2011 Winter Classic

T and I are getting set for the 2011 Winter Classic.

Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins...

For Christmas I got all things Capitals--Christmas was GOOD!

I was able to get a toque for T, and myself clad in Caps wear-->

We are staying in for NYE this year, so we made a trip to the local grocery store (superstore, of course)...chips, dip, peperoni, salsa--it outta be a good time IF we can stay awake.

our New Year's Resolutions:

eat healthier, and ramp it up on the couponing to save $$$

Happy New Year all!

T & A.

The Tree

I realize it's been awhile since the last blog-post--no excuse...just lazy?

Updates-->

November we went to see Dane Cook in Moncton. Not a bad show, not the greatest either--saw funnier stuff from his older shows on tv. Was still a fun night out.

T is starting to get caught up with technology. She has been iPhone-ing like crazy. She even got her car sync'd with her phone through the bluetooth function of her car audio system. There have been demonstrations to all people that approach her and her car (freak).

My mom stopped by to give T an early Christmas gift -->

I guess this means we are all set now? This Pink Tree stands a whopping:

16"/40cm

We haven't had a real decorated tree in years, since our 3 indoor cats like to be apart of the action and become "living ornaments" (ie: sleeping in the tree).

Canadian Thanksgiving

This past weekend (Sunday), I somehow convinced "T" to do up a Turkey-bird dinner--even though she wasn't feeling the best (sinus cold).

It was DELICIOUS!!. We held the "event" upstairs at her parent's place (more room). We had T's grandparents, my parents and of course her parents over for some turkey, potatoes, carrots, corn, cranberry's (both kinds--> twigs AND jelly), gravy...and LOADS of Stove Top stuffing (she had be go out and buy 6 BOXES of the stuff).

It was a great meal, good company and LOTS OF LEFTOVERS--yum!

Lots to be thankful for, most obviously...the ease and comfort of being able to blog to any and all about being able to get together with family--and actually share a meal together without fear.

Happy Thanksgiving All (albeit a bit late on that last note).

The Football Adventure

::TOUCHDOWN ATLANTIC 2010::

We were offered tickets at about 10am on Sunday morning--kick-off is at 1pm.

Mad dash to the local Shopper's Drug-mart to get a city bus pass (no parking allowed at the Moncton Stadium, located on the U de M Campus). Not a bad deal for the pass, $4 each return.

Weather:

Saturday was supposed to be sunny and warm (high 20's--in September, imagine!). Saturday was not sunny and warm, but wet and crappy. Sunday, we woke to birds chirping and the sun beatin' down on us...waaaaay warmer that the previous day. Weather man got his days switched around I guess.

We get to the Stadium, 20,000+ people are packed in. Tickes for this event sold-out within 3hours back in June-ish. Everybody was happy and courteous--like every other day in the Maritimes I guess...

The CFL game was very fast paced. Only 3 downs instead of 4 like the NFL. It was quite hot, crowd was totally into it--saw the biggest "Fan Wave" in my life--it was crazy!

A few hours of T asking me the rules of the game--yikes--and it was over, the underdog Edmonton Eskimos won, 24-6 (Toronto Argonauts were the "home" team), we headed back down the hill to where the rink is located on campus, and lined up to catch a bus back to my car at the Mall on Mains St. (Highfield Square)--total bus trip with line-up, maybe 20 min.

Fun day was held by all!

ps--> this was the FIRST regular season CFL game to be played outside of a regular franchise city location--history was made!

911--9 years later...

9/11/01 where were you on this day?

I was working the ramp at YQM (Greater Moncton International Airport), waiting for a flight to arrive--which was quite oddly very late...then word came of what was happening...multiple planes crashing into the World Trade Center towers.

It was very scary being there, seeing all the planes arriving--people from all over the world--landing in Moncton...most passengers had no idea where in the World they had actually emergency landed at.

Two positive memories for me...I got to see the drug dog in action sniffing the off-loaded luggage in one of the huge hangers--that was amazing to watch the dog in action, he thought he was playing a game. The dog had found "something" in one of the bags, which the officer later explained, "it was probably just one marijuana seed"--AMAZING!

And...I got a whole butt-load of Continental Airlines silverware--wooot! As it turned out, the company I worked for at the time (World Wide Flights Services) was responsible for one of the many flights that had landed, none of the grounded flights were allowed to take-off with REAL metal cutlery--bonus!

Our whole crew split the boxes of goods--they may be a bit smaller than your average silverware, but it's my little piece(s) of history.

The Hurricane Adventure

We had some excitement in these parts this past weekend.

Hurricane Earl (a.k.a. Uncle Earl--per local radio station)

Lucky for us, it's path had changed drastically and pretty much missed us completely--can't say the same for the folks in N.S.

We went to the local grocery store and dollar store for "supplies", we looked like the odd-balls at the store "hoarding" batteries--gotta love the Dollar Store!

Grocery store was a bit of a zoo (monkeys included!), but we did get some good deals, per usual, and made it home to wait for Uncle Earl to arrive.

It did rain quite hard and was rather windy--but nothing out of the ordinary. The most widely used phrase during the storm: "Wow, look at how fast the clouds are moving--insane".

Today is quite sunny, with a breeze--really, a breeze? (surprise, back end of a hurricane).

Not Smoking Front:

T is still smoke free, although i'm a bit concerned that she MAY turn into a sunflower (or at least a seed--haha).

She is doing amazingly, all cats and other family members are alive and well--congrats T, over a week smoke free!

Smoke Free

I'm very happy/proud to announce, that T has quit smoking!

It has been quite calm in these parts, given the lastest developments here on the home front...T has been doing amazingly--congrats T!

I have been attending Moncton Wildcats Training Camp, took in the exhibition games too. We will have an entertaining team this year--I don't forsee play-offs tho, but that's okay.

I've been iphoning LIKE CRAZY, very addictive little gadget--love it!

not much else to report...but I wanted to blog something to show that we are still alive and well.

The Non-Adventurous Adventures...?!

No great stories/adventures to yap about lately--quite calm on the home front.

The only "news" is...we have purchased a new mattress (Saturday nights will never be the same). New mattress is quite "firm" and somebody is complaining about it...I on the other hand rather enjoy the sleep-ride.

News Part II:

I have finally received my new phone. I-Phone 16gb,3gs bad-boy. It has consumed my free time--what neat little gadgets (apps) you can get for this little thing.

Current apps:
Facebook iphone edition (duh)

Twitter ::UPDATE:: Twitter bought the #1 app Tweetie, can't get it to work now.

TSN

Wasington Capitals (of course)

Shazam (click this app around music, and it will tell you the name of the song, artist, album name--quite quickly I might add).

::UPDATE:: the free version only allows 5 song titles per month, now have "soundhound" haven't tried it yet.

XM Radio

Bump
let's you "bump phones" with another smartphone which also has the app--to transfer contacts,photos, pictures and such automatically. Each person holds their phone in there hands and does a "fist-bump" or "pound" as T calls it...

I tried to "bump" by myself (sad), and it says on the screen "Please Bump again, you were the only one to bump"--story of my life (haha).

The Zoo & Magic Mountain

Thanks to the Magnetic Hill Zoo and Magic Mountain for providing a great experience at both parks this weekend--had a blast.

We had a guided tour of The Zoo (with Park Manager: Bruce Dougan)--very insightful. They actually had some of the handlers at the zoo with treats for the animals, so we could see them in action (as opposed to just lying in their enclosures trying to deal with the hot sun.)

I think my favourite enclosure (funniest punchline at least), was the cougars...I had nicnamed it "the rockin' rodeo enclosure" because it happened to be 2 female cougars, both stretched out on their wooden bench, worn out like, with a big metal beer keg as an enclosure "toy"--classic!

We go to see our favourite moring radio guys: Scotty & Tony
these guys are just as entertaining outside of the radio persona!

To wrap up the day, we headed to Magic Mountain--burned my head...the end.

--pictures posted out of order,still new to this blogging-thingy.--

The Grocery Store

Why is it when you head to the grocery store, you ALWAYS come home with more loot than you planned (list or not list--see previous posts).

This is our normal shopping spot, always great deals (and I worked for this chain for 13 years) -->

Today's "list"... chips (Doritos) for when we watched the 2 movies we rented (movie renting, an "adventure" in itself). Grocery bill for junk food, 2 bags for $5 + H.S.T.=$5.65 right?...NOPE...$79 and change.

WTF?

note to self: EAT before heading to the grocery store.

so, here it is 11:07pm, movies still sitting on the counter, chips still in the grocery bag on the kitchen table--T puttering around cleaning the hall closet and doing laundry...not likely going to watch any movies tonight.

but, we have the movies rented for a week...just might get a chance to watch them yet!

It's Complicated
She's out of my league

The Cell Phone--Smartphones

...Why in the *&^# are they called Smartphones?

Will they make me smarter if I own one? I sure as heck don't feel "smart" when browsing through online websites checking out all the wonderful features they possess.

cell phone info:
this is my current phone-->

I went into my cell phone dealers store a few weeks back, looking to see if I qualified for a "free" upgrade (there is nothing FREE at a cell phone store).

Punk behind the counter said, "oh yeah, you're eligible for an upgrade...but the current phone you have...is better than an upgrade" HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE, I've had my phone for 3 years. ::grumble-grumble::

So being slightly defeated, and on the cheap...I end up not getting a new phone, but downgrading my plan. It used to be unlimited in/out texting,web browsing,free calls from cell company to same cell company. I figured, why pay the $60/month for all the bells and whistles--i'll just settle for a slightly less "glamourous" package.

Talk to another young-punk at the call center--all I wanted to do is lower my "expectations" (haha--success) bill per month.

I was supposed to have unlimited in-texts,and 100 out. Well guess who decides to go TEXT-CrAzY...and end up getting a phone bill for $40 MORE than my original bill (with the bells/whistles).

So...will a Smartphone help make me smarter in the future--and not mess around when you already have a good phone pkg in place...time will tell.

Did I mention i'm quite THRIFTY with my $$$.

Now I'm lookin' at a smartphone,with touch screen and querty keyboard--so when I go 'text-crazy' again,it'll will be with comfort,ease and speed.

Did I mention, smartphone packages are more $$$/month then the bill I currently have.

"There's a sucker born every minute" is a phrase often credited to P. T. Barnum (1810–1891), an American showman. It is generally taken to mean that there are (and always will be) a lot of gullible people in the world.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The List"

...another "adventure"...

This happens to us EVERY TIME we head out. We make a "list" of things we need to pick up. Be it at The Superstore, Wal-Mart--wherever.

List is compiled at home while lounging on the couch, or clicking away at the computer while waiting for "crack-book" to load your favourite 'crack-game' (currently Frontierville).

So...list is made, shoes are on...out the door, with the ever faithful question from T--"is the door locked"--keep in mind,she watched me lock the door not 10 seconds earlier.

Travel to our store of choice (10-15 min. journey). Get to our destination, head to the awaiting oasis of endless "junk" we don't really need to waste our money on...when the familiar question is posed: "Did you bring the list".

NO...I thought YOU had the list--endless laughing ensues--then we both try to recite the list,somtimes if we are lucky,we are able to find a piece of paper in the car to write down a new LIST--only to leave the 2nd one in the car too.

really?! how the heck do we function during a normal work day?

We certainly entertain ourselves, and usually whatever store clerk is within earshot.

For all you store clerks out there within our shopping area: we appolgize for any inconvenience...we WILL be back!

A.

Grocery store "adventure"

...so yesterday was the NHL entry draft (started at 8pm Atlantic Time),we were at our favourite grocery store,as we just got back from Florida vacation and had limited food supplies.

7:40pm,in the line to check-out--only 10min. max from home...the line I picked was pretty empty,but didn't appear to be moving very quickly--then I spot "the sign" -->
Cashier in Trainin....NOOOOOO!

I hadn't set my tv show to record,sh*t!

But since I had worked for this grocery store chain for 13 years,I understood what the poor woman was going through,I didn't want to add to her already stressful day--as I later found out...it was here FIRST day--double sh*t!

Made it out of the grocery store by 8pm,now to fly home without getting a speeding ticket. phewwwf,made it 8:13pm...Gary Bettman (buttman as we call him) was still yappin'--hadn't missed anything important.

T brought in all the groceries and put them away--what a doll she is!--parked my ass on the couch eating Cool Ranch Doritos,and sippin' on Lemon-Lime Powerade waiting to find out when my Wildcats would get drafted,and also who my Washington Capitals would pick with there 1st round,pick #26.

First Post

This is our first post on this here blog-thingy...we've been hooked on our friend's blog, and have been convinced to start our own.

We have just returned home from 13 glorius days in Florida, great friends, great weather, great (inexpensive) food. Vacation is one of the greatest words/phrases in the English language--it can mean so many things all wrapped up in one word.

Today is June 25th, NHL entry draft starts at 8pm Atlantic Time...we are hockey fans, and our local Major Jr. Hockey team (Moncton Wildcats www.moncton-wildcats.com) has a top 10 ranked defenseman within its ranks--Brandon Gormley--we are anxious to see when he is picked, and who picks him.

Off to "pretty-up" this blog, and likely post more shortly as we are on vacation still...

Aaron.

*** Brandon Gormley drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes,13th overall ***