Will's birthday usually shocks me as a reminder that JANUARY IS ALREADY OVER! Where the hell does the time go....
That time seems to be moving so quickly does reinforce my current thought that we Canadians don't hibernate. We are just as busy in the winter as we are in the warmer months. Mostly because a good portion of our free time is spent moving snow around. My back is still sore after I finally got around to clearing the driveway after Wednesday's big dump. If nothing else these months of snow and cold remind us we're alive.
The end of the month also marks my unofficial deadline for extending Happy New Year greetings. If I haven't seen you yet this year then let me say it now - Happy New Year! For tomorrow I will be extending Groundhog Day wishes.
Yesterday was Will's 22nd birthday. We didn't get to celebrate, per se, because he is currently in a campus production and last night was night two. Dad and I did go see the show and Will was fantastic as a troubled Irishman (is there any other kind?). I offered to buy him a birthday beer or several afterwards but he never called(update - he did, I missed it, sorry bro). Hopefully tonight. I can't believe you are 22...feck.
This song is for you:
Kind of like finding a $20 bill in the pocket of a long put away jacket finding an old favourite like this is awesome. I forgot how much I love this song. The Boss is singing at the Super Bowl tomorrow night but I doubt we will hear this one or this one. I'll wager on Glory Days, The Rising, Born to Run and maybethe Wrestler. Well maybe not the Wrestler.
Should be quite the show, but not quite as good as last nights.
I have always been someone who believes in symbols. I have, even moreso, been known to attribute coincidences to symbolism if it works in my favour.
Last month I read the Montreal Canadiens 100 Year history and was taken, more than anything else, by the stories of the ghosts of the forum, from Georges Vezina to Howie Morenz to Boom Boom Geoffrion. After reading the book I vowed to go see a game in this centenary year. Last week I went to see Wintersleep at the SUB and on Sunday their hit Weighty Ghost was used as the background music in the introduction to the All-Star game in Montreal. In the video montage in the background were all of the ghosts of the forum plus the current crop of Habs.
Last night I was watching The Hour and George Strombowhatsit was doing an interview with Joshua Jackson who, annoyingly, is best known for his character that used my last name as a first name: Pacey Witter of Dawson's Creek. He was actually a good interview that belied his most memorable role's douchebaggery. He was promoting his new movie called One Week in which he is diagnosed with something and goes on a road trip across the country. The best part is, and the reason my opinion of Jackson changed, is that the country he travels is Canada and I'm a real sucker for anything related to a cross-Canada road trip. I sought out the trailer and lo and behold there was Weighty Ghost once again. So to recap, the ghosts of the forum caught my attention, then Wintersleep did, then the two of them were together at the All-Star game. Then a guy best known as Pacey goes on a road trip that he feels he needs to. Shiiiiiiit. I called Wheat during the All-Star intro and told him we had to go to MTL...Pacey sealed it. My pipes froze last week (which despite being shitty lead to some great jokes - "Somebody call a plumber cause these pipes are going to burst" - "My Water Broke!") and I had to pay through the nose so I'm not quite sure how going to afford it but it has to be done. The ghosts have spoken.
Today marks the Chinese New Year and our entry into the Year of the Ox. In searching the web for info on the Year of the Ox I found the tidbit that New Zealand Post introduced new stamps to commemerate the event which immediately lead me to ask "There are Chinese in New Zealand?" - who knew.
Apparently the main attributes of those born in the year of the ox are "natural leaders who are tireless in their work and capable of enduring any hardship without complaint". This bodes well for the US of A as baby President Obama was born in 1961, a Ox year. As for us, it should come as no surprise that Stephen Harper was born in the Year of the Boar, and a little info tells us that "the Boar tends to overindulge himself in anything when given the opportunity".
Furthermore, in comparing their stimulus packages, it should come as no surprise that Obama's is bigger. The details will be what matters but another of the Boar's atttributes scares me - "a great deal of prudence is recommended in money matters, as the Boar is always susceptible to swindlers". I'm watching you Danny Williams. Stir Fried Dragon for dinner!
One of the pleasures of my week is trying to find a workable segue to tie in to Flashback Fridays. Sometimes it isn't easy so bare with me.
I went to see Wintersleep last night on campus and was happy to see that they have added themselves to the list of artists putting their music on vinyl. I probably wouldn't have bought their cd but I couldn't resist adding an album to my collection. And it appears as though I'm not alone in that sentiment. (If you have a look at that article you will see that the guy is holding Huey Lewis and the News Sports which is an album that can make me smile like no other - "Hot Lovin' every night!")
I was lucky enough to inherit some of mom's collection but I do still own the first album I ever picked out myself. I won a free record by being caller #10 to CIHI and used that win to pick up The Cars Heartbeat City. It doesn't get the same airplay as Sports on Henry St. but its place in history is secure.
Now for the segue: I am off to Moncton this evening for a couple of nights in Moncton. We have tickets to see Patrick Roy's Quebec Ramparts play the Moncton Wildcats tomorrow night. I have often said that Moncton is a city without a soul but it does have a heartbeat. I know I will have fun reacquainting myself with Monkeytown though. Hello Again!
Good news bad news this week. I still have a job after some layoffs here at the office, which (for me anyways) is good news. To keep balance in my world my inbound water line froze again and I spent the day at home trying to thaw it with a collection of city workers and plumbers; that was the bad news. The day at home did allow me to take in much of the inauguration day celebration though. As I hoped yesterday, President Obama did not give a What a Wonderful World speech. He gave a speech that, to me anyways, was at once honest and hopeful. Honest in that he admitted that there is much hard work to be done but hopeful (and confident) that it can be done. He was also haaarsh to his predecessor, noting starkly "As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals". Tough words were needed though, just as tough decisions will be needed starting tomorrow. I mostly look forward to having someone in that annoyingly important chair who can look at a camera and at least try to convey his reasons for making a given decision. Best of luck Mr. President.
There were a number of Canadian flags waving in the crowd and there was also a Canadian penned song performed at the inauguration. And what a song it is:
Very fitting the day as this song became an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement, as Oscar Peterson himself explains. I'm glad Canada was part of the day because Obama will surely be a part of our next 4 years.
Tomorrow is a big day for the US of A, and for that matter the world. I will freely admit to getting wrapped up in Obamania during the election but we went through a round of layoffs today (I'm safe, so far) and the economic realities, which were once only news stories, are now hitting close to home. There will be pomp and circumstance tomorrow, as well as adoration and reverence, but it should be tempered with a nod to the tough times in which we are living (and that lie ahead) and the knowledge that come Wednesday Mr. President will need to be armed mainly with will and determination, and maybe some grace, too.
Having said that it is my firm belief that this version of the Star Spangled Banner should be the official version of the Obama Presidency:
We are in the final days of the second Bush presidency and I think its safe to say that it will be a long time before another Bush will be given a shot (sorry Jeb). He was a very newsworthy president, mostly for the wrong reasons. His legacy, in my mind, will be marked by the gravestones of the American and Canadian soldiers who have died since September 11th and the countless civilians who perished on that day and the War on Terror that followed.
As a saving grace Dubya will also be remembered for his comedic legacy and none better than this golden nugget from Chappelle:
"Bitch you cooking?"
Here's an uplifting song for your departure Georgie boy:
Deadspin.com is one of my go to websites for off-kilter sports news. It has a decidedly American slant to it, so much so that most of the comments on any of the rare hockey posts start with the obligatory "hoc-key?" questions. So I was particularly surprised this week when, not only was there a hockey post, but in the video it contained were a bunch of names I recognized from UNB. Check it out:
"That'll teach you to run Ken Carroll" Good stuff, Quade.
In related news, the club had our second winter training session last night and we warmed up for 10 minutes before Coach Keith said 'Let's get it on' and we went right into a full contact scrimmage. I was a little worried about how my body was going to react to rugby in the off-season but it held up and it was actually great to smash around with the boys. It's a weird place to find comfort but there you go...
I woke up this morning and it was a very comfortable -1 degrees Celcius. In every way that is a manageable temperature for a Canadian to deal with. No complaints with that at all. I will however, plead for an explanation as to how the temperature can fluxuate 28 degrees in two days. I'll probably complain a little too.
What makes it that much worse is that the temperature on Normy's frosh paradise is currently 28 degrees. It's probably a dry heat too...dammit.As an aside, I can't think of Normy's Island, Saba, without thinking of Shabba Ranks - Shabba!
In keeping with yesterday’s theme I found the hardly surprising news that other sectors of American industry are looking for bailouts to be included in Obama’s huge stimulus package (hehehehe). It seems that the porn industry has been equally hard it by the recession and are seeking $5 Billion to prop up their industry. One witty commenter on the Globe site put it best when they said “they just need to think outside the box”. You took the words right out of my mouth.
Now how long before we see Peter North’s Huge Stimulus Package at Excitement Video – IF I shopped there.
Knowing that the porn industry could actually ask (publicity stunt or not) for $5B makes me long for those innocent golden days of porn as depicted in one of the great movies of the ‘90’s, Boogie Nights. And for Flashback Friday here is a great scene and a great song:
A great American President used to like to quote an East-African proverb that went "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." I was reminded of this quote thanks to who I hope will be America's next great President.
From what I hear in the news this week Barack Obama, the first President born of the land of that proverb, it it's living embodiment. Apparently he carries a big stick. Since the economic meltdown hit we have been hearing about the need for government intervention and we started hearing about stimulus packages and soon after the hilarious pun was noted.* And now, as he prepares to go from President-Elect Obama to President Obama I keep hearing breathless newpeople speak reverentially of his huge stimulus package, and everytime I do it makes me giggle like a schoolgirl. I think it this stimulus package does what its supposed to then he will end up being known as President-Erect Obama. Hiyo!
Allow me to take you on a trip - a trip in time to the not so distant future. January 5, 2015, at my doctor's office.
SP - Give it me straight Doc, I can take it. Doctor - Hehehehe, don't call me Doc. SP - Sorry Dr. Naguib, is that better? Doctor - Hehehe, no. SP - Normy! What the hell is wrong with me? Doctor - Si, you remember that time we went to Montreal in a limo? SP - Yes, what the hell does that have to do with my stomach? Doctor - Nothing, I just like to give people a good memory before giving them bad news, hehehehe. Your liver has failed. SP - Thank you Dr. Asshole, that's probably the trip that started it. Doctor - Hehehehe...Bingo! Have a sucker.
So after 3 other degrees and a couple years spent poking around the dead carcass that is the 'real world', Normy has decided to go back to school, this time in warmer climes. Yes, after much deliberation the man I used to call my walking Center for Disease Control has decided to give med school a go. Wisely he is doing it in the Caribbean. As is Normy's way he did all he could from letting us make a big deal of his departure. He swears he only committed to go on New Year's Eve but we know it's been in the works for some time. We did manage to get a party together and, although he missed most of it packing, he did get to read our lovely hand written balloon messages which he promptly burst. Dr. No Fun we all said.Normy is one of my best friends and a defacto social coordinator. He has been my roomate, my CDC, my personal historian (answering such questions as "What the hell happened to my pants?"), and endless source of amusement. He will be greatly missed but we are all ecstatic that he has taken this plunge and I look forward to adding 'my doctor' to that list.
As per usual, I didn't do anything of particular note on NYE and instead rang the New Year at the rugby club the following day. Conditions weren't great for snow rugby (too much ice, not enough snow) but they were great for the chili cookoff. Unfortunately the judges clearly messed up their taste buds, pickling them the night before, and chose the wrong chili as the winner. Here is photo evidence of me holding a grimace but not the trophy.Again, you people wouldn't know a good chili if it bit you in the ass, which by the way, is exactly what a good chili should do. Rant over.
Will's birthday usually shocks me as a reminder that JANUARY IS ALREADY OVER! Where the hell does the time go....
