Warmth = Work

The past three days have seen me awake AND out of bed before 9am. That's the first time that's happened three days in a row since....August maybe when I was working? If that alone weren't enough to kill me, I actually had something productive accomplished before 10am on each of those days.

Its a hell of a lot easier to get motivated to do shit when its over 10 degrees before you open a window to ventilate paint fumes. The completed checklist runs something like the following:
-backyard raked, and wood split for Friday's 'welcome back to red meat' barbecue and boozin (inside story will follow later I'm sure)
-garage room sanded, primed
-3 loads of laundry done
-half hour first ride on the bike of the year around campus to take in some eye candy...and i guess feign getting fit as well
-old toilet taken out
-new toilet hooked up, with only minimal leaks
-45 minute second ride on the bike of the year, this time purely with the intent of giving my eyes cavities from all the sweetness that comes out when the air warms up
-garage room painted
-beer purchased

With the purchased beer now at home, any real productivity is done for the evening, but damnit, I worked hard to earn this brew...or at least hard enough for me to convince myself I earned it.

Busy few days ahead now between bbqing, a Matt Good concert and the Blue Jays home opener, but should be plenty of pictures which I've been at a loss for lately...

In My Day

There's one thing to be woken up at 4am by say a wrong number phone call, or a hydro pole transformer blowing outside your house. Its quite another to wake up to some kids blasted out of their mind sitting on your porch having a party and stealing your beer, and insist that a friend of theirs has lived there for years and that there's been a party inside all night.

I guess for at least some of the 22 years I've been living here, I've had an unknown co-occupant? Actually, I can't lie, there was a party here last night. For about 2 hours my grandmother came over and we celebrated her 82nd birthday, and lemme tell you, she likes to get right blitzed.

Maybe I just wasn't hanging around with the cool kids growing up, but I have never gotten so drunk that I didn't know where I was, or had lost the basic ability to reason. The kid with the sticker still on his cockeyed dodgers cap really deserved an attitude adjustment, but at 4am having just woken up, in barefeet and pajama pants I wasn't about to step outside, so I tried to continue on a logical approach with the kiddies.

Obviously that didn't work, until finally a cab showed up for them, at which point Dodgers fan went off on a rant in the kind of english you grow to expect from kids these days. "Come on man, these people think we're stupid idiots and that we're stupid and that we're idiots, we know better than them, lets go man. They think we're all stupid and 'indigient', lets go..." followed by this weird, half retarded scream. I guess you have to give the kid credit for trying to use a 'big' word like indignant, and even getting the context of the word correct, but not actually knowing how to say it. Wait, no you don't. Buddy was a fucking tool, standing on my porch screaming at me and waking me up insisting there was a party in my basement at 4am.

I'm either getting old way too fast, or the kids are getting younger and stupider even faster.

Blind Faith

The fans of hockey here in Leaf nation support their team so blindly that it's ridiculous. Its part of the reason I despise the Leafs and most of their fans so. Most years what irks me most is those that just cheer for them cause they're the local team and that's just what they should do being good Canadians. There are the few 'true' hockey fans, who can actually name more than 5 non-allstars on other teams, and who accept logic and reason.

But this year, with the Leafs on the brink, the white and blue pride wagon is running full tilt on blind faith in a team that just has no proof of existence. They're sitting 6 points back of a playoff spot, with the Habs in-between, with 1 game in hand on 8th and 13 games remaining. Sure its the Eastern Conference which, lets face it, is soft as butter on a barbecue, but the Leafs are out of this.

Once again a squad full of old men that is going to fall short. The two black eyes from pucks fired over the boards that Pat Quinn caught during training camp were repeated on ice with Canada and the Leafs this year. Lindros, as predicted, was a flop. Belfour might as well just hit the sauce again, cause his career is done. And Mats Sundin will just have to live with a gold medal for this year.

And still I am surrounded by the blind followers who either can't think for themselves (kinda like religious extremists), or people who get all militant when questioned on the matter (again, kinda like religious extremists). I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see a blue and white mysterious package on my doorstep tomorrow.

Now you'll all ask, well what about your Avs? But I am not sitting here foisting my false hope on all of you. Their two top scorers are injured and their 'blockbuster' trade deadline move was to trade the hottest goalie in the NHL since January 1 to bring in an injured goalie with a trainload of baggage in Jose Theodore. The Avs will make the playoffs, and might even pull off a win of the Northwest (which by the points total is the toughest division in hockey). But I know the limits, and unless Tanguay comes back from injury like Forsberg used to do, fresh and ready to light it up, there isn't much chance of making it past the 2nd or 3rd round. And lets face it, Alex Tanguay, while very skilled, and worthy of a spot on any Team Canada squad, is not Peter Forsberg. I know my teams' limits.

Most Leafs fans on the other hand, no such luck. The day after they start playin with their balls...that is the white dimpled kind....the white dimpled kind you hit with a club...after the last game of the regular season I'll be hearing about how next year is the year. Such is life as a realist in Leaf nation.

Mi malo inglés

Just when you thought everything that could be said about Bush had been, particularly in light of his abyssmal approval rating and the 3rd anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Hugo Chavez hits one out of the park and gives me the laugh of the day.

All the policies attacked, countered, re-countered and calls to question out of the way, Chavez went right at Bush with what everyone else is thinking and not saying, but with an oh so funny broken english, latin american accent: "You are a donkey, Mr. Danger".

Schoolyard antics, sure, but funny as hell to see.

Also on today's funny list: Chuck Norris reads his own top 10 (Thanks to Steve on this one).

Domo Arigato

Today I took another step in becoming one with the digital world, finally getting around to getting a cell phone. I decided it was time with work starting soon and with my own wheels that may break down at just about any time. I had restraint, no fancy toys or anything, although I did neglect to get a phone I could download my own ringtones to via a cable, so now if I want anything beyond Fur Elise as a ringtone I'm going to have to pay 2 bucks a crack. Thems the breaks.

I've never been impressed by camera phones, and even less with the tools who sit in a lecture waving their shit in the air trying to take a picture of each slide. Its web capable, but I haven't figured out exactly what the terms of service are for that, nor do I really care...that's what computers or one day a blackberry are for.

You'll never see me with repetitive stress injury from texting everybody and everyone, nor will I be the tool walking around with a headset talking and making you think I'm addressing you. And don't count on hearing the latest Fitty Cent beat rockin' out of my pocket. This is my pledge of good cell phone ethics...and yes I'm judging the rest of you.

Irish Saint's Day...Another Excuse

Today is, or i guess was, 38 minutes ago, St. Patrick's Day. The celebration of an Irishman who performed some noble tasks in the eyes of the Catholic church way back in the 4th centuryish, and the day where most of the rest of the western world takes advantage of another excuse to put back a beer or two or five or 10 or twenty.

Some people choose to start the festivities early, but end up with their head in hands by 8pm while the rest of the crowd, or at least the few friends present, just point and laugh and takes pictures.

In the endless stream of arbitrary religious doctrine, apparently people partaking in the ritual of the lenten fast, that is, giving something completely irrelevant in the tradition of the church for the days leading up to easter, are absolved of their committment for St. Patty's day which always falls within Lent. Well except for those years in which it falls in the prescribed 'holy week' in which case it is bumped to the earliest following Monday or something.

With all the thousands of years of obviously non-contradictory history behind these rules, I certainly am in no place to contradict them, but only revel in the exception that this great green day grants me, and put a few back for myself to uphold others belief in my sanctity. Cheers.

Missing Out

During the Oscars last week I started making a list of movies that I hadn't seen or at least hadn't seen in a while that I had to take care of. Since then I've been adding more and more to the list as well as watching some of them. I'm embarrassed to even admit some of these movies I hadn't seen.

For one, I just finished watching Natural Born Killers for the first time, I don't know how I hadn't seen it before. Great story, well acted, and a kickass soundtrack. Talk about putting you in a weird mood. Spending a lot of time watching Cheers seasons lately though didn't do a lot for Woody Harrelson coming across well.

And speaking of kickass soundtracks, Grosse Pointe Blank's has to be one of the best one's going. The use of music in movies is key, and makes scenes great when the right songs are used. For me most of my favourite movies also have some of the best soundtracks going. That says one of two things. Either music really is integral to a good movie, or I'm a sucker for the pop or melodramatic music that finds its way to the silver screen. I'm sure its some mixture of the two.

Now to get through about 40 other movies I've got here in my list that's growing faster than I can see the movies already there. I'd say Roger Ebert has the coolest job in the world, but not really, cause he has to sit through all the crap too. A member of one of the award guilds though might be a sweet gig, getting the pick of the crop each year. But I wouldn't be able to pick any winner in most cases and just declare ties all over the place because really art isn't meant to be judged like that. And so the search for the dream job continues...

The Late Winter Blahhg's?

Last month the Chicago Tribune published a column suggesting that blogging is on its way out. I know there're those millions of pages out there, mostly annoying myspace pages, that people create, set-up and then never look at again, and while people keep doing that, a smaller fraction actually keep up to date, but at first I was skeptical.

Fast forward to this week where three of the blogs in my list have turned to dead links, and a number of others haven't updated in a week to a month, and I gotta wonder if people's curiosity is waning. Or if people are just fed up with comments from stupid people, which tends to happen on the more popular blogs.

I'm not gonna be giving it up any time soon, even if I'm not keeping on pace with the posts myself, and I'll be leaving those links up there for a bit too, cause I have a feeling those blogs will be back up soon enough. Waiting for the winter to get out of here in general has people down in addition to what ever normal business they have going on.

When you can't live in sunny California and travel to Austin like Tony or be out on the links already (for you golfers out there) like Nick, the winter blahs are more likely to take hold.

Either that or everyone is engrossed with the World Baseball Challenge and watching Canada get screwed, or with March Madness. Well if its March Madness, I'm gonna cater to the masses and create a Yahoo NCAA bracket group. I know some of you out there don't have the first clue about college hoops, but I can't say I'm much better, and that's the beauty of the march to the final four, no-one knows. Group ID#: 73104 Group password: secret. Lets see some of you people in there, posers welcome.

Pimpmobile

rollin on 20's with tha top back...

Yea that's right, I'm drivin the hottest ride in town now...4 wheels, an engine and some brakes is all I ask to start with, the ground effects lighting and 22" chromes can come later.

It does need a trip to the garage for some TLC on the front suspension, and some attention to the rust on the driver's side, but its ready to get me from A to B whenever I need for now, and as long as I have my CD-mp3 deck to keep me company for when I finally do get stuck, I'm a happy guy.

Top o' the mornin'

I set my alarm for 6:55 this morning to get up and chauffer my mom to work and grab the van to get some stuff done today, and was surprised so much by the sunshine warming my room that I only hit the snooze button once. Its so much easier to get up and make something of yourself when the sun's up fooling you while you're wiping the sleep outta your eyes that its warm outside. Of course, by the time you realize its not, you're already awake and out of bed.

The forecast is still looking good for the end of the week, and being a few days closer, I'm a little more willing to believe in it. Weather above the freezing point opens so many doors for getting things done, not the least of which will be getting my bike on the road and working off some of this build up from sitting around all day waiting for it to be warm.

It turns out I might be starting my 'summer' work term a few weeks early. While that then opens the possibility of probably working in some snow yet this year, it also means a spring flood of cash flow in my direction. At least a trickle.

Starting early also means that I'll be getting my own vehicle sooner for work purposes and I'm going to have to get on getting it fixed up so I can beat the shit out of it driving around field sites. And since my mom is being gracious enough to give me the van free of charge so she can get something new, that makes me obligated to going around with her to test drive her picks, and mostly just add a male presence. Apparently car salesmen, particularly older ones, don't give much respect to a middle aged single mother going around car hunting. And here I thought all money was good money on commission, their loss, some more open minded person's gain I suppose.

Time to go make something productive of today.

The Golden Man

As overblown and hyped as the Academy Awards are, I still end up watching every year. One for lack of any competitive television because none of the networks even want to attempt to compete, and second, because there are always those great honest, and great hilarious moments.

The first big award went to George Clooney for his supporting role in Syriana. George made a great humble, self depricating, yet powerful speech about making change in Hollywood. He was classy and subtle in the way in which he broached the subject of politics and change, unlike Michael Moore who in my opinion came on way too strong a couple years back in his acceptance speech.

Syriana is definitely on my movies to see list. I decided this year I would actually get some of the movies I have to see down on paper in ink cause I always seem to forget. The list actually mostly consists of old classics. Classics that I've never seen, only seen parts of, or just haven't seen in a while. All the homages to past actors and movies have me filling up my page pretty quickly, and bittorrents everywhere will be seeing a lot of action from me in the next few days.

Back to the awards at hand, or moreso the presenters.

What the hell are these people thinking? They picked a great host in Jon Stewart, who has held his own pretty well so far with some spontaneity or at least well acted fake spontaneity, but some of these presenters have been huge flubs.

Take one: Ben Stiller in a green unitard. What the HELL was that supposed to be. I mean, I know what it was supposed to be....but it wasn't funny at all, and they even cut to Spielberg after a reference to the sketch 'blowing his mind' where you could clearly read his lips saying 'uhhh no its not...you hackjob nobody actor who relies on others like Owen Wilson, Cameron Diaz or Vince Vaughan to carry him through a movie'. Okay well he didn't really mouth all of that, but you could definitely see it in his eyes.

Take two: Jennifer Lopez. I thought they typically had actors who had been snubbed for past awards or showed promise give these awards. J. Lo? Anyone else find her out of place? And the hair. She looked like her hair was caught in an electric motor pulling it all straight back into a shiny dome of....shinyness.

Take three: Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves come out to present an award to none other than the orchestral take on the action music sequence from Speed. Now there was an academy award winner. Shoot the hostage. And by hostage, I mean me.

That's all of the takes for now because I can't be bothered to sit here critiquing all night long...although Jon Stewart's appeal for more move clips for montage sequences just now was rather entertaining and deserves mention before I go refill my rum and coke. More to come later, if you're unlucky.

Saturday Drafternoon

I just sat through the longest fantasy sports draft I've ever been a part of, with the biggest league I've ever been in, which is saying a lot when I've been in 56 leagues since 1999. Actually, that's not all that many, but I slacked off a couple years in there.

Anyways I was also shocked to see almost all of the 18 managers show up for the draft, which is nice. Fantasy leagues where its actually competitive are always the best, cause no-one likes to watch 3 players battle it out at the top while 5 managers sit at the bottom never changing rosters, but never trading with you so you can make an attempt at catching the top.

And there goes two hours and fifteen minutes of my Saturday afternoon. Now its time to drag my sorry ass out of this chair, grab a shower, find some clean clothes, and make some plans to go somewhere and drink, or to go somewhere to get some booze and come back here to drink. These are the most difficult decisions that face me on a typical weekend. But today, choices like "Keith Foulke or Armando Benitez" became the focus.

...One month til opening day!

Let's Pretend

If only long term weather forecasts were ever accurate...

February In A Blink

Time has this way of crusing on by when you're extremely preoccupied with accomplishing nothing. I can't say that I am disaffected by that, with the mercury (and by mercury I mean the Weather Network plugin in my messenger) reading minus 8 outside still. Whatever brings on the spring faster I will gladly embrace at this point, because I am going nuts being cooped up in the house by the cold.

Its so much easier to roll out of bed and then actually get up and be productive, or at least active when the sun is out in full force, and isn't being directed back at your pupils from the drifts of snow across the lawn. But with the relatively late onset of winter this year, I should probably prepare myself for this for a while longer.

Being the first of March already, I'm just hoping at this point to not have to wear gloves by the time I start my mainly outdoors related work in May. At the same time, I can't wait to start that work, because the funds are now excessively low again, and a quick rough in of my income tax has me looking at a return a tenth as much as last years. Not quite what I was hoping for. I guess what this calls for is for me to clean my life up a bit and stop sinking money into booze and various tickets. I'm not happy til I'm productive and have money, I won't have money until I'm productive, and I won't be acceptably productive til the weather picks up. I guess that leaves contentment in either the Caribbean, or May...somehow I think May will come first.