What’s Inside:
Editor’s Rant Last Meeting Future Meetings Misc. Ha Ha’s Meanwhile in Canada Meanwhile NOT in Canada Animal Instinks’ The Last WordThe Club’s
Grand Poobahs:
President: Ken LesniakVicePresident: Rick Craddock Past President: Art Merrick Treasurer: Erik Braun Secretary: John Williams Registrar: Dorne Hunt Directors: Herb Zmurchuk, Garry Jones, George Ward, Paul West
VOLUME 44 EDITION: 9 DATE: JANUARY 6, 2018 EDITOR: Scott Brisbin
I WAS JUST THINKING: Today I’m going to be as useless as the “G” in
Lasagna.
Many of us view the New Year as an annual opportunity for a fresh start and a chance to reflect on our past. On Boxing Day morning, I listened to someone on the radio reading a piece by Bob Moore-head on the radio. It occurred to me that we can often smuggly sit above our southern neighbours in Trumpland and feel we are much different. The winner-take- all approach to business as well as diplomacy – both domestic and global, and the seemingly self centred disregard for the “greater good” that has infested the American political scene, is their problem, not ours. But is it? Are we really the kinder, gentler nation to the north? At the risk of me precipitiating some ocular fatigue and a bit of soul searching at this “resolution” time of year, I am offering Bob Moorehead’s thoughts for our pondering. Perhaps just one or two nuggets will stick in our heads and the world will be just a little bit better place. A more light hearted and significantly shorter rant will return again in the next bulletin.
“The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too
tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our pos-sessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larg-er things, but not bettlarg-er things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've
learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to pro-duce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.
These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when tech-nology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this in-sight, or to just hit delete...
Remember, to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
AGING GYROS:
None of us won the New Year’s Baby contest back in the day. But I’m sure the January babies were as cute as all the others. They may not be “special” for the other eleven months but they are definitely “special” this month. Happy Birthday, boys.
Don Greig (5th); Augie Annicchiarico (8th); Gord Stewart (8th) ...Augie and Gord are twins?!; ..
Bruce Shelske (13th)
Old age used to be all in my head. Now it’s in my joints too.
Going to bed early Not leaving house Not going to a party
IT’S REDICULOUS RESOLUTION TIME !
NEXT MEETING: Billiards, THURSDAY, January 18th
You have already had the notice from Dick Caddey about this event at Caffreys on Wye Road. It is always a good way to demonstrate yet another skill that you lack and you can have fun during the demonstration. Dinner is ordered off the menu and the club pays $15 toward your bill as you trash another New Year’s Resolution and “have fries with that”. Show up at 6:00 and wish your fellow Gyros Happy New Year with a stick in your hand—a mixed message if there ever was one. If you haven’t done so already, contact Dick at
richardcaddey@shaw.ca
AND THE MEETING AFTER THAT: DARTS, January 31st
The GCCC won’t let us roam the building with sharp pointy things so we are banished to the basement again this year. Think safety first. Walking in front of a Gyro with a dart in his hand is not a recommended way to get your ears pierced. Aside from that we have a very low casualty report. Let’s keep it that way. Contact Milt Lanes and let him know your intentions.
miltg4@gmail.com
IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO AVOID DISASTER.
Remember those Valentines sock hops back in High School? This time shoes are not optional but hopping still is. Some of us are no longer capable of hopping the night away. If that doesn’t apply to you, go for it. The rest of us will witness your masochism and throw shoes at you.
Garry Jones wants to know your plans to be at the Sawmill in Sherwood Park on
February 17th. chipsgj@shaw.ca
NEW MEMBER NOMINATION—SECOND NOTICE
Allan Bleiken has nominated RICK O’DONNAL for Gyro membership. Rick and his wife, Angela, live Sherwood Park. Rick 63, is self employed and of specific interest to your
editor, he coached my son Dave’s hockey team almost 40 years ago.
NEW MEMBER NOMINATION— CORRECTION
LES BELLAN - For my first mia culpa of the new year, I apologize for mis-speling Les’s
‘TIS THE
SEASON
The New Year Diet Dump
HEALTH AND WELFARE REPORT:
HMMMM….
Actually did this page on January 1st
Strange, but true…. The Rolling Stones 1966
IN THE NEWS:
We will be debating the pros and cons of the upcoming legalization of “weed” long after the legislation comes into effect next summer. To be sure, there are going to be some very serious and sober discussions, but that will never preclude some humour wafting around.
Meanwhile NOT in Canada
WHERE TO RETIRE IN AMERICA: (Seventh chapter in a series this winter)
You can move to Colorado where …
1. You carry your $3,000 mountain bike atop your $500 car.
2. You tell your husband to pick up Granola on his way home, so he stops at the day
care center.
3. A pass does not involve a football or dating.
4. The top of your head is bald, but you still have a pony tail.
Not the news. Satire from The Borowitz Report = = = = = = = = = =
White House Staff Forced to Act Out Michael Wolff Book for Non-Reading President
Parenting – How not to:
DO YOU REMEMBER?
(THOSE WERE THE DAYS, I GUESS)
BEFORE MY TIME
Early Motor Home
Cutting a sunbeam (note the marching kids in paper hats in the background)
Wooden bathing suits to make swimming easier 1929
A POTPOURRI OF PICS
Renault Trezor Mas 2018 Late 1930s Bugatti Type 57S
GYRO FRIENDSHIP THOUGHT OF THE WEEK
AND THE LAST WORD….