Blues Clues Live is...well, interesting?

Next week I will have some good stuff for you. On monday we are going to do some interviews with WWF wrestlers so I will have some good pics. Plus I got freebies to Smackdown which is in Edmonton on Tuesday. I know I retired, but as far as I am concerned if the tickets are free I am not violating the Retirement Pledge. Even if I did ask for them.


Here is the stage for Blues Clues Live

Well, last week I went from one night going to Green Day Live to two days later going to Blues Clues Live. What a diverse individual I am. Well I can tell you the age group between the two shows is not THAT far off. On of McKenna's birthday presents was tickets to go and see Blues Clues Live, or, Blues Clues Alive as she calls it. She counted down the sleeps to the show. She was about as geeked as a little girl can be about seeing a stuffed mascot replica of the cartoon that she sees on the TV. Mom and Dad were happy to see her excited but a bit worried about how much this was going to cost them because they heard a parent talk about seeing the Wiggles live the month before (sold out show, go figure) and how it was one booth after the next as soon as you walk in. Selling everything from glow sticks to CD's. Adam Cook said he dropped over a hundred bones before he even found his seats. They really know how to get you. Sell to the kid, the kid throws a "I want it" at you and to avoid the scene the cash is out of your pockets.



Above is McKenna running into Rexall Place for the show. As you can tell she was pretty excited to be there. To my suprise when we got inside there was not much to buy. On a side note Donna and I had a bet as to what would happen first. McKenna asking for something or Me offering her something. I was determined to win this bet. So as we walked in I slowly walked McKenna past the concessions booth. She did not even blink. No asks or anything. I was really suprised. I had my work cut out for me. All they were selling was $20 Happy Birthday Blue t-shirts and $10 stuffed Blue dolls. McKenna saw someone with popcorn and she requested some, so we obliged. Food did not count in the bet. We then went to find our seats.


My girls waiting paitently for the show to start. I ordered the tickets back last year. When I ordered the guy told me that there were no floor seats left. So I bought up high as you can see in the pic up at the top. Well either scalpers had all the tickets or the guy was lying to me because there were about half of the seats open. The seats we had were the same price as the floor. $45 cdn a piece. We had three. I really love my kid.


McKenna loves Blue. Notice all the empty seats over her shoulder


Complimentary "Handy Dandy Notebooks" that were handed to all the kids who entered.


Joe and all the gang singing and dancing on stage. McKenna sang and played along and had a great time. By the way the guy in the Perriwinkle suit (second from right) really creeped me and Donna out with his obvious, how can say this, errrrr, area. I really think for my sake and the kids sake they should cast this character as a girl. Next.

Well I think I had a really good rant about this show that I ran at Trev that same day and it was funny but since McKenna had such a good time at the show I will not put it here. If you want me to drop the rant, send me a note and I will consider it. If you know the show Blues Clues you will laugh your ass off. Otherwise, I lost the bet. I did not offer her any junk but she never asked for it so I guess we are doing something right.

Have a good day and GET BACK TO WORK!!!!

Star Wars and American Idiot....

Hello and welcome to Just a Little Love on a Friday. Yes, I saw Star Wars yesterday, and yes I loved it. Much better effort than the last two, but this is one that we, as a Star Wars Geek, have all been waiting for. It answers all the questions, or shows us how Darth became Darth. Very well I might add.

Jordi and I went to see it yesterday at noon, I know I have a great job, or lack thereof. Jordi is also a Star Wars geek. I was glad that I did not have to sit behind Darth Vader at the theater. Apparently all the losers went to see it at midnight. I did see one guy in the lobby with a light saber. No costume, just a light saber. Loooooossseeer. Okay, I admit, I have a light saber, and that I did not get it when I was fifteen, but there is no way I am going to take it to a theater. Why? Just in case something happens and we need to fight our way out? Jordi has a stormtrooper hat. He did not wear it to the theater.

I guess what I am trying to say is that there are certain levels of loserness. Jordi and I are on one level, a low level, but guys who wear costumes to movies, are on a whole higher level of loserness. Anyway, we enjoyed the movie and afterwards I wanted to go home and put on the next one just to see how it holds up back to back. I am sure it would have BUT I had something else exciting to do last night......



Courtesy Global Television and Paulie R's Camera. Thanks Mike and Paul.

That's right, Green Day was in town last night and I had duckets. Second level of Rexall Duckets but duckets none the less. The show was great, Donna and I had a great time. Evan and Mugsy, came over to watch McKenna so we could go out. Thanks guys. Now I am sure you are asking yourself, "Self, why did Chris bring this up and only say he had a good time?". Well let me answer that. I have plenty to say. To coin an old Dennis Miller phrase "I don't want to go off on a rant here...but..."

Okay, I used to frequent live shows. While I worked under A-Channels surpressive schedule and since McKenna has been born it has slowed down quite a bit. We basically pick and choose from the wide variety of live shows that Edmonton offers us. Green Day was a choice I made because I have heard, and seen their stuff on TV. Woodstock 2 comes to mind. The mud fight? Joel Witte Was there. That was rock history. So I plunk down my $100cdn for tickets for Donna and me to go and see the punks.



Well as Billlie Joe said at the beginning that they have been together for 16 years (has it really been that long?) which I immediately noticed that most of the fans were younger than 16. Now I don't want to sound old, but I guess that is how it will come off.

Things overheard at the show - "Mom, can I...." "Dad, can I..." "He is sooooo cute..." "What is Billie Joe doing with his hands in his pants?" "Could you please sit down, I can't see the show."

Okay the last two are questionable. The pants thing I did not hear, and the sit down came out of my mouth. But the first ones I heard over and over. When I went to my first show it was 1982 and it was Rush at the Bismarck Civic Center. NO WAY IN HELL my mom was going to go with me to that show. Not that I would not let her, but she would not want to be caught dead there. I cannot imagine going to a show with my parents. Not that my parents would need to explain things to me when I was a kid but. Let's say, Mom goes with me to see Blink 182, which I know parents take their kids to them, how am I supposed to explain why the flaming F*#K is funny? Really.

Another thing I observed last night in the crowd is I saw this row of 14-16 year old girls in front of us holding up their cell phones. I thought that they were calling a friend and letting them listen to the show. I have done that. But then I realized that it wasn't that at all. The Cellphone has replaced the lighter. No kidding. Kids hold up their cell phones instead of lighters. I guess I was not really shocked at that except that all 5 of these girls had their own phone. Crazy.

Another thing that led me to beleive that most of the people in the crowd were young because they cheered the pyro as much as the music. I like pyro(man love fire), but I sure as hell am not going to cheer it.


Courtesy of the Edmonton Journal

Now about the conert. The band has expanded to add another guitar, keys, and some horns. They sounded really tight, polished and the new material really rocked. BUT. Having keys is not very punk if you ask me. Plus Billy Joe did plenty of cheap crowd pops, that I was about to start booing. In case you don't know what a cheap pop is, it is when a guy comes on stage and yells "Hello Edmonton!" or "Calgary you Rock!" or "Canada Rules!". Cheap crowd pop because what do you think the crowd is going to do? Boo you at the sound of their hometown? Hell no. Billy Joe as far as I know used to have the rep of heckling the crowd. Bordering on stand up comedy funny. I was kinda looking forward to some good one liners. I always appreciate smart heckling. None. Just "Hellooooooooo Edmonton!" He even went as far as to thanking everyone three times for coming out. Not very punk if you ask me. I guess they are getting old too. He used to spit on the fans. If you are a punk fan that is the ultimate compliment.

In the middle of the show they dropped back to the three piece and that is when the show started kicking. They sounded more raw and chunky. They played some of their old stuff. Plus a few covers. Operation Ivy song that I liked. Except they brought up a few people to play the song for them. Now either the song is really easy to play or there were some talented musicians in the crowd. I tend to lean toward plants. No band is going to take the chance that the person the bring on stage is crappy. Plant musicans or guitar techs in the crowd and everybody feels good when the "fans" rock out.

They did a cover of We are the Champions which I thought was well done, complete with the confetti guns at the end of the song. They also did a cover of Shout with a omage to James Brown with the cape routine. None of the 14 year olds understood what was going on and I sure as hell was not going to try to explain it to them. I just let them think that Billy Joe invented that routine.


Edmonton Journal

Over all I thought it was a good show, entertaining. I would rather I saw it in a bar with about 300 punks but what do you expect at an arena? I can't even count how many shows I have been to, and I guess I am noticing things that maybe are different but they probably were there 10 years ago but I just did not notice. I am getting old. Oh well, I still know what is good (U2, Nirvana, the Hip) and what is bad (britney, n*sync, duff, the simpson girls). That is all I need. Oh crap, what the hell am I going to do when McKenna asks to go to see a show? I guess it depends on who it is on whether I go. If it is Dylan, Pearl Jam, or Springsteen I am there. Britney, I may have to put my foot down and not let her go. I know I am sure as hell not going. Donna can go with her.

I am going to try and get Pearl Jam tickets next Saturday. I have always respected that band, and I hope I get good seats. I wonder what kind of crowd will show up to that one. They aren't on MTV, so maybe the teenyboppers and their moms will stay home. Probably not.

Have a nice day and GET BACK TO WORK!!!!!

Phoenix was nice....

Hello, this is a pic of Jordi and me when we were in Phoenix on Monday. Self Portrait. I love those. Yes I know there is a cactus growing out of Jordi's head but I meant to do that.

Before I get into the week that was I have an email to share with you. It comes from the Nordic Man who was also there when Marty uttered those infamous words....


Nordic One and me at the Vikes game.


"Chris,

I finally got around to reading the love for the last two weeks. I couldn’t help but roll on the floor laughing my ass off. To this day I still can’t play poker without listening to Dennis Leary “Asshole” on the way there or if it is at my house during the game. It is a must! to start it off. Also the Dee Snider comment haunts me every time I play cards. At one point that night I thought my lungs had collapse and tore every muscle in my gut. The timing for that comment could not have been any more perfect. Thank you Marty for scarring me for life! I really do miss cards with you guys. It just isn’t the same, no matter how many pretzels, dorritoes, funyons, dip, etc... you eat and drink.

NordicMan"

MMMMMMMMMM Funyuns. I had the opportunity to partake of a bag of the 'Man Snack' this week. It is like heaven on earth. Jordi passed on the Funyuns though. Wuss. Whenever I go to the states always at the top of my list is to hit a store and get Funyuns, Dakota Kids (if I am in ND), Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch, and YoHoo. All things that I cannot get here in Siberia.

Funny thing though, the only one we haven't heard from about the "Dee Snider Incident" is Hauser. He must be really F'd up about that. Good job Marty.



In fact I brought two boxes home with me on this trip of PBCC. McKenna loves it.

Okay. Let's take care of the birthdays for may. First off this month is Sonya Heitsusan. A fine Reporter who works at a Dead Moines station called WHO.


Happy Birthday Sonya, May 8th

Second in line we have Derek Venckus Scmenkus. He works as a flack in Tennessee. Memphis I believe. Used to work at NBC 26 in Green Bay.

Venckus birthday is on May 24th.

Marty also has a May birthday, so Marty, on May 17th, I tip one for you pal. Happy birthday. Stay away from Dee Snider.

Last but not least, Jordi Weidman my partner in crime for the Score had a birthday on Tuesday, while I believe I spent the longest day travelling ever. Airline travel just plain sucks.


Happy Birthday Jordi.

So back to business. We went to Phoenix on Sunday, to cover the Steve Nash MVP of the NBA conference. It was very short notice and we weren't there very long but it was nice. We got to interview Steve Nash, and go to game one of the second round of the playoffs. Now, you may ask "why did those lucky bastards get to go to that?". Well I will tell you. Since Steve is Canadian, everyone in Canada really cares. There were almost more Canadian media there than local. It was kinda madhouse. Steve Nash was a nice guy, the weather was about 90-100 degrees both days, and I got to see the Phoenix Gorilla dunk. Very cool.

We stayed at my parents resort house. My parents 'winter' in Phoenix. Yeah, lucky. So that is basically why I went. If we would not have had free lodging, Chris would have stayed in Siberia. Lucky I have connections in the states. Let that be a warning for all of you in the states. If something big in the sports world is going on in your town, you better believe that I will be pushing to go because I can stay for free at your house. Believe that.

On our way back we had to fly to Denver, wait for almost two hours, fly to Calgary, sit for another two, and then fly to Edmonton. Bad enough we had to be IN Calgary, but we had to sit for two hours while they had 'mechanical' problems. I hate Calgary. Anyway, since it was such a wonderful trip I thought I would treat you to a slide show.

Without further ado.....MY TRIP TO PHOENIX....


Here is a pic of the plane we flew from Denver to Calgary on. If it isn't the smallest plane in the world it is close. I hate small planes.


Here is a shot of the Rocky Mountains near Denver. Looks like we are flying over Edmonton with all that snow. Snow Sucks.


Denver airport. Nice airport, but airports still suck.


Here is what I saw mostly from Jordi on the way down. He is a great conversationalist, when he is not sleeping.


Bank One Ballpark. Home of the Arizona DiamondBacks. Big park. Funny thing though they had the roof closed the day before and it was about 90 degrees. I don't understand that. If they had a roof on Lambeau (God forbid) they would open that sucker the minute it hit about 33 degrees.


Here is a shot of all the cameras at the presser for Mr. Nash's MVP. Most of the cameras were from Canada.


Here is Steve when he called his teammates up to the podium to accept the award with him. Okay, I am still learning how to run Donna's Digi cam. I know I am a photog, I should know how. I suck. Get off my back.


Here is one hell of a good looking guy and his camera. Wow. Jordi takes the pic and it works, I take it and it doesn't. Get off my back, I suck.


Jordi standing next to a big ass cactus.


This is the clubhouse at the place where my parents own a small house. There is also a par 3 golf course there and a really nice pool.


Gratutious Sunset shot.


Okay now to the game. This is a pic of the Mavs bench. The guy with the green shirt standing up is Mark Cuban the owner. He is yelling at the team. I took this from a long way away so, okay, I suck.


Here is the Gorilla's Harley. I believe that it is a OCC bike. Made by the Tutels. I wonder if they almost missed their deadline on that bike. Oh wait, that is what they do on EVERY bike. Discovery channel joke. I am really grasping at straws.


The Gorilla. Rick Reilley did a story in SI just a couple of weeks ago about him. One mascot that I do not mind.


This one is for the Fellas. The Phoenix Sunsations. Enjoy, if it wasn't so out of focus. I suck.


David Stern holding a press conference. The Canadian media can get hockey out of anyone. He briefly spoke on the NHL. Amazing how obsessed Canada is with Hockey.


Here is the media seating at the game. That screen in front had real time stats on it. Pretty amazing. Great seats for the game. Those lousy media scumbags taking up good seats that fans should have. I had a pass for the floor, but I did not use it because we had a early flight and I had packed the camera away. Loser.


We did actually work while we were there. Here is Jordi writing his story. No really. We did not pose this picture up, we actually did work.


Finally this is a pic of us in Calgary with Sean Fleming. He is the kicker for the Edmonton Eskimos. CFL. He hates Calgary also.

Well that is all I have for you today. I hope you enjoyed the pics. I certainlly had a good time taking them, even though I am bad at it.

Have a good day and GET BACK TO WORK!!!

Brush With Greatness....

Hello and welcome to a little love on a friday. This week I will be discussing one of my favorite sections from the old Dave show back on NBC. He had a segment called 'Brush with greatness' where Dave went into the crowd and had people tell stories about meeting clebrities. Usually the stories were pretty tame, BUT then Daves writers would add a 'writers embellishment' and make the story really crazy.

But before I get on to that, I will take care of the mail. First up, Daryl Marquardt, who now works in the Mad City. Madison Wisconsin. He was not impressed with the memories that last week brought back....


Chief of WGBA 26. The finest total group of shooters I have worked with.

"Thanks for the link to your blog. I was feeling lost over the last year without my love on Fridays. My life is now complete and happy. Thank you for pulling me out of the doldrums that is life in the big city of Madison.

I was there the night of the "Dee Snyder" proclamation. It was late; many Lienies were now lying empty on the floor. And I never walked in front of Marty again. (always beside or behind) The poker was just a diversion. A reason to get together, face to face, and say what came into our heads. As the nights grew later the tales grew longer and wilder. All was forgotten in the morning. At least they were supposed to be forgotten until some Canadian ex-patriot brings up Dee Snyder and it all comes rushing back. Thanks Chris, I could have done without that image in my already failing memory.

Unfortunately, my poker life is a thing of the past. It is something I am trying to revive as we just bought a house that has a full bar that would make Marty jealous. Brass foot rail and all. I am enclosing a pic of what the current owners have done with the space. I have some great plans for it though that you will have to see the next time you are in Madison. (the house is in the Town of Bristol just North of Sun Prairie which is just North of Madison)

Anyway, good to hear from the friends to the North!

Daryl"

Daryl's photo gallery



Here is his bar. NICE. Just when I thought I had a nice bar....New idea. Send me pics of your bar/entertainment room.

Next up Mark Boden. He took offence to the sucked ass comment. Really? Why?


Me and Mark Boden at Summerfest

"Chris,

I am honored to be a part of hte weekly blog. Sucked ass? You must still be bitter of all the big pots I took in our penny ante games. Between the sheets is still the greatest. Nothing like Ace, ace, ace. See ya.

Boden"

No Mark, Between the Sheets game always gave me a chance to hit the can, or go and get more beer. That game sucked ass.

Next, a guy I have never played poker with, I think. James Grandy. I don't have a pic of his ugly ass...

"I "pity da fool" (that was mr T,right) that dont like poker...you nailed it pete. After a few days in vegas last week and witnessing a guy at my blackjack table drop 5g's in a mater of 2 minutes..ya realize poker for dimes and quarters is as good as it gets....we can act like rude "big players" and still have enough cash for a slurpee on the way home....(if the
cab driver will stop)

and if it makes ya feel better...its snowing here right now (not much) hope you got your cds alright and i cant wait until football season and you have to report on your packers weekly in the blog. (they are really gonna blow this year...thanks for the UofW DE)

Grandy"


Dude, don't get me started on the Pack, yet. I have a lot to say, and that DE was supposed to go Green and Gold, not braids and purple. He'll never get a ring.

So let's get started. I am posting some pics for you. Me with people who are "famous". I will give you the real story, and what I want you to do is be Dave's writers and embellish stories for me and I will put it up next week. I will give you an example from a pic I sent Marty last week and he took the time to embellish a funny story.



Here is a pic from WGBA of Me Joel Witte and Andy Konkle. We OBVIOUSLY are discussing the finer points of getting the shot and how to do our job better. Right? Not according to Marty.....

Chris: "Hey I just got 3 pasties from that store on the corner next to
Bernies Liquor"

Andy K: "Wow - that beats the hell out of the Wendy's double double that I
just scored" "Let's eat in Joel's car, he's got better seating for big ass
guys like us than those damn Ford Escorts"...

See how it works? Okay let's get at it....


First up here I am with The Rock. He obviously really is excited to be standing next to me. I did a story on him about 3 months before he became the champ.


If you look close you can see me behind Gizmo Williams here on the cover of the Edmonton Sun. This was Gizmo's last game at Commonfilth Stadium as an Eskimo. The people of Edmonton Love this guy.


Me and Dweezil Zappa. Yes Dweezil. He was in town for a concert. I have a guitar signed by him.


Me and the San Diego Chicken. This was taken at Keith Murphy's Stag. I obviously have had a few tasty beverages.


I had the opportunity to be in the prescence of the World Heavyweight Championship Belt. Oh the guy who currently held in the back was Chris Benoit. He was at City Hall for "Chris Benoit Day" in Edmonton. The Mayor is an idiot.


Okay, you may not recognize this guy. That was me in the forest service trying to act tough. Someday that guy in the picture will be about 260 and in Canada.


Me and my favorite pastime. Brats and the Pack. Mmmmmm Brats.


This is Me at Murphy's show getting my head shaved after a bet that the Pack would go undefeated. I lost the bet, thus I lost my hair.


Okay another one from the paper. That is the flying Elvi in the front, and yes in the back that is me, well, leaning on my camera. Okay let me have it.


Me and the Foo Fighters. Okay, I am now just showing off.


That is me in the monkey face on the set of the Don Beebe show. The guy on the right is some makeup guy who worked on some of the Freddie movies. Don (left) did not want to do the make up thing because he did not want to take crap in the Packer locker room so the put the monkey face on, well, the monkey. That was a pain to take off.


Okay, last but not least. Me with uh, er, well, yeah, Debbie Gibson. That's right Debbie gibson. She also signed a well, uh, video that I, well, uh er, own. Okay I am a loser, and she basically said that to me. I hate her.

Okay, get to it. I know you have some funny things to say. I am going to write some myself. Send them to me and I will post them over the next few weeks. Have a good day.

AND GET BACK TO WORK!!!!!!!!