Sleep Talking Man

Hey all,

Been a while since I posted anything, having a little bit of writers block.

But in lue of an awesome two days I've had, I felt the need to just blog a bit.

About three weeks ago some friends of mine and myself went to banff for a night and due to some heavy drinking I lost my keys. Not to worry though right? I have a spare set right? Why yes, yes I do... in my car...

So about a week or two went by with me ignoring my car situation until I had no choice to call a lock smith because my pass port was in my car as well... The company I called told me they could be there in 15 mins and they would charge me 35 and extra depending on how difficult the lock is. Fair enough. The man shows up and in literally less than a minute opens up my car door and charges me 110... Shocked, but in no mood to get into a confrontation and tell him " do you take cash?" "oh your paying cash, well than its cheeper... 100 dollars please" "wow... thank you."

Well got my spare keys, my car, pass port. All good right... Yep, unless you go ahead and lose your car keys three days later...

I did eventually find them nicely tucked underneath a friend of mines couch (no idea). Along with 60 dollars which is amazing. And all of these events unfolded due to one night... one night of drinking and from that one night of drinking one picture was taken that can some up this entire story, and really my life in general...

I DUNNO! I DUNNO!

Haha In other news, In about 19 days I will be off for a week to mexico, so look forward to some sweet blog updates and videos from that... And considering the people who I'll be going with, it just might be my last trip ever...

Other fun fact... For all you comic book lovers Comic Expo will be in Calgary April 27th to the 29th with guests such as the Great Stan Lee, The TNG cast, and James Masters and lots of other actors/artists! so make sure you get your tickets now while you can! Just click the Link.

Anyways! So I recently came across an old gem of a blog that I use to follow religiously. Why? because It's Fucking Hilarious!

Do yourselves a favor and check out this Blog,

Its basically an English couple in which the man has a ridiculous sleeping pattern and says some outrageous stuff in his sleep, the wife records which ones she can and the rest just writes down.

SLEEP TALKIN MAN

And lately it looks like she's been on a sloth tare so I figured I'd post this video for your enjoyment as well.

George Carlson Update.

"Dear Andrew

This morning somewhere in between when I woke up to go fly fishing and saw that my pet bird has somehow chewed through my rod, and me slipping on a puddle of urine that my cat (who clearly has no respect for me) left on the kitchen floor, I realized something. How or why you find any interest in my life is beyond me. My life is in shambles and I feel like the end is near. Please for the love of God do yourself a favour and stop writing to me and tell the people my story.

George."

hahahaha classic George.

-Chaps.

Andrew Chappell and the Seven New Years Resolutions

Wow,

Hello there. Yes it has been a while since my last post, and I really really do apologize. For my all my (counting my fingers lol) fans out there, I really do feel bad. It's been a rough couple of last months for me, and have just been trying to get my life back in order.

But what better way to do it than with a new year! I can't believe its 2012, and it the spirit of this new year my blog today will be my new years resolutions! So without further a due ( I can sense your anticipation haha) here are my seven new years resolutions of 2012.

7. More and Less of these moments.

More of These moments.

Less of these moments

More of these moments.

(minus the moustache)

Much Less of these moments.

For the love of God don't press play... Just take my word for it

The key word here is to just have fun this year! But all things should come in moderation lol, too much of anything CAN be a bad thing... haha Key word there being "Can". Key word, key word, key word, apparently I like saying Key word a lot. Key word being "apparently". Okay ill stop.

6. Stay Healthy

Since about August I've started trying to eat a little better and be a little more active. But with a bummed out knee with no ACL, all I could do really is just run. But since then I have lost 30

pounds and now have, what I hope to be a solid knee to work with. My recovery on my ACL has been going pretty well, but with being out of work for so long its been hard to afford being able to train myself and with the snow outside and it being still really early after my operation the chances of slipping and hurting myself are to large. But Its a new year, and I just started working again, so hopefully soon ill be able to get out there, and hit the gym and start training and getting back to where I was physically a year and half ago.

5. Keep Dreaming.

Obviously yes, I intend on continuing dreaming, It's the one thing I'm very good at and requires absolutely no effort in my part, other than sharing them with you fine folk. But dreaming in that sense is not what I'm talking about. In my short life so far I have Broken both my wrists, (left one twice) Hyper extended both writs, Torn my calf muscle, bruised my knee, torn my

meniscus, and torn my ACL twice. All these injuries other than one have been because of playing soccer. Soccer is by far my greatest passion in life, I love playing the game, the game is intertwined not only in my culture, but in my life, and in my family. The first thing I think of when soccer comes to mind is my Grandfather, he taught me everything I know about the game and gave me the tools to better myself on and off the field. If given the chance to play professionally I would. Even without pay, I would still do it because I honestly could not imaging a better way of spending a good portion of my life. But the reality of the fact is I am one strike away from potentially never being able to play again. I'm not saying I'm a Messi by a long shot ( I won't be wining any world cups any time soon haha). But what I mean is that I am one strike away from potentially being unable to play at the level that I know I am capable of, I know my limitations, and to think that one more injury could extinguish any chance of playing in a competitive level again is very scary to me. But it is a reality I have to face, and am facing right now. But even if the face of the reality, I dare to dream that one I will play again, I don't care if it takes me half a year, a year or two. I will get one more goal. That's not a resolution, its a promise.

4. Be Motivated

One thing I think I've been laking a lot of, not only this last year but my entire life is my motivation. Without self confidence its hard to find the right kind of motivation. These two things go hand in and hand with each other, and without one the other can't be fully realized. One thing I tend to do is look to others for motivation, and while the motivation I received from a person I met last year was refreshing and amazing for me, it can only take me so far and can be quickly taken away. My self and only my self and responsible for my future and what I can achieve. If I want to play soccer again, I have to believe in myself. If i want to go back to school and excel than I have to know, not think, but know I can do it. Motivate myself from within not from with out.

3. Be self confident

Number four and three on my list kind of go hand in hand, and was pretty hard to try and figure out witch out would be hire, so let me try and explain. I am one of those people who wears there heart on their sleeve. I personally don't think that is a bad thing, and don't plan on changing it. Because when do I chose to open myself up to a person It's great, its greater than great. But when I get hurt, I get really hurt. So what I do want to change is to be little smarter, more mindful of the situations I get myself in. That leads me to where self confidence comes in. To be able to distinguish situations that you should and shouldn't get yourself in to, you need to be self confident and appreciate yourself. It doesn't matter how amazing of a person you think someone is, If that someone want's to be with you, then they need to be with you, no one else. I knew that before, but because I wasn't confident in myself I chose to ignore it and got hurt. But thats life, and now I have to deal with the consequences, how they deal with it is completely up to them, ignore the situation or not. Of course I will most likely get hurt again in the future, self confidence wont change that, but what it does change is the ability to learn and adapt.

2. My family

I got to see a lot of people I don't normally get to see this christmas, but unfortunately I saw a lot less of people that I do and should see. My family life is a little complicated, but nothing bad at all. If anything I make it harder on myself. So number two of my seven new years resolutions this year is to be a better friend and better family member. Because with out all of you, I am nothing.

Happy New Years!

1. Be Myself

One of the worst things a person can do is lose themselves. Sometimes it happens when you don't even notice, sometimes we do it on purpose. The things I've chosen as my seven new years resolutions I've picked because I think they best represent who I am, and what I want to be. I just want to be myself,

I Bartend

I play Soccer

I play video games

I watch people play video games

I read comics

I watch Movies

I love my friends

I love my Family

I love my Dog

My Name is Chappell

Have a Fucking Great 2012

Chaps-

The Good, The Bad, And the Chappell

Hey everyone,

Well it's now been 21 days since my operation, and my time off has been met with some good and bad times, Just thought I'd share some of those from the weekend.

The Good:

I took some time to go over to my dads place this weekend to hangout with my younger brother and play some video games with him. We chatted and munched and bonded. everything I could hope for in a visit with a sibling. It was a lot of fun.

The Bad:

What I learned that day was how bad I suck and video games now. Unless the title of the video game ends with "64" I really have a small to no chance of beating anyone at anything. Which my brother kindly reminded me plenty of times :) We ended up played some Mario Kart Wii where I really let myself down... P.S I also learned that the track called "Rainbow Road" should actually really be called the "Rainbow Rape Way" I still hurt. lol

The Good:

I had my first follow up since my operation with my Doctor today. He ended up giving my knee a clean bill of health!

The Bad:

before he gave my knee a clean bill, he actually told me he was worried that h the screw placed in my tibia might have actually blown right through the bone...which would of resulted in another surgery! I had to wait an hour for my x-ray results to come back. At which time the only clean thing I was wishing for other than my a clean bill knee was a clean pair of shorts.

The Good:

Got the scrabble app for my Iphone yesterday.

The Bad:

Misspelled the word rinse in front of an old lady, which ended up in an hour long conversation about the deteriorating state of young people in the wold today... Good talk...

The Good:

My Movember Moustache is coming in real nicely!

The Bad:

My Movember Moustache is coming in... real nicely...

The Good:

I have two awesome friends who gave me an early surprise present for my birthday with an awesome painting!

The Bad:

I just had to show you all that old picture haha *facepalm* Awesome Gift!

All Jokes a side though what I'm trying to get to with my blog this week is that though the weekend was actually actually really good, and sadly pretty bad. It did feel a little more like a normal weekend for me. I got to get out of the house and had a chance to go back to my work and say hi to everyone which I miss. The only thing that really freaked me out is that I've noticed that when it comes to the "good and bad" I realized that the better I feel, the more my heart actually breaks. I've had times where I knew that getting over someone was what I needed to do. But it was something I strived for because I didn't want to hurt anymore. The difference this time being that I don't actually want to get over it (in a way), I know by all rights I really should. But at the end of the day when I start to better I feel , I get upset about because It means its all a step closer to being just a memory. I don't want it to be a just a memory, I specially don't want her to be just a memory. What do you do when the hurt of moving on is worse than the hurt your feeling because your just sad? The reason for this is because I'm not mad at her for breaking my heart... I don't blame her at all for the decision she made. But what makes me mad is that I feel like for right now, I'm on a one way road. A road which I'm desperately looking for an exit for because I don't like where its taking me.. having to shed all these feelings.

Well This is definitely a new one for me, and well that was my truth bomb for the week, sorry if it got a little deep but hey... Shut up lol :) I'll definitely try and end the next one on a high note! But as always Thanks for reading all! Talk to you soon!

Chaps -

P.S Been Listening to Yeah Yeah Yeah alot lately, heres their acoustic version of their song Hysteric.

Take Care.

The Yellow Shirt

Well,

hey all, It's been about 11 days now since the operation, and I've been in bed all day 9 and 1/2 times out of 11 of them. While my knee recovery is going great (actually better than great, Its going ridiculously fast and am really thankful). I've had a really shitty past couple of weeks in other areas. So shitty that honestly I didn't think I was going to be able to write on this blog again... My last blog that I wrote, I wrote out of a feeling and being somewhere I care not to go to again. Call me Jaded but I feel worn out, exhausted, angry, but worst of all hopeless, having to give up on certain feelings is horrible, and it seems like it just keeps happening to me. It's not an easy funk to get out of, and like I said, its affected me in a not very positive way. To the point where I was ready to jump on here and let you all know that I was done, plain and simple. Lying in bed and literally having all day to over think things isn't fun, specially when what your thinking about hurts you. It plays games with you head and makes you feel worse than you probably should. Luckily as I had mentioned my recovery is going great, so great that wednesday I was actually able to get out of the house for the first time. It was like breathing for the first time in a long time, and well it leads me to the topic of my blog today. The Yellow shirt.

I'd say about 5 years ago, I bought this Yellow shirt from a shop downtown. It was a little to baggy, and little to big but It was the comfiest shirt I could remember ever having. About 2 and half years ago, a bunch of my friends from work and I went to the annual Strathmore Stampede to do the running of the bulls, It was kind of a way to celebrate one of the last times we would ever have to hang out together as the summer was ending and a bunch of us were going our own way. And if you don't believe that I actually ran with the bulls, well here you go

This was me barely dodging out of the way of a huge bull. This was right after my buddy Scotty had gotten levelled by the same bull and his friend, They were named Dumb and Dumber, and they had just singled us out on the other side of the corral. As they were running towards us we knew one of us was going to get pummelled, luckily I was just a little faster then Scotty. Fortunately for him the judges decided he got hit so badly that they awarded him with the 1000 dollar prize of the evening. Just like they did every night, the only difference was when Scotty got up to address the crowd as the winner, unlike the man who had won the night before and who felt it was okay to tell everyone including the children that he was going to spend the money on booze, drugs and sex ( haha ) Scotty was very respectful. And very much concussed haha.

Anyways I digress, the weekend we spent in Strathmore ended up being a success, we won 1000 dollars, survived a freak thunderstorm. But most of all, it just was an awesome time spent with

each other. But a few days later after I had gotten back home that realized my favourite yellow shirt was missing. I looked high and low for that shirt, my moms house, my house, grandmas house, everyones car, but no luck. To this day every once in a while I hop on eBay or any other online clothing store that might have it. I still go to the same store where I originally got it and hope every time that I go in that it might be hanging there on the wall. Well as I said earlier few days ago, I was finally able to get out of the house for the first time since my operation. It was an awesome day, I met up with a buddy for lunch, and afterwards headed for the comic book store to pick up some comics. I then decided to pop by my work real quickly to say hi to a few friends, and then feeling a little home sick I decided to go to my home and see if anyone of my room mates were in. Now when I got there I was completely alone, so naturally I went straight to my room and jumped on my bed which I miss so so so much. It was then when I noticed a suit case on my couch, and remembered that I had told my friend Paul who was visiting from Victoria that he could stay in my room. I got back up and found myself in front of my desk where I found a note which said " Dear andrew, a mutual friend of ours "Scott" is moving and giving away a bunch of clothing, I saw this shirt and took it thinking of you. Scott then said " oh yea I think thats Chappell's"." I lifted the piece of paper and to my surprise laying there, nicely folded in all of its glory was my yellow shirt...

Two and half years later an there it was, I couldn't believe it!! Now I'm not one to usually become attached to something material specially clothing but after I found the shirt I started looking through some old pictures where I was actually wearing the shirt and began realizing that some of these pictures held some really good times in them. This shirt was around when I was meeting and making the friends I have today,

the same friends who are helping me get through the stuff I'm dealing with now. I remember this first time I ever had my heart broken, and running off to Victoria for the weekend with my two best friends. It was probably one of the funnest weekends I had ever had. I just remember feeling that things might just be okay. But I also remember the drunken mess we got our selves into that weekend haha.

Some things I don't Remember...

Some things I'd rather not haha

I know I'm really stretching here, I mean Im just finishing up writing a blog about a shirt... And yea at the end of the day it is just a shirt, I got along fine without it and will get along fine with it I guess lol. But the real message Im trying to pull out of my ass here is the same message that's on the shirt.

"I can't wait for the future"

Cheesy? Yes. Corny? Hell yes! But true none the less. This is the same shirt that Im wearing in the picture I chose as my banner for my blog, the same blog that I was ready to give up on because of how I'm feeling. If I lost this shirt again tomorrow, I'd honestly be okay, I'm just glad that something nice happened, something to remind me that it's not all bad, even though thats how it may seem. Do I still feel exhausted? Angry? worn out? Yea I really do lol, that might not change for a while, but hopeless? Not so much anymore :) Thanks for reading all. Talk to you soon!

P.S.

I really wasn't lying when I said not much had happened since my last update, I think its all clear to you that I am an emotional wreck right now as I just wrote a blog about a shirt haha. So what I've decided to do to help is to grow my movember moustache, which I do believe is coming in quite nicely. This is the first year I've actually tried growing a moustache. Now its not the thickest but I think were it lacks in fullness, it more than makes up for it in sheer perviness.

(11 days)

Chaps.

Day 1.2

Well,

The big day came and went yesterday, and I'm happy that I'm alive (barely) and well (feeling like crap) haha.

Yesterday started off with me showing up at the hospital with my grandma around 615 am. By this time I was exhausted as I had once again decided not to pack until the last second, and that clearly sleep was not a necessity before my operation... BIG mistake.

I got there, and was taken to my bed pretty quickly, were I was greeted by my nurse Lauri, who had just been transferred to the hospital, and was still getting to know everyone. She was super nice and did a really good job with my IV (which was nice because I've had some pretty bad experiences in the past).

Anyways as some of you might know my original surgery date was about a month and half ago, but due to some unfortunate events ( I ate a stupid sandwich ) I wasn't able to get it done that day, and so it was rescheduled for today. Now with all that drama I was really hoping that the day would go smoothly, and right of the bat... it didn't. I laid there in my bed while nurse after nurse, doctor after doctor kept coming up to me and asking me if it was true that I had eaten a sandwich. Some actually didn't even ask, they would just show up and tell me that they wouldn't be able to operate on me today due to me eating a sandwich. Confused as to why I kept having to explain myself to everyone, and a little upset because by this time they had made me shave my leg hair (AGAIN), I found out that they still had my original admittance chart from my last visit which clearly stated that I had eaten a sandwich and was unable to go to surgery.

Finally after having everything sorted out, the time had come for the operation, by this time my heart was pounding! While I was being taken to the OR the two new nurses that would be in the OR with me could clearly see i was starting to get nervous. They took me inside laid me down on that creepy operating table... The one that looks like a crucifix

, and hooked me up to monitors. Now I dont know if you've ever had the pleasure of being hooked up to heart monitor but I personally hate it! I find being able able to hear my own heartbeat on the monitor to be really creepy. And seeing as how my heart was racing so fast, the machine was going crazy as well, which in turn would make me even more nervous then I already was haha. But the anesthesiologist put his first batch of cocktails in me, and I could immediately feel its effects. It felt as though all my veins and muscles were contracting and expanding and for a few seconds it actually really hurt, but then the numbness kicked in, and as they put the mask over my mouth, the nurse looked at me and said, "My name is... " and for the life of me I can't remember her name.

I woke up two hours later, (around 1130am) and was feeling horrible, just horrible. I was nauseous, dizzy, had a head ache and felt so very soar. It took a while before they could wheel me back to my ward where my new nurse laura was taking care of me. I quickly fell right back asleep for a few hours and when I came to and leaned over and grabbed my phone from my drawer. My nurse quickly spotted that I was awake and came up to and had asked me the weirdest question. She asked me if I had a girlfriend? Well actually first she asked me how I was feeling, and then asked me if I had a girlfriend. Now she was definitely cute, but also definitely a little old for me. She could tell right away that i had miss understood the question all and was quick to correct herself. She told me that as they were wheeling me back into my room I was asking for a girl. Not going to mention her name (we'll just call her MysteryGirl)... I Guess. The only other thing I could think of later was back to when the nurse put the gas mask on me and told me her name, and while didn't consciously hear it, maybe subconsciously I did?Either way it was really weird, I guess I asked for this Myterygirl several times before i just passed right out. Embarrassed over the hole thing I told her that I didn't have a girlfriend, and played aloof the hole situation as I really didn't feel like explaining myself. She quietly smiled at me and told me that this kind of thing happens all the time, and that once a woman was singing "shake that booty on her way out". She also said that it was to bad and called me the "handsomest man in ward 22"! haha we had a laugh and she took a picture of me with my iphone that i was clutching with my hands.

Most handsomest man in Ward 22. - Nurse.

After all this a few of my friends had texted me and so I started replying back, my grandmother had returned and asked if it was okay for me to go home. They told her that it was still to early and that they just wanted to make sure I was okay. Which at the time other than some nausea and soreness I was. My grandma left me once again and I returned back to sleep, and what happened next was probably one of the scariest things to have ever happened to me. I woke up from my sleep to find myself gasping for air, I could barely move and no matter how deep a breath I took, it felt as though I wasn't getting any air at all. I looked for my buzzer in a panic but before I could find it, the nursed had come to me with an oxygen tank and a mask with a small tube attached to it and put it in my mouth. I had never felt so relieved and yet so scared in my entire life. I laid there for about 30 to 40 mins with this mask on me thinking to myself "am i breathing on my own? or is this thing doing it for me?" Eventually a doctor came and removed the mask and told me that everything was okay, that these things happen some times, and that it was normal, but I was going to have to stay for a few more hours. By this time it was around 4pm and feeling completely alone, I texted my mother to come get me, knowing full well I wouldn't be able to leave.

When my mother and grandmother finally did show up, they found me in a totally normal and stable condition, and to this moment don't really know what happened... well kinda. I was thinking to myself I just wanted to go home, and there was no need to worry them about something that apparently was very "normal". Around 6pm the told me that I could go, and just before i started getting dressed my third nurse of the day, ( I can't remember her name ) asked me if I had gone the washroom? I told her no, and that I didn't feel like I had to. But apparently it is hospital policy not be able to leave until you can show that you can vacate your bladder as the morphine can affect this. Frustrated with everything, and just wanting to go home I went to washroom and tried to pee, but my efforts were futile as nothing came out, I laid back down, finished my water and my ginger ale, in hopes that in a few minutes I could muster a few drops and get the hell out of there. I got up once again and tried to do the business but yet again was denied. Positive that there was just nothing in there, i told the nurse that I just didn't have to go. She told me to sit tight and grabbed the sonar scanner and scanned my bladder, she informed me that not only did i have full belly, that if couldn't urinate in the next 2o mins she was going to be forced to have to put in a catheter... A CATHETER! There was no way in HELL I was going to let her put one of those things up my urethra.

As shown here.

In a panic I grabbed my empty glass of water took it with me to the washroom and filled it with extremely hot water. I sat down on the toilet and put my entire hand in the glass and began to pray to the porcelain gods to let me pee! Unfortunately the only thing secreting was a single tear down my left cheek when absolutely no pee came out. Defeated once again, I made my way out of the washroom only to see my nurse at the end of my bed with this long thick tube being unravelled. It was at this moment where either my prayers where answered, or... I was so scared I literally almost pee'd my gowned. I crutched myself back in the washroom, slammed the door an had what i can honestly say was the single greatest pee in my entire life, and probably yours =).

Soaking in victory ( pun INTENDED) I got myself dressed and after a very, very unpleasant ride home I got into bed, poped some percocet, had some chicken noodle soup and went to sleep. Today being day 1.2 I've really done nothing but sleep eat and attempt to write this blog. Its a little tough since im still really drowsy, but tommorow i'm hoping to make my dent on this large stack of books I have.

But until tomorrow, thanks for listening!

Andrew.

Still Blocked up

Hey all,

Well it's been a while since I've written anything. So I thought I'd do a little halloween blogging today.

Well, its my third favourite time of the year, Halloween!!! Really, what's not to love about halloween? Theres no snow quite yet, its still autumn. Which means It is cold... But have you ever gone running on a beautiful autumn day?

Nothing really beats it, its chilly, but once you get started you warm up just enough to be able to enjoy the scenery. Then you have all the seasonal foods and drinks, like pumpkin pie, lets not forget about thanksgiving... And even though I'm not crazy about them apparently all the coffee places start making these crazy pumpkin drinks... I dunno, I don't drink coffee, but it sounds awesome!

But my favourite part is Halloween, a chance every year to dress up and just have some fun!

Now for someone who claims to love halloween, I really have a hard time comming up with halloween costumes...

Every year It comes down the last week before I actually decide what I'm going to be, it usually works out and I find a costume, whats unfortunate is that they come out something like this.

2010

Gay Fitness Instructors

2009

Professor Chaos (aka butters from south park)

2008

APirate... (Photo NOT available haha)

Sadly I waited until the last day to find my pirate costume, so I ended up having to buy a Large boys pirate costume in some corner store in the NE... I looked gayer then my fitness instructor costume :(

(Not that theres anything wrong with that lol)

It's now 2011 oct 20th and I have yet to figure out my halloween costume, hopefully some inspiration will come my way soon, but whatever it ends up being ill be sure to post it up soon!

Happy Halloween all!

Another year another turkey!

Ah yes,

Well thanks giving has been over for about two days now, but for me it ended last night! I was very fortunate this year to be able to have three... yes thats right, countem! Three! Thanks Giving dinners, which meant three helpings of stuffing, three helpings of mash potatos and three big ol butter balls!

Sunday night I had an awesome dinner over at my grandma and grandpas (my dads side) place, It was so good to see the family, my little bro and my little sister. The food was actually so good, that I decided to take a nap, well actually it wasn't so much me taking a nap but rather me literally passing out with out any desire to Haha After i woke from my coma we went to nose hill for an awesome hour walk, where I got lost in the dark and was pretty sure something was looking at me from inside the tree line.

Monday night it was time for dinner over at the moms side of the family, were i got to spend the day with new baby grace and hang out with ol Jake the snake and his friend Yoshi.

( what a cutie!! )

( Only picture I could find of these two when there not jumping and attacking each other haha, they really friends though! )

Unfortunately unlike the night before, there was un over indulgence in wine and gin, which ultimately led me to a pub with my friend miller later on that night, where at I'm quite sure I made a fool of myself... Once again. =S haha

Finally day three, tuesday. Feeling extremely hung over I stole the old Jakey Bear and took him for a run to try and sweat out all the alcohol!

730 pm the last turkey dinner had begun. This dinner was being held at our house, and our delicious meals were made by none other than our friends Alex, Rob, Miller and Richard!

we even got fancy napkins made just for richard...

(... Okay okay, we didn't have these made, we just have an extremely large amount of Ricky's napkins... Long story. haha )

The night ended up being fantastic, it was so great to have everyone at the house and be able to sit down and eat together, and just enjoy each others company, what can I say, good times!

As always there are a few people that couldn't make it, so I just want to give a special shout out to them ( you know who you are =) ), Happy Turkey Day, hope you had an amazing one! See ya next year!

-Andrew

2011/2012 K.I.P. Hockey Pool

Hello all,

Well its that time again, the hockey season is upon us and theres only a few days before it starts. So you know what that means? HOCKEY POOL TIME. I just finished my very first hockey pool draft so far, and the people in it are people who work and or who have worked at the pub that I work... ( worked ) at. We do this every year, cash prize at the end and a Trophy made by one of our regulars.

Last year I did really poorly comming in 9th out of 10... Im Trying a new strategy during my draft this year... my secret but here are my picks for this pool.

1. Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins (7th overall)

- 11 TTl points : 66 Pts 161 sh (16.1 pts) = 82.1 pts

- 12 Projection: 90 Pts 230 sh (23 pts) = 113 pts

2. Danny Heatley - Minnesota Wild ( 14th overall )

- 11 TTl points : 64 Pts 217 sh (21.7) = 85.7 pts

- 12 Projection: 82 Pts 281 sh (28.1) = 110.1 pts

3. Rick Nash - Columbus Blue Jackets (27th overall)

- 11 TTl points : 66 Pts 305sh = 95.5 pts

- 12 Projection: 76 Pts 280 = 104 pts

4. Matt Duchene - Colorado Avalanche ( 34th overall )

- 11 TTl points : 67 Pts 202sh = 87.2 pts

- 12 Projection: 68 Pts 209sh = 88.9 pts

5. Dustin Byfuglien - Winnipeg Jets ( 47th overall )

- 11 TTl points : 53 Pts 347sh = 87.7 pts

- 12 Projection: 51 Pts 327sh = 83.7 pts

6. Mark Andre Fleury - Pittsburgh Penguins ( 54th overall )

- 11 TTl points : 36W 20L 3SO 78 pts

- 12 Projection: 34W 22L 5SO 78 pts

7. Mikko Koivu - Minnesota Wild ( 67th overall )

- 11 TTl points : 62 Pts 191sh = 81.1 pts

- 12 Projection: 75 Pts 226sh = 97.6 pts

8. Loui Erikson ( Wasn't to sure about this pick ) - Dallas Stars ( 74th overall )

- 11 TTl points : 73 Pts 179 sh = 90.9 pts

- 12 Projection: 64 Pts 185 sh = 82.5 pts

9. Duncan Keith - Chicago Blackhawks ( 97th Overall )

- 11 TTl points : 45 Pts 173sh = 62.3 pts

- 12 Projection: 52 Pts 203sh = 72.3 pts

10. Corey Crawford - Chicago Black Hawks ( 104th overall)

- 11 TTl points : 33w 18L 4SO PTS: 74pts

- 12 Projection: 30w 20L 4So PTS: 70pts

11. Johan Franzen - Detroit Redwings ( 117th overall )

- 11 TTl points : 55 Pts 248sh = 79.8 pts

- 12 Projection: 56 Pts 245sh = 80.5 pts

12. Brooks Laich - Washington Capitals ( 124th overall )

- 11 TTl points : 48 Pts 207sh = 68.7 pts

- 12 Projection: 51 Pts 205sh = 71.5 pts

13. Tobias Enstrom - Winnipeg Jets ( 137th overall )

- 11 TTl points : 51 Pts 113sh = 62.3

- 12 Projection: 50 Pts 117sh = 61.7

14. Tyler Seguin - Boston Bruins ( 144th overall )

- 11 TTl points : 22 Pts 131sh = 35.1

- 12 Projection: 44 Pts 172sh = 51.2

15. Justin Williams - Los Angeles Kings ( 157th overall )

- 11 TTl points : 57 Pts 213 = 71.3 Pts

- 12 Projection: 48 Pts 181 = 68.1 pts

16. Nick Backstrom - Minnesota Wild ( 164th Overall )

- 11 TTl points : 22W 23L 3SO Pts: 50

- 12 Projection: 26W 22L 4SO Pts: 60

17. Theo Peckham ( least favourite, look for him to go early ) - Edmonton Oilers ( 177th overall)

- 11 TTl points : 13 Pts 41sh = 17.1 pts

- 12 Projection: 14 Pts 43sh = 18.3 pts

18. Curtis Glencross - Calgary flames (184th overall)

- 11 TTl points : 43 Pts 149sh = 57.9 pts

- 12 Projection: 40 Pts 141sh = 54.1 pts

My Team Last Year: 974.10 Pts

Winning Team Last Year: 1104.20 Pts

My 2012 Selections Last Year: 1266.76 Pts

2012 Projection : 1365.5 Pts

Now I have to say, looking at my point projections, I'm Looking pretty good this year. Im over the last years winner by 266.56 points. Now the only thing here is that this year we decided to increase roster size by 2 players. But unless everyone can match the winners totals from last year, and pick two extra players that combine for more than 266.56 points I should be okay. Of course these are just projections, and knowing my luck these guys could all easily under achieve this season, or not. Either way I think I have a shot at winning this thing!

Right on!

Sunober 2nd

Hey all,

Well its about 1045 am, and once again I can't sleep, to much on my mind. I think I may be putting to much pressure on myself to get over the things I'm going through right now. Its amazing the thing we put ourselves through, and then we try and trick ourselves into thinking were okay. Im not saying I'm not going to be okay, its just right now I'm not, and it sucks. I cant deny it. I can't count how many times my finger was on the send button just a press away from undoing everything I've done... Every second thought in my head is that someone and it kills me. All I can say is I'm glad I have my friends and family to help me through this, even though it might not seem like I appreciate it, I really do.

The moral is to stay strong all, I know when people tell you things like, "oh it will be okay" "you'll be stronger" "patience is virtue" "time will heal all" you just wanna punch them in the face. But they're just trying to help. And thats what we need right now, help. Because we can't go through this alone. And by being strong, we accept that we do need help.

Anyways, I cant believe im saying this but its 11am and I think I'm finally tired... Take care all.

Hope your okay.

Chaps

What comes now

Hey all,

Well, what was said was said. What needed to be done was done. For the first time in a long time, I find myself feeling no anger, no stress and a bit of relief. Yet even though I feel good about where I am at the moment, and even though I feel I can see light at the end of the tunnel. I can't help but feel sad, my heart is still broken.

Im sad things couldn't work out the way I wanted them to. Im sorry that where we are is directly caused by what we felt at one point was good ( which it was! by all means ). In saying that, given the chance to do things all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. Every once in a while a special person may come in to your life, and you don't know how long they will be with you, but you should cherish every moment with them.

But at the end of the day we all need to take care of ourselves. Which unfortunately means making those hard decisions. But its not making those decisions that is difficult part, it's sticking with them. It's trying to convince ourselves that we owe it to ourselves to push forward. We owe it to ourselves to sacrifice some things so that we can be happy later, and so that maybe one day we can share that happiness with someone. It might be a different person, might be the same person. Who knows. We can't worry about what the future brings, all we can do is live in the present.

It's been a hard week for me ( just read my blogs hahaha ) Yea yea I know, what your thinking... deja vu. Well your right, I have already written about this before. So Im not really going to do it again. like I said before, what needed to be done is done, and what needed to be said was said, except for one thing. Your not alone, Im there for you if ever you truly need someone :)

Thanks everyone!

There was nothing to hold him back except himself.

Hey all,

Before I get started I want to share a snippet from an episode of south park called "Raisins" Season 7 Episode 14. Since first seeing this episode, this part has always stuck with me. Every time I find myself in a situation similar to the one I'm in now I draw from this and it makes me feel a little better. And it just goes to prove that Butters is by far the best south park character there is.

Goth Kid 2 - Yeah, we're gonna go to the graveyard and write poems about death and how pointless life is.

Butters - Uh, uhm no thanks. I love life.

Stan - Huh? but you just got dumped.

Butters - Well yeah, and I'm sad, but at the same time I'm really happy that something could make me feel that sad. It's, it makes me feel alive, you know? It makes me feel human. And the only way I could feel this sad now is if I felt something really good before. So I have to take the bad with the good, so I guess what I'm feeling is a, beautiful sadness. I guess that sounds stupid.

So without getting into to much detail, today was a pretty rough day for me. I did what was honestly the last thing I ever wanted to do. I had to let go of someone I love even though In love is exactly what I still am with them. It gave me no satisfaction and to be honest hasn't made things easier on me. But to add another quote..."If you have chemistry you only need one other thing, timing. But timings a bitch" ( ill let you figure out where i got this one

No one ever likes making these types of decisions, they're not easy and they're not fun. Whats worst about them is that deep down inside, we know they're right. While I do agree that we need to take the good with the bad, it should never be at the same time. Love might be hard to find but, "One is loved because one is Loved. No reason is needed for loving."- The Alchemist. And while we did love each other it just couldn't happen, not now.

I had just recently read the Alchemist, Its a pretty quick read (I read it in one sitting) but I absolutely loved it. It's about a Shepherd that sets out on to find his treasure by fulfilling his personal legend ( life's dream if you will ). It recounts his journeys and the lessons he learns along the way up until the very end. He then finally understands that, the true meaning of his personal legend was not to find the treasure, but to understand the personal legend itself. Only then would he find his treasure.

The one thing I noted was that every time someone realized which book it was that I was reading they all came up to me and told me basically the same thing. "Thats a great read. Its quick and has a good story to it, but you can also draw so much from it... if you need to." Even though I heard what they all had to say, until now, up until this very day, I had never truly understood it. But I think I have now, for my part anyways.

Love is strong and powerful, but as amazing as it is, it comes with its good and it comes with its bad (as butters so elegantly put =) ). But what love should never do is stop us from living our lives ( our personal legends). She new that, and even though I could tell she knew, i just wouldn't listen to her or myself... until i finally clued in and made the decision to let her go, which was horrible, hardest thing I've ever had to do. I don't want to bullshit you all and make you think that I'm okay, because I'm not. Im heartbroken and devastated. But I do think I'm a stronger person for it, and I think shed agree.

Whats good about my situation; the good that has come with the bad, is that I think I'm ready to start living my life, Its opened my eyes. Being with her made me want to be a better person, I never knew how happy I could be until I was with her. And I love her for it, and always will. Maybe that happiness she gives me is my treasure, (maybe not, who knows) But its not about the treasure, its about getting there, Its about making those hard decisions, and living life to its fullest. which is what I plan to do. So yea, you know what I'm gonna mope around for a few days, feel sorry for myself (not gonna lie) but after wards I'm gonna pick myself up and start getting on with my life. And maybe someday Ill find that treasure because "wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure."

I really do appreciate anyone who decides to sit and read my blogs. Over the next few weeks I have off, i;m really gonna try and organize it a little better so that its not just me spilling everything about my life. Try and make it little more fun. But still as always, be a place were people can come see that they aren't alone. Thanks

Take care all!

Yet another

Well,

I find myself here in my room, writing to express how deeply upset I am with myself. This morning at 740am I was scheduled to have my last operation on my knee, It was from this moment on that I would have to start going through some gruelling physiotherapy that would last for three months. But the light at the end of the tunnel was in sight, my year and half recovery was almost at an end. But as I do with most things, I screwed it up.

Over the Last few weeks, I had been fighting off my fear of this operation. Not because of the operation itself, but because of what it meant to me and my life. The absence from my work where I've been working full time for the last three years was already a big enough change for me. I've committed so much time to that place and now to be able to spend some time to myself was, I'm not going to lie a little scary. It's all very new to me and I don't know where to start.

Another thing this operation meant was a new beginning, as I have been planning on returning to school after I was done rehabilitation. I haven't been to school in 3 and half years and even thinking about getting started again is frightening. The same fears and doubts that plagued my mind three years ago, (and i'm sure plague a lot of new students) were still there even after all that time away.

Another reason why I have been fearing this operation is due to my own personal issues about the changes the recovery will bring to my social life. Now obviously with recovery, comes a lot of time where I'm going to be alone, and it sucks, there are some people who I wont be able to see as much as i'd like and to, and even though the reason I feel this way is my own issue, its still doesn't change the fact that these people mean a lot to me... I sure hope they know who they are and how important they are, and even though I may be worrying to much ( :P ), its only because i really do appreciate the time spent together.

Now with all this being said, yesterday and today before my surgery I spent a lot of time preparing myself for these changes, accepting them and embracing because at the end of the day, ill be recovering and I'll be better for it. But last night at 445am as I was leaving the house, my head went completely blank and I ate half a BK whopper... It wasn't until half way to my grand mothers that I realized what I had done. (can't eat before you to hospital!!! ) When I arrived the first thing I did was make my self vomit every little thing I had in my stomach... hoping this might resolve the problem... Well I was sure wrong lol.

I arrived at the hospital and got the IV in me, shaved my leg and all that fun stuff, and when the nurse was asking me a bunch of questions I decided it would be smart to tell her what had happened. She looked at me with a shocked expression and quietly asked "you did what?" I replied my statement again but this time added that I had made myself throw up. She said it would probably be okay and then left. The next thing i know my anesthesiologist comes up to me and tells me that they are going to have to bump me from 740 to 12 due to me having eaten. I replied that was okay and thought it was the end of it. Until my actual doctor came up to me and told me that the chances of me being opened up today were pretty low, and that I would have to be rebooked for another day, as early as possible. I panicked a little but hey whats another few days. The doctor left and then I proceeded to lay down on that bed for 7 hours until 245 with yet no word of what was going to happen, doc shows up and tell me there was no time to work on me and that I would have to wait a month... A FUCKING MONTH!

Im now stuck in this weird situation. Since my doctor added me to the cancelation list (top of the list) the moment anyone misses or cancels there appointment, I'm in. Which means at any moment i could get a call and have to be ready for surgery the next day. Which means I can't go back to work... I cant tell them I can start working and work two shifts and then tell them I'll be missing the rest of my week. So now I'm stuck doing nothing for what could be a very long month. And the worst part about all of this is that I now have to prepare myself for life after surgery all over again... Get myself in that frame of mind where I know things are going to be okay. After today it was pretty hard, not going to lie, who knows how the rest of this month could go. I know how I want it to, I know how all my problems could be solved but really, who in life gets what they want (example today). The only thing I can do is be myself and work for what I want and prove to myself that I deserve it. And hopefully things will work out.

So here's to a fun filled month of nothing, and everything.

Cheers,

Andrew Chappell

Almost there!

I'm officially done my last night shift, now to sit down relax and enjoy my schooner! Two more shifts to go!

Jillian Babin (Babycakes)

Hey All,

Wow two posts today, you must all be lucky,

This will be a quickie, I thought I should share something rather unfortunate that happened to me.

1. Did you know you can text yourself from your own Iphone? yep, if you make yourself a contact in your list, you can text yourself... Fun fact.

2. Have you ever heard of Jillian Babin? Well she is a female curler who plays for New Brunswick. And she is also a woman who myself and my Room mate mark like to fight over.

The story goes that mark and I were having a few drinks and the topic of Jillian came up. Well we both start arguing about who she would pick between us. To prove a point that Jillian and I are together ( we are not ) I changed my contact name on my phone from Andrew Chappell, to Jillian Babin, I also Inserted a really lame nick name with the final product being Jillian Babin (baby cakes).

This means that whenever I text myself, It shows as if I'm being texted by Jillian. So with a little editing on the text screen it can look like her and myself are having conversations. Such as.

"Hey andrew, I had a great time last night, except for your room mate mark. Can you tell him that we are together and that I'm not interested in him. Thanks baby! love you"

If your thinking to yourself... wow that is lame, well you are correct, but thats how we roll in the Cherokee House hold lol

But this isn't even the embarrassing part...

Did you know that when you sync your Iphone to your Mac, all your contacts sync as well? All your personal information that is on your phone is synced to your personal information on your Mac. Itunes, Iphote, Imail... Everything. Pretty convenient yes, but when not being careful it can be pretty bad.

As I mentioned my name on my Iphone is now Jillian Babin not Andrew Chappell, so now When i'm writing Emails to University counsellors its coming out like this...

As you can see, my name is Andrew Chappell... But really. You can call me Jillian Babin ( babycakes )... FML =)

Razzle'madazzle Fizzazle and why you should be worried.

Well its now been 22 days since my operation, and things are starting to look a little better for ol'chappy.

Two days ago my splint finally came off. The entire situation was pretty funny due to the fact that once I was called from the waiting room to go to the little waiting room at my doctors office, I didn't actually have to wait at all, he came in immediately and told me I could take my splint off, and then left.

Other then the first time I had sex, i've never removed an article of clothing that fast.

It had been 2o days since I was able to scratch my leg, and let me tell you I scratched the fuck out of my leg. So much so that by the time the doctor came back into the room, my leg had become completely red with weird little blotches of white. My doctor's exact words were, "what the fuck happened to your leg!?" I actually had to calm him down and tell him that I had been scratching..

Okay maybe that was really funny. But we had a good laugh so fuck you.

just kidding come back... come back.

you there?

MMGOOOOD.

anyways not much has changed since the splint removal other then the fact that I know go to physiotherapy. Which is amazing. People claim to hate it, but I find it so relaxing. It's a work out without actually working out. If that makes sense.

I do get out a little more now. I am currently at a coffee place having some tea. Writing this blog and scorning some acorns. Things are looking up a little bit I have to admit. I also found out I don't have to work for another month. Which I mean is awsome. But for someone who is broke and now reusing the same tea bag for the third time, its a little concerning.

Anyways, no dreams, no updates. Nothing special.

Although i do love you.

G.C.U

Desperate to make some money, George has become a car attendant, like a flight attendant but in a car. George will cater to your many traveling needs.

Day 1 of recover

Well as many of you are probably wondering,

the title of this blog is referring to the recovery of my knee. Yesterday at 11:05am i had the first of two operations on my knee to repair my torn ACL.

It was actually a pretty exciting day i woke up at 645am by the sound of my grandma banging on my room. WOW flashback, its been almost 4 years now that i've moved out of the house and being back in my old room and having her wake me up like that was insane. A blast from the past if you will.

But as the present time caught up with me i realized it was time for the hospital.

By 815am i was wearing my gowned and flashing that derriere extraordinaire of mine (click on link below to see).

My two nurses for the morning were Lynn and Laurel, who were complete opposites!

lynn who was so nice and comforting but unfortunately had no idea what she was doing, as she proved to me by how she got the iv in my arm. Dear lord, pick and vain a stick with it!

And then there was Laurel, cold, mean, yet wow was she ever on her game, knew exactly what i needed it and when and was always there. I can see why these two were paired up, together they make a sort of SUPER nurse. (copywrite) lol.

To tell you the truth though, laurel eventually warmed up to me. I don't know if was my charm or this chiselled body of mine, or if it was a lack of charm, and my lovely boy lumps. Maybe she felt bad for me. I sure hope not.

next came what was probably the most interesting and most exciting part of the day. AND NO, it is not my operation. The room i had was being shared with another patient, whose name was Tanner, a six foot 3 asian dude who from what i could tell was not presently enjoying his life. It seemed as though hes already had a few operations on his foot before and was just not having any fun anymore. Once he left for the OR, Laurel came to me and filled me in on the fact that he had an ex girlfriend of native decent who apparently has been stocking him. She apparently has been stealing his clothes from his visiting room, breaking into his house while he isn't there!

As Laurel continued to story she concluded with asking a favour of me.

laurel was going to put a sign on the door that said "no visitors please go to main desk" in hopes that this would deter the girlfriend if she chose to try and steal anything. But if she did show up and did come in the room i was to call the nurses.

keep in mind that this sign was just a precaution, no one actually expecting her to show up.

But show up she did. I couldn't believe that it was actually happening. She walked in wearing jeans and a purple plead shirt and big poofy black jacket. she came in and i welcomed her and asked if she was looking for Tanner, she said yes and said she was his girlfriend and that she was picking up some stuff for him. I replied by pointing her to the closet (which i had no idea if his stuff was in there or not) and i even asked her for the time due to the fact that our room clock had no batteries.

She finally found the back with all of Tanners belonging and as she started to make her way out of the room she was greeted by three nurses. HOLY CRAP you should of seen the look on this girls face when she looked and me and saw the beeper for the nurses in my hand! i had been spamming the button the entire time. I honestly think of those nurses weren't there she would of attacked me haha. And considering i couldn't barely use my left arm cause of Nurse Lynn's stellar iv job, i think i would of had my work cut out for me.

With all the excitement and the girlfriend gone, i didn't even realize that it was 10:45am and that i was due downstairs at the or prep room. All of a sudden my heart started racing as i got more and more nervouse.

Now i dont know if you have ever been in an OR room but basically its a giant room with a bunch of crazy looking contraptions that i have never seen before. the bed that you lay on has two arms shooting out of his which they strap your arms to. I honestly felt like was being layed on a cross and was about to be crucified. With 3 doctors and 2 nurses in the room i was feeling overwhelmed and i said " wow guys i am getting pretty nervous" and well what happened next i could only explain with dialogue.

anesthesiologist-"dont worry buddy this will help that" as he connected my iv to some sort of drug

the room started to get fuzzy and i could barely keep my eyes open, i decided to share my thoughts

-"hey guys, hey hey guys, i can hear everything your saying but i can't keep my eyes open"

Doctor- "well you don't want your eyes open so just let them close"

-"no no dont worry, i can do it. I got this!"

as soon as i said this i could feel the pressure on the gas masked that they had just placed over my mouth double, clearly i was rambling. But in the back of my mind i was assuring myself that i was acting cool and that they probably thought so aswell.

3 hours later i wake up and im in a bed recovering. 4 hours after that i get sent off home to where i slept for 10 hours and woke up to reach myself here and now writing this extremely long blog.

I have 23 days off from here on out and ill most likely be writing some more. Hopefully.

I hope this has entertained you slightly.

p.s. George Carlson called my this morning, and wished my the best in my recovery. He is also recovering due to a horrible fly fishing accident... Apparently he got hit by a car.

p.s.s. if you are still looking for that link of my extraordinary behind it was never posted...

how dare you