Boston: Day 1b

One thing of note, to those who venture along the I-90 to Boston or otherwise in the future. Heavy toll highway! We got on outside Buffalo and rode the sucker to the end, and I think it netted us near $20 USD in tolls. Hadn't read that anywhere in my research.

It's also of note that if you're not a fan of McDonald's, bring food with you, because it's about your only choice for the entire 700ish miles. Finding food has been a task so far, we seem to be wherever food and drink isn't at all times.

Off to Extreme in a bit - using the water taxi again tonight. If you're in Boston, this is exactly as it sounds - a taxi that is a boat, carrying us from the airport Hyatt to the shore. Really entertaining way to travel here.

Boston, Day 1

Well, that was fun.. kinda. The trip started off simple enough, a bit of a late start but we made it to Olson's Food and Bakery in Port Dalhousie in good time. I'm a big fan of both the Olson's, with Anna being famous for the show 'Sugar' and her husband a professional chef who's currently seen on 'Canada in the Rough'. The place is nice, a small building that reminds me of something you'd see in Key West, with many little shops throughout. We started with some sandwiches, and then I settled on a chocolate crinkle cookie that was AMAZING. Wow. Saw her, too, helping a customer. Mark once said to me that he had no idea how she stays so thin, and seeing how thin she was in person I'm inclined to agree.

Got across the border easily and just started trekking. The ION does really well for highway driving, was halfway between 1/4 and 1/2 tank with almost 500 km on the tank by the time we hit Syracuse, so we stopped and grabbed a bite and filled. This is where things get dicey. Just outside Albany traffic ground to a halt, and we found ourselves stuck in a three-hour delay due to an accident. No fun. It took a ton of time off the trip, and cost us any chance of finding dinner as it was getting too late. As it was we didn't arrive at our hotel until 11:30, checked in, and basically munched on snacks we'd brought.

But alas, it's a new day. Time to waste some time downtown before getting ready for the 8PM show. Tomorrow's entry should be.. exciteable. :D

Cheers!

East Bound and Down

Sorry again, as usual, for the lack of posts. Traveling always leaves little time for the small things in life, and I'm about to embark on my trip to Boston for a few days. I've always wanted to visit the city, and the chance to see Extreme live for the first time in their own city - 10 years after they broke up - was the impetus behind the mini-vacation. I'll have Rob's laptop and some wireless internet access, so I should be able to post some on-site reports.

Y'all encourage Mark to keep you entertained in my absence!

Cheers!

R4L: All Over

R4L All Over, shot by Rick Jessup.

Sister was tired, as were most of us, as things closed off for the day. Kim, myself, Sandy, and Jack didn't sleep at all, and spent the vast majority of the 12 hours on the track, assisted by Alana, Lisa, Connie, and Cari. I have to say as I type this over 12 hours since I got back home that I'm completely worn out, fevered, tired, wrecked, and pained; but it's not anywhere near what someone would go through fighting cancer. Seeing the survivors walking in their blue shirts last night hit that home hard. All told we raised a ton of money, and I offer my thanks to each and every one of you that supported the cause financially. Thanks!

R4L: Baby Leah

R4L Baby Leah, shot by Rick Jessup.

Team Captain Sandy had brought along her three-month-old daughter to join us, and surprisingly after falling asleep just prior to taking this picture, she didn't wake again until we began to pack up camp around 7AM. She was so cute, and perfectly well behaved.

R4L: Uncle Phil

R4L Uncle Phil, shot by Rick Jessup.

The track we walked/ran/jogged on was surrounded with what they called "luminaries", small bags filled with sand and a long-life candle with the names and messages of people who had left us due to cancer. My sister, on behalf of my grandfather, had purchased one for my grandfather's brother Phil Diamond, who had passed about four years ago.

R4L: Pina Coladas

R4L Pina Coladas, shot by Rick Jessup.

Two of our fellow runners prepared pina coladas for the gang as part of our Costa Rican theme. This year's event was pegged as an alcohol-free zone, which means it's lucky they never checked our booth. Camping fans take note that, yes indeed, my lawn chair is actually significantly taller than my tent.

R4L: Camp

R4L Camp, shot by Rick Jessup.

Friday, June 23rd was the Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life, a 12-hour event to raise money for cancer research. I participated as part of "Team Costa Rica", so named as the team captain - Sandy Young - had been married last year in Costa Rica, and recently lost a wedding guest to cancer. On our side, the evening was in his memory, and we did our best. This picture represents the camp we were given, with tents, chairs, a table, and plenty of snacks and drinks.

2006 NHL Playoff Pool Results

Here are the results from the OA NHL playoff pools. The moral is, if anyone ever claims to know more about hockey than me, they're liars.

Sportsnet Playoff Fantasy Hockey
1 Rick J (197 points, 7433 overall)
2 Paul J (171 points, 8422 overall)
3 Cliff C (105 points, 33771 overall)
4 Mark M (89 points, 41104 overall)

Future Shop's $20,000 Playoff Hockey Pool
1 Rick J (332 points, 144 overall)
2 John H (309 points, 415 overall)
3 Cliff C (233 points, 7287 overall)
4 Mark M (213 points, 12681 overall)
5 Paul J (187 points, 22399 overall)
6 Brent M (175 points, 27579 overall)

Gillette Pick 10 Playoff Edition
1 Rick J (611 points)
2 Mark M (296 points)
3 Paul J (292 points)

eBay 2006 Playoff Hockey Pool
1 Rick J (203 points, 2569 overall)
2 Mark M (65 points, 56026 overall)

Molson Canadian Playoff Bracket Championships
1 Rick J (37 points)

Let The Wind Blow

For those that saw that picture yesterday that was indeed Food Network's Rob Rainford, of Licence To Grill fame. The event was the Feast for the Palate, an annual charity function at the Royal Ambassador to support Hospice Caledon. It worked much like a Taste of Toronto festival with vendors offering food, drink, snacks, crafts, and arts, an an environment with live music and demonstrations. $100 a person, but I was there to assist my brother-in-law who was representing his restaurant, The Angry Tomato. Got to wear the chef jacket and everything. We did blackened chicken caesar wraps, wrapped in a romaine crown rather than a tortilla, and they went over very well. Lots of great food was available as I took the opportunity to visit and sample as much as possible. Torrential wind storms made holding lettuce wraps down hard, and said winds were harsh enough to lift just about everything that wasn't nailed down.

My highlight might have been being located right behind King Brewery, who have put a solid reputation together as a high-end craft brewer with a Czech-style pilsner and an amazing dark lager. Philip DiFonzo, the brewmaster and President, is a great guy with a true passion for making beer. He's got an attention to detail I envy, and I truly enjoyed the chance to sit back and talk beer with him for some time.

As for Rob Rainford, I've had a little politically incorrect joke with friends and family that he's the "whitest" chef on television. Anyone who's watched his show knows precisely what I'm talking about. I'm happy to report that he's a decent actor, in real life he's much different, but no less personable. He was joking, pleasant, and as you've seen, more than willing to pose for a picture with Jeff and I. I even picked up an autographed cookbook, although his dirty little secret is that he doesn't come up with the recipes from his show himself, they're done behind the scenes. Oh well, he still made a decent chicken skewer with thai peanut sauce.

Today's Random Links
How fast can you type your ABCs? (I got 3.703)
Dubya sings "Sunday Bloody Sunday"
Really odd Flash golf game.
The House: A Flash "Game"

Feast For the Palate

Rick, Rob Rainford, and Jeff, shot by overanything.

2006/07 CFL Pools

CFL fans, now you've got some pools of your own too:

CFL Future Shop Pick the Winners
League: overanything
Password: moocow

CFL Future Shop Pick 10 Challenge
League: overanything
Password: moocow

Picks in by Friday!

License to Kill Pending…

Well Rick has bluntly told me that he has been posting for 10 years so I need to step it up and do more than just provide interesting little news articles that I have come across. So he was go.

This weekend I will be taking the next step in my evolution as an outdoorsmen. I’ll be spending all weekend in a classroom completing my Hunters Education Course and my Firearms Safety Course so that I will be a license hunter. The decision to do so came after the fishing trip Rick and I went on a week ago up to the famous moose camp and I got to talk to all the other guys up there, including my Uncle, about the bird hunt they go on in the fall. I was initially unsure if I would be able to hunt animals, but figured that I should at least give it a shot (no pun intended).

I’ve been an outdoorsmen for over 10 years now. I’ve been on multiple extended trips into the backcountry of many provincial parks as well as some crown land area. The spring fishing trip opened my eyes to a whole other area of the outdoors. Getting my license will provide me with more opportunities to explore these areas.

Now I’m not posting this to start some flaming war about the ethical issues of hunting (even though Rick and I discussed that outcome this morning). I realize that many people have issues with hunting animals and would rather it be stopped entirely. I personally believe that hunting is part of our heritage and if it is done for consumption purposes it’s not a bad thing. I would never look down on anyone who doesn’t agree with it, but I do think that as a personal choice it’s right for me. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to get back up north this fall and see what I am truly capable of doing. As the saying goes, “There’s a place for all Gods creatures…right next to the mashed potatoes!”

Swing On This

It's been a long time since there was a meet of any kind, and it's probably overdue. I'm not sure how many of you are interested, or could make it out (Kip, Shaz?), but here's the pitch anyways.

Monday, July 17 features a Blue Jays game against the Texas Rangers, starting at 7:07PM at the Rogers Centre. I'd like to suggest a dinner at Big Daddy's on King followed by a Jays game. Any interest? It'd be a good time to put some faces to names like Shady and Elevator Man, as well as those I've met or know already, such as Cliff and Matt. General invite, bring friends, spouses, whatever.

Today's Random Links
A cat scares a black bear up a tree - twice!
Review films, it recommends more
The 5-Second-Rule is TRUE!?
Natural selection at work

Who is this Masked Man???

He is wanted in connection with multiple midnight shenanigans and beer related tomfoolery.

Relay For Life 2006

It's been a few years since my first stab at the CCS Relay For Life, but I'll be giving it a try again this year. It once again involves a team of up to 10 sharing time around a track with at least one team member in motion for the 12 hour tensure. It's all to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society, and I'm positive we've all been hurt by the disease in some way or another.

What I need from everyone, if possible, are pledges. It's fairly simple, just visit www.cancer.ca and click on "Pledge someone", then search me down by my name. Any amount anyone can offer is truly appreciated, I promise to give it my all.

Also, should anyone be interested in participating, I believe our team has two slots free.

Thanks!

World Cup Pool 2006

Here you go, whiners, your World Cup Pool. If you find anymore just post details in comments and I'll add them to the list.

Hyundai World Cup Pool
Group: overanything
Password: moocow

In The Trees

Sorry for the delay here, leaving for a few days always means work catch-up, and I figured Mark had taken care of most details. As he stated, he have returned from a ramshackle moose camp in the woods somewhere north between Shining Tree and Gogama. I was certainly much more prepared this year than last, knowing what I was getting in to. Mark had helped me prepare for the outdoors element, and my new purchases were all excellent. The tent is great, lightweight, but just be sure you don't need to sit up when you're in it.

I fought hard against a trip to Meteor Lake after my experience last year, but was outvoted by my boat mates who seemed to agree with me after all was said and done. I believe three boats caught a total of three fish, which wasn't at all worth the two hour drive and the deathly final leg in along a rough path that claims casualties every year. This year I believe it was one fender and three tail lights. Day two at Welcome Lake was much better fishing, with about 35 fish amongst four boats, but only three of them coming in from ours. The trip in is worth it, though, as you'll see when Mark and I arrange a little picture transfer shortly. The third day at a brand new lake for us, West Shining Tree Lake, was hot with calm winds, thus bad for everyone except me who kept myself bundled up against the heckling of my companions. The best part of that day was finding the Three Bear Lodge which had televisions and women, two things I hadn't seen in four days.

So Mark is up for hunting, although I'll be passing on that one. I can barely touch a fish, let alone kill a bird. Alas. Back to work with me!

You’ve got the line, and I’ve got the pole….

Well Rick and I have returned from the wilds of Northeastern Ontario. Overall it was a good trip, the weather was good, bugs weren’t too bad and it was nice to be able to get out there and experience what this great province has to offer.

Now where to begin? Well as this was my first trip up to the moose lodge (but not my first trip “roughing it” in the north) I would have to call it overall a successful trip. The camp itself is really no more than a shack in the woods off of some logging road. A small generator and propane powered it so we had some of the comforts of home, but lack anything resembling a working washroom and was little more than 1 room crammed with a small kitchen, a table and a few beds. Now Rick and I had decided that since 11 of us were going up and there were only enough beds for 8, we would sleep out in tents. It actually worked out really well. We found a small clearing bid enough to put out tents up and it got us out of having to cram more people into the cabin then would necessarily fit.

The weather for the trip was both good and bad. It was hot and sunny the whole time, which helped keep the bugs down on for the most part, but unfortunately it wasn’t helping the fishing at all. For our first day of fishing 3 boats went to Meteor Lake and the forth went up a small river that I don’t have the name for. Meteor has only Lake Trout in it and due to high air temperature and unseasonably high water temperature they had all gone into deep water. We did however manage to pull in 3 fish (one for each boat) and had enough for a nice little shore lunch. We met up with the other boat after that and found that they had managed a couple of pickerel and some pike in the river before having boat trouble. It was decided that evening that Meteor was off the list for future trips as it has produced next to no fish the last three years and is too hard to get into.

Day two was out to Welcome Lake (Rick’s favorite I believe) in the hopes of a better day. The ride into Welcome is really nice. We make our way up a winding river, through some rapids and a marsh to the large lake. We left in 2 group with us and another boat going first, while the last 2 boats where loading up and followed in about 30 minutes. When we got to the lake the other boat started pulling in some nice bass right at the mouth of the river, but we were still after some trout and decided to troll up the lake and see what we could land. Well day two was quickly turning out like day one. I did manage to land one bass while trolling, but that was it for our boat. The other 3 boats pulled in lots of bass and pike, but again no trout. Shore lunch was on a nice little island in the middle of the lake and was all bass and pike. We did manage to pick up 2 more bass in river on the way out so all total the four boats brought home 30 fish that day, plus the 6 or 7 we ate at lunch.

Day three was up the West Shinning Tree Lake. Now this was a new one for the group some it was going to be a little difficult to know where to fish. Our boat was almost completely shut out on day three. One tiny little pike was all we could manage. The other three boats picked up a total of five pike.

Overall it was a great trip and I’m already looking forward to next year or possible the bird hunt in the fall. Sorry for leaving only Evan in charge around here. Rest assured that he will be dealt with for the “quality” of his posting in our absence. I have lots of pictures from the weekend and they will be up as soon as I get them to Rick.

Mark SMASH

Mark SMASH, shot by overanything.

vitamin e is back

yo guys whats going on. sorry i didnt post yesterday. 12 hour shifts=bed. well well well this stanly cup finals looks pretty interesting. i am thinking Edmonton will take it in 6. The oilers defense is just way too strong. and it looks like they are scoring quite a bit also... enough of hockey. overanything is mine untill tuesday so i shall take advantage.

yesterday was quite disapointing for me. i basically worked twelve hours. got home then got drunk off wine. goooooooooo me. well i am off to work again so i shall possibly write something else tonight i dont know yet.

peace