Category - Yada, Yada, Yada

I am so tired of hearing about this guy.

Connor Hellebuyck signs a 7-year contract for $59.5 million (no trade clause) with the Winnipeg Jets and then demands a trade just two years in. I say let him rot.

The Jets need to set an example here and let him rot for the next five seasons. Trade him on his 38th birthday for a bag of pucks. The reality is that it doesn’t matter who we get for him. There is more value in making an example of him, than trading him for another star who is going to demand a trade out of Winnipeg next season anyway. At least this way the Jets can be a part of the solution and make sure these players think twice about signing a long contract for mega bucks and then renegging on it.

My prediction is that Winnipeg will crumble to his demands and rush a trade for picks and some middle of the road tender for Skinner to back up. That goalie and the forward he came with will play a season and then move on. The picks will look good on draft day and then that player will make a statement about not wanting to play here and McGoarty somewhere else.

The real problem is that nobody wants to play here. That, and a dwindling attendance in what is already one of the smallest arena’s in the league, I predict the Jets will be gone in 5 years. I am hoping that whatever American City buys the Jets also gets an aging goalie who thinks he is bigger than the game and has never done a thing in the playoffs.

The likelyhood of that is slim but I would rather see the Jet’s shake things up by holding him to his contract and setting an example, than just going away quietly and as expected.

#HelleBYEuck

Shan and I thought it would be a nice way to finish of the summer in one of our favorite places so we rented Tara and Brett’s cabin out in Lester Beach for week. It was glorious.

Let me start with the cabin. Nicer than our house. 4 bedrooms with nice beds, TV’s with Netflix in every room, aircon, internet, appliances, and all the comforts of home. Ashlyn and Lexi both had friends out and we all slept comfortably in just the 3 rooms! Outside you have a BBQ, firepit, gorgeous deck, hot tub, and outdoor shower. Remind me if I ever have a cottage that an outdoor shower is a must. We didn’t even need to use the inside one!

One of the things I love about that place is the lack of policing. Nobody seems to complain about having a beer on the beach, or dogs running around. We usually take our dogs to the “Dog Beach” which is a separate area there where most take their dogs but there were days where we were at the main beach and people were swimming with their dogs. Nobody cared. Everyone there is so chill that it adds to the sense of peace you get there.

Shan and I celebrated our 20th Anniversary out there and decided to recreate a picture from Pinawa when we were just married. We took the kids and the dogs to do like a then and now picture. It was exactly how you would think that would go trying to find the right place and set up on the rock. I had to ask this poor guy to take the pic because I couldn’t set it up. In the end it was good to spend the afternoon there and take a drive with the family.

Mostly we took in the beach, the waves, ice cream and pizza at Saffies, and had some nice visits with friends. Penny loves the water so it was nice to see her enjoy the beach. At least until her tail starting giving her some issues. Can’t help but wonder how many of these trips she has left.

Friday Shan texted me while I was at work and asked if I wanted to go out for some wings after work. Of course I am always down for wings so once I got home I was patiently waiting for her and Ashlyn to get ready and BOOM, Ratty walks in the door! We had some birthday poker planned for the weekend so he decided to make the trip.

We started out with some wings at Tapps and Paul’s parents met us there. It was nice to hang out with them as well because I see them less than Paul! It was also cool to have Ashlyn at Tapps taking in a wing night. She has the parm fries but it was still cool that she was at a “wing night”.

Saturday Paul and I took in the new “Better Burger” in Sage Creek for lunch and it was really good. I got the better burger and Paul got the Fat Boy and we shared so that we could try a couple of things. Better burger was awesome but a buit sweet for Paul and I liked the Fat Boy but felt like it was just another good Fat Boy I could get anywhere else. It did stay together better than most. Fries were also really good and homemade honey dill for dipping was the icing on the cake.

Tyler and Mandy were hosting the poker and I knew I was in for it when I pulled up and there was a pink sign that read “Tom’s Princess Party” right on the front lawn. The boys had made me a great sign and Mandy went all out on the snacks to make a guy feel special. Mandy also did up wings and nachos to make sure we weren’t hungry and Ratty brought persians that were delivered birthday cake style. It was amazing. Nothing beats a birthday at the Gryte pool house, especially with Ratte in town!

Sunday Paul left and Al and I made the trip out to Steinbach later in the afternoon to try out “Jersey Mike’s”. Overall I am not sure about the hype for this place. I like JJ better, Firehouse for a treat, and would still prefer my Subway lunch over the Club Sub I had. The rosemary oregano bread was good and we did like the pepper relish, but everything else was just Meh (as Shan would say). They are opening up 3 in Winnipeg over the next year but I won’t be rushing out.

Al and I topped off the weekend with a trip to the movies to see “Super Troopers 3”. I slept through most of it but pretty sure it was better than “Super Troopers 2”.

I met up with the gang yesterday at Tapps to watch the England Argentina semi-final. It was cool to have everyone out at one of my favorite place to watch the game. Timmy D is in town from Calgary so it’s been nice having him here. When Nolan found out he was with me at Tapps he sent me money to buy him a beer (classic Nolan). Even Pad, who loves England and only likes to watch games in places that they have won before, came out for this one. But I don’t think he will be back.

Sometimes you watch a game like this and you wonder “what happened”. But it was pretty clear that after Gordon scored that first goal for England they made the worst mistake in pro sports. The defensive shell. All England needed to do was play the game they were playing and control the ball. Play a little keep away. Instead they all fell back and waited for the attack. They barely touched the ball in the 2nd half and when they did they just booted it back to the midfield. Felt bad for Pickford who made some amazing saves when it was still 1-nil. I will be cheering for Argentina in the final just for Messi, who is always fun to watch.

It wasn’t a total loss though. I was able to get in this sick photobomb with the guy who won the Messi kit on the Tapps Insta account.

It’s been a tradition for us since the kids were little to go to Joel and Jen’s place on Canada Day. Gone are the days of the girls asking at 9am if it’s time to go yet and call Joel and see if we can come now. I am glad that even as teenagers they still look forward to going swimming at Joel’s for Canada Day. It’s an awesome way to start the summer and reconnect with everyone before our Blue Lake trip. For Shan and the girls it means the start of summer holidays.

Big thanks to Joel and Jen for hosting again this year. Joel and Mike were busy on the grill when we arrived and Ponch showed up with his meats and chucked them on the grill. Joel keeps us all well fed and always makes sure everyone has everything they need.

Also what is up with the 7-11’s closing down. The nice one on the way to Joel’s now too!

After a swim we usually hit up Massey Park for the fireworks and this year was no different. We had thought last year would be the last one because the family who usually organizes them was stepping down. It turns out a new Windsor Park Residents Committee was formed and saved them for now. We didn’t get there until late but I am told that things got going a little earlier with some fun and games for the kids. The fireworks were good but we did get some rain, just enough to be a little uncomfortable.

All in all a great Canada Day and start to the summer.

I figured it was time to write something current. It’s been a blast (mostly for me) going back and posting some old blog entries from the early 2000’s. Life was sure different back then. I can’t believe how many times I wrote about going for wings and going to the movies with friends.

I still love to do all that stuff, it just looks different. Over the break we binged the last season of “Stranger Things” and I thouroughly enjoyed it. I have read the reviews from the haters and can admit there are some gaps but overall I was satisfied. People online complaining about the things that don’t make sense, like Max graduating despite missing 2 years of school in a coma. How the heck did Dipshit Derek fit through that little hole? – These same people could suspend reality when it came to poking a hole in another dimension and climbing through on a radio tower from the “Upside Down”. Have you seen Vecna? The ending was perfect in my opinion. I think 011 is dead only because they would never stop pursuing her if she lived and nobody wants to see the sequel when this cast turns 50. If I had to criticize anything it would be the way they force fed Wil’s sexuality. More specifically how it was his kryptonite, his deepest, darkest, secret that Vecna was using against him. Seemed really forced given the circumstances. But who knows, it was the 80’s.

We made it out to Cooks Creek for our annual gingerbread decorating with Larissa’s parents. Our kids are on the older side now but still love the tradition. We also didn’t host Christmas dinner for the first time since the kid were born. We went to Gerrie’s for a nice dinner and then had dinner with my family on Boxing Day. Both great visits.

NYE was also a little different. Grant’s had some other plans so it was just Morrison’s over. We did the usual Chinese food and World Juniors. The Jets played as well. It was nice to just chill and keep things low key.

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone, looking forward to an amazing 2026.