So, my dog took a loogie this weekend. No, that’s not some covert way of saying he dropped a deuce on my couch… no, he literally took a loogie… on his back. A loogie – is a wad of spit, by the way. Gross, I know.

We were at 3 Mile Bend on Sunday and it was packed! It was one of the busier days I’ve seen down there this year… which is great! However, apparently the D-bags come out when it’s nice out… Someone actually spat on my dog. Now, first, I will admit, I didn’t see anyone do this – so it could have POSSIBLY been an accident. But, it would be hard to argue that when you see how big my dog is… he’s hard to miss (or easy to miss, if your huckin a loogie)… Either way, it may have been an accident, though I doubt it… Which brings us to the sad truth, that someone may have purposely spat on a dog, at a dog park! It makes no sense does it?! If you dislike dogs, don’t go to a dog park. If you dislike the way a dog is behaving, speak to the owner. If you think it’s funny to spit on someone else’s dog, get a life.

I wasn’t all that upset when this happened – but it was disheartening none-the-less. We have a really well behaved dog that isn’t aggressive or anything – so to rationalize spitting on him, is just something we can’t do… but apparently someone could. Sad.

This comes on the same weekend that someone else had their dog stolen from 3 Mile… again, so sad. It more than anything proves that there is not a safe or ‘sacred’ place left. Keep an eye on your pets, whether to keep them or simply keep them spit free apparently. Sad.

Someone please take away all celebrities cell phones.

They don't know how to use them. Whether they are rudely using them aboard airplanes or snapping pics of themselves in the mirror... I think its time to just take them all away.

Couple weeks ago - it was Alec Baldwin playing games on his phone while on an airplane - and ended up gettin booted off the flight - because he needed to get the high score or something... Lame.

NOW... yet another celeb has snapped a provocative picture of themselves, sent it to someone... and its been leaked. Worst part - its Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker. I'm a huge fan of Travis Barker - but I don't need to know where his tattoo's end... if you know what I mean.

He's got his lawyers working at blocking the internet from releasing the photo - but is it "the internet's" fault, or is it his... for taking the picture in the first place. When will celebs learn that there is NOTHING sacred in this world.. Especially if its worth money... which unfortunately - a junk shot is.

Here's hoping the pictures never get out... and John Goodman never gets an iPhone.

I'll admit. I eat a lot of sandwiches. When all else fails - a good sandwich never fails.

It's my go-to food! When I'm hurting, tired, lazy or just hungry - I'll often grab a couple slices of the finest Whole Wheat bread, chop off a few slices of my favorite cheddar, top it up with some mustard, mayo and my favorite deli meat - and voila, a masterpiece is made.

Some people think sandwiches are boring... Well, that may be true... but does your pizza pocket have love? Nope.

Is it not the WORST... when you eat... then go do something, not realizing that half of your lunch was stuck in your teeth... AND NO ONE TELLS YOU ABOUT IT!

 

This is a tough subject though, because there are many factors to consider here. Let’s look at them...

First: How well you know the person with the crap in their teeth. If you know them really well, it should be easy for you to tell them. If you don’t know them or just met them… it becomes much more difficult to break it to them… “Nice to meet you, and how was your broccoli for lunch?”

 

Second: What’s in their teeth. If it is something that is terribly embarrassing, sometimes its just easier to pretend you didn’t see it. For example… “You could have told me I had a booger stuck on my tooth!” Of course if it’s just a grain of pepper… it’s much easier to tell them about it…

 

Third: Do they deserve a minute or two of embarrassment. Does the person with the bits in their teeth DESERVE you telling them about it… some people just deserve to be embarrassed right? Ha ha.

 

No matter how you justify telling or not telling someone they have junk in their teeth is up to you… but if I have something in my grill, please tell me, friend.

I'm back!

I had a great hoilday out in the Okanagan... got to do some snowboarding, see old friends and family and of course - got to eat a boatload of great food for the holidays... gotta love it! But just as quickly as the Christmas season came and went - so did 2011! Crazy that we are just a few days away from 2012...

This year was pretty wild - with the Slave Lake fires, The Royal Wedding... and those pesky Boston Bruins winning the Stanley Cup. What will 2012 bring us? Hopefully a Vancouver Canucks Stanley Cup, first and foremost! After that - I"m cool with a bunch of great music - maybe a few awesome concerts here in Red Deer - and I wouldn't mind seeing Pee Wee Herman make a third attempt at a comeback... its never too late bro.

If you have no plans yet for the last night of 2011 - might I recommend the Glam n Glitz 2 at the Club? Its gonna be off the hook. THA VILL will be there and you should too! Hit up Sams Cafe for your tickets now! See ya at the CLub NYE!

Our house is starting to look like the north pole... No, we don't have a bunch of elves running around making etch-a-sketchs, but we do have a whole whack of Christmas decorations up. I've always dressed up my house over the years - but it was usually pretty 'willy-nilly' - now that I have "the wife" - its a little more... how do I say this... nicer? Ya, its nicer.

It's all fine and dandy that our house is decorated... but there is one thing missing... presents under the tree.

I haven't even started my Christmas shopping yet. And I'll be honest... I"m starting to worry a little bit. I usually have a heckuva time trying to buy for all the people on my list.. I'll end up doing 7 laps of the mall before I buy a single thing... and usually just end up buying something for my loved ones... that I wanted... Hello, Call of Duty!

Actually, they say that the most requested Christmas present this year - for the fifth year in a row... is the gift card. The most impersonal gift one can receive... kinda makes me laugh - because lets be honest... if you're asking for a gift card... you don't trust the people buying you presents. Again, sorry for the Call of Duty!

As Mo-Vember comes to an end... I had to share this with you...

 

This was written by Kevin Hallet, and he works at Ing and Mckee Insurance here in town, and is the team captain for his Mo team.

Twas the night 'fore December the whiskers are fearing
Their days are now numbered, the shaving is nearing
November is ending, we had a good run
Clean shaven is back, Movember is done

My snack it was nestled, all stuck in my ‘stache
My wife was now dreaming of no facial rash
The mo-call was ending, time to hang up the phone
Just me and my mustache, our last time alone

When from the computer there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter
Away to my mo-space I flew like a flash
Checked my donations and saw I got cash

The moon on the crest of my newly combed mo
Gave the luster of sex appeal where nothing should show
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a windowless van with “free candy in here”

With a creepy old driver who was passing by slow
I knew in a mo-ment it must be St. Mo.
Faster than shudders, out all the words came
As he whistled and shouted and called Mo’s by name

Now fu-man, now handlebars now French creepy stache
On standard, on sparse, and even you fasche!
From the top of your lip, where your whiskers do fall
Now shave away shave away shave away all!

He peeled out of sight, his message was done
Money, awareness, camaraderie and fun
But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight
Merry Movember to all! Keep fighting the fight!

I hate parking tickets. They suck. I'm usually not a huge fan of the people writing those tickets either - but I won't get into that today..

What I want to talk about is how "those people" (who write the tickets) do something that I actually really like, every year in Red Deer... The toys for tickets program. Where, if you get a ticket because you are one minute late from getting out of a meeting downtown and the guy is writing you a ticket but won't stop writing the ticket even though your there and totally willing to put another .25cents into the meter... then take that ticket to City Hall and shove it to them... but not giving them a penny... but rather a stuffed animal or a Transformer or something.

It's pretty easy - get that pesky parking ticket.. go buy a toy of equal or greater value.. go to City hall with your ticket and toy... and you're done! You've helped a kid this Christmas... AND you haven't given "those guys" any more money. Sweet.

 

I just learned that Festival and Gestical are very close on the keyboard... interesting.

That aside - its just a week until the the Festival of Trees kicks off with the Biggest Christmas Tree Festival! I always love this event and of course, Kraze will  be on hand handing out goodies and getting you in the spirit! For all the details on the event -- just look down!

The Biggest Christmas Tree Festival & Parade is a free, family oriented Christmas themed festival to kick-off the Festival of Trees and Christmas season in downtown Red Deer. Red Deer’s Biggest Tree Festival will be taking over downtown on November 22, 2011. The 2011 Festival will be a night to kick off the holiday season with events including the lighting of Red Deer's Biggest Christmas Tree and the lights in City Hall Park. Other activities include live entertainment, children’s activities and the Christmas Parade.

To accommodate the Christmas Parade and festivities planned, road closures will be implemented starting at 5pm and ending at approximately 8:00pm.

As a downtown business, we would like to encourage you to stay open late the night of the event as well as make you aware of all road closures that may affect your business. The schedule for the evening is as follows:

5:00pm Road closures begin, parade participants line up

6:00 pm Lighting of City Hall Park & Entertainment begins in City Hall Park

6:30 pm Christmas Parade begins

7:00 pm Biggest Tree Lighting & Main Stage Entertainment

7:45 pm Event Wraps Up, Roads re-opened

See you November 22nd!

Please note that if the temperature is -25 with the windchill the event will be cancelled

Is this really cool or the worst idea ever?

Introducing: The Poop Motorcycle...

http://tototalk.jp/top

This is a motorcycle that runs on fecal matter... Not actual human poop - but animal poop and fertilizer is just fine... I get that it must be good for the environment and stuff - but really? Why not just go electric?

Now, my big question... is what happens when you "eat sh*t"? You know, wipe out? A fuel spill is one thing... but a poop spill because you could make that corner?? Nasty.

 

First Rebels game of the year tonight... and I"m stoked! The boys are looking pretty good (or at least that's what I'm told)... So, it should be a good one as they welcome Seattle to 'our house' tonight. I will be honest though, I'm just SLIGHTLY dissapointed I won't get to watch Nuggy...

For the last 2 years I've been going to Rebels games... and every single one that I go to - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins isn't there. One time he was sick, another couple times he was away at some National training camp or tryouts for the World Juniors... I really don't care where he was, fact is, I never saw him play. Ha ha. I know, it sounds a little bit whiney - but that's what watchign junior hockey is all about - the future! I remember going to the World Juniors when they came to Kelowna/Vancouver and I got to see Evgeni Malkin play - and it was awesome. At the time they had pegged him as the best hockey player in the world, that was not playing in the NHL... later that year he was drafted #1 overall..

But watching a guy like that play is something special. These (him and Nuggy for example) are the guys that will make the NHL dynamic for years to come - and getting to see them skate circles around guys their same age - is a pretty cool thing to experience.

If you haven't been to a Rebels game yet this year... do it! Get out and see.. the future!

Here's WASSSUP for Halloween in Red Deer!

KATIES PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST:

·         Email Katie@kraze1013.com a picture of your pumpkin and you could win a prize! Katie will announce the winners of the Pumpkin Carving Contest Halloween night at 10pm! Prizes going to 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd!

PLACES TO BE HALLOWEEN NIGHT:

FRIGHT NIGHT AT PARKLAND MALL:

·         3:30 to 7pm. Costumed kids and parents are invited to Parkland Mall for games and prizes! Kraze will be there!

Bower Place Shopping Centre: Trick or Treat at Bower from 5-7pm tonight!

KRAZE STUDIOS!

·         Katie’s calling all the little ghosties! Parents bring the little ones to our Kraze Studios (6751-52AVE) Halloween night from 5 till 9! Katie and the Street team will have lots of treats and candy to give away! Dress your best because will be taking pictures to go up on our website!

SCREAMERS HAUNTED HOUSE:

·         5 different Haunts at the North End of Parkland Mall Parking lot

·         Starts at 6 every night, 15 bucks to get in

·         Kids under 12 are not recommended! (It’s very scary)

Check out the Collicut Centre for their Medieval Festival! Tonight from 5pm-9pm!

A family centred event for people of all ages. In collaboration with Operation Kids Youth Ministries fun activities will be offered in the Waterpark, Fieldhouse, Soccer Pavillion, and Arena. Come dressed in your favorite costume protected from the harsh outdoor elements.

Also be on the look out for the Red Deer Food Bank! Red Deer Food Bank is doing their anual Halloween Food Drive! Red Deer Youth will be going door to door collecting food donations from 5pm- 9pm. They will be hitting all areas south of the river.

 

This weekend, I have the priviledge of going to a National Hockey League game... the downside... I have to watch the Flames play.

Now, while many of you may be thinking... "what's this guys' problem!? The flames rule!" - and that is all fine and dandy... except, you're wrong. The Flames are a team of 3rd liners. Not to totally harsh on your buzz Flames fans, but its the truth. Why do you think they are rumoured to by shopping out their second best scorer in Rene Bourque (who plays on the 3rd line)...? Anyways, I digress, I am very excited for the game on Saturday - however, I hope the Flames get it handed to them. Have a great weekend. LOL.

Today, I retire my blackberry.

 

This may seem like a joyuos occation - but it is anything but. I have TRIED as hard as I can to resist the draw to apple products - but, its simply gone too far. I was ON THE PHONE with my service provider yesterday and my phone dropped the call. (TYPICAL)... My wife has had nothing but problems with her blackberry too - and its played out. I love the ease-of-use of the blackberry, the fact that its a Canadian product, I love the keypad and the trackpad - but with ALL the other problems that go along with it - it became time to move on.

Today, we get iPhone 4s's and yes, while it'll be hard to say good bye to my POS blackberry - I am EXTREMELY happy to get 'with the program' and get into a phone that actually works... hopefully!

This is so sad... this could be my first Halloween - in which I don't really do anything "Halloweenie"...

I'm going to be away the weekend before Halloween - when EVERYTHING is going down (every bar in town is doing something on the Saturday night)... and where I'm going - I don't think I'll be dressing up or seeing any sexy nurses for that matter... and this is quite dissappointing for me. Halloween is and has always been one of my favorite "holidays" - we all get to dress up; if we're adults we go out and party... and if we're kids - we either go out and get lots of candy for FREE or destroy a few pumpkins (or BOTH!)... But, those days are apparently behind me ( at least for this year)... Monday, which is actual Halloween night - I figured I would just stay in - as the new baby will probably not be quite ready for trick or treating (though Dad certainly would go if asked, haha).

I know this all sounds very suspect because I'm not telling you where I'm going this halloween weekend - but, I can't, its top secret, I'm sorry. When I get back I'll tell ya, haha.

If you're lucky and are able to go out on Saturday night before Halloween - might I recommend checking out Branley's for the Halloween Bash - should be a good time and you can win prizes for best costume, sweet.

Here's whats up:

Today I talked about swearing a little bit... I'm a guy who isn't all that offended by swearing - sometimes. There is a time and a place for swearing. If you're out with your boys having a couple beers - you may swear a little more than if you are at work in a customer service job. If you don't use your language differently for different situations - then it will bite you. Numerous times just in the last couple weeks, at businesses right here in Red Deer - I have heard the "F" word being used willy nilly in front of customers - and it really irked me. Time and a place... and when your working where the public can hear you - and they need to purchase stuff to keep your business running - I would recommend you treat their ears with respect.

On the other side of things... When it comes to TV and Radio - I think we need to be honest with ourselves - swearing is part of our lives and "society" - so for art to reflect life in a realistic fashion - swearing is almost necessary. Granted I can watch an episode of Criminal Minds and not mind that they don't swear in it - but if I do hate watching an editted episode of Trailer Park Boys...

Now that I'm a Dad, I'll teach my kid to respect your peers and your elders. Watch your mouth and think about what you have to say before you say it - because there is a time and a place for everything.

I try to not talk about smoking... because its the last thing in the world that I would want any young person to start! I smoked from age 16 to... 27. I just quit smoking 45 days ago - and it has not been easy - but it has been easier than I thought! I quit cold turkey and have only had a couple drags in the last month (while drinking - no excuse - but its my excuse!)..

For me, I made the decision to stop smoking because my son was on his way into the world - and I know how dangerous it is for an infant to inhale second hand smoke or third hand smoke... So, I pretty much made smoking 'not an option' - that's how I've got thru it... its simply not an option for me to smoke anymore.. and it seems to have worked! I feel much better and refreshed in the mornings, the smokers 'hack' is going away and I don't reak like smoke... of course I do miss smoking occationally or when stressed out - but, I've got thru it like I said - because smoking isn't an option for me anymore.

If you are thinking about quitting smoking - feel free to try my method of "not an option" - worked for me - it might work for you. Also, try finding yourself a great reason to quit and that will help for sure! If you need more help than that - check out http://www.albertaquits.ca/ - they have a lot of helpful tools there for quitting! If you don't want to quit right now... well, you may want to soon - because today the goverment announced new packaging is coming for cigarettes... New cigarette packages featuring graphic photos of a cancer-stricken woman and diseased body parts could help more smokers butt out for good... but those changes don't come in until next year... so til then, enjoy your limp cigarette pictures on your packs... because they're going to get MUCH worse!

 

 

Yup, its been an interesting 10 days. For the last 10 days, I've been learning, slowly but surely, how to be a Dad. I'm getting pretty good a changing diapers - you have to be super gentle, a little lotion, make sure you keep the pee pee covered so you don't get covered in pee pee... and you're good to go! I'm learning how to swaddle - which is not as easy as it looks... I'm also learning how to wake up to poop. Take this morning for example... that moment I opened my eyes for the first time this morning - I opened them to the sight of my babies diaper and the sound of a HUGE duece being dropped... an inch from my face. My wife was feeding the little man in the bed next to me - and the timing just had to be perfect, that I would open my eyes and ears and be awoken to the sound of a nice wet one being dropped off - again, inches from my face. It wasn't the worst way to wake up... but it was certainly the closest my face has ever been to a duece.. I think.

Sometimes, I wish I didn't work for Kraze... simply so that I could win the prizes!

 

I know that sounds lame - but honestly, I would love to win a trip for 2 to Toronto, flights, hotel, concert tickets with meet n greet - all paid for - sweet right?! I love live music as I have previously blogged about - but meeting the band makes it that much cooler. Not to mention you get to go to Canada's largest city to PARTY for a weekend - plus, hockey is on, basketball will be on (I think) and its TO - that's awesome. And I'm a BC boy - so, that brings us to why I sometimes wish I didn't work on the radio... Because I've learned one thing in the 6 days that I've been a father... every parent needs a vacation!

 

Of course, this contest is open to everyone - but as a new dad, I hope a Mom and Dad get to GET AWAY courtesy of us and Carlson Wagonlit Vista travel too of course:)

 

Good luck to you - Friday we draw the name! BUUUUUUT - I'll tell you something top secret and see if the boss actually reads this... very soon - a contest is coming BACK to Kraze that, if you like money - you'll really wanna get in on. We'll be in touch. I'm gonna go scratch some records. Cash. (Subtle hint)... ahh CASH... another reason I wish I could win sometimes...

Red Deer Regional.. rocks.

This past Thursday my amazing wife persevered thru hours and hours of labour to deliver our first child into the world. It was awesome and I am now a very happy daddy to my son, Vanden. After watching the process happen - I developed a whole new level of respect for EVERY SINGLE mom out there! You guys go thru a BOATLOAD more than I ever anticipated - Kudo's - you guys rock.

You know who else rocks? The doctors and nurses at Red Deer Regional Hospital - they went above and beyond during the entire process and I honestly cannot say enough great things about them... Some of the nurses whose names I remember that were totally awesome - Sarah, Verna, Carol, Marie, Lisa, Mandy and MANY MANY more were just so awesome! Thanks Ladies! If you are considering having a child - know that you are in GREAT hands at RDRH!

Now, while the people there were awesome - the government really needs to step up and expand the maternity unit at the hospital. It is too small for the average 8 babies the deliver every day! The recovery rooms are the biggest problem - as they are shared. This would be ok if you were sharing the room with your best friend - but that's not the case - you're sharing the room with some random who is also trying to learn how to be a parent for this first time... which is certainly not easy...  And lets be honest - unfortunately in life... not everyone is very considerate... Take for example - our neighbour...

She was a nice enough lady - but, she didn't really show much respect for us... She had lots of guests into the room (which is not permitted), she and the baby were very loud (not controlable - but crappy after a few long days - this is me talking to you government) and over and over I had to hear the following story... which she told to each of those non-permitted guests...

The lady next to us, like us, had chose not to find out the sex of their baby prior to its birth. Cool. Here's where it got a frustrating - (remember, they did NOT know the sex of their baby)... during their pregnancy everyone kept TELLING THEM that it was going to be a boy. They also THOUGHT it was going to be a boy... so, they ONLY LOOKED AT BOYS NAMES! So, when baby came out... and it was a GIRL - you guessed it, they hadn't even CONSIDERED a name for the baby. Now, I'm not going to sit here and say YOU MUST have a name for your baby when it comes out - but I do think its a little wild for anyone, who doesn't know the sex of their fetus, to not at least CONSIDER names for both sexes.

I had to hear her laughingly tell this story to all her friends - and I thought it was the most ridiculous thing ever. This right here, in my humble opinion, is why you should discuss names! Ha ha. WOW.