Been quiet the last couple of days with curling stuff take up most of my spare time. Unlike previous bonspiels where my involvement normally began and ended with curling games, this one I decided I tried to be more involved in the organizing of it. Which is a bit more work than you might expect for this kind of event. There were 16 teams playing, and we tried to make sure that each team got at least three games.
It went pretty well. Only a couple of hiccups. A couple of games got behind schedule and we, um, had to take one person to the hospital...
She was a new player, she was running down the ice wearing sneakers and slipped. That happens, but managed to crack her head on the ice. Fortunately we had some people with emergency training on the ice playing and were able to make sure she was fine. Just a sizable goose egg on the back of her head and a couple of stitches. But it was a bit of a scare for a moment.
As for how my team did, well, not so great. Finished with a 2-2 record. This was also the first time I had curled in about a month because my team didn't make the play-offs in league play. So there was a bit of rust to knock off. Then again, in the past curling season, teams I curled on won two bonspiels, and lost in the final of another one. I won a plane ticket, 100 kg of freight, $125 in gift cards from Arctic Ventures and a handful of smaller prizes. I don't think I have much right to complain about coming up bust this weekend.
Although I did note that one player, Curtis, won his second plane ticket this year. So obviously we're going to have his legs broken before the first bonspiel of next year.
This was the last games of the season. As I type this, they're taking the ice up. Which is always kind of sad. But it wasn't a bad season. Some challenges and organization problems. But I think we've got a good group of people who said at our AGM after the games last night (nothing like keeping a captive audience and holding the AGM before saying who won the plane tickets and Ottawa Senators tickets that Canadian North donated) that they would be willing to help with the club this year. We're looking at getting some new equipment, doing more advertising for events, getting more people involved, setting up coaching clinics...
And, of course, there's the Mixed Nationals in November, which we're still recruiting volunteers for. So yeah, there's going to be a lot going on in the next year.
I know some of you who read this blog look forward to the end of curling season because you get at least a six month reprise from having to read any more posts about curling. Sorry, that's probably not going to be the case this year. I'm afraid you're going to have to deal.
Oh, and about the Women's semi-final game between Canada and Japan...I missed most of it, but people were relaying the highlights to me. And I'll say this about Jennifer Jones. She's good, there's no question about that. But there's the saying that it's better to be lucky than good. And honestly, Jones must have had a horse shoe inserted somewhere this season, because she's burning through luck faster than a SUV using gas on a freeway. Unreal.
Last Five
1. After the rain (live) - Blue Rodeo
2. Highway patrolman (live) - Bruce Springsteen*
3. Separated by motorways - The Long Blondes
4. Down in the ground where the dead men go - The Pogues
5. China in your hands - T'Pau
Showing posts with label curling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label curling. Show all posts
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
God, that was dull
I really do love curling, as is probably amply evident by the amount of time I talk about it on this blog. But honestly, when you have Brier finals like the one I just watched, I can understand why people find the sport as exciting as watching paint dry. What a dreadful game. I think it was the worst bit of curling I've watched all week. It wasn't just all the mistakes both teams were making, but they both played so conservatively. They each had so much respect for each other than neither one of them wanted to go in and mix things up.
You know when you have people yelling from the stands "Boring!" that you're in deep trouble. I had to drag Cathy's comatose body from the couch and put her to bed. I'm hoping the coma isn't permanent and that she wakes up in the morning. Otherwise, I'll be calling the CBC and the CCA tomorrow and be quite annoyed that they managed to put my wife in a coma.
On top of that, Martin won, which pretty much assures more boring curling at the World's. Cathy will be glad about that, at the very least. It means I'll likely miss most of the World's. It'll be too dull for words.
On top of that, the commentators seemed like they were half in a coma. It was the last game the CBC is going to air, and it really felt like they were punching the clock. Even when Howard gives them a gift at the 5 end break by blaming some of the picks of the rocks by one of the Alberta's players bad habit of kneeling on the ice (the warmth of the body melts the ice a bit, causing flat spots), they didn't even follow up on it when they interviewed Martin afterwards.
Boring, boring, boring....
sigh
Last Five
1. Your ex-lover is dead - Stars
2. Conquest - The White Stripes
3. Jodi Rae - Colleen Power
4. Hard bargin - Ron Sexsmith
5. Jacksonville - Sufjan Stevens
You know when you have people yelling from the stands "Boring!" that you're in deep trouble. I had to drag Cathy's comatose body from the couch and put her to bed. I'm hoping the coma isn't permanent and that she wakes up in the morning. Otherwise, I'll be calling the CBC and the CCA tomorrow and be quite annoyed that they managed to put my wife in a coma.
On top of that, Martin won, which pretty much assures more boring curling at the World's. Cathy will be glad about that, at the very least. It means I'll likely miss most of the World's. It'll be too dull for words.
On top of that, the commentators seemed like they were half in a coma. It was the last game the CBC is going to air, and it really felt like they were punching the clock. Even when Howard gives them a gift at the 5 end break by blaming some of the picks of the rocks by one of the Alberta's players bad habit of kneeling on the ice (the warmth of the body melts the ice a bit, causing flat spots), they didn't even follow up on it when they interviewed Martin afterwards.
Boring, boring, boring....
sigh
Last Five
1. Your ex-lover is dead - Stars
2. Conquest - The White Stripes
3. Jodi Rae - Colleen Power
4. Hard bargin - Ron Sexsmith
5. Jacksonville - Sufjan Stevens
Monday, March 10, 2008
The Big Curling News
So the thing I've been sitting on and teasing for several months finally got announced today. The first news story I've found on it is here, but I'm sure there will be more as the day progresses. It's already catching a lot of people by surprise.
Basically, it's this. Iqaluit, Nunavut will be hosting the 2009 Mixed Curling Championships. Now, bear with me a moment while I explain this. Because it's taking place during the 2008-09 curling season, they're being called the 2009 championships. The actual date of it, however, is in 2008. Specifically November 9-16.
That means some of the very best curlers in the world are going to be coming to town for a week or more. It's going to be a great chance for people in town to see some amazing curling. But, just as importantly, it's a fantastic chance to really boost the sport in Nunavut. A lot of the details are still to be worked out and announced, but certainly one of the main focuses is to get youth involved as much as possible.
As for whether or not Nunavut will have a team there, that's still in negotiations. Because of the way the tournament is structured, neither the NWT or Yukon play individually. They have a tournament to decide who represents The Territories. Our hope is to get a team in that play down.
These things move slowly sometimes. It's taken months to get to this point. And up until this point, Nunavut's only representation in national curling events has been the participation of our junior teams at the Arctic Winter Games and the Canada Winter Games. In my dream world (and I'm speaking for myself throughout this entire blog, by the way, and not for the CCA or the local curling committee), it would be great if we could have a team in this year's territorial play downs or next years. Follow that up with the junior teams playing at the national tournament in a couple of years, and then maybe, just maybe, sending men's and women's teams to the Brier and Scotties territorial play downs sometime shortly after that.
There's going to be a lot of work that needs to be done in the next couple of months. Cathy and I have already sat down and discussed the commitment that's going to be need. And we both agree this is such a unique opportunity that it would be silly for me to pass up a chance of getting involved.
However, if you're in town and want to volunteer or help out, drop me a line or leave a message on the blog. And if you're from away and want to know more about the place, feel free to ask away. I'll answer any questions you might have.
And sorry, folks. That means a lot more curling discussions in the coming months. You're just going to have to deal....
Last Five
1. Miami - U2
2. Happy - Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins
3. Stupid now - Bob Mould
4. The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot*
5. This is the last time - Keane
Basically, it's this. Iqaluit, Nunavut will be hosting the 2009 Mixed Curling Championships. Now, bear with me a moment while I explain this. Because it's taking place during the 2008-09 curling season, they're being called the 2009 championships. The actual date of it, however, is in 2008. Specifically November 9-16.
That means some of the very best curlers in the world are going to be coming to town for a week or more. It's going to be a great chance for people in town to see some amazing curling. But, just as importantly, it's a fantastic chance to really boost the sport in Nunavut. A lot of the details are still to be worked out and announced, but certainly one of the main focuses is to get youth involved as much as possible.
As for whether or not Nunavut will have a team there, that's still in negotiations. Because of the way the tournament is structured, neither the NWT or Yukon play individually. They have a tournament to decide who represents The Territories. Our hope is to get a team in that play down.
These things move slowly sometimes. It's taken months to get to this point. And up until this point, Nunavut's only representation in national curling events has been the participation of our junior teams at the Arctic Winter Games and the Canada Winter Games. In my dream world (and I'm speaking for myself throughout this entire blog, by the way, and not for the CCA or the local curling committee), it would be great if we could have a team in this year's territorial play downs or next years. Follow that up with the junior teams playing at the national tournament in a couple of years, and then maybe, just maybe, sending men's and women's teams to the Brier and Scotties territorial play downs sometime shortly after that.
There's going to be a lot of work that needs to be done in the next couple of months. Cathy and I have already sat down and discussed the commitment that's going to be need. And we both agree this is such a unique opportunity that it would be silly for me to pass up a chance of getting involved.
However, if you're in town and want to volunteer or help out, drop me a line or leave a message on the blog. And if you're from away and want to know more about the place, feel free to ask away. I'll answer any questions you might have.
And sorry, folks. That means a lot more curling discussions in the coming months. You're just going to have to deal....
Last Five
1. Miami - U2
2. Happy - Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins
3. Stupid now - Bob Mould
4. The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot*
5. This is the last time - Keane
Monday, February 11, 2008
Rock stars
So by a mile my favourite news story of the day is this one from The Toronto Star talking about a reality TV show in the United States on.....curling.
Yes, I know, I know. However, it's kind of a clever idea. Participants try out, the ones selected get a shot at the the U.S. qualifying tournament for the 2010 Olympics. Maybe it doesn't speak well for my chosen sport where a bunch of people will no training or skills in the sport will have a shot at making the Olympics after a few months of coaching and practice. But it's an undeniably catchy idea. Most people by the time they hit their 30s can pretty much forget the Olympic dream. But here's a show giving them the chance. An average person who could go from never playing the sport to the Olympics in a few months.
Hell, I'd like that chance. Sign me up for some of that action.
I also love the idea of a celebrity host. The fact that Bruce Springsteen might get together with a few of his buddies and throw a few rocks makes me very happy. That Bon Jovi also plays is not quite as thrilling, but still kind of amusing. I think the producers are dreaming in technicolour if they think they're getting Springsteen to host, but hey, Bon Jovi would kind of work.
You know, I'm going to be staying in New Jersey when I go to New York in April. It's a hell of a lot cheaper to stay there than in Manhattan. Maybe I should see if Bruce or Jon is up for a game.
And while on curling, this is one more for the anyone in Iqaluit. Well, if you want to travel up here for a curling bonspiel, we'd love to have you. But honestly, I don't think we can make it profitable for you even if you were to win.
Anyway, the Iqaluit Furspiel - the biggest curling bonspiel of the season in Nunavut - runs from February 21-24. The entry fee is $100 per person, but you get a fair amount for your money. First, you get a 1 in 16 shot at the grand prize, which will be a minimum of $2,000 per team. You also get access to the Racquetball club upstairs, which has a bar and restaurant. The fee also gets you a chance to enter a Skill's Competition, which is worth at least $200 for the winner. Plus there will be other prizes given away throughout the weekend, including door prizes, which require no skill whatsoever to win. We promise.
Oh, and there will be a meal at the end of the bonspiel, which is included in the fee.
So that's a pretty good bonspiel. You get at least three games, lots of fun, plenty of prizes up for grabs, access to a cool private club that your ordinarily wouldn't be able to get into and lots of food.
So if you're interested in taking part, drop me a line. We'd love to see some new players there.
Last Five
1. You come in burned - The Dandy Warhols
2. Dirty laundry - Don Henley
3. Cry - The Trews
4. Put your records on (live) - Corinne Bailey Rae*
5. Being for the benefit of Mr. Kite - The Beatles
Yes, I know, I know. However, it's kind of a clever idea. Participants try out, the ones selected get a shot at the the U.S. qualifying tournament for the 2010 Olympics. Maybe it doesn't speak well for my chosen sport where a bunch of people will no training or skills in the sport will have a shot at making the Olympics after a few months of coaching and practice. But it's an undeniably catchy idea. Most people by the time they hit their 30s can pretty much forget the Olympic dream. But here's a show giving them the chance. An average person who could go from never playing the sport to the Olympics in a few months.
Hell, I'd like that chance. Sign me up for some of that action.
I also love the idea of a celebrity host. The fact that Bruce Springsteen might get together with a few of his buddies and throw a few rocks makes me very happy. That Bon Jovi also plays is not quite as thrilling, but still kind of amusing. I think the producers are dreaming in technicolour if they think they're getting Springsteen to host, but hey, Bon Jovi would kind of work.
You know, I'm going to be staying in New Jersey when I go to New York in April. It's a hell of a lot cheaper to stay there than in Manhattan. Maybe I should see if Bruce or Jon is up for a game.
And while on curling, this is one more for the anyone in Iqaluit. Well, if you want to travel up here for a curling bonspiel, we'd love to have you. But honestly, I don't think we can make it profitable for you even if you were to win.
Anyway, the Iqaluit Furspiel - the biggest curling bonspiel of the season in Nunavut - runs from February 21-24. The entry fee is $100 per person, but you get a fair amount for your money. First, you get a 1 in 16 shot at the grand prize, which will be a minimum of $2,000 per team. You also get access to the Racquetball club upstairs, which has a bar and restaurant. The fee also gets you a chance to enter a Skill's Competition, which is worth at least $200 for the winner. Plus there will be other prizes given away throughout the weekend, including door prizes, which require no skill whatsoever to win. We promise.
Oh, and there will be a meal at the end of the bonspiel, which is included in the fee.
So that's a pretty good bonspiel. You get at least three games, lots of fun, plenty of prizes up for grabs, access to a cool private club that your ordinarily wouldn't be able to get into and lots of food.
So if you're interested in taking part, drop me a line. We'd love to see some new players there.
Last Five
1. You come in burned - The Dandy Warhols
2. Dirty laundry - Don Henley
3. Cry - The Trews
4. Put your records on (live) - Corinne Bailey Rae*
5. Being for the benefit of Mr. Kite - The Beatles
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Victory from the jaws of defeat...
Well, that was a pretty damn successful curling bonspiel. How successful was it? Well, I lost.
Trust me, couldn't be happier.
I played four games. Friday night's was a bit of a blowout, but I was on the right side of it. And my opponent just missed a couple of shots. If he makes them, things become a lot more complicated. The second game saw us down by four early, but we managed to rally back to the point where I had an open draw for three to win. Instead, I through it heavy and took only two, forcing an extra end. He had to hit and roll a little bit to get shot rock. He hit and didn't roll quite enough. We won by about an inch.
Third game was the semi-final. Again, buried early but managed to rally back and forced an extra end again. I had to make a perfect draw shot to the four foot to win. It was a touch heavy, but stopped just in time. Again, I won by an inch. The team we beat is one I consider the best in the club, I was pretty damn happy.
So clearly, having won two extra end games by an inch, the curling gods and karma were about to make me pay for it. Just after the semi-final win, one of my player said to me, "You know, we haven't lost as a team yet." This was the same team I played with for the first bonspiel of the year and won. So yeah, we were doomed. We lost 10-3. I could have called it after six ends, but really, despite being blown out, I was having fun out there. So why not stay out and play the full four ends?
Also pleased to report, no psychotic episodes during the bonspiel. Perhaps that's not something to cheer about, but seeing as how I'm trying to behave better when I curl, I'll take the small victories.
All that was left after that were the prizes. I won't get into the structure, but for losing in the final I still got to pick something from the prize table. Which turned out to be a comforter. There were door prizes, which was basically anything left on the prize table. And my name was miraculous drawn again. So this time I grabbed a cold weather extension cord.
Finally there was the draw for two plane tickets. Curtis, playing on the media team, got the first ticket. And then he drew the second ticket.
Let's just say there was an audible groan when my name was called out. This is about the biggest thing I've ever won, so I'm pretty damn excited about it. But I'm really glad now I lost the final. Because if I had won two bonspiels in a row, plus a plane ticket, well, I'm not saying there would be a mob of irate curlers with brooms waiting for me in the parking lot, but I'm glad I don't have to find out.
(Yes, have a chuckle at the notion of roving gangs of irate curlers. You can laugh right up until they come for you, my friend. Then you will learn fear.)
This is only a couple of hours old, so I haven't decided what I'm doing with the ticket yet. It's good until November 1, 2008. I figure I'll either use it to go to New York and attend the New York Comic Con (along with maybe catching The Daily Show if the writer's strike is over, a Yankees game, perhaps Spamalot) or to pay for part of our trip to Italy in July.
I think I've burned most of my good karma for the rest of the year. In retrospect, perhaps I should have bought a lottery ticket as well, but I've been told the machine is down (yes, there is only one lottery terminal is all of Iqaluit) until the end of the month. Ah well...
Trust me, couldn't be happier.
I played four games. Friday night's was a bit of a blowout, but I was on the right side of it. And my opponent just missed a couple of shots. If he makes them, things become a lot more complicated. The second game saw us down by four early, but we managed to rally back to the point where I had an open draw for three to win. Instead, I through it heavy and took only two, forcing an extra end. He had to hit and roll a little bit to get shot rock. He hit and didn't roll quite enough. We won by about an inch.
Third game was the semi-final. Again, buried early but managed to rally back and forced an extra end again. I had to make a perfect draw shot to the four foot to win. It was a touch heavy, but stopped just in time. Again, I won by an inch. The team we beat is one I consider the best in the club, I was pretty damn happy.
So clearly, having won two extra end games by an inch, the curling gods and karma were about to make me pay for it. Just after the semi-final win, one of my player said to me, "You know, we haven't lost as a team yet." This was the same team I played with for the first bonspiel of the year and won. So yeah, we were doomed. We lost 10-3. I could have called it after six ends, but really, despite being blown out, I was having fun out there. So why not stay out and play the full four ends?
Also pleased to report, no psychotic episodes during the bonspiel. Perhaps that's not something to cheer about, but seeing as how I'm trying to behave better when I curl, I'll take the small victories.
All that was left after that were the prizes. I won't get into the structure, but for losing in the final I still got to pick something from the prize table. Which turned out to be a comforter. There were door prizes, which was basically anything left on the prize table. And my name was miraculous drawn again. So this time I grabbed a cold weather extension cord.
Finally there was the draw for two plane tickets. Curtis, playing on the media team, got the first ticket. And then he drew the second ticket.
Let's just say there was an audible groan when my name was called out. This is about the biggest thing I've ever won, so I'm pretty damn excited about it. But I'm really glad now I lost the final. Because if I had won two bonspiels in a row, plus a plane ticket, well, I'm not saying there would be a mob of irate curlers with brooms waiting for me in the parking lot, but I'm glad I don't have to find out.
(Yes, have a chuckle at the notion of roving gangs of irate curlers. You can laugh right up until they come for you, my friend. Then you will learn fear.)
This is only a couple of hours old, so I haven't decided what I'm doing with the ticket yet. It's good until November 1, 2008. I figure I'll either use it to go to New York and attend the New York Comic Con (along with maybe catching The Daily Show if the writer's strike is over, a Yankees game, perhaps Spamalot) or to pay for part of our trip to Italy in July.
I think I've burned most of my good karma for the rest of the year. In retrospect, perhaps I should have bought a lottery ticket as well, but I've been told the machine is down (yes, there is only one lottery terminal is all of Iqaluit) until the end of the month. Ah well...
Sunday, November 11, 2007
The zen of curling
I found this post by Kate amusing, specifically that I am somehow a "zen master" of curling. I think those who have seen me curl in previous years would not use the word "zen" to describe me. Zen indicates calm, and I was rarely that.
And yet with the exception of the first bonspiel of the year, I've been pretty relaxed this year. As best I can figure it's come from my acceptance that I'm not going to win the league play this year.
Yes, yes, it's only November. There's no sense in giving up yet, especially since I've only played two games. And yet, barring miracles, this year is pretty much a write-off.
On my Thursday night games, I have five players on my team. Of those, only two (including me) have previous experience. However, the other guy with experience can't play until the new year because of previous commitments on Thursday evenings. That leaves me with three new players. One of them hasn't played yet because of commitments on Thursday evening. His first game is this week.
As for the other two, well, one shows some promise. He's noticeably improved over the last couple of weeks and keeps asking questions, which is good. I think if he sticks with it, he'll be a good player.
As for the last player? Well....
I admire her commitment. However, during her first game she slipped, fell and hit her head. She was all right and I made sure she got home OK. Everybody falls at some point during curling, so I wasn't too worried. However, during the first end of her next game, she was running out to sweep a rock, slipped and landed hard on her arm. She tried to go for a bit longer, but it was hurting too much. So I took her up to the hospital and waited until a doctor saw her. The next day I dropped her a line to see how she was doing, figure it was just a sprain or a bone bruise.
Nope. She fractured her wrist in two places.
Now, she's saying she's coming back after Christmas, but we will see. I should mention for those who might freak out (hi Kate) that this is the first injury involving broken bones in years at the club. It doesn't happen all that ofter. Just unlucky
Anyway, that's my team. I made it to the finals last year. I have my doubts about that this year. But oddly, I'm all right with that. I mean, I muttered a bit, but that's all I can do. If I was that serious about it, I would have put my own team together, but I didn't.
So instead I've just resolved to try and help new players. I've been coaching the new players on my team. I'm sparing on Tuesdays and trying to give tips to some of the new players. And I've been going to the club on Saturdays during the open house and I'll help anyone who asks for it. I spent about an hour helping someone yesterday.
It's nice, really. I'm more relaxed (zen, if you will) and less of an asshole. Which, admittedly, is the way I tend to behave during my more competitive moments.
So I'm going to lose more (I lost my first two games my forfeit, but that's all right, I had to make sure my player wasn't hurt), but I'm having more fun and I'm teaching people, which feels all right.
Oh, Kate also mentioned doing an Iqaluit blogger coffee get together sometime. Next Sunday works for me, if others are interested.
Last Five
1. Money for Nothing - Dire Straits*
2. Suil a gra - Anita Best and Pamela Morgan
3. Oh! The breeches full of stiches - The Chieftains
4. Fools in love - Joe Jackson
5. All along the watchtower - Bob Dylan
And yet with the exception of the first bonspiel of the year, I've been pretty relaxed this year. As best I can figure it's come from my acceptance that I'm not going to win the league play this year.
Yes, yes, it's only November. There's no sense in giving up yet, especially since I've only played two games. And yet, barring miracles, this year is pretty much a write-off.
On my Thursday night games, I have five players on my team. Of those, only two (including me) have previous experience. However, the other guy with experience can't play until the new year because of previous commitments on Thursday evenings. That leaves me with three new players. One of them hasn't played yet because of commitments on Thursday evening. His first game is this week.
As for the other two, well, one shows some promise. He's noticeably improved over the last couple of weeks and keeps asking questions, which is good. I think if he sticks with it, he'll be a good player.
As for the last player? Well....
I admire her commitment. However, during her first game she slipped, fell and hit her head. She was all right and I made sure she got home OK. Everybody falls at some point during curling, so I wasn't too worried. However, during the first end of her next game, she was running out to sweep a rock, slipped and landed hard on her arm. She tried to go for a bit longer, but it was hurting too much. So I took her up to the hospital and waited until a doctor saw her. The next day I dropped her a line to see how she was doing, figure it was just a sprain or a bone bruise.
Nope. She fractured her wrist in two places.
Now, she's saying she's coming back after Christmas, but we will see. I should mention for those who might freak out (hi Kate) that this is the first injury involving broken bones in years at the club. It doesn't happen all that ofter. Just unlucky
Anyway, that's my team. I made it to the finals last year. I have my doubts about that this year. But oddly, I'm all right with that. I mean, I muttered a bit, but that's all I can do. If I was that serious about it, I would have put my own team together, but I didn't.
So instead I've just resolved to try and help new players. I've been coaching the new players on my team. I'm sparing on Tuesdays and trying to give tips to some of the new players. And I've been going to the club on Saturdays during the open house and I'll help anyone who asks for it. I spent about an hour helping someone yesterday.
It's nice, really. I'm more relaxed (zen, if you will) and less of an asshole. Which, admittedly, is the way I tend to behave during my more competitive moments.
So I'm going to lose more (I lost my first two games my forfeit, but that's all right, I had to make sure my player wasn't hurt), but I'm having more fun and I'm teaching people, which feels all right.
Oh, Kate also mentioned doing an Iqaluit blogger coffee get together sometime. Next Sunday works for me, if others are interested.
Last Five
1. Money for Nothing - Dire Straits*
2. Suil a gra - Anita Best and Pamela Morgan
3. Oh! The breeches full of stiches - The Chieftains
4. Fools in love - Joe Jackson
5. All along the watchtower - Bob Dylan
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Not dead yet
Yes, I'm still alive.
Part of it was still not feeling 100%. Part of it was just needing a bit of a break from writing to try and recharge the batteries. Rather than feeling like writing was a chore I took a break for a few days and hoped some kind of drive would kick in that would make me antsy to get back at it. There's always a risk with that kind of thinking. That it becomes kind of relaxing not racking your brains trying to figure out how to write something.
But I'm starting to feel something stirring again. This is a relatively short post this evening, just to let people know I'm alive. But I have stuff already in mind for the next couple of days. And I'm kind of anxious to get back at the book. So that's good.
So am I still sick from last Tuesday? No, this is more the self-inflicted kind. Friday and Saturday was the start of the curling season and this was the opening bonspeiel. The first one is always the hardest. The muscles are not used to working after the summer off and they're letting me know it today. So I'm in considerable pain.
On the upside, I won the bonspiel, although considering how badly I played in the last game I have no idea how. I didn't make a shot until the fifth end. First thing I've won curling as a skip since Grade 12. So I am now the proud owner of a $75 gift certificate from Arctic Ventures.
Not quite worth the level of pain I'm in today, but hey, it does feels nice to win for a change.
Part of it was still not feeling 100%. Part of it was just needing a bit of a break from writing to try and recharge the batteries. Rather than feeling like writing was a chore I took a break for a few days and hoped some kind of drive would kick in that would make me antsy to get back at it. There's always a risk with that kind of thinking. That it becomes kind of relaxing not racking your brains trying to figure out how to write something.
But I'm starting to feel something stirring again. This is a relatively short post this evening, just to let people know I'm alive. But I have stuff already in mind for the next couple of days. And I'm kind of anxious to get back at the book. So that's good.
So am I still sick from last Tuesday? No, this is more the self-inflicted kind. Friday and Saturday was the start of the curling season and this was the opening bonspeiel. The first one is always the hardest. The muscles are not used to working after the summer off and they're letting me know it today. So I'm in considerable pain.
On the upside, I won the bonspiel, although considering how badly I played in the last game I have no idea how. I didn't make a shot until the fifth end. First thing I've won curling as a skip since Grade 12. So I am now the proud owner of a $75 gift certificate from Arctic Ventures.
Not quite worth the level of pain I'm in today, but hey, it does feels nice to win for a change.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
People are surprised by this?
I'd almost think my predictive skills were improving or something, except I failed to win $38 million on 6/49, so my time in Nunavut continues. (It's not that we don't like it here, but let's face it, if we won $38 million, we would be moving some place warmer).
For example, I was wondering the other day when channel surfing why the hell the History Channel was showing CSI: New York. As best I can figure, it's a procedural drama and has nothing really to do with history.
Then I find out that I'm not the only one wondering. The CRTC has sent a letter to the channel's parent company telling them to pull the show. The reason why CSI: NY is considered historical, according to the company? That it has a character dealing with the aftereffects of 9/11, an important historical event in New York.
I think I speak on behalf of most Canadians when I go, 'That's seriously fucking weak, guys."
But the real psychic moment I'm proud of came from watching the Brier. Yes, it's curling again. Fucking deal. I was watching the way the team was playing and noted that Jamie Korab wasn't shooting the best. It was around the low 80, high 70s in terms of percentage, if I recall. And for a lead, that's not great. An average lead has to be hitting the high 80s at that level of competition.
Lead is one of those positions where if you're doing well, no one notices or cares. If you're not, then people notice in a big hurry. And Gushue notices these things. He's turfed players before and with those numbers I wondered what was going on and if there was going to be a problem down the road.
And lo, here we are, at the end of the road. The Telegram reports that Korab is gone for "team chemistry" reasons. The Telegram has also begun to allow people to post reactions to their stories. And in typical Newfoundland fashion, since Gushue is now doing well, it's time to tear the boy down and put him back in his place.
Ego is mentioned an awful lot in the posts. People saying that fundamentally misunderstands the situation and Brad Gushue.
I don't pretend to have inside information on what happens inside the St. John's curling club, nor am I familiar on a personal level with anyone on the team or the current circumstances. But from interviews and scuttlebutt you hear, this is what I do know. Gushue is quite possibly the most driven athlete in the province. I would dare you to find me another person in any sport played in Newfoundland that has his desire to succeed.
Least we forget, back in 2001 he said his goals were to win the Olympics, win the Brier and win the World Championship. People laughed. Hell, I laughed. Newfoundlanders don't succeed at that level. It was a foolish dream.
And yet, he won the Olympics. He was on the wrong side of one bad shot call from quite possible winning the Brier. And given the level of play I've seen at the World's this week, he'd probably be on the verge of winning that as well if he was there.
I'm not sure if many of us can understand that level of drive or commitment to a sport. But it has consequences. Yes, you can become quite successful. However, it alienates people. They will become envious and will never understand you. And the ones that cheer the loudest when you succeed will also be the ones quickest to whip out the knives when they feel you're getting a bit too big for yourself.
Gushue isn't liked in Newfoundland curling circles. Despite all the nice things said last year, he hasn't been for years. That level of success and willingness to win despite high costs doesn't get you many friends. It earns you respect for your skills, but it also earns you a heck of a lot of people who don't like you very much on a personal level.
Anybody who curls with Gushue has to know the price. This is, and pardon the crude analogy, like the Beatles. Gushue and Nichols are Lennon and McCartney. As long as they're getting along and the team is competitive, they'll go through as many Ringo's and George Harrison's as they want. Sorry to be mean, but leads and seconds are disposable. And it's been made very clear by Gushue and Nichols that if the lead and second aren't doing the job, well, they'll find someone who can.
It's also worth noting that Nichols had to agree with that decision. If he said, "No, Jamie stays" that I doubt Gushue pushes the issue (for all we know, it was Nichols who suggested it). However, since Gushue is the public face of the team, he takes the good (most of the fame) with the bad (all the shitting on for being a raving egomaniac).
Yes, it's mean. Yes, that's perhaps not a very friendly thing to do to someone who helped you win an Olympic medal. And it's definitely not all that loyal. But that's sports. Meaner things happen than what Gushue did in hockey, basketball, soccer, etc every single day. He's hardly getting too big for his britches. Both he and Nichols want the same thing – they want to win ("Why do we play the game? We play to win."). And they don't just want to win a Brier and a World Championship. They want to win several. They want another gold medal. They want, when it's all said and done, to be viewed as some of the greatest curlers in history.
Sure it's ego, but Gushue has had a large one for many years. You need one to have that drive and to want to call a game and shoot skip stones. I bet you his ego is no larger today than it was before the Olympics. And if you didn't know that, then clearly you weren't paying all that much attention to Gushue in the first place.
One final thought. All the people sniping and bitching at him today will be the same ones cheering when he finally wins the Brier. The general public is a fickle bitch….
For example, I was wondering the other day when channel surfing why the hell the History Channel was showing CSI: New York. As best I can figure, it's a procedural drama and has nothing really to do with history.
Then I find out that I'm not the only one wondering. The CRTC has sent a letter to the channel's parent company telling them to pull the show. The reason why CSI: NY is considered historical, according to the company? That it has a character dealing with the aftereffects of 9/11, an important historical event in New York.
I think I speak on behalf of most Canadians when I go, 'That's seriously fucking weak, guys."
But the real psychic moment I'm proud of came from watching the Brier. Yes, it's curling again. Fucking deal. I was watching the way the team was playing and noted that Jamie Korab wasn't shooting the best. It was around the low 80, high 70s in terms of percentage, if I recall. And for a lead, that's not great. An average lead has to be hitting the high 80s at that level of competition.
Lead is one of those positions where if you're doing well, no one notices or cares. If you're not, then people notice in a big hurry. And Gushue notices these things. He's turfed players before and with those numbers I wondered what was going on and if there was going to be a problem down the road.
And lo, here we are, at the end of the road. The Telegram reports that Korab is gone for "team chemistry" reasons. The Telegram has also begun to allow people to post reactions to their stories. And in typical Newfoundland fashion, since Gushue is now doing well, it's time to tear the boy down and put him back in his place.
Ego is mentioned an awful lot in the posts. People saying that fundamentally misunderstands the situation and Brad Gushue.
I don't pretend to have inside information on what happens inside the St. John's curling club, nor am I familiar on a personal level with anyone on the team or the current circumstances. But from interviews and scuttlebutt you hear, this is what I do know. Gushue is quite possibly the most driven athlete in the province. I would dare you to find me another person in any sport played in Newfoundland that has his desire to succeed.
Least we forget, back in 2001 he said his goals were to win the Olympics, win the Brier and win the World Championship. People laughed. Hell, I laughed. Newfoundlanders don't succeed at that level. It was a foolish dream.
And yet, he won the Olympics. He was on the wrong side of one bad shot call from quite possible winning the Brier. And given the level of play I've seen at the World's this week, he'd probably be on the verge of winning that as well if he was there.
I'm not sure if many of us can understand that level of drive or commitment to a sport. But it has consequences. Yes, you can become quite successful. However, it alienates people. They will become envious and will never understand you. And the ones that cheer the loudest when you succeed will also be the ones quickest to whip out the knives when they feel you're getting a bit too big for yourself.
Gushue isn't liked in Newfoundland curling circles. Despite all the nice things said last year, he hasn't been for years. That level of success and willingness to win despite high costs doesn't get you many friends. It earns you respect for your skills, but it also earns you a heck of a lot of people who don't like you very much on a personal level.
Anybody who curls with Gushue has to know the price. This is, and pardon the crude analogy, like the Beatles. Gushue and Nichols are Lennon and McCartney. As long as they're getting along and the team is competitive, they'll go through as many Ringo's and George Harrison's as they want. Sorry to be mean, but leads and seconds are disposable. And it's been made very clear by Gushue and Nichols that if the lead and second aren't doing the job, well, they'll find someone who can.
It's also worth noting that Nichols had to agree with that decision. If he said, "No, Jamie stays" that I doubt Gushue pushes the issue (for all we know, it was Nichols who suggested it). However, since Gushue is the public face of the team, he takes the good (most of the fame) with the bad (all the shitting on for being a raving egomaniac).
Yes, it's mean. Yes, that's perhaps not a very friendly thing to do to someone who helped you win an Olympic medal. And it's definitely not all that loyal. But that's sports. Meaner things happen than what Gushue did in hockey, basketball, soccer, etc every single day. He's hardly getting too big for his britches. Both he and Nichols want the same thing – they want to win ("Why do we play the game? We play to win."). And they don't just want to win a Brier and a World Championship. They want to win several. They want another gold medal. They want, when it's all said and done, to be viewed as some of the greatest curlers in history.
Sure it's ego, but Gushue has had a large one for many years. You need one to have that drive and to want to call a game and shoot skip stones. I bet you his ego is no larger today than it was before the Olympics. And if you didn't know that, then clearly you weren't paying all that much attention to Gushue in the first place.
One final thought. All the people sniping and bitching at him today will be the same ones cheering when he finally wins the Brier. The general public is a fickle bitch….
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Extreme curling
So I spent all day yesterday taking part in the last curling bonspiel of the year. Hopefully I still have two regular season play-off games left, but regardless the ice is coming up this Saturday. Which might seem a bit early, but after yesterday's conditions, perhaps not.
For the record, I didn't win anything. Our team didn't do that well, but I played lots and was appropriately tired but in a pretty good mood when I got home last night. Nor did I win any of the four plane tickets that were up for grabs. Ah well. I will never win plane ticket up here. Some win plane tickets all the time. I am destined to not be one of these people.
No, the Extreme Curling came from the conditions inside the rink. The wall and ceiling are all metal and along each are hundreds of rivets. Ice and frost tends to collect along those rivets. Normally, it's not a problem. Most games are played in the evening or it's too cold for anything too happen.
But yesterday we played in the daytime. And while the temperature outside didn't go much higher than -15, there was some strength to the sun. Add in the extra warmth of a couple of dozen bodies curling and, well, we had an extra challenge on our hands.
Basically, the ice started to fall off the ceiling. Now, we're not talking CN Tower kind of ice with enough momentum to kill people. I only heard or saw of two people getting hit by falling ice at the rink. Which, considering the amount that was falling, borders on the miraculous.
But the ice presented other challenges. It shattered when it landed on the curling surface, meaning there was all kinds of grainy bits of ice. This occasionally made the rocks do weird things. Not to mention it got under the grip of your shoes, making it a bit slippery out there.
Then the ice was refreeze to the curling surface, adding extra bumps. I had one rock look like it was hitting speed bumps all the way down the ice. A couple of games we had to stop in-between ends, break out a scraper to take out the bumps, and then reclean the ice to remove all the debris.
Let's just say it made for an interesting day. I'm not complaining (ok, after one game I was complaining, but I got over it). But it was certainly a wild way to bring the curling season to a close.
An no, I haven't forgotten the Express. That will be up this evening.
For the record, I didn't win anything. Our team didn't do that well, but I played lots and was appropriately tired but in a pretty good mood when I got home last night. Nor did I win any of the four plane tickets that were up for grabs. Ah well. I will never win plane ticket up here. Some win plane tickets all the time. I am destined to not be one of these people.
No, the Extreme Curling came from the conditions inside the rink. The wall and ceiling are all metal and along each are hundreds of rivets. Ice and frost tends to collect along those rivets. Normally, it's not a problem. Most games are played in the evening or it's too cold for anything too happen.
But yesterday we played in the daytime. And while the temperature outside didn't go much higher than -15, there was some strength to the sun. Add in the extra warmth of a couple of dozen bodies curling and, well, we had an extra challenge on our hands.
Basically, the ice started to fall off the ceiling. Now, we're not talking CN Tower kind of ice with enough momentum to kill people. I only heard or saw of two people getting hit by falling ice at the rink. Which, considering the amount that was falling, borders on the miraculous.
But the ice presented other challenges. It shattered when it landed on the curling surface, meaning there was all kinds of grainy bits of ice. This occasionally made the rocks do weird things. Not to mention it got under the grip of your shoes, making it a bit slippery out there.
Then the ice was refreeze to the curling surface, adding extra bumps. I had one rock look like it was hitting speed bumps all the way down the ice. A couple of games we had to stop in-between ends, break out a scraper to take out the bumps, and then reclean the ice to remove all the debris.
Let's just say it made for an interesting day. I'm not complaining (ok, after one game I was complaining, but I got over it). But it was certainly a wild way to bring the curling season to a close.
An no, I haven't forgotten the Express. That will be up this evening.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Fucking seventh end
I actually have Cathy and Simon willing to testify that I was practically begging the television screen for Gushue to not try the double takeout shot he attempted in the seventh end. It was a high risk, low probability shot that, yeah, he might have won the game on if he has made it. But the odds of him making it were slim even if it didn't pick on something.
This still happens too often with Gushue. And yes, they blame it on youth. And I'm sure will say it's ego, but he still makes these insanely risky shot calls. Against common sense and better judgment. The one think I thought after the end was over was that there is no way Russ Howard, if he was skipping that team like he was during the Olympics last year, would have let Gushue call that shot. He would have rightly pointed out that he doesn't need to win the game in the seventh end and he doesn't need to take such ridiculously risky shots.
It's not just the Brier and a shot and the World's that Gushue lost tonight. It was also a place in the Olympic trials in 2009. So yeah, that was a pretty insane shot call in retrospect.
Anyway, there's also next year, I guess. If nothing else I think Gushue managed to prove that winning the Olympics last year wasn't a fluke. And hopefully he'll learn something from it.
This still happens too often with Gushue. And yes, they blame it on youth. And I'm sure will say it's ego, but he still makes these insanely risky shot calls. Against common sense and better judgment. The one think I thought after the end was over was that there is no way Russ Howard, if he was skipping that team like he was during the Olympics last year, would have let Gushue call that shot. He would have rightly pointed out that he doesn't need to win the game in the seventh end and he doesn't need to take such ridiculously risky shots.
It's not just the Brier and a shot and the World's that Gushue lost tonight. It was also a place in the Olympic trials in 2009. So yeah, that was a pretty insane shot call in retrospect.
Anyway, there's also next year, I guess. If nothing else I think Gushue managed to prove that winning the Olympics last year wasn't a fluke. And hopefully he'll learn something from it.
Friday, March 09, 2007
In the finals
Yeah, it's curling again. Deal. This will be brief.
I've watched Brad Gushue curl a few times this week. I'm not saying he's curling badly. The team is shooting pretty damn good. Having said that, there have been times I've been convinced that Gushue melted his gold medal from the Olympics, recast it as a horseshoe and had it implanted somewhere in his body.
You need some luck in this game and Gushue has had his share. For all the complaining about all the dirt and debris on the ice causing rocks to "pick" (move in a way they're not supposed to) I think the karma gods have favoured Gushue more than his opponents. He won at least one, if not two or three games when opponents' rocks did things they weren't supposed to because of debris. So that's why he's going to the final. I didn't think it would happen, but then again, I didn't think he would win the Olympics let alone the Olympic trials.
It's been an odd Brier to watch, to be honest. There's been startling small crowds. All the bitching and moaning about ice conditions. Some real animosity between teams (They try to hide it, but you certainly get the feeling that the Alberta and Manitoba teams don't like each other very much.
And then there was the unique spectacle of watching the Third from Alberta crack a broom in two over his knee after missing a few shots during a big game. You see stuff like that in hockey or baseball. First time I've ever seen that in a curling game.
It's been a weird, weird Brier.
And if Gushue wins it, I think they might just declare him dictator for life in Newfoundland. If he actually took over the Liberal leadership, the party might have a chance in the next provincial election.
I've watched Brad Gushue curl a few times this week. I'm not saying he's curling badly. The team is shooting pretty damn good. Having said that, there have been times I've been convinced that Gushue melted his gold medal from the Olympics, recast it as a horseshoe and had it implanted somewhere in his body.
You need some luck in this game and Gushue has had his share. For all the complaining about all the dirt and debris on the ice causing rocks to "pick" (move in a way they're not supposed to) I think the karma gods have favoured Gushue more than his opponents. He won at least one, if not two or three games when opponents' rocks did things they weren't supposed to because of debris. So that's why he's going to the final. I didn't think it would happen, but then again, I didn't think he would win the Olympics let alone the Olympic trials.
It's been an odd Brier to watch, to be honest. There's been startling small crowds. All the bitching and moaning about ice conditions. Some real animosity between teams (They try to hide it, but you certainly get the feeling that the Alberta and Manitoba teams don't like each other very much.
And then there was the unique spectacle of watching the Third from Alberta crack a broom in two over his knee after missing a few shots during a big game. You see stuff like that in hockey or baseball. First time I've ever seen that in a curling game.
It's been a weird, weird Brier.
And if Gushue wins it, I think they might just declare him dictator for life in Newfoundland. If he actually took over the Liberal leadership, the party might have a chance in the next provincial election.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Freefall
Ok, last curling related story for a good long while, I promise. As is evident by the lack of feedback and slight dip in traffic, no one really cares for curling stories. On the upside, this may actually amuse those of you who enjoy seeing me humiliated or in pain.
Here's the think about curling – it's played on ice. That means odds are you're going to slip and fall at some point. So far this season I'd managed to avoid that. However, I did slip and go down Friday night in a game. I didn't hit the stone nor did I hurt myself because it wasn't that bad of a fall. Everyone asked if I was all right, I laughed, dusted myself off and said I was fine and went back to playing.
Now on Sunday, we had a different matter all together.
It was the sixth end of the final game. The one for the big money. It was a close game and we were only up by one point with the other team were lying two buried behind a guard. Our skip was going to throw some big weight and hope to clear out all three opposing rocks. The shot is coming down nicely, we've been yelled at to sweep and I'm merrily sweeping my guts out to try and keep the rock on line. We're about 10 feet away from the big kaboom.
This is the moment that my watch falls out of the fleece I was wearing.
I don't normally wear my wrist watch when I know I'm going to do be doing a lot of sweeping. It hurts my wrist sometimes. So I just throw it in my jacket pocket and zip it up. However, I must have forgotten to zip up the coat the last time I checked my watch for the time. So it falls out, I don't notice and it lands right in front of me and I then proceed to step on it.
This is the point where I became airborne. Honestly, I was vertical and the next thing I know I'm several feet in the air. Everyone tells me it looked quite spectacular, one of the better falls seen in recent history at the club.
Oh, and of course, this is the game that Cathy decides to attend. She was very impressed and said it was almost graceful. Almost.
So anyway, the watch has rocketed about 50 feet away, I'm hit the ice with an impressive Thud. I'm just a touch disoriented and people are rushing up to me asking if I was ok. And my response to these questions is to ask what the fuck happened to the shot because I didn't hear the big kaboom that normally comes with rocks hitting each other at high velocity. That was kind of amusing, actually, in a Marx Brothers sort of way. Everyone kept asking if I was ok and I kept not responding because I was too busy asking what had happened to the shot and so on, and so forth.
It actually took me about a minute to get a straight answer that I had kicked it when I was going down.
This lead to several minutes of me cursing and venting because it was big shot at the time. But in retrospect it was pretty funny. Cathy has been teasing me and saying I was going to be in a lot of pain after that fall because I did go down hard. But that hasn't happened yet, perhaps because I have too many other aches and pains vying for my attention today.
Oh, and our skip did a draw on his next shot to salvage the end and take one. And obviously we won the game, so all's well.
You know, except for my pride.
Oh yes, one last thing...the watch is fine. So if you need a watch that can survive being dropped on the ice, stepped on, rocketed half way across a curling rink and then thrown in disgust at the floor, then I recommend a Guess Steel watch. Kept right on ticking. Good for pressures up to 100 metres and being used as a hockey puck at a curling rink.
Here's the think about curling – it's played on ice. That means odds are you're going to slip and fall at some point. So far this season I'd managed to avoid that. However, I did slip and go down Friday night in a game. I didn't hit the stone nor did I hurt myself because it wasn't that bad of a fall. Everyone asked if I was all right, I laughed, dusted myself off and said I was fine and went back to playing.
Now on Sunday, we had a different matter all together.
It was the sixth end of the final game. The one for the big money. It was a close game and we were only up by one point with the other team were lying two buried behind a guard. Our skip was going to throw some big weight and hope to clear out all three opposing rocks. The shot is coming down nicely, we've been yelled at to sweep and I'm merrily sweeping my guts out to try and keep the rock on line. We're about 10 feet away from the big kaboom.
This is the moment that my watch falls out of the fleece I was wearing.
I don't normally wear my wrist watch when I know I'm going to do be doing a lot of sweeping. It hurts my wrist sometimes. So I just throw it in my jacket pocket and zip it up. However, I must have forgotten to zip up the coat the last time I checked my watch for the time. So it falls out, I don't notice and it lands right in front of me and I then proceed to step on it.
This is the point where I became airborne. Honestly, I was vertical and the next thing I know I'm several feet in the air. Everyone tells me it looked quite spectacular, one of the better falls seen in recent history at the club.
Oh, and of course, this is the game that Cathy decides to attend. She was very impressed and said it was almost graceful. Almost.
So anyway, the watch has rocketed about 50 feet away, I'm hit the ice with an impressive Thud. I'm just a touch disoriented and people are rushing up to me asking if I was ok. And my response to these questions is to ask what the fuck happened to the shot because I didn't hear the big kaboom that normally comes with rocks hitting each other at high velocity. That was kind of amusing, actually, in a Marx Brothers sort of way. Everyone kept asking if I was ok and I kept not responding because I was too busy asking what had happened to the shot and so on, and so forth.
It actually took me about a minute to get a straight answer that I had kicked it when I was going down.
This lead to several minutes of me cursing and venting because it was big shot at the time. But in retrospect it was pretty funny. Cathy has been teasing me and saying I was going to be in a lot of pain after that fall because I did go down hard. But that hasn't happened yet, perhaps because I have too many other aches and pains vying for my attention today.
Oh, and our skip did a draw on his next shot to salvage the end and take one. And obviously we won the game, so all's well.
You know, except for my pride.
Oh yes, one last thing...the watch is fine. So if you need a watch that can survive being dropped on the ice, stepped on, rocketed half way across a curling rink and then thrown in disgust at the floor, then I recommend a Guess Steel watch. Kept right on ticking. Good for pressures up to 100 metres and being used as a hockey puck at a curling rink.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Curling over and done
Ow.
ow ow ow ow ow ow ow
Ow.
Well, that's the hardest $500 I've made in recent history.
Yeah, we won the bonspiel. The semi-final was a harrowing game that went back and forth. We got lucky when the opposing skip missed a take-out on his last shot of the game, leaving us with a draw for two for the win. Considering we played kinda crap for the first half of the game, we were more than happy to get the win.
The final was close, but we had a bit of luck in the eighth end, took three and that made it difficult for the other team to catch us.
And that was that - $2,000 split four ways. My muscles hurt and my knee is still bothering me even though I actually wore a brace on it today. But hell, all things considered, that was a lot of fun.
Now I'm trying to decide what to spend the money on. I told Cathy is she wants to get something she is welcome to partake of the winnings, seeing as how she was a widow for the weekend. However she is suggesting unfun things like putting the money towards the transmission.
We'll see. I'm leaning towards a couple of pretty book at Chapters right now, personally.
ow ow ow ow ow ow ow
Ow.
Well, that's the hardest $500 I've made in recent history.
Yeah, we won the bonspiel. The semi-final was a harrowing game that went back and forth. We got lucky when the opposing skip missed a take-out on his last shot of the game, leaving us with a draw for two for the win. Considering we played kinda crap for the first half of the game, we were more than happy to get the win.
The final was close, but we had a bit of luck in the eighth end, took three and that made it difficult for the other team to catch us.
And that was that - $2,000 split four ways. My muscles hurt and my knee is still bothering me even though I actually wore a brace on it today. But hell, all things considered, that was a lot of fun.
Now I'm trying to decide what to spend the money on. I told Cathy is she wants to get something she is welcome to partake of the winnings, seeing as how she was a widow for the weekend. However she is suggesting unfun things like putting the money towards the transmission.
We'll see. I'm leaning towards a couple of pretty book at Chapters right now, personally.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Curling, day 2
A mostly good day on the curling front. We won our two games by convincing scores of 7-1 and 11-1. The way the bonspiel is broken down is that six teams make the playoffs, with the top two getting a bye into semi-final. As it turns out three teams finished 3-0. The next tie breaker was the number of points allowed (as opposed to points scored which prevents people from running up the score). One team allowed only seven points, our team tied with the other in allowing 10 points. Which meant another tie-breaker.
Neither team wanted to play another game to decide a tie-breaker so it was decided to do skip stones. Each skip gets a chance to throw a rock. Closest to the button wins. Our skip managed to to win the draw by a few inches, so we're off until tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.
That means barring losing both games tomorrow, we'll win some money. So that'll be nice.
So what are the downsides? Well, call me paranoid but I don't think too many other teams are cheering for us. Yes, each team wants to win, but you still cheer on other teams and hope they do well. I get the feeling that more than a few people would be happy if we lose tomorrow. But maybe it's just me.
The other problem is that I am hurting right now. It feels a bit like I've been hit by a sledgehammer. Aside from the muscle aches, I"m feeling just worn out. Plus I hurt something in my knee, so I've been icing and heating it throughout the evening. I've also got a knee brace that I'm going to wear tomorrow to help out.
I was supposed to go out this evening because they have a band at the curling club. However, with a game at 9 a.m. and with me feeling like crap right now, I've decided to stay home and take it easy this evening.
Man, I'm the youngest guy on the team. I shouldn't feel quite this bad after this much curling. And yet...
Neither team wanted to play another game to decide a tie-breaker so it was decided to do skip stones. Each skip gets a chance to throw a rock. Closest to the button wins. Our skip managed to to win the draw by a few inches, so we're off until tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.
That means barring losing both games tomorrow, we'll win some money. So that'll be nice.
So what are the downsides? Well, call me paranoid but I don't think too many other teams are cheering for us. Yes, each team wants to win, but you still cheer on other teams and hope they do well. I get the feeling that more than a few people would be happy if we lose tomorrow. But maybe it's just me.
The other problem is that I am hurting right now. It feels a bit like I've been hit by a sledgehammer. Aside from the muscle aches, I"m feeling just worn out. Plus I hurt something in my knee, so I've been icing and heating it throughout the evening. I've also got a knee brace that I'm going to wear tomorrow to help out.
I was supposed to go out this evening because they have a band at the curling club. However, with a game at 9 a.m. and with me feeling like crap right now, I've decided to stay home and take it easy this evening.
Man, I'm the youngest guy on the team. I shouldn't feel quite this bad after this much curling. And yet...
Friday, February 16, 2007
Curling widow
So this is a big weekend to me and, in a very geeky way, I've been looking forward to it all week. That being I'm playing in the Furspiel.
Yes, I know, but I didn't name it. Plus, it has some history, although no actual furs will be awarded this weekend, but have been in previous years.
I'm shooting second stones on a curling team that has to be considered one of the favourites so I'm hoping for a fun, and potentially profitable, weekend. First prize is $2,000 for the team, second is $1,300, third place is $800. Peanuts for some of the other bonspiels played in Canada, but pretty serious stuff up here. Plus it's $100 per person to enter (other bonspiels are about $25 per person to enter) so it's mostly the serious and good curlers out in force this weekend.
I just finished playing tonight (we won 12-8, but we were lucky), and we're back at it tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. and again at 12:30 p.m. After that it depends on how we do. The final is Sunday afternoon. There's also a skills competition that I stand virtually no chance at, but ought to be amusing. Finally, there are door prizes of plane tickets to Ottawa and other goodies.
However, this is going to be more "serious" curling. Most of my normal weekly games are six ends. A serious game can go eight ends. This weekend the games are 10 ends and no team can quit, no matter how badly they're being blown out, until the end of six. Also, while my normal weekly games aren't exactly cheating affairs, you do tend to let people get away with some things they shouldn't. Players have specific places they're supposed to be standing when the opposing team is shooting so you don't distract them. Some players cheat a bit on how the sweep a stone. For example they will sweep off to the side hoping it will curl more in that direction rather than across the full face of the stone. Small things, really, but they can make a difference in a game. Lord knows I'm probably guilty of the odd infraction during the run of a game.
But the biggest racket is going to be over hogline violations.
For the non-curlers out there, this is basically the rule. When you're sliding out with the rock you have to release the rock before the front of it touches the blue line (hog line) about 30 feet or so away from your starting point. If your hand is still on the rock once it reaches that line, then it is considered "hogged" and removed from play. A single stone, removed at a critical moment in a game, can be a big deal so people take it seriously.
Let's just say there are a few people in this bonspiel that have been known to cross the hog line with their hand still on the rock. I remember during a bonspiel last year the opposing skip was hogging rocks badly. I didn't want to be a poor loser (he was beating me) so I let it slide, but after the game I told him that he was hogging stones and that he might want to be careful about that in future games.
He ripped my head off. He had been curling for x number of years, and no one have ever accused him of doing this because he didn't do it. I honestly thought he was going to punch me for a moment. To an extent I understand. I basically accused him of cheating, which is a serious accusation in a "gentlemen" sport like curling. Still, he did overreact just a bit.
However, with a decent amount of money at stake in this one and organizers saying we're playing by strict rules, people are going to call these violations if they happen so it ought to be interesting to see how people react. Hopefully bloodshed will be kept to a minimum.
The other thing about this weekend is that Cathy is going to join an illustrious group known as "curling widows". Basically I'm going to be tied up with this all weekend. She can come down and watch and can get access to the private club upstairs, but I don't think she's going to show up that much. She likes curling, but I'm not sure she likes it enough to spend hours in a curling club watching me play.
Besides, she has her porn this weekend.
Yeah, that requires some explanation.
I'm not talking about real porn here, the kind you might find on satellite or late night on Showcase. Nor am I talking about all the Laurell K. Hamilton books she has. Rather, I'm referring to the six hours of coverage on the Outdoor Life Network of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Yes, six hours of dogs parading around on TV. She will be in her glory, glued to the TV set, probably cuddled up with Boo telling him that one day that could be him prancing around in front of the cameras.
Although I don't think Coton de Tulears compete in the show. Small matter as Cathy prefers watching the working class breeds anyway. So I'll be curling, she'll be watching dogs and all will be right in the world. We'll meet up sometime Sunday evening and compare notes on how our weekend went.
Yes, I know, but I didn't name it. Plus, it has some history, although no actual furs will be awarded this weekend, but have been in previous years.
I'm shooting second stones on a curling team that has to be considered one of the favourites so I'm hoping for a fun, and potentially profitable, weekend. First prize is $2,000 for the team, second is $1,300, third place is $800. Peanuts for some of the other bonspiels played in Canada, but pretty serious stuff up here. Plus it's $100 per person to enter (other bonspiels are about $25 per person to enter) so it's mostly the serious and good curlers out in force this weekend.
I just finished playing tonight (we won 12-8, but we were lucky), and we're back at it tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. and again at 12:30 p.m. After that it depends on how we do. The final is Sunday afternoon. There's also a skills competition that I stand virtually no chance at, but ought to be amusing. Finally, there are door prizes of plane tickets to Ottawa and other goodies.
However, this is going to be more "serious" curling. Most of my normal weekly games are six ends. A serious game can go eight ends. This weekend the games are 10 ends and no team can quit, no matter how badly they're being blown out, until the end of six. Also, while my normal weekly games aren't exactly cheating affairs, you do tend to let people get away with some things they shouldn't. Players have specific places they're supposed to be standing when the opposing team is shooting so you don't distract them. Some players cheat a bit on how the sweep a stone. For example they will sweep off to the side hoping it will curl more in that direction rather than across the full face of the stone. Small things, really, but they can make a difference in a game. Lord knows I'm probably guilty of the odd infraction during the run of a game.
But the biggest racket is going to be over hogline violations.
For the non-curlers out there, this is basically the rule. When you're sliding out with the rock you have to release the rock before the front of it touches the blue line (hog line) about 30 feet or so away from your starting point. If your hand is still on the rock once it reaches that line, then it is considered "hogged" and removed from play. A single stone, removed at a critical moment in a game, can be a big deal so people take it seriously.
Let's just say there are a few people in this bonspiel that have been known to cross the hog line with their hand still on the rock. I remember during a bonspiel last year the opposing skip was hogging rocks badly. I didn't want to be a poor loser (he was beating me) so I let it slide, but after the game I told him that he was hogging stones and that he might want to be careful about that in future games.
He ripped my head off. He had been curling for x number of years, and no one have ever accused him of doing this because he didn't do it. I honestly thought he was going to punch me for a moment. To an extent I understand. I basically accused him of cheating, which is a serious accusation in a "gentlemen" sport like curling. Still, he did overreact just a bit.
However, with a decent amount of money at stake in this one and organizers saying we're playing by strict rules, people are going to call these violations if they happen so it ought to be interesting to see how people react. Hopefully bloodshed will be kept to a minimum.
The other thing about this weekend is that Cathy is going to join an illustrious group known as "curling widows". Basically I'm going to be tied up with this all weekend. She can come down and watch and can get access to the private club upstairs, but I don't think she's going to show up that much. She likes curling, but I'm not sure she likes it enough to spend hours in a curling club watching me play.
Besides, she has her porn this weekend.
Yeah, that requires some explanation.
I'm not talking about real porn here, the kind you might find on satellite or late night on Showcase. Nor am I talking about all the Laurell K. Hamilton books she has. Rather, I'm referring to the six hours of coverage on the Outdoor Life Network of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Yes, six hours of dogs parading around on TV. She will be in her glory, glued to the TV set, probably cuddled up with Boo telling him that one day that could be him prancing around in front of the cameras.
Although I don't think Coton de Tulears compete in the show. Small matter as Cathy prefers watching the working class breeds anyway. So I'll be curling, she'll be watching dogs and all will be right in the world. We'll meet up sometime Sunday evening and compare notes on how our weekend went.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Curling congrats
Well, it's not every day that a Newfoundland team wins a national championship and gets to represent Canada at an international tournament. So a big congratulations to the Stacie Devereaux rink for winning the Junior Women's Curling Championship, 7-6 over Manitoba. And in fine dramatic fashion by taking three in the final end. They now go to Minnesota for the World's. Which is too bad, in a way. You figure if you're going to an international curling final, you'd get to go to Scotland or Sweden. But they get Minnesota. As I recall when Brad Gushue got to the World's he got to go to Utah.
So really, I imagine they're thrilled at winning, but it's too bad they're not getting a better trip out of it.
It's interesting watching this level of curling. When you watch the men and women curl at national events a game can swing on a few inches. There are few total misses, yet you see it a lot more at this level. You certainly saw it in the 10th end when the Manitoba team made a couple of critical errors, including something I've never seen at that level of play - a rock hitting the boards before hitting its target. It certainly make for interesting curling. And a kind of game I can relate to, where you can call the shot, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's going to get made, no matter how straightforward it appears.
I actually do feel bad for the Manitoba skip. It was her second straight loss at the National final. That's the kind of thing that haunts you for a good long time. I hope she gets over it eventually.
The one thing that is kind of disappointing is that there was no team from Nunavut at the Nationals. There actually is a Junior Men and Junior Women's team in the territory and they'll be competing at the Canada Winter Games in a few weeks. Curling is still pretty basic in Nunavut. Once you get outside of Iqaluit there isn't much happening. And I realize that even if the juniors had played at the Nationals odds are they would have been smoked by everybody. Still, I think they would have had fun and certainly would have learned a lot. It's something to aim for in the future. It would be nice for the territory to at least have the option of make it to the Nationals as even part of a wider Territory team (the Brier and Scott feature one team representing The Yukon/NWT).
And no, this isn't some ploy so that I might some day get to the Brier. That will likely never happen. Hell, as good as it will get for me will likely be next weekend. I'm playing on one of the better teams at the club as a Second in the Furspiel (don't look at me, I didn't come up with the name.) First place is $2000. Plus there is a draw on some tickets on flights to Ottawa. Who needs national championships where there are airplane tickets up for grabs?
So really, I imagine they're thrilled at winning, but it's too bad they're not getting a better trip out of it.
It's interesting watching this level of curling. When you watch the men and women curl at national events a game can swing on a few inches. There are few total misses, yet you see it a lot more at this level. You certainly saw it in the 10th end when the Manitoba team made a couple of critical errors, including something I've never seen at that level of play - a rock hitting the boards before hitting its target. It certainly make for interesting curling. And a kind of game I can relate to, where you can call the shot, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's going to get made, no matter how straightforward it appears.
I actually do feel bad for the Manitoba skip. It was her second straight loss at the National final. That's the kind of thing that haunts you for a good long time. I hope she gets over it eventually.
The one thing that is kind of disappointing is that there was no team from Nunavut at the Nationals. There actually is a Junior Men and Junior Women's team in the territory and they'll be competing at the Canada Winter Games in a few weeks. Curling is still pretty basic in Nunavut. Once you get outside of Iqaluit there isn't much happening. And I realize that even if the juniors had played at the Nationals odds are they would have been smoked by everybody. Still, I think they would have had fun and certainly would have learned a lot. It's something to aim for in the future. It would be nice for the territory to at least have the option of make it to the Nationals as even part of a wider Territory team (the Brier and Scott feature one team representing The Yukon/NWT).
And no, this isn't some ploy so that I might some day get to the Brier. That will likely never happen. Hell, as good as it will get for me will likely be next weekend. I'm playing on one of the better teams at the club as a Second in the Furspiel (don't look at me, I didn't come up with the name.) First place is $2000. Plus there is a draw on some tickets on flights to Ottawa. Who needs national championships where there are airplane tickets up for grabs?
Friday, November 10, 2006
Just smashing
I spent about 15 minutes yesterday morning chatting with a Newfoundland reporter. He was working on a story and wondered if I could help out. Turns out I couldn’t, not really. He didn’t need to interview me, just wondering if I had spotted someone in town, which I hadn’t. It's harder than you might think. I estimate there could be anywhere from 1,000 to 1,500 Newfoundlanders living in Iqaluit. Also, hearing the accent when I’m around town is not a shock.
However, it was good to chat with a local reporter. I probably talk his ear off when he was just looking for some information. Apparently, while I’m not longer a journalist, I miss the journalist circle and like getting dirt. Hopefully I’ll find the time to get together with a few of them over Christmas. There were plans for some ex-Express folk to get together and commiserate over our beloved paper. I’ll have to see if that’s still happening.
Then again, there was also talk of a bunch of Newfoundland bloggers getting together between Christmas and New Year's. I hope that still happens, although my life is starting to get crazy over the holidays. I have a meeting with a financial advisor, a dentist appointment, Christmas shopping, trying to see a few friends, plus go around the bay and see some of my family...
I might need a few days off after New Year's to recover from all of this. Oh yeah, and I don’t know what we’re doing for that evening. In previous years, we’ve gone to Anne’s for her Big Scottish New Year's, which is a hell of a lot of fun. But I don’t know if that’s going on again this year. We might actually have to go downtown. Or, God help us, spend the evening with Dups and whatever madness he gets himself involved in.
One other thing...I knew that people in Transcontinental were reading my blog...I can tell where the traffic is coming form, sort of. So I knew it was Transcon, but it could have been The Telegram, Express, Beacon or a dozen other Newfoundland papers. And hey, it’s nice to be read.
But I’m learning, after speaking to the reporter yesterday, that my little dude to the right also has his fans. There is something about his head smashing glory that appeals to writers, and especially journalists. Find me a journalist who hasn’t wanted to do that at some point, especially at deadline, and I’ll show you a lying son of a bitch.
I wish I knew who created him so I could give the proper credit. I spotted him on a couple of sites and fell deeply in love with his bloody antics. I actually thought about pulling him from the site at one point, figuring that people might be tired of seeing him or that it might slow down the speed at which the blog loads.
But no, he has his fans. Devoted fans. I suspect some people might come here first thing in the morning just so they can see him beating himself to a pulp. Just to get the day going. He is loved by men and women, young and old. So I’ll keep him up, smashing away. The poor bastard, mascot for the Townie Bastard.
Curling update (feel free to skip if you’re bored of me talking about it)
Apparently I’ve remembered how to curl, which is reassuring. We won 12-5 Wednesday night, although Cathy couldn’t play the game because she hurt her leg last weekend (slipped on some ice while walking Boo). It was actually a pretty tight game, 4-4 going into the fifth end, but I got a lucky break. We were lying five, but the opposing skip had a pretty open draw to take one.
It was coming in perfect, when it picked on some debris and slid into a guard. So I ended up stealing five. Fluky. After that, there was little chance she was going to recover. We played a couple of more ends, but when I had an open draw for four in the seventh with last rock, she conceded.
I’m just happy I played well. I missed a few shots, including letting them steal two in the first end when a take-out went wide. But I made most of them. And the ice is apparently getting straightened out, which also helps. We’re 2-1 now, which isn’t bad. At least I'm not longer going around the apartment muttering "Fuck, I suck." I think Cathy was getting a touch tired of it.
However, it was good to chat with a local reporter. I probably talk his ear off when he was just looking for some information. Apparently, while I’m not longer a journalist, I miss the journalist circle and like getting dirt. Hopefully I’ll find the time to get together with a few of them over Christmas. There were plans for some ex-Express folk to get together and commiserate over our beloved paper. I’ll have to see if that’s still happening.
Then again, there was also talk of a bunch of Newfoundland bloggers getting together between Christmas and New Year's. I hope that still happens, although my life is starting to get crazy over the holidays. I have a meeting with a financial advisor, a dentist appointment, Christmas shopping, trying to see a few friends, plus go around the bay and see some of my family...
I might need a few days off after New Year's to recover from all of this. Oh yeah, and I don’t know what we’re doing for that evening. In previous years, we’ve gone to Anne’s for her Big Scottish New Year's, which is a hell of a lot of fun. But I don’t know if that’s going on again this year. We might actually have to go downtown. Or, God help us, spend the evening with Dups and whatever madness he gets himself involved in.
One other thing...I knew that people in Transcontinental were reading my blog...I can tell where the traffic is coming form, sort of. So I knew it was Transcon, but it could have been The Telegram, Express, Beacon or a dozen other Newfoundland papers. And hey, it’s nice to be read.
But I’m learning, after speaking to the reporter yesterday, that my little dude to the right also has his fans. There is something about his head smashing glory that appeals to writers, and especially journalists. Find me a journalist who hasn’t wanted to do that at some point, especially at deadline, and I’ll show you a lying son of a bitch.
I wish I knew who created him so I could give the proper credit. I spotted him on a couple of sites and fell deeply in love with his bloody antics. I actually thought about pulling him from the site at one point, figuring that people might be tired of seeing him or that it might slow down the speed at which the blog loads.
But no, he has his fans. Devoted fans. I suspect some people might come here first thing in the morning just so they can see him beating himself to a pulp. Just to get the day going. He is loved by men and women, young and old. So I’ll keep him up, smashing away. The poor bastard, mascot for the Townie Bastard.
Curling update (feel free to skip if you’re bored of me talking about it)
Apparently I’ve remembered how to curl, which is reassuring. We won 12-5 Wednesday night, although Cathy couldn’t play the game because she hurt her leg last weekend (slipped on some ice while walking Boo). It was actually a pretty tight game, 4-4 going into the fifth end, but I got a lucky break. We were lying five, but the opposing skip had a pretty open draw to take one.
It was coming in perfect, when it picked on some debris and slid into a guard. So I ended up stealing five. Fluky. After that, there was little chance she was going to recover. We played a couple of more ends, but when I had an open draw for four in the seventh with last rock, she conceded.
I’m just happy I played well. I missed a few shots, including letting them steal two in the first end when a take-out went wide. But I made most of them. And the ice is apparently getting straightened out, which also helps. We’re 2-1 now, which isn’t bad. At least I'm not longer going around the apartment muttering "Fuck, I suck." I think Cathy was getting a touch tired of it.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Ow...
I'm sitting in a comfy chair in the bedroom with my feet up as I write this, watching the sun set in a nice blaze of orange over snow covered arctic hills. It's quite a nice view, I must say. One of the times I'm glad we moved from the 6-story, so we could get views like this.
Of course, it would be nicer if there wasn't at least 15 telephone and power wires obscuring the view. One of the reasons why there's no photo. The lines do take away something from it. Oh, and the tide is out, so there isn't a nice ocean between me and the hills, but rather muddy flats. Plus, it's a little after 3 p.m. and the sun is going down. Best not to dwell on that.
sigh I really do know how to suck the enjoyment out of a nice scene without even trying. It's a gift.
Cathy's out right now walking Boo in the remaining daylight. We find it's easier to deal with him in the evenings if he's had a walk first to take some of the good out of him. I'm not out with them as I am arthritic cripple today. You wouldn't think curling could take that much of the good out of you, but if it's been awhile, the muscles you normally use can usually express their displeasure.
Curling also didn't end the way I had hoped. You know, you figure with a 6-2 lead and only two ends left to play you could win a game like that. Nope. Lost 8-6. Just a touch frustrating. But on the upside I think I finally learned to curl again this weekend. I also didn't win one of the two plane tickets that were up for grabs. But it was still a bit of fun, even though my muscles are disagreeing with me right now.
And now I should wrap this up and try and finish my word count for today. I'm happy with the way I'm doing. I'm doing a bit better than my word count each day, sort of a cushion should I miss a day or something. I have no idea if anyone is reading or not, but I'm relatively happy with the way it is going. I have it plotted out for the next couple of points. Still completely certain about the climax, but I have a couple of weeks to get that figured out.
More importantly, it actually feels like I can make it. Cocky thinking for a guy on Day 5, but it feels like I'm into a routine. I was tired last night, but I stayed up to make sure I got at least 2,000 words in before going to bed.
It doesn't mean I think it's going to get published or anything. It would be a miracle if that happened. But with a little luck I can give my friend Anne a very late Christmas gift...the book I promised her five years ago.
Of course, it would be nicer if there wasn't at least 15 telephone and power wires obscuring the view. One of the reasons why there's no photo. The lines do take away something from it. Oh, and the tide is out, so there isn't a nice ocean between me and the hills, but rather muddy flats. Plus, it's a little after 3 p.m. and the sun is going down. Best not to dwell on that.
sigh I really do know how to suck the enjoyment out of a nice scene without even trying. It's a gift.
Cathy's out right now walking Boo in the remaining daylight. We find it's easier to deal with him in the evenings if he's had a walk first to take some of the good out of him. I'm not out with them as I am arthritic cripple today. You wouldn't think curling could take that much of the good out of you, but if it's been awhile, the muscles you normally use can usually express their displeasure.
Curling also didn't end the way I had hoped. You know, you figure with a 6-2 lead and only two ends left to play you could win a game like that. Nope. Lost 8-6. Just a touch frustrating. But on the upside I think I finally learned to curl again this weekend. I also didn't win one of the two plane tickets that were up for grabs. But it was still a bit of fun, even though my muscles are disagreeing with me right now.
And now I should wrap this up and try and finish my word count for today. I'm happy with the way I'm doing. I'm doing a bit better than my word count each day, sort of a cushion should I miss a day or something. I have no idea if anyone is reading or not, but I'm relatively happy with the way it is going. I have it plotted out for the next couple of points. Still completely certain about the climax, but I have a couple of weeks to get that figured out.
More importantly, it actually feels like I can make it. Cocky thinking for a guy on Day 5, but it feels like I'm into a routine. I was tired last night, but I stayed up to make sure I got at least 2,000 words in before going to bed.
It doesn't mean I think it's going to get published or anything. It would be a miracle if that happened. But with a little luck I can give my friend Anne a very late Christmas gift...the book I promised her five years ago.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Slow start
I'm having a pretty decent day, but one where my brain clearly wasn't expecting to be up early and is thus is paying me back by not thinking straight so far.
I'm in a curling bonspiel this weekend. I didn't have a team so just signed up as an extra. And I landed on not a bad team. We lost last night, but against one of the better teams in the tournament. That dropped us to B pool, which meant we had to play at 9 a.m. this morning. I don't like being up at 8 a.m. on a Saturday to get ready to play a game. Still, I managed, didn't suck too bad in my shot making despite the ungodly hour. And we won. If we win again at 3 p.m. (which means I have to go shortly), then we're in the B final this evening.
The tournaments are a bit of fun and there are normally some half decent prizes. There are a pair of tickets to Ottawa from First Air up for grabs this evening, so that makes it a worthwhile day and a half of playing for me.
Anyway, after the game this morning, I ran up to the high school where the annual Christmas craft show was happening. Myself and Cathy weren't that impressed last year, disappointed that it was more garage sale/flea market than real crafts. Well, this year we either had our expectations lowered or it was just better. There was some nice stuff there and we picked up a couple of things.
However, I was later getting there which meant I had to line up. And this is where the not bright part of the day comes in. It's been a pretty mild fall so far in Iqaluit, but with windchill today it's about -20. So after the game, still sweating, I walked to the school without gloves or a hat. And then had to line-up for 15 minutes in the cold.
So yeah, I suspect I'll have the pneumonia by Monday morning. As I said, not bright.
But we did buy this, which I'm rather fond of...
So not a bad day so far. Now we just have to go and win two more games...
I'm in a curling bonspiel this weekend. I didn't have a team so just signed up as an extra. And I landed on not a bad team. We lost last night, but against one of the better teams in the tournament. That dropped us to B pool, which meant we had to play at 9 a.m. this morning. I don't like being up at 8 a.m. on a Saturday to get ready to play a game. Still, I managed, didn't suck too bad in my shot making despite the ungodly hour. And we won. If we win again at 3 p.m. (which means I have to go shortly), then we're in the B final this evening.
The tournaments are a bit of fun and there are normally some half decent prizes. There are a pair of tickets to Ottawa from First Air up for grabs this evening, so that makes it a worthwhile day and a half of playing for me.
Anyway, after the game this morning, I ran up to the high school where the annual Christmas craft show was happening. Myself and Cathy weren't that impressed last year, disappointed that it was more garage sale/flea market than real crafts. Well, this year we either had our expectations lowered or it was just better. There was some nice stuff there and we picked up a couple of things.
However, I was later getting there which meant I had to line up. And this is where the not bright part of the day comes in. It's been a pretty mild fall so far in Iqaluit, but with windchill today it's about -20. So after the game, still sweating, I walked to the school without gloves or a hat. And then had to line-up for 15 minutes in the cold.
So yeah, I suspect I'll have the pneumonia by Monday morning. As I said, not bright.
But we did buy this, which I'm rather fond of...
So not a bad day so far. Now we just have to go and win two more games...
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Curling and other punishments
I'm curling two nights a week right now. Tuesday nights is a men's league and Wednesday night is mixed. I'm using Tuesdays as exercise more than anything else. I'm only shooting lead or second stones, which means I'm doing plenty of running up and down the ice. Wednesday night is when I Skip the team, which means less running around, but tends to spike my blood pressure more.
I like being a Skip, but it does mean I have to behave when I make mistakes. Which is hard because I make mistakes so frequently.
Anyway, I've been doing well so far. The first three games I've been on the winning team. And the scores have been blowouts – 10-1, 11-1 and 14-1. Two of those games I was shooting lead stones. One I was skip. However, it's early in the season, there's a lot of new players and the string of blow-outs won't last forever.
It's also worth mentioning that it hasn't been my skills winning these games. I have, in fact, being playing terrible. What I need is about an hour on the ice just shooting rocks, but I haven't managed to get that so far. Anyway, I knew I was past due for a pounding, and I got it last night. The team I skipped was whipped 11-3.
It was also Cathy's first game curling. I literally had 10 minutes before the game to show her how to sit in the hack, how to push out of the hack and how to stay upright on the ice. Remarkably, she didn't hate it and wants to come back next week. And she also did pretty well. I wasn't asking for skilled shot making, just to get the rock in play. And I'd say about two-thirds of the time she managed to do just that. You can't ask for anything more than that in your first game.
I, on the other hand, stank up the joint. I've been curling on and off for seven years total. I haven't curled that badly since junior high. I made 1.5 shots out of 12, and one of those shots was to throw the rock through the house to blank the end. It was just awful.
On the upside, though, I managed to not freak out, which is an improvement. I love curling like some people love golf – it's fun if you're doing well, but it's a good exercise for your lungs when you're not. There is nothing like cursing and venting when things are going bad.
Anyway, I took a beating. I'll have to try and get some ice time to do better in the future.
I don't know why I thought to write this. I don't think I'll be doing a curling update every week. Perhaps it's the beating I'm taking in the previous thread about kids that reminded me of the beating I took last night. The mind works in odd ways...
I like being a Skip, but it does mean I have to behave when I make mistakes. Which is hard because I make mistakes so frequently.
Anyway, I've been doing well so far. The first three games I've been on the winning team. And the scores have been blowouts – 10-1, 11-1 and 14-1. Two of those games I was shooting lead stones. One I was skip. However, it's early in the season, there's a lot of new players and the string of blow-outs won't last forever.
It's also worth mentioning that it hasn't been my skills winning these games. I have, in fact, being playing terrible. What I need is about an hour on the ice just shooting rocks, but I haven't managed to get that so far. Anyway, I knew I was past due for a pounding, and I got it last night. The team I skipped was whipped 11-3.
It was also Cathy's first game curling. I literally had 10 minutes before the game to show her how to sit in the hack, how to push out of the hack and how to stay upright on the ice. Remarkably, she didn't hate it and wants to come back next week. And she also did pretty well. I wasn't asking for skilled shot making, just to get the rock in play. And I'd say about two-thirds of the time she managed to do just that. You can't ask for anything more than that in your first game.
I, on the other hand, stank up the joint. I've been curling on and off for seven years total. I haven't curled that badly since junior high. I made 1.5 shots out of 12, and one of those shots was to throw the rock through the house to blank the end. It was just awful.
On the upside, though, I managed to not freak out, which is an improvement. I love curling like some people love golf – it's fun if you're doing well, but it's a good exercise for your lungs when you're not. There is nothing like cursing and venting when things are going bad.
Anyway, I took a beating. I'll have to try and get some ice time to do better in the future.
I don't know why I thought to write this. I don't think I'll be doing a curling update every week. Perhaps it's the beating I'm taking in the previous thread about kids that reminded me of the beating I took last night. The mind works in odd ways...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)