Friday May 21, 2010-The Stouffville Crew

Hello faithful reader.

Well, and era is soon coming to a close/end what ever you want to say. The Newmarket yard that i am employed with, as a school bus driver, has lost all of its runs for next school year, in the latest round of contract bids. The era, well, the yard has been running for well past 40 years, i cannot seem to get an acurate number but I know it has been there since the late 70's.
Any way, our Safety Manager, the women who hired me in 2007, has touched a lot of drivers/trainers over the years, and as a tribute to this, we, the Stouffville drivers, put together a small thank you today at a local coffee shop. A nice flower arrangement, a partially inflated balloon, a symbol of our tires, no just kidding here, a gift certificate and a lovely photo, that i just happened to take.

Insert grin here.

A nice morning was enjoyed by our small group, I did not have to buy this time, and we all will miss the yard, the co workers and at least one manager. Insert smile face here. I spent 35 years with my previous company, expecting to retire with them, and when that did not happen, i expected to retire with First Student, and now.??

Thanks Dale, it will be a different school year with the company that took out routes, but you will always be there in our daily logs, er I mean our hearts.

Thanks for reading

DJB

Sunday May 9, 2010-Happy Mothers Day

Hello faithful reader.

Today is Mothers Day, and i want to wish all you mothers out there a great day. Mine has left the planet but not my memories.
Around this time our back yard Cardinals usually return and this year is no exception. We have a male and female for sure, maybe one other pair, not 100% sure just yet. The Blue jays have also returned and the squirrels, well they just never leave the peanut factory we have here.
A small amount of snow last night, but no biggy.

Thanks for listening.

DJB

Monday April 5, 2010

Hello faithful reader.

Well, spring has sprung, the grass has riz, we wonder were the birdies is.

Well at least the birds leave my Daffodil's a lone. The first half have bloomed, and they are all yellow except for this guy, the white and yellow one.

The second half looks like they will bloom in a few days with one more like this one.

Thanks for listening

DJB.

February 23, 2010- Snow gold Annual

Hello faithful reader.

Well last Saturday was our annual snow golf tournament. It was a week later than normal, but when the course designer has a paying gig, he has that right to take it.

As usually a lot of fun. A bigger than normal turnout this year. maybe the date suited more folk this year, or maybe more of them sobered up and remembered what day it was.

A lot of great food for the pot luck lunch, perogies, cabbage rolls, roast beef, wings, venison chili and salads. Plus cold beer.
After the same team had won the past 2-3 years, a new championship team was crown. They are seated in front of the group shot

Finally.

Enjoy the photos.

Thanks for listening

DJB

Thursday February 4, 2010-Haiti relief

Hello faithful reader.

Last Sunday, January 31st, Pause Awhile Equestrian Centre in Stouffville,
held a fund raiser for the Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti. The plan was to get interested riders to participate in a fun horse show, with raffles and a silent auction.

A number of interested riders showed up, as did a lot of nice prizes to be won or raffled, by not only parents of the riders, bit local businesses as well.

The show was a pretty simple thing, two divisions, a Princess division and a Queen Bee division. Classes included a spoon and egg, Simon say;s, musical ride and a Handy Hunter(make your own course of jumps). The raffles and auction went well, and the riders all had a lot of fun.

In all, over $7800 Canadian was raised and presented to Mr John Chang of the Red Cross. This is John in the centre of the picture above.

Well done every one. For only a week to prepare you all did great, and i had a blast taking the photos for you.

Thanks for listening'

DJB

December 19, 2009-Run Forest, Run

Hello faithful reader.

Well December 17th, 2009 will hold a special place in my memory bank, as long as it holds out i suppose. I was hired at MMM Dec 17, 1973 and the Olympic torch for the 2010 winter games passed through our town between 9am and 10am Devember 17, 2009. However, as with both items, they are now long gone. I was "retired" by MMM June 8, 2007, and the flame is now well west of here.
It was nice to see all of the kids and adults out for this. I had no idea we had that many unemployed here in town.

Just kidding, I'm sure most of the adults were legitimately sick that day.:-)

All of the public schools allowed the students to walk down to main street and watch the runners. It was a great feeling. Lots of flag waving and hoots and hollers. That may not mean much to our friends to the south, but keep in mind, we are usually a quiet, well mannered lot, but we do like to show our pride for our country once in a while.

I can take or leave the winter or summer games, but i do like the hockey. Probably some of the best games i watch are during the winter games. More at stake, not sure.

Well that's it for now, and thanks for listening

DJB

December 3, 2009-The store calendar

Hello faithful reader.

The CFO works part time at a local pet food store, and thought it would be a nice idea to put together a calendar for the owner. I already have a number of worthy photos, but she wanted to include a few of the store cat.

Bella does not wake up well, nor get ready for work in a hurry, as you can see.

Thanks for listening

DJB