My Condo Daydream

One of my future goals is to live in a condo.  I've always loved the bright lights and the excitement of the big city, and there are many things about home ownership that are becoming increasingly bothersome as the years go by.  I don't mind doing some basic yard work, but shoveling snow and anything more than absolute basic repairs are an issue.  After all, duct tape can't be used to fix everything.

Here's my shopping list for the dream condo:

• Newer, energy-efficient building;
• Close to the subway or train;
• NO pool - I don't love swimming, and the maintenance costs could be problematic down the road;
• An upper floor, so I could enjoy the city lights; and
• NO loft layout - climbing stairs should be avoided at all costs.

So, now all I have to do is find a few extra hundred thousand dollars, and talk Jen out of her hatred of big cities, and this dream can come true!

OK, so I was right after all...

Who called this?

OK, I did.

Go, Blue Jackets, Flyers, BRUINS, Go!

OK, so I was wrong...again!

It would seem that I was premature in writing off the Canucks.  I had no idea that Luongo was going to shave, breaking a playoff tradition that would have ensured a blow-out.  Stay tuned.  Based on years of experience, I'm still quite confident that Chicago will prevail.  Now that I think of it, it makes sense that Vancouver would be eliminated on home ice.  It's just more painful that way.


...and speaking of painful, imagine being Sami Salo - taking a slapshot to the junk, and suffering through a ruptured testicle.  Ouch. 

"My" NHL Team

Later today, the Chicago Blackhawks will mercifully pull the plug on yet another disappointing Vancouver Canucks' season.  There will be wailing, gnashing of teeth and rending of garments.  But not by me.  I am a Columbus Blue Jackets Philadelphia Flyers Boston Bruins fan.

Make that sound effect that they use on LOST when they show you a character's flashback:  The first time my heart was broken by the Canucks was back in 1994, when they lost in the seventh game of the finals to Messier and the Rangers.  So close, yet so far.

Heartbreak followed each and every year.  New star players are brought in, but there's always a big injury, some bad calls or just a better opponent that always seem to get the better of the Canucks.  This year will be no different.  Woulda. Coulda. Shoulda.  Whatever.  About a year and a half ago, the Canucks lost a meaningless mid-season game to Minnesota.  Minny had played the night before, losing to Edmonton, while the 'Nuks were cooling their heels at home.  It wasn't even close.  After the loss, I took my "lucky" Trevor Linden jersey down to the Sally Anne, scraped off my Orca Bay bumper sticker, and went looking for another team to support.

Here's the thing:  that day, I learned a valuable life lesson - you avoid all that heartbreak by cheering for a really crappy team.  Toronto Maple Leaf fans have known this secret for generations.  Every win is an unexpected surprise.  When teams like "my" Jackets, "my" Blue Jays, or "my" Toronto FC manage to briefly rise above the ranks of the mediocre, it's a thing of beauty.

I never understood fans like my buddy Leon, who's a NY Yankees (and Boston Bruins*) fan.  Where's the payoff?  If they win (again), there's no surprise involved - look at their payroll!  They're supposed to win.  It's like cheering for the Harlem Globetrotters or voting Liberal.

I say break free from the flock, be an individual, and root for the underdog.  Hang your Rick Nash jersey up in your cubicle at work, mention to your coworkers that you had a great time at the Nine Inch Nails concert.  Tell everyone that you can no longer attend the company BBQ, as you are now a devout follower of Jainism.  Your life will suddenly be filled with an unexpected peace and joy that you never had as a 'Nucklehead.

*At least, now, in 2013, I understand the Bruins thing!  GO BRUINS!

...hence the name...

On several occasions over the last few years, I've stopped by Future Shop, and drooled over the Mac computers.  The Garageband program, in particular, looked to be a fun tool to spend some time with, and one of my many dreams is to eventually buy a Macbook, and using Garageband, assemble some music.  The process can be fairly simple, and if you can find the snippets of music that more or less match the music you keep hearing in your head, you can build a song in a few hours.  No awkward music lessons required.

Part of this particular daydream was to eventually come up with enough music so that I could plug my Macbook in at Open Mic night.  Clearly, I'd have to come up with song titles and a band name.  iRandy and the Garagebanditos was the result.  

There are several other music composition programs out there, and a few years ago, I even downloaded a Windows-friendly program, and created some music.  Unfortunately, our computer died shortly thereafter, and my few pitiful songs - including my first opus, "Hoptercopter Blues", died with it.

The dream hasn't died though.  One day, (likely when we can least afford it) our Acer laptop will bite the big one, and we'll have to replace it.  Hopefully with a Macbook.  With Garageband installed on it.  You can see where this is heading.  Before you know it, I'll have the band back together.