As I sit here at 9:30 in the morning that feels much later (still on mountain time I guess), I figured I'd try and sum up the last few days. I've got some time to kill since I'm still waiting for Chris to move his car and let me out.

There has been a lot of news lately - it's been a very hectic, stressful, yet happy week. I'm home now, my three day journey from Northern Alberta is complete. And I really couldn't be happier to be home. It might take some time to get used to living with people again - no drinking straight from the carton (when people are looking), it's now necessary to wear pants at always all times, etc etc... But they're minor details - I'm still glad to be back. And I've already seen most of my friends - we went to the usual spot, Slapshots, last night for a few beers. As is the custom with these friends I've known for years and years and years, nobody either noticed I was there, or noticed I hadn't been there for the last 7 months. It took Jeremy a good three conversations before he said 'hi', and all I got from Bucholtz was a "Still got that same haircut eh?" I'm not complaining of course - it's nice to be able to slide right back into things without missing a beat.

I also stopped in Jasper on my way through and saw Dustin for a night, which was nice. I hadn't seen him since he took off for Vermillion over a year ago. We didn't do a whole lot of interesting stuff - we went for some beers then watched Kill Bill, but it was still good to catch up.

Then the next day it was on to the Main Event - Kamloops, my second favourite city. I had a pretty good time drinking and hanging out with everyone I hadn't seen in forever - Mike, Melissa, Meghan, Carlos, Neal and the rest of 'em. Although, like Mike mentioned a few days back, it wasn't quite the same as before - it was hard to do a lot of catching up really, but that's because there were just so many people there - and really, the Max isn't exactly the right place to 'catch up'. It is, however, the right place to fall down, as Melissa can attest. Oh well, might not have been exactly as-planned, but it was still nice to see some familiar places before we all go our separate post-j-school ways.

Speaking of that, Mike - the only one of us who's been in Kamloops longer than 3 years - is off to Alberta. This is good news for a number of reasons, the obvious being that he has a job and won't have to be unemployed all summer long like I was until I went to Alberta. He's going to the wonderfully quirky town of Vulcan, to do layout. I have a funny feeling an upcoming front page of the Vulcan Advocate will have a photo-shopped picture of the Star Trek Ship engulfed in flames, with townspeople running for their lives.

Or maybe a picture of Spock getting hit by a bus.

I'm glad Mike's happy about the job and I'm glad he's not nervous. From my experience I can say that while my Alberta experience was sometimes lonely and not always the most fun, going there was one of the single best decisions I ever made. Without that job - I never would have got the job I have now. I had originally hoped that Mike would've found a White Rock job so we could get a place together, but I'll be happy living at home for awhile and saving some money, and I'm happy Mike has a job. Also, it seemed like the 'loops had turned into quite a little soap opera at times - and as much fun as we've all had there in the past, sometimes it's good to just start fresh.

I gotta admit though, It will be weird not to have Mike in Kamloops - last summer we each made a trip or two back and forth and it was a good time, but they'll be plenty of time for that later I'm sure. And one day dammit we're going to live in White Rock - I just got beat by the clock this time. Also, like Mike said, it's probably good to move on. I was glad I did, even for a little while. It's good and often necessary to leave certain things behind, and it makes coming home that much sweeter whenever you get that chance.

"There were four 3 Ninjas." - Bucholtz, talking about the early '90s movie. Math never really was his strong suit.

Through the wonder that is the internet, or more probable, the wonder that is Google, a new person has discovered my blog and also, I'm assuming, the blogs of Mike and the rest of you. That person is j-school prof Alan Bass. I know this because I got this email from Alan today, relating back to this blog post.

"Sorry to disappoint, but I only fight deserving opponents.

Cheers,
Alan"

Now, I'm assuming from the tone of the email that he's not exactly offended. I hope not anyway. Besides, it was Mike that made the joke, all I did was write it down. I've got to agree with Alan too - I wouldn't call Mike a "deserving opponent" either.

Unless he's deserving of much ass-kickery, which he most certainly is. After all, he calls me names.

"I'd probably be the only guy going to that movie to see Jesus strung up." - Dustin, talking about going to see The Passion of the Christ.

"I'd be like 'Jeeeeeeessssuuuuuss! Jeeeeeeeessssuuuusssss!'" - Dustin, again, this time demonstrating his heckling ability.

"I've made out with half the program." - Meghan

"Oh, that's my skank-erific shirt." - Meghan

In Jasper last night, Kamloops tonight. Details later.

:: Been and Gone ::

Well today was moving day, and let me tell you, what an eventful day it was. For starters, I still had to go in to work. Thankfully I was done the paper in record time (10:45 am). So I was home and packing up the U-Haul by 11:30. Which was nice.

Also, in the last few days I've been looking for real reasons to make me mad and really want to leave - even moreso than I already do. I was trying to do that because, as much as I do want to leave (obviously), there are little things that I'll miss - like having my own apartment for one thing. And everyone knows it's easier to leave something behind when you are mad.
Well, consider that mission accomplished. Because after today, I'm pissed.

You see, my car insurance ran out on Sunday. So today I went over to the insurance place to see my friend Moe, who said he'd get me some sort of deal to make sure I got home alright. Basically, because I still had BC plates, I needed to get some kind of temp insurance that would save me from getting Alberta plates and registering my car in this province, since i'm leaving in like 2 days.

Well, Moe cut me a "deal" (see: fraud, insurance). No problem there. The only problem being - even thought I now had valid insurance, I still didnt have plates, which Moe said I should go buy just to avoid getting pulled over. So I walked across the street to the vehicle registry, angry but ready to shell out $88 for one licence plate. Fine. Whatever works to get me home. So I go there, and I'm informed that before I get a licence plate my car needs to go through a vehicle inspection - because, obviously, a 2002 car has all kinds of mechanical problems and Alberta wouldn't want that on the road. Also, they wouldn't give me a vehicle inspection form, but they would gladly sell me one, for $8. Eight bucks is nothing, but c'mon, it's a fuckin piece of paper.

So I wasn't too happy and was fully prepared to just cover my old expired B.C plate in mud and drive with valid insurance but expired out-of -province plates. But then my parents convinced me to get the car inspected and get an Alberta plate. So I called around, and NONE of the places that are certified to do inspections could get my car in today. NONE. Finally, after much stress and many phone calls, the Ford dealership promised they'd fit me into their schedule somewhere. God Bless Ford.

So at 4:25, after a 45 minute inspection, i picked up my car, paid $107 for them to tell me my car was road safe, and i bolted for the registry office before it closed. Luckily I made it in time, paid the thiefs $88 for my plate and came home.

So, to review: $8 - Inspection form, $107 - Inspection, $88 - Plates.

Then when I went to leave the registry, feeling mauled and suitably gauged, the woman handed me my licence plate and said "Welcome to Alberta."

Welcome to Alberta? Nice damn welcome.

My Alberta licence plate's first 3 letters are BAG. Been and Gone. Thankfully.

The only person all day who didn't try and screw me was Moe. Good ol' Moe is actually one of the few guys in this town I'll miss. He's a real good guy. The rest of them all bastards.

"Just a word of advice guys. If you ever walk into a place where all the walls are pink, then you're probably in the wrong bathroom. And if any women in there scream, then you definitely are." - Mark, the drunken husband of a co-worker, after he took a wrong turn at the bar.

Well, since I made playoff predictions last round, I may as well make some more. After all, I was a pretty solid 6 for 8 last round.

So here are my NHL Play-off Round 2 Predictions:

Calgary vs Detroit: There's no fuckin' way I'm cheering for the Flames in this series. And while picking them to win doesn't mean I have to cheer for them, I'm not doing that either. Gauthier's hurt. Simon is hurt. And the Red Wings are the Red Wings. Kiprusoff won't win two series in a row for the Flames. Detroit in 6.

Colorado vs. San Jose: This one will be close. The Avs obviously have a ton of firepower - Forsberg had 8 points in the first round, for example. They've also got Svatos, who's come out of nowhere to add even more offence. They don't have Kariya though. On the Sharks side of things, they have a bunch of unknown scorers like Ekman and Cheechoo. I'm calling goaltending even too. This one's a toss-up, but I say Colorado in 7.

Montreal vs. Tampa Bay: The Lightning have so many offensive options its not funny - and it's not even St. Louis leading the way right now, it's Freddy Modin. Khabibulin has been absolutely lights-out in net - a 0.72 GAA?? 3 shutouts? Wow. On the other hand, the Habs looked good coming back against the Bruins and Theodore's among the league's best. They're also on a roll with the big comeback series win. Even with so many factors pointing in T-Bays favour, I'm going to go way out on a limb again with the Canadiens. Montreal in 6.

Toronto vs. Philadelphia: Ed Belfour has been the best goalie in these playoffs, maybe along with Khabibulin. But Belfour beat a hell of a hockey team and he did it almost all on his own. Philly surprised me getting by New Jersey with relative ease, but I just never can trust the Flyers. They can self destruct at any moment. I'm going with the Leafs, strictly because I don't think anyone can beat Ed Belfour. Toronto in 5.

"A manicure?! As what, a reward for all her hard work? That's unbelievable." - Ken, after I told him that Jen was allowed to leave work for a manicure while I was forced to come in on my day off for no apparent reason.

"EVERYONE JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP RIGHT NOW!!!" - Me, the instant I walked into work, without even seeing anybody. I just didn't want to take any shit about the Canucks loss the night before. It didn't work.

After the new editor, who's an African guy, came by to say hello briefly.

Dayna: I thought he was a terrorist.
Me: Seriously, that's the first thing you thought of when you met him?
Dayna: I'm a terrible person.

Right in the midddle of a WORK day...
Jen: Hey nick I'm going now to go get a manicure.
Nick: Alright, I'm gonna stay here and, you know, do our job.

Que laughter and smirks from rest of office.

:: Reuniting through hate ::

It's funny how something as sinister as the Calgary Flames beating the Canucks can bring people together. I was sitting here at work, downloading Matthew Good songs instead of working, and I get a message on msn out of nowhere from my old UCC roommate Cory, who I shared a quad with in the dorms my first year. He's from Edmonton, and thus an Oilers fan, and clearly hates seeing the Flames succeed at anything.

I hadn't talked to him in well over a year, and actually had deleted him from my msn buddy list. Here is the first part of our conversation (Cory's name is I hate the flames):

I Hate the Flames: Soooo gay!
I Hate the Flames: grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!
Fuck: I hear ya man, I fuckin' hate 'em too.
I Hate the Flames: Terrible. Just terrible.
Fuck: I know.

Also, with the Canucks loss unfortunately in mind, I found something that sums them up perfectly. Oddly enough, I found it in a Nirvana song. I was listening to "You Know you're right" and these lyrics made sense: "I have never failed to fail."

Truer words were never spoken about the Canucks. Every year they fuck things up. If nothing else, at least they're consistent.

Remember in 1994 when the New York Rangers won the Cup and everyone made such a huge deal about how it had been 40 years since they won? Next year the Canucks will be at year 35. Just in case you were wondering.

:: The Defence Rests..All series long ::

And another disappointing season comes to a close for the Canucks against a team that had no business beating them. With the exception of a few players, the Flames are filled with mucker and grinders, and they out worked a far more talented Canucks almost every step of the way.

For this loss I blame two things: 1) Marc Crawford. I know that Cloutier was injured, but three goalies in one series? C'mon man, that's just not how it's done. Auld played very well, but I would've stuck with Hedberg. Why? Because Hedberg now just lost his spot to a rookie in the playoffs. You think he wants to come back next year? I doubt it. He's now just 2004's version of Peter Skudra.

I admire how Crawford got his team into the playoffs after losing Bertuzzi. He did a good job there. But when you can't get your team full of talented players to play better than the Flames, you aren't doing your job. And he did next to nothing to try and replace Bertuzzi's size in front of the net. He didn't use his biggest remaining forward - Linden - in front on powerplays. Not once. Hell, he could've put d-men Malik or Allen in front to see if it worked. It does with Chara in Ottawa.
I used to really like Crawford, I still do I guess, but if he's gone next season I won't be too upset.

2.) The Defence. They were absolutely abysmal. They got beat by the bigger, harder working Flames forwards n in every puck battle in the corner and behind the net. Every. Single. One. Ohlund played poorly. So did Salo and Malik. Don't even get me started on Ed "This is my puck but you can have it" Jovanoski, who had more turnovers that Pillsbury. It was gross.

I'm upset that the Canucks lost, obviously, but I can't honestly say I'm surprised. Don't take that as a lack of faith on my part, but I've been watching the Canucks for 16 years - the year that something bad doesn't happen to them or they don't self-implode is the year I'll go out and buy season tickets for everyone. And then with the Bertuzzi thing it just didn't seem like their year. They gave it a decent enough shot I guess, but in the end they still got outworked.

Next year (if there is a next year, and no lockout) if the Canucks want any chance of winning, they need to do a number of things: 1) Keep Brian Burke. 2) Give the starter's job to Alex Auld (how high is his save % going to have to go before he's finally given the damn job?) 3.) Find permanent spots for Jason King and maybe Ryan Kesler. 4) Get bigger forwards. 5) Get one tough Robyn Regehr/Rhett Warrener type defenceman to take Malik's spot.

Those are my solutions. How many do I expect to be done? Zero. Hey, after 16 years of this, I've come to expect it.

I'm trying to eat all my food in a week.

Anyone out there who's ever moved knows exactly what I'm talking about. Rather than throw a bunch of food out, or take a lot with me in the move, I'm trying to eat most of it before I move next week. Beats wasting it right?

Well, this liquidation of merchandise leads to some odd culinary combinations and it has its positives and negatives. On the plus side, you get to eat a lot of food and not feel bad about it. On the minus side of the ledger, you eat some fucked up meals. Take for example, what I ate tonight for dinner.

2 pork chops
Hashbrowns
half a bottle of orange pop
1 Alexander Keith's beer
1 popsicle
1 handful of Reese's Pieces

See what I'm talking about? Emeril Lagasse would be proud.

Nick: I don't know what I'll do with all my furniture
Mom: Don't worry there's plenty of room.
Nick: How the hell is there plenty of room? I've got a lot of stuff.
Mom: We got rid of some stuff.
Nick: Again?
Mom: You won't even notice.

Some of you, namely Mike, may remember that when I moved home from Kamloops last April that my parents, who were helping me move, took the liberty of throwing away a few things - like my bed!

You see, at the time, me, Mike and Meghan drove from my place to the Omega to pick up a cheque, and my parents stayed behind. When we got back, I noticed my bed was missing from the apartment and the truck was gone. Where was my bed? Oh, not to worry, my dad was just taking it to the dump!

And now that I'm once again moving home - this time with a ton for furniture, I was wondering where I'd put stuff like my couch and the rest of my living room things. Well, my mom informs me that her and my dad have gotten rid of the following things from my old room:

1. My old dresser.
2. My ugly-as-hell yet ultra-comfortable gold chair.
3. Another god damn bed.

Now, its' not that I need any of those things really. I have a newer, nice dresser here that I'm bringing back, I also have an awesome couch to replace the chair, and my parents got a new bed, so I have their old one. Also I have the bed I'm bringing back so I still have too many. But thats not the point. The point is that my parents insist of getting rid of my stuff while i'm not around to argue. It's a crafty plan on their part, I'll admit, but I swear to God one day I'll come home one day and find my car gone because it taking up too much space in the driveway and they figured they'd just give me their old car instead and save some room.

I'm kidding of course, but c'mon, it's my damn stuff!

Okay, the nhl playoff blog of Mike's and mine has yet another new location - right here. Mike's friend Ryan has also been added to the site, and it's also expanded to the Canadiens as well as the 'nucks. There's also a special "puck you!" section, where we pick one person every game who we don't like. Last night's game the honour went to Greg Millen.

Be sure to check it out - there's comments there now too!

:: Game 6 ::

Me and Mike will both be posting throughout the game, just like last year. Expect a lot of stuff between now and the end of the night.

The game hasnt even started and I'm already pissed. Jann Arden singing the anthem? Are you fucking kidding me? That was awful. Sickeningly awful. I thought she was a professional singer for fuck's sake! She sounded like a dying cat getting pelted with a sack of doorknobs.

EDIT: due to technically difficulties, mine and Mike's angry rants will be posted on a new blog, Canucks 2004. You can leave comments here though. Also, I hate Kiprusoff.

:: Peace out, Peace in ::

I know I mentioned it earlier in the edited post you see below this one, but I figured that news of this magntitude deserved it's own space. Also i'm so happy I can't sleep so I'm staying up and typing.

So the news is that I got a new job in White Rock. And if you could see me right now you'd see a guy who probably couldn't be any happier. As Ken said to me when he found out he got the Prince George job: "I'm so happy right now I could almost cry."

It also occurred to me that I'm really just trading one Peace for another. I'm leaving the Peace River Record-Gazette for the Peace Arch News.

Now the only hard part is telling my publisher that I'm leaving. Normally, it wouldn't be a problem, but Ken just left a few days ago, and the new editor won't be here for awhile yet. I won't leave them in the lurch, but it's still not an ideal situation for the paper, and my conscience was making me feel a tiny bit bad. But then I realized I shouldn't feel bad, because it's WAY better for ME: Closer to home, bigger paper, bigger city, bigger paycheque. Like i told my grandpa when I talked to him, the only way this could get any better would be if the job was actually in Langley. I was kidding of course, because that's really splitting hairs. Besides, beggers can't be choosers.

There are a couple odd ironic moments out of all of this too. Earlier in the month my mom kept asking me what I wanted for my birthday, and I couldn't really think of anything so I kept saying "find me a job, that's a good present." And when my parents were here visiting last week, it was actually my mom who dropped my resume off in the mail for me because I was at work. It's a little past my birthday, but at least this present came sooner than Mike's. (haha, just kidding buddy.) Also, funny moment number two: As my parents were getting into their car to leave for home, I pulled around the corner on my way to work and shouted jokingly "See you in two weeks!" Turns out, it's almost exactly that. Weird.

It really is great. And if it puts this paper at a bit of a disadvantage for awhile, well that's just too damn bad. As Denis Leary says, "Life's tough, get a fucking helmet."

But while life's tough for some, it's just gettin' better for others. Now, maybe I can take of my helmet.

:: Strange Days ::

It really has been a strange day, as Meghan pointed out to me tonight. Meghan got asked out by some creepshow of a guy, Melissa is moving in with former nemesis Heather Black, and I'm coming back.

Yep, it's strange alright Meghan. Pass me that opium bong when you're done with it, will ya?

I just hope they don't have drug testing at my new job.

EDIT***: Turns out that when he said he'd decide by monday, he really meant he'd decide in 2 hours. I got the job (thanks to Ken's reference). Ken said so many good thing about me that he didn't bother interviewing the remaining people.

I get to come home.

:: Sales Shmales ::

Thanks guys for your honest opinions regarding the previous post, but as it turns out, ol' Gil here may not have to worry about selling anything. I had a very good interview with the editor regarding the 3-month sports reporting job. Which by the way, could be permanent.

(For once) I'm not going to count my chickens before they hatch though. He said of his 20+ resumes I was "easily in the top three." So that makes me happy. He said he was impressed that I knew the area, and he also said that I was extremely well spoken, which "bodes well" for me. (Well spoken! Take that you anti-sales, Gil-comparers!! Just kidding) I actually didn't think I was well spoken at all, and I stumbled my way through a few questions, but they he gave me the well spoken compliment, so who knows.

I agree with you all that maybe I wouldn't be that good at selling baseball tickets, advertising, or used cars. But thank god I did a solid enough job of selling myself. I think it may just be the first time I've had a good job interview. The other times I just ended up sounding like an amateur.

I'm feeling very good about this, but not too good, because that'll just tempt fate. And that's never a good thing. I'll hear on Monday, so here's hopin'. Fingers crossed.

:: Your input please ::

Over the past few days, weeks and months as I've been looking for jobs I've come across many sports jobs that I would really like. After all, for those of you who don't know, working for a sports team is what I'd like to do eventually. Anyways, the only problem with this is that many of these jobs, like this one right here require some, if not a lot, of sales work.

I've never actually done any work like that, but I'd like to think I could do it, but to be honest, I'm unsure. I'd like to be one of those people who can "sell ice to eskimos" but let's face it, I'm no Dr. Smooth. This is where you come in, the people who know me best. Do you think I'd be good at anything to do with sales (ie: marketing, promotions, selling advertising etc)? Or do you think I'd stutter and flub my way through every sales situation I'd ever find myself in?

I'm looking for real feedback here, not just the usual "You can do anything you set your mind to" type of canned response. I'm seriously looking to see what you think. If you think I'd suck, then tell me, it's fine. You can leave your reponses in the comment box below. Thanks.

* as a juvenile aside, if you click on that job link, you'll notice that the contact person's last name is ramsbottom. Tee hee.

:: A conversation with Carlos ::

After I mentioned that the receptionist at work is hot and that I'm also the fill-in editor for the next 2 weeks....
"Just tell her 'Baby, with new times comes new rules. I'm going to need you at my desk, in a mini skirt every Monday morning..... actually, let's make it every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning.' That's what you gotta say. It'll work."

Just a few seconds after he was bugging me and giving me a hard time about something...
Don't you just love me?...Not in a prison, pass-me-the-soap type of way of course."

Telling me about his drunken conversations with The Silent Six at the J-school year end...
"I asked them what they thought of me and they all said they thought I was a player. I told them that I wasn't, that I was actually a pretty mellow guy, and then two seconds later BOOM! this girl that I met 10 seconds ago comes up and grabs my ass and starts kissing me, then (the Six) asked me what the chick's name was and I told them I didn't know. You would've laughed for hours."

"It makes my mouth dry and then it sticks to the inside of my mouth and it takes like an hour to get it all out of my teeth." - Sarah. (She was talking about cake, you perverts)

Kristin: So, when are you leaving this place?
Nick: My answer to that question changes depending on who else is in the room.
Kristin: Okay, nobody's here but me.
Nick: Soon then.
Kristin: I don't blame you.

:: The cards I'm dealt::

It's been a whirlwind last few days. My parents came up last Wednesday, and they stayed for my birthday and for the Easter Weekend, which was great. We went to Grande Prairie one day, watched three Canucks games, drank some beer, helped Ken move. All in all, an excellent week.

Except now they're gone back home, and Ken's leaving for Prince Georgo tomorrow morning. I'm suddenly very alone, and the people at work have picked a fine time to start annoying me. Jen is as useless as ever. The next two weeks while we're editor-less will be, no doubt, sheer hell. Don't believe me? Well tomorrow night I have to miss the Canucks-Flames game to go to a fucking council meeting. When has a sports reporter ever had to do that? Under normal circumstances Jen, the news reporter, would go since it's well, HER JOB, but because she is absolutely useless and bound to fuck things up, I'm probably going to go in her place. Which is just sad. If we had competent people running this joint I wouldn't be nearly as worried. But those are the cards we're dealt here at the R-G - all Jokers.

So that's my week in a nutshell - and what I've got to show for it is some pictures I took when my parents were here, sore arms from helping Ken move, and a kitchen full of groceries - including a ton from Ken and Jess's place, which I raided since they can't really take food with them on their move.

I also got some info about our incoming editor. He's moving from Nova Scotia (for some reason) and he's been a journalist for over 25 years. In fact, he won a best reporter award...in 1980 (That's before I was born for Christ's sakes). He's also a written books and has numerous other big honours, he's bi-lingual (English/French) and is originally from some island country in Africa.

So at least I know he'll be good. Although with all he's accomplished in his life, his decision to move from Nova Scotia to a tiny paper in Peace River has me wondering about his mental state. At the very least, maybe he'll light a fire under Jen's ass so she actually does some work. Or maybe he'll run her right out the door.

And as good as this guy will probably be for the paper, I hopefully won't be far behind her. I'm still waiting for any kind of response from my 15+ resumes I've sent out.

:: Friday Five ::

1. What do you do for a living?
Sports editor for the Peace River Record-Gazette

2. What do you like most about your job?
Getting paid to watch sports.

3. What do you like least about your job?
The long hours, the shitty pay, and the many complainers

4. When you have a bad day at work it's usually because _____...
Somebody pissed me off, a story fell apart, the computer crashed/froze etc..(I hate Macs!!)

5. What other career(s) are you interested in?
Working in communications for a sports team.

"Man, that really blows. Is there any very minor sports in town? Like mule racing or shopping cart demolition?
- Dustin, after I told him I was screwed for stories this week because NOTHING is happening in sports this week.

Mule racing. That's the key to a healthy sports community in any town, big or small.

In other news, the NCAA Final Four is over and the winner is the University of Connecticut.

You may remember that last month some of us made some predictions. It turns out the winner is Chris.

Also, like Mike, I've added a tagboard on the left for people to leave random messages or whatever you want. If you want to leave comments about a specific post though, there is still the original comments section so feel free to use them both.

:: Cannon Ball ::

Some more news from the land of the Cannons - they won again, in fine fashion, against the defending champs - some team called the Triple Xers.

So that's very cool. Also, partly because I was extremely bored tonight and partly because I wanted to still be part of the ol' Cannon's squad, I made the team a website. Be sure to click on the rosters, it's the best part.

:: Cannons win in (Patty P) Style ::

Today marked the beginning of a slo-pitch dynasty as the Cannons played their first game - an exhibition game against Jeremy's parent's team called Chicks 'n Dicks.

And they won!

According to Ian Forbes, who gave me the play-by-play, the Cannons got down early 9-2 before mounting a comeback, you know, just to be dramatic. The guys (and girls) fought back and got the score to 15-11 going into their final at-bats. They managed to score two runs, bringing it to 15-13, and the inning was kept alive by Brad Gorski, who went 4-for-4 with two runs and two RBI's according to him.

Then they got two more people on base. At the plate? Pat "Patty P Styles" Bourke.

No offence to Pat, but the game probably seemed like a loss at this point, since Pat's not exactly an experienced baseball player - he's a football guy. To add to that, he struck out earlier in the game. Yes, he struck out in slo-pitch.

But to everyone's delight, Pat, or "Mr. Baseball" as Ian called him, crushed a pitch for a homerun.

FINAL SCORE: Cannons 16 Chicks 'n Dicks 15

Nice job guys.

:: Friday Five (on time!) ::

There was no new Friday Five again this week, so i picked the one from the first week in April last year instead.

1. How many houses/apartments have you lived in throughout your life?
Five: - tiny house in White Rock on 154th St.
- house in Langley since 1986
- UCC dorms in Kamloops (which were awful)
- basement suite on Sifton Ave. in Kamloops
- apartment in Peace River

2. Which was your favorite and why?
My favourite? Well that's easy: House in Langley. You don't stay in a place for over 15 years unless you like it.

3. Do you find moving house more exciting or stressful? Why?
It's not really stressful unless you're moving to a house in a new town you don't necessarily want to be in. Then it's not always fun - thats how I felt when I first moved to Kamloops and also to Peace River. But if I was moving into a new house or apartment in Langley, for example, I'd be excited, not stressed.

4. What's more important, location or price?
Location, but let's not get carried away here, price plays a part, obviously. I'm not a freakin' millionaire.

5. What features does your dream house have (pool, spa bath, big yard, etc.)?
Many features: bar, spot for big screen TV, pool, big fancy deck in the backyard (with a conversation pit!), a room full of old arcade style games, a hot tub, also there would be a room full of sports memorabilia and stuff that would have a floor made out of hockey sticks (don't laugh, I'm going to do it).

:: Puttin' the screws to 'em ::

I've decided to be a jerk.

For those of you with some snide remark about how I already am a jerk (Mike, Jeremy, I'm looking in your directions), just keep it to yourself for now. For those of you without smartass comments, I know the news has probably come as a shock to you.

What am I talking about? Good question.

You see, Ken, my editor, quit today. He got a much better, less stressful job in Prince George. I was a little bummed that he took it, but they made him a very good offer and he took it. Can't say I blame him. Anyways, on to my potential jerky-ness.

The first thing I asked myself after Ken told me he quit was, "Oh shit, this is going to be Hell. How can we put a paper out without an editor?"

The second thing i asked myself was "How can I make this work for me?" This is how: I'm getting a raise out of this deal.

Our publisher is already freaking out that Ken is leaving. She's a headcase on the best of days and immediately left work and went to the bar after Ken broke the news to her. So I'm going to take advantage of that. I know that without Ken she's going to try and work me to the bone and it'll suck. Well, I'm not doing it.

I figure that I already work an obscene amount of unpayed overtime as it is, and I'm going to refuse to work more for my paltry salary. So I'm going inform my publisher that I won't work any more than I already do, and won't do any editor-work unless I'm getting paid like an editor. That means a temporary increase of about $6,000 a year. It's temporary because I don't want to be the editor, but I'll get stuck doing it until they hire someone else.

I know that sounds kind of petty and selfish, and it is, but I don't really care. If I really liked this paper and the people in the office I would do the extra work no questions asked, but since I don't particularly like them, I'm going to make 'em pay me.

What are they gonna do, fire me?

Of course they could, but after already losing an editor, they aren't gonna risk losing another reporter. I'm sure the boss will refuse my demand for extra money, but I don't think she's really in a position to argue. And if she is, well, maybe I'll just take my toys and go home.

Ah, the upper hand. (Let's see how long it lasts)


*As an aside, I'm sending out about 15 resumes on Saturday.