Football Talk

Well it seems the Ottawa Renegades have announced they aren't going to bother trying to pry Jesse Palmer from Montreal. Apparently the asking price was just too much and I'm not really surprised. Don Mathews isn't stupid and knows that Ottawa is desperate for anything that could boost attendance. (How about actually winning games instead of stinking the place up?) I'm kind of glad Ottawa isn't going after him, knowing the Renegades they would have given up half the offence to get him and then where would they be.
Now the Renegades are after Tim Couch and Ryan Leaf. Ryan Leaf, "Cryin' Ryan" as he's affectionately called, is described by former team mates as immature, divisive, and confrontational. Sounds like a perfect player to go after and just what the Renegades need in their dressing room, another distraction. I hope that they get Tim Couch if they get anyone, he would be a better "team" player and less likely to start problems in the dressing room. The last thing the Renegades need is another distraction. Personally though I think they should bench Kerry Joseph for the next game and go with Brad Banks and forget Cryin' Ryan and Mr. Couch Potato.

Sports Time

Anyone that knows me at all will tell you I'm a big sports fan and I love hockey. That's why I'm so happy the NHL is back this year. It won't take you long to figure out what my favorite sports teams are - LOL.

Ryan Smyth Signs a 2 Year Deal

Today the Edmonton Oilers announced that they have signed Ryan Smyth to a 2 year deal that is worth $7 million dollars according to TSN. With out the deal Smyth would have become a free agent at the end of the upcoming season. Ryan Smyth had already agreed in principal to the one year deal the Oilers had earlier offered. I'm really looking forward to this season as it should be quite exciting with the additions of Mike Peca and Chris Pronger. What the Oilers really need to do now is go out and get a proven goal scorer at center and they could go from a team expected to make the playoffs to a team that could contend for the Cup.

Renegades Friday

Looking forward to Friday night (I think so anyway), my dad and I are heading out to see the Renegades take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Here's hoping Ottawa shows up for this game and breaks their 3 game losing streak in which they have looked really bad.

The Big Weekend In Newfoundland

Thursday September 1^st

Our flight took off on time and we got to Halifax on time and from there to St. John'’s the flight was also good, we got in around midnight and Tracy'’s parents were there to pick us up with Tracy's Aunt Jean and Uncle Barry. We got back to Tracy's parents place just outside of St. JohnÂ’s around 1:00 am and by 2:00am we finally got to bed.

Friday September 2^nd

The day started with Tracy figuring out that her brother and his wife was coming for a surprise visit. The secret was out when Tracy'’s father complained that his back was bothering him and Tracy suggested that he call Chris, which Tracy'’s father answered "He'’ll be here later to have a look at it."” Tracy picked up on this right away and her father tried to cover up by saying when he comes down for Christmas. Her Uncle Barry also hinted at it the night before by saying "“At least you have a bed tonight, don't know where we are going to sleep tomorrow night"” but I think Tracy was too tried to pick up on it. After Tracy'’s father and uncle left she managed to pry it out of her mother that indeed Chris and Laura were coming for a surprise visit.

The weather was lousy, we started the day with thunderstorms and heavy rain. The rain let up a bit and it looked like we were going to have a nice day so Tracy and I headed out the St. John's. Tracy took me on a quick tour of St. John'’s and showed me where she went to University and where she lived in St. John'’s, She also took me up to Signal Hill, which overlooks the city of St. John's, but the visibility was bad due to the fog and pouring rain.

That night we had the first of several big family meals and the food was great. After supper we all headed back to Mr. Cole's house and had a nap before getting up and going to the air port to pick up Chris and Laura.

Saturday September 3^rd

The weather was a lot better on the second day and the cruise ship Queen Elizabeth II was anchored in the bay near the house. Tracy and I took a nice walk out and took a few pictures of it. The walk was actually kind of challenging since we didnÂ’t see the path and we ended up walking along the "“beach"”. In Newfoundland beaches are not sand they are just areas of large rounded stones that are hard to walk on. It took us a wile the find the path and we had to climb a wood ladder to get back onto the path but all turned out well.

That afternoon was another family gathering, this time at the Cole'’s house. Once again the food (sandwiches and deserts this time) were great.

That evening Tracy and I headed out to her friends Katherine and Bill'’s house and had a great steak dinner on the BBQ they had just purchased for an awesome price and Katherine had managed to put together just before we arrived. We sat a round drinking and talking for a wile and then headed down to George Street and I had a fun time getting screeched in at local pub. We spent the rest of the night out drinking and we crashed at Katherine and Bill'’s that night.

Sunday September 4^th

After getting picked up the next morning, Tracy and I along Chris and Laura took a quick tour around St. John'’s again and with the great weather the view from the top of Signal Hill was amazing. I took quite a few pictures. We then headed out the Cape Spear which is the most easterly point of North America, and again I took quite a few pictures.

That evening we had yet another big family dinner with yet more great food. The celebration this time was for Tracy's Grandfather'’s 84^th birthday.

Monday September 5^th

We got up and had a huge Cole family breakfast with scrambled eggs and bacon, it was really good. Once again the weather was great and Tracy and I headed out to Bill and Katherine'’s house to see their daughter Julia (she was being baby sat on Saturday night). She was a really cute, friendly, outgoing kid. We only visited for an hour or so before we had to leave. The rest of the day was quite relaxing. That evening we had cab legs and scallops for supper which were really good.

Tuesday September 6^th

More great weather and another relaxing day, Chris and Laura had an emotional departure around noon. That evening Tracy, myself and her parents took a boat tour that departed from St. John’s Harbor, through "The Narrows" and out to the Atlantic Ocean (my first time on a boat out in the ocean). Even thought the sea was relatively calm the boat rocked quite a bit, but it was still a really nice tour that took us out to Cape Spear. Once again I took quite a few pictures (OK I took over 320 on this little trip – LOL). I didn’t see any whales but I did see quiet a few jelly fish.

Wednesday September 7^th

We got up early and had one last breakfast and headed to the Airport for our flight back to Ottawa. It was a great trip and I can't wait to go back to St. John's again!

Back From Newfoundland

Got back from Newfoundland on Wednesday, had a great time out on the "Rock". Got Screeched In, met Tracy's friends Katherine and Bill and their daughter Julia, visited Signal Hill and Cape Spear (most easterly point of North America) and ate Ches's fish and chips. I also had a great time visiting with Tracy's family (and eating a lot). Anyway, I'll have a bigger blog about the trip later.

The 40 Year Old Virgin/Rolling Stones

This weekend Tracy and I saw the movie "40 Year Old Virgin" this is by far the funniest movie I've seen in a long time and would highly recommend it to anyone. There wasn't the 15-18 year old crowd that I feared would be there, instead it was a more adult crowd and a funny movie that didn't insult your intelligence.

Sunday night my parents came over for dinner and then we took the bus to Super Ex and listened to the Rolling Stones as we wondered the Ex's grounds. Just for fun we got on a ferris wheel right next to Frank Clair Stadium and got to peek in on the concert as we reached to top, we got to see the Stones performing their Opening song "Start Me Up". We hung around until about 9:30 and decided to take off before the crowds got out of the concert. Wile we were waiting for the bus out side the Ex we got to watch the Stones on a large screen that was pointed out to Bank Street. There must have been 1,000 people just on Bank Street. Wile it was all fun and exciting I can't imagine anyone wanting to pay $300 a seat to see the Stones.