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SURFACING

When things floating in my head finally wash up on shore
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WINTER’S COMING

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Bill Provick

Fortunately, I am not talking about the same winter that causes such foreboding
in one of my favourite television series, Game of Thrones. Here, in the real
world, there may be misery — horrid, dangerous driving conditions — and rare
beauty — a cityscape magically hushed by a fluffy blanket of white snow. But to
the best of my knowledge, there will be no cannibal zombies or whatever those
dreaded creatures are massing beyond the great ice wall in Thrones.

Winter can provide beauty and danger.

No, it may be unusually cold or unusually mild. Unusually long or unusually
short. Unusually wet or unusually dry. But for the most part it should be a
good, old-fashioned winter, a time of challenge and reward.

As we enter the month of Christmas here in Ottawa, we sit on the verge, with
winter about to start at any minute. There have been some brave attempts. Faint
flakes swirling about but never really staying. Early mornings with everything
brushed with rime, offering an artistic foreshadowing of the whiteness to come.
But so far, nothing has stayed.

And when the skies are overcast and the would-be snow is falling as rain, the
days can be wet and gloomy. And spirits, already battered by the early darkness,
may be a bit low

But still we know. Winter is coming. And while we may dread, rather than
outright fear, some of its harshest moments, we also look forward to the snow
that makes it such a dramatically different month.

We always welcome the first real snow — must not melt for a night and a day —
but in this area of the North, we prefer that it fall a mere few days ahead of
time, so we can have mild, dry conditions while driving between stores to do our
Christmas shopping, and still have our much-treasured White Christmas.

And yes, for the record, the best welcome given the first real snowfall is done
by turning one’s face skyward, mouth wide open, tongue protruding, to capture
the flakes, and taste the arrival of winter.

I’ve been doing this, and enjoying it immensely, since I was a toddler. These
years I don’t always get out, but still try, and occasionally succeed, at
fulfilling this tradition.

So, winter IS coming. Everyone stick out your tongue and say ”Aghh.”

Posted in Life (as is) | Comments Off on Winter’s coming


GOD MADE FALL FOR EVERYONE

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Bill Provick

Beneath the leaves lie pre-winter treasures

Fall is a wonderful time to be out in the country. The crisp tang in the air
that, when chilly enough, seems to cleanse your lungs with every breath. The
colours, so bright and vibrant, each tree looking like God’s own upturned
paintbrush.

And when the leaves fall and fade, they retain a majesty that lingers as they
lie there on the hardened ground. Too beautiful to be stepped on? And the sudden
sound that startles, as an animal, or bird, launches a quick, often loud, rustle
through the dried leaves, in search of food — to be eaten immediately or stored
for a long, hard winter.

Standing on a path amidst the trees, feeling a thousand kilometres from the
city, even if only on a nature trail on the edge of the suburbs.

And it’s truly best of all when shared with loved ones. So take some time and
get out there this coming Thanksgiving weekend, and beyond. And remember, what
can seem a nuisance chore as you shut the TV and pry yourself from your couch,
will seem like magical moments as you stand amidst the trees with no traffic
sounds, only the nurturing vibrations of the real outdoors. In all likelihood,
you’ll be glad you made the effort.

And remember the sharing part. Be sure to bring along others, young and old,
because God made Fall for everyone.

It’s Fall and a freshly painted outdoors beckons.     Happy trails to you.

Posted in Life (as is) | Comments Off on God made Fall for everyone


KATRINA’S 1ST BIRTHDAY – PART 1

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Bill Provick

Photo by Mariette Marleau.

And a great time was had by all.

Photo by Bill Provick

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Especially the Birthday Girl who remained calm, cool
and collected throughout. What a darling.

Posted in Life (as is) | Comments Off on Katrina’s 1st Birthday – Part 1


COMING SOON

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Bill Provick

Guess what. I AM going to start using this blog again soon! Says the old
procrastinator himself. But just you watch. I MAY surprise you yet.

Cheers,

Bill

Posted in Did you know | Comments Off on COMING SOON


GO SENS, GO!!!

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Bill Provick

ALL GEARED UP FOR THE SECOND ROUND OF THE

2013 NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS, EASTERN CONFERENCE,

THE OTTAWA SENATORS vs. THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

GO SENS, GO!!!

Please note that due to issues with Spam,

the Comments feature has been turned off.

 Please send comments via e-mail to bill@provick.ca. Thanks.

Posted in Life (as is) | Comments Off on GO SENS, GO!!!


HAPPY NEW YEAR

Posted on December 31, 2011 by Bill Provick



Posted in Life (as is) | 1 Comment


BLUE MAN GROUP PUT THE FUN IN FUNNY!

Posted on December 31, 2011 by Bill Provick

CAUGHT BLUE MAN GROUP ON STAGE FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST NIGHT (DEC. 30, 2011) AT
THE NATIONAL ATS CENTRE HERE IN OTTAWA (CANADA) AND HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. I
CAN’T REMEMBER WHEN MARIETTE AND I LAUGHED TO LONG AND SO LOUD. AND EVERYONE
ELSE AROUND US WAS DOING THE VERY SAME.

PART PARTY, PART WHIMSICAL SPECTACLE, WITH MORE THAN A PASSING, IRONIC NOD AT
THE FOIBLES OF HUMANS INTERACTING WITH TECHNOLOGY, IT WAS 100% FUN!

WOULD GO AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT, EVEN IF IT WAS THE EXACT SAME SHOW AND WOULD
PROBABLY LAUGH AND MARVEL ALL OVER AGAIN.

If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend this show, whether you know
anything about them or not.

Posted in Life (as is) | Comments Off on Blue Man Group put the FUN in FUNNY!


COMING SOON!

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Bill Provick

Fingers crossed, here’s hoping I get back to writing this blog on a far more
consistent basis come the New Year.

(As soon as I recover from the Holidays, even if that takes until Easter.)

Posted in Life (as is) | 2 Comments


DON CHERRY: THIS THROWBACK WAY PAST HIS PRIME

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Bill Provick

I’ve GOT to stop watching Coach’s Corner!

The opening night of the 2011-2012 NHL hockey season and though it’s a Thursday
rather than Saturday night, Hockey Night In Canada (HNIC) is back on CBC. The
Montreal Canadiens against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the centre of the CBC
universe, Toronto.

There’s a prolonged ceremonial introduction of every Leaf player, in uniform and
out, every coach, executive, water boy . . . Somewhere along the long line I
lost count, and interest. But the projection of the white leaves on the darkened
ice surface was nice. What was cool, however, was how these animated leaves
swirled in the wake of each player who skated out to take his place on the ice.


Unfortunately the first period of hockey was far less animated and interesting.

And with the first intermission comes Coach’s Corner, with the iconic Don
Cherry, whose bombastic delivery is almost as loud as his “suits” — many of
which seem stolen from someone’s colourful but tacky curtains. At his side,
riding his coattails, is his sidekick and inconsistent foil, Ron McLean.

McLean wants Cherry to discuss the current hot topic around the league, the
continuing campaign against shots to the head and the accompanying suspensions
from the league’s new head of discipline, the much-respected former player,
Brendan Shanahan. But as too often happens, Cherry is in a surly mood. With a
dismissive gesture, he notes — almost brags — that he hasn’t bothered to look at
any of Shanahan’s explanatory DVDs examining each hit and outlining his
reasoning in awarding the suspensions he’s had to hand out so far. But that
doesn’t stop Cherry from sitting in knee-jerk judgement and being highly
critical of Shanahan’s decisions.

Then Cherry — at best a minor-league grinder when he played, a relatively
short-termed coach when behind the bench, and a significantly richer
entrepreneur with his Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em videos — shows Scott Stevens at his
most devastating years ago in another time and notes that all these hits would
be illegal and punishable by suspension these days. And I say well, they should
be. Slavery was once practised on this continent. Doesn’t mean it should be
again.

In high dudgeon, and even higher volume, with dangerous, even career-ending
(Eric Lindros) hits playing in the background, The Don complains that we won’t
see the likes of this kind of action again in our lifetime. I say, “Good!”

With yet another shot of another totally unconscious player lying so ominously
still on the ice, Cherry nearly screams “We won’t see this again!” Like it’s
some terrible loss we are about to experience. Well Don, I think I am far from
alone in noting that I would be VERY HAPPY if I never saw such a sight again at
at hockey rink.

And I’d probably be a lot better off not watching Coach’s Corner, even if I do
so only to see how far this highly irritating hockey icon will go, and wondering
if he’ll finally lose it completely on camera.

I’d probably enjoy Coach’s Corner a lot more if they put Cherry out to
post-broadcasting pasture before true dementia starts setting in. Heck, they
could always bring in Coach, “The (would-be) Dragon Slayer” from Survivor. He
doesn’t know much about hockey but at least he’d be amusing — and much easier on
the blood pressure.

Posted in In my humble opinion | 1 Comment


E-MAIL WOES SOLVED

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Bill Provick

It took a bit of experimentation but my son found the magic number needed and
we’re back in business.

Posted in Life (as is) | 2 Comments
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