Halloween 2005

Well it's been a great Halloween. Natasha's first, and one of my favs of all time. I wore a really goofy white trash / Joe Dirt type get up (complete with mullet and fake tats) to work! It was actually pretty funny!

My co-worker and good friend Melissa was all decked out as an Ice Princess. There were actually a ton of people dressed up - staff and students and I was impressed by the number of really well thought out, original costumes.

I tend to get really excited, cuz - well I love Halloween!


As many of you knew, Tasha got all dressed up as a little Chili Pepper - a costume given to her by Aunt Loretta. She also tried on a costume that was a gift from two of my students - Sydney and Courtney... a little pink bunny suit. The suit is way too big for her but wow it looked cute anyway!!

Tonight, Darkside came by with his lil' girl Kaylin who was all dressed up as a chicken. It was great. We put them together and had spicy chicken.

There are a bunch of Halloween pics of Tasha on the Shutterbook slideshow site.

On a side note...... remember the days when there would be TONS of kids knocking on the door on Halloween night? Tonight we had a dozen or so.... Di told me around 8PM they hadn't had any. I guess it's partially because of our neighborhood - many young couples that have babies or no kids at all.. but in general, there just seem to be fewer kids going out than there were 'back in the day'.

Christian Quits!

Well, I was shocked today to find out that an old friend, Jay Reso from the WWE (better known as Christian) quit the company today. His contract had expired a week ago and he'd been working without one since.

One of the office guys put a terrible contract in front of him and demanded he re-sign on the spot. Reso didn't bite and has now flat out rejected the offer.


Reso, a native of Orangeville Ontario, has lived in Florida the last few years with his wife. His two closest friends in the wrestling biz who were fired by the WWE within the last year have both turned up with the upstart TNA organization. TNA films all of their shows at Universal Studios in Florida. Sounds like Jay is going to be working closer to home as soon as his 60 day no-compete runs out.

I first met Jay back in 1996 and I couldn't be happier for him. He'll finally be free to express himself creatively and have the glass ceiling removed.

Good luck Captain Charisma!

Basketball news

Mike Folker is an outstanding young man I coached for three seasons at MDHS. Some of you might remember him as the kid who caught the garter at my wedding! I remember when he was a grade nine at McGivney and I was convincing him and his folks to transfer for a superior program and the chance to play university ball just like his dad. Well, Mike is playing university ball now and is excelling as a rookie at his dad's Alma mater - Acadia.

Mike is at Acadia with another GTA kid - Paulo Santana out if Central Commerce. Santana is actually a year older than Mike but both are rookies. These two freshman are currently leading their team in almost every statistical category.

Folker 4 GP 1 GS 27.3 MIN .488% FG .667 3PT % .667 Free% 4.0 Reb 3 TO 12.5 PPG
Santana 5 GP 3 GS 22.6 MIN .417% FG .389 3PT % .778 Free% 6.4 Reb 14 TO 15.6 PPG


In terms of their ranking on the team .... they are:
1st (Folker) and 4th (Santana) in minutes played
1st (Santana) and 2nd (Folker) in scoring
1st (Santana) and 2nd (Folker) in rebounding
1st (Folker) and 3rd (Santana) in FG %,
2nd (Folker) and 4th (Santana) in 3pt shooting

Outstanding work.

In other MDHS grad news...........

Tonight I'll be seeing Tyler McGarrity in his Windsor blue and yellow play Waterloo at Humber College. I'm excited to see T play. He was a huge part of our back to back championships at MDHS and improved dramatically after transfering from Ajax.
Already this young season, he has played some big minutes and continued to do what he did in high school - score in bunches and rebound like a fiend (especially on the offensive glass).

Last night, Sarah, Tasha and I went to Brother Andre to see their girls defeat MDHS and win the division title. Wolk's first title of any sort in 7 years. Too bad it was awful looking basketball. Oh well.

Just another Tuesday...

Actually it was a pretty cool day.

Sarah had to take Tasha to the doc today for her shots. Since we still have just the one car, the girls left the house with me early this morning and came to work with me for first period. Needless to say, she's a hit with staff and students alike. They left me there (how mean!) and hung out at Baba's until it was time for the appointment. Even though many people warned us that Natasha would be very fussy and upset and possibly sick after receiving the dreaded shots - she was fine. A little whimpering followed by a lot of napping. That's my girl. What a trooper.

After work I ran my weekly basketball clinic for students at my school interested in skill development. It's actually a cool little program the school has instituted.

Speaking of ball - I went to a college game tonight. The Durham Lords versus the Niagara Knights. Why? My ol' pal Matt Cole is playing for the Knights. I coached Matty the last four seasons at MDHS and was thrilled he latched onto a college team. Sad thing is, Matt broke his foot in the summer and was redshirted for the entire 2005-2006. He is still eligible to play in exhibitions (which tonight's game was) but despite a 20 point defecit, the coach decided not to put the kid in. Hey, why would ya put in a dead eye shooter when you're entire team is huckin up air balls and struggling to score at all.

Mike St. Rose is also on the Knights. I worked with him while he was a member of the Vegas AAU team and the team we took down to New York last year. I like MSR. I think he's a good kid. He actually got a lot of time tonight, (the big kids usually do) but struggled heavily. Threw 2 balls out of bounds, and missed 4 or 5 layups in tight. He did have a nice dunk in the warmup though ;)

Cole - if yer reading this - stick it out buddy. Don't lose faith. Next season the 2 spot is yours.

Good weekend.... now time to work!

This was actually a pretty solid weekend. On Friday night I went to see the Raptors for the first time this season. The tickets were a birthday gift from Aunt Loretta. The plan was for Sarah and I to go together, but she's been having unreal pains lately in her knees (shin splints according to the doctor), so she stayed home with Tash and I went with Dan-e-o.

The game was actually pretty entertaining, and the Raps beat the Boston Celtics 93-83.

I have read on several websites and heard people in the media talk about how awful the Raptors will be this year and how they don't have any assests and how the NBA in Canada is in trouble. Personally, I think that's a bunch of crap from people who don't understand the game.

The Raptors started three rookies against Boston. UConn's Charlie Villaneueva, Oklahoma State's Joey Graham and an impressive young point guard from Spain - Jose Calderon. All three aquitted themselves nicely playing sound defence on and off the ball and showing the ability score. Jalen Rose provides great leadership - as does Mo Pete (who's really an under-rated defender who just shoots the ball too much). Put all that with hard work guys like Pape Sow, Matt Bonner and Mike James and you have the makings of a team that won't be contending, but should be competitive and entertaining. Of course, I didn't even mention the face of the franchise - Chris Bosh. But what's there to say about CB4 that hasn't been said?

On a side note....... what's up with fans at a game who shoot you a dirty look when you decide to be LOUD and involved? Am I in church? Is this a freakin' library? Why can't I yell from the 14th row for Loren Woods to stop shooting the damn ball? What's wrong with that? I NEVER EVER use profanity at a game and I keep my comments light hearted. Never fails though - there's always some blue-hair and some family of 4 with 2 kids looking at you as if to say "Would you keep it down, i'm trying to concentrate!"

I'm starting to think this is a problem that exists exclusively in Toronto. I've been to sporting events in other cities that were way more boistrous. Hell, I've been to high school games with more emotional crowds than I see at the ACC. The Dome is the worst though - when you go down to watch the Jays. I remember actually being asked to leave once by an Usher because some fossil who was about 158 years old (and a season ticket holder) was trying to focus on her scorecard, and didn't enjoy me screaming at Joe Carter to lay off that stupid offspeed pitch.

After the Raptors game, Dan and I went for dinner at East Side Mario's then went out on the town. Good times.

Yesterday, was a family day. Sarah's Aunt Linda came by with her two kids Justin and Lisa (Lisa was a bridesmaid in our wedding). They hung out for a couple hours and of course were amazed by our girl. My Aunt Lucy and Uncle Lou came by to meet Tasha for the first time and couldn't get over how big she is.

Lisa decided to stay over when everyone else left. We got out the drinks, watched some bad horror movies and a few episodes of Dead Like Me from Showcase. Has this show been cancelled? Anyone know??

Today, my in laws are coming by, and so is my dad apparently. Tonight is the TNA "Bound for Glory" ppv, and a few of us will be headed over to Darkside's to take in the fun.

This week I have to start putting together my mid-term report cards (ughhh), write an essay for my english lit class, and i have to read two plays: Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus and Romeo and Juliet by Billy Shakes.

Well, off I go...

New pics of my baby girl!

There are a few new pictures on Natasha's Shutterbook album (including a sneak peek at her wearing her first Halloween Costume!)... Click this link to see them. If you have any problems seeing the pictures on shutterbook, let me know. You need to have Flash Player installed on your computer.

Hello Shutterbook!

Posting photos on blogger is old and busted. Shutterbook is the new hotness. From now on, all new Tasha pics, and other shots I decide to post will be up on this cool new site. It's a flash driven photobook site. You can even add MP3 background music, control your slideshows, add comments.... it's pretty freakin cool!

Click this link to see the first album.

Pics of Tasha from Aunt Di

My shutterbug sister went to town once again on Thanksgiving Monday and actually got some great shots of Natasha. Of course, truth be told... a blind chimp using a stone tablet and chisel could take great shots of lil' Tashy. Let's be serious, she's gorgeous. Not to downplay her photographic talent, all hail Diane's artistic eye! Follow the link below for pics of my Care Bear and a bunch of other strange people.

2 years today!

It's hard to believe that at this time exactly, two years ago tonight I was standing before friends and family pledging my love to my beautiful bride. Wow. Two years. In some ways it feels like it was only last week, and in some ways it feels like it has been much longer than 24 months. In that time we have moved into our own home, travelled to Cuba, made new friends, and added a gorgeous baby girl to our family. What a ride. I can honestly say I am a very, very lucky guy.

The following part of this post is especially for Sarah...

I love you more now than I ever have. Thank you so much for two years of marriage. Thank you for Natasha. Thank you for being the Ying to my Yang. Thank you for understanding me. Thank you for picking me. Thank you.

Not very elequent, but I'm still sick, and not feeling so hot... I'll make it up to you though babe. How about Merron this weeked??

Sick as a dog

Posts have been few and far between lately as I caught that bug that's been going around. For the last week and a bit i've been draggin' and whining like a big suck.

Hectic family weekend... Friday night was Sarah's fourth baby shower! The tradition with her mother's side of the family is to hold a shower after the baby has been born... so they did and needless to say everyone was very very generous.

I even scored a couple of belated birthday presents!

The last two days were spent having turkey dinners and feeling fat!

This morning really sucked though. I ended up going to the hospital with unbelievable ear pain. It turns out I have an infection and am going to have trouble hearing for a few days.

Fabulous.

Fun at the Fair

Yesterday the three of us went to the Markham Fair. In the 15 years i've been going i've never once seen such unbelievable weather. The place was packed and everywhere we turned I was bumping into old friends. Tasha seemed to enjoy herself too, though she did sleep through most of it.

I ran into a ton of people on Saturday at the Fait including Hilary, Claudia and Vanna. All three were good friends during high school, and all three have gone on very different paths in life. It's so amazing hearing everyone's updated story. The thing that Sarah and I thought was funny was that I saw all these people I went to school with, but none of them knew each other. Sort of speaks to the way things were for me back then. I pretty much knew everyone.

Of course, Tasha was a big hit. Everyone that saw her loved her. Total strangers were either commenting on how beautiful she is or asking us to trade strrollers (GO QUINNY!).