Last night, I got a peek at the Mark’s Spring Summer 2012 collection. Inspired by the spirit of a summer stroll or picnic in the park, the collection is bright and fresh and most of all cozy, yet fashionable.

Some of my favourite items from the mens collection are the DH3 selvage jeans, which come in a variety of fits to suit any style and the new collection of vintage button down shirts, the kind you want to steal from your boyfriend and wrap around you for the extra layer of comfort.

Of course, Mark’s is constantly pushing their innovations, such as the Perfectly Pressed shirts, for those guys that hate ironing, but new this season, Mark’s is introducing their Men’s Don’t Sweat it shirts, which is a special woven material that doesn’t allow for moisture to reach the surface of your garment. This translates to having a shirt that will never get sweat marks. I’ve seen it in action, and it’s quite remarkable.

Regardless of the innovations behind the collection, SS12 makes me want to hop on a bike, makes me want to hold your hand, makes me want to soak in the sun and hang out with that special someone. Until then, I’ll be dreaming of spring’s arrival. Less than two months to go my friends.

A beautiful Friday afternoon on the ice in High Park. So far this season I’ve gone skating four times. Which are your favourite ice rinks in the city?

They won’t just be betting on the outcome of the game or the total points or even anything that pertains to the game at all for that matter. Every year there is a list of amazing and entertaining prop bets that the public can get in on.

This year there are some great ones (check the Kelly Clarkson and Madonna action at the bottom of the list) that you can play with online or with your friends at home.

Note: Please gamble responsibly. It’s a lesson that too many people don’t learn and it can cause a lot of trouble. Thank you.

So, get some change together, get your pen out and start placing your bets. Good luck!

Coin Toss

Come Up To My Room (CUTMR) is the Gladstone Hotel’s annual alternative design event. It’s a collaboration of artists and designers showcasing their imagination in 11 rooms and 13 public space projects. The four day event is in it’s ninth year, and this year, the installations are outstanding. Below is a schedule of events happening at the Gladstone this weekend as well as some shots from the show.

When is Come Up To My Room? January 26 to January 29, 2012!

SATURDAY, JAN. 28:
12PM-10PM – EXHIBITION HOURS
11AM-2PM – DESIGN TALKS – LET’S TALK: DISPOSABILITY– GLADSTONE BALLROOM
7PM-10PM – OPENING RECEPTION
10PM-LATE – LOVE DESIGN PARTY – GLADSTONE BALLROOM

SUNDAY, JAN. 29:
12-5PM – EXHIBITION HOURS

Room installations:

Gareth Bate, DarkLab, Wendy W. Fok, Fugitive Glue, merk, Sam Mogelonsky & Bruno Billio, [R]ED[U]X LAB, uA in collaboration with Robert Eland and Thomas Nemeskeri, vÆry Studio, Janna Watson and Katrina Tompkins for Tinsel & Sawdust, WE-3

Public space projects:

archiTEXT, Matthew Blunderfield & Skanda Lin, Matthew Davis & Aurelia Adams, Carolyn Fearman & Robin Porter, Hyungshin Hwang, Interstice Studio, Lost Nation, John Mestito & Roland Ulfig, Metropolis Living, TOMA, Sonia Tyagi, Void Engineering, Wes Wilson & Matthew Peddie, University of Waterloo School of Architecture Chair Projects

Last week I was visiting The Blog Studio, where I bumped into Jason Howlett post yoga.

Growing up in Toronto in the early 80′s meant that I had to own something from Roots. It was one of those brands that every kid at school had to have. I’m not sure what it was about having a beaver plastered across your chest, but it was very cool and very Canadian. In my teens, I still remember getting my first pair of Roots Tuff boots. They were rugged, black and totally took a beating to the Canadian winter weather and I loved them. Apparently, they still make them, which I think is pretty awesome and proves that they really don’t go out of style. Roots has been one of those brands that have been woven into my life since I was young, so when Roots invited me out to play, I was pretty excited to check things out.

Wednesday night, I was invited to an intimate gathering at the Roots store in Yorkville, where I got a sneak peak at some of the beautiful leather products coming out this spring. The majority of the goods were steered towards the female persuasion, but the new collection also featured some great bags, men’s jackets and shoes which I could totally appreciate.

The women’s collection was mostly made up of an earth tones collection and second collection of saturated brights. The one piece that stood out for me was this gorgeous Kristina Bag (shown above). It was a great size with sturdy handles, a colour that was radiant and leather that was supple to the touch. (on a side note, if Roots made a men’s wallet in this colour, I would snatch it up in an instant. Even if you made only one prototype especially for me!)

As well, the Roots made with Love in Canada collection, just hit Roots stores this week, in time for Valentine’s Day. Made up of hot red, black and silver leathers. The pieces in this collection, pop and I’m sure will quickly become a favourite in any woman’s closet.

If you haven’t checked out any of the Roots leather collections before, it’s definite worth looking into. All the products are made with genuine italian leather and are super soft to the touch. The craftsmanship is outstanding and the attention to detail in the design is clean and classic, best of all, everything is sewn right here in Toronto.

Look for these great pieces coming to Roots store across the country in very soon. Also follow @RootsCanada on Twitter as well as on Facebook to keep up to date on their latest products and deals.

While you are at it, Check out these other amazing Roots gear on my wish list.

- Men’s Nordic Boot

- Modern Satchel Ranger Leather

- Men’s Varsity Jacket Deer Leather [sold out]

- The Summit Tribe Watch

- Beaver Canoe Throw

Tweetgasm on a winter’s night? what a better way to celebrate than with a toque on your head. On Monday night, we wore our touques and celebrated the first Tweetgasm of the new year at the Gladstone Hotel. With Swag from Yelp and prizes from Roots Canada, it was a great way to kick off another year of tweetgasms.

This past Friday, I headed down to Queen and Bathurst to the old Big Bop building to check out the new CB2 store, the first one in Canada. CB2 is a more urban branch of the Crate and Barrel brand which first opened it’s doors in Chicago in 2000. This year, they are expanding into Canada, opening stores in Toronto as well as Vancouver (in February).

CB2 has done an amazing job and renovating and revitalizing the old building, peeling away the purple paint and showcasing the original brick. The store is large and spacious spanning two floors and is filled with some amazing CB2 merchandise.

Visiting the store last Friday, I bumped into a lot of friends and took mental added a whole slew of merchandise into my own mental wish list. If you haven’t checked out the store yet, it’s worth a visit. You can follow the Toronto CB2 store on twitter @CB2queenwest and don’t forget to visit their website for your chance to win a $500 shopping spree.

Most of the songs I found have been around for a long time. They’re classics if only because they are so often heard at games.

Can you believe it’s already 2012? Okay, we are already over two weeks into the new year. And it’s time I’ve pulled myself out of holiday mode, it’s time I’ve pulled myself out of feeling sorry for myself mode and it’s time I get myself together and start living life again. Easier said then done.

The last two years years have been a challenge, learning to be myself, learning to live with myself, learning how to be a single man. It’s had it’s up and downs. I’ve set in place coping mechanisms to get me through, and now I think it’s time to start shedding it all away. It’s time for me to grow up and becoming responsible again.

Not to say that the last couple of years haven’t had good times, I’ve sang a bunch, way too much, karaoke became my life, a way for me to cope with my feelings, with my loss, with my loneliness. It also brought me a bunch of close friends whom I love dearly and I’m grateful for.

In any case, a new year brings new things, I have resolutions and goals but I’m not going to get into them here. The one thing I do want to get back into which I will mention, is writing here on the blog. This past September I will have had a blogging for over 11 years. On the 3rd of January, I have been on Twitter for 5 years. And I think moving forward, I’m gonna be putting more effort here, sharing with you my images, my words, my life.

I don’t know what 2012 is going to bring for me. I do know it’s going to be a year of change, a year of challenges and it’s going to be a new chapter. Wish me luck.

I’ve been a sports fan for my entire life. I’ve been to games, watched on TV, played baseball, basketball, volleyball and more and I’ve dreamed big dreams.

Some of those dreams are just that – big dreams that are wonderful and fun to drift into. They exist in an alternate universe where I am a different person with different skills and opportunities.

Things I Dream About Doing In Sports…

Winning the Super Bowl: I actually had a dream the other night that I was playing in some weird practice type atmosphere against Tom Brady of the New England Patriots. I don’t like Tom Brady, I don’t cheer for Tom Brady, I’m jealous of Tom Brady. But it would be awesome to throw 3 touchdown passes and raise the Lombardi Trophy.

Hit a Big League Home Run: I’ve hit home runs in little league and playing rep baseball as a teen and playing fastball in my 20s… but I’ve never hit one 405 feet to straight away centre field off a 90 mph fastball. I know what it feels like to really hammer a ball on the sweet spot of a bat. I dream about rounding the bases, shaking the third base coaches hand and giving out some high fives in the dugout.

Score a goal on a breakaway: I didn’t play organized hockey when I was a kid. In fact, I’ve only had full equipment on once in my life. However, I can skate. I skated a lot on the pond at home when I was younger and I have a little confidence in being able to play some pick up puck. I would love to feel the speed of my blades and the puck on my stick and maybe I’d go with a triple deke (Charlie Conway style) before going top shelf on the glove side.

Dunk a Basketball: I’ve dunked before, but with the help of a stage riser. I can still get a hand on the rim when I jump, I can still handle the ball and I can even shoot a little bit. I would love to be able to get the “ups” to throw down a thundering dunk. Perhaps I’d add in a little stare down or trash talk after.

Be Awesome on the High Dive: I don’t do much diving. In fact, I’ve never been on a high board and I’m okay with that. But, it would be cool to do some twists and tumbles and flips on the way down and enter the water without so much as a splash.

Hit a Hole In One: I’ve golfed. A little. I used to spend some real quality time at the driving range. But I’ve never come close to hitting a hole-in-one. I’d love to exerience that feeling. I’d love to have to buy my playing partners a round at the 19th hole. I want to bend down, pick my ball out of the cup and hold it high over my head proudly and scream “yeah bitch!”

I’ve dreamed some crazy sports dreams in my life… these are just a few of the things that it would be really cool to accomplish.

Here’s hoping that you dream too – it’s a great way to live.

For decades we have been listening to professional athletes talking to reporters and teammates and saying some of the most ridiculous things ever. There are some great lists all over the web and I couldn’t stop myself from grabbing some of the best (worst?) quotes and putting my own list together.

Please note the Mike Tyson did not make my list because most of his most memorable quotes are offensive to the point that I don’t feel comfortable sharing them. But if you want to find them it’s really easy on the google.

Big shout outs to former NBA star Shaquille O’Neill who starts the list and makes a second appearance a little further down the post.

While their primary job may be to entertain us on the field, court, course or in the ring – these athletes have crossed the boundaries and have entertained us with their words as well… for that I thank them.

Enjoy.

Reporter: “Did you visit the Parthenon while in Greece?”
Shaquille O’Neill: “I can’t really remember the names of all the clubs we went to.”

“We’re going to turn this team around 360 degrees.” – Jason Kidd

“Left hand, right hand, it doesn’t matter. I’m amphibious.” – Charles Shackleford

“I’ve seen George Foreman shadow boxing and the shadow won.” – Muhammad Ali

“The sun has been there for 500, 600 years.” – Mike Cameron

“I don’t want to shoot my mouth in my foot, but those are games we can win.” - Sherman Douglas

“I made a 1,600 minus 800 minus 200 on the SAT, so I’m very intelligent when I speak.” – Shaquille O’Neal (again)

“Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.” – Joe Theismann

“You guys pair up in groups of three, and then line up in a circle.” – Coach Bill Peterson

“My sister’s expecting a baby, and I don’t know if I’m going to be an uncle or an aunt.” – Chuck Nevitt

“Football is, after all, a wonderful way to get rid of your aggressions without going to jail for it.” – Heywood Hale Broun

“I’m not an athlete. I’m a professional baseball player.” – John Kruk

“Me and George and Billy are two of a kind.” – Mickey Rivers

“I may be dumb, but I’m not stupid.” – Terry Bradshaw

“I quit school in the sixth grade because of pneumonia. Not because I had it, but because I couldn’t spell it.” – Rocky Graziano

“(We) should be allowed to wear shorts. God almighty, (LPGA) women are allowed to wear ‘em, and we’ve got better legs than they do.” – Greg Norman ]]> http://www.photojunkie.ca/archive/2012/01/phjoshua-on-sports-sht-athletes-say/feed/ 0 http://www.photojunkie.ca/archive/2012/01/phjoshua-on-sports-whats-coming-in-2012/ http://www.photojunkie.ca/archive/2012/01/phjoshua-on-sports-whats-coming-in-2012/#comments Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:24:22 +0000 phjoshua http://www.photojunkie.ca/?p=9526 Good day all,

2012 is upon us (finally) and since it may be the last year we have, I think it’s a great idea to start planning to make the most of it!

With that in mind I have a quick list of some important sporting event dates in the next 7 months or so. We’ve got tennis, baseball, auto racing, football, hockey, basketball, soccer and the Olympics covered… so there should be something for almost everybody.

Get your calendar out…

There are,

From my house to yours, have a safe and happy 2012 – all the best – be awesome!

It’s been five years since the last Mission that proved possible for Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, after M:i:III got it’s fuse relit by JJ Abrams. This welcome fourth quarter is part powered by the Bad Robot while Brad Bird takes the directors seat ditching his pixel pallete for a pound of real life flesh & bone actors with Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.

The stunning IMAX is a must movie option as Budapest is the first location we are transported to where a rooftop chase ends with a deadly assassin & an iPhone distraction.  Moving the action to Moscow, a jail break out in synchronized style reunites Hunt with Benji Dunn (played by Simon Pegg – now fully graduated to in field operations yet with a gadget & computer close at hand) and an introduction to agent Jane Carter.  While in Russia it seems only fair that a tourist trip to the biggest attraction at Red Square is in order as the reluctant led group takes on a new task.  A double dip of deception frames them for planting more than Gremlins in the Kremlin as the landmark goes kaboom.  With this action set piece the titular Ghost Protocol kicks in, issued by the head of the Impossible Mission Force – Hunt & his colleagues are now labeled as terrorists as they race to find out who framed them with the help of an unlikely analyst.  MI4 is a spectacular jaunt across the globe with the trademark gadgetry that truly feels not that far away in terms of finding it’s way out of fiction. In one scene a camera stalk attached to an iPad peers round a corner while augmented reality contact lenses that pick faces out of the crowd, have already ended up on the eyes of bunnies!  This was the first IMAX screen I’ve visited in Canada which made my jaw drop more than a 3D poke penetrating my eye ball could ever muster.  Certain scenes pop the top & bottom of the large screen format.  A taller than the CN Tower scaling in Dubai & a sandstorm mark the highlights of the movie for me.  This is the full on action adventure of the festive season that you need to end the year on.  I can’t wait for a MI5, though I think that name might already be spoken for.

For a chance to win a MI4 Prize courtesy of Paramount Pictures Canada enter below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Because we all seem to be procrastinators, I’m here to help. If you have a sports fan on your shopping list I think I can help you find something to get them. I’m not kidding, I’m the guy that you could have to shop for some day (hey, it could happen) so I’m very qualified to be the assistant shopper here.

All of the ideas here are cost effective, cheap, not a lot of money… however you want to say it. Some of the options will have higher priced options, but you don’t have to go big.

- Key Chains: Every day I leave the house with a Montreal Canadiens key chain that a friend brought back from a trip to the Bell Centre gift shop. It’s a great little bobble that I love. And I know that it didn’t cost too much. Makes a great stocking stuffer.

- Trading Cards: Cards aren’t as popular as they once were. But there’s something pretty awesome in a childlike way about opening up a foil package of cards. They’re on my list every year. Another great stocking stuffer.

- Christmas ornaments: Tis the season. Some people may think that they’re tacky (they kind of are) but it’s still a nice treat to represent your fav team on the tree over the holidays. If you look hard enough you can even find ornaments that look nice… trust me.

- T-shirts: It can be hard to find something for under $20 sometimes. But the pieces are out there. Whether you are looking for a boy or a girl or a kid, a t-shirt with their fav team’s logo on the front is always a good find. Do your best to get the right size and you’ll have a big win!

- Books: Sports fans read to you know. And there are a lot of great sports books on the shelves. From biographies to photo collections to fictional classics… the selection will seem endless. But the good news is that because the selection is so huge, there will undoubtedly be something on sale and under $20.

- A picture of yourself Tebowing: If you haven’t heard of Tebowing or you don’t know what it’s all about – check out www.tebowing.com and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Snap the pic, get a cheap frame and you’ll have a great smile and laugh on Christmas day!

-  Bobble Heads: They can get expensive. They can be limited edition. But they can also be readily available. Check out ebay and amazon and I’m willing to bet that you find a whole bunch of options in your price range. Just be careful, nobody wants to get a bobble head of a disgraced former star of their team… like maybe Vince Carter in Toronto as an example.

- DVDs: If your fav sports fan’s fav team has ever won a championship there should be a dvd of their win. I’ve got the Blue Jays dvds from 1992 and 1993… I love them. It’s a great buy.

So, there you go kids. A bunch of ideas that won’t break the bank. If you still have some shopping left to do in the week leading up to Christmas please feel free to lean on this list and see if you can get some smiles and thank yous.

Here’s hoping that you all have a safe and happy holiday season. Thank you for stopping in at photojunkie.ca to check out the content put together by the entire group of talented people hanging around here.

smile big, be awesome, drink your eggnog!

Last night we celebrated out fourth annual hohoTO fundraiser for the Daily Bread Food Bank at the Mod Club. This year we raised a a phenomenal amount of money, over $70,000. Here are the photos from the phohotobooth from the event.

It’s midpoint in my merry challenge with six movies under the belt which also includes my favourite so far.  How often do you start a Monday morning watching a R rated comedy at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in the company of legend Ivan Reitman?  This time last week I was doing just that after seeing an invite pop up on the Facebook fan page for Servitude – a new Canadian comedy set in the world of  waiting tables.  I’d first heard about the movie last year when a contest was running to win a cameo in the project, where the best video confessional about working as a server could rescue your from dish delivering duties & land you on the big screen in a meta movie moment.  Servitude is the story of Josh the star waiter at the Ranch Steakhouse as he tries to quit his job & head back to school.  With a rodeo for the theme of the restaurant it’s more than the mechanical bucking bronco in the waiting area that he & his colleagues have to tame in a weekend from hell, full of hungry patronizing patrons.  About to hand in his server’s bib, Josh is called on for one last favour from manager Godfrey (Dave Foley) as the Ranch has an inspection from a new German owner.  If you’ve ever worked in the industry of filling ungrateful bellies you’ll get an extra kick out of seeing the exaggerated characters that really are out there.  Serving up dirty potatoes & “cuppies” on the team are Tommy – a pretty boy with more mature taste for the ladies, Barb – a frazzled working mum who’s patience  clocked out before her shift even started, Krissy – a gum chewing by the book cowgirl who uses mostly text message/internet speak abbreviations rather than syllables & Simon – the wannabe actor who gives his best performances in the washroom.  As if balancing these personalities & plates wasn’t  enough alone cue a ravenous rabble of customers and the restaurateur version of the  Third Reich threatening to deplete more than a 15% tip at the end of the meal.  Staging a mini revolution Josh & cohorts decide to start giving as good as they get & stop biting their lips when they discover their jobs are for the chop.  Speaking of lips Margo Kidders are plumped & pouting as the martini gargling table for one lady that steals the show in every scene.

It’ll probably get a lot of comparisons to American Pie but this maple flavoured tart is a full course serving of funny rather than a just desserts, gross out gag routine audiences have come to expect.  The wait time to be seated for Servitude is a little while away, February/March 2012 is what we were told in the screening.  Be sure to Like & Follow the movie to be kept up to date.

Second up was a more serious situation at the NFB Mediatheque for the last of this year’s Green Screens.  The Chocolate Farmer was quite apt for December considering we’re all about to stuff ourselves full of the stuff during the festival season.  A moment on the lips & a lifetime on the hips but how much time between those two are you spending on thinking where this sweet treat came from?   Eladio Pop works the land in southern Belize, recognising that he isn’t cash rich on a monetary level but the land sustains him and his fifteen children and wife.  The documentary follows his machete swipes through the jungle foliage as he farms cocoa beans.  These were once the gold for his Mayan people and now in present day are traded for modern currency.  Two of his son’s, a female cultural activist & a co-op owner are also introduced in to the story of the community being changed by globalization.   After the screening a presentation by ChocoSol Traders gave some added insight to the processes & the responsible trading & interactions with these communities.

Last up in the week that was, I called the NFB Mediathque home again for a sneak peek of Millions, a kickstarter webisode/TV based project about twenty-something Asian-Canadians living in Toronto who decide to reignite a high school pact & become millionaires by the age of 30.  The 15 min teaser introduced a few characters on the road to establishing this quest as we learn about their unfulfilled lives working the 9 to 5.  The cliff hanger ending of the pilot left me wanting to find out more, which luckily the website expands upon & relieves some of the frustration left as such a short running time.

Six movies left in my festive quest, any recommendations of other Canadian films screening in the weeks ahead?  What did you see over the weekend?

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@emaninTdot

Inspired by last year’s programming of “Good Canadian Cinema?” at Toronto Underground Cinema last year I decided to set my own little challenge related to the festive season with the 12 Days of Canuckmas where I aim to watch at least twelve Canadian movies over December.  Big screen, small screen, portable pocket screen all count.  Starting on December 1st here were the first three I’ve watch so far on my mini mission – as if December wasn’t busy enough already?!

Surviving Progress - Cumberland 4 – Alliance Cinemas 159 Cumberland Street, Toronto

I survived Surviving Progress!  Normally I check my brain at the door ready for pure jaw dropped drooling mindless escapism fun at the movies.  I knew I wasn’t going to be able to get away with such a mind set going in to this film.  If anything this was confrontism (is that even an ism?) on the big screen, presented in the style of a hand on your shoulder gently informing you rather than a giant wagging finger & tutting in surround sound.

Starting by trying to define the term progress the documentary seeks answers from a host of notable intellects and reflects on how this is draining the planets resources.  Still chugging along from the industrial revolution we’re gauging more machines as a success measurement.  While our devices are getting smarter we are still running the same primitive hunter/gatherer operating system behind our eyes.  The human mind needs an upgrade before it’s too late.  While thoughts are connected via the internet there is a new moral perspective filtering through, the bigger companies & economic situations still out there are akin to brain damage.

It was great to watch with an audience who applauded during several scenes featuring David Suzuki.

Much like the poster, it’s easy to dig a hole and pretend to be an ostrich ignoring the problems.  If you’re going to involve an ostrich I’d suggest problem solving like the Swiss Family Robinson & ride one in to the future with a new route of hope.

Everything & Everyone - Screening at Projection Booth East Until Dec 8 1035 Gerrard St. East, Toronto

Bittersweet Complexity replaces the words behind the BC abbreviation of British Columbia, where Everything & Everyone was filmed.  Opening on an eventful afternoon Rose & William snatch a few moments for a funny bedroom fumble while their yet to fly the nest son, Noah, has a special delivery from a care worker in the form of his 8 year old son.  His new found Fatherhood manual seems to have been lost in the mail & a dog training book delivered in it’s place, as he’s helped by Rose to raise Ben after the sudden passing of his mother.

When best pal Eric visits Noah on the street during his unsuccessful charity collection he meets Max a hot headed businessman who soon becomes more than a partner for sharp banter.

Life being turned upside down by those entering & leaving, ripple across the interconnecting relationships between family members and friends.

An added pressure from an unannounced illness balances the comedic elements showing that the people we love are never a burden.

Showtimes  Mon 5pm Tues, Wed at 9pm Thurs at 5pm

NURSE.FIGHTER.BOY –  DVD

Deciding to take a break from the theatre going experience, where it’s often hard to find a Canadian film outside of a film festival or special set of programming, I decided to find a movie to take out & home.  Luckily Toronto has a host of indie video stores, much like Rep Cinemas, that specialise in hosting a great library of titles.  Big Daddy’s DVD Shop on Dundas Street West was the closest place to browse the boxes hoping for something to jump out and catch my eye.  The “Canadian Eh!” easily assisted me on my mission to watch.  Noticing the bright type capitalised title on the spine of the case I chose NURSE.FIGHTER.BOY, the first time feature from Charles Officer.  Each titular punctuated character is introduced through colour as we meet Jude raising her son Ceil.  She’s working in a hospital taking on a night shift when she treats Silence a trained boxer & street fighter.  Mature for his age Ceil finds magic everywhere from conjuring tricks to his hidden den of a stage like space.  By chance Jude & Silence connect again as she rides her bike between the alleys of neighborhoods in Toronto on her way to work, pausing to listen to the music leaving the window from his apartment.  At first unwilling to let her guard down they both take the chance to let each other inside their lives.  I normally prefer watching a movie with an audience as a communal event but this film felt perfect for a more intimate viewing.  I’d almost forgotten about special features on a disc & enjoyed learning about the production experience & watching a family of crew members retell their memories on set with some stills and video diaries.  Two short films were also included that worked well as an introduction & follow up to the feature.

You can follow my progress finding the other nine movies over on tumblr - 12daysofcanuckmas.tumblr.com

Maybe it wasn’t what you planned. Maybe you got blindsided. Maybe you were tricked. Or maybe you didn’t think it was going to be a big deal. No matter how it happened, here you are, dating a sports fan.

There are some important things to look out for when you are dating a sports fan. Especially if they are more than a casual observer of athletic competition. Life is going to hit some bumps. Moods are going to get out of control. Things will be said that both of you wish could be taken back. Like it or not, it’s going to get messy.

Two of the first things that you need to understand if you are going to date a sports fan is that there are going to be massive mood swings and heartbreak on an ongoing basis. Sometimes you may be able to understand it (ie. a playoff loss) and other times you will have no idea what the big deal is (ie. random Tuesday night loss). As a sports fan (and a big one) I can tell you that those nights can be prepared for in most circumtances. If you pay enough attention to know that the playoffs are in action, or that your S/O’s fav team is playing their biggest rival, you can be ready for the potential fallout. When it happens – and it will – try to keep these tips in mind.

1) Try not to laugh. If you’re not a fan you may not understand how personal these things can feel. It hurts like a punch to the stomach and your 3rd grade crush kissing another boy at the monkey bars all at the same time. Laughter is not going to help the situation.

2) Don’t tell your partner how cute they look. Trust me, I’ve heard this one and it did not help. I don’t need to hear that I look adorable as I stand in stunned silence and aching sadness after a game 7 playoff loss. I need to be told that the Boston Bruins are bums and got lucky and that you’re going to make me feel better.

3) Give them a break. I’m not saying that you need to wait on them hand and foot. But be nice. Maybe grab them a drink and tell them how great they are. The feeling of UGH will fade, but it will take a little time. Just ride it out.

After the emotional compontent you need to factor in the time commitment involved in being a serious sports fan. Some fans cheer for one team or have one favourite sport. Others (like myself) are sports junkies and can be found following scores of all sports at all times and probably have a fav team in hockey, baseball, football, basketball, college sports and more. Being dedicated to those teams takes a lot of time. Seasons overlap, games are played 7 days a week and sometimes it can seem like a lot. The best thing I can recommend to you is this – put together some sort of agreement for watching sports together from time to time AND make sure that your S/O has an app like The Score Mobile on their smartphone so that they can check scores and stay sane when you are doing something other than sitting on the couch or a bar stool. I’ve written about some ideas that can be used, feel free to check them out

The March Madness Widow Survival Guide

The March Madness Widow Survival Guide 2.0

Watching Sports With Your Wife/Girlfriend – A Guide

In the end all sports fans and all relationships are going to be different. But, if you can find out how deep your S/O is in you will have a better chance of calmly and humorously dealing with situations.

Good luck, there are times when you’re going to need it.