1.90 - The One with the '05 year in review

In the spirit of the fabulous year in review shows on TV...I've decided to host my own...since I don't have the resources to broadcast it on air...this is the next best thing. So without further adieu...and in no particular order....this is how I will remember 2005.

• Basketball - from coaching in a week long day camp, to doing freelance photography at Raptors games, to hitting that clutch 3 pointer in an important game, to making it to the championship game in our league (although we didn't win...it was fun), to watching fellow Canadian Steve Nash tear up the 'L' and win the MVP and attending his charity game at the ACC...this game has brought great times and memories.
  
  
• Golf - I was fortunate enough to be able to go out golfing with many different people and on many different course over the season. But I think taking my uncle from Hong Kong out for 18 was great...so much fun to spend that time with him.
  
  The best hole: I birdied the par 3 #8 at the exclusive Dalewood Golf Course.
  Best shot: 310+ drive at hole #15 at Dalewood...I crushed the ball...went perfectly straight and carried over the creek giving me under 90 yards to the hole....I ended up paring the hole...ya i know...I still can't putt.
  
  
• Movies - After a long wait, Star Wars Episode III was finally released and did not disappoint in my books. The action was great, dialog was horrific, but after Episode I & II...I didn't expect too much. So many good movies this year...my DVD collection is growing too rapidly.
  
  Here are my awards:
  
  Movie of the Year: Batman Begins - a comic movie where you can watch it was a comic book and it great...and watch it as a regular movie and you'll get the same effect.
  Surprise Movie: Mr. & Mrs. Smith - I went to see it as a turn off your brain shoot 'em up flick...it turned out a lot better than anticipated.
  Sleeper Movie: Four Brothers - so much action, so much emotion
  Best DVD: Sin City Recut & Extended
  Best Movie no one saw: tie: Unleashed - a Jet Li movie with a great story...lots of actionm but a story driven movie & Rent - so true to the Broadway musical
  Oh wow...it finally came out on DVD: Friends Season 10...at last my series is complete.
  
  
• Music - Where do I start? This year I've seen my youth worship band grow musically and spiritually. It's been an amazing ride...these kids are so talented...although often criticized for the style and loudness of the music...they are never discouraged and just want to play and worship God. I've also had the priviledge of singing a solo in our spring canata, pariticpate in the Christmas one, recorded a few songs for a charity Christmas Album, and lead worship with another band at the Dock and Soulhouse Cafe.
  
  I hit a few concerts this year as well...the most memorable was Casting Crowns at Ontario Place with Starfield, Reuben Morgan at the Queensway, and Passion at Ricoh with Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall and David Crowder.
  
  Music awards?
  
  Rock Album of the Year: Green Day - American Idiot
  Rap Album of the Year: Kanye West - Late Registration
  Pop Album of the Year: Black Eyed Peas - Monkey Business
  Christian Album of the Year: Casting Crowns - Lifesong
  Worship Album of the Year: Chris Tomlin - Arriving
  Live Album of the Year: Alicia Keys - Unplugged
  Song of the Year: Coldplay - Fix You
  Album of the Year: Coldplay - X&Y
  
  ...and of course I can't mention music without saying something about karaoke Wednesdays at Shoeless Joe's. The other day I was late arriving because I was at the Raptors game...and when the DJ saw me coming...he said to me...I was wondering if you were going to show up. Glad to hear that we're missed...
  
  
• Friends - it's been a year of old friends returning and making new friends. The friends that I have made, gotten to know better, and ones that have come back into my life has made this year amazing. I thank you all for the kindness and generosity that you have shown me...I hope that I have done the same...I love you all.
  
  
• Family - It was great to see my uncle return to Canada after 4 years, and being able to spend time with us for a few weeks. Spending time with my brother and parents has always been taken for granted. But when you don't see them all the time...each time becomes a little more special.

And to end this year off...here is my 2005 top 10 memories

10 - Casting Crowns concert at Ontario Place
09 - buying my iPod...ya i know that's cheesy...but I love my iPod
08- Freelance photography at the Raptors games
07 - Wednesday karaoke nights (the first night was stll the best one...)
06 - getting a job with no interview...just a call saying...I need a designer...you interested?
05 - golfing with my uncle from HK
04 - Ottawa trip
03 - Moving out of the homestead and into The Ranch
02 - leading worship at TNL, Sunday services, the Dock & Soulhouse Cafe
01 - all the great times with family and friends

I hope that your year was just as memorable as mine...I wish you a happy New Years...until next year...God Bless

1.89 - The One with the chase

So another year...another Christmas...and of course...to go with that...Boxing Day. I'd like to meet the person who had the brilliant idea of having massive sales the day after Christmas. What were you thinking?!?! My family decided that it was a good idea to hit the Eaton Centre downtown TO...oh sure where the logic was behind that one...but I did come away with a bunch of stuff. I've never seen that mall as busy as it was...sure I've been there during the Christmas rush...but this was ridunkulous. There were stores that would only let a certain number of people in at a time...there were line ups OUTSIDE of the store waiting to get in...kinda like a VIP club. Foot Locker was nuts...the line for the checkout went all the way around the store. I had one item in my hand and it quickly went back on the shelf. After hours of shopping we ended up at the theatre to see King Kong...good movie...long...but worth the $9 my brother paid for the admission.

The best storey of the day...while linning up at Freshly Squeezed we were perhaps 10th in line. The line was moving well...all of a sudden there was some screaming and yelling....I looked towards the comotion and out of nowhere some guy was tearing down the mall with about 8 security officers chasing him. I don't know what happened next...but the line in front of me evaporated and I got my smoothie...mmmm...banana, strawberry and mango...

1.88 - The One with the Christmas Dinner

When you think of Christmas Dinner the first things that come to mind are turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc. So today being Christmas...you'd think we'd have a traditional dinner. Nope...I'm currently writing this from my uncle's house in TO...we just finished dinner and it was no where close to being a traditional Christmas meal. Being Chinese has its advantages in the vast variety of food that I encounter....we had a Hot Pot with beef, shrimp, noodles, deep fried tofu, and the like. Tomorrow...off for some dim sum for breakfast...and most likely banquet type of dinner in the evening. If that doesn't make your mouth water...you're missing out.

1.87 - The One with the Yuletide

Ok...remember when I said it would be a White Christmas? Well...it started to rain today...and supposed to rain all the way until Christmas. Not the way a Canadian should spend their Christmas...here's hoping for some light snow.

This past week has been crazy...but full of fun...we'll start off with the great party at Trav-Who's...ahhh hot tub outside in the winter...good times. Went to a screening of Narnia on Sunday...great movie...very true to the book...much better than the BBC rendition that I watched in grade 4. Christmas Carolling in the cold windy night on Monday...Tuesday we had our office Christmas lunch...Wednesday was karaoke night...always a good time. Thursday...the highlight so far this week...I went into TO to visit Emily and we went for sushi...oh so good....although it took Rebecca and I about 2 hours to get back from downtown to home. Oh well...I was in good company.

Merry Christmas to all and I wish you all have a great time with friends and family...and don't forget the real reason for the season...

1.86 - The One with the 50/50 chance

Earlier this fall...some weather guy predicted that we had a 50/50 chance of snow for Christmas...this is what it looks like outside...

with under 9 days to go...I think it's a safe bet that we will have a white Christmas in this winter wonderland.

1.85 - The One with the lighter wallet

Just wanted to let you all know...I'm done my Christmas shopping...that's right done...10 days before...of course I'll prolly go get some more stuff for myself...but that's a given. For those that have been finished for a long time...well...good for you...for those who aren't done...have fun and good luck.

1.84 - The One with the mistaken identity

Last night I decided to be creative in the kitchen and create a 3 layered Jello bowl for snack tonight at work. How hard can it be? Jello has got to be the easiest thing to make in the world. So layer one...cherry flavour...mmmmm. Let that set for a few hours and then pour in layer two....lime flavour. I was running out of time so i left out layer 3 to set in room temperature...an hour later I poured in layer 3...lemon flavour. Then I decided to be really ambitious and placed some of the fruit salad that I made in earlier. Kiwi, strawberries, apples, and clemintines...ya...bad idea. When I came into work today...16 hours later...you'd think that the Jello would have set...nope...I guess that combination of fruit just doesn't let the jello set. So I officially screwed up Jello...I suppose I should stick to shrimp skewers, terriyaki chicken, grilled slamon, and filet minon.

1.83 - The One with the tag

After a warning...Lesley "tagged" me...I'm supposed to write out 10 random facts about me and then tag others and have them do the same. I'm a good sport so I'll play along...here we go...prepare to be amazed:

1. I lived in Saskatoon for 13 years...more than 1/2 my life. The other half was spent in Toronto and the Metropolis of Cobourg...where I am now.
2. You know when old people say that when they went to school and they walked up hill both ways with snow up to their knees? Ya...it's true...there was a little valley between me and my highschool...so I litereally walked up both ways...snow in Saskatoon is crazy...and at times it could be up to your knees...
3. When I was doing some freelance photography at the Raptors vs. Miami game last year...the 7'1", 325 lbs, size 22 shoe of Shaquille O' Neal came mighty close to flattening me when he tumbled out of bounds into the photographers pit.
4. I own all 10 seasons of Friends on DVD.
5. I only know how to play chords on the guitar...I don't really know which fret is which note.
6. I know how to waltz, do the fox trot, 2-step and yes...even the polka.
7. 90% of the people that know me do not call me by my real name.
8. I've flown across both of the major oceans.
9. I have big feet for my height. I'm 5'10", 150lbs and I wear size 10.5-11 shoes. You know what they say about guys that have big feet....they have really big shoes.
10. I collect and wear jerseys because they look nice...not just because I like the team.
11. Here's a bonus one...my music collection is extremely eclectic. I have everything from Desinty's Child to Metallica to 50 Cent to Dave Matthews to Michael Buble to delirious to Eminem to Mozart to Chris Tomlin to Outkast to Green Day to Backstreet Boys. I draw the line at country...sorry I just can't handle it.

so? did you learn something new? Or did this give you an epiphany?

I tag:

Emily
Jon although he probably won't do this....
Jen
Lori
and Rick....cuz I can

and I can't forget Robin

1.82 - The One with the 6 month wait

If you haven't figured it out already...I'm a movie buff...I enjoy movies alot...I have alot of movies...I watch alot of movies...I even buy alot of movies...not as much as Otter...but that's another story for another time. Today my brother sent me this link...needless to say...I am excited about this movie...even more so now. But alas...I must be patient and wait.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Lelsey and Manda!! We'll party it up on Wednesday..."up da house..." right Manda?

1.81 - The One with the pre-emtive strike

Lesley, Big D and I took a trip to The O.C. today to do a little Christmas Shopping...now I've said before that I'm a shoppers shopper. I find great deals and buy stuff. Today's purpose was to start our Christmas shopping...Big D got some stuff for his brother...I got presents for 5 people on my list...PLUS I bought new shoes and a few movies that the price was so good I couldn't resist. Lesley...I don't think she bought anything other than for herself. She sure looked hard for things to buy...but just wasn't feeling it. Don't you love that about Christmas Shopping? I usually come back with more gifts for me than for other people. But it was a good start....

Didn't make it rock climbing due to circumstances beyond my control...which I wasn't too pleased about...sorry AJ and Rebecca...hope you had fun...

1.80 - The One with the move

What a day...first off I had to sign all the Christmas Cards for work....I cheated and ran them through a printer...then it was off to Amberley's to help her move her stuff to her new apartment...I think we did pretty good. 2 trips with a truck, a SUV and a mini van. I think it took us only 3 hours to complete the job. After that Big D and I went over to the pool hall here I humbled him 6 games to none. And of course...Wednesday would not be complete without some karaoke...complete with thumbwars, beer spilt on my camera, and Amberley actually getting up and "singing" Let's Get is Started with us. Now we just have to work on Steve and Manda to sing a song...

Next up...Staff Party tonight and Rock Climbing tomorrow in TO...

Steve & Travis

Travis with his good friends


Amberley, Travis & Steve


The Crilly's with Manda & Lesley


Jen, Jon & Dalton


you're so pretty Steve...


Big D


Danny boy


Ams "singing" with the boys


Manda & Jon


Thumbwar!!!


Ain't No Mountian High Enough

Titus & Amberley


I've had the Time of my Life

***My bad...Manda did sing YMCA with us...so Steve....you're next