Windsor Tomcats

Well Guys,

Since you all know this is my second year as a Tomcat I am still considered a rookie,  I don’t have any battle scars yet or stories of throwing cooler lids at tournaments or even helicoptering a 5 iron.  I do however ever feel just as part of this beautiful organization as someone with 23 years of those experiences and that is thanks to each and everyone of of you. 

 

Just to give some background on where I was raised and when and how I ended up in Windsor which ultimately gave me the opportunity to be drafted.  I was born in 1973 in Victoria which roughly now the same population as Windsor at around 250,000.  Growing up in Victoria is kind of unique as you have everything you need there but if you want to see sporting events or big shows your kind of cut off as they only occur in Vancouver which is an hour and a half ferry ride and costs about $80 buck each way for a car and driver.  Thanks B.C. government for limiting my youthful experiences!! 

 

Anyways, growing up there there was always plenty to do outdoors which we always took full advantage of with either camping or salmon fishing.  There are some beautiful places on the island.  Some must do’s if your ever out there, Cathedral Grove some of the biggest trees you’ll ever see and then there is Long Beach in Tofino. 

 

Well after high school and college and doing my pilots licence and realizing how difficult to find a pilots job was, I went to plan B and applied for air traffic control.  Luckily I was accepted and started that in Dec. 2002, and left for Cornwall, Ontario – never being past Calgary it was quite an experience and adventure.  Living in Cornwall if none of you have ever been there is unique in itself if you can ever get over the smell of the pulp plant. I was able to live in a fully enclose d building with dorms, cafeteria, swimming pool, gym, and the most important a bar!  I think my record was roughly six weeks without going anywhere except to walmart to get tooth paste.  I always referred to it as feeling like bubble boy off of Seinfeld. 

I was also fortunate enough to meet my wife while living in this bubble as they rented a portion of it out to the Air Force.  During the day I was being taught to keep airplanes apart and she was being taught to put them together.  I still think it’s harder to keep them separated than putting them together but I will leave that up to you to contemplate.  Also I recommend not bringing this point up to my wife in casual conversation cause I definatley know she can kick a few Tomcat asses not that I am saying any names, right “Junior”!! 

 

After completing this training I was shipped off to Windsor not even knowing where the hell Windsor was!  My wife was shipped off to Rome NY for an out of country posting so then the commute was on.  I did this for a year then eventually too a couple of years off to live with her in NY.  After her posting was up I transfered to Winnipeg where she as also sent.  You know how sometimes in life you think a good idea is a great idea until you have made it and finally realize that it was an awful idea.  All I can say is the next worse pace to live would have been Saskatoon and it would have been a coin toss!  The cold for 10 1/2 months and the bugs for the remainder was not what we had signed up for. 

 

I had the opportunity to come back to Windsor and it didn’t take much convincing for Jodi either.  We arrived 4 years ago in Windsor and have never looked back, it was one of the best choices we made.  I think our first winter here Jodi was out for a walk with the kids and came across this guy who introduced himself as Steve.  He seemed to know where we were from how old we were what we did for jobs.  It was a little creepy but once we found out he was a Cop  I figured he had pretty sharp detective skills and we had moved into a great neighborhood.  I didn’t get creeped out by him again until summer when I realized he kept starring at my wife’s feet whenever she wore sandals.  I figured he had a woman’s shoe fetish.  I was wrong it was a toe fetish, just ask Sparky! 

 

Well, out of all the experiences and moves I have realized that Windsor is the next best thing to being home.  As growing up in Victoria and living here is very similar, this is like the best kept secret of Ontario, the people who live here know it and appreciate it so don’t tell your friends about it and especially don’t let the word get out about the Tomcats otherwise everyone will want to move here. 

 

Thanks for being such a great group of guys and to Stevo who introduced me all to you, I have had a blast the last couple of winters playing with all of you.  Yes, even you Chevy!  So enjoy your summer and keep in touch as well be cautious at wearing open toe shoe’s in the presence of Stevo as I would not want to imagine what he think’s about as he lies in bed at night with his eyes wide open!  Cheers!

Doc!