I thought I would share some of life's lessons with you today.

You may find some of them instructional and valuable; others may leave you wondering.
What I have learned so far:

• The only poems I really understand are In Flanders Fields and the one that contains the lines, “the woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.”

• It is better to receive. Trust me.

• The “holy crap!” handles along the roof line in most modern vehicles are useless and only make sense if they are installed in subway cars.

• Buying a husky while living in a small suburban house, with a small suburban yard and small suburban kids, makes no sense whatsoever.

• A puppy's love is immediate and unconditional, but his excited panting and tail-wagging should not be confused with intelligence.

• When someone asks me, “Know what I'm saying?”, I usually don't.

• When someone tells me to, “Have a good one,” I usually don't.

• Anyone wearing a T-shirt with writing on it usually has nothing of significance to say when interviewed on the evening news, unless they're sitting on the porch of their double-wide in the aftermath of a tornado.

• Always move off the sidewalk when approaching a guy whose rottweiler and wallet are both attached to him by chains.

• A woman wearing a NASCAR jacket and sporting fewer than three front teeth is more than likely to cause you a lot of grief at some point in your life.

• The last golf game of the season always produces one memorable shot that will bring you back for more punishment next year.

• Facebook is only good for viewing the posted photos of family members you rarely meet in person. Everything else is nothing more than online diary entries and diaries should be kept under lock and key.

• Wearing a $15 Stetson and a western bling-studded belt does not make you a cowboy if you are driving a Honda Accord. Only a pickup truck with gun rack will do.

• The television show Mayday should be required in-flight viewing on all airplanes.

• Since 2002, 133 Canadian soldiers have been killed while serving in Afghanistan. In three years, 516 Canadian soldiers were killed in the Korean War. In six years, 45,000 Canadians were killed in the Second World War. In four years, 65,000 Canadians died in World War One, including 3,600 in only four days at Vimy Ridge. Our thoughts should be with them always, not just when we wear a poppy.