The Morning After: November 2005

Employed

Someone hired me...and it's in a country where I know I can work..Canada. I've taken a job at Pinnacle Rehabilitation in Windsor. It's outpatient ortho and they do a little bit of sport physio with the Windsor Spitfires, Belle River Canadiens, etc. I decided to settle back at home, mostly because I need to save some money after all that I spent on this move, and the student loan people are starting to ask for their cut. I finish work here on Dec 2nd and don't start there until Jan 2nd, so I get a nice little break which I'll probably spend showing off my apartment and moving stuff back home. It looks like I'll be leaving the apartment after all...but not because of the radiators

The Day The Ugliness Died

Let us all take a moment of silence and remember someone who was taken from us much, much too soon. I'm sure by now you've all heard the tragic news that the "World's Ugliest Dog" has passed away. His life was filled with accolades, and he was a prominent figure on the talk show circuit appearing in Japan, and even once beside Donald Trump...I'm not sure how people were able to tell them apart.

While I have no idea what will be said about "Sam" at his burial, I can only guess it will go something like this comment from the Associated Press:

The tiny dog has no hair, if you don't count the yellowish-white tuft erupting from his head. His wrinkled brown skin is covered with splotches, a line of warts marches down his snout, his blind eyes are an alien, milky white, and a fleshy flap of skin hangs from his withered neck. And then there are the Austin Powers teeth that jut at odd angles. He's so ugly that even the judges recoiled when he was placed on the judging table . . .

But sadly, after 14 years of sheer hideousness, he has gone to a better place, where no one is ugly or beautiful...except maybe that thing

American Turkey Day

Back to Windsor it is for American Thanksgiving. One of the perks of having duel citizenship is the two Thanksgiving factor. If I could multiply any holdiay, Thanksgiving just might be the one. The day when the Thanksgiving Turkey comes down the chimney to leave gravy for all the good little boys and girls is one of my favourites....Apparently Thanksgiving eve is one of the biggest nights to go out and party, but me, I'm going to sleep at about 8 since I need to leave by 4 am to catch my flight.

Home should be good, considering I have a job interview on Friday. I couldn't envision myself going back for a job, but it might be happening. I'm excited to check out the clinic and see what happens.

Anyways, wishing all my American friends a Happy Turkey Day, and all my Canadian friends a warm hello. Remember to get to sleep early tonight and leave out a serving of corm for the Thanskgiving Turkey

The Man In Black

I went and saw "Walk The Line", the new Johnny Cash movie. I've been waiting for it to come out for awhile and I wasn't disappointed. Joaquin Phoenix does an excellent job as Cash and suprisingly him and Reese Witherspoon sing very very well. They talk quite a bit about Folsom Prison in the movie, and re-enact parts of his concer there. I have to admit until a few years ago I could have cared less about Johnny Cash, until my roomate Johnny Flood started playing the Live from Folsom County Prison album. Music aside, its one of the coolest albums I've listened too just because of the atmosphere. He's performing live at a maximum security prison, and in the background you can hear cells opening and closing, prisoners being paged, etc. Also, the songs he choose to sing almost all focused on being in jail, or life as an outlaw, something the crowd could obviously relate to. If you're interested in listening to a good CD, I recommend that one. I've come to realize that Johnny Cash is one cool, badass of a guy, and that it makes his music popular with people from age 9 to 99. I hope you guys go check out the movie and learn about one of the greatest musicians of our time

My Face is Tingling

Today was the first day that my face officially felt cold, and it's always around this time of year that I begin to wonder...when is International Mustache Day??? For those of you who have not been fortunate enough to experience the greatness that is this day, pay attention. International Mustache Day is the one day a year where all real men must have a mustache. Some men spend months (yours truely, mostly because I usually have pre-pubescent facial hair) grooming in preperation for this day. Be aware ladies, this is a surefire way to tell a "real man" from an impostor.

The goal is to spend the entire day with your mustache, with much respect going out to any individual who exhibits a certain flair or creativity. Keep in mind, the mustache must be flaunted. Public exhibitions are a requirement of International Mustache Day. The day is capped off by a men's night out, consisting of much drinking and merriment, as well as the loveable "Mustache Groupies" ( I kid you not, they're out there). Sounds like a fun time, it is!

This is a call to all men, we need to set a unified date in which we can boldly show off our "man-osity" to its fullest. Suggestions can be posted on this website or sent via e-mail. I look forward to another banner year of mustachiness. Wishing you fuzzy dreams and warm faces

Mustachingly Yours,
Doug

Drop That Puck - Blackhawks vs. Oilers

Sunday night I made it to my first hockey game this season and quickly realized that outside of Ryan Johnston, no one cares about the Blackhawks (sorry RJ!). I couldn't find anyone who wanted to go so I trekked there on my own and wound up sitting next to a Blackhawks fan who seemed to know a bit about hockey. The arena was maybe half full by game time. It really looks like the strike took it's toll over here in the States because hockey hasn't been all that big here so far. Doesn't help that the Blackhawks suck so far (Again, sorry RJ).

It was good to be back around a rink and the seats I nabbed were pretty good for only $25. First row of the first level. I think I stood out a bit, what with my Team Canada hockey T-shirt, belting of the Canadian National Anthem, and the only fist pump in the section when Fernando Pisani slammed home Edmonton's only goal. The Blackhawks won 3-1.

One of my favourite parts of going to the game itself is seeing some of the jerseys that fans wear. Kevbo and I were just joking about it the day of the game, and sure enough there were some classics on Sunday. There was a priceless Steve Larmer Hawks jersey (memories!!), and one of the handful of Oilers fans had a jersey with the name "Flames Suck" across the back....All in all a good night

Another addition

Hey guys,

Just added another website to the site. It's for the band Thousand Foot Krutch, originally out of the T-dot area. The bassist for the band is my friend Joel who I worked with over the past summer and who now lives in Windsor. Check them out if you get the chance and support them on the radio! People from Windsor probably have already heard them on 89X in Detroit. They've done some really big shows both here and in the U.S. Their song "Move" is currently at #19 on Active Rock Charts in the U.S. Also check out Absolute, my personal favourite

....And yes, this plus was done entirely to make me look cool. Groupies are only slightly less cooler than roadies....write that down.

Feeling unawesome

Now that I'm all grown up with my big boy job I'm starting to go to benefits; but not just any benefits, all you can drink benefits! Since I will obviously be a hot commodity on the benefit circuit I'll have to prioritize, and all-you-can drink is always high on that list. Friday was the benefit for Amate House, an organization in which people out of high school live in a house for 10 months and volunteer teaching in schools or working in other organizations. Of course, I knew none of this before I got there. All I knew was $15 for as much beer as you could drink from 7-10. My friend from work showed up at 6:45, the first person in the door, and I followed closely behind at 7. With both of us not knowing anyone there or what the charity was for we made our way around to see if anyone else had a clue. Luckily for us, everyone else was just there for the booze.

Later on that night a friend of ours showed up who used to work for Amate House, and everything was cleared up. We also learned that she went to high school with Chris Farley, and that the priest who ran Amate House was named Matt Foley. Him and Chris Farley had gone to school together at Marquette and that's where he got the name for his character. I don't really have much else to tell about the night because I was just trying to get as much to drink before 10 o'clock and saying "You'll be living in a van down by the river" over and over and over......

All-you-can drink is a good idea until the next morning.

My Apartment is Alive...and it Wants Me Gone!

Don’t get me wrong, I love my apartment. Good size (minus the kitchen), great location, quiet, all things that I’ve come to love about my new place. But there are a few problems that aren’t visible to the naked eye, It’s these problems that have convinced me that my apartment is alive, and it’s pissed I’m there

Problem #1 – The Toilet
The toilet itself is interesting in the sense that it should be on display in a museum as one the earliest forms of the modern toilet. Having never been in prison, I can only assume that mine is only a small step down from those found in a maximum security facility. The thing is, I like the toilet, it’s actually pretty cool. The problem is the water I found on the toilet seat one night I went to use it. Since I live alone I was baffled as to how it got there, and I named it “The Wet Wonder”, because I wondered where the wetness came from…The next night I heard a gurgling coming from the bathroom and ran in to see that my toilet was bubbling like a volcano in a 5th grade science project. It seems that whenever anyone on my side of the building flushes the toilet, we all get a little aftershock. I’m just thankful I haven’t been sitting on the toilet to actually receive “Wet Wonder” of my own…

Really though, this isn’t what’s driving me out. It’s more of a little practical joke my apartment likes to play on me. The real problem is…

Problem #2 – The radiators
I’ve learned a few things about radiators since my time here, things I had never taken the time to learn before I moved into an apartment with three of them
1) Radiators are territorial – Much like the toilets, these radiators looked like they’ve survived the Chicago Fire of 1871. They were here first, and they want that known
2) Radiators are hot – And I don’t mean attractive. I mean they make my apartment somewhere between a greenhouse and kiln for pottery
3) Radiators are noisy – They start off like a tiny scratching and eventually build until it sounds like someone is trying to burrow into your apartment. Once the burrowing stops, the machine gun/jackhammer noises start. This lasts for approximately 5 minutes
4) Radiators are smart – Radiators only seem to make these noises between the hours of 3-6 in the morning. Also, rather than all three of them making this noise at once, they take turns, spreading the torture out over a period of 15 minutes

It’s a battle between me and the apartment, and so far neither of us has budged, but I don’t see how I can win. The radiator is a solid piece of hot metal with a endless amount of tricks up its sleeve…I’ll keep fighting the good fight

You may notice...

I don't actually have anything new to report. I went to work today and performed some "thurpy" as most of my patients call it. I also forgot to mention that the other day I saw a guy driving a car with an ad on the side for "Ding Dong The Hip-Hop Clown"....you could order him for your child's next birthday party. This seems like acash cow waiting to happen. I mean, how many clowns are there in the Chicago area? Now, how many of them are hip-hop clowns? Only one that I know of!

Anyways, I just wanted to point out that I've added a few links on the side of my blog. Some of them are sites I like to check out, others are friends sites. Josh McNorton is a friend of mine living in BC, he's excellent at turning a phrase and he plays a pretty mean guitar too. Pat Robitaille is a really talented singer/songwriter (I wish I was a "slash" something) from Windsor.

I'll keep everyone posted when anything new happens. In the meantime, no regrets, and everybody Wang Chung tonight

The Great Adventure

As I sat around this Saturday afternoon with nothing to do, and no one to do it with; I decided that this was the perfect time to go on a big city adventure. Of course I picked the dreariest most drizzly day to embark on my journey. I packed a light bag with a bottle of water, my discman, 5 CD's (Van Morrison, Bob Dylan Double CD, Elliot Smith, The Strokes) an extra set of batteries, a book (Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman) and of course a camera. I set out on foot at around 1 in the afternoon and returned at my place by 6 o'clock. Along the way I learned a lot about the city I live in, and most of what I learned is essentially useless and unimportant.

Here's what I learned:
1) Haagen-Daaz is now selling cheap draft beer as well as ice cream, they've cornered the market on this

2) If it looks like it will rain, it will (and I will forget to pack an umbrella)
3) There are LOTS of funny signs in this world ( I don't care where you're diving, if you look like that when you dive you're going to hurt yourself....and XXX Dinner, count me in)