Two New Blogs

I decided to create two new blogs. Yes, I know, that means I now have five in total, but they all have very specific purposes. This blog was simply getting too overcrowded with too many variations of posts.

Weep Not For the Memories is a blog dedicated to memories. Mostly to memories of my father and other posts that deal strictly with the accident reside there, but some childhood reminsinces as well. I thought it was a subject that deserved it's own space and I removed most of the posts that I put there from here. Not all, but most.

It's Only My Opinion is a blog for, well, opinions. TV shows, movies, even my opinions on sports and politics will go on this blog. This is a smaller blog (obviously), but still neat, I think. Again, all the posts there so far were on this blog first--but in this case, I removed them all from this blog, since they have no purpose on this blog now.

I really think it'll may my life easier to seperate my blog into seperate categories. Of course, I now have five to update--but it might happen. So, now I have a regular blog, a writing blog, a photo blog, a memory blog and an opinion blog. Sounds good to me.

More Blogs?

I'm thinking of trimming this blog down. I've noticed that when I post it tends to be one of three things.

Either, it's a very personal post, as I think back about the past and about my father in particular; it's just an update of what's going on, very newsy and casual; or it's a weird mix of random things that have no purpose.

Because of that, I was thinking of creating another blog just to seperate things a bit more. Of course, I already have two other blogs, but again, they have very seperate purposes. I would keep this blog for the newsy things and move the more personal stuff elswhere.

I thought I might put the things such as my opinions on new TV shows, movies, books or sports elsewhere too. I don't know, it's just a thought.

News

So, I withdrew from George Brown today. I did it for my own reasons, becasue the course wasn't what I wanted. I just didn't like it and I didn't think I could last a whole year.

So, I made another game plan. I'll go to Senecca in January, like I orginally planned. Until then, I'll find a job and an apartment and live in Toronto. I don't want to go back to Castleton, but I'd rather do that then stay in a program where I wasn't happy.

I know some people will be disapointed, but really this is was what best for me and I did put some thought into it. I know I only tried the program for two weeks, but that was enoguh for me to know it wasn't for me. I love to bake and I always will, but I don't want to pursue it as a field.

I don't really know what I want to do with my life, but I have a few ideas. I have time to figure it all out. I'm onyl 22 after all.

Anyway, I made the decision on my own and I feel good about it.

Football Predictions

I decided to take a crack at predicting the upcoming NFL season. This is how I think each team will do at the end of the year.

I'm not a football expert and my formula was completly random, so I doubt I'll be correct, but I thuoght just for fun I'd post my predcitions so later I could see how wrong I was.

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NFC

East
Philladelphia (last season: 13-3):12-4
Dallas (last season 6-10): 8-8
N.Y Giants(last season 6-10): 6-10
Washington (last season 6-10): 6-10

North
Green Bay (last season 10-6): 10-6
Minnesota (last season 8-8): 9-7
Chicago (last season 5-11): 6-10
Detroit (last season 6-10): 7-9

South
Carolina (last season 7-9): 10-6
Atlanta (last season 11-5): 9-7
Tampa Bay (last season 5-11): 7-9
New Orleans (last season 8-8): 3-13

West
Seattle (last season 9-7): 11-5
St. Louis (last season 8-8): 10-6
Arizona (last season 6-10): 6-10
San Francisco (last season 2-14): 4-12

I'm predicting that Green Bay, Philladelphia, Seattle and Carolin will win their divisions, with Philladelphia winning the Conference and Atlanta and St. Louis getting the Wild Card spots.

AFC

East
New England (last season 14-2): 14-2
N.Y. Jets (last season 10-6): 10-6
Buffalo (last season 9-7): 9-7
Miami (last season 4-12): 6-10

North
Pittsuburgh (last season 15-1): 12-6
Baltimore (last season 9-7): 8-8
Cincinatti (last season 8-8): 7-9
Cleavland (last season 4-12): 5-11

South
Indianapolis (last season 12-4): 10-6
Jacksonville (last season 9-7): 8-8
Tennessee (last season 5-11): 8-8
Houston (last season 7-9): 6-10

West
San Diego (Last Season 12-4): 10-6
Oakland (Last Season 5-11): 8-8
Denver (Last Season 10-6): 7-9
Kansas City (Last Season 7-9): 4-12

I'm predicting that New England, Pittsburgh, San Diego, and Indianapolis will win their divisions, with New England winning the Conference and the Jets and Buffalo getting the Wild Card spots.

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There you go, my NFL predicitions. I'm sure most football analysts would laugh at them, but it's what my gut tells me. Of course, football's not by sport, so my guts probably wrong, but we'll see in January.

Football and Memories

Football season started tonight.

I'm not a huge footballfan, probably never will be. However, football will always represent something special in my life. It's one more tie, one more thing that reminds me of my father.

My dad loved football the way I love hockey: with an all-consuming passion. From week 1 until the Superbowl, nothing else was permitted on our TV on Sudnays. At least not when he was home (so my mother and I loved it when he went out to watch the game elsewhere).

Many of my memories of him are tied in with football. As a child, the Monday Night Football theme meant it was time for bed. Daddy let me listen to the song and that was it.

I remember Superbowl XXV when the Giants beat the Bills. Daddy let me stay up for the whole thing and he was so happy when his Giants won. I remember just enjoying getting to stay up and spend the time with him and though, I think I fell asleep at some point, he made sure I was up for the end becuase he knew I'd hate to miss it.

Later, we'd spend Sundays on the couch, with him trying to explain the rules of football to me. I understood, but couldn't care less, but he never stopped trying. Later, as I grew more interested (football is a sport, after all), we had a routine. He'd lay on the couch and I'd sit at his feet and we'd discuss the game.

American Thanksgiving was an unofficial holiday in our house. He never worked, I never had to go to school and my mom made a roast chicken for dinner. It was one of my favourite traditions.

There came a point when I could discuss football with him and I cared enough to cheer for specific teams and to ask what the standings were. I never cared enough to keep track, but I never had to. Daddy alwyas had it all in his head.

I loved to annoy him by cheering for the other team. He did the smae to me. We had many a battle, but alwyas friendly. We loved to egg the other on, knowing it was all done in fun.

When his team was in the superbowl, I cheered as feverently as he did and vice versa. Buit if it was regular season, then all bets were off and we liked to compete.

Tonight his Raiders are playing my Patriots in the Season opener. I can almost hear the conversation we would have, the goodnatured teasing. It makes me smile, it's a little bittersweet, but most memories are. I like thinking of things we shared, even if it hurts, just a little bit.

My fahter might me gone, but he left me with many wonderful memories of things we shared and the reminders of those times will always be special. But football, perhaps most of all.

Besides, wherever Daddy is now, I know he's watching the game and grumbling 'cause as of now the Raiders are losing. He's here with me, always. I know that, sometiems I just feel it stronger than others and tonight's one of those times.

Books to Watch For--Update

A couple of months ago, I posted my "Books to Watch For" list, with all the books that I was eagerly awaiting.

In the last couple months, I've added a couple more books to the list and learnt a few added details about some of the other books I was already awaiting. So I thought an update was in order.

October 25, 2005- Undead and Unreturnable by Mary Janice Davidson.
The fourth Betsy Taylor book. One thing you have to love about Mary Janice Davidson, unlike most of the other authors on this list--she doesn't take forever to write a book. Her last Betsy Taylor book came out in July and already we're getting another one. Isn't that awesome?
To be the fair, the books are shorter and fluffier than anything else on this list, but still really good and you don't have to wait forever! This one's even a Christmas book--A Christmas book about vampires, now doesn't that sound interesting?
Books 5 & 6 are slated for release in 2006 and I'll post more information on them once they have titles and such. But don't you love how fast she writes?

April 2006- A Date From Hell- Multiple Authors (including Kim Harrison and Kelley Armstrong)
This is a multi-author anthology that includes authors of two of my favorite series with two short stories from said series'. I love anthologies, I've found some great authors that way, because they were in anthologies with an authout I already loved.
This one has a new story from Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series, with a new character--always fun. It also has a new story from Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series, set before the series.
I'm very excited about this one.

May 2006- Broken by Kelley Armstrong
The newest Women of the Other World book! This new story focuses on Elena, the main character of the first two books, not by favourite of the three narators so far in the series, but I'm sure it'll still be wonderful. One big thing about it: it's set in Toronto! Yay!

June, 2006- Once Upon Stilettos by Shanna Swendson
Of all the books on the list, this is the one I'm looking forward to. I loved Enchanted Inc. and I can't wait to read this sequel. Especially now, since she's just posted a little tidbit about it on her website.
I still don't know how I'm going to last until next June, but I'll make it somehow. I hope, though I'm sure by the time it actually comes out, I will be in full-obsessive mode, counting down the days and everything.

July, 2006- Danse Macrabre by Laurell K. Hamilton
Anita Blake #13!
Of course, this book is still almost a year away--but I am desperatly, eagerly looking forward to it. I love these books and I'm sure the next one will be amazing, even if it's come almost two years after the last one.
I already know I will love this book. More Anita; more vampires, werewolves and other creatures; more sex, blood and death; more angst and agression; and best of all, more Jean Claude! How could any girl resist?

There you go, my updated "Books I'm Eagerly Awaiting" list.

If you'll note, they're all fantasy/supernatural. Most of them contain magic, half of them contain vamprires and they all have that supernatural theme. What can I say, that's my current book taste (I think it comes from the fact that most of these were recommended by Taela).

The only unfortunate thing about this list, is that half of the books on it don't come out until next summer. Sigh. Oh, well, at least I have school to fill my time until then.

Bad Day

Today was brutal.

I started school. Which went well. I only had two classes, but both seemed okay and I liked the teachers. So the school thing was good.

I also hung out with Meg for a while. Which was fine. It was the rest of my day that sucked. I won't go into details, but it took em four and a half hours to get from Toronto back to Oshawa. Yes, four and a half hours.

Anyway, by the time I made it back, I was tired, stressed and upset and seriously deabting dropping out and going back to Castelton. I won't actually do it, but I think it's a sign of how frustrated it was that my life in Castleton seemed better.

I'm sure things will get better when I'm actually living in the city, though God only knows when that will be since I still ahve to find a place. Soon, I hope.

Ech, I'm still in a rotten mood whihc is probably pretty obvious so I'm going to go do something else and get away from the computer.

This and That

So, big news, though I think by now everyone knows it: I'm moving to Toronto and going to George Brown (starting Tuesday). I'm leaving Castleton. At last.

However, I'm now desperately looking for a place to live. I thought I had found one, but it fell through (unfortunately). So, now I need to find a place ASAP and until then I'm staying with family in Oshawa.

In other news, I'm at Meg and Phil's for a couple day. Awesome party yesterday. I got to meet Tara's girlfriend, who is very nice. And it's always nice to see everyone.

I've become a total Sims adict and am having a hard time being torn away from Phil's computer. It's just so damned additcting.

Can't think of anything else. Will update on the housing situation. Oh, and I'm still without a computer. Sigh. Espeically since I ahve an online course.