One of the byproducts of getting older is perspective.  Gone are the days of being emotionally invested in a professional sports franchise.  What happens on the ice, the court, the diamond or football field will not alter my life one iota. Irrespective of what happens during a game the same responsibilities await me the next morning.  I don’t get worked up over million dollar athletes who get to extend their childhoods by playing a game for a living.  But I must confess that the historical meltdown by the Toronto Maple Leafs Monday night brought back memories for me.  It’s been a long time since I yelled at the TV, wondering if my flat screen TV was going to be functional by the end of the game.

Alas, sanity prevailed.  As soon as the game came to an end I went back to being my dispassionate self as it relates to the local hockey “heroes”.  I’ve long since stopped being an apologist for the Leafs.  Don’t get me wrong, I go to games but I go more so for the experience.  So now when people, usually those who reside in other parts of the country say to me, “Leaf suck”, my answer is, “agreed”. That usually stops the conversation. Now, there was no stopping the conversation about the Leafs colossal collapse Monday night.  Leaf nation is stunned,  numb and frankly I worry about some being suicidal.   Everyone in Toronto is talking about the Leafs blowing a three goal lead with only ten minutes to play in the seventh and deciding game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins.  The analysis by the sports media is, and will continue to be, unrelenting.  This is way too much fun for them.  One radio station found a creative way torture Leafs fan by interviewing a statistician who calculated the probability of the Leafs winning that game from a historical context.  Kid you not, the stat’s geek looked at every game seven played in the NHL since 1918 to determine the probability of the Leafs winning the game.  For example, when the Leafs made it 3-1, based on history the probability of the Leafs winning was 95%, when the score was 4-1 it was 98%.  I laughed out loud in the car when I heard this.  This exercise was nothing more than plunging the knife a little deeper.  Poor Leaf fans, maybe the team should change the saying The Passion That Unites Us All to The Therapy That Unites Us All.

The only impressive thing about the game was the press conference with Leaf coach Randy Carlyle following the game. To have to face the media and answer questions why he and his team failed so spectacularly cannot be easy.  Like in business a leader’s character is measured by how they deal with adversity.  A hockey coach is the leader of the team.  Most teams take on the coach’s personality, and if that holds true for the Leafs it will serve the players well.  Carlyle made no excuses.  Someone in the media asked if the officiating worked against his team and he refused to be drawn into that debate, he simply said his team ran out of gas.  He was calm, leveled headed and waited until there were no more questions to be answered.  I couldn’t help but admire the dignity and accountability he exhibited under the most trying of circumstances.

So now that the Leafs have gone down in the hockey chocking history, I’ll have to change my TV viewing habits.  Maybe I should start watching Dr. Phil.  I suspect some Leaf fans might be making an appearance on the show.

Until next time

Cheers

And how was your weekend?  Surely it wasn’t so long ago that you’ve forgotten?  I heard the weather across the country was nice so I suspect some of you may have spent time outdoors getting some fresh air.  That’s exactly what I would have been doing if I didn’t have to be indoors for most of the weekend.  Our lad’s house league teamed played in in the GTHL Canadian Tire Hockey Tournament, which officially marked the end of his house league season.  How many games he would play, (meaning how many times I would have to drive back and forth to the arena?) would depend on how many games won, and points earned during the preliminary round.  Three trips…pardon me – three games guaranteed.  Including a 7:00 am start on Sunday morning; which meant we had to be at the arena by 6:15am.  There are only two reasons to be anywhere at that ungodly hour on a Sunday morning, catching a flight or making your tee time.  Adding to the fact of the less than optimal game time, was the fact that the result of the game was irrelevant – they already qualified for the semi-final.  Yeah, this was a glorified practice.  Making it to the semi-final was a surprise to many of the parents, and the coaches.  You can only imagine our shock and disbelief when the boys made it to the final.

Watching Mack develop as hockey player has been a real joy; this is only his third year of playing organized hockey, and he got his fill this year by playing on two teams.  One is house league team and he also made the select team.  That’s a lot of hockey, for the parents.  The kids playing?  Put them on as many teams as you want and they’ll be fine with it; Mack loves playing.  Unlike some other parents, Kathy and I do not live vicariously through Mack, with the hopes that he’ll make it to the pro’s one day.  His mom is his biggest cheerleader, and she lets him know, sometimes rather loudly, that she’s pulling from him.  It’s funny to watch him get set for the face off, look up into the crowd, and wave to his mom.  At that age being cool doesn’t supersede acknowledging your biggest fan.  The boy has a wonderful sense of humour, and he’s really grounded when it comes to the game.  He knows who the stars are on the team, and the role he plays.  He takes the game seriously but not himself.  Example, last year I tried to bribe him by saying “Mack, if you score a goal tonight I’ll take you to Tim’s and you can load up on sugar”.  Upon reflection he looks at me and says, “Make it ribs”.  Done! “If you score a goal tonight we’ll stop at Swiss Chalet and I’ll get you ribs, a full rack”.  I kid you not ten seconds into the game he ends up on a breakaway, roofs it into the top corner.  After high-fiving teammates he skates to center ice for the face-off, looks up at me into the crowd, and starts rubbing his stomach (the way you would when saying, mmmm…good).  I just finished wiping the tears away from laughing so hard when he scores his second goal.  Back to center ice for the face-off.  He looks for me in the crowd, and when he sees me, he drops his stick and gloves and imitates someone eating ribs.  I thought I was going to have to buy Depends because I couldn’t stop laughing.

Beyond the laughs I’m thankful for all the lessons Mack learned this year from hockey.  The importance of working as a team, and embracing structure and discipline to achieve the ultimate goal, winning.  He’s fortunate to play on teams with great head coaches.  Improving skills and hockey I.Q. is important.  But the life lessons learned are equally as important.  It’s was disappointing to see two teams refuse to shake hands after losing to Mack and his mates.  I can’t blame 11 year old’s for that.  That responsibility is in the coaches hands.  They should be embarrassed for what they’re teaching young and impressionable boys.  Mack was fortunate to be led by men who taught them to win with grace and lose with dignity.  Like the dignity they showed when the lost the championship game.  They stood on blue line together and watched the other boys celebrate as they were presented the championship trophy. Not an easy thing for an 11 year old to go through but that’s life; he’ll be all the better for it.

Until next time,

Cheers.

Heading out for March break which means a good dose of patience is required.  There’s a fairly long line-up to get through U.S. customs; due in part because of the time of year and cutbacks of U.S. customers officers working at the airport.  It appears the budget squabble between Democrats and Republicans will have a direct impact on Canadians traveling to the U.S.  Oh goodie! An increased work load will do wonders for their overall disposition.

I write this blog just after going through the check-in and security process.  Remember when traveling use to be fun?  Not so much anymore.  Then again there was a time when you could never conceive that a group of madmen would fly planes into buildings.  Traveling changed forever after 9/11, and understandably we were all going to be impacted by the changes. Don’t know about you but I don’t get all that fussed about the added security.  My only question is how effective the “added security” really is.  The only thing I can hang my hat on is that no other crazy ass bastards have successfully flown a plane into other buildings.  So I guess officials can make the argument that it’s not all just optics.

So if you’re flying this week you should find ways to amuse yourself as you go through checking in and clearing security. There’s plenty of people to observe and if you’re so inclined, eavesdropping.  You’ll need to find ways to entertain yourself because the line up to get through security compares to the line up to get on Space Mountain, at Disney, on a good day. 

Until next time,

Cheers.

It’s almost over!  I suspect most hockey parents share same sentiment.  I’m sure the kids who play organized hockey could go on and on; their parents?  Not sure how much they will miss the cold arenas and scheduling three to four nights a week to be at an arena.  This was really my first year as a hockey “parent/guardian”.  Our 11 year shocked us by making the select team.  Combine that with his house league team, well, that’s a lot of hockey.  As an example he played in tournament this weekend, and as of 7:30pm last night he played 5 games over the weekend.  Yes, that’s 5 trips to arenas, lacing up and taking off skates, and listening to 11 year old dressing room chatter.  A wide range of topics are discussed in the dressing rooms, from the cute girl at school to boogers.  And what makes the conversation even more engrossing for me is the decibel level.  My ritual, and that’s what it is at his games, is to ensure he puts on his cup the right way and then lace up his skates.  Once done I grab for the Advil and look for something to wash it down with.

To be clear, no one in our household is under the illusion that our 11 year old is going to earn a hockey scholarship or make it to the pros.  Our desire for him to play the game is for the camaraderie, and the life lessons the sport teaches kids.  The most important lesson is that there are winners and there a losers.  Defeat and failure in sports prepare kids for the “real world”. Not everyone one can win, that’s life.  It was tough to walk into the dressing room this weekend and see bunch of 11 year olds in tears because they lost a heartbreaker in sudden death overtime.  That game effectively ended their tournament, and they knew it.  As bad as I felt for the kids I was glad they were learning a lesson.  There was no” poor you” by the other dads in the dressing room.  My only comment to Mack was, “don’t ever forget what this feels like, and do the best you can to make sure it doesn’t happen again”.  Of course it will happen again but an 11 year old can only take so much reality. 

I must confess that this hockey year taught me a few things as well.  It annoyed me that Mack, our 11 year old, doesn’t love the game.  Oh, he loves to play.  If there’s a practice at an outdoor rink and it happens to be minus 20 outside, no problem.  But he’s not consumed by the game.  There are no hockey player posters on his wall.  It’s a struggle to get him to watch a period of a game with me on TV.  He would rather be doing other things.  I just didn’t get that.  When I was his age I was sports junkie, I idolized athletes.  If I close my eyes I can still remember the day when my mom called me into the house and she handed me an envelope which came by mail.  I was around 10 or 11 years old, and there was an envelope for me from Maple Leaf Gardens.  My hero, former Toronto Maple Leaf -Dave Keon, responded to my letter and sent me an autograph picture.  I raced out of the house and showed every kid on the street the picture that Dave Keon sent me, and the kids on the street were all memorized by the photo.  It was a big deal.  I really wanted Mack to experience the same thing.  But the lesson I’ve learned its okay if he doesn’t worship athletes.  As a matter of fact by not hero worshiping he’s probably saving himself some grief.  Thankfully Mack never worshiped athletes like Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, Marlon Jones, Alex Rodriguez, Michael Vick, Oscar Pistorious, and sadly too many other professional athletes to mention.  Athletes are human beings with frailties, and that can be difficult to explain to an 11 year old.  Idolizing and hero-worshiping should be dedicated to those who truly deserve it – for example, his mom.  If that’s all he gets out of playing hockey then the countless hours spent in a cold arenas will be worth it.

Until next time,

Cheers.

I would like to extend a very Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to you and your family.  This is the time of year to reflect on how fortunate we are, and  to spend time with family.  That’s exactly what I’ll be doing over the next few weeks.  It’s been an extraordinarily busy year and in some ways I wish I could invent a few extra months and add it to 2012 so I can milk it for all I can.   Alas, not possible so it’s time to focus on 2013, and that’s when I’ll start blogging again.

To all of you who take the time to read my blog, I can’t tell you how humbled I am that you would do so.  I hope in some small way I was able to inform, possibly entertain but more importantly connect.  Thank you so much, and here’s to a great 2013.

I leave you with what I believe are two classic Christmas songs.  I never get tired listening to them.

December is upon us. It’s the time of year when all men head to the mall to get an early start on Christmas shopping (usually around December 23rd). Ah, the joys of going to Sherway Mall or Yorkadale Plaza in Toronto. Looking for a parking space, fighting the crowds in the mall and not knowing what to buy just screams peace on earth to all. It’s the time of year when stress levels rise and you say to yourself, “$%@! %$”. But I’ve decided that this year is going to be a little different.

It’s been a hell of a year for all of us. Changes to the mortgage rules and the economy contributed to a stressful year. Every time we turned around our industry was taking it on the chin from the media. But ultimately we’re responsible for our own state of mind. I’ve decided to try to something different for the rest of the year and search high and low  for positive things to blog about. It may mean there will be very few blogs about the mortgage industry but so be it.

With the positive things in mind, the Paradigm/Merix Children’s Christmas party was held this past weekend. The staff who organized the party wondered if my “friend” would be willing to play the part of Santa. I said I would have to think…I mean…I would ask my “friend” if he would be interested in doing it. My “friend” has never done something like this before and I think he was a little concerned that some of the kids might have to go for therapy after the event. “Santa, why are you drinking Grey Goose vodka, and does Santa always wear Hugo Boss cologne, and Santa do you think you’re setting a bad example having an unlit cigar in your mouth”? Out of the mouth of babes.

My “friend” decided to do it and he sent me some photographs. Mrs. Clause has a striking resemblance to Kathy Gregory, and the elf looks eerily like her son Mackenzie. Sheer coincidence? My “friend’ said he had an amazing time, and the smiles on the children’s faces were worth sweating like a pig in that costume. This time of year is truly what we make of it.

Until next time,

Cheers.

I think we’re all guilty of making things out to be a lot worse than they really are. It’s easy to become overwhelmed just thinking about all the responsibilities we all have in our personal and professional lives. A good dose of perspective can always shake you back to reality and remind you of what’s truly a problem and what’s nothing more than melodrama. I received a good dose perspective over the last 10 days.

It was 10 days ago when I started not to feel very well, I started experiencing chest pains. I didn’t think it was heart attack, why would a 52 year old, slightly overweight man with high cholesterol think that? To be on the safe side I went to the doctor and he put me through a battery of tests. I was right, no heart attack. The doctor wanted me to be thorough so they sent me off to get x-rays done on my chest. The next day the doctor called me and said, “Your x-ray indicated that you have a small nebular density on your lung. We believe it’s benign but we cannot rule out cancer. We’re going to arrange a CT scan on chest to get a better look, and from there we can determine what the next steps will be.”

Funny how everything changed from the moment I heard those words. (more…)

 For many Olympic athletes it’s not about the money, it’s about chasing the dream, representing a country and standing on the podium.

Maybe it’s just me but I really could care less when the NHL lockout comes to an end.  I think both sides make a good case why their position is the right one but if the NHL was to cancel the entire season it would have zero impact on my life.  I used to be a sports junkie, and I do enjoy sporting events. But the love of  the game for it’s purity has long since passed for me.  The naivete that the owners and players should do what’s best for the game is best left for those who refuse to believe that professional sport is business, big business.

I can’t think of a bigger business than the business of the Olympics. Multiple billion of dollars in revenues, along with envelopes full cash being passed under tables.  That just screams sporting innocence doesn’t it? In spite of the Olympic machine you can’t help but marvel at the athletes who participate, setting aside NHL and NBA pros.  For many Olympic athletes it’s not about the money, it’s about chasing the dream, representing a country and standing on the podium.  Thanks to an industry colleague, Brian Nason, I was reminded that within the business of sports there can be purity for the love of the sport.  I would like to introduce you to Larisa Yurkiw.  Frankly, I never heard of Larisa until Brian reached out to me to assist in his efforts to support Larisa.  According to Brian,  Larisa is good people, who comes from a good family.  I don’t know Larisa, I’ve never met her but I can say this, she’s got guts and she has the heart of a champion. All she wants is another shot at the Olympics, and a chance to represent Canada.  You have an opportunity to give her a hand up to the podium.  Please have a look at the video,  if for no other reason than to remind yourself that the purity of sports still exists.

Until next time,

Cheers.

The Thanksgiving meal hasn’t been fully digested, when I decided to do a really dumb thing – I surfed the net to see what was happening in the world. In less than five minutes of reading I had a decision to make, curl up in the fetal position paralyzed with fear or stop reading? I went with door number two.

Dire predictions from the IMF about the global economy, specifically the slowdown in Asia, the debt situation in the U.S. and the European crisis, can wait. As can all the pundits in Canada who are suggesting that we’re on the precipitous of a housing crisis.
All this information can wait until Thanksgiving Day is clearly in the review mirror. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and remind ourselves how fortunate we are. I’m so thankful for the loving family I have, the great industry I work in, and the job that I do every day. And I’m also really thankful that I live in a country where I have the right to say to all those who are predicting global, and specifically Canadian economic doom, SHUT THE HELL UP.  At the very least give us Thanksgiving Day. No, give us the day after as well. Ah, but I don’t trust you so I’m going to put you on ignore until Wednesday. At that point I will invite back into my life so that I am apprised of what’s going on, and that will also force me to take the time to decipher fact from fiction.  I, along with everyone in our industry is used to doing that.  But understand this, you will never beat me (or our industry) into submission and force us to say uncle. The mortgage industry and people who contribute to it are part of any solution, our value and contribution to the Canadian economy is well established.

A personal belated Happy Thanksgiving to all those who take the time to read my blog, for that I am truly humbled and thankful.

Until next time,

Cheers.

Dateline- Sunday, September 16, 2012

As I write this blog I’m sitting on a plane waiting to go home. Of course the flight is delayed, which seems to be a given when traveling. The process of boarding and getting through security was extra special on Sunday. American Homeland Security is on high-alert due to American Embassies being under attack throughout the Middle East. Security lines were longer than normal which contributed to my overall crankiness. But what would have made even Mother Teresa cranky is flying to or departing from the world’s worst airport known to man, San Francisco International Airport.

If at all possible avoid the disaster of the San Francisco International Airport. One option is heading to LAX in Los Angeles and drive and extra two or three hours. It’s the same amount of time you need navigating this incoherent and most idiotically designed airport. This is not just my opinion; the people who work there feel the same way. Announcement after announcement is made abound flight delays. One customer service agent actually announced, “The delay is our fault because we don’t have enough runway’s, that’s the way it is folks at San Francisco International Airport“. Not enough runways? I don’t know anything about running airports but I would assume the number of runways is important.

I don’t expect much from airports. I get it, it’s not a fun place to be and we’re all cattle to be herded in a certain direction. We all put up with airport staff that have no idea about customer service, (by calling us passengers it means we can be treated like gum at the button of their shoes) and act as if they’re working there forcibly and under duress. We are all willing to put up with this for the simple pleasure of getting in and out of an airport in an orderly manner. Not much to ask, unless you’re at San Francisco International Airport. The car rental process at that airport is laughable. The location of the car rental lots might as well be in Oregon. Getting in and out of the building or to your terminal requires a Sherpa Guide and a donkey. That’s just the beginning of the Nightmare on PO Box 8097.

All will be well in a few hours when we touch down in Toronto. Can’t wait to walk through that sterile, humorless, devoid of any personality, cavernous, charmless airport which is better known as Toronto Pearson International.

Dateline – Thursday, September 20, 2012

Still cranky, maybe it has nothing to do with airports. Maybe as I get older I’m becoming a curmudgeon. For fun I will go home tonight and bitch about teenagers, politicians, the weather and my chronic back pain. Anyone want to join me for the early bird dinner special? Oh wait, that’s in Florida. Don’t get me started on those idiots down there. I can’t believe how slowly they drive in the passing lane on the Interstate, and the weather, my god it gets hot, and…

Until next time

Cheers

The long journey for our family is finally coming to an end.  The journey I’m referring to is our move, which now feels like it’s been a year.  The reality is it’s only been three weeks but when you live out of a suitcase, time seems to drag on.  It’s one thing to do that while on vacation but it altogether different when it’s just another normal day or in our case, weeks.  It is interesting how you adjust to your circumstances.  I’ve learned that I’m clothes pig.  It appears that two suits, two pairs of dress pants,  5 dress shirts and a few ties is more than enough.  There’s going to be further purging when we move in on Friday, and in the not too distant future some homeless man will look pretty sharp.

As to our new home or as we affectionately refer to it as, the money pit, there’s a fair bit of work that awaits us.  You have to have some vision and imagination to buy a home where the redeeming quality is the lot and footprint.  Everything else about the interior?  Bye-Bye!  It’s funny to walk around the house and say, hate this, hate that, that’s hideous, and what in god’s name were the previous owners thinking when they picked this?  Feel free to insert doors, faucets, tiles, staircase, paint colour, light fixtures etc.  Indeed, work awaits.

I’m thankful that the previous owners spent less than five cents preparing their home for sale. Even more thankful is the painter we hired.   In this day and age of HGTV, not knowing how to stage a home is because you just didn’t care to learn.  That’s a mistake that many home owners make when selling their homes, and it costs them thousands of dollars.  Most people have a difficult time seeing beyond people’s questionable taste but what will turn  potential buyers off even more is if they think the house is not clean.  A coat of paint does wonders.  Every buyer will probably change the paint colour as soon as they move in but at least they’ll think the house is pristine.  And if they’re trying to decide between two homes to buy, it can be the difference maker. 

Off to the store to buys some stuff because the money pit needs to be fed.

Until next time,

Cheers.

I hate it, the end.

Just kindling, well, not about hating it but the end part.  One thing I’ve learned is you get what you pay for.  A friend of mine, John Novak, is the proprietor of the moving company Tippet-Richardson.  The company has been around for many years, and their reputation for quality service is well deserved.  A little pricey but as John has reminded me, on more than one occasion, “you time is worth money and Is the best use of your time packing boxes?”  Up until now I haven’t told him he’s right.  If you’re moving soon and you need a mover, give them a call.  A good moving company can eliminate a lot of stress.

I also learned that when you move you get nickeled and dimmed to death.  From the gas, water, electric and cable companies, all charge a disconnect fee as well as fee to start services again when you move into your new home.  Why?  Because they can.  God forbid getting someone to agree to pay a renewal fee for their mortgage, that’s simply preposterous.  But it’s perfectly acceptable to pay a reconnect fee for the privilege of watching TV. 

I’ve learned that the land transfer fee in the city of Toronto boarders on criminal.  Mayor Rob Ford promised to do away with the fee when he was campaigning, and yet here I am cutting him, and the province of Ontario, a cheque for an obscene sum of money.  Mr. Mayor, I’ll give you a pass on the land transfer tax if you provide me with added services.  Like picking me up every morning and giving me a ride to work, by piggy-back.

I also learned that the sound of boxes being tapped is really annoying.  It’s right up there with nails scratching a blackboard, a dentist’s drill and Joan Rivers voice.

Until next time,

Cheers.

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