Mi vida linda

Break from the blogosphere

2009-03-13T16:40:00.003-06:00

I've decided to take a break from updating my blog for awhile as I have pretty much abandoned it already and I am hoping to put together a photography website very soon so I want to focus my energy on that. If and when I resume blogging, It will have more of a focus rather than just a scattering of my random photos and thoughts.

Thanks to all the commenters/readers of this blog!

Fruit

2009-03-02T20:40:00.002-07:00

Wheat

2009-03-02T09:46:00.002-07:00

A few random close-up lens pics

2009-02-22T09:22:00.002-07:00

Classic duo

2009-02-15T14:06:00.004-07:00

YouTube is an amazing repository of the random, the obscure and the bizarre. A few weeks ago when I was a virtual prisoner to the bitter cold outside I spent some time watching clips of 60's and 70's TV variety shows and came upon this gem. Who knew that Tom Jones & Janis Joplin had ever performed together? This clip is worth a watch just for the hilarity of the background dancers.... now there's some head flingin'!!

My new fave website

2009-02-14T18:06:00.005-07:00

From xkcd.com

Sadly, I can kind of relate to this cartoon. (If you click on the picture, it is clearer...)

Hee hee

2009-02-14T17:57:00.004-07:00

- Courtesy of the xkcd website.

No time for cheese!

2009-01-31T09:07:00.003-07:00

My cheese making has been put on hold for the time being for lack of time. In addition to my recent foray into the land of fromage, I have entered the perilous world of magazine publishing which has left me with no time for anything else. Well, except for my day job of course.

In November I answered an ad to volunteer with a small literary magazine called FreeFall . I initially joined to help them write grant proposals but then I joined the editorial collective and now I have also became a member of the board. (This is what happens in the non-profit world...)

Right now, I'm reading the submissions for our current prose competition to shortlist the entries before they are sent to the contest judge (Giller prize winner Austin Clarke). I've been doing nothing but read, read, read in my spare time as the magazine received a record number of entries this year. I am finding it quite exciting thus far to be so involved... despite the many, many hours of unpaid labour! There are some excellent writers out there and I'm impressed by the quality of some of the short stories that were submitted.

If you would like to subscribe to the mag, you can do it from the FreeFall website. Our contest issue will be out in April.

Yay for Canlit!

Cheese making 101

2009-01-24T17:10:00.006-07:00

I tried to make mozzarella cheese the other day but my first attempt, similar to my first yogurt-making experience, was a failure. Once again I didn't read the instructions as closely as I should have (perhaps I was a man in a former life?) The cheese ended up being a crumbly, tasteless blob that went straight to the garbage.

I bought a couple more gallons of milk today and will try again this weekend.

The experience was fun despite the failure. It is an exciting moment when the warm milk on the stove suddenly splits into 'curds and whey' when you add the magical elixir rennet to the pot. I have no idea what rennet is, but it is the necessary ingredient in all cheese making. All varieties of cheese are made of heated milk mixed with rennet but the different consistencies and flavours come from the type of culture that you add into the mix.

Wish me luck for attempt #2!

Eyes wide open

2009-01-22T23:52:00.001-07:00

I can't sleep.

Attempt #2

2009-01-16T22:56:00.002-07:00

Success! I've been feeding on fresh, tasty yogurt all day. First, I put some in my cereal with blueberries for breakfast, then I put a spoonful in the smoothie that T made me this afternoon and then threw a big dollop in my curry lentil soup for dinner!

Yum! I still have lots left for the weekend...

Next mission: Cheese

Attempt #1

2009-01-12T17:33:00.002-07:00

Attempt #1 at yogurt making was an utter failure.

I dumped out a big bowl of milk this morning that was supposed to have miraculously turned into yogurt while it incubated overnight.

Of course things might of turned out better if I'd read the instructions first...

Attempt #2 to come shortly!

Into the world of fromage...

2009-01-05T16:28:00.006-07:00

I've been reading the latest Barbara Kingsolver book, "Animal Vegetable Miracle" in which her family spends one year eating only food they produce on their farm or food produced in their local area. In one chapter, she describes their experiments with cheese making and it sounded almost unbelievably easy to do... you just add some bacteria to milk, let it sit overnight, sort out the curds from the whey and voila!, you can produce cheese of any variety.

Being an avid cheese lover, I decided to investigate how I can enter into this mysterious world and after about five minutes of googling, I discovered a local company that can send me all the ingredients I need to make cheese. All I have to do is buy is a thermometer and some cheese cloth which shouldn't be too difficult.

My cheese supplies are now en route so shortly, I will be able to report my progress (or lack thereof) of my attempts to become a Master Cheese maker extraordinaire. I'm going to start simple with soft cheeses like feta and mozzarella - the kit I ordered also has supplies to make yogurt so that too will be a new thing for me to attempt. A friend of mine makes her own yogurt and assures me that it is very simple to do. Someday, perhaps I'll be able to make the hard, tangy cheeses and have enough room to store them and age them beautifully but for now, I'll attempt to make the 'ready to eat' variety and see if it is really as simple as it seems for the Kingsolver family.

I don't think I'll be butchering turkeys anytime soon though as they do in the book... I grew up on a farm but never developed the stomach for that work. I am hoping to find a community garden close to where I live as I'd love to start producing my own herbs and veggies... there is nothing that tastes as good as something you have grown yourself.

Farewell 2008

2008-12-31T15:46:00.002-07:00

I wish I had some deep thoughts to reflect on the year that was but my mind seems to turn to mush as soon as I sit at the computer...

All I can say is I hope 2009 will be filled with peace, joy and love here and around the world.

Happy New Year to all of my loyal readers and fellow bloggers! (All three of you...)

An enjoyable Christmas tune

2008-12-25T10:08:00.002-07:00

Someone sent me this and I thought it was hilarious...

Merry Christmas to all

2008-12-24T17:13:00.004-07:00

And to all a good night!

'Tis the season

2008-12-22T16:38:00.006-07:00

'Tis the season:

To be an alcoholic glutton.

To spend more than you earn on crap made in China.

To stand in long lines of grumpy ass people.

To be trapped for two days in airport hell.

To be imprisoned by the freezing cold temperatures outside.

To hear an unending stream of saccharine Christmas carols sung by washed up pop stars.

To see crummy Christmas movies on TV.
(Except for It's a Wonderful Life, I still love that movie!)

To drink 'nog until you vomit.

and other such festivities....

Random prairie pics

2008-11-24T14:21:00.001-07:00

Hmmm

2008-11-21T21:27:00.004-07:00

Sooo, a fireball blazes across the prairie sky:

Not long after an astronaut drops her tool box:

Coincidence? I think not.

Ha ha

Good eats in my 'hood

2008-11-14T16:56:00.010-07:00

There's no shortage of places to eat when I walk down a nearby street:

This diner is where all the cool kids hang out on Sunday mornings - I can't stand the line-ups but love the food here.A famous local drive-in.

I indulged in a sundae from the drive-in... mmmm...

Only in Calgary... big ass steaks...

Love them kabobs...

I haven't tried this place yet but hear it is good.

I could live on chicken shawarmas and falafels.

The name is uncomfortably close to something less appetizing... the burgers are pretty good though.

I haven't tried this place either but the price is right...

My fave place for Indian food - absolutely no decor and all the guys who work there look like Osama Bin Laden but the butter chicken and garlic naan bread (with cheese melted inside!) is to die for.

Did I mention my love of food? Love it, love it, love it! I think I was a food critic (or maybe a total glutton) in a former life.

Lest we forget

2008-11-11T10:41:00.002-07:00

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead.
Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
--- Lt. Col. John McCrae

Oh yeah

2008-11-07T17:48:00.001-07:00

Four day weekend, here I come!!

I'm dying that I only have 2 weeks vacation at my new job...

New widget

2008-11-03T17:40:00.001-07:00

Well, I am still a 'blocked' blogger but I added a new widget today! Check out Dilbert on the left under the quote of the day...

A fun time killer

2008-10-31T16:02:00.000-06:00

Turn your name into a face

Hello hello hello

2008-10-18T14:51:00.004-06:00

Is there anybody out there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone home?

You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying.

I have become comfortably numb.

Yes, it may be time, I think my blogging days are pretty much done.

On poverty

2008-10-15T17:30:00.005-06:00

Today is Blog Action Day (see box on the right) - a day for bloggers to share ideas on how to get involved in combating poverty, raising awareness about global poverty and to hopefully, motivate ourselves and blog readers to get up off our butts and do something about it.

I just finished reading a great book by writer Paul Theroux where he travels back to all the places he visited in 1973 when he wrote his classic book, "The Great Railway Bazaar". After thousands of miles of travelling across Europe, the Middle East, India, South East Asia, China, Russia and then back to Europe, he concludes that, "Most people on earth are poor. Most places are blighted and nothing will stop the blight getting worse. Travel gives you glimpses of the past and future, your own and other people's."

Pessimistic yes, but certainly true in my experience of travelling. Travelling is what opened my naive farm girl's eyes to the fact that much of what you see the world seems unjust, that bad things happen to good, hardworking people and that we take for granted many luxuries that the majority of the world are struggling to achieve. The right to vote being one of them... here only 59% of the population bothered to vote yesterday. People are dying around the world for this right and we just sluff it off as a nuisance and something we'll squeeze in if we have time in our busy days. I digress... yes, it annoys me when people don't vote!

I went through a bunch of my old travel journals to see if I ever wrote about some of the things I've seen. I found a couple of samples:

May 6, 1996
Bangkok, Thailand
"Whenever I'm having a bad day I just look at someone who lives here. The sick looking beggar who sleeps beside dogs in the street or the food vendor who toils in the heat for 12 to 14 hours a day with a smile on his face. He makes about a hundredth of what I do. I realize how good I have it."

October 3, 1998
Barranquilla, Colombia
"From the people I talked to today it looks like the average income in those areas is about $200 a month, most live in one or two room houses with limited electricity but no plumbing. Most use public latrines or el campo (the outdoors) for bathrooms. I think it is hard for me to accept that so many people in the world live in such poverty. I see it everyday but I can't quite accept that this is reality. I see kids digging through garbage dumps, rummaging for something of value when they should be in school and young men lounging around on the streets with nothing to do because they can't find work. It's horrible to see human beings reduced to such desperate means of survival. It seems even more unbelievable when you compare it to the wealthy side of the city which is clean and safe."

October 15, 2001
Rabinal, Guatemala
"I'm spending the night in a small village that is about five hours north of Guatemala City. Not really a village, more a scattering of houses on the side of a mountain. The room I'm in has a dirt floor and one small bed which is just a weaved mat on wood and I have a wool blanket to keep warm. I'm sharing the room with a couple of families of chickens and some ducks. The father of the family we're staying with will be a witness in the case* - he lost his entire family in the massacre here in the early 1980's. The ride up to the village was in an overloaded pick-up and we were squished in beside men in cowboy hats, a pile of machetes, firewood, overflowing baskets of cheese, fruits and vegetables and a couple animals."
* The man was a witness in a court case charging two former military dictators and other high-level military leaders of genocide against the Mayan people of Guatemala as a result of the large-scale massacres that occurred in the area in 1981 and 1982 (25% of the area's population was killed).

Much of what I saw, especially in Guatemala, was too painful to write about at the time. Someday, I hope I'll be able to dredge up those memories before they fade away and write about them in a coherent way. For now, they just run through my mind on a daily basis, especially if I ever find myself complaining about any aspect of my life.

There are many ways to help if you are concerned about global (or local) poverty. The fallout of the world's financial crisis will surely increase the rates of global poverty and will have a huge negative impact on those living in poor and rich countries alike. The Action Blog lists a number of things that you can do right now to improve the lives of those living in poverty in your community or around the world. Try to help in any small way if you can.

Fall colours

2008-10-10T17:44:00.004-06:00

My new pastime

2008-10-04T11:01:00.003-06:00

Garage sale-ing... I'm heading off to a few right now. It is my new addiction, especially buying books at garage sales since most go for no more than a buck or two. I am totally out of shelf space though so either I need to move to a bigger place or stop buying so many damn books! The sad thing is that I buy more than I read...

The new economic theory

2008-09-19T16:20:00.004-06:00

Privatize profits
Socialize losses

I would refuse to pay taxes if I were an American citizen. I suppose we'll all pay for this greed and mismanagement eventually, American or not.

My new love...

2008-09-08T09:13:00.007-06:00

The Oregon Coast.

Going to places as stunning as the Oregon coast makes me question my sanity in living here.... especially now that winter is coming! My weekend in Oregon made me realize how much I miss living near the ocean. I saw dozens and dozens of places to buy (people seem to be selling off their summer cottages in these economic times) which stirred up my imagination. I pictured myself buying a cozy little shack, sitting in it with a warm tea in hand, a pen in the other - staring out over the sea and jotting down lines of poetry. A fleeting thought yet very, very tempting...

A scene from Expo Latino

2008-08-25T21:48:00.006-06:00

A very excited dancer... ha ha

A wee bit older, not any wiser

2008-08-19T18:20:00.006-06:00

So my 35th birthday (aka my 'scary birthday') has come and gone. I was planning to blog and whine about how old and decrepit I'm getting and how I still haven't 'figured it all out' but the tragic passing of a good friend has a funny way of putting things into perspective.

All I can say now is that I'm grateful to be alive and healthy and surrounded by friends and family. I think Albert Schweitzer said it best:

"Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."

Rest in peace

2008-08-13T15:32:00.014-06:00

Nicole Dial
1977-2008
I remember struggling over Spanish verbs with you in coffee shops and our late night debates about politics, human rights and how to fix the world's problems when we were roommates in Guatemala. I am shocked by your senseless killing today in Afghanistan. You died doing the work you were meant to do and that will be your legacy.

Your strong spirit, intelligence and passion will be missed.

Update (Aug 14): more on Nicole here.

A blissful day

2008-08-10T19:59:00.002-06:00

No plans
No commitments
No alarm clock
Nowhere to be
No one to see

Went to the Farmer's Market and bought juicy nectarines
Did laundry
Took care of my flowers and plants
Listened to the wind
Ate chocolate pudding
Drank two mugs of coffee with milk and brown sugar

Now, I'm watching the Olympics and making sweet potato fries that I will dip in mayonnaise... mmmm

Back to work tomorrow!

Ha ha

2008-08-05T11:19:00.003-06:00

According to my statcounter, someone recently found my blog by googling, "strip joints peace river alberta" - they must have been disappointed to find only photos of flowers and toddlers...

A few pics of the kiddies

2008-08-04T13:16:00.004-06:00

Lida at the dino museum

Jasmine hamming it up for the camera

Geo, Mom & Jasmine in Drumheller

Lida

Justin

Holy shit!

2008-07-31T17:20:00.002-06:00

Just add this to the multitude of reasons I don't travel on the 'hound...

Yikers.

Back in business

2008-07-27T12:01:00.007-06:00

After a couple of frustrating weeks where I couldn't access half of the websites I use, I'm finally up and running with full functionality once again. I fiddled around with about a hundred different 'fixes' that were suggested online and the only thing that worked was when I uninstalled Explorer and reinstalled it again.

Hence, the lack of blogging of late.

I'm looking for some cool widgets to add to my blog. Any suggestions? I just added a new one to view my latest reads (see right). I'm a bit of a book junkie so it makes sense to include my number 1 obsession on my site. I can't seem to stop buying books even though I have absolutely no bookshelf space left and I haven't even read about 60% of the ones that I own already.

My fave bookstore, McNally Robinson, just closed its doors on Friday. They up and moved to Toronto and New York the bastards.... Thankfully, there's still quite a few great used bookstores in the city that are still in business so my addiction can be satisfied.

I'm a bit stuffed up and sniffling from sitting out in the rain during the Folk Fest yesterday. It was all worth it though as Blue Rodeo was amazing and I heard a few other great bands that I'd never heard of before including "Los Straightjackets" who were memorable for their wearing of sparkly Mexican wrestling masks. Too much fun! It reminds me how much I love music. There was also a great Cajun band, the "Lost Bayou Ramblers" whose music was so joyful and full of heart that it made me want to get on a plane and head down to New Orleans to hear some more. Plus, the lead singer had a cute Louisiana accent and was rather handsome which didn't hurt...

It was fun to tap into my 'inner hippie' if only for a day. I'm looking forward to next year!

The countdown is on...

2008-07-25T17:56:00.003-06:00

Only about 24 hours until I see one of my fave bands play at the folk fest! A sample of one of my fave songs by one of my fave bands:

I'm under attack!

2008-07-06T11:21:00.005-06:00

Or, at least, my computer is. I seem to have been infected with a virus or trojan that is taking over my computer and won't let me type more than a few words before it freezes up. There are all these 'auto-forms' such as setting up Gmail accounts that keep popping up on my screen... presumably some spammer is using my machine to set up accounts to send out shitloads of spam about viagra or something. I've been trying to zap it with my Norton anti-virus program and I've downloaded another program to 'search and destroy' this thing but it's not working... even writing this short blog is an exercise in total frustration because it keeps freezing up.

Any tips on how toget rid of this thing? It's kind of freaky actually...

Another wild Friday night

2008-06-27T22:41:00.004-06:00

Home.
Alone.
Wearing glasses,
baggy pants and
fuzzy pink socks.
Slight headache.
Watching YouTube clips.
Googling myself.
Cranky.
Tired.
Bored.

I'm really living life on the edge these days...

Oh. Yeah.

R.I.P.

2008-06-23T14:26:00.004-06:00

George Carlin
(1937-2008)

A couple more post-rain pics

2008-06-14T11:53:00.003-06:00

I think the rain has finally stopped!

A few post-rain pics

2008-06-04T20:14:00.004-06:00

Yep

2008-05-25T20:00:00.011-06:00

I'm still alive. Just not blogging much of late.

The new job with the police is going well - I am feeling much less stressed than I was at my previous job yet I'm earning more money... how is that fair? People work like slaves at the non-profits yet earn such crappy wages. Yes, many people do it for the passion and because they are working for something they care about but I have seen burnout and cynicism just wreak havoc on some people after too many years in that world... I can attest that my health was starting to become a concern from the lack of sleep and being totally stressed out all the time. I'm feeling much better these days and am finally able to sleep soundly - at least I feel somewhat like a human again and not a complete basketcase. My husband is happier too that I'm not bringing all my stress home with me every night... :)

On an unrelated topic... I potted some flowers for my patio last weekend! Some are in the pic below:

Poor people

2008-05-07T17:36:00.007-06:00

It must really suck to be Burmese . If you're not avoiding the repressive tactics by your own military junta-controlled government, or slaving away as a labourer some corner of the world, you're getting pummelled and left dead or homeless by a cyclone. My god, a possible 100,000 feared dead in one country! Are these stats true? This is like another tsunami has hit SE Asia if that is the case...

Please help if you can. Some links where you can donate:
Red Cross
Doctors Without Borders
Oxfam

Send cash. Hopefully it won't end up in the pockets of the assholes running that country.

My heart goes out to the survivors as they try to pick up the pieces.

The Lubicon

2008-04-28T12:36:00.013-06:00

In honour of the never ending struggle of the Lubicon Cree in Peace River, I thought I'd post a few shots that didn't make it into the Alberta Views magazine article that was published last year for which I did the photos. It is unbelievable to me that in a province this wealthy, there are people living with no running water. That people are squeezed into sub-standard housing while they sit atop billions of dollars of oil. That people live in abject poverty and despair as their way of life is ridiculed as 'anti-development'... it was a life-changing experience to go and talk to the people in Little Buffalo.

Member of the village's Elder Council Joe sitting in front of his home

Two of Joe’s granddaughters peek at us as we chat with Joe on the doorstep.

Veronica by the grave of her grandmother who died in January 2006 of tuberculosis. Yes, people are still dying from TB in Alberta.

Refilling at the community water pump. Drinking water is bought in Peace River (approx. 95 kms away).

Good advice

2008-04-27T16:56:00.003-06:00

My favourite line from my horoscope today: It advises me to "dance your way through the chaos."

I think this shall be my new life mantra...

Some 'what not to do' samples of portrait photography

2008-04-11T18:30:00.006-06:00

Or just plain bad hairdoos...

I laughed so hard I cried when I saw this blog entry - it reminds me of all the bad family portraits I used to see on people's walls in the 80's. My favourite is the photo of the cat...

Thanks to the Pioneer Woman for the link.

It was a good week

2008-04-06T22:36:00.002-06:00

I took last week off to try to use up a bit of my vacation time before starting my new job on the 14th. I'm kind of dreading going back to work tomorrow for the final week because I've so thoroughly enjoyed the past week of total relaxation, visiting with friends and catching up on some reading (I finished three books!)

I never used to understand people who never went anywhere when they took vacation as I used squeeze in as much travel to far flung places (or even just a weekend in Vancouver or Calgary, whichever one I wasn't living in at the time) as I possibly could anytime I had a day or two off in the past. Now I understand the pure bliss of having a week free of committments, deadlines, having to put on make-up or even having to get dressed before 10am. I realize if and when I have children that this type of free time will no longer be an option so I should savour it while I can.

Yes, it was a totally lazy, indulgent week and I shall remember it fondly.

Sweet

2008-03-30T13:38:00.005-06:00

There are no ifs, ands or buts about it...

I have the cutest nephew in the world.

But on a happier note...

2008-03-11T21:51:00.000-06:00

I won a free doughnut. Woo hoo!

Sunny Vancouver

2008-02-20T12:44:00.002-07:00

I put some shots from my recent trip to Vancouver on Flickr for your viewing pleasure. If you click on a photo in the Flickr area (on the right hand side of the blog) you can scroll through them as a slideshow.

Enjoy!

Meditation

2008-02-19T16:00:00.004-07:00

Mini vacation

2008-02-15T09:42:00.005-07:00

We're off to Vancouver today for the long weekend (it's 'Family Day' in Alberta on Monday). I'm very excited that I'll be able to catch up with my friends and see some colour! It's pretty much drabsville here as the snow is melting to reveal the dull brown landscape of the prairie (see below).

My job interview went pretty well yesterday - I likely won't hear for at least a few weeks though because they have to do a number of security checks (it is a job with the police). In the meantime... I'm still on the hunt and applying like mad. And buying the odd lottery ticket.

On a totally unrelated topic, I love the nature quote of the day: "Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut, that held its ground." -- David Icke

Good news!

2008-02-08T19:38:00.000-07:00

I received a call today for another job interview for next Thursday. Wish me luck!

One good thing about -30 weather

2008-02-06T18:48:00.000-07:00

You see some nice frost patterns on your window...

Sooo...

2008-01-31T19:35:00.000-07:00

I didn't get the job I interviewed for so I'm stuck where I am for the time being until I can find something else. It's a bit of a knock to the ol' self esteem when you get called in for interviews but then you're not offered the job. So like, does that mean I have an impressive resume but zero personality? Do people think I'm a freak or what? Do I have BO? What?

I was bummed out until I read my horoscope for today. It says, "Your health is improving and so is the rest of your life."

Awesome.

Brrrr

2008-01-27T21:47:00.001-07:00

It's days like today (-27C with a windchill of -40ish) that I'm glad I have someone to curl up with at home and drink tea...

I'm not looking forward to my walk to work tomorrow. Frozen fingertips, tingling cheeks, burning nostrils - aah the beautiful prairie winter...

In limbo

2008-01-25T18:19:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling like I'm in a bit of a rut these days.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I'm desperately seeking a new job but haven't had much luck so far. My interview went really well (I thought) on Wednesday but they didn't ask for my references after which I take as a bad sign. I applied for a couple more positions today that I'm more than qualified for so I'll cross my fingers on those ones. I have a rather strange combination of education and experience that either really excites potential employers or make them think I'm a bit of a loon.

Basically, if I can somehow find a job where I'm using my writing and photography skills to save the world, I'll be a happy camper. Coincidentally, there's a slew of communications type jobs that have just been advertised for various non-profits in the city so things are definitely looking up.

On that note, I have picked up a contract to facilitate some community meetings on the issue of poverty - my first meeting is tomorrow and I'm a bit worried because I feel slightly unprepared as I was given very little notice about it. But.... it is a topic I'm quite passionate about and since I am the facilitator, I'm not really supposed to be the 'expert' anyway. Wish me luck!

Click here to see the poster for the workshop - you're welcome to come if you're in Calgary!

Before I kill someone from the stress...

2008-01-16T19:41:00.000-07:00

I need a new fu*%ing job!

Help.

The land of ice & snow, Part II

2008-01-09T19:35:00.000-07:00

I went out on a snowshoeing/photography trip last Saturday to a place that has some wild ice formations because of a leaky old water pipe that runs through the forest. Crazy stuff...

Job opening: Lion caretaker in South Africa

2008-01-03T17:55:00.000-07:00

Do you think anyone will apply for this job that has just been (tragically) vacated? I think I have finally come across a job that would appeal to me even less than working as an English teacher in Sudan.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T09:59:00.000-07:00

For those of you not on Facebook, I wanted to post a few pics from our day of snowshoeing in Kananaskis last week... I was wishing I had my 'real' camera with me because the lighting in the mountains was so spectacular that day but all I had was my little point and shoot and sadly, the battery died after about 10 shots.

* I found a good quote to add to this post that nicely sums up my opinion of New Year's:

"New Year's is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls and humbug resolutions." ~Mark Twain

Christmas pics

2007-12-26T14:48:00.001-07:00

Did I mention I love the close-up (macro) function of my little digital camera? A few shots of my Christmas tree...

The land of ice and snow

2007-12-23T01:22:00.000-07:00

Brrrr.... I don't think I'd venture into these waters...
Right now there's a bit of an ice jam under the 10th St Bridge.

But at least we get the odd beautiful sunrise to make up for the cold...

The grinch who stole Christmas

2007-12-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

So this morning I was in a deep sleep only to be rudely awoken by the sound of my phone ringing at 7:30am. Because it was pitch black outside, I had no idea of the time and my heart stopped because I was sure that some disaster had struck somewhere. Luckily, there was no disaster but it was T's 11-year-old cousin on the line calling from Guatemala and he was in a panic because they'd received a note from the post office about the Christmas package that T sent to them from Canada.

It turns out that the post office is holding the package in Guatemala City and will not send it to their house because they have to go in person to Guatemala City and pay duty on it before the post office will release it to them. Guatemala City is an 8 hour trip from where they live. How convenient for them! This would be the equivalent of me having to go pick up my mail in Regina, or someone from Vancouver having to go get their mail in Prince George.

This could be excused as a typical example of 'third world' inefficiency and bureaucracy except that... the postal system in Guatemala is managed by, you guessed it, our own beloved crown corporation Canada Post. Since 1997, they have operated the postal system there and Guatemalans tell me that while yes, the postal system is more reliable, the prices have gone up so much that the average person can't afford to send mail anyway. Apparently, they also managed to bust all the postal workers unions using rather nefarious and repressive means. See story here.

Thanks Canada Post for making this a Christmas to remember! Now T's family gets to spend two days travelling and a bunch of money to go pick up a parcel that T already paid a whole lot of money to get delivered to their door.

Next time, we'll use FedEx...

Tired of telemarketers?

2007-12-12T22:43:00.001-07:00

Then go to this website and click on the tab 'Consumer Information' on the top right-hand side. You can click on a box that will let you add your name and address to their Do Not Contact list.

Just imagine, no more junk mail or someone trying to sell you a resort package or new phone plan every night of the week!

Sorry, this is only good in Canada, you'll have to investigate if there is a similar service if you are reading this from afar.

Cute!

2007-12-09T19:28:00.000-07:00

A few pics of my niece Jasmine and nephew Adrian.

My niece Jasmine is quite the little character as you can see!

Beaker singing Coldplay!

2007-12-07T22:04:00.000-07:00

I love the totally inane and random things you can find on YouTube. Yes, it is a total waste of time but it made me laugh hee hee...

Winter is no longer nigh - it's here!

2007-11-29T20:02:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is freakin' cold here, -18 C at the moment.

May have to rethink the move back to the prairies... what was I thinking!

Update

2007-11-23T08:52:00.000-07:00

So... I ended up applying for that job (see this post).
I have an interview on Monday! Wish me luck.

My Leo horoscope today very accurately describes how I'm feeling these days - there are too many things that feel out of my control:

"You might naturally see yourself in charge as others look to you for leadership. Unfortunately, you may not want the added responsibility at this time. There may be too many things that feel out of your control. Instead of making yourself crazy by trying to manage everything, you could be happier going your own way for a while."

Yes indeed, winter is nigh

2007-11-20T23:36:00.001-07:00

The river is freezing over bit by bit...
and tonight, there's snow on the ground.

My 'hood

2007-11-17T10:17:00.000-07:00

I've noticed while walking around my neighbourhood a unique bit of artwork that I haven't seen anywhere else in the city. A few garage doors have murals painted on them such as the ones below:

If you can't keep livestock in your yard why not just paint yourself a stable?

Ah Venice. I don't need to buy a plane ticket now that I can visit you just a couple of blocks from home.

Nice to have a bit of colour in the area now that all the leaves are gone until the spring. I'm curious about the history of these murals... there are a couple more that I'll have to get photos of soon.

Makeover

2007-11-14T22:17:00.001-07:00

I'm loving my new blog design - I was in need of a facelift!

Maybe, I'll get around to actually writing on the thing rather than just adding fun applications...

Don't always trust the 'experts'

2007-11-12T17:51:00.000-07:00

"Good enough for our transatlantic friends … but unworthy of the attention of practical or scientific men."

- British Parliamentary Committee, on Edison's light bulb in 1878

A conundrum

2007-11-10T10:17:00.000-07:00

So. There's a job that I really, really want to apply for and would be a perfect fit for me given my um, rather unique, combination of experience and education. I have spent quite a bit of time working on my cover letter and resume to make sure it is good and really fits what they are looking for. While doing a bit of research on the organization, I looked at their website to learn as much as possible about the work they do before I send them my application. On the website, they list the current Board of Directors and I saw that one member of the board is a person that I had a hand in 'letting go' (ie. firing) from my agency.

Because this person is a board member, I don't think they would have any input in the hiring desision so that is not my main concern. My worry is that I'm not sure I want to work with an organization that would even consider putting him on the board because this person is so completely and utterly incompetent.

Any advice? Should I even bother?

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T18:06:00.000-06:00

I should be in bed right now but...

2007-10-17T23:44:00.000-06:00

I'm not the least bit tired and I'm having fun playing around with my new computer. Perhaps, just perhaps, I'll blog more than once a month now that my computer isn't painfully slow. Just for fun I'm attaching a random pic I took last week of the sky. I do love the big skies...

A thought the politicians in this province might want to consider...

2007-10-16T08:51:00.000-06:00

Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.
--Edward Abbey

I love fall!

2007-10-13T09:56:00.000-06:00

The latest

2007-10-05T20:38:00.000-06:00

I'm spending far too much time in hospitals these days.

My little nephew Adrian who is just shy of 4 months had a seizure a few days ago and had to be rushed into emergency in a helicopter. I went and saw him on Wednesday night and it was heartbreaking to see the tiny little soul on a big hospital bed covered with tubes and wires and hooked up to about 5 different machines. They still don't know what really happened but all the tests so far show that he is ok. They're going to keep in in for a couple more days to make sure he recovers fully. It might have been a strange virus or infection but they can't seem to figure it out.

The second stop of my hospital tour is at the cancer centre about 5 minutes away from the children's hospital to visit my aunt who is now in pallative care. I can't really even talk about that, it's overwhelming to say the least.

I'm at home tonight with a huge headache and all I want to do is sleep.

The month that was

2007-09-20T23:20:00.000-06:00

Well, nearly a month has gone by since I last blogged - my mind seems to be a bit blank these days plus my computer has been acting up a bit so the blogging has fallen on the wayside unfortunately. Life is a blur these days as I am up to my eyeballs at work with different events, proposals and just keeping up with the day-to-day work that needs to be done. My family is extremely stressed and upset because my aunt has cancer spreading through her body at a rate that there isn't much more that can be done for her. I don't know how she must feel to have that happening to her body, she told me she's living from 'pill-to-pill' right now because she's in so much pain. I've never seen her sick a day in her life so this is disturbing and sad.

My computer keeps freezing up again so I'll cut this short before I pull my hair out with frustration. Might be time to invest in a new one - my current one is over 5 years old which practically makes it an antique in computer land. Any recommendations for a high-quality desktop? I don't want or need a laptop - I want something with more memory.

Crackbook

2007-08-27T20:29:00.000-06:00

So the disturbing thing about Facebook is when someone you haven't seen for about 10-15 years invites you to be their friend and then once you accept the invitation you can see all the photos they've posted of themselves. The first thing I say to myself when I see them is, "Damn they look old!" What's disturbing about it of course is that they are the same age (or even younger) than me...

Some people get a little too into the whole thing though, I've had to delete a few people who were bombarding me with requests to join their group or add 'What's my stripper name' application or some other inane thing. I'm quite content with my little garden, my books and music and the odd photo or video...

I'm wasting just a bit too much time over there these days though hence the lack of blogging this past couple months. One (or both) of them might just have to go!

A few pics

2007-08-24T15:22:00.000-06:00

My niece Jasmine

The two new additions to the family: Tommy & Adrian

Tommy in a wheat field looking rather 'farmerish'

Amber waves of grain
A thistle flower

8 days

2007-08-07T20:26:00.000-06:00

In a week and a day I'll be officially...

kinda old.

That means there's only a week, a day and a year until my 'scary' birthday (35). For the past 10 years or so I've always told myself that I'll have it all together and figured out by the time I turn 35. I feel less together and have even less figured out than when I was 25. Or 15.

By 45 perhaps? Maybe never? We shall see...

I just can't get you outta my head

2007-08-05T18:30:00.000-06:00

So I watched Canadian Idol last week (a guilty pleasure of mine) and one of the finalists sang this song. I've had it in my mind ever since...

The news

2007-08-03T20:28:00.000-06:00

Getting back to my annoyance at the news coverage of world events...

Why is a bridge collapsing that kills 5-20 people getting hours and hours and hours of coverage while 20 million people displaced from their homes and hundreds dead from flooding gets buried between sports highlights and celebrity news. Not to downplay the tragedy in Minnesota but... 20 million people homeless in South Asia!

Imagine the chaos if 2/3 of the entire population of Canada were suddenly homeless due to flooding - I imagine that would be a fairly large news item. The broadcasters really need to bulk up their foreign news coverage - if it weren't for the internet I would know nothing of the outside world.

High nation

2007-07-20T10:10:00.000-06:00

This could explain why Doritos are so popular here:

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/07/09/canada-cannabis.html?ref=rss

Lack o' blogs

2007-07-13T08:41:00.000-06:00

I've tried to blog many times over the past couple of weeks but the effort has been futile. Now that T is here I've been busy showing him around and helping him settle in, plus the weather is so beautiful now that the last thing I feel like doing is sitting in front of my computer when I'm home from work.

T just started his English classes yesterday - he's going to be studying from 4-9pm every night for two and a half months. We'll never see each other! It really sucks but it was the only class available to him unless he wanted to wait until September. He seems to be adjusting well although he does miss his tortillas, his Xelapan (a chain of bakeries in his city where you could choose from a huge variety of sweet bread) and of course, his friends and family. Thank god for MSN messenger, he chats a lot with people at home so he doesn't feel as far away from them.

I'm adjusting to sharing my space with someone again. We managed to squeeze in all his things into my small apartment and I've had to let go of some of my analness. Like, it probably won't kill me if there's a few crumbs left on the counter... although it does bug the hell out of me hee hee.

And... even though T came in June he has already seen his first glimpse of snow! On July 1 we were up in Revelstoke and there was a ton of snow on the mountain we were hiking on. He was excited although I'm pretty sure the novelty will wear off oh say, in the middle of February when it is totally miserable here.

Here's a pic:

Storm chasers

2007-06-24T10:25:00.000-06:00

This is some incredible footage of a tornado that hit Manitoba yesterday - these guys are crazy! Did I ever mention that I have a slight obsession with storms?

He's here!

2007-06-12T20:19:00.001-06:00

T made it to Canada last night safe & sound. I'm taking a week off of work and am having fun being his unofficial 'tour guide' as he settles in. Thank god he arrived in the summer - I can't imagine having to show him around if it were 20 below!

It's so much fun actually having a husband!

Much to everyone's surprise...

2007-06-08T17:23:00.000-06:00

It's a boy!

My sister had a healthy baby boy this afternoon,

7 lbs, 6 oz.

As for now he is still nameless.

Woo hoo - I'm an auntie again!

That's four and counting...

Ignorance is bliss

2007-06-06T07:20:00.000-06:00

Opening soon in Big Valley, Alberta:

"The Earth is Flat" museum and "The Sun Revolves Around the Earth" museum which will also host a new exhibit called "Gravity: As if!" that scientifically proves once and for all that Sir Issac Newton was a pagan liberal with a political agenda...

It is hoped that these museums will be a boon to tourism in Alberta and will be added to a tour package that will include a visit to the just-opened Creationist museum, also in Big Valley. Sales of the tour are already brisk in some parts of rural Alabama and Mississippi...

And if that's not enough, tourists can then head over to nearby Torrington to see a variety of beautiful tableaux of a bunch of dead stuffed gophers at the world famous Gopher Hole Museum.

And who said that Alberta doesn't have any culture?

In other news, you may want to buy stock in this health drink company... I expect their sales will rise substantially as a result of this lawsuit.

Date change

2007-06-04T13:26:00.000-06:00

Ok, so he's coming on June 11, not the 10th.

He just has to make in interesting by waiting until almost the last possible day (before his visa expires) to fly! The stress continues...

What I love about Canada

2007-06-01T20:47:00.000-06:00

No matter where you are, there's a chance of spotting a wild animal - even in your provincial legislature building... this is too hilarious.

I think anyone could breach the legislature given that the security guard looks to be about 90 years old!

Arriving on a jet plane

2007-06-01T08:55:00.000-06:00

T finally bought his ticket - he'll be here on June 10!

I really have to get organized and make some closet space for the poor man...

Another hurdle cleared

2007-05-30T22:16:00.000-06:00

So...

He got his US transit visa today.

I'm still stressed but more hopeful.

T's ETA

2007-05-25T19:08:00.000-06:00

is June 8

Which is the same day that my new niece or nephew (probably niece) will be born (my sister is scheduled to have a c-section that day).

So... this means there will be two new additions to the family two weeks from today! It will be funny, I'll be driving from the hospital to visit my new niece/nephew straight to the airport to pick up T - this is assuming that his flight is indeed that day. It isn't confirmed yet because he's reluctant to buy his ticket before he gets his US transit visa, he wants to wait until after his appointment with the gringo embassy on May 30. I really don't see any reason that his visa won't be approved - if they don't approve him I may just have to drive down there and sneak him over the border in my truck. I could make some extra cash and sneak in a whole pile of Guatemalans - I hear they're paying the coyotes about $30K these days....

I haven't been writing about it much because the whole process is stressing me out so much that I'm ready to tear my hair out. I feel like such a nag constantly calling him to see what his progress is on making all the arrangements - these are times when the cultural differences between us are the most frustrating - there is just no sense of urgency in the man! The reason I'm stressed is that if he isn't here by June 13 the whole visa expires and we would have to start the entire process over from scratch. I honestly don't know what I would do in that case... there's no way I'm willing to wait another year and go through all the freaking paperwork and expense again.

Anyway, I will keep everyone posted on this - you may not want to ask me about it unless you want to see me have a minor meltdown...

Charred remains

2007-05-18T18:25:00.000-06:00

Did I ever mention my high school burnt to the ground a couple years after I graduated? I came across this photo on a Facebook group for people who went to my old high school - Senator Riley in High River, Alberta.

A disturbed kid broke into the school one night and just lit 'er up for no apparent reason. I think he served a couple years in juvenile detention for the crime. Hopefully, for the good of society, his pyromaniacal urges don't flare up again... I have no idea what happened to him after he got out.

That (rather old-fashioned looking) police car brings back memories of all the bush parties I went to in high school that would end as soon as the cops arrived to spoil the fun - they would pour out all the illicit alcohol and then make everyone go home. I remember a couple of nervous nights when I went through checkstops and I was hoping to hell they wouldn't find the bottle of vodka I had tucked away under the seat of my car. It's funny how much more fun drinking is when you are underage and it is illegal.