Let's Take a Break

I love you pro wrestling, but I think we need some time apart. I've been down with you since 1985, and you've been there for me through everything. I gotta say though...I've that 28 year itch right now. You're boring me.

Let's cut to the chase: it's WWE. Raw is three hours. That's too fucking long. I don't have the time or PVR space to sift through wackness.
Also, money is (eternally) short, so I can't buy all the New Japan Pro Wrestling iPPVs I want. And believe me, I want to. I SO fucking want to.

So, until I get some more free time, more cash, or until Kassius Ohno makes his WWE debut, we've gotta go our separate ways. I'll keep tabs on you via Slam! and through Ring of Honor and NJPW's YouTube channels, but no hanging out for a while. No coffee dates, no booty calls.

Off the Wagon

Here comes trouble.

My wife and I were offered two months of free cable by the good folks at Shaw – no strings. We said, "sure." As I had mentioned in a previous post, I kicked TV out of my life three years ago, or at least TV in my own home.

Now it's back. And I'm somewhat uneasy. I shouldn't be. I mean, I'm able to exhibit a certain amount of self-control...for the past three or so weeks, I've quit energy drinks and excessive snacking. So far, so good. Procrastination, however, has quite a hold on me and I'd hate for TV to be an additional agent of distraction.

Even though I'm chained to the internet, I've gotten way more done over the past little bit without TV around, and I aim to keep it that way. Personally, I'm sticking to three things TV-wise:

1. Wrestling. Well, duh. Thanks to Figure Four Weekly, I realized I missed all of the good shit WWE was doing via RAW in 2005, and I often cursed myself for cutting my TV service. Time to play catch-up and see how horrible some of these newer folks on the roster are. Hell, I'm even going to watch the continuity-challenged TNA! I'm that committed to "the sport".
2. Food Network. Utopian TV. Unless Ramsay is yelling at some hapless fucker, or Jamie is reaching out to troubled youth via cuisine, there's nothing wrong in the Food Network universe. Famine, war, racism – non-existent. Who needs drugs with type of action? Plus, any excuse to watch Nigella cook is a good one.
3. Discovery Channel. Mythbusters (Oh, Kari...), Daily Planet, and Cash Cab. 'Nuff said.

Time to dust off the VCR (shut up).

Random Thoughts: October 5th, 2009 – Wedding Anniversary Edition

Taken in the RRC Downtown Campus Atrium, October 4th, 2008.
Photo by the superawesometerrific luckygirl.ca.

• October 4th, 2008: I married the love of my life on this day, and I'm still the happiest man on earth. I seriously couldn't have found a better lady to spend my life with. I'd like to give a shout-out to all of our family and friends that shared that our wonderful day (and kick-ass weather). Our slightly-delayed thank you cards are comin'!
• TV-less existence: Over three years ago, I canceled the television portion of my cable service. Truthfully, I'm surprised I didn't write anything substantial about that at the time – believe me, I searched – as it was a hard decision to make, as I was the dude that put TV above everything growing up.
  I was obsessed. I made myself a new Saturday morning viewing schedule every Fall. Remember when the major networks aired specials to announce the new cartoon series? I'd be right there, glued to the screen. And as a wrestling fan, there was a glut of programming available for me, and I watched it all; UWF, WWF, AWA, Stampede, etc. Hell, I even watched Memphis and WCW stuff via scrambled signal, as there was no way Mom was gonna shell the bucks out for more channels.
  Fast forward to September of 2006. TV was boring me, and I was broke. So, I gave it some thought...and gave Shaw a call. The day after, I listened to the first day of the Ring Cycle on CBC and never looked back. Actually, that's a lie...if I'm watching TV, it's at Sarah's parents, or if we're away (like Japan, eh?). I do kind of miss it, really. However, I get a lot more done now, even though the internet has taken up the distraction slack. Curse you, Google Reader. And Twitter. And other web-based distractions.
  
• Overhaul. Some changes need to come to this here blog. Mainly cosmetic. I've been experimenting, so we'll see what happens.
• Technological Update: Yes, I haven't posted any Japan photos, but I will...as soon as I get my iMac repaired (audible sigh). Things have been acting up, so I'm taking it to my man Brian at Powerland for a look-see. On the flipside, I recently purchased a 2 TB Western Digital MyBook for essential back-ups. Peace of mind means me putting up pictures soon. We'll see what develops. In the meantime, here's something I did manage to upload: the logo for UWSA's Freestyle III.

I loved doing this. The kids involved in the program were terrific. Shout-out to Ted Turner and Pip Skid for getting me involved. Here's the non-dated color and grayscale versions.

More Goodness via RetroWinnipeg

The man who brought you the RetroWinnipeg channel at YouTube has some CTV/CKY based clips at VEOH:
http://www.veoh.com/channels/retrowinnipeg
I tell ya...it's good to hear Ray Torgrud's voice again.
Hey! Here's a clip of RRC's former head of the arts department reading the Newshour Update!
Gee, he seems rather blasé about it, eh?