My Canadian Steeler Xmas

Had to start planning early for this one�.

I own a cottage on Prince Edward Island, in the Canadian Maritimes.� PEI, home of Anne of Green Gables, and more spuds than you could imagine. Anyone ever hear, �Bud the Spud� by PEI born country star, Stompin� Tom Connors?

We love PEI in the summer, and love it in the winter as well.� Thursday, we will leave to spend our 4^th consecutive Christmas on PEI.

But�..Steelers/Ravens play on Dec.26^th, Boxing Day in Canada (�not boxing as in fighting, the Canadians are far too gentle a people for that, but boxing as in shopping and gift boxes).

I watch little TV, aside from NFL Football.� My wife watches little TV�.the kids would watch more if�..so we have no cable/satellite service in our PEI cottage.� We have a 13-inch tube with rabbit ears, from which we can tune in 2 English speaking stations (�but only one at a time), and one French station.� We do get Hockey Night in Canada (..when there�s hockey).� No need for channel surfing, throw the remote away.

Gotta watch Steelers/Ravens on Dec. 26^th, though.� Some of you know from my previous ramblings that it�s not hard to keep oneself in the dark on PEI.� The only NFL score you�ll hear on the radio might be from the Monday night tilt.� I�ve actually set up the VCR in New Hampshire to tape two consecutive games over the holidays.� While coming home to a Steeler doubleheader was amazing, sitting in PEI for a full 8 days of not knowing who won LAST Sunday�s game is� a bit weird.

Gotta see Steelers/Ravens live, though, and I did become aware that EastLink cable offers NFL Sunday ticket�most locals in our neck of the Maritime woods, though, are cable subscribers.� So, I went about calling about 38 bars in Charlottetown, inquiring whether they subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket.� Now the Canadian people are extremely pleasant and accommodating, but their typical response to my query was ���yes, yes�.we televise football here.� What time is the game on, eh?�� �NFL Sunday what�.eh?, oh no�the Grey Cup was played last week.� Good luck though, eh, and stop by when you�re home, eh?�

Every call took about an hour and nobody on the island had NFL Sunday Ticket.� For some unknown reason, though, I went on the website of Star Choice, one of two satellite providers, and lo and behold, they now offer NFL Sunday Ticket.� I called our friend, Kerras Jeffery, proprietor of BackRoad Folk Art.� Check out his site at www.backroadfolkart.com. ��crazy stuff.� Anyway, Kerry is a Star Choice subscriber, and followed very specific instructions to call StarChoice, and subscribe to NFL�Sunday�Ticket through season�s end.� It will cost me $50 but well worth it.�

To be sure though, I talked to Kerry�s wife, Shirley on Sunday, to make sure that the connections was set.� �Yes, yes, there�s football on Channel 432�now leave me the fuck alone, you U-Bar (some funny terms in Canada�the F-bomb, though is universal).� But Shirely, haven�t you been home all day watching football?�� �Holy Fuck, stay the fuck home for Christmas, will ya.�

Now understand, I watched the� Steeler-Bucs Monday Night encounter in Kerry�s house during the 2002 season.� I provided good entertainment for awhile, but then I was a bit too much to bear.� On December 26^th, Kerry will run a satellite wire to his barn, and set up a TV for me.� He�s offered to turn on his gas grill for heat.� I told Kerry, �Fuck the heat; I don�t care if it�s 10 below 0 (Fahrenheit that is; Canadian 10 below is like a summer day).� It�ll be like being at the game.� I�ll have my coat, and a 12-pack.� As long as I have a TV, and ya don�t mind me pissin� out side; I�ll be all set.�

Steelers/Ravens on Boxing Day�.can�t wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh�.check out Kerry�s site�.it�s really cool stuff.