The Footsteps Of Me

2011-06-08T15:35:00.002-04:00

Well, didn't make the 190 goal......in fact I am still about the same weight. Long work days were my excuse......now unfortunately I am living with a MCL injury that is holding up my progress

Spinning the real deal.....

2011-01-29T14:19:00.002-05:00

Well in my last entry I mentioned I was going to start spinning, now with 4 classes in my legs and a 5th one tomorrow I feel comfortable saying that spinning is great exercise and also an enjoyable way (finally) to do cardio.

On January 1, 2011 I weighed in at 222.5, yetserday I weighed in at 217.5 therefore a 5 pound lose. If I can continue to lose 5-7 pounds for the next few months I will meet my goal of being 190lbs by June 1, 2011.

Wish me luck!!

So it begins.......1 rEvolution at a time

2011-01-21T22:41:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow I will be attending my first spin class ever.....hopefully I can last the 45minutes.

Why am I going you ask? Well I know that is rhetorical since no one reads this thing but hey, I will answer anyway. On January 1, 2011 I weighed in at 222.5 pounds this is not acceptable considering I plan to get back into cycling in the summer of 2011. So my goal is to lose 32.5 pounds by June 1, 2011 and get down to a maximum of 190 pounds. Now that may still sound heavy and for cycling it is but for my build at 190 pounds I will be in hopefully phenominal shape......so tomorrow begins the transformation, at some point after the class I will post an update.

If anyone does read this checkout www.jointherevolution.ca

Twitter

2010-02-05T10:27:00.005-05:00

Well here I am in February 2010 and I have been convinced to join the world of Twitter.....I signed up last night but I am not overly convinced of its functionality for the average joe. Anyway I will stick with it for the next little while and see what comes of it. One good thing though is that I have added this blog web address to my profile so I will need to update the blog more often...I know no one reads this blog but if anyone finds it I can be followed here:
http://twitter.com/Billy_Blogger

Cheers for now

Nightmare Dream

2010-02-05T10:23:00.003-05:00

Well there I was during my evening commute stuck in traffic......so what else to do write a poem/song influenced by the Haiti earthquake.....so here it is but remember it was written very quick on my blackberry while in traffic.

That mid afternoon
My world came tumbling down
With any clue
I lost you
I dug and I searched
And listen for your scream
I need to awake from this
Nightmare dream
You've been taken away
To you, so much I have to say
I want you, I need you, I love you
The days go by
I'm empty inside
Each day and each night
I sit and cry
I need to awake from this
Nightmare dream
You've been taken away
To you, so much I have to say
I want you, I need you, I love you
As the sun rose
I looked to the sky
In the cloud I saw your face
The sun was a twinkle in your eye
Your gone but
Your still here
You are my angel
That is always near
I need to awake from this
Nightmare dream
You've been taken away
To you, so much I have to say
I want you, I need you, I love you
As we rebuild and start off new
Through my life I'll
Never forget you
We'll be together again
When I rise up my sun beam
I need to awake from this
Nightmare dream
You've been taken away
To you, so much I have to say
I want you, I need you, I love you
I want you, I need you, I love you

Not much to say......

2009-12-17T21:25:00.003-05:00

Well here I am back again....I don't have much to say this time but I figured I would write something down to try and get into the swing of blogging.....I really want to write in this more often but really I am just to lazy or I forget.....mostly forget.

Well the holiday season is upon us and after the gift giving it will be time to once again make those damn New Year's resolutions that we all fail at. Usually I don't bother making them because in all honesty is is just another day but this year I am going to. In the year 2010 I am going to try and teach myself to play the quitar with the goal being to be able to play one complete popular song from either 2009 or 2010 by the end of the year.......wish me luck.

Anyway, that is it for now, I would say thanks for reading but I know noone actually read this.....

I want to be patient, I really do....

2009-03-11T23:01:00.003-04:00

Very recently I was told by an old friend from high school that she wanted me to meet one of her friends since we were both single and thought we would be a good match. To avoid the uncomfortable situation of a blind date and or chance encounter orchestrated by our mutual friend I took the first step and contacted the girl via facebook....cheesy I know, but is that not what facebook is for, to network? Anyway, although I was nervous about that approach it seemed to work out well, I received a reply relatively quickly and it was pleasant...not the "piss off stalker" reply I was afraid of. Anyway since that facebook message leap of faith it has been about 2 weeks and things have been going well but unfortunately only through the use of technology. Due to the fact that we are both extremely busy people, (her more so than me at the moment) we are finding it very hard to find time to actually meet in person.....but to be quite honest after a few telephone conversations and 100's of text messages I do still feel like it is going well. The problem is, I really want to meet this girl and I firmly believe that she also wants to meet me but due to our busy lives and this being the busiest time of year for her profession I don't see it happening any time soon. Realistically we may have to wait another month and a half to actually meet. I believe we are both intrigued by the other but I fear that trying to get to know someone or dare I say start a relationship via text messages is trying to say the least. I want to be patient, I really do and I believe I am doing a pretty good job so far but what if I remain patient and then she decides that she is not willing to be patient? Or what if a text message is interpreted wrong due to the lack of voice tone or inability to see facial expression or body language? To be truthful there are a few discouraging things....I have offered numerous ways for us to meet but none seem to fit in her schedule, although she say and I believe her that she is not avoiding me or being conveniently unavailable there is still that part in the back of my mind that wonders. Secondly is the apparent lack of effort or maybe a better word is interest in simply meeting for a quick coffee or drink. We both understand that each other is busy but I know I am more than willing to find 30 minutes or an hour to meet her even if that means sacrifice some sleep time as I am doing right now.....again there is a part in the back of my mind that wonders why her effort or interest isn't equal to mine. I am not in anyway desperate to find a relationship, in fact I wasn't even actively looking before our mutual friend mentioned us to one another so I don't believe I am getting over anxious by any means, but again to be truthful I do worry that I may sometimes come across to forward and this may be part of the problem.

Anyway, I hope something comes up or maybe better yet gets cancelled in the very near future so I can actually meet this girl that has wholeheartedly peaked my interest. We'll have to just wait and see but until then I will just remind myself..

I WANT TO BE PATIENT, I REALLY DO...

Was found but now I am lost....

2009-02-28T00:31:00.003-05:00

My life used to be in such order, I new where I was going and I knew where home was and who I was going home to. Now I am not sure where my life is headed and everyday I am know I am going home to be alone....I used to have a master plan but now I feel I am simply a peasant to follow someone else's master plan. Life is hard and as we all know it is full of ups and downs, lately I have had more downs, but I am strong and confident enough to know that the ups are coming. I am sure we have all felt this way at one time or another but at the current time I feel like I am just spinning my wheels and hoping to gain some traction so I can begin to progress, I know it is coming though. Hopefully within the next year I will make a career advancement and possibly start a supplimental career teaching at my local college.

Back to my personal life though, I always beleived marriage was forever....but I got proved wrong. But I am lucky with the way my marriage came to an end because there was no drama, no traumatic experience that caused and massive uproar....the relationship just came to an end and we both realized it and therefore the split was amicable with no drama. That fact I am grateful for but it still leaves me at a crossroads.....where do I go from here?

Curtain Call.....

2009-02-23T19:38:00.003-05:00

What would you do if today you woke knowing that it was going to be your last day to be alive? Would you sit on the end of your bed shedding tears? Or would you take your final day to celebrate the life you have lived instead of worrying about it coming to an end?

Myself, I would take the time to celebrate and hopefully have the opportunity to tell some people, who may be unaware, exactly what type of influence they had/have on my life.

There are 3 girls from my past that I have known for 17, 20, and 22 years respectively that I would want to see one last time. The girl I knew 17 years ago I simply want to sit down and talk to; I want to explain and hear her explanation. But mostly I just want to give her a hug and let her know that I have never forgotten nor will I ever. The girl from 20 years ago......I just want that one kiss that should have happened a long time ago....and to reminisce about all the good times we had. And last but so so far from least is the girl I have known for 22 years.....she has been my crush, my shoulder, and my best friend and I like to think I have been all of those to her as well. On my final day I would want to see her to make sure she knows how much I appreciate our friendship even though we are now separated by a large distance. As we parted ways on this final day I would give her a loving hug and kiss.....not a kiss of passion but of admiration for who she was, who she is, and who she will become.

My friends......there are a handful of guys that I consider to be good fiends, we have all shared some good times, crazy times and even some unfortunate sad times that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy (if I had any). On my last day I would simply like to do what we have all done a million times in the past and that is to pull up a barstool and have a drink. Drinking with the guys has always been a favorite past time of mine and would love the chance to do it one last time....

Last but not least I would spend time with my family. I think all of us can say that we have never really expressed to our parents exactly what they mean to us. During my final day I would be sure to let my parents know just how much of an influence they had on my life and let them know I appreciate all they have done for me. I would spend time with my brother and his children to ensure they always remember me. But the most important part of my final day would be the time I spend with my son....for the past 5 years he has been my life, my best friend, my everything. We would go for a hike in Woodend as we have so many times before and on the way home we would stop off at McDonald's for a Happy Meal.....Chicken Nuggets, Apple Slices and Fruitopia. After the meal we would head home and spend the rest of the day and evening wrestling, playing soccer and board games.....maybe even help him with his Harry Potter PS2 game.....but my final act on my final day would be to simply crawl into bed with my son...my best friend and hold him in my arms as we both fall asleep, there is no where I would rather be during these my final moments....

If anyone ever reads this I hope you enjoyed my creative writing, but please realize this is nothing more than creative writing. Occasionally thinking about your own mortality is actually quite a liberating experience and an eye opener into your own soul. Feel free to try this exercise someday.......I look forward to furthering this blog and I hope you enjoy reading this entry as well as the many more to come..Cheers

Did You Ever Fall In Love?

2008-04-22T15:11:00.000-04:00

DID YOU?

DID YOU EVER LOVE A GIRL
BUT KNEW SHE DIDN’T CARE
DI DYOU EVER FEEL LIKE CRYING
BUT KNEW YOU’D GET NOWHERE

DID YOU EVER SEE HER DANCING
WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE DOWN LOW
DID YOU EVER WHISPER GOD I LOVE YOU
BUT NEVER LET HER KNOW

DID YOU EVER LOOK INTO HER EYES
AND SAY A LITTLE PRAYER
DID YOU EVER LOOK INTO HER HEART
AND WISH THAT YOU WERE THERE

DON’T EVER FALL IN LOVE
IT DOESN’T PAY A DIME
IT ONLY CAUSES BROKEN HEARTS
YET IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME

DON’T EVER FALL IN LOVE MY FRIEND
YOU’LL HURT BEFORE IT’S THROUGH
YOU SEE I OUGHT TO KNOW
I FELL IN LOVE WITH YOU

Street Life ( Another poem from my highschool years)

2008-04-17T08:19:00.001-04:00

STREET LIFE

HERE I SIT
ALONE AND SCARED
WONDERING IF MY
PARENTS CARED

THAT I GOT UP
AND RAN AWAY
NOT TO BE IN THAT
HOUSE ANOTHER DAY

I SIT ON A CORNER
FREEZING COLD
AND BEYOND MY YEARS
I’M GROWING OLD

I BEG AND STEAL
JUST TO EAT
I NO LONGER HAVE SHOES
TO COVER MY FEET

PEOPLE SPIT AND FROWN
AND CURSE AT MY SIGHT
BUT LET’S SEE THEM,
MAKE IT THROUGH A WINTERS NIGHT

TO GET THROUGH THE DAY
I HAD TO GET HIGH
GETTING DRUGS ON THE STREET
WAS AS EASY AS PIE

THE SAME NEEDLE WAS
USED BY US ALL
THE SKINNY THE FAT
THE SHORT AND TALL

I HAD A FRIEND DIE
NEARLY BY THE WEEK
BUT NO ONE CARED
JUST ONE LESS FREAK

BECAUSE TO THE REST
OF THE WORLD WE’RE JUST SCUM
SITTING ON THE CORNER
ALL FROZEN AND NUMB

NOW I LAY DEAD
JUST ANOTHER STAT
AND SOCIETY WONDERS
HOW I LIVED LIKE THAT

Blasts From The Past

2008-04-16T11:21:00.001-04:00

So here I am looking around some old emails and I find an email that I sent to myself from my parents computer after I moved out of their house. This email contains a number of poems that I wrote in my highschool years, approximately 15 years ago. So I thought for shits and giggles I would share these with you, so my next few posts will be these found poems.......good times good times!!!

So here we go.....

HOW

THE RAINBOWS SHOWING
THE POT OF GOLD
TELLING THE SADEST STORY
THAT’S EVER BEEN TOLD

IT RINGS OUT LIKE
A CHILDS CRY
IT MAKES ME THINK
AND WONDER WHY

SEEING THE PAIN
THAT YOU GO THROUGH
MAKES ME WONDER
WHY IT HAPPENS TO YOU

I WISH I COULD SAVE YOU
FROM YOUR UNDENIABLE FATE
I JUST HOPE AND PRAY
THAT I’M NOT TO LATE

YOUR SMILE BRIGHTENS
UP EVERYDAY BUT
YOUR TEARS CHASE
THAT JOY AWAY

SO YOU MADE
A LITTLE MISTAKE
BUT A REASON TO HIT YOU
THAT DOES NOT MAKE

THIS IS SOMETHING
I CAN’T BELIEVE HE DID
HOW CAN SOMEONE
HIT THEIR KID

Emotionally Gone

2008-03-27T14:20:00.002-04:00

I used to be a happy man
Living life to the fullest
Enjoying the little things
That made up our love and lust

Times are changing
A new day has dawn
It’s time to move on
You’re emotionally gone

Now life has changed
You’ve moved on
Pulling away from me
You’re emotionally gone

My emotions are all over
Neither happy nor sad
Each day I go through the motions
How did things get so bad

Like a puppet you pull
All my strings
Making me do your bidding
And stop my favorite things

In your game of chess
I am just a pawn
You have made me
Emotionally gone

My life has be taken
My smile has been drawn
Away from my face
I’m emotionally gone

It’s time to move forward
You’ve made me withdrawn
Time to go out on my own
I’m emotionally gone

I’m so tired of fighting
I can’t even yawn
Now that we’re both
Emotionally gone

I’m leaving now
This conclusion is foregone
It’s all your fault
That I have become...
Emotionally gone

Spring is here

2008-03-21T15:13:00.000-04:00

So spring is here and with it comes the time for everyone to turn over a new leaf and start a new, essentially we can all do our own proverbial spring cleaning of our mind, body and soul. I for one am going to attempt to stop using my lack of spare time as an excuse to avoid going to the gym or exercising. I really need to get off my ass and get in shape for the upcoming soccer/cycling season.

I am looking forward to the warmer weather so I can once again start going for my weekly hikes with my son at a local conservation area. Hiking with my son is one of my favorite things because it leads to my son having exposure to the outdoors away from video games and Disney movies. Actually speaking of Disney I am going there the first week of April, can you believe I am 32 years old and have never been to Disney…..what cheap parents I had……LOL.

Well that’s all I have for now……next week I am off to Columbus Ohio to watch Toronto FC’s season opener against the Columbus Crew and then the very next day off to Disney as I previously mention. If I don’t make another entry before then I will be sure to update my blog on my trip to both Columbus and Disney as I am sure they will both be a blast.

It has been too long....

2008-03-11T10:15:00.004-04:00

So it has been just under a week since I last made an entry to my blog, which is way too long. Now I know that basically I am writing this blog for myself since I don't think that anyone else reads it but what the hell, its therapeutic.....right? Wow, now I am even talking to myself via my blog, I hope I am not losing it. Anyway I spent the weekend shoveling out my driveway from the near 30 centimeters of snow that fell and believe it or not it really wasn't much fun, but what can you do. All I know is that spring is just around the corner and not only will that bring warmer weather but it also means the return of Toronto FC for their sophmore season. I will be kicking off Toronto FC's second season with about 2000 of my closest friends at Crew Stadium in Columbus Ohio on March 29th. This game is turning into a monumentus event......I bet this will be the largest contingent of MLS traveling supporters in the history of the league. Now I just hope that Toronto FC is able to match the enthusiasm and determination of its fans including the casual supporter and the rabid members of the various supporters groups. Last year Toronto FC finished last in the league and also managed to set a league redord for the longest time without a goal....not really the records you want to have in your trophy case. Let it be said though that Toronto FC did suffer from many many injuries last season so if the team can stay healthy this season a top third or middle of the pack finish is well with in their grasp. Obvioulsy I would love to see Toronto FC win their division and then go on to win the MLS Cup but I am a realist and it still may be a bit early for such lofty goals. Even though Toronto FC had a dismal first season there was a ray of sunshine shining through the storm clouds and that was MLS Rookie of the Year Maurice Edu.....better known as ProMo due to all the publicity work he did with the club and its official sponsor BMO Bank of Montreal. Edu had a stellar season playing along side Welsh international and Toronto FC co-captain Carl Robinson. I am personally looking to see Edu improve in the attacking third of the field this season not neccesarily with his goal scoring but with his playmaking. I would love for him to step and be the provider for Danny Dichio and Jeff Cunningham.

Anyway, regardless of how this season turns out I for one can't wait to be surrounded by my fellow Toronto FC suppoters all for one in voice when the reds go marching in!!!

Battling the snow!!!!

2008-03-05T11:40:00.002-05:00

Well today there was yet another snowstorm and yet again I had to go to work. Everyday I embark on my 117km (all highway) commute to work which usually takes me about 1 hour. But today I was lucky enough to experience a 3 hour commute to work....damn I am dedicated. I know for sure there will be people calling in sick due to weather that live much much closer than I do, some may call them smarter than me but I just call them weak. I mean sure, driving in snow sucks but seriously deal with it! Just drive a little slower or leave a little earlier to ensure you arrive on time or in a timely fashion. If your going to be late then call your boss and advise them of your situation, believe it or not they probably already know it is snowing!!!

Tips for drivining in the snow:
1) drive slower
2) stay in one lane
3) use the most travelled lane
4) pull off the highway to clean your wipers
5) have a cellphone in case of emergency
6) pay attention
7) be sure you have enough gas for longer travel
8) have a shevel in the trunk in case you get stuck
9) change lanes well before you exit

Now I know the above are just a few tips and please do with them what you may but seriously don't let a little snow determine how you will spend your day.

Soon enough I will be heading home and once again battling the snow....wish me luck that it once again does not take me 3 hours.

Be safe;
Billy Blogger

The Chronicles of Narnia

2008-03-02T16:16:00.003-05:00

I just bought this book for my 4 year old son. Since we have been reading to him pretty much everyday since he was born I figured why not start getting into better books that will really make his imagination work instead of all the children books that we have read over the past 4 years. We have made a plan to read a chapter at a time, I figure it may take about 4 months to read. In all honesty I don't care how long it takes to read as long as my son enjoys the book and grows up to enjoy reading. Also I may be a bit selfish becasue I love the book reading time that I share with my son. Even though we are still very earlier into this massive novel(700+ pages) I can already say I would recommend this type of reading to all parents. My son has already asked questions about the book and many of them well after we have finished reading thus showing that his imagination is in full force as well as his comprehension of what I have read. Anyway, that is all for this short blog entry, I off to read the next chapter.

A prince at war.....

2008-02-28T18:26:00.003-05:00

Today the Associated Press (AP) has reported that Prince Harry has been fighting with the British troops on the frontlines of Afghanistan since December 2007. This news was originally supposed to be kept secret (agreement made with the british military and the british press)due to threats made directly at Prince Harry prior to his deployment on a previous tour of duty. Due to the threats he did not take part in that tour for his own safety and that of his unit. The only reason this story is being reported today is because an Australian and a German newspaper decided to run the story. To me it is a disgrace that the 2 papers decided to report on Prince Harry's involvement in the war in Afghanistan, not only does it put his life in even more danger but it also endangers the entire safety of his unit and possibly comprimises the entire british force. Now I know there will be nay-sayers out there saying that if the british military wasn't prepared to deal with this they shouldn't have deployed Prince Harry in the first place. I agree there may be some validity to that argument but I also think it would be unfair to deny Prince Harry the right to fight for his country and the world in the fight against terrorism. As everybody knows Prince Harry is third in line to the throne behind his brother Prince William and father Prince Charles, therefore I suspect going to Afghanistan was something that he chose and not something that was forced upon him. I for one commend Prince Harry for stepping up to the wicket and going to Afghanistan, after all there are many people that lead much less fortunate lives that would no way enter a war zone. I will not be surprised if Prince Harry is withdrawn from Afghanistan within the next week and if that is the case I have only 1 thing to say to Prince Harry, thank you.

Republic of Kosovo??

2008-02-17T19:12:00.008-05:00

So I read in the paper that Kosovo has become its own Republic, this is great news for the people of Kosovo who I believe are mainly muslim and they are able to seperate from the mostly christian based Serbians. The problem with the whole thing though it that both Russia and Serbia are opposed to Kosovo becoming it's own republic and both have threatened to not recognize the newly formed Republic of Kosovo. Why is this an issue you may ask? Well as we all know the Balkans has historically not been a very peaceful part of the world and with that being said it stands to reason that this new conflict could very well lead to more violence and civil unrest which will in turn force NATO and the UN to send in peace keeping military and once again many NATO/UN soldiers will perish fighting someone else's battle.

Peace on earth

Good will to man

Are the words that we

Have thrown in the garbage can

We forever fight battles

Amongst one an other

When can we all get along

Live as sister and brother

Everyday, the death toll rises

For the soldiers of the earth

Trying to make this place safe

For all future children's birth

I hope as my son grows

The world will sort itself out

For my son is destined for great things

That I truly have no doubt

The great things may not affect

More than his own family

But sometimes great things are simple

Like snuggling with your child cozily

Ok well that poem just came out of nowhere and it may not be any good but when I write in this blog I just write what comes to mind with very little editing. So if anyone ever reads this thing please leave me a comment.

Peace Out!!!

Dream as though you will live forever, Live as though you will die today

2008-02-15T13:18:00.012-05:00

In the light of yet another school shooting at Northern Illinois University resulting in the death of at least 5 people the title of this blog entry could not be more fitting. If you look back at your own life over the past few years, weeks or even days how many time s have you said "I'll do that tomorrow" or "I'll get around to it later". Everybody, incuding myself lives their life with the "that could never happen to me" mentality but the realism of todays world is that it could definatley happen to you and at any moment. Think about it, do you think any of the students at Columbine Highschool, Norhtern Illinois University or any of the other schools thought they would ever get shot and die at school? I doubt it. I really don't understand this type of cowardly act that is carried out with senseless violence, if you want to kill yourself then kill yourself that is your choice. But why have so many people in recent times decided that it is neccesary to take so many innocent people with them? Situations like this should serve as a reminder to the rest of us that we should indeed "Dream as though you will live forever, Live as though you will die today" to add another cliche to the mix and to be perfectly honest this is one that we should all follow "never put off until tommorow what you can do today".

Before I continue with this entry I would just like to say that it is about time we gave the postal workers a break. Therefore i would like to take this opportunity to coin a new phrase "GOING STUDENT", example...."back off mofo or I'll go student on your ass". I mean if you look at recent history it is obvious that the students of today are much more inclined to go and do a massive shoot em up routine. I hope by the time my son gets to highschool and University this trend is gone.

Dream as though you will live forever, Live as though you will die today

For many years I have had this plan/dream to make sure in my lifetime I give myself the opportunity to see the world, and as of this moment I have devised a plan to ensure this happens. Starting in the spring of 2009 I am going to start an annual tradition of taking two weeks off of work to visit a country or part of a country I have never been to before. Ever since the summer olympics of 1994 I have wanted to visit Spain and specifically Barcelona so I think I am going to make Spain my first vacation destination. Since I plan to go for 2 weeks I am thinking about spending 1 week in Barcelona and 1 week in Madrid but of course I will venture out to the smaller cities so that I can get an idea what the country is like outside of the major cities that are cluttered with tourists like myself. I have been told that when exploring Spain a definite must see is Santiago di Compostela which is virtually on the border of Spain and Portugal so if I my trip planning works out maybe I will visit this area and spend a few days in Portugal as well. The best thing about travelling to Europe in the years to come is that over 2 weeks I will be able to see and visit multiple countries due to their close proximity. One destination outside of Europe that for me is a must see is Egypt, I definately want to visit this country so that I can see the pyramids and sphinx with my own eyes. The history of Egypt is so extensive I can easily see myself spending my entire 2 weeks here. In regards to Africa I would also like to visit Morocco and of course South Africa, maybe I will make it to South Africa in 2010 so I can be part of the World Cup tournament.........kill two birds with one stone!!

Anyway in closing I just thought it is important for all of us to realize that we must live each day as if it is our last and that we make sure we experience the things we want to experience so that when the time comes for us to say good-bye to this world we can do so with a smile on our face knowing we have no regrets.

CARPE DIEM!!!!

City and Colour

2008-02-13T20:52:00.009-05:00

Well today I went out and treated myself to a new CD, I purchased the new City and Colour CD titled "Bring Me Your Love" and I am listening to it as I write this blog entry. As usual Dallas Green's lyrics and rythmic demeanour have the ability to put you into a trance like state where you forget about all your issues and ailments. This new album is obviously far away from Green's main focus with his bandmates in Alexisonfire but it is equally intriguing in its own right. The thing I like best about the new City and Colour album is that not only is the album completely different from Alexisonfire as we all knew it would be but the new album is also very different from City and Colours debut album "Sometimes" which as we all know experienced great success. Dallas Green in my opinion has taken a big leap of faith by making this album sound quite different than the critically acclaimed City and Colour debut, but then again that may be exactly what his fans wanted. Personally I love the fact that I can play both City and Colour albums and very easily distinguish the differences between the two. Maybe those that know Dallas on a personal level would be able to equate the different sounds with the differences in Dallas' personal and professional live.

In my humbe opinion which I realise holds very little weight I believe this album to be the one that goes the extra distance to show just how talented of an artist Dallas Green is. Green has already had much success with Alexisonfire including both gold and platinum records as well as having the opportunity to tour the world to play for the band's millions of fans. With City and Colour's debut album Green appeared to bare his soul and really leave himself out there for all to see just how vulnerable he was at the time of writing the songs contained on "Sometimes". With the lyrics on this new album Dallas Green continues to show his vulnerable sensitive side that is absent when on stage with Alexisonfire. Bring Me Your Love may not receive the same commercial success that its predecessor enjoyed but the album definately will recieve much critical acclaim and it will prove that Dallas Green is a force to be reckoned with in the Canadian music industry.

In closing, I think whoever reads this blog (if anyone does) would be doing themself a favour by going to your local record store and picking up a copy of this album.

Oh and by the way did I mention that one of Canada's most famous rockers sing on track 5 "Sleeping Sickness". I'll leave his identity out of this blog so that when you listen to the album for the first time you will be pleasantly surprised.

It is now February 17, 2008 which is 4 days after my original post about this album. After listening to this album from start to finish 10+ times I know feel fully qualified to say that this is a fantastic album both in regards to both the lyrics and the musical arrangements.

http://www.cityandcolour.ca/
www.myspace.com/dallasgreen
http://www.dinealonerecords.com/ (be sure to check out all the artists on this label.)

Change is on the horizon...

2008-02-13T13:18:00.001-05:00

Change is inevitable, Avoiding change is impossible, Change is constant, Change is good.

Undersatnding these four short points stated above could possibly be the most important thing anyone can ever do in their life. I mean think about it, how often in our lives have we stressed or been upset all because of change? It could be as simple as a change in the weather, or something more personal like a change in relationship status or a change in employment. All these things and many others stress us out, but if we can only find the time and strength to sit back and remember the 4 points at the start of this post we may be able to begin to put things into perspective. I myself am about to go through a big change and I am not fully prepared for it but I do understand how it relates to the four points I have previously mentioned. My marriage is coming to an end, this is something I never thought could possibly happen, the reason I thought this was because when I said "till death do us part" I meant it. But times they are a changing, there is that word again........change. In regards to relationships of course change is inevitable, impossible to avoid, constant and good. Relationships change everyday and in many ways, for example a realtionship with a friend or loved one is constantly evolving into something more involved as you begin to learn more and more about the individual or as your lives begin to take you down different paths. I have many friends that I used to be really close with and actually still consider these people to be friends but unfortunately our lives have gone down different paths and we have not kept in contact or it has been sporadic at best. In all relationships, especially those with a significant other change is impossible to avoid. A love relationship is probably the most volitile in regards to change, by this I mean it clearly experiences the most change. For example when a relationship begins there is a plethora of feelings generated both physically and mentally and in most cases these feelings are what act as the foundation for the rest of the relationship. As relationships meet milestones they change, it could be making the relationship officially exclusive, or moving in together, getting engaged/married or having children. All of these things are very significant in there own right and all may sound positive but that is not always the case. In my situation all the things I mentioned were positive and enjoyable but were maybe not the right decision based on my partners train of thought at the time. I personally do not regret anything that has happened because through this relationship I have gained the biggest and best change to my live............my son. My son is the single biggest change that my life has ever experienced and I would not change it for the world. It seems I would sacrfice anything in my life for my son even down to my own happiness. I am only know beginning to realize that I can still have everything that my son brings to my life and still offer him everything I bring to his life and be happy at the sametime. I have always feared that my failed marriage would have detrimental affects on my life in general, but in all actuality it may be quite the opposite, it may turn out to be the most liberating experience of my life. We all know that change is constant so attempting to postpone it or run from it is a frugal exercise at best. My last point for my first blog entry is that change is good. In fact just by writing this blog I feel I have begun to change, it is actually quite liberating to be able to write down your thoughts without fear of retaliation, rejection, or even caring if they ever get read by anyone else. Within the next few months I will be embarking on a new chapter of my life that once again was brought upon because of change. The times ahead are going to be exciting, frightening, interesting, memorable and forgettable.........wish me luck!!!