A Mens' Group

Tuesday, Sept 11, sunny with clouds + 13
A tragic and historic day unfolded in the history of the United States. The World Trade Centre’s two towers were destroyed after two passenger jet airliners were hijacked and flown into each tower. The towers collapsed after several hours with an untold number of deaths and injuries. A hijacked plane was also flown into the pentagon side with massive damage and loss of life. Two maybe three hundred flight passengers lost their lives when the hijacked planes were crashed. A fourth airliner was crash-landed near the President's retreat in Virginia. The President was in Florida at the time of the destruction. All air traffic was shut down in the states and all planes in the air were diverted to Canada and other countries to land and stay on the ground till further notice. In New York, many emergency personnel, fireman and police and support medics lost their lives as the two towers collapsed crushing the people working in the vicinity. The emotional impact of these events will shape the lives of untold people in the world forever. There will be repercussions by the military and security agencies for months and years to come. No terrorists groups and leaders will be safe from reprisals. The reprisals will be inflicted on innocent people. The terrorist soldiers and leaders know that their days are numbered. The might of the United States will be felt by all those who are not American. President Bush is just the one to bring about the damage and destruction that the American people will demand. This will make the Oklahoma bombing seem like nothing. When they find out that this military operation was created and managed from the Far East Muslim factions, the revenge by the Christians will be massive. What a year it will be.
Dana and I talked last night, he managed to spend the weekend at Lake Simco with some friends and had a good time. The movie video meetings are not happening so he is going to concentrate on other ideas that he has. He is putting out his resume at some places that require daily help so he can get some work as time goes by. He and Cory are not coming out to Edmonton because of Cory's busy employment status. Dana was happy that I would be coming out to see them at the end of the month. He is sounding good and has a good attitude about what is going on. He is teasing Cory about his new job status.
Susan went to water exercise last night and called me to check in after she was done. The exercise allowed her to get out of the house and come back when Mathew was asleep.
I put up the curtain rod and blinds in the living room over the patio doors. It is a different look that I am pleased with.
The weather has turned cool and has a definite fall tinge to it but I am confident that it will warm up for a great many days before the snows come this winter.
Linda R came over to thank me for the flowers that were delivered on Saturday. There was some confusion because the wrong note tag was attached to the flowers. A note from Betty Lou was on the flowers instead of the note from Bob at Stoneridge. The flower people cleared up the confusion when Linda called them. She suggested that incorrect notes on the flowers especially from girls called Betty Lou could cause difficulties for couples.

Wednesday, Sept 12 Cloudy and cool + 15 Bright sunshine and warm breezes.
The North American continent is still struggling with the terrible destruction created by the terrorists. The Americans are raging against all that care to listen and are vowing vengeance when they catch the people responsible. Life is slowly getting back to a regular beat.
Had a massage on Wednesday, to get out the knots in my body that were created, I think to some extent by the tragedy; then went for lunch with Mother who was in a good mood.
I had called her after I had chatted with the boys about the events. She said it was a wonderful thing that I had called her that evening. No one else did.
Susan had dropped by her dad's place to chat with him at lunch time. The boys are ok with different reactions. Cory was alright with his emotional state and showed concern about my state of mind. Dana left a message that he was not to blame and he was no where near the accident sight.
Mother showed me her finished and framed petit point and my quilt. I tested her medic alarm button to make sure that it was still working and showed her how to shut it off if it started beeping. She is all right with the unit and will not complain about it being in her home. We have to go the birthday party that Merci is creating for Terry on the 27 of Oct. Maybe Lillian will fly down for the event if I tell her about it - not.
Dave and Mick came in today, met with John and Karen to finalize the house and decorating, with a deposit of 50K for next Tuesday.
Kimberley will be back in next Sunday to look at the prices and plans for the Nantucket that she needs built in Potter Greens at a price point that will work for her. After sitting down with John, I am quite sure that we can do it without the bonus room at 2100 sq. ft.
The men are meeting at the coffee shop this afternoon because I was not sure how long these meetings were going to last. I am sure that a buyer will come in tonight to put down some money on a home he and she wish to build.
It will also give me some time to catch up on the paper work for the people who are coming in. I have taken some pictures of the home that Stoneridge has built and will post them on the layouts that are hanging on the walls to show what the units actually look like when they are built. I will have to take a few more photos of the units where I did not know the actual locations. Chris made the suggestion that he liked the direction that I was taking in marketing the company.
Cheryl is still a little ill and will not be able to golf tomorrow, although I will call her in the morning hours to see how she is feeling. She is considering a move to a franchise management position that her friend is offering her. I will discuss it further with her to see what she would be getting out of it.
A potential client came in to discuss the construction of a bungalow of about 1600 sq. ft. with lot and GST for under 290 K. After a lengthy discussion we both agreed that it was possible if the unit was built on an inside lot this year. He had been in the “Artisan” when it was still a show home and his wife and he liked it very much. They will be back on the weekend he said, to continue the discussion. Would be nice if he did, I will have to get a copy of the Home warranty books that go into greater detail. I followed Cory's advice about cleaning out the waste basket on the computer to make it run faster and it seems to work very well. I was able to print out some information much faster than I had ever done before. Amazing what happens when you follow the advice of someone who knows what they are doing.
Susan has a shower to go to on Friday night so I will take in a show or something to keep myself busy. Derek called but he was on his way to Vegreville so we were not able to get together for lunch or anything. Perhaps next week we can do lunch next week.
John P suggested that the American public will be up in arms for a short time about what has happened but soon will their demands for revenge will ease and relax their efforts to punish those responsible to ensure the least amount of interference in their every day lives. He may be right. We will have to wait and see how long the anger directs them to be safe instead of relaxed.
Americans do not like looking helpless and vulnerable. The get vicious when they get beaten up. Their resolve to hit back and take revenge is legendary. They will strike back and destroy people and things if only to look like they are doing something. Many people both innocent and guilty will be hurt. Americans will continue this painful activity for far too long with righteous indignation. We, as Canadians will suffer because of their anger. Canadians who are “wannebee’s” will take this opportunity to force the country to the right. The markets will suffer for a short time but will recover later in the year. Now is the time to buy as everyone else is selling. A difficult thing for a normal person to do unless he has a memory of other catastrophic events in the life of the U.S. Many will say that this coming conflict with the middle east is the making of the industrial war machine and economic right. I am sure that these people will benefit enormously from the upcoming conflict.
I am not sure how this event will polarize the young people of the country. Nothing has caused the young people to make a stand in this time of political quietness. This might be the event.
I doubt that the current president has the wisdom or the counsel to make sure that this war is conducted sanely. President Bush is of the view, supported by his counsel that now is the time to get back at those he perceives as enemies. His counsel will ensure that this is the time to settle scores with those that were out of reach before. Economic interests see this as the time to position the U.S. in the Middle East for future profits and control. I am sure that some of those around Bush have information and knowledge of the area that is being invaded but I doubt that the Americans’ have any great understanding of the situation. We are in for a fight that has been going on in the region for thousands of years. The Americans and the allies will be in the area for a few years, really a short time in the scheme of things, before they pull out without any real successes.
They will win morally and perhaps financially but not realistically or humanly.
This will not break down into a large war since the Soviet Union has no interest or money to get involved. Instead the fighting will be localized hit and run with suicide bombs from religious fanatics. This is a new type of fighting that the U.S. will adapt slowly but surely. Israel knows full well how to conduct this type of war.