This guy was on the side of the road hitchhiking on a very dark night in the middle of a terrible rainstorm, and no cars were on the road. The storm was so strong the guy could hardly see a few feet ahead of him.

Suddenly, he saw a car come toward him and stop. The guy, without thinking about it, got in the car and closed the door and only then did he realize that there was nobody behind the wheel! The car started to move very slowly. The guy looked at the road and saw a curve coming his way. Petrified, he started to pray, begging for his life. He had not come out of shock when, just before the car hit the curve,a hand suddenly appeared through the window and moved the steering wheel. The guy, now paralyzed in terror, watched how the hand appeared every time the car was approaching a curve.

Finally, although terrified, the guy managed to open the door and jump out of the spooky car. Without looking back, the guy ran through the storm all the way to the nearest town.

Soaking wet, exhausted and in a state of utter shock, the pale, visibly-shaken guy, walked into a nearby bar and asked for two shots of Screech. Still trembling with fright, he started telling everybody in the bar about the horrible experience he just went through with the spooky car with no driver and the mysterious hand that kept appearing. Hairs stood on end as everyone in the bar listened in silence to this eerie story.

Everyone jumped out of their chairs as the door of the bar slammed open! Two guys walked into the same bar and one said to the other, “Look, me son, there’s the arsehole who got into the car while we were pushing it!”

Happy Hallowe’en everybody!

Today is Amy’s 21st Birthday. Wow! 21!!

Here she is with her cousin Ronnie at her graduation. Amy is a VERY special young lady and we hope she has a VERY special day! Happy Birthday Amy!!!

I learned something new last evening. A friend of mine, Paul, emails me the occasional billiards instructional video. I’m not sure what he’s really trying to say, but I watch them anyway. While cruising around the interweb for similar videos, I came across a video on back hand english. It’s 28 minutes long, but worth the view, if you are interested in some less commonly known techniques in billiards.

This link from Bob Jewett is a very good narrative describing in a page what the video does in a half hour. He has a bunch of other instructional narratives here.

It has varying degrees of success with different individuals using different brands of cue stick. This debate illustrates the conflicting views on its usefullness, application and physical theory.

I tried the back hand english technique (or squirt compensation) at Paul’s house tonight. It’s apparent that this technique needs practise to perfect (proven by the fact that he kicked my ass), but the dramatic effects it has was also pretty obvious.

…The way you love me is frightning! You better knock (boopity boopity boopity boopity bing!)… on wood! Baby!

Friday night. After a long week, I’m tired and looking forward to an alarm-free night in my nice cozy warm bed. I put my head on the pillow and per usual, I fall asleep instantly. Nudge. Nudge. “Steve…STEVE! You’re snoring. Can you go downstairs?” Grumble. “Okay…” So, off to the dungeon I go. I grab a snack and head to the basement. With a full belly and a comfortable couch (it’s not my bed, but it’s ok), I am off to la-la land again. “Dad… DAD! It’s thunder and lightning outside and the dog is trembling and she’s keeping me awake. Can I put her down there with you?” Grumble. “Sure…”

So, it’s me, the dog and the fishtank in the basement. Sleep doesn’t come too easily after you’ve been awakened twice in an hour and a half. And, it’s certainly not aided by a trembling mutt who can’t find comfort, but is looking for it by pushing its way under my pillow or behind my back or in my face. Add to that a thunder storm (that I would have slept through) pounding its way closer and closer to Moncton. Rumble.

All I could think was “What if lightning strikes my house, destroying the upper flat?” The only survivors would be me and the animals. That would learn’em for kicking me out of bed and making me sleep with the dog, eh? My half-baked, exhausted mind was confused and torn between grief, vengeance and home repair bills. It was too much for my brain to take and it shut down. I think my snoring drowned out the thunder, because the dog dozed off too.

Tie Domi’s wife, Leanne, is pissed off at him because he got a new leaf blower. She’s filing for divorce.

On CBC.ca

Leanne Domi has not made any direct statements to the media about the breakdown of her marriage, yet the allegations laid out in the divorce application are quite specific.

“Tie Domi has committed adultery with Belinda Stronach,” the first line of the court document reads.

What’s the world coming to?

I got a summons in the mail yesterday. What?!? A summons? The government of New Brunswick saw it fit to think that I may be fit to serve on a jury. The document said that the trial is expected to last 7 weeks.

Now, I’ve been called to jury duty years ago when I lived in Newfoundland. About 200 potential jurors showed up, were counted, endured roll call only to hear the defendant’s lawyer say that they were electing trial by judge. Whew! A close call. Only three hours of my life wasted.

But I don’t have such a good feeling about this one. I think this could be “the one”… I don’t think I could purposely attempt to throw the selection process and get booted. But I don’t want to spend 7 weeks away from work and life to serve on a jury.

I don’t know anyone who has actually gone through participating in a trial by jury (other than a few guys from the old neighbourhood, but they were defendants). Anybody out there been through it? Any advice?