1.42 - The One with the Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake

Down in the Market in Ottawa...there is a desert cafe called Oh So Good...and oh is it ever good. Emilie and I went down when I was there and we shared the most amazing piece of Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake....sorry I didn't get a picture of it...but I did get a picture of the sandwich board outside of the cafe. Letters 'P' and 'Z' are my favourite...

1.41 - The One with the Charity Game

This was one of the spectacular dunks that was showcased in The Steve Nash Foundation Charity Classic. The 04-05 NBA MVP brought together allstars from across the NBA to the Air Canada Centre to raise money for his charity. Dunks and 3-pointers were common while fouls and defense were not. Oh and that pic up there of Raptors own Chris Bosh was taken by me with a little help from Photoshop to blend the pics together.

This week we ran a volleyball camp at the church for the kids...it was great to see them out wanting to play and learn. It's incredible how much they can learn and improve over a week. I didn't see it much when we did the soccer camp...but maybe that's because you need to know how to bump, set, spike in order to play a good game of volleyball. It was alotta fun cuz I got to run the camp with my sister from Ottawa...and on a side note...we went shopping at Yorkdale and it seems that Amanda blogged about it already...ahhh good times. Next up...basketball camp...

1.40 - The One in the Nation's Capital

So I'm spending the weekend here in the fabulous capital city of this great nation of ours. Two things that strike me everytime I'm here...the french on all the street signs...and the price of gas. It's crazy how expensive it is here compared to home. Yesterday I filled up at 91.8...then later on at night it came down to 87.8...now today...92.8. Oh well...I could have saved a couple dollars...

Time to go out and see all the sights of the city...and of course the best place here...The Market...

1.39 - The One where the 80's roars back

For awhile now...there has been talk of a live action Transformers movie...which it is in the works...produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Michael Bay...due out in 2007. And just annouced...they are making a CG Smurf's movie...due out for 2008. Pretty crazy eh? I'm just waiting for them to annouce a GI Joe, Thundercats, and of course a live action My Little Pony meets Strawberry Shortcake & JEM movie.

But until then...we'll have to look forward to More Than Meets the Eye singing "la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la"

1.38 - The One with the Racoon Eyes

Being in the sun has its benifits and downfalls. I don't burn...so I get a great tan...BUT since I wear my sunglasses all the time...I get what they call "Racoon Eyes". Which I don't understand why people call it that....racoons have black around their eyes. Mine...its lighter around the eyes and then dark everywhere else. Oh well...another question that will raise more discussion than it really should.

*****Injury Update*****

After elevating and a good night's rest...my ankle is feeling much better. It is still a little sore...and ballooned up...I can't run on it...but today I was back out on the soccer pitch running drills with the kids. I also tried shooting a few hoops on it...it didn't feel that bad but I was pretty easy on it. I'm sure it will heal just fine if I keep of it for the most part. Tomorrow I get the honour of being a pallbearer at my mom's uncle's funeral...hope my ankle holds up for that or it wouldn't be a pretty sight.

1.37 - The One with the pop

As you all are aware...it's freakishly hot and humid and hasn't rained for a few weeks...it's actually raining now so that's nice...but because of this hot and humid weather...it's dried out the grass at the soccer pitch. So we're scrimmaging and I'm running down field trying to get good position when I step in a little dip in the ground slip and roll my ankle...during which I hear a "pop". I went down like a sack of potatoes grabbing my ankle...just like professional soccer players when they get tackled. I'm sure I could have been nominated for an Academy Award or maybe just an MTV Movie Award. But it actually did hurt. Now I'm limping around with a soft brace...I'm thinking I need a better one...

***** Five Hours Later *****

My ankle isn't getting any better...in fact it hurts more now than before...I can barely walk on it...I guess I can' t play soccer tomorrow...hopefully it heals so I can play volleyball in a couple weeks. Mike thinks I might have a hairline fracture...not good...I've never broken a bone or fractured anything in my body yet...I've come very close...but nothing yet. If this does become something like that...it's a pretty sad way to have it happen.

1.36 - The One where the mercury keeps rising

Oh my goodness...can it get any hotter outside? I think the past few days have been in the mid 30's plus the humidity...so basically low 40's (this is in celcius for all you yankees that are wondering....). I remember when it used to get to +40 in Saskatoon...but it was a dry heat...no humidity...so it didn't kill ya. Walking out the door from an air conditioned house is like walking into a wall of heat. The best part about it is that I'm helping to run a kids soccer camp this week and we're outside in the soccer pitch in this heat running around and having a blast. We go through a couple cases of water a day...I'm getting one crazy tan. I haven't been this dark in a long time...its a good thing I don't burn. Is there going to be any relief in sight from this heat? Maybe this will help...and maybe that the NHL lockout is FINALLY over...we can look forward to cooler weather...but did anyone really miss hockey or the cold weather?

1.35 - The One with the CampOut

What a sight...this picture was taken at dusk this past weekend just down the path from our campsite at Bon Echo Provincial Park. It's visions like this that make you marvel at God's awesome creation. Check out the pics from the weekend here

The weekend was amazing...camping isn't really my first choice for a vacation...but it was fun nonetheless. Spending a day at the beach...swimming in the lake...going out on the boat and going tubing...hanging out with the kids of my youth group...roasting marshmellows and singing around the campfire...building and strengthing friendships and getting away from the business of normal life...doesn't get much better than that. Our youth pastor Mark spoke on being monumental...and challenged the kids to create a monument as a reminder of when their spiritual highlight of their life has been and also to share. All of them did it and it was very encouraging to hear what each of them said. Mine was a rock similar to the inspirational ones that you can buy. I wrote the word "one" on it. "One" signifies the theme of Aquire the Fire a couple years back...the theme was "The Power of One". How one small deed can change someone's life, how one person can help many, how one person can change the course of history.

1.34 - The One where the world unites

Yesterday marked one of the most unprecedented events around the world. With the world's top performers, across 10 different cities, they put on a show which has been called "the greatest concert ever". Live 8 was put on to raise awareness about poverty in Africa. It's sole purpose was to give ordinary people like us, to unite under one voice to the G8 leaders to aid, cancel the debt, and the give equal trading to Africa. The G8 leaders are meeting in Scotland on July 6th for their annual summit. If you want more information, and if you want to sign the petition that will be submitted to the G8 leaders, head over to live8live.com. If the leaders agree, the we will be able to MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY.