Life can be Bittersweet

 2012 has come to a close....and what a year it has been. Bittersweet would be a good word to describe it.

As you may recall, my Mom had a heart attack on the day of her 80th birthday party in late February, it was a very distressing time for us all, but my Mom is incredibly resilient and with the help of her family and friends and of course her faith she was able to come through this stronger than ever.

Some of you might remember the blogs I wrote about it. Part 1 and Part 2.

Things moved forward quickly after that, lots of work....and lots of lacrosse. In June I asked the woman of my dreams to marry me and she said yes. I slipped that into a good June Blog.

Life could not be better. Until the big day. August 24th I had a heart attack. It really surprised me. And it really changed me. Patti wrote a blog while I was "off". Read it.

I was off work for 8 weeks....reading (and thinking). It was strange.....I really cannot describe it all here....but I knew for sure that I was grateful for all that I have.

I love my kids, Aimee, Stuart and Erin....they are phenomenal, incredibly different in every way and very special in their own way. I love them dearly. And Patti's girls Tristen and Jessica, fall right in line with that is well. Different people, but both incredible people, and I feel honoured to know them, and have them as part of my life.

My Mom, and my brothers and sisters are all great and were all so supportive when I needed them. My friends are the best in the world. Funny how friendships work. I can go weeks (or months) without seeing some friends...because life gets in the way...but the friendships are always as solid as a rock. I love that.

Patti defies description. She has changed my life in so many ways. All positive. All amazing. I am the luckiest guy I know.

My advice to all of you going forward is simple really.

• First of all and this is really important. Be grateful for what you have right now. Your friends and family, things that you actually have, be grateful and thankful.
• Be respectful to all. Smile and share good vibes, there is nothing like it in the world....it is infectious and it is awesome.
• Think positive thoughts Thoughts become things.

I will be back in the New Year to share my Sports thoughts (good or bad) - I look forward to your input.

Happy New Year to all. Have an amazing 2013.

Mike.

Basketball (sigh)

I love basketball. I love to play the game and I love to watch the game. 

I am going through a rough patch right now...big time. First of all, I normally play winter basketball, but since my little mishap in late August, I decided to take the winter off from sports. I miss it huge.

But, since I was off from playing, I thought I could sit back and watch the newly revamped Raptors run roughshod over the NBA. Ouch. Yes I am delusional.

Now remember from  a previous blog. (the NHL is dead to me). Therefore stands to reason that fans need something to take up their sports watching time. The NFL is great.....but games are limited, and the season is coming to a close.

The Toronto Raptors had a huge opportunity to take back a portion of the Toronto sport fan market. Boy, have they blown that. Wow. I, even in my twisted mind could have imagined how wrong things would go with the Raps. They have reached a new low for this disappointing franchise...and I am really disheartened.

I have friends that hate the NBA and that is fine. I know a lot of you don't even like basketball, your choice....but for those of you that love it as I do....you know the pain I am in.

I don't know the answer...I really don't. I hear people saying Fire the GM......Fire the Coach...hell....Fire the Trainer.....etc. etc. - same old rhetoric. I just wish once the players would stand up and take control. You watch this Raptors team play and it is pathetic. Effort, shooting.....hustle.....rebounding, nothing seems to work. They should be embarrassed. When I was in high school, I was in the starting 5 on our bball team. One game we were playing horribly. The coach picked the next 5 guys on the bench and at the next whistle, sat every single guy in the starting 5 down on the bench. It was a great move....and guess what?  It made an impression. This is what I would do if I was coaching a bunch of overpriced lazy ball players in the NBA. The head coach of the Raptors should just sit the starting group. Sit them down, and let the next group start the game....hmmm, what is the worst thing that could happen. We lose. We are doing that anyway. It is time that someone shake things up.

I can't stand the Miami Heat Machine....they annoy me.  I love to watch Oklahoma City, the LA Clippers with their high powered offences and tremendous athletes.....but perhaps the most enjoyment I am having in this bizarre NBA season is watching the latest "Superteam" since the dreaded Heat, the LA Lakers (losing). They are out of the playoffs early on. I just watched them lose again, this time to the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers.....100 - 94.  I call that my poetic justice. I don't like how they stacked there team...and once again it shows that it is chemistry that counts....and they don't have it.

Good news though....Lacrosse is right around the corner. Thank you Lord.