Ric Flair's Career comes to an End

Wrestlemania 24 has alot of good matches, but none may be as significant as Shawn Micheals defeating Ric Flair. As a stipulation, the first match Flair loses will be his final match. He becomes retired.

I have seen Ric Flair wrestle before. I remember an older fan, lean to me and say, "(you want pictures), take a picture of Ric Flair."

I remember a promo that Ric Flair cut on Triple H in one of their feuds. No one will ever see it because it happened during a commercial, but it was one of the most intense, serious, convincing monologues I have EVER seen or heard. He had the crowd in the palm of his hand. He could have said he was the president, and people would have believed him. That is how good Ric Flair is. That's one of the memories I have of him.

I watched his Hall of Fame Speech and I couldn't help to clap even at home. It was filled with such emotion and respect. When he spoke, I couldn't help but wonder if this was it. He was going to lose at Wrestlemania and this was his way of saying Goodbye to his fans. It was his way of ending one chapter as in-ring performer, and the next chapter is about to be written.

I didn' t see the match, but I'll be in line to get Wrestlemania on DVD.

Here's too you Ric Flair: 16 Time World Champion; The Nature Boy; Limousine riding, Jet Flying, Kiss Stealing, Son-of-a-gun; Space Mountain; To Be the Man you have to beat the man.

WOOOO!

WHAT A FIGHT! Frank Shamrock vs Cung Le

Sean (Tisha's Husband) and I went to see Strikeforce / EliteXC MMA event at the San Jose Arena (aka HP Pavilion) It was a very fast and exciting event. With the main event being San Jose's Frank Shamrock vs San Jose's Cung Le, there would be a huge crowd for this event. When we first got there, the place was half filled. and I wondered if it was really sold out. but by the main event the place was PACKED TO THE RAFTERS. (Sorry Eddie, you didn't get tickets!).

The Event was fast, mainly because the fights all went to stoppages. Only one decision in the preliminary bouts, and we missed that.

• First Match was a knock out at 4:15 of the first Round
• 2nd Match was a Armbar submission at 0:44 of the first round.
• 3rd match was Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez title defence. Melendez DOMINATED this match. He got his opponent on the ground and pounded him out the first round, and the start of the 2nd round. the opponent gave up in the 2nd, just being pounded. both his eyes wer black and blue.
• 4th Match featured Drew Fickett, former UFC fighter. He stopped his opponent quickly in the first round with a Gullitine choke.

And now the Main Event. And I looked at my watch. It was only 7:30. Only 1 hr and a half passed since the start. and we're already at the Main Event!

Amazing fight by these two. It was back and forth. I loved it. in the 3rd round I can tell the kick rocked Shamrock. He was backpeddling and staggering. And when the bell rang, he stumbled back to his corner and collapsed to a knee. I knew he was hurt. And then Cung Le started jumping up and down. I knew it was over.

I looked at my watch, 8:00. 5 fights in 2 hours. great time, but I was planning to stay out till 10!

So we watched the final Prelim. Marlon Sims, the TUF who got kicked out, who claimed he fought over 9000 street fights. Claimed he fought 4-5 people at one time. Got knocked out in the 3rd round. it wasn't a good match, it was quite boring.

View my Pictures from the Show

Convert to DTV

I've started to research the conversion to Digital TV (DTV) This is government's ruling to eliminate the Analog Signal and use only Digital Signals to broadcast their TV Signals.

If you have Cable or Satellite (DirecTv or dish) then you would not have to worry about this. But for people like my Grandmother, she will need to do something. It is already hard enough since she is not technically sound either.

So on to the Research:

Antenna - Whatever antenna you are using should be good enough to receive the Digital Signals. There are a few exceptions, but for the most part you should be fine.

Digital Converter Box - These things work like your Satellite Box. You set the TV to one channel, and then you turn the stations on the Digital box. This provides a sticky situation for my Grandmother. She will need to learn a new remote control. Plus it goes into another sticky situation...

VCRs (analog) - With the Digital converter box, your VCR is almost useless. It can only record whatever channel is on the Digital Converter box. So How is Grandma going to remember to control the Digital Box and the VCR at the same time? She can't. Ug. this is where it will get difficult.

VCRs (Digital) - These cose $150 (for cheap-os) to $300 (the one people like), nuff said.

That's where I'm at Right now. Though it seems like it might be easier just to get a Cable Package. Then it won't change that much... I hope.

Good Info
http://www.ezdigitaltv.com/index.html

The One I Lost: "The Reason" by Hoobastank

The Reason

Hoobastank

I’m not a perfect person
There’s many things I wish I didn’t do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I’ve found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you

I’m sorry that I hurt you
It’s something I must live with every day
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
That’s why I need you to hear

I’ve found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you

and the reason is you
and the reason is you
and the reason is you
and the reason is you

I’m not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I’ve found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you

I’ve found a reason to show
A side of me you didn’t know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you

Taylor: "Dare you to Move" by Switchfoot

When my niece, Taylor, was born she was 2 months early; Weighing 2lbs and 15 inches (length of my forearm). I remember seeing her in her incubator, just lying there. Eyes barely open. This song comes to mind. Dare you to Move. Dare you to Rise up. and she did. and look at her now. Running, laughing, playing.

Dare you to Move
SwitchFoot

Welcome to the planet
Welcome to existence
Everyone’s here
Everyone’s here
Everybody’s watching you now
Everybody waits for you now
What happens next?
What happens next?

I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before

Welcome to the fallout
Welcome to resistance
The tension is here
The tension is here
Between who you are and who you could be
Between how it is and how it should be

I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened

Maybe redemption has stories to tell
Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell
Where can you run to escape from yourself?
Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna go?
Salvation is here

I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened
Today never happened
Today never happened before

The One I Lost: "Two girls (if I can't have you)" by Paranoid Social Club

Two Girls
Paranoid Social Club

I need two girls... if I can't have you.
I need two girls... if I can't have you oooh.
One that I can love, to have and to hold,
One for at the club, one back at the home,
I need two girls... if I can't have you.

I need a girl that's clean to bring home to my mom,
and one that's got legs that are open and long.
One that thinks I'm right, one knows that I'm wrong,
One that always fights and throws my clothes on the lawn.
One that does laundry and cooks food in the kitchen,
One that says she's sorry and one just doesn't listen.
This girl wears makeup and that girl's plain,
this girl is great but that girl's insane

I need..
I need...
I need two girls.. if I can't have you.
I need two girls.. if I can't have you oooh.

One lives in a house with a white picket fence,
the other high heels and a tight fitting dress.
I need two girls... if I can't have you.
One wants a lady killer, one's dead.
One wants to get all up in my head.
One minds her business 'cos she's self-employed.
One's independent, one needs help from a boy.
One sees potential in a man when he's broke,
the other one's still thinkin' that this band is a joke.
One hits the road like the second you come,
the other one you wake up when your breakfast is done.

I need..
I need...
I need two girls... if I can't have you.
I need two girls... if I can't have you oooh.

One that gets jealous when I try to be free,
One that's with the fella's every time that I leave.
I need two girls... if I can't have you.
This girl's romantic, but that girl is nasty.
This girl's a tramp, but that girl's so classy.
One speaks french, the language of love,
the other's bangin' on me like an African drum.
I need two girls... we have to be dumb
'cos all these girls they add up to like half of your sum.
So if you break my heart or just be having some fun,

I need two girls...
I need..
I need two girls... if I can't have you.
I need two girls... if I can't have you oooh.
I need two girls...
I need two girls...
I need two girls...
I need two girls...

First Time: "Hands Down" by Dashboard Confessional

Hands Down
Dashboard Confessional

Breathe in for luck.
Breathe in so deep.
This air is blessed, you share with me.
This night is wild, so calm and dull.
These hearts, they race, from self-control.
Your legs are smooth, as they graze mine.
We're doing fine.
We're doing nothing at all.

My hopes are so high that your kiss might kill me.
So won't you kill me?
So I die happy.
My heart is yours to fill or burst,
to break or bury, or wear as jewelry.
Whichever you prefer.

The words are hushed, "let's not get busted."
Just lay entwined here, undiscovered.
Safe in here from all the stupid questions.
"Hey did you get some?"
Man that is so dumb.
Stay quiet, stay near, stay close, they can't hear.
So we can get some.

My hopes are so high that your kiss might kill me.
So won't you kill me?
So I die happy.
My heart is yours to fill or burst,
to break or bury, or wear as jewelry.
Whichever you prefer.

Hands down this is the best day I can ever remember.
Always remember
The sound of the stereo.
The dim of the soft lights.
The scent of your hair, that you twirled in your fingers.
And the time on the clock, when we realized "It's so late!"
And this walk that we share together.
The streets were wet, and the gate was locked,
So I jumped it, and let you in.
And you stood at the door, with your hands on my waist.
And you kissed me like you meant it.
And I knew...that you meant it.

Colorado: Day 6

Colorado: Day 6

I took my time getting up in the morning but I still got up before 10:00. This was a relaxing day. All I really did was pack up my snowgear. But I did help out Tonya by installing her door knobs to all her rooms. Something to help out I guess. Tonya had a few conference calls she had to do.

I also played a lot of Zelda Phantom Hourglass. I made progress but I think I'm only half the way through the game. It's pretty good, but there are a lot of repetitive things to do.

I got to the airport somewhat later than preferred but I was there with enough time. The flight coming in was late so I was safe. There was also some sort of altercation at the next gate. I think the girl was somewhat mentally retarded. She wasn't making sense. Or she had some sort of panic attack. The paramedics came and cared for her. I wasn't able to see what happened.

Flying back, I rode Frontier airlines. The plane itself looks old, but when you sit down, all the chairs had LCD screens and DirecTv. So that was pretty nice. I was able to get the Sharks' score before liftoff. They also had movies playing as well. It would have been $5 for Directv and $8 to watch a movie. But on a 2 hour flight, it wasn't worth it to me.

After I arrived back home, I gathered my stuff and waited for Nick to pick me up. When he called I asked him, "Did you bring your van?" "No" "Well I have a snowboard." We ended up hanging the snowboard out the window. But all was good. And that was the end of my trip.

It was a good time and a fun time. I'm glad I did it and now I'm back and ready to take the swing of things.

Colorado: Day 5

Day 5

The last day of Snowboarding has come. We headed out and got to the hill at around 10:30. We hit some great runs and talked about how much I have learned on this trip about snowboarding. JW is really happy to see that my style and technique has greatly improved. It was his teaching that helped me improve. Corey even complimented the fact that I was moving so much faster today than on Tuesday when he first saw me snowboarding.

We ended the day with JW's friends Shane, his girlfriend Sarah, and her son Jeremy. JW taught Jeremy to snowboard in Stratton (Vermont). And in the "small world" set of events, the three of them have moved out to Colorado. Jeremy is only 7 years old. But he already has the skills of a great snowboarder. He is moving fast and taking jumps. He also already has a sponsor, which at his age is amazing. If he keeps his path right, he could be the next big thing in United States Snowboarding.

JW and I left Copper Mountain area and JW's house around 5:30. It was great. We reflected back on the week and other items that were coming up. We hope that we can see each other at least once a year. Snowboarding would be one of the big options, but we know there are other things to do. One of them is to get JW to see Grandma.

I had a really great time seeing my cousin, and he was definitely happy to see me.