I am My Father's son - Part 2

I love kids! I love my own kids even more! I think I love kids largely in part because I'm a grown kid (not in the MJ kinda way, but in the way that I like to play and have fun almost all the time!). When I first got wind that I was going to be a father, I was pretty excited because I always knew I was going to make a great father and/or maybe it was because I was going to have the opportunity to be a better Father than my own, as honorable or as silly as that may sound. The whole idea of having a part of me recreated and the endless possibilities of a new life, ok it wasn't that poetic or dramatic but it was definitely a redefining moment in life, and to me the true beginning of the legacy that I want to leave behind.

So what does being a Father mean to me? Well, from the day my daughter was born to my son being born and moving forward, I knew my life was going to change. I knew that I was going to have sacrifice a lot of things and naturally some of my wants and needs would come second to my kids. I had always envisioned having a family and being a strong family unit! Being a Father to me was understanding my role in the unit. Traditionally being the provider, to instill morals and values, to be the protector and the head of the household, but beyond that my thing is if I brought them into this world, I should at least prepare them and give them the tools as best that I can to help them make an impact while they're here! I feel like I've done pretty well for myself without my Father, but what if I had a good Father, how much better would I be right!? It is the little things where I wanted to be different, such as the words that I might say or the way that I say it that encourages my daughter to be the next  Prime Minister. The smile I give my son that will encourage him to be the next Noble Peace prize winner for excellence in Science, the one thing that I could do to encourage my children to change humanity! But if they never accomplish any of these things, they are not failures nor would I be. My success and happiness in life will not come from how much money I've made or what level position I managed to obtain, but from every tear I was there to wipe away from my daughters eyes, by every homework assignment my son and I looked for the answers together for, and for every moment that they will never have to wonder does my daddy love me!

They will speak great things of me I hope, say that I managed to change the world, but before they say what they say and tell the tales that will make me legendary, they will begin with "Tristan was a loving Father and lived for his kids"! 

 That's the legacy that I will leave behind!

Thank you for the therapy!

I am my Father's son - Part 1

Tis the season to be jolly, I guess, and no better time for family! I say "I guess" because if you have money than this is a joyous time, if not, it can be stressful! Anyhow, I was at work when a woman came to me and said, "I had to come see if you were a true Cater! They go to my church and have a very distinct look!" she recognized the name from an email I had sent earlier, and sure enough I fit the description of a Cater. She thought she may have an idea of who my father is and asked if I had a picture, so the next day I brought in a photo I had in the garage, it was a picture of him holding me as a baby. I as I starred at it, there was an eerie resemblance, almost like I was an episode of Quantum Leap looking at myself as a man 20 so odd years ago!Funny thing is my daughter as a baby looked very much like me as a baby so it made it double eerie, if you will!

My father wasn't around much, it probably worked out better that way, but I would see him from time to time. As a child, I remember sleeping over at house and feeling more thrilled to see my sisters and his wife at the time than I was to see him. As I grew older, I didn't see him as often and didn't care too, not because of any resentment, I just grew accustom to not seeing him! I was blessed to meet father figures during my years, so I never really yearned for a father presence and my mother gave me adequate resources for the things I needed so I never missed him, or thought of him much, or thought much of him!

It's hard to deny, him and I look like a splitting image of each other, but I try my hardest everyday to be nothing like him! But sometimes, in some situations the way I have handled myself makes me think "I am my father's son!" 

If I were Prime Minister...

Billionaire CEO of RIM,

Jim Balsillie

In this current economy, I would tax the top billionaires, whom have earned over $5 billion dollars, $1billion. Further to that, I would cap the amount of money a person can bring home, for example let's say the cap is $6B, for every dollar earned exceeding the cap, 1/2 would be taxed, split 50/50! Now I'm not saying that we should be a communist society, but what I'm really saying is what can you buy for $6B that you can't buy for $5B? I know it's an obvious answer but if you you took $1B from a man/woman that has $6B, he or she would still have $5B!! I guess it's easier for someone who ain't a billionaire to say that...I guess! Maybe someday...

NBA Lockout ... Still?!?!

It's day 118 of the NBA lockout and the NBA Player's Association and Owners haven't reached a deal to get the season rolling! After several meetings, including a 16 and 14 hours straight day meetings, still no deal! In other words (MY WORDS!), GROWN ASS MEN, sat down in a room for 16 hours straight and 14 hours straight another day, and failed to come out with a deal...WHAT THE HELL WERE Y'ALL TALKING ABOUT?!?! You can tell within the first 20 minutes of a meeting if this shit is pointless or not, further to that, me, personally, I would feel uncomfortable sitting and chatting with men (especially David Stern) for 16 hours straight... unless maybe we were talking about Kobe's wife, you know the woman who stuck by him after the Colorado incident... (she's smart as hell! Just saying, she got 2 kids and home boy is rich! Be honest, you would)

but regardless I would not need 16 hours to discuss that...I think. Who am I suppose to feel sympathy for? The Billionaires that are losing money or the Millionaires that can probably gain more overseas but would rather make their earnings in the US, hmm, let me think about that!

While these rich bastards are away discussing LeBron's baby mama, do they ever stop to think about you or me? I mean what's the real reason why professional sports even exist and how these "bacon belly", vertically talented individuals (and David Stern!) get their ridiculous windfalls? It's because we the people, who probably work a dead-end job as an Advertising Sales rep in an economy where there ain't much out there, living pay check to pay check, behind on every bill, struggling to keep gas in the tank, lottery playing, kitchen just sprang a leak, working class people who just want a couple of hours where we can forget about the bullshit in our daily lives, did you guys think about that?! 

I'm just saying, as a fan of the game, you have to realize that the sport is bigger than any individual and if you all truly love what you do and respect the sport, ya'll shouldn't let money or the love of money ruin that for you, me or anybody else, beside would you want us to miss all this:

Y'all figure it out!

If I were Prime Minister...

The first matter, the absolute thing that must change first is, prices are to include taxes and fees, PERIOD!!!! If an ad says $19.95 that's all that should be coming out my pocket, this issue has been going on too long! It's crazy and makes no sense, why should I figure out the taxes in my head to realize that I can't afford this shit! Gas prices do it, why can't everything else?! This is too crazy, on the government supporting education side of things, maybe this is the government's way of encouraging us to be educated and use our brains, my response is, after all the bullshit you put me through, the least y'all can do is figure out my math for me, that's all I'm saying! That or a tax break! Look how upset this makes me!

My Mazda 6 - Finale!.... Thank goodness!

To my loyal followers, I must apologize for my absence a lot has gone on! Actually, funny enough, and fittingly some regarding my Mazda 6! Anyhow, in Part1 1, I told you about how I got my G1. In part 2, I told you how I got my G2. While in my 2nd year in College, I got my full G license and I had completed the driving exam. I could drive a vehicle as I pleased, only problem was I didn't have a car! Nothing else says independence better than my very own car, at least that's what I thought at 20 years old! I was a self-proclaim "GO GET ER!" and once I made up my mind that I wanted something, nothing was going to stop me, not even my mother!! Well of course, at that time, the only one who could help me get a car was my mother, so I tried day in and out to convince my mom of the idea of me having my own car, and like everything else, she wasn't going to give in easy! Anyhow, I did my research on a website for buying and selling new and /or used cars, Auto trader.ca ( I won't charge for the plug in this time!), I found the car I felt would satisfy my needs and wouldn't break the bank. It was a burgundy red-dish, 1991 Toyota Corolla standard transmission. And of course you would ask yourself, why would a 20 year old want a Toyota Corolla, I know, looking back I ask myself the same thing as well, but I wasn't picky. I think my reasoning was, my mom would be more likely to get me this car because it wasn't as flashy and she wouldn't think I was concerned about "showing off" I guess, anyhow, although she warned me and told me I should be more patient and the fact that it was an old car there would be a lot of problems! Boy should I have listen to her, it didn't even last a year and the car died! Then I found another car, this time my mom said she wasn't going to help me because I wasn't patient enough again, so I got the car on my own. It was a 1997 Mazda Protege and  a sure upgrade from the Corolla! I had a little more appreciation for that car, I worked two jobs to ensure that I could afford it, I put in a nice sound system, it was a great car had no issues really! I could you a better story about that car if I had photos, but anyway, I damaged the front bumper in the car by willfully driving into a snow bank (I know..I thought it would've been funny!), I had landed my career job where I was expected to see clients, and there was no way I was going to let them see me coming out of that. I finally gave up that car when my grandmother said it was an "embarrassment" to see my car pull up in her driveway! Thus bringing me to the car from...well...my Mazda 6! I was quite happy when I got my new Mazda, this was the first stylish vehicle that I was proud to own, it had a nice black shine, nice rims, and....AUTOMATIC windows!!! I had arrived! When I pulled off that lot I felt a transformation in confidence! The day after, I let my soon-to-be-future wife take it for a little test drive, in a parking lot, and sure enough she scratch the side of my brand new "used" car! Surely enough, that was the beginning of the cursed vehicle known as my Mazda 6! After the incident a series of other incidents popped up as time went on, here a list of these things:

- My brakes went out in a month span
- Got an oil change at Walmart and the gentleman forgot to close the lid cause oil to spill throughout my engine
- Got pulled over at least once a month for no apparent reason
- Got countless parking tickets, and two speeding tickets
- Front brake rotors fell off two days after my warranty expired
- automatic remote broke
- The car was destroyed on the 401 while my pregnant girl drove to her moms   
- All 4 brakes had to be replaced
- Muffler fell off
- Engine problem that Mazda techs couldn't figure out how to fix
- Garage door fell on the windshield
- Sold it on Kijiji and ended up having to take it back
- Sold it on Kijiji again to find out there was a lien on the car for......$35!!!!!!!

I guess the lesson we can take from this is to never let your girlfriend drive your car! I'm kind of joking... kind of!

Anyhow, I sold this cursed vehicle and paid the stupid $35 dollar lien, hopefully the guy doesn't want his money back because of the lien! Honestly, I'm so sick and tired of thinking of this car so I'll stop! Hopefully, I can turn a new chapter in my life and move on to better things and vehicles too!

I'll post some pictures if I can find some!

Mazda 6 - Part Deux

Because I went to driving school, I was able to take my G2 test within 8 months of passing my G1 test, as oppose to the 12 month waiting period. G2 is the next level test drivers must complete before obtaining the Full G Driver's License. G2 also, provides more perks such allowing the driver to drive unaccompanied by a Full G driver, as well as, access to all major highways. What was considered the pass to adulthood before, fails in comparison to what the G2 License had made available! G2 didn't just mean welcome to adulthood, it represented that we have arrived to adulthood in fashion (if you will!)! The thought of driving anywhere we pleased, the kind of car we dreamed of, and of course, for every teenage boy, the GIRLS!!!! So you know I had to get this! I passed driving school with flying colors, you could say I was one of the top drivers in the class, there were no doubts in my mind that I wouldn't pass my G2 test. I booked my test in the Spring, which was perfectly planned so I could drive all summer! I got into the car with my instructor, started the engine and went! My palms were clammy, I was a pretty good driver and never felt nervous but this time I was being graded on every turn, every move and the dreadful though of failing and not having my G2 in time for my 17th birthday was really weighing on me! I exaggerated every movement when I looked into my rear view mirrors to ensure the instructor noticed that I was obeying the rules. He asked me to turn down an empty street, uphill park, 3  point turn nailed them all beautifully. I would glance over to him time after time to see his reaction and if he noticed my attention to detail. He then instructed me to return back to the testing center and I was feeling quite confident so as I proceeded to drive back, he slammed on the brakes (it was a instructing car so there was a brake pedal on the passenger side) and there was an expression on his face of huge discontent while he was shaking his head, "is there something wrong?" I asked, "Did you not see that STOP sign?", it was behind a few branches of a tree that descended in front of the stop sign. "Will I still pass?" I asked and the instructor gave a little chuckle and said no more, he didn't have to. I returned to the center where my driving instructor was waiting for me, he was quite confident I would pass, but to his surprise and mine, I didn't! What a horrible feeling, the ride home was like imaging Justin Beiber singing live (well maybe not as bad!). I was determined to get my G2 before my birthday, so I again booked my test as soon as possible, and this time it was set-up in June in Oshawa. Again confident, I took my test with my friend's sister's car, I nailed all the technical stuff, 3 point turns, parallel parking but what I didn't know was Oshawa had one way roads and the rule is when turning on a one way road the driver must enter the first lane, I of course, jumped to the third thus failing! My friend and his sister tried to hold in their amusement because it was apparent that I was upset, but they couldn't help it! So as I did before, I booked the test again but there were no availabilities until the following November. That day I had a basketball game, that I couldn't play in due to a disciplinary sentence of too many lates, anyhow a friend and teammate had agreed to let me use his car, so I went to the game. The game started at 3:15 and my test was at 5:35, I though I had more than enough time. It was an amazing game, we were leading by 20 points, there were a ton of highlights and was just a feel good moment for our team. After we won the game, we rushed to get to the testing center, we didn't get there until 6:05 and all the lights were off, I had missed my test and on top of that I had to pay an extra $40 to rebook it! Did I do something wrong in a past life? To make a long story short, almost 2 years later I booked my test and again a friend from school agreed to let me use her car, which worked out because she was planning on getting her motorcycle license, and after all was said and done... I finally passed and she failed..teehheee!

Now getting my G license... actually I got it on the first try, no problem! In Part 3, I will discuss my pursuit to  my first vehicle!

My Mazda 6 - Part 1

As a teenager, I couldn't wait until my 16th birthday so I could write my G1 test. The G1 test in Ontario, is the first of 3 driving tests when obtaining a Driver's License. I guess, to my peers and I, it was more than just a test, it symbolized being mature and our pass to the society of adulthood. Obviously now, we realize a Driver's License doesn't make anybody more of an adult than someone who doesn't have it, but at that time, that's how we felt! As it was nearing to my birthday (July1st) I realized that I would have to delay taking the test due to a family trip to Jamaica, even though we weren't leaving until after my birthday, July 1st is a national holiday in Canada. It happened to fall on a Saturday, nonetheless the Monday was viewed as the holiday and my flight left on Tuesday July 5! Although I turned 16, I was not able to write the test because all the government offices were closed! Most people would say "Great! I'm going to Jamaica!" but I was kind of gloomy thinking that I will only be further prolonged in acquiring my pass to being a man, no one sympathized with me. Anyhow, I went to Jamaica for little more than 2 weeks, it was the best vacation that I've ever had, disappointed to leave actually! But anyway there was a bigger task at hand, my G1 license! So finally, Aug 1 (1 month later), I hopped on the bus to go down to the Ministry of Transportation to finally do my G1 test, there was a huge line up. I waited about 45 minutes, got up to the service desk and provided the necessary documents to take the test, went in and confidently took my test on the computer, then waited for my results. I waited for my number to be displayed and walked up to the service desk, the lady handed me my test, and.... I failed by 1 mark! My heart shattered to pieces, I thought 'How am I going to face my friends? I'll be the butt of every joke!". The service rep mentioned that I could redo my test as early as the next day, and that's what I intended to do, but the fact that I have to face my friends made me nervous! Anyhow, I went back home and met my friends outside and of course the first question was "Did you get it?" and me, with no hesitation, "Of course!". One friend ask to see the paper, but I responded that I left it inside at home, fortunately for me that was good enough and that was that!I woke up early the next morning, hopped on the bus, and redid my test this time not as confident as the first time! I waited to get my results, and had that nervous feeling in my stomach, I waited and got called up to retrieve my results and... I passed with a perfect score! The relief, the joy, the sudden feeling of becoming a man was the only thing I could feel at that moment!

In Part 2, I will tell you the tale of how I got my G2 and eventually my G license. This post is inspired by a vehicle I'm currently having difficulties getting rid of, a 2004 Mazda 6! It is kind of ironic, the trouble that I'm going through when it comes to having this vehicle and the trouble I went through to acquire the license to operate a vehicle, but anyhow I hope you enjoy!

I AM Troy Davis!

I know this blog series is about me and my life, but I wanted to take the opportunity to touch on a matter that's weighing on me. On Thursday, September 21, 2011, Troy Anthony Davis was executed in Georgia for the murder of an off-duty police officer Mark MacPhail. If you are not familiar with case here is a link to inform you of who Troy Davis is and how the events lead to his execution (Troy Davis). He was sentenced in 1991, denied three times by the Parole Board in Georgia, exhausted all his options, but to no avail. There was no physical evidences other than eye witness testimonies, one being  a potential suspect, and many of the witnesses have recanted their testimonies, one even saying they were pressured by law authority.. I'm no legal expert, but I'm quite sure the law says "without reasonable doubt", but there was a lot, in fact too much reason, to doubt yet he was still executed. Samuel David Crowe was on death row in the same state, pleaded guilty and apologized, but his life was spared by the same board who reject ed Troy Davis's appeal for clemency. Troy Davis was a black male and was not proven guilty without a doubt yet still executed, Samuel Crowe is a white male, admitted to the murder and was spared...you be the judge!

As I was reading into the Troy Anthony Davis case, I also did some research on executions in Canada and the United States, here's what stood out to me:

• The last execution in Canada was at the Don Jail, in Toronto 12:02 AM December 11,1962
• 13 Woman have been executed in Canada
• The Death Penalty was abolished in Canada in 1963
• Willie Francis was the first recipient of a failed execution by electrocution, he was a 16 year old black male in the US 
• The state of Texas has executed 475 inmates since 1976, 366 more than the next highest state

RIP Troy Davis

All Great Things Must Have a Beginning!

Hi My name is Tristan Patrick Cater, I am 27 years old, a father of a beautiful 2 year old daughter, I am the apple of the eyes of her mother and a family first kind of guy. I'm currently employed in the Publishing industry as an Account manager for a successful Magazine. I enjoy sports, music, movies and a new found hobby in producing beats in my spare time! My original intent for this blog was to release a series of chapters in a book that I haven't wrote yet, a new concept of blogging that I thought of (I wonder if I can patent that?). Since I haven't written any books yet I figure I would give you a glimpse of the life and times of who other...  me! (Trust me I'm equally if not more entertaining!) I don't have a perfect life by any stretch but it's nothing I'm ashamed of either. I hope that I can share, relate and inspire all of you, I call this blog "Everybody Hates Tris" a play on "Everybody Hates Chris" by Chris Rock, where like Chis, I always feel like I get the short end of the stick, so this blog will be a recollection of past events where I felt like a got the short end, as well as, current issues I deal with. I hope you enjoy!

Look at me now! I have a wonderful house, an SUV, a career, everything I could imagine and the sky is the limit for a 27 year old! Things are looking pretty good, huh? Don't be so quick to make up your mind yet, I have a house that is an hour and a half away from my work that I overpaid for, an SUV that sucks gas as if the tank was manufactured by Dyson himself, or your favorite adult film actress(which ever works for you), a career that I don't love but don't hate and pays just enough for me to live another week! The only thing I can think of when I hear "the sky is the limit" is "yeah for my debt!". Based on what I just said, let's to do some math:

Work 5 days a week, it takes me approx. 3 hour a day to and from work, that's 15 hours a week, 60 hours a month, 720 hrs a year, subtract 3 hours from every vacation day for the year 720 - 45 = 675 hours spent in car to work and back!  Dang!


$100 of gas per 2.5 days going to and from work. Work 5 days a week therefore $200 min to work a week! Let's add that up per month $800, per year $9,600 but wait let's subtract the vacation days for the year (15/2.5= 6) $600 so the year total spent on gas to work is $9,000 min NET! Dang!

[Life is really great, provided my math is correct!]

On a positive note, I have a beautiful family, a 2 year old daughter and her lovely mother to keep me going and a new member will be joining us shortly! I have my health and for all I know things could be a lot worst, so that's why I'm thankful, I have a lot to be thankful for. But at times I have to wonder, what if? Don't get me wrong I'm truly thankful for everything I have regarding my family and our health, wouldn't trade for anything else in the world, but what if? What if I had made different decisions growing up? What if I went right instead of left? Stayed instead of leaving? Said yes instead of no? Who knows, but I always look back though. If it's true all great things come to an end then all great things must have a beginning, so I look at the great beginnings of the past to make great beginnings for the future! So let's go to the beginning of greatness, Sunday, July 1st, 1984!

On Sunday, July 1st, 1984, at 5:27 pm, Venice Davis gave birth to healthy boy, 6lbs 6oz, named Tristan Patrick Cater. Father Delroy (Daryl) Cater. Some facts of the month of July in 1984. Source Wikipedia:

• July 14 – New Zealand Prime Minister Robert Muldoon calls a snap election and is heavily defeated by opposition Labour leader David Lange.
• July 18
  • Beverly Lynn Burns becomes the first woman Boeing 747 captain in the world.

Newspaper vending machine featuring news of the 1984 Summer Olympics, which opened on July 28.

• July 23 – Vanessa Lynn Williams becomes the first Miss America to resign when she surrenders her crown, after nude photos of her appear in "Penthouse" magazine.
• July 25 – Salyut 7: Cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya becomes the first woman to perform a space walk.
• July 28–August 12 – The 1984 Summer Olympics are held in Los Angeles, California

GREATNESS in 1984

• Early in 1984, Apple released the Apple Macintosh computer. 
• The Winter Olympics, Summer Olympics and Euro Cup held in the same year
•  Michael Jordan was selected 3rd overall by the Chicago Bulls and we all know how that turned out! 

A little treat for you!