Selling the farm

Well not exactly, just selling all the equipment that we used on the farm.

Yep, this past weekend was a big event in the history of Brady farms, Saturday, April 5th marked the day that our family officially got out of farming. I won’t dwell on the financial part of it all, we did ok on the sale, not great, but good enough (I think – you’ll have to ask my dad I guess), but I have to tell you that I know my Grandma was rolling over in her grave – she was always concerned that this day would come. I feel like it is sort of my fault that this day did indeed come ( well, mine and the bros). With no boys in my dad’s brother family, and my Dad’s sisters family settling in Alberta about 40 years ago, it was really up to Luke and I to be the ones to keep the farm going… and we failed miserably. Fact is neither of us really wanted that for our life. For myself, I have always enjoyed farm work, but I new from a young age that I wanted to leave the farm and pursue a different life. I didn’t know exactly what, but I new that it wasn’t going to be in a tractor, combine, or pulling a calf. I’m not sure my parents wanted the farmer life for me either, as they saw many of the tough times of farming throughout the years, and thought I good live a better life doing something else. They always preached that we should find our own way, and we did, and all the power to us, but after 100+ years of farming (we even have the sign to say so), and no one to pass the rains to (no pun intended) the Brady farm is now being forced to “hang them up”, and that is sort of sad. All the hard work that my parents, their parents, and several parents before them put in, building up the livestock, the land, and everything else, is now being sold off or rented out. It’s not all bad though, I am SUPER happy for my folks, as I think they deserve a chance to do something else for their remaining working years before a well deserved retirement. And the “homestead” is not being sold, and I think that it will be a long time before that home quarter is ever vacated by our family. Mom and Dad have many years left there, plus the Uncle and Aunt, and the cousins that built a house on the farm about 10 years ago. Luke claims that he might move back there, not necessarily to farm, but to live and work, and I hope he does.

There is indeed a deep and great history on the Brady farm and I hope it continues to build memories for a long time to come, even if there aren’t any cows mooing, or tractors starting on any given day. Like the say, all good things must some to an end, its just to bad that I know that I am the one that is ending this tradition and legacy.

Here’s to Brady farms… it was a great farm, with a great history, and it will be remembered for a long time. Thanks for the memories.

Who needs those stinking leafs.

Another great things about sports, is that no matter how bad you team is, there is always next year. And even when they suck year after year, (ie. Leafs) at least I have other sports with other favorite teams. Queue the 2008 Blue Jays. Going into this year the team has spent more money on their lineup than any year previous and we are expecting big things. We still have to compete in the ultra competitive AL east with the Yanks and Bo Sox, but if this years jays live up to their potential, and stay relatively injury free we should be able to make our first playoff appearance since Joe Carter hit that infamous home run almost … wow, almost15 years ago. (Man I am getting old).

Lets play ball.

Plus with playoff hockey only about a little over a week a way, we are entering the glorious time of spring time sports.

Can’t wait to get those golf clubs out. Just like my beloved leafs.

The Good with the Bad

Well lets see, I am about 6 weeks into firefighting school and I haven’t blogged even once. Well I thought on this Sunday when I should be either studying or working out I would spend some time and post something for all you loyal readers out there. (anyone look at this thing anymore.) But I also think it will do my good to put some of my thoughts down on paper.

So far school has been pretty good… not perfect, but pretty good. First and for most, I think vermilion is a fine town with nice people but I really miss Regina and all that it has. Of course the one thing that vermilion does not have is a wife for me to live with. It has not been easy living away from Mrs. Brody, and this might sound silly, but it’s been harder than I thought it would be. It is such a young group of people in my class, I would say average age of maybe 21. In some cases the “kids” are 18 years old…that means I am a full 8 years older than they are…wow! I don’t consider myself to be old but I feel pretty old compared with some of these folks. What a change going from a corporate setting in which I was clearly the young one to now being one of the old guys, and the only married one. (last night I went to the bar and didn’t have my ID, I just told the bouncer I was 26 and married and he let me right in.) There are definitely a couple of meat heads in the class, but there are also some great people that I can see myself being friends with for a long time. But I’m afraid I am passed my prime years for going to the bar 3 or 4 night a week, I just don’t enjoy it that much anymore. I quite liked my social life in Regina and miss it quite a bit. I feel like I am being thrust back into my early twenties, or even late teens. Sometimes I fell even younger. Last Thurs about 6 of us went biking around town, stopped at other people house to see if they could “come out and play”, we stopped for slurpees, and then went to play video games at the dorms. ( this was actually a lot of fun), but man o man, what a change from a couple months earlier when I was flying to Winnipeg for work, going for a business supper with colleagues, trying different kinds of wine and discussing current events and business ideas. Truth is in my in old job I felt like I was pretending to be older than I feel or am, and now I feel like I am pretending to be younger than I feel or am. I think that is why I miss Mrs. Brody and the rest of you so much because that is really where I feel the most like myself.

In my head I was ready for a very exciting program and with a few exceptions it has certainly NOT been exciting so far. No emergencies, no sirens, no jaws of life, not even any fire. But I must be patient and realize that stuff will be coming soon. On Friday we finally got out bunker gear (stuff you wear in the fires), and helmets (I got one to fit) and in another week or two we will start doing more hands on stuff. I guess we have to walk before we run.

The instructors all seem like good people, but some have no real clue how to teach. I think they will be much better once we get in the field, but in the class room they seem sort of lost. Last Thursday I think we had half a dozen people sleeping during the lecture, and I am not exaggerating at all.

Highlights so far have been that I got to back a fire truck into the bay, and the ambulance too. I also have learned a lot of cool medical stuff that I didn’t know before. I actually am confident that in an emergency I could now help someone. Henning, just give me a call when you are ready to have that baby and I will be all over it.

Most of the time I think about how I can’t wait for the program to be over so I can get back to Regina, get a job, and actually get the opportunity to do the things I hope this job will let me do…mostly I just want to help someone. But I really need to allow myself to enjoy my time here, somehow. So many former students say this is course has been the best time of there lives, and I need to allow for that possibility. I will find my place within the class and I think once things pick up at school I will enjoy my time here much more. And no matter how many negatives I find to dwell on, all I have to do is think about the job that I left and I know that I made the right choice.

Anywho, hope you all are doing well, I will catch up with all of you some time soon.

Take care,

oh and just in case any of you miss the good Taylor picks. Here is a shot from this weekend. Taylor in fine form singing his heart out.

Blogging, so very weak.

I know, my bloging had been absolutely atrocious. It’s likely that no one will even read this because you have all given up on me as I never post anything new.

Well, in my defense there are two reason for that.

One- I am extremely busy with several things.
Two- those things that are making me busy are all those things that I have been bogging about over that last 4 months and I’m sure you are all sick of hearing about. Wedding, school, and quitting work.

Same shit everyday. I have nothing original left to say about this stuff, and yet these things pretty much dominate my thoughts. So I ask you, how am I supposed to come up with anything else to blog about.

But I thought I would give it a go today over my lunch hour. I was suppose to go out for a farewell lunch with work people but it was canceled do to weather/people have other shit to do. I worry that most of my actual “teamates” at work don’t even care that I am leaving, as they haven’t said much. But I have been getting several very nice notes and cards from people both in my company and outside whishing me luck and telling me that I will be missed. I sincerely appreciate it when they do. People should quite there job more often, because it is a real moral boost when people come up and say all these nice things about you.

But there I go again, on and on about the same old shit.

So how ‘bout this weather… Brutal, hey.

Played some shinny last night, now there is an activity that I have never NOT enjoyed. It’s always a good time going out a messing around with some fellow shinniers slapping the ol’ disk around for a hour or so. Even though my toes were frozen and I fell and hurt me elbow it was good times. Why doesn’t a guy do that sort of thing more often? (Rhetorical question)

Well enough for now. Talk to you again in about another 10 days or so…

NEWS RELEASE – Brody to cease Top 10 effective immediately

That’s right, I think the Brody’s Top Ten has run its course and the Friday Top Ten will no longer appear on this blog. That is not to say that I might not have the odd Top Ten from time to time, but I simply have lost the drive to come up with one ever week. I should have known I couldn’t stick to this for more than a couple months. Plus, I sense that my loyal readers are tiring of it.

I am in truth concerned about the long term sustainability of this fair blog of mine. For after Feb 15th I will no longer be at this job of mine in which I can waste hours every week doing this bloging thing. What, am I supposed to do this on my own time?

I hope I can manage to still get up the odd post, but I don’t really know what the time demands will be once I become a fire putter outer in training.

This is just a heads up bloggerville, I’d like to ease you into this time of transition.

Signed,

I Want Respect Management.

Business Trips

First off, looks like the Regina Fire Dept needs my driving skills


I recently return from a two day business trip to Winterpeg , and this will likely be my last business trip for sometime… maybe ever. Early in my career I found it quite exhilarating to go on a business trip. Having your company pay for flight, meals, hotels, pretty much everything is a treat, but I after doing it a few times the novelty wears off quickly.

I was always surprising to me how many people travel on business. I think the majority of flights within Canada contain more business people than people traveling for personal reasons. Maybe this doesn’t surprise most of you, but for me, when I went on my first with RBC I thought I was special in a way, a fortunate soul who was getting a bit of a benefit getting to travel, but then I looked around most others we also the business type, traveling alone, wearing a suit…I was just a face in the crowd, not special at all. What a blow to my ego.

The reasons not to enjoy traveling are many:

First and for most are Airplanes and Airports. You have to arrive a hour early (or more), then stand in line to check your bags, then stand in line at security, then you wait at the gate, then stand in line there, then you wait to get in your seat, wait to the plane taxi’s to the runway, wait until you arrive, wait until you taxi to the gate, wait to get off, wait for bags, wait for taxi’s…and so on. I am not a patient person and I do not enjoy waiting. Especially in an airport where everyting seems to be hurry up and wait. There are delays – especially in winter. Nothing like spending two hours sitting in an airport waiting for your flight to leave. Serious Boredom. On your luckiest days you manage to strike up a conversation with an interesting stranger. I don’t fit on planes either, there is no head room and no leg room. I literally can’t even stand up straight on the Air Canada Jazz flights, my head hits the roof. I’m also not a big fan of flying period; it makes me a little nervous. I don’t trust the airlines that they would ever tell me if there was something wrong, and when I don’t have any control it bugs me. If I could drive the thing I’m sure I would enjoy it much more.

Cabs – well let’s face it, I am one of the biggest back seat drivers on earth. I would much rather be behind the wheel then letting some two bit cab driver get me around. Plus they are dirty and expensive- and I have to wait for them.

Hotels – I don’t have a huge issue with hotels, I’m not picky, but I just can’t sleep in them. Often they are too hot, too bright, and too noisy. Thus I always feel tired when I’m traveling. Having to get my drinking water out of the bathroom tap also disgusts me a little. For some reason I also relate hotels to hangovers – I always seem to wake up in a hotel room hungover, which is not a good thing.

Eating – it’s pretty much impossible to eat healthy on the road. Eating in restaurants you usually eat to much, it’s possible to order reasonably healthy food, but I just eat too much. It’s dificult to eat between meals so I am too hungry when it comes time for the next meal. When at the hotel, unless you pack something, the only food available is junk food. And not that I should complain, but every meal seems to come with beer or wine, and while enjoyable, not good for my waistline. All this causes me to get indigestion and feel like a large bag of poop. Yes, I’m sure with the proper planning and will power I could eat better on the road, but it is mighty difficult thing to do.

I’m sure someday I will miss the chance to get out of the city once in a while on an all expense paid trip somewhere, but not for a while. Maybe the problem is that I never really got to go any where cool. All my road trips have been to Calgary, Winnipeg, or Saskatoon…not exactly my list of top destinations. I went to a conference in Banff, which may have been cool if I hadn’t been there 5 times before. Lots of people in my company went to places like Vegas, Vancouver, Toronto, Nashville.. all places I would like to go someday, but never got the chance to do it while employed in the corporate world.

Somehow I doubt the fire department sends many people on business trips to Vegas. Maybe if more hotels keep lighting on fire...

I'm back

So it has been a while since I posted anything on this fair blog of mine, and I have to admit that since return from the land that Castro built I haven’t really had an itch to blog. Likely it is just a combination of fatigue from a vacation and playing catch up at work, so I figure I will just force myself to write something in hopes that I will re-inspire myself.

Prior to leaving I was told that my blogs were getting a little “sappy” and I can’t argue with that. What with all the wedding stuff, Christmas, and the end of another year there was just too much mushy stuff to talk about. But enough of that, it ended with my crying at the reception, I will now refocus my posts on random rants on random subject, with the odd personal story if it fits.

I guess the obvious thing would be to talk about Cuba, but I really don’t know where to start. Most of my readers were there, so they know it was wicked good times, and for those of you who weren’t, I will give you the low down sometime face to face. There are plenty of pictures and face book and the now Mrs. Brady and I will get some pics up there soon. A quick summary of Cuba though. Long flights, nice hotel, ok food, awesome wedding, creepy Europeans, great GREAT times, lots of rum punches, pepto and Imodium, cigars, jeeps, hangovers, beautiful weather, relaxation, sweet Chinese food, Havana, shark, lizards, and dominos. I don’t know what else to say.

I will add that I hate ESPN. It is a junk station with junk programming. Even though my beloved TSN Sportscentre is basically the little sister to ESPN version, their version is a shit show that jumps all over the place spending the entire time talking about basketball then football, then basketball, then football, and so on. Junk. I had so much hockey to get caught up on when I got back. That station creates a deep hatred within me for our neighbors to the south. I could never live there for sports reasons alone.

Speaking of hating Americans…Cuban’s hate Americans with a passion. I can’t blame them really, for as long as most people can remember the US has basically treated Cuba like a cancer of the face of the earth. Granted I’m not completely up to speed on all the issues, but it seems pretty silly to me that after all this time the relationship hasn’t been fixed. Can’t we all just get along…oh, getting sappy again.

And speaking of hockey, I am pumped the my leas fired their GM, John Fergeson Jr. He never really got it together. Now we got a 72 year old, who man or man not be senile. But al least it isn’t Glen Healy. I hate to say it but they need to trade away Mats for a boat load and get this team in a rebuilding phase that will allow us to compete again in a few years.

Well I think that’s enough for now. It’s good to be back in the world of blogging. Talk to you all soon.