Good Morning I love you : Book Review

                                                                                       

Jim's review:

I really enjoyed reading this book from the beginning all the way to end!

Highly recommended

10 out of 10 stars

About book

Discover the power of mindfulness and self-compassion for cultivating greater peace, connection, creativity, and health in your life.

Why is it so hard to change? Is it simply a lack of desire or willpower? According to the science, the answer is no. And the missing ingredient may surprise you: it’s the practice of self-compassion.

Too often, we try to change our lives by pushing on, and then we beat ourselves up when we don’t succeed. But research shows that shame actually shuts down the brain’s learning centers―every time we judge ourselves, we rob ourselves of the very resources we need to change. The surprising alternative is self-compassion. When we treat ourselves with kindness, we turn on the learning centers of the brain and give ourselves the courage and motivation to change.

With Good Morning, I Love You: A Guided Journal for Calm, Clarity, and Joy, Dr. Shauna Shapiro presents an invaluable resource for transforming your life with mindfulness and self-compassion. Here she invites you to a three-month journey that includes:

• Morning and evening practices to cultivate self-compassion, mindfulness, and gratitude
• Weekly “deep dives” to boost your health and well-being
• Key scientific insights to help you understand how to achieve optimal health and live your best life
• Learning how to integrate the three pillars of mindfulness―Intention, Attention, and Attitude―into your daily life
• Growing the good in yourself and the world

“It is never too late to rewire your brain and transform your life,” writes Dr. Shapiro. And doing so doesn’t have to be “yet another chore” on your to-do list. This journal gives you an inspiring and clear road map to real change―and a welcome sanctuary for daily renewal and growth

Mortgage Brokering in Ontario 12th edition: Book Review

                                                                                

Jim's Review

An amazing book!

10 out of 10 stars

Keeping Up with the Quants: Book Review

                                                                                            

Jim's Review

It was enjoyable read with a few interesting parts that I found little discombobulated!

7 out of 10 stars

About book

Why Everyone Needs Analytical Skills

Welcome to the age of data. No matter your interests (sports, movies, politics), your industry (finance, marketing, technology, manufacturing), or the type of organization you work for (big company, nonprofit, small start-up)—your world is awash with data.

As a successful manager today, you must be able to make sense of all this information. You need to be conversant with analytical terminology and methods and able to work with quantitative information. This book promises to become your “quantitative literacy" guide—helping you develop the analytical skills you need right now in order to summarize data, find the meaning in it, and extract its value.

In Keeping Up with the Quants, authors, professors, and analytics experts Thomas Davenport and Jinho Kim offer practical tools to improve your understanding of data analytics and enhance your thinking and decision making. You’ll gain crucial skills, including:

• How to formulate a hypothesis
• How to gather and analyze relevant data
• How to interpret and communicate analytical results
• How to develop habits of quantitative thinking
• How to deal effectively with the “quants” in your organization

Big data and the analytics based on it promise to change virtually every industry and business function over the next decade. If you don’t have a business degree or if you aren’t comfortable with statistics and quantitative methods, this book is for you. Keeping Up with the Quants will give you the skills you need to master this new challenge—and gain a significant competitive edge.read more

Shazam Fury of the Gods (2023): Movie Review

                                                                                                    

Jim's Review

Shazam! (Zachary Levi) is back with an over the top sequel full of challenges and drama on many levels!

Billy Batson is trying to be normal and maintain a school life while trying to contain and control his superpower family.

Overblown CG and VFX take over the film which makes it difficult to respect and follow the storyline.

Monsters, Mayhem and Gods are all upset and Shazam! is trying to deal with everything is having trying to survive an epic fail

The best part of the film I enjoyed is when Wonder Woman shows up in the end! (this was shown in the trailer so I am not ruining anything for you)

6  out of 10 stars

Movie plot

Bestowed with the powers of the gods, Billy Batson and his fellow foster kids are still learning how to juggle teenage life with their adult superhero alter egos. When a vengeful trio of ancient gods arrives on Earth in search of the magic stolen from them long ago, Shazam and his allies get thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives, and the fate of the world.

Tik Tok CEO Shou Zi Chew's faces Congress: Feature article

 *Big number 150,000,000  that his how many Americans are on Tik Tok as of March 23,2023

 Tik Tok has taken the entire world by storm and now the CEO is called to U.S Congress to answer questions!

   

                                                                           Photo  Courtesy of Wired

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew's Congress showdown: Five takeaways  Read more

               

Missing (2023): Movie Review

                                                                                               

                                                                      Jim's Review

        Missing has twist and turns and lots of cat and mouse chase scene that will have you asking where did the  mother go?

                The climatic end will have all your questions answered...

                                                                      6 out of 10 stars

                                                                                    

 

                                                                About film:

When her mother disappears while on vacation in Colombia with her new boyfriend, June's search for answers is hindered by international red tape. Stuck thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, June creatively uses all the latest technology at her fingertips to try and find her before it's too late. However, as she digs ever deeper, her digital sleuthing soon raises more questions than answers.

                                                                                  

The January 6th Report: Book Review

                                                                                       

Jim's Review

An amazing  and insight full book on what happened before, during and after January 6,2021.

The best word in the entire book was "discombobulated" 

9 out of 10 stars

About book

The January 6th Report appendices on pages 693–716 can be accessed via the QR code below, along with the hyperlinks from the chapter endnotes and witness testimony transcripts.

Celadon Books and The New Yorker present the report by the Select Committee to Investigate the Jan 6 Attack on the United States Capitol.

On January 6, 2021, insurgents stormed the U.S. Capitol, an act of domestic terror without parallel in American history, designed to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power. In a resolution six months later, the House of Representatives called it "one of the darkest days of our democracy," and established a special committee to investigate how and why the attack happened.

Celadon Books, in collaboration with The New Yorker, presents the committee's final report, the definitive account of January 6th and what led up to it, based on more than a year of investigation by nine members of Congress and committee staff, with a preface by David Remnick, the editor of The New Yorker and a winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and an epilogue by Congressman Jamie Raskin of Maryland, a member of the committee.read more

Mamba Mentality: Book Review

                                                                               

Jim's review:

An amazing book from the beginning to the end

10 out of 10 stars

About book

The Mamba Mentality: How I Play is Kobe Bryant’s personal perspective of his life and career on the basketball court and his exceptional, insightful style of playing the game―a fitting legacy from the late Los Angeles Laker superstar.

In the wake of his retirement from professional basketball, Kobe “The Black Mamba” Bryant decided to share his vast knowledge and understanding of the game to take readers on an unprecedented journey to the core of the legendary “Mamba mentality.” Citing an obligation and an opportunity to teach young players, hardcore fans, and devoted students of the game how to play it “the right way,” The Mamba Mentality takes us inside the mind of one of the most intelligent, analytical, and creative basketball players ever.

In his own words, Bryant reveals his famously detailed approach and the steps he took to prepare mentally and physically to not just succeed at the game, but to excel. Readers will learn how Bryant studied an opponent, how he channeled his passion for the game, how he played through injuries. They’ll also get fascinating granular detail as he breaks down specific plays and match-ups from throughout his career.

Bryant’s detailed accounts are paired with stunning photographs by the Hall of Fame photographer Andrew D. Bernstein. Bernstein, long the Lakers and NBA official photographer, captured Bryant’s very first NBA photo in 1996 and his last in 2016―and hundreds of thousands in between, the record of a unique, twenty-year relationship between one athlete and one photographer.

The combination of Bryant’s narrative and Bernstein’s photos make The Mamba Mentality an unprecedented look behind the curtain at the career of one of the world’s most celebrated and fascinating athletes.read more and buy book

The Swarm Season 1 (2023): Movie Review

                                                                                   

Jim's Review

Based on: The Swarm; by Frank Schätzing this series bring his book to life and bring insights on how small things can create big problems for the world population.

9 out of 10 stars

About film:

Whales sink boats, shellfish poison a coastal town. In this adaptation of Schätzing’s novel, nature seems to be taking its revenge. A research team becomes the last hope – not only fighting this threat, but also corrupt corporations and politicians.

Ecological thriller about the delicate interconnectedness between mankind and Earth.

John Wick Chapter 4 (2023): Movie Review

                                                                                                    

Jim's Review

John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is back for the 4th installment of John Wick and it doesn't disappoint from the opening scene bullets fly and literally don't stop!

This time he takes on the High Table which out everyone who want the huge payday!

Run time is 2hrs 45 minutes and as the quote says "its about the journey not the destination"

John Wick 4 redefines the journey as he starts and get some help along the way from Caine (Donnie Yen) and Ian McShane (Winston) 

The recently passed away  Lance Reddick who plays Charon the hotel manager get his due in iconic fashion.

The film does move along with bullets, fights scenes then more bullets and fight scenes until the climatic end where John Wick gets his chance to end it all for good!

8.5 out of 10 stars

Movie plot:

With the price on his head ever increasing, legendary hit man John Wick takes his fight against the High Table global as he seeks out the most powerful players in the underworld, from New York to Paris to Japan to Berlin.

Inventor Out of Blood in Silicone Valley (2019): Movie Review

                                                                                                  

Jim's Review:

Elizabeth Holms built Theranos into a multibillion-dollar healthcare company taking the world and healthcare by storm solving a huge problem in the industry doing blood test quickly using a mini machine.

The got a many well known investors to fund her company and then as time passed questions began to asked and Theranos leadership got good at misrepresenting data and deflecting the attention

This came to halting end when Wall Street Journal did a piece with the help of some whistleblowers and everything unraveled very quickly

Elizabeth Holmes is serving some jail time  (11 years) in my opinion not enough for the deaths she caused and the people she lied to numerous times!

9 out of 10 stars

Movie plot

With a new invention that promised to revolutionize blood testing, Elizabeth Holmes became the world's youngest self-made billionaire, heralded as the next Steve Jobs. Then, just two years later, her multibillion-dollar company was dissolved.

From Academy Award-winning director Alex Gibney comes a documentary about the rise and fall of Theranos, the one-time multibillion-dollar healthcare company founded by Elizabeth Holmes. Premieres March 18 on HBO.

65 (2023): Movie Review

                                                                                     

Jim's Review

Mills (Adam Driver) ship lands on a planet he know nothing about and quickly realizes he is not alone!

Quickly meets Koa (Ariana Greenblatt) and their journey begins to get off the planet, they both come to terms that they may not be able to communicate but they know how to run from danger!

Dinosaurs are on the hunt at every turn as Mills and Koa plot a plan to find a backup ship to explain the planet

Executive producer Sam Raimi director of Darkman and Spiderman films steps into a new genre and give vicious and big teeth a entirely new meaning.

As you reach the climatic 3rd act you hope for the best and not for worst in a film that gives dinosaurs some new respect and humanity one last chance to survive

8 out of 10 stars

Movie plot

After a catastrophic crash on an unknown planet, pilot Mills quickly discovers he's actually stranded on Earth -- 65 million years ago. Now, with only one chance at a rescue, Mills and the only other survivor, Koa, must make their way across an unknown terrain riddled with dangerous prehistoric creatures.

Oscars awards show 95th edition: Event Review

     Oscar were back and Jimmy Kimmel was hosting and did okay with some cool segement and other that sort of fell flat.

     Big Winners; Canadian Brendan Fraser won for Whale and Sarah Polley won for Women Talking.

     

      Everything Everywhere all at once won 7 awards (nominated for 10)

       The funny moment I enjoyed is when director Elizabeth Banks came on stage to present an award she was followed by a huge bear!   Cocaine Bear is currently in theatres

                                                                                 

Elizabeth Banks and Giant bear

                                             On all that happened Read more

Jimmel Kimmel hosting

Brendan Fraser wins for Whale

Sarah Polley wins for Women Talking

                                                                                

                                                                      Collage of some of the winners

Scream 6 (2023): Movie Review

                                                                                         

                                                                           Jim's Review

                                 Scream has reached #6 and the killing has reached epic proportions and the who dunnit is becoming more discombobulated!

  The Carpenter sisters have gone to New York to start a new life and make new friends Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega) and Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) for a core 4 group to keep everyone safe.

The beginning starts with gruesome killing of 2 people! and then the story starts to unravel with everyone under suspicion.

 I have decided not to reveal who the killers are (trust me I really want to!) the reason is trying to figure it become interested with lots of misdirection with I felt was little obvious (in my opinion)

  By the climatic third act everything will be reveal and it will seem little far fetched why this had begun in the first place!

     The actions sequences are truly gruesome and action packed, it all adds to the finale as Scream will not disappoint

                                                                                        8 out of 10 stars

                                                                               About film

Four survivors of the Ghostface murders leave Woodsboro behind for a fresh start in New York City. However, they soon find themselves in a fight for their lives when a new killer embarks on a bloody rampage.

                                                            

Creed 3 (2023): Movie Review

                                                                               

Jim's Review

Creed 3 is back with Michael B Jordan taking the helm in directing the third installment in an amazing arc as Adonis Creed (Michael B Jordan) as he is working on the future talent.

Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors) shows up from his past and wants a piece of the action mainly a title shot!

Adonis Creed is a family man with responsibility to see his daughter Amara (Mila Davis-Kent) and his wife Bianca (Tessa Thompson)

The friction between Adonis and Damian grows and then tragic situation occurs which forces Adonis to face Damian winner take a match

The climatic is shot in amazing fashion with a crowd and then without! 

In the end they will be only champion and the legacy of Creed (in my opinion) will continue in a cool twist.

8 out of 10

About film

Still dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed is thriving in his career and family life. When Damian, a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy resurfaces after serving time in prison, he's eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian -- a fighter who has nothing to lose.

Marijuana Venture March 2023: Magazine Review

                                                                                           

Jim's Review

Cool article about Jim McmMahon Ex NFL Quaterback of the Chicago Bear and the journey he went on from opiods use to taking medicinal marijuana

read more

Cocaine Bear (2023): Movie Review

                                                                                                 

Jim's Review

It has been hilarious to watch the trailers and follow Director Elisabeth Banks on Instagram  with outtakes from her and the actors. Looks like that they had lots of fun on set!

Based on true story that happened in 1985 when a drug runner's plane crashed and all the cocaine went everywhere. 

Black Bear ate and then all sorts of running, chasing 

The true story about the Cocaine Bear read more

7 out of 10

About film:

Inspired by the 1985 true story of a drug runner's plane crash, missing cocaine, and the black bear that ate it, this wild dark comedy finds an oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens converging in a Georgia forest where a 500- pound apex predator has ingested a staggering amount of cocaine and gone on a coke-fueled rampage for more blow … and blood.

Cocaine Bear stars Keri Russell (The Americans), O’Shea Jackson, Jr. (Straight Outta Compton), Christian Convery (Sweet Tooth), Alden Ehrenreich (Solo: A Star Wars Story), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family), Brooklynn Prince (The Florida Project), Isiah Whitlock Jr. (BlacKkKlansman), Kristofer Hivju (Game of Thrones), Hannah Hoekstra (2019’s Charlie’s Angels) and Aaron Holliday (Sharp Objects), with with Emmy winner Margo Martindale (The Americans) and Emmy winner Ray Liotta (The Many Saints of Newark). Directed by Elizabeth Banks (Charlie’s Angels, Pitch Perfect 2) from a screenplay by Jimmy Warden (The Babysitter: Killer Queen), Cocaine Bear is produced by Oscar® winners Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, The Mitchells vs. The Machines) for Lord Miller, Elizabeth Banks (Pitch Perfect franchise) and Max Handelman (Pitch Perfect franchise) for Brownstone Productions, Brian Duffield (Spontaneous) for Jurassic Party Productions and Aditya Sood (The Martian) for Lord Miller. The film is executive produced by Robin Mulcahy Fisichella, Alison Small and Nikki Baida.

The No-Hitter of 95!: (True) Story

 

  t was the the Summer of 1995 and I was 24 enjoying life and playing all types of sports!

  Wall Ball*  is one of my favorite I used to play with my brother and my fellow Greek friends in the neighborhood

 This summer was going to be special as we formed the Palmerston Wall Ball League for the first time.

 Palmerston Public School was where we all attended in public school and had the best dimensions to play wallball.

 Having a league was going to be fun as we would keep track of all the stats for the summer.

 It was in late July when a very special moment happened...

   I lot was the the Summer of 1995 and I was 24 enjoying life and playing all types of sports!

  Wall Ball*  is one of my favorite I used to play with my brother and my fellow Greek friends in the neighborhood

 This summer was going to be special as we formed the Palmerston Wall Ball League for the first time.

 Palmerston Public School was where we all attended in public school and had the best dimensions to play wallball.

 Having a league was going to be fun as we would keep track of all the stats for the summer.

 It was in late July when a very special moment happened... playing wall ball especially pitching! 

  I always visualized being a major league pitcher with great pitching acumen 

  On this particular day I was pitching well in a short 7 inning we had decided on.

   It was bottom of the seven and I has in a groove with no hits allowed and only 3 outs away from a no-hitter for the first year of the Palmerston Wall ball league

  It was not going to be an easy task. Facing Peter V. Tommy.F and Tom V. was going to need lots of focus and patience

  First up was Peter V. he was right and had a big bat, on this day he had struck out 3 times and hit a thunderous pop up which I had caught earlier in the game

   I  got him in three pitches and he was out number 1

 Next was Tommy F. he was a very smart hitter and always had smirk on face when he faced me. This always annoyed me!

  So I went deep into my thoughts and brought up Mike Maddux for the Atlanta Braves who a devastating array of pitches. 

  Th only way to keep Tommy V honest was to keep the ball inside and not allow him to extend his arms. It was not as easy at it sounds as I didn't want to hit him!

  So the first pitch I through goes in the box Strike 1

  the next pitch same location but I took something of it and in the box Strike 2

  The next pitch was a fork pitch (cutter) which goes straight and then drops down at the last minute it drops down

  So I try some deception to show that I winding up for fastball and  then I change my grip in my glove and let it go!

  The ball is released from my hand and Tom's eyes light up and he ready to take a rip into it!  Just at the last second it dips to the right he swings and it goes into the box. STRIKE 3 Your out the umpire yells

 Tom F is extremely made and agitated

 The next batter is Tom V who is left handed batter and very good hitter, I have kept him of balance with strike outs and few crazy pop ups.

  I went back to my thoughts and brought out Tom Henke of the Toronto Blue Jays the superior closer!

  All the guys felt this was going to be a epic battle. 

  Look into the box and thrust back my arm in and put the fastball grip and unleash a cannon straight into the box Strike 1

 Tom is little shocked but not rattled.

The next pitch I decided to throw fastback but in a sidearm motion and he swings and ball goes into the box Strike 2

It is 0-2 and the count is in my favor. 

 My arm is getting tired and muscle is beginning to hurt with pain. All I say to myself is "one more pitch!"

 Tommy V settles in and I am staring in at the box. 

 He will be expecting a fastball and I know he is, so let's throw the fork pitch instead! 

 The outfielders are focused and little nervous I tell them one stay close the other go deep.

  I settle in and throw the fork pitch...

  Tommy V cocks his bat back and swings the tennis ball goes right under the bat and into the box! STRIKE 3

 Oh my God I have thrown a no-hitter!!!

  It was memorable summer of fun and healthy competition

*Wall Ball or American a square is made on a wall and then 50 feet away a pitcher throws. Singles, Doubles, Triples and Homeruns are measure by distance travelled on preset areas.

                    

The blast of 95!: (True) Story

 

   It was the the Summer of 1995 and I was 24 enjoying life and playing all types of sports!

  Wall Ball*  is one of my favorite I used to play with my brother and my fellow Greek friends in the neighborhood

 This summer was going to be special as we formed the Palmerston Wall Ball League for the first time.

 Palmerston Public School was where we all attended in public school and had the best dimensions to play wallball.

 Having a league was going to be fun as we would keep track of all the stats for the summer.

 It was in late July when a very special moment happened...

                                                                    It was hot and great day for baseball

 

   We always had fun playing the game and we all knew each others strengths and weaknesses so it made much harder to really do well on a consistent basis.

 On this day Tommy F was pitching and he has some great stuff. We used a tennis balls and aluminum bats.

  The tennis ball did neccesarily have that much movement yet some of the ball we used had seams so it can change the movement.

   I was at bat and it has been a tough afternoon trying to hit Tom's pitches!

   So this time I went up with no plan just watch the ball and wait for a decent pitch.

   Tom was focused and determined to strike me out!

   I settled in and just said to myself  "just be patient and wait"

   Tom had two very good pitches Forkball witch dips in the end and a wicked fastball

                                                           I was waiting to hit it hard

      He throws the first pitch and I swing  Umpire says STRIKE 1!

      Next  to pitches were balls outside the strike zone

       The next pitch I just watched and it was in the zone STRIKE 2

       Next pitch was a ball

      So here we are 3-2 count and nowhere to go

      I saw Tom's face he was flustered and little irritated that I was still hanging in there

      I had made up my mind he was to come after me and get me out!

      I stepped in and prepared and took some half swings and let out a breathe of fresh air and waited...

      He threw the pitch and I saw his face he looked horrified that he had lost the pitch and headed straight down the pipe.

      I took and hard swing and then BOOM! I connected with the tennis ball!

      Tom didn't even turn around to look yet everyone else did and this ball simply took off and kept on going to the moon!  

     It cleared the fence of the school and landed in the back yard of the house across the street and kept bouncing until it hit the front of the garage.

      My brother came to get the bat and said to me " You connected on that one for sure!"

     It was memorable summer of fun and competition amongst friends

                                                 

                   *Wall Ball or American a square is made on a wall and then 50 feet away a pitcher throws. Singles, Doubles, Triples and Homeruns are measure by distance travelled on preset areas.

Unwelcome (2022): Movie Review

                                                                                            

Jim's Review

Maya (Hannah Joe-Kamen) and Jamie (Douglas Booth) have an unfortunate incident at home so they decide to hit the country side and stay at an old house with sacred history.

Maya is expecting their first child and needs some rest and Jamie is trying to do best for both of them to feel comfortable.

The house is nice yet the backyard yields some secrets of its own Maeve (Niamh Cusack) warns them that the creatures must be fed or else!

Maya and Jamie face danger and the scary goblins come to help and they do it their way!

The climatic end will have Maya and Jamie with success and a decision that will affect them both.

7 out of 10 stars

About film

A couple escape their urban nightmare to the tranquility of rural Ireland, only to hear stories of mysterious creatures who live in the gnarled, ancient woods at the foot of their garden. As warned by their new neighbors, the creatures come when called to help souls in dire need of rescue, but it's crucial to remember that there's always a dear price to pay for their aid.

The summer of 1995 two teams with one mission Championship!

                                                                                 

                                                                

      One decision leads to choose sports of school!

     It was early 1995 and I was 24 years old in my last year of a four year co-op business administration program at Centennial college in Scarborough, Ont. 

   I was excited to graduate and go on to my next chapter of my life. It was during this time I made a decision that at the time seemed as an easy one, play ball hockey for the summer!  I participated  in many sports in my early 20's baseball,  basketball and tennis to name a few.

 So I signed up to play for two ball hockey teams in two different divisions playing a Rinx (Dufferin and Orfus area)  

  This is a story of success and few failures (lessons) along the way.

The NY Chiefs Season 

 Team 1was the NY Chiefs a group of very talent player that I had been playing with for a few years, it wasn't easy to convince co- captains Nelson and Jorge that I should play for them. I wasn't in the beat of shape at the time yet I had amazing ball handling skills and great shot!  

                                                                     Not in the best shape

  In the end I was in and and would mostly play on the fourth line meaning very little playing time during games, mostly if we were winning by more than 2 or more goals. I was okay with it and was always ready to go!

                                                                            Thunderbolt & Lighting

    Fernando was massing guy who also had a great game and I was little smaller than him so the Thunderbolt & Lightning line was created!   When we were on the floor literally the floor shook! 

   Team 2  was the Screaming Eagles the complete opposite of the NY Chiefs a collection of players of various talents from  good, bad to ugly!

   Being on this team was certainly going to be a huge challenge!  The season previous we were called the Aruba Tigers (see jersey below) so we had a few returning players and we renamed ourselves the Screaming Eagles, our jersey was that of the Washington Capitals (see below)

              

                                                                                 The seasons begin!

   I remember walking in for a first game of the season with the NY Chiefs and  convenor  Jeff says " You guys are going to win it all!"  I was happy mostly and little bit dismayed that the rest of the teams had no chance!

  Meanwhile Jeff made no such comment regarding the Screaming Eagles chances.

                                                                           The undefeated season in peril

  It was mid- season with the NY Chiefs and we were on a role! we were 6 wins and no losses and in the current game we were playing in late May were in a 1-1 going into the 3rd period

  I remember sitting at the end of the bench with Fernando chatting away and encouraging our fellow teammate when we heard Jorge say " Thurnderbolt and Lighting you are on next do what you do and get us one!"  

  I was shocked and looked at Fernando and said "Does he mean score a goal or just forecheck and be useful!"  Fernando turns around and says 'No Jim let's make it happen I will clear the way and you shoot and hit the net!"

                                                                             I ended up in the net!

  We hope over and literally everyone stood up the oppose team, people in the stands intently watching us play the sport we love with so much focus.

  All I remember was I was playing center  and was going to the net hoping to tip or knock in a loose ball into the net!

     Next thing you know I am running in and get in the zone, Fernando just shoot the ball in front of the next and honestly didn't even feel that I tipped the ball in the net, because I was ended up physically in the net!

                                                                                       We win the game!!!

     It liked forever to extract myself from the opposing net as opposing players were giving me some extra physical punishment.

  Eventually I make it to the bench and all my teammate were congratulating me on a well deserved winning goal. Fernando was super happy for me as I had scored the goal. I said to Fernando " just like you told me the only thing you forgot was all the hits I took!"

                                                                                        

                                                                                   Medal for 1st star

     We were all in the dressing room and Jeff walks in with a small medal (see below) and gives to me saying " Great goal Jim!'  I responded "Thanks Jeff!"

The season continued and we finished first with undefeated record with 14 wins and no losses and 1 tie

 We made it all the way to the finals and won the trophy (see below)

The Screaming Eagles season 

   The screaming eagles team was an assortment of players of varied skills and it was going to take lots of practice and patience to make it successful season.

  Rob Nicolic and I were co- captains and we truly believed we could make the playoffs and then see what happens!

  The season  began and we played  very poorly and we knew something had to done.  The only thing we could do was hold practices and have the players work on their game.

  As the season continued we began to play better and win some games. Instead of our opponent thinking they had a easy win they actually had to play hard to beat us!

   We made the playoffs we celebrated in the dressing room as if we had won the Stanley Cup!!!

                                                             The Playoffs and the determination

     To this day I don't even remember how we did it. It pure focus and determination that we could do it as a TEAM.

  In the coming weeks get through two round and into the FINALS!

   We would get to the rink and everyone would be excited and focus for the game.

  In the end we end up losing and get a secondary trophy (see below)

                                                                          Failures (Lessons)

    Remember earlier I mentions that it my last year of college.  Well during the final playing for the Screaming Eagles I had a final exam for Organizational Behaviour that I didn't pass because made the choice to play the rather than study the exams

  Ended up taking that course and few others in night school and getting all A's!

                                                                      Moral of this story 

      I did what I love and look at the trophies and medal all the time and truly remember the summer of 95 was a special and memorable in so many ways!