No Rest For the Wicked...Or 'The Brick'

** "The Brick" NEXT SCHEDULED BOUT: June 14 @ Padarewski Park / Master's Heavyweight Division **

Welcome to Entry 158.
In this entry, preparing for June 14, and
Platinum Liquidations makes this week's Stupidity Files.









No Rest For the Wicked... or 'The Brick'

Eight rounds of sparring this week.
Four on Monday and four on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, after two rounds, Junmar asked me if I wanted a break. I said, "Yes. I can take a break. Then he said. "You're not getting one."
Funny, Junmar. 

I have to say, I am really beginning to feel good while sparring.

I am also feeling better about my comeback match. 
Coach Richard has found an opponent for me.
My opponent is the same age and weight as I, so it will be a great bout.
His name is Leo "The Lion". 
Well, I don't know if his nickname is "The Lion", but it should be.

Interestingly, I have sparred him before.
He is a Southpaw. Crap.
Also, he throws this really weird overhand right. I don't even know how a Southpaw can throw an overhand right properly. I guess that explains why it is "weird".

At least sparring him, I know what to watch out for.

I hope I get to spar him again before the 14th.

I will keep all of you informed as to how to get tickets when they become available.

Liquidating Platinum Liquidations

As some of you may know, I have been very active in the online auction scene lately.
One of the first sites I bought from was Platinum Liquidations. They are located on Petrolia Road, near York University.

I went this morning to pick up this month's auction wins, and I was confronted by, for lack of a better word, an asshole. 

After buying many products from them, this guy at the desk complained that I was "too late" picking up the items. 

Well, duh, I am not going to take the bus all the way up there just to pick up one item. It takes almost a hour to get there, and another hour to come back. Of course, I am going to wait until I have multiple things to pick up.

Then he said in a snobby voice, "Well, if you pay online, you can have 30 days for pick up."
Great, if you show me how to pay cash online, I will.
I pay cash for everything. I don't have a credit card.

Then he said, "If you do that again, we are going to ban you from bidding"
Fuck you. I am a customer, and he is giving me attitude? 

Of course,  am going to do that again. What the hell else do they want me to do?
If they are going to lose a customer over something stupid, it is their loss. 

I don't care. I am not pleased with their 'tude, anyway.

Platinum Liquidations gets "3 Dunce-Caps" for being disrespectful to a customer.

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUT: JUNE 14 @ Padarewski Park

-----------------------------------------------

"The Brick", member of the Stockyards Boxing Team

Stockyards Boxing and Fitness, 215 Ryding Ave., Toronto

STATS

Record: 0 / 0  / 1 

Weigh-in on May 23 / 2014 @ 84 kg / 187 lbs. {no change}

Last bout: September 21 / 2013 [Exhibition]

Next scheduled bout: June 14  / 2014 @ Padarewski Park

Training schedule: Monday to Sunday, with sparring twice weekly

Coaches: R. Soucé, J, Emon

Resting HR: 64 - 68
Stance: Orthodox 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cheers.

The Great Brickinski

                              

                          ** "The Brick" NEXT SCHEDULED BOUT: June 14 @ Padarewski Park / Master's Heavyweight Division **
                 

Welcome to Entry 157.
This time a look at Wednesday sparring, 
and Stockyards' next boxing show with my scheduled comeback bout, will not be a George Bell Arena as expected...







No Sparring on Holiday Monday, But Lots On Wednesday

Yeah, lots of sparring.
I am being sarcastic. Hardly anyone showed up for sparring on Wednesday.
Here is Junmar who put this great sparring session together, and nobody is going.
I know summer is coming, but so is a huge card on June 14, and nobody is going to be freaking ready. June 14 is not that far away. Less than 4 weeks.

I did manage to get in three rounds, but I need more than that.

There is no way I am going to lose my comeback match.
I am working my butt off every day to get ready. Although I am not always at Stockyards gym, I do training daily. Either at Bloor Fitness, or on my own. 
I work 45-50 hours per week, and still manage to get at least an hour of training a day.

Less than four weeks, people, and it is still 
A...

Long Road To Vaughan

Well, we are getting closer to my big comeback bout.
However, it will not be happening at my home gym.
Stockyards' next boxing show on June 14 will be in the town of Vaughan.
At the Pararewski Park to be exact.

A couple of weeks ago Richard asked me if I would pass for being Polish.
I thought he was screwing around. I had no idea he was seriously thinking about having his boxing show way up there.
Yeah, call me "The Brickinski" !

I hope he has a way to get the team up there. I don't have a car, and there is no bus going there. I mean, we are talking north of Rutherford Road.

I don't understand why Richard would rent a venue, when he has his own? 
Then again, I'm not paying for it, so it is not my business.


The Never-Ending Hockey Season  
a.k.a The George Bell Arena (Taxpayer) Screw

Okay, so here is another City of Toronto bullshit stunt: Summer hockey at the George Bell Arena. 

Two things come to mind here. First, do we really need hockey in the summer? Second, were the taxpayers of Toronto made aware that this was happening, considering the cost of keeping the arena open all summer?

For some reason, they are having a summer hockey league at the arena. One

day a week from now until the end of August.

As a result, they are keeping the arena open 7 days a week.

Does anyone have any idea how much it is going to cost to keep the refrigeration units operating over the summer months, with temperature expected to reach the low 30's on most days? All so they can have a completely and totally unnecessary summer league?

That may explain why Richard can't have his summer show there.

Another issue I have is, there is no hot water in the George Bell arena. We have to wash, and worse, shower with ice cold water.

The city is too cheap to provide hot water, but they have no problem keeping the arena open all summer to support a winter sport...with taxpayer's money.

That explains it. The money they saved on not having hot water all winter is going to pay to keep the ice surface open all summer.

That makes a lot of sense, in a 'City of Toronto, Crack-Smoking Mayor' sort-of way.

I know what you are thinking. "You want to box all year, why can't we play hockey all year?"

The difference is that my sport does not require the financial support of Toronto taxpayers. As a matter-of-fact, Stockyards Boxing pays rent to the City for use of the space.

...sooooo...bite me, and stop wasting money on crap we don't need.

Also, if they are going to pull that stunt, then let's have city indoor pools open in the winter. Lots of people may want to go for a swim in January. Just like people want to play hockey in July.

Support "The Brick" and the Stockyards Boxing Team

I hope everyone can make it on June 14.

It will be a very exciting time for followers of this blog. 

Please come out and show your support, and watch me kick some sorry ass.

I will let everyone know through this blog when and where tix will be available.

Also, if Rogers TV is not there, I will have a crew from Metropolis TV on hand to capture all the action.

Understanding the Complicated Rules Of Auctions

This should be in the Stupidity Files, and if it keeps happening, it will.

This is a peeve of mine with the online auction. This happens more with Auctionmaxx than the other one.

People who way over-bid.

For example, I put in a proxy of $28 for 150 new blank DVD-R.

Someone outbid me, by putting in a bid of $34.

Does this person realize that you can buy the same thing for $29 in the store?

That is specifically why I put $28.

I mean, these people know that this is not the "Land Of Make Believe", right?

You actually have to pay what you bid, right?

That is just one example of many for that site.

How about this one? 
Yeah, that is an actual screenshot.
$45 for 24 plastic cups? That is almost $2 each. 
Is this person insane?
You can get similar mugs at Dollarama for $1.25.

Other examples are bids on electronic devices, that are untested. Bids go almost as high as the cost of a new one...and what if it doesn't work, smartass?

Here are the rules: 

For new products, don't bid higher than retail price (no-brainer).

For used items, no more than 50% of "new" value.

For used electronics, maximum 50% if you know it is working, and no more than 10% if you know the item does not work, or not sure.

I don't mind being outbid by a reasonable bid, but when someone over-bids, just to win the auction, is just...stupid. 

Going forward, I am going to post the user IDs of stupid bidders in the Stupidity Files.

After all, it is public information. Winning bidders names have to be displayed on the website.

Check the value of things before you bid, people. (no-brainer again)

I'll bet $5.45 in Canadian Tire money that some idiot will bid higher than face value for this before auction end!

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUT: JUNE 14 @ Padarewski Park

-----------------------------------------------

"The Brick", member of the Stockyards Boxing Team

Stockyards Boxing and Fitness, 215 Ryding Ave., Toronto

STATS

Record: 0 / 0  / 1 

Weigh-in on May 17 / 2014 @ 84 kg / 187 lbs. {no change}

Last bout: September 21 / 2013 [Exhibition]

Next scheduled bout: June 14  / 2014 @ Padarewski Park

Training schedule: Monday to Sunday, with sparring twice weekly

Coaches: R. Soucé, J, Emon

Resting HR: 64 - 68
Stance: Orthodox 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cheers.

Chicken About Chicken

Welcome to Entry 156.
Sparring report, and I turn chicken about chicken.








Wednesday Sparring

Not a lot of guys showed up for sparring on Wednesday, so I was only able to get in four rounds.
That is only six rounds for the week. 
Also, next week the gym will be closed on Monday, so no sparring then either.

I don't think I did that poorly, since all of the guys I sparred, except for one, have all had previous competition experience.

Although, I need to find a way to get more sparring. It is so important now, more than ever.

Chicken About Chicken

On the way home from the gym, I wanted to stop by the Metro to pick up dinner. 
Initially, I was going to get a chicken breast and a salad.

The Maple Leaf poultry processing plant is unfortunately located between the boxing gym and the Metro store.
I don't think I need to describe the smell coming from it in the summer.
However, on that day, I noticed a truck in front of the plant.
It is unusual for a tractor-trailer to be stopped there.
I looked in the trailer, and noticed a bunch of small, plastic crates. Inside each one of these tiny creates was a live chicken. 
These crates were not even big enough for them to stand in.
There must have been 100 of them, and they were all looking at me, as if saying, "Help us."

I promptly changed my mind about dinner. I decided on just getting a large salad. I was kind of turned off of eating chicken.

After finishing at the Metro store, about 20 minutes later, I noticed the same truck leaving with all the crates empty.
I would like to know how they off-loaded 100 live chickens, and then put all the crates back onto the truck in less than 20 minutes.

I think that is something that we are better off not knowing.


New Rules For Posting Comments

Due to abuse (posting comments unrelated to the subject, spam, and advertising), commenting on any entries now requires an admin. approval.
Any comments that are found to be blatantly disrespectful or disregarding the rules will be deleted, and the person posting will be reported to Google. 
No exceptions.


My Comeback Bout...Soon

Stockyards Boxing's next show will be in June, when I am scheduled to make my official comeback appearance.
The original date of June 14, may be changed. Keep looking at this blog for the date.

Don't forget to buy tickets to support your local boxing gym, and see The Brick's official comeback.
"I will be there to chew bubble gum and kick ass...and I'm all out of bubble gum".


Videos From the Blue Corner

Don't forget about the video blog here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpW5w09dBV9a7mMEEeJO-uQ

I put a lot of work into these, so please have a look, and comment on what you would like to see.

One time soon, I will show our sparring sessions.
Although, I have been forgetting to bring the camera!

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUT: JUNE  14 @ Padarewski Park

-----------------------------------------------

"The Brick", member of the Stockyards Boxing Team

Stockyards Boxing and Fitness, 215 Ryding Ave., Toronto

STATS

Record: 0 / 0  / 1 

Weigh-in on May 9 / 2014 @ 84 kg / 187 lbs. {down}

Last bout: September 21 / 2013 [Exhibition]

Next scheduled bout: June 14  / 2014 @ Padarewski Park

Training schedule: Monday to Sunday, with sparring twice weekly

Coaches: R. Soucé, J, Emon

Resting HR: 64 - 68
Stance: Orthodox 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cheers.

The Power of the Blog

Welcome to Entry 155.
In this entry: 
Our new "permanent" banner....see ^
(Until I decide to change it)
and, Does the "Stupidity Files" actually work?
Also, Sometimes sparring really hurts.






The Power of the Blog

If you recall, a few entries ago, I nominated 'yelp.ca' for the Stupidity Files, giving them a "4 Dunce-cap" rating for not publishing every one's reviews.
Well, up to that point, none of mine had been published.
Ticked off with them, I had not been back to yelp.ca since yesterday. At that time, I went back to see what had been going on.
To my surprise, all of my reviews had been published. Nicely and proudly displayed on the respective businesses' entries.

Is it coincidence, or the power of the blog ?

Thank you to Yelp for making the right decision.
Not posting everybody's reviews was unethical.


Right On Target...Ow!

I usually do my sparring report on Thursday, after I have completed both sparring sessions for the week.
However, on Monday, I was only able to get barely two rounds in.

I sparred Justin, and I have to say, I really don't like sparring him.
He is a really big guy. He is up around 235, and built like a professional wrestler, than a boxer. As a result, he hits really hard.

He decided to try this new really short, but sharp right hook on me.

Let me put it this way, it works.

He nailed me right on the jaw, and it really hurt. To the point where I had to forfeit sparring for the day.
Honestly, if I was anyone else, he would have put me down.

He was all apologetic about it. 
Why? I am glad it happened during sparring. 

If I recall correctly, that happened once before.

There is an obvious flaw in my defense.

I think I know what it is. 
I am dropping my left when I throw my right cross. A common, but very 'deadly' error among boxers.

It is so easy for a guy to counter that, as well. It is just a matter of slipping, and then springing back around with a right hook. Just as Justin did.

I have to fix that before my match on June 14. 
Although, I am hard to knock out, the idea is to not get hit.
A strike like that will almost definitely cause a Standing-8 count, and in Master's Novice division, two of those in a round, and they will stop it.

I have five weeks to work on that.

I can't get hit by that again.



Videos From the Blue Corner

EPISODE 3: A Day At the Mall, A Night At the Gym

Pizza-Pizza gets into the Files this time.
I ordered from them to deliver to my work on Saturday morning, which they did.
Then I get a message on Sunday morning from Pizza-Pizza customer service telling me that they were unable to deliver my order, as I could not be reached.
Well, no. I was not at work on Sunday morning. That is why I ordered on Saturday morning.
I don't understand why they tried to deliver the same thing again the following day.
They did that once before, except that time I was at work to receive it, but I don't work Sunday mornings any more.

Pizza-Pizza gets "4 Dunce-Caps" for making the same mistake twice, and wasting food.

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUT: JUNE 14 @ GEORGE BELL ARENA

-----------------------------------------------

"The Brick", member of the Stockyards Boxing Team

Stockyards Boxing and Fitness, 215 Ryding Ave., Toronto

STATS

Record: 0 / 0  / 1 

Weigh-in on May 9 / 2014 @ 84 kg / 187 lbs. {down}

Last bout: September 21 / 2013 [Exhibition]

Next scheduled bout: June 14 / 2014 @ George Bell Arena

Training schedule: Monday to Sunday, with sparring twice weekly

Coaches: R. Soucé, J, Emon

Resting HR: 64 - 68
Stance: Orthodox 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cheers.

Getting Tough With the New Guys ?

Welcome all to the 154th edition of "Comments From the Blue Corner".

In this posting: Sparring report for the first week of May, and another 'Stupidity Files', this time some interesting signs and labels.








SPARRING 'NEW' GUYS IS TOUGH, NOW !

Sparring on Wednesday was interesting.
I did 2 rounds with Tyler, whom I must say is getting better. 

He managed to nail me three times in the right ribs. It did not hurt the fist two times, but the third time it did.

I am trying to avoid it by using a new stance. 
I am bending my knees more, so I am lower, and my elbows can reach by sides better.
I only use it when I have to. As you can understand, it is not the most comfortable stance.

He also manged to get one good shot on the bullseye.
Yeah, he nailed me on the chin.
I felt it land, and I felt the shockwave going through, but it did not phase me one bit.
I think I have an iron-jaw.

I have also noticed that I don't bleed.
My nose does not bleed, externally. I have noticed that it clots inside. Then a few minutes later, I to blow out this giant ball of dry blood.
I guess that is a good thing...for a boxer.

In addition to Tyler, I also sparred a 'new' guy.

Is it my imagination, or are new boxers getting tougher?

I remember when I first stared boxing, I was intimidated to hit a guy too hard, for fear of getting the same back.

Well, I thought I would go a bit easy on him because it was his first time in the ring, and the dude plowed me right in the face!

Screw that, no more nice-guy. I plowed him back, and again, and again.

What the hell? How did these new guys get so tough?

I think it might be a Stockyards thing.
Stockyards trains people very well before allowing them to spar.

It is a myth that one can walk into a boxing gym, and get thrown into the ring on the first day.
It can sometimes be months before you are good enough to start sparring.


VIDEOS FROM THE BLUE CORNER

Next episode: Sunday May 11

• A look at an abandoned shopping mall, and one not-so abandoned.
• Another "Auction Finds", The Brick goes into Nerd mode.

Videos From the Blue Corner

This time on the Files, Dumb Signs and labels.
These speak for themselves:

3 Dunce-Caps

2 Dunce-Caps

2 Dunce-Caps

3 Dunce-Caps

4 Dunce-Caps

2 Dunce-Caps

2 Dunce-Caps

Also in the Stupidity Files is "peter solo", who posted this in the comments section of my last entry:

peter soloMay 6, 2014 at 3:21 AM

guy visit http://www.newbrazzers.tk for new brazzer and new seen porn videos

and visit https://brazz-book.blogspot.com for new porn accounts and like us on facebook for new updates of accounts https://www.facebook.com/porninhd.tk

First of all, what the hell is this?

Secondly, what the hell does this have to do with "Comments From the Blue Corner"?

"3 Dunce-Caps".

-----------

MY NEXT BOUT: JUNE 14 @ GEORGE BELL ARENA

 Video Blog: Videos From the Blue Corner

          

                                 

-----------------------------------------------

"The Brick", member of the Stockyards Boxing Team

Stockyards Boxing and Fitness, 215 Ryding Ave., Toronto

STATS

Record: 0 / 0  / 1 

Weigh-in on May 2 / 2014 @ 85 kg / 188 lbs. {no change}

Last bout: September 21 / 2013 [Exhibition]

Next scheduled bout: June 14 / 2014 @ George Bell Arena

Training schedule: Monday to Sunday, with sparring twice weekly

Coaches: R. Soucé, J, Emon

Resting HR: 64 - 68

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                         
                                                          

 Cheers.

Videos From the Blue Corner

VIDEOS FROM THE BLUE CORNER

The video journal version of this blog is now up and running. 

The first two episodes are now available:

EPISODE 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2xvzBLsQx8

EPISODE 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQTwP1Bnwsk

The third episode will be produced later this week.

Please subscribe to "Videos From the Blue Corner" on YouTube.


POOR PARENTING 2

The next situation happened on the Mississauga bus number 11. (Big surprise)

Once again, this past Saturday, Mississauga did not have enough buses, and so the 11 was again crowded.

I had to stand for the trip all the way back to Toronto, which i was not pleased about considering just finishing work.

Well, first of all, there was some asshole sleeping across the back seats. There is 4 seats wasted.
Then there was this woman with three kids, and the kids has their asses planted in seats. Meanwhile, there were elderly and a man with a cane who could not sit. Mom was not saying anything, and her kids seemed to think it was a big joke.
So, I threw the kids a dirty look.
You will not believe what this woman said to me. "Why are you giving my kids a dirty look?"
Really?
This woman is so ignorant and full of herself, that she did not even realize what her kids were doing.


Yeah, let the kids do what they want, and blame it on everyone else. Excellent parenting.

On this "Stupidity Files", '7-11' and a couple (of idiots).

This 7-11, located near Bloor and Parkside, advertises being open 24/7...but it is not.

I went over there at 3 in the morning, and the door was locked.

I did not see anyone in there, so I figured he was in the washroom.

After going to Tim Horton's across the street, which was open, I went back over 15 minutes later, and it was still closed.

It does not take that long to use the washroom, so I feel that the guy was sleeping somewhere.

Not all that unusual, actually.

"3 Dunce-Caps" for this 7-11 for poor customer service.

A little further along Bloor Street, at Indian Road, I saw a couple moving construction barricades onto the street. 

They placed them across Indian Road, as if it was closed. They even went as far to to move a "Road Closed" sign.

That is great. Thank you for that.

This unknown couple gets "2 Dunce-Caps" for touching things that don't belong to them, and possibly causing a traffic problem for people going to work during rush hour.

NEXT BOUT:  JUNE 14 @ GEORGE BELL ARENA

                            Video Blog: Videos From the Blue Corner 

-----------------------------------------------

"The Brick", member of the Stockyards Boxing Team

Stockyards Boxing and Fitness, 215 Ryding Ave., Toronto

STATS

Record: 0 / 0  / 1 

Weigh-in on May 2 / 2014 @ 85 kg / 188 lbs. {no change}

Last bout: September 21 / 2013 [Exhibition]

Next scheduled bout: June 14 / 2014 @ George Bell Arena

Training schedule: Monday to Sunday, with sparring twice weekly

Coaches: R. Soucé, J, Emon

Resting HR: 64 - 68

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                          Cheers.