I could be a little biased right now because on the way back from Corner Brook I was stopped in construction for half an hour just outside Deer Lake (which didn't make sense because they were letting traffic flow freely from the West bound side of the highway, when only the East bound side of the road was open), but I hate lazy Construction Workers!
What pisses me off the most, and I noticed it in at least 4 places on the drive home, is when they leave the signs up warning you of construction, and then you have to drastically reduce speed only to find out there is no construction going on in that area any more. There isn't a person, a machine, or even a pylon there yet they were too GD lazy to remove their signs. 4 times this happened, only to finally get to the "End of Construction" road sign and start accelerating again. As if I needed something else to get riled up about!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Bye Bye Maiden Head
Still in Corner Brook, so I went to see Inception. The theatre here is pretty shitty. A lot of leg room but the screen is small and the sound isn't as good as Studio 12, but that's to be expected.
The movie itself was really great actually. The acting was great in it, from Leo all the way down to the dude who looked like Andy Samberg. It was hard to take him seriously when he was kicking all that ass knowing how much they resembled each other. I kept expecting some great one liners from him, but not so much.
Only complaint I have about the movie is its length. By the end it kind of drags on. They go into a 4th layer of dreaming and by that point I'm just like "wake the fuck up already". That could have something to do with the fact that I had to piss pretty badly though so I wanted to get out of there.
I enjoyed how you had to pay attention during the whole movie, if not you would have been lost, so it kept you in there even though some parts were mildly confusing for a moment or two. Although by far the best part of the movie was when you see Tom Berenger for the first time. He has a very minor role but for some reason they find it necessary to introduce him with a slow dramatic turn towards the camera. I almost laughed out loud, but I don't think anyone else would have got it.
The ending of the movie was also good. I won't say anything about it because I am going to recommend the movie to people who haven't seen it.
It also marked the first time I have gone to a theatre by myself. If you show up just in time for the movie it isn't that bad because you don't talk during the movie anyway. But it is definitely something I would do again if I was bored. Glad I popped the cherry, the experience will be much more joyful from now on...or so I hear.
The movie itself was really great actually. The acting was great in it, from Leo all the way down to the dude who looked like Andy Samberg. It was hard to take him seriously when he was kicking all that ass knowing how much they resembled each other. I kept expecting some great one liners from him, but not so much.
Only complaint I have about the movie is its length. By the end it kind of drags on. They go into a 4th layer of dreaming and by that point I'm just like "wake the fuck up already". That could have something to do with the fact that I had to piss pretty badly though so I wanted to get out of there.
I enjoyed how you had to pay attention during the whole movie, if not you would have been lost, so it kept you in there even though some parts were mildly confusing for a moment or two. Although by far the best part of the movie was when you see Tom Berenger for the first time. He has a very minor role but for some reason they find it necessary to introduce him with a slow dramatic turn towards the camera. I almost laughed out loud, but I don't think anyone else would have got it.
The ending of the movie was also good. I won't say anything about it because I am going to recommend the movie to people who haven't seen it.
It also marked the first time I have gone to a theatre by myself. If you show up just in time for the movie it isn't that bad because you don't talk during the movie anyway. But it is definitely something I would do again if I was bored. Glad I popped the cherry, the experience will be much more joyful from now on...or so I hear.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Bibles and Skirts
As part of the East/West/North Expo on West St, they had a "gospel day" on Sunday. Outside church service at 10, which I was able to miss, but then a series of gospel performers happening in the field directly in front of the Newfoundland Power tent, and aside from super repetitive lyrics and pretentiousness, a theme I noticed in the performers were hot young chicks. [Disclaimer: Hot young chicks = 18 or above]
Now mind you these chicks have been drinking the blood and tasting the body because they were LOVING on J-C. In between songs praising his name and almost coming to tears while doing it. So while they are not the type of hot chicks someone like me would be able to function well with, I was kind of envious of how they had that much passion for something, even if it was something I find kind or far fetched, but I just tend to be so unenthusiastic about most things in life that I find it interesting.
The other thing that surprised me was the relevance of religion in young people's lives. Growing up nobody ever wanted to go to church, however I was only surrounded by people of United, Catholic and Anglican denomination. Since I've moved to Central I have noticed that Church is such an important part of these people's lives, and the difference is in the denomination. Salvation Army and Pentecostal are the predominant faiths in Central/Western Newfoundland, and they just do such a better job of getting the youth involved.
In summary, while I get uncomfortable around preachy people and the whole religion thing isn't exactly up my alley, I respect people who have strong beliefs, as long as they don't try to convert or push it on me. I guess it was just strange to see something be so popular that I thought had lost its relevance in young people ages ago. Guess it's all about your environment.
Now mind you these chicks have been drinking the blood and tasting the body because they were LOVING on J-C. In between songs praising his name and almost coming to tears while doing it. So while they are not the type of hot chicks someone like me would be able to function well with, I was kind of envious of how they had that much passion for something, even if it was something I find kind or far fetched, but I just tend to be so unenthusiastic about most things in life that I find it interesting.
The other thing that surprised me was the relevance of religion in young people's lives. Growing up nobody ever wanted to go to church, however I was only surrounded by people of United, Catholic and Anglican denomination. Since I've moved to Central I have noticed that Church is such an important part of these people's lives, and the difference is in the denomination. Salvation Army and Pentecostal are the predominant faiths in Central/Western Newfoundland, and they just do such a better job of getting the youth involved.
In summary, while I get uncomfortable around preachy people and the whole religion thing isn't exactly up my alley, I respect people who have strong beliefs, as long as they don't try to convert or push it on me. I guess it was just strange to see something be so popular that I thought had lost its relevance in young people ages ago. Guess it's all about your environment.
The Sun May Rise in the East...
So I've been in Corner Brook since Friday, and Stephenville this evening, returning to Central on Tuesday, then heading to St. John's for Thursday (OLP), but I gotta say, everytime I come out this way I'm marvelled by the scenary. The West Coast, Corner Brook specificially just has a totally different look and feel to it than the East. Even just driving through it is such a nicer trip. If given the choice of having the same friends in Corner Brook as in St. John's, then I'd live in Corner Brook anyday. Anyone who hasn't spent any time on the West Coast of Newfoundland should make the trip!
I didn't have much to write about!
I didn't have much to write about!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Cougs and Lasers
So I am out in Corner Brook until Tuesday, maybe Wednesday, and usually after I get off work I don't go much. Hang out in the hotel room, maybe go for a hike or something, but tonight I decided to change it up.
I'm working the East-West-North Expo and as part of that they have a laser show, so I decided to check it out...it was awesome. I have some video of it and it was pretty cool, I might go see it again tomorrow night because it was that epic. I also got to see Sherman Downey and the Ambiguous Case. One of my friends had told me good things about them and she didn't lie. I am always skeptical about any band that incorporates a banjo or an accordion, but they sounded really good and I would recommend them to anyone...well anyone that I liked.
So after the laser show I decided to hit up the Crown and Moose Pub (also if you ever eat there, get the Chicken Parmesan). Not knowing anyone there, I just go to the bar and have a seat and a few beer, figuring I'll talk to whoever is next to me. However in this case it proves to be a super loaded 60 year old who keeps hitting on me, but asking me the same questions because she is too drunk to remember what she asked. I told her 4 times I lived in Grand Falls and she kept asking "so where do you live here?" If she only looked 50 instead of 60, I totally would have hit it, but as it is I'm spending the night alone. Oh well tomorrow is "Shed Party" night, so I'm probably gonna be having a time. Someone needs to come with me some weekend when I'm working out this way! Free hotel, and you get to watch me eat free meals!
So in summary:
60 year old coug = good for a laugh, but not much else
Lasers = Amazing
'Nuff said.
I'm working the East-West-North Expo and as part of that they have a laser show, so I decided to check it out...it was awesome. I have some video of it and it was pretty cool, I might go see it again tomorrow night because it was that epic. I also got to see Sherman Downey and the Ambiguous Case. One of my friends had told me good things about them and she didn't lie. I am always skeptical about any band that incorporates a banjo or an accordion, but they sounded really good and I would recommend them to anyone...well anyone that I liked.
So after the laser show I decided to hit up the Crown and Moose Pub (also if you ever eat there, get the Chicken Parmesan). Not knowing anyone there, I just go to the bar and have a seat and a few beer, figuring I'll talk to whoever is next to me. However in this case it proves to be a super loaded 60 year old who keeps hitting on me, but asking me the same questions because she is too drunk to remember what she asked. I told her 4 times I lived in Grand Falls and she kept asking "so where do you live here?" If she only looked 50 instead of 60, I totally would have hit it, but as it is I'm spending the night alone. Oh well tomorrow is "Shed Party" night, so I'm probably gonna be having a time. Someone needs to come with me some weekend when I'm working out this way! Free hotel, and you get to watch me eat free meals!
So in summary:
60 year old coug = good for a laugh, but not much else
Lasers = Amazing
'Nuff said.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The Road to Shattered Confidence?
I guess at this point it's no secret that I have veered down the dark path of the online dating world, and I've been there for longer than I'd like to admit. I've done the e-harmony free weekends, the plenty of fish thing, hell I even paid for a one month subscription at e-harmony once, cause well you know those damn couples just seem so happy on those commercials! So before I make a decision on if it's the right path to continue on I figured I should do an assessment.
I'm a pretty shy dude. Talking to women I don't know has never been my strong suit. Hell talking to dudes I don't know isn't any less awkward for me, and I'm not hoping to start dating them, therefore this whole online thing works well in that department. It's a lot easier, but much creepier, to sit anonymously behind a keyboard and give an introduction. I can highlight my good points. How I'm educated, steady job, I have a dog (always a good selling point), and I can do it without stumbling on my words or running into an awkward silence. So there is a plus 1 for sticking with online dating.
Another plus for online dating is that the easiest way for me to meet chicks is through friends. It gives them time to settle into my weird and somewhat offensive thoughts, maybe it almost becomes charming eventually, however none of my friends seem to be willing to introduce me to their female friends...so you guys all suck. Maybe it's so they can continue to make fun of my online dating ways. So +2 for online dating.
Now for the negatives. The first one being:
-She could actually be a man! I have had some bad experiences with this stuff (recyclables), but fortunately never came in contact with a penis from it yet, but the fear is always there!
Other negatives include:
- It's easier to get rejected online. If the chick can't see you then it's easier for her to delete that message you just sent her without a reply, and nothing kills the confidence more than "Read Deleted". At least write me back to tell me why you don't like me. I'd choose rejection over being ignored any day of the week!
- The selection isn't always the greatest. I'm sure there are hot chicks out there who (are not crazy, are over their ex boyfriends, do not have ridiculously high standards, expect you to pay for everything cause they're hot or who are only on the site because of a dare from their friends, or just to see how pathetic the guys who message are) do online dating, however, I think it's a small number. Chances are if she's hot, she has one of the above issues...or has a wang.
- On e-harmony, you are more likely to get matched with more people when you are not paying than when you are. They are like, "oh here's all these great matches for you, but you can't talk to them unless you pay up". So you're thinking "oh man I better pay up, there could be the Rachel to my Ross on this site", and then you pony up the dough, and they reduce the number of matches you receive drastically as soon as your payment is processed. In other words they screw you!
- You don't know what the competition is. For instance I've been talking to a chick before messaging back and forth, then suddenly one day it just stops. What am I to assume? Well my assumption is she has found someone more interesting than me on the site and I'm yesterday's garbage. That might not be true, but it could be. Once again an issue of not being a bitch. "Hey Keith, I think you're interesting and all but I met someone else who I really connected with, it's been nice talking to you". That would be a great message instead of the no reply. But I get the feeling those girls will get whats coming to them when they start talking to a psycho dude and he begins to stalk them when they start ignoring him! Take that Bitch!
The final negative about this whole online dating stuff is it's killing my confidence. Mostly for the reasons I mentioned before with the whole ignoring thing, or the fact that nothing has ever really worked out with it for me, which kind of gives me the feeling that maybe I'M the problem, but basically, it's because I feel I'm dependent on it and I no longer have the confidence to talk to a woman for the FIRST time face to face. I had very little when I started, but now the idea makes me even more nervous. Chances are I should be out practicing this, but chances are I won't. One of the reasons I don't know where to go to meet these eleigible bachelorettes. (Someone get me my own reality show)
So what's my verdict? It is that online dating is a terrible idea for me. Will I quit? Sure, until the next time I get bored out here in Grand Falls-Windsor. Although I guess the simple solution would be to block the websites and get me some whiskey sours to get the confidence to talk to these women. But oh well only time will tell. So really I guess this blog solved nothing for me, and if anyone I met online reads this it means you're on my MSN so it probably doesn't apply to you so don't be offended.
Later dudes.
I'm a pretty shy dude. Talking to women I don't know has never been my strong suit. Hell talking to dudes I don't know isn't any less awkward for me, and I'm not hoping to start dating them, therefore this whole online thing works well in that department. It's a lot easier, but much creepier, to sit anonymously behind a keyboard and give an introduction. I can highlight my good points. How I'm educated, steady job, I have a dog (always a good selling point), and I can do it without stumbling on my words or running into an awkward silence. So there is a plus 1 for sticking with online dating.
Another plus for online dating is that the easiest way for me to meet chicks is through friends. It gives them time to settle into my weird and somewhat offensive thoughts, maybe it almost becomes charming eventually, however none of my friends seem to be willing to introduce me to their female friends...so you guys all suck. Maybe it's so they can continue to make fun of my online dating ways. So +2 for online dating.
Now for the negatives. The first one being:
-She could actually be a man! I have had some bad experiences with this stuff (recyclables), but fortunately never came in contact with a penis from it yet, but the fear is always there!
Other negatives include:
- It's easier to get rejected online. If the chick can't see you then it's easier for her to delete that message you just sent her without a reply, and nothing kills the confidence more than "Read Deleted". At least write me back to tell me why you don't like me. I'd choose rejection over being ignored any day of the week!
- The selection isn't always the greatest. I'm sure there are hot chicks out there who (are not crazy, are over their ex boyfriends, do not have ridiculously high standards, expect you to pay for everything cause they're hot or who are only on the site because of a dare from their friends, or just to see how pathetic the guys who message are) do online dating, however, I think it's a small number. Chances are if she's hot, she has one of the above issues...or has a wang.
- On e-harmony, you are more likely to get matched with more people when you are not paying than when you are. They are like, "oh here's all these great matches for you, but you can't talk to them unless you pay up". So you're thinking "oh man I better pay up, there could be the Rachel to my Ross on this site", and then you pony up the dough, and they reduce the number of matches you receive drastically as soon as your payment is processed. In other words they screw you!
- You don't know what the competition is. For instance I've been talking to a chick before messaging back and forth, then suddenly one day it just stops. What am I to assume? Well my assumption is she has found someone more interesting than me on the site and I'm yesterday's garbage. That might not be true, but it could be. Once again an issue of not being a bitch. "Hey Keith, I think you're interesting and all but I met someone else who I really connected with, it's been nice talking to you". That would be a great message instead of the no reply. But I get the feeling those girls will get whats coming to them when they start talking to a psycho dude and he begins to stalk them when they start ignoring him! Take that Bitch!
The final negative about this whole online dating stuff is it's killing my confidence. Mostly for the reasons I mentioned before with the whole ignoring thing, or the fact that nothing has ever really worked out with it for me, which kind of gives me the feeling that maybe I'M the problem, but basically, it's because I feel I'm dependent on it and I no longer have the confidence to talk to a woman for the FIRST time face to face. I had very little when I started, but now the idea makes me even more nervous. Chances are I should be out practicing this, but chances are I won't. One of the reasons I don't know where to go to meet these eleigible bachelorettes. (Someone get me my own reality show)
So what's my verdict? It is that online dating is a terrible idea for me. Will I quit? Sure, until the next time I get bored out here in Grand Falls-Windsor. Although I guess the simple solution would be to block the websites and get me some whiskey sours to get the confidence to talk to these women. But oh well only time will tell. So really I guess this blog solved nothing for me, and if anyone I met online reads this it means you're on my MSN so it probably doesn't apply to you so don't be offended.
Later dudes.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
No Dice Ilya
So when I heard about the Ilya Kovalchuk 17 year, $102 million dollar contract, I was in disbelief. The dude is already 27 and it is highly irrational to expect a hockey player to play until he is 44. However, his objective was obviously to make an extra $100 million before he retired as a player and this allowed him to do that, and at the same time allowed New Jersey to have a great salary cap figure for a player of his caliber. A $6 million cap hit for one of the best players in the league, sounds too good to be true, and well it turns out it is!
I was happy to see that the NHL nixed the deal. About time they did based on all the long term deals being cut to try to circumvent the CBA. There are two things I found wrong with this contract. The first I mentioned which is that it is highly unlikely that he can play for the full term of the contract, and as a result he was being paid a majority of the money up front so that if he does retire he still gets away with making a lot of money. However the second thing I found weird was that in the later years (should he actually be able to play), he gets paid a league minimum of $550,000...but what happens if the league minimum goes up? And in 17 years time it probably will, assuming we're not all dead by 2012. I guess that's not a big issue as they would probably just have to bump up the money they pay him, but I guess it's all moot now.
The NHL has an easy solution to this:
Make the team pay the player the salary cap figure each yeah instead of paying different amounts in different years. This would prevent players wanting to sign these long term deals. If the money is spread out evenly, they will sign a shorter deal, therefore not compromising the integrity of the salary cap. For example, if Ilya Kovalchuk retires at 40, he would have still made more than 90% of the money offered in the contract, but if he was paid his salary cap figure of $6 million per year and retired at 40, he is walking away from 24% of his contract rather than about 10%. This would really get the player thinking about the money they are walking away from and make them sign more reasonable contracts.
Either way, good call on the NHL's part to axe the deal, but some sort of preventative measure needs to come into place. I wonder if "Kovi" will still sign with the Devils now?
I was happy to see that the NHL nixed the deal. About time they did based on all the long term deals being cut to try to circumvent the CBA. There are two things I found wrong with this contract. The first I mentioned which is that it is highly unlikely that he can play for the full term of the contract, and as a result he was being paid a majority of the money up front so that if he does retire he still gets away with making a lot of money. However the second thing I found weird was that in the later years (should he actually be able to play), he gets paid a league minimum of $550,000...but what happens if the league minimum goes up? And in 17 years time it probably will, assuming we're not all dead by 2012. I guess that's not a big issue as they would probably just have to bump up the money they pay him, but I guess it's all moot now.
The NHL has an easy solution to this:
Make the team pay the player the salary cap figure each yeah instead of paying different amounts in different years. This would prevent players wanting to sign these long term deals. If the money is spread out evenly, they will sign a shorter deal, therefore not compromising the integrity of the salary cap. For example, if Ilya Kovalchuk retires at 40, he would have still made more than 90% of the money offered in the contract, but if he was paid his salary cap figure of $6 million per year and retired at 40, he is walking away from 24% of his contract rather than about 10%. This would really get the player thinking about the money they are walking away from and make them sign more reasonable contracts.
Either way, good call on the NHL's part to axe the deal, but some sort of preventative measure needs to come into place. I wonder if "Kovi" will still sign with the Devils now?
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
The Book Of...Jesus??(MOVIE SPOILER)
I rented a movie tonight as part of a thing me and Erin are doing. Alternating movie selections and both watching them. Seems like something straight out of Dawson's Creek but then again, nothing about Dawson's Creek was uncool!
My first pick was "The Book of Eli"
Anyway I was disappointed to discover early on in the movie that The Book of Eli was actually just a Bible. I guess it's good to see that Christianity isn't gone totally out of style, but thinking that the Bible would be the most coveted book in a post-apocaltpyic world is too much. I mean really, someone would be after the Kama Sutra you'd think. So that was a little disappointed since I was expecting it to be some sort of book filled with crazy secrets, but nope just the Bible. The King James Version of the Bible too!
However I was pleased when at the end and the bad guy had finally got the book that it was written in Brail. I really didn't expect Eli to be blind considering how much ass the man kicked! So that and the fact that Mila Kunis is smoking hot made it a watchable movie, but I wouldn't rush out and buy it. Next up "Chloe".
And yes, I'm going to blog on more than movies, maybe even some important stuff...maybe.
My first pick was "The Book of Eli"
Anyway I was disappointed to discover early on in the movie that The Book of Eli was actually just a Bible. I guess it's good to see that Christianity isn't gone totally out of style, but thinking that the Bible would be the most coveted book in a post-apocaltpyic world is too much. I mean really, someone would be after the Kama Sutra you'd think. So that was a little disappointed since I was expecting it to be some sort of book filled with crazy secrets, but nope just the Bible. The King James Version of the Bible too!
However I was pleased when at the end and the bad guy had finally got the book that it was written in Brail. I really didn't expect Eli to be blind considering how much ass the man kicked! So that and the fact that Mila Kunis is smoking hot made it a watchable movie, but I wouldn't rush out and buy it. Next up "Chloe".
And yes, I'm going to blog on more than movies, maybe even some important stuff...maybe.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Thunderstruck
What an intense Thunderstrom last night. It all started about 11:00 PM or so. I decided to go out for a stroll and in the distance I could sporadically see flashes of light. Sometimes they were bright blue, other times a freaky dark yellow. I called the walk off early thinking trouble was a brewing.
Got back to the house around 11:40, still not much activity so I decided to go to bed. Probably around two or so I woke up and looked out my window to see the lightning was happening much more frequently and claps of thunder were now audible, but not thinking anything of it I went back to sleep. Probably half an hour later I was launched from my bed with what was probably the loudest Thunder I have ever heard. It ripped through the whole house. It sounded like people were surrounding my bed with those aluminum foil pans that you put in the bottom of the oven. Very intense. I literally jumped out of bed because it startled me so much. So I decided to do some storm watching after that, and the sky was lighting up like a Christmas tree on a frequent basis, and then the power went, so the only light in my apartment came from the outside. It was a pretty cool site...there wasn't a whole lot of rain with the storm, but it was certainly intense!
Good times.
Got back to the house around 11:40, still not much activity so I decided to go to bed. Probably around two or so I woke up and looked out my window to see the lightning was happening much more frequently and claps of thunder were now audible, but not thinking anything of it I went back to sleep. Probably half an hour later I was launched from my bed with what was probably the loudest Thunder I have ever heard. It ripped through the whole house. It sounded like people were surrounding my bed with those aluminum foil pans that you put in the bottom of the oven. Very intense. I literally jumped out of bed because it startled me so much. So I decided to do some storm watching after that, and the sky was lighting up like a Christmas tree on a frequent basis, and then the power went, so the only light in my apartment came from the outside. It was a pretty cool site...there wasn't a whole lot of rain with the storm, but it was certainly intense!
Good times.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Salmonfest!
So Salmon Festival was this weekend - the fourth time that I have attended, and I think it was definitely one of the best. 2006 is definitely up there on the list because of the bands that were there, Theory of a Deadman, Billy Talent and Live in particular, but this year seemed a lot funner. Had some friends out, had about 10 beer, and well Matt Good was incredible, even if I was getting an awkward, cryptic non-verbal message from an old girlfriend during "It's Been A While Since I Was Your Man" - which I am glad he played.
A few other highlights of the weekend include:
- Doc Walker playing a lot of covers, it is always good to hear songs you know.
- Three Days Grace were great performers, although they did not play long enough. I was surprised when they pulled out "I Don't Care", the song Adam Gontier does with Apocolyptica, but disappointed when they didn't play "Gone Forever"
- Getting to compete for a chance to go Bud Camp in Ottawa. I beat Paul in the first round in a competition where you had to run, put on a life vest, blow a whistle, slap on a helmet, put on wrist bands and then flip a cup. However I lost to William in the next round. You had to put one arm behind your back and fill up a bookbag and zip it up. I got my ass handed to me. But it was cool that 4 of us (me, William, Paul and Jeff) got to compete. William made it to the finals, but lost out so we were really close to a Bud Camp trip...assuming he would have taken me!
- Getting to show my friends where I live and stuff was a highlight, but it made me really miss being in St. John's when they left.
Overall great weekend though, really glad people came out. I was surprised I didn't run into a lot of people I know, but some of that might be for the better!
Take care.
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