About Fatigue

Three nights on a couch. Early to rise, kids, and school, and breakfast, and good mornings, and have a good days. A combined oh maybe 15 hours sleep in the last 72 hours, lets just say I am seeing spots, I am hummingbird-like, I hum and I buzz. Nearly impossible to focus, I am distracted by the smallest things. Every movement draws my eye, there is nothing profound to see, its all a blur, a brief stare at this or that, she or he.

I have been on the run, I am never really here or there. I am stuck in the fuzzy middle, I am tired, I need to exhale, to lie down, to stop. I need to be here, and yet tomorrow I am back there.

The Ride to a Cabin

Imagine a rural highway, think if it was filled to the brim with raccoons, deer, and mad stray dogs. Then imagine that a car on this rural highway is filled with 3 city folks, and a fella that is not from
the area at all. Imagine still that these four travelers are hopelessly lost (sorta). My God then think what it would be like if the rolling, animal filled hills and valleys of this rural road failed to yield any
cell phone signal and the four are 3 urbanites and a fella that is lost altogether, egad the humanity of it all. A hellish trip right? Well it had its moments to be sure, but in retrospect it was the perfect way to start a night of partying in a country cabin. Really isn't that prototypically how most great nights in the woods start? There needs to be a few tense moments, say like almost hitting a huge stray dog (or was it a black panther?? long story) to get the adrenalin spiked to a point where upon safe arrival everyone wants to howl at the moon. Huge props, and a million hugs to my girl that got us there in one piece.

Welcome sounds..

I am a bit of an audiophobe, I do not like loud, or grating noises. The sound of a vacuum makes me run from a room. I generally feel the same way about lawn mowers and whipper snippers, but not today, no, today the sound of lawn work is a welcome racket, it means that spring has officially sprung, that summer in all its warm and sunny glory is just around the corner. YAY, thats pretty much all a fella can say.

Blames it on the rain

Its a drain,
I can feel the atmospheric pressure in my nasal passages. My energy is drained. I am close to migraine. Maybe its the fluorescent lights, maybe its the musak, maybe its the Mozza Burger, probably its the coffee. Oh the coffee I consumed today. Fingers crossed that there is some sun tomorrow, this fella has to hit the streets, roam around, get his face out there, become a local celebrity in the town his birth. Small town Nova Scotia is easy, big town New Brunswick might be more of a challenge. For now I sit, I wait, I neurotically stare at the cell phone, wish, upon wish, that I could mentally manipulate time and space......

Sitting in the mall.....

People watching, it rains outside. Supposed to be job searching, more apt to be web surfing. Yes, I have peeked, dipped a few toes in the water. Hard to find motivation on a rainy old day. People walk by, the odd old fart stands behind me stares in dumb awe at my computer screen. A quasi-wino asks me to explain to him the comings, goings, and inner workings of wifi technology, I answer as best I can. I am not sure how it works, I simply know that it does. Always the driver, never the mechanic, I hate getting my hands dirty. Ramble on I will, the distraction of the mall makes it hard to write in proper sentences, the flow for thought to screen constantly disrupted by each passing consumer. I should be looking for work, was that not the plan of attack today, was that not why I came downtown??? Or was it because she wanted me to come for the ride? The job search just a suggestion, a thing to kill the hours. What do I do but write, think about what I should do, and what I might.

and then it rains.....

Spoiled to death by wonderful spring weather. I procured my first sunburn of the year yesterday, the first burn is my favorite, nothing looks healthier than a little spring rose on the cheeks. Of course the weather couldn't last like it was, today is down right morose, its a day fit for the climax of a psychological thriller, tis a day when ideas turn gray, and plots grow muddy. Through it all I am content, a day indoors is not always a bad thing. I have pushed my body to the limit the last couple of days. I have been like a bear awaking from a long winter's hibernation. But even the hungry bear needs a day of repose, and a few idle hours to plan, plot, and scheme.

Notes from a babbling brook

Babble goes the brook
He wonders if he will beat the rain home
Full of mud and sweat
The odd scratch here and there
Maybe a couple of fresh callouses
He stinks,
He is alive
He feels moisture in the wind
Best that he gets back on the trail
Mud is fine
The wet, um, not so much.

Going Home Again

Somewhere, oh, around 26-years-ago my parents shipped myself, my siblings, themselves, and all that the owned in the world from Saint John New Brunswick, to New Glasgow Nova Scotia. New Glasgow quickly became Stellarton, and the thing is neither of those towns mattered, it was the landing in Annapolis Royal at the age of 10, that is important to this entry. For all in tense and purposes, I grew up in Annapolis Royal, it was there where I did most of my secondary schooling, its the place where I learned to drive, its where I first noticed girls, its where I had my first kiss. Annapolis Royal is where I say I am from, when I am asked where I am from. Funny though because if you break down the math, I have pretty much spent a third of my life in Saint John, a third in Annapolis Royal, and a third in Montreal. I like to jokingly say that I am the Littlest Hobo, I am from nowhere, I like the romantic idea that I am a man of the world, it is an easy hook, it makes people think, it makes me more interesting.

Then a funny thing happened. I met a woman, a wonderful woman, who wouldn't you know it was living in Saint John, the city of my birth. My memories of Saint John as a little kid are blurry at best. I have experienced the city as an adult, usually through family weddings or funerals, and the city of my youth always left a sour taste in my mouth. I am a man of the world remember. Cities to me are Paris, London, Vienna, or Montreal. Saint John was too low brow for me. I am in no means a rich man, but I have expensive tastes when it comes to culture, and working class Saint John just didn't seem to cut it. But here I am sitting on a couch of the best lass in the world up on Golden Grove in East Saint John...ya East Saint John, I was from the West Side, my God, what has this lady done to my world?

Its not as if I wasn't willing to be swept off my feet, who doesn't want to be swept off their feet? Its not that I was unwilling to leave Annapolis Royal, I am from nowhere, The Littlest Hobo, I just keep on moving on. Its just the weird irony, or is it a cliche? You know the one that says, who said you can't go home again? Who indeed.

Distraction

The simple facts that I am compelled to write poetry, that I haven't bitched or whined about the state of the planet, that I am not complaining about the weather (which is improving, at last), has to be a sign that I am in a good place. Things are happening at break neck speed, my whole summer is filled with question marks, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Options are a good thing, decisions will have to be made, yes, but I think they well have to be debated on the fly, the gut, and the heart will have to be weighed along with logic. My life is exciting, I am grinning like a Cheshire Cat. My dimples fully exposed, my blush in full bloom. Weeee!

When his world turns upside down

Oh what a few weeks he has had,
As close as he has ever been to mad.
Mad not bad,
He hopes this is more than fad.
Rhymes, and fancy words,
Stung in the heart by 80s guitar chords.
All he can do is write it through,
His brain is goo, but belongs to you.
Babble on he will,
Amazed, and awed by each new thrill.
He has started writing poetry again,
Wonders when it all really began.
Feels like forever,
Wishes to never say never.
On and on he goes,
Caught up in the throes.
He wishes to be there,
As mad as he is like a hare.
He can find no reason to frown,
Now that his world is upside down.

Sailing...

Leaving on a ship to distant shores. Gone to explore lands, or emotions yet unexplored. Not leery of the trip, I am more giddy with excitement. Like an astronaut who is on his first launch, I am excited to see a close up of the moon, to see what lies on the other side.

The State He Is In

The state he is in,
he giggles, he grins.
He blushes, he fusses,
he dreams, he muses.
He winks, he nods,
pulls hair and agogs.
He tries to find words,meanings,
confused by fresh feelings.
He types, he pauses,
erases, finds causes.
He can't explain it,
he simply dives right in it.
The state he is in,
he giggles, he grins.
And why not?

Write To Write, Right??

Mentally fatigued, the brain and the fingers are not what they should be. Carry on I must, write to write, that just seems right. No subject, no real meaning behind the words tonight. Perhaps this is an act of futility. Perhaps I am typing in vain, writing to ease the pain. Perhaps I typed that last sentence because I like the way it sounds. Perhaps I am in a good place. Perhaps I am content. Perhaps I am at a place where I might want to scream my joy for all the world to hear. Perhaps I have yet to find the right words to accompany that near primal scream. Perhaps, perhaps.

Spring.....

I am fully fed-up with winter. I have had my fill of parkas and togues, ok I do have an infinite fondness for a bitchin' togue, but, but, but, its now time for hoodies, I wanna get some sun on my pasty white legs, I need a healthy dose of vitamin D. I have noticed the buds on the trees, I have heard the calls of the Canadian geese, but damn it all to hell its time for the temperature to start to spike. Down with snow, down with wind chills that reach into negative Celsius. Its all gone on too long, this Canadian winter, things need to turn green, flowers need to sprout, hell gimme a few mosquitoes, I am losing the plot, I demand to see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Every Now and Then......

To say that I am jaded by the politics of the now would be an understatement. I am idealistic, romantic enough, flummoxed perhaps by Nietzsche enough, to believe that our political leaders should be remarkable, they should be intellectually superior, they should be passionate in their beliefs, there should be a litmus test they all must pass in order to justify their position of power. Sadly, it just does not work that way, George W. Bush is the antithesis of all that I see as wrong in politics. Here is a man, that had a free pass academically, militarily, and politically, simply because of his family ties. In my opinion, a man as mediocre in every way like George W. has no right to the title as the most powerful man in the world. Even as a puppet, a man whose strings are pulled by men far more intellectually advanced, and politically astute, than Bush, Bush has failed in every way. He has made a mockery of the White House. He is what is wrong in the world today.

All it seems is not lost, the ridiculous reign of Bush II, is quickly coming to an end. And, my God, there is a candidate who seems exceptional. Barrack Obama, is exciting, here is a man who can speak the English language, a man who can not only read, and memorize a political speech, but can write a speech that can galvanize the nation. Obama's speech on race and religion is the greatest piece of political/social commentary that I have ever read. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0308/9100.html
He spoke (like Jon Stewart said last night) to the American people like they were adults. He was able to touch on themes that are uncomfortable, and yet open the door to a dialog, which frankly the USA has been avoiding since its inception.

My concern now, and I don't think it is all that out of bounds, I worry that the USA electorate may choose the easy way out. Denial is easy, why dig up old wounds, why not stick to the status quo? It is very easy simply to elect the token, unexceptional old white fella, or the the prototypical Democratic candidate, whose most controversial political issue is universal health care (as noble an idea as that is). Obama may be too exceptional, here we have a Black man, a man with an engaging mind, a fella whom is not afraid to address Americans many worts, and discuss ways of healing them. Is America ready, is America brave enough? I sure hope so.

A Not So Happy Anniversary

Five years ago, still reeling from the September 11th attacks on the Twin Towers in New York, the Bush administration hoodwinked its population into thinking that attacking Iraq was the next logical step in the 'War on Terror'. Claims of weapons of mass destruction, Iraqi ties to Bin Laden and Al Qaeda, and the ever-present fear that existed (and still exists) in the United States, made such an endeavor an easy sell. The American people were more than happy enough to dance to the beat of the Bush war drums, the Democrats plugged their collective noses, they bought the Bush line that you are with us or against us, supporting the troops was more important than fact checks, everyone was filling up on a huge serving of 'Freedom Fries'. The whole thing was going to be over in a matter of weeks. Iraq was no match for the American war machine.

Time flies when you are having fun. Where are they now? The Iraq war part deux is still on going, truth be told there seems to be no end in sight. The war itself has cost $500,000,000,000, 4000 American lives, 90,000+++ Iraqi lives, and the American reputation has never been so tarnished. There are countless theories as to what might have been the Bush rational in attacking Iraq, everyone now knows that there were no weapons of mass destruction, there are no ties to Al Qaeda. So perhaps it was Junior simply trying to finish the job his father had started 10 years or so earlier, perhaps it was simply a matter of distracting the American people from the fact that the capture of Bin Laden had been a complete failure, perhaps it was about oil reserves, perhaps it was about setting up a permanent American presence in the Middle East, perhaps G.W likes to play GI Joe with human toys, perhaps it all those things. The only truth in any of this is that, the Iraq occupation is the greatest and most barbaric blunder of the Bush Administration. Aside from the human tole, the financial tole in as far as the burgeoning American debt is not only being felt in the USA, but world wide. It would be folly to blame the global economic downturn solely on the mistake that is the Iraq war, but it is symbolic of the ineptitude and madness that has been endemic in the current American administration.

So unhappy anniversary Mr. Bush, I see you have decided to hold a press conference claiming success and victory in Iraq, funny I thought I had seen and heard all that before, say 5 years ago, you had your favorite GI Joe costume on, and you got to play on an aircraft carrier, good times. I hope you are proud of all your successes, you have made your country proud.

About Dreams

I am not famous for my ability to recall dreams. This is troubling because as a writer, dreams are a near infinite supply of subject. Last night, however, I had a dream very similar to many other dreams, that I tend to remember. One rarely forgets the dreams that recur, hell even a poor dream recaller is going to remember the dream that pops up over and over.

My dream last night, was not a carbon copy of any other dream that I have had in the past. It began with me in a mountainous area, could have been anywhere, I will say in Eastern Europe, because my mind is still there. I was hiking around this area, alone, although there were other anonymous characters around, random families, fellow travelers, that were on the peripheral at first, they did not seem part of the plot. I found myself in a particularly stunning spot, there was a lake, a beautiful green mountain, the birds were singing, I had found Eden, I wanted to capture it in a photo. I rifled through my belongings, found a digital camera, but the flash did not work, funny because it was the middle of the day, in the waking world, this would have mattered not. Finally I decided to ask a family if I could borrow a camera from them, it was imperative that I capture this moment in time, and quickly. They loaned me a disposable Kodak, no explanation as to how I might receive the photo in the future, the people were faceless, it was the photo that mattered, the picture had to be taken. Snap, I was transported from my Eastern European mountain paradise, to a forked woods road, definitely in the Canadian Boreal Forest, most probably in Alberta. I have been here before, this is where the dream recurs. In previous dreams there are cabins on the logging road that forks to the right, I tend to stay in one of them, there is usually a scenario where I try to purchase or rent the cabin before the crowds arrive. The logging road to the left leads deep into the woods, and into a maze of other logging roads, it best to avoid the left logging road, its where anxiety and pee dreams live. Last night I did not choose either of the paths, seems my brain decided to change channels, the dream ended, and I did not out of have to deal with Robert Frost's quandary in The Road Not Taken.

What does this all mean? Nothing I bet, simply the brain playing tricks, a little mental diarrhea, a spot of neurotic, subconscious digestion. I thought it might be interesting to see how it looks on the written page. I am not willing to dissect any of it yet, I am not sure if there is any rhyme or reason to my dreams in the first place. I am happy that I actually woke up this morning with a dream still fresh on my mind. Maybe its a sign of things to come.

Random Thoughts On Canadian Politics

I am a political junky, I like to be in the know, I enjoy the debate. I was fully invested in the last Federal Election, there was an air of change, the Liberal juggernaut was crumbling, it looked that there may be some new political blood, new (hopefully progressive) ideas, new life in the Canadian political process, at least thats what I had hoped for, its not easy being an idealist, the last Federal election has jaded any hope I might have had of there being a bold new political reality in Canada.

What happened? Well, the revamped Conservative Party won a minority mandate. I could handle that, hell its what I expected, The Liberals were doomed from the start, and frankly deserved to be kick to the curb. As idealistic as I may be, I am also a realist, I knew that there wasn't a chance in hell that my guys, the NDP, could sneak up the middle, or um er from the left and steal the election. Canada like its cousins down south is basically a two party system, elections go one of two ways, Liberal, or (Progressive, historically) Conservative. The 'fringe' or more accurately 2nd tier parties, the NDP, the Bloc (who only run in Quebec, and thus can't form a government in the first place), and the Green Party (who have been around for awhile, but are the new cool) really are nothing more than also-rans. What made the last Federal election exciting was the prospect of one of these parties, having a significant voice because of the prospect of another minority government. It did my soul a world of good thinking that if the NDP could score enough seats, that they could force the Conservative Party to stick to a moderately progressive agenda, thwarting any secret right wing agenda that Harper and gang might have dreamed up.

What happened? First, the NDP just didn't get enough seats to become the balance of power. The Liberal demise in Quebec, and a Conservative Party mini revival in that same province, meant that the Tories earned more seats than expected, the Liberals less than expected, and the NDP just couldn't make up the difference. The Bloc, is technically the balance of power in Canada, that is if one believes that the Tories and the Grits do not covertly work with each other.Lets face facts, the Harper Tories are enjoying their time as the party in power, and Dion and his Grits have not got their collective shit together to perform as they would like if an election was called.

Where are we? Canada is in a political vacuum. The Tories, can't really go whole hog with any sort of right wing agenda (thankfully), but the opposition is also politically impudent. There is not a strong leader in any of Canada's political parties. Harper and the Tories will goat the opposition into trying to take down the government, it makes he and his Tories look strong, and I think he likes the ego boast, he is in the driver's seat right now, and he knows that the other opposition parties are not ready to compete in an election. The Tories are not at a point where they might win a majority government, but another minority does not seem out of the question.

What is next? I believe there will be an election sometime in the next 6 to 12 months. The squeaky clean, and normally media sly Tories are starting to slip up. The Liberals will eventually grow the stones, especially if the polls look favourable and the soap opera that is a Canadian election will be upon us. Will I be excited this time around, I doubt it, there really isn't a political person or party that excites me at all. I will keep my eyes down south, the story there is far more compelling.

More Easter Thoughts

I decided to do some research on Easter, I understand the symbolic nature of the holiday, its the roving date that has me flummoxed. A quick Wiki search and I learned that Easter is termed a movable feast, it is not attached in any way to the civil calender. It follows the cycle of the moon, hmmm, so as near as I can tell, and with Wiki as my reference Easter is the first Sunday after the first fourteenth day of the moon that is on or after March 21st (my b'day, which this year is Good Friday, furthering my confusion). Is it only me that doesn't understand the mathematics here?? Am I simply too daft to understand the infinite wisdom of our ancient men of religion? And how is it that March 21st is Good Friday? I can not remember my birthday, and the first full day of Spring ever falling on a holy day. Confused I am by the whole thing. Be warned my Christian friends, I do not much like March 21 being attached to your roaming celebration of bunnies, death, and resurrection, the whole thing gives me the willies, I like March 21 like it is, my birthday, and the beginning of Spring. I will loan you the day this year, but you had better not sully it.

St. Patrick's Day Should Be A National Holiday

Sure, the percentage of people in Canada with Irish roots is probably not all that high, and I would guess that it is dwindling year to year, but why the heck not? I realize that Easter is only a week or so away. I am not a fan of Easter, I don't get it, yet another commercialized Christian holiday, what the heck does a rabbit have to do with the death, and then reappearance of a quasi-fictional religious prophet??? I respect those Christians who feel that the whole Easter event is a significant event,and sure let them celebrate it, a holiday is a holiday is a holiday. But why the bunny? The whole pagan/Christian mishmash of holidays always confused me, throw in capitalism and it just appears to me to be yet another Hallmark and chocolate cabal cash grab, tacky to the extreme.

Yes, there is a lot of kitsch attached to St. Patrick's Day, hell its really no more than excuse for those with Irish roots, and those without to go and drink, green beer, or pretend to enjoy Guinness. But at least there is joy in the celebration, there is a feeling of togetherness on St. Paddy's that is not seen in holidays that have a religious attachment. Everyone is Irish on March 17th, why keep them from a pub?

Euro-trip Post Script

It would be silly for me to say that I am having a hard time readjusting to Canadian life, I wasn't gone all the long, and truth be told, things haven't changed at all since I have left. Mid January in Annapolis Royal, ain't a helluva a lot different than Mid March, the weather is desperate, the town is dead, and the locals are simply trying to hold on until spring.

So its not a matter of reintegrating, its a matter of settling for second best. Canada is great, I am proud to be from here. But there things that are really lacking. There is less freedom of movement, there is a huge lack of traveling internationals, things are too stiff, we worry too much, we don't eat as well, we don't drink as well, truth be told, we are too young, we haven't learned enough, we are uncultured, we are still insignificant. Canada, and the US for that matter have lived a sheltered life, we have rarely taken any lumps. We are the world's spoiled rich kids, whose parent's sent us to private schools, where we have been taught that this is as good as it gets, the rest of the world is dirty, they have got it all wrong, its best to stick with your own, forget the atlas, put down the book. Our search is over, we have already arrived. We as North American's are close minded, we would rather not know, why risk discomfort?

Europe opens the eyes to the world. It is a melting pot. There is nothing static about Europe, as old as it is, it continues to evolve. Europe has had to evolve, change is a must, its adapt or disappear, its a constant fight to be relative, complacency will not fly. Europeans are passionate, they are honest, they want to be heard, they will call you an asshole, and beautiful in the same sentence, because in the end we are all beautiful assholes, no? We in Canada could learn from this moxy, this honesty. Political correctness, and insular self-protection will get us nowhere. Its true, I am afraid, that the good guy finishes last. Stand up for yourself Canada, you are a grand spot, but really no one gives a damn. Big Brother down south is not going to stop trading with us if we call him an asshole from time to time, he can't, he needs what we are selling. There is dishonesty in Canada's politeness, we would be respected far more if we told it like it is. We need to become more European, we need to tare the piss.

This is what I have learned in Europe. I learned that yes, everyone likes Canada, but no one really knows anything about it. We are nothing more than polite Americans. The first time you hear this, you naturally cringe. Canada defines itself by how unAmerican it really is. How is that for a slogan, Canada, we are not Americans? Really though, we listen to the same music, we wear the same clothes, we drive the same cars, we eat the same food, on and on it goes. Canada is as American as it comes, it hurts I know, but its true. I am glad that Canada is sovereign, it is grand to be from a place that the rest of the world just wants to hug, and yet still enjoy the fringe benefits of the American lifestyle. But, truthfully, if Canada is going to be truly sovereign, it is going to have to become more European, it will have to embrace its European roots, it will have to stand up for its Canadian values, as fuzzy as they might be. If not Canada will slip further into insignificance. It has worked so far I suppose.

Presidential Pop Cultural

There is a global hunger for political change in the US. All throughout Europe I met people who were excited, and even emotionally invested in the political happenings in the USA. It is more than simple a world sick of the failures, and ineptitude of the Bush cabal, there is a feeling out there that Obama and to a lesser extent Clinton represent positive change. Obama is a pop star, he transcends race, gender, and generation. The prospect that finally the US has matured enough to vote for a president irregardless of their race, or middle name, has people seeing beyond the murk of the current administration. There will be messes to clean up, but there seems to be a sense of renewed goodwill, and that will make the transition from murk to renewed positivity easier to bare.

Hillary Clinton does not have the same sort of pop star glow that Obama emits, but I think most progressives feel she is a solid second choice. Had this been a different race, had Obama felt he was not yet ready for the challenge, Hillary's star would have shown brightly. She is, ladies and gents, the first legitimate female candidate to run for president, she is a formidable lady. I believe she has the chops to be a heck of a President, unfortunately for her, the timing was not quite right. Leave it to the US to try and run a black man vs. a woman in the same year, and yes I know they are in the same party, but the competition for the White House is between those two, McCain is a non factor, he is the GOP's lame duck candidate, the GOP are calling a mulligan this time around. God willing.

Gratuitous Random Muse

Here it goes. I could go in a million directions, I have pages and pages all the more of notes written whilst in Europe, I have strong feelings about the never ending Presidential Primaries, I have even tried to catch up with the political scene here in Canada. As you can see, I have so much to say, too much really, where is a fella supposed to begin?

Lets start with the weather,a cop out, the fail safe. Winter it seems is as never ending as the Primaries. Rumours are swirling that a large winter storm is looming, estimated time of arrival, Monday. Funny because I can feel it, I have that nagging ache in my bones, things are about to turn shitty. Oh spring where art thou? I left you in Europe, I politely invited you to return with me, I know that Europe is grand, but come on, how about a little love for the humble folks of the Canadian East Coast.

Geez, that was a whole lot of nothing. I am trying to free associate, spit words, randomly rant. To hell with structure, let the fingers tell the story, unblock the block between brain and finger. Perhaps that method only works with poetry, perhaps I am not in fact Jack Kerouak, perhaps I need to study my notes, perhaps this is the wrong medium....blogged and blarghed.

Go The Dubs!

I am a bit of a sports (sport, as they say where I am) nut. I can hold my own discussing any of the big 4 North American sports. Hockey of course, is my one true love, I am Canadian, as Canadian can be, eh. All this said, I am glad to say that my love for sports, for sports sake was reaffirmed by watching a Gaelic Football match. The sport itself would be done a great disservice if I were to describe it in North American terms. I'd be willing to compare it too lacrosse, at least in that it is a traditional 'hard nosed' match, bare boned, mano et mano. There are none of the things that one comes to expect from a typical North American sport, like high priced equipment, flashy half time shows, huge midfield scoreboards; music does not blare during every intermission, there is no sign of a beer or hot dog vendor in the stands. The entertainment is the match, this is actually sport, not sports entertainment, there is little need for the pomp and circumstance. The Irish live and breath for this stuff, its a point of national, civic, and county pride. The athletes that compete, and at an elite level I should add are not paid, this is purely an amateur sport, played by men that have lives outside the pitch, and yet they are national heroes. It takes everything I have learned as sports fan in North America and turned it on its ass. Gaelic football players are the real sports heroes, not the guys with 50 million dollar contracts, the super model girlfriends, and who may or may not be a roid heads, these guys are real flesh and blood blokes, who play the sport for the love of the game and community, its refreshing in its honesty.

Powered by ScribeFire.

Euro Trip

I have been in Europe for about 36 hours, and it feels about right. It is late January, the armpit of all that is wrong as far as climate, winter-wise if you are a Canadian, however, in Ireland at the right proper hour of 1:45 a.m. it is comfortable enough to go outside and have a ciggy in a tee-shirt...mad I tell ya.

As for my voyage, it was a haul, but it all ran smoothly. London Heathrow is a ridiculously large airport, it has 3 separate terminals, none of this whole one large hub thing that is the rage across the lake. I lucked out, Air Canada doles out free headphones so that you can watch the in flight movies. The thing is that the headphones that they give you have 2 prongs, not one,and the audio outlet on this particular jet was a one pronger. I struggled with this dilemma, and noticed that the fella beside me was also perplexed. We both got to the point where we were ah fuck, shag it, when I realized that you could flick one of the headphone prongs down, thus turning a 2 prong set into a one prong set. I was stoked, I choose my movie, Super Bad, and was content to sit and be pandered to. That was when I thought, buddy next to me had gone through the same frustration as I had, with those God forsaken head phones, and a good bloke would give him the heads up, right? And so I did. Its funny how karma works. That was the full extent of the communication we had had on the plane, but he was a brilliant bit of help in London. The two of us, both severely craving a smoke, after close to 10 hours without, both ran to the nearest exit upon arriving at Heathrow. I was a bit standoffish at, tis the Canadian way, we have problems approaching strangers (something about a black van, I think), anyway, I could tell by his accent (while snooping in when he chatted with the stewardess) that he was a Brit. Long story short, I asked him if he knew the cheapest, fasted way to Euston Station and thus Holyhead, and he did, oh and just for the cherry on the top, and to further prove that the world is a tiny spot, he worked at the Holyhead Ferry Terminal, which is exactly where I wanted to be. The morale of the story is to help a brother out, because in the end they will reciprocate, even if your problem seem larger than their's.

Powered by ScribeFire.

Let Britney Be!

Is anybody else bothered by the way the paparazzi are harassing one Britney Spears? Question her sanity all you want, but how could any normal person cope with the near constant bombardment of flashbulbs, and the insistent Britney smile, Britney where you going, Britney how are your babies, Britney are you crazy??? Britney can't have a bowel movement without having it being shown and heard on Perez Hilton. The fact that this girl hasn't blown her brains, or the someone else's brains out, is a testament to her patience and strength.

Now don't get me wrong, it is hard to feel sorry for the girl who had it all. I think she shares a large part of the blame, she is a media whore, her erratic behavior only makes her all that more of an attractive paparazzi target. Its like the whole which came first, the chicken or the egg? Right now both sides are feeding off each other, but Britney is losing the fight, she is simply out matched. Britney is going to have to get away, a long way away, and stay away, become mundane, stop being the queen paparazzi target. The paparazzi will survive, there is always Paris, Pam, or Lindsey to fall back on.

Powered by ScribeFire.