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Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Back to the Status Quo.

I get to the kennel to get Kjell, they didn't do his exam or his checks yet, WTF!! They've had him since the 17th. He is happy to see me, but boy does he hate the carrier.  I get him settled into the flat and I head into the office. 

Things at the office were quiet.  Get my battle plan about the next few days together and that's a wrap.

More Later....
G.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

A Quiet Day

I spend the day decompressing, I miss Kjell, he is still at the kenel until the 29th. I get some coffee and some za and watch football, just not the same as watching futbol in mexico.  I caught a couple of the premiership matches while I was in mexico,  what a difference in the commentators.

I catch up on my email and call it a night.

More Later .....
G.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Day 10 -- México 2008 -- SLP -> YEG

I was expecting everyone around 9h30, but surprise the plans were changed.  I hear a knock on the door just as I'm getting out of the shower.  Everyone is downstairs.... EARLY!!! It turns out that Nevlin Grande is giving me the ride to the airport, instead of mama and Cristina.  I hurriedly dress myself and pop downstairs and say my fairwells to Mama, Estef, Cristina and Nelvin.  I settle up my hotel tab (~1500 pesos), load my stuff in Nelvin Grande's truck and airport bound I go.


SLP->IAH


I arrive at the airport ~10h00 and no one is at the Continental Gate.  I press the button, nope.  I'm finally told they are just finishing their morning coffee and will be out in a couple moments.  10h15 there was a swarm of activity and they setup inspection tables etc.  They inspect my checked bag that I had so carefully packed and in the process of helping the girl close my bag I caught my finger nail on the zipper and torn part of it off .... OWWWWWW!!!!.... I get a concha (a yummy sweet bun) and a double espresso, and go into the secured area.

They inspect all my carryons and confiscate 4 AA batteries that I had in my fanny pack...WTF, the fanny pack cleared Canadian and American Customs as is .... ahh well.  I grab a can of mineral water while I'm waiting in the gate area.  Finally the Imigration booth opens and I get cleared and now just have to wait for my boarding call. I notice in one of the papers they were questioning the cost of the festival of lights (~20million pesos) compared to the benifits of tourism.  I didn't read the article since I'm just not that useful in spanish.  There are a whack of kids under 10 running around screaming at the top of their lungs, please god don't let them be on my flight.

Boarding time and they re-open all my carry ons?! WTF!! I get boarded, DAMN, the kids are on the plane, this is gonna be a long loud flight I can feel it.  The plane is an Embraer 145, same as plane comming down, and it's full but atleast I'm in the row of singles.  There was the cutie on the plan be she was a couple rows ahead of me and engrossed in her magazines.  About an hour into the flight this 5 or 6 year old starts screaming at the top of her lungs trying to get her dads attention, and it continues until we land an IAH, wheres my dramamine.  I thought the babies were going to be the issue nope, was the yard apes.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Day 9 -- México 2008 -- Tripitas

Today is Marcela and Issac's last day with us, so I get to the house early and say my farewells. I do a first photo pass of the house, but the results are vetoed. Estef and Cristina have a siesta, so mama, Nelvin and I head to a major park for a bit of sight seeing.

On route to the park I see a mamey vendor, I shout mamey, take note of the location but we didn't stop, D'OH!!! We make our way to Tangamanga Park.

Tangamanga Park, is San Luis' equivalent of Central Park, or Stanley Park etc. People running, an RC Plane/Car area, BMX Track, tennis courts etc. It's mostly irrigated so it's an nice green oasis in the middle of the mexican desert. They also have a botanical garden of the native flora of the state. We stroll around the garden, and then head out, we get a couple of frozen fruit bars (I forget which type, something we normally don't see here ... sniff.) Now to find that mamey cart. Nope, gone, no sign of him, I'm left wanting. I'm still kicking myself, I should have bought more mamey that first time.

We get back to the house enjoy our fruit bar and then clean the house. Out we go, for lunch, mariscos y tostadas. Yummy, A large seafood cocktail with a splash of salsa and advocado. Sooo goood. Why can't we get food like this backhome. MickeyDees or BurgerKing is just not the same. Fastfood that is fast and flavourful and nutritious.

A little more cleaning, now as each room meets mama's approval I snap off the photos.Unfortunately we never got mama's room upto scratch... ahhh welll. Supper time and the quest for Tripitas, tripe tacos. We find the place, yeaaaaahhhh!! So Good, Nelvin and I need seconds. I've noticed the sodas I've been drinking here in Mexico are much less sweet than stuff in Canada and the US. Come to think of it the cereal I ate as well. Stupid yanks and the high fructose corn syrup ( watch King Corn.)

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Day 8 -- México 2008 -- Navidad

Feliz Navidad!! Feliz Navidad!! You know the song.  I made my way back to Cristina's__ Hey! I'm getting the hang of this cab thing, I'm actually getting to the door without pulling my hair out.  We eat left overs, the bacalao like any sauce is better the next day; I conviced people to eat the bacalao as a sauce for the pasta yummy. 

I do photos of Marcela, Nevlin, and Cristina as well as Estefania in the park across the street.  It's great to see Cristina with her family.

Back to the kitchen I prepare potato pancakes with capers, smoked salmon, sour cream, minced onion and parsley.  Mama had sent her skillet back to Monterrey, D'OH!!  We find a smaller skillet in the house, and manage to make do, it just takes longer to cook all of the pancakes. Everyone loved them so it was worth the work. 

Most of the group heads to the festival of lights, while I baby sit Estef. 

Another great day, too bad my time is comming to an end.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Day 7 -- México 2008 -- Comidas

I get to Cristina's early, and decide I will make french toast for breakfast.  Mama gives me a lift back to Sorianas, and we get what I need.  French toast lightly buttered and dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon, with stewed fruit topping.  Other than the stove is very slow, I was happy with the results.

We clean up from breakfast and it's time to make the bacalao.  I get the basic tomato sauce going and then enlist the help of Isaac to be my sous-chef.  Shredding the salt cod takes a long time, but we do it. It simmers for a while, then we shut off the heat.  I head back to the hotel to get cleaned up for the evening. 

When I return, the pork is on and the house smells amazing.   While everyone else is doing their thing I head over to another mercado and picked up a pointsettia.    Luis arrives with his family, and now we get supper on the fire.  I takes forever to get the water boiling to make the spaghetti, but we get it.  Mama makes, this amazing punch with poached fruit.  Supper was spaghetti with garlic butter, Apple salad, bacalao, bollitos, and slow roasted pork with a parsley. 

After supper, we did a gift exchange.  They got me a cookbook of typical mexican cuisine (in spanish) it will take me a while to make my way through it.  It's a cool book, and has some history of food in mexico as well. 

Overall another amazing day....

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Day 6 -- México 2008

Back to the house I go, I'm having a tough time getting the directions correct for the cabbies.  As long as the get me with a block or so I'll just walk the last bit.  More time with the family.  Cristina, Isaac and I head off to the main mercado.  There might be a possibility for me to get some "rat stew."

As the cabbie takes us to the mercado Cristina asks him about rat stew.  He was less than enthusiastic, if the locals aren't up for it, it's probably not good for me and my tender tummy.  I get some "Queso de Tuna",  basically fruit leather made from cactus fruit.  I like it, Cristina's not such a big fan.  I finally find some souvenirs for people.  We walk to the next mercado, it's full of homeopathic stuff, and I find a couple more souvenirs.   One of the merchants had a couple of pet horned lizards.  We walk out and hit the street mercado that I was at yesterday.  After picking up a couple of odds-and-sods we cab it back to the house.

I head back to the Sorianas to get everything I need for Bacalao, I end up with canned tomatoes since I didn't like any of the fresh ones.  I also get what I need for making some potato pancakes.

Isaac prepared a couple of potatoe fritatas that are typical spanish fair, one onions, the other ham and tuna.  They were very nice, I'll have to make them at home for myself.


Back to the hotel, tomorrow will be a busy day.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Day 5 -- México 2008 -- Camino

Today I decide to be adventurous.  I gab an instant coffee, load my back pack, put on my runners (should have worn my boots D'OH!), and head out.  I start walking towards some of the church spires I had seen on my numerous car rides between Cristina's and the Hotel.  I stop at the OXXO (sort of a 7-11 or Macs store) grab a couple of protein bars, some gatorade and some water, and keep on trekin'.  I pass the industrial area, and get to a more residential zone.  The streets are fairly narrow, and the light isn't great.  I don't really see anything that inspire my photographic interests.

An hour and a half in, I get to the church I used as a landmark.  Unfortunately there was a wedding in progress when I arrived, so I didn't spend too much time.  I try to take a couple of HDR sequences since the church is in shadow and backlight by the midday sun.  I head off to the next.  Again I tried a few HDR sequences, and off on my way.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Day 4 -- México 2008 -- Tranquilo

Got up and called the house to get the address, Cristina had me give the phone to the desk girl to write down the actual directions to the house.  Flagged a cab, and gave the guy the piece of paper and we got in the neighbourhood, but I had to call the house, and Cristina had to rescue me.

Today is a quiet day, we ate left overs from the yesterdays fiesta, and then spent the day socializing, as a family.  We played some cards, and wrap the day up. 

Today my tummy is a little soft, but nothing to get worried about, I'll just add an additional acidophilus cap to my regiment.


I love this place, and I love these people ....

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Day 3 -- México 2008 -- Bautizo

Today is the main focus of the trip, the baptism (bautizo) of Estefania.  I get up and I'm supposed to meet more of Cristina's family in the lobby of the hotel and catch a lift to the house.  I'm in the lobby at quarter to twelve, camera gear cleaned and ready to go.  Bzzzt!!! Cristina's aunt is anything but ready.  D'OH!

OK, I'll just hang in the lobby, there is a lady with a cute little 5 month old, so I amuse myself.  I was thinking, should I run to the taqueira for a snack, or locate something other than instant coffee, but I fear, my ride will be waiting for me and we will be late.  Turns out someone decided to get her hair done starting at noon.... about 13h00 I start getting concerned since I really don't know all the plans for the day since I just do and follow what I'm told.

Finally, one of Cristina's cousins and I hop a cab and book it to the church.  I totally missed everyone getting gussied up, but I made it to the church with 5 minutes to spare... grumble.  There are a number of families there and more or less it's an assembly line.  There is the church photographer following the priest, a nice older chap shooting film, and the assorted people from each of the other families.  Things were a bit crowded but I managed.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Day 2 -- México 2008 -- Posada

The day started with a knock on the door. I ignored the first couple raps since, I thought it was people bothering others. Then I heard "Greg, my daughter sent me to get you." OK, It's for me! I hurridly get cleanup and dressed and I meet Nelvin Grande in the lobby. He drives us to his job site where he is building a new group of houses, and they were having some issues with the grade of the road. So, I watch the various trades performing their tasks and reflecting how different construction jobs in Canada are, and yet how the same. I walk outside of the gate and took a quick tour of the neighbourhood.


After about 20 minutes, or so we make our way to the house. I finally meet Marcella, and her beau Issac. Cristina laughs at me and asks how do I know I wouldn't be kidnapped. I tolder what her dad said and the door, we both laughed. They then laughed at me for carrying my passport around my neck, like I did in Ecuador. So they took it and put it some place safe and we were off running errands. Off to the mercado looking for flower center pieces for the tables for the fiesta. At the mercado, first thing up xoconostle, a super acidic cactus fruit, splash of lime, and a splash of chili powder, yummy. As we stroll around the mercado, we see a couple different flower vendors. I also see a tortilla press in action, a couple different butchers, so I see arrachera, and yup I got the right cut of meat, but it is difficult to get here. Next up enchiladas potosina, yummy, fresh handmade tortillas con chili, with a nice flavourful filling.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Day 1 -- México 2008 -- Yeg to SLP

YEG to MSP

It's -21 and far too early, I forget there is a second 5:00 durring the day.  My bags are packed and I've called for a cab to get me to the airport.  I waited for 15 minutes and the cab finally arrived.  It's dark and there was an abundance of ice crystals in the air.  The cabbie is happy for an airport run to start the day ( ~$50 CAD fare.)  We start heading down Calgary Trail and he suggests a detour to 91st claiming issues on further south -- in retrospect I think he was just trying to pad the meter -- so we cut over to 91st via the Whitemud, the streets were in ok winter conditions but the dude is driving a little more conservative that I expected, but ok.  Then we had to stop for gas, freaking moron.  My 90 minute buffer is quickly eroding as this idiot is fussing around.


I finally get to the Edmonton International (YEG) and check in, the flight is full because weather on each of the coasts has caused issues, NWA was picking up the slack so the flight was full.  The A319 was a cattle car and I got stuck in a middle seat and was sitting beside the African Lady on route to who knows where ( I suspect NYC and then ??)  Unfortunately she didn't speak English, or French, or Spanish, Swedish so communication was very difficult between her, myself and the airline staff.  I'm barely functional in any language either, but I can ask a few questions and get myself food or drink in a couple ways.  Eventually through a mixture of mime and charades the lady and I were able to at least get her beverages etc.  She was wearing the most exquisite gold jewelry, and I wish I had unpacked my camera from the overhead bins... hindsight... ahh well.

We arrive in St. Paul on time it's 10F (-12C) a perfectly respectable December day by my standards, and not that horrible by Minnesota standards either.  Bright sun, clear sky what more could you ask for?  I grab a coffee and a scone from Starbucks while I wait for my next hop.  I'm watching the news, there is 3" (7.5cm) of snow in Los Vegas.  I guess hell was freezing over, I'm on my second international trip in 2 years, and there is snow in Vegas.  That's gotta make a mess of air traffic all over. 
I hop onto my next A319, again a middle seat (sigh.....) There is the cute little Carribean girl with a rainbow of colours of berettes in her hair and her dad in the row in front of me.  My aislemates, some younger dude, and the old rancher. 


The Rancher was very interesting, I looked at his mitts and said "Those look like the hands of a rancher."  He got this big grin on his face and said they sure are. So we spent then next couple of hours chatting.  He was from Montana and on his way to visit his kids.  His ranch was 70miles west of Great Falls, but he has long since retired (he was in his late 80s).  His wife was from Banff (smallish world eh!?)  Before he converted to raising Angus, he sold his Simmental herd to a rancher near High Prairie, so he was no stranger to Albertans.  He also tried a small herd of Canchim, but ultimately ended up raising Angus.


My other aislemate slept until ~25 minutes out of IAH so didn't interact with him much.  Unfortunately for me there was this poor woman behind me with a little snot machine that kept freaking out durring the trip. 

IAH to SLP

It was 71F (~22C) in Houtson, but the humidity, OMG!!! I'm hungry and my ears hurt and now I'm uncomfortable.  I stroll around and decide to eat at the Chilis, my god was it slow, everyone moving at quarter speed.  Maybe I'll get lucky and get to sit in the section with the amazingly cute latina waitress.  Nope!! Some slow, muffin top, white chick. I finally manage to order and a lady with her dog carryon was sitting across from me so I chatted with her for a couple moments.  All said and done, I noticed half a dozen dogs as carryons in Houston.  Travelling with pets seems to be pretty popular.  IAH was a zoo, snow in vegas, heavy fog in Houston, and a handful of issues on the east coast had people backed up and cranky.

I don't understand why people are freaking out against the poor CSRs standing at the desks.  They are going as fast as they can, and it's not the CSRs fault the weather messed up your flight or connection.  Get a grip, if you are nice to them they will help you.  I learned this when I got snow delayed comming back from Quito.  I was nice to the CSR, I worked with them to find a solution without freaking out, and they upgraded me to First Class for being so cooperative.


While sitting in IAH I tried using one of the WiFi kiosks but the supid credit card proccessing engine didn't ask me for me CCV2 code so I could validate my Mastercard and use the wifi.  A four hour lay over without internet sucked.  There were theese carts helping people get around and there was this one older black lady "'Scuse cart please, 'scuse cart please" was just too funny.  Because of all the delays there were far too many ugly crying babies in the chaos of the gate.  I'm sorry, a shave monkey screetching at the top of it's lungs just grates on my nervs, and parents seem to be desensitised against it.  I'm not!! I was ready to find a bunch of dramamine, and just dose the kids to shut them the hell up.

Finally get boarded, an Embraer ERJ-145, little thing with no head room, and full.  Our flight attendant was a blast.  He made the flight quite enjoyable.  One of the crying babies from the gate was in the aisle in front of me.  But I managed to make him laugh and the parents were so sorry, but I saw they were making an effort so I was able to cut them some slack. 

I clear customs and Nelvin gave me ride to the hotel.  I was staying at the "Hotel California" but not the one of Eagle's Fame in Cabo, I don't even think this is actually affiliated with that hotel in anyway. I drop my bags off, and we head out for tacos.  I have a couple types of tacos, with a couple different kinds of meats.  I'm so happy with my attempt at tacos el pastor now that I've had the real deal. 


It's official I'm in México.... my adventure begins.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Women Warriors

  • Lozen of the Chiricahua
  • Joan of Arc
  • 花木蘭 — Hua Mulan
  • Boudica
Just of a few of the random names of important women from various places and times in history.  Until recently I had not heard of Lozen.  I caught a series on Discovery Civilization on Women Warriors, and this specific episode was about Lozen of the Chiricahua (a member of the apache Nation) sister of Chief Victorio.  She was a warrior and medicine woman, and was part of the last apache stand with Geronimo. 

I will have to do some more research, but it was very interesting, and tragic since the Chiricahua were basically rounded up from New Mexico and shipped to a prison in Florida. 

More Later....
G.

The Week In Review

While I'm trying to do something every day to every other day, I've been a little swamped as I'm getting ready for my vacation.  I'm going to a baptism/christening in San Luis Potosí, México. So I'm going to do a quick summary of my irks from the week and may come back to elaborate on the general themes when time permits.

Government Stupidity

The Prime Minister of Canada prorogued parliament.  Basically, because he tried to bully the opposition parties, they began to fight back by trying to form a coalition.  The coalition would have been able to over throw the government.  So the Prime Minister suspended parliament, rather than face a non-confidence vote, only 1 week into the post election session.

Recession

With the general economic conditions around the world, Canada's Central Bank finally said the "R" word, and dropped interest rates.  I will have to wait until later to cuss on this topic.

Weather

We went from 10°C above seasonal to 10°C below seasonal in 24 hours.  I don't mind -25°C weather but only after I've had a couple days at -10°C and a couple at -15°C.  Also, on the night of the moon perigee, we had overcast blowing crap as the weather fronts moved through. So I didn't get a chance to try the obligatory full moon pix and now have to wait for another ~16 years. I forgot about the perigee until I started scanning articles on New Scientist  web site.

When the weather was above seasonal, it was messy and slushy outside, so I wasn't super amused.  I want snow, but I want it to be -10°C with 30cm of snow, not +1°C with freezing rain, and then a melting mess. I guess I'm just never satisfied.

More Later....
G

PS: as I'm writing this post, it is -30°C with the effective temperature hovering around -38°C (-36°F), it should be -15°C (~5°F).

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Reviewing Old Photos..

I've been going through my old pics because I'm contemplating retiring my self-hosted gallery.  Now I'm hosting most of my stuff currently on flickr.  I've definitely grown as a photographer since 2003, when I got my digital rebel.  I don't shoot as many frames, nor do  I like as many of the frames I've shot.  I've become more critical, and my goals as a photographer have changed.

When I started, I was on my high-horse about don't edit,  don't adjust, don't enhance blah blah blah. What a prat, I've gotten over myself.  I now think of my RAWs as a digital negative (as they are intended), and an unrefined image. Now, my job is to take the raw image and create the best photograph possible from that image.  If I need to do some colour correction, or enhancements, so be it. Crop it, rotate it, I don't care, just get the best quality final piece of art possible. Find the photograph that is hiding in the picture. 


More Later ....
G

NB: 2010/06/21, I have retired my self-hosted stuff, but not by choice.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Christmas At Rock-Away Rest

'Twas the night before Christmas at Rock-Away Rest,
and all of us seniors were looking our best.
Our glasses, how sparkly, our wrinkles, how merry;
Our punchbowl held prune juice plus three drops of sherry.
A bedsock was taped to each walker, in hope
That Santa would bring us soft candy and soap.
We surely were lucky to be there with friends,
Secure in this residence and in our Depends.
Our grandkids had sent us some Christmasy crafts,
Like angels in snowsuits and penguins on rafts.
The dental assistant had borrowed our teeth,
And from them she'd crafted a holiday wreath.
The bed pans, so shiny, all stood in a row,
Reflecting our candle's magnificent glow.
Our supper so festive -- the joy wouldn't stop --
Was creamy warm oatmeal with sprinkles on top.
Our salad was Jell-O, so jiggly and great,
Then puree of fruitcake was spooned on each plate.
The social director then had us play games,
Like "Where Are You Living?" and "What Are Your Names?"
Old Grandfather Looper was feeling his oats,
Proclaiming that reindeer were nothing but goats.
Our resident wand'rer was tied to her chair,
In hopes that at bedtime she still would be there.
Security lights on the new fallen snow
Made outdoors seem noon to the old folks below.
Then out on the porch there arose quite a clatter
(But we are so deaf that it just didn't matter).
A strange little fellow flew in through the door,
Then tripped on the sill and fell flat on the floor.
'Twas just our director, all togged out in red.
He jiggled and chuckled and patted each head.
We knew from the way that he strutted and jived
Our social- security checks had arrived.
We sang -- how we sang -- in our monotone croak,
Till the clock tinkled out its soft eight-p.m. stroke.
And soon we were snuggling deep in our beds,
While nurses distributed nocturnal meds.
And so ends our Christmas at Rock-Away Rest.
'fore long you'll be with us, We wish you the best!

--Unknown

More Later......
G

Friday, December 5, 2008

Edmonton Drivers....

It's snowing again, and surprise surprise, people of Edmonton forgot how to drive on snow!!! People, we have snow 6 months a year, WTF!!! Get a clue!!!  Now I realize, during our boom times, people from places without snow, say Mexico came here to work, but anything East of the Rockies and West of the Atlantic Ocean and North of the 49th parallel should know how to drive on snow. (People in Vancouver and Victoria get a pass since they are almost snow free).

More Later...
G.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Cry of Freedom... and Others....

Over past few weeks, I've been recalling some historical that I've watched
Both directed by Richard Attenborough.  I don't know why I've been thinking about them, just have.  I recall the first time I saw Gandhi in the theatre with my mom, there was an intermission because of the length of the film.  I don't know if they would even consider such a thing now, granted I don't recall many 3 hour movies either, each of the LoTR movies are om the ball park, but they didn't have an intermission.   Even more strange is why I was thinking about Cry of Freedom it is mostly about Donald Woods, a newspaper editor that had to flee South Africa durring apartheid.  It is in passing about Bantu Stephen Biko, a black activist that died in custody while in a South African prison.  At somepoint I want to read the Donald Woods book Biko -- Cry of Freedom.


Wednesday, December 3, 2008

V2 explosion

Thinking about the hobby store reminded me of a frustrating adventure back home.  I had purchased an estes semi-scale V2 model rocket. Not the V2-Max (though I did have one of those as well), but the smaller one.  It was the first model rocket I was proud of.  Spent a couple weeks in dad's shop building it and perfecting the body. YES weeks.  Then, another couple of weeks on the perfect, authentic camo paint job.  It was a work of art.  A few friends and I (Jason and Ryan Fink, and Richard Kleinbrink) went to Gyro Park to launch it.  We setup the launch pad, I loaded it with the largest C motor I could put my mitts on, a C6-7 I think, and launched it.

I was out of the fiber glass wadding, so I used a couple of old polyester socks, I was young and wasn't thinking of the thermal properties of polyester, my concern was the plastic parachute.

It was an unusually calm day, we counted down, swooosh, and off it went.  The rocket hit the coasting phase, things were looking good.  All of a sudden boom.  My rocket exploded on its maiden flight.  I think the polyester socks fused to the body and the pressure of the ejection charge was too much.  I didn't have the heart to launch any of my other rockets ever since. We ended up doing much more dangerous things with the leftover motors...picture die-cast cars, duct tape and long empty allies.... or action figure du jour and duct tape and long empty allies ....

I think I should get back into rocketry again we can get the larger motors now and some of the stuff is just too cool for school....


More Later....
G.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

It's snowing :)

It's snowing!! Not sure about the accumulation yet, but it's more than a wisp. It's also cooling off so I finally had to close the windows and the balcony door of my flat.  Kjell is much more affectionate since the flat is a little cooler that he likes.  He is not the same as my previous companion Meisha, but he is still a good cat.  He is less of a 'fraidy cat than he was, but he is still pretty skiddish.


More Later ....
G.

Memory Lane

Seeing all the rural little schools as I'm bombing down some of the back roads, reminds me of the McNally School back home. I use to frequent an hobby store in Lethbridge when I was growing up. I don't recall the exact circumstances, but the hobby store moved from one of the strip malls on the north side out to the care takers garage of the McNally School. So we would have to hop on our bikes and peddle out to the school in order to get paints, rocket motors, etc.


More Later ....
G

Monday, December 1, 2008

Government and Media Stupidity

Over the past ~72 hours the Canadian Government has been playing politics, and it's frosting me something fierce.  Currently, Canada has a minority government, and parliament has only been in session for a whole week.  The Government tried to stick to all of the opposition parties right from the get go.  The issue that is causing the most grief for everyone, is that the government wants to quit subsidizing all the federal political parties.  While this is not an issue for the party that is the minority government, they have a great fund raising capability.  The others, not so much.

Now there is a distinct possibility of another election, far too soon for the Canadian public.  There may also be a possibility of a coalition government, but we see how well those work in say Italy or Israel.

It doesn't help that people have to via for media attention, and since we are now in the age of the sound byte, and everyone is seeking their 15 megabytes of fame.  So now the playground bully mentality wins so that people can make their point and get their media spotlight.


More Later....
G

A Weekend of Diversity

The weekend was full of hits and misses.  Saturday I experimented with some GPS software for my blackberry.  It WORKED!! I was able to create a map of the route for the day and was able to geoencode my photos, and upload them to flickr.  Sunday Bzzzzt!! I'm not sure if I mis-entered the config info for the trip, I have a couple of way points of places I wanted to come back to, but no track, no info to do geoencoding.