ABOUT ME

Way better than any Facebook listing.

So, you want to know a little bit about me, huh? Well, since I don't want to ask my friends what they really think of me and I don't wish to share my reference letters (and rejection letters) with you, I guess I'll have to do all the talking. I hope that everything is satisfactory!

What's Up - November 2006 Archive

Here are the past postings...

2006.11.30 - 18:15 EST - Ottawa ON Canada
Played It Til My Fingers Bled

You are looking at my new guitar. It's cherry red and has a tremolo arm that bends notes like crazy. However, it's unlikely that you'll see me busking for change with it.

This is a controller for Guitar Hero, a video game for the PlayStation2. It is the latest addition to my collection of PS2 peripherals that includes a network adapter, DVD remote, USB keyboard, multitap, two controllers, two dance mats and three microphones. If I could find a way to hook up a microwave to my console, I swear I'd never have to leave my living room.

While browsing online for Karaoke games, I stumbled across reviews for the original Guitar Hero title. It is produced by Harmonix, the same company that makes the Karaoke Revolution series. (I own the entire series save for the country music version, much to the chagrin of certain work friends.) The game looked interesting, but it was never available when I looked for it around town.

When the sequel version was released earlier this month, I checked out the online inventories again and found that the game was not in stock. However, when I looked for it once again last week, all the stores seemed to have received their inventory so I hit the local Best Buy to pick up my guitar and both games.

After opening up the box, I was still hesitant at trying the game since I have never played any instrument more complex than a record. In fact, I was supposed to have learned to play guitar in Grade 7 but after our class butchered the accompanying singing of a song, my teacher signed us up for choir practice instead.

However, my years of practice on a tennis racquet must have paid off as I was nailing down notes in no time. Following a short tutorial on hitting frets and playing chords, I was strumming along to "I Wanna Be Sedated" like a pro. The soundtrack to both games is quite awesome, featuring a plethora of recognizable songs from "Iron Man" to "Message in a Bottle" to newer hits likes "Cochise" and "Take Me Out".

I have progressed to the medium level after one week, so I'm now using four of the five buttons. Once I can master the hammer-ons and pull-offs on "Monkey Wrench", I'll move on to the orange fret...

2006.11.20 - 21:21 EST - Ottawa ON Canada
Is Your Game MVP Like Dickenson?

It's tough being a CFL fan in this city but thanks to the British Columbia Lions, it's a little easier being one as of last night.

For four seasons, I got to watch the Ottawa Renegades play at Frank Clair Stadium. I didn't have season tickets, but I went to quite a few games every year whenever one of my friends couldn't make it out. They had killer seats in Section OO of the south side (NORTH SIDE SUCKS!), which made the experience that much better.

I even got to go to the Grey Cup game in 2004. The single ticket that I bought from one of my friends cost as much as his season tickets, but I banked that the Lions would make it to the big game. Sure enough, they did but they lost 27-19 to the Toronto Argonauts and MVP Damon Allen. By the time the final gun sounded, I was on my way out of the stadium and on a bus along with other disheartened B.C. fans, collectively wondering why Casey Printers didn't get the start at QB.

The next year brought the return of Glieberman ownership to Ottawa and along with it Mardi Gras Madness. Unfortunately, not even that could distract fans from a mid-season collapse as the Renegades missed the playoffs once again. However, I had an excellent time watching the Lions beat Ottawa 61-27 and got to sing "Roar You Lions Roar" several times (as I did at games even when B.C. wasn't playing).

Anyway, it came as a surprise to absolutely no one this April that the team would cease to operate. However, what did shock me is the virtual indifference of the fans to that decision. In fact, the team's website expired a few weeks ago. There are no plans for the team to return next year, and I doubt there is much interest beyond that.

In preparation for the Lions' playoff run, I went looking for team paraphernalia around the city without much luck. When I did find stores that carried CFL merchandise, it was relegated to a small rack alongside a vast collection of NFL gear. In fact, the only B.C. Lions items I could find were a generic T-shirt and cap (both of which I already had better versions of).

During last night's Grey Cup halftime show, there was no reason for Nelly Furtado to replace her lyrics twice in "Promiscuous". (MVP like Calvillo? Please...) Well, I finally got to see what a CFL trophy ceremony looks like thanks to a 25-14 Lions win over Montreal. However, unlike what the September 2005 Photo of the Month shows, it seems that the Grey Cup can come apart if you shake it enough!

2006.11.12 - 15:44 EST - Gatineau QC Canada
He Buzzes Like a Fridge

About a month ago, my friends asked if I could housesit for them while they left for a cross-country train trip for their honeymoon. All I needed to do was drop by once in awhile, gather the mail, record TV shows and make sure everything was in order. I agreed but only promised to do so if the Rangers and Canucks both had the night off.

During my first visit, I decided to raid their fridge. Besides being hungry, I was concerned that there were perishables that would go bad and, sure enough, I was right. They did know that they would be away for over two weeks, right? Or maybe they knew that I would head over to eat. Anyway, I grabbed some apples, pears and yogourt and had a good, hearty meal.

Also, I noticed that there were quite a few items in their refrigerator that would be expiring before they got back. Well, I couldn't let that food go to waste, could I? I decided to make an inventory of their expiring goods and took them with me back to Ontario, saving me a trip to the supermarket. As I was leaving, their neighbour gave me a puzzled look. I guess that Québécois rarely do their shopping at residences.

The next time over, I expanded my search for expired goods in their pantry. This time, I found awesome stuff: chips and snackables that I rarely buy myself. (There was even one bag of chips that I remember bringing over in April.) I finished off a bag while watching some NFL football.

As I was doing that, the doorbell rang. I was fearful that the neighbour had called the cops on me, but it was only a World Vision canvasser. He seemed rather surprised that I spoke French, but I guess my Level B government linguistic skills only go so far as I couldn't comprehend his detailed and enthusiastic response. We switched to English, and I kindly declined the offer to sign up my friends into becoming child sponsors.

Today, I finally decided to replace the food that has been filling my own refrigerator (and stomach). I grabbed the list of items that I had been compiling and headed over to the local Loblaws. I managed to find nearly everything that I had consumed except for that bag of springtime chips. Maybe they don't make them anymore!

Now, my friends' food stock is replenished and their mail is neatly piled up for their enjoyment. So, if anyone needs a housesitter just fill your fridge and I'll be by...

last updated: February 6, 2012