P90X, We Brought it, and Finished!

Howdy Folks! Well the Christmas season is upon us. I love this time of year. I actually adore this time of year. It is the absolute best time of the whole year. Many of my favorite memories come from this time of year. Those memories are filled with family and friends, traditions, and the spirit of Christmas. I hope you all have a great holiday season. I'll give you all an update on how things go for us come Christmas.
As for this post, it is to report on a major accomplishment for Jody and I. Some of you know that we've been doing the work out program P90X. We really wanted to get into shape, and thought this might be a good way, and a lot of fun. Well, when they say it's extreme, they mean it. It was one of the hardest programs I've done. By sticking to this program, you are supposed to transform your body into a well oiled machine in 90 days. The program was great and did hold up its end of the bargain. I've never been in this kind of shape in my life. My vertical jump increased by 21 inches. I went from being able to do 3 wide grip pull ups to doing 6-7. My cardio has improved greatly, I can do 2 times the push ups (35), and curls (45). Now, you're supposed to take day 1 and day 90 pictures to show your progress. We did do this, but I am a little shy about showing them, so sorry. you'll have to do with this picture of the Mexican Luchador, it's a close representation. just kidding.
I actually gained a lot of knowledge doing this program. I didn't achieve all of my goals with it. I was hoping to really put on some mass and size, however I just ended up getting very lean and toned. This was because of my diet habits. I learned that your diet is the most important part of the whole project. I wasn't taking in enough calories. According to the estimations in the booklet, i was taking in enough, but those are estimations that are supposed to be changed for people when you understand your own circumstances. I happen to have an overactive metabolism, so I should have been taking in close to 3000 calories, but was only doing 2100-2400 every day.I did love the healthy eating though. I can definitely notice the difference, that the healthy intake has caused. I have more energy, I have yet to get sick, when everyone else around me has been sick, and I feel more alert. One of my biggest vices before this program was pop. I used to drink a Dr. Pepper at least once a day. I haven't touched a drop of pop in 90 days, and I don't feel like I'm missing out. I thought I would struggle with the temptation a lot more. Anyhow, I would recommend this program to anyone looking to get in shape. It is a very hard program, so make sure you research it and make sure you can make the minimum requirements before committing to it. It requires a lot of will power and determination, and believe me, Jody and I were tested some days. All in all though, it's worth it. I'm amazed, as I now have muscles, I never had before, and I feel great. I'm going to take the required couple of weeks off to recover, but then I think I'm going to tackle it again, but increase my diet. I want to thank my wonderful wife for doing this crazy project with me though, it was hard, but a ton of fun. Jody, you look great! Keep posted and maybe one day I'll get brave enough to show you our results pictures.

Could this be the Year?

I don't want to jump to conclusions folks, because there is a big risk of jinxing your team, But could this be the year my beloved Flames make a run at the cup?

This last week was one of the best weeks I can remember in recent history for Flames hockey. It all began with a hard fought home victory against a troublesome Phoenix team. The Flames were able to stick to their game plan, and grind out a 2-1 win over the Coyotes at home. That was a huge monkey off their backs, as they have uncharacteristically struggled at the Saddledome this year.

Next it was off to embark on the longest road trip of this season. First stop, Detroit, and the always dangerous Red Wings. This was set to be a battle of epic proportions. The banged up Red Wings pestered Kipper all night long, but he stood on his head earning a 3-0 shutout, his 32 of his career.

The following night we ended up in Columbus to play the Blue Jackets, with Curtis McElhinney (the back up) in net. It started out really shaky with the Blue Jackets taking a 3-1 lead into the 3rd period. However with 8:29 left in the game the Flames found their stride and scored 2 goals in a 1:28 to tie the game! Then, with overtime solving nothing, we went to the always exciting shootout. After 4 rounds Jamie Lundmark skated in hot and sure, and scored for the winner! Jody and I could barely contain ourselves. It was one of the most exciting games I've seen in a while.

Finally on Monday we were down in Nashville to face the Predators. This game wasn't even close. Calgary played a tight, smash mouth defensive game and walked away with yet another shutout in a 5-0 victory. It was Kippers 33rd for his career.

On top of all this the Flames have had outstanding coaching by Brent Sutter, a wall of a goalie in Mikka Kipprusoff, contributions from all 4 lines, and the consummate leadership of our heart and soul captain Jarome Iginla. As a side note, Jarome was just awarded the player of the month honours by the league for an outstanding November, where he collected 20 points in 14 games (13 goals, 7 assists).

Why am I so excited about this year? Because we appear to have so much depth in the team. On a night where Jarome isn't scoring we have others who step up and do. We are beginning to tighten up more defensively and are playing smarter in our zones. The biggest reason however, is our goaltender. The Kipper is playing Vezina Trophy hockey right now, and is capable of stealing games for us when offensively, we may not be sharp. (The Vezina trophy is awarded to the leagues top goaltender every year)

This team I believe is earning it's stripes. They're learning to play consistent hockey, something that has been missing the last few years. Another shocking stat is our road record. We are the best team on the road right now in the league with a 9-1-2 record. For those of you who may be wondering why that is impressive, it's because those road games are the toughest points to earn, when you are playing in a hostile environment, after being on a plane the night before. This team is looking tough, and mean, and that gives me confidence.

I know it's early, but I'm really wondering. Could this be the year we go for the Cup?

Tiger Update..

And just when I've gone off defending Tiger and the amount of scrutiny he's come under, I end up with a little bit of egg on my face. Tiger today, posted on his website that he is sorry to his family and friends for some infidelity issues. Yesterday a woman, no the one first accused; came forward claiming to have had a relationship with Tiger. apparently, this one has some merit to it.
I don't want to get into gossip, and tabloid issues. I'll simply just say that it's very sad and disappointing. I looked at Tiger as one of the rare athletes that didn't bow under the pressures of being a public figure. Like he said, nobody is perfect, but is it so wrong to be a little faithful now a days?

My Mother Always Taught Me to Mind My Own Business

Ladies and Gents, I have a real problem. Anyone who knows me, knows I am a major fan of Tiger Woods. not just because of what he does on the golf course, but because of who he is, and what he does off the course. I am fascinated by the attributes that comprise, what I feel; is the greatest competitor in sports. I also respect how he has been able to keep himself out of the eye of public scrutiny his whole life. unfortunately that seems to have changed this week.

As many of you know, Tiger was involved in a MINOR traffic accident last Thursday at 2:25 a.m. , in front of his Florida estate. The report from the police stated that in the act of backing out of his driveway, Mr. Woods hit a fire hydrant, and then a tree. The force of the impact was minor enough that airbags didn't deploy, but forceful enough to give him some cuts and bruises. Police arrived on the scene, found Mr. Woods lying on the grass being attended to by his wife. He was treated at the scene and taken to hospital. There he was admitted treated, and released in good condition. Alcohol was not a factor. Charges are pending upon completion of the investigation. These folks, are the facts up to this point. Again, I emphasize the word FACTS.

Now for the rest of the story. When media reports (term used loosely) first broke, they said Tiger had been involved in a major accident near his home, and was taken to hospital in serious condition. There were reports that he wasn't conscious, that he was seen bleeding profusely from the neck. Later, once the hospital released their statement of his good condition; the media began to speculate what had happened. This is where my big problem starts. If any of you don't want to hear my rant and rave about the media, you should log off now. You've been warned.

I can't stand how the media has become more and more tabloid driven, than fact driven. Now a days we are bombarded by the latest scandal, rumor, and speculation. The media no longer reports on news, they search out and dig up trash, looking for drama, disfunctionality, and scandal. There are morons out there chasing celebrities, and public figures with a little hand held video cameras, asking them about the latest scandal and calling it news! As I've mentioned before, Journalism, is a dying, if not already dead; art. I don't think there is a single true Journalist left out there. They are all glorified tabloid jockey's. And now they've turned their eyes on Tiger.

Rumors and speculation have run rampant since this incident was first reported. It has gone from mild, to malicious, to outright vindictive. I believe the media has a grudge against Tiger, because he has managed to stay so private. Every time they try to delve in to his personal life he shuts the door, so now they are out for blood, and this is a possible way to get it. The rumors have been that Tiger was having an affair, that his wife, was angry and chased him out of the house with a golf club, smashing the windows of his SUV. They say he is refusing to speak to State Troopers because he's trying to hide the fact that he was drunk. They're also reporting that perhaps he was sneaking off in the middle of the night to meet up with his mistress. This morning I read on the front page of the Post "Has Tiger's image become tainted? Will this deter current and future sponsors from allowing him to represent their brands?" I've also heard from some "reporters" in the sports media, that his silence is only creating more controversy, and doing him more damage. Folks, This is all a ploy to try and get the Tiger out of it's cave so to speak. This is an example of the type of sensationalism, that honestly, is destructive and evil to society.

Here are the facts I've learned through research. I'll post the links as well, so you can see them for yourself if you'd like. 1. Alcohol was NOT a factor. 2. He is not having an affair, as stated by the supposed mistress. (see http://blogs.golf.com/presstent/2009/12/rachel-uchitel-denies-affair-with-tiger-woods.html) 3.He is not required to speak to the state troopers, for a minor accident like this. All that is required is a driver's licence and his registration. ( see http://blogs.golf.com/presstent/2009/11/police-deny-media-reports-of-woods-investigation.html) 4. Tiger Woods owes us nothing more than the statement he posted on his website. Which I think is a fair explanation. (http://web.tigerwoods.com/news/article/200911297726222/news/)

This has been fairly embarrassing for the worlds top ranked golfer. It was a mistake made by a human being. I think he is handling it the right way by keeping it all in house. If there was nothing criminal happening, than what business of it is ours. He doesn't have to explain himself to anyone, as to why he was pulling out of his driveway in the early morning. He doesn't need to defend himself to anyone. It really bothers me how nowadays everybody thinks they are entitled to know everything about everyone. I don't owe it to anyone to reveal what goes on in my private life. That's my business, and nobody else's. Some of you may say "Well that's the price of being in the public eye." I hate that statement. Yes, being in the public eye opens you up to more scrutiny, but it doesn't mean you are required to air the family laundry.

I for one hope, and know that if Tiger stays quiet long enough, this will all go away. Right now the media is trying to dig really hard for a story, and I think its a testament to the pathetic lives they lead as well as all of us who drink up the dribble they put out there. We all have issues in our lives we have to deal with, so let's focus on that, rather than trying to distract ourselves with someone else's. If your interested in a good article about this, go to http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=4700875&sportCat=golf

Let's All Take a Collective Breath... Calm Yourselves.

Well folks. I think the picture says it all. Actually, I'm going to write a little more to make my point crystal clear on this subject.
The wonderful swine flu! The big bad deadly pandemic that is going to rival the black plague, or in other words, a load of crap from our wonderful media. I am so sick and tired of all the fear mongering and paranoia going around regarding this H1N1 Flu. Everyday I turn on the TV or open up the paper, or talk to people on the street, it's H1N1 this, swine flu that, are you getting your shot? Can you believe there is a shortage of vaccine?
So for all of you who are either a part of the fearing crowd, or those who are confused about this flu strain; let me try to help you out. First off, I think many of you are relying on the news or what you've heard from others as your source of information regarding the flu. The major problem with this is that the media is all about sensationalism, and most other people are doing the same as you. Its like one big telephone game. The truth gets more and more distorted every time. So what are you to do? Well, my suggestion is research it. Go talk to your doctor and get some info. Although that may be difficult as their offices are crammed with every nut job that has a sniffle and is sure they're H1N1 positive. So what's your next option? Try the Internet. In 45 minutes I found over 10 credible government, and health sites that separated fact from fiction regarding the swine flu. They also tell you what to look for, who's at risk for complications, and prevention tips. Honestly, there is information out there to be read.
Here is what I learned from these websites. 1) The H1N1 Flu is deadly only to those who have chronic health conditions (Heart or respiratory), or compromised immune systems (HIV, Cancer). The N1H1 flu MAY cause complications for Pregnant women, the elderly, and children 5 years and under. That is why they are in the high risk category. Does this mean they'll die if they get it? No, it only means they are more susceptible to developing complications than the average normal healthy person, and in some cases these complications can develop into something like numonia, which can be life threatening.
2) The symptoms of the H1N1 flu are the same as the regular mild flu, additionally some MAY experience vomiting or diarrhea. In fact the majority of H1N1 cases will be just like the mild flu.
3) And this is the most important. Since the discovery of the H1N1 virus, there have been 400 related deaths in the USA, compared to 36,000 attributed to the common flu. Yes people, MORE PEOPLE DIE FROM THE REGULAR FLU THAN THE H1N1 VIRUS. In fact every single death attributed to the H1N1 virus, was someone in the high risk group, or people with pre-existing health complications. The normal, healthy, human being will not die from the H1N1 virus. My father went in to his doctor last week thinking he had the H1N1 virus. The doctor's office was completely over run with people. His doctor was tired and frustrated. He told my dad, that since this whole panic, everyone thinks they have the virus. And he said the majority of them don't have it, and if they did, unless they have health conditions, there is nothing he can do for them. All you can do is THE SAME TREATMENT FOR THE REGULAR FLU!
So here are my suggestions for all this mess. 1) Do your research. Visit the government health site and see how ridiculous this panic has become. 2) Prevent contraction and spread of the disease, by washing your hands, not touching your face, and covering your mouth when you cough. 3) Don't freak out if you get sick. Unless your a high risk person, don't clog up the doctor's office and make it harder for others who legitimately need to be there.
Folks I apologize if I have come across a little abrasive over this. I can't help it though. I have really grown tired of the fear mongering and the stupidity of people, and the paranoia. Does this mean I'm anti immunization? No, I'm not. I think its a good thing. I think if you don't want to go through a nasty thing like the flu, why not? And I do believe its a good thing for those in the high risk category. Will I get the shot? No, for two reasons. First, if it's only a mild flu, I'm ok with that. I can handle it, and get through it, then life goes on. 2) There are numerous high risk people out there who need this vaccination to boost their protection. A perfectly healthy person like me, doesn't need to be holding them up in line. Will I immunize my son? Probably not, but if the flu spreads some more, I may take him in, just because he's in the high risk category. You never like to see a little guy like that suffer through any kind of sickness. My whole intention in this post is to just try and get those I know and care about to get informed. Quit feeding into the media fueled panic, and don't be afraid your going to die if you get sick. If your not in the high risk category, you'll be ok. Even if you do have H1N1, there is nothing that can be done other than the classic rest, fluids, and more rest cure.
To all of you, have a great, safe, and paranoid free flu season.

That weekend felt like forever!

Well that was a bunch of fun... NOT! But we finally got it taken care of. For those of you not aware, we've been waiting for our house in Calgary to finish, and it finally did last week. So we did our walk through Friday afternoon and Saturday morning we got to work. I don't remember ever having so much stuff, but we do apparently. It was nice though, because everything was boxed up from the movers, so it wasn't a huge chore with all these odds and ends hanging out.

I wish I could post pictures right now, but we have to take them off the camera still, and there is no Internet at home until tomorrow, so I will be posting them later this week.

Anyhow, it's finally done, and we are in our own home. Now comes the challenge of unpacking and getting the place organized. It's a relief to have your own place to come home to, even if there are boxes everywhere. We're excited for this new adventure. However we are very grateful to my family for putting us up at their place the last few months. I know it's never easy, but we do appreciate all they did. We wouldn't have gotten through all this without them. Colton sure had a great time too, being around his grandparents, and aunts and uncles 24/7.

Again, like I said, I'll post pictures later this week, once we get them off the camera, and our Internet is up and running. Until then you'll have to just imagine for yourselves what it looks like. And I want to give an open invitation to anyone who wants to come by and visit, you're all welcome anytime. We'll plan a house warming party at some point in the near future.

P.S. This was my 5th move in 3 years. I should be a professional mover. But in all honesty, I hate moving now. I don't want to move for a while, but if any of you are in need of moving help, don't hesitate to give me a call.

What is the Deal?

Ok, Ok, OK! I know, I've been slacking on my blogging. I am so grateful to those of you that faithfully read my blog and have asked me what's going on. I keep promising to do better, and then I don't. So I won't make any promises, but hopefully this is my road back to redemption.
Life has been insane as of late. We had a great family trip back to Ontario, where my wife is from. We got to see our family and friends there, whom we really miss. Colton was able to see his cousins and extended family for Thanksgiving. It was quite the spectacle. He was overjoyed to have a whole new audience to perform for, and he made the most of it. We really enjoyed our time there, but by the end of that week, we were exhausted!
The fun doesn't stop there though, we got home and have had to jump right into getting ready for moving into our new house. There have been millions of calls to make, and accounts to set up. We did the walk through and it's looking great. As we walked through each room, the superintendent would stick a piece of painters tape on spots that needed touch up or attention. When he started doing this, none of us were paying close attention to Colton, as we were inspecting everything. After a couple seconds I looked down at Colton, and he was walking behind the superintendent and ripping off the tape he had just put up. He thought he was being helpful. Other than that he made sure he tested out everything in the house. He ran on every inch of floor, flushed every toilet, clicked every switch, climbed in every bathtub. I think he'll be happy to be the man of his own house again. Our possession date is tomorrow, the 30th.
Along with that, I've had my final exams for my first 2 classes of school since returning. It was stressful to be in that situation again, after not having to write an exam for so long. I did alright though, and was able to squeak out a couple of A's. My next two classes have started now, so I'm going to see if I can try to keep up the momentum.
There is obviously plenty more I could write about, as it's been a month since I last wrote. I don't want to talk about it all here, as I need things to write about in the coming days. Do not fear though, I have written them all down on a list, so I won't forget. Be sure to look out for a post on Sunday after we've done our move into our new house. I'll make sure to get some pictures up.

Geoff's Tip of the Day: People, please try to make a conscious effort to wash your hands regularly. It's flu season, and it's not only the best thing we can do for ourselves, but it's helpful to others too. Nobody likes being sick.

Catching up a little

Howdy Everyone! Yes, yes, it's been ages since I posted anything on my blog. My biggest apologies to all of my faithful readers. I owe you big time. So What was the deal? Well, things have been crazy for me. I started school almost 5 weeks ago, and then on top of that Jody and I have started this intense work out program. Add that in with my commitments at work (a whole other long complicated story), and my commitments to my little boy and wife; my schedule is pretty crammed.

So let me catch you up on things. Yes I have begun school again, this time to finish. I am enrolled in DeVry, and though it's tough, its quite enjoyable.

Work has been pretty crazy. Our company has done a lot of restructuring as we prepare for the future. Its all pretty long and complicated to explain, but needless to say, things are exciting, and we are moving in a great direction that is really going to take us to new heights. However, with something this good, it takes a lot of work, so I've been running myself ragged trying to get things done. I'll keep you all posted.

other than all of that, let's get to some great sports stuff. As you all know, I am a MASSIVE Calgary Flames fan. One of the greatest Flames of all time was Theo Fleury, known as the fly. his story is truly amazing. At 5'6 he's been told his whole life that he's too small to compete in the NHL. Well, he proved the critics wrong, won a Stanley Cup in his rookie year, and went on to have a stellar career (mostly with the flames), worthy of consideration for a spot in the Hall of Fame. However it wasn't all roses. Becoming a huge star in the NHL had its problems. The Fly had a serious alcohol addiction. After he was traded from the Flames, he began a downward spiral of self destruction that ended up in his dismissal from the NHL and suspended indefinitely for violating the league's substance abuse program. Fleury then disappeared off the radar for 6 years. Every now and then you would hear of him popping up at some low level minor league, but nothing major. He had a small concrete business in Calgary, until February this year. During the last 4 years he's been sober, and rehabbed. In February he contacted some trainers and charged them with the task of getting him ready to return to the NHL. This year he announced his intention to try and make a comeback. To shorten the story, he was reinstated by the league, and in a classy move, the Flames signed him to try out for the team. Fleury played in 4 preseason games, scoring a game winner, another goal, and having 3 assists. The crowds were electric, and you could tell Fleury was in heaven. This was what he spent so much time working towards. So this weekend Fleury was cut from the roster. Yesterday he announced his retirement from the sport, as a Calgary Flame. He said he had accomplished everything he set out to, and that he left it all out on the ice. I believe that all he wanted to do was prove he could still play, and retire the right way, as a winner, not an alcoholic disgrace. I think from here, the Flames will retire his number, and I feel he should be considered for the Hall of Fame. It really is an amazing story folks. its inspiring for sure. Way to go Fleury!

Ok, I need to get going, but before I do, let me ask a favor of you all. My wonderfully talented wife is in CMT's Karaoke Star again this year. She listed as a cyber star, and if she gets enough votes, she'll get into the final again. So we need all the support we can get. I believe there are only a couple weeks of voting left. You can vote as many times as you want. Simply click on the link at the end of this post, go the the last page of entries, and she'll be the last video there. Click on the vote icon for her video. If you want to hear her sing, click on her picture. Please vote as many times as possible, there is no limit on how many times you can vote. Thanks everyone, I know she'll appreciate the support. Here's the Link http://www.cmt.ca/kstar/CyberStarVote.aspx

What's on my ipod this week.....

Well for anyone who knows me, you knew this was coming. Yes folks, it's time to give credit where credit is due. On my iPod this week is my all time favorite band... COLDPLAY.

One of the largest thrills of my life was last year when i got to go and see them live in Toronto. It was right after the release of Viva La Vida, their 4th full studio album. It was by far the best concert experience I've had yet. The only thing, the ONLY thing, that could have been better was if they played my favorite song of theirs, Amsterdam.

Coldplay has had my attention since their first album Parachutes. Every single song on that album is great. That's rare, to find an album where you don't skip through a single song. After that came Rush of Blood to the Head (album art displayed), which in my opinion is their greatest album yet. This is where Amsterdam can be found, its the last track, and if you listen to the whole album, its very fitting. Next came X&Y, which was commercially a bit of a step back for them. While it had some very good songs on it, i believe they've done better. Finally, their most recent album, Viva LaVida, along with B sides on Prospekt's March, was released. It is a very solid album, and i enjoy it quite a bit, however, I'm waiting for that magic from the first two to reappear. If any of you want some other good songs of theirs, not found on their studio albums, look up, Bigger Stronger, See You Soon, and Easy to Please. These are from the Blue Room EP which is very rare. They also had another EP called Brothers and Sisters.

Why do I love Coldplay? They are an incredibly talented band that can appeal to anyone. Their music is unique and has a way of calming and relaxing you. It can be a little melancholy, but not depressing at the same time. In fact, it actually makes great lullaby. Colton has a Coldplay album put into lullabies, from Rock-a-bye baby. He loves it, and listens to it at night when he goes to sleep. Anyhow, they have very powerful lyrics, and in a song like Amsterdam; you'll see how much those lyrics impact the song. I also like how they are a legitimate good guys type band. You don't hear about them going into rehab (they actually have made a pact with each other to abstain from drugs and heavy drinking), they do a good job of staying away from the tabloids, they have a social conscience without being obnoxious (Bono, are you listening!), and they seem to be genuine. On top of it all, they are great performers, who know how to put on a show! So go out folks, and crank up the Coldplay, I promise, you'll find their songs getting stuck in your head. Cheers.

What's on my ipod this week.....

Alrighty folks, it's the moment I know you've waited all week for. What's on my iPod this week features a band whose greatness was cut all to short by their lead singers desire to go solo. I'm talking about I Mother Earth! Yes I Mother earth was one of my favorite bands growing up in the 90's. They had a great energetic sound, with a lot of warm thick tones throughout the music, coupled with hard hitting drum beats. Their Lead singer, Edwin; was very talented, as is evidenced by his first solo record that reached into the top 10 when released. I think my favorite part of I.M.E. though, was their guitar. Their guitarist, Jagori Tanna (stage name); was brilliant, with the way he could play. In my wildest dreams I don't think I could play that smooth. I.M.E. went on to have wild success in in the early and Mid 90's, but that's when tensions rose and Edwin departed the band, after that they were never really the same, and I quit listening, as apparently did the rest of Canada.

Anyhow, for any of you interested, go listen to I Mother Earth today, and enjoy some sweet rock. I highly recommend, the songs Raspberry (all time favorite), One more Astronaut, Another Sunday, Used to be All Right. Enjoy.

New Adventures

Well folks, the summer is beginning to fade off into the distance, and the cold is approaching. This last week has been an incredibly intense, scary week. To add on to all of it, my wife and son went to Ontario to visit our family out there. Seeing as how they are the ones that help me calm down, I've been losing my mind. I am glad however that they are able to go see our family there, I only wish I was able to join them.

So What has me so stressed? Well work for one, but what else is new. On top of that I am starting school again for the final time hopefully. Yes that's right. I am heading back to finish off my degree. I was on track a while back, but I took a break when we began to want a baby, and then life provided me tons of excuses to procrastinate. But recently, with the economic turmoil that has taken place, it really made me realize what a chance I've been taking, not finishing. What if I lost my job tomorrow, how would I effectively provide for my family. I'm not suggesting that getting a degree secures you a great job, but in a competitive market, it gives you a leg up on your competition. So I decided to get serious and get back into school to finish my degree. I am attending Devry in the Business Operations program. So far it's a little nuts trying to get back in the habit of studying and all. It'll be interesting too once Jody and Colton get back from their trip, to see how I juggle the schedule. I'm determined though to finish this thing off once and for all.

I also want to take this moment to recognize an adventure one of my best friends is about to take. My friend Paul, and his lovely wife Vanuza are anxiously awaiting the birth of their first baby. It's going to be a blast to see them go through all the rights of passage of parenthood. Congrats guys, let me know when she arrives!

Colton Update

My little man has reached yet another milestone in his life. Yesterday was his 17 month mark. I can't believe it. 17 months have just flown by. He amazes Jody and I every day with the new little tricks he learns, and the words he comes up with. So lately he has been enthralled with his Uncle Stephen and his video games. He'll sit there forever watching what his uncle does. One day we were sitting downstairs, when Colton walked over to the gamer chair. He sat in it just like his uncle, grabbed a controller, and turned the T.V. on. So we turned on the console and he just began playing it, just like he'd seen his uncle do. It blew me away, and it was hilarious to watch. So we grabbed the camera and shot this video. Enjoy!

Currently Colton and Mommy are in Toronto visiting mommy's family. I am missing them like crazy, which is a reason why I'm posting this. I feel how our family in Toronto feels, being far away from them. So I'll try to post more video's of the boy, for their benefit as well.

What's on my ipod this week.....

Today's entry won't be a long one, as there is not much more I can say about this band. All in all I have to say that The White Stripes have got to honestly be in my top 3 favorite bands of all time. The White Stripes are composed of only two people, Jack and Meg. now there has been some discrepancy as to the relationship of the two. Some say they are brother and sister, other reports have come out stating that they were formerly married, divorced, and still friends. The band members are each married now, but have never really come out publicly to clarify the speculation. However I'm digressing.

I love the White Stripes music like crazy. It has a lot of deep roots in the pure old school blues. I'm talking about the real dirty Mississippi type blues from the early part of the 20th century. It's almost hard to imagine that just a drummer and guitarist can effectively make albums, but it works. When you listen to the music you would almost think there was a full band. Jack White is known as one of the busiest people in music, he produces and plays in numerous other side projects along with other ventures. His creativity and skill with many instruments is what makes the White Stripes so great to listen to. If you really research them, you'll find that their music is very simple and organic. His guitar, equipment etc, are very inexpensive and basic, yet it's all about getting the maximum out of an instrument. A friend of mine alerted me to a documentary that is coming out featuring Jack White, Jimmy Page, and The Edge. It's called "It Might Get Loud". In it Jack White describes a lot of his sound. He's a bit eccentric, so I'm looking forward to it. Anyhow, check out The White Stripes, you can't go wrong.

What's on my ipod this week

On my ipod this week, well, I don't actually have Neil Diamond on my ipod at this moment, but I will after work. The reason why I'm featuring the "Jewish Elvis" is because of an incident that I had last weekend. My wife and I were heading out to the movies. We had just finished getting Colton ready for bed, and brought him downstairs to hand over to Grandma and Grandpa. As we walked into the living room everyone was hanging out watching Neil Diamond in concert, and of course it was just as he was beginning to sing "Sweet Caroline". At that moment almost everyone began to burst into chorus singing it. After that Jody and I left, but I began to think, Neil Diamond is the man, really. Want proof? That song "Sweet Caroline" alone is a classic at many, many sporting events. For instance, every eighth inning at NY Mets, Boston RedSox, and Washington Nationals games, they play this song. Its something to see, they put the words up on the big screen, and the whole crowd gets up out of their seats and starts singing. Much like we were at the house last weekend. Even Colton loved it. He apparently clapped and cheered along with the crowd on the T.V. after every song. So go out and download some Neil Diamond songs folks. Don't pretend like you're too cool for Neil, because really, you're not cool unless you listen to Neil.

* Feel free, all you Neil Diamond fans, to comment on your favorite song of his, or a memory you have attached to one of his songs.

That just... doesn't make sense.

We've all hear the statement that justice is blind, well is it? Really?

Do I have any NFL fans that read my blog? Then you may have an opinion on this.

For those of you who may not be familiar, I'll give you the stories. First off we have Plaxico Burress, the New York Giants Super bowl hero wide receiver. While at a night club last year, a gun he had stashed in the waistband of his sweatpants falls and as he tries to catch it, in his pants; goes off and hits him in the thigh. Fast forward a bit, the New York D.A. charges him with a serious possession crime, his lawyers and the D.A. go back and forth bargaining and finally out of fear that he would get locked up for longer, he pleads guilty to a lesser charge and is sentenced to 2 years in prison and 2 years probation.

Story number two involves all star receiver Donte Stallworth of the Cleavland Browns. A few months back Stallworth struck and killed a man who was crossing the street in the wee hours of the morning in Florida. The man was a 52 year old crane operator who was going to catch the bus to go home to his family after working the night shift. Stallworth was found to be operating his car under the influence, and was subsequently charged. After a few months of negotiating, Stallworh pleads out to a lesser charge, and is sentenced to 24 days in jail and 4000 hours of community service.

Did anybody catch that? Does it make sense to anyone? One man hurts himself by being stupid, and gets hit with 2 years in prison. The other takes the life of an innocent man, changes that mans family forever, all because he chose to drive drunk, and he get 3 weeks in a county lock up with 4000 community hours. Something just doesn't add up there. This is an example of how skewed the American justice system has become. Mind you Canada isn't much better with our hug-a-thug approach.

Now this article is not to say that I think Burress should have gotten off with nothing, although I think 2 years mandatory jail term is slightly harsh for stupidity. What he did was dangerous and he could have hurt someone, so yes I think a stint in the bunkhouse is warranted. My beef with all this is how Stallworth can carelessly take the life of an innocent hard working man, and get nothing more than a slap on the wrist. What kind of a message is being sent to the public? What about the young kids coming up who look up to these guys?

Just before I end, lets take it a step further. Because of this incident, Burress lost his big contract with the Giants. He'll be 34 when he's released, and it'll be tough for him to get another spot with an NFL team. Who wants a 34 year old wide receiver who's been out of the game for 2 years? An then there is his family who will be without their daddy and husband for 2 years. (He said that was his biggest motivation in taking the plea, he didn't want to face an even longer sentence away from his family)

In terms of Stallworth, he's 29 and just hitting his prime. He's only been suspended from the NFL for one year without pay, and his team is looking forward to getting him back next season. Where is his hard punishment?

So what do we get from all this? Justice really is blind, and a little stupid. And also, the NFL stands for National Felon League.

What's on my ipod this week.....

So this week I have decided to post what's on my ipod on Thursday. Why not Friday as I originally outlined? Because I feel like it. So without further delay here is my new recommendation.

White Rabbits are a little known Indy band based in New York, but originally from Columbia, Missouri. I doubt they'll stay little known for long, judging from the songs I've heard already. I haven't listened to the entire album yet, but so far I recommend a song called "Percussion Gun" to start you off. I really like the mix of instruments they have going on, and the vocals are interesting, though don't expect it to be perfect. I've listened to 4 songs off the album so far, and it convinced me I need to buy it, so I'll be shopping itunes later I'm sure, or hitting up HMV.

For any of you wondering what you can expect , I'll say, if you like Spoon, you'll enjoy White Rabbits. (Considering they had this album produced by the guitarist and lead singer from Spoon, Daniel Britt) A lot of their music is based around their percussion section which is composed of 2 members. It's really a unique and fresh sound in my opinion. So, go out and take a listen if you want to get pumped up for a jog, or just want a good energetic sound to pick you up. For any who might want a preview, go to this link
http://whiterabbitsmusic.com/videos/ and check out the video.

Our Mini Vacation

Last weekend I took A long weekend to be with my Family. My work has been really hectic lately, and I haven't had much time with Jody and Colton. So we broke it up a bit. All Friday was dedicated to Colton. We went out to the zoo for a family outing. We began by filling ourselves up at the cafe, where little Coley downed a massive hot dog and some fries. After finishing his juice box we headed out. We saw tons of really cool animals. Colton was especially impressed by the giraffe that was scratching his neck up side a tree.



We also saw a huge tiger pacing in its pen. Cole thought it was impressive.He really seemed to enjoy his time with mommy and daddy. Here is a shot of him with mommy at the Elephant pen...

And then one of the coolest moments was when the bull Elephant came walking right over to Colton and Jody, and began drinking from the water barrel, and blowing it out. Colton loved this. His little mouth dropped open and his eyes grew huge. When the elephant began to walk away, he went "whoooaa." All in all it was a pretty impressive day for the boy.

We took him home after and after a long nap, we had a good dinner and then relaxed and played before we had to take him to bed.

the next day was a day dedicated to Jody and myself. We gave Colton to Grandma and Grandpa for the day and headed out to Banff. the mountains were beautiful and the weather was awesome. When we arrived, we went to lunch. After lunch we walked up and down the boulevard going into all the little shops around. We ended up buying a little onesie for Colton that says "Bear Naked" with the picture of a bear on it. After that we got some gourmet fudge and then went to the natural hot springs for some relaxation. Finally as we were driving back to Calgary we took a detour to go to Elbow Falls. Its a cool little rec area, out in the foothills. Jody took a few hours there to take some photo's of the falls, and I sat back and enjoyed the scenery. If you'd like to see the photo's she took, you can check out her website www.jacphotography.ca, however I'm not sure if she's posted any yet. She's editing them a bit, but trust me; they look great.

So that was my little mini vacation. It was a good time, and too short as most vacations are.

What's on my ipod this week

I've decided I'm going to do a weekly posting every Friday about what music I'm listening to. I welcome my readers to share with me who they are listening to. I like to expand my horizons.

So this week I am featuring Vampire Weekend. Don't let the name fool you, its not what you think. They actually chose that name for their band after watching some old cheesy film titled that. They actually are extremely good. They list their biggest musical influences as classical, and you can tell. They have a more independent sound, and eclectic mix of organ, strings, guitar, drums, etc. Its really quite clever music. If I had to try and compare it to someone else, I'd have to say a loose mix between Paul Simon, the beetles, and well, never mind, I can't really compare it and do it justice. Their debut album is a current favorite of mine, and I would suggest you especially listen to the songs A-Punk, Campus, Cape Cod, Mansard Roof, and The Kids Don't Stand a Chance. In fact pretty much the whole album is great, and those are rare. So that's what's in my ipod this week. It comes with high recommendation if your looking for intelligent, fun music to listen to while you work around the house, go for a run, or are having a get together with friends. Stay tuned (play on words, eh?) for next week.

Feel Good Story # 2

Well I'm still waiting for other people to tell me about good acts of service or charity. In the meantime, here is yet another good story for you all.

In Calgary we have a local radio station that does something called "Gerry Forbes Secret Wish". Now, I'm not a big fan of Forbes. I find him to be pretty gross most of the time, but I do listen every Friday at about 7:30 am (little plug for anyone wanting a pick me up) to hear him make someones day. As annoying and over the top as he can be, he does have a big heart, and this charity of his needs to be recognized. He generally takes in donations from friends, local businesses, and the general public. A friend or acquaintance of someone in need will submit a letter into the station as to why their friend is a candidate for the secret wish. The station will then find out what needs that family has, and then every Friday morning, Gerry will call them up at around 7:30 and present them with their gifts over the air. It really is heart warming to hear, and I find myself now wanting to contribute to help his cause.

For your benefit, here is what happened today. He received a letter regarding a family where both parents have struggled with their health the last 4 years. The parents would work on and off between health problems, in entry level fast food positions, as it was the only work they were able to secure. The mother became ill and diagnosed with cancer, and recently passed away, leaving the father to care for his twin 11 year old son and daughter, all on the budget of an entry level fast food worker. So at 7:30 this morning Gerry sent out his girl to this man's house with their donations. He called and the father answered. Gerry introduced himself, gave his condolences, and offered words of encouragement. At this point the father was speechless, but said thank you. Gerry instructed him to go to the door and let his helper in, which the man did. Gerry then began to tell the man what they were receiving. He gave the family a laptop donated by future shop, so the kids could do their homework, gift certificates to get the kids new clothes for school, $250 worth of groceries for this long weekend from Safeway, and $1000.00 to help with bills. By the time he was done, all you heard on the other end was sobbing from this man, who could barely choke out a thank you. The DJ was getting choked up as well, as he wished the man a good long weekend and said he was always welcome to call the station. I'll admit, it had me feeling a tug on my heart strings, and ask most people who know me, I'm not the most emotional person. I thought it was an amazing gesture, and something that I think we can all learn from. Look around your own communities, see what charities are there and see how you can help someone in need. Like a wise man once told me, there's usually someone having a worse day than you, so let's see what we can do to help one another. Have a great long weekend!

1st Good News Story! Hurray for Football Players

To Start my quest in bringing good news to you my readers, here is my first story. Kitwana Jones is a Linebacker for the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos. Yesterday Kitwana was downtown coming back from a public appearance, when he witnessed an elderly woman being mugged for her purse. What did this football star do? Well he didn't get out a camera and start filming (see previous posting). And he didn't keep driving, minding his own business. He got out and chased the thief on foot, tackling him to the ground and "detaining" him until police showed up. The purse was returned and Kitwana Jones labeled a hero.

I love this story for a few reasons, Kitwana is a professional athlete, and his lively hood depends on his ability to play football. Many athletes will refrain from any activities outside of games where there is a real risk of injury, as it could jeopardize their jobs. Mr. Jones however didn't think twice to risk himself to help out someone who couldn't defend herself. He says in his interview posted on TSN, that God placed him there to help that woman out, so he did what he had to do. He has every reason to pull celebrity status and use it as an excuse as to why he would have done nothing, but as his teammates attest to, that's not Kitwana. He is always one to help and defend others. Anyhow, he is a pretty entertaining guy in his interview. If you can click on this link and view the video, you won't be disappointed. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=285288 Kudos to you Kitwana, for doing what so many others in this world would be afraid to do.

In all, I think we should take something from Kitwana's example. Always help out your fellow man. I'm not suggesting we all chase down criminals on foot. I'm merely suggesting we begin actively serving those around us in any way we can. Lets start sticking up for one another, especially those who can't defend themselves.

Gimme some good news

The picture has no real tie in to the topic of this post, but I thought it was a funny one, and I wanted a laugh today.
Folks, I have a problem I need to vent about, please humor me and share with me if you can.
I am a huge current events junkie, and I'm always checking out numerous news sites throughout the day looking for the latest news in the world. (No, not the tabloid trash, real news) There is an inherent danger with this though, rarely is it good news. Correct me if I'm wrong, but to me the media is always getting worse and worse in their reporting. I honestly think that true journalism is a dying art, if its not dead already. Now a days the media is focused primarily on sensationalism. Its all about who can make the bigger deal out of a story. And they don't really focus on the good, they focus on the bad, tragedy, embarrassment. I get so depressed sometimes when I read or watch the news. It's always, bombing this, overdose that, scandal here, murder there. It's a wonder we're not all on Prozac.
So what has inspired my rant? Well yesterday I came upon a video on CNN.com (notorious sensationalists) titled "strangers rescue children from burning SUV". Like a sap I clicked on the video, thinking it would be one of the usual watered down reports where they show the remains of a burnt car, interview one of the hero's, and show the token shot of the saved kids playing in a park. This time I was shocked at what I saw. It was a complete video shot by an on looker, of an SUV that had crashed in a residential neighbourhood, overturned on it's side and had burst into flames with a mother, her 2 year old daughter, and 4 year old son all trapped inside. I don't want to go into too many details as it's hard for me. The video was very graphic and disturbing to me. Essentially, in the crowd of frantic people were 2 brothers who happened to be off duty fire fighters. They got everyone out of the vehicle, most importantly the 4 year old little boy who was trapped in his booster in the back where the fire was. The boy had received burns to 30% of his body, but is expected to make a full recovery. The good news is that everyone survived, and if it weren't for these men, it would have been a disaster. However my problem comes from two things. First, what possesses an on looker to grab his camera and run down the street to film 3 people nearly burn to death? Why wouldn't you try and help those who were trying to help. Second of all, what kind of people are we where we show a graphic video of a man pulling a small boy out of a burning vehicle as he's on fire. I will not be able to get that image out of my head now, more so because I share the fire fighter's perspective as he was in that burning car trying desperately to free the boy, I saw that it could be my own son. So while this eventually ended well, I still didn't feel good by the end.
So here is what I want. I want a little less focus on the bad, and more or less to accentuate the positive. I want feel good news stories. I want stories of human charity and service. I want to hear about people helping one another, and other positive things. To those who actually spend their time reading my blog (and I can't believe you do, there must be something better to do. But thank you all the same), send me links, first hand accounts, etc of good news in our world. I'm going to research them out, and try and post a few on my blog to hopefully uplift everyone. Let's see if we can find the good in the world, amongst the garbage we get fed. Thanks all.

A Great Weekend

Hey everyone. I am finally able to give an update on the family again. Sorry for all the delay, but it's been kinda busy for me lately. This last week, work has been full and I've been having to commute to our office on the other side of the city. I was spending over 2 hours in traffic every day. So I was looking forward to a great weekend to unwind. And I got my wish. My Uncle Steve has season tickets to the two greatest sports teams in Calgary, the NHL's Flames, and the CFL's Stampeders. Last weekend he called me up, and asked if I would like to have a couple of tickets to the retro game between Calgary and Toronto. The seats were incredible, 50 yard line 18 rows up, so you had the view of the whole field, and were close enough to hear the players talking on the bench. Jody and I had a great time at the game.


Calgary ended up Shellacking poor Toronto 44-9, but it was a very exciting game despite what the score indicates. By the end of the night I had almost no voice left. Here is a shot of the view we had.

Next up is an update on our house. Coming back out to Calgary meant we had to sell our first home out in Guelph. Once we arrived here, we quickly found out that getting a house was going to be a bit tougher than we thought. Anyhow, long story short; the most affordable house we could get in this crazy recession market was a new home. A draw back of this is that we have to wait for it to be built. Currently it is in this state:

However, here is the preview of what it will look like when it is done. These were pictures we took as we toured the newly finished show home. First off, as you walk in this will be what the main floor will be like, well essentially. We will have carpet up to the kitchen, then we'll have hardwood in the kitchen.

This now, is the basement. In our house, the first half will be finished, and all that light comes from the huge bay window that continues in from the main floor to the basement.

Here is a picture of Colton going into what I guess he has claimed as his room. He loved it because they had it all decorated with cars. He was angry when we made him leave. The other bedroom is similar size.
Finally we have the master bedroom, behind the picture there is a walk in closet, and an en suite.
And as a bonus, this is similar to what the outside will look like.
We are planning on having some fun BBQ's once it's finished, so keep your schedules open for the end of September. Well that is if it finishes on time.... which they generally don't, but we can hope right?

Wrap up of Stampede week

Well Folks, you can close yet another chapter in the Calgary Stampede. It was actually my first Stamped in a little over 3 years, and I have to say, it hasn't changed much. except I think I have changed. I remember dying to go to the Stampede and ride the rides until I could ride no more. I would go online and make a list of all the bands I wanted to see on the Coca Cola Stage, and I would eat deep fried food to my hearts content. However, as I've gotten older, I've started to lose my desire to go and try and fight through massive crowds, rowdy drunks, and punk kids trying to act like their the coolest thing. However this year was a bit different, as it was my son's first time to the Stampede. Having a kid to take to the Stampede renews your spirit in the fun of the Stampede. We have to go earlier in the day, so as to make it home for bed time etc. So the crowds aren't that big, and there is a lot of kiddie stuff to do there, that as an adult; hasn't appealed to you since you graduated elementary school. It was a blast to watch my son discover so many new things. He was thrilled to get up close to animals he's never seen in real life before. It was fun to eat new foods, and play in new play places with lots of other kids. And of course, who can pass up the opportunity to meet one of his all time favorite TV characters, Cookie Monster. It truly does bring in a whole new perspective, and it makes the Stampede fun again for a guy who doesn't drink, gamble etc. All the things that the Stampede is known for, for the adult crowd. Now don't get me wrong, there are plenty of good things for adults to do at the Stampede as well. Jody and I went down for a night for a date. We went to the exhibition center and checked out all the latest products people are hocking. We also went to the round up center to see the art exhibits. With Jody being a photographer, that was special for her. We had the opportunity to meet one of the photographers who had their work displayed. He told us about his work, and the lengths he goes to to get his pictures. While not exactly the same niche Jody is interested in, it was very cool to hear. She is hoping to get her work entered in next years exhibition, for anyone who may be interested. We also took in some of the food, and took a Farris wheel ride to cap off the evening before we headed home. But the biggest highlight for us was a singing competition she entered in for one of the local radio stations. She was chosen to be in a group of ten finalists to compete for the grand prize. She got the opportunity to belt out a favorite tune of hers in front of a crowd of a few thousand stampeder's and had a great time. If anyone wants to check it out click on the following youtube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5_YJhdPkZA&feature=channel and enjoy. The song is Anyway by Martina McBride(hope I spelled that right), and I think she did fantastic.
All in all it was a pretty good time. Now comes the fun of enjoying whats left of summer, as we prepare to move into our new home once it is finished. After that comes settling into our new life here in Calgary and meeting new friends while we enjoy some of those that we already have.

Stampede

This week was the week of the stampede. For any of you who aren't aware, it a large fair that Calgary has every year for 10 days. It's a celebration of Calgary's western heritage, and it can be a ton of fun. We were especially excited to take Colton this year. It all started out with mommy getting him dressed up in his little western attire. We then took the train down to the grounds where we started out by getting a hot dog lunch. After Coley finished stuffing his face, we got to work. We saw everything from horsies (one blew his nose all over the boy), to cows, a bison, a duck herding dog, goats, and..........

The coup de gras, COOKIE MONSTER!

That was actually the whole reason we went on Friday was to see the greatest cookie eating Muppet ever. It was hilarious, once he saw Cookie monster, he paused and stared for about 2 minutes with his mouth open. Then he snapped out of his trance and began to point and get excited. He then tried pushing out of my arms to get over to him. So Mommy got in line while I tried to distract him. As we got up to the front of the line, Cole started getting really excited and trying to squirm away so that he could rush Cookie. Then it was our turn to get up there. As we got up there he just got excited and reached out and grabbed Cookie's fur. He briefly touched Abbey's face, before turning back all his attention to Cookie. He sat there playing with Cookie Monster until the split second that the guy called his name and caught this photo. It was like meeting a rock star. Definitely the highlight of the day.

We checked out some other things until he wore right out. Finally to cap everything off, we bought him his first cowboy hat and took him home. It was a great day. Yee Haw!