We headed to Montreal to see our nephew Giancarlo play in a Hockey Tournament this weekend.
It was possibly the most exciting hockey game we’ve seen in a while (we are in Toronto after all). Giancarlo was the coolest guy in the building (certainly more than can be said of an over-excitable Aunt Nelly). Giancarlo was awesome, leading the team with a shutout in the gold medal game to win the tournament.
Go Chazy!
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| From Hockey Tourna… |
It was fantastic to have a couple of days off over the weekend to spend with the family – it was all about entertaining the troops. Our neighbour Walter helped out by lending us a Chexx – Bubble Hockey table… which kept us all busy all weekend… it was fun to get in training without having to pay a buck-a-go… even so, my 8 year old nephew can still whoop my ‘ass!
We also made it to the Blue Jays home opener – a crushing 9-1 defeat of the Kansas City Royals – and a 50,000+ crowd. A fantastic evening was had by all. Jack amazed the crowd by his ability to sleep through fireworks, and the cheers of 50,000. Click on the photo to see Jack’s sleeping antics.
In the same Picasa album you’ll also be able to see (a very grainy) video of Jack’s First Swim… phew… back to work for a rest!
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| From Jacks First Swim |
In honour of the 6 nations, here’s the travelling support…
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| From Jack Week 6 |
Thanks so much to all the Dawks for such a great looking outfit for Jack – John I think you had a (big) hand in this – it’s fantastic.
What do you reckon Gramps, front row, or fly-half?
In my continuing N. American sports education – i made it to a Buffalo Bills game yesterday… it was a true education in rough and tough sports – not only are the players downright crazy…it’s evidently tough on spectators – it was pouring with rain yesterday, the stadium has no roof, and no cover to the stands… it must be beyond miserable in January… the cheerleaders looked a little cheerless in their plastic windcheaters…
Obviously the only way the supporters can get through the game is to get plastered… i have never seen as many drunk people – and felt quite such an overpowering sense of underlying drunken fury… and man, those stadiums have steep stairs – drinking and stairs, as most people know, just don’t go… i was expecting at every minute somebody to fall down the stairs and start a human snowball – ploughing onto the line of scrimage…
As you can see here… a souwester was the most important ingredient to a happy afternoon… Buffalo lost 28-6… so very few left happy… and I suspect most attendees woke with a sore head this morning…
We went to the Blue Jays vs. Red Sox game yesterday at the Skydome.
[click image to see more photo's]
If you go early you get to see up close and personal professional athlete’s preparing before a big game. These guys earn $10 million a year (US). To be fair they play up to 170 games a year, but at this level of effort, why not.
You can check out some video of this strenuous effort by clicking on the image below. Particularly check out the guy with the blue top on, about half way through, doing the most pathetic windmills.