Remps Rants, Reviews & Reflections

Still in Shock

2008-07-28T14:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm kind of in shock and aw right at this moment.

I just received an amazing gift from my neighbour.

For those of you that don't already know my neighbour Jim just passed away a couple of weeks ago. It wasn't anything unexpected but it still wasn't easy seeing one of the nicest and most generous men I have ever met pass away. I was able to keep my emotions in tack most of the time however on a drive to work that day I lost it. I don't like showing my emotions in front of people and I guess I have always felt secure in a car.

Well now Ruth is left living all alone which can't be easy for her. I had already been helping out Jim & Ruth for quite some time, then Jim started to take a turn for the worse and then I increased my support for them, including taking out their garbage, taking Ruth to the beauty shop, picking up things from the store and helping prepare their lunch and what ever else I could do. I had also driven them to doctors appointments, and helped pick up prescriptions.

I believe that I took Jim & Ruth for lunch the last time they went out to eat together. It was after taking Ruth to the salon we went to the Beef House which was one of their favorite places to go. The thing with Jim & Ruth is that when ever you took them out for dinner they still insisted on paying. However this time I beat Jim to the check and I paid for lunch. Jim fussed and fussed until he finally agreed to let me pay for this one if he could leave me a tip at the restaurant the next time they were in. Well unfortunately do to his failing health they never did make it back in but we did bring him his favorite dish when he was in the Hospital as well as the Rehab center.

The thing is that they always wanted to pay me for what ever I did for them and I tried not to accept it. The thing is that I usually didn't win those arguments. The one that I did win was argument with Jim that he would buy me new tires for my car, or if I bought two he would buy the other two. This was something that we argued about for over a year.

The thing is that today their son came knocking on the door and handed us a card and thanked us for all we did and he had special instructions from his mom too say that this wasn't a payment for anything and that this is merely a thank you, and in no way were we to think of it as a payment for anything that we have done or may do, this was just a "thank you" and that we were just to accept it for that. Inside that card was a Check. I can't ever remember being given a gift like this. I'm still a little dumbfounded. I have opened up the card a few times thinking that maybe this is a dream, but its not.

Right now I'm a little emotional as I think Jim won that argument regarding purchasing me the tires and then some. Ruth was just the go between on this.

Attendance (Things I want to See)

2008-07-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

I guess this should actually go into the Just for Fun section.
- Go to a Weekend Music Festival ~ Got the idea during the 25th anniversary of Woodstock.
- Goto Lake Geneva for the Annual Car Show ~ Idea came from a car magazine in my teens.
- Attend all my High School Reunions ~ I don't know why I put this here.
- Attend an Award Show (Academy Awards, Golden Globe, NHL Awards Ceremony, Music Awards) ~ Idea came when I was 16 and enjoyed watching all the awards show for some reason.
- See a Broadway Show ~ Got the idea when I was in my teens and thought that experiencing these culture events would be something I should try at least once.
- Go see a Opera ~ Same as above
- Go see a Ballet Performance ~ Same as above
- Go See a Frank Lloyd Wright Building ~ Started enjoying his buildings in my teens.
- Go to a Art Gallery ~ I always enjoyed art as a youth.
- Go to Pamplona, Spain for the Running of the Bulls (possibly run with the bulls) ~ Idea when I was a teenager.
- Attend the Iditerod (Dog Sled Race in Alaska) ~ Idea from Paul Harvey Radio, from when I was a kid. I always followed the race via his broadcasts.
- Attend a Horse race ~ I just thought that this would be fun.
- Go to a Sea World ~ just thought this would be fun.

Who I'd Like to Meet!

2008-07-04T01:00:00.000-07:00

This is a list of people that I would love to meet. The thing is that these people I wouldn't just want to meet but be able to have a conversation with as well. I didn't write when I first wanted to meet these people or why I want to meet these people but I did put a bit of info about the person in case you don't know who they are.
I will continue to keep adding to this section of the list.
- Dave King (Hockey Coach, Previous coach for the Canadian Junior National Team)
- Don Cherry (CBC TV personality, Hockey Coach, NHL Hockey Player)
- Ron McLean (Host for HNIC)
- Wayne Gretzky (Hockey Player, Hockey Coach)
- Mario Lemieux (Hockey Player, Owner of the Pittsburg Penquins)
- Steve Yzerman (Hockey Player)
- Joe Sakic (Hockey Player)
- Paul Henderson (Hockey Player, 1972 Summit Series Hero)
- Scotty Bowman (Hockey Coach)
- Sidney Crosby (Hockey Coach)
- Bobby Orr (Hockey Player)
- Bobby Hull (Hockey Player)
- Gordie Howe (Hockey Player)
- Herman Maier (World Class Downhill Skier)
- Mike Candrea (Coach for the USA Womens Softball team)
- Annie Leibovitz (Photographer)
- Write a fan letter and get a reply ~ Idea came from another list I saw.

Transportation

2008-07-03T20:11:00.000-07:00

When I started my life goals list I thought that a part for Transportation would be necessary as there is a lot of different forms of transportation that I would like to try.
- Fly in a Jet ~ Got the idea when I was a kid.
- Ride in a Limo ~ I think this one was from T.V. as a kid.
- Drive a Limo ~ When I was 15 my old neighbours had a Limo service and they told me when I was 16 I had the first dibs on buying there limo for myself but I didn't have the money at that time.
- See a Motorcycle Race ~ Idea came when I was 16 and really enjoyed the speed of motorcycles, not really a priority now.
- Go on a Hot Air Balloon Ride ~ I was 9-10 when I did a puzzle with Hot Air Balloons and that made me want to go on ride.
- To Own a Car ~ I had a car when I added this but I had a loan for the car. I meant to own a car with out making payments on it.
- To Own/Buy a New Car ~This was the young me that thought New was the way to go. Now I don't think I could ever buy myself a new car.
- Learn how to Drive a Standard ~ When I was 17 I drove a stick for the first time with friends and well I didn't do so well. I had to learn so I could drive the car later in the day for a friend. I stalled on the main intersection in Winkler with 3 cops sitting at the intersection.
- To Own a Corvette ~ My favorite car since I was 13.
- Buy somebody a Car (Used or New) ~ I think it would be rewarding to buy somebody else a car. One of the Nurses I was working with when I first made this list said that this was one of her favorite things she ever did.
- Fly in a Helicopter ~ Loved the T.V. show Airwolf as a kid.
- Go Sailing ~ Inspired by a movie I saw as a teenager.
- Own my own Sailboat ~ Idea came when seeing all the sailboats on the lakes in the Dallas Texas area in 2006.
- Attend a Indy Car Race ~ This one was inspired by my cousin Russel, and Uncle Rick when I was a kid.
- Attend a Formula 1 Race ~ See above.
- Drive a Moped ~ I loved mopeds when I was 14 and thought that I would love one but didn't ever think it would be to practical to own up north. So I figured driving one would be fun.
- Be in a land vehicle going 150mph or Faster ~ I guess that 120mph wasn't fast enough at the time I put this list together.
- Drive a Motorcycle ~ The teenager in me.
- Join a Car Club ~ Idea from when I was a new driver and wanted to own my own classic car.
- Drive across Canada Coast to Coast in one Month ~ Idea came when I was 18, just thought it would be fun to do.
- Drive across USA Coast to Coast in one Month ~ same as above.
- Fly a Plane ~ When I was 19-20 I wanted to join the Air Force.
- Get my Pilots License ~ See above
- Go to the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky - Love Corvette's.
- Go on an Ocean Fairy ~ Inspired by my Grandma when she told me how much she always enjoyed going on the Fairy in British Columbia.
- Travel on a Yacht ~ Idea came from a travel magazine.
- Own a Fishing or Cruising Boat ~ Just something I wanted since I was a kid.
- Test drive a High End Sports Car like a Lamborghini, or Ferrari ~ Really who doesn't?
- Ride a Camel ~ How many people do you know have rode a Camel?
- Ride a Elephant ~ How many people do you know have rode a Elephant?
- Go on a Gondola Ride ~ From pictures I saw in a Travel magazine as a kid of Gondola's in the Swiss Alps.
- Live in a Motor Home for 1 week ~ I grew up in a community that is know for their motor homes and know friends who did this.
- Live for 3 Months (ideally 6 Months) without a Car (Try relying on Public Transportation, Bicycle, Walking and so on) ~ This idea came when I thought this would be good for the environment, good for me, idea came from Outside Magazine.
- Go Snowmobiling in the Mountains ~ Watching a promo video when living in Lake Louise.
- Drive a Four Wheeler ~ I wasn't ever into this kind of thing as a Teenager so I thought I should try it someday to see if I would enjoy it.
- Drive a Dirt Bike ~ see above
- Ride a Seadoo ~ Something about speed and water that made this look and sound like fun.

Just for Fun

2008-04-10T19:34:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite section of my Life Goals.
- Sleep in a Hammock ~ Inspired by Outside Magazine as well as when I was a kid I always wanted to have my own hammock.
- Publish something I write ~ Inspired by my grade 12 English Teacher.
- Write a Magazine Article ~ Just something that I thought I would be fun to accomplish.
- Write a Newspaper Article ~ This was inspired by reading the Winkler Times and was always disappointed when reading the sports section.
- Build a Website ~ I saw what some people were doing in the late 90's and figured I could do that if I put my mind to it.
- Brew my own Wine or other Alcohol ~ Inspired by my cousin who always brewed his own beer. - Recreate a Passage from a Book ~ Idea from Outside Magazine.
- Recreate a Scene from a Movie ~ Idea from Outside Magazine that I adapted to movie.
- Write & Perform a Comedy Act (Perform at an Open Mic Night) ~ Was told a story about my uncle who was going to perform at Open Mic Night when I was a kid and thought that I would love to do that just once.
- Appear in a Movie (at minimum as an uncreated extra that I could point out in the movie) ~ I can't recall where I got this idea from first. Maybe while they were filming a movie in Winnipeg Manitoba and were looking for extras.
- Be on TV ~ Doesn't everybody want their 15 minutes of fame? I put this one on list before a Annual Meeting at Gateway Resources because a news station had called and said they were interested in doing a piece on one of our clients success stories. My boss said that they would probably want to interview people that were involved in the success story.
- Be on a Television Show (Besides News) ~ Put this one on the list when I thought there would be a good chance that I was going to be part of a news story.
- To Run outside Naked in Snow (temperature must be -15 Celsius and must go a minimum of 100 feet) ~ Idea came about kind of as a dare years ago a friend said I wouldn't do this and I said that I bet I would someday.
- Do a Polar Bear Dip (Swim in a lake on New Years Day in Water that is just above freezing to 15 Celsius) ~ Idea came when I was in my early Teens and was watching news on New Years Day and they showed some people doing this in different parts of North America.
- Join a Choir Again ~ In 2001 I got this idea when the church was looking for members for the Christmas Choir. I always enjoyed being in a choir and thought that it might be fund to join again someday.
- Learn to Play Piano or the Guitar or other Instrument ~ I always wanted to learn how to play the Guitar when I was a teenager but I didn't have the motivation to learn.
- Learn how to Dance ~ Growing up in Winkler, Dancing was like a curse word.
- Live/Vacation on a Houseboat or Sailboat for 3 or more days ~ I don't know where this idea came from as I am scared of water.
- Help with a Archaeological Dig ~ Idea came when I was a young teenager and the local museum always did a Dinosaur Dig, as well as Outside Magazine #72.
- To Hold a Bold Eagle on My Arm ~ Eagles are one of my favorite Birds of Prey and I saw a Falconer hold a Hawks, Owls and a Falcon on his arm. This was when I was 12 and I even had an opportunity to start a local rehabilitation facility at home and was told that there would be a good chance every year to get a Bald Eagle to rehabilitate.
- Swim Naked ~ Just seems like fun.
- Announce at a Professional Sporting Event ~ Idea came while in High School and was announcing at the High School Hockey Games.
- Learn how to pair Wines with appropriate Foods ~ When I turned 18 and first started ordering Wine with Dinner at restaurants I just ordered the house wine, but knew the wines that I was getting were not very good.
- Learn how to tend Bar ~ Idea came when I reached 18 and went hay wild at the Liquor store.
- Watch the Tides Change on the Ocean ~ As far back as I can remember I have wanted to see this, probably due to a David Suzuki nature show.
- Play Blackjack in Las Vegas ~ Something that just seems like fun.
- Get a Tattoo ~ I think this was when I was teenager and having a discussion with my cousin Russell we came up with this idea.
- Join the Mile High Club (hopefully not alone) ~ Idea came when I first heard about the Mile High Club from a movie, or magazine.
- Shave my Head ~ Idea came from two sources, the first came from a Cancer Fundraiser where all the people shaved their head for donations, the second was from a group of High School Students who shaved their head when a friend who had cancer started to loose his hair.
- Go on a Roller Coaster Ride ~ Idea came when discussing amusement parks with some friends and they were all talking about their favorite Roller Coaster Rides at either Six Flags, Disney Land or Disney World and I sat their quietly until somebody asked me what my favorite Roller Coaster Ride was and I said that I had never been on a ride.
- Stay the Night/Weekend at a Ice Hotel ~ When I first saw the Ice Castle on TV and then later on saw a special on how they construct the Ice Castle.
- Have my picture taken with a Celebrity ~ Idea when I was in Lake Louise and meet some TV Announcers, members of the IOC, as well as World Class Skiers such as my Skiing Idol Herman Maier.
- Sleep in a haunted castle, house, hotel or pub ~ I was really big into the paranormal when I was in my teens and now it seems like there are TV shows and books about this everywhere.
- Experience Weightlessness ~ Inspired by a news story about Zero Gravity flights.
- Bareboat ~ Outside Magazine List #75. When I read what bareboating was it sounded like fun and something that may interest me so I put it on my list.
- Master the Bowline Knot (and other knots) ~ Outside Magazine List #44. I did always want to know how to make great fishing knots as well as what knot would be best for different situations.
- Make a Pilgrimage ~ Outside Magazine List #46. Still not sure what I would make my Pilgrimage.
- Have my own Garden ~ Inspired by my Girlfriend Rebecca in 2007 when she was planting her own garden. It made me realize that I have always helped others with their gardens and never enjoyed it that much but may enjoy my own garden.
- Horseback Riding (not on a group trail ride) ~ I have only been on a group trail ride and I thought that being able to choose the pace would be more fun. I think this was kind of inspired by the movie City Slickers.

Work

2008-04-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

This part of my life goals is about careers and jobs that I would like to try during my life.
- As a Natural Resource Officer (Parks & Wildlife, at a Campground, State/Provincial Park) ~ This idea came in the winter/spring 1999 when I got a information package from a small community college in Northern Ontario and noticed that they had a Natural Resources Program that seemed to interest me. Then in spring 2000 I was tempted to apply for a small position at a Provincial Park in Manitoba and even did, however when I got a phone call to discuss a possible date for an interview I told them I no longer had any interest in the job. The reason was I realized that I wouldn't be able to work at a Park as well as coach Softball.
- On at a Resort ~ I had a cousin as well as a friend that both worked at fishing resorts and that seemed to spark my interest.
- Where people go for a Vacation ~ When I was 19 I thought it would be cool to work and live where people pay to go on a vacation.
- To Invent something ~ Idea came from a magazine.
- Retire ~ When I was in Grade 12 one of my Teachers said that the rate that people get into dept and stay in dept now and in the future would make our parents generation and our generation work well into there 60's and even into their 70's. With this happening there will be more people that will die before they get the chance to retire. I don't want to be that statistic.
- To Own my Own Business ~ Inspired by several relatives and family friends who had there own business when I was a kid.
- To Start my Own Business ~ Idea came from a business class in High School.
- To Run my/a Business (CEO, Manager) ~ I know that some people have the money to start or own a business but not everybody has the ability to lead and run a business.
- Take a Year Off of Work (before retiring) ~ When I worked at Bethel Hospital I met a patient that retired at 62 and a month after he retired he had a stroke. He told me if he could have a do over he would have taken a year or more off of work in his mid - late 50's and see if he could have worked till he was 65 instead.
- To Own my own Restaurant ~ Idea came from a business class I was taking in High School.
- Run my own Restaurant ~ Same as above. However I thought that I might only be a part owner and if I ran the restaurant as well as owned it then it would be something that is my idea as apposed to a franchise.
- Apply for a Job Over Seas ~ When I was working at Lake Louise I met several people who were from other countries working at the Hotel and then thought how cool it would be to work in some other country.

Travel

2008-04-06T08:49:00.000-07:00

- Go to every Province / Territory in Canada ~ When I was in High School taking Geography I realized how diverse Canada was and decided that traveling across Canada would be great as it has so much to offer.
- Go to every State in the United States ~ Also while in High School I was taking American History and thought that if Canada has that much to offer that the USA would have lots to offer as well. Just compare the amount of countries that could fit inside Canada and USA.
- Go to Europe ~ As far as I can remember I always wanted to go to Europe and see the Castles and Churches that were built there so many years ago.
- Go to Asia ~ When learning about my family heritage when I was a kid I wanted to learn about where my ancestors came from and found out that they were from Russia (the old USSR) and thought that some day I could go there and see where and how they lived.
- Go to South America ~ When I was in the early years of Elementary School I had several friends from different areas of South America and they explained how different it was from Winkler, Manitoba and that's whey I decided that that someday I would enjoy going to South America.
- Go to Africa ~ I loved watching the documentaries of Africa's wildlife as well as their different civilizations as it seems so primitive yet evolved in its own way.
- Go to the Scandinavian Countries ~ One of my high school teachers told me that this would probably be an area that I would love, because of the culture, food, landscapes, and history.
- Go to Switzerland ~ Switzerland being one
- Go to Fort Lauderdale ~ This was the Horny High School Student in me wanting to do something different for Spring Break. No longer a real priority but if I was in that area of Florida I would definitely want to stop by there.
- See a Volcano ~ Through the studies of Geology while in school.
- Watch a Volcanic Eruption ~ Got this idea while reading a story about Kayaking in the Hawaiian Islands.
- See the Mountains ~ Growing up in the Prairies made the Mountains seem special as a child.
- See The Ocean ~ Growing up in the Prairies the Ocean's seemed so far away.
- Go to Niagara Falls ~ Got this idea when I was a child as every day would start off with O Canada and when watching Television they would show the Falls.
- See the Pyramids in Egypt ~ I was probably 8 or 9 when I studied Pyramids and Egyptian Civilization for the first time for a school project and learning about the Egyptian Gods and all the Pharaohs which in turn made me want to someday get to witness these amazing man-made feats in person.
- See the Nile River ~ Also came from my first studies of Egypt.
- Go on a Cruise Ship Vacation ~ Not sure where this idea first came from
- Go on a Holiday with only a tooth brush and a Credit Card ~ I believe this idea came from Outside Magazine.
- Throw a Dart at Map of North America And Drive there ~ I believe this idea came from a movie I saw when I just got my drivers license.
- To See the Sun Rise and Set twice on the same day ~ This one came from the idea I first had in 1999 just before New Years, of standing on the International Date Line and jump between days, but since the International Date Line doesn't run through any land mass this one is impossible. I figured out that this is possible but would probably require a renting a private jet.
- To see all the 7 Wonders of the World (Stonehenge, Colosseum, Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, Great Wall of China, Porcelain Tower of Nanjing, Hangia Sophia, Leaning Tower of Pisa) ~ Idea came from while reading an article in a Travel Magazine.
- Drive to the Road's End ~ Idea came from Outside Magazine's List of things to do before you die.
In Texas's Big Bend National Park, drive up the road ending at the Juniper Canyon approach to the lonely Chisos Mountains. Everywhere you look will be cacti and birds, unpeopled brush, rock, sandy gravel, and a big, empty temptation.
- Go to Every National Park in Canada (There are 42 National Parks in Canada) ~ Idea came during my first visit to Riding Mountain National Park in 1994. During this visit I spent some time at the visitors center and watched some short movies about Canadian National Parks. I also love parks.
- Go to Every National Park in United States (there are 58 National Parks in the U.S.) ~ Idea came during 1998 when I read a magazine article about the top 10 National Parks in the United States.

Education/Learning

2008-04-05T21:28:00.000-07:00

- Learn the Native Trees, Flowers & Wildlife of Manitoba ~ Thought of this when I was hiking by myself in 1999. Thought it would be good to know what is native to Manitoba because I would want a yard that was full of wild flowers.
- Learn the Native Trees, Flowers & Wildlife of Texas ~ Thought of this in 2007 during the first full summer that I was living in Texas and was wondering what all the trees, and flowers were and most of the people I asked couldn't tell me what was what.
- Graduate High School ~ When I was in Elementary school, I saw my cousins needing help writing a resume, and applications. They got my mom to help them as well as I was helping them with spelling and I was only 11 and realized how important school was then so I said I would have to graduate High School so I didn't become like them and the many others of relatives that were like that or worse.
- Go to College or University ~ When I was 9-10 I decided that I didn't want to have the option of working in either a foundry or working on a assembly line because that is all the options I had. - Go back to University or College ~ After being in the work force for just over a year I thought that I would enjoy going back to college or university to get a better career.
- Get a Masters Degree ~ When I was 20 I thought that I would enjoy getting my Masters Degree in something someday. Even if this would only be after I retire or in something that would never be my career it would just be something that would interest me.
- Learn another Language (Italian, Greek, Latin, Spanish, Cree, in this order are languages I am interested in learning) ~ Idea came in Grade 8 because I didn't care to learn French as I said I would never need it. Was wrong there. However figured that I would enjoy learning these other languages instead instead of French.
- Learn Sign Language ~ Inspired by a client I worked with at Gateway Resources who was/is a Deaf/Mute. Became even more important when I realized how other staff at G.R. didn't even take the time to acknowledge this person because they didn't know how to interact with them and couldn't be bothered to learn how to say Hi or Good Morning or anything else which the average person takes for granted.
- Learn to Juggle (3 balls with two hands and do so for 1 minute) ~ I enjoyed watching performers juggle when I was young and when I was old enough to babysit my little sister I always tried to juggle to get her to stop crying and since I couldn't do it she laughed and that in turn got her to stop crying. I got better as this through out the years but never really got it down. When I was 13 I was about to juggle some eggs while in the kitchen and my mom caught me and told me that I could only juggle eggs in the house once I was able to juggle 3 tennis balls for 5 minutes with out dropping them and be able to do this more than once. I think she just took 5 minutes as random number so I figure if I could do it for a minute I could probably do 5 minutes so thats where this one comes from.

Will learning this make me smarter? Who knows but I don think that that you should learn something new every day. Sometimes we learn things that are useful and the rest is useless but why shouldn't you know useless stuff? Useless stuff is great for starting conversations which in turn could be how you learn something useful.

"I remember every damn thing I know" ~ Gord Downie, The Tragically Hip

Life & Health

2008-04-02T23:00:00.000-07:00

Life - Get Married ~ When I was younger I used to think that my life wouldn't be anything if I didn't get married. When I was in my teens I said that if I wasn't married by the time I was 26 I wouldn't get married.
- Have a Child/Children ~ Thought that having kids would be great when I was in my late teens and early 20's. Have changed now but could change my opinion again. - Adopt a Child ~ I know that adopting a child could change the life better for one child as there are too many children that don't have anybody to call mom or dad. - Sign a Organ Donor Card ~ I know too many people that have needed Organ Transplants and benefited from this. Namely Russell. - Write a Will ~ I know I have nothing that anybody wants but that might change. - Write a Living Will (advanced health care directive) ~ I don't want others to have to decide what too do if I go into a coma or if something serious happens to me. When working at the hospital I saw too many people uncertain and fight over what a loved one would want done. - To Die ~ This should be my last thing on my list to get checked off. (unless I get published after I die) - To Own my own place ~ I think that the pride of owning your own place would be great. This could be a House, Cabin or House Trailer.

Health - Set a Broken Bone ~ When I was 14 I broke my thumb and enjoyed how the doctor made sure my thumb was in place before casting it. Several years later I helped a doctor fix a dislocated hip. - Witness an Autopsy ~ When I was in my Nursing Assistant Course I signed up for to watch an Autopsy but that got canceled. - Learn Wilderness First Aide ~ To many things can go wrong while out in the outdoors and you don't always have the required supplies and resources that you would in urban areas. - Donate Blood ~ I knew at a young age that there was always a need for that and would always be. When I worked at the Hospital I noticed the need even more. - Learn CPR ~ Recall my Dad learning CPR when I was a kid and having to use it on my sister when she was 4 or 5 years old. Knew then that this was something I wanted to know how to do. - Witness a Surgery ~ Loved watching surgeries on TV in my teens and seeing pictures in books. When I was 16 I had surgery on my hand and was told I could watch but upon getting into the surgery the surgical nurses said I couldn't watch. A year later I had another surgery and asked if I could watch that one but I was put under for that one.

Fishing

2008-04-02T08:49:00.000-07:00

- Catch a Master Angler Fish ~ When I was in 10 - 14 I always read the years Master Angler Awards and always wanted to see my name on that list. I came close when I was 11.
- Catch and Release a Sword Fish ~ When I was young I watched a fishing show that showed this and it made me want to try that someday.
- Catch and Release a Marlin ~ Same as above. Became more of a goal in February 2008 after reading Old Man and the Sea.
- Make my own Fishing Lure ~ I loved reading about the art of tying flies when I was 16 and thought that I would like to do that someday.
- Catch a Fish on a lure I made ~ I read that this was the reward from creating your own fly.
- Go Ice fishing ~ My mom explained how much fun she had as a child ice fishing with her uncle and it made me want to do that someday.
- Go Fly fishing ~ Looked so peaceful when I saw this on TV and in 1998 I was in Montana and seeing people fly fish made it look even more fun.
- Fish at a fly in lake ~ My friend Steve B. worked at a fly in lodge and it sounded like fun so I thought I would like to experience that someday.
- Fish in a Fishing tournament ~ I love competition so what better way to combine fishing than with a competition.

For a Better Self

2008-03-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

- Volunteer for a Month ~ I would love to be able to be in a position that I could volunteer for an organization for a month to help people who in need. Idea came from all the people that I grew up around that did volunteer for MCC or other organizations. My Grandma and Great Aunt Mary's experience in Pennsylvania was a great inspiration when I was a kid.
- Give something back to the community (volunteer for a community program) ~ I grew up playing sports and being involved in other activities that required Volunteers and when I was 15 I determined that I needed to give back in volunteer hours for all the hours that were required for people to volunteer so I could enjoy the programs that I did.
- Fast from food for 2 Days ~ This idea came because of the 24 hour famine that all the youth groups did when I was a teen. However I thought that 24 hours was too simple, and that they made it almost a reward for fasting for 24 hours as afterwards they got donuts and pizza a so forth. I just think it should be done in a way that makes me understand the famine aspect as well as becomes a personal growth thing.
- Read the Bible from Front to Back ~ I have started many times and know too many people who have done it and I don't have a reason why I can't or shouldn't do it. Figured if I made it a goal that might be the inspiration for me to finally complete it.
- Stop swearing for at least 1 Month ~ With coaching Minor sports I tried to show that you didn't need to swear. So I figured if I didn't swear that would be a good example for the kids. On my first try I made it roughly 3 weeks then I stubbed my toe on the table in the Kitchen and let out a loud F-Bomb.
- Stay on a exercise routine for a Year ~ I expect this out of the kids I coach so I should expect it out of myself.
- Become a more polite person (take an etiquette course) ~ I think that etiquette is lost to young people these days as well as being polite is taken as a weakness.
- Get a suit custom tailored for myself ~ For a better looking me.
- Start a Charity/Foundation ~ I have always had a dream of doing this.
- Organize a Fundraiser ~ I have been a part of many fundraiser and think that I could organize one that would be different than a lot of the other fundraisers out there.
- Donate a months salary to a Charity just to see how good it feels ~ Saw a similar idea online.
- Give a homeless person $100 Cash just to see the smile on their face ~ Idea from either Outside Magazine's Life Goals List or from another Life Goals List.
- Cook a extensive four-course meal for my Family or Girlfriend ~ Idea came from a previous list item which was amended to this. The goal of this is to cook a first class dinner where the menu is picked by my the person/people I am cooking for. The meal has to be excellent for me to be able to check this off my list.
Will doing these things make me a better person? Probably not, but I don't think it will make me any worse.

Craft/Hobby

2008-03-25T21:01:00.000-07:00

- Eagle Figurine Collection (Collect a Eagle Figurine for Every Year I'm alive) ~ I first got started collecting Eagle Figurines when I was 13 or 14 when I was at Clear Lake National Park in Canada. After that everybody started giving me Eagle Figurines and I figured it would be cool to have one for every year I'm alive as a cool gift to pass on to somebody or for another collector.
- Carve something out of Wood (ex. Animal, Toy) ~ I enjoy wood toys and products that have been made by hand and are a true one of a kind.
- Build a Canoe ~ When I was in elementary school we learned about the Metis and Natives and how they built there own canoes and it inspired me to want to make my own back then but I was told I couldn't back then and since then I have kept that a dream.
- Build a Cabin ~ I have always had a fascination for Cabins and have a dream for what I would like my dream cabin to look like. It would be a cabin not a house that looks like a cabin as I think their is a difference.
- Build a House ~
- Be able to take Professional looking Photographs ~ When I started to take photographs I always compared my nature photographs to outdoor magazine photos.
- Take great Wildlife Photographs ~ I think Wildlife Photographs are some of the hardest to take in a way that not everybody else sees the animals. I don't know how I will determine if I accomplish this or not.
- Get one of my Photographs Published ~ Several people told me that I had this one picture that they loved and wanted a copy of. Due to this I thought it would be cool to get one of my pictures published in a magazine or in a book. This would also make me over come the fact that I don't like people looking at the photos that I take.
- Win an award for my Photography ~ I think that nowadays everybody thinks they are a photographer just because they can afford a camera and to win an award for my photograph would make me feel like I'm not just like one of these people.
- Design my Own House ~ I can't stand how all the new houses in new developments seem to have the same design layout for the entire neighborhood.
- Design the Landscape for my place ~ Would probably be AstroTurf or just rocks and wild flowers and a pond as I don't really care for grass and flower gardens.
- Restore a Vehicle (help restore somebody else's vehicle) ~ When I was young I always enjoyed going to car shows and listening to stories about the car and how it was restored. When I was 13 or 14, I helped replace an engine in a truck and that made me feel like I would easily be able to restore a vehicle or help restore a vehicle if I had the place, equipment and funds.
- Have my portrait painted ~ People don't get this done now a days and I think it would be fun.
- Make Candy & Chocolates ~ I love chocolates and I thought that a small candy shop that makes its own candy and chocolates would be a fun business venture. So I need to start somewhere.
- Make a Mold for Candy or Chocolates ~ This idea came from helping out at BITY Mold Supply as I enjoyed the stuff they were doing but couldn't think of how the applications of mold making could help me as I'm not artistic then I thought how that could work for my own candies and chocolates.

Sports Attendance

2008-03-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

- Attend a PGA Golf Tournament ~ Got this idea in 1999 while watching Tiger Woods. I'm not sure why else I would want to do this as I'm not much of a golf fan.
- Attend a NBA Game ~ I am also not a big basketball fan but I would like to see if watching a game live is better than on TV.
- Go To Wimbledon ~ I used to wake up early and watch the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament with my mom. I don't even care if I would just see a match at Wimbledon that isn't even part of the tournament.
- Attend a Grand Slam Tennis Tournament ~ Would love to experience the speed of a professional tennis match live, and where better than at a tournament that the best are at. Idea came while watching the U.S. Open in 1990 while Pete Sampras play Andre Agassi.
- Go to the Winter Olympics ~ Idea came in 1988 while watching the Calgary Winter Olympics.
- Go to the Summer Olympics ~ Idea came in 1988 while watching the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
- Attend the World Junior Hockey Championship Tournament ~ I started watching the World Junior Hockey Championships on TV when I was 9 years old and when I was 10 I said I would someday be at the World Juniors.
- Attend the World Junior Hockey Championship Tournament in Europe ~ When I was 11 the juniors were in Finland and I loved watching the way the fans cheered and dressed up for the games and the pride they took for their country. Made me want to experience the juniors European style.
- Attend the IIHF Men's World Championships (Hockey) ~ When I was 11 I got into this tournament and wanted to attend.
- Attend the IIHF Women's World Championships (Hockey) ~ When this tournament got started in 1990 I watched the highlights every night and determined that it would be great to see the best women in the sport play for the prized championship.
- Attend the World Cup of Hockey Tournament ~ In 1987 I watched this tournament and loved watching Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux on the same team as well as the rest of the Best Canadian Hockey Players play against the best of the other countries. Also inspired by my mom who got me into the Summit Series and how there was more on the line than just a hockey game. And to this day I still feel its true.
- Go to the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland (Hockey) ~ When I was 10 I got into this tournament and enjoyed watching the the hockey played on a large ice and seeing club teams from all the different European leagues. When I was older I realized how long the history of this tournament was which made me want to someday be a part of this tournament.
- Attend a Stanley Cup Finals game (Hockey) ~ Would love to be a part of history when the Stanley Cup is on the line.
- Attend a NHL Game (National Hockey League) ~ When I was first getting in to hockey I watched a lot of games on TV and had family and friends go to games so I decided that I wanted to go to a game.
- See every NHL Team Play ~ I decided this in 1995 which was the last year of the Quebec Nordiques before moving to Denver to become the Avalanche.
- Visit every NHL Teams Arena ~ When I was 19 or 20 I went to Edmonton and went to see the Edmonton Arena even though no games were being played at the time I thought how cool it was to be at a place that had so much hockey history, and after that I thought how many other rinks have so much history and how cool it would be to see all of those arenas.
- Attend a WHL Game (Western Hockey League) ~ When I started following the Brandon Wheat Kings in around 1994 - 1995 season.
- Attend a OHL Game (Ontairo Hockey League) ~ Idea came after attending my first WHL game.
- Attend a QMJHL Game (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) ~ Idea came after attending my first WHL game.
- Attend a AHL Game (American Hockey League) ~ When the Winnipeg got an AHL team I became interested in seeing a game.
- Attend a Swedish Elite League Game ~ To see the differences between the styles of play in each league.
- Attend a Finnish Elite League Game ~ To see the differences between the styles of play in each league.
- Attend a Swiss Elite League Game ~ To see the differences between the styles of play in each league.
- Attend a NCAA Hockey Game (National Collegiate Athletic Association) ~ When the NCAA hockey championship tournament was called the Frozen Four in 1999.
- Attend a CHL Game (Central Hockey League) ~ When I found out that a friend that I used to play street hockey with was playing in the CHL.
- Attend a Russian Super League Hockey Game ~ To see the differences between the styles of play in each league.
- Attend a Czech Elite League Hockey Game ~ To see the differences between the styles of play in each league.
- Go to the World Figure Skating Championships ~ During the early 90's I enjoyed the sport and thought it would be great to see the competition in person.
- Attend a CFL Game (Canadian Football League) ~ In used to enjoy football somewhat and followed the CFL and thought it would be fun to see a game in person as it had to be better than on TV.
- Attend the Grey Cup Game ~ This game always seemed to be a big party and when it was held in Winnipeg in 1991 it made me want to attend.
- Attend a Major League Baseball Game ~ Being a big baseball fan as a kid I always envied the kids that could attend a game and determined that I would someday go to a game.
- Attend a World Series Game (Major League Baseball) ~ I wanted to first attend the World Series Championship when the Toronto Blue Jays first made it that far in 1992 and won.
- See every Major League Baseball Team Play ~ In 2004 I heard a story of some guys who were doing a cross country tour to see every team in one season which sounded like fun and gave me the idea of seeing every team.
- Catch a ball at a major league baseball stadium ~ Why not.
- Attend a Cricket Match ~ I think a sport that is so popular in England and in South Africa as well as other countries would be interesting to watch.
- Go to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, ON ~ As a kid I wanted to go there and I love hockey history.
- Go to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY ~ As a kid I wanted to go there and I love seeing old team photos and uniforms and such.
- Attend a FIS Alpine World Cup Event ~ In the early 90's I really fell in love with watching down hill skiing competitions on TV and wanted to experience the races live.
- Attend the Womens College World Series (Softball) ~ In 2003 I became interested in attending this event as I was watching it on TV.
- Attend a NFL Game ~ Since moving to Dallas and it being such a big football place and having friends who are big Cowboys fans I thought that maybe if I saw a game live I may enjoy the sport more.

I know there will be more of added on to this section, as I have added several just as I was ready to publish this post, and I'm still thinking of more to ad to my list.

Adventure Sport

2008-03-20T20:57:00.000-07:00

Some people may not think of some of these as adventure sports, however most of these sports aren't in the Olympics which to me makes it an adventure sport.
- Go Rock Climbing ~ Not really sure however when living in Lake Louise I watched some guys do this which and it made me want to give this a try.
- Go Surfing ~ I was a big Beach Boys fan when I was younger and loved all the surfing songs.
- Go Scuba Diving ~ Not really sure as I have a fear of drowning and can't stand water. Must have been documentaries.
- Go Snorkelling ~ Seeing documentaries of the Great Barrier Reef.
- Go Sky Diving ~ Not sure. Always wanted to do this, I think it might have been from a movie about World War two and seeing them jump out of planes then that first peaked my interest.
- Go Bungee Jumping ~ Also not sure, I guess it always looked like fun when I was a child.
- Go Skiing ~ Watching the Winter Olympics when I was 8 years old I decided I wanted to try that.
- Go Snow Boarding ~ Got the idea during the big Snow Boarding craze in the early 90's.
- Go White Water Rafting ~ TV Documentary and Movies.
- GO Kayaking ~ A documentary with people Kayaking in the Hudson Bay with Bulga Whales.
- Go Parasailing ~ Seeing it done at a lake when I was in my early teens and hearing somebody explain the adrenaline rush from the experience.
- Go Dog Sledding ~ From learning about the Metis in school and the Festival du Voyageur.
- Go Snow Shoeing ~ Same as above.
- Go Sailing ~ From pirate books as a kid, then several movies reinforced this later on life.
- Take a Kayak, Raft or Canoe down a Hill/Mountain in the Snow ~ Looked like too much fun.
- Watch somebody Sky Board in person ~ Outside Magazine
- Try Sky Boarding ~ Outside Magazine.
- To Seadoo in the Ocean ~ Some brochure I got about Mexico.
- Go Hang Gliding ~ Not sure, I'm guessing some movie like James Bond or the like.
- Go Cliff Jumping ~ Not Sure
- Swim with Dolphins ~ A IMAX Documentary
- Go Water Skiing ~ From watching my Uncle Bob when I was 4-5 years old.
- Go on an African Safari ~ Books and Documentaries.
- Visit the Base Camp of Mount Everest ~ IMAX Film of Everest, as well as reading up on Sir Edmond Hillary, and reinforced by an article in Outside or Backpacker Magazine.
- Go Bobsleding ~ Winter Olympics in 1988
- Go Wakeboarding ~ While at the lake and watching somebody else do it.
- Go Boogie Boarding ~ Some old 70's beach movie.
- Go Abseiling (Rappelling) ~ Not really sure where this idea first came from, however when my sister Amanda came back from bible camp one time she explained how much fun it was and I knew then that if she could do and enjoy it I should do it too.
- Go Basejumping ~ The many articles I read about this in Outside Magazine.
- Reach the Summit of a Mountain ~ My first trip through the Mountains with my Grandma I decided that I wanted someday reach the summit of a Mountain, then when living in Lake Louise and Hiking through the mountains I knew that I wanted to reach the summit someday.

Sport

2008-03-19T23:00:00.000-07:00

Sport
- Learn to Swim Better (be able to swim the length of an average swimming pool twice) ~ as a child I went under in a Hotel Swimming Pool trying to keep up with friends. I also have a big fear of water.
- Skate on a River ~ I always loved watching people skate on the river in Europe as well as on the Red River in Winnipeg as well as in Ottawa during their winter festival.
- Skate on a Pond ~ A friend of mines mom explained how much fun she had skating on a pond when she was growing up as well as reading many stories as a child of hockey players that got their start playing hockey on the pond.
- Skate on a Lake ~ Seeing a Frozen lake on HNIC and seeing the kids skating on there.
- To skate wearing Figure Skates ~ My sister Amanda always said I wouldn't be able too
- To skate wearing Speed Skates ~ Inspired by the Winter Olympics and the speed they reach
- Coach a Minor Sport ~ Inspired by some of my great coaches growing up as well as I wanted to give back to the sports that I played as a child.
- Learn to play a Racquet Ball ~ As a kid watching Racquet Ball at the Morden Complex made me want to play this sport.
- Learn to play Hand Ball ~ same as Racquet Ball
- Finish a Marathon Race ~ Idea came from the Boston Marathon when I was in my teens.
- Do a Triathlon (individual or team) ~ From the Morden International Triathlon
- Stay on a exercise routine for at least a year ~ Would be good for me & I have never stuck to a actual exercise routine for more than a month. I would expect it from players that I coach.
- Put on 100km on a Bicycle in one day ~ Idea came from reading about Lance Armstrong and the Tour de France
- Play Cricket ~ Looks interesting and its not common around here.
- Organize a Minor Sport Tournament ~ Tournaments were always my favorite part of playing any sport so I thought that organizing them may be fun
- Be Part of the Organizing Group of a Large Sports Tournament ~ As a player and coach I always loved large tournaments and seeing teams from everywhere in one location.

Camping/Outdoors

2008-03-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

Camping / Outdoors
- Live off the Land for a week (Catching my own fish, hunting, ect.) ~ Idea from a Backpacker Magazine.
- Live in the Wilderness for a Month ~ Idea from Backpacker Magazine, as well as my many camping trips that I thought ended too quickly.
- Go Camping in every Month of the Year. ~ Growing up and living in Manitoba I was always disapointted that the camping season was so short, as well as the idea of camping while others people think that its too cold to go camping and that there wouldn't be others at the campground made me want to do this.
- Be able to start a fire without a lighter or matches. ~ After being lost with only one match I thought that knowing how to use a fire starting tool such as a firesteel or a flint & magnesium fire starter
- Take a city kid camping (the child's first time camping) ~ Outside Magazine and Backpacker Magazine.
- Spend the Night in a Tree ~ Outside Magazine.
- Learn how to use a Compass ~ Added after getting lost in the Wilderness with 3 friends for over 5 hours. Know the basics but figured I should leanr how to use it properly.
- Learn how to use a GPS Unit (global positioning system) ~ Same as Compass
- Sleep on a beach.~ Idea came from looking at Sunrise and Sunset pictures of exotic beaches, as well as Outside Magazine.
- Climb a Waterfall. ~ Outside Magazine
- Spend a Night in a Fire Tower. ~ Idea came while researching an up coming trip to Montana
- Build a Igloo or Quinzee and Sleep in it. ~ Built many snow forts as a kid but never spent the night in one.
- See the Aurora Borealis with somebody that has never seen them before. ~ After moving to Texas and talking to people here about the Northern Lights and realizing that many people down here have never even heard of the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights.
- Watch the Ocean Tides Change. ~ I guess this one came from a documentary I watched when I was young. (If there is a female sports team called the Tides I would like to watch them change as well)
- Go Spelunking or Caving. ~ I'm not certain of this one but I think from watching movies
- Witness a Big League Animal Migration (Bald Eagles, Whooping Cranes, Grey Whales, Monarch Butterfly, Caribou, Salmon, Seals, Sea Turtles, Wildebeest, Serengeti Migration) ~ TV Documentaries.
- Encounter a ......., on its Home Turf (Snow Leopard, Silverback Gorilla, Water Buffalo, Tiger, Lion, Giraffe, Zebra, Elephant, Gorilla, Grizzly Bear) ~ National Geographic Magazine and Documentaries.
- Camp in every Province & Territory in Canada. ~ Always wanted to travel across Canada
- Go on a Canoe Trip. ~ First inspired by the book Paddle to the Amazon, when I was a child and then again by the movie Deliverance (no I don't want to squeal like a pig) when I was a 16.

Life Goals updated.

2008-03-18T20:37:00.000-07:00

Ok, I have updated my life goals list. So now each couple of days I will put up a different section of the list and explain where the idea came from or why I put this on my list. Then after all the sections are have been posted I will go trough the list again and list all the things that I have accomplished. Then afterwards I will give my list of things I hope to accomplish this year.

I know that I will probably never do all the things on my list but thats fine with me. I will also continue to add things to my list and edit others. I have removed several things from my list already as I know rather not share these things with people (especially over the internet) but if you ask me what these things are I may be willing to tell you what these things are and why I removed them.

Here is the list of the up coming categories.
Outdoors/Camping, Sport, Adventure Sport, Sports Attendance, Craft & Hobby, For a Better Self, Fishing, Health, Music, Travel, Life, Work, People I would Like to Meet, Transportation, Attendance, Just for Fun, Learning/Education

Till next time "Schlope Je'sunt"

Energy Drink

2008-03-15T07:52:00.000-07:00

This week has been a little stressful and tiring. I was feeling a little drained yesterday afternoon so I decided that I should have an energy drink.
I had a Red Bull about three years back and I didn't mind the taste but I didn't really notice any effects because of it but I thought I see everybody drinking these Rock Star Energy Drinks so I would try one.
I was didn't mind the taste. However about an hour later I was feeling funny and not in a good way. I was buzzing around and that is how my whole body felt as well.
I now know why that these drinks are being banned in several countries.
I won't drink them again.
Well maybe with Alcohol.

OhMiBod

2008-03-03T21:55:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wish I was a female as they seem to get all the cool toys made for them.
Such as the new devices that work with MP3 Players. Takes listening to music to a whole new level.

GPS Dining

2008-03-02T21:18:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks back I was Hungry and I didn't want to make anything to eat so I figured I would go out to eat. Well I wanted to try something different so I was checking my list of restaurants that I want to try out in the Dallas Metroplex but once looking over the look I realized that most of these restaurants I was hoping to try with my girlfriend. So I decided to just put in my GPS in my car and drive a direction and have the GPS point out a Restaurant. I thought this would be fun and perhaps lead me to a place that I have never heard of or never thought of dining.
Well I headed in the direction of Sasche, Tx (didn't know that when I started driving). Once in Sasche I set the GPS to the Restaurant section and started looking at what was close to me. Well I saw one that seemed like it could have been a family run place so I stopped there. Well after looking at the menu I left this place as I can't stand places that have to name there food after famous people and that is how all this places items were named. So I continued in the direction I was in and spotted a Chinese Place on my GPS that I was going to stop at. Well when I pulled into the parking lot I spotted the Monkey's Pub & Grub and ended up eating there. I found out what I really wanted was a liquor and food. Well I had the Onion Rings and Chicken Fingers. They were extremely greasy and really had no real taste. Good thing the drinks were cheap. I would go back just because of the cheap drinks, as well I want to see the Pillow Fights and Boxing that they have on Saturday Nights. I wouldn't recommend this place for the food or even the atmosphere but the drinks were cheap and if thats what you want then its a good place to go.

I have to try GPS Dining again and see where it takes me. I have several places on my GPS that I want to try now.

Flying Fish

2008-01-14T19:39:00.000-08:00

Me and my Girlfriend went to eat at the Flying Fish Restaurant in Garland, Texas (located in the Firewheel Town Center).
I do not recommend this restaurant. It is nothing more than a glorified cafeteria.
I had the Grilled Salmon and my girlfriend had the Tilapia Poor Boy.
I would say it was so-so at best.
The prices are too high considering the food they serve and that it is a self service restaurant. The only reason I think they get away with it is that they are located in the Firewheel Town Center.
I won't be going back.

My First List

2007-12-30T10:44:00.000-08:00

Last week I saw a preview for this new movie called The Bucket List, its about a list of things these two gentlemen want to accomplish before they kick the bucket.

It reminded me of my "Bucket List"

In December 1998 I read an amazing magazine article in that months issue of Outside Magazine.
I would recommend that everybody should read this article.

Well this article inspired me to come up with my own list. I wrote this list in December 1998 and it became my New Years Resolution to complete several things on this list every year. Well I kept adding things to my list through out that year but never took anything off the list. I did however accomplish some of the things on the list. Not as many as I had hoped.

Well I lost the list in early 2000. Since then I have made notes of things I wanted to add to the list and taken notes on other things that I have accomplished.

Well I found the floppy disk 2 years back that contained my original files. The problem was at that time my computer didn't have a floppy drive. Then when I did finally get it to a computer with a floppy drive the disk would not read.
Well on Friday I finally found a program that recovers data from disks, and it worked. I was extremely happy to find this list.

If your interested in checking out my list you can check it out here. http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dchc32x2_1hfrwq3d5

Do you have your own "bucket list"? If so care to share?

Christmas Season

2007-12-25T18:18:00.000-08:00

I have grown to dislike Christmas in the past few years. Reason it has become so commercialized.
It's not that I'm a cheap bastard either.

However Boxing Day, (December 26th) has become such an important religious day for me.

It's usually the start of the World Junior Hockey Championships, the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland, many minor hockey tournaments as well as the return of the NHL from the mini break it takes during Christmas.

Santa Claus

2007-12-17T14:09:00.000-08:00

So this is Christmas? And What are we bitching about?
Santa Claus!

The acting Surgeon General in the United States thinks that Santa Claus is too fat and sets a bad example for Kids. He wants malls to hire Athletic looking Santa's.
Maybe 5 years ago when I dressed up as Santa Claus for a work Christmas Party I was starting a trend on being the 'fit' Santa.
Now if they would have come up with this idea 10 years ago, I wouldn't have had to fit into the fucking suit that is obviously made for a "jolly" body type. Even with two pillows stuffed into the suit and several people helping pin the suit to "fit" properly I still drowned in the costume.

Australia now doesn't want Santa Claus to say 'Ho Ho Ho' because it is degrading to women.
What! Are they saying that all women are Ho's?
Instead they want them to say 'Ha Ha Ha.' Can't you just imagine the child on Santa's lap asking for that new video game or stuffed animal or whatever and Santa Claus responds, 'Ha Ha Ha', now if that doesn't create a complex for the child than I don't know what will.

If Christmas wasn't so fucking commercialized (Happy Holidays and Seasons Greetings) then maybe people wouldn't be so moody, and may actually feel happy about giving instead of worrying about how much Christmas is going to cost.

That's just my 2 cents.

Froehliche Wienachte

Great Seats

2007-12-13T09:43:00.001-08:00

This past Monday I attended my second Dallas Stars Game in a week.
This is the first year that I have ever been to more than 2 NHL games in a season.

Last week I saw the Dallas Stars vs San Jose Sharks thanks to some customers who gave us some tickets as a Christmas Present. Sharks prevailed in a fairly slow game.
I honestly went into the game intending to cheer for the Stars but 4 minutes into the game I found myself cheering for the Sharks and against the Stars (except Turco and Morrow)
I seemed to piss off some of the fans in our section as I was cheering for the Sharks and against the Stars. I got lots of dirty looks and a few comments when Dallas made a nice play.

On Monday I took my Mom and Step Dad to a Game for Christmas. Saw the Edmonton Oilers @ Dallas Stars. (Had to see Dustin Penner whom is from Winkler, Manitoba. I used to play street hockey with this guy, and he attended the same schools I did he was 3 grades behind me in my sisters Amanda's Class, they were good friends back then).
We sat 9 rows from the Ice in the Dallas Defensive End. This was the closest I have ever been at an NHL game.

The game was really exciting. Edmonton scored first and well since I was sitting in an area populated with season ticket holders I was getting looked at with dirty looks when I was cheering for Edmonton. However these people took full revenge when Dallas scored and were making sure I noticed them when they were cheering.
The game ended up being 5-4 (ot) for Dallas, however I got to see Dustin score a goal and get an assist as well as be named the 3rd star of the game.

I recorded the game on TIVO so when I got home I watched the game. The seats we had were so good we were in a lot of the frames when in the Dallas end. You could even here me when Dallas scored their goals and my mom says that you could hear somebody yell at me to sit down when I was cheering for Dallas and Yelling at Modano for being a pussy.

I love being that asshole that cheers for the opposite team. If I could afford it I would get season tickets to the game and wear the away team colors every game just to piss off the Home team fans. It would all be in good fun, well for me at least.

Well that's all for today, till next time 'Shlope Je'Sunt'

China King Super Buffet

2007-11-22T10:43:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I went out for dinner at the China King Super Buffet in Garland, Texas
This was my second trip to this restaurant. I was very happy with my first trip, and that was on a slow night, so I figured they would have more to offer the evening before thanksgiving.
That they did.

The thing though was that by the time I got to my table and started eating, everything on my plate was cold. On my second trip to the buffet, I found out why things were cold. When one of the pans looked like it had been sitting there for a while they brought a clean pan out and transferred the contents into the clean pan and put a clean spoon in there. I saw them practice this several times during the course that I was there. There were certain things that were constantly being replenished which tasted great such as the fried shrimp, baked salmon, and the spicy shrimp medley.

The place was not busy. It was so slow in fact that my server spent most of her time on her Cell Phone. This I found sad as my table was full of used plates and my beverage was not sitting empty. As well as a lot of the items on the Buffet were mislabeled.

The atmosphere was very nice. The place was very clean. Most of the food that I tasted was nicely flavored, and probably would have been great had it been hot.

Overall I wouldn't recommend this place, as it seems like the lack of business has had them cut down on food quality in order to save money. I wouldn't expect them to be open in 6 months if this is there normal operation.

Reflection Place

2007-11-14T23:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had a place . . .
you would go when you felt sad and you knew this place would cheer you up?
you would go when you needed to think or clear your mind?
that would make you not feel alone in the world when everything else did?
a place where nobody knew where to find you?

Well most of my adult life I have had a place like that. Places actually.

One of the places I would often go to was the Baseball diamonds during the off season, or late at night when there shouldn't be anybody at the diamonds. I would sit on either the pitcher mound, or second base.
No matter how I felt before I got there I always left here in great spirits. Made me think of simpler times, and the many memories that I had while at the baseball diamonds. It was also a great spot where it was nice and dark, so it made it a great place to just stare at the stars.
The one thing that did sometimes make me stay there later than I wanted to was other people.
Numerous times I was there I saw couples sit down in either the bleachers or in the dug outs and talk or even make out. This often made me feel alone when I saw couples there and made me wish I had somebody to share it with or just somebody special to share my thoughts with.

Another place I went was called Mirror Lake. It was a very small lake in the Rocky Mountains by Lake Louise. I can say that this place was one of my favorite places that I have ever been. The reason I like this place so much was it was just a small hike from the dorm style apartment. I automatically became more relaxed while hiking to this place. I would always bring a book to read, a notebook to write in, my camera, and my binoculars. I spent hours there at a time. I shed many tears here often for no reason, I always felt peace here. I once spent several hours watching a bald eagle soaring the sky and then watched him watching me. I felt so comfort able here, I even fell asleep here one time when the temperature was around -10 Celsius. I always left with this incredible high (probably caused by the lack of oxygen at that altitude).

These are two of my favorite places. There are a few more places but those I am only willing to share with one person. So far this person doesn't know these places but someday I hope they will and that I can take her to these places with me.

The thing is I'm still looking for the spectacular place here in North Texas. So for now I just got my memories of my favorite places to fall back on.

Do you have a special place like this? If so how does it make you feel and do other people know you go there when you need to get away from it all?

Musophobia

2007-11-06T16:16:00.000-08:00

Alright, I'm ready for you to tell me I'm a chicken shit, call me a pussy or just make fun of me after reading this but I don't care. Just read this all before you do so.

Yes I am musophobic.

The other day I screamed like a school girl. The reason was a Giant Fucking Mouse.
I opened a door in the Kitchen, and there it was staring right at me. I didn't even finish doing what I was doing, I just slammed the door and screamed.

Yes, I know the old saying, "they are more scared of you then you are of them"
How the hell does somebody know how scared that mouse was? Even if they do I am fairly sure I'm more scared of it.

Think of it this way. Elephants are scared of mice. Why you ask? Well, mice can fit anywhere that they can get their nose into. So elephants are afraid that a mouse would crawl up their trunk and then it won't be able to breath, or it will make its way to their brain and eat the brain. Well I have the same issue. I am afraid that a mouse is going to try and crawl up my 'trunk' and if that were to happen I wouldn't be able to breath either.

I know now that its getting colder outside the freaking creatures start looking for a warmer place to make their home. Living near a hobby farm I know there are mice around I just don't ever want to see them or evidence of them.

I have been scared of mice for years. I can't even stand Hamsters, or Gerbils and Rats are the worst. (I get the chills just thinking of these creatures).
I don't know how far back this fear of these creatures goes? I do remember being 14 and working at the town compost yard with my cousin and we always wore boots while working. One day after work he put his shoes on and said he had a stone in there or something and shook out his shoe and out popped a mouse. I didn't put my shoes on for a month with out shaking my shoes out first.

Another Mouse story. When I was 18, we had a mouse in the house. Several times it was spotted going into my room after being chased my my dog. Well I thought I would be prepared and the the thing since the mouse traps didn't seem to work. So I had my BB gun loaded and beside my bed. Well one day I was reading in my room and the dog chased the mouse into my room again. I closed my door. Made a barricade for the mouse to cross and chased the thing out from behind my desk using a broom, (while I was standing on my bed), as soon as the thing got out from behind the desk I started to unload 8-10 bb's in to that mouse. Once I was sure I had him I put a ice cream pail over him and several books so the pail wouldn't move. Several hours later I grabbed the lid to the pail and closed up the guy and threw it away. No more mouse trouble thankfully.

When I was 21-22 I rented a house with a friend. It was in a small village, and we had the back of the house facing a large cow pasture, and to the North of the House was acres of fields. We knew that there would be mice. We didn't know how many. Our landlord was nice enough to provide us with glue traps. Those things are barely good enough to catch a ant let alone a mouse. After a couple of weeks of living there and constantly seeing evidence we put lots of poison out and several traps. With in 15 minutes of setting the first trap we caught a mouse. Well in the 7 Months that we lived in this place we caught 22 mice and one vole with our traps.
The worst part is that we always thought we could hear mice if the place was quiet.
One time we went camping and we set our traps before leaving and when we came back we found one trap with a dead mouse, but we couldn't find the other trap. A week later I was cleaning the place up and I noticed something against the wall in my closet. A closer inspection made me realize it was a mouse trap. I grabbed some gloves and pulled out the trap and there was a mouse attached to the trap. This mouse made it over 40 feet with the trap attached to it.
Well two months after we moved out the house was condemned because the walls were full of mice. Ewe, glad I didn't know that. Good thing the rent was cheap.

Well this Mouse that scared me made me relive the past encounters with the creature. Lucky this one is now dead. However he scared me several times. Only once while he was alive, but that night I was falling asleep my blanket tickled my leg and I threw the blankets off of me and got up and made sure that's all it was.
Paranoid much?

Well if you have a mouse story feel free to share it. It will make me feel better knowing that I'm not the only who screams like a girl when coming face to face with a wild mouse.

Till next time 'Shlope Je'Sunt'

Sweet Suite

2007-11-02T08:12:00.001-07:00

So this week since I didn't have any plans on Halloween I decided that I would go to the Dallas Stars game. Well it wasn't the Stars that I was interested in seeing, it was the Chicago Blackhawks. More specifically it was Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane the rookie sensations of the Blackhawks that I wanted to see. I love cheering for the away team when sitting amongst the home fans. They get so pissed at you when your teams winning, but they will razz you endlessly if your team is loosing.

Well I decided too turn to craigslist to find my ticket. What I found was a dream. Somebody was offering 8 tickets to a suite. I responded instantly, and got a response back right away. Well with in an hour and fifteen minutes I had everything arranged by email. I was so stoked. I have always wanted to watch a Hockey game from a Suite. This was my opportunity. Plus I was only paying $35 for the ticket. This was a lower level suite on the Stars end.

Once I found the Suite I was in awe. What I saw was exactly what I dreamed of and more. Two rows of nice plush seats, several bar stools, a couch and two living room chairs, a 21 inch television, a wide screen television, a computer.
It was unbelievable.

The game was great. I saw both Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane score goals for the Blackhawks. Chicago ended up winning the game 5-4 with the winning goal coming with 20.4 seconds left in the third period. This was the first time I have ever been disappointed that the team I was cheering for won in regulation time. With a minute left in the game all I could think of was the shoot out. As I know that Chicago would have put Toews and Kane in for the shoot out and they would becoming in on the goalie in my direction. Oh well.

Well reflecting back on the experience it was everything I ever thought it would be. However I wish I could have shared the experience with some friends & family. The worst thing is that I am now spoiled with the suite. I could really get used to watching the game then turning my head and watching the replay on the wide screen TV that is in the room and being able to stand up when the game gets exciting and not having to worry about people behind me telling me to sit down or having to move every time people are going to there seats or the concession.
It really was Sweet watching the game from the Suite. Can't wait to do it again.

Till next time "Schlope Je'sunt"

Note:
Watching a Sporting Event from a Suite, another thing I can check off my list of Life Goals.

Welcome

2007-10-31T21:31:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Remps Rants, Reviews and Reflections.

I have been wanting to have my own blog spot for a while. Here it is.
I didn't know what I would always write about when starting my own blog, but I figured there would always be something that would come to mind when its time for another posting.

So be prepared, for Restaurant Reviews (as I love to go out to eat at different places and try different things). The Rants will vary but don't be surprised if you see some rants about sports, politics and people. I know there will be some reflections, what they will be is something that we are all unaware of right now.

I hope you enjoy and feel free to give me your feed back and thoughts.
I would like to take this time also to apologize to the people that I'm going to offend, piss off and make mad. As I know from life experience you are always going to offend somebody somehow and somewhere. Not that I have a problem with that, I don't care. If I went around all my life just worrying on how other people perceived me or what I do or say then I would never actually be Living life, and thats not who I am or want to be. So here is my public apology in advance.
SORRY! ("and I really do mean it this time" - I always hate it when somebody says this)

So stay tuned, I know I have lots to share. The big question is does any body care.

Till next time "Schlope Je'sunt"