Archive for January, 2004
January 31st, 2004 -- Posted in News |
There seems to be a lot of change going on in Kingston. Looking through the paper today I learned that Starbuck’s is opening a store downtown!! Only a few minutes from work… that could be dangerous.
On a sadder note, Kinnear d’Esterre Jewellers is closing. I am not sure how many years it has been in Kingston but they are a jeweller I trust. They also have great stuff and are in a great spot. There are no young jewellers in their family so they are retiring and closing the business! My wedding gift from Doug came from there!
January 28th, 2004 -- Posted in Misc |
A day off was soooo close, I could taste it. I woke up not feeling great and almost called in sick because I felt I could go either way. But I had some Gravol and off to work I went. On the road the school is on, there was a huge patch of water (can water be a patch?? It wasn’t ice yet… and it was bigger than a puddle..) so I figured there must be a broken water main. Turns out there was a broken water main that ran behind the school… feet from the school, yet didn’t effect our water supply. When I get into the school, there is no heat. Schools have a rule about it being a certain temperature or the school is closed… well, they got the heat fixed. So, on a day that I should have been able to stay home, well, it only got worse. Some kid pulled the fire alarm so we were all out in the snow. Luckily most of the kids were just coming in from recess so it was only me in my Birkenstock’s freezing my toes.
I really shouldn’t complain, Friday is a PD Day and I don’t have to work it! So tomorrow really is my Friday. My parents are coming to visit so it’s going to be a great weekend!! And tomorrow is pyjama day at work so I get to end it in comfy clothes too!
January 24th, 2004 -- Posted in Commentary |
Dunn’s, the Montreal-based deli, was highly recommended to me, so we decided to give it a try - specifically their smoked meat, and cheesecakes. We showed up and stood in the doorway for ~ 4-5 minutes waiting to be seated, while there were at least 3 tables available. A group of 6 guys walked out while we were waiting as they hadn’t been served. Eventually, I think it was the manager, sat us in a quite business-like manner (”Follow me. Sorry for the wait.” was all she said). Scanning the room I noticed a dozen or so individuals wearing scarves or sweaters or their coats. Admittedly, it was a very cold day but the restaurant didn’t have an ante-room, just double doors directly to the outdoors. Furthermore, the ventilation was pumping out cool air - not the blasting of hot air that one would expect from such a designed restaurant. A couple of other groups were seated, and apparently the waiters knew them, as they asked “How was New York”, and “Do you wish to order the usual?” - each group having their order taken before we even saw a waiter. So, after a 10 minute wait, we too got up and left. On the way out I mentioned to the bus boy that they have staffing issues, and to please pass the message on to the manager. I doubt it will happen - he didn’t seem to care. Alas, I now conclude that Dunn’s (specifically the Kingston site, possibly indicative of the organizational mindset) is not a restaurant that I will likely visit again, nor will I recommend it to others. It baffles me how a customer-based business can fail to realize that by not offering the basics of service and care, they lose a lifetime of business from a customer who tells their story to others. [undeserving of a link]
So, we went to Toucan/Kirkpatricks. Apparently, my uncle’s cousin owns it. Except for a little cobwebs on the ceiling, it was a pleasant experience with quick service, a warm cozy environment, a friendly waitress, good beers on tap, and a nice menu. They have gained a lifetime of business from a customer who will tell this story to others.
January 24th, 2004 -- Posted in Misc |
It’s that time of year again where Doug and I think about where we want to go for our summer holiday. We don’t really have any ideas and are open to suggestions. We will most likely be going in August… maybe July. What do people recommend?
January 24th, 2004 -- Posted in News |
I think I’m developing an ulcer, or at least acid reflux. Could have something to do with recent stress (I love the excitement, but I have a ways to go in handling it well) or with not eating (I’ve lost 10 lbs in 2 weeks, partly due to skipping lunch and eating a minimal breakfast with insufficient water throughout the day). I discussed it with my dietitian and I think I’ll work on trying to improve (wow, that doesn’t sound very commital). At least I get some exercise - hockey on a Friday night. Can you say “27 year old weekend warrior, high risk of a heart attack”? This happens most winters, then spring comes along, I take some vacation, get the bike out, and start eating much better. Maybe I need to move to Florida.
January 23rd, 2004 -- Posted in Misc |
Well, I have been going to the gym for about 6 months now and have recently learned that exercise can be harmful. My non-dominant side has a very tight tricept and minor teres…. my massage therapist and I were trying to figure out why since I don’t really use my left hand for much. Well, I got thinking and concluded that it must be the elliptical machine at the gym. I don’t usually use the arm part that moves your arms and just grip onto the handles on the front so that I don’t fall off… usually gripping with all my strength. So our guess is, is that I am just holding on too tight and now my arm has seized too!
January 20th, 2004 -- Posted in Misc |
… to visit Kingston, well, we are getting Canada’s largest Canadian Tire Store. They are adding on to the current store and I guess they are adding some extra departments… ie. florals?? I guess it’s for the guy who goes to Canadian Tire to buy an anniversary gift and then sees flowers and figures that might better than the compound mitre he was going to get her in the first place. I forget some of the other areas but it might make the trip going there all the better. Kingston is definitely getting into the big box stores now. Within a few blocks of each other is Home Depot, Canadian Tire, and Rona. We have one Big Box area and in May they will be tearing down one of our malls to build more Big Box stores… I prefer malls myself but tolerate the box stores so I can get my Michael’s and Old Navy fix!
January 20th, 2004 -- Posted in News |
Well, well, well. What did I get in my Trash box today? More spam from Bigfoot. So was it just a tease to sign up with them when they stopped sending mail? Interesting… I never did sign up so they must have known I wasn’t going to budge after I signed in …
January 19th, 2004 -- Posted in Misc |
Well, the new car isn’t directly for me but my cab driver got a new car!! It is probably a little older than my last cab but it is SOOOO much nicer and I don’t have to worry about it falling apart while I’m in it. I found out about it before Larry. The Friday driver told me… It’s an Oldsmobile Eighty Eight? ‘96 model and only 82000 km on it. Very nice seats… can’t say I miss the cold vinyl of the old Lumina. Anyway, that should make riding in the cab a little easier for the rest of the year!!
January 18th, 2004 -- Posted in News |
We were noticing that we were receiving very little spam recently and thought it was because one of our e-mail servers might have put in an anti-spam detector. Then I realized this morning that a lot of that mail came from Bigfoot. I log into Bigfoot and they say that I have opted out of their mailings and they will no longer forward my mail if I don’t opt into their mailings from Bigfoot and their supporters. Weird how they just ended it spontaneously. How sad that my bigfoot account is now gone. *sniff* I could opt back in but that would mean the hundereds of spam again. Has anyone else noticed this happening to them??
January 18th, 2004 -- Posted in News |
Yesterday was a good day. I bought a new router (previously using a switch), got it working and our internet connection is faaaast. It was weird, Future Shop had advertised on their site and in their store that there is a $25 mail in rebate available, but the Terms and Conditions said “Best Buy Canada only” - so I called Future Shop and she said “that’s very strange. I will have it investigated. Please call back in 5 business days”. I got a case number, got her name and badge number, took some screenshots of the rebate form and the page that said that it was available, and now comes the perpetual struggle against big business. I somehow will get my rebate!
Then I bought a pair of shoes - regular $60, but 50% off. I’m a discriminating shopper - in other words, I waste too much time wandering, evaluating, being picky, and not really sure what I’m looking for. But this was the first store that I looked at, the 2nd pair of shoes that I tried on, and I had decided in ~ 5 minutes that I was going to get them. Being 70% less than what I would normally spend on that type of shoe made it a bit easier.
I got my skates sharpened at Canadian Tire. I have 1 or 2 more sharpenings on my frequent user card, and then I think I’ll start going to the little guy (as in, small business, not man of short stature) who lives around the corner from us and does it out of his house. CT had a 4 hour wait - this guy I could walk over when he finishes.
And then we went out to Swiss Chalet. The chicken was so juicy and flavourful, such a large, soft breast (hmmm…) and delicious fries. Even their round, soft buns (hmmm…) are tasty. I have a dirty mind, but yummy in my tummy.
And finally, I rearranged the furniture in our basement. It was quite a job, but it brightens it up, minimizes, makes the layout more functional, and allows me to massage Jenn’s feet while we watch TV. She’s happy.
January 17th, 2004 -- Posted in News |
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January 15th, 2004 -- Posted in Misc |
A few weeks ago we posted a picture of our mystery snowballs in our front yard. They appeared from no where and there were no footprints to indicate anyone had been around to make them. Well, in today’s edition of The Kingston Whig Standard, they had an article about them. We aren’t crazy after all!
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January 15th, 2004 -- Posted in News |
So close to having a day off of work *sigh*. Around 12:30 today there was a small flood at work as some pipes froze and burst on the second floor causing a flood upstairs in the daycare as well as downstairs in one of the classrooms. Needless to say, we weren’t allowed to pee all afternoon. No one knew where the water shut off was so we all ran out to pee before the water was shut off. I was hoping there would be no work tomorrow as that is a school regulation… no water, no school. But I guess they got it back on. I can still hope for a day off. Watertown once again is all shut down because it’s too cold for their students to go to school!!! It’s the same temperature there as here… -40 with windchill! Argh… I think I need to move there!
January 14th, 2004 -- Posted in Misc |
Happy Birthday to Jackie and Judy and Happy Sweet 16 to Bethany!
January 13th, 2004 -- Posted in Silliness |
u l t r a m i c r o s c o p i c
“what makes the door knob the perfect place to hang a bra? some times so many bras the knob becomes unusable. soon all the knobs in the house will be adorned, and she will need to start using the outdoor knobs. i believe the kitchen cupboard knobs may be an ideal place to hang jock straps.”
January 12th, 2004 -- Posted in Misc |
[Ruth] hmmm first thing to do when one gets home is …. check spam for emails (link)
January 12th, 2004 -- Posted in Silliness |
Dear Doug.
For Valentine’s I would like the heart shaped Precious Moments box (like the one you got for our anniversary) … it is in the Valentine’s section at Wal-Mart and say “Hugs and Butterfly Kisses”. It is on the outisde aisle close to the video/electonic section at my waist level… It is $8.00
Love,
Hopefully,
Your Valentine
PS. Will you be my Valentine?
January 11th, 2004 -- Posted in Misc |
We were in Jumbo Video renting movies when I wandered into the previously viewed section. I came across a childhood favourite that I had totally forgotten about called “Jack Frost’. It has the same animation as my favourite ‘Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer’ and has some of the same voices. It is by Rankin/Bass and was made in 1979. It was cute to watch again! Now I have another movie to add to my holiday collection… all made in the 70’s… Yikes.
January 11th, 2004 -- Posted in Misc |
I love reading books but I have a problem putting them down. I get obsessed about finishing them but am sad when they are done. I have pretty much been reading for five hours and finally finished it…. I’m not so sad finishing this one as it is the first in a series of seven. I just have to located book number 2 somewhere since the library doesn’t have it…
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