destined4failure

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 40...the end...or just the beginning.

2010-07-14T10:33:00.002-04:00

Beer: Beau's Lug-Tread
Type: Lagered Ale
Region: Vankleek Hill, Ontario
Rating: Novice/Intermediate

So here we are, the last day. What does that mean exactly? Will I stop drinking now? Heading off to detox? No. This little project of mine was no different than what I do almost everyday when I get home from work, and that's change, get dinner ready, and crack open a cold one. The difference is that I like many types of beer and REALLY enjoy trying the different types and brands that are out there. Like wine, there are many varieties, flavours, big players and small outfits. Beer has many uses - you can cook with it, pair it with food to enhance flavour, relax, it brings people together, it's a social lubricant,you can get plowed, the list goes on. So will my habits change after today? Maybe a little. I mean, I'll still go to the local LCBO and grab a different brew now and again, but now that summer's here (heat-wise, not calendar-wise), I may stick to a few of my favs more often.

But what I've done the past 40 days is give you a sampling of the vastness of beers that exist in the world. Not all of them are accessible where you live, but then again, you may have access to ones I've never seen before. If that's the case and you have a favourite or two, send the names over my way. I've tried to give you a laymans take on what certain brews taste like, what to expect, how to enjoy it. I've tried to expand your beerological knowledge and show you a world beyond Molson, Labatts, Anheuser, etc. But if that's your comfort zone, then I respect that choice. Otherwise, like food and drink, there's a world of discovery that just has to be enjoyed.

So today I bring you a fine micro/craft beer that's 45 minutes from my house in nearby Vankleek Hill, Beau's Beer. It's a great beer and an even greater story.

The first time I saw this was several years ago when they first introduced their flagship beer, Lug Tread. It came in a very attractive ceramic bottle with the swivel cap. In terms of marketing and interest, the hardest part was done as it easily stood out from the rest.

The beer is a combination of two styles – it is top fermented like an ale (it uses malted barley which conducts a fast fermentation and typically results in a sweet and full-bodied taste) and then cold-aged like a lager. Hence the name Lagered Ale.

The beer is a golden colour and crisp to drink. If you`ve not had a crisp beer before and are struggling to imagine what I mean by that, think of club soda. Club soda is way crisper than any beer I`ve drank but if you`ve had club soda then you know the direction we`re pointing at.

In terms of Ontario Craft Beers, this one has won numerous awards, and with good reason. But if you're looking for the big white ceramic bottle at your favourite alcohol vender, you'll be sadly disappointed. Well placed sources tell me that many people were so enamoured by the bottles, they decided to keep them, and thus the brewery was not getting enough numbers back to clean and rebottle their stock. So the decision was made to go with a 500 ml brown bottle 4-pack in a distinctive carrybox. Not quite the same impact, and it could be hard to find if you didn't know about the change, but it's always nice to have 4 Beau's than just one.

Two things you need to check out are Beau's website and Beau's Blog. It is a family business that is primarily helmed by a father and son team and their friends. In a world where so many companies are trying to make themselves look bigger than they are to try to compete with giants, Beau's is proud to be small and family based. Part of their corporate philosophy insists that they will always have time for their friends. Hell, Steve Beauchesne and I have so much in common, we could be brothers - good beer, wife, kids, and indie music. No wonder I like his brewery:)

Bottom line is, try this one. You will either love it or hate it, much like many of the beers I've recommended over the course of my project. If all you ever tried was Bud or Blue you aren't likely to enjoy this, but if you have sampled a range of beers you are likely to really enjoy this one.

So thank you for joining and indulging me in this, my celebratory look through beer at 40 awesome years. Here's to another 40, and you're all invited along for the ride.

“Alright Brain, you don't like me, and I don't like you. But lets just do this, and I can get back to killing you with beer.” - Homer Simpson

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 39.5 --- okay, it's cheating a bit, but let me explain...

2010-07-14T10:32:00.000-04:00

Beer: Blanche De Chambly
Type: Weisse Beer (white, wheat, Witbier)
Region: Chambly, Quebec
Rating: Intermediate

My day 40 beer is all sold out and doesn't come in until tomorrow. And really...who ends such an epic journey on a Thursday?

So, a bonus beer. Today we are drinking one of my favourites, Blanche De Chambly, from the great Unibroue micro brewery.

Wheat beers are basically what the name implies, beer made from wheat. The wheat makes for a lighter colour and flavour. The most common spices are coriander and orange peel which work really well together. Hoegaarden is a popular wheat beer and if you like Hoegaarden, you will also like Blanche de Chambly. Blanche de Chambly isn’t a true wheat beer because light barley malt is added, presumably for body and some flavour.

Blanche de Chambly is also only partially filtered, common for this style of beer, which is the reason the beer has a hazy appearance. The yeast (lees) stays in the bottle and contribute to this beers unique flavour.

The appearance is a hazy straw colour. Nice white head, but disappears quickly. When you bring it up to your nose, you can smell the coriander and orange with a tinge of yeast.

It's got a nice crisp taste with a light hoppiness and flavours of citrus and spice. Very nice carbonation, which makes for a very smooth, almost buttery, beer.

Blanche de Chambly is a light summer beer best served well chilled. And the bigger the bottle (mine is corked), the better and more to enjoy!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 39

2010-07-14T10:31:00.000-04:00

Beer: Hacker-Pschorr's Münchener Gold
Type: Lager
Region: Germany
Rating: Novice

Germans are efficient, and they do things well. One of those things is beer. Many of their breweries have been around for hundreds of years. Hacker-Pschorr has been around since the mid 1400's, based in Munich. I'm really digging Munich brewed beers!

Hacker-Pschorr Münchener Gold is a golden-straw coloured lager. The light frothy head sits a good two inches and then quickly dissipates. There's a nice light sweet malt note with a hint of hops. The body is light, crisp and refreshing and is balanced quite well.

Finish is slightly hoppy with a touch of sweet pale malt, and is very thirst-quenching. This is an ideal session beer to drink all afternoon on its own, or with your favourite food. It's easy drinking, pleasant and "a good social lubricant!"

Day 39 gives this fine German lager two glasses up!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 38

2010-05-26T15:04:00.001-04:00

Beer: Lowenbrau Original
Type: Lager
Region: Munich, Germany
Rating: Novice

We're down to the final two days, and I'm feeling a bit melancholic. It's been a fun journey and I can't believe how quickly the time goes by. So today, I'm going old school - to a beer I hadn't enjoyed since I was an underage teen going to buy beer in the Depanneur's of Quebec. The goal of course was to get a tall boy or King Can of whatever was on sale or stood out in a fridge at a house party. Lowenbrau was one of those beers that take me back to those days.

Now, the stuff I drank, and was this way from the 70's to 2002, was Americanized, brewed by the Miller Brewing Company, and was much different from the beer that was and is still only one of six allowed to be served during Germany's Oktoberfest. The American version was horse piss, but the German one is noted by it's Original label, distancing itself from the former crap.

It's a very hot day here in Ottawa, and this beer is perfectly refreshing on a day like today. Light, earthy, humble, with a nice golden colour. The medium head disappears VERY quickly. The smell is light malt, with faint spicy, grassy hops. Finishes dry and clean. This is one easy drinking beer that is uncomplicated and does the trick to quench the thirst.

Two days to go...any suggestions?

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 37

2010-05-26T15:03:00.001-04:00

Beer: Georg Schneider's Weisen Edel-Weisse
Type: Wheat beer
Region: Germany
Rating:Novice/Intermediate

Holy crap, what a beautiful beer this is. At first open, a quick sniff told me it had the familiar trappings of a wheat beer - floral, grassy, tinge of hoppiness.

This beer is deemed 'organic', which I guess means it's good for you, but what beer isn't? Again, another 500 ml bottle at 6.2% alc makes me wonder what are the other brewers doing putting their creations in small bottles?

In any case, I poured this into a much taller pilsner glass, and noticed the head was very light, slight tan colour, and lasted awhile (but not throughout the consumption period). The taste is familiar to other wheat beers but the differences are subtle and yet extremely memorable and likeable - incredibly smooth finish, slight sweet and bitter when as it makes it way down the throat. There is really nothing not to like about this beer, except the fact that if you only buy one, you'll be wishing there was more in the fridge.

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 36

2010-05-26T15:02:00.001-04:00

Beer: Kronenbourg 1664
Type: Pale ale
Region: France
Rating: Novice

Another premium bestseller, this one in France and owned by the Carlsberg Group, The original brewery, Brasseries Kronenbourg, was founded by Geronimus Hatt in 1664, hence the clever name.

The colour is quite yellow and bright, the head is frothy but doesn't last too long. I've got myself the accompanying glass that goes with it, which for most beers, the glass plays an integral part in the enjoyment. There is some mild hop and flower/citrus scents, and slight effervescence.

I'm a bit surprised when reading the ingredients that the third one is a glucose syrup, adding to the touch of sweetness to the malt finish. In any case, this is another easy drinking, enjoyable by the dozen beer. And because it's from France, you can be snobbish and people will understand.

Viva la biere froid!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 35

2010-05-26T15:01:00.002-04:00

Beer: Tiger
Type: Lager
Region: Singapore
Rating: Novice

Well, here's a beer that I've seen at the LCBO many time, but have yet to try, mainly because the big intimidating cat was too scary. But in the end, it's a real pussy cat.

This pale lager doesn't bite, but rather purrs from the moment you pour it to the last drop of the glass. Okay....no more cat references from here on it.

It is a dry-hopped beer and has a rich taste. It is a great beer if you want a long drinking session. My initial reaction was that it tasted quite strong. However after a several large sips your taste buds gradually get used to the invasion of hops and the strong taste is replaced with a rich one with a lingering bitter finish. It is an extremely refreshing beer and I find that it goes very well with food, especially with peppery and spicy dishes. It's actually quite pale compared to other lagers, but don't let that deter you. The flagship product from Asia Pacific Breweries, this is worth keeping a few stocked in your fridge.

It's time for a Tiger. grrrrrr

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 34

2010-05-26T15:01:00.001-04:00

Beer: Asahi
Type: Lager
Region: Tokyo, Japan
Rating: Novice

Drinking Japanese, I think I'm drinking Japanese, I really think so! There are a number of decent beers that come out of the Far East, but I don't seem to recall seeing this one, so I jumped all over it and decided tonight was the night to give it a try.

Asahi means "Rising Sun", and the can claims it to be "super dry". At first pour, it gives a light frothy head that disappears quickly. The colour is a light straw and has a faint grassy aroma, which may explain why it's a 'rice lager'. No hops, no malt. The taste is slightly sweet, a little bite on the tongue, and a smooth crisp finish with no aftertaste.

Not a whole lot of character, but it also won't crowd what you are eating, and will hold up all night if that's your aim. It's the most popular beer in Japan - think the Budweiser of Tokyo and beyond - and you'll have a better idea of what to expect. Yeah, it's a pretty predictable lager, which is not to say it's terrible. In fact, impress your friends with a few cans of this in the fridge. You certainly won't offend anyone.

Gonna be a good weekend for beer consumption!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 33

2010-05-26T15:00:00.001-04:00

Beer: Kilkenny
Type: Cream Ale
Region: Ireland
Rating: Intermediate

Wow, day 33 and we're getting into the home stretch. Kinda sad, kinda excited. I'll have to really line up some nice pints for the next seven days. Well, off we go with today's selection.

Kilkenny (not to be confused with Kill Kenny), is an Irish Cream Ale from the makers of Guinness. Now, I've stated before that I'm not all that fond of Guinness, but I'm definitely fond of this beer. If possible, get this beer on tap but in a fix, out of the can is a good alternative.

This beer is all about head. When pouring into a glass, don't be afraid of tilting the can into a nice pour, and watch the 'cream' rise to the top as it has a reverse cascade effect, leaving behind a rich red colour. It's smooth and as flavourful as an Irish beer can get, with just enough carbonation to make it less heavy, more enjoyable than Guinness or Smithwicks. There is very little aroma to this beer to give you a hint of what's to come.

The can comes with a nitrogen capsule inside which gives it that bit of CO2 which is not apparent when canning. Gives it that extra fizz when opening. So don't think that someone slipped a silica pellet in your beer when you weren't looking.

Oh no, you kilkenny!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 32

2010-05-26T14:59:00.000-04:00

Beer: Moosehead "Red"
Type: Pale Ale
Region: New Brunswick
Rating: Novice

I've never been a fan of Moosehead "Green" (lager). My experience is that the green-bottled beer has always had that 'skunky' taste and smell. But living in New Brunswick for a few summers, there's a lot of other choices from Canada's last large Independent Brewery. And, I think we all owe something to the Moose for keeping things family owned and staunchly Canadian.

Pouring reveals a very light beer, a pale, straw gold - darker than other ales like Export, but nothing especially unique. Nothing special, and fairly average for a 'Canadian ale'.

Taste is also rather average. The best I can say for Moosehead Pale Ale is that it's crisp and has all the hallmarks of a good hot-weather, outdoor picnic beer. Heavy carbonation plays on the tongue, flavours of apples and white bread dominate, though there's a bit of nice sweetness and some toasted flavour on the back-end. Finishes somewhat sweetly, with a macro lager-y sort of aftertaste. Overall, quite middle-of-the-road.

Mouthfeel is also quite average. Drinkability is on the high side, because it's so inoffensive, and when a brewery concentrates on volume rather than small batches, certain sacrifices are sure to be made. But if we're talking volume, this is a beer you can drink large quantities of.

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 31

2010-05-26T14:58:00.000-04:00

Beer: Christoffel Nobel
Type:
Region: Netherlands
Rating: Intermediate

The other beer in the Christoffel collection, this is another 'strong' beer with 8.7% alc. Now, since I'm lazy and it's my beautiful daughter's 2nd birthday, I'm going to let someone else describe this for you. Again, lovin' the flip-top, and my wife likes the bottle because it 'looks like a Christmas' beer. No matter what time of year, it's sure to be a gift.

"Bottled unfiltered, it pours a dark and hazy golden-orange with a large and creamy white head. The aroma makes it obvious that the beer has been dry-hopped, as there's a ton of citrus peel, cut grass and floral notes on the nose, along with hints of orange-blossom honey, bread crust and mild yeast. Honey and toast are the initial flavours, followed quickly by orange zest and spice, a bit of yeast, and a finish that is long and hoppy without being excessively bitter or astringent. Make no mistake, this is a big beer in every regard, but it's also got enough balance to keep things in check, the alcohol in particular, making it a pleasure to drink."

Christmasy without the cram!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 30

2010-05-26T14:57:00.002-04:00

Beer: Hoptical Illusion Almost Pale Ale
Type: Ale
Region: Barrie, Ontario
Rating: Novice

When the Robert Simpson Brewery decided to re-launch their brand, they came up with Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery. This was the first beer under that branding, and to see the bottle and box label, it's hard to distinguish whether it's a beer, a cooler, or something else altogether. But in the tough world of micro-breweries, it's hard to get noticed, so a big part of that job is having a unique marketing ploy. This one works. For how long is still to be determined.

Enough about outside the bottle, what's the stuff like inside? Well, it's a pale ale, but not your typical pale ale. This one pours a dark golden colour, almost amber, with a cream head. It smells and tastes more hops that a regular ale which I suppose is the distinguishing characteristic. It has a crisp finish and no lingering bitterness.

Not my favourite of the bunch as I still prefer the Confederation Ale, but it's still palatable.

Not your Dad's flying monkey piss in a bottle. No, this stuff you can actually drink!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 29

2010-05-26T14:57:00.001-04:00

Beer: Tecate
Type: Lager
Region: Baja, Mexico
Rating: Novice

Lately I've been making notes about nice, complex micro brews that are good one-offs (enjoyable in ones or twos, but not necessarily for a whole night of boozing). So with summer right around the corner, it should come as no surprise that the occasional weekend will bring lengthy hours of beer drinking amongst friends, and the last thing you're going to want to whip out is a heavy stout. And since I am avoiding some of the bigger North American breweries or "Top Ten" type beers out there, I have to delve a little deeper to find a few that are made for those long afternoons on the patio.

Tecate is a Mexican beer that is miles better than a Corona or Sol, comparable to a Dos Equis XX Lager, and not as bitter as a Negra Modelo. I found it on the shelf at the local Beer Store, which was the first surprise because the Beer Store has a pretty small selection outside of Labatt's, Molsons, and Sleemans. The red can, to the unadulterated eye, may seem like a can of Coke, but the only buzz you'll get from this beer is not from the sugar, but the booze.

Again, there's nothing earth-shattering about this beer - it won't win any awards, but it's a beer great out of the can with a burger or sausage, some Mexican food, chips or pretzels. Best consumed in quantity!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 28

2010-05-26T14:55:00.002-04:00

Beer: Antigravity
Type: Light ale
Region: Barrie, Ontario
Rating: Novice

There's a little micro-brewery situated in downtown Barrie that was formerly known as the Robert Simpson Brewery. Their first beer was a Confederation Ale, and several years ago I enjoyed a lot of it on tap in various pubs around the Muskokas. I managed to tour the brewery and was not only thoroughly impressed with the operations, but I loved the product and the micro-breweries in general.

Today they are now known as Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery and have expanded their menu of beers. I don't drink a lot of light anything because many sacrifice taste, but not in this case.

Antigravity uses real, natural, certified organic ingredients and by brewing this a a light ale, you'll find better body and complexity than other light beers. Effervescent, not too hoppy or aggressive, it's a very easy beer to like.

As a footnote, if you can find yourself some Confederation Ale, get yourself a six, sit back, and enjoy a few.

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 27

2010-05-26T14:55:00.001-04:00

Beer: Warka
Type: Lager
Region: Poland
Rating: Intermediate

Deep golden in colour, initial sweet malty taste, this fine beer from Poland is nice and smooth and easy on the palate. The carbonation leaves quickly, as does the head. There's a slight caramel aroma, and for a 7% alc strong beer, goes down nicely and in a 500ml bottle, can sneak up on you when you least expect it.

You'll find that the taste of any beer is directly affected by the food you eat/don't eat. On it's own, it may be a bit sharp at first and the sweetness may be hard to grasp for those novice drinkers, but it's not too difficult to get into either. I accompanied this with some home-made fajitas, which corresponded well with the spiciness of the food.

It's not the most adventurous of beers, and compared to the last 27 days, may be forgettable, but it's definitely worth the try.

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 26

2010-05-26T14:54:00.001-04:00

Beer: Don de Dieu
Type: Triple Wheat Ale
Region: La Belle Provence (Quebec)
Rating: Intermediate

To find good beer in Canada, one doesn't need to look much further than Unibroue in Quebec. These guys make GREAT beers! This gem is also one of the highest alcohol contents thus far.

Don de dieu means "Gift of God", which it certainly is, even to non-believers. It has won many awards over the years and has moved from seasonal ale to full-time status at the Beer Store.

You may be expecting a dark, heavy type beer, but those expectations are dashed when you pour it in the glass. First sip is sweet, the head is creamy and stays that way until the end. Constant carbonation and an nice orange flavour and colour makes this extremely enjoyable with every taste and it goes down easy. It has the familiar malty taste that defines many of Unibroue's stable of beers. Dangerous if you throw back a few of these.

I could (and possibly may) write about the whole suite of their beers, as they all deserve attention.

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 25

2010-05-26T14:53:00.000-04:00

Beer: Christoffel Bier
Type: Pilsner
Region: Netherlands
Rating: Intermediate/Expert

First, I love beer with flip tops. My first one was many years ago, and it was Grolsch. I'll always remember how cool that was. Since then I've had many types of beers that had various types of tops, but the flip will always be near and dear to my liver.

But ultimately, we don't enjoy the stopper that prevents the beer from coming out, but rather the product that it is used to protect. Thus, the Christoffel Bier.

It's a strong, double hopped pilsner, pours like a lager, feels like an ale. Newer labeling will have it as Blond. Brewed in the German Pilsner style, this beer poured straw yellow, cloudy, and had a white inch tall head that stood out. A light spicy hop aroma floated above sweet caramel and malt. Slightly toasted nut flavor first, then a sweet fruitiness that overwhelmed initially. Loads of hop and bitterness that lingers in the mouth at the end.

Overall, an interesting beer if not a bit complex which can be fun if you like taste-bud trivia. Not the best in the bunch, but definitely worth trying. You'll be saying to yourself as you take the last sip "Damn, that's a small bottle!"

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 24

2010-05-26T14:52:00.000-04:00

Beer: Mort Subite Kriek
Type: Lambic
Region: Belgium
Rating: Intermediate

Okay, so we've sampled quite a few beers from Belgium, not by mistake, but because frankly, they make some pretty damn fine beers, and have been doing so for a very long time. Today's late entry is due to the fact that I had to a) bring Aiden to drama class and b) I'm bringing out a lambic beer, a type of beverage that should be enjoyed on it's own and unmolested.

So first, a little about Lambic beers, because frankly, if you don't know what to expect, you will either be pleasantly surprised or you will hate me forever.

In it's simplest form, Lambic is a Belgian term for beer fermented with wild yeasts. It is this unusual process which gives the beer its distinctive flavour: dry, vinous, and cidery, with a slightly sour aftertaste. Various types of fruit are added (either real or syrup) to give it a bold distinction, but note that not all Lambic beer are fruit-flavoured beer. To get more information, try Google. Now, on to the beer.

The small, dark, dry-tasting cherry typically used in Belgian fruit beers is "kriek", meaning cherry. It is a very well-balanced beer with a creamy, cherry head and a light, tart finish. Some fruit lambics are heavy on the syrup and, if you're like me and get acid reflux, a lemon lambic is death on the esophagus. However, this gem from Mort Subite (meaning 'sudden death') is a great dessert beer that would go great with a wheel of camembert or other soft cheese. Poured in a glass, it has the appearance of a darker rose wine and certainly doesn't have that 'hop' smell. The other nice touch is the corked bottle, and at 4.5% alc, easy drinking. Deceiving, yes. Delicious - indeed.

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 23

2010-05-26T14:50:00.002-04:00

Beer: Gouden Carolus Ambrio
Type: Amber Ale
Region: Belgium
Rating: Intermediate

Small bottle, big alcohol content, HUGE HEAD! That in a nutshell is how I would first describe this belgian ale.

After pouring it into a stemmed goblet, the head grew and would not go down. I really don't think there was any way around it. I thought of shaving it down with a knife, but thought better of it, letting it settle naturally. But I got thirsty, so I went for the froth-stache.

Cloudy caramel colour, it is reminiscent of most typical belgian ales - lots of yeast/malt up front, fruit essences, bitterness, bitter aftertaste that lingers well after the last sip. Flavours definitely fill the mouth (and you'll know what I mean when you take a hefty sip).

At 8% alc, it's surprisingly light, which could hurt you in the end if you enjoy too many.

Small in stature, big on booze!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 22

2010-05-26T14:50:00.001-04:00

Beer: Edelweiss
Type: Wheat beer
Region: Austria
Rating: Novice

Ski season may be over, but Edelweiss still plays a big part of my weekends. No, not ski patrol, but a really cool beer that shares the same name as my area ski hill. Ladies and gentlemen, introducing Edelweiss Snow Fresh Alpine Herbed Wheat Beer!

Pours a nice hazy straw-grass colour with a light frothy head. Subtle floral scents and fairly light on the palate. No bitterness. Has that citrus taste associated with most wheat beers as it goes down. Not overly carbonated, and very refreshing. I wish I had picked up more than just one bottle.

If you've never had a wheat, and are willing to venture into these types of beer, this is a very nice summer brew that will not disappoint.

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 21

2010-05-26T14:48:00.000-04:00

Beer: Chimay Triple (White Cap)
Type: Trappist Strong Ale
Region: Belgium
Rating: Expert

Trappist monks dedicate their lives to God and all things godlike. Beer is one of those things that brings you that much closer to Heaven.

Since 1862 the Cistercian Trappist monks of Chimay have been developing the production of Trappist beers which, owing to their character and qualities are well known and enjoy great success.

Chimay is an authentic Trappist beer that is brewed within a Trappist monastery, under the control and responsibility of the monastic community. Only 6 beers in Belgium can carry the appellation "Trappist": Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle, Westvleteren and Achel.

Of the three types (Red, Triple, and Blue), this one is a real gem. Honey colour and hazy, it pours a fine head and smells of hops, yeast, and citrus (orange and some banana). Slightly bitter at first, there is a distinct fruitiness that hits the mouth.

You may be a bit concerned with the bits of sediment floating in the beer when it is first poured, but don't let this bother you, as it's perfectly normal for a brew that is top fermented, then refermented in the bottle. There is little carbonation which makes it nice and creamy going down.

The monks take a lot of time and care making this product, so you should take the same time and care to sit back and enjoy this fine Trappist Ale. If you can find it on tap, all the better.

Last bit of advice - don't drink it from the bottle. Better to pour it into a goblet, as this allows the fragrance to really envelope your senses each time you take a sip.

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 20

2010-05-26T14:47:00.000-04:00

Beer: Sinha
Type: Extra Strong Stout
Region: Sri Lanka
Rating: Intermediate/Expert

It's day 20, and what a great way to bring us to the halfway mark of this little adventure.

Another gift beer from my main man Dan, I was a bit hesitant to open this one up because generally, stouts can be a bit heavy, and at 8.8% alc, it's gonna have a bit of buzz factor. Additionally, when a beer characterizes itself as having "a blend of chocolate, coffee and toffee flavours that has a mocha liquer like" qualities, you best make sure your palate is up to the task.

So when I initially poured this into the glass, it was like runny molasses (black as a moonless night) with a very defined tan head. I fully expected full-on heaviness and overpowering flavour. I was wrong on both accounts.

Although you would be hard-pressed to see through it's opaqueness, the taste is surprisingly light. Yes, there is chocolate and coffee flavours, but it is gentle and smooth, and extremely easy to enjoy. A perfect after dinner brew, you shouldn't be afraid to drink it on it's own. To be sure, it doesn't taste like the bottom of a coffee urn and there's no burnt taste to it, only a sweetness and creaminess that brings this baby up to the top ten!

You will find the taste and aroma more pronounced if you drink this on it's own, and less so when enjoyed with stronger foods (garlic, hotter spices).

If you are able to find this at your local LCBO or other fine alcohol supplier, snap up a few and impress your friends.

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 19

2010-05-26T14:46:00.001-04:00

Beer: Ochakovo
Type: Lager
Region: Moscow, Russia
Rating: Novice

Dobry den!

Tonight was a little culinary united nations of food and drink - lebanese food, mexican hot sauce, and Russian beer. And I have to say...a mouth-watering masterpiece by ME.

So, let's talk about the beer, shall we?

It's the first time I've had a Russian beer, so I was anxious for this Lager, and I knew that I needed something a little lighter than an ale or stout. Ochakovo delivered. First, it has a cool pull/pop tab, and once again, I scored on the 500ml bottle.

I asked my wife to describe the colour - she said it looked like your pee when you're dehydrated. But since that doesn't sound very appealing, lets say it has a bright sunflower yellow colour, a faint malt scent on the white frothy head, and a slight hop aftertaste.
At 4.5% alc, it's comparable to some American Lagers, but without the cool tab. It's a safe beer to venture towards if you are a mainstream beer drinker, but it can be a few steps down the rung if you're used to more sophisticated micros.

May not be the best Russia can offer, but here in Canada, we're used to anything Russian coming in less than third place!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day 18

2010-05-26T14:44:00.001-04:00

Beer: Dos Equis Amber
Type: Amber Beer, closer to a lager or lighter ale
Region: Mexico
Rating: Novice

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Tonight was a quick Mexican feast of chicken tacos, black beans, and authentic salsa and Mexican hot sauce. So with all of this spicy goodness going around, it called for a Mexican beer. Enter Dos Equis XX Amber.

Amber in colour, but not entirely in taste. In fact, most if not all beers from Mexico have a distinctive blandness to them. Some say light, I say bland. Negra Modelo is darker and more sharp, Corona is refreshing for the summer but you might as well drink water at that point. Others like Estrella and Pacifico are not available at the LCBO. So this is probably one of the better macro brews.

However, if I'm in the mood for a few mass-produced beers on the backyard patio, then this will do nicely. And with spicy food, it's waaayyy better than milk to bring down the heat.

There is very little aroma that separates itself from another beer. It's colour is light amber-red, carbonation doesn't last very long, the head is frothy and tan, and slight caramel and malt taste. It goes down very smooth, leaves little aftertaste, and very easy to drink. Ole!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day Seventeen

2010-05-04T17:34:00.003-04:00

Beer: Golden Pheasant
Type: Pilsner
Region: Slovakia
Rating: Novice

Recommended by food and beverage guru Ranjiv Singh, I could not bypass this beer at the LCBO, and I'm always up for entertaining a good reco.

The beer has a nice, fluffy, white head and the body is quite clear. The colour is, you guessed it, a nice golden hue. The aroma is hoppy and reminiscent of Heineken, but this Pilsner is a bit sweeter and smells of grass.

I'm usually not fond of green bottled beer because I find that they don't filter out enough harmful light, which means that they stay fresh for a shorter period of time, but in a standard 500ml bottle, there's enough Pheasant to finish a meal with.

Na Zdraví!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day Sixteen

2010-05-04T17:34:00.001-04:00

Beer: Wells Bombardier
Type: Ale
Region: England
Rating: Intermediate

I love a fine English ale and this one was a 'gift' or 'donation' to my cause by my good friend Dan. The product is Wells Bombardier English Premium Ale and I don't think it would be too difficult to find outside of Ontario. It weighs in with a hefty 500ml bottle and 5.2% alc, so leave the skirt and purse at home.

Pouring this malt beverage shows a dark ruby red colour and an unmistakable yet not overpowering malty nose. The one thing that is very noticeable is how consistent and long-lasting the head is, which is important to allow you to enjoy the aroma. In fact, if you are trying any of the beers that I list, please do the beer a good service and ALWAYS use the appropriate glass. Save the 'out of the bottle or can' stuff for the more mass-produced varieties.

The taste combines toasted malt, caramel, and a light spiciness that is easy to savour.

If you've thought about moving from a novice-type beer to dabble into a fine English Ale, this one is a very good introduction and will leave few disappointed.

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day Fifteen

2010-05-04T17:33:00.000-04:00

Beer: Amsterdam
Type: Lager
Region: Ontario
Rating: Novice

There's not a whole hell of a lot of good that comes out of Toronto, but beer is definitely the exception.

Amsterdam is right downtown, near the Rogers Centre and Air Canada Place. They have a number of different varieties, but this is the first one I've tried, and on a nice hot sunny Sunday afternoon, it's the perfect patio pint.

Light straw colour, mild citric tones, and a clean finish that is common with most lagers are characteristics of this beer. Get yourself a few tall boys and laugh to yourself knowing that the Leafs still suck!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day Fourteen

2010-05-04T17:32:00.000-04:00

Beer: Headstrong Black & Tan
Type: Ale/Stout
Region: USA
Rating: Novice/Intermediate

It's Saturday, a great day for a BBQ and some beer. Today, I bring you a fine concoction from our neighbours to the South, the brewery being Big Hole Brewery in Utica, NY.

It blends two types of beer - ale (a type of beer brewed from malted barley using a top-fermenting brewers' yeast. This yeast ferments the beer quickly, giving it a sweet, full bodied and fruity taste), and stout (dark, sometimes bitter beer, think Guiness, the world's most popular stout beer).

Normally, you would take a pale ale and a stout and pour the ale first, with the stout sitting on top, giving it a blended tan (from the bottom) to dark (top) hue. Unfortunately, coming from a can, it is not separated, so you don't get the visual. Mixing two types of beer shouldn't come as any surprise, as wine makers have been mixing grape varieties for years.

The end result of this beer is one that is a dark brown colour with a dense white head. Aroma is vague, with bread and a slight nuttiness. Thin body. In the flavour: caramel, toasted nuts, water leading to a slight grassiness with more nuts and possibly a bit of molasses in the finish. In fact, you could argue that it could be a Guiness Light, in that is has a similar aroma but much more carbonation and not nearly as heavy - but the Guinny lovers would strongly disagree.

May not be for everyone, but worth a try. I actually kinda like it!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day Thirteen

2010-04-30T18:24:00.001-04:00

Beer: Hockley
Type: Stout
Region: Ontario
Rating: Novice/Intermediate

Hockley Stout, traditional Irish Stout beer. First introduced to me by my cousin Geoff, this is an incredibly delicious beverage that goes with pretty much anything, and just as good on its own.

This craft beer out of Orangeville, ON, 'pours like liquid midnight.". It has a dark molasses colour, a nice, coffee-hued frothy head that holds it own, and a slight burnt chocolate scent.

It's a very smooth, if slightly bitter beer that goes down nice and easy. At 4.2% alc, it will surprise you at how light it tastes.

Go ahead and pour yourself some liquid midnight - you deserve it!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day Twelve

2010-04-29T19:21:00.002-04:00

Beer: Red Stripe
Type: Lager
Region: Jamaica
Rating: Novice

Had some chicken and jerk sauce lying around so I marinated that last night, threw together a nice cilantro rice dish, and topped it off with fried plantains. Yup, the makings of a delicious Caribbean meal. The only thing missing? The beer!

Now, I've never been to Jamaica, but I've heard of Red Stripe. And with it's stubby bottle, hard to miss. So, there were two ways in which I could have paired beer with my meal - lager or bock. Since I'd been doing the dark lately, I thought I'd make the whole evening 'irie', without the ganja.

Red Stripe is a very nice lager, one that could be enjoyed multiple times (and by that, I mean several in one sitting!). It has a clear, golden colour, sweet malt and slight hops, and a clean finish. It comes in at a palatable 4.7% alc.

It is brewed by Desnoes & Geddes Limited, originally a soft drink manufacturer incorporated on July 31, 1918, by Kingston, Jamaica natives Eugene Peter Desnoes and Thomas Hargreaves Geddes.

Let's be honest here - it's not going to win any awards. It's one of the fastest growing beers in the U.S., and here in Canada, it is available in the imported stubby bottle or in a taller, 16 0z can, brewed by Moosehead Breweries.

You can easily line this up against say, a Corona, which will kick it's ass. It's a refreshing summer beer that should be enjoyed while BBQing, sitting around the pool, or kicking it while washing my car (yes, that's an invitation!).

Easy, mon.

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day Eleven

2010-04-28T18:34:00.002-04:00

Beer: St Peter's English Ale
Type: Organic Ale
Region: England
Rating: Intermediate

Well, I made German fare tonight, and instead of breaking out German Beer, I went for the English Ale. Go figure. But combined, it made for a very nice meal. Homemade schnitzel, red cabbage...good eating.

Let's talk about St. Peter's, shall we? (and a thank you to Shaun Harkness for bringing me this tasty pint).

The first thing you'll notice is the flask-shaped bottle. In fact, all of their beers have this distinct shape, which makes it truly stand out amongst the rest. But it's the taste that you can't forget. In the case of this beer, it is probably the closest you'll get to a traditional English Ale.

Sharp and bitter at first, it blends quite nicely on it's own or with food, and just keeps on getting better with every sip. A cloudy straw colour, the head is a frothy white with very little odour of what it's hiding underneath, and you'll definitely enjoy the distinct citrus hop finish.

St. Peter's - not just the name of a high school around the corner from my house!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day Ten

2010-04-27T17:43:00.003-04:00

Beer: Adnams Broadside Strong Original
Type: Strong Beer
Region: England
Rating: Expert

Ah, day ten. How time really flies by when you're enjoying malt beverages.

Okay, so I decided to pick up a pizza for dinner. I grabbed the Adnams out of the fridge and started reading the back. That's when I decided to put it BACK in the fridge and grab a Maclay's. Adnams and pizza DO NOT go together!

So now I'm trying it on its own. Maybe I should have waited well after pizza, or maybe I should have left it in the fridge, because, to be honest, it's not ranking high on my list.
Oh sure, I'll drink it, I just won't enjoy it like some of the others.

I truly enjoy most English beers, and I can certainly handle the strong beers, but this one has way too much going on at the same time.

It says that it is rich in fruit cakes aromas, almonds and conserved fruit. Very British indeed, but I also can't stand fruit cake or conserved fruit.

The colour is glorious however - dark but clear. That's the plus.
However, it's a beer that may be best served with chocolate, and I'm not kidding. See, many beers (some say all beers) should or deserve to be paired up with food, and in this case, I couldn't agree more!

On its own, it tastes like ass. But accompanied with my kids leftover Easter chocolate, and this is a gem.

So, on it's own, take a pass, but for dessert, pass the sweets and a cold mug of Adnams!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day Nine

2010-04-27T14:51:00.001-04:00

Beer: Doppel-Hirsch
Type: Doppelbock
Region: Germany
Rating: Expert

Doppelbock or double bock is a Bavarian speciality beer that was first brewed by the Minims, an order of monks founded by St. Francis of Paula. Alcohol content ranges from 6% to over 10% by volume. Historic versions had lower alcohol content and higher sweetness, and were considered "liquid bread" by the monks. Ah, those Bavarian monks! I call it, liquid gold!

Poured from a 500ml bottle with a hinged pop top, it is a slightly hazed medium-brown colour with a thin tan head.

The smell is of strong caramel, with an earthy, slightly fruity undertone.

The taste is of caramel. Sweet, yet not too...Balanced by an earthy bitterness, and a clean finish. This is an authentic Bavarian Doppelbock.

Overall, this is easy to drink if you are familiar with a bock type beer. Otherwise, one may find it too sweet or too caramelly. And at 7.2% alc, a few of these and you'd be feeling no pain until the morning. But this is not a beer to get your hammer on. It is best enjoyed with venison or lamb, or a nice hearty stew.

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day Eight

2010-04-27T14:50:00.000-04:00

Beer: Hogs Back Brewery T.E.A (Traditional English Ale)
Region: U.K.
Type: English Ale
Rating: Novice/Intermediate

This is a full flavoured, smooth ale that was voted "Best Bitter" in Britain at the Great British Beer Festival 2000.

It has a slightly cloudy amber colour, and a nice, balanced flavour.

Hogs Back is an independent brewery that has won numerous awards, mostly because their beer contains that one secret ingredient - love.

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day Seven

2010-04-27T14:49:00.000-04:00

Beer: Kozel
Region: Czech
Type: Lager
Rating: Novice

It's a nice, sunny Saturday afternoon. BBQ, watch the kids play, need a beer. Go grab yourself a nice, cold Kozel.

"Kozel Premium Lager has a smooth, subtly bitter taste, a soft malt and hops scent and sparkles perfectly. This highly malted beer with an alcohol volume content of 5% is considered to be an excellent lager both at home and abroad."
Get Kozie with Kozel.

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day Six

2010-04-23T17:31:00.001-04:00

Beer: Grolsch Blond
Region: Holland
Type: Light Beer
Rating: Novice

Tonight I'm going out with my wife and parents to celebrate my 40th and my mom's 60+ birthday with a dinner at the Big Easy restaurant. To have a nice Friday night/before dinner beverage, I'm enjoying an extremely refreshing light beer, Grolsch Blond

This summery beer has a slight citrusy flavor with a pale golden color.

Cheers to 40 years!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day Five

2010-04-22T18:51:00.004-04:00

Beer: Duchy Originals Organic Ale
Region: Great Britain
Type: Ale
Rating: Intermediate

The first time I had this beer was out in Vancouver while working at the Olympics. The bus stop I took daily coincidentally stopped in front of a B.C. Liquor Store, and that's where I first stumbled upon this fantastic ale.

So it's Earth Day, and this beer is organic. I guess I've done my part :)

Pour it into a nice tall glass, and you'll first notice the incredible amber/bronze colour. Bring it towards you and take a deep breath - a warm aroma of caramel and peat, subtle and disarming.

The taste is refreshing, with a slight hop bitterness, and a light lingering finish.

So go ahead and grab yourself this fine English Ale, and feel free to pass this Duchy by the left AND right hand side ;)

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day Four

2010-04-21T18:46:00.004-04:00

Okay, today I'm going to introduce some little 'enhancements' to my beer journey. I will rate the beer as either novice, intermediate, or expert. I base it on my beer experience. Therefore, if you are one to only drink Canadian, Corona or Blue, and rarely venture outside of those, perhaps you think that Bud Lime was the best thing since online porn, then a Novice beer is good for you.

After a few, you should move on to Intermediate.

Intermediate is for those that like to experiment once in a while, favourite beer may be a Heineken, the darkest beer you've ever tried is Guinness, and you know that Stella is not the be all and end all of Belgian beers. There are a lot of intermediate beers that I'll be commenting on, and I'll try to vary them as much as I can, so that you may move into - Expert. Now, my expert and your expert will differ greatly. True and trained beer connoisseurs may disagree, which is fine, but the beauty of beer is that, much like art and music, it is a very personal and subjective thing. My expert rating is to introduce to you those beers that may well fall out of your natural comfort zone (porter, lambic), completely bizarre concoctions (lemon, orange peel, chocolate), or ones that are either hard to come by or deserve to stand on their own merits.

So, here we go with Day Four.

Beer: Erdinger Weissbier
Region: Germany
Type: Wheat Beer
Rating: Intermediate

On my way home from work, I decided I needed to make a trip to the LCBO to stock up for the week. The store in Orleans (Innes Rd) has a pretty good selection, from international to local Ontario craft beers.

As I carried my basket around, I noticed a few old favourites as well as new, seasonal beers. With the intent of only grabbing two or three, I ended up with a bakers' dozen! As I was checking out, John, the cashier, nodded approvingly, saying "that's a real nice collection of beers", to which I responded "thanks. it's part of a project I'm doing."

In any case, tonight I am enjoying one of mine and Lisa's favourite wheat beers, Erdinger.

Apparently, it is the world's most popular wheat beer, but seeing as how I haven't travelled the entire world seeking Erdinger, I guess we'll just have to take the German's word for it.

Erdinger Weissbier is bottom fermented, like champagne, which gives it a nice, effervescent taste. It has a cloudy, orange hue, with a soft, frothy head, and is excellent on it's own or paired with a nice schnitzel or other pork dish.

PROST!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day Three

2010-04-21T15:41:00.004-04:00

This evening brings me to a beer right next door - the Scotch Irish Brewing company, made right here in Ottawa. They were one of my favourites at this year's Wine & Food show.

I'm enjoying the now out-of-stock Black Irish Plain Porter. This dry ale is dark, and by dark, I mean black! Hold it up to the light and you'd be hard pressed to see your dinner on the other side of the glass. It has strong notes of chocolate and coffee, and is very present the first time you take that sip.

Appearing heavy, it's actually much lighter than a bock-type beer, and at 4.5% alc, it'll satisfy even the most calorie-wise Jenny.

There's even a recipe for a Black Irish Porter Cake, although I'm quite happy to enjoy it with homemade soup and grill cheese sandwich.

My favourite part of this brew? It comes in a stubby bottle, reminding me of my days as a 13-year-old getting the bottom sludge of my old man's Molson Extra.

Cheers.
Black Irish Plain Porter - good beer, bad dog.

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day Two

2010-04-21T15:41:00.003-04:00

Monday, first day back at work, and I'm drinking a fitting beer whilst BBQ'ing German Sausages.

It's Ontario Craft Brewery Great Lakes Brewery's cleverly marketed "Devil's Pale Ale 666".

It has 666 Kilograms of malt
6.66 Kilograms of hops
66.6 minutes of boiling
6% alc
6.6.06 Date of conception (debatable)

This ale is robust and flavourful, but is a tad bitter and pretty hoppy. However, if this is the type of ale that appeals to you, then it is one of the few things out of Toronto worth liking.

The body has a dark bronze hue, with a coppery head.

As the tag line states - The Devil Made Me Brew It!

40 Beers to Celebrate 40 Years! Day One.

2010-04-21T15:39:00.000-04:00

Now that I am back in Canada after spending my birthday in Cuba, I am starting a little project which I intended to do on the 10th of April - to drink one different beer a day in celebration of my 40 years. I love beer, but most importantly, I love various kinds.

Today is April 18th. I am starting my little project with Keith's newest selection, Keith's Dark Ale.
It is 'crafted using roasted specialty malts to create a dark mahogany coloured Ale with distinctive notes of chocolate and coffee."

It looks like a Guinness, but it is a smooth tasting Dark Ale that is easy on the palate with a clean finish.

So we're not perfect - Canadian rebuttal to international Olympic criticism

2010-03-01T10:14:00.003-05:00

This was read to us volunteers a few days after the turd from the Guardian printed negative reviews of the Olympics THREE DAYS into a two-week event! Author, unknown. Enjoy!

We never claimed to be perfect.
That means we’ve learned to be humble.
We say "Excuse Me" and "I'm sorry" ... as well as "Please" and "Thanks".
Even when its not our fault, we apologize.

Sure one arm of the torch didn't rise, but when the earthquake struck Haiti, Canadians raised their hands to say … "we'll help".

And yeah, there is a fence around the Torch. But you can walk right up and shake hands with our prime minister and most famous Canadians.

We put Gretzky in the back of a pick up, in the rain, not surrounded by police,and he was okay
And by the way ... the Great One is Canadian ... and HE wasn’t complaining!

We do have security at the Games of course, but most people don't even have a gun they have to leave at home.

The medals ARE under lock and key but our doors and our hearts are open to the world.

It has been pointed out that some buses broke down last week ... but let’s not overlook the fact that our banking system didn't.

We didn't get the "green ice maker" right this time ... but we will, eventually. Just like we did when we invented the Zamboni.

Citius altius fortius

If you don't reach higher how do you get faster and stronger.

Was the first quad jump perfect?

Should we not have given snowboarding to the world "in case" it didn’t take off?

So big deal…one out of four torch arms didn't rise. Good thing we had three more! It's called contingency planning! But remember … the Canadarm works every time … in outer space … and insulin turned out to be okay.

We don't have the tax base of the U.S. or the power of the Chinese but, per capita, we ponied up for some pretty kick-ass venues in the worst global recession ever.

Sure, some folks couldn't afford tickets but our health care is universal.

We have shown the world that we can raise our voices in celebration and song but moments later stand in silence to respect a tragic event, together, spontaneously, and unrehearsed.

What's more, we don't need permission from anyone to have a slam poet, fiddlers with piercings and a lesbian singer tell our story to the world while our multilingual female Haitian-born, black head of state shares a box with her First Nations equals.

We’ve shown the world that it doesn’t always rain in Vancouver, that you can strive for excellence but not get hung up on perfection.

And we’ve learned what it feels like to be picked on by some no name newspaper guy and we don’t have to take it lying down!

So the point is not the snow, or the hydraulics or a couple guys being five minutes late to a ceremony.

We know we’re lucky that these are the biggest problems we had to deal with in the last couple weeks.

So take your cheap shots … Guardian newspaper and cynics of the world.

We're bigger and better than that.

What's more, we're finally starting to believe it!

Do you believe?

Day Fourteen, and I'm coming home!

2010-02-26T14:22:00.004-05:00

Well, it turns out that Thursday's shift was also my last. Friday (today) I have off, and Saturday's got cancelled because they have enough people. So, that means I had to make it the best shift ever. Though the Canadian men didn't medal at the aerial competition, I had one of the best seats in the house.

My shift was spent in Free10, which is on the snow in the Freestyle stadium. I was manning the media gate, so if you watched it on television, look for the interviews with with the cute CTV girl and the aerialists. I'm the guy in the blue beanie looking official, or officially trying to look inconspicuous.

I met some really great people during my time out here - Darrin, Amelia, Kara, Helen, Chris, Don, Joseph and Marcel. A few of them I will try to keep in touch with, but even if we do lose contact, I know that we'll always share the special bond as the Team 2010 smurfs! I had a lot of laughs, incredible memories, awesome stories, and an experience of a lifetime.

The Games aren't over though. I've managed to switch my flight to Saturday, so I have a down day to readjust my time zones, spend time with my family, watch (hopefully) Canada win GOLD in men's hockey, and watch the closing ceremonies. Tonight I will have dinner and watch hockey with the two wonderful people that allowed me to stay at their house, making my stay that much more enjoyable. Words cannot thank them enough.

Maybe when I'm on the plane will the real impact of being part of a global event finally sink in - maybe it never will. What I do know is that the Games are a gift to the world, Vancouver is a gem to this country, and Canadians are by far the most gracious hosts you could ever wish for.

Honey, change the sheets, kick the boyfriend out, and put the kids to bed - I'm coming home!

Day Thirteen - only two shifts left and props from the CBC :)

2010-02-25T13:45:00.002-05:00

So I'm getting ready to head out to Cypress for tonight's Men's Aerials. If you are wondering why the prefer jumping at night, it is because the large spotlights on venue don't leave any flat lighting, which makes seeing the landing better. Also, the T.V. broadcasters prefer it because during a cloudy day when a skier jumps, they get 'lost' in the air, and therefore does not make for a pretty picture on your television screens at home. So, there you have it.

Besides, doesn't it look amazing at night, with the lights and the gallery below?

Here's a little something I came across from the CBC website on volunteers. It could have been a bit more comprehensive, but still, it's nice exposure.

CBC News - Canada - Meet the Games' unsung heroes

Day Twelve - Day Off and a beers with Billy Dean!

2010-02-25T13:28:00.002-05:00

Yesterday (Wednesday) was another scheduled day off from the Olympics, but a work day for me at Canadian Blood Services.

First, I have to say that working outside with all that fresh air makes one very tired, which has been translating to great sleeps. It's probably one of the reasons why (knocking on wood right now) I've managed to stay healthy so far. With all of the people in Vancouver, the coughs and germs and handshakes I've been exposed to, either on venue or particularly on public transit, it's a small miracle.

I spent my morning checking work emails, and then for lunch went wandering around 4th Ave in Kitsilano. Think of the Glebe without the snobbery. Did a bit of shopping, haircut at a real barbershop, and ate the BEST chicken shawarma I've ever had, and that's saying a lot.

Then it was back to the house to watch the first half of the first period of hockey, and off to my Diversity Liaison Committee meeting at our permanent clinic on Oak St.

The DLC, like many of our other liaison committees, are comprised of incredibly warm and genuine people. Last night's meeting I learned about the Filipino community, and was once again reminded why I love my job so much. I get very inspired by our committee members, and I always come away learning something new. And, as proud Canadians that we are, we were very happy to learn that our hockey team crushed the Russian squad. Bring on the Slovaks!

As I was walking out of the building, my cell phone indicated I had a voice mail. My good friend Will Dean, who I had worked with at the Algonquin Hotel back in '95, was back in town and at a pub that I had passed by no more than six hours ago in Kits. So on the bus I went for a great night of reminiscing, beers, hockey, and more beers. He's from Newfoundland, he's a chef by trade, so that's probably why we get along so well.

So, no pictures to add this time. You'll have to go to my Facebook page for the hundreds I've taken since I've been here.

Marc, out.

Day Eleven, Gold returns to Cypress

2010-02-23T22:05:00.003-05:00

My luck returns to the Mountain.

First part of my luck, positioning for my shift. In the grandstands, the very top, doing access control to the media booths. One of the best views in the stadium. I stood there my whole shift, feet and fingers cold, snow coming down and making Cypress finally look like the Winter Games. Looks like 10 cm tonight and more on the way.

It was incredible to see Canada win another gold, especially in a historic, inaugral Olympic sport.

Met TSN's Jamie Campbell, finished early, got a ride back to Dunbar in time to catch the third period of the hockey game with beer and pizza.

Tomorrow, day off and work meeting. Only three shifts left.

Day Ten - day off, loving Vancouver.

2010-02-22T22:48:00.004-05:00

When they say Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, you better believe it!

I spent the day at Stanley Park, first at the aquarium, which was very cool, and then renting a bike and touring around the sea wall 8 km around the park. It's a great opportunity to get a 360 degree view of all that Vancouver has to offer - snow-capped mountains, quiet bays, rock and sand beaches, gorgeous city scape, oceans, tall firs, you name it.

The bike ride normally takes one hour, but I believe that's only if you are going around without a camera, or live in the city, because at each and every new turn, a perfect picture moment would appear.

On my list of things to do is definitely a romantic vacation with Lisa here. I know she would absolutely adore it. It's hard not to.

Heading back to Dunbar, I decided to soak up some of the downtown excitement. Got off at West Georgia St and walked up Howe to Robson St. Many of the blocks around here are closed to traffic, so it's wall-to-wall people milling about. This city is so alive with Olympic spirit!

I walked through The Bay where the main Olympic Apparel Store is. The line-up to get inside was huge, and apparently other stores from across the country are shipping their inventory to Vancouver to meet demand. Imagine, a line-up to get into The Bay??!!

Then it was off to Robson Square, one of the main street hubs for the Olympics. They have constructed two towers to allow people to Zip Line over the city. It takes about 7 seconds, and for only a six hour wait, that opportunity could be yours.

A lot of walking, some sore feet, and a delicious dinner to close out a great day. The only way it would have made it perfect is if Lisa and the kids were here to share it. Well, for now words and pictures will have to do.

Marc, out.

Day Nine - Golden Luck runs out at Cypress

2010-02-22T12:24:00.003-05:00

Chris Del Bosco went for it and lost.

There I was amongst the Canadian, American, Swiss, and Norwegian fans at Cypress yesterday, soaking up the sun, watching the debut of ski cross at the Winter Games. Honestly, I can't imagine a more festive atmosphere to showcase this wild sport to the world. Sunshine and beer, painted faces and flags, upbeat music and dancing, you could mistaken the day for an outdoor rock concert! There was even a live band to warm up the crowd before the competition began.

I worked the top of the stairs for the 1/8 and Quarterfinals, with a promise to be working in the stands for the Semis and Finals. Little did I know that television would bring my tongue and rock horns to my family and friends watching on CTV! Talk about luck, timing, and fate. And as my friend Ian aptly pointed out, the camera does add 20 lbs. Had a good laugh at that one! Thanks buddy.

The Small Final had Canadian Davey Barr racing for the bottom 8 spots. Two racers crashed which allowed Barr to finish sixth. Good on him, as he was a last minute replacement for two injured skiers and probably didn't train the same way.

Then the Final started, with Chris Del Bosco favoured to medal. Out of the gate, he was fighting for third place, and as the crowd below watched the jockeying of positions on the big screen, roars of applause would erupt every time Chris pulled into a medal spot. I think we all knew around the half-way point that he didn't have a chance at gold unless the two skiers ahead of him bailed, but their lead was pretty commanding.

We saw the racers come around the final corner, heading into the final jump, Chris looking like he would hold on to third place. Everyone was going crazy! Then, Del Bosco makes a decision that will ultimately cost him any podium finish - he takes the inside line, over the gate, and launches himself off-balance into the air, a spectacular crash that solicits many 'oohs' and 'awwwhhs', and finally, silence, save for the small but proud contingent from Switzerland. Their racer, Mike Schmid, had won ski cross's first ever gold medal.

Still, many people left extremely happy. It was another beautiful day on the mountain, Canada vs. USA was playing later in the afternoon, Kristina Groves wins another Silver, and Bode Miller wins Gold in Whistler. All that and Ice Dancing too!

I came home thinking it'd be an empty house, so I picked up a pizza and planned on sitting down with a beer and watch hockey. However, my hosts were back early from Whistler and had made reservations to a Japanese restaurant for after the game. I couldn't say no to the invitation, as I'd heard that outside of Japan, the food in Vancouver is some of the best in the world. It certainly didn't disappoint! What a nice treat, and again, I can't thank Don and Dana enough for their hospitality.

Today (Tuesday) is Ladies Aerials, but I have the day off. So it's tourist time in the big city. I'm planning on heading to Stanley Park, maybe rent a bike, go to the aquarium, and soak up some sun as well. Then, back here for a home cooked meal, bed, and another day at Cypress tomorrow.

I'll be home in six days, and I can't wait to see my family! More pics later.

Marc, out.

Day Eight - Women's Aerial Qualifications and Pin Trading with children

2010-02-20T22:53:00.004-05:00

Quite possibly my easiest and shortest day so far.

My shift started at 11 a.m. which means I left the house at 8:30 a.m. If it weren't for the books (thanks Mom) and the view (thanks, God), I'd probably chew my left arm off. I think people commute like this on a regular basis just so that they can live affordably in Vancouver. It is such a beautiful city, but so very expensive to live in.

Sun was served up again for today's weather menu, a beautiful spring day anywhere else in this country. I kind of feel bad for the rest of Canada...kind of.

The 11 o'clock crew was asked if anyone wanted to leave early today by working the transportation mall (where all of the buses leave), or stay and very likely leave earlier than shifts end. With a five-hour round trip commute, I decided to stay. It was a day spent doing Access Control and suntanning, with my day on the mountain ending at two. Sadly, I did miss seeing any of the aerial qualifications, but I was in a position to meet briefly with my friend and fellow patroller Kym. It's actually quite amazing the amount of people I have run into since I've been here. There are literally thousands of people here for the Olympics in a city of millions, and I've spent time with family and shared some great experiences with friends from back home.

While doing a bit of Access Control during Egress (technical term for 'people exiting'), a few kids passed by admiring my pins.

At the Olympics, pins are currency. People collect them from Games to Games, around the world, right up there with stamps, coins, hockey cards, whatever. I started my Games journey with no pins. On my third shift, I was rewarded with my first. By the time I left Whistler, I had 10. Collecting and trading pins is an Olympic sport all on it's own. So when a couple of cute kids come up and admire my pins, saying they need this one or that one for their collection, I turn all mushy and gladly give or trade with them. But when the smoke clears and my Games experiences finish, I plan on saving those pins for my kids, as they may hold some value to them as they get older.

It was a very busy day in Vancouver. Hockey, curling and and speed skating made the Seabus and bus ride very long. Thousands of people lining Granville and Robson St, the fever growing as each day passes, the city swelling with Olympic pride. You can't help but be swept up by it, and even the harshest critics must be softening a bit. On one of my days off, I'm getting up early and taking the bus downtown where I will be part of the excitement and take pictures that will hopefully capture this moment for you.

I had extra time to get some groceries, and with the house to myself, and a bottle of wine to kill, a nice BBQ steak and sweet potato was in order. With weather like this in February, an Ottawan considers this prime patio weather.

So here I am, watching speed skating, sharing my memories. I miss home and my family, but luckily, this city has so many friendly people willing to share a moment with a stranger that the days go by fairly quickly. Thankfully I enjoy talking and meeting new people. It's quite incredible sharing a bus or boat ride with people from around the globe. My own daily United Nations!

Tomorrow it's Men's Ski Cross at Cypress, Canada vs. USA in hockey, and two man bobsleigh - don't be afraid to spend your entire day in front of the television. Could be a golden day for us again. Longer shift tomorrow, 10 to four, and add the commute! Thankfully, I have an extra day off now, so I won't hesitate to sleep in.

Till then, stay cool, fools :)

P.S. - Hey Lisa, I think I've thought of the perfect way to thank my accommodation hosts.

Ski Day, Whistler and Blackcomb

2010-02-20T21:55:00.005-05:00

Now, where did I leave off?? Ah yes, my day of skiing with my cousin, Geoff.

Woke up early with a wee hangie, but nothing Raisin Bran, toast and coffee couldn't cure. Played with the kiddies for a bit, watched tape-delayed hockey shootout game between Russia and Slovakia, and then it was on the bus and up to the mountain.

Rented my skis at Carleton Lodge and then we were on our way. The weather was an absolute perfect spring day - bluebird skies, 6C at the base, -4C at the summit, no ice, just nice fast snow.

Geoff took it easy on me early, hitting some nice, fast cruisers. It gave us a chance to warm up as the tougher challenges were looming for me. I hadn't skied too many days this year, so I was a bit apprehensive about my leg strength and stamina, but I was determined not to slow my cousin up too much.

On the chair lift, we met (again) some interesting people, most notably two bomb techs from Hamilton. They are up as part of the larger security force that is in Vancouver and Whistler. We had a really nice chat, and once we reached the summit, it was time to part ways. A few runs and then we went over to watch the men's Super G race course. We stayed for about 30 minutes, managed to see Manny ski (and fall), as well as several others. What a rush to see them pass by us at such incredible speeds!

Whistler Bowl, Bagel Bowl, and then...The Couloir, possibly Whistler Mountains most famous double-black run. Geoff first took me to 'the hard way', just for the view, and believe me, it is an insane drop in. We moved down to the 'easy way', which was still a really nice challenge. The first thing to remember is not to be too much in awe of the view. The next thing to remember - don't screw up, because it's a loooong way down. As you can guess, I survived that run, and my quad muscles are still rebelling against me as I type this.

The Peak 2 Peak Gondola is not only a spectacle of engineering, but one of the most thrilling 11 minutes of your life. As the longest gondola in the world, it joins Whistler and Blackcomb mountain. Debate rages amongst locals as to which mountain is best, but to me, skiing both in the same day is the cat's ass. In fact, there is nothing more breathtaking than hiking up a few metres to the entrance of Blackcomb Glacier. Imagine a valley of white snow, walls of rock surround you as they climb into the sky, the people below looking like ants. It is one of the reasons why people from around the world flock to ski this piece of alpine heaven.

This was our last run of the day, partly because it was mid-afternoon, and partly because it can be physically demanding. We dropped in and stayed to the left, as I wondered in my head why we weren't heading towards the middle and the easiest route down.

Geoff does not do easy.

We ended up at a section that he had never skied before. Surrounded by cliffs behind us and cliffs below us, it was a sketchy decision moment of whether we would be able to find a safe way down or hike back up to the trail. We found a way down, but it would be one I will never forget!

Quite simply, it was the steepest, hairiest run I had ever done in my entire life, and I've been skiing for close to 37 years! The first two turns are the ones that will determine whether you will make it down without falling, without losing your equipment, and escaping serious injury. With visions of my children and wife in my mind, I headed down with more determination than I've ever had, skiing, quite literally, as if my life depended on it.

As I made my way down, confidence building with every turn, I knew that I quite possibly skied the run of my recreational career. It was a fantastic way to end my day, and a well deserved beer was waiting back at the house.

Shower, beer, and nachos, and then it was time to take the 4 hr trek back to Vancouver. As I entered the door in Dunbar, I noticed that my hosts, who had left for Whistler that day, left me a very nice note and a delicious bottle of '98 Cab Sauv for my consumption. However, it was 10 pm and I was exhausted, so the wine would have to wait for the next day.

Day Off - Weasel's, Free Beer, and Nancy Greene

2010-02-20T10:52:00.004-05:00

Finally, two days off from working at the Olympics, with an opportunity to relax and ski in Whistler. But let's be honest. This is B.C., and you can't get away from the Olympics.

It was nice to actually be a part of them from a fan perspective. I arrived in Whistler in record time. My cousin Geoff was out skiing and wouldn't be back until one, so I had time to catch up with his wife Jackie and play with their kids Zachary, Sammy, and Isabelle.

When Geoff got home, we all decided to go walking around Whistler Village. The place was packed with people, more than the busiest day outside of the Games. But the energy was incredible, lots of very friendly people, and a nice opportunity to soak in the festivities.

After taking lots of pictures, finding free stuff (pins and a foam finger to cheer on Jamaica), we parted ways so that I could meet up with my friend and fellow ski patroller Ashley. Ashley's role is Course Setter, and he's one of those people that put up the 'B' nets, or the blue safety nets on the race course. Collectively, all of the alpine crew are known as Weasel Workers, secret hand shakes and all. They also have their own 'house', which, as you can guess, is aptly named "Weasel House". Translation - free beer! Yes, Marc's incredible run of dumb luck continues.

At the Weasel House, we enjoyed some nice local draft, met some other patrollers from around Canada, including one from Mont Saint Marie who I remember from meeting years ago. But the two highlights for me were meeting Carl Ricker, the father of snowboard cross Gold medal winner Maelle Ricker, and the lovely (and short) Nancy Greene.

I left in time to catch dinner back at the house, and then Geoff and I went back into the village because we had tickets to Victory Square and the medal ceremonies. Again, another fantastic experience to see athletes get what they readily deserved for all of their hard work and dedication.

Again, met some really cool Canadians, surly Swiss, jolly Americans, and gnarly Norwegians. We bar hopped a few places, met a guy from Texas who came up to ski, and when he booked, didn't realize the Olympics were going on! Of course, I asked him if he lived in a cave, but I guess we now know how popular the Games coverage is down South.

Finally, it was home to bed because Day Two of my days off was....Whistler/Blackcomb ski day!

Off to work now, will update Day Two tonight (tomorrow for those of you in the East).

Marc, out!

Men's Halfpipe, Day of Crapper Duty, tanning at Cypress???

2010-02-17T23:43:00.004-05:00

Day Five - and I'm almost halfway there.

Woke up to still wet boots from the rain yesterday, and Dana kindly gave me some plastic bags to wear inside them. Still, with the gorgeous weather at Cypress and my wonderful sweaty feet, I ended up changing my socks three times. I think I'm the only person who constantly changes their socks - it's a ski patrol habit I have, I guess.

It was bluebird skies all day today, and one of the nicest days since I arrived in Vancouver. I knew when I arrived at the mountain that it would be a great day. The Men's Halfpipe is one of the marquee events at the Olympics, and to be honest, I had never heard of Shaun White until today. By the end of my shift, I knew the Americans had a very strong team.

Talked to a volunteer on my way to work who works at Whistler as part of the anti-doping unit. Now that is a cool gig. She got involved because her dad did a similar role back at Squaw Valley.

My role today was Support team, which essentially means floater to relieve other positions throughout the day. My first spot was the concession line. For some reason, my 5' 10', 210 lbs frame makes people think that I can play the 'bouncer' role, which I happily oblige, if for nothing than to alleviate stress from the more 'quiet' volunteers and get things moving. The perception of being organized goes a long way to making people happy when they are in a food line up.

From there I was rewarded (or punished) by spending 30 minutes up in the stands to watch the quarterfinals on the Halfpipe. Punished, because to reach the seating area, you have to climb 246 steps which really works the quads. However, I got some good pictures and felt the energy of the crowd.

There are a few dreaded jobs at Cypress. Ticketing or Entry is one of them, because you are so far removed from the action. The other one is the Crapper. Below the stairs sit over 40 port o' johns, and the only thing that separates this area and the ski-out where the athletes come down from is a plastic race fence. It's a popular area for fans to hang out and enjoy some of BC's famous smokeable herb, and with a small hole where people have slipped through, it needs some security. This was where I spent my last 40 minutes of my day. It truly is a shitty job. However, I did meet the ex-coach of Shaun White and Scotty Lagos, and I made it back to town to watch the finals on television. Weather-wise, we couldn't of asked for better.

If you had a chance to watch the women's downhill, you were treated to a bunch of spectacular crashes, and a Gold medal run by the US's Lindsey Vonn. Twice on T.V, I heard the reference by CTV announcers that he/she was "The Gretzkey of their sport". It's just a matter of time before Gretzky becomes a word in Webster's dictionary to mean one who is the best in their given profession.

I now have two well-deserved days off. My feet are sore, my legs hate me, every time I see a family with their children my heart aches. But I know that 10, 20, or 30 years from now, surrounded by my grandkids, Lisa just in earshot, Aiden and Marissa looking nearby, I'll have these wonderful memories to share. Maybe Lisa and I will be watching a future Olympic Games knowing that our children are there in some capacity?? Either way, these 16 days will be a hiccup in the timeline of my life. This online dairy of sorts will hopefully last longer than my memory :)

I can't tell you how happy I am that you are not only reading my daily experiences and enjoying them, but are so supportive with your comments here and on Facebook. It feels that you are all with me in some small way, and I don't feel alone in this! So thank you, thank you, and thank you.

With that, I'm off to Whistler tomorrow to spend a few days with my cuz Geoff and his family, get some skiing in, experience the Games from our other main location, and maybe share a beer or two with a few volunteers that are working up there.

The blog will take a break, but I'll be back on Saturday with more pics and the lowdown from Whistler Creekside. Till then, be cool, stay healthy, hug your loved ones, and don't be a Quatchi!

I'm the lucky Loonie (or looney). Day Four, another Gold on Cypress.

2010-02-16T23:06:00.003-05:00

I'm starting to think there's some magic in my tired bones. Both times I've watched the medal race, both times Canada wins gold. And when Mike Robertson won Silver, where was I? Down below, NOT watching. So, there you have it. The secret to Canada's success is me!

But honestly, what a great win for such a nice, cute, humble Canadian girl. Way to go Maelle.

The day for me started very wet. The bus up to Cypress climbed into fog/clouds, where it would delay the ladies' snowcross for over two hours. Up at the Grandstand where I was, constant drizzle poured over my plastic poncho, dripping endlessly over my water-resistent (not proof) boots.

Three pairs of socks later, the sun came out and I was deployed in the stands, where I was able to not only witness a golden run, but once again feel the excitment with the other spectators. There really is no feeling like it.

Celebrity sighting of the day? GG Michaelle Jean.

Right after the win, I phoned home where I got to talk to Lisa, and found out that her, Marissa, and Aiden watched the race as well. In Aiden's words, it was "Frickin' awesome".

Some funny/odd/interesting little things that happen in my world or that I observe lately:

- Bulgarian men get very upset when you ask to see their accreditation. And they are BIG men!

- It's wet, cold, and foggy, but still, Canadians will buy four $10 cans of beer and can party like no other country

- Quatchi, the big hairy mascot of the three we have at the Games, has become my arch enemy. My friend Matt said Quatchi is a bitch. Therefore, Quatchi means bitch.
"Dude, I'm soaking wet. My feet hurt. I want to go home."
"Johnny, stop being such a Quatchi."

- When I walk downtown Van to my bus stop with my blue jacket on, EVERYONE thinks you have the answers. Sometimes I do, but most times I make it up. (kidding)

- You CAN take public transit and strike up a perfectly normal conversation with complete strangers. It makes the trip go by so much quicker, and you meet really interesting people.

- Regardless of what you read or hear in the media, these Olympic Games are going great! Yes, tickets were cancelled, people were pissed, but spectators also avoided injury and the ones that were there had the time of their lives. No, VANOC cannot control weather, especially in February. Yes, we tried being Green, but sometimes old methods work best. A Zamboni will never let you down. Yes, an athlete died before the Games even began, but no, there was nothing that could have prevented it. No Olympic Games has ever gone off without a hitch, no, Vancouver 2010 isn't perfect, yes, they are working out the kinks, yes, Canadians are the most friendliest, helpful, caring, and passionate people in the world.

- The Canadian Heritage Minister needs to butt out and keep his mouth shut. He's acting like a little Quatchi.

Tomorrow, one of the biggest events to date at Cypress - Halfpipe!

Day Three - Silver Lining at Cypress

2010-02-16T00:35:00.003-05:00

Ah yes, another day, another medal.

Today things shifted from Freestyle Plaza to Snocross Centre. On one hand, there were 4000 disappointed people in Vancouver who found out that their general admission tickets were cancelled for today's Snocross because of safety issues, and on the other, hundreds of EVS (Event Services) staff breathing a small sigh of relief that we only had to manage 5000 people.

The half-pipe/cross course is quite amazing. It sits to the right of the new Day Lodge on the other side of the mountain. The Grandstands tower 14 stories over the arriving crowd, and people get to climb over 216 stairs to reach the top, and another 30 if they are sitting at the top row. On the way to the field of play area, spectators pass a Graffiti Wall, a sectioned area sponsored by VANOC to highlight Urban Art. For people who have been up to Cypress the last few days, it's nice to change up the dynamics.

My section today was in the path area, which meant crowd and access control, answering questions, and making the spectators feel welcome. Although I wasn't in a position to see any of the action (other than 10 minutes of it on my lunch), I could hear the roar of the crowd, particularly when Canada's Mike Roberston narrowly missed winning gold by about a foot to American Bryon Wilson.

And so there I was among the departing fans thanking them for coming, wishing them a good night, asking if they had a great time, congratulating the Americans on their gold. The smile on my face is always genuine, my thanks always sincere. It's just so cool being surrounded by Austrians, Norweigians, French, Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Poles, Americans, fellow Canadians....we speak so many different languages, but deep down we are so much alike.

I was able to see many of the athletes come down and into the access controlled area, many of them greeted by their families. For many of these 'kids', it's their first Olympic Games. For the mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, all of their many family members, it must be such a sense of pride to watch them compete. We put so much emphasis on placing in the medals, and gold is so coveted, but for many countries, and for many athletes, the chance to just compete, attend, and finish their event is gold enough.

Off to bed, short sleep followed by my longest shift tomorrow - 5:30 a.m. until 3:15, not counting the 5 hrs of commuting total. Ladies' snocross, should be exciting.

Reporting from Cypress Mountain, British Columbia...

Golden Day Two

2010-02-15T00:57:00.005-05:00

Day two is now in the books, and what a day it was!

As you all know by now, Canada's Alexandre Bilodeau made Canadian Olympic history tonight by winning a gold medal on home soil. Yes, I believe!

Here's how my day unfolded.

Shift was for 10 a.m., so I left the house at 7:30 a.m. Walked to my new local Starbucks. No rain this morning, so I started feeling confident about the weather today on the mountain. Bus was late, which meant I started worrying I would be late for my shift, however, my connections on the Seabus and then the Cypress shuttle all clicked, and as we drove up to Cypress, we burst through the clouds to see hints of blue sky, and a glimmer of hope that we'd have a dry day.

In the briefing, I was teamed with a new group of people. I am starting to like this, because with thousands of volunteers, there's so many interesting people to meet and talk to, and mixing up the teams and daily duties keeps each day fresh.
So today our team was Plaza 10. I don't get the 10, but Plaza means we are basically doing crowd and access control from the point when spectators enter the main viewing area (merchandise, food concessions, first aid, lost and found, bathrooms and grandstand). As the role of Hosts for Event Services, we basically 'touch' each and every person who attends an event.

So as I stood outside the operations building, greeting people, the sun started coming out, which was a far cry from the wet weather yesterday. And sun really gets people in a fantastic mood, so another grand day of me smiling, helping people find there way, making sure they are in a positive and festive frame of mind before the action starts.

I will say the one common complaint amongst spectators is that the food concession lineups are way too long. There are only two areas where people can buy food (and the rules state that you cannot bring your own in for security reasons), so there are two very long lineups for a good chunk of the day. Thankfully, the weather helped to ease some distress, but overall, it's something that cannot be alleviated. Cypress is not built to accommodate upwards of 9000 people for an event.

In any case, my shift went incredibly well, and although we were short staffed, we more than made due. As I was finishing up, a senior supervisor asked if I minded giving him a hand moving the crowd to allow a vehicle to transport food to the athletes. Of course, I'm more than willing to lend a hand, and after I did, Glenn rewarded me with a dinner voucher. This is important to note because on shift, you only get one meal voucher, and I will honestly say, volunteers are fed very well. So to have two meals taken care of is a real bonus.

As I sat in the main day lodge eating my dinner and watching luge on the television, I had the time to call home - finally! Lisa and I have missed each other's calls lately, so this being Valentine's Day, I really wanted to hear her voice. After our call, I had to decide whether to head back to Vancouver or stay and watch the Men's Mogul medal run. It was an easy decision to make, and one that I am grateful I made.

Sitting in the crowd, I watched the top ten men come down the run, many of which had some great times, some with great aerials, but not many with both. Third last to go was Canadian-born Aussie Dale Bigg-Smith, who put in an incredible run and was in first place. Alexandre Bilodeau followed, and when his name was announced, the crowd roared and then we all cheered each and every twist, turn, and jump that he made. When the scores were announced and Bilodeau had beaten Bigg-Smith, everyone went nuts! It was the most incredible feeling, like when your favourite team scores that point on the final play or scores in overtime to win the championship. We all knew we had witnessed something special. Of course, there was one more skier to follow, and so we collectively held our breath, some of us wishing for him to fall or at least screw up. French skier Guilbaut Colas raced down the course but did not secure very good aerial points, so when he crossed the finish line, we all knew the gold was ours.

So there you have it. A gold medal day for Canada (as well as a bronze from fellow Ottawan Kristina Groves for her third place finish in the 3000m speed skate), an historic experience, a bus full of happy Canucks singing Oh Canada on the way down. And it's only Day Two.

Good night everyone!

First day at Cypress - Heil wins Silver

2010-02-14T01:39:00.004-05:00

Wow, what an amazing day!

I left Don and Dana's at around 9 with a beautiful walk down to Dunbar St to catch the bus. What a difference coming from Ottawa (-14C) to here (+6). Grass everywhere, felt like Spring or early Fall. All I could think about was "Man, Lisa would LOVE this." Yes Lisa, you'd be out running every single day, and I would almost join you on some of them ;)

So the bus got me to Waterfront where I took the Seabus over to North Vancouver and Lonsdale Quay. This is my main hub to get on the OBN (Olympic Bus Network) up to Cypress. I noticed a lot of other volunteers in our obvious blue uni's, but really didn't strike any conversations with anyone at that point. Walking to the buses, however, was a man from Tanzania, so we chatted about the Games, Vancouver, our families and so on. It was a nice start to the morning.

As I got on the bus, a guy came and sat down. He was from a very small town in northern Quebec named Joseph and he works Tech, which means he assists the many international teams' set-up people, those that wax and sharpen the athletes gear. He has been here for over two weeks, loves the Games, and got me very excited about my eventual arrival at Cypress. We quickly became friends, and he was my first 'mentor' around the hill. Someone like this is great to have when you enter a new situation where you have no idea where anything is or how things work.

So, a 20-minute walk up to the security check point, sign in, get meal voucher, newsletter of the day, and then walk to our assignment building. Keep in mind that we are there two hours before gates open, and already there's a buzz of anticipation in the air. And there's a lot of walking. A lot.

Role call and teams are divided and duties are given. I find out that we lucked in today, as we were all working the Grandstand area. To make a long story short, I was an usher to help people find their respective sections, rows, and seats. I also ended up having front row view of the Ladies Moguls qualifying.

However, before I was able to greet the public, me and the rest of the team were assigned our posts, where we waited...in the rain.....the high winds....the wet snow...which turned to rain.....then snow...and on and on it went for the rest of the day. If you weren't dressed for the elements, a long and uncomfortable day lay ahead. Thanks to my crack planning and experience patrolling on the hill, I was more than prepared. Still, my hands and feet were getting pretty soaked.

Finally, the announcer said it was 1:30 pm and the gates were opening, to be ready to welcome the world to the 2010 Olympics. The music was blaring, people were pumped, and I had a grin from ear-to-ear from that point until right about now...many hours later. There was such a positive vibe throughout the day - we were dancing around, partly to keep warm and moving, and partly to get the crowd excited, but mostly because we were so glad to be part of something so incredible! It was amazing, because the more you smiled and showed enthusiasm, the more it rubbed off on the crowd. Truly unbelievable.

I did get to see many of the runs, including Jennifer Heil's great qualifying run, which I later found out in the evening medal round, she won a silver! Go Canada! I also met some nice delegates from Russia, Italy, Germany, lots of Americans as well as enthusiastic Canadians. One of those Crazy Canucks that I managed to say hi to was former Prime Minister Jean Chretien. Definitely a highlight for me. My friend and fellow ski patroller Dave Moffat was on hand doing spectator First Aid, so we took a few snaps together. It was good to see a familiar face from home.

By the end of the day, I had made a really nice group of friends and I had the time of my life. That's Day One! I hope I can maintain this energy up, but as I type this, it's already 11 pm and I have an earlier shift tomorrow. Oh well, I can always sleep on the bus.

I'm thinking of all of you back home, wishing you could all experience this. I've never been so proud to be a Canadian, and to have the opportunity to be a host to the world is such an honour. I'm staying safe and healthy so far, my hosts are extremely gracious, and I've got 14 more days to go.

Pictures tomorrow, I promise. Lisa, kids, I love you with all my heart. xxoo

Today is Day One

2010-02-13T09:49:00.003-05:00

Well, I finally made it.

Okay, let's start from the beginning.

I get on the plane in Ottawa and have an uneventful flight to Edmonton (I did watch Public Enemies, which was quite good). With about 1.5 hrs layover, I began walking around as I had never been to Edmonton's airport. While doing so, I ran into friend and fellow ski patroller Renee Lafrancois. Renee travels for work....a lot. So she kindly invited me to the Maple Leaf Lounge while we waited for our respective flights. Walking into the Maple Leaf Lounge must be a lot like going to Heaven and seeing the gates of the bar open. Nice food, free wine and beer, leather seats...very refined. Thank you Renee!

Then it was out with the rest of the mortals to get on my plane. As I was waiting, I noticed another familiar face - Cary Mullen, Olympic and World Champ (ex) skier turned motivational speaker. Wonder if he was on his way to give Team Canada a pep talk? Also on my flight, some dude from Team Finland.

A 20 minute delay and we were finally on our way to Vancouver. Again, a very uneventful flight, finished watching Surrogate (with Bruce Willis - no, don't bother, it's a pretty bad movie), and arrived at YVR at 2:15 p.m. It's here that through Facebook I found a fellow volunteer to pick me up and bring me to the Uniform and Accrediation Centre. Gary, you rock!

As we were talking, I heard about Georgian Slider Nodar Kumaritashvili and his fateful training run on the luge track. Not the way anyone wanted these Games to start, and sadly, a quick end to a young man's Olympic dream.

At the PNE, I was shuttled through a very efficient process to receive my accreditation card and fitted for my uniform. I also received a nice welcome bag of swag, which as a volunteer, is always appreciated. This is where Gary and I parted ways, and I began making my way to my accommodations - Dana's house. Three trains, one bus, one missed stop, and six blocks of walking with two heavy bags later, I arrived at 6 p.m, just in time for the beginning of the Opening Ceremonies.

I had heard through volunteers who had attended the dress rehearsal several nights before, that although sworn to secrecy, the world would be amazed! Sure enough, it did not disappoint. I'm not one for watching ceremonies on television, but this was extremely cool. As I sat down with my gracious hosts Don and Dana, eating great Chinese take-out, drinking Kettle Valley and watching the ceremonies on HD, everything started sinking in. I'm in Vancouver, for the 2010 Olympics, a part of history. What an incredible opportunity bestowed to me! So my plan is to embrace it, smile until my face hurts, soak it all in, and be the best little Canuck possible.

Today is Day One - cloudy, 5-10mm of rain expected, and ladies moguls at Cypress. Let's see what the world brings.

Lisa, Aiden and Marissa - thank you for the little surprise you left for me in my luggage. Your words and awesome drawings mean so much, and are above my bed so that I can read them and feel that home is not so far away.

The Final Countdown (are you singing it in your head yet?)

2010-02-11T14:24:00.004-05:00

It's down to mere hours now until I board Air Canada from Ottawa to Vancouver, with a slight detour in Edmontontown, and start my 16 day adventure as one of the 25,000 volunteers in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games.

The bags are packed (over packed, most likely), my travel documents, maps, emails, directions are all secured uin a blue plastic folder, my work slate has been cleared. So what's left?

The thank you's.

I'll try not to make this sound like an Oscar speech.

Without these people, my journey would not be possible.

1- My parents and my aunts - your keen interest, your worry, your promise and offer to take care of my family while I'm gone, and your support. Thank you.

2- My boss/co-workers - again, your support has been tremendous and your excitement is infectious. I promise to be your eyes and ears in the field. Also, Dana, for your most generous offer by opening your home to me. You have no idea how many grey hairs you prevented!

3- My children - because you don't yet understand that daddy will be gone for the longest period in your short lives, I don't have to deal with your sadness (or joy?) and tears - yet! But know that you will be in my heart and my thoughts every single day, and as you grow older, I will regale my tales of the Winter Olympics to you as you nod off to sleep :)

4- My wife - when all is said and done, I wouldn't be typing these words if it weren't for you. I want you to understand that this is more than a sporting event for me, a trip out west, an excuse not to change diapers for two weeks. I want you to know that for 16 days, I will meet people from around the world, work with people from all walks of life, from all parts of the globe, sharing the same passion as I do. I want you to know that for 16 days, all of the long hours, wet weather, constant smiling and being ON for "The Games", I will be missing you. I want you to know that when I come home, I will be a richer person for the experience, that I will be a better husband, a more humble father, and that no matter the time and distance that will be between us, you will always be in my heart each minute of each day. Thank you for your unconditional love, your undying support, and your willingness to go completely insane so that I can be a small part of history.

Tomorrow will be very hectic and very exciting. I'm hoping (praying) for a smooth flight, no lost luggage, easy commuting, friendly people, and nice weather. I'll sit back, watch the opening ceremonies, get a good night's sleep, and come Saturday morning, welcome the World!

Super Bowl Sunday - 5 days to go

2010-02-07T21:11:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was the Ski Patrol First Aid competition at Vorlage here in Gatineau Zone. My crack team (which, incidentally, was put together the night before) came in second place. I'm very proud of those boys! Next stop, Division comp in Saguenay, QC.

It is my last weekend before I leave, and today me, Dad, and Aiden spent the afternoon at Scotiabank Place to watch the Sens Skills competition. Very family oriented, a lot of fun, and it was just great spending time with my favourite male Plantes! I did miss Marissa's first recital, but Lisa taped it and I did have a chance to watch it. That little girl sure melts my heart.

I've got a full blown cold, which I'm a bit glad is happening now and not next week. Nothing would suck more than feeling like crap while either flying to Vancouver or standing outside at Cypress with your head feeling like ten tons of lead, sniffling at spectators, etc. Canadian snot does not win any gold medals, no matter what. But it sure makes a fine icicle.

Tomorrow I start packing. Just need to figure out what, how much, and ensure I don't forget anything. Volunteers do get a pretty awesome uniform, but you have to consider the many layers you need to have in order to be prepared for warm, cold, and wet weather all at once. I also need to anticipate the weather in Whistler for my day of skiing with my cousin, which WILL rock!

I've already met some great online volunteers, following their experience pre-Olympic via Facebook, and it will be cool meeting them in person. Different backgrounds, different interests, but we all share the same passion for the Games. Vancouver 2010 will be the common thread that will link us all for life.

Saints are up by a touchdown. It's gonna be close. CTV is rolling out the Olympic commercials like nobody's business. I hope it gets the country pumped up.

Till next time...

One week from today.....

2010-02-05T11:00:00.003-05:00

...I'll be heading out west to begin my 16 day adventure as an Olympic Volunteer.
I'm both nervous and excited, with a tinge of sadness mixed in.

So first, the positive. I'll be working as an Event Services Host at Cypress Mountain. Say what you will about the lack of snow there, but from what I've gathered, the CYP crew have been working around the clock to get the facilities up to spec. In the end, I'm confident it will be great for the atheletes and it will look good on television.

Staying in the Dunbar area of Vancouver, a fellow employee has kindly offered accommodation, which I am very thankful for. My nervousness stems from only been to VanCity three times, not once taking any public transit. Also of note is the fact that I'm looking at potentially a 2-hour (each way) commute. Stay tuned!

On the downside, I'm leaving behind my wife and two kids. I can't put into words how much I'll particularly miss getting Aiden and Marissa ready for school in the mornings, no matter the stress and races against the clock we endure. In the end, it's the sleepy smiles, hugs, kisses, dancing, laughter, screaming, spilling, bribing, and negotiating that will be gone from my daily routine, and that, my friends, sucks.

I know, I know. It's my fault, my decision for leaving. Absence makes the heart...

So, I'm hoping to be able to blog daily from Vancouver, to talk about my Olympic experience, share with you the stories, sights and sounds of the Games, perhaps introduce you to some new friends, and ultimately have you live vicariously through me as Canada welcomes the world! It's going to be an experience of a lifetime, and I'm proud to be a part of it.

My 8th year wedding anniversary is a lie...

2009-08-04T06:00:00.000-04:00

...because it doesn't reflect how long Lisa and I have truly been together, let alone what we've lived through. Yes, we got married in 2003, the summer after I graduated from college. However, our journey in life didn't get off the ground until 1989, when I began my Jumbo Video stalking career of redheads. It was in this year that I saw a tall, skinny, beautiful redhead, working behind the counter checking out Hollywood hits and back-door suburban porn.

Today, as we celebrate our 8th wedding anniversay driving towards Niagara Falls with our six and one year old children in tow, I'm left wondering.........what in the hell did I do in this life to deserve any of this??? The last few days, as I sat across my wife, son and daughter, I would ask myself this question. I would think, "I wonder if my parents thought the same thing?" as they drove to Florida, ate dinner, brought us to school, etc. Of course they did! Any parent with a conscience and a heart would have. You can't predict the feeling or the moment - it just comes to you. The awakening occurs when you look across the table and see yourself in the past. You want to know the secret to the fountain of youth? Have children!

When I explain to Aiden, my very intuitive six-year-old, how he came to be, my wife and I always say "because God wanted us to have you".

Without getting into a religious debate, my explaination behind this non-scientific theory is that - why else would I be so blessed as to have two healthy, happy, beautiful children? Was it the loonie I put in the homeless guy's hat? The chocolate's I sold door-to-door when I was 10? No. There really isn't an explaination, except that I met the right person at the right time, that together, we would create two young people that, covered in spaghetti sauce, chocolate, cookies, ice cream, and god-knows-what, the ones sitting across from us at the dinner table are the reasons why we came to be husband and wife on the dock at the Glen House on a very hot, summer August day, surrounded by our best friends and family.

They are the reflection of what was, what is, and what can be. For that, I am grateful, not to God, Allah, the sun, moon and stars, but to my wife, my best friend, and my soulmate. Thank you Lisa, for being my best friend, for always being there, and for being my biggest fan. My ego is only as big as you let it:)

I love you!

The Weather - Thus far.......

2009-08-03T21:21:00.003-04:00

I could not ignore it anymore. Facebook, Twitter, every Ontario news publication...July, wettest summer on record...where's the sun?...more clouds...what? more rain??....flooding, hail, wind. I was half expecting the Four Horsemen to arrive. But you know what? We love bitching about weather - hot, cold, dry, humid, windchill, and humidex all.

Sitting on my little porch in Blue Mountain, shorts, t-shirt, finishing a lovely '05 red and a mini cuban, breeze moving the evergreens and pines, is when it hits me. What in the good lord liftin' do we have to complain about?

I asked myself a few questions, just to clarify my situation;
1) Am I sweating? No
2) Am I uncomfortable? No
3) Am I sunburnt? No
4) Am I wearing a parka? No
5) Am I wearing insulated muckluks? No
6) Am I wearing shorts? YES
7) Is it snowing? NO
8) Do I have to worry about watering my lawn or plants? NO
9) Can I BBQ? YES
10) Can I see my breath when I breathe? NO

So for all the Facebook whining, Twitter complainin', Digg This wailin', this blog's for you! It's one thing you CAN'T control, so appreciate what you have, enjoy the moment, keep the one's around you smiling, and make it the most enjoyable time you can. No matter what the weather is like outside, it will always be sunny where you make it.

Being a celebrity can KILL YOU!

2009-07-07T14:53:00.002-04:00

Discovery Channel has a great show called The Deadliest Catch. It is the story about crab fisherman, and how this occupation is deemed one of the most dangerous on this blue planet. Entertaining as hell, it's a soap opera on the high seas for men.

Well Discovery, better check your homework, fire that pimple-faced intern, or at least tune in to Mary Hart!

Helloooooo.....Internet anyone? Headlines? TMZ.com? Entertainment Weekly? People Magazine? I'm telling you, the last two weeks have been absolutely brutal for anyone remotely famous. Let's recap:

David Carradine - dead
Ed McMahon - dead
Farah Fawcett - dead
Michael Jackson - dead (but debatable - check your local grocery clerks for new hires)
Karl Malden - dead
Billy Mays - dead
Martin Streek - dead (okay, he's small 'c' celeb, but in the Canadian alternative radio world, he was a god to many)

So I am imploring Discovery Channel to rethink (and perhaps, retool) it's showcase line-up, and either stop falsely promoting this crab-fishing tomfoolery as 'dangerous', or start a new show about the precarious occupation of being famous to millions around the world (or 3000, in the case of Streek).

By the way, for the benefit of my brother-in-law, who may or may not read this blog, a friendly reminder.

John Candy - still dead. (don't you just love inside jokes?)

I've bent to peer pressure...

2009-07-03T12:44:00.003-04:00

Wow. Don't post for four months and some people REALLY notice! I guess my inactivity has shunned my legion of faithful readers, save one. But really, I've been in a flux recently as to what I want my blog to really be about.

I mean, is it my online diary? If so, that's pretty lame.

Should it be a music blog? I mean, I've been discovering and listening to a lot of great artists, signed and unsigned acts that first hit the indie airwaves, then slowly move into the mainstream where I tend to distance myself from.

It could be a blog about funny things I find on the internet - headlines that make me laugh till I cry.
Exhibit A

American woman obsessed with rabbits sent back to jail after she's found in hotel with bunnies

Quite easily, this blog could centre around my life as a father of two gorgeous children, Aiden and Marissa, who both make Lisa and I laugh, cry, well-up with uncontrollable pride, frustrate, and basically thank god everyday for being blessed with such an amazing family. But then, do I limit myself? And really, I think Lisa's blog does a much better job at it than I could ever do.

My job takes up at least 37.5 hours of my life...I mean, week. Surely there are tales of whimsy that I could share? Possibly, but blogging about work has got to be somewhat of a gamble? I mean, say the wrong thing and *poof*, C.E.M (Career-Ending Move).

What this really does is it forces me to focus on a theme - to which I haven't come up with yet. So until I do, I leave you with this, and this, with a promise to return before four months!

The coolest birthday party/rock concert ever!

2009-02-05T10:12:00.003-05:00

No, this isn't me being lazy - well, in a way, I guess it is.
Let me preface by saying I don't watch music videos like I used to anymore. Hell, even video channels rarely play music videos anymore, but I digress. There is this little band, you may have heard of them, called Coldplay. Lisa and I share a very fond memory of seeing them just before they hit it big internationally when we saw them at the Irving Plaza in New York City. That was magic. Since then, they are one of the most popular bands in the world.
I had fallen out of favour with the band, as I felt their last album was a bit too self-indulgent and grandiose. Their new disc, Viva La Vida Or Death and All His Friends, is a return to what they do best - upbeat, uplifting, joyous music. Here is a video for their latest single, Life in Technicolour. Now I am not into puppets/marionettes, but who is? Why don't people make videos like this anymore? Not only is it a great song, but the vid is first-rate. Nice to see they don't take themselves so seriously. It also gives me a great idea for the kid's next birthday!
Enjoy

2009-01-27T11:03:00.001-05:00

All is well. Nothing to report. Instead, enjoy this little clip.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Hockey, and the memory of a lifetime

2008-12-13T09:12:00.004-05:00

I volunteer - a lot. It drives my wife mad sometimes, wondering why I give so much of my time (for free) to organizations (who don't pay), when I could be spending all of that extra time at home. One of things I am donating my time for is the IIHF World Junior Hockey Tournament, happening right here in my home town of Ottawa. It's, as I described to my lovely wife, a chance of a lifetime. I'll be working (for free) on the media communications team, a great opportunity to enhance my skills, build my network of contacts, and be part of a holiday tradition that starts on Dec. 26 every year. Ask most, if not all, hockey enthusiasts in Canada, and they all have fond memories of the World Juniors.

The kids on the ice, afterall, are the stars of tomorrow.

And so, that is my long segue into last night. As an incentive for being a volunteer, you receive certain freebies. On this occasion, it was two tickets to the Team Canada intrasquad game, played at Scotiabank Place. My son, Aiden, who is five, is really beginning to appreciate the game of hockey, and so I saw this as my opportunity to spend some real quality time with him, and to see some of the best teenagers in the country hammer it out for a chance to represent their country on an international stage.

We started off like most boys do - go to Marshy's Restaurant for a beer (and chocolate milk) and some pub grub before the game. Then, it was off to our seats.

Since it was Team Red vs. Team White, it was unclear who the 'good guys' and 'bad guys' were, so Aiden came up with a brilliant plan - whoever scores first, that's who we'll cheer for. And so it was Team White for the rest of the game, and god love 'em, they won both the game and the shootout.

But all of that is not what's really important.

The look on his face when the players took to the ice, the unabashed dancing in the aisle when the music blared during the stoppage of play (dance like no one is watching, right?), the unsolicited hugs and 'I love you's' throughout the evening. As I switched between looking at my little boy and the game, I realized how special this moment in time was. I had become my father, watching me take my first steps, skiing on my own for the first time, staying up late watching the Habs on CBC - all of those precious moments that form the bond between father and son.

Of course, I felt compelled to take Aiden to the Sens store after the game, and so it was there that I became fully aware that his favourite player is Dany Heatley, and that Aiden wants to be a goalie. Hey, you can't have enough famous Plante goalies!

And as we drove home on a very cold December night, with the full moon closer to Earth than at any other time, a tired, sleeping boy dozing in the back seat, and me replaying the evening in my head, I know that Aiden will come away remembering the sights and sounds of the rink, and that I was right there with him. I will come away with the memory that I was right there, with him.

The wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round

2008-12-03T09:45:00.004-05:00

Tiny bags of pretzels with a little airplane on them, free cups of juice (orange or apple), fuzzy heads, stuffed up sinuses. ColdFX, you came a day too late.
Sometimes, can't remember what day it is. November limps into December, all of a sudden the holidays loom. Lights! Lights! Patterns can't be this confusing, can it?
There's so much to do, and nobody suggests an 8-day week - that would be a welcome addition, even for a little while.
My head hurts, eyes feel like giant frozen grapes ready to slide out of their sockets.
Winter quickly approaches, and I'm caught off-guard. Car floor mats, where are my damn boots? Need to find a jacket.
Santa Clause is coming to town, but so is the Garlic King. Funny how a shwarma slingin' entrepreneur makes everything right again.
Kings of Leon, Lanois, Jose Gonzalez, Gang Gang Dance, Yeah Yeah Yeahs - these are the last five things you heard.
I need more time....but I know the ship will right itself, eventually. After all, Obama's driving, isn't he?

Because I care...

2008-11-13T11:11:00.001-05:00

I know this isn't new, and appears elsewhere, but dammit, it's funny! (albeit, I don't subscribe to all of the points). Pay close attention to point 29.

The International Council of Man Laws

1: Under no circumstances may two men share an umbrella.

2: It is OK for a man to cry ONLY under the following circumstances:

(a) When a heroic dog dies to save its master.
(b) The moment Jessica Alba starts unbuttoning her Blouse.
(c) After wrecking your boss’s car.
(d) When she is using her teeth.

3: Any man who brings a camera to a bachelor party may be legally killed and eaten by his buddies.

4: Unless he murdered someone in your family, you must bail a friend out of jail within 12 hours.

5: If you’ve known a guy for more than 24 hours, his sister is off limits forever unless you actually marry her.

6: Moaning about the brand of free beer in a buddy’s fridge is forbidden. However..complain at will if the temperature is unsuitable.

7: No man shall ever be required to buy a birthday present for another man. In fact, even remembering your buddy’s birthday is strictly optional. At that point, you must celebrate at a strip bar of the birthday boy’s choice.

8: On a road trip, the strongest bladder determines pit stops, not the weakest.

9: When stumbling upon other guys watching a sporting event, you may ask the score of the game in progress, but you may never ask who’s playing.

10: You may flatulate in front of a woman only after you have brought her to climax. If you trap her head under the covers for the purpose of flatulent entertainment, she’s officially your girlfriend.

11: It is permissible to drink a fruity alcohol drink only when you’re sunning on a tropical beach … and it’s delivered by a topless model and only when it’s free.

12: Only in situations of moral and/or physical peril are you allowed to kick or punch another guy in the nuts.

13: Unless you’re in prison, never fight naked.

14: Friends don’t let friends wear Speedos… Ever..Issue closed.

15: If a man’s fly is down, that’s his problem, you didn’t see anything.

16: Women who claim they “love to watch sports” must be treated as spies until they demonstrate knowledge of the game and the ability to drink as much as the other sports watchers.

17: A man in the company of a hot, suggestively dressed woman must remain
sober enough to fight.

18: Never hesitate to reach for the last beer or the last slice of pizza, but not both, that’s just greedy.

19: If you compliment a guy on his six-pack, you’d better be talking about his choice of beer.

20: Never join your girlfriend or wife in discussing a friend of yours, except if she’s withholding sex pending your response.

21: Phrases that may NOT be uttered to another man While lifting weights:

a) Yeah, Baby, Push it!
b) C’mon, give me one more! Harder!
c) Another set and we can hit the showers!

22: Never talk to a man in a bathroom unless you are on equal footing: i.e., both urinating, both waiting in line, etc. For all other situations, an almost imperceptible nod is all the conversation you need.

23: Never allow a telephone conversation with a woman to go on longer than you are able to have sex with her. Keep a stopwatch by the phone. Hang up if necessary.

24: The morning after you and a girl who was formerly “just a friend” have carnal, drunken monkey sex, the fact that you’re feeling weird and guilty is no reason for you not to nail each other again before the discussion occurs about what a big mistake it was.

25: It is acceptable for you to drive her car. It is not acceptable for her to drive yours.

26: Thou shall not buy a car in the colors of brown, pink, lime green, orange or sky blue.

27: The girl who replies to the question “What do you want for Christmas?” with “If you loved me, you’d know what I want!” gets an Xbox…End of story.

28: There is no reason for guys to watch Ice Skating or Men’s Gymnastics…Ever.

29: We’ve all heard about people having guts or balls, but do you really know the difference between them? In an effort to keep you informed, the definition of each is listed below:

” GUTS” is arriving home late after a night out with the guys,
being assaulted by your wife with a broom, and having the guts to say, “are
you still cleaning or are you flying somewhere?”

” BALLS” is coming home late after a night out with the guys
smelling of perfume and beer, lipstick on your collar, slapping your wife
on the ass and having the balls to say, “You’re next!”

I hope this clears up any confusion.

Butter on sale? Must be Election Day!

2008-10-14T10:35:00.003-04:00

Oct. 14, the day after the Thanksgiving long weekend, a short work week, and a fab month so far. So who's brilliant idea was it to call for a national election????

This is not a political blog by any stretch, but I feel it's important to say:
Vote - I will go to the ends of the earth to exercise my right to vote. I can bitch about the weather but I can't control what falls from the sky.

I can bitch about politics from time to time because I believe my vote counts. My grandfathers and their fathers and everyone who has served in the military either as a combatant or peacekeeper has helped to preserve our basic right and freedom to mark an X beside a person's name. If you think your vote doesn't count, then move to a country where you're not given that option. And vote swapping??? Don't get me started on the most ridiculous idea since the glowing FOX hockey puck!

Don't think that your one vote ends up here,

because your opinion counts, you've just proved why Canada is one of the greatest countries in the world, and you now can bitch as loudly as you want and no one has a right to tell you you're wrong!

As my wife says, it's a good day when you vote and butter's on sale.

Go West, Older than Young, but Younger than Old Man!

2008-09-25T22:22:00.002-04:00

Just a quick note to say how much I miss living in Alberta. I returned today from a business trip to Calgary, and I hadn't been back since leaving Lake Louise in '93. When I saw the mountains again in the distance, the sprawling city of Calgary, the rolling foothills, the miles and miles of farmland, my heart it did ache. I felt compelled to just rent a car and drive towards the snow-covered peaks.

Of course, that didn't happen. I did get to spend an evening with one of my dearest friends and his excellent family, I toured the Stampeders locker room, went out on field level and got my picture taken in the end-zone at McMahon Stadium, took the LRT "C" train for the first time, attending a meeting of very dedicated people, and toured a donor clinic (a blog entry that deserves it's own spot at a later date).

The only thing that would have made my very short trip better would have been to share my experience with my wife and kids, but I guess that's the difference between a business trip and a holiday.

Birthday Wishes for my Best Friend

2008-08-24T15:59:00.003-04:00

Today is Lisa's birthday. She's 38, looks 28, and sometimes she's going on 18, sometimes 48, depending on what the day demands.

As the mother to my two children, she has a pretty tough job, but I have to say (something I don't say often enough) she's done an outstanding job so far. She's such a loving mom, there's not a thing she would not do for her kids. She understands them much better than I give credit for, but they know, and that's reflected in the way they look to her for comfort and love.

She's been my best friend for nearly 18 years, my soul mate since the day we were born. Probably one of the funniest people I know, she never fails to bring belly laughs. She understands and knows me better than I know myself.

When I look into the future, I see our two gnarled, arthritic hands intertwined, looking out over the backyard, our kids playing with our grandkids, and I know that we are destined for a long and happy life together.

Happy Birthday Lisa. You are my lover, my best friend, and you deserve much happiness!

It's the little things that make us happy

2008-06-23T14:01:00.002-04:00

Alright, now on to lighter things.
Last night was our last Sunday evening in our house. Next Sunday, we'll be in a bigger abode, not far from where we currently live, but a new street, new neighbours, and a lot more space. I am very excited, but Lisa is feeling a bit blue about the move. I know she'll come to love the new house, as we will be creating new memories.
So I decided to cook us a very nice, typical Sunday dinner (typical in the sense that it was something my mom or your mom could have made). We had prime rib, yorkshire pudding, garlic mashed potatoes, and asparagus. Topping it off was a VERY nice bottle of Spanish red wine.
I was feeling very relaxed and was enjoying every minute of our dinner together as a family - Aiden had us in stitches (again) and Marissa was not having a cry attack. I then proceeded to have another glass of red, go outside to my gazebo where there was a really nice, cool breeze, and smoke myself my last Cuban.
The cigar that was so lovingly hand-crafted my Fidel's minions, coupled with the wine and the breeze, had me in a totally euphoric state! It was this moment that I wanted to bottle and keep forever - that I am one lucky sonofabitch - a family that loves me, and one that I love back.
For all the emotional rollercoastering I went through in the last month or so, that moment last night brought me back to the starting line, ready to start yet another chapter.

On a musical note, I wanted to share with you a band that also brings me great happiness. They are called Band of Horses, and to me their music is audio heroin! Give them a listen, and go out and buy or download their album "Cease to begin" and "Everything all the time". It's indie alt/country/rock at it's best.

Marguerite Plante, 1922-2008

2008-06-06T15:48:00.004-04:00

This is my eulogy to my dear grandmaman. It was really tough to get through, and I'm quite exhausted emotionally, but I did it for her, because she was so deserving.

Eulogy for my Grandmother Plante

There is a saying that goes “Grandmothers hold our tiny hands for just a little, but hold our hearts forever.” That saying resonates true for me when I think of my Grandmaman Plante.

I’m a pretty lucky guy. Not lucky in the sense that I’ve won the lottery or blackjack, but life lucky. I’m lucky to have found and married my best friend, and have two beautiful children with. I’m lucky to have two wonderful parents who have supported me in more ways than I can describe. I’m lucky that I have two aunt’s that mean the world to me, and a sister and brother-in-law that I cherish more than I can say.

I’m also lucky because for the past 38 years, I’ve been blessed with knowing my grandmother, who passed away last Friday. Not many of my friends can say they’ve had the chance to have their grandparents around so late in life. I’ve had my grandparents for most of mine, and it’s only been in the last few years that I’ve had to start saying goodbye, first with my two grandfathers, and now my Grandmaman Plante. So, in that respect, I’ve been very lucky indeed.

It’s still amazing to me that at 18 years of age, she and my grandfather were married. I’m sure there are a few of us who would rather forget what we were doing at that age. At 18, the furthest thing from my mind was marriage. In fact, I wasn’t really sure what direction I wanted my life to take. But those were different times she grew up in.

When I hear stories from my aunts or my dad, I picture a time when things were much simpler, harder, and romantic. I love knowing the fact that my grandmother lived through WWII, the invention of the television, man landing on the moon. There are those of you here today that have memories about that time in her life, and the people that were touched most by her grace, kindness, and unique sense of humour , but those are not my memories.

No, my memories of her are like snapshots of really happy moments in my life, and they mean the world to me. If I had to describe her to a stranger, I would say she was a lady in the truest sense of the meaning. I want to share some of my memories of her with you, because we should be celebrating her life, not mourning her passing.

I was telling my wife Lisa about a month ago about a time when I was in Shoppers Drug Mart. I could smell this perfume, and it was the same fragrance my grandmother wore, at least, it was the scent that instantly reminded me of her, and it filled me up with such warmth and happiness.

I wanted to go up and give that lady a hug, or go to her and say “excuse me, but you smell like my grandmother,” but then I decided that would probably have been too weird.

My earliest memory of my Grandmama was visiting her at work at Sears. It was always a special treat, because she had her own desk, and a special cubicle where she would greet us (she worked in billing). It was rare when I didn’t leave without a $10 or $20 bill in my pocket, and a lipstick mark on my cheek.

My other early memory starts at their Playfair apartment. I can almost describe in detail the floorplan. I can tell you how, as you walked into their apartment, on the left was a humidifier that was large and brown. I remember this because I loved looking inside and seeing the big sponge wheel turn, and wondered where all the water came from and why it was there in the first place, and my parents telling me to stop touching it and put the lid back on!

I remember the balcony and the faux grass carpeting outside, but I guess everyone had that back then. Grandmama would worry sometimes that I would fall off or that I’d be blown away.

I remember the T.V. room down the hall, the closet that held the doll that once belonged to my aunt Denyse, and how it somehow got adopted by me during my visits.

My grandmother always loved to remind me of how, as a little French boy, I would lead her into a darkened room and say “Illes fait noire, eh?”

I would love how when we went to visit, there were always wooden bowls of potato chips and peanuts, the Planter’s Dry Roasted peanuts, and Coke. Always Coke. This was a big deal for Chantale and I, because my mom always bought the Diet stuff, so it was a real treat.

She had a dining room table that always held a place for me and my sister, a glass for tomato juice, and dishes that held all kinds of pickles. I don’t much recall her having a ‘kid’s table’.

She wasn’t a typical grandmother, in that she didn’t spend her days baking pies and roasts and cookies, but what she did make I always enjoyed. I think she’s the reason why I have a special place in my heart for canned peas and chicken salad sandwiches.

I learned how to play backgammon in that apartment. I still have a passion for it, I just can’t play against my wife because apparently, I gloat too much!

When I was a teenager, I didn’t see my grandparents nearly enough. Part of that was because I was too wrapped up into being a rebel, hanging out with my friends, doing what typical teenagers did. The other reason was because I did things that were not particularly good ‘life choices’, both in attitude and physical transformations, and of all the people I didn’t want to disappoint, it was my grandmother. Whether she knew all the things I did when I was younger or not, she never judged me. She still loved me despite the safety pins and spiky hair.

As I grew older, I began to appreciate how important family was to me. We have a famous Plante saying that goes “we may not have a big family, but were close. We’re clannish.” It was important for me to reconnect with my grandparents and get to know them again. It is around this time that I began to really see how special my grandparent’s relationship was, and how much my Grandpapa Gerry loved his Maggie. I’d like to think that if there were ever a sitcom that reflected their relationship, it would have been a Canadian spin-off of “I Love Lucy”.

When my grandfather passed away, a big part of my grandmother went with him. How do you say goodbye to your soulmate? And soon, she started to change. She began to forget things, as some seniors tend to do. But I think Grandmama knew it was more than just her getting older. Everytime I would visit her or she would come to see me, she would always present me with a gift. It was sometimes a badly drawn picture, or a note written by a child, and I realized she had saved everything I had given her as a little kid, and she was giving them back to me!

At first I didn’t understand why she would give these things back? If she held on to these things for so long, why wouldn’t she keep them? But now I think it’s because she wanted me to have them before she forgot where they came from.

When I was a child, I told my grandmother that when I grew up, I was going to be a fireman and that I would save her. Well, I never did become a fireman, and in the end, there wasn’t much I could do to save her. But I think I made her proud of me, and I know this because I knew, I felt, that she loved me the way only a grandmother could – unequivocally, unconditionally, and without prejudice.

I had a chance to say goodbye to her, but I look at the people here and realize she never really left. I see her in my dad, Monique, Denyse and my sister. I see her in her great-grandchildren, my children. But most of all, when I see my reflection, I see her because I truly believe that all the good that was a part of her is a part of me.

The history of our grandparents is remembered not with rose petals but in the laughter and tears of their children and their children's children. It is into us that the lives of grandparents have gone. It is in us that their history becomes a future. ~Charles and Ann Morse

It's a Girl!

2008-05-26T11:09:00.003-04:00

Okay, sorry about the delay, but if my little girl can be late, then I should be afforded a bit of latitude, yes?
Here's a quick breakdown of how our little princess came to the world:
Saturday, May 17 - induction at around 4 p.m. - go home, come back in 12 hours
Sunday, May 18 - 2:30 a.m. - Lisa, contractions, uncomfortable, let's go to Montford, Marc - "hey, feel the difference between these quarters!" Lisa - "What? Quarters? Jesus man, we need to go NOW."
Sunday, May18 - 5:00 a.m. - Doctor - "Looks like you're having good labour. We are going to transfer you now." No room at the Inn, as they say. Lisa gets first ride in an ambulance. Unbeknown to me, Lisa and I share a view of a beautiful sunrise on way to Queensway-Carleton Hospital.
Sunday, May 18 - 8:00 a.m. - Nurse - "Mr. Plante, you might want to call you mother-in-law if you want her here for the birth. It's gonna happen real soon."
Sunday, May 18 - 9:00 a.m. - Things start hoppin'. Time for everyone to pee, wash up, get ready. I apparently sleep through most of this, including the first visit by the birthing doctor, who kindly introduced himself to me later. "Hi, I'm Dr. Basheer. I was here earlier, but you were sleeping." What a nice man...
Sunday, May 18 - 10:00 a.m - Nurse - "Okay, get ready. This baby is coming." 10:10 a.m - Lisa, lets get those legs up and start pushing. 10:15 a.m. - I'm exhausted from all the pushing!
Sunday, May 18 - 10:30 a.m. - Baby girl Plante arrives. She's HUGE! Okay, she's a bit large. 9 lbs even, 21 cm long, everything intact. It was a pretty easy delivery...for me, anyway ;)

Later that day, we get wheeled down to the mat ward, nice private room, very attentive staff, visitors come, all is good, everyone very happy and healthy. Lisa once again amazed me, as do all women who can carry a child and then go through such a grueling ordeal of birth. There is a reason why I have a penis.

So yes, the little bean went nameless for awhile, but only because we were pretty shocked and unprepared for a girl. We happily named her Marissa Caroline Plante, and her and mommy came home on the Tuesday. We're all getting adjusted nicely, Aiden is completely enamored with his little sister, and I love him more than I thought possible as I watch him flourish in his new role as big brother.

Now, if you wanted to know what we are in store for the next little while, here is a description of our Marissa, the Taurus baby:

Your Taurus Baby..

April 20 - May 20

Taurus babies are usually quiet and calm. They are pleasant characters, sometimes a little shy, and they dislike being the centre of attention but respond well to affection, showing a great deal of affection in return. Although outbursts are rare, a Taurus baby dislikes being opposed and can be stubborn about getting her own way. A young Taurus will work steadily at a task.

When raising a Taurus it is best not to try to force your child to do something. The danger is that your child will turn stubborn and Taureans can hold their ground for a long time. It is best to avoid harsh commands, instead loving hugs will melt any resistance.

Young Taureans can charm all adults, especially those of the opposite sex. Shows of physical affection toward your child are essential, but take care not to smoother her. Taurus children are sensitive to their surroundings and they will thrive in harmonious settings of both colour and sound. Soft sounds and shades of pink and blue will be calming to your baby.

Both music and art will interest a Taurus child so you should encourage listening to melodious music, drawing and colouring. Once a Taurus has learnt something it will not be forgotten. It is important to encourage a Taurus child to express themselves through words, music or art because there will be a tendency to hide true feelings.

And yet more...

Parents of a Taurus tot are going to have to be very aware of this baby's need to be touched. Loving caresses and a tender touch are what the Taurus baby lives for! Along those lines, this is a child who needs to be comfortable. Things to keep in mind are providing a room and bed that are neither too hot nor too cold, food that is tasty (a budding gourmand has arrived!), soothing sounds, and whimsical toys. As Taurus rules the Second House, the House of Possessions, this baby's playthings will be very important. When it comes to the learning curve, the Taurus baby is not in a hurry to grasp new concepts. This tot will learn things at their own pace and be unresponsive to pressure, yet persevering in the end. In light of this, a gentle manner to get this baby to react and respond is the sensible course of action. Also familial in nature, the Taurus baby will enjoy having the family in close proximity, especially siblings. You can consider this baby a people person in general, as they are also likely to control the play circle where that well-known Taurean stubbornness will reveal itself! To sum up, the Taurus baby wants to be touched, will revel in delicious toys, and as an Earth Sign, will want to have both feet firmly planted on the ground!

So there you have it, for now. I am a very lucky man with the millionaire family, and I couldn't feel anymore enriched!

They say a watched pot never boils...

2008-05-09T14:19:00.002-04:00

...in this case, a large belly that contains a small person. Oh sure, we sit and watch, and sometimes there is movement - a foot or hand, and more often than not, a bum pokes out. Lately, the shape goes from perfect basketball tucked behind a layer of skin to a misshapen oval looking thing. But like the watched pot, kettle, and toaster, this little person just hasn't popped. We are now T-plus 2, and have resigned ourselves to the fact that we'll have to force this wee person out of their comfort zone. Good times coming up for sure!

In other news,
- saw my first real march/protest in person the other day.
- had lunch with my cousin today at a pub that is across from Parliament. I gotta say, I do love my city :)
- the situation in Burma (some call it Myanmar, but it's difficult to support a military government that starves it's own people, so Burma it is!) is becoming more dire each day. The ruling junta are not allowing proper UN authorities access, emergency food supplies are not reaching those that need it, and the rest of the world seems to be sitting and waiting for some green light to help/intervene. It will get uglier before it gets better, to be sure
- I'm still on the fence about the upcoming Beijing Olympics - on one hand, I cannot support an event in a country that has a history of showing little regard for human rights, and yet I also agree that the Olympic Games should celebrate human achievements in athleticism and sportsmanship. Unfortunately, those lines continue to be blurred (and have been since Berlin, in my opinion). Hey, at least a team of Chinese and Tibetians got the torch to the top of Everest. Woo hoo!

There's more, but hey, can't go all-in too soon. Have a great weekend!

Wow, what an MC!

2008-04-29T11:40:00.004-04:00

Yup, that's right - MC'ing is really my passion. I was asked to co-mic this year's Gatineau Zone Banquet this year with Isa Boucher, and from all accounts, it was a success. We had a little bit of a rough start, but I think we pulled it off near the end. I'm also happy to report that I will be assuming the role as Patrol Leader at Edelweiss (named Patrol of the Year!). It's something I've thought of doing, just not this quickly in my short (4 year) tenure, but I am honoured to not only be asked, but to be in a position to front a tremendous group of volunteers that selflessly dedicate themselves to provide first-aid services and a safe environment for skiers and riders.

Kathleen Edwards on Letterman

2008-04-24T11:52:00.002-04:00

Had to share this with you. Ottawa/Wakefield sweetheart Kathleen Edwards performs "The Cheapest Key" from her new album Asking for Flowers on David Letterman. She is flanked by husband/guitarist Colin Cripps, and another one of Ottawa's finest musicians, Jim Bryson, on keyboard.

Now THAT'S Annoying!!!

2008-04-24T10:48:00.005-04:00

Today I've decided to share a few things with you on what I find annoying. Some of these are little things, some specific to my daily life, and some that you may encounter day-to-day. For your sake, I hope not, but that's for you to decide. No numbering - that would indicate the level of annoyance. I've opted for bullets instead, which can be annoying to some - but I digress.

The Blackberry - Oh, where do I begin???? No, I don't own one, otherwise, I would be singing it's praises. My hate-relationship with this little gem of technology stems from three things in particular - those who check it repeatedly (who the hell gets that much email in the span of 5 minutes?), those that read and play with it during meetings, presentations, and conferences, and those that click and type while going to the bathroom. Yes, you read that correctly! If you're in the can dropping a deuce, apparently playing with your RIM has replaced reading the newspaper, glazing over the cleverly written stall graffiti repartee , or staring blankly at the floor. Seriously - is nothing sacred anymore?
Crotch or Ass - I may have stated this before, but I can't think of where. Regardless, if you take public transit as I do, you will know what I'm referring to. You are the lucky stiff who is at the beginning of the route. You, by default, get the seat. You, fortunately or unfortunately, get stuck in the 'aisle' side, and therefore, get accustomed to some stranger's crotch or ass. Sadly for you, no choice is given to who's ass or crotch will be inches away from your face, and chances are you won't like what's presented to you. If you are the standee, here' s a word of advice - face the front or back, side profile to those in the seats. Wear deodorant, and no matter how 'silent' you think that fart will be, we can still SMELL you!
"That Being Said..." - please......Stop using this phrase!!! When the hell did it enter the vocabulary? It is the most overused, overexposed, and misplaced phrases in history. Now, with that being said, it does have it's place if used correctly.
Sock lint. Am I the only person who suffers from this? No matter how often I launder my socks (black cotton), at the end of the day (another misused and equally annoying phrase) there inevitably will be lint stuck between my toes. "Why is this annoying Marc? ", you may be saying. Well, I'd be happy to share - because, said lint eventually makes it's way onto the light beige carpet. By the end of the week, I have a virtual black lint trail leading from the bathroom to my side of the bed. There, no more explanation.

Obviously, I've only scratched the surface, knowing full well there will be more I'd wished I'd added, but c'est la vie, non?

Goosefraba

OMG, I'm going to be a daddy. AGAIN!

2008-04-21T12:48:00.003-04:00

Oh yes, the realization is just starting to hit me - 2-3 weeks more, and the unnamed, sexless bump in my wife's belly will emerge into this great blue world.

We've got the change table set up in our room, thanks to mom and dad. It shelves diapers that will cradle the smallest bum on earth. Last night, Lisa and I received a big bag of new clothes for the baby from my wonderful aunts! Seeing the tiny sleepers, slippers, blankets, suddenly brought me to my awakening.

I'll be a daddy to someone in less than a month.

Holy crap!

I'm just getting used to having an independently-minded 4 1/2 year old. Now I'll be going back in time, a time where there's constant poop and pee, feedings, sleepless nights, crying, worry and stress, needles, more worry. And that's just the first 3 months!

What have I gotten myself into?

I know it's too late, but perhaps I should have thought this through?

Ah, then I remember - I did think it through.

I thought about the poop and pee and the Diaper Genie, how when you change the bags, it looks like link-sausage, except it's filled with dirty diapers, not pork and by-products. I thought about how to wrap the little peanut the way the hospital shows you, the blanket cocooning all the warmth and protection that a womb offers. I thought about the way your baby stares into your eyes - not through them like your spouse does when you talk about hockey - but really LOOKS at you. I thought about gurgling noises, innocent farts that should never come out of anything so small, and those first toothless grins. I thought about the smile that brightens the dimmest day, the arms that instantly reach up for you when you enter a room, the belly zerberts that solicit endless laughter, and Baby Einstein videos.

For all that I am afraid and nervous of, it is equally matched by enthusiasm and happiness. I am glad that this experience is different from the last. There is going to be a little boy or girl that will be joining the human race in a very short time. I am going experience with my wife one of the most exciting and monumental events we've ever had together, one more time. I am going to witness an independently-minded 4 1/2 year old become a big brother! I'm going to see people in my life whom I love very much welcome the newest addition to our growing family.

Wow kid, that's a lot to live up to .

But that's okay, because I'm ready, Lisa's ready, Aiden's ready. Haven't met you yet, but I love you with all my heart, and I can't wait to hold you. See you soon, little bean.

38 - It's the new black!

2008-04-10T09:27:00.005-04:00

Another year older. Still feel like I'm 18 sometimes, except I've noticed things that remind me I'm much older.

My pants are tighter. Not in a 1980s hair-metal band way, more in the heavier, bigger mid-section way
There's more gray hair.
Some days I feel like I can run 100 meters in 13 seconds, but realistically I'm out of breath climbing two flights of stairs on most days
It hurts sitting cross-legged
My arms fall asleep when I hold a novel in a certain position for too long
My short-term memory has gotten shorter

I have a family that now extends past my parents and sister. I have my own now, and it's growing. In fact, I'm writing an entirely new and exciting chapter in the Plante/Lahey history.
Some of my closest friends are from high school
The people I see from high school have families of their own!
I have the things I thought only my parents could possess (car, house, mortgage, debt, careers)
I look at teenagers today and wish I can impart all of my knowledge from my youth to them, but deep down I know that they'll give me the same look I gave older people who tried giving me advice.
People actually listen to what I have to say.
I'm actually making a difference in my world.
I've got a long way to go, and I like where I'm heading
I'm happy

So, the very best wishes for me on this day. Before, I used to take the whole month of April just to celebrate. Now, I take a moment in the day to be a little introspective, and appreciate all that I have, and realize that the best gifts don't come in wrapping paper and bows - they are there, right in front of me, looking at me from across the breakfast table.

Oh yes, there WILL be blood

2008-04-09T14:09:00.002-04:00

Last night I watched the movie There Will Be Blood. Do yourself a favour - watch this flick!

"Set in the early 20th century, the film follows the rise to power of Daniel Plainview -- a charismatic and ruthless oil prospector, driven to succeed by his intense hatred of others and psychological need to see any and all competitors fail. When he learns of oil-rich land in California that can be bought cheaply, he moves his operation there and begins manipulating and exploiting the local landowners into selling him their property. Using his young adopted son H.W. to project the image of a caring family man, Plainview gains the cooperation of almost all the locals with lofty promises to build schools and cultivate the land to make their community flourish. Over time, Plainview's gradual accumulation of wealth and power causes his true self to surface, and he begins to slowly alienate himself from everyone in his life."

1) Daniel Day-Lewis is one of Hollywood's Greatest and, in my opinion, underrated actors (he won Best Actor award at the 2007 Oscars)
2) It's a long movie, coming in at 158 minutes, but worth every one!
3) Directed by the same guy who did Magnolia. Remember that one? Don't worry, not too many people do.

Superpowers

2008-04-08T09:00:00.002-04:00

What if you were given a choice? What superpower would you choose?
Let's eliminate some of the obvious ones, and no, you can't choose "world peace" or "end hunger" because those aren't real superpowers.

Invisibility - good to have, but has it's limits. How could you really prove it? No one would see you!

Super Strength - again, could be fun, but then you give your mom a hug and crush her to death - not so fun, hero.

See into the future - not sure if this qualifies as a superpower, but if it were, I don't think you'd really want it. With all the good things you would see, you wouldn't be able to avoid the negative, thus compelling you to help that loved one trapped under a car or tree. Then you'd wish you'd chosen super strength.

Read Minds - Really. Do you want know what she's truly thinking about you? Now you want the invisible power!

Dimension jumping - I don't know how to word that one, but it's basically being able to disappear and then appear anywhere in the world, sort of like the movie "Jumper", although I haven't seen it. Ummm, that is one to consider. But that brings me to the one I would choose...

Flying - Can't think of any downside to this, unless you 1) hate flying, 2) afraid of heights. How many times have you wished for the freedom a bird has, the feeling of soaring high above the clouds! Or, avoiding gridlock in the morning, saving on the high cost of fuel, airline tickets, security. Yup, this one would be very, very cool.

What would your superpower be?

21st Century Living

2008-04-04T09:32:00.008-04:00

As Matthew Good said, ambition's a tricky thing. It's like riding a unicycle on a dental floss tightrope over a wilderness of razor blades.

I was thinking about people's ambitions today as I passed by the University of Ottawa, looking at all those keen, fresh faces, hoping to make their mark in society. I thought about some of my old college friends, and what their ambitions were. My friend Jon was one of those guys who knew exactly what he wanted, and he was driven to get there in the shortest time possible. From what I've seen so far, he's accomplished that and then some. Family, money, traveling the world. It looks great, that's his ambition.

Me? Well, I'm about a week away from 38, and it feels like I'm on the edge of a great frontier. I feel like my life is finally STARTING, that everything I have done to this point was to prepare myself for what lay ahead, albeit a little slower than the vast majority it seems. I am happy to say that, finally, I am investing in a 'career' as opposed to a job, I am about five short weeks away from becoming a father for the second time, I have an incredibly loving and understanding wife, which by default, translates into a very happy marriage, and we're in the process selling our house for one that we can hopefully stay in for a long time and build those precious family memories that last a lifetime.

I've always been a big kid at heart, and that's not going to change anytime soon, but I've also reached a certain 'mental maturity', an understanding of what I want from life, what I have to offer, and what I'm willing to do, give, sacrifice. I realize that I work to live, not live to work. I love my job, but when presented with a possibility for quick advancement and opportunity, I now consider how much family time I will have to sacrifice, and right now, the little time I do have for my family and myself is worth more than gold.

So, as I looked at the university students on a fairly nice spring morning, I thought about ambition, about Matt Good's quote, and I thought about my own ambition. It is a tricky thing. We all walk that dental floss tightrope everyday. Knowing what's on the other side, realizing what is within reach, is what prevents us from falling.

An Open Letter

2008-03-31T14:10:00.003-04:00

At night, I bend down and kiss your head,
I breath you in, but feeling like it's not enough.
As you sleep, I see the peaceful face of an angel,
I pray wherever you are in your dreams, you are surrounded by happiness, laughter, and love.
My heart swells at the mere thought of you,
Memories of yesterday and before bring an instant smile to my face.
I watch you, and I am still amazed,
That someone so perfect, innocent, full of wonder, is the biggest part of my life.
I think of the future, not as a singular entity,
But as someone with a greater purpose.
You are the very best of what is in me,
And for that, I am forever grateful.

Where is my Mind?

2008-03-13T13:48:00.004-04:00

It's amazing how the human psyche works, and how fragile our little minds operate. I believe most of us are one or two synapses away from total insanity, or at minimum, a complete mental breakdown. If I were to use a simile for life, and in this case, I will opt for one instead of a metaphor, life is like a roller coaster. The highs are high, the lows are low, the ride itself is scary, exhilarating, shit your pants fun, or absolute terror. You'll either want to get off or want to go again and again. At the end of the day, most of us would like to look back and say "shit, that was a damn good ride. Let's do it again."

First, let me make something very clear - I LOVE ROLLER COASTERS! If I were to measure my life to date, I'd say I've had a good share of my peaks and valleys, and I know damn well there's plenty more on the horizon. I won't shirk them in any way - in fact, the older I get, the more I embrace the low ends, knowing that for every dip, there's a steep climb out, a fast turn of the corner, and off again to another highlight.

Lately, despite hitting a valley right after the holidays, I knew I was beginning another ascent in my life. This one seems to be a longer ride up, and I'm not complaining one bit. I just hope the drop on the other side isn't so deep!

So getting back to my original point - I believe there are a ton of mitigating factors as to why we don't all fall off the deep end. The saying "that which doesn't kill us makes us stronger" is so overused, but couldn't be more true. Life is but a series of little tests that either strengthen our resolve or weaken us to vegetable soup. It's how we choose to surround ourselves with things that make us happy, that helps us cope with the hiccups of human existence.

I consider myself very lucky. And if life were an amusement park, consider me a season pass holder.

Okay, that's my cerebral post for the year. Next up, what's up with the Sens????

The Never-ending Winter of Content

2008-03-07T12:18:00.002-05:00

Hi! Okay, it's been awhile...a very looong while, but who has time to blog? Well, I do. Today anyway. Maybe tomorrow. I'll try to be more diligent.
My wife, Lisa, has started to blog. I'm going to wait until she populates it more (and until she gives me the green light) and then I'll link to it. But I wish her well. It'll be a nice way to document not only Baby Numero Deux, but our ever-growing family and the roller coaster ride that seems to be our life.

Oh, and by the way, can I tell you how FRIGGIN' awesome this winter has been so far? This, on the eve of yet another snow storm to hit the Ottawa area. For those of you pining away, waiting for Spring, tough crap! It ain't happing till May 24 weekend! Go blame it on a groundhog or something. Me? I'm skiing till my birthday, baby :)

...and a belated Happy New Year to you

2008-01-19T09:30:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure if I just keep forgetting about this, or maybe I think no one is reading it. However, in case there may be even ONE person checking in from time to time (other than me), I will say that I have been pretty neglectful of this blog.

Too bad, because 2008 has been pretty eventful in it's infancy. I had great holidays, did a lot of skiing, relaxing, came back to work only to be laid-off, spent the last two weeks looking for work, got an interview lined-up and an offer...whew, I'm exhausted!

More updates to come.....I PROMISE!

It's Halloween! Here are some truly frightful things...

2007-10-31T10:08:00.000-04:00

Razors in apples? Dirty syringes in Tootsie Rolls? Britney announcing another offspring? Sure, these things easily scare the bejesus out of me, but not as much as these things:

1. Elvis tops chart for dead celebrity money-makers
Pretty frightful how the people on the list are worth more dead than alive. I'm sure John Lennon is turning...
2. Leafs making the playoffs. Ha ha! I know this is more comical than frightening, since it's looking more and more likely in the infancy of this season that the good ship Blue team will not right the ship in time to make an appearance at the spring dance; still, stranger things have happened, and therefore can be construed as scary...
3. The return of the Backstreet Boys.
Honestly, how does this pre-pubescent drivel continue to bubble to the surface? Didn't Nick Carter overdose or something? No? Well, here's hoping...
4. The inevitable return of the Mullet and the Rat Tail
C'mon, we all know how cyclical fashion is. It's just a matter of time before we're all wearing acid-wash again.

Happy Halloween!

Hockey is a dirty sport

2007-10-29T15:14:00.000-04:00

I have read in other posts, phrases that sound dirty but are not, in regards to various sports. There are probably a dozen or so on hockey, but since I haven't read any of them, this is my own, and I'm only doing seven because everyone does 10. If you care to comment or share a few of your own, please feel free. Otherwise...

1) Looks like he's pulling the goalie
2) He's been in the box all night
3) Here they come, another 2 on 1
4) Get ready for some 4 on 4 action
5) He completely undressed him on that play
6) He can score at will
7) He got two minutes for holding the shaft

Hey Fatboy, Gonna Make You Smile

2007-10-29T15:12:00.000-04:00

Do yourself a favour if ever in St. John's. Create for yourself a competition to find the best fish, chips, dressing and gravy in St. John's/Avalon Peninsula.
My clear winner is Leo's, on Freshwater Rd., St. John's. It may not be the prettiest, but hey, you're not there for the freakin' ambience! I tried five different places, ranging from Holy Rood, Trepassey, Goulds, St. John's, and Cape Broyle.
After kick-starting my heart several times, this little dish still makes my mouth water.
What makes it the best, in my opinion, is not only the quality of the cod, but the light and delicious batter, the chip wagon-quality fries, beefy but not overpowering gravy, and the best damn dressing I've ever had!
And yes, wash EVERYTHING down with a nice cold beer. I really like the mix 6 collection from the Quidi Vidi brewery.

I'm Gonna Hang Out With My Wang Out

2007-10-29T15:02:00.000-04:00

I was thinking of my list of albums to take on the deserted island I'll never get to. Think of it as being on the show Lost, finding a box, and inside are the albums you would have picked. It would be like, divine intervention in a way. And imagine still that on this deserted island was a) a lifetime supply of batteries to play the CDs on, or b) a magical supply of electricity that only plays the CD player! Or....a solar-powered iPod. You get the picture, dammit!

On with the list: (I reserve the right to change it at any time)
1) U2 - Joshua Tree
2) Matthew Good - Avalanche
3) Beastie Boys - Check Your Head
4) U2 - Actung Baby
5) Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros - Global a Go-Go (but would not be upset finding anything else by Joe - this was a tough choice)
6) The Clash - Combat Rock (because you all would have picked London Calling)
7) INXS - Listen Like Thieves
8) Neil Young - Harvest
9) Live - Throwing Copper

From East Side to West Side - For Real Yo!

2007-10-29T13:51:00.000-04:00

Cotton Candy
Like the Mallard Duck and Peacock, the wigger male will go to great lengths to secure a mate. This young wigger, for instance, has donned a vibrant all pink outfit to ensure success during the mating season. In this case, the flamboyant color scheme serves the dual purpose of both helping him get noticed by females in heat and distracting other males who will be too busy beating his ass to steal any of his mates. A borderline suicidal strategy, but successful nonetheless.

For more profiles, check out wiggaz.com

2007-10-29T13:50:00.000-04:00

Watch this - I love the people tripping. Well, I'm surprised more people don't do it on TPIR. I mean, when their names are called, they are ripping downslope at Mach 5! Love how the dude pops back up like nothing happened - smooth.

Space Camp or getting laid...I'll take sex please.

2007-10-29T13:46:00.000-04:00

Please don't ask how I stumbled onto this video. However, this kind of talent should not be hidden in the shadows. It should be brought out into the light, for all to see...the road to celibacy, 'cause there is no way the guy in the video and the person taping it are getting any love.
That's right Trekkies and Star Wars geeks of the world, this is what your Dungeon Master's do during their downtime.

Alcohol - the reason for, and solution, to all our problems

2007-10-29T13:44:00.000-04:00

Dear Alcohol,

First & foremost, let me tell you that I'm a huge fan of yours. As my friend, you always seem to be there when needed. The perfect post-work cocktail, a beer at the game, and you're even around in the holidays, hidden inside chocolates as you warm us when we're stuck in the midst of endless family gatherings. However, lately I've been wondering about your intentions. While I want to believe that you have my best interests at heart, I feel that your influence has led to some unwise consequences:

1. Phone calls: While I agree with you that communication is important, I question the suggestion that any conversation of substance or necessity takes place after 2 a.m. Why would you make me call those I know for a fact do not want to hear from me during the day, let alone all hours of the night?

2. Eating: Now, you know I love a good meal, but why do you suggest that I eat a taco with chili sauce, along with a big Italian meatball and some stale chips (washed down with WINE & topped off with a Kit Kat after a few
cheese curls & chili cheese fries)? I'm an eclectic eater, but I think you went too far this time.

3. Clumsiness: Unless you're subtly trying to tell me that I need to do more yoga to improve my balance, I see NO need to hammer the issue home by causing me to fall down. It's completely unnecessary, and the black & blue marks that appear on my body mysteriously the next day are beyond me. As some people like to call them UDB (unidentified drunken bruise) Similarly, it should never take me more than 45 seconds to get the front door key into the lock.

4. Furthermore: The hangovers have GOT to stop. This is getting ridiculous.

I know a little penance for our previous evening's debauchery may be in order, but the 3 pm hangover immobility is completely unacceptable. My entire day is shot. I ask that, if the proper precautions are taken (water, vitamin B, bread products, aspirin) prior to going to sleep/passing out face down on the kitchen floor with a bag of popcorn, the hangover should be minimal & in no way interfere with my daily activities.

5. Redbull and vodka + me = BAD.

Alcohol, I have enjoyed our friendship for some years now & would like to ensure that we remain on good terms. You've been the invoker of great stories, the provocation for much laughter, and the needed companion when I just don't know what to do with the extra money in my pockets. In order to continue this friendship, I ask that you carefully review my grievances above & address them immediately. I will look for an answer no later than Thursday 3 pm (pre-happy hour) on your possible solutions &
hopefully we can continue this fruitful partnership.

Thank you,

Your biggest fan

P.S. THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:

1. Innovative

2. Preliminary

3. Proliferation

4. Cinnamon

THINGS THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:

1. Specificity

2. British Constitution

3. Passive-aggressive disorder

THINGS THAT ARE DOWNRIGHT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:

1. Thanks, but I don't want to have sex.

2. Nope, no more beer for me.

3. Sorry, but you're not really my type.

4. Good evening, officer. Isn't it lovely out tonight?

5. Oh, I couldn't. No one wants to hear me sing

SHOTGUN!

2007-10-29T13:43:00.001-04:00

Finally, a comprehensive set of rules. Although we all have our own 'house' rules, and some vary from region to region, country to country, and in fact, sometimes dependent on make/model of vehicle, this site pretty much covers the intricacies of calling Shotgun!

Enjoy

2007-10-29T13:43:00.000-04:00

2007-10-29T13:42:00.000-04:00