Mike's back dealing with "posture problem"

I'm back, well sort of, as I undergo physiotherapy for a posture problem that by my accounting is about 50 years in the making, and finally caught up with me the day after I turned 67 last November. Imagine, I've been a sloucher most of my life, always looking for a way to get my feet upon a desk or table and relax. Well, it's finally caught up with me and since last November my back has been sore. It got a bit worse recently so my doctor referred me to a physiotherapist,

Now I not only have a medical doctor but a physiotherapist who at the outset led me to believe the cure may be worse than the problem as he worked on my back, but I'm feeling better today, so here I am. Independently my doctor and physiotherapist said, "You have a posture problem," and i knew immediately I should have listened when my Mom told me to get my feet off the kitchen table!

I'm going to keep this short as I don't want to overdo my new posture for sitting at my laptop -- and no longer will I spend six hours a day or so on and off my computer. I'm making all kinds of promises as I begin to feel better. I just came in from a walk and was thinking in many ways I'm still like a little kid. Make me feel better and I'll be a good boy!

Seriously though I really want to thank those who have been in touch to ask where I have been and how I am. I so much appreciate that you took time from your busy lives to contact me. Thanks!

I also must thank my best friend Mike, who daily has contacted me to make sure I am OK, and for sharing his immense knowledge of fitness and nutrition with me and for making sure I made some very needed changes in my lifestyle. Mike, thanks for your patience too. Much appreciated as always!

Lots has been happening so stay tuned.

Finally, a special note of best wishes to my lifelong friend Bill McLeod for a speedy recovery from his recent surgery. My thoughts are with you Bill.

Balsillie may be NHL's Bettman worst nightmare over proposed Phoenix Coyotes move to Ontario

Jim Balsillie, the co-CEO of Research In Motion, maker of the popular Blackberry may have become National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman's worst nightmare once again by offering to pay $212.5 million for the Phoenix Coyotes as long as he can move the team to Southern Ontario.

Balsillie who has previously offered to buy the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins and move them to Canada, has also likely got the owners of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings on the phones to their lawyers advising them to prepare to do all they can to block such a move. Better to let the Coyotes die of thirst on the desert than have another viable NHL franchise in Canada.

Bettman, the American who runs the NHL, has never supported another franchise in Canada, as he tries to turn hockey into an American game in the most unlikely of places -- for example, Phoenix, Arizona. At one time Bettman is quoted as saying he would "fix" the Coyotes, who apparently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection under U.S. law on May 5.

Here's one for you and it might give Bettman pause to consider the popularity of NHL hockey in the United States. President Barack Obama, basketball player extraordinaire, admitted that he had never watched an NHL game -- and he lived in the NHL cities of Chicago and Boston, where he attended Harvard University.


Greg Wyshynski of PuckDaddy.com provides an inside look at the situation
http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Coyotes-file-for-Chapter-11-Balsillie-bids-to-m?urn=nhl,161402

I believe Southern Ontario can support another NHL team and it is likely Winnipeg can too -- maybe even the lower mainland of British Columbia.

Let's bring the NHL home to Canada to cities where it will thrive.

Email me on this one or post comments: mj.morris@live.ca

Buckwheat shreds homework and pounces on keyboard

 On November 7, 2009, at the age of 20 years and two months exactly, my beloved cat Buckwheat died, having been my buddy for more than 20 years. I thank all those who sent  me such kind messages when they heard the news.  I reposted  this article that I had written earlier to my "good boy" and "pretty cat" who is now playing near the Rainbow Bridge. In 2009, this story was number one, and amazingly, it has stayed in the top ten throughout 2010...  michael

Suddenly Buckwheat reached into the pile of English essays, grabbed one with his teeth, and before I knew it, had torn it into shreds. No kidding. Now I had taught school for a long time, and had heard every reason in the book about why an assignment was late. But, how does a teacher explain to a student, "Sorry, but my cat shredded your homework."

On another occasion, Buckwheat gently picked up a student paper and brought it to me. I later learned this student was a cat lover and had sprinkled a little cat nip on her paper. That alone made it worth an A!

Both incidents occurred during my first year at College of the Rockies 20 years ago, and Buckwheat was just a kitten, arriving in my life very shortly after I arrived in Cranbrook, British Columbia. He's having his afternoon nap as I write, and obviously isn't as frisky now, but we still try to go for regular walks in the courtyard where he is considered Sir Buckwheat of Woodland Court.

Some of the children have told me, "I know you. You are the old man with the old cat," and I nod and agree. I guess we are conversation pieces and that's just fine because Buckwheat has been one all his life. I've been the subject of a few conversations too so not much new there, except we are both older!

In fact one student went so far on an instructor evaluation form to note: "All he did in this course was talk about his cat." Imagine, according to this student, I spent 45 hours talking only about my cat. With all respect, I don't think so. Hockey maybe as some may say about my time at Chapleau High School, but not Buckwheat, although I am guilty in part.

But for the most part, students were animal lovers and would share stories about their cats, dogs and yes, out here, horses and other animals. I have been retired a few years now and when I meet former students, many still ask about Buckwheat.

Buckwheat has always become annoyed when I read, mark papers, talk on the phone or type. In fact years ago, he destroyed my last electric typewriter by pouncing on the keyboard. However, we are making progress after all these years. He is not showing too much annoyance now when I talk with my best buddy on the phone. At one time he would have made it a nightmare!

My friend Melanie reminded me that Buckwheat comes to get me every night when he thinks it is time for me to go to bed. He's done that every day of his life, and waits until I turn off the TV or computer, and follow him to the bedroom. Once I am settled down, off he goes to do his thing!

Why am I bothering to tell you about Buckwheat? Well the other day I was chatting with a friend on IM and she said, "I can tell you really love your cat." I was taken aback for a moment, but I replied, "Yes, I do" and have enjoyed his friendship all these years despite the fact that he can be so damn independent and is really the one who runs our home.

I would love to have you share pet stories or offer comments. I promise I will read them all to Buckwheat and won't let him destroy them!

Email me at mj.morris@live.ca