Back from T.O. Weddin!

We just got back from a road trip to Toronto for the weekend. My very dear cousin Mark was getting married and a bunch of us were going down to celebrate with him. This trip had a lot of firsts; my first long-ish road trip, my car's first long distance trek, and my first long road trip with my wife.

I was initially worried about the car first, of course, since it was our main means of transportation down to the big 416. I checked the tired, topped off the gas tank and intended to re-fill my wiper fluid (never got to that). We were heading down in a caravan with my parents in their Pathfinder, we even brought CB's with us to communicate. I was a little worried about my nerves on a long distance trek like this, would I get nervous? Would I freak out in the middle of nowhere and have some massive panic attack? Well luckily I didn't, and besides the monotony that is the Windsor corridor I quite enjoyed the trip.

We finally made it into Toronto and after a bit of trouble managed to find our hotel. We met up with my aunts, cousins, significant others and had a blast at a local Kelsey's Restaurant, it is so great to see my family. I have a rather large family so we never truly get together all at once, it is almost impossible. But on Friday there were two of my aunts, one uncle, four cousins, one cousin's girlfriend, another cousin's husband and 1 year old baby, my mom and dad, Kathy and myself..what a great time!

After dinner we all met up again in my parents hotel room and chatted, watched some sports on TV, had a few beers and a lot of laughs.

The next morning the whole gang went to breakfast at a 'Chez Coras'...Kathy and I bailed, we are NOT morning people, and wanted a smaller breakfast alone. Thankfully we were lucky enough to miss the whole gang getting lost on the way to the restaurant, waiting for hours for a table, waiting longer for the food, and paying a whole lot of money! I walked across the parking lot for 2 amazing muffins and a hot chocolate for less than 4$ and it took me 10 minutes...

Later on in the day we all began to get ready for my cousin's wedding. Mark and I are about the same age, our mothers, being sisters, are also very close. Mark and I grew up together in a very close knit family, I can remember almost every birthday and Christmas we ever had together. He met Erin, his fiancé, about 10 years ago(!!!) when they were just about 17, they've moved back and forth from Ontario to Quebec and back again...but have not settled in Montreal (for the time being). It was really great to see them get married...and the party was a blast.

Now, I mention that it was great to 'see' them get married, but I actually didn't...see...it turns out that Mapquest sucks...

My Uncle and Aunt were our tour guides around Toronto, and even they didn't know where the church/hall was located, so they put their trust into Mapquest...big mistake! We ended up over 30 minutes late to the ceremony, and by the time we entered Mark and Erin were signing the official Ontario marriage certificates...we missed it all! On top of all that, the priest had to go rub it in by later saying 'have you ever heard such amazing vows before in your life?!'....well we know someone taped it..we need that tape!

The party afterwards was great, the hall was small, but the atmosphere, music, booze, and food were amazing. Everyone looked great, from the bride and groom down to the bartender and busboy!

This morning we reluctantly made our goodbyes and drove home, my car survived the 1150km trip, and after a little washing...all the bug guts are cleaned off as well!

Twisted Transistor

Hey you, hey you, Devil's little sister
Listening to your Twisted Transistor
Hold it between your legs
Turn it up, turn it up
Low end is coming through
Can't get enough

A lonely life, where no one understands you
But don't give up, because the music do
Music do [x6]

Because the music do
And then it's reaching
Inside you forever preaching
Fuck you too
Your scream's a whisper
Hang on you
Twisted Transistor

Hey you, hey you, finally you get it
The world ain't fair, eat you if you let it
And as your tears fall on
Your breast, your dress
Vibrations coming through
You're in a mess

A lonely life, where no one understands you
But don't give up, because the music do
Music do [x6]

Because the music do
And then it's reaching
Inside you forever preaching
Fuck you too
Your scream's a whisper
Hang on you
Twisted Transistor
Music do [x4]

Hey you, hey you, this won't hurt a bit
This won't hurt a bit, this won't hurt
Says who? Says who?
Anesthetize this bitch
Anesthetize this bitch, anesthetize!
Just let me be
Between you and me don't fit

Because the music do
And then it's reaching
Inside you forever preaching
Fuck you too
Your scream's a whisper
Hang on you
Twisted Transistor

Spiderman outs himself to the press

NEW YORK (AFP) - For a comic book hero, it's the ultimate taboo.

In the latest edition of the Marvel comic "Civil War" on sale, Spiderman does the unthinkable and removes his Spidey mask to publicly reveal his hidden identity.

"I'm proud of who I am, and I'm here right now to prove it," the legendary webslinger tells a press conference called in New York's Times Square, before pulling off his mask and standing before the massed ranks of reporters as newspaper photographer Peter Parker.

"Any questions?" Parker asks in the final panel of the issue, amid a barrage of camera flashes.

In a statement, Marvel trumpeted the revelation as "arguably the most shocking event in comic book history."

The seven-issue "Civil War" series, launched in May, sees Marvel's writers taking on the topical issue of civil liberties.

Following a showdown between a group of superheroes and supervillains in which hundreds of innocent civilians are killed, the government passes the Super-Hero Registration Act, requiring all superheroes to reveal their identities and register as "living weapons of mass destruction."

Marvel's roster of invincible crime fighters is split into two bitterly opposed factions, with one camp -- championed by the likes of Spiderman -- in favour of the new law and the other, including Captain America and his ilk, refusing to relinquish anonymity.

"It's about which side you are on and why you think you are right," said Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Joe Quesada.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game...

So last night I went to my first softball game since I was about 13. I was worried that I was more than a little rusty, the term 'sucks the big stiff one' comes to mind...

Before the game we (thankfully) warmed up and I was glad to see my catching was up to par with the more seasoned players, in fact, I was pretty good! My throwing was ok too, only 1 or 2 wonky throws...I was feeling good about myself.

So as the 'spare' (I could only sign up as a replacement player since I signed up late) I was put out in right field AND batted last...not the most dignified of positions..but what the hell.

The game started out fairly well, I actually caught a fly ball to get someone out, the rest were foul balls. My first 2 times up at bat I struck out...I think I was too eager to hit one out of the park...damn my enthusiasm!!!

My third time up at the plate I finally made contact..and the fucking ball landed right into the left fielders mitt...I was out.

Then...top of the ninth with my team loosing...first batter hits a single, second batter also hits a single..third batter...strikes out...fourth batter hits a popup and gets out...then it's me!

Holy crap...9th inning, 2 outs, 2 men on base and we're losing by 3 points...if I hit a homer I've tied the game and I'm the hero...if I get out we loose the game and I continue to be a loser...

I swing on the first pitch...contact!......the third baseman reaches and snags the ball right out of the air...game over...I'm a loser....