We'll start this commentary off in the present, and then jump back and get caught up on October. At about 10:00pm on November 30 (Monday night), I was at my real job and thought I had given myself a hernia. I was doing some heavy lifting, earlier in my shift (I work 6pm to 6am), and figured that since I'm always hauling/lifting shit I shouldn't be lifting by myself, that things had finally caught up to me. The pain started in my right lower abs, but quickly spread into my right groin, and I couldn't even stand straight without difficulty. I went to the First Aid Department (which is ironic, because Monday night is my night as First Aid Attendant), and discussed my pain with one of the other attendants. She joked that I was just trying to get out of doing some clean-up, so I "sucked it up" and went back to work for another hour. By then, I couldn't even move, I was in so much pain. A second trip to First Aid lead to a trip to Kelowna General at 1am, where tests revealed I might have a problem with my appendix. I was sent home at 3:30 in the morning, and told that if I was still in pain at 9am, to come back for more tests.

Unable to sleep as the pain continued, I was indeed back in the ER at 9am; the pain hadn't gotten worse, but it was constant and not getting better. More tests were inconclusive, so doctors decided to start snooping. I was finally prepped and ready for surgery around 5pm, and got out of surgery around 9pm. It turns out that while my appendix was not inflamed, it was three times longer than normal...but more importantly, there was no hernias, kidney problems, and no cancer. I wasn't even thinking cancer, but it turns out my wife and mother were worried...especially when doctors kept saying "we're not sure what it is." So that's a relief. After convalescing for about 18 hours, I got sick of all the wonderful hospital smells (the reek of fresh urine, especially) and asked to be checked out at 3pm on Wednesday. So while that effectively cancels my 2009 wrestling season, there's still some catching up to do on the website.

As mentioned in my last commentary, I had been royally snubbed by The Great Kasaki, who refused to allow me to sub for an injured Seth Knight in Campbell River, when Team Japanada had a shot at regaining the ASW Tag Team Titles from The Kelownafornians. On Saturday, October 3, in Vernon, I would face Kasaki to address this insult: it would be the third meeting between Kasaki and me, with each of us holding a victory over the other.

But before that, I had to prepare for my first Okanagan-Interior Title defense in my new hometown of Kelowna! Friday, October 2, saw me finally get my hands on "Hardcore" Mike More in a one-on-one situation: More and I have been verbally sparring for more than a year, but have only battled in Tag Team and Battle Royale situations. That was about to change at the Rutland Centennial Building!

With Friar MacBeth in his corner, More tried to jump me before the bell, but I quickly beat him down and cocked a leg. More was frustrated, but The Friar's outside distractions allowed "The Celebrity from Enderby" to get a bit of an edge: he targeted my ailing neck, and really ground things to a halt with repeated chinlocks, chokes, neckbreakers, etc. Big Steve was cheering me on, and was growing more frustrated with The Friar's flippant behavior at ringside...the two almost came to blows as the match progressed. After countering a sleeper with a belly-to-back suplex, I went back on the offensive, but Friar MacBeth got up on the apron as More pinned my arms behind me; that's when Steve had had enough, hauling Friar down and laying him out with a huge right to the face! More was stunned at Steve's reaction, allowing me a moment to recoup and hit Mike with the Okanagan Slam for the pinfall victory: another Okanagan-Interior Title defense, in the books!

That brought us to Saturday in Vernon, and the "rubber match" with The Great Kasaki. Seth Knight did not make the trip to the Okanagan, as he was stuck at home convalescing his injured knee. It was Asian trickery against Canadian brute force, and things were looking good for yours truly...until a few kicks to the head knocked me loopy. Kasaki tossed me out of the ring to the floor, connecting with a killer dive through the ropes, that really had me on the ropes. Back in the ring, Kasaki poured on the punishment, but I fought back as best I could: countering repeated kicks to the midsection with a surprise spinebuster, etc. But Kasaki battered my ailing left knee, and when I finally unleashed a Sugar Shank, I could barely stand to further my attack. As I hobbled over the Kasaki, however, I noticed that he was primed and ready to hit me with his dreaded Green Mist...but luck was on my side, as I ducked low and drove my skull into my opponent's midsection, battering-ram style! As Kasaki choked on his own mist, the Okanagan Slam claimed a second victim that weekend!

After my first double-shot weekend as a Champion, it was nice to have four weeks to relax and try to recharge: 2009 has been my busiest year to date, wrestling-wise, but I am not getting any younger. Wrestling, coupled with my real-life factory job, is really taking a toll on this old Dog's carcass. I had planned on taking all of November off (rather than travel to the Lower Mainland for a few spot-shows), and had only agreed to work one matinee event on October 31. I figured it would be a perfect situation: head to Enderby to finish my 17-month feud with The Friar, then zip back to Kelowna to take the kids Trick-or-Treating. Easy as pie, right?

I could not have been more wrong.

Long story short, my left eyebrow was severely lacerated during the match, and eight of my teeth were broken. I should've gone for stitches in my eyebrow, but didn't want my daughters to miss out on Halloween Trick-or-Treating; I did have to spend about $1000 in dental surgery...but luckily, my dental coverage through work picked up about 70% if the tab. Let's just say it was a life lesson, and all receipts were saved: they will be paid in full, one way or another. And at the end of the day, regardless of every single under-handed trick The Friar threw my way, I walked out of Enderby the Okanagan-Interior Champion. I guess you're gonna have to pry the title out of my cold, dead hands, if you want it bad enough.

Until next time, Sugar Addicts: 2009 Year In Review!

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