Update

This is Samantha here, Turk's girlfriend. Since Turk doesn't update this enough I'll give you a quick run down if how things are going over here.

Turk - He is now the Hard Goods Manager in SportChek in the downtown mall. (persistence pays off everyone! Turk is a prime example of that. He has been chasing this position for over a year and a half and it happened!) It was difficult at first of course because of all the information but things are going great now.

Sam (myself) - I also changed jobs. I'm now the Assistant Manager at Black's Photography in the south end mall. With both our jobs we received better hours and better pay so it was a no brainer to move forward in this direction. I've only have 2 days under my belt but I'm very excited so far. :)

Jen - She is doing great in school. She is over 80 in all her subjects except one, but we can work on that. I personally was always a 70 - 85 percent myself. So I'm very proud of her and her accomplishments! Her friend Ash is also coming out at the end of November and they are very excited about that as well.

Bay - Just started his new hockey season with the Pee Wee Tier 3 Martensville Marauders. In their first game they beat a city team, Bobcats, 6 - 1 and in that Bay had 2 assists and 1 goal! Ya awesome right?! lol As I'm typing this he is playing his second game and things aren't going as well as planned but we will see how it ends.

Slapshot & Bella - He has had his splint off for a while now and is jumping around. Him and the cat, Bella, are play fighting again so things are back to normal for them.

So that's about it from us. I should get going back to doing my homework. Was just taking a little break right now and saw that Turk has hardly wrote anything. lol Hope everyone is also doing great!

ugh!!

Well I've come to realize that I really only write this for me. I'm pretty sure there's only one person that reads this lives in my house and pretty much knows everything but sometimes it's just good to get it down on print.

I'm in a funny place right now...I'm happy, happier than I've been in a very long time. I'm deeply in love with Sam, she's such an amazing person, woke up one morning and suddenly had kids and she's done better than I thought. Her life has changed so much in the last year and a bit since I've been in it and I hope she's as happy as she makes me.
I'm still at the rink, and I'm not happy there, I am good at what I do, but I want to manage, although I am the "manager" here, it's different cause really I'm a clerk, and that doesn't leave me much time to manage....I'm working away trying to get my foot in the door with Sport Chek but also something new came across my plate the other day, there's a new store opening here next year sometime and it's called Pro Hockey Life and it's soooooooo me.....a sports rep contact I made way back in the day at Ventura Sports and I reconnected last week as he's my rep for Reebok hockey and he's the one who told me about it and said he would name drop me...holy shit....that would be amazing to manage that place. I think I'd knock it out of the park...
As for the funny place I'm in....well I want to be somebody...I don't want to be a celebrity, I don't need that headache...but I want to change the world....I sit on the couch at night and that keeps rolling through my head....I want to change the world....now don't get me wrong I don't want to cure cancer...well no I do actually but I'm not that smart....I don't want to land on the moon, I guess what I'm really trying to say is I want to be a change in this world...I'd LOVE to work for Livestrong, I'd love to just travel and volunteer where needed. I want my family to live comfortably and to be able to provide for them with ease. I'd do anything for any one of them. I don't need awards, I don't need recognition I just want to give of myself to those who need a hand.

Another one of my dreams has always been to be a fire fighter....my family doesn't share my dream and I understand why, it takes me away from them and it could take me away from them forever. I have the utmost repect for fire fighters...they give of themselves everytime the alarm goes off...running into burning buildings to save lives, homes, even pets. They are some of the bravest people I know and am humbled by their unselfishness. As much as I've always wanted to do this, being there for my family outweighs everything.

Don't get me wrong....I'm a happy guy, there's just a little more that I want to do in life. Sam often struggles with not being who she wants to be and although I think she's wonderful at who she is, I know she wants to be that girls sitting in her studio, with paint from head to toe and a smile on her face. I hope she realizes that she needs to hold on to that dream, just as I hold on to my dreams of becoming the person I want to be. The one that helps, and gives back, or gives of themselves....I want to be that person and I believe it will come in time for me and for her. Until then I'm the happiest guy being a dad, to 4 of the greatest kids in the world and to Slapshot, the greatest puppy in the world, and being a boyfriend to Sam who makes me feel like I can do anything AND being the influence that has me reading my second book in a row...shut up, it doesn't matter if it's a sports book I still have to read it lol.....

See ya when I see ya!

ok, so I suck at blog updates in summer...sue me lol

Well what a busy almost month I've had since my last blog....we had a fantastical time with the girls...we mini golfed, went to Ruckers a couple of times and Brooklyn was the big winner with 500 tickets on the big wheel....she was pretty pumped, did a little mini golfing, tried a few courses, took the girls to build a bear and got them a couple of bears for their birthday, a little surprised that Bailey couldn't wait for them to come out and when they did it ended up being the most time he spent playing fricken video games...not all that impressed, they leave, he plays less...can't figure that out...

So, Jennifer arrived Finally lol, our/Sam's friend Dan out of the kindness of his heart and love for roadtrips, picked up the Uhaul we had rented, packed up her stuff and drove her on out here and spent the week with our full and crowded house...Man it was great having our whole family under one roof....including Dan, Slapshot and Bella...she seems very happy to be home, I keep getting random hugs from her which I love, she's slowly unpacking and although I can tell she's nervous about starting school knowing no one, she's gonna do great....

We ended up having the girls longer than first thought as they arent' moving to Calgary at the start of August so that was fantastic....Sam went back to MB for her sisters bday so she brought the girls back, Dan back and Bay for a visit with his mom...the day the girls left was NOT a good day, we had to wake them up, Cassidy just sit on the bottom stair with her head down...as I was getting the last of the things packed up I went inside, asked her what was wrong and she lifted her head to nothing but tears pouring down her face, she looked at me and said, "I'm gonna miss you".....ya I died a little inside at that moment...broke my fricken heart knowing that I'm the one who moved so far away and although we don't miss a beat being apart and our relationship is great, it just hurts me knowing that my choices, no matter how good in the long run they are, still cause them some pain....they had a great visit, we all had a great time and can't wait till the next time...we got our family pic taken which was one of our priorities because we are not together all the time and it's one we'll update every year....it's the best family ever, I love them to pieces, they are my everything and I'd be lost without every one of them...

The dog is good, lovin his home and we are loving him and he and Jens cat acually get along, if you call Slapshot using her as a chew toy getting along...I do so it works lol, the kids are getting ready for school in less than two weeks...man how the summer flew by, Bay is back into hockey, he has a powerskating camp this week and Sunday a month of 3 on 3 starts and then he'll roll right into his first season as a non Maroon....can't wait for hockey to get into the swing of things.

Sam is busy managing her store and doing great although she thinks some days she's not. I also have her on "homework" duty...there's so many things she wants to do and there's so many things right within her reach and just needs a small, tiny, kick in the ass to start doing it....hence the "homework"

I am looking at making some changes for the good of the family...my current job keeps me away from them while there home and keeps me home while they're away and no job is worth that so I have a few irons in the fire and we'll see what happens over time...there's no rush as I have 6 people to think about and do right by.

We took in the Ex this weekend for the first time in years and ya gotta say, don't miss the crowds but Hedley was playing there and the concert was free with Ex admission so being Bailey's fav band and we all like them we had to go and they were worth the price of admission and more....they really played to the crowd, included them/us, had a great encore set and I can't wait to see them again.

I'm sure there's a ton I've missed putting on here but it's kind of the Readers Digest version of the last couple months....life is good, getting better everyday, I'm thankful for what and who I have in my life, I'm pretty lucky, no I"m damn lucky and don't take it for granted...never will, I have too much to lose....


I'll see ya when I see ya

Yikes

2 months since my last post???? yikes, shame on me.....so much has happened....Bay hockey went well, they had a great record, a great tourny and just a great group of Boys, he alreaedy misses it....he finished grade 6 and given the goofy year he had he did really well, as did Jennifer back in mb.....on that note, Jen is moving here, her mom and the girls are moving to Calgary so Jen needed to decide where she was going and she chose here thank the lord and yes I did....my girls are excited about their move, as am I because they'll be closer and in the mountains....we got a puppy, a mini american eskimo, his name is Slapshot and he's already a solid member of this family....the girls are here right now and I'm loving every minute of it, they are such a joy, I"m a lucky dad even with my situation....

Sam has taken on a Manager position at the Walmart photo studio here and I couldn't be more proud of her, she's doing great, she's such a good photographer and will only get better, she's great to the kids, they love her as much as I do and she's actually been away for a few days on a family vacation and let me tell you this house is not a home without her, I used to encourage time away from my ex but with her I feel empty without her, which after 15ish months together tells me that this time I"m doing things right.....thank goodness I actually do learn from the past...mistakes and all....I love her very much and I'm very grateful for her in my life.

We've been golfing, or at least some of us are learning, we've been enjoying the sun the few days we get it, we've been drying our flooded basement, we've been working, we've seen a couple movies but most importantly we've been a family even if all of us aren't here all the time....

I'm very excited for my future, our future, my kids future, I'm very excited to know that I"m going to marry Sam one day, I"m not scared of it anymore, I know better this time, no more taking for granted just cause you're married, no more assuming one knows you love them.....cherish that person in your life, don't let life get too busy, tell them everyday, numerous times you love them....not everyone gets a second chance to get it right, I got my second chance and let me tell you, it's gonna be a home run.....

OH AND IN CASE YOU LIVE UNDER A ROCK.......

THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS WON THE STANLEY CUP!!!!!!!!!!

Something I've waited my whole life for and I've been shouting it from the rooftops LOL....love it!

K I gotta sleep as those babies of mine are up bright and early.....sorry for the lack of updates....I"ll try to get better.....just not the next two weeks as I'm on holidays baby!!!!

see ya when I see ya!

Busy

Well, hockey had been good, Bailey is playing great and I've become the head coach....the boys are getting along so well and it will be sad to see this little team split up in a month....we just finished all 3 of us having the same day off....that doesn't happen often enough...Bailey met up with his friend Hallie this afternoon and they shot some hoops for a while, we opened up a bank account for him today so he could deposit his first ever paycheck. He is saving up for a Wii and after 3 on 3 is over he'll have enough. He then went to a birthday party with a school friend, they did 5 pin glow bowling and he had a great time. It was in my very first neighbourhood in saskatoon and well I went down memory lane a bit, most good, some bad, and it was again very trippy and this time Sam was able to be a part of it...she laughed at me mostly....been watching a ton of hockey my Hawks have been doing great, makes me nervous but I love it....Sam has been on a few interviews lately and something will come soon I can feel it, and she deserves it....other than that all is the same and well...hope you're all good and we'll chat soon..

see ya when I see ya!

Sheesh

As soon as I turn around it's almost May and I haven't blogged all month....welcome to the busy life.....not much changing here, it rains, snows, and is +25 all in the same week so not really sure what season it is, Bailey has started hockey again, and is loving it, he's also working as a timekeeper for games he isn't playing and making some sweet cash and saving to buy himself a Wii and he's pretty jacked....talked to the girls a couple of times on Skype, great to see them and looking very forward to them coming out in August.....we've had Bay out for mini golf and Ruckers a couple of times, he loves that place...work is calming down and that makes me happy, time to get a grip on everything and knock some numbers out of the park next season....ball is starting soon, we are putting together a slo pitch team from work....we won't be good but man will we have fun.....heading to Mb mid June for a wedding I'm best man in....could do without Mb but looking forward to the wedding, hopefully will head there once before to pick up our stuff!!! Just finished 3 days off and spent two of them laid up with a sinus cold....first one all winter so I shouldn't complain....Daughtry is coming up mid may, a gift from my gorgeous girlfriend for our one year anniversary...pretty jacked about that and I must say, she's such a wonderful person, who took care of me while I was sick, I'm a HUGE baby when I'm sick, and stubborn but she ignored that and made me feel great with an ice cream fun and a facial massage and havaing someone do that I've never experienced before.....it's wonderful and I appreciate her so much.....

well time to get me butt in gear, Bay has hockey tonight, I work and Sam works two jobs and an interview so busy day....stay well stay safe....

see ya when I see ya!

April!?!?

Gah, I can't belive it's April already, not much new kicken around here, we're just plugging away, working too many hours and Bailey is enjoying his spring break, his hockey starts soon and he's pumped about that. Brooklyn is now using Jennifers old bike, it's purple and it's bigger and she flies like the wind and she's pretty pumped, had to tell me all about it and then the next day she had to call and tell me that she lost her first tooth! She was pretty pumped and was getting all kinds of money already.

April is pretty busy for me at the rink, this week during the day there is a First Nations Winter Games hockey tourney going on and for some reason Theo Fluery came to the rink today, looking for a different tourney going on in the city. Well he was bombarded by autograph seekers lol, I never had the chance to see him but Bailey did but didn't want an autograph. A little while after he left I went upstairs to the washroom and a young native kid about Bay's age looked at me and asked if I played for the Flames.....hahahahahahahaha well I guess we're the same size and same facial hair...too funny and cute....

well that's about it, need to get some zzzz's and finish tomorrow and enjoy 3 days off with Bay and his spring break! It's supposed to be +18 so we'll be enjoying the great outdoors...

see ya when I see ya!

Tired....

Well, we made it, we just got back from Grand Forks, Bailey had a great tournament, well lets back up just a little...



Life as we know it has been pretty good, Bailey is adjusting to life out here, school is good, meeting some friends and the snow is gone. He's had a few skates at my rink thanks to our head program co ordinater, and he's thoroughly enjoyed that. We left on the 18th for Grand Forks is Sams car and headed to Altona to pick up Jennifer, after a couple of hugs from kaleigh and cramming Jen's suitcase into the trunk, we squished the kids into the back seat and off we went. OH and on a quick side note, when we drove through Altona it happened to be Chris' birthday so we dropped by The Hut to wish him a Happy Birthday in person!

Ok so across the border we went and there was next to no water anywhere so the flood watch was low, we hit the hotel with two other families and after a quick trip to Target for some goggles and trunks it was off to the hot tub for a cold beer and a soak....much needed after 10 hours on the road.



Friday at noon was the first game and don't you know it, it was at The Ralph (http://www.theralph.com/) one of the nicest rinks I'll ever step foot in. The game was a bit of a romp as it was against a gold team from Kenora but that's ok because that put us on the B side which is a little easier....that set up the next game for Saturday morning against Mcdonald of all teams, the team we lost to against in the league finals. This was a redemption game for the boys and for Bay who didn't get to play against them, and the boys came out firing, laying a licking and a win on. This win meant we had two more games for sure and one more in The Ralph. In the semi finals we met Winkler of all teams and were hanging with them until a coaching error in changing goalies to allow fair play led to our butts being handed to us leaving us without a chance at the B side Championships. So we had one game left Sunday morning and the goal was, win this one for Bay, and they did with Bailey walking away from the Tourney with an assist and his goal was at least a point. The final game was pretty emotional for me, watching Bailey play his last game in a Maroons sweater. The Maroons mean a lot to the both of us and has been a big part of our lives for the last 11 years.

Also that weekend thanks to Greg Harris and a phone call we got an inside tour of The Ralph, down into the UND weight room, dressing room, lounge, places they don't take people anymore and we learnt a little more about Ralph Engelsted, some of the history and what it takes to actually become a member of The Fighting Sioux and let me tell you it's not easy but totally worth it.

As expensive as the weekend was we had a great time, enjoyed the weekend with Jennifer and wouldn't have changed it for anything. We headed home on Sunday, stopping in Altona to unfortunately drop off Jennifer and after a few tears and a broken window we were on our way to Winkler to take the girls out for supper and listen to them ask if they could move to Saskatoon. Bay then went to get a little mom time while we visited with the girls and then headed to their place so they could show us a thing or two, Bay could kick a little more butt in soccer and it was time to head home....The trip was good, uneventful but about an hour away from home Bay said he had a question for me.....well I won't get into any details but he was pretty open with me about life without me in Altona, life here in Stoon, and pressures that were put on him before he moved and I must say I'm ashamed for so many adults....things were said to him from my family and others and he told me exactly what that did to him. So many people said he had a nervous stomach, sick, he was broken because I was making him move...what it turned out to be was people telling him he was gonna regret moving here with his dad and away from his friends and I was appalled.....how do you tell and 11 year old that he's gonna regret moving with his dad. As much as I'd like to discuss this with the guilty parties....why would I waste the time or energy...if you'd see my boy, he's happy, yes we don't have the girls close by but we're sure making efforts, he loves being with me, I love having him with me as I always have and in a perfect world they'd all be with me, I love and miss them so much so we'll continue making the efforts that we have and we will survive and make the most out of all the times and opportunities we get together.

He asked me about stress, what it was and if I was ever stressed...I laughed and said everyday and told him what exactly stresses me out and what I worry about everyday.....so many have said how I've only made this move for myself, but this was so much more than that, and I worry everyday that Sam won't regret it, that Bailey is happy and I won't lose my mind without my girls closer....so much of my life is better because of the past, as much as people think I haven't grown, once they let go of the past they will be able to see it, but Sam see's it and benefits from it as do the kids....I love her so very much, she makes my life, my stresses, doable because she supports me, stands by me, cheers for me AND all the kids....she's an unbelievable and amazing person and is gonna be such a success in life I can't wait to see it.....

So now that I've blathered and gotten a little bit of stuff off my chest I'm gonna sign off, put this headache to bed and head to work in the morning.....looking forward to the next 50 years of my life and hope you are as well....

see ya when I see ya!

Been Awhile

Hey there,
well, a lot has happened since I last posted....we left last Friday to go to Mb to pick up Bailey, and I wish I could say it was an uneventful trip but alas that would be too much to ask...everything was good till we hit Brandon for gas and heard a sound that made me look and see if I still had all 4 tires on the Jeep....we broke a cv joint....and continued to drive all the way to Winkler where we were able to limp into Southland Honda where a friend of mine works and they were able to squeeze us in and replace the front axle...gah! They gave us a courtesy car so that we were able to make it to Altona and watch Baileys final game with his team...a 3-0 win. They had the Jeep up and running by 11 Sat which was great, would give us time to get back to Altona, pack up Bay and head home....hahahahahahaha, again too much to ask....by Plum Coulee...pleh, we had no steering, by the 201, we had less steering than that, no heat oh and the Jeep was overheating.....so we limped into West Park Motors where I have couple friends working there and they told me a bearing went in one of my fan pullys....well they had me going in less than an hour....all said and done....$500 more than we had budgeted for the trip....geez....but 4 hours later than we wanted to we were back on the road after a few hugs and kisses from all the girls and we headed home...I think Bay was already complaining about the long drive by Carman lol it was around 2 a.m. when we got home, Bay was a little wired and dying to play PS3 so we ended up unpacking his stuff from the Jeep and getting to bed around 4. Sunday was a get familiar with the house day for Bay, Sam had to work.

Monday we were off to his new school...he was pumped for it, until we left the house and then the anxiety kicked in. When we got to school the teacher arrived at the office with not one, not two but THREE girls to meet and greet Bailey....they pretty much rushed him into class and that was not a good thing, he wanted a tour and to take things slow, so we backed out, found the principal and got a tour of the school. That was about all he could handle and we called it a day. I had taken the day off in preparation that this would happen. Tuesday came and he had himself so wound up he spent most of it in the bathroom. Oh and before I forget, there was another girl from the other grade 6 class that had seen Bay and asked if he was in her class and was verbally disappointed that it was a no.....pretty good first day lol....all in all the teachers were nice, the kids were great but for Bay it was like his head was spinning....Wed was a no choice day, he had to go, we walked to school and talked a lot, got to the office and the librarian took him in slow, got him set up in the library and by the time lunch came my boy was back, the energy, the smile, the chattering on and on. With all he went through I keep reminding him that he could have stayed in Altona for the rest of the school year but he insists no way it was already long enough that we had been apart and I fully agree. His week was short as they have early dismissal on thursdays and no school this friday but he's met a couple friends and it's starting to feel like home....even if we're 3/4's short...it's not perfect but we'll take what we can get...

We are headed to Grand Forks in 2 weeks for his final tourney with his team, and with the Jeep breakdown it's gonna be tough but I really wanna do this for him, then we should be pretty low key for awhile, Bay is entered into a 3 on 3 hockey league in my rink from April 18 to June 19 and he's looking forward to that as well....Sam and I are adjusting to life on our own with our little family and work and limited budgets and there's the odd speed bump but we're enjoying the family time, wishing it was bigger but loving every minute of it....

I'm off to go listen to him yap some more lol....

see ya when I see ya

Random.....

Well here I sit at work, day 3 of what will be 10 days straight....the light at the end of the tunnel is a week from today I will see all my kids and be packing up Bay to bring him home to Saskatoon and I can hardly wait...so with a Peewee tourney going on I'm not overly busy so I'm gonna blog about this, that and whatever I want....

Lets start with what everyone seems to be yaking about, the Olympics....first of all, Vancouver can't control the weather, and everyone on the IOC knew the weather trends there going in and in there defense with everything that has happened, had they known ahead of time they have said they would have still chosen Vancouver.....they didn't plan to make their track so fast that an inexperienced rider would crash and die, it was a sad, tragic accident....as for the Olympia machine, aka fancy Zamboni for the speed skating track, the Vanoc did not make the machine and whoever had held the Olympics this winter would have tried the machine it would have failed and the good old trusty Zamboni would have been brought in....the Olympic flame....ok so they didn't handle that great, but really it was out of safety reasons and had they left it open to whoever and someone had tried to climb it for a great pic for Facebook, and had fallen well that would have been a whole nother can of worms to open on them...people voiced their concerns, they made modifications and now can take a decent picture of it....the U.S. is running away with the medals and yet are running off at the mouth on how things are being run....there have been some great moments from many countries and more to come....as for Team Canada hockey, you know what, yes we expect gold but then again so does Russia, Czecks, USA, Sweden...and year after year we have Canadian and American coaches, coaching players from all countries and year after year after us leading by example we are being pushed to our limits, Canada wins in a shoot out and all we here is, "we need to make changes", in all reality the Russians are heavy fav's to win and they lost in a shootout last night so lets not all hit the panic button right away, we have a great team with multiple Stanley Cup champs on it, young, tough and arguably the two if not 3 top goaltenders in the league led by Marty Broeduer....who cares if the games are close....last time I checked a win is a win and great teams overcome adversity..

Well lets jump over to golf.....Tiger is back in the news...well not back in really, he's never left but today for the first time in 87 days Mr. Woods showed his face, in a very controlled environment and spoke to the public, his family, friends, fans and sponsors....cool, I for one was happy to see him, he didn't owe me any explanation or apology, really all I wanted to know was when is he going to golf again, seems he still doesn't know or at least never mentioned but did say he was coming back and I being a huge fan of the game and of Tigers, can't wait.....he'll be the same golfer and hopefully for his sake, a better, person, husband, and father....but I just want to see him rip the cover off the ball...

So, I wear a Livestrong band on my wrist, I have for 3 years...those of you who don't know, Livestrong is an organization set up by 7 time Tour de France winner, to raise funds and awareness for cancer research, he battled and won a ferocious battle against cancer and won his 7 titles after that....now I don't have cancer, nor do I have anyone close to me that has died from it but it affects so many people and having run in 3 Breast Cancer Run for the Cure's, I've gained some awareness as to how common this is and with 3 daughters, and ex wife and a beautiful girlfriend, it could hit anyone of them and I'd rather do my part sooner than later.
So my point being, my band broke the other day, snapped on me and although I always know it's there after time you always get used to wearing that ring, chain, or band....well I felt as if a part of me was missing when it broke, I bought it way back when on ebay and was back on there looking for more, the cost being about $5 Canadian with shipping....Sam and I happened to be in the mall a couple of days later and she pointed out a Livestrong table set up in the middle of the mall....I looked from a ways back and couldn't see what I wanted but didn't go up close, she did and called me over....they had a basket full of bands....I have never seen a Livestrong table set up anywhere, never mind the mall in Saskatoon...all they required was a donation for the bands so I put in $10....the total for 2 bands was $10 but this is what it would have cost me total on ebay and this all went to the Livestrong foundation so I was pretty pumped....

well that's enough rambling for now....off to end my day...

see ya when I see ya...

It's me again...

Been awhile since I've been on here again, life's been up and down actually since I last blogged....so things are falling into place for moving in to our place and we're so excited about that, I can't wait, it also means I'm close to bringing Bailey home and man I can not wait to have my little man back with me everyday, I miss him more than words can explain...having some issues with Jen though, seems she doesn't want to move here now, and feels that at 14 she's a big girl and can make big girl decisions, she want's to live at her grandparents full time in Altona.
I'm so not ok with this....I really want her here, but if not I want her to at least live with her mom....one of her parents should be raising her....it's nothing againt her grandparents...they are great, have always been great, but they're done raising kids and no reason they should raise mine just because of a move, everyone moves, it happens, and she's now choosing friends over family, Bailey will be alone and that bugs me too, he's always had Jen, it affects so many people...now I'm getting alot of pressure from alot of people who never supported this move to allow Jen to make this decision and in the end I will BUT I will not support the decision, approve of it but make no mistake, I will support Jennifer, always will....and whenever she needs me I'm here....

The other thing that gets me is it was brought up that people don't like that I'm a friend to my kids....one day I play the parent card and yet try to be a friend....unreal how under the microscope I still am, I've never done anything wrong to my kids and I'm the exact same dad I was when I was still married to their mom...I was always the dad in the backyard, in the street, playing hockey, or ball or hide and seek....yet now that I"m a single dad that's wrong? serious? And when I was married and Jen and her mom didn't get along or fought, I was asked to talk/give Jen heck cause she'd listen to me but now that's all wrong in people's eyes.....bite me...I know that's not very mature but geeez, just let me raise my kids, I"m doing a pretty good job with what I"ve had and it's only getting better. Sam and I are growing in our relationship everyday, learning all the little things as we now live together and she continues to grow in my heart, she's an amazing girl and I'm very lucky to have her.
Work has been good, had some fantastic feedback from customers about how my shop looks and about my quality of skate sharpening. I had guy walk in yesterday thanking me for sharpening his skates last week. He said they were fantastic and the first time all year someone got it right....I was smiling pretty big as I said thank you lol, feels great to hear that....

Well, should get ready for work as I have meetings today, hoping to get more house stuff arranged this weekend...have a great week.

see ya when I see ya...

Home Sweet Home

Ok so here is our new place....we are the middle one....there are more pics on my facebook page of the inside etc.. we signed the lease today and we move in later this month...we are so pumped and so excited...now I need to share something with you about our landlord Jason.....we had never met before we started dealing on this place....none of our friends knew him, we had zero connections to him....we checked out the place and really liked what we saw, we talked with Jason a bit and basically laid it all out on the table, money was tight, kids were moving, times were tough but getting better. He said that all they wanted were good renters, they just really wanted good people in their townhouse...we talked about the damage deposit and how it would be tough to come up with it all for March 1st and he said to us many times that they were flexible and just wanted the right people....so we took a couple days to talk and budget and decided that this was the place to start the next chapter in our lives....I emailed him back and said if they were willing to hold it, empty, for a month that we'd take it.....he said they were waiting to hear from us before they let anyone else know if it was available, so they took a chance on us and I can't believe that they'd do that for total strangers...there are some great people in this world, everywhere, even Altona, I know I needed to get out but there are some great people there that I've met, are my friends and I wouldn't change it for the world but when you move away from a comfort zone were people know you, which is good and bad, you're pretty much out on your own and in walks some awesome people in your life willing to take a chance...pretty pumped, pretty blessed, my life is far from ordinary or perfect but it's my life, I'll take the good with the bad, I'll make good and bad decisions but live with them all.....it's not always easy, but sometimes, you find that needle in a haystack....

hmmmm was trying to add another pic but it's being a butt.....we had the Redbull Crashed Ice Sask qualifier at our rink today, basically they come out and you have a bit of an obsticale course and out of the 50 plus guys we had out they take the top 4 times....winning time was 12.5 seconds and the programs director at our rink was 29th with a 13.2..so overall not too bad, kinda cool to see them out on the ice, they had a DJ out there crankin some tunes, they also had a ladies division and some of them could kick my butt, they was even some girls wearing cooperalls..man I haven't seen those since Dalmeny High days lol......

So I think I have a full day off from the rink tomorrow....thinking a movie and dinner with my girl as we will soon have no time or money for ourselves....have a great weekend everyone

see ya when I see ya.....

Stressed

I miss my kids.....we went and saw the townhouse and it totally works for us, money is well lots but out here it's good for what we're getting.....money is tight, and will be tight to make this all work, I need a few things to fall into place...the other thing stressing me out is the fact that Bailey is supposed to go to a hockey tourney in Grand Forks in March, for him a last hurrah with his team he's been with for 4 years, we've gone to this tourney the last two years but with the move and everything else I don't know if I can do it and I don't wanna break his heart....fack and I'd like a last send off with some of the greatest hockey parents I've been a part of but a place to live comes first.....couple of other stresses as well but those I'll keep to myself....so ya that's the lastest update


see ya when I see ya....

Progress

Well, have a day and a half off.....did inventory today and FINALLY went for a haircut, I just couldn't hold out any longer. She did a good job for a first time, and will only get better the more I go, feel like a new person with short hair again.....Sam is off to work at the rink for a bit tomorrow, and then we are going to look at a place to live....it's awesome, it's a townhouse in Martensville which is roughly 10 mins outta the city....it's a 3 bedroom, 1 bath, unfinished basement, 2 years old with all appliances which is awesome, the rent is "ok" for Saskatchewan and we need a place before Bay gets here, we don't have enough money yet but we'll see what we can arrange....other than that not much new, missin the kids, can't wait to see them all again....the girls got their Valentine's gifts we sent, I"m still waiting for my letter from Brook that she said she sent....I'll update more once we see the townhouse...

see ya when I see ya....

place we're going to look at

Snow

Well we finally got winter this weekend, a storm passed through starting Friday and we went from virtually no snow to, well LOTS....buses weren't running, (city buses), cars getting stuck on the main roads and living in a city streets sure don't get cleared as fast as small town...they cleared our parking lot this morning and hoping to start on our street as well which is good cause for my Jeep it's ok but cars are getting stuck once they leave the ruts if they don't lose a bumper jumping out of those ruts...

Had to work a couple early mornings this weekend as we had the 26th annual teachers tourny...what a gong show that is...doesn't do much for my end of the business but the bar sure makes out well lol...took Monday off as I worked the weekend and with the weather we just stayed inside..today it's back to work...

Today Michael Jackson's This Is It comes out on DVD so moms gonna head up to Zellers and pick it up, she' gets it pretty cheap on release days and yes shut up I want it....saw it in the theatre and it's awesome, the man has so much, *had* talent and it's a great movie, not nearly as good as the one we saw on Saturday...Sam and I went to see The Blind Side and holy smokes, what a movie....so good, so awesome, I would love love love the opportunity to one day in my life make that kind of a difference in someones life..so awesome...

Talked to all of the kids yesterday, called the girls and had 20mins with Brooklyn and 10 with Cassidy lol.....such goofs....Bailey gave me the nightly call and talked to Jen on msn....she's getting ready for her first finals in high school and the weather delays is ticking her off but she'll do good, she's smart thank goodness.

OH and if you get the chance on Monday nights watch The Buried Life on MTV or check them out at www.theburiedlife.com it's so good and so inspiring....and pretty simple...what do you want to do before you die....these 4 guys are doing it and along they way are helping people accomplish those same things on their "bucket list"......awesome.....

well that's enough blather from me.....have a great, safe day, stay warm, and tell someone you love them....it's easy, free and makes them feel great....

Love ya!

see you when I see you.....

Been Awhile....

Yikes...2 weeks since I blogged and sooo much has happened.....well not really....working is a pain in the ass everyday...it's pretty messed up the way things work and I know it's "their" way but that doesn't always mean it's right.....like I'm the Manager....working Manager meaning 4 or 5 days of the week I'm pulling the 8 hr shift in the shop....leaves little time to Manage the shop...that being said, the GM never wants the shop closed so we "get " to eat in the shop....mmmmmm food and smelly, sweaty ass skates....what a combo....now then that's if you actually get to eat your food....you need to find a little window to go upstairs and order your food, come back down to the shop while it cooks and hope you can make it back up there to get it and then bring it to the shop and hope you can find time to eat it which rarely happens....then I constantly have to follow a "budget" that's based on last years numbers with a slight percentage of an increase yet the tournaments are smaller but I'm supposed to sell more.....now I've never had a problem selling BUT I inherit a store that's been ignored for over a year and has stock older than my son....now to get rid of it I have to blow it out and my sales numbers are down....WELL NO SHIT SHERLOCK!!!! I think it's almost time to finally say this is how we need to make things work.....in case you're wondering and those of you who's skates I've sharpened won't be surprised but my skate sharpening sales are already up 10%.....not surprised as I'm damn good at it and yes there's an art to it....

In other news...Bailey had a hockey tourney in Winkler this weekend and out of 4 games he had points in 3 of them a goal in the first two games and an assist in the third and played for the Gold Medal and won....he was pretty pumped and I again had to miss another great hockey moment in his life.....that's gonna end soon....real soon....

Still having a tough time paying bills and trying to save for a place to live as most rent out here is around $1200+ a month so it's taking some time, time I'm running out of.....the biggest blow lately is that Jennifer is saying she doesn't want to move here and that Altona is her home and I'm not....not sure what's going on with her but she's changing and not for the better....she's only 14 and doesn't have the smarts to make that kind of choice especially when she is blinded by 14 year old "love".....

Sam and I caught a Blades game the other day it had been YEARS since I had seen one and although they lost I like the level of hockey and Saskatoon has no idea how lucky they are to have a team of that caliber.....they should support a little more..especially since they are first overall....looking forward to when we can take Bailey and I guess not Jen to a game.....

Well I've yapped long enough and should head to bed....

see ya when I see ya!

Hello 2010

First blog of the new year.....New Years eve was good, pretty low key, we stayed home and watched Canada kick the U.S's butt, barely...then went to Sherlock Holmes....good movie....and that was it...was my first New Year's with Sam, which meant our first New Years kiss :D.....also marked the first New Years I hadn't been with the kids and that was the only down side....work has started back up and a new year means a new budget to work off of thank the lord, the budget I was working off of was a guesstimate and it was kicking my butt every week, this one is more accurate although still not made by me the numbers are much more realistic....the first couple days have been real busy so I'm hoping to keep that up as it will make a difference on a raise for me :D.....still not sure what's happening with the kids arrival or when we'll find a place to live.....Sam is still waiting to hear about the magazine job and the publisher is still on holidays and the poor girl is getting restless.....other than that things are good....haven't been able to make it to any world junior games but it's all about finding a place to start the next chapter in our lives, a healthy and happy, successful 2010.....

see ya when I see ya!