Hello Everyone,
With my move, I'm getting rid of my phone line. I've been wanting to for a while and this is the perfect opportunity. I haven't decided yet if I'm getting internet and cable through Shaw or portable internet through Rogers. Probably the later and I'll forego tv. After all, I can watch some of my shows online and the rest I can see at Jerry's. I've lived without cable before and I think I'll still get a couple local stations anyways.
Anyways, I'm looking at phone options and thought Vontage might be suitable. I'm looking at the $19.99 500 minutes local/long distance + unlimited inbound calls. So, my regular phone connects through a device hooked up to my computer and voila, a phone line.
So, has anyone used Vontage? If so, what did/do you think of their service? If not, have you used a different company with similar features?
I'm keeping my cell but with my long distance, I think it'll be cheaper to use Vontage rather than long distance cards. Thoughts on long distance cell phone cards?
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Wild Roses tv show
Hello Everyone,
For those of you who watch Wild Roses (stupid Alberta soap opera on at 9pm, Tuesday nights) on CBC, there was a scene last night across the block from where I work. The scene is when David McGregor is eating a hot dog, making a suspicious oil deal so he can cover his other oil deal supply. In the background, there's a parking lot and a huge mural on the wall with drilling scenes.
In reference to my building, it's on the sw corner of 6 Ave and 2nd Street. The scene took place on the nw corner. The hot dog stand is actually on the NE corner (so he was an extra). The building with the mural is the Petroleum Club, an exclusive club for people in the oil and drilling industry. We had our Christmas party there this year and I've eaten there a few times for company functions.
Jerry indulged my interest in that stupid show (I like playing "where's that?") last night and him and his friend had fun picking out buildings. I've recognized a number of them so far. The plot line is rather overdramatic and silly but it's amusing.
Oh, and there was a reference about David's hat, when he was first trying to fulfill his oil contract and he had called an acquaintance from years ago. If you wear a white hat, you're an upstanding and honest business person. If you wear a black hat, you've screwed someone over. So, in Calgary, if someone asked you about the colour of your hat or makes reference to it, they're really commenting about your character.
For those of you who watch Wild Roses (stupid Alberta soap opera on at 9pm, Tuesday nights) on CBC, there was a scene last night across the block from where I work. The scene is when David McGregor is eating a hot dog, making a suspicious oil deal so he can cover his other oil deal supply. In the background, there's a parking lot and a huge mural on the wall with drilling scenes.
In reference to my building, it's on the sw corner of 6 Ave and 2nd Street. The scene took place on the nw corner. The hot dog stand is actually on the NE corner (so he was an extra). The building with the mural is the Petroleum Club, an exclusive club for people in the oil and drilling industry. We had our Christmas party there this year and I've eaten there a few times for company functions.
Jerry indulged my interest in that stupid show (I like playing "where's that?") last night and him and his friend had fun picking out buildings. I've recognized a number of them so far. The plot line is rather overdramatic and silly but it's amusing.
Oh, and there was a reference about David's hat, when he was first trying to fulfill his oil contract and he had called an acquaintance from years ago. If you wear a white hat, you're an upstanding and honest business person. If you wear a black hat, you've screwed someone over. So, in Calgary, if someone asked you about the colour of your hat or makes reference to it, they're really commenting about your character.
Friday, February 27, 2009
I'm moving!
Hello Everyone,
I've been looking for a new place for a while and tomorrow I'm signing a lease for a one bedroom in the NW. I'm spending a lot of time up there (Jerry will be one neighbourhood away) and it's a great location. 4 blocks to mall and C-Train station. Slightly shorter commute to work (and less steep hill going home). 20 minute walk to Kensington (fun neighbourhood for coffee, window shopping and people watching), 30 minute walk to downtown and Prince's Island. The street is an on-road bike path and it's a nice, safe neighbourhood.
The apartment itself is a little less nice then my current one and more expensive. Why move then?
1. Well, location is a big factor. Jerry and I have been dating for over 1 1/2 yrs and I'm tired of the 40 minute bike ride to see him. It's an ongoing joke that we have a river between us and it doesn't matter who is visiting who - there's still a hill to climb. We'll be able to spend more time together and his place is directly on my way to work so I can stop in for morning coffee.
2. hardwood/linoleum flooring. Much easier to clean for pets. Much easier for my bike.
3. garden. There's a 15'x15' garden in the back I can share with the upstairs tenants. Won't have to go all the way to the university for growing veggies anymore!
4. laundry. No more washing my clothes in the bath tub
5. not having to deal with my landlord. I've had to call every month for the past 6 months to find out when they were coming to pick up the rent. This month was the worst. They went on vacation and I was calling for 2 weeks waiting for someone to come pick it up. They also want the rent in cash so I have to stand in line for 20 minutes each month. There's family politics. Noise carries terribly in this apartment and I can hear the dog's claws as she walks across the floor. And they aren't super noisy upstairs at all. It's just that I'm very quiet so I hear everything.
The apartment itself was not quite what I was looking for but it has potential. The lease is for 6 months, then it'll go to month-to-month. I'm quite happy with this arrangement. There's a huge storage room (almost the size of my current bedroom) off the kitchen. The main entrance leads to the kitchen. Open concept. Living room slightly larger than my current one. Bathroom is accessed through the bedroom. Bedroom a bit smaller and no closet but I have a shelving unit with a clothing rail I can use. There's no tub but Jerry has said that when I desperately need a bath, I can go to his place. It's small too but I can deal with it. Kitchen cupboards a bit small but I don't use all the space in my current ones. New appliances. Windows have window wells so although I get a lot of light, there's still privacy. I was originally looking for a suite in an apartment building so I could have a balcony but there are few places that allow pets.
The upstairs tenants are reponsible for looking after the front and I would be responsible for the back (cutting grass, shovelling snow etc). I'm ok with that since I enjoy these things. As well, with the back yard, I could get a bbq or picnic there or sit under the treee and read a book. There's a convenience store across the street and a yummy donair place in the next block over.
So, I'm paying rent at 2 places for the month of March. That's expensive but the moving stress is completely lifted. I'll move most of my stuff over the next couple weeks (Jerry's roommate has a truck) so I can do a good thorough cleaning of this place. I've been here for a couple years and with pets, it'll take a bit more than the average move-out clean.
This apartment served its purpose. It was originally to cut down on costs by having a roommate. I now don't need one, and I'm not reliant on transit anymore. It's at the top of my budget but I think I will end up cutting down on some of my entertainment costs. As well, there's a great Chinese grocery store about 12 blocks away that has super cheap and very good quality fruit. Grocery store is 4 blocks away.
Once I get settled in, I'll take some pictures.
I've been looking for a new place for a while and tomorrow I'm signing a lease for a one bedroom in the NW. I'm spending a lot of time up there (Jerry will be one neighbourhood away) and it's a great location. 4 blocks to mall and C-Train station. Slightly shorter commute to work (and less steep hill going home). 20 minute walk to Kensington (fun neighbourhood for coffee, window shopping and people watching), 30 minute walk to downtown and Prince's Island. The street is an on-road bike path and it's a nice, safe neighbourhood.
The apartment itself is a little less nice then my current one and more expensive. Why move then?
1. Well, location is a big factor. Jerry and I have been dating for over 1 1/2 yrs and I'm tired of the 40 minute bike ride to see him. It's an ongoing joke that we have a river between us and it doesn't matter who is visiting who - there's still a hill to climb. We'll be able to spend more time together and his place is directly on my way to work so I can stop in for morning coffee.
2. hardwood/linoleum flooring. Much easier to clean for pets. Much easier for my bike.
3. garden. There's a 15'x15' garden in the back I can share with the upstairs tenants. Won't have to go all the way to the university for growing veggies anymore!
4. laundry. No more washing my clothes in the bath tub
5. not having to deal with my landlord. I've had to call every month for the past 6 months to find out when they were coming to pick up the rent. This month was the worst. They went on vacation and I was calling for 2 weeks waiting for someone to come pick it up. They also want the rent in cash so I have to stand in line for 20 minutes each month. There's family politics. Noise carries terribly in this apartment and I can hear the dog's claws as she walks across the floor. And they aren't super noisy upstairs at all. It's just that I'm very quiet so I hear everything.
The apartment itself was not quite what I was looking for but it has potential. The lease is for 6 months, then it'll go to month-to-month. I'm quite happy with this arrangement. There's a huge storage room (almost the size of my current bedroom) off the kitchen. The main entrance leads to the kitchen. Open concept. Living room slightly larger than my current one. Bathroom is accessed through the bedroom. Bedroom a bit smaller and no closet but I have a shelving unit with a clothing rail I can use. There's no tub but Jerry has said that when I desperately need a bath, I can go to his place. It's small too but I can deal with it. Kitchen cupboards a bit small but I don't use all the space in my current ones. New appliances. Windows have window wells so although I get a lot of light, there's still privacy. I was originally looking for a suite in an apartment building so I could have a balcony but there are few places that allow pets.
The upstairs tenants are reponsible for looking after the front and I would be responsible for the back (cutting grass, shovelling snow etc). I'm ok with that since I enjoy these things. As well, with the back yard, I could get a bbq or picnic there or sit under the treee and read a book. There's a convenience store across the street and a yummy donair place in the next block over.
So, I'm paying rent at 2 places for the month of March. That's expensive but the moving stress is completely lifted. I'll move most of my stuff over the next couple weeks (Jerry's roommate has a truck) so I can do a good thorough cleaning of this place. I've been here for a couple years and with pets, it'll take a bit more than the average move-out clean.
This apartment served its purpose. It was originally to cut down on costs by having a roommate. I now don't need one, and I'm not reliant on transit anymore. It's at the top of my budget but I think I will end up cutting down on some of my entertainment costs. As well, there's a great Chinese grocery store about 12 blocks away that has super cheap and very good quality fruit. Grocery store is 4 blocks away.
Once I get settled in, I'll take some pictures.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
More photos
The first picture show Mike and Whiskers in their attempt of playing nice. They share the water. Whiskers often rushes over to Mike's food bowl when I fill it (but doesn't eat anything). Shortly afterward they got into their regular argument with Mike swatting Whiskers and Whiskers charging back. Neither won as I stepped in to break it up.
The second picture is me at Sunshine last month. Note the very cute pink helmet. This is by Jerry's Run (named for a local trapper that just had his 92nd birthday and is well known at the resort). The AB/BC border runs through the resort. I now have nice snowboard pants so I can retire the ugly bulky grey ones for the cute green ones I got last weekend. I hope to try them out this weekend since it's suppose to snow all week - powder!
bunny mittens
For all my craft friends...
I love my bunny mittens. Many of you know that when I wear mittens, they often turn into puppets and they have very polite conversations with each other.
So, when I was in Banff and saw actual puppet mittens, I giggled and had to get them. Jerry laughed when I put them on. There were all sorts of animals - mice, snakes, alligators (with white beads for teeth), dogs, etc.
But I like the bunnies.
I just have to watch that the ears don't damper my bicycle bell.
So, they're knitted mittens. The under side of the ears are microfiber. The eyes are buttons. The knitting is very thick and you can't see through it to the liner. Fully lined with polar fleece.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Cute joke
I'D LOVE TO BE EIGHT AGAIN
A man asked his wife what she'd like for her birthday.
"I'd love to be eight again" she replied.
On the morning of her birthday, he arose early and made her a bowl of Coco Pops and jammy toasties! He took her to Alton Towers and put her on every ride in the park: The Death Slide, The Wall of Fear, The Screaming Monster Roller Coaster. Five hours later she staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down.
Right away they went to a McDonalds where her loving husband ordered her a HappyMeal with extra fries and a refreshing chocolate milkshake.
Then it was off to the movies: the latest Kiddies three hour epic cartoon, a hot dog, popcorn, all the Coke she could drink, her favourite lolly and M&Ms! What a fabulous adventure!
Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed onto the bed exhausted. He leaned over his precious wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, "Well dear, what was it like being eight again?"
Her eyes slowly opened and her expression changed to one of total realisation..."I meant my dress size, you IDIOT!"
The moral of this story: Even when a man is listening, he's still gonna get it wrong.....
A man asked his wife what she'd like for her birthday.
"I'd love to be eight again" she replied.
On the morning of her birthday, he arose early and made her a bowl of Coco Pops and jammy toasties! He took her to Alton Towers and put her on every ride in the park: The Death Slide, The Wall of Fear, The Screaming Monster Roller Coaster. Five hours later she staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down.
Right away they went to a McDonalds where her loving husband ordered her a HappyMeal with extra fries and a refreshing chocolate milkshake.
Then it was off to the movies: the latest Kiddies three hour epic cartoon, a hot dog, popcorn, all the Coke she could drink, her favourite lolly and M&Ms! What a fabulous adventure!
Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed onto the bed exhausted. He leaned over his precious wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, "Well dear, what was it like being eight again?"
Her eyes slowly opened and her expression changed to one of total realisation..."I meant my dress size, you IDIOT!"
The moral of this story: Even when a man is listening, he's still gonna get it wrong.....
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
I passed the rewrite!
Hello Everyone,
I just found out tonight that I passed my mid-term rewrite. I'm not out of the woods yet but I still have a chance of passing this stupid course. I need to rewrite the final but I have until mid-April to do so. I'll take a look at my schedule to see where it would best fit in.
Had a nice Valentine's weekend. Rented a car (upgraded to a PT Cruiser for no extra charge) and went to Banff. We left on Saturday late so we didn't get to snowboarding but we went to the hill and hung out with friends. Hit the hot springs. Saturday was snowboarding and I did my first run on Goat's Eye. It's a more advanced lift and although it was difficult, I got down relatively well. Had a couple nasty falls because there wasn't much powder so the board slid more and the snow was harder. Had to go for a massage today to help work things out. Spent Monday relaxing - went to hot springs, did a short hike. Jerry bought me chocolates in a pretty velvety heart-shaped box. I eat chocolate all the time but I rarely buy actual chocolates and they're very tasty.
His present had a long story based on me not wanting to study. He gets excited about Italian food so I was going to make him an Italian dessert. Problem - all the internet recipes for Italian love cake used cake mix and I don't like the taste of cake mix cake. Next was a search to see what Italians give as presents for Valentine's Day. It's not a big holiday there as they have a different holiday to celebrate love. But they often give Bacci chocolates, which are hazelnut truffles that have little love notes in the wrapper. So, I found some. Then, with the idea of love notes, I thought about a book of poetry. So my next search came up with a famous Chilean poet. Who was a character in the move Il Postito - a movie I like. Then I found a bottle of Chilean wine with a bicycle on the label to signify how the workers get to the vineyard. And finally, a candle that when melted down turns into massage oil. I'd heard a lot about them and I made sure to get a good quality one.
Anyways, I need to pull out my books again to study.
Have a great day!
I just found out tonight that I passed my mid-term rewrite. I'm not out of the woods yet but I still have a chance of passing this stupid course. I need to rewrite the final but I have until mid-April to do so. I'll take a look at my schedule to see where it would best fit in.
Had a nice Valentine's weekend. Rented a car (upgraded to a PT Cruiser for no extra charge) and went to Banff. We left on Saturday late so we didn't get to snowboarding but we went to the hill and hung out with friends. Hit the hot springs. Saturday was snowboarding and I did my first run on Goat's Eye. It's a more advanced lift and although it was difficult, I got down relatively well. Had a couple nasty falls because there wasn't much powder so the board slid more and the snow was harder. Had to go for a massage today to help work things out. Spent Monday relaxing - went to hot springs, did a short hike. Jerry bought me chocolates in a pretty velvety heart-shaped box. I eat chocolate all the time but I rarely buy actual chocolates and they're very tasty.
His present had a long story based on me not wanting to study. He gets excited about Italian food so I was going to make him an Italian dessert. Problem - all the internet recipes for Italian love cake used cake mix and I don't like the taste of cake mix cake. Next was a search to see what Italians give as presents for Valentine's Day. It's not a big holiday there as they have a different holiday to celebrate love. But they often give Bacci chocolates, which are hazelnut truffles that have little love notes in the wrapper. So, I found some. Then, with the idea of love notes, I thought about a book of poetry. So my next search came up with a famous Chilean poet. Who was a character in the move Il Postito - a movie I like. Then I found a bottle of Chilean wine with a bicycle on the label to signify how the workers get to the vineyard. And finally, a candle that when melted down turns into massage oil. I'd heard a lot about them and I made sure to get a good quality one.
Anyways, I need to pull out my books again to study.
Have a great day!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Travel Changes
Hello Everyone,
We had to rebook our flights because of work time-off issues. All is sorted out and we're now coming out a month later.
Fly into Ottawa late July 28. Fly back late Aug 9. Jerry has never been to Ottawa and he's involved with politics so this was something he requested. Since he is willing to be bombarded with family, I am more than willing to accommodate this. So, we'll spend a day or 2 in Ottawa, take the train over to Toronto, spend a day or 2 there while he does business stuff. Head up to the cottage to see everyone. He hasn't really seen Ontario except for Toronto.
So if you have suggestions for things to do, let me know. I don't know Ottawa at all - went there for grade 8 trip to parliment buildings. So, maybe some relaxing activities to do after we tour the government stuff.
As for Chesley area, I was thinking Ingils Falls/Owen Sound (did lots of hiking there), Sauble beach and Lake Huron, tours around town etc. As part of travelling from the cottage, we'll stop by Blue Mountain. Where do you usually take visitors to the area? It's the whole, I grew up there so I don't have the perspective as to what's interesting.
Have a great day!
We had to rebook our flights because of work time-off issues. All is sorted out and we're now coming out a month later.
Fly into Ottawa late July 28. Fly back late Aug 9. Jerry has never been to Ottawa and he's involved with politics so this was something he requested. Since he is willing to be bombarded with family, I am more than willing to accommodate this. So, we'll spend a day or 2 in Ottawa, take the train over to Toronto, spend a day or 2 there while he does business stuff. Head up to the cottage to see everyone. He hasn't really seen Ontario except for Toronto.
So if you have suggestions for things to do, let me know. I don't know Ottawa at all - went there for grade 8 trip to parliment buildings. So, maybe some relaxing activities to do after we tour the government stuff.
As for Chesley area, I was thinking Ingils Falls/Owen Sound (did lots of hiking there), Sauble beach and Lake Huron, tours around town etc. As part of travelling from the cottage, we'll stop by Blue Mountain. Where do you usually take visitors to the area? It's the whole, I grew up there so I don't have the perspective as to what's interesting.
Have a great day!
Saturday, February 07, 2009
An up and down couple weeks
Hello Everyone,
Well, life has been interesting. Starting today...sold my piano. I wasn't playing it and I'm thinking about moving. Too expensive to keep paying for moving costs so I sold it (they're picking it up tomorrow) and will learn how to play the vioin. I have one of gramma's so it'll be a matter of finding a teacher this summer.
Last night found out I failed my final. So, I can rewrite this exam and still pass the course if I pass the midterm rewrite. I got 45%. Haven't got my mark back for my midterm rewrite yet. If I fail the midterm rewrite, I redo the course.
Yesterday morning, found amazing flight to Ontario for Jerry and I this summer. So, we're flying into Ottawa on June 23 and coming back July 5. Jerry hasn't really seen Ontario except for Toronto so we'll do a couple days in Ottawa, a couple in Toronto (business) and then head up to see family.
Thursday night, had my 50th blood donation. It's much easier when you give plasma. Got my picture taken, had a cupcake and then ate pho with Jerry. Then found out I need to do some major maintenance on Polly and may need to replace her frame.
Sunday I cooked "winter dinner". Jerry took my frozen turkey and turned it into a wonderful, moist yummy meal. I actually ate both the gravy and stuffing. For gravy, he took the carrots, onion and celery that the turkey roasted on, drained the juice and put everything in the blender. It tasted like thick vegetable soup. To make the turkey moist, he soaked it in brine for a couple hours.
Saturday, went snowboarding and did my first black diamond run. Spent the afternoon working on speed and confidence. Had a wonderful time.
So, I've had some great ups but frustrations with school. I really didn't want to go back into study mode in February. I'll let you know what happens.
Have a great day!
Well, life has been interesting. Starting today...sold my piano. I wasn't playing it and I'm thinking about moving. Too expensive to keep paying for moving costs so I sold it (they're picking it up tomorrow) and will learn how to play the vioin. I have one of gramma's so it'll be a matter of finding a teacher this summer.
Last night found out I failed my final. So, I can rewrite this exam and still pass the course if I pass the midterm rewrite. I got 45%. Haven't got my mark back for my midterm rewrite yet. If I fail the midterm rewrite, I redo the course.
Yesterday morning, found amazing flight to Ontario for Jerry and I this summer. So, we're flying into Ottawa on June 23 and coming back July 5. Jerry hasn't really seen Ontario except for Toronto so we'll do a couple days in Ottawa, a couple in Toronto (business) and then head up to see family.
Thursday night, had my 50th blood donation. It's much easier when you give plasma. Got my picture taken, had a cupcake and then ate pho with Jerry. Then found out I need to do some major maintenance on Polly and may need to replace her frame.
Sunday I cooked "winter dinner". Jerry took my frozen turkey and turned it into a wonderful, moist yummy meal. I actually ate both the gravy and stuffing. For gravy, he took the carrots, onion and celery that the turkey roasted on, drained the juice and put everything in the blender. It tasted like thick vegetable soup. To make the turkey moist, he soaked it in brine for a couple hours.
Saturday, went snowboarding and did my first black diamond run. Spent the afternoon working on speed and confidence. Had a wonderful time.
So, I've had some great ups but frustrations with school. I really didn't want to go back into study mode in February. I'll let you know what happens.
Have a great day!
Friday, January 16, 2009
No, I'm not dead
Hi Everyone,
Sorry about not updating recently - it's been crazy since Christmas. We've just transitioned to a new payroll system so I worked OT for 1 1/2 weeks and last weekend. On top of that, my final exam is next Saturday and my midterm the following Wednesday.
I won't be able to give you a proper update until after my mid term.
Have a great day!
Sorry about not updating recently - it's been crazy since Christmas. We've just transitioned to a new payroll system so I worked OT for 1 1/2 weeks and last weekend. On top of that, my final exam is next Saturday and my midterm the following Wednesday.
I won't be able to give you a proper update until after my mid term.
Have a great day!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Another brrrr day
Hello Everyone,
My computer is reading -25. The wind chill this morning had it down to -37. I didn't get cold biking in (the wonders of layers) but my glasses did ice up a bit. No brakes but that's one of the many reasons why I love Polly. I was still able to stop using my legs.
Had plasma donation last night and my arms are a bit sore. The left arm vein didn't want to co-opearate so they needed to switch to my right. Then, my right didn't want to clot so I had to be wrapped up extra. It's all good - was able to ride and meet up with Jerry downtown. On plasma nights, I usually stay at his place since it's half the distance (and a much smaller hill). As well, from a practical side, most of the route is downtown or major residential areas so if I have any problems with my blood sugar, I can get juice/liquid very easily. And, since his roommate was doing a beer run, I had him pick us up some pho. It was a really long, cold & busy day for Jerry (hence why I wanted him to have some soup) and I needed anything liquid.
So, the ride in today was half my normal distance and I had a much smaller hill to go down. To slow down/stop on a fixed gear, you need to lock the muscles in your legs so the pedals literally cannot move. In snowy conditions, this is much easier than it sounds. At the bottom of the hill, it gets a bit steeper so my braking turned into little controlled skids and I had no problem keeping in control. The spiked tires have made a huge difference.
I was planning to go to a party tonight but with this weather, I'm going straight home. Jerry's office party is tomorrow night so I'll head up to his place tomorrow afternoon. Sunday will be filled with studying and then I have a week of studying and last minute Christmas stuff.
Have a great day!
My computer is reading -25. The wind chill this morning had it down to -37. I didn't get cold biking in (the wonders of layers) but my glasses did ice up a bit. No brakes but that's one of the many reasons why I love Polly. I was still able to stop using my legs.
Had plasma donation last night and my arms are a bit sore. The left arm vein didn't want to co-opearate so they needed to switch to my right. Then, my right didn't want to clot so I had to be wrapped up extra. It's all good - was able to ride and meet up with Jerry downtown. On plasma nights, I usually stay at his place since it's half the distance (and a much smaller hill). As well, from a practical side, most of the route is downtown or major residential areas so if I have any problems with my blood sugar, I can get juice/liquid very easily. And, since his roommate was doing a beer run, I had him pick us up some pho. It was a really long, cold & busy day for Jerry (hence why I wanted him to have some soup) and I needed anything liquid.
So, the ride in today was half my normal distance and I had a much smaller hill to go down. To slow down/stop on a fixed gear, you need to lock the muscles in your legs so the pedals literally cannot move. In snowy conditions, this is much easier than it sounds. At the bottom of the hill, it gets a bit steeper so my braking turned into little controlled skids and I had no problem keeping in control. The spiked tires have made a huge difference.
I was planning to go to a party tonight but with this weather, I'm going straight home. Jerry's office party is tomorrow night so I'll head up to his place tomorrow afternoon. Sunday will be filled with studying and then I have a week of studying and last minute Christmas stuff.
Have a great day!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Bad Exam News
Hello Everyone,
Yep, I didn't pass :-(
There's still hope though. They offer a rewrite. I have up until the middle of February.
I'm not overly disappointed, based on how I felt writing. I now what I really need to work on and will buckle down with my studies.
My final course is being offered at Mount Royal College so I'll take it there rather than online. It's a bit more inconvient but I think I'll learn more and get better marks than if I'm left on my own. For anyone considering accounting by correspondence, I would recommend against it - I've really struggle with the material.
Yep, I didn't pass :-(
There's still hope though. They offer a rewrite. I have up until the middle of February.
I'm not overly disappointed, based on how I felt writing. I now what I really need to work on and will buckle down with my studies.
My final course is being offered at Mount Royal College so I'll take it there rather than online. It's a bit more inconvient but I think I'll learn more and get better marks than if I'm left on my own. For anyone considering accounting by correspondence, I would recommend against it - I've really struggle with the material.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Winter tires
Hello everyone,
If you've looked at the news recently, you'll know the prairies are in the midst of a deep freeze. It drop down to -26 on Friday, -30 and colder on Sat & Sun and then got up to -23 on Monday. When you throw in the wind chill, it was in the -40s.
The office shut down early on Friday and I got home easily before the storm came. Headed up to Jerry's for the weekend and cursed the stupid roads the entire way. The pathway was fine but since the city doesn't clear residential roads (taxpayers weren't willing to pay extra for it), conditions were a mess and a lot of people didn't have their sidewalks shovelled.
But Jerry is super sweet. He gave me part of my Christmas present early - a winter tire. It's a road tire but has spikes. We put it on my front over the weekend and it made a huge difference on Monday. I then stopped at the bike shop on the way home and picked up a second one. He wasn't sure it would fit and since they're expensive, he only picked up 2 - and I insisted he use one too. This will be his first year riding them. My traction and control was great this morning (and I look rather grimy. I couldn't get the black from between my fingers). So, I'll end up with 2 sets of tires - winter spikes and regular road. I got a second cog so that way I don't have to fool around with anything - just remove the wheels and switch.
I'm pretty well ready for Christmas. Got everything shipped off to home and I just need to pick up a couple things for Jerry. Have a bit of Christmas treats still to bake but that won't take long. Whiskers likes to hide under the tree. She shoves the presents around until she has lots of room. Mike tends to ignore her there.
Have a great (and warm) day!
If you've looked at the news recently, you'll know the prairies are in the midst of a deep freeze. It drop down to -26 on Friday, -30 and colder on Sat & Sun and then got up to -23 on Monday. When you throw in the wind chill, it was in the -40s.
The office shut down early on Friday and I got home easily before the storm came. Headed up to Jerry's for the weekend and cursed the stupid roads the entire way. The pathway was fine but since the city doesn't clear residential roads (taxpayers weren't willing to pay extra for it), conditions were a mess and a lot of people didn't have their sidewalks shovelled.
But Jerry is super sweet. He gave me part of my Christmas present early - a winter tire. It's a road tire but has spikes. We put it on my front over the weekend and it made a huge difference on Monday. I then stopped at the bike shop on the way home and picked up a second one. He wasn't sure it would fit and since they're expensive, he only picked up 2 - and I insisted he use one too. This will be his first year riding them. My traction and control was great this morning (and I look rather grimy. I couldn't get the black from between my fingers). So, I'll end up with 2 sets of tires - winter spikes and regular road. I got a second cog so that way I don't have to fool around with anything - just remove the wheels and switch.
I'm pretty well ready for Christmas. Got everything shipped off to home and I just need to pick up a couple things for Jerry. Have a bit of Christmas treats still to bake but that won't take long. Whiskers likes to hide under the tree. She shoves the presents around until she has lots of room. Mike tends to ignore her there.
Have a great (and warm) day!
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Christmas Party
Hello Everyone,
Here we are all dressed up for my office Christmas party. And I have no idea why it takes Jerry twice as long to get ready as I do. This did not include ironing (which is automatically exempt)
It was a good time although I wished for a bit more food.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Sunshine!
Jerry's so good to me. He was out at Sunshine Ski Resort (in Banff) yesterday when I texted him about my exam. The exam didn't go so well. I had some very expensive mind blanks and I'm not sure if I passed. I was feeling rather down (although Mom cheered me up some).
Later in the afternoon, he asked if I wanted to go up on Sunday.
So, here I am on Libby (check out the pink helmet - $30 on sale at MEC). My next upgrade will be pants. Mine work but they're a bit big and awkward.
I was really surprised at how well I did. I was expecting to fall a lot but it came back right away. Did 7 runs (all green) and I'm exhausted.
Had a few spectacular somersault falls that shoved snow in my
face but those didn't hurt since it was in powder. I did have a couple really hard falls on some less forgiving snow and I'll have bruises on my hip and knees tomorrow. I also smacked the back of my head a couple times (thank goodness for helmets) but I'll be fine.
After I got home, I jumped right into an Epsom salt bath. I'll take some ibuprofen and rub some red flower oil (similar to tiger balm) on my sore muscles tonight.
Sunshine is a really special place for Jerry. He spends most winter weekends there and he has a group of people he often snowboards with.
He was really excited when I was game to play in the snow and although his jacket collar is in the way, he actually has a huge grin on his face.So, I got to see why he gets so antsy when fall comes and he got to show me why he loves that place so much. I'll be able to do quite a bit of snowboarding there this winter - maybe 2-3 times a month as he can get half-price tickets for me. He has a season's pass.
I'll let you know what the final result of my mid-term was. I still have time to do a rewrite before my semester is up without having to get an extension.
Have a great day!
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Prom
So, here we are at prom. I've resigned myself to helmet hair (aka very flat). I did fix my bangs a bit later once I found a mirrot.And Jerry was so sweet! He got me a corsage because he wanted me to have a proper prom. I have them in my freezer now to preserve them. I think he's caught on that I really love flowers.
I ended up wearing the gold dress. It was the perfect dress for this type of thing. Because of the odd hemline and brightness, it's something you can only wear to a few events. And with the eclectic, individualistic crowd, it worked perfectly. And it was easy to bike in.
The prom was at the local bike messenger hang-out bar. There was a very loud band that played some type of heavy/thrash rock music. Whatever it is where you can't understand the lyrics and the "singer" screams into a microphone. It's not my taste but if you listened to the voice as if it were an instrument, it made an interesting blend with the guitars and I did think they were a good band. It was also the world premier of "The Courier Always Bites Twice." Yep, a really bad zombie movie. Jerry and Keith (roommate) were zombies and it was quite funny. Once it goes on YouTube, I'll let you know. Not appropriate for younger audiences.
After prom, we went for Chinese. There's a restaurant near Jerry's place that's open really late. We got there about 1:15 am and we were the last customers to be served. The food was really good - definitely hit the spot.Thursday, November 06, 2008
...and I still want to hold Jerry's hand (but maybe he won't want to hold mine)
Women lead in bacteria, hands down, according to study of 51 college students
Module body
Mon Nov 3, 6:59 PM
By Randolph E. Schmid, The Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Wash your hands, folks, especially you ladies.
A new study found that women have a greater variety of bacteria on their hands than men do. And everybody has more types of bacteria than the researchers expected to find.
"One thing that really is astonishing is the variability between individuals, and also between hands on the same individual," said University of Colorado biochemistry assistant professor Rob Knight, a co-author of the paper.
"The sheer number of bacteria species detected on the hands of the study participants was a big surprise, and so was the greater diversity of bacteria we found on the hands of women," added lead researcher Noah Fierer, an assistant professor in Colorado's department of ecology and evolutionary biology.
The researchers aren't sure why women harboured a greater variety of bacteria than men, but Fierer suggested it may have to do with the acidity of the skin. Knight said men generally have more acidic skin than women.
Other possibilities are differences in sweat and oil gland production between men and women, the frequency of moisturizer or cosmetics applications, skin thickness or hormone production, he said.
Women also may have more bacteria living under the surface of the skin where they are not accessible to washing, Knight added.
Asked if guys should worry about holding hands with girls, Knight said: "I guess it depends on which girl."
He stressed that "the vast majority of the bacteria we have on our body are either harmless or beneficial ... the pathogens are a small minority."
The researchers took samples from the palms of 51 college students - that's 102 hands - and tested the samples using a new, highly detailed system for detecting bacteria DNA.
They identified 4,742 species of bacteria overall, only five of which were on every hand, they report on Monday's online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The average hand harboured 150 species of bacteria.
Not only did individuals have few types of bacteria in common, the left and right hands of the same individual shared only about 17 per cent of the same bacteria types, the researchers found.
The differences between dominant and non-dominant hands were probably due to environmental conditions like oil production, salinity, moisture or variable environmental surfaces touched by either hand of an individual, Fierer said.
Knight said the researchers hope to repeat the experiment in other countries where different hands are assigned specific tasks.
While the researchers stressed the importance of regular hand washing, they also noted that washing did not eliminate bacteria.
"Either the bacterial colonies rapidly re-establish after hand washing, or washing (as practised by the students included in this study) does not remove the majority of bacteria taxa found on the skin surface," the researchers said in their report.
While the tests could determine how many different types of bacteria were present, they could not count the total amount of bacteria on each hand.
The research was funded primarily by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.
-
On the Net:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: http://www.pnas.org
Module body
Mon Nov 3, 6:59 PM
By Randolph E. Schmid, The Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Wash your hands, folks, especially you ladies.
A new study found that women have a greater variety of bacteria on their hands than men do. And everybody has more types of bacteria than the researchers expected to find.
"One thing that really is astonishing is the variability between individuals, and also between hands on the same individual," said University of Colorado biochemistry assistant professor Rob Knight, a co-author of the paper.
"The sheer number of bacteria species detected on the hands of the study participants was a big surprise, and so was the greater diversity of bacteria we found on the hands of women," added lead researcher Noah Fierer, an assistant professor in Colorado's department of ecology and evolutionary biology.
The researchers aren't sure why women harboured a greater variety of bacteria than men, but Fierer suggested it may have to do with the acidity of the skin. Knight said men generally have more acidic skin than women.
Other possibilities are differences in sweat and oil gland production between men and women, the frequency of moisturizer or cosmetics applications, skin thickness or hormone production, he said.
Women also may have more bacteria living under the surface of the skin where they are not accessible to washing, Knight added.
Asked if guys should worry about holding hands with girls, Knight said: "I guess it depends on which girl."
He stressed that "the vast majority of the bacteria we have on our body are either harmless or beneficial ... the pathogens are a small minority."
The researchers took samples from the palms of 51 college students - that's 102 hands - and tested the samples using a new, highly detailed system for detecting bacteria DNA.
They identified 4,742 species of bacteria overall, only five of which were on every hand, they report on Monday's online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The average hand harboured 150 species of bacteria.
Not only did individuals have few types of bacteria in common, the left and right hands of the same individual shared only about 17 per cent of the same bacteria types, the researchers found.
The differences between dominant and non-dominant hands were probably due to environmental conditions like oil production, salinity, moisture or variable environmental surfaces touched by either hand of an individual, Fierer said.
Knight said the researchers hope to repeat the experiment in other countries where different hands are assigned specific tasks.
While the researchers stressed the importance of regular hand washing, they also noted that washing did not eliminate bacteria.
"Either the bacterial colonies rapidly re-establish after hand washing, or washing (as practised by the students included in this study) does not remove the majority of bacteria taxa found on the skin surface," the researchers said in their report.
While the tests could determine how many different types of bacteria were present, they could not count the total amount of bacteria on each hand.
The research was funded primarily by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.
-
On the Net:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: http://www.pnas.org
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Dress choices
Hi! So, I need your help. I took pictures of me in my dress and have a bunch of formalish occasions to attend. Ignore the terrible posing and camera angle - I wanted to show off the dress. Each dress has a matching organza wrap. All of them also have fabric in the back that turns into a belt & bow. The back is also plain - nothing interesting.
It's a red-orange colour. No sequins (I removed them) but some interesting fabric patterns. A very bold dress.
Sequins and fun fabric. I really like this dress.
There's some beadwork along the horizontal lines of the dress but it's hard to see in the photo. The detail on the side is a flower. Not entirely sure if I like it.
Super fun dress. It changes colour in the light but it's mainly gold to magenta.
It's a red-orange colour. No sequins (I removed them) but some interesting fabric patterns. A very bold dress.
Sequins and fun fabric. I really like this dress.
There's some beadwork along the horizontal lines of the dress but it's hard to see in the photo. The detail on the side is a flower. Not entirely sure if I like it.
Super fun dress. It changes colour in the light but it's mainly gold to magenta.
Here are the events:
Prom (on Friday) - Jerry is wearing grey and steel blue. I could wear the grey to go with his clothes. I could wear the red to stand out from his clothes. Or I could wear the gold because it's fun.
Akita Christmas party - I think I'll wear the green
Jerry's Christmas party - quite a bit more informal than mine. Maybe the red. Can't wear the same dress as at prom.
possible political holiday party - not sure of formality. Could wear a dress but if informal, I have suitable clothes.
New Years - have no idea for plans. Likely can't wear the same outfit as prom or Jerry's Christmas party.
Valentine's Day - Will likely be on a snowboarding weekend. Could pack one of these dresses - surprisingly they pack down very easily. But weather may dictate a warmer outfit.
All dresses are bikeable. That was one of the criteria. All are very comfortable and I have fabulous shoes to go with them all. And, in the summer, I can wear them any time I want to feel pretty.
So, if any one them catches your eye or looks more suitable to an occasion, please let me know. Or, if you think any of them are tacky/hideous, you can also tell me. Trust me, I won't be offended. After all, I could turn it into a costume for Hallowe'en next year. lol - I know I have a weakness for sequins and sparkles.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
A cool morning
Hello Everyone,
I’ve finished the cleanse and I’m back to my regular food. Carb portions are a bit smaller but I’m happy again. Although it did help me lose a couple pounds (and most are back – stupid water retention), I don’t think it was worth it. My skin played havoc with me and it’s only now starting to recover. My hair was oily and I had a number of break outs. Jerry was happy with it though so I told him he would need to plead his case to convince me to try it again.
Had gorgeous weather for Hallowe’en. Only had 1 real trick or treater – a cute little princess that might have been 4. The other was my upstairs neighbour’s niece, a pink bunny. I had a great time at a Hallowe’en party and the weather meant I didn’t need to throw on a bunch of extra clothes to keep warm.
My dresses from ebay have arrived. I’ll take some pictures. I think I’ve chosen my prom (hee hee) dress but I’d still like your opinion.
Having a lot of troubles focusing on studying. My midterm is on the 22nd and I’m very behind. I’m going to test a theory tomorrow. I’ve invited Jerry up for dinner and he’s going to watch tv/play on his computer while I’m working. I suspect the reason why I’m not able to study is I get distracted by too many things at home. As well, I need noise to study. With him there, I’m more motivated to study since someone will be keeping an eye to make sure I’m working and the sooner I’m done, the sooner I get to spend time with him. I have no idea if it’ll work, but he was game to help me out.
I have a new chair at work – it’s a swopper stool. It’s designed to help build core strength. It has a spring in it so you can bounce up and down and tilt in different angles. Basically, it’s a stool designed to work like a balance ball. So far, it’s very comfortable, my posture is better and I find my desk height is no longer a problem. I was uncomfortable in my old chair and was getting pain in the area between my shoulder blades. Hopefully this chair will help with comfort as well as improving my muscle tone.
Have a great day!
I’ve finished the cleanse and I’m back to my regular food. Carb portions are a bit smaller but I’m happy again. Although it did help me lose a couple pounds (and most are back – stupid water retention), I don’t think it was worth it. My skin played havoc with me and it’s only now starting to recover. My hair was oily and I had a number of break outs. Jerry was happy with it though so I told him he would need to plead his case to convince me to try it again.
Had gorgeous weather for Hallowe’en. Only had 1 real trick or treater – a cute little princess that might have been 4. The other was my upstairs neighbour’s niece, a pink bunny. I had a great time at a Hallowe’en party and the weather meant I didn’t need to throw on a bunch of extra clothes to keep warm.
My dresses from ebay have arrived. I’ll take some pictures. I think I’ve chosen my prom (hee hee) dress but I’d still like your opinion.
Having a lot of troubles focusing on studying. My midterm is on the 22nd and I’m very behind. I’m going to test a theory tomorrow. I’ve invited Jerry up for dinner and he’s going to watch tv/play on his computer while I’m working. I suspect the reason why I’m not able to study is I get distracted by too many things at home. As well, I need noise to study. With him there, I’m more motivated to study since someone will be keeping an eye to make sure I’m working and the sooner I’m done, the sooner I get to spend time with him. I have no idea if it’ll work, but he was game to help me out.
I have a new chair at work – it’s a swopper stool. It’s designed to help build core strength. It has a spring in it so you can bounce up and down and tilt in different angles. Basically, it’s a stool designed to work like a balance ball. So far, it’s very comfortable, my posture is better and I find my desk height is no longer a problem. I was uncomfortable in my old chair and was getting pain in the area between my shoulder blades. Hopefully this chair will help with comfort as well as improving my muscle tone.
Have a great day!
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