I am grateful that God continues to provide for Richard and I to meet our financial needs. Getting this house was a huge undertaking. We knew it was going to be a rough go, but God has proven faithful each step of the way. He's provided on call times and overtime for Richard and a new job for me. I am grateful that we can lean on Him when we come to the end of our rope and that no matter how often I think *I* have it all figured out, He ultimately knows what's best.

8. I am grateful that through pure coincidence (and there are no such things as coincidences, right?) I ran into a very good friend of mine. She disappears once in a while and I had a heck of a time trying to track her down this last time. I prayed for her, thinking that perhaps this time I wouldn't be able to catch up with her. When I saw her crossing the street near Broadway on Tuesday, Richard pulled over immediately so I could race to her and give her the biggest hug. God is so good.

9. I am grateful for the amazing new job God has provided me with. I am grateful that I was brave enough to take a chance and try something new. I've discovered that I like it and seem to have a knack for it. It requires a combination of creativity and technical no-how that I love. As well as an eye for details and organization. I really love it. And I'm so thankful that the kind people at Magic 98.3/CJWW/Hot 93 were willing to give me a chance.

10. I am grateful that I get to go to my mom's for the weekend for turkey and stuffing and lots of family. I am grateful that while there I will get to recharge my batteries after my very busy week. I am also grateful that while my hubby is stuck at home working, there are friends who have so graciously adopted him for the weekend and offered to feed him turkey and stuffing too! We are indeed blessed beyond measure.

New addition

Everyone, this is the newest member of the Smith family...

Her name is Mittens. She is eight weeks old and she was rescued along with her momma and four brothers and sisters from living on the street.


She is ours for keeps. The kids have begged us for a pet for so long it took us forever to convince them that we were serious. We really could take the kitty home. For keeps.


As we drove away from picking her up, Mikaela asked, "So how many days is the kitty staying at our house?"


Tee hee.


It was fun to surprise them with this. And she's pretty cute too!

Woohoo!

A friend of mine was headed to the game at Mosaic stadium today. She asked me last night if she was going to see a winning game or not.

I said, yes.

Most likely.

I told her Montreal was playing like crap lately and we played better last week than we had in a long time.

Ergo... I thought a victory was pretty well assured.

We thumped 'em. Thrashed 'em. Pummelled 'em. In fact, we laid an old fashioned lickin' on them.

Which is a good thing. We needed it.

Corey Holmes needed to get involved in the offence. Two touchdowns outta do it.

Fantuz needed some confidence. I lost track of how many big catches he made, but one touchdown grab was enough to make him CBC's Warrior of the Game - which I predicted late in the second quarter.

But it wasn't just offence that needed to win. The defence came through in a big way thanks to the likes of Fred Perry and Scott Schultz.

However, my favourite play of the game goes to our trusty rusty punter Jamie Boreham. After a short punt that everyone is waiting for Montreal to touch, I see this green bullet move across the screen like a bat out of hell! He recovered his own bloody punt!

It was amazing!

This game definitely showed some creativity on the part of the riders. Plays were going to a wide array of receivers and every area of the team contributed to this win.

The last quarter still made me nervous - a better team might have capitalized on a noticeable softening of the defence. Hopefully, they get the defence to put together four quarters. Because if they ever do, God have mercy on the team we're playing, cuz they gonna get turfed!

Even still, a win is a win. A a decisive victory like this one, just feels good!

Eight and five, people!

My last post on the Rider game, I promise!

General manager Eric Tillman of the Riders has gotten into a nasty war of words with Lion's coach Wally Buono.

News story here.

Tillman says they are friends off the field and that he has a tremendous amount of respect for the man.

He added that B.C. won the game in Regina over the weekend with two players who shouldn't have been playing after the little bar fight broke out at centre field.

I just wanted to point out this one quote from Mr. Wally:

"It's usually after a loss, and let's put two and two together. It was a tough game and an important game and emotions are going to run high. But I don't believe it does anybody any good for team officials to go public, and now you bring it down to this because of sour grapes."

Is this the same Wally Buono that whined and complained to the CFL, the media and anyone who'd listen after Dave Dickenson suffered a concussion in the first meeting of these two teams earlier this season? (On a perfectly clean hit, btw.)

Now correct me if I'm wrong... Didn't Saskatchewan win that game?

Thought so.

To Rider Nation

Stop it!

No seriously. Shut. Up.

There is a lot of ruffled feathers in Rider Nation today. In fact, we as a collective group are downright grumpy.

And perhaps we have a right to be. 7 - 5 is not where we thought we'd be now. Or where we would have liked to be.

However.

I want to be adamantly clear here: Kerry Joseph is not responsible for last night's debacle.

Ok?

Got that Rider Nation?

Stop. It.

Our propensity to pile on the QB after a loss has got to end. The QB can't do his job if his protection decides to call in their game from the dressing room. The QB can connect every pass, move the ball effectively and yet still come up short if the defensive has an off night and allows the opposition to run wild.

KJ may not be the best ball tosser in the league. I don't even think he would argue with that. But he has developed a poise I haven't seen in one of our QBs for a very long time. He doesn't fold under pressure. He doesn't meltdown after a bad drive.

He goes out there and gets the job done.

He's not going to make every pass... or every play. But let's look at what he DID do last night, k?

Out of 36 tosses he made 23 completions. Not bad. For a total of 354 yards in the air and 40 yards rushing. What the freak is wrong with that? On most nights nothing. It's enough to win.

But when your defense stands around twiddling their thumbs looking for someone to make a play, nothing the QB does is going to be good enough.

No one in Saskatchewan would be upset at those stats had the defense not had a huge mental lapse in the dying few minutes of the game.

In fact, if we had won this game those stats would be looking mighty fine, don't you think?

So to all my readers who are Roughrider fans, take note: We are better than this. We are not Edmonton fans. We are not Calgary fans. So let's stop acting like it. Act like Roughrider fans, pete's sake.

You want to complain about something... how about the lack of leadership on defense! You want to complain about something... write the CFL about the chronically pathetical state of officiating in the league right now.

You want to complain about something... cheer for Hamilton! They got enough to complain about to last you all year.

Stop whining like a bunch of little school girls. Cuz, those boys in green and white just lost a heartbreaker on home turf. And I know KJ did everything in his power to prevent that.

KJ deserves better than this after each loss. It's time we as fans stepped up to the plate.

ARG!

The final score didn't tell the story of the game.

Here's my two cents... er... ok... buck fifty.

Two good things:

1. Austin finally found his friggin' challenge flag. Good, good. Nice to see him use it! Keep it up.

2. The third down gamble by B.C. inside their own 20 yard line will go as one of my favourite plays of the season - hands down! Sacked Jackson on their 15 to take over the ball. Would have loved to see Buono's face on that one. Hurts, don't it, Wally?

Kudos for our defense for coming through on that play in a big big way. No one was getting through the green wall that time!

Two things that were not so good:

1. Six times. Not once, not twice, not even thrice, but ... well... you get it. SIX FREAKING TIMES Jarious Jackson hands the ball to Joe Smith who walks around for a pick up of seven or so yards. Do it once and way to go, nice play. Big whoop. Do it twice and I think... well hey they found a weakness, go for it.

After third time I screamed myself hoarse!

Hello...! Defense...! You there?

Knock, knock. Anybody home?

I'm not very bright when it comes to football plays. But even I could tell you what the B.C. team was about to pull.

Seriously.

Could they not see him coming?

Did they think he was going to trip eventually or tire from carrying the ball all the time?

Come on, defense! Pick up the guy and haul his butt down. They gave you six times to figure it out. Pick up the learning curve a bit there.

Smith eventually carried the ball in for a TD. On the same freakin' play.

Six times.

I'm telling you...

2. Something I've learned this season... you don't ever throw a helmet. You never ever rip the helmet off of your teammate or an opposing team member. It is the ultimate in disrespect in football. Football is a violent game and their helmets are the biggest piece of safety equipment.

This is a dangerous sport and so you don't mess around with the helmet.

Ask the kid in college ball in the States who was told a few weeks ago he'd never walk again after a hit in a Buffalo Bills game just how dangerous. (A neuro-surgeon later said... oops, we jumped the gun on that one, he'll probably walk again...)

Don't even get me started on their cleats in those big pile ups.

That's why there are hefty fines and usually an automatic game ejection for a helmet violation.

In all my football watching career I have never seen such an objectional display of poor sportmanship and judgement on behalf of a professional sports team.

B.C. had better learn to reign it in because for the second time in two games they played with a man down because someone got ejected from the game.

That's not the story, though.

In fact, I initially thought the officials might have gotten the number wrong when they ejected #18 after a hockey brawl broke out on the field after Saskatchewan sacked Jarious Jackson.

I thought they got the number wrong because #55 went into the melee throwing punches. Yes, punchES in plural. And a knee.

And ended his little hockey outing by ripping the helmet off Scott Schultz who later had to be held back from ripping apart the offending player. God bless whoever held him back because as you may know... Scott's not a small guy and it wasn't easy.

In the end B.C. got off lucky that they weren't down two men. And what that says to me is their team is playing lose and emotional.

And that, my dear little green friends, is a very bad thing for Mr. Wally.

Because the team I saw wearing orange and black tonight was totally a beatable team. They didn't win because they played well. In fact, they played terrible. The only thing that kept them alive was Joe Smith. (SIX TIMES!) They squeaked out a win in a game that could have gone either way.

They got lucky on the ejection and they got lucky in the final point total. And as my grandfather used to say... Luck don't last forever.

So should we meet this team in the playoffs, I'll put money on my Riders any day of the week. Because B.C. showed today Saskatchewan might be the only team that can beat them. If for no other reason than that they lose their cool around us.

They are beatable. Trust.

But back to Saskatchewan...

Nice to see their back on the field and playing the game. In fact, I'd say all round improvement in every department. The game could have gone either way. If they can keep their head about them and not let this loss get to them they might actually be able to salvage the season.

The season is still circling the down the spout, but there's still time.

And again... I say if we meet B.C. again we won't be making the same mistakes we did tonight.

One more freebie:

If Geroy Simon wasn't so darned likeable I think I would actually hate the man. He's infuriatingly effective. Still... it was nice to see him drop a few balls tonight.

RIP - writing legend dies

James Oliver Rigney Jr, aka Robert Jordan of Wheel of Time fame, died today of a rare blood disease.

News article here.

He was was working on his 12th book in the series at the time of his death. (I hope he left notes!)

I believe it was he who said he would keep writing until they drove the nails into his coffin. I think he pretty much sums up how many writers feel.

How incredibly sad. Yet also how inspiring. He dared to share his gift of story with the rest of us and we are all the richer for it.

Even still we are pointedly reminded that we aren't promised tomorrow and we may not have much time to share the stories that are within us.

Bless you, Mr. Rigney. And deepest sympathies to his wife.

Second straight (just for Roy)

The game in Calgary stank to high heaven. Never in my life have I wanted to rip the radio off a wall so badly and toss it across the room.

Several observations... (some of it recycled from The Green Zone over at ckom.com)...

1. It is so sad to watch Henry Burris do so well. Mainly, because he used to play for the Riders. Mainly, because the previous administration let him go. Mainly, because I rather enjoy when Henry has to pick turf out of his helmet!

2. Have our defensive line gone on strike? Vacation? Taken a leave of absence? What gives? An 85-yard touchdown? Where the freak were they? Did they forget to get on the plane to Calgary? Somebody better fix that problem. And they better be fixing it fast.

If for no other reason than the psyche of the team... they were doing well... now they can't string together a touchdown drive for more than three plays to save their souls. If we don't start winning awful fast we're going to forget how to do it!

3. I would like to respectfully remind the CFL officials they ARE NOT PLAYERS! Therefore they should stop acting like they can influence the outcome of the game. Two calls last week were so bad the CFL sent out a news release saying they goofed.

I know. I know! Just two?!

(Btw, I think I heard pigs flying by at the same time...)

I am really sick and tired of lousy calls. Like DJ Flick said at the end of the game in Winnipeg... we didn't lose because of the officials, but they sucked!

(Though some could make a pretty good argument that lousy calls is interrupting the momentum of the team. I think they might have a point... )

Same deal this week.

And for the record... Kent, if you want to have any prayer of winning another game this season then you'd better find your damn challenge flag and THROW THE STUPID THING! I'm sick and tired of bad calls going against the green and white and nobody doing anything about it. Our boys are out there getting hammered with bad call after bad call... (simultaneous touch means no touch... what the?)... and you're not doing anything about it.

They've given us a recourse, Kent, so use it! Take a page from Wally Bouno if you have to... only with less snivelling, please.

All in all the Riders are in danger of losing the season... my prediction... if they lose to B.C. in Regina next weekend... they're done. Not because I am a fickle fan. I'll cheer for the green should they hire second-string high school players...! My point is if they lose one more, I do not believe this team has enough time to figure out what the problem is and snatch this season from the crapper.

They could prove me wrong. They do it all the time. But if they lose next week we'll have a record of 7-5. I just don't think we'd recover in time to do well in the playoffs.

So like I said... they gotta learn how to play some football between now and next Saturday. In the meantime, I'm glad I'm not wearing a jersey next week in practice, cuz I have a feeling Kent's gonna put a hurtin' on them!

Seven wins!

Riders just won a nail-biter at Taylor Field. Kerry Joseph runs in for the winning touchdown in the dying seconds of the game! How cool is that?

I was listening to the last bit of the game on the radio when the commentators got so excited they sounded like Mickey Mouse on speed. When I realized we got a TD I jumped up and down in the kitchen yelling, "Touchdown!"

My kids were sitting in the living room wondering if I had lost my mind. They had a friend over who also shared the same look.

Then I raced downstairs where Richard is watching the game "live" on TSN.ca. (They offer all the games for free on broadband.)

There is a built-in 10 to 20 second delay on the broadband broadcast. So I while I'm screaming "Touchdown!" Richard is like... "but they've still got 30 yards to go!"

Awesome heads-up play by KJ to run it up the middle like that. Very well-executed.

I'm a proud Rider fan today. They just keep impressing me with their poise, their confidence, and their unflappability. This is one amazing team.

For the first time in decades we could have a home playoff game!

So... where do I buy tickets?

Was it worth it?

A year ago last week, hubby and I had just suffered our first house-hunting disappointment. The house was beautiful - exactly what we were looking for in our price range and located right across from a school.

But it was not meant to be. And so began a long, horrible journey through every borough in Toon Town looking for a house that could measure up.

Four realtors later we finally found what we were looking for and closed a private sale in what was a simple discussion around a kitchen table.

As Richard and I have become more settled in our new house, I have often been asked... "Well? Was it worth the big long wait?"

It's a tough question and I'm not really sure how to answer it.

Was this big beautiful house worth the nine months of heart-wrenching disappointment and frustration?

I'd love so much to say, yes! But I can't. Not yet.

I am a product of our society.

I love the end product but not the process. I want the blessings, not the sometimes difficult journey to get them. I want the cure not the long treatment.

I want Insta-Fix. Not Slow-and-Steady.

But it's the journey that makes life so sweet. It's savouring the process of making a bubbling batch of homemade chicken soup that makes it taste so good. You can't get comfort food from a fast-food container!

Have we forgotten the value in those long processes? Those hours of tweaking and adding and stirring are usually just as enjoyable for the cook as the end product of delicious tasting soup.

But we neglect the process. We skip to the end. And we wonder why there is more depression, more anxiety in our society than ever before.

Could it be because we've forgotten the joy in less-than-instant processes? In every day things that take time to be of value?

So back to my question... was the nine-months of scouring the city for a house in the craziest, stupidest market in Canada worth it now that we have our big beautiful house?

It's still yes and no.

I learned a lot through the difficult path. I learned, for example, that patience pays off. I also learned I am not a patient person.

I learned that God answers prayers. I also learned that sometimes He doesn't answer them the way I want Him to. When I want Him to.

But I still look at that journey and wonder why? Why did it take so long? Why couldn't we have gotten into the market before prices rose to ridiculous heights? Why couldn't things have worked out sooner so we didn't have to be mortgaged to the hilt for the rest of lives?

Perhaps the tears of bitter disappointment are still too fresh. Perhaps in time, when the memory of the heartbreak is blurred by the distance of time, perhaps then I can look back and say... of course, it was worth it.

Right now, the bruises of the journey still ache. I'm looking forward to time healing those wounds. I'm looking forward to sorting out the lessons from the frustrations and finding the gems God has placed there.

It will just take time.

Hmm...

Perhaps I've learned a little patience after all.

Addendum to previous post

And Corey Holmes is back in green and white after a blockbuster trade with Hamilton!?

Is it Christmas? Santa, is that you?

I'm kinda sad to see Armstead leave in the swap, but for Holmes! It's rather sweet!

I'm certain he will receive a huge standing ovation as he hits the turf at Taylor Field on September 2. Makes we wish I would have purchased game tickets when I priced them out in the spring.

Welcome back, Holmes! Time to rock the house, baby!