2013 In Review

The majority of this post contains information that I blogged about throughout 2013. I may have included additional in real life tidbits that haven’t been mentioned previously.

January

I reviewed the Last Resort series finale. I still think it is one of my favourite television series from the 2012-2013 television season. I wrote a couple of blog posts regarding the #SaveBCFIlm campaign, here and here.

February 

I made predictions on who would win what for the Oscars. I got Best Director, Best Sound Editing and Best Original Score correct. I plan on doing them again.

March

The family adopted an Airedale Terrier named Archer (finally)! He’s my little rabble rousin’ shit disturber but I love him for it. Emmadale and him get along famously. I’ve nicknamed him Archer the Turduckendale. MMmmmm… Turducken…

I also went in to write my permittee exam for the director’s guild. I didn’t pass it on the first attempt.

April

I read my favourite novel of 2013, A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron. I even wrote a review about it. I would also read the sequel and the series’ conclusion later in the year titled A Dog’s Journey. Both are really great reads. I have several other novels on my shelf by the same author that I haven’t gotten around to reading yet.

In April I began my annual Stanley Cup prediction series Stanley Is Coming. I think it’ll be making a return this year. Maybe if the Canucks even make the playoffs?

June

I wrote an opinion piece on posting spoilers on social media and what the etiquette should be. Someone even mostly agreed with me. If they fully agreed with me, the fabric of space-time continuum would have been torn into oblivion. Looking at you James!

I also wrote about who should replace Matt Smith as The Doctor on the hit television series Doctor Who. I suggested John Hurt, Wil Wheaton, Alex Kingston, Lenora Crichlow, but I really wanted Patrick Stewart (make it fucking so!). But ultimately the role went to Peter Capaldi.

I also made my second trip to Seattle, Washington to watch my Vancouver Whitecaps FC play the Seattle Sounders FC. Sadly the Caps would lose but I still had a great time with friends.

I also loss a schoolmate and good friend. I’ll miss him.

July

I was super busy with work but I got my first tattoo! Ready to see it? This is it! 

 

It represents the three things that I love: Airedale Terriers, Metro-Vancouver and the Vancouver Canucks. No regerts (hahahahahaha!)…

August

At the beginning of August I trekked to Portland, Oregon to catch the Vancouver Whitecaps FC on the road against the Portland Timbers. They would lose on the road but I had so much fun! I got to drink a lot of craft beer! See a dear good friend and meet his family. Also gotta see Star Trek in the Park! Sadly, I didn’t get to go to Voodoo Doughnuts or Big Ass Sandwich but my friend and I are going again in 2014, so I’ll make sure I get to check those places out. 

Also after the game, a moron from Calgary, Alberta (cheering for the Portland Timbers) came over to our table – my friends and I were minding our own business, having a couple pieces of pizza and he red cards us all. What a wanker! We all gave him a hard time from being from Alberta. What a tool.

I also blogged about the tattoo I got above. Oops, forgot about that. 

I rewrote that permittee exam for the guild and passed! Yahoo!!!

I also signed up for Extra Life 2013.

I also wrote a blog post about who should replace Christian Bale as the Dark Knight and not Ben Affleck.

I also went to Penny Arcade Expo 2013 and had a lot of fun! 

November

I more than doubled my $300 goal for Extra Life in 2013 and plan on doing it again in 2014. I am so pleased with myself and many other Extra Lifers who raised estimate $4 million USD for Children Miracle Network Hospitals across North America. Here in British Columbia we raised an estimate $57,000 for BC Children’s Hospital. I am so happy.

December

I got an Xbox One and wrote my second ever video game review for Ryse: Son of Rome. I think I may do it more often.

Christmas was good. It was small, just family. I miss my Granddad. Miss you Granddad. Christmas, just isn’t the same without you.

 

Extra Life 2013 Update

Hey everyone, 

Just another remember that I am doing Extra Life again this year. Extra Life is a fundraiser, a gamer charity that raises money for Children Miracle Network Hospitals. I am fundraising for BC Children’s Hospital that does amazing work in healing kids across our province. 

When I was born I had a brain disease and was premature. I was quite sick. Twenty-eight years afterwards, I am living. Thanks to the love of my parents and the nurturing care of the doctors and nurses at this hospital. This hospital has also helped countless others I know.

I am not just doing this for BC Children’s Hospital. I am doing it for the Children of British Columbia that they receive the best medical care the marvels of modern medicine can provide, to relieve their pain so they can live their extraordinary lives. These kids are heroes to me. 

This is why I am raising funds. All I am asking if you are capable to donate whatever you can afford. I want to exceed my 300$ goal like I exceeded my $200 goal last year. 

Extra Life is a 24 hour – no – 25 hour gaming marathon that will be held around November 2nd. I have tentative plans of doing the same day if my work schedule permits but I will most likely schedule around it. 

I really want to give back to my community and this gives me that chance to do what I love. 

Please head over to the link. The website will provide additional information how your donation will help children. Please make a donation doesn’t matter how small or big, you’ll have my thanks and appreciation. You’ll be a heroes in my eyes and the next time I see you, I’ll give you one of the world’s biggest hugs. 

Thanks to a generous donation of $20 from an Internet friend I have reached 10% of my $300 goal. I sit at $30. Please donate today.

Lots of love, 

Anth

Please watch the video that started it all. 

My First Tattoo

It has been over three weeks since I walked into that parlour. At first I wast angst sitting on the couch in the waiting area simply waiting for my appointment. I wouldn’t lie that I thought several times just to leave the parlour and everything would be all right. I have heard mix feelings about getting tattoos.

Some people fear-mongered about them. That they hurt, that they are like a million needles, et cetera. I have heard all of them. Then there were friends that said they didn’t hurt and were more therapeutic.

In the end I went through with it. I have been contemplating getting one for the past decade since I entered adulthood.  I sat and waited. I got into the chair at 3:30PM. I told the artist that this is my first one. He was pretty understanding.

It took about an hour and twenty-five minutes. It wasn’t an ordeal either. At first it hurt like a sonofabitch in the first path hour. Then I realized it wasn’t that bad and eased up. I even joked around with the artists and the other patrons. Comradery. I was amongst fellow enthusiasts and I was only getting my first ink done.

The Tattoo Itself

 The tattoo is pretty important to me in what it symbolizes. It contains the three things that I love the most: Airedale Terriers, the Canucks, and Vancouver (City and Metro Vancouver).  

The Design

Designed by a friend of mine. The design is based on the Johnny Canuck shoulder emblem of the Vancouver Canucks jersey.

So what do you guys think?