An unseasonably mild weekend in Muskoka but it was the first one since last April where there was pretty much nobody around on the lake. No lights, no leaf blowers, no ATV's. It takes longer every fall to get to this point but we have arrived. We exercised a lot and my legs are sore as I sit in the condo Sunday evening. We went riding when Tennessee went ahead 27-17 and missed the last 2 touchdowns. Then we jumped in the lake right after. It has to be quick and you have to be hot but it's worth it.
Tomorrow begins a busy week at the office and it will begin with some big and rather unexpected news. Then, the conference and trade show this coming weekend and I'm looking forward to it being over. I hope we have a good showing. I have worked hard to put it together and we need a successful event and the momentum it would bring heading into next year.
The international news this evening after the APEC Conference is that a new comprehensive agreement on GHG emmissions is unlikely, heading into the Copenhagen Summit next month. Our Prime Minister points out that "We're in the middle of a recession" and we must keep that in mind in tackling this problem. Too bad that atmospheric CO2 levels don't seem to go down during a recession.
Well, the Bills continue to stumble their way through this joke of a season. Up next: at Jacksonville. I wonder how many empty seats there will be for that one. It now seems very unlikely that that they will even get to 7-9 so Dick Jauron will at least have produced a different result this season. And that's what's important. 7-9 would have been so predictable.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Texans 31, Bills 10
After Houston went ahead 24-10 in the 4th quarter, Siobhan and I went running and mountain biking around Clear Lake, respectively, hoping for a miracle come-back but knowing that it was highly unlikely. We were on the road by 4:30pm and home by 7pm.
We listened to the call in show on WGR 550 for a little while if only to get a break from the wall to wall swine flu coverage. "Why doesn't Jauron just quit?", asked one caller who thought that he should admit failure now and let someone else give it a try. "We need a new coach, a new quarterback and a new offensive line" revealed another - as if it were possible to rotate these in and out until we get the right formula. WGR's Mike Schope, who has to try intelligently respond without appearing to blow off every caller, tries to find someone - anyone with something constructive to say. "Owens is dogging it. Bench him and let Steve Johnson get some reps" said another and, with this, he agreed. It does seem like he gives up too quickly on some balls and generally looks like he would rather be somewhere else. Isn't Owens the kind of player you go after if you think you're one or two pieces away from being a Superbowl contender?
At least I sawed a lot of wood this weekend. We're in good shape for the winter. High winds brought down some trees on Saturday afternoon. More firewood for next year.
After 8 games, now comes the bye week. I'd rather just get on with it really. Like we need more ruminating about what changes are needed for next year. Ralph turned 91 recently. Maybe he should quit now as owner, admit that the team can not succeed with him calling the shots anymore and see what someone else can do. Or sit Owens.
We listened to the call in show on WGR 550 for a little while if only to get a break from the wall to wall swine flu coverage. "Why doesn't Jauron just quit?", asked one caller who thought that he should admit failure now and let someone else give it a try. "We need a new coach, a new quarterback and a new offensive line" revealed another - as if it were possible to rotate these in and out until we get the right formula. WGR's Mike Schope, who has to try intelligently respond without appearing to blow off every caller, tries to find someone - anyone with something constructive to say. "Owens is dogging it. Bench him and let Steve Johnson get some reps" said another and, with this, he agreed. It does seem like he gives up too quickly on some balls and generally looks like he would rather be somewhere else. Isn't Owens the kind of player you go after if you think you're one or two pieces away from being a Superbowl contender?
At least I sawed a lot of wood this weekend. We're in good shape for the winter. High winds brought down some trees on Saturday afternoon. More firewood for next year.
After 8 games, now comes the bye week. I'd rather just get on with it really. Like we need more ruminating about what changes are needed for next year. Ralph turned 91 recently. Maybe he should quit now as owner, admit that the team can not succeed with him calling the shots anymore and see what someone else can do. Or sit Owens.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Bills 20, Panthers 9
After a rather rainy three days, it cleared in Muskoka yesterday afternoon and as I sat down at 4pm to watch football, the late October sun was streaming in the southwest windows in the rich yellow colour you only see in the last hour or so before sunset. As the game progressed, I left the lights off and, as the sun set, the orange dusk slowly turned to darkness over the lake with the waxing half moon rising in the eastern sky. A beautiful evening indeed. And a football game which will not be remembered for anything much, especially by fans of the Carolina Panthers.
The Panthers outgained Buffalo 425 yards to 167. They earned 20 first downs to the Bills 9. However, they turned the ball over 4 times, missed 2 makeable field goals and lost an ugly game in the process.
The Bills have generated 10 turnovers in their past 2 games - an unsustainable rate probably, but a key factor in their 2 consecutive road wins. Jarius Byrd now has 5 interceptions over these 2 games and stands only 1 off the league lead. He was touted as a "ball hawk" coming out of Oregon in the second round of this year's draft and he is clearly showing why.
Ryan Fitzpatrick looked brutal for much of this game and completed only 11 passes. What he did not do was turn the ball over and, with quarterbacking as mediocre as the Bills have, that's a necessity. This team is not in the bottom rung of the NFL (which is pretty big this year) and has not been in the entire four years of the Dick Jauron regime. He has them just where he wants them - en route to another 7-9 season. A couple of weeks ago, it looked like things were really changing and they were heading toward 4-12. Up next: a chance to even their season record with a home date against the Houston Texans.
The Panthers outgained Buffalo 425 yards to 167. They earned 20 first downs to the Bills 9. However, they turned the ball over 4 times, missed 2 makeable field goals and lost an ugly game in the process.
The Bills have generated 10 turnovers in their past 2 games - an unsustainable rate probably, but a key factor in their 2 consecutive road wins. Jarius Byrd now has 5 interceptions over these 2 games and stands only 1 off the league lead. He was touted as a "ball hawk" coming out of Oregon in the second round of this year's draft and he is clearly showing why.
Ryan Fitzpatrick looked brutal for much of this game and completed only 11 passes. What he did not do was turn the ball over and, with quarterbacking as mediocre as the Bills have, that's a necessity. This team is not in the bottom rung of the NFL (which is pretty big this year) and has not been in the entire four years of the Dick Jauron regime. He has them just where he wants them - en route to another 7-9 season. A couple of weeks ago, it looked like things were really changing and they were heading toward 4-12. Up next: a chance to even their season record with a home date against the Houston Texans.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Bills 16, Jets 13
I rode my bike to Dennis and Cathy's place around noon on Saturday to scope out the walking distances from the Queensway and Bloor Street. I decided that Jane Station was the best option for later. Just a 10 minute walk.
The end-of-season dragonboat party was a rip-roaring affair - for me at least. Plenty of red wine and I lost track of time. The last of us left after 1.30am, stumbling down to the Queensway and a eventually onto a streetcar and back downtown. I got home around 2.30am. Thanks to Dennis and Cathy again for putting up with us. Great party!
And so we now look ahead to 2010 and I foresee a high return rate as all of the indicators are positive coming out of this past season. Everyone on our team is between the ages of 34 and 48. I'm the third oldest. I kept asking everyone about this until I got the answers.
Ok, after the Bills recorded their fifth interception of Mark Sanchez, I started thinking about how ridiculous it would be if they lost the game anyway - and they obviously almost did. But, despite what I thought was a bad call on the review of the Evans catch, Rian Lindell came through in overtime and the Bills have their first division win in ages. Next up: at Carolina.
The end-of-season dragonboat party was a rip-roaring affair - for me at least. Plenty of red wine and I lost track of time. The last of us left after 1.30am, stumbling down to the Queensway and a eventually onto a streetcar and back downtown. I got home around 2.30am. Thanks to Dennis and Cathy again for putting up with us. Great party!
And so we now look ahead to 2010 and I foresee a high return rate as all of the indicators are positive coming out of this past season. Everyone on our team is between the ages of 34 and 48. I'm the third oldest. I kept asking everyone about this until I got the answers.
Ok, after the Bills recorded their fifth interception of Mark Sanchez, I started thinking about how ridiculous it would be if they lost the game anyway - and they obviously almost did. But, despite what I thought was a bad call on the review of the Evans catch, Rian Lindell came through in overtime and the Bills have their first division win in ages. Next up: at Carolina.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Browns 6, Bills 3
This was the fourth Thanksgiving weekend I have spent in Prince Edward County after spending the last 40+ in Muskoka. I think I have adjusted. I have learned my way around some of the scenic parts of the County on my bike and the pastoral landscape has really grown on me.
The County is known for cycling - not for extreme mountain biking or serious racing - but for pleasure cycling. An extensive network of lightly traveled roads lead to a multitude of scenic vistas of Lake Ontario and its coves, inlets and bays which extend around the series of peninsulas where the land has been farmed for over 2 centuries. I did a 40km ride each day and took some nice photos at Little Bluff Conservation Area on Saturday and at Point Petre on Sunday in a howling west wind.
Grapes and wine are the relatively new rage in the County and an Australian fellow named Norman Hardie is a rapidly rising star who is generating recognition and credibility for the PEC wine business. His 2007 County Pinot Noir is highly regarded and available only at the winery and in a few restaurants who carry it. At $35 per bottle, I was interested enough to buy 3 - one for the Thanksgiving dinner, one for my dad and one for the cottage this fall. I really liked it but, compared to the Pinot Noirs available from the LCBO, I think it's probably about $10 too much. He has done a great job of building demand for a wine which is made in limited quantities and, hey, I'm glad that I have another bottle. We'll have it with grilled salmon.
Our end-of-season dragonboat team party is next weekend and then we'll be into 4 straight cottage weekends before the weekend of the CAAMP Conference which will require me to be in town. Fall is a great time of year. It's a busy time too - busy in the business world, busy in the academic world, busy in the city and busy in the sports world with all of the major sports in action. Few people take holidays over the next 10 weeks. A lot of stuff gets done between now and the end of the year.
The County is known for cycling - not for extreme mountain biking or serious racing - but for pleasure cycling. An extensive network of lightly traveled roads lead to a multitude of scenic vistas of Lake Ontario and its coves, inlets and bays which extend around the series of peninsulas where the land has been farmed for over 2 centuries. I did a 40km ride each day and took some nice photos at Little Bluff Conservation Area on Saturday and at Point Petre on Sunday in a howling west wind.
Grapes and wine are the relatively new rage in the County and an Australian fellow named Norman Hardie is a rapidly rising star who is generating recognition and credibility for the PEC wine business. His 2007 County Pinot Noir is highly regarded and available only at the winery and in a few restaurants who carry it. At $35 per bottle, I was interested enough to buy 3 - one for the Thanksgiving dinner, one for my dad and one for the cottage this fall. I really liked it but, compared to the Pinot Noirs available from the LCBO, I think it's probably about $10 too much. He has done a great job of building demand for a wine which is made in limited quantities and, hey, I'm glad that I have another bottle. We'll have it with grilled salmon.
Our end-of-season dragonboat team party is next weekend and then we'll be into 4 straight cottage weekends before the weekend of the CAAMP Conference which will require me to be in town. Fall is a great time of year. It's a busy time too - busy in the business world, busy in the academic world, busy in the city and busy in the sports world with all of the major sports in action. Few people take holidays over the next 10 weeks. A lot of stuff gets done between now and the end of the year.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Dolphins 38, Bills 10
In May of last year, when I paid the $3,500 for all eight Toronto games, I was at least hopeful that one of them would be meaningful - and sometime soon. For 2010, I'm predicting another partial refund like we had this year and I know that we will have to wait at least that long for a December game at the Rogers Centre which has playoff implications for the Bills. They will be well out of contention by the time Jets roll into town. The Jets look like they might have something to play for so that will create some sense of relevance for the game but it will be another quiet and disengaged gathering on that Thursday evening.
After the New England game, I thought that they might finally be a good team - one capable of at least playing a meaningful game in the month of December - let alone one which could make the playoffs or earn a home playoff game or a first round bye. I don't think that wanting your team to still be in the hunt for the playoffs in the last month of the season is really being unreasonable. It's now been 5 years since we've had that - when the Steelers 3rd stringers stopped our late season drive for the last wildcard spot in the 2004 season under Mike Mularkey. Does it seem like longer than that?
When Miami made it 31 - 3, I went for a bike ride and saw no more of the game. I had seen enough. Injured, young, not enough talent - the offensive line is a huge problem, among many.
Will Dick be gone if they lose to Cleveland? No. Ralph is paying him $3 million this year - whether he lasts the year or not.
After the New England game, I thought that they might finally be a good team - one capable of at least playing a meaningful game in the month of December - let alone one which could make the playoffs or earn a home playoff game or a first round bye. I don't think that wanting your team to still be in the hunt for the playoffs in the last month of the season is really being unreasonable. It's now been 5 years since we've had that - when the Steelers 3rd stringers stopped our late season drive for the last wildcard spot in the 2004 season under Mike Mularkey. Does it seem like longer than that?
When Miami made it 31 - 3, I went for a bike ride and saw no more of the game. I had seen enough. Injured, young, not enough talent - the offensive line is a huge problem, among many.
Will Dick be gone if they lose to Cleveland? No. Ralph is paying him $3 million this year - whether he lasts the year or not.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Saints 27, Bills 7
Brian Moorman's annual touchdown pass to Ryan Denney, always a nice surprise, helped the Bills stay in this game. That and the defence which, until it could not stop the run in the 4th quarter, pretty much held Drew Brees and the Saints offence in check. Too bad the Bills offence couldn't rise to the occassion today. The Saints secondary was apparently their weak spot but the Bills had little success against it or in any offensive category. New Orleans literally ran away with this game in the 4th quarter.
This was the best defensive performance of the year. The 2 big interior linemen - Williams and Stroud - were outstanding and the rest of the group looked inspired and effective until the offence stalled completely and they could hold on no more. Give credit to the Saints defence. This team looks like it will contend for a top seed in the NFC playoff picture.
The Dolphins lost at San Diego yesterday. They are 0-3 now coming home to face the Bills. They know that going 0-4 is a tough hole to climb out of. They were 11-5 last year. Is it reasonable to think Buffalo can go into Miami and win? The Dolphins are nowhere near the kind of team that New Orleans is. Chad Pennington was injured and Chad Henne could be starting next week. Their third string QB is not named Chad. Either way, I'm not feeling that confident about it.
TO's streak, which began in 1996, of 185 games with a reception is over. His "press conference" afterward featured him saying "just going with the plays that are called" about 10 times in the 2 minutes it lasted. Why does he bother?
This was the best defensive performance of the year. The 2 big interior linemen - Williams and Stroud - were outstanding and the rest of the group looked inspired and effective until the offence stalled completely and they could hold on no more. Give credit to the Saints defence. This team looks like it will contend for a top seed in the NFC playoff picture.
The Dolphins lost at San Diego yesterday. They are 0-3 now coming home to face the Bills. They know that going 0-4 is a tough hole to climb out of. They were 11-5 last year. Is it reasonable to think Buffalo can go into Miami and win? The Dolphins are nowhere near the kind of team that New Orleans is. Chad Pennington was injured and Chad Henne could be starting next week. Their third string QB is not named Chad. Either way, I'm not feeling that confident about it.
TO's streak, which began in 1996, of 185 games with a reception is over. His "press conference" afterward featured him saying "just going with the plays that are called" about 10 times in the 2 minutes it lasted. Why does he bother?
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