Happy New Year - 2006, where the hell did you go?

Well, here we are - the last few days of 2006, and what a year it's been. I can't believe the time has flown by so quickly. In an attempt to figure out where the time went, I will be doing a re-cap. Yes, I know they can get boring, but I've done my best to spruce this up a bit.



**psst - I tried for pictures for every song - but due to switching comptuers, and Yahoo not wanting to co-operate, you're getting what yer getting**



DISCLAIMER: I did not take any of these pictures (except the cabin), and at this point, I'm not sure where they came from. I just know that I'M not taking any credit for them.

January - I started the year in a cabin up north with ol' whatzhisname and a couple of other friends. Very peaceful, no tv, just four friends, booze, some weed and a game of Scene It. Oh yeah, and some toboggans and a very slick run. VERY ZEN.

I eagerly anticipated the beginning of American Idol. I instantly fall in love with a grey-haired singer from Alabama during the Las Vegas auditions, and become a member of the AI boards for the first time in history. While there, I meet a group of absolutely FABULOUS people and we are dubbed the Soul Patrol, which in itself is a really cool fan nickname. Simon Cowell predicts that even though Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul put Taylor through to Hollywood, he won't make it to the finals.

Work wise I was still just doing security, but the year started with some fantastic shows. Mainly four shows of Bon Jovi. SIGH. What a man...{drool}...what a voice....{more drool}. I also saw Hilary Duff twice, which sucked because hot men don't go see teenage singing sensations unless they're either a) gay (which I have no problem with, but then there's no point in hitting on them :D) or b) creepy pedophiles.

February - Second month of the year, and things are looking good for Mr. Hicks. I spend more time glued to my computer getting to know my online friends, and as a result ol' you - know - who spends more time bitching about how the internet is the worst possible thing to ever be invented. Although I do come up for air long enough to remember to buy him a few DVD's for his birthday present. I also spent every Wednesday night glued to the TV set. I also sat on the couch for the first time - and haven't left since.

Concerts viewed during this month: Nickleback, Gowan (but this one I went to as a patron - he did Strange Animal live with an orchestra and it was AMAZING), and Jann Arden. It would have been more, but I spent most of my shifts working the AHL games - GO MARLIES GO!! (The Toronto Maple Leafs farm team for those who didn't know - yes Bond, that's hockey).

Taylor performance -
February 22nd: He sang LEVON, and just about melted my soul, but I stayed strong, for I must have known that there was more to come.




March - Within a matter of four days, my grandmother had surgery, fell and broke her hip while taking a theraputic walk through the hospital, and had immediate hip replacement surgery. I had an interview at ManPower for some temp work in the school board - I had figured that as long as I was going to give up my soul for a 9-5 desk job, I might as well try to get in where I can get my summers off right? It went well, and I started my first assignment at an adult education centre on the 15th.

I also had a tooth extraction done, my first ever, and spent half the week on the couch in complete and total pain.

My grandfather turned 85 - god bless him. He still thinks he's 39.....

Concerts/events: Motley Crue (and was asked to party with Tommy Lee himself!!! Had to say no tho cuz my boss was giving me the evil eye - bastard...), Hedley (for those who don't know - these guys are amazing!! Another example of prime Canadian talent), and Oasis (after the third time, these guys get boring).

Taylor Performances -
March 1st: The Top 20: Taylor sang EASY, and I definately would have been had he been there in the room with me....and the term THUD is born....

March 8th: In the Top 16, Taylor sang what was to be one of my favourite performances of his (and is still the ring tone on my phone) TAKING IT TO THE STREETS - c'mon ladies, y'all know the moment I'm talking about - the THUD worthy moment during that song - YOU.....

March 15th: The Top 12 (he's getting closer!): Taylor sings LIVIN' FOR THE CITY, and every woman in the SP is packing her bags to move to whatever city that is....

March 22nd: The Top 11: Taylor let us know that he will NOT FADE AWAY with this Buddy Holly classic. All I remember is the suit. SIGH.

March 29th: The TOP TEN: Taylor lets us all know that he's TROUBLE, and we don't really care.





HE MADE IT!!!!!!!




April - Nothing too noteworthy in April. I went and partied with the gang from work for Junie's bday on the 14th, whom Mr. Grumps hates cuz they're all younger and a lot more fun than he is, and also he wasn't invited. Was still drunk the next day when I got out of bed (that's what happens when you get home at four in the morning), and had another party to go to that night. What a weekend! Glad I don't repeat those too often.... ummm...on second thought, keep reading. :D

AND, I saw STYX at Casino Rama. Thanks to my boss Ross (who's usually not that nice), he got me third row tickets FOR FREE!! As usual, a stellar show by my boyz.

Concerts/events: Weren 't too many in April. Korn, Joe Satriani, and Train. Granted, three great shows.....

Taylor Performances -
April 5th: The Top Nine: Taylor was originally going to sing a Hank Williams Jr. song, but TPTB vetoed that one, and the man was forced to choose another song. With TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS, he did a fine job, but wasn't up to the par that we were used to. Never mind tho, we still got him through to the next round.

April 12th: The Top Eight: This CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE has us hooked on our Grey Charles. A mic kick gone wrong earns him ribs from the judges, but it's all in good fun.

April 19th: The Top Seven: YOU SEND ME successfully sent all the Soul Patrol searching for thudding mats - this was when we finally invested in some.

April 26th: The Top Six: JUST ONCE I'd like to have that man sing only to me.....but I think I'd have to fight Dana for him.....


May - Well, my assignment at St. Gabriels' ended with little fanfare (thanks to those who used the telephone to keep in touch during this time - you know who you are *wink wink*). I did have a ball at that school tho - the teachers were all hooked on Idol, but only one other person there was a Taylor fan (and he was hot). The head secretary was an Elliot fan, and I thought of her when he was eliminated.

Personally, not a lot happened in this month for me. I wish it had.....

Concerts/events: Pearl Jam, Canadian Idol auditions, INXS, Seether, The Cult and Depeche Mode. A good line up eh?

Taylor Performances -
Well, since it's coming down to the wire, the Idols are asked to sing two songs pertaining to the themes. TWO doses of Taylor per night? Who could ask for anything more?

May 3rd: The Top Five: There's SOMETHING in the way that man mooooooooooves me.....SIGH. What a performance.

PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC, cuz I think I've thudded through to China. Can that man MOVE or what???? And that shirt is to die for...



May 10th: The Top Four: Elvis week and two songs once more. Taylor got the crowd moving with JAILHOUSE ROCK,


and then


TAYLOR SAID TURN , (yes Liz, we know!) when he gave the best performance of IN THE GHETTO I've ever heard. In my opinion (and I'm a huge Elvis fan) this one beats the King.

AND, in a surprising elimination, we say goodbye to Chris Daughtry, when everyone knows that the McFever should have been cured weeks ago.

May 17th: The Top Three: It gets even better cuz now it's THREE songs from the top three. Taylor wows us with DANCING IN THE DARK,

YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL,


and then blows us away with TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS. There was an earthquake registered after this performance as women the world over thudded continuously.

May 23rd: The Top Two: Fighting for the end (we're also all laughing at Simon), Taylor sings Do I Make You Proud, which would be his first single as the new American Idol should he win (as we all knew he would), and then capped it off with amazing repeat performances of Levon and Living for the City. I spend four hours on Skype voting as you-know-who goes to sleep.

May 24th: THE FINALS: A star studded performance roster

is no match for the power of Taylor being announced the


new American Idol!!

The SP had only three words BITE ME SIMON!!!

All over the world, the Soul Patrol is crying, celebrating, and screaming (oh yeah, and thudding). We celebrate online by throwing walnuts (not flaming), confetti, nerf harmonicas, and tayboggans. This is the first time I've participated in something this big - first time I've ever had the chance to vote and the first time ever in a reality show that the person I picked in the beginning has won. I thank God the old ball and chain is asleep so I can cry in peace.

June - Wow, what am I going to watch now that AI is no longer on? Hmmm. Have to find something to do with my time - oh wait - that's right. CANADIAN Idol is starting soon, and I apply to a website to be their A number one girl to review that series. I begin my tenure at www.the-trades.com. Nothing too exciting in my life....just work. SIGH.

Concerts/events worked: Snow Patrol, Ministry, Dennis DeYoung (amazing show - I highly recommend getting the DVD), George Strait, Mark Knopfler & EmmyLou Harris, Bachman & Cummings, and Dashboard Confessional.

July - The most exciting thing to happen this month was my birthday. We went to Darien Lake with two friends and had the most amazing time - I still hate sleeping in those damn trailers tho. Worked my ass off.

On July 13, my friend Kristine emails me with the link to the front page of the CablePulse 24 website.

This is a guy we used to work with at the Royal Alex. ICK - nuff said.

Concerts/Events: Canada Day Jam (didn't work it - country artists - amazing show), Unholy Alliance Tour feat. Slayer, Lamb of God, and a few other bands I don't know; Taking Back Sunday, CSNY, Nickelback, 3 Days Grace, Edgefest, Ashlee Simpson (the most BORING show ever done), WWE event, Counting Crows, Goo Goo Dolls, Ozzfest, and to end the month - Hilary Duff AGAIN.


August - Spent three days at my BIL's cottage, went to a Jack & Jill, went to a bachelor/bday party, and that was about it. Nothing exciting at all happened this month. Oh yeah, went to the CNE with the nephew. THAT was fun. :D Oh yeah, almost forgot - WE GOT OUR TRUCK.

I love that thing - spent the whole month learning to drive standard.

Concerts/events: Poison (worked half the show, watched the other half with my drunk friends in the front row - CC DeVille is YUMMY), Van Morrison, Chyenne Kimball autograph session and private performance, Warp Tour, Mariah Carey (this one was torture to sit through), Teddy Geiger autograph session and mall performance, Mary J. Blige, Blue Rodeo, Shakira, and it ended with the Family Values tour.


September - I keep praying for the AI Tour to come to Toronto, but just my luck, this is the one year they miss us. :( My anniversary was this month - it's a miracle we've made it to eight years. And another miracle happens - we both go to a party for my work friends, and he actually has A GOOD TIME. (I almost pass out from the shock).

I pulled yet another double drinking weekend, with my friend Ken's bday on the Friday at Zen (again, 4am when I come home), and my friends Connie & Nigel's wedding on the Saturday - where, I desperately tried to get drunk again (open bar) and just couldn't pull it off. Well, I arrived drunk, so I guess it all worked out....

We passed five years of that horrific day on 09/11. It took a lot for some of us to get through it, especially those of us that were personally affected. We stood strong as a world united.


Concerts/events: Ben Harper, Tom Petty (what a show that was), Black Eyed Peas, Toronto Film Festival openings, Beyonce autograph session and then mini concert, Roger Waters, Eric Clapton, Gigantour (feat. Megadeath)





Oh yeah, and did I mention TAYLOR GOES GOLD!!!! Do I Make You Proud? reports physical sales of 442,399!

October - On the first (still hung over from the party the night before) I did the CIBC 10k walk for Breast Cancer. Dunno how I managed that.....but I was up at six a.m. and survived. We know that our darling Taylor turned 30 on October 7th. I went to Buffalo with my family and my first real paycheck - I got a job on the 10th working in a transmission shop. I spent $400 and didn't even blink an eye. It was a great feeling. Oh yeah, and I met Russ Irwin, the absolute adorable keyboardist from Aerosmith.

Concerts/events: Aerosmith & Motley Crue (on the same show - amazing!), James Blunt, Evanessence, Beck, Rascall Flats

*not a lot of concerts, as most occur during the summer months - during the winter, it's a whole lot of hockey*

November - Again, nothing exciting, except I finally find out where I stand with a so-called-friend of mine. Hurts me to the core, and causes me to examine my relationships with other people. Get a brutal ear infection which causes me to lose two days of work at my day job and five nights of work with security. Pisses off my night boss, but what can I do?

Concerts/events: GNR, Tenacious D - told ya it was slow

December - Well, with Christmas upon us, it's running around like headless chickens to make sure we get the most perfect gifts for everyone that we can. I hit the theatre to see WICKED with my best friend of 25 years and then we hit the bar where I proceed to shoot tequila on an empty stomach, and down 6 double rum & diet cokes in two hours. Needless to say...of course the next day I have to head an hour north to my brother in laws for the annual Xmas gathering. And of course, in true Angell fashion, I'm still drunk.

Concerts/events: Dashboard Confessional and some hockey

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Well, that's the year in review. What have I learned this year? I've learned that people are going to think what they want about you, regardless of what you have to say on the matter. I've learned that people who are in different cities can still be close friends, even if you've never met them face to face. I've learned that the human heart is an amazing thing that can expand to include any number of people. I've learned that just because you lust after someone doesn't make you a bad person. I've learned that writing can cleanse your soul. I've learned that it's always best to blame the Damm Duck (even if you just want to squeeze the stuffing out of him). BUT

The most important lesson I've learned

It's all about the music. It's all about the soul.

To all my new friends out there in SP land - I love you all (and yes, more than Anndi's luggage). Stay safe this New Year's Eve. Embrace your loved ones, and if you can't, embrace those around you. I hope you are all surrounded by love and happiness in the coming year, and I really hope that I can meet y'all one day soon.

Until 2007.... I remain now, and forever will be, your Angell.

Stay sane inside insanity - and never forget your towel.

P.S. This took me THREE DAYS to complete, so y'all had better like it. :D