What happened on Wednesday May 9th?

Diving off the rocks, last summer

Sorry about not posting lately, but I really have not had anything to say. Kids are healthy, Wife is a workaholic, my sales are slow and we are already way under quota, but there is nothing I can do accept keep calling.

I've been really getting into finding more music for my IPod. I have to admit I am kind of collector. Music Slut, Perfumed Garden (great Peel sessions) and Something I Learned Today are really good for MP3's so that I can see if I like the music. Then of course I feel guilty and have to go out and buy a CD. Oh by the way, if your really into music and want to know the history behind it. Allan Cross at CFNY is finally podcasting the "On Going History of New Music" The music has been striped out but it's still well worth listening to.

Heroes is almost over, shame, it’s been great. The last two episodes have kept me on the edge of my seat. Thank god we recently got digital TV, since Eldest has a lacrosse game every Monday, I thought I would miss Heroes, but luck has it that Global BC runs the show at 11pm Eastern. So I get my Heroes fix, with no withdrawal. Speaking to TV withdrawal, does anyone know if Rockstar is back on this summer, I can't find any mention of it. Wife, who is in advertising, says she hasn't seen it in any of the summer schedules. Sucks.

Was thinking this morning about making a dreary depressing post about not knowing where you are in your career. You know what I mean, mid 40's, no direction at the job, just making money and bidding time till your real life starts. (Kids, home, weekends, marriage). Then I realized why complain, someone is paying me to do something I do well so that I can do what I want. Kids, home, marriage etc... Work is not the be all and end all of us. We have to have another course planned out. I decided I work for money so that I can do the things I want. I don't work to self fulfill my personal needs to be a human. Now I just have to make myself get up off the couch and pick up a brush to paint, go to TaiKwonDo (I haven't gone since I got back from Florida, no excuse other than I'm a lazy shit), take the camera and snap some pictures, sketch, ride a bike, teach youngest to ride her bike, spend time with the kids, snuggle with Wife or spend a couple of hours gardening. I just have to realize that these are the things that make me happy.

Thanks for the comments guys .. keep them coming.
(by the way la bellina mammina the orchids are from Royal Pacific Resort Orlando Florida, the only time you see those here in Ontario is at a green house or as a house plant. They are very hard to grow as they don't like the extremes of temp that we have.) Thanks for the comment, I love to take photos of flowers.

I'm doing so bad in they hockey pool that I'm not even looking any more. Last time I looked I was 15th place.

Listening to The Band, Chest Fever, from "Music From Big Pink" (1968)

I know she's a tracker, any scarlet would back her
They say she's a chooser, but I just can't refuse her
She was just there, but then she can't be here no more
And as my mind unweaves, I feel the freeze down in my knees
But just before she leaves, she receives

She's been down in the dunes and she's dealt with the goons
Now she drinks from the bitter cup, I'm trying to get her to give it up
She was just here, I fear she can't be here no more
And as my mind unweaves, I feel the freeze down in my knees
But just before she leaves, she receives

It's long, long when she's gone, I get weary holding on
Now I'm coldly fading fast, I don't think I'm gonna last
Very much longer

"She's stoned" said the Swede, and the moon calf agreed
I'm like a viper in shock with my eyes in the clock
She was just there somewhere and here I am again
And as my mind unweaves, I feel the freeze down in my knees
But just before she leaves, she receives

(Lyric copied from LyricWiki)

What happened on Wednesday April 25th?

Well I promised photos of my trip to Orlando. I had a great time, the conference was really good, and I got to meet a lot of clients and learned how they use our software.












I really wish I could say I spent every evening out partying, but by the end of the day and having dinner together as a group I only got out two evenings out of the six days that I was gone. Even though we stayed at Universal's Royal Pacific resort, I never once got to hit the rides. We were just way to busy. I never even got closer to the pool than this shot.


















I got some great shots of the orchids and flowers that are everywhere at the hotel.

















A group of us did walk around the Universal City Walk at one evening. Bought a margarita and took pictures, but nothing really turned out very well. Nothing that I really wanted to show off at least.














I was able to get a few artsy shots from around the resort.


What do you think?














On the last evening I got out to do some record shopping. (dated myself there .. I meant cd shopping) I picked up the new Avril Lavigne CD, "The Best Damn Thing" for Middle, Anti Flag's "For Blood and Empire" for Eldest. For myself I picked up Neil Young "Live at Massey Hall 1971" (on a side note, I found out the other night that my brother-in-law was at that concert - he remembers wine and weed), Led Zeppelin's "Early Days / Latter Days" ($14.99 US), a Son House CD and Arcade Fire's "Funeral". All in all not a bad hall for under seventy dollars US. I saved a few bucks, but I was surprised that there is not much difference in pricing on CD's


One thing I can say was that the food was awesome; this is a shot of desert from one of the evenings. It's a pear torte with crème fresh and blackberry sauce. We had everything from steak to pork loin, asparagus to salads with pistachio vinaigrette. One evening they served the most incredible dish, .polenta with gorgonzola cheese, awesome. It was better then the sea bass that it came with.






The only bad part of the week, was that even though I am a very intelligent man I screwed up and brought miss matching shoes.


At least I got a right foot and a left foot .. ahhh! I am always able to remind myself that I am a loser.












Take a look at the origional photo's at my flickr page. By the way I am now in 9th place in my hockey pool, I've updated the stats below.

What happened on Friday April 13th?

After the first round of the office hockey pool I am in 9th place all with 59 points.

(***modified April 25/07***)

Positon.......Name........Team........ Total--gls--ast-- gwg-- win-- shu-- gp

Team Total:................52...... 16..... 25....... 7......... 4...... 0.....59

Forward

Daniel Briere, Sabers . . . . . . . 6. . . .1 . . 1. . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Forward

Chris Drury, Sabers. . . . . . . . 7. . . 4 . . 1. . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Forward

Sidney Crosby, Penguins . . . .6. . . 4 . . 2. . .1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Forward

Dany Heatley, Senators . . . . .6 . . .2. . . .2 . . . . . .2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Forward

Teemu Selanne. Ducks . . . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Forward

Henrik Sedin, Canucks . . . . . 5. . . 2 . . . .2 . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . .. . .7

Forward

Daniel Sedin, Canucks . . . . . . 3 . . .1 . . . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Forward

Joe Thornton, Sharks . . . . . . .6 . . . . . . . .6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Defense

Scott Niedermayer, Ducks . . . 3 . . . . . . . .3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Defense

Brian Campbell, Sabers . . . . . 4 . . .2 . . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Stanley Cup 2007 - Buffalo Sabers . . . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. . . . . . . 1

Listening to:
The Who - Mary-Anne with the Shaky Hands from "The Who Sell Out", 1967 Polydor Records

I danced with Linda
I danced with Jean
I danced with Cindy
Then I suddenly see

Mary-Anne with the shaky hands
What they've done to her man
Those shaky hands

Mary is so pretty
The prettiest in the land
Guys come from every city
Just to shake her shaky hands

Linda can cook
Jean reads books
Cindy can sew
But I'd rather know

Mary-Anne with the shaky hands
What they've done to her man
Those shaky hands

Mary-Anne with the shaky hands
What they've done to her man
Those shaky hands

Mary-Anne with the shaky hands
What they've done to her man
Those shaky hands

I missed this yesterday .. Kurt Vonnegut has passed away. I was 13 when I first read "Slaughterhouse Five", 15 when I read "Welcome to the Monkey House", since then I have bought every book that he has written. His ideas and images have help me form a sound but quirky out look on life. I will miss him. If you want to read something, take a look at his last essays on American Politics.
GoodBye Kurt.

What happened on April 11th?

First Crocus of Spring (what spring, most of them died from the cold.)

Okay .. we have been busy and I haven't posted. I've been trying to keep up with what is going on in the world (both blog and real .. or is it one in the same?) Anyway, things are going good for me, still haven't seen the payout for making quota .. hopefully they will have it by this weekend.
They had me learning some AutoCAD last week, so that I can sell and demo one of our products a lot better. Very interesting program, but wow it is a overwhelming. I have never seen a application with so many key commands.
I'm off to Orlando for a user conference next week, so I won't be able to post, but I hope to come back with some nice photos.

Middle and her team lost the Championship game, 4-1, the forwards just did not skate. Middle let in a really cheap goal to start and then was screened by either the other team or her own players on the other shots. Her team only had ten shots on net in the whole game. Shame, but she did have a great season. Now she is thinking of going out for competitive hockey. Tryouts start next week when I get back from Orlando.
Boy am I peeved at her .. I got home from work last night. She says to me "Dad, you know my history project is due tomorrow!" I respond with "So, are you done?" Her response "I've written it out, but I just have to type it out on the computer" By now a black cloud has formed over my head.
a) I was never told the due date of this project
b) she had all of monday to do this since she was off for Easter Monday
c) she never starts her projects early, no matter how many times we ask her to
d) I could have stayed home on Monday and checked her work (Monday night both wife and I went to Eldest lacrosse game)
e) I'm supposed to go to TaiKwonDo, but now can't because as a parent I am supposed to help my kids learn ... Arrrgh!!!!

So with my blood was boiling, because I know my daughter. Done does not mean done, I have about 3 hours work pulling information out of her to get her to write a good report. So off I go with Eldest to his drum lessons, asking Middle to begin typing out her report. I get to come home and work on a history report on Laura Secord until 10p.m.
Aargh!! I love my kids, but! sometimes it's just to much.

Entered the office Play Off pool. Last year I came in 2nd So here's my picks

Forward

Daniel Briere, Buffalo Sabers

Forward

Chris Drury, Buffalo Sabers

Forward

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

Forward

Dany Heatley, Ottawa Senators

Forward

Teemu Selanne. Anaheim Mighty(I hate this name)Ducks

Forward

Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

Forward

Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

Forward

Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks

Defense

Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim Mighty(I hate this name)Ducks

Defense

Brian Campbell, Buffalo Sabers

Stanley Cup Champions --- Buffalo Sabers ..(hey a bracebridge boy played for them at one time)

I know, I know .. why I am I picking a non Canadian team to take the cup. Well, Ottawa always chokes, I just don't think Calgary can do it, and Vancouver can/will make it to the finals, but I don't think they can stop Buffalo. What other team in NHL at this time has three lines of power players. NON .. Buffalo has built themselves a Stanley Cup team and I really hope they can win. I put my money on it.

Listening to:

Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Alimony Blues (could not find these lyrics online, so I transcribed them from the mp3)

My baby left me sitting on a court room seat
My baby left me sitting on a court room seat

Now the judge says I got to pay her one hundred bucks a week

Judge oh Judge, why can’t your justice speak
Judge oh Judge, why can’t your justice speak

That woman got me on every dog gone thing I had with me

She sueing me for cruelty, ‘cause I hit her once or twice
One night I tried to choke her, she says I wasn’t nice
I use to love that woman, ‘til the strain was killing me
Now her lawyer is charging in-com-pat-i-bility

Well she won the case, Now she’s got a first degree

Now I’ve got the alimony blues, on the day she set me free.

What happened on March 30th?

What a massive relief. I made yearly quota, I made monthly quota, but missed quarterly and new product quota. I won't get all my bonuses but I will get at least some. In just a week week I did 100K. What a relief, I've been pacing the floor and hounding a few outstanding sales today. It feels good to succeed .. now we just have to see what's up for next year.

Haven't been able to do any of the memes I enjoy, still have that outstanding one that Paul did, it just been work, kids activities and TaiKwonDo. So by early evening I just to tired to do anything online. I still have to read the first Chapter of Joe's Novel.. will try to do that tonight.

Tomorrow morning Middle plays in the championship game. She had a fantastic game last week, beating the first place team. Going from a 0-3 deficit to winning the game 4-3. Wife said Middle just about stood on her head during the game. She faced down 3 single man rushes and a penalty shot. I'm a we bit proud of her. She is talking about moving up out of house league to more competitive girls hockey.

Presently listening to:


Sugar Magnolia Greatful Dead

Sugar magnolia, blossoms blooming,
heads all empty and I don't care,
Saw my baby down by the river,
knew she'd have to come up soon for air.

Sweet blossom come on, under the willow,
we can have high times if you'll abide
We can discover the wonders of nature,
rolling in the rushes down by the riverside.

She's got everything delightful,
she's got everything I need,
Takes the wheel when I'm seeing double,
pays my ticket when I speed

She comes skimmin' through rays of violet,
she can wade in a drop of dew,
She don't come and I don't follow,
waits backstage while I sing to you.

Well, she can dance a Cajun rhythm,
jump like a willys in four wheel drive.
She's a summer love for spring, fall and winter.
She can make happy any man alive.

Sugar magnolia, ringing that bluebell,
caught up in sunlight, come on out singing
I'll walk you in the sunshine, come on honey,
come along with me.

She's got everything delightful,
she's got everything I need,
A breeze in the pines and the sun and bright moonlight,
lazing in the sunshine yes indeed.

Sometimes when the cuckoo's crying,
when the moon is half way down,
Sometimes when the night is dying,
I take me out and I wander around, I wander 'round.

Sunshine, daydream, walking in the tall trees,
going where the wind goes
Blooming like a red rose, breathing more freely,
Ride our singin', I'll walk you in the morning sunshine
Sunshine, daydream. Sunshine, daydream.
Walking in the sunshine.

What happened on March 23rd?

I guess I should post more but it's the end of the year and I'm only at 68% of quota with only one week to go. I'll try to get a meme I grabbed off of Paul up tonight.

Eldest turns 15 tomorrow. Wow! He just keeps growing. He is totally into skate boarding, Bam Margera and Finnish Death Metal .. lord help me.

You Are Elmo

Sweet and innocent, you expect everyone to adore you. And they usually do! You are usually feeling: Talkative. You've got tons of stories to tell. And when you aren't talking, you're laughing. You are famous for: Being popular, though no one knows why. Middle aged women especially like you. How you life your life: With an open heart. "Elmo loves you!"

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Listening to:

Baby Stick Around, Look Sharp, Joe Jackson
Come on you people get your dancing shoes on
Reds and yellow and pinks and blues on
Too late, too late
To stay home and sit around

Purple leopard skin and see-through plastic
Whatever you want, but just make it drastic
Too late, too late To stay home and sit around

What you wanna bet
We ain't started yet
Baby stick around
Baby stick around

Pushin' and shovin' and sweat wet leather
Up and down we go chained together
Too late, too late
To stay home and sit around

Somebody tellin' me the latest scandals
Somebody steppin' on my plastic sandals
Too late, too late
To stay home and sit around

What you wanna bet
We ain't started yet
Baby stick around
Baby stick around

Too late, too late
To stay home and sit around

What you wanna bet
We ain't started yet
Baby stick around
Baby stick around

What happened on March 9th?

On such a sunny day I had to share the storm we had last week.



Movie meme

1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a) one of my favourite movies b) Youngest loves this movie, when she was 4 years old we watched it together at least once a week.

2. Name a movie that you've seen multiple times in the theatre. Apocalypse Now, once as a make out date, the rest of the times stoned out of my head on LSD.

3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie. Robin Williams - Since, "The World According to Garp" I have seen everything he has ever done.

4. Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie. Can't think of one.

5. Name a movie that you can and do quote from. "Ni Ni Ni"

6. Name a movie musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sound of Music

7. Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sound of Music

8. Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see. I agree with Paul "Memento". If you haven't seen it yet, watch it twice and you will love it.

9. Name a movie that you own. The Great Escape

10. Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops. Elvis Presley .. I'm not joking you have to see Kid Creole.

11. Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? If so, what? Tons of times .. the first movie I remember was Disney's "The Aristocats", The last one I saw was David Cronenberg's "Scanners"

12. Ever made out in a movie? Yea. At the drive in for Scanners, who said that station wagons were not make out cars.

13. Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven’t yet gotten around to it. What About Bob with Bill Murray

14. Ever walked out of a movie? Bunch of times, started when I was a kid. I took some kids to the movies on my 6th birthday to see "The Time Machine", I got so scared that I walked out and wandered the streets for about twenty minutes. "Jaws", I went to see it with my sister, I left the theatre after the head fell out of the bottom of the boat. There have been multiple times because I am a big scardy cat. The only time I have walked out of a movie because it was bad was the "Talented Mr Ripley" - I walked around the theatre until it was finished, wife sat through the whole thing, I don't understand how she could.

15. Name a movie that made you cry in the theatre. Can't remember one, but I don't go to movies that have sob stories. I'm to much of a wuss!

16. Popcorn? Yea, whole large bag just for me, what you mean I'm supposed to share.. no way!

17. How often do you go to the movies (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)? Once every couple of years, hey you take a family of five to the movies and have them agree on a movie they want to see together. Its easier to stay at home.

18. What’s the last movie you saw in the theatre? Chronicles of Narnia

19. What’s your favourite/preferred genre of movie? Sci-Fi / Fantasy or Comedies

20. What’s the first movie you remember seeing in the theatre? The first movie I remember seeing (or really not seeing in full) was "The Time Machine"

21. What movie do you wish you had never seen? "The Talented Mr. Ripley" - damn I hate when I waste time with a movie like that

22. What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed? Plan 9 From Outer Space

23. What is the scariest movie you've seen? The Aliens series, I still have not seen all of the first movie.

24. What is the funniest movie you've seen? Good Morning Vietnam

via: Aurora Walking Vacation and Byzantium's Shores

Listening to
The Band Life is a Carnival

You can walk on the water, drown in the sand
You can fly off a mountaintop if anybody can
Run away, run away--it's the restless age
Look away, look away--you can turn the page

Hey, buddy, would you like to buy a watch real cheap
Here on the street
I got six on each arm and two more round my feet
Life is a carnival--believe it or not
Life is a carnival--two bits a shot

Saw a man with the jinx in the third degree
From trying to deal with people--people you can't see
Take away, take away, this house of mirrors
Give away, give away, all the souvenirs
We're all in the same boat ready to float off the edge of the world
The flat old world
The street is a sideshow from the peddler to the corner girl
Life is a carnival--it's in the book
Life is a carnival--take another look

Hey, buddy, would you like to buy a watch real cheap
Here on the street
I got six on each arm and two more round my feet
Life is a carnival--believe it or not
Life is a carnival--two bits a shot

Meme - Music Of My Life

* Put your iTunes/Winamp/WMP on shuffle.
* Use the song title as the answer to the question.
* NO CHEATING

1. How does the world see me? Behind Blue Eyes .. The Who
2. Will I have a happy life? Saturday ... Go Betty Go
3. What do my friends really think of me? I am a Child ... Buffalo Springfield
4. Do people secretly lust after me? Slim's Blues .. John Lee Hooker
5. How can I make myself happy? Back Door Man .. Willie Dixon
6. What should I do with my life? Ain't To Proud to Beg ... The Temptations
7. Will I ever have children? Cat's in the Cradle .. Harry Chapin
8. What is some good advice for me? Experiment IV .. Kate Bush
9. How will I be remembered? You're So Fine ... Little Walter
10. What is my signature dancing song? Mailman ... Soundgarden
11. What do I think my current theme song is? Blister in the Sun .. Violent Femmes
12. What does everyone else think my current theme song is? War Pigs ... Black Sabbath
13. What song will play at my funeral? Kalifornia ... Fat Boy Slim
14. What type of women/men do I like? Copperhead Road ... Steve Earle
15. What is my day going to be like? Let it Rock ... The Animals
16. Will I ever have love again? Hold on to your money ... Howlin' Wolf
17. What type of sex life do I have? Rarefied ... Sam Roberts
18. What song would be the title of my own porno movie? Iron Lion Zion ... Bob Marley & the Wailers.

Book Meme swiped from a long time ago from librarygrrrl.net

One book that changed your life? The Hobbit
One book you have read more than once? The Lord of the Rings - 13 times
One book you would want on a desert island? Book or Series .. Book -> Lord of the Rings, Series -> "A Song of Ice and Fire" George RR Martin
One book that made you laugh? The World According to Garp...John Irving
One book that made you cry? World According to Garp
One book you wish had never been written? Mein Kampf...Adolf Hitler (I'm not going to link to this crap!
One book you are currently reading? The First Man Of Rome...Colleen McCullough
One book you have been meaning to read? Absolute Honour...C.C. Humphreys

What happened on March 6th?

I wasn't going to post today, only things I have to talk are last nights Heroes .. excellent as always, am really pissed of though, I have to wait till April for the next installment.

I got my blue belt on Thursday (boy did I screw up when I was doing my patterns. We did them facing in the opposite direction then we normally do them and I made a bunch of mistakes, got pissed at myself and said f**K out loud - 44 year old loser anyone).

Youngest got her orange belt on Friday, Eldest is back to his old tricks with school, he threw out a test he was supposed to bring home for us to sing, third time since xmas that he has done this, has been caught each time (he must think we are stupid), Middle won't draw anymore (at one time all she wanted to do was go to the High School for the Arts, now she won't even pick up a pencil).

Finally, this story caught my attention. What do you think, is this going to save lives or is it going to make us cannibals?

Listening to:
Everyday I have the Blues, B.B. King

Everyday, everyday I have the blues
Ooh everyday, everyday I have the blues
When you see me worryin' baby, yeah it's you I hate to lose

Whoa nobody loves me, nobody seems to care
Whoa nobody loves me, nobody seems to care
Well worries and trouble darling, babe you know I've had my share

-- solo --

Everyday, everyday, everyday, everyday
Everyday, everyday I have the blues
When you see me worryin' baby, yeah it's you I hate to lose

Whoa nobody loves me, nobody seems to care
Whoa nobody loves me, nobody seems to care
Well worries and trouble darling, babe you know I've had my share

What happened on February 27 th?

Elephants at the Toronto Zoo

Okay time to rant again. I remember in 1989 the announcement of the ban on Ivory sales and the attempt to stop ivory poaching. It was a big media show, there was a huge bonfire where they burned tons of Ivory. The African Elephant population had been driven down from 1.3 million in 1979 to 625,000 in 1989. Over 200 elephants a day were being killed by hunters for only their Ivory with their bodies being left to rot. So countries that belonged to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species agreed to put a stop to the worldwide trade in Ivory. Everything seemed to be getting better and the story went off the high profile radar... or the cause celebratie of the day.

Then I found today’s stories online.. From Australia, Canada, the US and the UK. Poaching of the African Elephant for its Ivory has risen to an unprecedented level since the 1989 ban. We are pushing a beautiful animal to extinction in the wild. I want to take a trip to Africa to see these creatures in the wild. I want my grandkids to know that these creatures are still walking the earth. Man has driven thousands of species to extinction over the last 40 years, my life time. This has to stop now. Stop hunting for pleasure, stop hunting for sport, and stop hunting for profit. Look I know how to hunt, I know how to shot, I choose not to because I have no need. If I needed to hunt for food for my family, believe me I would have no qualms. But hunting for profit is wrong. The problem is that if there is not a market then there is no need to hunt, but there is a black market and this species is being driven to extinction by our greed. 23,000 Elephants were killed in 2006... Did anyone here about the massacre at Zakouma National Park in Chad? I sure as hell didn't see any reports, because we all thought that everything was hunky dory we forgot about the problem, and now it is worse. We have to slow and stop the extinction of the African Elephant. This is the responsibility of everyone. Now we just have to figure out how we can help. One of the first steps that we can do is not buy Ivory when we go on holiday. We can boycott any store that is trying to sell Ivory (it's illegal to import ivory into Canada). We can raise awareness to this problem by talking about the poaching and making sure that the elephants don't become a cause celebre again

On a lighter note, Heroes was on last night on NBC and on Sunday on Global (the idiots put it up against the Oscars). I missed most of last weeks show (Stan Lee did a walk on as a bus driver, Eldest and I were going was that Stan Lee?, Wife is going who?, you had to be there).. I got to see Isaac try to shot Peter, but hit and kill Simone. And Mohinder is running around with Sylar (Sylar is pretending to be someone else). Sunday I got to see Bennet being shot by the Haitian .. wtf???? When I got home from TaiKwonDo last night I forgot to watch NBC at 9pm, Wife was watching Two and a Half Men. At 9:30 we remember Heroes is on .. so we missed a half hour .. which is a lot for this show .. Wow .. read the plot outline at Wikipedia. The only thing I can say is Wow!, this is the best show on TV .. Bennets bosses want Claire, they now control Matt Parkman and radio active man. The Haitian is an outlaw, Bennet lies to protect Claire and his position blaming the Haitian for hiding Claire.

Next weeks trailer was enough to make me watch, I'll miss TaiKwonDo if I have to .. Simone is seen standing with blood on her chest and she says something like "So are you going to kill me again", can Peter transfer his power?, is Simone a hero? Wow. I have to go online tonight and watch the show at the Global website.

What happened on February 20 th?

My Kids

I just realised that I haven't talked about the kids in a while. They are all doing very well, other then growing up. As I mentioned in a email to a friend lately Eldest is turning 15 and is such a pain in the butt, Middle is turning 13 and is becoming a pain in the butt, and youngest just turned 7 is just to cute to be a pain in the butt.

Eldest is adjusting to grade 9, but any suggestions or help we might offer or want to offer is not right, because in his eyes we just don't understand him or his life. Crap, that the same shit I feed my parents. Is it just a cycle that God puts us through to punish us for our past indiscretions? No really, Eldest is doing well, what with the talks with the psychologist and the medication we have gotten him to focus on events around him. He is no longer a target for bullying, in fact some of his worst tormentors last year have become friends this year, because he is now able to not over react to situations. I'm very proud of him. I just have to get him to stop tormenting his sisters, trying to get a girl friend (I don't remember being this desperate), bugging me till I yell and being such a general pain in the butt for the fun of it.

Middle is as I said almost 13, !a young woman!, if you know what I mean. How many Dad's out there chat with their 13 year old daughter about her period. (creepy, but I'm doing it) The only thing I stress is the I will break the legs of any guy who touches her. (I try to leave it at that point, I want to say "when you don't want to be touched, but I just don't want her to be touched until she is 30) She talks to her mom about guys, not to me (which is a good thing). She is having a good year as a goalie, had a great game last week, stood on her head for her team. They won as a team, which was great. School wise has been a problem, she seems to miss a lot of what is being said to her, so her work and marks are suffering. She is making mistakes that should not be happening, so I am taking her to the doctor for a check-up this week.

Youngest is another thing altogether. She is the baby and can get away with anything, which pisses the other two off. She wants to do everything and be involved in everything. My mother calls her Ms. Diva, always the center of attention. She is going for her orange belt in a week. She does her pattern so well, that Sensei wants to get her into a advance class. But she is involved in so many other things she can only get to class once a week. Life with her will never be boring, I just dread her as a teenager.

For me life is good. Trying to control what I eat (ususally fail) but am going to TaiKwonDo at least 3 days a week. Putting on muscle mass but not losing weight. I have my blue belt test next week .. I have to know Saifa ... learning it slowly. Only so much you can teach a old horse. Wife is good, working to hard, trying to rest but never getting enough sleep because of her damn husband who snores (me). Trying out breath right strips right now .. other than this cold I have they seem to work.

We're a Happy Family, Rocket to Russia The Ramones , 1977 on Sire Records.

We're a happy family
We're a happy family
We're a happy family
Me mom and daddy
Sitting here in queens
Eating refried beans
We're in all magazines
Gulpin' down thorazines
We ain't got no friends
Our troubles never end
No christmas cards to send
Daddy likes men
Daddy's telling lies
Baby's eating flies
Mommy's on pills
Baby's got the chills
I'm friends with the president
I'm friends with the pope
We're all making a fortune
Selling daddy's dope

What happened on February 17 th?

Georgian Bay Pine



Me, 44 years ago today. Crap I'm old but unchanged. Off this weekend to meet my new adopted neice. My sister, brother-in-law and the two girls have just flown in from Vancouver, and the whole family is getting together at my parents for a belated Christmas.

Otis Redding, (Sittin' on) The Dock of The Bay.
Released after he died by Volt Records January 1968, Produced by Steve Cropper


Sittin' in the morning sun,
I'll be sittin' when the evenin' come.
Watchin' the ships roll in,
Then I watch 'em roll away again.

Yeah, I'm sittin on the dock of the bay,
Watchin' the tide roll away.
Ooh, I'm just sittin' on the dock of the day,
Wastin' time.

I left my home in Georgia,
Headed for the Frisco bay.
I have nothin' to live for,
Look like nothin's gonna come my way.

So I'm just gonna sit on the dock of the bay,
Watchin' the tide roll away.
Ooh, I'm just sittin' on the dock of the day,
Wastin' time.

Looks like nothin's gonna change;
Everything still remains the same.
I can't do what ten people tell me to do,
So I guess I'll remain the same.

Sittin' here restin' my bones,
And this loneliness won't leave me alone.
Two housand miles I roam,
Just to make this dock my home.

Now I'm just gonna sit at the dock of the bay,
Watchin' the tide roll away.
Ooh, I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay,
Wastin' time.

What happened on February 16 th?

I was trying to get this all done up this morning but work got in the way.

Carpathian Bellflower


Al Gore, SOS, MSN & Live Earth annouce today Live Earth, for July 7th (Middles Bday) a concert for the enviroment? Cool .. its to be broadcast simultaniously from 7 continents with over 100 artists. The concerts will take place in Shanghai, Sydney, Johannesburg, London, someplace in Brazil, Japan and the U.S.(hey what about a Canadian site!)

Some of the Artists are
Pharrell
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Foo Fighters
Snoop Dogg
Lenny Kravitz
Bon Jovi
Paolo Nutini
Sheryl Crow
AFI
Melissa Etheridge
John Mayer
Damien Rice
Corrine Bailey Rae
Duran Duran
Bloc Party S
now Patrol
John Legend
Black Eyed Peas
Akon
Enrique Iglesias
Fall Out Boy
Mana
Keane
Kelly Clarkson
Korn
Faith Hill w/ Tim McGraw
Ray LaMontagne
Robin Thicke
Kenna

This seems to be with the same people who brought us Live 8 .. so maybe Michael Cole can get a Canadian venue added.

---

From Nic.. Sunday is the first day of Chinese New Year ... My sign is Rabbit. (what's your sign)


2007 is neither a lucky nor an unlucky year for Rabbits. This Year of the Pig is one of change. Whether the end results are positive or negative, they will each bring you to the next phase of your life.

Famous Rabbit:
David Beckham, Brad Pitt, Hilary Duff, Bertie Ahern, Drew Barrymore, Harry Belafonte, Ingrid Bergman, St Bernadette, Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, James Caan, Nicolas Cage, Thomas Carlyle, Lewis Carroll, Fidel Castro, John Cleese, Confucius, Marie Curie, Johnny Depp, Albert Einstein, George Eliot

Your reading:
2007 is the year of change for the Rabbit. 2007 is neither a lucky nor an unlucky year for Rabbits. This Year of the Pig is one of change. Whether the end results are positive or negative, they will each bring you to the next phase of your life.

'Star San Tai' and 'Star Jiang Xing' are the stars in your Central Palace (Central Constellation), and this will seemingly have Rabbits focus on certain needs for their relatives and community within this year. You will have the opportunity to deal with important matters or other topics, as well. In addition, you may decide to change your name to a prior one, or even one from your family's history.

Do not be disillusioned by your lack of accomplishment in 2007! The goal for you this year, Rabbit, is to focus on transformation. From the possibility of uprooting you and your family to a new location, to the possibility of a new career, change is in the air for you. You must allow yourself to recognize this so you are not frighted by how the year will reveal.

There will be no help from others this year; your energy will not allow that to happen, and this will affect many other things. From the way your tides of fortune flow; from your personal riches, to your relationships, and finally, to matters of health will all be of consequence. It is of importance that you become thrifty this year in all areas. This means you need to put aside some extra money, store a supply of provisions, and resist expending too much emotional energy. While it may be hard for you, Rabbit, you must limit how much you offer to others this year.

While this may dismay you, this year will teach you much, and will bring about a fresh drive to your life. In fact, you may even feel energized by it! 2007 is the impetus that will alter the years ahead, leading you to much luck, joy, and pleasure from 2008 and beyond.