Moved into a house last June. It's been really nice to have a yard and the extra space that house style living provides. The couple that lived here before us said they never used the furnace to heat the house. They burned wood in the great wood stove that is in the living room. I've been burning wood to heat the house this last week. Fire's are nice and chopping wood is fun. I like wielding an axe, gathering the splintered wood, carrying it inside and lighting it on fire. It might snow here this week.

My hockey season started last night at the Civic Centre in Smithers. I knew what our game time was but didn't know what colours I would be wearing in the eight team "oldtimers" league. Upon entering the rink I saw on the schedule that it would be Teal or Orange. With great relief I discovered that I would not have to play in a Teal coloured jersey. I like single digit numbers generally and I wore #4 in my first season of oldtimers up here so I searched out the bag full of jerseys, oops, sorry Byron and Don Cherry, sweaters to retrieve the four. I always loved the Flyers jersey so in that regard, it's all good. F.Y.I. the number four was retired by the Philadelphia Flyerswhen they honoured defense man Barry Ashbee who only played four seasons for the Bullies. Also stared the season with a new stick. I flirted with the idea of shelling out for a premium stick out of curiosity but I couldn't do it. I still spent around $100 anyway on Easton, Synergy 777 with an Iginla pattern and flex rating of 85. I think the model is now the SE. I was pleased. the blade still seems small to me but I had no problem roofing two against my goalie and ride from last season, Telkwa Don. Game 1 is in the books and the late hours of the games still don't work well with my work schedule but I'm stoked. Let the games begin.

This past Monday The Polaris Music Prize was awarded to the Toronto punk rock band Fucked Up.
If you look at the track record of the Polaris, this isn't that surprising as the previous three winners were also considered surprises.
My initial surprise gave way to feelings of pride and anger. I can't really place my feelings of anger. Maybe it was adrenaline? I don't really know. But at the time of those feelings I was realizing that Fucked Up winning the Polaris is perhaps the biggest and certainly a defining moment in the history of Canadian punk rock.
Canada has had a long history of great punk rock bands but for whatever reason the Canadian music industry has pretty much ignored the fact that our country produces world class talent in other genres besides pop and rock. Fucked Ups' victory at the Polaris in my eyes is a validation for all the Canadian punk rock bands that have sacrificed their time to create a trail for the current army of rockers that still ride the wave.
Another great thing about Fucked Ups' victory is what their intentions are for the $20, 000 prize money. They say they plan on using it to create awareness of the massive issue of missing aboriginal women, a cause that I can understand living in a town that straddles a highway known as the Highway of Tears for it's scores of women who have gone missing after hitch hiking on it.
A huge thumbs up for Fucked Up. Congrats!

Like most people I have a cell phone and when I lived in the big city I would've described my usage as average. I would talk and I would text. What a great tool.
Since I moved to Smithers, B.C. about two and a half years ago my need for a cell phone has decreased immensely. I have seen the iPhone and it's a pretty incredible piece of technology, just like all the other smart phones that have come out on the heels of it's successful release.
It seems to me that for the amount of money that you invest to purchase and operate an iPhone it would be a smart idea to give it some sort of protection. Look no further.
How cool would it be to be making all your phone calls, seemingly, into a cardboard box? Super cool? Save some money and buy yourself lunch.

Ever since I was able to drive I had access to an automobile. I even owned a few in my time. The last vehicle I had major access to was a 1990 Dodge Maxivan that was dubbed Earl Grey. I loved that thing. The size of it made it great for carrying people and stuff for miles and miles all over North America and that's exactly what it did. Dodge made, or still makes, a very trust worthy van and if I was ever going to buy a van again (shudder) Dodge would be the first manufacturer I would consider. Super reliable.
I ran across the art of Kevin Cyr online and it made me think of Earl Grey and all the memories it held. You can check out all off Kevins' art including a couple tent trailer hybrids(!) on his website http://www.kevincyr.net/index.php?/about-this-site/ Earl Grey never had the great graphics that the Dodge above has.

Mmmm beer. I enjoy an ale or a lager every now and then so I was thrilled when I found out that my home town, Smithers, B.C. would soon have it's own craft brewery. PLan B Brewery is now open. My excitement cooled slightly when I discovered that would not be able to attend the Grand Opening due to a vacation in what Hip Hop artist Ludicris would refer to as the 604.
Upon arriving home from my vacation I was stoked to find a fresh bottle of Plan B's, "Revenge of the Pine Pale Ale" chilling in my fridge. Thanx baby! (now that's love)
The Revenge Pale Ale It was so delicious that I'm pencilling time into my planner to rinse out my 1 litre empty and take it back to get refilled.
If, perhaps, the B in Plan B, stands for beer, then the A in Plan A, must stand for absolutely!

Marinate and grill. Add a huge bowl of local, organic greens and this is what's for dinner. Completely unrelated to food is the fact that I got some great news today. I'm flying to Vancouver for a little vacation this Saturday and my old team, The Bombers Hockey Club have an ice time booked so I'll get to play some hockey. That will be the first time in months. Woo hoo.