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There’s Some Positive Thinking…

Every day I break my previous record of consecutive days still alive.

– BeeCee GS

Week

So…  I finished my course this week and I passed!  WOohoo!  I did a paper on independent reading.  Did you know there was a difference between independent reading and quiet reading time?  I certainly didn’t.

I finished my paper Tuesday and worked ahead on the weeks work and headed off to Buffalo for a few days of shopping with my Mom.  I think we were there a little too early this year - the summer stuff had been picked over and the fall stuff wasn’t quite out yet.  The sad thing, was that I bought more for school/kids than I did for myself!!  But when boxes of 24 crayola crayons are selling for 15 cents… how can you turn your back?  I bought markers, pencil crayons, markers, glue and scissors for every kid in my class for $25.00. Not too bad - most of it Crayola!

I did make it to all of my favourite haunts though.  Bath and Body works (new pink grapefruit!!!), Cracker Barrell, Bob Evans (Great new a la carte breakfast menu), and T.G.I.Fridays.  It was a nice little trip away.

jPod - a soggy soddy body

Just finished reading Douglas Coupland’s new book jPod. Overall, I think it’s the weakest of any of his books. Usually when I read his books, I get a dozen blurbs that I must copy into a little quote database I maintain, but this one? Nothing. It was more abstract than usual - I prefer books that follow some degree of linearity, whether it be a plot (usually, yawn, but if a good plot then it works), or progressive character development, or the evolution of conceptual ideas, but this just felt so random. I can’t think back and remember any episode or feeling while reading it - just blandness. I liked the interjection of “Douglas Coupland” references, and it was nice to read samplings of a lifestyle with which I can identify, and when isn’t pi to 100,000 decimals a cool thing? [Brock, what did you think?]

Biking… (surprisingly, I’m referring to bicycling)

I was biking down the road this afternoon, in a construction zone, just sorta cruising on the level when this car pulled up to me and said “You were doing 38 km/h back there. Impressive. You look so smooth and efficient on the bike. You’re really good.” Talk about making me feel like a million bucks. After the light, going down the hill, I swear I must’ve been doing 50 km/h.

I’m really enjoying biking to work. It’s only a 7 minute bike ride to get to the Conservation Area, then it’s another 25 minutes through parks and on trails to get to work. Beautiful. The air is so fresh and the scenery is amazing, I get the exercise I need, and I hardly notice how hard I’m working. I get to work covered in sweat, have a quick shower, and I feel great the rest of the day. I only do this once or twice a week, and I walk once a week, but hey, it’s great fun.

Me and my Motorcycle

I passed! So tomorrow I will go to the Ministry and pick up my M2 license. I can drive a motorcycle on any highway (including 400 series) at any time of the day, with passengers, but the only qualifier is a zero blood alcohol. No problem! I don’t even think I’ll do passengers for quite some time, and daytime only for at least a few outings, and I’m fine staying off highways for a while (I drive on the 401 maybe once every two months now as it is).

The next step is to buy a motorcycle. I’m thinking of a sport-touring bike (not racing, and not cruiser). It’ll be my learner bike, so Jenn won’t be riding it for a while yet, and when she does, well, I’ll probably be ready for an upgrade by that point. In ~ 2 years (technically 18 months, but that brings us to the winter, so it’ll be the following summer) I can get my full M license.

I sorta screwed up one of the test stations, which had the beneficial effect of putting me in the mindset that I’m not an expert, but rather I’ve got a bunch of quiet road and parking lot practicing to do. It’ll be neat to see myself become better. The course was good for hints and tips and head knowledge, but it was all parking lot scenarios, so it didn’t feel real. I’d imagine the insurance would be worse if they took us on the road, but it would’ve made the course that much better.

Maybe soon I’ll update again with pics of my new bike.

For those who read this and think I’m crazy, I present the following:

The motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without training; 92% were self-taught or learned from family or friends. Motorcycle rider training experience reduces accident involvement and is related to reduced injuries in the event of accidents.

Almost half of the fatal accidents show alcohol involvement.

Most riders would over brake and skid the rear wheel, and under brake the front wheel greatly reducing collision avoidance deceleration. The ability to counter steer and swerve was essentially absent. (This was a major part of the training)

Motorcycle riders in these accidents were significantly without motorcycle license, without any license, or with license revoked.

This doesn’t mean I’m immune, rather I know much more of what to do to prevent or avoid such accidents, thereby reducing the risk. Risk (in some cases, with a similar level) exists in many activities from driving a car to eating poorly or not exercising (or exercising!), or canoeing and camping.

Ontario canoeist survives bear attack

This is incredible

Tom Tilley, 55, of Waterloo, Ont. killed the nearly 90-kilogram bear by jumping on its back and stabbing it with a 15-cm hunting knife. But Tilley and his dog were both bitten in the incident.

Christmas, Surprise, WOW, A Few of My Favourite Things, Customer Service

When you can’t think of one title, use them all. Yesterday when I got home, there was a parcel on the porch - my LL Bean order. WOohoo! But, there was also a delivery slip for me to pick up a parcel. I didn’t have anything else on order so was baffled as to what it could be. So this afternoon I headed to the post office to pick up my package. When she pulled out a Sanford box, I knew what it was!!

WOOHOO! During the school year I purchased the latest Laurentian markers for my classroom. They basically lasted two weeks and then they were dead - with minimal use! So I wrote to the company and they told me to mail them to them for quality inspection and they would send me a free sample. Well about 5 months went by before I actually mailed them and today - the free samples arrived.

There are LOTS more than I expected! WOW!! They sent me a grab bag of samples from markers, highlighters, pencils, permanent markers, dry erase, etc! I also learned that they make Sharpie, EXPO, Sanford, Laurentian… WOW! This package made my day. Anyone that really knows me knows how much I love pens, markers, etc. I was really worried that my box would get stolen while I was in the grocery store… but it made it home safe and sound. Now I have to go smell the smelly markers. All in all, I will be a faithful Sanford customer for sure!

Slaves, I tell you, Slaves!

I knew we men work harder and longer.

Random Stuff

We went to the Ferguson’s for dinner last night…. of course we had stimulating conversation but the thing I learned… is that nutmeg is actually the pit of a fruit that grows on a tree. AND there is this viney, twiney part attached to the nutmeg… and it is mace! Who knew that mace and nutmeg were from the same plant? Interesting.

I also went to Costco yesterday with Miss Christmas… I have added a Costco membership to my wish list. They always have neat stuff… and I always control myself! But once a year with a friend is never enough.

There are also films on the National Film Board site at the moment. The Blackfly is on there! http://www.nfb.ca/animation/objanim/en/films/index.php

Today I got a library card at the University of Guelph.  It’s not nearly as pretty or resourceful as the Queen’s University libraries!  But it will do.  I do love university libraries… so many books!  Crazy.
We have also decided to go to the east coast for our holiday this year (Canadian coast that is). So if you have any ‘must see’ places that you have been to, please let us know!

Geocaching with the ‘Squitos

On our geocache today, we dropped off our geocoin, and we found a $1 bill with wheresgeorge.com written on it. So I register the find and find out that it hasn’t been registered before! Isn’t that dumb? Oh well… at least I started the journey.
P.S. We’re up to 17 cache finds! And Jenn found her first 2 finds! So proud…

New Tax

Yeah! We are paying less tax - how exciting!!! I have found a new… incovenience with it though (aside from knowing what 15% tip to leave…)… DOLLAR STORES!! Now, instead of being $1.15, $2.30, $3.45, it’s $1.14, $2.28… etc… I have to dig out the pennies now! How inconvenient for dollar store owners. But… I am still not complaining.. less tax is less tax.

Doug is Happy?

I’m famous! A “friend” sent me this link. Now, I have no reason whatsoever to believe it is true, but it’s kinda neat that people are talking about me. Note: I wouldn’t follow the link if you’re easily offended, or if your thoughts of me tend to waver, as I don’t need you to start believing it. Not that there’s anything wrong with it, of course.
[EDITED: Link fixed. Stupid xhtml.]

Free

Free Slurpee at 7-11 on July 11th!!!  I read it on redflagdeals.com… So I hope it’s true!

WANTED: Jennifer

CRIME:  Prank calling the police using 911.

Well, it appears the Kingston police were looking for me today… even stopped by my old house!  They traced a cellphone to me that had been used all afternoon making prank 911 calls.  So after the new owner of the house called… and the police… I think we figured out that the cellphone stolen…  FIVE YEARS ago, was used for this! It was taken when our car was stolen.  I think the phone is about 12 years old as I had it in college.  Even though the phone was cancelled, they still have 911 capabilities.  I hopefully cleared my name!

Start Shopping…

Onl 174 days left until Christmas!

Old Times

We headed to Port Elgin yesteday to hang out with Chris and Dianna!  For some reason I am a lobster - and that is with sunscreen!  Not happy.  We got to go through Chris and Dianna’s new house!  It’s very nice and has lots of character.  They even have their own plum, apple and cherry trees!  We drove by camp - nothing too exciting… we didn’t stop in.  We had a great day and have learned it isn’t too far away so will head up again soon!  Oh, we used the GPS to navigate our way there - it is fantastic!  Chris and Dianna live in a non-town ie. it’s not on a map but it actually showed up on the GPS… even to their house number!  Very cool.

Le Tour

The excitement is on!  Tour de France started this weekend and it is always a favourite of ours.  We missed watching it together last year… and I think Doug missed most of it so it is nice to be in the same place again to watch!  We are excited to see how people will do now that Lance isn’t in it.  Some of the people we were rooting for got sent home for positive drug tests!!  Shocker!  Jan Ulrich has always come close to Lance and we were hoping he would do well this year, but alas he went home.  Today ended with an injury from the crowd - some cheering hand sliced the yellow jersey rider… luckily he finished the race today and will be able to ride - it looked pretty bad though!

Happy “Crack You Up” Canada Day!

Overheard in the Office (errr… down south)

Worker #1: I ordered the print from that guy. I’m his first international sale: he’s in Canada.
Worker #2: Canada cracks me up.

I had to think about it for a bit…

Overheard in the Office (errr… the bathroom)

Urinal #1: I am going home for the day. Take care, you have a good one.
Urinal #2: Thanks; I didn’t even know you were looking.

There’s Coin in Geocaching

Earlier this week we helped some friends (TheDearloves) with their first cache find, and today we helped a couple of others (Kristen and Nate - not yet registered at geocaching.com) with theirs.  And I found a geo-coin (MOQV9A)!  It’s pretty new (Apr 2006), and I want to take it out east, but that’s too long to wait, I’m afraid.  Bad etiquette, you know.  Maybe when we go up to Paisley area on Monday…

I think it’s the combination of hiking, caching, doing so with friends, taking pictures, discovering new trails and sights and regions, that I love about this.  For Jenn?  It’s the trinkets.