Dream Concert, Dream City

My dream concert would be to see Bon Jovi and David Cook together.

The one place in the world that I am dying to visit is Las Vegas.

So how cool would it be if Jovi and Cook were to play together in Las Vegas?  Pipe dream right?  Wrong!

On April 28th, Bon Jovi and David Cook will be playing Tiger Jam (which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

Woo Hoo!

And I can't go.

Well, it's not that I can't go, rather, I can't afford to go.  Yeah, let the pity party for JC begin.

If you have any suggestions as to how I can get there - I'm all ears.

If You Can Dodge A Wrench....

The 18-year-old Super Ninja

Last weekend my dodgeball team kicked ass participated in the Average Joe Sports Club winter dodgeball tournament.

Yes, I play dodgeball.  No need to keel over laughing, I'm actually semi-awesome.  And by "semi-awesome" I mean, I'm usually good for one "holy-shit-where-did-that-come-from" play per game.  The rest of the time I pretty much suck. 

Our team was appropriately named Moves Like Jagger, and featured the owner of Average Joe's, a former dodgeball ref, an 18-year-old super ninja, Wonder Twins,  Wonder Woman, and a ringer the size of a Giant!

Obviously we entered the tournament feeling really good about our chances.

But then, we lost our first 4 games by a combined score of 57-8.  Yeah, we were that good.  I suppose if I had to do it over again, I should have called the team Moves Like Jabba.

Despite opening the tournament 0-4, we actually made the playoffs!  Don't ask.

We managed to win our opening playoff game before dropping the bronze medal game 10-5 .  Yes, we played in the bronze medal game.  Again, don't ask.

However the story of the weekend wasn't our record, it was the amount of injuries suffered on the day.  There was a blown out knee, a pulled groin, a busted lip, a torn shoulder, several balls to the face, and 9 really sore arms.  Come to think of it, that sounds like a good day to me!

Team Awesomeness

American Idol Season 11 - Prediction

American Idol Season 11 is in full swing so it's time for me to pick this year's winner.  And I don't mean to brag (I really do), but my track record with picking Idol winners has been pretty good.

I didn't really start watching Idol until Season 7, but in the four seasons I have watched, the singer I've picked for Idol glory has finished no worse than 2nd place.  And on two occasions, the person I've been rooting for has gone on to win the title of American Idol.

Before offering my season 11 prophecy - let's look back (quickly) at my predictions for seasons 7 through 10.

Season 7

I predicted David Archuleta would win - he finished 2nd

I was rooting for David Cook - he of course finished 1st

 

 Season 8

I predicted Adam Lambert would win - he finished 2nd

I was rooting for Adam Lambert - he still finished 2nd

  

Season 9

I predicted Lee Dewyze would win - he finished 1st

I was also rooting for Lee this season

 

 Season 10

I predicted Lauren Alaina would win - she finished 2nd

I was rooting for James Durbin & Hailey Reinhart- they finished 4th and 3rd respectively.

Season 11 - Prediction

The winner - Colton Dixon!

That's right, I'm calling Colton for the win!  And given my supernatural ability to recognize Idol talent, you can pretty much punch his ticket for the top 2 right now.

I'm also rooting for him to win, which has started a raging battle in the homestead.  You see, TC is pulling for Phillip Phillips and she's been pretty vocal about her disdain for the next American Idol.

Which means we're really hoping for a Colton vs. Phillip showdown at the live Finale.

Let's Get Caught Up....

I know it's been a while, and maybe, you've even wondered where I've been.  The truth is, I've been enjoying life.  To say that the last half of 2011 has been exciting would be an understatement.  You see, I managed to squeeze four major events into a very short 6 month period.  Life changing events!  Events that most people tend to spread out over years.  

But not me and TC!  Nope.....we prefer to get them all out of the way at once.

I'm sure you'd like to get all caught up, so let's not waste any more time.

Natalie Jewel

First Ever Picture of Natalie Jewel

In July of last year, TC and I gave birth to a wonderful little girl - Natalie Jewel.  Well, to be fair, TC did all the hard work.  Basically I just stood there and watched.  And fetched her the occasional grape Popsicle.  But mostly, I just watched.

This is the fourth kid for me, and I think I may have got it right this time.  I think.

I'm teasing of course.  Kids 1 thru 3 are a'ight.

Princess Natalie is the first child for TC and I together.  She wasn't planned, and if I'm being honest, I was a wee bit panicked about starting over with diapers and Treehouse (my youngest was already a teenager when Natalie was born - the oldest was 20).  But now, I can't imagine my life without her.  Watching her learn and experience new things has been awesome.

I love coming home, calling out, "Allo Baby!", in my kick ass English accent, and watching her smile and bounce and kick cuz' she's excited to see her Daddy. My absolute favourite though is when she falls asleep with her head on my shoulder. I could cuddle her like that forever.

I don't love her more than I do my other kids, but, I am enjoying it more this time if that makes any sense.  I don't know if it's because I'm older and more mature (but let's be honest, I'll still get Natalie to pull my finger), more patient, or perhaps it's TC, my partner in parenting, but raising a baby seems a lot more enjoyable to me than it did 14 years ago.

And if my kids are reading this, and I know you are, I said, "I DON'T LOVE HER MORE THAN I DO MY OTHER KIDS".  Although, the Screaming Baby is a hell of a lot cuter than you ever were.  Just sayin'.

It wouldn't surprise me to find out this kid is going to change the world.  She's already changed mine.

New Job

In May of 2011 I finally managed to get out of the shit-hole I was working in.  The job was awful.  I felt trapped and tried desperately to get out.  The only thing keeping the owners of this craptastic company from turning it into a third world sweat shop are the nuisance labour laws we have here in Canada.  I will be devoting an entire blog post to this crap-fest in the very near future so stay tuned.

Now, I'm working for great people!  The commute is a little longer, but it's worth it. I'm treated with respect, my ideas are valued, and the work I do is appreciated.  I'm making a difference, and at the end of the day I feel like I've accomplished something. 

Engagement

In September, TC and I officially got engaged.  Way back, we had our very first date down at the beach front - we went for ice-cream and a walk, and slowly started to get to know one another.  So, it seemed somewhat appropriate to head down to the beach to pop the question.

Truth be told, after I picked up the ring, I didn't want to wait (nor spend the time required) to set up something elaborate, so I improvised.  I think it was a romantic moment - but maybe you should ask TC.

The important thing is - she said yes!

New House

In October, we took possession of our new house.  Yes, we finally managed to unload the unsellable house!  How did we do it?  With a new agent!

After some not so subtle prodding from TC, we switched agents, listed our house in September, and sold it five days later!  We had previously been listed from January to June and didn't get one offer.

Now I know what you're thinking - it may not have been the agent, it could have been a fluke.  And yes, I would have been inclined to agree with you.  Except, the deal fell apart, and we had to go back on the market.  Incredibly, our agent sold our house again two days later!

So let this be a lesson to you - YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT DOES MATTER!  Remember this when I get my real estate license.

So, TC and I moved into our new house at the end of October and we couldn't be happier.  Everybody has their own bedroom, we went from one bathroom to three, and we finally have the rec room we so desperately needed. 

I'm no longer being subjected to Hannah Montana, Zach & Cody, or any of the other mind-numbing crap that spews out of the Family Channel.

How do you spell freedom?  N-E-W H-O-U-S-E!

So there you have it - 4 life altering events in 6 very short months!  Whew....I need to catch my breath.

Except.....there is that little matter of a wedding to deal with.