The most fun I've ever had at Bomber Stadium.

Some days, I surprise even myself.

Today on my lunch break, I stopped in at the office of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers football club to drop something off for someone. I guess the Bombers were having a practice or something, as there was about 15-20 teenagers hanging out around the front doors, waiting to catch a glimpse of the players.

As my business concluded, I left the building to see a 6'18" TANK of a man finish signing a football. The teens who got their football signed turned and watched the human tank drive away in his Hummer, and swiveled back to the Bombers office entrance, JUST as I was exiting.

Now, at 5'10" tall, I'm barely physically qualified to be the team's water boy, so there was an awkward 1/1000th of a second where the kids sized me up, trying to figure out which Bomber I was.

Before anyone had a chance to think, their fat marker was in my hand. I cockily pulled the cap off with my teeth, and let it hang on my lips while I grabbed the football out of the kid's hand and signed my name to it in a confident, exaggerated motion.

Their excitement was palpable! Another (assumed) famous athlete was signing their ball!

Noticing that I was autographing stuff, another group of teens began to advance as I finished marking the first football with my name. Now, I'm not stupid. At some moment, a whole gang of gigantic, muscled football players who are fully aware that their teammates don't look like me were about to come out the same doors I did and sack me. Needing a quick exit, I raised my hands up to block them and quietly muttered, "Not today, boys".

And in a flash, I was gone.

With all due respect to the action on the field, that was probably the most fun I'd ever had at Bomber Stadium!
Currently playing: The Joker - The Steve Miller Band
Proudly in my fourth Cola free year!

Battling another addiction

If you've been reading this blog long enough, you'll be aware that I've been Cola free since April 2006.

I used to consume over 2 litres of pop a day!

Well, on December 5th, 2006 I went from out of the frying pan, and into... another frying pan. After attending an awesome Guns N' Roses concert that went on until 3AM, I started drinking coffee. I needed it to get through the work day!

Shortly afterwards, my wife Cat and I got pregnant, and I was up all hours of the night getting our nest ready for our new arrival, which meant even more coffee.

Pop quiz! After baby showed up, my coffee consumption:
a. increased
b. decreased

If you chose b, you obviously don't have children. Quit reading and go get all the sleep you can NOW!

Well, 4 weeks ago, I decided to make a few changes in my life and started eating healthy. And with the amount of cream I usually put in my coffee, I decided to pull a Dave Coulier and "Cut. It. OUT!".

At first, the caffeine withdrawal was terrible. I was pretty moody. But by day three, I'd felt better than I had in a long time!

I'm still not sure I'm going to keep up with this coffee boycott. I'm sure I'll need to rely on it's powers in the future. At some point, Cat and I hope to give our daughter a brother or sister. In a few months, our daughter is going to hit the terrible twos and start getting up in the middle of the night. Fifteen years from now, she's going to go on a date with a guy to go see Guns 'N Roses at McPhillips Street Station Casino until 3AM, and I'm going to be up waiting for him to bring her home.

On second thought, maybe I'm done with the coffee. Bring on the vodka!!!

Currently playing: Blue Rodeo - Time
Proudly in my fourth Cola free year!

Old friends

I got to spend the day with my two oldest friends today.

From left to right, Danny Steffler, Robin Kowal, and myself.
I've known these guys for nearly three decades, Danny since Kindergarten, and Robin since pre-school. It's great to be able to keep friends for that long!

The visit was also special as it was the first time some of our children were gathered in the same place! My darling daughter is on the far right!
Currently playing: Commuter Music - Young Hearts
Proudly in my fourth Cola free year!