Papa Fred!

Two weeks to the day after my late, great Nana would have turned 75 years young, my late, great Papa would/does share that same distinction today.

I wish I could put into words how my special a role my Papa played/still plays in my life. Though he's not physically here on earth, I know he is always with me (except when I shower), and my family, and knowing that provides us with an extreme measure of comfort.

My Papa Fred was firm but fair - I value his opinion and tried my best to make him proud always. I was always close with my Grandparents, and when my bro and I would call to see how they were/plan a visit, they always told us how much that meant. Truth is, I never did it because I felt obligated; I did it because I love them and loved talking to them.

My Nana and Papa's was the site of my first of glimpses of WWF Wrestling when they baby-sat us way back in 80's.

We always shared a lot of laughs (and drinks), and I like to think I get my ability to joke from him, as he was hilarious! He's the type of guy that would do anything for anyone.

 I really wish he could have been here to meet Michael (or "Billy" as my Papa dubbed him when Amanda was pregnant and unaware of the sex). But again, I know he's watching over us with my Nana and Uncle Mike!

Seeing what him and my Nana went through on their deathbeds were the hardest moments of my life, hands down. I don't wish that on anybody. My Papa was always a strong dude (he had some classic brawls in his day) and an example of that was when he was sick in the hospital we were shooting the breeze and watching the hockey game when he gave me a little "playful" punch on the arm. Needless to say, he packed a punch alright, haha!

Tonight, I am going to gather with some family and friends and share some laughs and drinks - just like I used to with my Papa!

Miss ya, buddy - I'll bring the beers, I'll bring the beers!

Love,

Steve

PS - Happy May! May 1st was always cool in my books as that was the B-day of our also late, great cat, Patches Rudegar Gillon!

Song Of The Week

Lay Me Down - The Talking Heads

Nice, summery tune I heard last week on the Edge.

Check it out on Grooveshark.

Possible New Look for New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Flick?

This pic was taken from the story on Fused Film's site, which informed readers that this may in fact be the new look for the TMNT in the upcoming flick.

It was quickly debunked however, saying this was a student's art project done at Tom Savini's school.

At first I didn't dig the look at all, but the more I see and study (I'm a gigantic TMNT fan/nerd) the pic, it grows on me. If the face looked less aged and more muscular, I would be completely down! I love the tattered headband as well, as it makes it look like the turtles found them as opposed to sewing them themselves.

Not sure what the stati of this movie is as of now, what with Nickelodeon purchasing the rights to the name late last year. It was originally proposed that it they would be returning to their roots by going back to live action and in the same vein as Batman, Superman, and the upcoming Spider-man, starting the story fresh.

Then it was reported that the other characters would be live action, but the turtles would be CGI, which seemed a little "iffy", but now the idea of live action turtles with CGI heads is being tossed around, and is cool enough for me.

I still cannot wait! I don't want to get all fanboy up in here. Can it touch the original? Maybe not, but I also thought Batman Begins wouldn't be that great as well, and look how amazing that series became.

I watched Turtles 1 last weekend, and it still holds up - I still think they could get away using the exact same costumes, but I realize that it's been twenty years and some updated costumes are most likely high priority.

I'll definitely be posting more on this situation as the deets become available.

T-U-R-T-L-E POWER,

Steve

CUPCAKE PEBBLES???!!!???

Just heard about this - and I am intrigued to say the least.

Fruity Pebbles is hands down one of the best tasting and smelling cereals, so I am confident this breakfast dish will not fail to deliver.

A road trip to the States may be in order in the very near future, to obtain a box or five.

Ah, the things a near 26-year-old will do for some cereal...

OK.......GO!

Today is the day. 7ish more hours at work and then I meet James, have some eats, beers and laughs (not sure of the exact order) and then see probably my favorite existing band (neck n' neck with Relient K)....OK GO!

The summer of 2002 was the first time I had heard the wonderous vocals and saw the video for 'Get Over It' on MTV2 and I was hooked ever since.

This performance tonight marks the 4th time I have seen Mr. Damian Kulash and the gang in action, here are some brief recounts of the first three:

April 5th, 2005:

I woke up that morning from a phone call from my Aunt, informing the family my Uncle Mike had suffered a heart attack. Things went from bad to horribly worse when we found out that he had died from said heart attack.

Needless to say I spent the rest of the day with my family, who encouraged me to attend the show, as a coping mechanism; a way to temporarily take my mind off of things.
Noel, Justin and I were originally set to see this show together, but Justin couldn't make it, so it was just Noel and I.
These were the days of part-time working, so to say funds were lacking for me, was putting it mildly.
We set sail to Toronto, and after purchasing our GO tickets, we were down to our final five dollars. Now, obviously being the semi-responsible dudes you see before you today, it's safe to say we kept that five dollars, in case we need a (2-second) cab ride for later, right?
WRONG! We blew that fin on Hot Dogs like they were the last 2 of their kind.
Now that our hunger issue was rectified, it came to our attention that we literally had no idea of the coordinates of the venue, which was El Mocambo. Turns out, we were about an hour walk away, no problem for two young twenty-somethings.
We made it finally and sat in the club and saying there were forty people there would be generous. I saw the band setting up, and should have said hey, but I was feeling pretty bummed. I hoped there would be another chance.
The set was amazing, they played a lot of songs we didn't know off their upcoming record, 'Oh No.'
Some songs resonated with me that night, because of the situation with my uncle; two in particular. 'Let It Rain', which was from the new album, and I couldn't really make out most of the vocals, but the chorus struck a chord within me and when I actually heard the album that fall, it came full circle to how it actually related to the situation. And, 'Return', off of their debut album, finishes with the line, "and you, you were supposed to grow old. Reckless, unfrightened and old, you were supposed to grow old." Crazy stuff.
Things took a crazier turn when the clock struck 11:30pm. OK GO was still rocking out, but I mentioned to Noel the last bus left in an hour and we may not make it. Noel quelled my fears and assured me we would make it and to just enjoy ourselves. The set finished up minutes later, and we raced to the terminal cheetah style. Noel said if we didn't make it, we could just sleep in the bus terminal. Maybe it was the hot dog making a comeback, but that idea didn't sit well with me.
We made it though, but we had to cab from downtown Hamilton to Noel's Mom's and have her meet us at the door with cabfare. I wish I could say that's the dumbest thing we have ever done, but alas, not even close.
It did take my mind off of things temporarily, what with the no cash, almost stranded, and a huge sense of misdirection, but a great time with an even greater pal!

March 2006:
Noel and I didn't have to stray too far this time, nor were we anywhere near as poverty stricken when he headed to the Undergound in our native Hamilton. Joined by Noels fiance, Randi and our pal, James.
Great set, and James and I met Tim Nordwind, and tried to get a picture with him, but our attempt was thwarted by the dim lighting inside the place.
We were near the back, and Damiam, the lead singer made his way to the bathroom. My insisting we wait to say hey when he emerged from the bathroom was met with apathy and disgust from my party, but he came out, James and I said hey and that they were awesome, and he replied with a simple but rad, "thank you, sirs." Amazing time!

June 2007:
Not too much of note here. They opened for the Fray at the Molson Ampitheatre in Toronto. Pretty solid set, playing a few new jams!

A lot has happened from 2002 to current. OK GO has 3 full-length records out, as well as some EP's, and they have a Grammy on their shelf at home, not to mention several successful videos that get millions of hits on Youtube and has even been parodied by the Simpsons.
I think it's cool seeing a person, or a collective ensemble change and mature over the years. And how I have as well growing heading into my twenties listening to them.

They are on more of a roll than ever and tonight I will raise a beer (or 9) in tribute of OK GO, and what they represent, and what they represent to me.

Cowabunga,

Steve

PS - If you have never heard, rarely listen to, or need a refresher course on why OK GO is so "ill" as the kids say (how's THAT for street cred.) here is some required listening:

-Get Over It (OK GO)
-What To Do (OK GO)
-Here It Goes Again (Oh No)
-A Good Idea At The Time (Oh No)
-Let It Rain (Oh No)
-Rock And Roll Suicide - David Bowie Cover (You're Not Alone Feat. Bonerama)
-This Too Shall Pass (Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky)
-White Knuckles (Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky)
-I Want You So Bad I Can't Breathe (Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky)

Batman: Under The Red Hood Trailer

Featuring NPH himself!

KICK-ASS kicked...

BUTT!

What a great little movie, that shows the dangers of becoming a super-hero, but not enough that I didn't still want to be one at the end of the film.

My bro and I had a fun time seeing this, and it was filled with lots of blood, action, super-hero references and one-liners.

Still can't wait to read the comics, and hopefully the reputation of this movie isn't compromised by future sequels. As a stand-alone flick though, super solid - pun intended.

PEPSUBER!

SNL: MacGruber Pepsi Skit #2 - MyVideo

Thoughts from ze week!

Well, it's Friday. A gorgeous, sunny Friday to be precise. I've been covering the shipping dept. at work, which normally can be stressful, though I try to refrain from that feeling...but today has been pretty chill - a feeling I wholeheartidly suscribe to.

Here are some thoughts that are running, erm, jogging...fine, power-walking through my brain-case:

-Today (April 16th) is my Nana's birthday. She would have been 75 years young today. And she is...in heaven with my Papa and Uncle! My Nana went through more in the last two years then most people go through in an entire lifetime...plus ten! She is definitely an inspiration to me, and the toughest son-of-a-gun I have ever met - I see where my Mom gets it! I'm working on that book, Nana! Vodka and beers in your honour tonight! Book out!

-Watching Mikey, my nephew walk live, in-person, was seriously one of the coolest moments I have ever been privy to. I'm so proud of the dude, though I can't take a single ounce of credit. He's going to be a little monster, and I can't wait! I have always said if I can be seen by him half in the light I saw/see my Uncle/G-rents in - mission accomplished!

-Staying positive for my Sister!

-Helping Katie move this week shall be fun! I'll be hungover, which is usually a prerequisite when aiding someone in moving!

-Laundry can take longer than expected, especially when commencing near midnight, after a long day o' work...ah the job of an adult (and Spider-Man) is never done!

-Noel and I's company, Try This On For Size, is snowballing, and I am glad to be a part of it! Sometimes, reluctantcy is for the birds!

-OK Go concert next Friday, with my homeboy James! Stoked, for the first time may be a gigantic understatement!

-Skimboarding weather is fast approaching!

-Totally loved the Scott Pilgrim series - anticipating highly the movie and vol. 6! On the same note, the farther I get in Walking Dead, and Y The Last Man, the more invested I become - the mark of true storytelling.

-Entourage = great!

-Rickard's White = greatest!

That's all for now,

Stevetron!

Get well, get well soon. We want you to get well!

This blog goes out to one of my best friends, and probably one of, if not the nicest guys I have ever met; Brendan Kelly!

Brenski is still living the dream of pro-wrestling, but yesterday he was dealt a crappy hand when he blew out his knee after hopping down from the middle rope, after posing for the capacity crowd.

Unfortunately this isn't an isolated incident for Brendan, who wrestles as Cody Shore, as he suffered the exact same fate four years ago, and required a knee scope as a result.

I'm not sure what the future holds for him now, but I hope he recovers and can make it back for at least one more match of high calibur.

It's crazy, I was asked to wrestle in that same show, in that same match, but I gave up the mat game in 2007 after getting to wrestle one of my favorites, Chris Sabin. I actually messed up my knee 2 days before (nothing as crazy as Brendan's) but it was scary as I had limited mobility. By the time the show came around, it went off nearly without a hitch, but the risk factor involved is nuts.

Speaking of risks, Brendan, the trooper that he is, refused help and still participated in the match, even pulling off a wicked flip over the top rope onto the other 5 competitors!

I guess what I learned from yesterday was that a: Brendan should never acknowledge the fans unless he is on level ground, and b: I re-realized just how dangerous wrestling can be. Sure, seeing dudes dumped on their heads is awesome (to a select group of sickos anyways. Myself included.)

Maybe I am just getting old, I am not sure. Maybe I just appreciate life and well-being as in general. No matter what though, I hope my friend recovers fully!

PS - it may seem Brendan is made of glass, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact he has been on the receiving end of so much punishment over the years in the ring (mostly from Noel, though, I managed to get some offense in too, although it was paid back to me, haha). The guy has been beaten silly, only to shrug it off, but this is what gets him over and over. Irony at it's best...or perhaps, worst!

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World Trailer!

Big fan of the SP books (just recently read the first 4) and Michael Cera is pretty funny despite being typecast as awkward in almost every role he's been featured in. But that fits here; like it also did in Superbad & Arrested Development.

Speaking of AD, Cera's girlfriend on the show, Ann Veal, played by Mae Whitman is also in the film.

This comic book is filled with canadiana, and unlimited music and video game references. Hopefully this translates into a great movie, and I have faith knowing Edgar Wright (of Shaun of the Dead & Hot Fuzz fame) is directing this bad boy!


teaser trailer de Scott Pilgrim
Uploaded by masalladeorion. - Full seasons and entire episodes online.

Of the world...

Since I currently don't have enough rupies required to set forth on a quest to touch every corner of the globe, I have decided, in the meantime to taste beers from every corner of the globe.

I hope to accomplish this as quickly and as enjoyably as possible without getting alcohol poisoning.

This could be fun!

Doctor Horrible in 8-bit!

http://www.doctoroctoroc.com/8-bit-dr-horrible/watch.html

The Expendables Movie Trailer!!!

The Expendables Movie Trailer
Uploaded by ign. - Click for more console and PC gaming videos.

Easter Weekend/Uncle Mike!

Rad weekend which consisted of spending Easter with the Fam, Katie and friends!

I also moved, which is a big change. Pretty home-sick, but as a great man once said, "it's not like I am moving to albuquerque or anything..."

That great man was my Uncle Mike, who passed away 5 years ago today. Not a day goes by where I don't thank God we got to hang out. You are such a huge part of my life and you helped me more than you will ever know. Watching wrestling, scary movies and listening to music were some of the many great times I look back on with a smile. I try to pay tribute each April 5 by toasting a beer with the Fam for you!

Comics!

Here is what I have been reading as of late. Bless the library!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...

Well this particular picture may be worth one MILLION words.

Taken after both mens swan song this past Sunday at Wrestlemania 26, it's great to see Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart have finally buried the hatchet.

Few things surprise me and I believe in wrestling's mantra of "never say never" but this is one thing I never thought I would see again, and I have never been happier being wrong.

Nothing in wrestling will ever be as surreal to me as the night (1/4/2010) these men first came into contact with each other after twelve years.

Two of the all-time greats!