Don't Vote For Rory

For the love of hockey, please people, stop voting for Rory Fitzpatrick for the 2007 NHL All-Star Game.

I have read lots of posts and seen the support that he has, and to me it is completely ridiculous. The NHL All-Star game, just like any All-Star game, is to be played by the Stars, the best in the league, not players who have a whopping ZERO points this season.

I am pleading with people to go out and vote for the real stars of the game. We should allow the people who have paid money for tickets to this prestigious event to get their money's worth.

Many people have been saying that the democratic process is working because it is the fans voting and they are getting who they want, but what these people don't realize is that for the democratic process to work, each person is only allowed one vote. What we have happening is a small portion of hockey fans, are voting over and over again for Rory to get him into the game. That is not a democratic process in any way, shape, or form.

So again, I plead with you, go out and vote for the real stars of the game, the ones who deserve the privilege of competing in the NHL All-Star Game.

Crazy Times

This past weekend I picked up Courtney's and my new car, so that is one stress in our lives that is solved, but it has added the new stress of car payments, and insurance payments. There is a lot of other stresses right now too. We are both very tight budgetted right now between rent, student loans, car payments, as well as all our regular bills like phone and cable. To add fuel to the fire, we are going to be moving to Kingston in May at some point, so we have the stress of not only having to find a place to live, but paying for it. And then there is the cost of moving. We will need to rent a truck, and there will be the gas for that trip, and trying to organize a time when we can actually get friends and/or family to help us. It all sums up to the subject of this post, and that is Crazy Times. I will be happy once we are moved in, in Kingston, and I have started my job at ESG, and everything is a little more steady and determined.

A NEW CAR!

You are supposed to read the title of this post as though you are watching "the Price is Right"

This weekend I will be travelling to Renfrew for the second weekend in a row, however I won't be returning on the bus this time. This weekend I will be coming back to North Bay in my brand new 2006 Toyota Corolla. I am so super pumped. This thing is factory fresh, in fact it rolled out the factory doors just last week. It hasn't been sitting on a lot somewhere, it hasn't been test driven by a bunch of people, no, it is as new as cars can get.

So if you want to breathe in some of that new car smell, I'm the guy to talk to.

Corolla??

So the car that Courtney and I drive, which we affectionately refer to as "Rusty", is near the end of its days, yet we still need to have a functioning car. We are looking down the route of leasing a new Corolla from Toyota. We have been looking into all different makes and models, and the Toyota Corolla seems to be coming out the winner.

Basically, with zero down, the monthly cost of a Corolla and a lowest end Pontiac only differ by a measly $5. But when you compare the vehicles, there is a huge difference in quality. There are other factors too, a Pontiac allows 20,000 km a year and the Toyota allows 24,000 km. Over a 48 month lease, that is a difference of 16,000 km, pretty significant. Also, the Corolla has a better warranty program, is more reliable, has a bigger more powerful engine, and is more fuel efficient. Considering the price is so similar, you might think the Corolla is the hands down winner, but there is at least one drawback. With the Pontiac, they pay for our first two months of the lease, which are going to be the more tricky ones for us financially.

When all is said and done, I think that you will see Courtney and I driving a brand new Toyota Corolla, which I am VERY excited about.

Lonely

I am sure that none of you want to hear me whine and ramble on about my relationship, but too bad. I am really lonely right now. Courtney is in Orillia doing a placement for school, and I am here in North Bay all by myself with nothing but my tv, xbox and computer to keep me busy. Sure that sounds like lots to do, but coming home from work each night to no one, and not seeing anyone all night sucks.

I miss Courtney like crazy. We spent over a year living in different cities, but that doesn't make this time any easier. Now that we are living together, this time apart is that much harder. I love waking up next to Courtney every morning. I love being able to hug her, and make her smile. I love being able to relax her when she gets stressed from school. I miss her like crazy, and I can't wait 'til this weekend when I finally get to see her again.

Courtney, if you are reading this... I love you.