2nd Decade

The 2nd decade of my life is coming to an end VERY shortly. Here's a look back at my 2000-2009.

Within 10 years, I graduated from 4 schools. Elementary school, Middle school, High school, & Hesser College. 1

I went to my first concert, the Backstreet Boys on September 10th, 2001.

8 hours after I got home from my first concert, the first plane hit one of the Twin Towers.

I went to my first wedding. My now aunt & uncle's.

My first crush. Aaron Carter.

My first dance was the 6th grade Beach Dance that was just after my 12th birthday.

My first over night trip away from my family was to Ferry Beach in Maine during 6th grade.

The first time I went to a different school. Middle school.

My first trip to the hospital. July 21st, 2000.

The first time I went thru a family member passing away. My grandfather passed away on August 3rd, 2000.

The first time I went to Disney World. June 2000.

My first middle school best friend, Tiffany.

My first job at 15. Auction Runner.

My first limo ride for my 16th birthday.

My first hockey player crush. Jerrid Smithson.

The first time I watched American Idol, the moment Kelly Clarkson won the first season.

My first Broadway show, Avenue Q on May 26th, 2008. Also my first time in Times Square.

My first Red Sox game. June 24th, 2006.

My first Bruins game. March 19th, 2009.

My first roommate, Jesi. Every roommate after that. Jami, Ashley, Jen, Katie, Tessa, Amber.

The first time I voted for the next President of the United States.

CREEEEEEPY!

So my dad, sister and I went to the Holiday Tournament for my alma mater. The boys won, of course. But as we were driving home, I realized something. It's icy on the roads. Normally I wouldn't really make a big deal about it. But two years ago today (December 27th), Stephen Record died on the way home from shopping with one of his best friends. I can't remember if I told you this story already.

The short of it is Stephen was a year behind me in school & in my Journalism class the semester he passed away. He and his best friend were on their way home from shopping before they had to play in the Holiday Tournament. Well Steve's friend was the driver and slide on some ice & hit head on into an oncoming truck. Steve died when he got to the hospital (or pronounced dead at the scene, I can't remember and I don't wanna bring it up to anyone). If he hadn't had trauma to his head, he would of only suffered a broken arm. His friend suffered two broken legs & a broken left arm.

So I find it insanely creepy that it was ICY on the way home from THE HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT since it was TWO YEARS after Steve passed away. I can't remember if last year it was icy on this day. Of course, if I remember right, I was at my Nana's this day last year.

112

I bet you're asking yourself why I named this post 112. Well...
1. it is my 112 post.
2. I didn't know what else to call it. this post is just random.
3. I really hate that I am continuing to post after the post before this one, #111.

111 has become just an important number to me since December 10th, 2008. It's when Eleven Past One found me. 111, Eleven Past One 1:11. Yeah I think you get it. But i can not not post. So sadly, I will have to go past #111. *tear*

Well it's almost Christmas Day yet again and I hate that I didn't get my family what I wanted to get them. I'm too poor to buy anything. :(

I kinda hate when Bud blogs on the team's website. It just shows how incredible he probably is. I kinda like that I say his name on here. He will probably be the only guy's name that I will post on here. I don't know why, I guess there's something about him that lets me be confident enough to say his name. And the fact that I find him attractive. Its not like I'll ever really know him. He'll probably never know that I slightly like him. He'll never know me. And I'm learning to be okay with that. But Bud, stop making your blogs so amazing. It's not like he says a lot but the little things that get me. Let me show you his latest blog that they put up today.

12/23/09
Insight Into Curious George

By Bud Holloway
"Well, as of this week your Manchester Monarchs are holding down first place in the AHL! Now, with two big games last weekend, we kept ourselves in a good spot heading into the Christmas break. Although we're still losing guys from our line-up faster than Tiger is fans....too soon? But all jokes aside, and as I mentioned a couple of weeks ago week, we've had so many roster changes this year and guys playing through injury; this break could not have come at a better time.

I love the holiday season! Snow on the ground, everyone’s in a good mood and Chevy Chase on the TV every night. One of my favorite things to do though is go tobogganing! One year, my cousin found a little spot in the valley for good sledding and we would all jump on the inflated tractor tire tube and fly down the hill. I know everyone has the image that Saskatchewan is really flat, and it is, but when you are going down a huge valley you can really generate top end speed. The best part is when we just jump on the ski-doo to head up the hill instead of making the trek back. Also, I especially like a good Christmas lights display; something about taking the time to decorate your house is respectful. But it also could be that I'm attracted to bright lights! Either way, it makes a cold December night a little warmer.

I guess with all the good there is some bad. Christmas shopping! I love buying my family and close friends gifts but I never know what to buy. That's probably why gift cards are so popular these days; but where is the fun in that! I'd rather struggle and come up with something unique than take the easy way out. Maybe that's why there is a look of disappointment when every one opens up their presents from me! Just kidding. No matter what you get Christmas morning, the supper at night makes up for it and everyone knows that’s true. This is why everyone wears sweat pants to supper so you don't have to get rid of the top button.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

P.S. – Don’t forget the sale on Geoff Walker jerseys at the Monarchs Pro Shop! Apparently they haven't been selling at all and they’re paying you to take them. (Haha, just kidding but it would make Geoff feel better if you stopped by and bought him something pretty.)"

I bolded (I know, not a word) the little things. The things that make me go wow. Ugh I hate it. I just want to meet him again and blow raspberries in his face. Haha, I know childish & he'll have no idea why I would do that. But I don't know, it would just make me smile. Puuuuuuuuuurfect, I'm listening to A Rocket to the Moon's song "Like We Used To" while I'm finishing talking about "Prince of Wapella". Oh yeah, when I meet him again, I'm gonna walk up to him and say "Hi, Prince of Wapella. It's really cool that I'm meeting a 'Prince' today" and then blow raspberries in his face.

So I'm gonna have a better post than this one really soon. I'm not going to tell you about it but I'm proud of myself for thinking of it! It will be up before the New Year!


OH YEAH! I almost forgot! What kinda made me die was when the Monarchs did their annual "Christmas Toy" video. Go see it here! When it gets to Bud, I died.

My best Christmas Present ever was when I realized Drew Bagnall was my friend! You guys weren't there! You don't know what it was like!

Sorry I ruined Bud's part for you but you should still watch it to see the rest of the guys. That's what I want for a boyfriend. Interviewed but puts adorable humor into it! I wish they would interview Viatcheslav Voynov or Andrei Loktionov. So they're Russian, I don't care! Put captions under them! I wanna hear that Russian accent! I've hardly have heard Slavas and Andrei's new and I haven't met him yet so I haven't heard him speak. Just give me some Russian!!!

And you can't tell me that Drew shouldn't be an actor. I can't think of who he sounds like but that tone would do great in Hollywood! Even tho my dad says its Bud that should be the actor.

I really hope suspensions come out tomorrow!

Scott Fletcher better have the remaining season & possible playoffs next to his name. Or I'm going to Springfield, Mass and raising hell! He has one messed up head! Yesterday he fought with Kevin Westgarth during the Monarchs versus Providence Bruins game. I saw on theahl.com gamesheet that he had fought with Kevin & got two penalties. 5 for fighting and 10 for match. Since I wasn't at the game, I didn't know what happened. I read this on the Monarchs Facebook fan page. "Fletcher received an extra 5 minute major penalty for intent to injure as he had taped his hands prior to the fight. Monarchs are on the power play." THE BASSTURD WANTED TO INJURE KEVIN! Ohhh I was so pissed yesterday! Who in the hell does such a thing? And why didn't anyone stop him in the locker room?! Obviously his teammates must have seen him! His team should be suspended too! Accessory to injury. I mean they can charge someone as an accessory to a crime or murder. This is like the same thing! Well anyway, Fletcher needs to be severely punished!

Prince of Wapella

11/27/09
Insight Into Curious George

By Bud Holloway

Well another two weeks have rolled by since my last blog. It's crazy how so many large events can take place in such a short amount of time. I'll explain that last part in greater detail by walking you through those weeks and sharing some of the thoughts that roll through my head.

You really never know what's going to happen in the course of a hockey season, and this one is no different. There have been call-ups to L.A. like "Scooter" Parse, Segs (Segal) and Lokty (Loktionov), and now we have been hit by the injury bug. Azey (Azevedo) has a “lower body” injury and will be out for a while. Now all he does is lie in his room and listen to "Every Rose Has Its Thorn." It's hard to get to sleep with him crying over how well written the song is. And we had a few other guys go down that will be sidelined until well after the new year, along with other bumps and bruises here and there. But that is to be expected, and so you deal with it and push on. It happens at every level of hockey, and to every team. The guys in the locker room know that and they know that we have the character to push through it while continuing to win hockey games.

I'm sure a couple of people were confused when the heading of the last blog contained the name George. I suppose I should explain myself on why they call me Bud. It all started when I was a young jet fighter pilot still trying to deal with the death of my wingman...never mind, that’s the plot of Top Gun. Like I was saying, there are three George's in my family: Grandpa, Dad, and myself. It got very confusing when someone would say "George" because no one really knew who they were talking about. When I was just a little guy, my babysitter, Aunty Margaret, started to call me Bud and it's really stuck. I was known as Bud so in school, that’s all I ever wrote down. The only thing I write George for is legal stuff to keep me out of trouble. Although, I have introduced myself as George Edward Holloway lll - Prince of Wapella.

It’s late November and still no snow. I know there are many people who hate the cold and snow but I am not one of them. But it hasn't even been close to snowing yet with the 10 - 15 degree days (50 - 60F for the Americans). I walked out of the rink the other day and Westy was catching some rays. I know the female readers are probably picturing a Fabio type image as I say that, and let me be the first to tell you it was. Except there was no white horse, just Cliche. My point being that Christmas is right around the corner and I'm not even going to be able to take the ski-doo out! Other than seeing family and friends, that's one of the best parts about going home for the holidays. Cruising out into the country looking for moose, deer, saskquatch, or whatever my Dad and Sis and I may find is awesome. Especially because Dad always lets me ride the new sled when I'm home! Thanks Pa.

Well that’s all for this week. I hear rumors floating around that Elkins may be doing a little write up on some of the flicks he has watched so look out for that next week. Well I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!!

P.S. I know everyone has been dying to know...... Edward or Jacob.... and the answer is Edward.

Dougie's back!

True fact about that day,

Doug and Adam called me "the smartest Wal*Mart shopper they've ever met". The Monarchs had a small meet and greet at Sub Way in Wal*Mart. I believe this was back in April of '05. (Date on picture is when I took my camera and took a picture of this picture) We waited a while, my dad and I were there early. Finally PR Kim arrived and told us (my dad & I and then there was a mother & son) that the guys would arrive shortly. About I don't know 15-20 minutes later, the guys arrived to Wal*Mart. We let the mother and son meet Doug and Adam first. Then we met them. They were the nicest guys ever. When we were walking away, my dad asked me if we should go print out my picture with the guys. We were at Wal*Mart, they have a photo lab, we could print out the picture and bring it back to get autographed. So we printed it out the picture I got with the guys and went back to Sub Way. I walked back up to the guys and I believe they said "you're back!" And I hand the photo to one of them. I can't remember which one said it, but one of said "Wow, I think you're the smartest Wal*Mart shopper we've ever met!" Made my lifetime.

Hockey players into the Twilight series? That would be a yes. You're joking right? No I am not.

Just ask Corey Elkins of the Manchester Monarchs. I love that they're having the players write small blogs on the website. Corey gave New Moon 4 out of 5 pucks. I wish he could of written more. Don't worry, I'll find out who those five "nameless" guys are. But I don't know if I will share it with the world. If I can find out, I might just keep it to myself. But I will say I sure as hell wish I had been there when he and the "nameless" guys saw New Moon.



12/09/09
Corey Elkins' Five-Puck Review

By Corey Elkins

Hello Monarchs fans. Here is my first attempt at developing my movie analysis skills. Who knows, maybe I will end up having a career after hockey! Ebert and Elkins...No?? The movie for this first edition is the second chapter of the Twilight Saga, New Moon, and I gave it a rating of four pucks out of five.

Now some might say that this is a “chick flick,” or at least not a typical movie for a hockey player to be interested in. However, I will have you know that five teammates of mine, who shall remain nameless, snuck into the very same theatre I was in without seeing me. Let's just say that I heard one guy crutching up the stairs, and a whole lot of noise whenever Jacob (Taylor Lautner) entered the screen with his shirt off.

I would advise anyone who enjoyed the movie to read the books. A lot of the story is what goes on inside Bella’s head. This is a major aspect of the book, which the movie is unable to capture. In the book, the story develops at a slower pace, which allows for so many more details and emotions to develop among the characters, particularly Bella and Jacob. Being a fan of the books, I have to say that the movie did not quite do justice to the story. Jeff Zatkoff is a fellow fan of Twilight, and he is in agreement with this.

An additional critique would be regarding the acting skills of the wolves. At times, they were a bit cheesy and it felt like they were reading from a teleprompter. However, as long as Jacob kept his shirt off, I think the five nameless guys behind me were just fine with his performance.

The setting for the story is on the Olympic Peninsula in Forks, Washington, and La Push, a Native American Reservation on the coast. Although the movie is filmed in British Columbia, I thought they really did a good job capturing the scenery.

The big question is, at this point in the story, whose side are you on? George "Bud" Holloway III, Prince of Wapella, gave his opinion at the end of his blog last week, siding with Edward the Vampire. Bud and I agree to disagree. I am team Jacob...at least for now.

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