The Ace Space

4 of 6

2005-08-23T19:57:00.000-05:00

Next up in my series of tributes to important people in my life is one that's going to be a little more difficult than the previous ones, because this is a person that I don't know as well as I should but that doesn't lessen her importance to me.

I'm talking about another one of my Aunts, Kathy Paul.

I mentioned that I don't know her as well as I should and that's my loss. From what I've observed, Kathy is an amazing person. There is no better evidence of the importance of hard work and dedication than watching what she's accomplished in the last several years. Completing the CGA course while still managing to run a household and raise two amazing children is damn near impossible but Kathy did it. I tried and couldn't do it(although her inspiration tells me that it's not too late, it'll never be too late).

I also strongly believe that Kathy is a woman of very strong convictions. If I, somehow, could manage to earn her approval, then I know that I've done something right. Even if her view doesn't coincide with the "popular" opinion, Kathy will stick to her guns and I've yet to see her proven wrong. That is something I admire and wish I could live up to.

My five aunts all played different roles at different times of my life. I already talked about Darlene, but Kathy's role is a little more difficult to define. She was in BC for a good portion of my life, although our family was out there for a little while too, but in the time she was here, even from afar, she managed to impact me and still does. I consider Kathy something of a moral conscience. I'm not sure if that's exactly right, but it's the best phrase I can come up with. I have a way of telling people things to get the reaction that I want, or slanting stories my way to make it appear as if I'm in the right, even though I know I'm in the wrong. I don't dare try that with Aunt Kathy because I know that she'll call me on my BS and set me straight. So, I have to tell things to her the way they actually are and take my lumps if I was wrong.

People need people like that in their life and I'm glad to have my Auntie Kathy there, even if I don't see or talk to her as often as I should. Kathy, if you read this, just be left with the fact that I admire you tremendously. You are an inspiration not only to what can be accomplished through hard work but in how to live your daily life in a way that pleases your family and, more importanly, God. If I can keep striving to reach your example, I know that I'll come out of it a better man myself.

Paul

2005-08-17T22:57:00.000-05:00

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Next up.......

2005-08-15T16:32:00.000-05:00

Mischeivous, talented, devoted, creative, fun, loyal. A mystery wrapped up in an enigma(not 100% sure if that applies, but I love that saying).

All of those words and phrases can be used to describe my Auntie Darlene, Darlene Schacht.

Darlene has always been my big sister. Both of my sisters(and brother) are a number of years younger than me, and Darlene is closer to me in age than any of them. I've always had a special relationship with Darlene. In some ways, we grew up together, yet I had a chance to observe her from close and from afar when I was growing up and learned what to do and(in some cases) what not to do.

What I found in my observations, and most of these I've taken up in my own life are facts like this:

Family is VERY important, because they will always be there. Be true to your family above all else.

Be a loving, devoted spouse, always supporting your mate but keeping your own ground as well. Marriage is a partnership and I've tried to live by that.

Life if fun. LIVE IT!!! Every day is a new day and if you have a chance to do something you want to do....do it! Even if you might be a little afraid, you might come out of it for the better. At the very least, you discover something you don't like and you can stay away from it in the future.

Beef stroganoff rules! Not sure if I agree with that, it's just something that I've picked up from her.

Always make time for your children, even if it doesn't seem as if you have the time. Before you know it, your kids will be gone and you'll never get that time back.

Now, all these things I haven't learned JUST from Darlene. I've had very good examples from all of my aunts, and grandparents and others, but all of these things I have observed in my Auntie's life. Every one of my Aunt's is very important to me in very different ways. I'll get to the rest of them eventually, but for Darlene, I can't say it any better than she is my big sister and I'm guessing she learned from her big sisters what a big sister is supposed to be. When we were younger, I annoyed her and she tried to keep me away. As we got older and became more or less contemparies we became friends and always tried to do whatever we could for each other. Now, we're still friends, both parents of big families, disciples of Christ, karaoke groupies, movie lovers......the list goes on. I'd like to think that we would be friends if we we weren't related but I also know that our relationship wouldn't be the same.

That's not to knock any of Darlene's friends, who I'm sure she is a good friend to. I could be wrong, but I think(and this is the way I feel, basically) that to Darlene, no one is more important to her than her family. Starting with her husband and children, obviously, but extending to her close extended family of parents, sisters, brothers-in law, nieces and nephews et al.

Out of all those people in that above group I've mentioned, out of any of them that I've talked to there is a consensus. Darlene is a wonderful person who is always there when needed, usually without even having to be asked.

She also loves Stroganoff......

Later,
Paul

First of a series

2005-08-11T22:50:00.000-05:00

I said I'd be back and here I am, with the first of a series of posts that I have planned to honour the people that are important to me in my life. I think that too often we don't tell people how we feel until it is too late and I hope that this helps to rectify that. If, in this series, I happen to forget someone or don't get to them till much later on, it doesn't mean that you're any more or less important in my life. This isn't a "top ten list" or anything like that. I just want to let some people know how I feel about them, and also let others know as well and know more about these people and why they're important to me.

So, first up on my list is someone who is and always has been one of the most important people in my life for as long as I can remember. Even though we haven't always been as close as I'd like, I have never stopped caring about this person and their feelings have always been important to me. I'm talking about my cousin, Sharleen Humphreys.

Shar has always been like a sister to me. Growing up, we were both the oldest in our families by quite a number of years and since our mothers were close, we naturally became best of friends. All the way up to my teenage years, Shar was always there and she was a very important part of my life. Naturally, as we got older, we drifted apart. As we both got married and I became best friends with her husband Doug, our relationship changed alot, but I've never been very far away from Sharleen and she's still, to this day, very important to me.

Sharleen is a kind, intelligent, talented person who gives as much of herself as she possibly can, when she can, and I admire her for that. She's soon going to be a mother and I know that she'll raise her son to be the same way. I see alot of her father in Sharleen and I hope that she is able to pass that on to her son. With the help of her husband and growing up in a loving, stable home with lots of support, I'm quite confident that will happen.

Another thing about Shar that I really admire is her dedication to Christ. I know that she's had her struggles in the past and I know that it's not always easy but I admire what I've seen in Shar's life in that regard. She is always studying the word, talking with people about it and helping out at her church with sound and with her friends in the band. I hope that that doesn't have to change with the new arrival on the way and that Tyler can just slide right in there and have the very best example to learn from.

I also know that family is very important to Sharleen, as it is to me. She will do whatever she can for her family and does often. I wish that I had that devotion.

To sum it up, I'm lucky to have a sister like Sharleen and I'd like to think that even if we weren't related, we'd be friends. Doug, you're a lucky man and Dallas, you raised a great daughter.

More to come in the coming days and weeks.

Later,
Paul

I'm baaaaaaaccckkkk!!!!

2005-08-10T18:43:00.000-05:00

Hello again, everyone. I am going to make a point of doing this more often. I know I've said that before and I'll probably say it again, but I do have the best of intentions.

First off, congratulations to Angela(and also to Shar and Auntie Dallas) on the arrival of her new baby. He looks very handsome and he's very lucky to have 2 loving parents like Ang and Rob. More babies to come and it's very awesome.

Also, for those of you that don't know...and pls PASS IT ON.......my first novel, Deuce is Wild, was recently published and is now available at McNally Robinson, either in person or via their website, mcnallyrobinson.com. You can also order it directly from me. Just contact me via comment or email for details on that. I'd actually prefer people to get it directly from me, so I save paying McNally a commission, but if it's easier for you to order it from them, feel free. By all means......JUST BUY THE BOOK!!!!!

Just kidding...kind of.

It's a very personal story of one man's battle with addictions, while he strives to acheive his life's dreams. It's what you would call a fictional autobiograpy and I'm very proud of it, and I hope anyone that buys it will enjoy it. My email address, for those of you that don't have it is pafon@mts.net and I hope to hear from you.

Hope to be back tomorrow with the first of a series of posts honoring the people in my life. First up is ...... tune in to find out. lol

Hello again

2005-01-28T21:34:00.000-06:00

I never realized how ironic the title of my last post would turn out being. Thanks Dar.

Sorry I haven't posted in so long. I just haven't anything worth saying and I've been pretty busy as well.

A friend that wasn't real close but someone that I saw at least a couple times a year died last week. He led a good life and wasn't exactly young but it was still kind of hard. I went to his funeral on Wednesday and it kind of reminded how much we have to take advantage of opportunities while we have them. He had been in the hospital for a few months and I had intended to see him while he was there but I never got around to it. It's not I'm overwhelmed by feelings of guilt or anything but it's just that I can never have that chance again. Maybe next time I'm in the same situation, I'll make more of an effort to disrupt my life just a little bit to encourage someone else.

On to lighter things, American Idol is up and running again, and I want to get it down now that I already have three people that I'm going to rooting for. Shawn, who was one of the first people on the first show, who is a youth paster is one. Ozzie Smith Junior blew me away on I think the second show and there was a guy on Tuesday this past week who was also a youth pastor or worship leader or something whose name escapes me......I wanna say Jack or Jason, but I might be wrong. Anyhow, that guy might be top three in the whole competition. I guess time will tell but at least I've got it down now.

That's about it. See, I told you I didn't have alot to say. Hopefully it won't be two weeks before you hear from me again.

P

Why wait?

2005-01-14T20:18:00.000-06:00

I always hear it said around Thanksgiving time that we shouldn't have to wait until that Monday in October to give thanks so I figured what better time than now to list some of the things that I'm thankful for.

I'm thankful that God has delivered me from the same disease that has adversely affected so many of my family members, alcoholism. If not for him, I wouldn't have any of the wonderful things I have now, I wouldn't have been entrusted with the care of my niece and nephew by CFS and I probably wouldn't even be with my wife and kids anymore.

I thank God for the wonderful extended family that I have that I know are always there for me when I need them. Who else can say that they have an uncle (and I'm not going to specify anyone cause I know that they all qualify, on my mom's side of the family) that isn't even a blood relative who even though I may not call or talk to them for upwards of a year that if I called and needed something, they would be there, no questions asked, cause that's what we do? I don't know of ANYONE who has family like I have in that regards and I really appreciate it and don't say it enough.

I thank God for the support of the great Church that I'm a part of and the opportunity to serve it in the small way that I do. Again, if not for his grace in delivering me from the perils of alcoholism, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to do the little that I do at Evangel but it just goes to show you that when God blesses you, the blessings increase multifold if you take advantage of them.

There are ALOT of other things that I could be thankful for but these were the main ones that I wanted to get down today to remind me how lucky I am. All the problems I have now are nothing compared to what they could be and my worst day now is better than my best day would be if I didn't have Jesus with me to help me through it.

I don't know how much, if any, sense this post made and this is WAY off-topic from where I had been intending this blog to go but what can you do? I may be seating in the driver's seat, but God's steering this vehicle!

P

Finally......

2005-01-12T16:05:00.000-06:00

Remember back on my first post when I said that if I was POd, I'd just hide in my TV, video games or whatever? That's part of why I haven't been posting for the last few days. There's been alot going on that I was afraid of what I'd say if I talked about it, so I didn't and that's that. I may bring it up, I may not, I have no idea what this post is going to say, but I just thought I'd start typing and see where it goes.

First up, something that is either really funny, or really sad, or a sound indictment on the kids of North America(or maybe just mine). My daughter Aleecia cried the other day, CRIED....because Anne wanted me to take the TV out of our room and put it in Paul's, so that he wouldn't go to Aleecia's room to play his N64. Reason she CRIED about it is because that TV has a remote and her's doesn't, so in her own words...."it's not fair that if I'm watching TV before I go to sleep and I want to shut it off, I actually have to get out from under my warm covers and walk over to the TV to shut it off". And she wasn't kidding, she was CRYING!!!!

Now I know what my parents and grandparents were talking about when they gave the old three miles to school in ten foot snowdrifts with bare feet and no gloves, or whatever they said.

Next up, 24. The TV series. It's off to a good start and I'm going to stand by the prediction that I made at the end of last season. Jack is turning heel, or maybe he already turned. For those of you not immersed in the wrestling subculture, it means he's going to be the bad guy this year. My rationale on that is that he was very upset at what he was asked to do for his country last year and he was repaid by being fired for becoming a drug addict, which is what they asked him to do. Someone had to tell the terrorists where the secretary of defence was and at this point, it looks like it was either the secretary's daughter or Jack himself. He also went down way to easy in the fight with the CTU agent that eventually got the agent killed and he spelled out where the programmer was over the cell phone when the terrorists were listening. If he truly has turned bad, then he knew his cell phone was cloned and he knew exactly what he was doing. In fact, I think he's on his way to the warehouse where they're going to put the secretary on trial and he's going to appear on the broadcast.

Or, he's going to save the country like he always does. Oh, and if you don't watch 24, sorry for wasting the last couple of minutes of your life.

Okay, what's been bugging me is my mom. Those of you close to me know the problems she's been having and I've been trying to distance myself from it. She keeps calling though, and I can't just not answer the phone, though I should. Every time I talk to her it's a mixture of anger, disappointment, compassion, fear, love and about a dozen other emotions and it screws me up for days. I don't even want to talk, look at or even think about my step-father Paul and I don't think I should have to feel guilty about that because of everything that he's done in the last coupe of years but part of me does. My sister has made a complete mess of her life and even if I did want to talk to her, which I don't, she's pretty much left me alone, which is good. My brother is doing his own thing and I got no beef with him but we don't talk much.

Family has always been very important to me and I would have a really hard time just completely cutting ties with that segment of my family but I really feel like I'm going to have to, if not for myself than to keep the rest of my family from being exposed to those influences. So, in part anyways, that's what I've been struggling with for the last little while and it felt a little better to get these thoughts out there.

Right now, I think I just need prayer, encouragment and love from the people I'm close to. I know I'll get through it and probably be better for it, but it doesn't make it any easier to go through right now.

Later, I hope....

P

Love

2005-01-06T22:55:00.000-06:00

Thank you to everyone who commented on yesterday's post. It was relieving to know I wasn't irrational in my feelings and theraputic to "talk" about the situation. Tonight I will be a little lighter, I promise.

I was thinking today about love. There are many kinds of love. First and foremost, there is the unconditional love that Jesus Christ has for all of us and that's obviously the most important and best example of love that there is. The more common perception of love is being "in love", which I interpet loosely as the butterflies you get in your stomach when you see or think of that special someone, usually at the beginning of a relationship. "Puppy" love, if you will but even more serious than that. I've seen couple that at least outwardly exhibit this kind of love for years after they're married, so it's obviously more than what we would think of as puppy love.

What I was more specifically thinking about was the kind of love that exists between two loving and committed marriage partners after many years of being together. Those of you in relatively new relationships might not be able to relate to what I'm talking about but if you stick with it, this is what you're in for.

"In for" might sound negative and maybe it is, but I don't think so. What I'm talking about is what happen when those butterflies disappear and you settle in to the realization that this is it. You're with the person you're always going to be with and you had better get used to it. You take the good with the bad, as the vows say. Suddenly, those annoying little habits get a lot more annoying and after awhile the nice little things that you used to do in the early days become further and further between because ......well, it's human nature, I guess. The simple reason is that you've already "landed" that special someone, so what's the use in trying to impress them anymore, but that's not really it. Life happens, you get busy with family, work, keeping up the home and there is less one on one time.

But to me when I actually stop to think about it and stop feeling sorry for myself cause those "butterfly" feeling have long past and think about what I actually have, it's awesome and I wouldn't change a thing. Because to me, true love is when you can't imagine the life that you have without that other person sharing it with you.

Put everything else aside. Put aside the fighting that you might do, put aside the financial problems you might have or the disagreements with the in-laws or the arguments about how to raise the kids or whatever. These things all pass and in a healthy relationship, I believe, they are settled before the head hits the pillow. What lasts is the deep, committed love that you share with that person for the rest of your life and nothing can break it and there is nothing that you would even want to do to jeopardize it.

We all face temptations in life, some more than others. I think that is the true test of a healthy relationship. Would I trade one night, or even a few months, of the kind of physical "love" that I might entertain from an extra-marital relationship for the many many years of committed love yet to come, for the opportunity to grow old with the person that I committed to in front of God, my family and my church? To quote Paul Harvey, I think the answer to that question is to obvious to require elaboration!

Oh, before I go, Lost RULED last night, and I don't trust Kate as far as I can throw her, FWIW!

P

Things that have been bugging me.

2005-01-05T23:30:00.000-06:00

Total change of pace here today but there's a couple things that I need feedback on and I know people are reading, so hopefully you can provide some.

The first one is totally superficial. Not sure if that's the right term but follow me here. I don't know how long it's been going on but I've just noticed that Peanut Butter and this new combo Peanut Butter/Jam mixture thing they're selling has been going really fast in my house. For example, my mother in-law gave John a full jar of the PBJ mixture thingy on Boxing Day and by New Year's Eve, the jar was completely empty. The bread hasn't disappearing as fast as the PBJ. I then notice that a bottle of peanut butter we bought sometime last week is almost completely empty. I also found a spoon not far from the jar caked in peanut butter and I asked (read:SCREAMED) who's been eating the peanut butter???

I come to find out that two of the children and my wife eat peanut butter like some people eat ice cream and apparently there's something wrong with me for thinking that's weird. Is there something wrong with me? Is this normal? I know it shouldn't bug me but it does.

The next one's a little more serious and I hope you can follow me cause I need to know if I'm being unreasonable, if I should be worried, or if I should just try to forget it and move on:

Last week, three or four days before New Years', I came home to an empty house, except for my 13 yr old son. He told me that my wife had taken the other three kids out to St. Vital Park to try out John's new GT Snowracer. No problem yet. When they came home, Anne was one kid short so I asked where Aleecia was. Anne said she was gone for a few days to her friend's cabin or cottage or whatever and she'd be back on New Year's Eve, since she was supposed to have an all-night sleepover at her friends.

No problem so far. This friend of Aleecia's lives with a single parent, a woman, so I assume that Aleecia, her friend and her friend's mom are all at the cabin together. As anyone within shouting distance of Winnipeg knows, Thursday(the day before New Year's Eve) was the night of the big blizzard here and everyone was snowed in. Aleecia and her friend are out of town, 2 blocks from the main highway, and they had driven up there in a car and the road they came in from the highway on is snowed over. Long story short, she's not gonna be home in time for New Year's Eve and for who knows how long after that.

On New Year's Eve, or Day I'm not sure, I finally find out from Anne that Aleecia and her friend are not at this cabin with her friend's mom, but with her friend's mom's boyfriend, who I assume is in his late-forties or early fifties, as the friend's mom is. The friend's mom is still back in the city. So for what ended up being five or six days, my 11 yr old daughter and her 11 yr old friend are stuck in a cabin with a middle-aged single man. Anne didn't know the situation until she dropped Aleecia off and wasn't entirely comfortable with it but didn't want to make Aleecia cancel her plans with her friends. If it was me, I'd have told Aleecia to get back in the car and come home with me but it wasn't and Anne didn't.

I don't think this is even remotely appropriate and while it doesn't appear that any improprieties went on(I hope), I don't think this is a situation my daughter should've been in. This guy has only been dating Aleecia's friend's mom for less than a year and my wife or I have never met him.

I know this isn't even remotely like the other posts that I've had here and I apologize if I've made anyone uncomfortable but I'd really appreciate feedback as to whether my concerns are justified, or if I should just let it go.

Thanks and I'll try to lighten it up tomorrow.

P

Mundane musings

2005-01-04T23:28:00.000-06:00

So, it was back to work today and I was totally out of the mindset to be working, which was not good news for the drivers of Winnipeg. Fortunately, I didn't get into any accidents but I'm sure I ticked alot of people well. Oh, well, I'm not gonna lose any sleep over it.

I actually forgot to deliver something today, which hasn't happened in awhile. Maybe I'm losing it, I dunno. I'll deliver it first thing tomorrow. Not quite the 2 PM time they were promised but no one called about it, so hopefully it wasn't important.

I really appreciate the comments I've been getting. It's nice to know people are reading and you that have blogs out there should know I'm reading yours as well, and enjoying them.

Las Vegas was pretty awesome last night. They delved just a little more into the backstory between Danny and ......for the life of me, I can't remember Nicki Cox' character's name right now.....lesse, there's Delinda, Nessa, .....Mary, I think. Anyone that watches Las Vegas, lemme know if I have that right, cause it's gonna bug me and I don't feel like waiting 10 minutes for IMDB to come up on my computer to check it. Anyways, it was a nice tie-in with Duran Duran, last night's musical guest. Sly Stallone made a cameo. I think he was playing himself, but it's hard to tell on that show sometime. CSI:Miami was just kind of there. I don't even know why I watch it sometimes.

Today, I'm watching Medium. Haven't seen enough to formulate an opinion but the fact that I'm typing this as I'm watching tells you that it's not really grabbing my attention. Earlier, I was a very happy boy as Team Canada beat the nasty commies(are they commies anymore? Doesn't matter, we kicked their butts anyways) and Matt Leinart and USC kicked the snot out of JR's Oklahoma Sooners to win their second straight national title. All's well in my world right now.

That's about it for now. Not much again today, and I'm not sure what the next couple days hold. The kids may or may not have BG club at the church tomorrow, which always throws my schedule for a loop and Thursday I have worship team practice. I'll probably still find time to update but if I don't, that's why.

P

Thoughts from the Big Green Chair

2005-01-03T23:11:00.000-06:00

So, another day, another wasted 24 hours. Again, just the way I like it.

Actually, it wasn't as much of a day off as I had hoped. Anne took Breanna to daycare on her way to work, only to find daycare wasn't open today for some reason. So, she brought her home and I had to watch her all morning and then drive her to school at 1245 and pick her up at 330. Actually, 345, which brings me to something else I had forgot.

I know that it takes Breanna 5-7 minutes to get into her winter clothes and we're about a 5 minute drive from her school, so I left my house at 330. What I didn't count on were two ignorant morons parked in my backlane waiting for their kids to get out of the school across the street from my house. I waited ten minutes for THEIR kids to get to the car, and I had no way to go around them. In that time, poor Breanna was waiting for me and by the time I got to the school to pick her up, the principal was on the phone to my house to find out where I was. Oh, man, was I mad!!! Well, back to work tomorrow and hopefully the daycare decides to open.

On the TV front, I'll keep my RAW thoughts short, since most of the people reading this might not be wrestling fans. I thought they did an awesome job of building to Sunday's PPV. Muhammed was right on the money and got awesome heel heat in his debate with JR and the King. Orton and Batista were booked strong heading into the Elimination chamber and even Snitsky/Kane has had an awesome buildup.

Watched a couple Poker tournaments today that I had taped last week. Some girl I had never seen from Texas won Ladies' Night on the WPT, which kind of ticked me off since Annie Duke, Kathy Liebert, Evelyn Ng and Jennifer Harmon were all in the six woman field. Also saw an hour of what looked it will be a long tournament from Vegas so I don't really have much of a comment yet except that my boy Negraneau is still in so I'll keep watching it for sure.

Right now, I'm watching "Listen Up", which is a really underrated show starring Jason Alexander from Seinfeld. It's in a good timeslot(Monday at 730 on CBS) and has a better chance at success than most of the other Seinfeld alumn shows. It's no Curb Your Enthusiasm but then what is? It's harmless fun, though and worth a look if you're not watching anything else.

Later on I'll be watching Vegas and CSI:Miami, so I'll update you on those tomorrow if they're good enough to warrant me remembering them. Have a great day!

The "Real Paul"

2005-01-03T11:43:00.000-06:00

Dallas made a comment that it would be fun to get to know "The Real Paul". That got me to thinking.....who or what is "the real Paul".

Is the Real Paul the father of two(four), husband, son, nephew whatever that everyone knows and loves?

Is he the manic courier driver who terrorizes the streets of Winnipeg on a daily basis?

Is he the devoted Christian who counts money and sings on the worship team at Evangel Chapel?

Is he the couch potato who watches any and all poker, wrestling, hockey, basketball or run of the mill sitcom or dramedy that the networks throw at us?

Is he the one-time karaoke junkie who will embarass himself by trying and and all songs in the catalogue just to see if he can?

Could he be all of these things, or none at all?

I thought about it and I figured it out. "The Real Paul" loves long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, soft music and candles, a nice bubblebath and mint chocolates on my pillow. And all that other corny crap!

No, what you see is what you get. I really am this shallow, materialistic, imperfect person, but I am God's creation and he's proud of me, so I should be too. No matter how down I feel about myself I know that God made me and he doesn't make mistakes. Sure, I can improve and I try to all the time but I'm also me and God wouldn't expect anything else.

More to come later but I just had to get this stuff off my chest.

Happy New Year, or whatever....

2005-01-02T22:35:00.000-06:00

First off, if it sounds like I'm being negative, it's just the way I come across in the e-world. I'm rarely, if ever, as POd about anything as I seem to be but I've been asked alot what's bugging me.

First clue....if I'm actually talking(posting) about something, you know I'm not that upset. If I am upset, I'll probably hide in my video games or TV and ignore the world, at least until I heard Strongbad's magic words(don't ask) and then I'm happy again, if only for a few moments.

So, I'm guessing if you've linked here than you already know who I am, so I don't have to describe myself, so I'll just jump right in. It's just after 1030 on the day after New Years' and I have one day left on my mini-vacation before I have to go back to work. I've been watching sports all day (GO CANADA!!!!!) and the last game of a marathon line of games is just wrapping up as Kobe and the Lakers are up 6 on the Denver Nuggets.

What have I accomplished today? Almost nothing, which is just how I like it. Oh, I spent an hour shovelling in front of my house and up my walk, which barely made a dent but that's just part of living in this wonderful (tounge firmly implanted in cheek) city. Anne and I went to Sobey's and I saw Grandpa, chatted with him for a few minutes and stocked up on junk food for the next couple of days. And that's about it. I expect more of the same tomorrow.

Saw an average episode of one of my favorite shows, American Dreams, tonight. JJ and Beth got engaged (I think) and Meg chose some loser guy over college. Dumb move, blondie. Next week's episode looks a little better and 112 were dead ringers for the Four Tops (if you blinked, you missed American Idol's Randy Jackson as their manager).

So, this was my first post and I didn't really have alot to say but I plan to try and update it every day with whatever is going through my mind, tv show "reviews", book updates and whatever else pops into my head. Thanks for reading and I'll talk to you soon.

P