Spooktacular, Spooktacular!!

Good morning ladies and gents, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

It's one of my favourite days of the year - when spooks and spirits rise up and roam the earth, when little children giddily don their costumes and trail from door-to-door begging for treats, when scary movies are on practically every channel on TV. Today, I don't have to wear my Mountainview uniform. Today, I get to wear an orange wig, black & orange glasses, black & orange nail polish, an orange boa, and kitty ears. What am I, you ask? I don't really know. I've been told I look like Velma from Scooby Doo wearing kitty ears. I've been told I look like Josie from Josie & the Pussycats. Either way, I don't look like Jill, and that's all I was aiming for!

Now I do have a dilemma today. It's been my tradition for the past few years to watch a scary movie after the trick-or-treaters have all come and gone on Halloween Night. But now I can't decide which movie to watch. Usually I watch a bunch of scary movies around this time of year, but this year, the only one I managed to squeeze in was "Stir of Echoes" on Sunday afternoon, and I ended up falling asleep 10 minutes in. Now, I know I can watch a scary movie anytime, but it just won't have the same appeal to watch one tomorrow night. So this is where you guys come in...Help me choose!

The options are as follows:

Halloween: H20 - It's one of my favourites, with Josh Hartnett starring as Laurie Strode's son John, and he gets to meet his uncle Michael Myers 20 years after he last stalked his mother on Halloween. Right now, this is the flick I'm leaning most towards, mainly because of Josh Hartnett.

Carrie - It never fails to chill me, despite the cheesy 70's horror movie style. Carrie is a character you feel sympathetic for, as she is bullied and teased for her introverted ways, but when she unleashes her horror on her classmates at the prom, she becomes one of the biggest monsters in cinematic history. I watched it last year on All Hallow's Eve, so maybe I should make it tradition?

An American Haunting - I just saw this movie for the first time last year, a few weeks before Halloween, and I loved it. It was an authentic, spine-tingling ghost story with a twist that left my head spinning. I haven't watched it since, so it keeps popping up in my head as an option.

Silence of the Lambs - It's another one that I haven't watched in a long time - in fact, I can't really remember what even happens, other than the standard Hannibal Lecter images that never quite leave your memories. I got it for Luke for his birthday, and I think it's still in the wrapper...Might have to open it tonight!

Idle Hands - It's got some scary moments, but overall, this was a comedy set around Halloween when poor Anton's hand becomes occupied by the devil and all sorts of hijinks ensue. The real reason I'm thinking of watching it is because I might get too scared watching the others, and at least I know I can survive until the end of this one!

Pet Sematary - What would Halloween be without Stephen King? It's my favourite of his horror stories, and the creepy little zombie baby gives me the willies just thinking about him. The only reason I'm leaning against this movie is that I watched it just a few months ago, so perhaps it is too fresh in my memory.

OK - so those are the only choices I can think of right now that I really want to watch. If it were up to you guys, which one would you watch? Or have you any other scary movies that you can recommend that perhaps I might find while channel surfing tonight?

Have a spooktacular day!!

Late, but Loooong

Hey guys!

Well, I didn't get around to Blogging about Survivor or Grey's Anatomy yet, so here it is - sorry it's late!!

We'll start with Survivor: The last time I wrote, things were looking awfully gloomy for my boy James. The tribal shake-up had him out-numbered on a team of dimwits who chose to throw a challenge in order to eliminate either him or Aaron. They decided to toss Aaron, presuming that he had stronger ties to his former tribemates than James did. Apparently, they presumed wrong, because this week, James' old buddies saved his ass BIG TIME!!

Now, the plan didn't come off without a hitch by any means. Concoted by Todd (who is growing on me with every episode - he's kinda like a little gay Tom Cruise. And no, Tom Cruise is not gay...) - the plan had them kidnapping James after winning the Reward Challenge. James would then, in turn, share his secret clue with Todd and Amanda so they could find the hidden Immunity Idol, because Todd had all the previous clues. They would then give James the hidden Immunity Idol, and upon returning to his new tribe, he would purposely help throw the next challenge (not hard, thought James, with that already being the girls' plan). Then he would go to Tribal Council, allow all his teammates to vote him off, and then promptly produce his hidden Immunity Idol. His vote would be for Jamie, thus sending her home, and completing Todd's crafty little plan. Meanwhile, he would also find the other hidden Immunity Idol at his own camp, which he would have to share with Todd and Amanda once the tribes merged, cementing their powerhouse alliance.

Brilliant, right??

Well...Things didn't quite go as planned. First of all, while James was gone, the giggling girls decided it was in their best interests to not lose the next challenge after Frosti refused to make eye contact and Sherea wouldn't talk to PG-13 at the Reward Challenge. Fearing their former allies had been swayed to the other side, the girls decided to fight back. The Immunity Challenge also wasn't an easy one for James to throw - an eating competition involving "Chinese delights". And we're not talking Chicken Balls and Egg Rolls here. They had to face off over chicken hearts, eel, chicken fetuses, rotten eggs, and stuff like that. James was baffled when he realized his tribemates were actually trying to win, and were quite handily putting the boots to the other team. James and Todd exchanged several pained glances as they realized their master plan was unraveling before their eyes.

But perhaps the most poignant moment of the challenge was when James went up against Denise over the under-developed baby chicks (beaks, claws, and feather included). She knew he was supposed to throw the challenge, and he tried desperately to do so, spitting pieces out and forcing himself to gag. But Denise just couldn't eat them. She tried and tried and couldn't get it down. Seeing her struggle like that was too much for James, and finally he quietly said, "I got it," and jammed the rest of the baby chick in his mouth, downing it with ease. Their plan had gone completely belly-up, and not even he could save it.

Fortunately, all was not lost entirely. James had the Idol and didn't need it, but things were still OK at the other tribe. While Frosti had accidentally become a part of the alliance with Todd, Amanda, Denise, and Courtney when he witnessed them finding the hidden Immunity Idol, they still had Sherea and Jean-Robert to target for elimination. Concensus was to get Sherea out, until Courtney reared her ugly head and demanded that Jean-Robert go. Things were a little up in the air until she got to Tribal Council and pissed off everyone, especially Todd, and they went back to their original plan of getting rid of the outsider Sherea. Thank God. Finally, something went RIGHT in this episode!! Not that I'm a big Jean-Robert fan, but that's my chosen tribe, so they had to get rid of one of their new members ahead of him!

Coming up this week: Looks like James misses the boat on finding the other hidden Immunity, Courtney and Todd fall out completely, and it looks like we're gonna merge! Yee haw for James for SURVIVING!!!

Now, I've already rambled long enough and no one cares about Grey's, but last week was one of my most favourite episodes ever. But forget about everyone and everything but this:

Alex. And Ava. YES!!!

The long-awaited reunion finally happened! Last season, he rescued her during the ferry disaster, they became close while she was hospitalized with a crushed face and amnesia, and then, when she got her face & memory back and her husband came to get her, she begged Alex to give her a reason to stay with him, and he told her she should go back to her husband.

Then, Alex realized he needed her and went back to get her, but she was already gone. *Poof* Just like that.

I've been hoping and praying for Ava's return this season, and when Alex pulled back the curtain to see her waiting for him in the pit...Well, my heart melted. They spent the episode re-igniting their flame, tangled together in the on-call room, where all the sexy rendez-vous' go down at Seattle Grace. Then Alex got called away when his old intern Norman had a massive stroke. And at the end of the show, Alex went back to talk to Ava, and she was already gone again, leaving her shirt so he could remember her smell.

So once again, I'm at loose ends with Alex and Ava, wondering what's going to happen. God, I hope they bring her on full-time. Alex deserves a real relationship. Alex deserves love. And Ava's the girl for him.

Keeping on the topic of Alex - I've realized from watching my DVD's and current episodes that his uniform when he's not in uniform is a sexy black wife-beater. Yum. I love it.

OK - so the recaps are late, but they're long, so that's gotta count for something, right?

See y'all tomorrow for a real, genuine Halloween Blog!!

Sens WIN!! / Survivor SUCKS!!

I missed the first period of the hockey game last night; hence, I missed Wade Redden's second goal of the season, which he scored on the powerplay less than a minute into the game vs. Montreal last night. Apparently it was a bit of a blooper goal, and nothing I should really be all that proud of. But hell, Wade Redden scored a goal, and that's good enough for me! YAY WADE!!!!

The Sens blew a 3-1 lead, letting the Habs back in it with 2 powerplay goals. After Kovalev scored to tie it, I was a little on edge - but not for long. 24 seconds later, Jason Spezza scored his first of the season, and all was right in my world again.

It was Randy Robitaille's first game as a Sen after clearing waivers the day before, but I have to admit, I didn't really notice him. What I did notice was rookie Nick Foligno scoring his first NHL goal (assisted by none other than Wade Redden) - and his celebratory leap afterwards in tribute to his dad, Mike, who used to pounce off the ice like a jackrabbit when he played in the NHL back in the day. Between periods, they asked Nicky-Fo (Steve Warne started the nickname on TGOR, and I like it) if he would continue the trend for every goal he scores in the future, and he replied that it was a one-shot deal - a salute to his father that will not be repeated again.

I'm not going to talk about the soft goal that Martin Gerber allowed to get the Habs on the board in the first period; nor am I going to wonder if his less-than-stellar game had anything to do with Ray Emery being back on the bench and putting pressure on Gerber again to perform. I'd rather not have a goaltending controversy, and the media are flogging the damn thing to death. If you want to read about that, check out the Sun or the Citizen, I'm sure they'll have plenty of coverage.

Now, I was able to catch Survivor last night following the game. I haven't done a recap for you since my initial thoughts after Episode 1 - since then, we've said good-bye to Ashley the wrestler, Leslie the Christian Radio DJ, and Dave the annoying ex-model.

Last night's episode was what I like to call "The Survivor Episode from HELL". The nitwit brains behind the operation decided it would be fun to have the two tribes swap two players, with the opposite tribe choosing the two strongest players in their eyes to join them.

Up to this point, my favourite tribe has been the tribe with the two hot men: Aaron, the HOTT surf instrutor, and James, the HOTT, buff, sexy, delicious gravedigger. Yes, ladies...that's HOTT with two t's. We're talkin' Colby Donadson HOTT here.

So naturally, the weaklings over at the other camp chose to take Aaron and James from the other tribe. They're complete idiots, of course, and didn't realize that they would have to give up two of their members in return. They were clicking their heels over the idea that the numbers would now swing in their favour 7-5. Apparently, it never crossed their minds that the other tribe would get the same note that they did. The other tribe chose to take from them Frosti, whom I still can't take seriously, and Sherea.

A fair trade? I think not.

Things just went from bad to worse when PG-13 and Jamie put their heads together and decided that if they wanted to keep the numbers in their original tribe's favour, they'd need to get rid of James and Aaron pronto, which would mean purposely attempting to throw challenges. That's not an easy task with James and Aaron on your side, but they managed to do it anyways. It was painful to watch them giggle and laugh throughout the challenge as the purposely put puzzle pieces in the wrong spots. I wanted to slap Jamie across the face when she chucked one part of the puzzle way off in the tall grass. It was even more difficult to watch James trying to figure it out afterwards and scolding the girls for their silly behaviour. It didn't seem to dawn on him or Aaron that they had purposely lost the challenge.

I was grasping at hope when Erik found out that his girls had thrown the competition, and I saw his expression darken with disapproval. However, despite the fact that he thought it was wrong to lose on purpose, he chose to stick with his tribe and vote out one of the "new guys". One of the HOTT guys. ARGHHHHH!!

James asked them to send him home, because he didn't want to continue playing the game with people who tried to lose. However, the girls figured that Aaron had stronger ties with his old tribe than James, so they sent him packing instead. Either way, I knew the elimination was going to suck. To see those two stupid bitches sitting there with stupid smiles on their faces, so pleased with themselves, while two of the strongest players in Survivor history were on the block, made me want to vomit. Even Probst looked disgusted with this sickening turn of events.

So unless James can work a miracle next week, the girls will be trying to throw the challenge again to get rid of him. I'm hoping between now and then, he & Erik can bond and form a secret alliance to try and overthrow the girls' stupid plan.

Otherwise, I may forever remember this ridiculous Survivor twist as the most horrible twist ever!!!!

Have a great weekend, everyone, and for those of you who are on the Car Rally tomorrow - see you along the trail!!

Scary? Nah...So Let's Try Funny!!

OK guys, I've got to apologize for yesterday's Blog. I was being lazy. I wanted to write a Blog, but I had Blog Block. So I took the easy way out, found a "scary story", and copy-and-pasted it onto my Blog, then pawned it off as my attempt at getting into the Halloween Spirit.

It was weak, man. I know it.

First of all, I ended up wasting a whole pile of time skimming allegedly spooky tales on Halloween websites. I could've written my own horror novel in the time it took me to surf through these long-winded, boring stories that all struck me as being mildly disturbing, but nothing quite like the bone-chilling literature I had hoped to provide.

Finally, I came upon the old urban legend of "The Hook". I recognized the title, the story was short enough, so I slapped it into my Blog, with a little header telling y'all that it was one of my favourites. OK, so maybe it was ... when I was seven. I re-read it this morning, and while I do realize it's a classic "scary story", it's really nothing compared to the blood-n-guts horror we're all used to. It wasn't spine-tingling. It wasn't chilling. It wasn't gruesome. And it definitely wasn't blood-curdling.

So I promise, in the next few weeks, when I get Blog Block again and decide to search for another scary story to share with you - well, I'll make sure the next time that it's at least a little bit freaky.

In the meantime, if you want a few good laughs, check out the following link:

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mitch_Hedberg

If you've ever been watching Just For Laughs on the Comedy Network and you've seen this long-haired guy who stands with his head down and fires off the most hilarious one-liners you've ever heard ... Well, that's Mitch Hedberg. Mitch is my comedic discovery of the week. I've seen him perform a few times, but last Friday night, I chatted with a guy who's a big Hedberg fan. He told me to look him up, buy his CD's, and truly appreciate all that is Mitch Hedberg.

The dude is a riot. Even just reading his jokes crack me up. However, my Internet research also revealed that he passed away from a drug overdose in '05. His widow is Canadian comedian Lynn Shawcroft, and she continues to Blog daily about her memories of Mitch and the laughs he brought to the world. Kinda makes my discovery a little bittersweet.

Anyways - I'm now telling you guys to look him up. It'll be worth your while.

At least, more worth your while than reading that lame story I left for you yesterday...

Gettin' in the Halloween Spirit

With Halloween quickly approaching, I'm in a bit of a "spooky" mood. Last year, I did a "Top Scary Movies" Blog, so I'm kind of out of ideas for Halloween-themed Blogs this year. Therefore, I have decided to share some of my favourite scary stories with you guys! Look for a few each week from now until Halloween.

Today, I'm starting with an old stand-by...One that never fails to send a shiver down my spine!

The Hook (retold by S. E. Schlosser)

The reports had been on the radio all day, though she hadn't paid much attention to them. Some crazy man had escaped from the state asylum. They were calling him the Hook Man since he had lost his right arm and had it replaced with a hook. He was a killer, and everyone in the region was warned to keep watch and report anything suspicious. But this didn't interest her. She was more worried about what to wear on her date.

After several consultation calls with friends, she chose a blue outfit in the very latest style and was ready and waiting on the porch when her boyfriend came to pick her up in his car. They went to a drive-in movie with another couple, then dropped them off and went parking in the local lover's lane. The blue outfit was a hit, and she cuddled close to her boyfriend as they kissed to the sound of romantic music on the radio.

Then the announcer came on and repeated the warning she had heard that afternoon. An insane killer with a hook in place of his right hand was loose in the area. Suddenly, the dark, moonless night didn't seem so romantic to her. The lover's lane was secluded and off the beaten track. A perfect spot for a deranged mad-man to lurk, she thought, pushing her amorous boyfriend away.

"Maybe we should get out of here," she said. "That Hook Man sounds dangerous."

"Awe, c'mon babe, it's nothing," her boyfriend said, trying to get in another kiss. She pushed him away again.

"No, really. We're all alone out here. I'm scared," she said.

They argued for a moment. Then the car shook a bit, as if something…or someone…had touched it. She gave a shriek and said: "Get us out of here now!"

"Jeeze," her boyfriend said in disgust, but he turned the key and went roaring out of the lover's lane with a screeching of his tires.

They drove home in stony silence, and when they pulled into her driveway, he refused to help her out of the car. He was being so unreasonable, she fumed to herself. She opened the door indignantly and stepped into her driveway with her chin up and her lips set. Whirling around, she slammed the door as hard as she could. And then she screamed.

Her boyfriend leapt out of the car and caught her in his arms. "What is it? What's wrong?" he shouted.

Then he saw it.

A bloody hook hung from the handle of the passenger-side door.

This text taken from: http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/tx5.html

Ramble On

G'day everybody!

Well, I don't have a Blog Topic for today, so I'm just gonna ramble. Brace yourselves, that's never pretty...

I'm really looking forward to the weekend. The Car Rally is Saturday, and that's always one of my most favourite days of the year. This year, the theme is Nursery Rhymes, so my team has been trying desperately to come up with a unique nursery rhyme that is...well...not a fairy tale! Do you realize how difficult it can be to differentiate between the two? Three Little Pigs...NOPE! But the Three Little Kittens are. Three Little Bears...NOPE! But the Three Blind Mice are. Oh, and this presents another problem. It would appear than many nursery rhymes revolve in groups of 3. So what are you supposed to do when you're a team of 5? There's no Five Little Kittens, or Five Little Pigs, or Mary Had Five Little Lambs...Tricky, I tell you!

So we finally came up with one, and while I don't want to disclose our stroke of genius, I will say we happened upon it after realizing Ricky bears an uncanny resemblance to a certain fragile egg of Mother Goose lore...

This week will be spent resting up in preparation for the whirlwind adventure that is Car Rally, especially after last weekend was spent steady-on-the-go thanks to Caden's 2nd birthday. I still can't believe the boy is 2 years old. It seems like only yesterday that Chris was calling to tell us he'd arrived. Many times, I find myself wishing he was still a teeny-tiny baby that I could rock and cuddle, but the toddler stage definitely has it's advantages. For one thing, he's way more fun now. He's starting to talk a lot, a real little parrot - however, that sucks when the fam teaches him to say "Awww, Wade!" every 5 seconds while watching hockey. Also, birthdays are more fun now 'cause he's starting to get and appreciate cool toys. Like Tonka trucks and Tickle-Me-Elmo and Bob the Builder stuff. Oh, and the guitar and microphone that Luke, Kristen & I got him. Apparently the mic isn't such a hit with Mom & Dad though...Wonder why?

Now, on to hockey. The NHL schedule has proven to be an odd one for the Sens thus far. After playing 6 games in 11 days to start the year, we're now on a 4-day break, which will end on Thursday when the Habs come to town. The Sens will play again Saturday vs. Florida, and then they'll be off for another entire week. It's very strange. It's like I was thrust into full-blown hockey fan mode, and now there's nothing to satisfy that craving for a hockey high. Looking forward to Thursday's game, though, should be a goody.

OK, so that's all for now! Hope you're all having a great day!!

There Goes the Perfect Season

Alright, so I don't think anybody really expected the Ottawa Senators to go 82-0 this season. But after winning their first 5, things were looking pretty snappy, and I for one thought it was entirely possible that they'd defeat the Carolina Hurricanes and extend their winning streak to 6 last night.

Well, apparently not. But they did give it one big last-ditch effort that almost worked; alas, they dropped the game 5-3, with Eric Staal squashing any glimmer of OT with an empty-net goal in the final minute.

With the score 4-1 in favour of the 'Canes with the minutes winding down in the game, Mike Fisher potted his first of the season. Moments late, Joe Corvo ripped one from the point, and suddenly all of those smarty-pants fans who had already raced to their vehicles looked like a big bunch of schmucks (by sister & brother-in-law included). For a few brief seconds, I was dreaming of that big comeback win that sometimes happens, a sort of miracle that takes place on ice when a team that's down and out dramatically roar back to steal the two points.

But then, Staal scored into the empty net, and time ticked down, and the drama faded, and I just shrugged and went to bed. Sure, it would've been fun to win it in OT or a shoot-out and maintain our sparkling record. But if we're going to have an on-ice miracle, do I really want to have it at the 6-game point of the season?

Nah...

Meanwhile, my buddies over at Grey's Anatomy had one of their best episodes ever. I laughed, I cried, and I just loved them. Really Old Guy woke up, and antagonized Izzie, or "Blondie" as he called her, for almost the entire episode. One of my highlights - the scene where he tried to die by squeezing his eyes shut and gritting his teeth and holding his breath, while Izzie informed him that he might poop the bed, but he sure wasn't gonna die like that. Unfortunately, and much to Izzie's chagrin, Really Old Guy did end up dying, and I thought it was really sweet of Izzie to gather the gang in his room to remember the times they spent with him during their lunch hours. One of those quirky, bittersweet moments that I love most about Grey's.

Meanwhile, Alex, who has been growing and developing and gradually becoming a more compassionate person and doctor for the past three-plus seasons, took a big step backwards last night. I like Alex for his bad-boy, "I'm an ass and I like it that way" attitude. But he really captured my heart in past scenes when he was carrying Izzie out of her dead fiancé's hospital room, or offering her his coat after she stood outside the hospital one whole day, or helping his Jane Doe pick her new identity, or confessing to Cristina that he misses Rebecca. But every so often, they give Alex another moment where he makes you want to slap him across the face. Last night, after he told an entire elevator full of interns who worship George that he's a repeater and that's why he knows so much, and then snapped at his old intern - well, that's exactly what I wanted to do to Alex. I wanted to slap the smug smile right off his stupid face.

But don't worry, I still love him.

Speaking of George, he's having a rough time. He's in love with Izzie, but he doesn't want to hurt Callie. He's got Izzie chasing him around begging him to end his marriage, and he's got a wife who suspects her marriage is over anyways, but he's torn between them both. I really feel for George. He's in bad situation. Finally, at the end of last night's episode, Callie told him to just say it, and he told her he slept with Izzie. Then fade to black...

God I love this show. I really can't wait to see what happens next!!

Have a great weekend, everyone! :)

We're baaaaaaaack...

The NHL regular season kicked off last night with my beloved Sens facing off against a familiar foe: The Toronto Maple Leafs. I tell ya, there's nothing better to get the competitive juices flowing than sitting down to watch the valiant Red-Black-and-Gold take on the lowly Blue & White!

Now, I actually did miss the first period because I had Karate. When I arrived home, the score was tied at 2. I was a little bewildered. How could we be tied with the Leafs? The Sens have been touted all training camp-long as the Beasts of the East - the team to beat. The Leafs, on the other hand, have been the universal whipping boys of most in the hockey world. Definitely overspending for what they've got, and probably not going to make the playoffs for the third straight year.

Just the way I like it.

So how...how...did we end up tied after 1 period?

Sloppy play, the family told me. Weak defence. Oh, and by the way, Wade Redden got in a fight.

Huh???

I had expectations for my dearest Wade going into this season. I expected him to play his ass off, erase the painful memories of last season, go out and have a career season, and make the Sens want to sign him to a contract extension.

(Which probably won't happen now, especially after they signed Dany Heatley to a 6-year $45 Million extension before last night's opener. That's very good news for Sens fans. But I don't think they can afford Wade after this, even if he takes a "hometown discount". So now I'm bracing myself for the departure of my darling golden boy at some point this year. And it hurts...oh it hurts...)

But back to last night. Of all my expectations for Wade Redden, the fight wasn't really something I was anticipating. But apparently he did go toe-to-toe with this Newbury guy. I didn't see it, so I didn't really believe it.

Until late in the second period, when all of a sudden he was puttin' up the dukes against Bates Battaglia. And he actually landed some good punches! He definitely stood his ground and I was proud of him. Plus, he looked kinda sexy with blood streaming down his face...Very hot.

Two fights. Two fights on opening night. What's up with WADE??

So yeah...The Leafs went ahead 3-2, then Dany Heatley tied it up with the third period winding down. Then Heater scored again in OT to put the icing on the cake. Apparently he decided to throw his own party in honour of his new contract.

I'm hoping the celebration continues tonight, with the Leafs in town for the re-mnatch...

GO SENS GO!!

Premiere Week & Steve "The Monster" Downie

Well, it's already Thursday, so I guess I've already missed a large part of what is being widely touted as "Premiere Week" on television. However, the only 2 shows debuting this week that I have any interest in are Grey's Anatomy, which airs tonight, and it's new spin-off, Private Practice, which kicked off last night.

I wasn't too sure how I'd feel about Private Practice, but I really enjoyed it last night, and I'm already hooked. While I don't think Addison's new pals over at the Oceanside Wellness Centre are as an enigmatic, entertaining group as her former colleagues at Seattle Grace, I think they'll grow on me. On her first day, Addison had to deal with her new co-workers' disapproval of her hiring, along with a pregnant teenager who went into labour and then promptly passed out. Addy had to do an emergency c-section, barely saving the girl and her baby. Oh, and her best friend Naomi's ex-husband Sam saw her naked. Not exactly a smooth transition, but I can't wait to see how things develop for her in LA.

My main concern with this whole situation is how Addison's departure is going to effect the storyline over on Grey's. Also, Dr. Burke, played by Isaiah Washington, will be missing this year, as his contract was not renewed after all of the scandals he caused last season with his slurs against gay co-star T.R. Knight. Things aren't going to be the same without Addison and Burke in the mix, and I'm so excited to see how it all plays out tonight on the season premiere of Grey's!!

Now, on a completely different topic: Everyone has probably heard about the debacle that took place Tuesday night during the Sens game vs. Philly, when Flyers hopeful Steve Downie laid a crushing blow to the head of Ottawa forward Dean McAmmond. I wasn't watching the game, and I didn't see the replays. All I have heard is the media's reaction, both in the newspaper and on sports talk radio - and it sounds like this was a doozie. Apparently, Downie charged at McAmmond, had all the time in the world to think about it, leapt off the ice, and put his shoulder into McAmmond's head. McAmmond then hit his head on the boards, and again on the ice. He was removed from the ice on a stretcher and spent the night in the hospital. He is now recovering at home with a concussion.

Everyone is upset over the incident, and it seems almost everyone is calling for Downie's head now.

In my opinion, it's time for the NHL to do something that really sends a message. Vicious head-hunting in the game has become too common-place. Someday, someone is going to get killed. The situation here is that Downie likely is going to be returned to the minors anyways, so how does a suspension to him send a message at the NHL level? If it were up to me, Downie would be handed a lengthy suspension, to be enforced by the AHL, and he should be banned from ever playing in an NHL game again. He has a reputation of being a nutcase, and his actions on the ice have been notably criminal in the past. He's a loose cannon, and he should never be given the opportunity to end another veteran NHLer's season again.

It's not yet known if and when McAmmond will be ready to play again. Dean McAmmond, a pro who has fought and clawned to earn a place and respect in this league for years, may not lace 'em up again for a very long time, if ever. Steve Downie, a young, reckless, disrespectful goon has taken away his ability to play the game he loves, at least for now. So as far as I'm concerned, Downie should not be allowed to grace the ice surface of the NHL ever again.

He wanted to make a name for himself. He wanted to prove his worth and make the Flyers take note of him.

Well guess what, Steve. They did. And so did everyone else in the NHL. And because of that, you hopefully will never get the chance to play in this league again.

Jill's Early Survivor Impressions

Here's some of my early impressions of Suvivor: China...

- I refuse to take seriously a guy who calls himself "Frosti".

- I already detest the skinny blonde girl named Courtney. She's a total knob. She couldn't even show respect for the Buddhist welcoming ceremony that Probst put them through at the beginning. It was funny to watch that Chinese monk impatiently slapping at her hands, though! Then she bitched and whined about her teammates, because they're not "city people". Ugh.

- The Christian Radio DJ was also a little annoying when she backed out of the welcoming ceremony, even after Jeff told them it was not a worship ceremony. I guess everyone has their own reasons and beliefs, but c'mon...Just suck it up and soak in the experience. I'm sure God's not going to hold it against you.

- Has there ever been a more clueless bunch of Survivors? I'm not even sure some of them even saw the show before. There were skimpy dresses, spike heels, combat boots...One girl even tried to get Probst to let her grab a bra from her suitcase. Seriously. It's Survivor, for crying out loud...Be prepared!

- My favourite tribe was the one with the two hot guys: James, the extremely buff grave-digger with a smile that could melt your heart, and Aaron, the surfing instructor, who's just an all-round hottie. Both will be fine for a few weeks, I'm sure, but they both may become big targets: James is very quiet, and already confessed that he'll have problems with the social side of the game; and Aaron was pretty much forced into the leadership role right off the bat, so he's bound to step on some toes sooner or later. However, these two guys may be the hottest Survivors to play the game since Colby Donaldson (*sigh*), so hopefully they're around for the long-haul!

- I didn't know someone could be gay and a Mormon at the same time. But apparently, flight attendant Todd is.

- Luke had a problem right off the bat with with former model, Dave. I was OK with him until he pleaded with his tribe to "pretty please" work hard to get the shelter done. Pretty please? Seriously?

- The Chinese girl, whom I shall refer to as PG-13, was bossy and frustrated with her silly tribe. If I were her, I'd have most been frustrated with Ashley the wrestler who did the "sick thing" for a few days, all huddled up in a ball and shivering while trying to make herself puke.

- The old dude named Chicken reminded me of Robin Williams. His voice drove me insane, but otherwise, I thought Chicken was an OK dude. He tried to voice his opinion on the first day and was shot down, so he gave up trying. Then his tribe got mad at him for not offering his opinions anymore. It still sticks in my craw that a tribe that had both Ashley and PG-13 to vote off, they chose Chicken instead. I don't think he got a fair shake.

- The lunch lady has a pretty snazzy mullet.

- Jean-Robert, the pro Poker player, should really, really keep his shirt on. Eww.

- James should always - always - keep his shirt off. Yum.

Look forward to Survivor updates every Friday! Have a great weekend, everyone! :)

Evil Dick...And Evil Hugh Adami

So my prediction was almost right for last night's finale of Big Brother 8. I expected it to be a close vote of 4-3, with Dick taking the top prize over his daughter, Daniele. As it turned out, the jury did give Dick the crown, but at a 5-2 vote. I would have been happy either way - I truly believe the Donatos were the best players in that house. But once again, the America's Player twist stole the show - when Julie finally revealed to the houseguests that Eric was playing for the American public, it was hilarious to see the look of shock on the jury members' faces! Especially Jessica. She looked absolutely floored. It was clear that Eric never did tell her his secret, which I suspected he would once they were alone together in the sequester house. The only bad thing about it was I felt it took a little lustre off of Dick's win. They continually mentioned how Dick easily would have been evicted many weeks before if Eric hadn't been told to evict Dustin instead. The thoughts of Dustin sitting in the Final 2 make my skin crawl. Thank God for America's Player!!

Now from Evil Dick, we go to Evil Hugh Adami, a sports reporter for the Ottawa Citizen. Mr. Adami and I have rarely seen eye-to-eye, but I became especially frustrated with him after last season, the first round of the playoffs, he tsk-tsked the people of Ottawa for booing superstar Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins. He thought the boo-birds were classless and mean to the freshest young star this league has seen since Wayne Gretzky.

I said: "Poor freakin' Sid". As fans, it's our right to try and throw off the other team in any way possible, and I believe the fans only started harrassing the Boy Wonder after he had whined and complained repeatedly to the refs after he flopped dramatically to the ice time and time again. Being chastised by the media for being emotional and showing their displeasure for the opposing team did not sit well with Sens Fans. They attacked Adami by sending letters and calling in to the Team 1200. I held a grudge against him myself, and since then, I've largely discounted his articles, if I even read them to begin with.

But today, under his headline "Only matter of time now", was a picture of Wade Redden. So thus, I was forced to sit and read the idiot's story. I really wish I hadn't.

Evil Hugh spent half a page proclaiming that Wade Redden is on his way out of town following the 5-year extension handed to Mike Fisher yesterday. He claimed the Fisher signing left the writing on the wall that Redden is no longer welcome here, and this season will be his "farewell tour" with the Sens.

Now, I'm not stupid - I know it's not looking good for Wade to stay with the Sens past this year, unless he chooses to stay with the Sens and take a pay-cut. However, I think that possibility is entirely likely. He's been here for 10 years, he chose to stick with this team instead of test the waters of Unrestricted Free Agency as Zdeno Chara did, and he has done so much for the community. Why would he want to leave now? Why is it so hard to believe that Bryan Murray will offer him a multi-year extension, for a reasonable sum of money, and promise to make him a Senator for life?

I think it can happen. I've got my fingers crossed. And I hope the day it does happen, Hugh Adami remembers the article he had published today, and realizes how terribly wrong he was.

GO SENS GO!!

The Season of the Donatos

When Big Brother 8 kicked off this past June, there were 2 big twists in the house. The first was that 6 people were playing with someone they had unfinished business with from the past. The second was that one player was secretly working for the American public, performing tasks and casting votes as he was directed by them.

Early on, it seemed that the America's Player twist would be far more significant, as Eric quietly worked away, earning the trust and respect of his housemates while advancing himself further and further in the game, completing his tasks and moving closer and closer to the half-million prize. Meanwhile, the 3 pairs of housemates who already knew each other were dropping like flies. First Carol, Jessica's former BFF, was axed in week 1. Then Joe, Dustin's ex-lover, was sent packing in week 2. That left only Dick and Daniele Donato, the estranged father and daughter, left competing in the house.

While Dick and Daniele had a rocky start in the house, with many arguments and screaming-matches, the eventually cemented themselves as a strong team. While they didn't always agree with each other's strategies - Dick disapproved of Daniele's relationship with Nick, and Daniele was always at odds with Dick's volatile behaviour - they always remained loyal to one another, and they pretty much became the masterminds in the BB household.

They formed an alliance mid-way through the game with America's Player, Eric, and his showmance, Jessica. Then, last week, on a double-eviction night, the ushered both of their allies out of the house. Next, they made quick work of weakling Jameka. And then they went head-to-head with another of their former allies, Zach, and last Thursday night, the defeated him as well.

With America's Player evicted, Dick and Daniele Donato officially became the biggest story in this season of Big Brother, and they may have even become the biggest storyin Big Brother history. As Dick pointed out, no other "team" has ever been able to achieve Final 2 status in any other season. Not Jason and Danielle in Season 3, not Janelle and Howie in Season 6, not even Chilltown - the Evil Dr. Will and Mike Boogie - could do it - in either of their seasons (2 & 7)!

Dick and Daniele have talked the talk and they have walked the walk. Every time they said they were going to do something, they did it. They intimidated, they bragged, and they conquered. They have been in jeopardy on numerous occasions, and they have always managed to flip it over and re-gain the power. Everytime they were down and out, they found a way to save themselves. They have epitomized what it is to be the best BB players ever. Even Dr. Will, widely considered the King of Big Brother, has to be impressed.

All of this being said, Dick and Daniele's domination has largely taken any fun or suspense out of tonight's finale. It really doesn't matter who the jury decides to crown the victor, because as father and daughter, they will likely share the money, and thus, both are winners. However, they will always be remembered as the strongest alliance to ever play the game, and in the long run, I think (and hope) that the Big Brother experience will strengthen their relationship and bring them closer. For them, I think that should be the biggest reward of all.

Dick said it a few weeks ago, and his prophecy has been fulfilled: It has, indeed, been the Season of the Donatos!!

Final Prediction: Dick wins by a 4-3 vote, and then prompty vows to share his winnings with his daughter. Awwwwww....

The Monday Morning After

Happy Monday, Bloggers!

I must admit, though, that I wasn't entirely happy to see Monday roll around this AM. This past weekend "My Band" (aka Jackshit, aka Foundation) were in town, playing Gavan's on Friday and Saturday nights, and it is on Band weekends that I realize that I'm getting old. I used to be able to go out two nights in a row, party til 3 AM both nights, and have no trouble getting up on Monday morning.

Alas, I'm no longer that 18-year-old who was ready to rip, anytime, anywhere. I still do it when the boys are in Q-Town, but I always end up semi-regretting it when it's time to get up for work. There's always that temptation to call in sick just so I can log a few more hours of Z's. What's even more pathetic about it this time around is that I didn't exactly get plastered on either night. I had a few drinks, lots of dancing, lots of sitting around laughing and talking, but at no point was I "drunk". I even drove home both nights without a problem. On top of that, I had several long naps on both Saturday and Sunday.

And yet, I still felt like crap this morning!

So is it worth it? Maybe it's time to stop hanging out with the band every weekend that they're in town. Maybe it's time to grow up and start going home early to bed, just have one drink, maybe only stay for one set. Maybe I should be staying home doing crafts in the evenings, or just watching a good movie. Perhaps I should be trying to think of other ways to spend my weekends than at a dingy, stinky ol' bar.

Oh, who am I kidding. Next time they're in town, I'll be there with bells on!

Let the Hockey Talk Begin!!

Seems like just yesterday I was vowing no more hockey talk for the summer.

Well, guess what, folks. Today, the Ottawa Senators Training Camp officially begins!! YAYYYYYYYYYY!!

Yesterday marked the beginning of hockey season in my world with Wade Redden's colour photo gracing the front page of the Citizen Sports section. The story below his handsome mug told of how he's focused and ready to prove his worth this season, and how he'd like to put the trade talk of the summer behind him. The article certainly didn't rule out a trade in the future - in fact, it promised constant rumours until the trade deadline in February, at which point they figure the "Redden Dilemma" will be solved. Murray will either be looking for a new home for him until that point, or he will be attempting to sign him to a contract extension, so that he doesn't have to see him slip away for nothing in Unrestricted Free Agency when next summer rolls around.

However, all of this trade-talk mumbo-jumbo was really secondary to me after reading the first few lines of the story. It was in those first few lines that I got some rather devastating, yet still uplifting news: Wade Redden got engaged.

Engaged.

My boy, all grown up now, is going to be getting married sometime in the near future!!

It was a very odd feeling - one of crushing defeat mixed with surging pride. I've been following this man's life as a hockey player quite closely for about 12 years now. When he turned 30 this past June, I did some reflecting on what it was like when he was just an 18-year-old, starting fresh in the NHL, and how far he and I have come since then. Now, he's actually going to get married. It kinda makes me tear up a little bit.

I wish Wade Redden years of happiness with his soon-to-be-bride. I wish him all the love in the world. I wish him a lifetime of laughter.

But most of all, I wish it was me...

OK, so that wasn't really hockey talk...but there's gonna be plenty of it to come, so brace yourselves!!

GO SENS GO!!

Brian Melo Crowned Canadian Idol

Hello out there...if there's anyone left out there...

Sorry I let the Blog die again. But I just decided to revive it. Because I've pretty much followed Canadian Idol here on the Blog all summer long, and last night was the finale, so I thought I'd better bring it all full circle.

It seems like so, so long ago that I first started watching the auditioning process. Funny, I barely remember seeing Jaydee Bixby back then, and I have no recollection of Brian Melo at all. And yet, last night, it was the two of them, centre stage, amongst the 2-hour hoopla that saw the Top 10 perform on several occasions, along with appearances by Avril Lavigne, Bon Jovi, and last year's champ, Eva Avila.

It was a star-studded affair, as the camera was continually flitting over celeb faces in the crowd. One that they missed, but that I spotted, sitting directly behing judge Zack Warner, was last summer's winner over on Rockstar: Supernova, Lukas Rossi. Seeing Lukas smirking through the extravaganza was one of the highlights of the night for me!

I still have a bitter taste in my mouth over Greg Neufeld's long-ago elimination, and every time Greg got to sing a snippet last night, I was reminded of what a travesty it was that he was not in the Final 2 competing for the Idol crown. That being said, Brian Melo had really stepped up his game, especially since Greg's elimination, and if there was anyone in the Top 10 that deserved it as much as Greg, it was Brian.

That's not to say Jaydee wasn't talented. I've never heard a 17-year-old sing like Elvis Presley quite like he did, and everytime he performed one of the King's hits, or when he did Conway Twitty's "Only Make Believe", he gave me chills. Jaydee's old-school rockabilly style was bang-on, and he was a real crowd-pleaser. I can tell you my mom saw him do "Only Make Believe" last week, and she fell it love with him. (To be honest, when Jaydee originally did that song at the beginning of the Top 10, that's when he won me over too.)

However, going into last night's finale, there was really only one choice in my mind as to who should walk away with the honours, and that was Brian Melo. And finally, after two hours of schmoozing and a billion performances and "looks back" at the summer that was on Canadian Idol, host Ben Mulroney crowned Brian the Idol champion. It was rewarding to see Brian standing there amidst the showering confetti and hear him sing his new single "All I Ever Wanted". It restored my faith in the circus that is Idol - because a legitimate singer with a potentially-legitimate career, someone who's not going to be a flash-in-the-pan or an Elvis impersonator, walked away from this thing as the winner, and I can't wait to see where Brian goes from here.

But Greg still shoulda been there...

Top 10 Reasons to Love the Fair

No ball game last night due to the torrential thunderstorm we endured here in the Ottawa Valley. So here's your Top 10 Reasons to go to the Shawville Fair this weekend instead of a game re-cap. The fair is like a special holiday around here - probably my second-favourite time of the year after Christmas. The only thing that makes the end of summer tolerable is knowing it's Fair Time!

10. The Midway - I haven't actually been on a ride at the Shawville Fair for 5 years or so, because it's cheaper to get in without a ride pass, and once you hit my age, your just not cool standing in lines for rides unless your holding the hand of a child. That being said, the Shawville Fair has probably the best Midway any country fair in the area has ever had.

9. The Barns - Ok, so I'm not a big animal person, but I usually try to take a flying trip through the barns to check out the cows and the petting zoo. Little kids love it in there.

8. The Handicraft Exhibits - At least once during the fair, I have to take a tour through the exhibit hall to check out the quilts and crafts and such. Over the past few years, while the fair has gotten bigger and better and more about the entertainment, the craft exhibits are still what makes it an old-time fair. And it's great for the old ladies, keeps 'em happy.

7. Miss Shawville Fair - I don't pay a whole lot of attention to the Miss Shawville Fair pageant, but it's always nice to hear who won, and it's fun to see the newly crowned winner mingling with the crowds all weekend.

6. Seeing Old Friends - Shawville Fair is like Homecoming around here. Many who have left the area come back for the fair, and it can be like a high school reunion. Some you don't care to ever see again, but for others, it's nice to see them and catch up on the past year!

5. The Truck Pull - It's the only reason to go to the fair on Thursday night, and right now, I'm really looking forward to it! Loud trucks, people crammed into bleachers, lots of dust and noise. The perfect kick-off to Fair Weekend. For many, the ride begins tonight...

4. The Demolition Derby - In a way, the Derby is a bittersweet occasion - it's held on the last day of the Fair, the holiday Monday, and while it is a part of the fair that I greatly anticipate, it also signals the end of all the fun. It's fun to watch the cars crashing and bashing, and when your butt get sore from sitting too long, it's also your last chance to tour the grounds and make sure you got to see everything you came for.

3. The Entertainment - In the past, we've seen the likes of Paul Brandt, the Wilkinsons, Terri Clark, Carolyn-Dawn Johnson, Aaron Lines, Aaron Pritchett, George Canyon, Emerson Drive, and Stompin' Tom all take the stage at the Shawville Fair. It's been a showcase of elite Canadian Country Music over the past 5 or 6 years. This year, the organizers decided to go a little more low-key, with only Friday and Sunday night featuring "big names", Johnny Reid and Doc Walker. Doesn't matter to me - I love 'em both.

2. The Beer Tent - It's where all the partying takes place - the place to be at night at the fair! It's a whole lotta crazy, all under one big white tent, and standing just outside it, like we usually do, you get to see pretty much everyone who's anyone! And once your drunk, the Beer Tent can be the best place in the world...

1. The Food - When I first started thinking about this list, I was using food items as individual rankings on the list. Then I realized I could do a Top 10 just on food at the fair, so I decided to lump 'em in all under the Big #1: Beaver Tails, ice cream, the Lemonade stand, Spinners, Poutine Machine, Billy T's Pizza, Cotton Candy, Candy Apples, fudge, and best of all...Cheese Burgers from the 4-H booth. Yum!!!!

So I'll hopefully see you all this weekend at the Fair! You can probably find me between the 4-H booth and the Beer Tent - my headquarters for the weekend. Bring it on!!

YAY for Eric & Jess!

If you recall, yesterday I mentioned that I'd really like to see Eric and Jessica finally hook up on Big Brother, even if it meant that America had to tell Eric to kiss her. Well, America did choose Jessica for Eric to kiss (clearly, people are more sentimental than I thought - I was sure they'd make him kiss Dick!) - but unbelievably, Eric stepped up to the plate even before he received his orders from the viewing public!

Jess & Eric have easily become one of my all-time favourite in-house couples. They seem so opposite, yet their bond is so tight, and there has definitely been some romantic tension between them for the past few weeks. Lots of snuggling in bed, back-rubbing, and so on... So last night, when Eric finally made the move and kissed Jess while they were lying in bed together, I did a little victory dance for them. I was possibly the cutest moment in BB History!

So the next day, Eric gets his marching orders from the good people of the USA, and promptly went to the bathroom to gargle with mouthwash, then went to smooch Jess. But apparently Jess wasn't in a big-time kissy mood, as she just gave him a quick peck on the lips - far less romantic, and on the screen where they check off the "Task Completed" box, they even added an extra line that said "Barely". Too funny!

Now, in the Veto competition, Eric finally got to play for the first time, and he actually won the coveted power. Amber and Zach both worked hard to get Eric to veto their nominations, and to a certain degree, I think even Jessica wanted him to use it so she could back-door Daniele. However, Eric is more true to his word, and he decided to stick with his alliance with Dick and Daniele and let the current nominations stand. Surely to God, this means Amber will be out the door this week. I can't take anymore of her tearful chats with God, or her visions, or her silly little prayers. She's driving me insane!

Big ball game tonight, so hopefully I'll be glowing after a win tonight...Fingers crossed!

Saving Face

I was awfully excited and nervous going into Game #2 of the Quyon 3-Pitch Playoffs last night. The thoughts of knocking out Team Pepsi in a 2-game sweep had me already tasting sweet victory.

Alas, it was not to be. The game was close all night, but in the end, we weren't able to get the job done. The final score was something like 14-10, and basically just "one good inning" separated us from them. I only got on base once, so I wasn't much help out there at all. However, I did manage to save myself from extreme embarassment. At the top of the 7th, with 2 men out, I came up to bat. I was trying to think positive and just praying I'd get on base, but as soon as I hit the ball, I knew I was doomed. I had hit it right to the third baseman. I started to run anyways, in hopes that maybe he'd bobble it or something, and the next thing I knew, I felt like I was about to flip over my own two feet. All I was thinking of was staying on my feet and trying to regain my balance, and after a moment, I did seem to steady myself. I ran a few more steps, and all of a sudden I felt myself going again! I have no idea why I was tripping so badly in my attempt to get to first, but I felt like a complete doofus, and I felt like everyone was laughing at me. I was ever-so-grateful that I didn't do face-plant in the red dirt, though. That would have been over-the-top humiliation!

So Game #3 goes Wednesday night. I'm already having an anxiety attack. They can tell me it's just for fun all they want, but at the end of the day, everybody still wants to win. *Ugh*

Last night the Idols were singing the Standards, and it was easily one of my least-favourite episodes thus far. Brian was the best, though, so he remains my #1. Unfortunately, Dwight was really a fish out of water, and I expect he'll be voted out tonight. My predictions are still the same - Brian & Jaydee in the Final 2.

And on Big Brother, HoH Jessica put up Amber and Zach, and if there is a God, Amber will be voted out this week. She is truly pathetic. Her praying and "talks with God" are so phony and hypocritical that it makes me want to vomit. "Hey God, it's me...I really need you now...blah...blahblah...God Bless You." How flipping stupid. Doesn't she realize God doesn't need to bless Himself? Even God must be getting sick of listening to her. The funniest part of Sunday night's episode was when Jameka was telling her how she should be a model, and right away Amber starts talking about how she knows she has a beautiful face and a nice body and that she actually thinks a door to modelling or acting might open up for her thanks to Big Brother. Meanwhile, they show a series of shots of Amber looking like a dog - completely unflattering, stuffing her face with food, all slobby and gross...PRICELESS!

Oh, and I hope Jess & Eric finally get to kiss tonight. Even if it is America who directs Eric to do so...the boy has been working so hard for her attention, he deserves a little reward. Plus, I think they're cute together.

Have a good one, gang!

My Introduction to UFC

Saturday night was my first "UFC Experience", as I joined the gang at Stacy and Ricky's to watch the fights. I have to admit, I wasn't really looking forward to the actual fighting - I was just going to hang out with the girls and chat. But as it turns out, I actually kind of enjoyed the fighting too!

I completely expected it to be like wrestling - and I detest wrestling. It's so stupid and...sooooo fake. UFC's not like that at all. There's no crazy performances, just two guys who come out to loud music and wild cheering, then they get in the big pen thing, and they go at it. Of course, I didn't really understand the process at first. I didn't realize that there were a series of fights, and that there were amateur fights before the "real deal". So in the first fight, I picked this handsome boy named Patrick Cote from Rimouski, Quebec to be my "favourite". He won his fight in the first round, and I thought he was awesome. Of course, later on, I realized he was a nobody compared to Georges St-Pierre and Randy Couture - but the good news was they all won, and now the next time the guys are all talking about UFC, I might actually sorta understand!!

The only part that kind of grossed me out was during Couture's fight against Gonzaga (or something like that) - the guy's nose was busted up and he was bleeding all over the place. Most of the time, they seemed to be doing some kind of bear hug, with Couture pushing him up against the fence (probably not the right terminology, but you get what I mean), and the dude's nose was dripping blood all down his back. And every now and then he'd spit blood, and it would land on Couture's back or shouler. If that were me, I would have stopped the whole fight and said, "Excuse me, but homeboy's bleeding all over me. I quit!!" Very yucky.

But overall, I enjoyed the whole experience, and while I don't think I'm going to become a huge UFC fan or anything, it was definitely more interesting and entertaining than I expected. Oh, and I loved that Joe Rogan was the host. I remember him from his Fear Factor days, loved him back then, and still love him now!

Other than that, it was a pretty tame weekend, with not a whole lot going on, but that's OK - with the fair coming up, there's bound to me some excitement this weekend! Oh, and I play ball tonight - Game #2 of the playoffs - so look forward to a recap of that tomorrow.

Cheers!

It's PLAYOFFS, Baby!

Here's a report from the Quyon Ball Park last night:

MVT was taking on Team Pepsi in the first game of the playoffs in the Team #2 vs. Team #3 match-up, and I quickly realized that playoffs means business. I mean, Ricky even gave us a pep talk before the game. Everyone seemed a little more tense than usual, and I for one was nervous as hell. Woermke tried to loosen me up, but all he did was practically pull my leg out of the socket and I tried to beat him up, but he was too quick for me. Now I have a twinge in my ass everytime I take a step. Lovely.

He was right, though - it did seem to help me get on base last night. I went 3-for-4 again, and my only big problem now is that I get all flustered once I'm actually on base and I kinda forget when I'm supposed to run or something. I had Graham breathing down my neck once, and I panicked, and I completely screwed up a chance to have runners on 2nd and 3rd. It's like I turn retarded once I actually get on the bag. I was most upset with myself, though, out in the field in the top of the 7th. We had a 4-run lead going in, and the Pepsi kids were pouring on the pressure, and a ball was hit almost right to me. It's the kind of play I'd been hoping for - a ball hit right to me, I make the catch, and my team would finally have something to be proud of me for. But of course I came up short, the ball hit the ground and bounced by me, and I felt like a complete tool.

Team Pepsi took a 2-run lead going into the bottom of the open inning, and I was pretty much blaming myself for not catching that ball and not getting that key out. Thankfully, our bats came up big, with Ricky getting a solo homerun, and then Luc hit another homer with one (or two?) men on base to win the game. It felt really good to beat them...and I really hope we can take the series!

Oh - Matt Rapley was voted off Canadian Idol Tuesday night, which really didn't surprise me. I think it will probably be Brian Melo and Jaydee Bixby in the final 2 (because Brian is awesome, and Jaydee has Canada wrapped around his little finger), and if I get my way, Brian will be the CI Champ. It doesn't really matter how it goes from here, though - all of them are amazing talents and any one of them have a legitimate shot of winning the competition.

Have a good day, everyone!