Assault on us All

What a week.

What a damned week.

My country was attacked twice. My home was assaulted. My family members were killed.

For what??

The cowards who performed these horrific deeds may have thought they were dedicated to some “Holy” cause, but clearly they were just twisted and manipulated. Pawns used by an offshore terrorist group preying on the weak minded and weaker willed.

Did they destabilize our governments? Did they weaken our economy? Did they break our will?

No.

They strengthened our resolve.

They turned Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo into fallen heroes. Symbols of the very real threat our brave Forces members face everyday.

These vile, failed terrorists did not strike fear in the heart of Canada. No, they created an enhanced sense of national pride, they created a sense of betrayal, revulsion. Moreover, they created unity.

They did, however, take away some of our innocence. A Canadian soldier had not been killed on Canadian soil as an act of war in two centuries.

In the very near future, I believe our military budget will be revised and expanded, our Members carrying (rightfully so) loaded side arms. Our security a little tighter. Our vigilance a little higher.

In our role of international peace keepers we’ve been more concerned with defending the defenceless, protecting the oppressed and fighting others’ battles than we have of protecting our own shores as strongly as possible.

Yes, Canada was attacked, but She did not cower. Our Forces were betrayed by those they swore to protect, but they did not run.

Canada did not panic.

Warrant Officer Vincent and Corporal Cirillo, stand down, lads.

We will stand on guard for you.

Being Thankful

Thanksgiving has just passed, I’ve today off, so it’s a great time to reflect upon my blessings.

I grew up in a financially stable house, never wanted for anything. When my family was together, we took trips, did things together and genuinely felt happy.

When that part of my life dissolved I ended up with two ‘step’ families. One that was all of a sudden there and one where my opinion was consulted and valued. Both families are made of good people. I’m closer to one than the other, but that’s just natural being how everything came together.

I’ve had some great successes in my life. Financially, materially and employment wise. I’ve had some horrific downturns. Addiction, homelessness, shunned by some family. I must admit I’m at least as grateful for the tough times as I am the good. The adversity has helped me appreciate the good times that much more. It’s often said at meetings that “I’ve had a good week with a few terrible moments”. I guess it’s a good way to emphasize the positive of any situation.

My life today is a great one.

I’m learning to grieve the losses in my life in a healthy way. Accept the time I had with people was the best it could be, allow myself to feel the sadness for the future that can never be.

I have an extended family now. Two step-kids I’m crazy about, in-laws who genuinely care. A mutt who’s a laugh to be around, a couple of cats.

And the woman of my dreams.

I’ve got a great brother, a few friends, a job and a roof. I’m a very lucky man. The pastor of my church quotes a statistic that says if one has a bed, a roof and a refrigerator one is in the top 3% of the world. I’m not sure how accurate that is, but I’ve been without all three and am grateful to have them back.

This seems a rather rambling post at best, suffice to say I have so many blessings to be grateful for im verging on overwhelmed.

I hope I remain thankful.

Who To Trust?

The CBC is reporting on a chain of ‘quick lube’ shops based in Hamilton. The gist of the report is a bunch of ‘ghost cars’ were serviced from bumper to bumper, equipped with cameras and sent for oil changes.

I wasn’t surprised to learn upon inspection a series of flushes and services, not required for the vehicle, were recommend by the “technicians”. The people who work at these places have no formal auto training, have served no apprenticeship, are sold a company line to sell, sell, SELL.

What I didn’t expect to learn was once the sale was made, often the service wasn’t provided. Just out and out thievery.

This pisses me because I uphold the highest of standards in any shop I run. If you wouldn’t recommend it to your Mom’s car, don’t recommend it to my customer.

There are two ways to look at this report. One, blow it off as a bunch of hamburger flippers turned oil change flunkies trying to make a quick commission on sales, the other is to believe the operators of these shops hold the public in such little regard that they would defraud them and jeopardize an already tenuous relationship between automotive service providers and the public.

As a professional, I get so frustrated at shops like this because the public thinks they represent me. They do not.

I’ve spent 30 years in shops becoming a professional I can be proud of.
If you come to my shop you get a licensed, qualified mechanic looking at your vehicle. Lube shops? Kids who have now real knowledge beyond what they’re supposed to sell.

Find a real mechanic, one you can trust, one who listens to you. One who takes pride in their trade.

Then take all your business to them. Some services will cost more, some less, some free. But you will develop a relationship. And people do not take advantage of those they have relationships with (as a rule).

If people heed this simple advice, crooked shops will not exist further.

Find someone you can trust.

And if they let you down, call me!