My Old Flame(s)
Flames 1 Canucks 2...1st period...Flames Power Play....
Let's call this the hodge-podge blog, like the potpourri category on Jeopardy (one day, one day....see below). First off, it's hockey season again, which of course, kicks ass. It kicks even more ass when your team is the Calgary Flames. There are no more excuses for the Flames. I'm sick of people saying that the Flames are a defensive team or they're nothing without Kippersoff or they have no goal scorers; well, have a look at your 2006/07 Calgary Flames ladies and gentlemen. On paper, they're ready for the Cup run.
Noam Chomsky once said:
"Sports is another crucial example of the indoctrination system . . . It offers people something to pay attention to that is of no importance . . . It keeps them from worrying about things that matter to their lives that they might have an idea of something about . . . People have the most exotic information and understanding about all sorts of arcane issues . . . It's a way of building up irrational attitudes of submission to authority, and group cohesion behind leadership elements, in fact its training in irrational jingoism . . . That's why energy is devoted to supporting them . . . and advertisers are willing to pay for them."
True. But Noam ain't Canadian. Hahaha.
First period's over...Canucks still leading 2 - 1....
In other sporting news. I'm injured. With 9 days till the marathon. Awesome. See the running blog for more details; I realize I've been neglecting it lately but I'll try to chronicle my journey over the next 9 days.
AND in other other sporting news, I bought some skates today with plans to play some drop in hockey at my local rink on Monday mornings. I played from age 5 in Calgary (you could be fined as a parent in Calgary if your son under 16 DIDN'T play hockey!!!) till high school. My brothers were both superstars in hockey and still light it up to this day in their leagues, but I was always more interested in music. I was pretty good and even grabbed a few best defenseman awards growing up, but after I broke my leg in grade 8, I couldn't seem to get back into the swing of things and music eventually took over as I got involved in the jazz band.
I have recently been feeling the bug to play again; probably the result of getting serious about running, working out, and health. My body is now capable of things I've always dreamed of. In fact, I'm an athlete. That felt weird. I've always been mildly athletic, but at 200 plus pounds and smoking a pack and a half a day, there is only so much the body is capable of. The active part of me is now rearing it's head. It really is an addiction and like most addictions, the body requires it's fix and will get it any way it knows. I also think that I've involved myself so much in individual sports (snowboarding, golf, running) that it would be nice to get involved in a team sport and get out in my community.
Second period...still 2 -1 Canucks...
Scratch that, 2 - 2 thanks to Andrei Zuyzin...
Playing hockey (along with being a contestant on Jeopardy) is "on the list". A lot of people talk about "a list" which I assume is a figure of speech of things that they want to do. About a year ago, I actually created a list. It has stupid and totally banal things that I've never done and it also has very serious life altering changes or goals that I want to achieve. My ex, Lauren encouraged me to do this and I didn't screw around with this list. I took it very seriously in the last year. It has really CHANGED MY LIFE. Here it is:
1
Have a lesson with Kurt Rosenwinkel
2
See a Great White Shark
3
Own a house in Vancouver
4
Win a Juno
5
Teach at a College/University
(In talking to my friends currently teaching at a university, I'm starting to rethink this one)
6
Play in NYC
7
Own a muscle car
8
Get a master's degree
9
Write a book
10
Go to Scotland
11
Go to Japan
12
Go to India
13
Go to Russia
14
Go on a road trip through the southern states
15
Go to Northern Canada
(Completed Dec 2 2006)
16
Own a Gibson L-5
17
Have kids
18
Get married
19
Record my CD
(Spring 2008)
20 Ride a horse
22
Write a hit song
23
Be debt free
24
Pay off Student Loan
2009
25
Pay off Lawyers
2010
26
Pay off car
2009
27
Learn how to fix an engine
28
Learn to fly-fish
29
Own a boat
30
Learn how to play crib
31
Be a contestant on Jeopardy
32
Be someone's phone a friend
33
Own a "real" piece of art
34
Start a rock band
36
Run a Marathon
Oct 8 2006
37
Run a half marathon
Completed
38
Do the Grouse Grind
39
Got to the Stanley Theater
Completed
40
Go to a gay bar
41
Read all the books in my collection as of Oct 10 2005
42
Break 170 Llbs
Completed
43
Break 160 Llbs
Completed
44
Get Abs
Completed
45
Play hockey (on ice)
46
Join a softball team
47
Organize a Soulstream vs Famous Players softball match
48
Break 80 in Golf
49
Hole in one
50
300 yard drive
51
Snowboard the Alps
52
Make 6 figures in one year
53
Open a teaching studio
Completed
54
Find out who killed JFK
55
Do an IQ test
56
Buy a laptop
Completed
57
Make a website
Completed
58
Visit the Grand Canyon
59
See the Vienna Opera House
60
Go to the Village Vanguard
61
Ride a gondola in Venice
62
Get a Tattoo
63
Write an instructional book
In Progress
64
Go to every starbucks in Vancouver
In Progress
65
Go to a Stanley Cup finals game
66
Go to the World Series
67
Go to Wimbledon
68
Go to the Masters
69
Learn another language
70
Own a vacation home
71
Get a GST number
72
Pay off my taxes
In Progress
73
Pay back my RRSPs
In Progress
74
Get my chipped tooth fixed
75
Get a season's pass to Cypress
76
Shoot a gun
77
Go to my niece and nephew's grad
78
Change the world
In Progress
79
Get a cat
80
Reconnect with high school friends
Completed
81
Learn how to make indian food
82
learn how to make sushi
83
Finish 10 Kurt Rosenwinkel transcriptions
In Progress
84
Play the Aria from the Goldberg Variations on the piano
85
Go to Cuba
86
Include Hal Crook and Chord work into practice schedule
87
Format transcriptions into the laptop
In Progress
88
Put FP tunes into laptop
In progress
89
Put SS tunes into laptop
In Progress
90
Put misc tunes into laptop
91
Go to a personal trainer
92
Get an STD test
Completed
93
Organize Philosophy
In Progress
94
Do Degree paperwork
95
Sing lead with a band
Completed
96
Quit Smoking
Completed
97
Backpack around Europe (Scandinavia)
Completed Aug 24 2006
98
Spend a month in mainland Europe
99
Live in NYC for 3 months
100
Write a big band chart
101
Tour my band and book
Fall 2008
102 Cross off at least 10 things a year from the list
So, big things like quitting smoking, having a website, and running a marathon have been huge milestones that I had no intention of being able to do a year ago. This list has really propelled my life and had nothing but positive impacts (I suppose going to every Starbucks in Vancouver isn't that great of an achievement, but as I mentioned, some are these are for pure fun).
3rd period....still 2 - 2
The Soulstream 9th anniversary was so much fun. The strings were so awesome. The place was packed both nights and we want to thank all of you who continue to support our crazy band week after week and year after year. Everyone played so well and there were a few extra special moments: the trumpet off between Vince Mai, Brad Turner, and (out of nowhere came) John Korsrud, Dave Say on his own riser and his battle with Karen Graves, Alvaro Rojas - the only person in the room to recognize Natural Science by Rush, and Russ Klyne and Kia Kadiri - playing and rapping faster than any human beings alive (they're truly a match made in shred heaven). Pictures of the anniversary can be found at clubzone.com on the home page for Vancouver clubs.
I'm gonna continue putting all these tunes into the laptop here and hopefully get closer to crossing that off the list. Friday nights are so much fun...
Let's call this the hodge-podge blog, like the potpourri category on Jeopardy (one day, one day....see below). First off, it's hockey season again, which of course, kicks ass. It kicks even more ass when your team is the Calgary Flames. There are no more excuses for the Flames. I'm sick of people saying that the Flames are a defensive team or they're nothing without Kippersoff or they have no goal scorers; well, have a look at your 2006/07 Calgary Flames ladies and gentlemen. On paper, they're ready for the Cup run.
Noam Chomsky once said:
"Sports is another crucial example of the indoctrination system . . . It offers people something to pay attention to that is of no importance . . . It keeps them from worrying about things that matter to their lives that they might have an idea of something about . . . People have the most exotic information and understanding about all sorts of arcane issues . . . It's a way of building up irrational attitudes of submission to authority, and group cohesion behind leadership elements, in fact its training in irrational jingoism . . . That's why energy is devoted to supporting them . . . and advertisers are willing to pay for them."
True. But Noam ain't Canadian. Hahaha.
First period's over...Canucks still leading 2 - 1....
In other sporting news. I'm injured. With 9 days till the marathon. Awesome. See the running blog for more details; I realize I've been neglecting it lately but I'll try to chronicle my journey over the next 9 days.
AND in other other sporting news, I bought some skates today with plans to play some drop in hockey at my local rink on Monday mornings. I played from age 5 in Calgary (you could be fined as a parent in Calgary if your son under 16 DIDN'T play hockey!!!) till high school. My brothers were both superstars in hockey and still light it up to this day in their leagues, but I was always more interested in music. I was pretty good and even grabbed a few best defenseman awards growing up, but after I broke my leg in grade 8, I couldn't seem to get back into the swing of things and music eventually took over as I got involved in the jazz band.
I have recently been feeling the bug to play again; probably the result of getting serious about running, working out, and health. My body is now capable of things I've always dreamed of. In fact, I'm an athlete. That felt weird. I've always been mildly athletic, but at 200 plus pounds and smoking a pack and a half a day, there is only so much the body is capable of. The active part of me is now rearing it's head. It really is an addiction and like most addictions, the body requires it's fix and will get it any way it knows. I also think that I've involved myself so much in individual sports (snowboarding, golf, running) that it would be nice to get involved in a team sport and get out in my community.
Second period...still 2 -1 Canucks...
Scratch that, 2 - 2 thanks to Andrei Zuyzin...
Playing hockey (along with being a contestant on Jeopardy) is "on the list". A lot of people talk about "a list" which I assume is a figure of speech of things that they want to do. About a year ago, I actually created a list. It has stupid and totally banal things that I've never done and it also has very serious life altering changes or goals that I want to achieve. My ex, Lauren encouraged me to do this and I didn't screw around with this list. I took it very seriously in the last year. It has really CHANGED MY LIFE. Here it is:
1
Have a lesson with Kurt Rosenwinkel
2
See a Great White Shark
3
Own a house in Vancouver
4
Win a Juno
5
Teach at a College/University
(In talking to my friends currently teaching at a university, I'm starting to rethink this one)
6
Play in NYC
7
Own a muscle car
8
Get a master's degree
9
Write a book
10
Go to Scotland
11
Go to Japan
12
Go to India
13
Go to Russia
14
Go on a road trip through the southern states
15
Go to Northern Canada
(Completed Dec 2 2006)
16
Own a Gibson L-5
17
Have kids
18
Get married
19
Record my CD
(Spring 2008)
20 Ride a horse
22
Write a hit song
23
Be debt free
24
Pay off Student Loan
2009
25
Pay off Lawyers
2010
26
Pay off car
2009
27
Learn how to fix an engine
28
Learn to fly-fish
29
Own a boat
30
Learn how to play crib
31
Be a contestant on Jeopardy
32
Be someone's phone a friend
33
Own a "real" piece of art
34
Start a rock band
36
Run a Marathon
Oct 8 2006
37
Run a half marathon
Completed
38
Do the Grouse Grind
39
Got to the Stanley Theater
Completed
40
Go to a gay bar
41
Read all the books in my collection as of Oct 10 2005
42
Break 170 Llbs
Completed
43
Break 160 Llbs
Completed
44
Get Abs
Completed
45
Play hockey (on ice)
46
Join a softball team
47
Organize a Soulstream vs Famous Players softball match
48
Break 80 in Golf
49
Hole in one
50
300 yard drive
51
Snowboard the Alps
52
Make 6 figures in one year
53
Open a teaching studio
Completed
54
Find out who killed JFK
55
Do an IQ test
56
Buy a laptop
Completed
57
Make a website
Completed
58
Visit the Grand Canyon
59
See the Vienna Opera House
60
Go to the Village Vanguard
61
Ride a gondola in Venice
62
Get a Tattoo
63
Write an instructional book
In Progress
64
Go to every starbucks in Vancouver
In Progress
65
Go to a Stanley Cup finals game
66
Go to the World Series
67
Go to Wimbledon
68
Go to the Masters
69
Learn another language
70
Own a vacation home
71
Get a GST number
72
Pay off my taxes
In Progress
73
Pay back my RRSPs
In Progress
74
Get my chipped tooth fixed
75
Get a season's pass to Cypress
76
Shoot a gun
77
Go to my niece and nephew's grad
78
Change the world
In Progress
79
Get a cat
80
Reconnect with high school friends
Completed
81
Learn how to make indian food
82
learn how to make sushi
83
Finish 10 Kurt Rosenwinkel transcriptions
In Progress
84
Play the Aria from the Goldberg Variations on the piano
85
Go to Cuba
86
Include Hal Crook and Chord work into practice schedule
87
Format transcriptions into the laptop
In Progress
88
Put FP tunes into laptop
In progress
89
Put SS tunes into laptop
In Progress
90
Put misc tunes into laptop
91
Go to a personal trainer
92
Get an STD test
Completed
93
Organize Philosophy
In Progress
94
Do Degree paperwork
95
Sing lead with a band
Completed
96
Quit Smoking
Completed
97
Backpack around Europe (Scandinavia)
Completed Aug 24 2006
98
Spend a month in mainland Europe
99
Live in NYC for 3 months
100
Write a big band chart
101
Tour my band and book
Fall 2008
102 Cross off at least 10 things a year from the list
So, big things like quitting smoking, having a website, and running a marathon have been huge milestones that I had no intention of being able to do a year ago. This list has really propelled my life and had nothing but positive impacts (I suppose going to every Starbucks in Vancouver isn't that great of an achievement, but as I mentioned, some are these are for pure fun).
3rd period....still 2 - 2
The Soulstream 9th anniversary was so much fun. The strings were so awesome. The place was packed both nights and we want to thank all of you who continue to support our crazy band week after week and year after year. Everyone played so well and there were a few extra special moments: the trumpet off between Vince Mai, Brad Turner, and (out of nowhere came) John Korsrud, Dave Say on his own riser and his battle with Karen Graves, Alvaro Rojas - the only person in the room to recognize Natural Science by Rush, and Russ Klyne and Kia Kadiri - playing and rapping faster than any human beings alive (they're truly a match made in shred heaven). Pictures of the anniversary can be found at clubzone.com on the home page for Vancouver clubs.
I'm gonna continue putting all these tunes into the laptop here and hopefully get closer to crossing that off the list. Friday nights are so much fun...
posted by Hammer at 7:43 PM
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