Cactus Craig D

Wow! I have not written on here since the End of February. A couple of reasons why:
1) things have gotten really busy lately
2) the home computer had a bunch of problems. Since March 17th I have not been able to use it. It was not booting into Windows. We took it into a computer store the day before Easter. They never gave it back to us until March 31st. Nothing was wrong with it and it worked fine in their store. We got it home and then it still would not work. My Dad took it into his work and got the IT department to look at it and they have fixed it and on April 5th, the home computer is finally working again. Some connections inside the hard drive became loose for some reason.

Met Joe Carter on March the 1st. It was a packed store to meet him and he was great with all of the fans. I got him to sign an 8x10 photo of him hitting the winning homerun in the '93 World Series. I asked him where his rings were and he said "they would start even more conversations!", and laughed. He was chatting with everyone that was there to meet him. 

Nicole and I saw the movie "Semi-Pro". It is a usual Will Ferrell type of movie. If you like Will Ferrell you will like the movie. I thought it was pretty funny.

I got the job. I started on March 10th. It is going great and I enjoy working with the company. I had to write an exam to get my license, which I did and passed on March 31st!!! Things are going good there. Good people and I've already made a bunch of friends there.

On March 11th, a new member of the family was born! Welcome Natalie !! My oldest cousin and his girlfriend welcomed Natalie into the world without any problems. Just a long 22 hour birth.

March 16th, Nicole and I went to the Toronto Marlies vs Grand Rapid Griffins (Detroit Red Wings) game. It was a close game and the Marlies got the game winning goal with 9 minutes left in the 3rd period. It was mascot day and there were tons of them running around the stadium. It was a lot of different players on the Marlies, since many had been called up to the Maple Leafs. The Marlies won 3-2. After the game we met Andy Wozniewski from the Marlies. Marlies Record when I'm in attendance: 6-1

On March 22nd Nicole and I went to see the play 'Rent', when it was here in Toronto for a few days that weekend. It was good. At times it was confusing with a few plots going on at the same time and singing being blended together. The music was great and they did have a good cast. I think 'We Will Rock You' is a better show though.

April 4th, my Dad and I went to the Toronto Blue Jays home opener against the Boston Red Sox. I got down there pretty early after work. Just in time for the doors opening at 5pm. Got in there and went to the Roberto Alomar autograph lineup. It was pretty big when I got into it. I knew there wasn't too much of a chance of getting an autograph but I tried anyways. If he signed for 10 more minutes I would have gotten one. I wasn't too upset, I met Alomar when I was younger and he signed a card for me. I will be meeting him in May and probably will get a photo signed by him then. The building was packed and my Dad got down there in time for the pre-game ceremonies. Roberto Alomar was honoured with his name and #12 going up on the 'Level of Excellence'. It was well deserved. He was one of the greatest Blue Jays ever. They had a cool tribute video and when it ended a light behind 2nd base lit up and there was Roberto! Of course the crowd gave him a loud standing ovation. He walked across second base, dug in his feet a bit when going through and touched 2nd base. The position he defined and played like a magician. He gave a speech and the crowd went nuts. Paul Beeston was also honoured with a spot in the 'Level of Excellence'. As for the game; it was Shaun Marcum pitching for the Jays against Tim Wakefield from Boston. The building was packed and pretty much sold-out. Matt Stairs opened the scoring with a home run and the Jays added a couple of more runs. But Boston would tie up the game at 3. The Jays would get back the lead when Frank Thomas doubled in 2 runs and the Jays would add another run for a 6-3 lead. Jeremy Accardo would come on in the 9th inning to save the game. When he had 2 outs a guy and his girlfriend ran onto the field, both shirtless. No she wasn't topless, she had on a bra. Fans started booing after the cops caught her and covered her up. There were also many fights in the 500 level. It seems like every home opener there are fights up there for some reason or the other. That's what happens when people pre-drink before getting into the stadium and the Rogers Centre kept selling more liqour to them once in the stadium. I think the AGCO (Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario) will be watching the Rogers Centre very carefully after the crazy things that happened this time. So the Jays are 1-0 when I'm in attendance this season. 

The job interview went well yesterday and I was there an hour speaking with them. They had many questions and I had plenty of answers for them. I feel that things went well, I got a good vibe from them. I should know sometime next week if I'm hired or not.

On Saturday February 23rd, my Dad, Nicole, Manmeet and I went to the Toronto Marlies vs Binghampton Senators game. Nicole and Manmeet were sitting in the section beside us. It was a good game the Marlies broke out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, the Senators would score one in the second period, but the Marlies would come back and score 3 more goals to chase them away. Justin Pogge got his 20th win of the season in net. After the game we met Robbie Earl from the Marlies who signed autographs for some of the fans. It was also Toronto Raptors day, Kris Humphries from the Raptors was there along with the Raptors dance pack and mascot the Raptor.
Marlies record when I'm in attendance: 5-1

Might be meeting Joe Carter from the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday March 1st. He will forever be remembered for his 1993 World Series winning home run in Skydome!

I had read in the newspaper last week.... U2 is in the studio recording!!!  Their time in Morocco helped them come up with many ideas and songs. I hope they can get the new album done intime for a fall release and tour!

It's about time.. I finally have an in-person interview with a good company on Tuesday. After months of doing phone interviews, replying to comapnies emails and sending many many many resumes around. I am excited about this opportunity, it is a really good company and I hope all goes well during the interview on Tuesday. 

Yes Roger Clemens is one of my favourite baseball players. I have a Clemens Houston Astros jersey (because I would never wear a Yankees or Red Sox jersey). I don't know what to believe with the allegations that he used HGH (Human Growth Hormones) and various types of steroids. I had Clemens' and Macnamee (his trainer late 90's-07) congressional hearing in Washington on my radio while baking today. Alot of the questioning and answering seemed vague. Clemens denied the usage of any performance enhancing drugs. Macnamee insisted that he injected him on multiple occasions with HGH and various steroids through that time period ( late 90's-07).. Various arguments were presented to support each side, without a clear answer if Clemens did or did not use drugs. Andy Pettite a teammate of Roger's gave statements that Clemens did use it and so did he. Clemens said Pettite missunderstood him in conversations about HGH. Some of the officials did get Macnamee to admit that he lied about certain information. That casts even more mud into this pool of confusion. I don't know what to believe if Clemens did use steroids or not. Macnamee nammed Pettite, Knoblauch and Clemens as 3 players he knew used steroids. Pettite and Knoblauch have come clean and admitted to using it. Roger Clemens has continuously denied using it very verbally. I know many media outlets are going to say Clemens is a liar and covering up, but Macnamee admitted under oath that he has lied multiple times as well. So who really knows who to believe. I sure don't. All I know is Roger Clemens was a great pitcher and I enjoyed watching him play the game.

Another of my favourite baseball players is also in trouble, Pedro Martinez was photographed at a cock fight. I don't know why he'd go to something like that. Obviously not using his brain.

Nicole and I went to the Toronto Marlies vs Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild) game on February 10th @ Ricoh Coliseum. It was one of the coldest days in Toronto this year. It had to be in the -20's, with very powerful winds blowing all day long. It was family day and there was a good crowd for the game. SpongeBob, Dora and Diego were there as a part of the family day festivities. The game was good, a close game with a 0-0 score going into the final minutes of the third period. When Andy Wozniewski actually shot the puck from his defensive position, it hit somebody infront of the net and scored the only goal needed to win the game! He was recently sent down to the AHL from the Toronto Maple Leafs, since Bryan McCabe has recovered from a broken wrist. As the Leafs get back to health a lot of the AHL call ups will be sent back to the Marlies like : Newbury and Ondrus who were both sent back down last week. Robbie Earl is still up with the Maple Leafs and so is Anton Stralman. I think Stralman should be up with the Leafs until the end of the regular season. Earl might get sent back down when a couple of the injured Leafs return. Back to the Marlies game, Justin Pogge got the shutout and improved his record to 18-4 for the season. You've got to think the Leafs will call him up to get a start sometime this year. He deserves a chance to play in the NHL. The Marlies record when I'm in attendance this season : 4-1.

The weather continues to be very cold here. There is another snow warning for today.

Met NHL legends Phil Esposito and Frank Mahovlich on Saturday. Both were great to meet and fantastic with the fans. If you know Phil Esposito his is loud and outspoken. He does not shy away from answering questions or speaking his mind. Some fans were asking him to write a ton of things on the items he was signing for them, he snapped at one person and told him "why don't you write it yourself?"... He told another person, "how do you expect me to write all of that on here? (in the number of a black Bruins jersey). He is good because he is himself. Frank Mahovlich was nice as always, chatting more with the older fans. He liked many of the items they had for him to sign which brought back many memories for him.

Another 30cm + of snow yesterday and more expected to come this weekend. I was right, it has not snowed this much since 1999 when I was in my final year of high school.

Saw the movie "27 Dresses" with Nicole on Tuesday. It's a chick flick, it was alright. It's about a woman that's always a bridesmaid but never a bride.

BJ Ryan of the Blue Jays should be reporting to spring training on time!!! (FEB 16th!!) After having surgery last year he is ahead of schedule for healing. He has not been bothered by any discomfort. If he feels 100% it will be great to see him back closing out games for the Jays.

It's sounding more and more like Peter Forsberg will be back on the Philadelphia Flyers before the NHL trade deadline!!!! 

WWE RAW @ Air Canada Centre in Toronto on May 5th. 

A lot of the big name old time Blue Jays are going to be making appearances in Toronto this season! Some of the names I already know... JOE CARTER, ROBERTO ALOMAR, DEVON WHITE & KELLY GRUBER !!! All four were key parts to winning the back-to-back World Series championships in the early 90's. 

The snowfalls have been consistent this year and it has not been like this since I was in high school. I think at the most there was one major snowfall while I went to University. This winter has brought a snow storm every few weeks, including the most recent one last Friday. Which I shoveled to quickly and hurt my back. It's still a bit sore today and I've got to take things easy for a little bit. I should be 100% soon enough.

Undertaker vs Edge should be the main event at Wrestlemania. Let them have the main event, they both deserve it. The other Wrestlemania main event sounds like Triple H vs Cena or a triple threat match including Randy Orton.

Last night was the Toronto Blue Jays flex pack buyer autograph session at the Rogers Centre. My Dad and I went down for it for the third year in a row. This year it was Dustin McGowan, Jeremy Accardo and Aaron Hill for the fans to meet. They moved the signing to the 100 level of Rogers Centre due to the Blue Jays locker room getting renovated for the 2008 season. The lineup moved pretty quickly and we got up to the players soon enough. First was Dustin McGowan (starting pitcher for the Jays, upcoming star), he was nice, signed my Rogers Centre photo and a 5x7 photo of him for me. Next was Jeremy Accardo(closer for the Jays when BJ Ryan got injured last season), I met him in September 2007 with Nicole at a student expo that was happening just outside of Rogers Centre after a Jays game. He was cool as always and I spoke with him a little bit:
Craig: So Jeremy, you are my girlfriend's favourite player.

I would have to say yes I'm confused about some certain situations with Doctors recently. My Dad was told he had a mild heart attack, he doesn't know when it happened. Sometime between February 2007 and December 2007. The doctor/person that did his test wrote that in his report that there was scarring on his heart. So naturally when that diagnosis is given, we all thought it was a mild heart attack. Our family doctor even said that it was a mild heart attack after reading the report she received. My Dad went to a cardiologist last week, she read his report and did not understand the diagnosis that he was given. She said it was not a heart attack at all. It was the enlarging of his aorta, which is due to high pressure. So how is it that the person giving the test saw something and reported it as one thing? When the specialist saw the same report and diagnosed it as something else? It's confusing and messes with your mind. My Dad's side of the family has a history of heart troubles, so it is annoying when people give different diagnosis'. It messes with the mind of the person that is diagnosed and the family as well. Hopefully everything will be cleared up this week after my Dad has some more tests done.

My Mom's had her doctor confusion. She's been going through a bunch of symptoms that they have no clue how to figure out. Some of it my be partially my Mom who won't take medications that she's been prescribed, mostly because she's scared to take it.

Doctors are just so rushed today and do not spend enough time with their patients. They get you in, rush you through and move on to the next patient. They get mad at you when you talk about more than one symptom since they are in a rush.

There has been a lot going on so far in 2008. Many family things that just keep happening one after another. I'm hopeful that everything going on will be alright and things will calm down.

I don't know why the Maple Leafs are taking forever to make a change. They are in 28-29th place in the NHL, obviously a change is needed. Last year at this time Philadelphia was at the bottom of the NHL, they didn't wait forever to make changes. They fired the coach, then booted Bobby Clarke as GM. Then the interm GM Paul Holmgren, made many trades to rebuild the Flyers. He traded Forsberg for 4 players, landed Martin Biron to solidify the goaltending situation, traded many other players to build a new team. The Maple Leafs need to do something like that soon.

The Toronto Blue Jays have traded Troy Glaus for Scott Rolen. I don't know what to think about that trade. I feel that it is pretty even. Glaus does have more power than Rolen, but he will always have problems with his feet/legs now. He lacked consistency when hitting. With runners in scoring position he'd hit into a double play to end the inning. He would also strikeout a lot. Rolen might not have as much power as Glaus, he does have a better on-base-percentage and average. He will get on base and drive in the runs more often, than swing for the fences.

My Dad and I will be going for the annual Blue Jays flex pack purchasers autograph session. This year the will be having Aaron Hill, Dustin McGowan and Jeremy Accardo. That is a good trio of players. Hill will be an All-Star someday, McGowan will be one of the top starting pitchers for the Jays and Accardo was a solid closer last season. It should be a fun night meeting all of them.

Nicole and I saw the movie The Bucket List on the weekend. It was a good movie which is very sad at times.  Everyone knows the plot, it's two men that have cancer and only have a short time left to live. So they make a list of things they wish to do before they 'kick the bucket'. I won't say too much more on what they do or what happens to ruin it for those that are going to see it. That's an idea for a journal entry sometime... A bucket list!

We also saw SuperBad recently... It was okay, not the greatest comedy as some have said it is. But it is funny. We also saw The Game Plan staring The Rock! It's a cute family Disney film. The Rock is great in his role as a football player who finds out he has a daughter. I think he is going to make another Disney movie because of his success in this film.

Books that I have finished reading after Bret 'Hitman' Hart's autobiography:
I am What I Ate and I'm Frightened- Bill Cosby. It's a humourous account of Bill Cosby going through health issues in his life. Something that many people face when getting older and realizing that certain things they ate (chips, fried foods, fatty foods, salty foods) all add up inside your body. Bill Cosby takes a funny approach to the subject and delivers a good novel.
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100- two authors. It is a good book about the top 100 players in Toronto Maple Leafs history. I agree with many of the top players. It's when you get further down in the list and see Bryan McCabe ranked higher than Maple Leafs that won multiple Stanley Cups, NHL awards and honours, that makes you wonder about the people that judged the list. Since the 2006 Olympics Bryan McCabe has not performed at a high level, his production has dropped significantly and he was constantly boo-ed earlier this season. I do not think McCabe has won a single NHL award while with the Maple Leafs. Those that have won Stanley Cups & other awards should be well ahead of McCabe.
Cosbyology- Bill Cosby. Another book from Bill Cosby, this time about various things in life. From his early performances to social situations. Its a funny book written in Bill Cosby's own distinct style.