Not much going on today. I have alot of work to do on a project I can't seem to get inspired about so I'm very easily distracted by just about everything, like updating blog entries etc. This is going to be one of those projects that is just excruciating in the the beginning and then eventually (Soon I hope) something will click and I will be going full steam ahead.
Aside from a lot of work to do, there isn't much else going on. I have to travel to Halifax on Thursday for my regular every three month check up with my transplant doctor and that's about it.
I noticed that Survivor is entering into it's death throws this year. They are splitting the teams into races this time around, ie White, Black, Asian, Hispanic. It's offensive on every level and causing quite a controversy which tells me they are very desperate for ratings. I'm not surprised, the show was really different and interesting the first season, but by the end of the third season I was over it, and even if I wasn't completely over it, Survivor Allstar definitely drove the final nail into the coffin. When you get right down to it, it's a very boring show.. it's a bunch of people camping and scheming. You can tell which team is going to lose the immunity challenge by which team's drama is featured most prominently in that episode. It's no wonder it's tanking in the rating, and they are so desperate to revive the poor dying thing that they are willing to piss off every special interest group in North America, just to get the show in the public eye again. They claim the reason for the races idea... too many complaints that minorities weren't well enough repersented on the show. Oh well, if nothing else they got people talking about them again (even posting on their blogs about it.) There's my contribution to the Hype ... Survivor R.I.P.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Monday, August 28, 2006
Awsome Weekend
The weekend was awsome. I went to the Blue Olive Friday night to see Kizzy sing with Opa. She looked and sounded great as always. She had a few new songs from the last time I heard her as well, which was great. I especially enjoyed Time after Time. Chad dropped by around midnight and after the band was finished we headed over to the Dolan Road Irving for a bite.
Saturday we had a corn boil with Bertis and the Bonds over at Brian and Helen's place. It wasn't your regulation corn boil where you drink until you can't see and eat only corn until you turn yellow. There was steak, salads, potatoes, deserts, and of course corn, lots and lots of corn. We had a fire and made some smores later on and it was a really great evening. Being Helen's first Canadian Corn Boil she was the only on of us to actually achieve the onjective of drinking until you can't see.
Sunday was a lazy day for me. I couldn't work up the enthusiasm to do much more than clean the kitchen a bit and do a little weeding in the flower boxes. Darrell worked on his truck trying to discover what is wrong with it. It quit on him coming back from a shoot in Amherst and he had to be towed all the way home from Moncton. Thankfully we have CAA.
The best part of the weekend though was the news that I am an uncle for the fourth time. My sister Amanda gave birth to a healthy baby boy (Which surprised us all because we thought for sure it would be a girl) on Saturday. He weighed in at 7lbs 11 ounces and his name is Seth Lee Loiselle. His older brother Cole got to spend five days with grandma because Amanda started having slight labour pains around Monday. She didn't go into the hospital until Friday, and Seth arrived Saturday morning. Needless to say everyone is a little worn out at the moment. I am expecting picture any moment (hint hint) since I know that Amanda and James had Mom's digital camera at the hospital with them. In the mean time here are pics of my other nephew and neices.
This is a Shot of Cole from Dec 2005 he is two in this one and will be turning three this September.
Saturday we had a corn boil with Bertis and the Bonds over at Brian and Helen's place. It wasn't your regulation corn boil where you drink until you can't see and eat only corn until you turn yellow. There was steak, salads, potatoes, deserts, and of course corn, lots and lots of corn. We had a fire and made some smores later on and it was a really great evening. Being Helen's first Canadian Corn Boil she was the only on of us to actually achieve the onjective of drinking until you can't see.
Sunday was a lazy day for me. I couldn't work up the enthusiasm to do much more than clean the kitchen a bit and do a little weeding in the flower boxes. Darrell worked on his truck trying to discover what is wrong with it. It quit on him coming back from a shoot in Amherst and he had to be towed all the way home from Moncton. Thankfully we have CAA.
The best part of the weekend though was the news that I am an uncle for the fourth time. My sister Amanda gave birth to a healthy baby boy (Which surprised us all because we thought for sure it would be a girl) on Saturday. He weighed in at 7lbs 11 ounces and his name is Seth Lee Loiselle. His older brother Cole got to spend five days with grandma because Amanda started having slight labour pains around Monday. She didn't go into the hospital until Friday, and Seth arrived Saturday morning. Needless to say everyone is a little worn out at the moment. I am expecting picture any moment (hint hint) since I know that Amanda and James had Mom's digital camera at the hospital with them. In the mean time here are pics of my other nephew and neices.
This is a Shot of Cole from Dec 2005 he is two in this one and will be turning three this September.
My neices are my Brother Lorne's Daughters. This is Brooke. The picture is From August 2005 (She was 3 about to turn 4).She will be Four this October.
This is Sydney also from August 2005, she had just turned 2 the month before, and just had her third Birthday last month.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Last Weekend of August
I can't believe we are already heading into the Last weekend in August. It has been such and hit and miss summer weatherwise that I feel kind of ripped off. It is already starting to cool off and we will be seeing changes in the leaves very soon. At least the forcast this weekend is for good weather. Fall is actually usually very nice in New Brunswick though, and the first part of September can sometimes be the best part of the year. I just can't believe how quickly the time flys by once the snow is gone. It felt like February/March was going to last a lifetime and now suddenly we're staring September in the face.
We are planning a trip back to Ontario in September for Darrell's Dad's Retirement, and then his Uncle Ken may drive back with us for a visit. I'm so far not committed to doing anything for Noises Off, but will leave myself open in case Bob needs a sound guy. I don't have any plans of auditioning for Glass Menagerie in March but may work backstage. I'm definitely still working toward Cabaret in May, that's the show that's number one on my list of things to do. If I have to, I'll show up at the auditions dressed as the Emcee in an effort to show Stephen I'm the best suited to that part. Hopefully it won't come to that, but I'll keep it in mind just in case. Whatever part comes along it will be a fun show to do.
I've been arranging all my online comic books into PDF files and posting them in my rapidshare folder. I don't know if anyone who reads this actually uses rapidshare or not, but if you do here's the link: Rapidshare Folder They allow non subscribers to download stuff, but there is an hourly limit.
Kizzy is singing at the Blue Olive tonight so I think I will pop in for a drink or two and cheer her on.
We are planning a trip back to Ontario in September for Darrell's Dad's Retirement, and then his Uncle Ken may drive back with us for a visit. I'm so far not committed to doing anything for Noises Off, but will leave myself open in case Bob needs a sound guy. I don't have any plans of auditioning for Glass Menagerie in March but may work backstage. I'm definitely still working toward Cabaret in May, that's the show that's number one on my list of things to do. If I have to, I'll show up at the auditions dressed as the Emcee in an effort to show Stephen I'm the best suited to that part. Hopefully it won't come to that, but I'll keep it in mind just in case. Whatever part comes along it will be a fun show to do.
I've been arranging all my online comic books into PDF files and posting them in my rapidshare folder. I don't know if anyone who reads this actually uses rapidshare or not, but if you do here's the link: Rapidshare Folder They allow non subscribers to download stuff, but there is an hourly limit.
Kizzy is singing at the Blue Olive tonight so I think I will pop in for a drink or two and cheer her on.
Friday Feast August 25,2006
Appetizer
If you could have a free subscription to any magazine, which one would you like to have?
There are a couple woodworking magazines that used to get delivered to our old address by mistake, and I always had a flip through them before returning them to their rightful owner. I would enjoy a subscription to something like that. I would prefer an online magazine subscription though, so I don't have a bunch of magazines needing a home and taking up space.
Soup
Describe your living room (furnishings, colors, etc.).
Our living room is on our things to do list. We've been saving the painting etc for fall/winter when the weather is not condusive to working outside. At present the walls are off white. Our place is open concept so the Livingroom/Diningroom/Kitchen all sort of run together. We have a vaulted ceiling that makes it feel even more open and gives the illusion that it is bigger than it really is. We have ceramic tile in the entryway (where you come in from outside. We put it down oourselves) and the same tile in the kitchen. The living room has a hideous blue carpet that ends at the old linolium in the dining room. Both those floors are going to be Maple laminate flooring like we used in our bedroom by this time next year. We have a great big picture window in the livingroom that provides light for our forest of house plants. Just in the living room itself we have; Cashew tree, Phoenix date palm,coconut palm, canary ilsand date palm, Fig tree (real fig tree that grows figs), Ponderosa Lemon Tree, Gold rush bush, corn tree, regular lemon tree, Weeping fig, another larger corn tree, and a banana tree. That's not counting the plants in the dining room where the sliding glass door is. As far as furnishings go there is a dark blue vinyl couch (That I reupholstered myself), a glide rocker and ottoman, a really cool coffee table that the top raises up and acts like a tv tray and matching end table, tv stand and Tv plus stereo, and a DVD holder.
Salad
What does the shape of a circle make you think of?
Infinity, no beginning no end
Main Course
Name 3 things in your life that you consider to be absolute necessities.
Family, Friends, Music
Dessert
What was the last really funny movie you watched?
I can't recall... it's been a really long time since I've watched a comedy movie. most of the new ones are that over the top absurd, lowest common denominator kind of humour. I don't need to be bashed over the head by a joke. I appreciate more subtle, intelligent, dry humour. Although that doesn't mean I haven't been laughing my ass off in a theatre lately, it's just been to live theatre not movies.(see posts about winging it)
If you could have a free subscription to any magazine, which one would you like to have?
There are a couple woodworking magazines that used to get delivered to our old address by mistake, and I always had a flip through them before returning them to their rightful owner. I would enjoy a subscription to something like that. I would prefer an online magazine subscription though, so I don't have a bunch of magazines needing a home and taking up space.
Soup
Describe your living room (furnishings, colors, etc.).
Our living room is on our things to do list. We've been saving the painting etc for fall/winter when the weather is not condusive to working outside. At present the walls are off white. Our place is open concept so the Livingroom/Diningroom/Kitchen all sort of run together. We have a vaulted ceiling that makes it feel even more open and gives the illusion that it is bigger than it really is. We have ceramic tile in the entryway (where you come in from outside. We put it down oourselves) and the same tile in the kitchen. The living room has a hideous blue carpet that ends at the old linolium in the dining room. Both those floors are going to be Maple laminate flooring like we used in our bedroom by this time next year. We have a great big picture window in the livingroom that provides light for our forest of house plants. Just in the living room itself we have; Cashew tree, Phoenix date palm,coconut palm, canary ilsand date palm, Fig tree (real fig tree that grows figs), Ponderosa Lemon Tree, Gold rush bush, corn tree, regular lemon tree, Weeping fig, another larger corn tree, and a banana tree. That's not counting the plants in the dining room where the sliding glass door is. As far as furnishings go there is a dark blue vinyl couch (That I reupholstered myself), a glide rocker and ottoman, a really cool coffee table that the top raises up and acts like a tv tray and matching end table, tv stand and Tv plus stereo, and a DVD holder.
Salad
What does the shape of a circle make you think of?
Infinity, no beginning no end
Main Course
Name 3 things in your life that you consider to be absolute necessities.
Family, Friends, Music
Dessert
What was the last really funny movie you watched?
I can't recall... it's been a really long time since I've watched a comedy movie. most of the new ones are that over the top absurd, lowest common denominator kind of humour. I don't need to be bashed over the head by a joke. I appreciate more subtle, intelligent, dry humour. Although that doesn't mean I haven't been laughing my ass off in a theatre lately, it's just been to live theatre not movies.(see posts about winging it)
Monday, August 21, 2006
Winging it 2
It was very hectic weekend. We were up until 2am Friday working on our script for winging it and back at it by 11 am Saturday trying to get everything together to perform the show at 8pm. At 8pm four teams of four were as ready as they were going to be to take the stage at the Mary Ohland theatre and perform for a live paying audience. It was hilarity from start to finish. I can't remember ever having quite that much fun at a theare event. The fun thing about it was that people knew these plays were all thrown together, created, learned, and performed in the course of 24 hours, so the bar wasn't really all that high. Although once teams started taking to the stage the bar really was a lot higher than one might expect. All the plays were clever and funny and the inevitable mistakes were even funnier. Being new to second stage I didn't know about the no food or drink rule and used beer as a prop which inevitably got spilled on the stage... Luckily it was a moosehead product so as Jay Pointed out we christened the Mary Ohland Stage with an Ohland Product. I just hope no one gets in trouble.
One of the neatest things about it (I found) was that some of the participants had never done anything with the Theatre company before.. talk about jumping in to the deep end. All in all it was a very fun and funny night and I know next year it will be bigger and better. There were a lot of people leaving the theatre who were kicking themselves for not signing up, but I know they'll waste no time signing up next year... I'll definitely be doing it again. (Maybe next year we'll try a musical...hahahaha)
The cast party for all the festival events was a really good time. A lot of the Winging it crowd left early, some of them were pretty exhausted. I called Darrell at 1:30 and asked him to come get me since I had pretty much finished off the rest of the props in the case. He met me at the office at 2 and we headed home.
Sunday we got up and had a late breakfast.... If you can call it breakfast at 1 in the afternoon. Then we met up with Bertis and the Bonds and headed to deer Island for cake. No really we went for cake. This was my first time to Deer Island, and we toured around a bit & went to see the Tidal whirlpools, which weren't very active since it was low tide. Then we went to the little diner that is on the right side of the road just after you get off the ferry. I can't remember the name of it...Island something. It's owned by a really nice French couple, they are super friendly, their food is really good, and their cake is worth traveling for. The prices are pretty good too. They were really flatterred when we told them we traveled down specifically for their cake and said they'd had lots of people say they had come for the food, but we were the first to say we came for the cake. Bertis, Helen and I all had the three layer chocolate cake with white (Butter) Icing. Darrell had the White/Vermouth cake also with Butter icing, and Brian had the Blueberry peach Cheesecake. Brian always orders something different than Helen because she usually doesn't finish and he gets the last quarter of her deserts. Very smart strategy.
One of the neatest things about it (I found) was that some of the participants had never done anything with the Theatre company before.. talk about jumping in to the deep end. All in all it was a very fun and funny night and I know next year it will be bigger and better. There were a lot of people leaving the theatre who were kicking themselves for not signing up, but I know they'll waste no time signing up next year... I'll definitely be doing it again. (Maybe next year we'll try a musical...hahahaha)
The cast party for all the festival events was a really good time. A lot of the Winging it crowd left early, some of them were pretty exhausted. I called Darrell at 1:30 and asked him to come get me since I had pretty much finished off the rest of the props in the case. He met me at the office at 2 and we headed home.
Sunday we got up and had a late breakfast.... If you can call it breakfast at 1 in the afternoon. Then we met up with Bertis and the Bonds and headed to deer Island for cake. No really we went for cake. This was my first time to Deer Island, and we toured around a bit & went to see the Tidal whirlpools, which weren't very active since it was low tide. Then we went to the little diner that is on the right side of the road just after you get off the ferry. I can't remember the name of it...Island something. It's owned by a really nice French couple, they are super friendly, their food is really good, and their cake is worth traveling for. The prices are pretty good too. They were really flatterred when we told them we traveled down specifically for their cake and said they'd had lots of people say they had come for the food, but we were the first to say we came for the cake. Bertis, Helen and I all had the three layer chocolate cake with white (Butter) Icing. Darrell had the White/Vermouth cake also with Butter icing, and Brian had the Blueberry peach Cheesecake. Brian always orders something different than Helen because she usually doesn't finish and he gets the last quarter of her deserts. Very smart strategy.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Winging It
I went to the Museum last night for the first meeting for winging it. We were divided into four groups of four. I am grouped with Doug Fillmore, Vincent greg, and Andy Steeves. Then each team was given a prop and a line randomly picked by audience volunteers. Our Prop is a male head from a hairdressing school, and the line we have to incorporate into our play is "We are serving doughnuts on another Planet". So off we went armed with our porp and our line and 24 hours to come up with an original work of theatre. We stared writing a script right away, then left the museum and met back up at my house, where we worked away at it until 2am. With a draft script in the bag, we called it a night and met up again the next morning at 11. We made some revisions to our script, and started blocking the scene and learning our lines. It is now 3:44 and we are still learning our lines and marks. All our props are in place, we have our costumes and we will be able to do a technical run at 7:20 this evening before we perform for our live audience at 8. This is soooo much fun.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Reality Shows
I try to avoid reality shows like the plague with the notable exception of the Amazing race, but I have been watching Rock Star (I got sucked in last year just because I'm a huge INXS fan)and while I'm not a big Tommy Lee fan, the show is actuially pretty good. I think Dilana has a really good chance of winning. She's the most memorable each week and the most consistent. My onlu problem with the show... they want too much of my time, I mean really three nights. I normally watch it on NTV on tuesday so I get the monday show right before, and more often than not I don't watch the results show.
Another one that sucked me in was America's got Talent, which was really surprising since I have no patience for flat singing etc, and don't particulary care for Regis either. They sucked me in with the buzzers and the gong show feel of the early shows, then when the gong show part went away I was already invested. They asked the question Does America have Talent and the answer was a resounding yes. The variety of the acts was really good. There is no question now, America's Got Talent, although after the results of last nights final vote one might wonder if America has Taste. I found the performance of the girl who won terrible. She was 12, she was cute, she really wailed on the big high notes that get the crowds cheering, unfortunately that's all people seem to remember because her enunciation was awful, I barely understood a word she sang, and on every other note in the song that wasn't a huge show stopper she was pitchy at best and downright flat most of the time. It was painful to listen to. The little Yodalling girl was a much better singer so far as technique and vocal control are concerned and she had a better stage presence. The clog dancing groups were both awsome, especially those kids who also played the fiddle while they were dancing... very Leahy. I really liked the Quick change act, but have to agree with the arrogant English judge that they showed the exact same routine everytime and I was frankly bored with it by the end. He went about saying it all wrong when he critisized them, but the point he was trying to make was, if they had an hour long show.. there must be other elements to it that they could bring to the stage and show the audience instead of just doing the exact same routine over and over. The routine they did was really good, and really quick but based on it alone, I would call them a great opening act for a million dollar headliner. It was an interesting show all in all, but I doubt I'll be tuning in for a second season.
Another one that sucked me in was America's got Talent, which was really surprising since I have no patience for flat singing etc, and don't particulary care for Regis either. They sucked me in with the buzzers and the gong show feel of the early shows, then when the gong show part went away I was already invested. They asked the question Does America have Talent and the answer was a resounding yes. The variety of the acts was really good. There is no question now, America's Got Talent, although after the results of last nights final vote one might wonder if America has Taste. I found the performance of the girl who won terrible. She was 12, she was cute, she really wailed on the big high notes that get the crowds cheering, unfortunately that's all people seem to remember because her enunciation was awful, I barely understood a word she sang, and on every other note in the song that wasn't a huge show stopper she was pitchy at best and downright flat most of the time. It was painful to listen to. The little Yodalling girl was a much better singer so far as technique and vocal control are concerned and she had a better stage presence. The clog dancing groups were both awsome, especially those kids who also played the fiddle while they were dancing... very Leahy. I really liked the Quick change act, but have to agree with the arrogant English judge that they showed the exact same routine everytime and I was frankly bored with it by the end. He went about saying it all wrong when he critisized them, but the point he was trying to make was, if they had an hour long show.. there must be other elements to it that they could bring to the stage and show the audience instead of just doing the exact same routine over and over. The routine they did was really good, and really quick but based on it alone, I would call them a great opening act for a million dollar headliner. It was an interesting show all in all, but I doubt I'll be tuning in for a second season.
Friday Feast August 18, 2006
Appetizer
What color is your car?
I drive a dark Blue Olds Alero, that I purchased last year from Al's Ultracar, specifically so I could be inthe cast of Evita without spending a tonne of money on gas in Darrell's Blazer driving back and forth to rehearsals.
Soup
If you could wake up tomorrow with full training in another occupation and a job in that field, what would it be?
I would return to the field I left when I developed leukemia... Music. I would love to wake up tomorrow and have full musical training in piano, guitar, voice.. you name it.
Salad
How many times in your life have you had the flu (or something similar)?
I've had Cancer twice.. I don't pay attention to flus and colds.
Main Course
What is something that has happened to you this week that you didn't expect?
Nothing really unexpected happened to me specifically, But Saint John Theatre Company announced their plans for their new building this week, and although that wasn't unexpected the total on their funding drive so far was... they are over half way to their goal of $950,000.00. It's very exciting for everyone involved in theatre and the arts in this area.
Dessert
How old were you when you had your first kiss?
That's a tricky question. If we're talking innocent peck between two blushing kids.. I was probably about 7 or 8 with Debbie from down the street (I don't really remember). First time making out, I don't exactly remember that either, it may have been at Deanna's Party in junior high, or on a band trip. Being that I'm gay, it all felt fake to me anyway, so that could be why it's not that memorable. My first actual "passionate kiss with intent" was when I was 16 and working at the Double Day Mini Market, it was with the guy who worked int he aprts department of the Ford dealer next door... whose name I won't mention for privacy reasons. (and no he doesn't still work there)
What color is your car?
I drive a dark Blue Olds Alero, that I purchased last year from Al's Ultracar, specifically so I could be inthe cast of Evita without spending a tonne of money on gas in Darrell's Blazer driving back and forth to rehearsals.
Soup
If you could wake up tomorrow with full training in another occupation and a job in that field, what would it be?
I would return to the field I left when I developed leukemia... Music. I would love to wake up tomorrow and have full musical training in piano, guitar, voice.. you name it.
Salad
How many times in your life have you had the flu (or something similar)?
I've had Cancer twice.. I don't pay attention to flus and colds.
Main Course
What is something that has happened to you this week that you didn't expect?
Nothing really unexpected happened to me specifically, But Saint John Theatre Company announced their plans for their new building this week, and although that wasn't unexpected the total on their funding drive so far was... they are over half way to their goal of $950,000.00. It's very exciting for everyone involved in theatre and the arts in this area.
Dessert
How old were you when you had your first kiss?
That's a tricky question. If we're talking innocent peck between two blushing kids.. I was probably about 7 or 8 with Debbie from down the street (I don't really remember). First time making out, I don't exactly remember that either, it may have been at Deanna's Party in junior high, or on a band trip. Being that I'm gay, it all felt fake to me anyway, so that could be why it's not that memorable. My first actual "passionate kiss with intent" was when I was 16 and working at the Double Day Mini Market, it was with the guy who worked int he aprts department of the Ford dealer next door... whose name I won't mention for privacy reasons. (and no he doesn't still work there)
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Setting the Stage
Yesterday I managed to make it out to the Setting the Stage event at the new SJTC building. I almost didn't make it, I got in the Zone while working on an ad and when I glanced at the clock it was 11:56. Luckily the building is only about five doors up from us.
It's a really exciting time to be part of SJTC and I can't wait until things really start happening in the new space. There will be administration and rehearsal space, as well as set building, prop & costume storage areas, and basically anything else a flourishing theatre company could need. My hat's off to the board of SJTC and especially to Stephen Tobias for his vision and tireless hard work on all our behalf. Without them we wouldn't have a theatre club to be part of, and I really appreciate everything they've done and the years of hard work and dedication that went into making it happen.
I also managed to get my registration for winging it filled out and sent in yesterday. In case you don't know, Winging it is part of this weeks Theatre on the edge, where participants will be broken into groups, and each group given a line and an opject. Their task is to take these things and come up with a ten to fifteen minute original play... written, rehearsed, off book, staged, costumed, props, sound, and tech... to be performed in front of a live audience within 24 hours. Okay how fun is that?
I have avoided getting involved in any plays etc over the summer because I just don't want the commitments. We're working on our yard and the weather has been so unpredictable that it's just nice to be able to drop everything when the sun comes out and not worry about having to be someplace or do something specific. But taking 24 hours to put together a play with a group... that's just toooooooo fun to pass up.
It's a really exciting time to be part of SJTC and I can't wait until things really start happening in the new space. There will be administration and rehearsal space, as well as set building, prop & costume storage areas, and basically anything else a flourishing theatre company could need. My hat's off to the board of SJTC and especially to Stephen Tobias for his vision and tireless hard work on all our behalf. Without them we wouldn't have a theatre club to be part of, and I really appreciate everything they've done and the years of hard work and dedication that went into making it happen.
I also managed to get my registration for winging it filled out and sent in yesterday. In case you don't know, Winging it is part of this weeks Theatre on the edge, where participants will be broken into groups, and each group given a line and an opject. Their task is to take these things and come up with a ten to fifteen minute original play... written, rehearsed, off book, staged, costumed, props, sound, and tech... to be performed in front of a live audience within 24 hours. Okay how fun is that?
I have avoided getting involved in any plays etc over the summer because I just don't want the commitments. We're working on our yard and the weather has been so unpredictable that it's just nice to be able to drop everything when the sun comes out and not worry about having to be someplace or do something specific. But taking 24 hours to put together a play with a group... that's just toooooooo fun to pass up.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Darrell's B Day
Yesterday was Darrell's actual birthday, even though we celebrated on Friday. He was in Halafax all day and didn't make it home until about 8 o'clock in the evening. Surprisingly I walked into the house about ten minutes before he did. I didn't get away from the office until just after 6, then had to stop at Home Hardware to pick up his present (A Bench Grinder). I popped home quickly to wrap it and then headed right back out the door to Dairy Queen for an ice cream cake. Since I hadn't eaten anything by that point I also got a double cheeseburger (I like Dairy Queen Burger way better than any of the other fast foodplaces with the exception of maybe Burger King). I got home and was just sittign down to my burger when Darrell pulled in. He hadn't eaten either so we hopped back in the truck and got another burger from Dairy Queen. In the place we used to live before buying the house that wouldn't have been possible, but now we live 10 minutes from everything.
I am hoping to get away from work and attend the launch of the new SJTC Capital Campaign this afternoon. I have a lot on my plate today and tend to lose trackof time when I get in the zone, so Hopefully I will remember to come up for air at noon and toddle down the street for the festivities.
I am hoping to get away from work and attend the launch of the new SJTC Capital Campaign this afternoon. I have a lot on my plate today and tend to lose trackof time when I get in the zone, so Hopefully I will remember to come up for air at noon and toddle down the street for the festivities.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Weekend
We had a really busy weekend. On Friday we left work early for a beer at O'Leary's, then headed over to Bertis' for Darrell's Birthday dinner. Bertis made an awsome lasagne and a Chocolate-chocolate cake with boiled icing. The Bonds were there as well of course, having returned from their camping trip to Montreal.
Earlier in the week we had thought of going to the pride dance on Saturday, but decided on Friday night that we would skip it. Basic reason...we really just couldn't afford it. Fifteen dollars each just to get through the door, then drinks = too expensive an evening. I still think it's offensive to make people pay a cover charge just to get into a bar, by the time you get in and get your first drink you've spent ten bucks. You might as well go to the liquor store and invite your friends over... it's cheaper and you can talk to each other without yelling all night.(There now you know... that's how old I've gotten)
We spent Saturday doing some small jobs around the house. We spread some more peat moss over the area we seeded. The little baby grass is starting to come up now and the ground has a slight green tinge to it, almost like a thin layer of mold but it's actually grass. I repotted a couple plants, & cleaned the kitchen. Darrell got a call from Mike, and we ended up going over to Mike and Cathy's to help them put in laminate flooring in their living room.
Sunday started out as a lazy day. I did the laundry and dried it on the line. Kathy and Elizabeth came over and we had some margaritas (I use vodka instead of tequilla). Then Darrell and I spent the rest of the day just doing odd little chores that needed doing while he got ready to head to Halifax this morning.
He was up and out the door at 4am, on his way to Halifax for an appointment with a thyroid specialist, and it's about bloody time too. He has been up and down and every which way with his thyroid over the past couple years and no one seems to be able to get the dose right. It doesn't help that he often adjusts the dose himself when he thinks it's not quite right. Hopefully this doctor will have some useful advise and he'll actually follow it.
Earlier in the week we had thought of going to the pride dance on Saturday, but decided on Friday night that we would skip it. Basic reason...we really just couldn't afford it. Fifteen dollars each just to get through the door, then drinks = too expensive an evening. I still think it's offensive to make people pay a cover charge just to get into a bar, by the time you get in and get your first drink you've spent ten bucks. You might as well go to the liquor store and invite your friends over... it's cheaper and you can talk to each other without yelling all night.(There now you know... that's how old I've gotten)
We spent Saturday doing some small jobs around the house. We spread some more peat moss over the area we seeded. The little baby grass is starting to come up now and the ground has a slight green tinge to it, almost like a thin layer of mold but it's actually grass. I repotted a couple plants, & cleaned the kitchen. Darrell got a call from Mike, and we ended up going over to Mike and Cathy's to help them put in laminate flooring in their living room.
Sunday started out as a lazy day. I did the laundry and dried it on the line. Kathy and Elizabeth came over and we had some margaritas (I use vodka instead of tequilla). Then Darrell and I spent the rest of the day just doing odd little chores that needed doing while he got ready to head to Halifax this morning.
He was up and out the door at 4am, on his way to Halifax for an appointment with a thyroid specialist, and it's about bloody time too. He has been up and down and every which way with his thyroid over the past couple years and no one seems to be able to get the dose right. It doesn't help that he often adjusts the dose himself when he thinks it's not quite right. Hopefully this doctor will have some useful advise and he'll actually follow it.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Friday Feast August 11, 2006
Appetizer
Tell about a toy you remember from your childhood.
Star Wars stuff... I was only 6 when the Original Stars Wars movie hit the theatres. So I was one of the millions of children obsessed with the toys. I never actually got to see the original movie in the theatre however because I was in the Hospital engaged in my first battle with cancer, and coincidentally when I went into the Hospital in April/May 99 for my second cancer battle, The first Movie of the second Star Wars trilogy hit the theatres and I never got to see that in the theatre either. So..... If George Lucas annouces plans for a third trilogy I may have to have him assassinated.
Soup
If you could make one thing in the world absolutely free for everyone, what would it be?
I would pick a necessity... Food, shelter, heat, medicine, medical care. Take your pick of one of those they should all be free to some copassity. Although with the way things are going at the moment I may pick Gas!
Salad
Approximately how many times per day do you think about your significant other?
All the time... I couldn't even begin to count or guess at a number.
Main Course
What is something you believe in 100%?
Everything happens for a reason.
Dessert
Name one thing you have done this week that you would consider a "good deed."
To be honest I haven't done anything this week I would consider a good Deed. We helped our neighbor cut down a tree in her front yard, but I consider that just being neighbourly. I don't think of things like holding the door open for someone or helping someone carry stuff as good deeds I think of them as common coutesy... although it would be nice if they were a little more common.
Tell about a toy you remember from your childhood.
Star Wars stuff... I was only 6 when the Original Stars Wars movie hit the theatres. So I was one of the millions of children obsessed with the toys. I never actually got to see the original movie in the theatre however because I was in the Hospital engaged in my first battle with cancer, and coincidentally when I went into the Hospital in April/May 99 for my second cancer battle, The first Movie of the second Star Wars trilogy hit the theatres and I never got to see that in the theatre either. So..... If George Lucas annouces plans for a third trilogy I may have to have him assassinated.
Soup
If you could make one thing in the world absolutely free for everyone, what would it be?
I would pick a necessity... Food, shelter, heat, medicine, medical care. Take your pick of one of those they should all be free to some copassity. Although with the way things are going at the moment I may pick Gas!
Salad
Approximately how many times per day do you think about your significant other?
All the time... I couldn't even begin to count or guess at a number.
Main Course
What is something you believe in 100%?
Everything happens for a reason.
Dessert
Name one thing you have done this week that you would consider a "good deed."
To be honest I haven't done anything this week I would consider a good Deed. We helped our neighbor cut down a tree in her front yard, but I consider that just being neighbourly. I don't think of things like holding the door open for someone or helping someone carry stuff as good deeds I think of them as common coutesy... although it would be nice if they were a little more common.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Hummingbird
Darrell brought the camera home this weekend to try out a new component for it that the company may be buying. After the shoveling and raking in the hot sun, he got some footage of the little guy who visits the feeder on our deck.
Hummingbird footage
Here's shot of the area we spread with topsoil and seeded. We outlined it with sod to keep the soil from being washed down the hill by rain
Hummingbird footage
Here's shot of the area we spread with topsoil and seeded. We outlined it with sod to keep the soil from being washed down the hill by rain
And these are a few shots of the really cool storm clouds on Monday. They looked kind of like whipped frosting in the sky.
Not quite long enough
We had a great long weekend, but it wasn't long enough. We spent the majority of it doing yard work. More specifically shoveling and hauling dirt, then raking it out nice and even and seeding it with grass seed. We learned our lesson last time and ringed the entire area with sod to keep the edges from washing away in the rain. I'm not going to jinx it, but everything survived last night's thunder storm, so I'm hoping we did something right. Just as long as we don't get four straight days of rain like last time, we should be okay.
Saturday night we met up with Bertis and checked out opening night at the new Club Montreal. It is a much nicer place than the old one. The ceilings are higher so you don't feel like you're in a cave anymore. The new bar is above the liquor store on King Street, where we rehearsed Evita. Makes sense since the pool hall that was there never had anyone in it the entire two months we were rehearsing upstairs and we were starting to think it must be a front for something else... since no one ever went there.
We had the dirt moving and seeding all done on Sunday, and Monday was just a day to kick back and relax. All that shoveling and raking is damn hard work. I only managed to move 22 wheelbarrow loads on Saturday morning before I was completely wiped out and felt the world spin a couple times. That's when I switched to raking and let Darrell take over the shoveling job. He has a lot more stamina than I do and I'm not ashamed at all to admit that... I'm just a little guy after all. Not to say that the raking is much easier than the shoveling because it really isn't. I spent most of Sunday evening with my various muscle groups spasming from all the unaccustomed movement. Once or twice I thought I might cry, but it passed. Sunday night we watched Charlie and the Chocolate factory on the movie channel. I liked it... I wouldn't rush out and buy the DVD or even rent it for that matter, but as something on the movie channel it was a good waste of a couple hours.
Monday was a very slow and relaxed day. Nothing to stressful or strenuous. In fact I think the closest thing to physical labour I did that day was the dishes... but hey even God took a day off.
Saturday night we met up with Bertis and checked out opening night at the new Club Montreal. It is a much nicer place than the old one. The ceilings are higher so you don't feel like you're in a cave anymore. The new bar is above the liquor store on King Street, where we rehearsed Evita. Makes sense since the pool hall that was there never had anyone in it the entire two months we were rehearsing upstairs and we were starting to think it must be a front for something else... since no one ever went there.
We had the dirt moving and seeding all done on Sunday, and Monday was just a day to kick back and relax. All that shoveling and raking is damn hard work. I only managed to move 22 wheelbarrow loads on Saturday morning before I was completely wiped out and felt the world spin a couple times. That's when I switched to raking and let Darrell take over the shoveling job. He has a lot more stamina than I do and I'm not ashamed at all to admit that... I'm just a little guy after all. Not to say that the raking is much easier than the shoveling because it really isn't. I spent most of Sunday evening with my various muscle groups spasming from all the unaccustomed movement. Once or twice I thought I might cry, but it passed. Sunday night we watched Charlie and the Chocolate factory on the movie channel. I liked it... I wouldn't rush out and buy the DVD or even rent it for that matter, but as something on the movie channel it was a good waste of a couple hours.
Monday was a very slow and relaxed day. Nothing to stressful or strenuous. In fact I think the closest thing to physical labour I did that day was the dishes... but hey even God took a day off.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Forcast calls for more Shovelling and Raking
Last night we got another load of topsoil delivered to finish off the side of the house. So the next nice day will be spent shovelling, and wheelbarrowing, and raking, and raking, and seeding. The back looks really good now, there are still a few very small bare spots but they will fill in on their own. we may have to get some more sod to do the incline, so that the toorent of rain and fog that consitute our summer this year don't wash the topsoil away before the grass has a chance to take root. We're hoping to stretch this load so that we can seed in around the cedar trees as well.
We are also considering shortening our driveway this year, and turning the part directly in front of the house into lawn. We are going to have Rob come by and scrape it all down and widen it in a few places. Then we'll put down a good weed barrier and some compacted sand. Then we're considering pouring our own concrete bricks to pave it with. Down the road we intend to build a garage and the driveway will change locations so we don't want to have the existing one paved. It's way too expensive for something that isn't intended to be permanent... so the brick idea is most apealing. They can be taken up fairly easily when the time comes and used for something else.
We are also considering shortening our driveway this year, and turning the part directly in front of the house into lawn. We are going to have Rob come by and scrape it all down and widen it in a few places. Then we'll put down a good weed barrier and some compacted sand. Then we're considering pouring our own concrete bricks to pave it with. Down the road we intend to build a garage and the driveway will change locations so we don't want to have the existing one paved. It's way too expensive for something that isn't intended to be permanent... so the brick idea is most apealing. They can be taken up fairly easily when the time comes and used for something else.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Leanna's Saturday Soiree
We had a really nice weekend.
It didn't start off great, but it certainly ended well. I spent the majority of Friday pulling out what little hair I have left... trying to reinstall windows on my animation computer. Darrell had to do a late shoot, so I ended up still here at 9:30... still installing no less. The computer kept crashing and coming up with errors, and then I finally figured out that it was overheating. I finally got everything going, but had to redo it this morning.
Saturday we went over to Kingston Penn for Cristi's BBQ/camp out. It was a really good time. We brought the dogs and our neighbour Sylvia followed us over. She brought her dog as well, but he is a little more high maintenance and can't really be left to his own devises without wandering off, so she didn't end up staying. Elton and Tiff had a great time playing in the pong with Destiny's golden retriever Russell (it was his birthday and there was even cake.) When Chad and Nancy arrived they brought Bailey (chocolate lab) who also joined in the fun. We actually had the full array of retreivers when you think of it, a Black, yellow and Chocolate lab as well as a golden retriever.
A couple of times early in the party Mother nature opened up and went torrential on us, but then it cleared up and we had a perfect evening. Everyone brought salads and Cristi BBQ'd Hotdogs and Hamburgers. I made a huge potatoe salad and got quite a few compliments on it, which is pretty cool since I don't even like potatoe salad. A lot of people showed up and if I tried to list them all I'd miss someone so I won't. We threw frisbees for the dogs, sat around the fire and sang a few songs, there were water noodle wars in the pool, and a little frog jumped up Chad's pantleg and made him squeal like a little girl.... it was a really really good time. We had come prepared to camp, but around 2:30am decided to go home instead. We decided it would be too much hassle to set up the tent in the dark and weren't too keen on sharing it with two soaking wet dogs.
Sunday we got to some housecleaning that we've been putting off and did a little yard work. brain and Helen popped over in the evening and we watched a few episodes of Absolutely fabulous.
It didn't start off great, but it certainly ended well. I spent the majority of Friday pulling out what little hair I have left... trying to reinstall windows on my animation computer. Darrell had to do a late shoot, so I ended up still here at 9:30... still installing no less. The computer kept crashing and coming up with errors, and then I finally figured out that it was overheating. I finally got everything going, but had to redo it this morning.
Saturday we went over to Kingston Penn for Cristi's BBQ/camp out. It was a really good time. We brought the dogs and our neighbour Sylvia followed us over. She brought her dog as well, but he is a little more high maintenance and can't really be left to his own devises without wandering off, so she didn't end up staying. Elton and Tiff had a great time playing in the pong with Destiny's golden retriever Russell (it was his birthday and there was even cake.) When Chad and Nancy arrived they brought Bailey (chocolate lab) who also joined in the fun. We actually had the full array of retreivers when you think of it, a Black, yellow and Chocolate lab as well as a golden retriever.
A couple of times early in the party Mother nature opened up and went torrential on us, but then it cleared up and we had a perfect evening. Everyone brought salads and Cristi BBQ'd Hotdogs and Hamburgers. I made a huge potatoe salad and got quite a few compliments on it, which is pretty cool since I don't even like potatoe salad. A lot of people showed up and if I tried to list them all I'd miss someone so I won't. We threw frisbees for the dogs, sat around the fire and sang a few songs, there were water noodle wars in the pool, and a little frog jumped up Chad's pantleg and made him squeal like a little girl.... it was a really really good time. We had come prepared to camp, but around 2:30am decided to go home instead. We decided it would be too much hassle to set up the tent in the dark and weren't too keen on sharing it with two soaking wet dogs.
Sunday we got to some housecleaning that we've been putting off and did a little yard work. brain and Helen popped over in the evening and we watched a few episodes of Absolutely fabulous.
Friday, July 28, 2006
Friday Feast June 28, 2006
Appetizer
What's the funniest dream you can remember having?
I don't know that it's funny but, lately I've been having the same sort of dream really often. It involves being abducted by aliens (or someone from the future... it varies)And they use advanced science to clone my body and regrow it then transfer me into it. They stop the growth process at 26 instead of letting it catch up to 35 and of course there aren't all the scars and complications that came from battling cancer twice in one lifetime. I'm not sure if it's a dream or just wishful thinking.... here's hoping it's a premonition
Soup
If you were a dog, what breed would you be, and why?
I'd be a labradour Retreiver... duh. First clue.... I have two of them. Labs are the pants down the best dog breed going. They are smart, gentle, patient, extremely cuddly, and they're large enough and have a serious enough sounding bark that you'd think twice about entering uninvited.
Salad
Continue this sentence: "I get confused when..."
I get confused when I see a country of almost completely defencless innocent civilians having brutal destructive force rain down on them in response to a kidnapping by a small militant group. Yet the world "superpower" condones and encourages the Agressive Country while the rest of the free world calls for an immediate ceasefire. That confuses me
Main Course
Name two things that need to be done, but you are procrastinating in completing.
I desperately need to do a thorough cleaning on the house.
We also have to get to the molding inthe bedroom... We have all the wood, there just hasn't been a string of nice enough days to pull all the tools up into the driveway and plane it all.
Dessert
When was the last time you tried something new, and what was it?
Wednesday... Helen's Chaocolate cake with half a bottle of Triplesec.... it was definitely something new... and it was awsome.
What's the funniest dream you can remember having?
I don't know that it's funny but, lately I've been having the same sort of dream really often. It involves being abducted by aliens (or someone from the future... it varies)And they use advanced science to clone my body and regrow it then transfer me into it. They stop the growth process at 26 instead of letting it catch up to 35 and of course there aren't all the scars and complications that came from battling cancer twice in one lifetime. I'm not sure if it's a dream or just wishful thinking.... here's hoping it's a premonition
Soup
If you were a dog, what breed would you be, and why?
I'd be a labradour Retreiver... duh. First clue.... I have two of them. Labs are the pants down the best dog breed going. They are smart, gentle, patient, extremely cuddly, and they're large enough and have a serious enough sounding bark that you'd think twice about entering uninvited.
Salad
Continue this sentence: "I get confused when..."
I get confused when I see a country of almost completely defencless innocent civilians having brutal destructive force rain down on them in response to a kidnapping by a small militant group. Yet the world "superpower" condones and encourages the Agressive Country while the rest of the free world calls for an immediate ceasefire. That confuses me
Main Course
Name two things that need to be done, but you are procrastinating in completing.
I desperately need to do a thorough cleaning on the house.
We also have to get to the molding inthe bedroom... We have all the wood, there just hasn't been a string of nice enough days to pull all the tools up into the driveway and plane it all.
Dessert
When was the last time you tried something new, and what was it?
Wednesday... Helen's Chaocolate cake with half a bottle of Triplesec.... it was definitely something new... and it was awsome.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Thursday
That's about all I can say about today so far... it's Thursday. AT least the sun is out and it looks like a nice day. Hopefully it holds until after work and doesn't change to fog by then. I am having to reformatt my animation computer thanks to a windows security update that screwed everything up. I always have the windows updater turned off.. always, but my virus scanner found vulnerabilities and asked if I wanted to update... and completely not thinking like a total moron I pressed ok... I knew it was a mistake the minute I pressed the button, but hindsight and all. I think it was kind of coming close to it's best by date anyway. Windows seems to have a best by date for all it's installations... it seems to run great for about six months and then things start acting all squirely, and inevitably you have to wipe everything out and start over.
Last night was nice. I went over to the Bond's for dinner. Chad and Nancey and Bertis were there also. Darrell was suposed to come, but couldn't because he had a bunch of work thrust upon him at the last minute. Helen made a fantastic meal and a really great chocolate cake with about half a bottle of triple sec in it. I even felt a bit of a buzz near the end of my piece.
Last night was nice. I went over to the Bond's for dinner. Chad and Nancey and Bertis were there also. Darrell was suposed to come, but couldn't because he had a bunch of work thrust upon him at the last minute. Helen made a fantastic meal and a really great chocolate cake with about half a bottle of triple sec in it. I even felt a bit of a buzz near the end of my piece.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
It's only Tuesday?
We had a really nice weekend despite the terrible weather. At times like this I wish I was back in BC.... They're having a heat wave, I would gladly trade them all this rain and fog. You know you're having too much rain, when even the plants in your flower beds are drooping and starting to look wilted.
Friday we dropped out to Brain and Helen's after work, for a few drinks. Bertis was there as well of course.
Saturday was a relaxing day. I managed to sray a couple of my trees. All the rain has made it impossible and the caterpillars are everywhere. They've almost completely devastated my Pear tree. My first round of sraying did very little as there wasn't a dry enough period for it to have any effect. The spray was basically washed away almost as soon as it was on.
Sunday we took a drive out to Upham to look at hotubs. We aren't getting one in the imediate future mind you, but with a pruchase like that you need to start looking around and finding out what you need etc long before. It's not the kind of thing you just pop into Home depot and decide you want one day, or at least it shouldn't be. Our plans right now are to pour a concrete pad in the back where we intend to build our lower deck, and seeing as this is eventually where we want to put a hottub, we figured we should go shop around and find out if there was anything specific we needed to do as far as the concrete pad goes. The tub probably won't be in the budget until next spring at the earliest.
Monday was work as usual. On the way home I noticed a bunch of Teens from Quispamsis out on the side of the highway by the dolan road Irving with their Brandon Banners and plaques, urgin everyone to vote for him on Canadian Idol. I've only ever watched a couple episodes of that show in the past... I ahve no patience or tolerance for the episodes in the beginning with the awful auditions etc, but don't mind tuning in near the end when all the dead weight has been sifted through. I descided to turn it on last night and see if Brandon was all he's cracked up to be. OMG what an awful show! I turned it off halfway through, all I heard were very flat, toneless, mediochore at best singers, and the judges would gush at them about how wonderful them were after every performance... it was pitiful. I felt like I was watching a Junior Highschool talent show or something like that. I can't believe that's the best they could find from across the country. Maybe it's time to reevaluate the age restriction and let some older people with a little more vocal experience into the contest. It was just bloody painful listening to it, and I won't be doing it again.
Friday we dropped out to Brain and Helen's after work, for a few drinks. Bertis was there as well of course.
Saturday was a relaxing day. I managed to sray a couple of my trees. All the rain has made it impossible and the caterpillars are everywhere. They've almost completely devastated my Pear tree. My first round of sraying did very little as there wasn't a dry enough period for it to have any effect. The spray was basically washed away almost as soon as it was on.
Sunday we took a drive out to Upham to look at hotubs. We aren't getting one in the imediate future mind you, but with a pruchase like that you need to start looking around and finding out what you need etc long before. It's not the kind of thing you just pop into Home depot and decide you want one day, or at least it shouldn't be. Our plans right now are to pour a concrete pad in the back where we intend to build our lower deck, and seeing as this is eventually where we want to put a hottub, we figured we should go shop around and find out if there was anything specific we needed to do as far as the concrete pad goes. The tub probably won't be in the budget until next spring at the earliest.
Monday was work as usual. On the way home I noticed a bunch of Teens from Quispamsis out on the side of the highway by the dolan road Irving with their Brandon Banners and plaques, urgin everyone to vote for him on Canadian Idol. I've only ever watched a couple episodes of that show in the past... I ahve no patience or tolerance for the episodes in the beginning with the awful auditions etc, but don't mind tuning in near the end when all the dead weight has been sifted through. I descided to turn it on last night and see if Brandon was all he's cracked up to be. OMG what an awful show! I turned it off halfway through, all I heard were very flat, toneless, mediochore at best singers, and the judges would gush at them about how wonderful them were after every performance... it was pitiful. I felt like I was watching a Junior Highschool talent show or something like that. I can't believe that's the best they could find from across the country. Maybe it's time to reevaluate the age restriction and let some older people with a little more vocal experience into the contest. It was just bloody painful listening to it, and I won't be doing it again.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Steady as she goes.
We have been plugging away at work and home. There's not a lot that's going on of any note though.
The weekend was nice. We went to Bertis' place on Friday for Brian's Birthday celebration. We spent the evening sitting out on the front porch, and had burgers and an amazing cake Bertis made. It was a beautiful night and he has a great view of the river. As alway we had alot of laughs and more than a couple martinis (although I only had a couple beer early in the evening as I was driving).
Saturday we got the final trellis put up on our flower boxes, and I moved my Clematis over to it. It is just a tiny starter plant and has an entire 8x4 foot trellis to fill so it may take awhile. I was going to move the wysteria over as well and leave the first trellis for the Kiwi vines, but it just seems so ideally situated at the corner of the house soaking up both morning and afternoon sun that I left it there. Hopefully it doesn't have to fight too hard for space with the kiwi... at any rate I'll cut back anyone who steps out of line hahaha. If the wysteria survives the winter, I'll get another one next spring for the bottom trellis, but they're too expensive to experiment with so I'm sticking to just the one for now.
We seemed to be really busy over the weekend working around the yard etc, but we didn't do anything big. Just lots of little maintenance type thing... mowing the grass, weeding, pruning trees.. that kind of thing. Of course we made a trip to the lake so the dogs could go for a swim (that kind of goes without saying since the lake is a five minute walk from the house).
I've been neglecting my house plants lately, but they don't seem to mind. House plants actually thrive on a little neglect from time to time. My cocoa tree is going crazy with all the heat and humidity... it has tonnes of new growth and blooms on it... I even had to cut a couple branches back to keep it out of the shower curtain (I am trying to encourage it to grow up as compared to out). I still haven't figured out how to get cuttings that will actually root from it yet. Sticking them in water doesn't work, rooting powder and soil don't seem to do the trick either. I tried slicing into the branch, adding rooting powder and some moist soil and then wrapping it with cling wrap while it was still attached to the tree, but I think I may have done it wrong. If any Horticulturists out there have any suggestions I would much appreciate it.
All in all it was a pretty lowkey relaxing kind of weekend.
Monday was back to work... still working on changes to my animation (really starting to lose interest in the project too which means it's time to finish it and get it gone). I've got another big animation just waiting for me to finish this one, and I'm itching to get to it.. plus I'm also working on a commercial for Rogers TV listing that involves some animation (just waiting for a final script). Busy Busy Busy. Darrell and Mike are booked solid with stuff as well, so it's heads down and full steam ahead for the next while.
After work Darrell and I popped over to the west side for dinner at Romanos. As always the food was great.. he had the Spagetti and Meatballs, and I had the Lasagne... it was a really nice treat.
The weekend was nice. We went to Bertis' place on Friday for Brian's Birthday celebration. We spent the evening sitting out on the front porch, and had burgers and an amazing cake Bertis made. It was a beautiful night and he has a great view of the river. As alway we had alot of laughs and more than a couple martinis (although I only had a couple beer early in the evening as I was driving).
Saturday we got the final trellis put up on our flower boxes, and I moved my Clematis over to it. It is just a tiny starter plant and has an entire 8x4 foot trellis to fill so it may take awhile. I was going to move the wysteria over as well and leave the first trellis for the Kiwi vines, but it just seems so ideally situated at the corner of the house soaking up both morning and afternoon sun that I left it there. Hopefully it doesn't have to fight too hard for space with the kiwi... at any rate I'll cut back anyone who steps out of line hahaha. If the wysteria survives the winter, I'll get another one next spring for the bottom trellis, but they're too expensive to experiment with so I'm sticking to just the one for now.
We seemed to be really busy over the weekend working around the yard etc, but we didn't do anything big. Just lots of little maintenance type thing... mowing the grass, weeding, pruning trees.. that kind of thing. Of course we made a trip to the lake so the dogs could go for a swim (that kind of goes without saying since the lake is a five minute walk from the house).
I've been neglecting my house plants lately, but they don't seem to mind. House plants actually thrive on a little neglect from time to time. My cocoa tree is going crazy with all the heat and humidity... it has tonnes of new growth and blooms on it... I even had to cut a couple branches back to keep it out of the shower curtain (I am trying to encourage it to grow up as compared to out). I still haven't figured out how to get cuttings that will actually root from it yet. Sticking them in water doesn't work, rooting powder and soil don't seem to do the trick either. I tried slicing into the branch, adding rooting powder and some moist soil and then wrapping it with cling wrap while it was still attached to the tree, but I think I may have done it wrong. If any Horticulturists out there have any suggestions I would much appreciate it.
All in all it was a pretty lowkey relaxing kind of weekend.
Monday was back to work... still working on changes to my animation (really starting to lose interest in the project too which means it's time to finish it and get it gone). I've got another big animation just waiting for me to finish this one, and I'm itching to get to it.. plus I'm also working on a commercial for Rogers TV listing that involves some animation (just waiting for a final script). Busy Busy Busy. Darrell and Mike are booked solid with stuff as well, so it's heads down and full steam ahead for the next while.
After work Darrell and I popped over to the west side for dinner at Romanos. As always the food was great.. he had the Spagetti and Meatballs, and I had the Lasagne... it was a really nice treat.
Monday, July 10, 2006
The Sun finally the sun
What an awsome weekend. It was up near 30 degrees everyday and the sun was shining.
Friday started out not so good... working with a hang over is never fun. The work day ended not so good too... we drove home via our regular route, but got onto the highway at the Crown street onramp and found ourselves Bumper to bumper all the way to Rothesay Rd... with nowhere to get off in between. It was rediculous, and took nearly 30 minutes to drive that short distance. Then without any seeming reason whatsoever the traffic just started moving normally again. No Construction or signs of an accident or anything. I felt ripped off really... if I'm going to be bumper to bumper for that length of time, at the end of it I expect to see a reason why..... but there was nothing. For all anyone knows there could've been two cars driving 10 km per hour side by side on the highway just for the shits and giggles of it all. Of course once you do get going again you inevitably have those assholes who start weaving from lane to lane and tailgating everyone they think isn't going fast enough... because they are trying to make up the time they lost. (Which is never going to happen) With traffic that tightly packed they are a huge hazzard. If I were to win a lottery I'd be a dangerous person.... I'd go out and buy myself an old old car.. one of those old steel tanks like an old chyrsler or something and put some heavy duty reinforced bumpers on it.... then god help the asshole that tailgates me in their little peice of alluminum crap cause I'd just slam on the brakes and it would be their fault for not following at a safe distance.
Anyway onto other things. We, of course, spent the entire weekend working in the yard. Although it wasn't heavy duty work like we've been doing. I got my fruit trees sprayed, did a little gardening, Stained some trellis, Darrell pressure washed the side of the house, moved his wood pile, spread some gardening soil into the holes in the new lawn and put out more lawn seed. Just simple chores basically. We popped out to Brunswick Nurseries and got a nice little Sumac tree, and took the dogs to the lake. All in all a pretty relaxing weekend.
I also had a first this weekend.. I saw my first firefly. Seriously.. I've never actually seen one before. Darrell was talking about all the fireflies he saw across the street the night before and I said I'd never seen one so he went right out and caught one. I don't think there are fireflies in the interior of BC where I was raised... so that's probably how I've lived this long without seeing them. Of course I could be wrong... they might be there... I just never saw them.
Friday started out not so good... working with a hang over is never fun. The work day ended not so good too... we drove home via our regular route, but got onto the highway at the Crown street onramp and found ourselves Bumper to bumper all the way to Rothesay Rd... with nowhere to get off in between. It was rediculous, and took nearly 30 minutes to drive that short distance. Then without any seeming reason whatsoever the traffic just started moving normally again. No Construction or signs of an accident or anything. I felt ripped off really... if I'm going to be bumper to bumper for that length of time, at the end of it I expect to see a reason why..... but there was nothing. For all anyone knows there could've been two cars driving 10 km per hour side by side on the highway just for the shits and giggles of it all. Of course once you do get going again you inevitably have those assholes who start weaving from lane to lane and tailgating everyone they think isn't going fast enough... because they are trying to make up the time they lost. (Which is never going to happen) With traffic that tightly packed they are a huge hazzard. If I were to win a lottery I'd be a dangerous person.... I'd go out and buy myself an old old car.. one of those old steel tanks like an old chyrsler or something and put some heavy duty reinforced bumpers on it.... then god help the asshole that tailgates me in their little peice of alluminum crap cause I'd just slam on the brakes and it would be their fault for not following at a safe distance.
Anyway onto other things. We, of course, spent the entire weekend working in the yard. Although it wasn't heavy duty work like we've been doing. I got my fruit trees sprayed, did a little gardening, Stained some trellis, Darrell pressure washed the side of the house, moved his wood pile, spread some gardening soil into the holes in the new lawn and put out more lawn seed. Just simple chores basically. We popped out to Brunswick Nurseries and got a nice little Sumac tree, and took the dogs to the lake. All in all a pretty relaxing weekend.
I also had a first this weekend.. I saw my first firefly. Seriously.. I've never actually seen one before. Darrell was talking about all the fireflies he saw across the street the night before and I said I'd never seen one so he went right out and caught one. I don't think there are fireflies in the interior of BC where I was raised... so that's probably how I've lived this long without seeing them. Of course I could be wrong... they might be there... I just never saw them.
Friday, July 07, 2006
End of a Long Week
The week after a long weekend always seems so long for some reason. This one was particularly long all things considered.
I attended the visitation for Jamie on Wednesday evening along with Bertis and Brian and Helen. I've never actually been to one before so I didn't know exactly what to do. There were lots of pictures of Jamie all around the room mounted on big poster paper and in various albums, and then there was ther recieving line where you talked to the family and got to kneel by the coffin to say your last goodbyes. I never know what to say to someone in that instance.... I'm sorry seems really hollow... so I basically made light conversation about how I knew him and gave Kizzy a big hug. There were a lot of people there and the line was quite long so we didn't stay long after going through.
Thursday morning I rushed through a quick ad for Rogers and then attended the funeral. I've never been to Catholic service of any kind before that I can recall, so I really didn't know what to expect... and there seems to be a lot of user knowledge involved in Catholic services. I have nothing to compare it to, but was told by a few people that by Catholic standards it was a fairly modern and light service. The Padre said some very nice things about Jamie, and Bob and Stephen both did readings. All the Poll bearers came in wearing bright Hawaiian shirts and I teared up when I saw them... I think most people did. I didn't get to know Jamie as well as I would have liked to in the short time I knew him, but I know there will be a noticable void in the places he once occupied. No cast party is ever going to be the same and neither will any production. He was definitely a one of a kind original.
After the service Kizzy had a big BBQ back at their house. It was the kind of celebration Jamie would have really appreciated, except nothing accidentally caught fire. There was lots and lots of food and drink, and singing and reminicing. It was a really good time and I stayed way too late and drank way too much.... so work this morning is not such a good time.
I remember the last BBQ at their place... last Canada Day, when Jamie was trying to get the Fire in the pit going and ended up lighting the gas can on fire... and it was also the day he proposed to Kizzy. It's so unfair they didn't have more time together. I've always believed that everything happens for a reason, but when someone dies so young it's hard to think what that reason could be.
I attended the visitation for Jamie on Wednesday evening along with Bertis and Brian and Helen. I've never actually been to one before so I didn't know exactly what to do. There were lots of pictures of Jamie all around the room mounted on big poster paper and in various albums, and then there was ther recieving line where you talked to the family and got to kneel by the coffin to say your last goodbyes. I never know what to say to someone in that instance.... I'm sorry seems really hollow... so I basically made light conversation about how I knew him and gave Kizzy a big hug. There were a lot of people there and the line was quite long so we didn't stay long after going through.
Thursday morning I rushed through a quick ad for Rogers and then attended the funeral. I've never been to Catholic service of any kind before that I can recall, so I really didn't know what to expect... and there seems to be a lot of user knowledge involved in Catholic services. I have nothing to compare it to, but was told by a few people that by Catholic standards it was a fairly modern and light service. The Padre said some very nice things about Jamie, and Bob and Stephen both did readings. All the Poll bearers came in wearing bright Hawaiian shirts and I teared up when I saw them... I think most people did. I didn't get to know Jamie as well as I would have liked to in the short time I knew him, but I know there will be a noticable void in the places he once occupied. No cast party is ever going to be the same and neither will any production. He was definitely a one of a kind original.
After the service Kizzy had a big BBQ back at their house. It was the kind of celebration Jamie would have really appreciated, except nothing accidentally caught fire. There was lots and lots of food and drink, and singing and reminicing. It was a really good time and I stayed way too late and drank way too much.... so work this morning is not such a good time.
I remember the last BBQ at their place... last Canada Day, when Jamie was trying to get the Fire in the pit going and ended up lighting the gas can on fire... and it was also the day he proposed to Kizzy. It's so unfair they didn't have more time together. I've always believed that everything happens for a reason, but when someone dies so young it's hard to think what that reason could be.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Jamie
I just visited Dre's Blog to see how her weekend was and got very sad news. I don't even know what to say... so I won't say anything except I'll really miss you Jamie.
I just copied and pasted this from Dre's Site
Jamie
After a courageous battle with cancer, the death of James "Jamie" Harold Williams Jr., of Saint John, beloved husband of Kizzy Kaye, occurred on Monday, July 3, 2006 at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Born in Montreal, PQ on June 3, 1961, he was the son of James H. "Sonny" and Helene (Comeau) Williams of Saint John.
Resting at BrenanÃs Select Community Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (634-7424), with visiting on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 from 7-9 pm and Wednesday, July 5, 2006 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Pius X Church, Somerset Street, on Thursday, July 6, 2006 at 11:00 AM, followed by cremation. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to a charity of the donorÃs choice.
Further details: www.brenansfh.com
I just copied and pasted this from Dre's Site
Jamie
After a courageous battle with cancer, the death of James "Jamie" Harold Williams Jr., of Saint John, beloved husband of Kizzy Kaye, occurred on Monday, July 3, 2006 at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Born in Montreal, PQ on June 3, 1961, he was the son of James H. "Sonny" and Helene (Comeau) Williams of Saint John.
Resting at BrenanÃs Select Community Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (634-7424), with visiting on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 from 7-9 pm and Wednesday, July 5, 2006 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Pius X Church, Somerset Street, on Thursday, July 6, 2006 at 11:00 AM, followed by cremation. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to a charity of the donorÃs choice.
Further details: www.brenansfh.com
Canada Day long Weekend
The sun managed to poke out a few time this weekend and we made the most of every moment. All the Rain was really starting to wear me out.
Friday after work we headed out to the old neighborhood, to George and Lorretta's, for Shauna's Graduation Dinner. They had a big chinese feast, enough to feed about 45 people... so they will be eating chinese food for some time. It was fun to see everyone... we haven't been out there for a few weeks.
Saturday was Canada Day and Bertis' Birthday celebration at Brian & Helen's. Bertis' birthday was Friday, but he wanted to run the Marathon or 10 k or something like that on Canada Day, so we postponed celebrating until Saturday. For the most part it was quite a nice day, then the rain came and spoiled our plans to have a bonfire and Smores. Brian managed to BBQ some burgers just before the rain started and ended up finishing them in the downpour. We did Chocolate Fondu with Pineapple and Strawberries, and had a pretty awsome Birthday Cake that Brian ordered. Brian is the official cake picker outer since he has done such a good job on both my birthday and now Bertis'. We also had lots of appletinnis. Good times.
Sunday I was feeling a little hung over. It was raining all day which didn't help the way I felt any. I ended up coming into work to get the last things in place on my animation and start it rendering. It's such a long project that it's a 39 hour Render and as I type, on Tuesday Morning, there is still three hours to go.
Monday was Gorgeous! One of the nicest days of the summer so far. After so much miserable weather, when the sun does peek out, you feel like you have to take full advantage of it so you end up working your ass off. At least we do anyway. I did the laundry and dried it on the clothes line. (I will let the clothes pile up in the summer if the weather isn't good enough to use the clothes line... I absolutely will not waste the money or power to run the dryer when the sun and wind are out there and absolutely free.) It blows my mind to see ads in Ontario asking people to restrict their airconditioner use and conserve power so there isn't another massive outage like last year, yet at the same time in Darrell's Parents neighbourhood in Barrie there is a bylaw against clothes lines. You can't have a clothes line in your own yard... that you mortgaged and pay taxes on.. even though they want you conserve energy... bullshit if you ask me.
Anyway.... when we were building our flower boxes I accidentally bought one can of stain that was opaque in stead of semi tranparent like the rest, so I hualed it out and stained the front steps. Darrell changed the front brakes on my car, we filled the last of the boxes with soil and plants, and basically soaked up the sun. Hopefully soon, we will have a weekend with nice weather all around, and nothing to do but sit on the deck and enjoy it.
Friday after work we headed out to the old neighborhood, to George and Lorretta's, for Shauna's Graduation Dinner. They had a big chinese feast, enough to feed about 45 people... so they will be eating chinese food for some time. It was fun to see everyone... we haven't been out there for a few weeks.
Saturday was Canada Day and Bertis' Birthday celebration at Brian & Helen's. Bertis' birthday was Friday, but he wanted to run the Marathon or 10 k or something like that on Canada Day, so we postponed celebrating until Saturday. For the most part it was quite a nice day, then the rain came and spoiled our plans to have a bonfire and Smores. Brian managed to BBQ some burgers just before the rain started and ended up finishing them in the downpour. We did Chocolate Fondu with Pineapple and Strawberries, and had a pretty awsome Birthday Cake that Brian ordered. Brian is the official cake picker outer since he has done such a good job on both my birthday and now Bertis'. We also had lots of appletinnis. Good times.
Sunday I was feeling a little hung over. It was raining all day which didn't help the way I felt any. I ended up coming into work to get the last things in place on my animation and start it rendering. It's such a long project that it's a 39 hour Render and as I type, on Tuesday Morning, there is still three hours to go.
Monday was Gorgeous! One of the nicest days of the summer so far. After so much miserable weather, when the sun does peek out, you feel like you have to take full advantage of it so you end up working your ass off. At least we do anyway. I did the laundry and dried it on the clothes line. (I will let the clothes pile up in the summer if the weather isn't good enough to use the clothes line... I absolutely will not waste the money or power to run the dryer when the sun and wind are out there and absolutely free.) It blows my mind to see ads in Ontario asking people to restrict their airconditioner use and conserve power so there isn't another massive outage like last year, yet at the same time in Darrell's Parents neighbourhood in Barrie there is a bylaw against clothes lines. You can't have a clothes line in your own yard... that you mortgaged and pay taxes on.. even though they want you conserve energy... bullshit if you ask me.
Anyway.... when we were building our flower boxes I accidentally bought one can of stain that was opaque in stead of semi tranparent like the rest, so I hualed it out and stained the front steps. Darrell changed the front brakes on my car, we filled the last of the boxes with soil and plants, and basically soaked up the sun. Hopefully soon, we will have a weekend with nice weather all around, and nothing to do but sit on the deck and enjoy it.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Friday Feast June 30, 2006
Appetizer
On average, approximately how many times per day do you yawn?
I've never really thought about it... maybe 15?
Soup
What was your most memorable school field trip?
In grade 5 we went to Barkerville Near Quesnel BC. It is a "Preserved Gold Rush" town. You can go through all the shops and see how people lived, pan for gold, and they had an old time candy store that sold Jaw breakers the size of baseballs... that was the part that really stood out being in grade five and all. It took over a year for me to finish the jaw breaker and I don't remember if I actually did finish it.
We also took some really great trips with highschool stage band to the Kelowna Jazz Festival.
Salad
Fill in the blank: I was extremely __________________ this week.
busy
Main Course
Which color do you think of when you hear the word "soothing"?
purple
Dessert
What is something that, if you had to, you could save up the money to buy within one month?
There's lots of things that fit that bill. It really surprises me where we can find money when we need to.
PS: Have a safe and happy Canada Day long weekend, and I hear rumours the sun may actually put in a guest appearance
On average, approximately how many times per day do you yawn?
I've never really thought about it... maybe 15?
Soup
What was your most memorable school field trip?
In grade 5 we went to Barkerville Near Quesnel BC. It is a "Preserved Gold Rush" town. You can go through all the shops and see how people lived, pan for gold, and they had an old time candy store that sold Jaw breakers the size of baseballs... that was the part that really stood out being in grade five and all. It took over a year for me to finish the jaw breaker and I don't remember if I actually did finish it.
We also took some really great trips with highschool stage band to the Kelowna Jazz Festival.
Salad
Fill in the blank: I was extremely __________________ this week.
busy
Main Course
Which color do you think of when you hear the word "soothing"?
purple
Dessert
What is something that, if you had to, you could save up the money to buy within one month?
There's lots of things that fit that bill. It really surprises me where we can find money when we need to.
PS: Have a safe and happy Canada Day long weekend, and I hear rumours the sun may actually put in a guest appearance
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Finished
The loveseat is finished! Turns out I didn't have enough fabric to finish the skirting and needed enough for just three peices, so off I went to buy another half meter. Luckily it was on sale again, not half price this time, buy one get two free. So needless to say I walked out of there with three meters (I'll make some extra cushions later).
My lovely Assistants are modeling the before:
And here is the After
I am very happy with the way it turned out and am putting more pictures on my flikr page.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Some Facts about Leather Sofas
So it turns out there's no way I'll be doing the other couch and chair in leather. I made a call or two and discovered that leather runs around 600-800 a skin. A skin is about 4 meters.. it takes about 12 meters to cover a couch. If leather is so expensive.. why then, you ask are some places selling leather sofas for only $1500? Well it turns out that the leather sofas you see on sale are made from an italian leather that comes from calf skin.. so it is a little stretchier and not as thick (therefore not as durable), and the only parts of the sofa you buy that are actually leather are the parts that touch your body... ie the arm rests, inner back & bottom cushion... the rest is, you guessed it, vinyl.
A truely, completely leather sofa would run about closer to 4 or 5 thousand dollars.... a quality leather sofa would run much higher. So I'll be shopping for an alternative fabric for my next couch and chair reupholster... maybe ultra suede or denim. Suggestions?
A truely, completely leather sofa would run about closer to 4 or 5 thousand dollars.... a quality leather sofa would run much higher. So I'll be shopping for an alternative fabric for my next couch and chair reupholster... maybe ultra suede or denim. Suggestions?
Maple
After calling around to all the listed saw mills, I could find none that sold undressed (or dressed for that matter) Maple. We went into Home Hardware and got a nice 1x4x3 piece for 3.78 a foot, plus some wooden Buttons to cover the screw holes. All in all it came to $15... not bad all things considered. I spent the evening planing, and cutting, and drilling, and sanding, and polyurithaning. This morning I went down and light sanded my peices and put another coat of poly on, and when I get home today I will repeat the process one more time so it has a really nice durable finish. The wood looks awsome and I put one of thepieces into it's place on the loveseat before I gave it a second coat.... beautiful. After I've done my third coat this evening I will start cutting fabirc for the skirting. (hoping I have enough left over material) I may have to buy another half meter, but am hoping to avoid that. Although if I do have to buy more it's better to know that right now, so I can rush out and get it while I know they still have it. Once it's all put together and completely finished I will post before and after pictures. I can't wait to show Connell and Lynn (they gave us the loveseat) how it turns out. Here's hoping she doesn't want it back after she sees it.
Next on my fabric related projects list is the couch and chair Mike and Cathy gave us. This time I'm going to get really brave and try to make some changes to the actual frame... redesign the look of it a little. I would like to find a place that sells leather (at a reasonable price) and recover it in that. There is only one listing in the yellow pages under upholstery fabric so they will be my first call. No one at fabricville seems to know of any leather sellers, since Leather and Lyrics closed in uptown. So if anyone knows of a place that sells leather by the meter, or of a saw mill in the area that actually has maple let me know.
I was joking with Darrell, that we should go around on big garbage pick up day and see if anyone is throwing out couches and chairs. I could call up Alison Thomas (she's pretty good with a sewing machine)... maybe we could start a little hobby business on the side. hehehe
Next on my fabric related projects list is the couch and chair Mike and Cathy gave us. This time I'm going to get really brave and try to make some changes to the actual frame... redesign the look of it a little. I would like to find a place that sells leather (at a reasonable price) and recover it in that. There is only one listing in the yellow pages under upholstery fabric so they will be my first call. No one at fabricville seems to know of any leather sellers, since Leather and Lyrics closed in uptown. So if anyone knows of a place that sells leather by the meter, or of a saw mill in the area that actually has maple let me know.
I was joking with Darrell, that we should go around on big garbage pick up day and see if anyone is throwing out couches and chairs. I could call up Alison Thomas (she's pretty good with a sewing machine)... maybe we could start a little hobby business on the side. hehehe
Monday, June 26, 2006
Soggy - ish weekend
It rained for most but not all of the weekend, so I pretty much finished my rainy day project of recovering the loveseat. All I have left to do is the bottom skirting.
I'm hoping I have enough fabric to peice it together without having to go back for more. When I bought it, it was on sale, but it's not anymore and I don't want to pay $25.99 a meter for more of it. I also want to do something a little different with the front of the arms. Normally you use the cap peices that were already on the couch and cover them with your fabric then nail them in, but I want to get a nice peice of maple and cut it to the right shapes, sand it, round off the edges, and give it a nice coat of polyurithane instead. There is supposedly a mill in Quispam that sells undressed maple so hopefully I can find them, other wise it's $30 at Kent or Home Depot for a piece the size I'd need. All costs considered, we got the loveseat given to us, the fabric was on half price (plus my club elite discount) so 8 meters came to $100, there was about $20 for thread and some new needles, and even if I have to pay $30 for the wood.... $150 for a new loveseat is pretty damn good.
No sooner did I put in the final few staples in my Loveseat on Sunday, than the sun came out. It actually turned into quite a nice day. I managed to do the laundry and dry everything on the clothes line. Darrell strung out the hammock. Bertis and the Bonds came over, and we BBQ'd. Brian and Helen brought their dog Yorky, so he played with Elton and Tiff. We took them all to the lake for a swim, I ended up wading out to about my knees after a the odd dropped stick and the water was actually quite warm. If I had been dressed for it I would've considered going in for swim. Maybe next time.
I had hoped to go the auction for Jamie, but something came up with Darrell's computer and he had to go into the office to fix it, and by the time everything was taken care of it was too late.
Darrell braced our back deck. It was starting to get a little swishy. The original braces were just nailed in, so over time the whole thing worked itself loose. Darrell got some heavy duty bolts and really cinched it up. The whole deck really should be rebuilt. It won't happen this year, but it may a project next year... we'll see how the money flow is.
I managed to get a little gardening in. It's funny... when I was younger I could never get what all the fuss was about when it came to gardening, but now I find it very relaxing and enjoyable. Plus it's really neat to watch things grow. You plant some stuff, you spend some time pulling weeds, you water, you mulch, and then you go out and are rewarded with new growth each day. It's a pretty simple pleasure and it makes your yard look nice.
I'm hoping I have enough fabric to peice it together without having to go back for more. When I bought it, it was on sale, but it's not anymore and I don't want to pay $25.99 a meter for more of it. I also want to do something a little different with the front of the arms. Normally you use the cap peices that were already on the couch and cover them with your fabric then nail them in, but I want to get a nice peice of maple and cut it to the right shapes, sand it, round off the edges, and give it a nice coat of polyurithane instead. There is supposedly a mill in Quispam that sells undressed maple so hopefully I can find them, other wise it's $30 at Kent or Home Depot for a piece the size I'd need. All costs considered, we got the loveseat given to us, the fabric was on half price (plus my club elite discount) so 8 meters came to $100, there was about $20 for thread and some new needles, and even if I have to pay $30 for the wood.... $150 for a new loveseat is pretty damn good.
No sooner did I put in the final few staples in my Loveseat on Sunday, than the sun came out. It actually turned into quite a nice day. I managed to do the laundry and dry everything on the clothes line. Darrell strung out the hammock. Bertis and the Bonds came over, and we BBQ'd. Brian and Helen brought their dog Yorky, so he played with Elton and Tiff. We took them all to the lake for a swim, I ended up wading out to about my knees after a the odd dropped stick and the water was actually quite warm. If I had been dressed for it I would've considered going in for swim. Maybe next time.
I had hoped to go the auction for Jamie, but something came up with Darrell's computer and he had to go into the office to fix it, and by the time everything was taken care of it was too late.
Darrell braced our back deck. It was starting to get a little swishy. The original braces were just nailed in, so over time the whole thing worked itself loose. Darrell got some heavy duty bolts and really cinched it up. The whole deck really should be rebuilt. It won't happen this year, but it may a project next year... we'll see how the money flow is.
I managed to get a little gardening in. It's funny... when I was younger I could never get what all the fuss was about when it came to gardening, but now I find it very relaxing and enjoyable. Plus it's really neat to watch things grow. You plant some stuff, you spend some time pulling weeds, you water, you mulch, and then you go out and are rewarded with new growth each day. It's a pretty simple pleasure and it makes your yard look nice.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Friday Feast June 23, 2006
Appetizer
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you like your job?
8, most fo the time I love it, sometimes I get bored with it.
Soup
When was the last time you think you were lied to?
I don't know about out and out lied to.. I have been fibbed to and people have exagerated the truth. Most recently a client wanted a quote for a project based on 90 seconds of animation, but when all was said and done the project turned into almost four minutes, and they still want the same price quote. I wouldn't say I was lied too mind you... but four minutes is a far cry from 90 seconds in animation terms. So I'm a little put off by the whole thing.
Salad
Share some lyrics from one of your favorite songs.
I'd have to pick a favourite song, and that changes for me over and over. I don't have a favourite type of music or an absolute favourite song or favourite singer. My musical taste goes with my moods. Sometimes I find myself listening to an old song from when I was in highschool and then can't get enough of it for a few days, or something new come on the radio and I go looking for it. At the moment I can't seem to get enough of an old 80's song by George Michael and Aretha Franklin called "I knew you were waiting"... some of the lyrics ar ..." When the river was deep, I didn't falter. When the Mountain was High, I still believed. When the Valley was low, it didn't stop me.... I knew you were waiting, knew you were waiting for me."
I know it's a poppy old piece of fluff, but at the moment I kinda like it. While I'm working out, I've been listening to the Wilsons (the solo album Wendy and Carnie Wilson made after Wilson Phillips split up) and both the original and revival versions of Cabaret.
Main Course
What do you do/take when you are in pain?
I usually take a nap, or have a bath... depending on the pain. I take enough prescribed medication on a daily basis that I avoid self medicating whenever possible. More often than not I just suffer through it.
Dessert
Fill in the blanks: My __________ is very __________.
Well I could stick any number of dirty little things in the blanks couldn't I? or, I could say My dog is very happy. or My schedule is very full.
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you like your job?
8, most fo the time I love it, sometimes I get bored with it.
Soup
When was the last time you think you were lied to?
I don't know about out and out lied to.. I have been fibbed to and people have exagerated the truth. Most recently a client wanted a quote for a project based on 90 seconds of animation, but when all was said and done the project turned into almost four minutes, and they still want the same price quote. I wouldn't say I was lied too mind you... but four minutes is a far cry from 90 seconds in animation terms. So I'm a little put off by the whole thing.
Salad
Share some lyrics from one of your favorite songs.
I'd have to pick a favourite song, and that changes for me over and over. I don't have a favourite type of music or an absolute favourite song or favourite singer. My musical taste goes with my moods. Sometimes I find myself listening to an old song from when I was in highschool and then can't get enough of it for a few days, or something new come on the radio and I go looking for it. At the moment I can't seem to get enough of an old 80's song by George Michael and Aretha Franklin called "I knew you were waiting"... some of the lyrics ar ..." When the river was deep, I didn't falter. When the Mountain was High, I still believed. When the Valley was low, it didn't stop me.... I knew you were waiting, knew you were waiting for me."
I know it's a poppy old piece of fluff, but at the moment I kinda like it. While I'm working out, I've been listening to the Wilsons (the solo album Wendy and Carnie Wilson made after Wilson Phillips split up) and both the original and revival versions of Cabaret.
Main Course
What do you do/take when you are in pain?
I usually take a nap, or have a bath... depending on the pain. I take enough prescribed medication on a daily basis that I avoid self medicating whenever possible. More often than not I just suffer through it.
Dessert
Fill in the blanks: My __________ is very __________.
Well I could stick any number of dirty little things in the blanks couldn't I? or, I could say My dog is very happy. or My schedule is very full.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Pickets
The stain was dry enough to install my little picket fence around the Blue Spruce tree. As you can see the Tree isn't very big yet.
I think it turned out pretty good considering it's made from scrap wood I scrounged.
I got the last cushion for the love seat done last night and am going to start the awful job of pulling staples from the frame this evening. Hopefully I can have all the fabric off it and new peices cut by the weekend.
Still plugging away at my animation projects and have aquired a new one today. I think the end is coming into view for one of them at least.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Playing in the workshop
After work I got creative in our workshop. Last fall, when all the garden centres were selling off all their inventory I picked up a tiny little blue spruce for the yard. I planted it out front and plan to decorate it at christmas time when it gets bigger (at the moment it's not yet 3 feet tall.). No sooner had I planted it than one of the resident rabbits came over to check it out, I thought it was cute, until the rabbit started eating it. We scrambled together some old wire shelving from an ill advised indoor greenhouse purchase and wired them together in a little protective fence around the tree. Unfortunately it looks bad and isn't big enough, and the poor little tree is cramped inside it, so after work I scrounged the workshop for scrap plywood and 2x4s and started building a little picket fence to protect it. It actually turned out really well and went together quiete easily. Each pannel is two feet wide and the pickets are two feet tall. I even got to use my new air stapler on it. Unfortunately I forgot a step I don't usually forget and made more work for myself. Because it was a quicky little craft project... I forgot something very important. Once you finish cutting all your pieces... stain them before you assemble. Admittedly it means you have to wait to assemble until the next day, but if you go ahead and put it together then slap a coat of stain on it, instead of staining individual pieces that you can pick up and flip over... you end up staining a picket fence. Anyone whose ever painted or stained a fence knows what I'm getting at... it is time consuming and a pain in the ass. I still can't believe I skipped that step and found myself up until midnight staining my cute little picket fence... Oh well live and learn. Sadly it's a mistake I will probably make again in the future because it's easy to forget. Today after work, my fence should be dry and ready to install around my tree.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Busy Weekend
We were super busy this weekend getting our flower boxes built and filling them with soil and plants.
I got most of the cushions on the loveseat finished and have one more to go before I start ripping the rest of the fabric off the frame and recovering that.
I managed to get my animation model built on Friday and am riggin and timing it today, it is over 3 minutes long so it may take a few days to render out.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Kickin into high gear
SOOOOOOOOOOOO Happy to see the sun out today. It's going to make it very hard to concentrate on getting my work done. I have to put the full press on today to finish my build of one of the Two animation projects I have on the go. I am hoping to have the build done, the models rigged and the entire sequence timed out by the end of the day.... maybe even rendering started... I'm also hoping to leave a little early today and get home to stain the remaining 4x4 for the second flower box at the side of the house. Somehow I think I may not get away early, but here's hoping.
We managed to get one of the boxes put together, in place, leveled off, and half filled so that's half the battle done. All the pieces are cut for the second and need to be stained, assembled, put in place, leveled, and filled. Then the fun can start.
Even though it's a "Rainy Day project" I've already started recovering the Loveseat. I couldn't resist. I wanted to see how the fabric was going to look in the room, so I did the two back cushions. Of course now I can't just have two cushions done and leave it at at that.. so of course I got back to it last night and got all the peices cut out for the two bottom cushions. Later tonight when we're done working outside I'll sew those together. We have a friend from Halifax coming out to do some work near the end of the month and he may or may not stay with us, so I'd like to have the entire thing reupholstered before he arrives, just so the room is finished.
I descided not to renew my Gym membership. Instead I bought an eliptical trainer and an ab ball. I have it set up downstairs and have been working away at it the past couple days. I plan to get to the point where I can go 60 minutes on the trainer at the highest tension, while singing the entire score of Cabaret original or revival either will do... I'll alternate. Then I think I'll be in Emcee form.
We managed to get one of the boxes put together, in place, leveled off, and half filled so that's half the battle done. All the pieces are cut for the second and need to be stained, assembled, put in place, leveled, and filled. Then the fun can start.
Even though it's a "Rainy Day project" I've already started recovering the Loveseat. I couldn't resist. I wanted to see how the fabric was going to look in the room, so I did the two back cushions. Of course now I can't just have two cushions done and leave it at at that.. so of course I got back to it last night and got all the peices cut out for the two bottom cushions. Later tonight when we're done working outside I'll sew those together. We have a friend from Halifax coming out to do some work near the end of the month and he may or may not stay with us, so I'd like to have the entire thing reupholstered before he arrives, just so the room is finished.
I descided not to renew my Gym membership. Instead I bought an eliptical trainer and an ab ball. I have it set up downstairs and have been working away at it the past couple days. I plan to get to the point where I can go 60 minutes on the trainer at the highest tension, while singing the entire score of Cabaret original or revival either will do... I'll alternate. Then I think I'll be in Emcee form.
Friday Feast June 16, 2006
Appetizer
What is a word that you use that would not be considered common?
Skookum - I didn't realize it was a British Columbia Specific Word until I moved to the East Coast. It's a Chinook Jargon Word that means big and mighty. Chinook Jargon is the trading language based on the language of the Chinook Indians with words mixed in from French, English, Salish, nootka and toher local tongues. In daily language it's used to describe something sturdy. Ie: I bought a soft shell guitar case that has a really skookum chunk of foam in it for support.
Learn more about the word Skookum
Soup
What theme of calendar do you have on your wall this year?
Labrador Retreivers... every year I have Labrador Retreivers
Salad
Name 3 people you speak with by telephone a regular basis.
My Grandmother, My Mother, The Bonds
Main Course
If you could buy a new outfit for someone you know - who would it be and what would you purchase for them?
Darrell - I would buy him a pair of casual pants and a nice shirt
Dessert
What is the last beverage you drank?
I am currently drinking a coffee. (Yes I know I quit drinking coffee but lately have had the occasional one.)
What is a word that you use that would not be considered common?
Skookum - I didn't realize it was a British Columbia Specific Word until I moved to the East Coast. It's a Chinook Jargon Word that means big and mighty. Chinook Jargon is the trading language based on the language of the Chinook Indians with words mixed in from French, English, Salish, nootka and toher local tongues. In daily language it's used to describe something sturdy. Ie: I bought a soft shell guitar case that has a really skookum chunk of foam in it for support.
Learn more about the word Skookum
Soup
What theme of calendar do you have on your wall this year?
Labrador Retreivers... every year I have Labrador Retreivers
Salad
Name 3 people you speak with by telephone a regular basis.
My Grandmother, My Mother, The Bonds
Main Course
If you could buy a new outfit for someone you know - who would it be and what would you purchase for them?
Darrell - I would buy him a pair of casual pants and a nice shirt
Dessert
What is the last beverage you drank?
I am currently drinking a coffee. (Yes I know I quit drinking coffee but lately have had the occasional one.)
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
I'm Recovering...
... A love seat.
One major problem with all the rain... it ends up costing us a lot of money.
There is no shortage of projects at home for us to complete, in fact since we've bought the house our lives have been about going from one project to the next at home. It's a very new house, and there's nothing wrong with it (ie major problems or fixer upper things), but as any home owner knows.. the projects are always there. There will always be tasks and things you want to do and improve and change, and it is never ending right up until you no longer live in the that house. So we have a thousand and one projects we can tackle, unfortunately we only have materials and stuff in place for a couple and almost all of them were outside projects.....
That is how the rain ends up costing us money. Darrell had an indoor project he could work on, unfortunately it was a metal work project which meant him bogarting the workshop all weekend.. so I couldn't work on the wood mouldings for the bedroom (which is the other indoor project that we have materials etc in place for). Some projects for me presented themselves however. Mike and Kathy gave us their old couch and chair as well as a couple end tables and a Tv stand, and Connell and Lynn gave us their old loveseat a while back (it's the one that matches the couch I recovered last year). We moved the end tables and tv stand into the spare room downstairs... put the dresser in the closet, moved the bed over, and brought the loveseat in as a place to sit.. now that room looks more finished than any other room in the house. I made a trip to fabricville and found some really nice deep red fabric for the loveseat and will now have a great rainy day project to work on. Since Darrell bought a big air compressor a while back I figured I would make reupholstering easier and bought an airstapler at sears. Last time I used a hand hald staple gun and had to go over all the staples with a hammer after each seam.
Of course now that I have rainy day projects in place... the sun decided to return. That's Murphy's Law... but I'm not bothered by it in the slightest.. I'd be perfectly happy to not get to the loveseat until the fall (which is when I had planned to do it in the first place).
Wanting to take advantage of the sun, we got right to it when we got home from work yesterday. I cut the grass (which was no small feat) and Darrell got the weedwhacker out and conquered the big stuff. We'll have to redo the lawn again very soon as it was so long and wet that it's starting to pop up all uneven now. We also got one of the flower boxes assembled and the area mostly dug out...but by then it was 10 o'clock and time to get the tools cleaned up and put away for another crack at it on the next sunny day.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Rain Rain Rain
Alright we get it already... enough with the rain.
All the rain is really starting to dampen my spirits. I think I suffer from seasonal depression, because I can get every down near the end of the winter and gloomy if the weather is like it has been the past week.
The biggest part of the problem is that we have a bunch of projects on the go at home.... all of them outside... so I feel like I'm pushing ropes, nothing's getting done. That's very depressing. It makes me feel very unmotivated, and that doesn't help when I'm working on two big projects at work.
On another subject all together I will be starting back at the gym very soon, to work on flattening the gut I have developed and lowering my blood pressure without medication.
I have been listening to the original Broadway cast of Cabaret in my car, and last weekend Kizzy lent me the 1998 revival cast version. Sometime between the Original cast and the Movie... Cliff lost all his songs which is too bad. Some of the clunckier songs from the original were discarded for the revival and some of the movie songs were worked in, in their place. Unfortunately they replaced the Money song "Sitting Pretty" (From the original) with the Money Song "Money Makes the World go around" (From the Movie). The Movie song was a big hit and is more recognizable, but the original cast song was a better song. As far as strickly singing goes, I prefer the Original cast to the revival cast..pants down. Joel Grey has much purer quality and tonality to his Voice than Allan Cummings, but Allan Cummings has a more gutteral and sinister quality to his performance. I'm going to aim for somewhere in between the two when I go after the part of Emcee next spring. (Oh yeah... that's the part I want). Vocally My Favorites for Sally Bowles are Jill Haworth (Orignal cast), Liza Minelli (movie), Natasha Richardson (Revival)... in that order. Natasha Richardson is entirely too singsong in her performances... no grit like Jill and Liza. All in all I think the songs that were included in the revival are better, since it is basically a mixture of the best from Broadway and the movie, but I wish they hadn't dropped Cliff's songs, since it makes it another one of those shows that plays heavily on only three characters and a chorus. I don't know which version SJTC will ultimately have the right to, but maybe if Stephem is successful in securing the rights to both we could amalgate them and create our own version that could bring back a song or two for Cliff.. so more people on the cast get some singing in.
All the rain is really starting to dampen my spirits. I think I suffer from seasonal depression, because I can get every down near the end of the winter and gloomy if the weather is like it has been the past week.
The biggest part of the problem is that we have a bunch of projects on the go at home.... all of them outside... so I feel like I'm pushing ropes, nothing's getting done. That's very depressing. It makes me feel very unmotivated, and that doesn't help when I'm working on two big projects at work.
On another subject all together I will be starting back at the gym very soon, to work on flattening the gut I have developed and lowering my blood pressure without medication.
I have been listening to the original Broadway cast of Cabaret in my car, and last weekend Kizzy lent me the 1998 revival cast version. Sometime between the Original cast and the Movie... Cliff lost all his songs which is too bad. Some of the clunckier songs from the original were discarded for the revival and some of the movie songs were worked in, in their place. Unfortunately they replaced the Money song "Sitting Pretty" (From the original) with the Money Song "Money Makes the World go around" (From the Movie). The Movie song was a big hit and is more recognizable, but the original cast song was a better song. As far as strickly singing goes, I prefer the Original cast to the revival cast..pants down. Joel Grey has much purer quality and tonality to his Voice than Allan Cummings, but Allan Cummings has a more gutteral and sinister quality to his performance. I'm going to aim for somewhere in between the two when I go after the part of Emcee next spring. (Oh yeah... that's the part I want). Vocally My Favorites for Sally Bowles are Jill Haworth (Orignal cast), Liza Minelli (movie), Natasha Richardson (Revival)... in that order. Natasha Richardson is entirely too singsong in her performances... no grit like Jill and Liza. All in all I think the songs that were included in the revival are better, since it is basically a mixture of the best from Broadway and the movie, but I wish they hadn't dropped Cliff's songs, since it makes it another one of those shows that plays heavily on only three characters and a chorus. I don't know which version SJTC will ultimately have the right to, but maybe if Stephem is successful in securing the rights to both we could amalgate them and create our own version that could bring back a song or two for Cliff.. so more people on the cast get some singing in.
Friday June 9, 2006
Appetizer
About how much money did you spend on gas this week?
About Forty Dollars
Soup
What is your favortite brand of toilet paper?
I don't have a favorite, but right now we have a huge stock of Cashmere... when they changed the name from Cottonelle to Cashmere the superstore had a big so we stocked up and have enough toilet paper to last for a couple years. Providing of course that we don't ahve too many female visitors stay with us for any length of time.... I don't know what the hell you girls do with all the paper, but you sure go through a lot of it.
Salad
When was the last time you discovered something that you thought was pure genius?
I can't remember the last time I thought something was Pure Genius... more often than not I think "Of course.. why didn't I think of that? It seems so obvious now."
Main Course
What is the least amount of sleep you can get by on per night?
I used to be able to go all night and function on three or four hours of sleep, but now I like to get at least eight hours... I can still function on four if I have to.
Dessert
June is a popular month for weddings. Do you know anyone who is getting married this month?
Not to my knowledge.
About how much money did you spend on gas this week?
About Forty Dollars
Soup
What is your favortite brand of toilet paper?
I don't have a favorite, but right now we have a huge stock of Cashmere... when they changed the name from Cottonelle to Cashmere the superstore had a big so we stocked up and have enough toilet paper to last for a couple years. Providing of course that we don't ahve too many female visitors stay with us for any length of time.... I don't know what the hell you girls do with all the paper, but you sure go through a lot of it.
Salad
When was the last time you discovered something that you thought was pure genius?
I can't remember the last time I thought something was Pure Genius... more often than not I think "Of course.. why didn't I think of that? It seems so obvious now."
Main Course
What is the least amount of sleep you can get by on per night?
I used to be able to go all night and function on three or four hours of sleep, but now I like to get at least eight hours... I can still function on four if I have to.
Dessert
June is a popular month for weddings. Do you know anyone who is getting married this month?
Not to my knowledge.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Omen marathon
The sun actually showed itself near the end of the work day yesterday, so I took advantage of it by getting all my bulbs planted in pots on the deck. at least that way they can get started and when we have the two flowerboxes put together and filled with dirt they can be transplanted.
I made some headway on one of my projects and am in a more comfortable place with it's June 12th deadline looming. The final Voice Over will be done this morning so I can make decisions on timing and camera movement today.
Darrell and Mike worked late yesterday on a video that required the use of our new teleprompter. They would have gotten done alot sooner had it not been for a Harley constantly circling the Uptown and emerging on King Street every ten minutes. How do they get away with all that noise, it's enough to really piss a person off. If my car was that loud I'd get a ticket.. there's no excuse for it.
The movie network had an Omen marathon on for the 6th day of the 6th month of 2006. I watched the documentary and the first two movies (I remember them from when I was a kid, then popped a tape in the VCR to (Hopefully) record the last two, since I wasn't really up to staying up until 4am for the full marathon. I guess the "remake" of the original movie hit the theatre last night as well. I'm so sick of Hollywood... there's not one original thinking creative person left in the studio sweatshops. All that seems to be coming out are remakes of 70's movies and tv shows, and comic book movies. Granted I am a pretty big comic book fan so I happy to see my favorite characters hit the big screen with the special effects and computer graphics to really make them believable..... but where's the original movies? Did the entertainment industry break all the new ground there was to break in the 70's and 80's and now all that's left is to repackage the same old ideas? How many different ways can you remake Parenthood, or National Lampoons Vacation.... Switch Chevy Chase for Robin Williams...it's still Vacation.
I made some headway on one of my projects and am in a more comfortable place with it's June 12th deadline looming. The final Voice Over will be done this morning so I can make decisions on timing and camera movement today.
Darrell and Mike worked late yesterday on a video that required the use of our new teleprompter. They would have gotten done alot sooner had it not been for a Harley constantly circling the Uptown and emerging on King Street every ten minutes. How do they get away with all that noise, it's enough to really piss a person off. If my car was that loud I'd get a ticket.. there's no excuse for it.
The movie network had an Omen marathon on for the 6th day of the 6th month of 2006. I watched the documentary and the first two movies (I remember them from when I was a kid, then popped a tape in the VCR to (Hopefully) record the last two, since I wasn't really up to staying up until 4am for the full marathon. I guess the "remake" of the original movie hit the theatre last night as well. I'm so sick of Hollywood... there's not one original thinking creative person left in the studio sweatshops. All that seems to be coming out are remakes of 70's movies and tv shows, and comic book movies. Granted I am a pretty big comic book fan so I happy to see my favorite characters hit the big screen with the special effects and computer graphics to really make them believable..... but where's the original movies? Did the entertainment industry break all the new ground there was to break in the 70's and 80's and now all that's left is to repackage the same old ideas? How many different ways can you remake Parenthood, or National Lampoons Vacation.... Switch Chevy Chase for Robin Williams...it's still Vacation.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Hey Noah... got that boat finished yet?
All the rain took it's toll on our backyard, where the grass isn't established enough to hold the top soil in place. There is now a trench along the back edge and bit of a chasm from all the run off. I had hoped we would be able to get our flower boxes put together and installed this weekend, but the weather had other ideas. I have a bunch of summer bulbs that need to go into the ground, as I've already left them pretty late. I may have to put them in pots on the deck and transplant them later. I hope this isn't going to be one of those summers where it's beautiful all week long then pisses down rain every weekend.
Friday night was lots of fun. We went out to the Blue Olive to hear Kizzy sing with OPA. It was a good time. Darrell didn't stay, it was too loud for him to hear what was being talked about and most of it was theatre anyway, so he left and came back later to get me.
Saturday there wasn't much to do on account of the rain. We had planned to go to Suzy and Chris' BBQ but the weather won out and we stayed home. Sorry we missed it guys hope you all had a good time regarless. We did some around the house stuff and watched a few movies on the movie network. I finally saw Star Wars Revenge of the Sith... I'm glad now I didn't stand in line and pay money in a theatre. The story was weak and predictable, It was all computer effects and some of them were just not good, and it was entirely too human (barely any funky aliens at all). The entire movie seemed like blah, blah, lightsaber battle, blah, blah, Lightsaber battle, blah blah, lightsaber battle. My overall feeling about the "New" Trilogy.... Sucked! Gearge Lucas should have quit while he was ahead and not wasted our time on what was obviously a studio attempt to sell merchadise. Here's hoping he doesn't have any plans for another trilogy that picks up after the first one. The original cast is now old enough to play the parents of the next generation.. so lets keep our fingers crossed they all have better things to do.
Sunday I had to do alittle sewing for Darrell's teleprompter. I had to build a cover that would attach to the teleprompter frame to block the light glare and reflection on the camera lense... it's alot like the idea behind the old cameras where the guy used to have to duck under the cover to take the picture. Brian & Helen Came over Sunday evening. Helen's Mom Margaret is visiting from England for awhile. We all watched Transamerica with Felicity Huffman. Excellent movie I'd recommend it to anyone. Felicity Huffman plays the role of a preoperative transexual who learns he/she has a son from a relationship he/she had in college, and has to go to New York and bail him out of jail and forge a relationship with him before her councillor will give the final approval for his/her gender redesignation surgery. The performances of the entire cast are excellent.
Today it's back to work and hopfully I can make some headway on my animation projects and not waste the day surfing the internet and reading comic books.
Friday night was lots of fun. We went out to the Blue Olive to hear Kizzy sing with OPA. It was a good time. Darrell didn't stay, it was too loud for him to hear what was being talked about and most of it was theatre anyway, so he left and came back later to get me.
Saturday there wasn't much to do on account of the rain. We had planned to go to Suzy and Chris' BBQ but the weather won out and we stayed home. Sorry we missed it guys hope you all had a good time regarless. We did some around the house stuff and watched a few movies on the movie network. I finally saw Star Wars Revenge of the Sith... I'm glad now I didn't stand in line and pay money in a theatre. The story was weak and predictable, It was all computer effects and some of them were just not good, and it was entirely too human (barely any funky aliens at all). The entire movie seemed like blah, blah, lightsaber battle, blah, blah, Lightsaber battle, blah blah, lightsaber battle. My overall feeling about the "New" Trilogy.... Sucked! Gearge Lucas should have quit while he was ahead and not wasted our time on what was obviously a studio attempt to sell merchadise. Here's hoping he doesn't have any plans for another trilogy that picks up after the first one. The original cast is now old enough to play the parents of the next generation.. so lets keep our fingers crossed they all have better things to do.
Sunday I had to do alittle sewing for Darrell's teleprompter. I had to build a cover that would attach to the teleprompter frame to block the light glare and reflection on the camera lense... it's alot like the idea behind the old cameras where the guy used to have to duck under the cover to take the picture. Brian & Helen Came over Sunday evening. Helen's Mom Margaret is visiting from England for awhile. We all watched Transamerica with Felicity Huffman. Excellent movie I'd recommend it to anyone. Felicity Huffman plays the role of a preoperative transexual who learns he/she has a son from a relationship he/she had in college, and has to go to New York and bail him out of jail and forge a relationship with him before her councillor will give the final approval for his/her gender redesignation surgery. The performances of the entire cast are excellent.
Today it's back to work and hopfully I can make some headway on my animation projects and not waste the day surfing the internet and reading comic books.
Friday, June 02, 2006
Friday June 2, 2006
Appetizer
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest), how funny do you think you are?
I think I'm about a 6 or 7, however that doesn't mean anyone else does.
Soup
Name a local restaurant you would recommend to a visitor to your town or city.
Churchhill's has a really good menu and good service.
Salad
What's a lesson you were lucky enough to learn the easy way?
What you put out into the universe returns times three
Main Course
Where would you like to be 5 years from now?
In my fantasies, I would like to win 35 million in lotto and be traveling around the globe hob knobbing. In reality I would like to have our debts paid down and most of the "Big" projects around the house finished.
Dessert
If you could see the front page of a newspaper from June 2, 2106, what would you imagine the headline might be?
I can't think of an answer, but I'd like to think that with advances in medical science growing in leaps and bounds I will be able to read the headline on that day and tell you.
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest), how funny do you think you are?
I think I'm about a 6 or 7, however that doesn't mean anyone else does.
Soup
Name a local restaurant you would recommend to a visitor to your town or city.
Churchhill's has a really good menu and good service.
Salad
What's a lesson you were lucky enough to learn the easy way?
What you put out into the universe returns times three
Main Course
Where would you like to be 5 years from now?
In my fantasies, I would like to win 35 million in lotto and be traveling around the globe hob knobbing. In reality I would like to have our debts paid down and most of the "Big" projects around the house finished.
Dessert
If you could see the front page of a newspaper from June 2, 2106, what would you imagine the headline might be?
I can't think of an answer, but I'd like to think that with advances in medical science growing in leaps and bounds I will be able to read the headline on that day and tell you.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
One down
With Crucible now finished and the party over, I am left with only two huge projects to take up the majority of my time. The show had a really good run and received very good reviews. I can honestly say I never missed a cue and actually had a flawless run for the first time ever. The cast party afterwards saw most of us make it through to breakfast the next day at Reggies (not somewhere I'd have breakfast again unless it was after partying all night long).
Monday was back to the grind, two huge animation projects one due beginning of June the other at the end of June and niether of them is remotely similar. I have a feeling I may be putting in some over time to get through them, but now that I don't have a show to worry about on top of all that I think I'll manage fine. We got fairly productive at home after work yesterday. Darrell managed to get all the 4x4s cut for our new flower boxes and I got most of them stained. Kent was having a clearance on all thier summer bulbs so I stocked up, but it's getting pretty late in the season for planting them hence the rush to get the boxes built and filled.
I met with Dr. Keeling, the dermatologist, to talk about light therapy and think I will go ahead and do it, but I want to hold off until the fall. Once I start I'll have to take pills that make me photosensitive an hour before recieving the light and wear glasses that block uva/uvb rays from sun up til down. I will also have to stay fairly covered up all the time and reduce exposure to the sun... meaning stay indoor as much as possible. I just can't see myself doing those things during the summer, it would be too uncomfortable, as well, the extra photosensitivity increases your risk of skin cancer... therefore I think doing it in late fall/winter would be better as I am already covered and indoors most of the time anyway and the UV index is lower. I've beat cancer twice in my short lifetime... I have no desire to go for a third round, so whatever I can do to minimize risk I will happily do.
Monday was back to the grind, two huge animation projects one due beginning of June the other at the end of June and niether of them is remotely similar. I have a feeling I may be putting in some over time to get through them, but now that I don't have a show to worry about on top of all that I think I'll manage fine. We got fairly productive at home after work yesterday. Darrell managed to get all the 4x4s cut for our new flower boxes and I got most of them stained. Kent was having a clearance on all thier summer bulbs so I stocked up, but it's getting pretty late in the season for planting them hence the rush to get the boxes built and filled.
I met with Dr. Keeling, the dermatologist, to talk about light therapy and think I will go ahead and do it, but I want to hold off until the fall. Once I start I'll have to take pills that make me photosensitive an hour before recieving the light and wear glasses that block uva/uvb rays from sun up til down. I will also have to stay fairly covered up all the time and reduce exposure to the sun... meaning stay indoor as much as possible. I just can't see myself doing those things during the summer, it would be too uncomfortable, as well, the extra photosensitivity increases your risk of skin cancer... therefore I think doing it in late fall/winter would be better as I am already covered and indoors most of the time anyway and the UV index is lower. I've beat cancer twice in my short lifetime... I have no desire to go for a third round, so whatever I can do to minimize risk I will happily do.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Friday May 26, 2006
Appetizer
How old were you when you got your first credit card?
21
Soup
When was the last time you felt out of place?
Pretty much throughout the entire process of Crucible. I stepped in late because someone pulled out, and doing sound is a very isolated job so I have no realy connection with any of the cast etc.
Salad
Did you have a curfew when you were a teenager? If so, what time did you have to be home?
11:30 on school nights
Main Course
Name a person from history with whom you feel you have something in common.
I can't really think of one, a person from recent history would be Terry Fox or Rick Hansen... I was treated at the same hospital as Terry Fox and Rick Hansen is from my home town
Dessert
When you read a newspaper, which section do you go for first?
That all depends... I usually only read the paper if I'm looking for a specific article and then I go to whatever section that is in.
How old were you when you got your first credit card?
21
Soup
When was the last time you felt out of place?
Pretty much throughout the entire process of Crucible. I stepped in late because someone pulled out, and doing sound is a very isolated job so I have no realy connection with any of the cast etc.
Salad
Did you have a curfew when you were a teenager? If so, what time did you have to be home?
11:30 on school nights
Main Course
Name a person from history with whom you feel you have something in common.
I can't really think of one, a person from recent history would be Terry Fox or Rick Hansen... I was treated at the same hospital as Terry Fox and Rick Hansen is from my home town
Dessert
When you read a newspaper, which section do you go for first?
That all depends... I usually only read the paper if I'm looking for a specific article and then I go to whatever section that is in.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
May 24
I've posted a bunch of Pictures from our long weekend to my flikr photo pages, the link is on the side in the links section.
Last's nights rehearsal of Crucible was pretty good. I think most ot the sound is now worked out. There is only one spot at the end that Kristy and I have to go over tonight before rehearsals get underway, but aside from that everything is where it should be. I am really looking forward to next season already. Cabaret is on the slate as the last show of next season and I will be going after a very specific role in it.
Work is still getting busier by the moment and I am going to enter crunch time very soon with a couple things. I've been trying to nibble away at them a little at a time, but have had so much going on that I'm afraid I haven't got as much done as I could have.
Next week we will be working on our flower boxes and finally finishing the moulding for the bedroom.
Tomorrow I have a meeting with a dermatology specialist to see if I would benefit from Light therapy to treat the Graft Vs Host induced Scleroderma I been suffering from for so long. Dr. Couban hadn't really considerred it before because we have the Graft vs Host under control with the drugs and the scleroderma is slowly getting better, but Last year I noticed that in the sun my skin seemed to soften and I saw some of the hair on my legs start to return... so Light therapy may speed the process along. It would be nice to start looking like myself again and regain both my body hair and the hair on my head (although there is a slight chance that some of the thinning up there isn't completely Scleroderma related). No sense getting ahead of myself just yet until I hear what the Dr. Keeling has to say tomorrow.
Last's nights rehearsal of Crucible was pretty good. I think most ot the sound is now worked out. There is only one spot at the end that Kristy and I have to go over tonight before rehearsals get underway, but aside from that everything is where it should be. I am really looking forward to next season already. Cabaret is on the slate as the last show of next season and I will be going after a very specific role in it.
Work is still getting busier by the moment and I am going to enter crunch time very soon with a couple things. I've been trying to nibble away at them a little at a time, but have had so much going on that I'm afraid I haven't got as much done as I could have.
Next week we will be working on our flower boxes and finally finishing the moulding for the bedroom.
Tomorrow I have a meeting with a dermatology specialist to see if I would benefit from Light therapy to treat the Graft Vs Host induced Scleroderma I been suffering from for so long. Dr. Couban hadn't really considerred it before because we have the Graft vs Host under control with the drugs and the scleroderma is slowly getting better, but Last year I noticed that in the sun my skin seemed to soften and I saw some of the hair on my legs start to return... so Light therapy may speed the process along. It would be nice to start looking like myself again and regain both my body hair and the hair on my head (although there is a slight chance that some of the thinning up there isn't completely Scleroderma related). No sense getting ahead of myself just yet until I hear what the Dr. Keeling has to say tomorrow.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Oceanstone
We had an awsome May long weekend. We got together with Bertis and the Bonds and planned a trip out to Peggy's Cove for the weekend. Helen researched a few places and found a place called Oceanstone Inns & Cottages in Indian Harbour, and Bertis booked the treehouse cabin for the five of us. The long weekend is the off season so the rate for the cabins is very good. Ours was $135 a night (split five ways that's pretty great).
Bertis and the Bonds headed out together Friday afterwork in the pouring rain, missed a turn off (that wasn't actually on the directions) and ended up taking the long way around. Darrell and I had a lot of stuff to do Friday so we went out Saturday Morning. It was a beautiful drive out, the sun was shining, and I knew the highway better, since I did a little looking around on my way to Halifax the week before. We dropped Elton and Tiff off with Connell and Lynn around 9:30 that morning to be puppysat while we were gone, and then headed out, arriving in Indian harbour around 2. The area was absolutley beautiful, and the cottage was really neat, a little small, but good none the less. It had a little kitchen with everything you could possibley need, complimentary coffee, TV, two bedrooms (one with a queen sized bed and the other with a double and single bed), a pullout couch (you could technically have seven people stay there), a nice bathroom, there was nice little side deck, and we had access to all the amenities of the place. There was a nice area down by the water with anarondac chairs and fire pits, and kyaks and canoes were available although we didn't take advantage of that as there were so many other things to do and the water looked a little rough when we arrived. At 3 o'clock, Brian and Helen headed up to the main building for their Massages, and Bertis and Darrell had theirs at 4, then we all headed out to Peggy's Cove which was about five minutes away. We could have walked it had we known how close it was.
Peggy's Cove is just a cute little settlement around the lighthouse on the rocks. Population 60 according to the sign. There are signs everywhere about how trecherous and dangerous the rocks can be. There were a couple plaques, one on the rocks and another on the lighthouse that said "WARNING INJURY AND DEATH HAVE REWARDED CARELESS SIGHT-SEERS HERE. THE OCEAN AND ROCKS ARE TREACHEROUS SAVOUR THE SEA FROM A DISTANCE." It's not just a cautionary sign... more than a few people have been swept into the water and the currents and undertow are such that the majority did not survive. A lot of other signs were posted as well warning people away from wet rocks etc. We wandered around the lighthouse for a while and popped into the gift shop to find fun stuff. Darrell and I both got nice rain coats with Peggy's Cove embroidered on them, as well as a few small gifts. Our next stop was the Swiss air flight 111 memorial. Then we all headed off to the Skinny Rooster in Indian Harbour for dinner. Back at base we settled in with some martinis, Jello shots and a few episodes of Absolutely Fabulous on DVD. One of the coolest things about the day was that none of us had been to Peggy's Cove before so we all got to eperience it for the first time together.
Sunday we got up fairly early and once everyone was ready we headed off to Lunenburg. We stopped first in Mahone Bay and wandered around the town for a while. There was a huge flea market set up and we checked out the various tables. One table imparticular will stand out in mind for quite some time I'm sure. The guy there had a whole bunch of nazi memorabilia. There was an actual nazi arm band worn by a soldier in WW2 and it was preserved and framed, as well as two records of the stormtrooper choir and another nazi chorus. There were also stamps and coins with Hitler's face on them. I had mixed feelings of being terribly appalled by the items and a morbid sense of wanting to buy them. None of us actually bought any of the stuff, which upon reflection may of been a missed apportunity since it may actually be worth something some day or even today.
Lunenburg was only a few minutes down the road from Malone Bay and we parked on the main street headed in and started wandering around. It was a really interesting town as well, with all the old buildings nicely maintained and painted in bright colours. Not very far into our walk there was an incident. I was distracted by a horse and wagon and was asking Darrell to get some video of it so I could use the sound for Crucible, so I missed the incident, but Bertis and the Bonds filled me in as soon as I caught up with them. There was a group across the street from them at the corner by a large church, about to go up the street to the entrance and apparently one of the older gentlemen there passed some wind so loudly that our party could hear it all the way across the street. It was a source of hilarity for about two blocks, and had some recurrences throughout the day....let's face it Fart humour still makes most people giggle. We got up to the highest point in Lunenburg where the Lunenburg academy building stands. It a huge place est in 1895 in the same style as the Algonquin hotel. I took a bunch of pictures and will post them to my flikr page. In fact there are pictures from the whole weekend going up there when I get the chance. After the academy we wandered down to the water front and saw the Bluenose 2 and a few other sailing ships at the docks then checked out the fisherman's Memorial "DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO HAVE GONE DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS AND WHO HAVE NEVER RETURNED.... AND... AS A TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO OCCUPY THEIR BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS". It is an excellent monument of polished black granite pillars arranged as the points of a compass, with the names off those lost through the years dating to before 1925, as well a list of ships lost and ships lost with all hands. You could spend an entire day just at the monument reading all the names. One bright point about the entire thing is, as the dates get closer to the present time the lists get a lot smaller. There was still alot of Lunenburg left to explore when we left, but that just means we'll have to return to see more.
We got back to Oceanstone and decided to make burgers for dinner. Darrell and I quickly popped back out to Peggy's Cove so he could get a some video footage and I could take a few more pictures of things I may want to paint. Then we headed back to the cabin for dinner. I had made a great big batch of potatoe salad Friday night and brought it along, and there were the burgers, and the left over brithday cake Bertis and the Bonds brought with them for my birthday. (My birthday was actually friday but we had cake and stuff Saturday) Bertis cooked the first batch of burgers on the stove, then Darrell lit a fire in the woodstove and Brian cooked the second batch on top of it. (in a frying pan obviously). We had several drinks and some champaign, watched the season finale of Desperate Housewives, then threw in the DVD's for Little Britain Season 01.
Monday's checkout time was 11 am. Darrell and I were packed and on the road by 10:30. We made one more stop in Peggy's Cove before leaving to get a gift for Connell and Lynn to say thank you for puppysitting, and to get a couple more pictures of the warf (the light was wrong the day before). Then we were off and running... destination Connell and Lynn's house in Quispamsis to collect the kids. Elton and Tiff were very well behaved all weekend and happy to see us return. We got home and the car unloaded at 5:15 and I was back in it and on my way to the Imperial immediately for the Cue to Cue rehearsal for Crucible. I feel alot better about the sound for Crucible now, I was feeling very out of it and detached before last night. I have a few sound edits to make today and then should be ready for the run.... it is going to be a very hectic week with a lot for me to do at work, and my evening taken up with the theatre... I may need another trip somewhere sooner than expected.
Bertis and the Bonds headed out together Friday afterwork in the pouring rain, missed a turn off (that wasn't actually on the directions) and ended up taking the long way around. Darrell and I had a lot of stuff to do Friday so we went out Saturday Morning. It was a beautiful drive out, the sun was shining, and I knew the highway better, since I did a little looking around on my way to Halifax the week before. We dropped Elton and Tiff off with Connell and Lynn around 9:30 that morning to be puppysat while we were gone, and then headed out, arriving in Indian harbour around 2. The area was absolutley beautiful, and the cottage was really neat, a little small, but good none the less. It had a little kitchen with everything you could possibley need, complimentary coffee, TV, two bedrooms (one with a queen sized bed and the other with a double and single bed), a pullout couch (you could technically have seven people stay there), a nice bathroom, there was nice little side deck, and we had access to all the amenities of the place. There was a nice area down by the water with anarondac chairs and fire pits, and kyaks and canoes were available although we didn't take advantage of that as there were so many other things to do and the water looked a little rough when we arrived. At 3 o'clock, Brian and Helen headed up to the main building for their Massages, and Bertis and Darrell had theirs at 4, then we all headed out to Peggy's Cove which was about five minutes away. We could have walked it had we known how close it was.
Peggy's Cove is just a cute little settlement around the lighthouse on the rocks. Population 60 according to the sign. There are signs everywhere about how trecherous and dangerous the rocks can be. There were a couple plaques, one on the rocks and another on the lighthouse that said "WARNING INJURY AND DEATH HAVE REWARDED CARELESS SIGHT-SEERS HERE. THE OCEAN AND ROCKS ARE TREACHEROUS SAVOUR THE SEA FROM A DISTANCE." It's not just a cautionary sign... more than a few people have been swept into the water and the currents and undertow are such that the majority did not survive. A lot of other signs were posted as well warning people away from wet rocks etc. We wandered around the lighthouse for a while and popped into the gift shop to find fun stuff. Darrell and I both got nice rain coats with Peggy's Cove embroidered on them, as well as a few small gifts. Our next stop was the Swiss air flight 111 memorial. Then we all headed off to the Skinny Rooster in Indian Harbour for dinner. Back at base we settled in with some martinis, Jello shots and a few episodes of Absolutely Fabulous on DVD. One of the coolest things about the day was that none of us had been to Peggy's Cove before so we all got to eperience it for the first time together.
Sunday we got up fairly early and once everyone was ready we headed off to Lunenburg. We stopped first in Mahone Bay and wandered around the town for a while. There was a huge flea market set up and we checked out the various tables. One table imparticular will stand out in mind for quite some time I'm sure. The guy there had a whole bunch of nazi memorabilia. There was an actual nazi arm band worn by a soldier in WW2 and it was preserved and framed, as well as two records of the stormtrooper choir and another nazi chorus. There were also stamps and coins with Hitler's face on them. I had mixed feelings of being terribly appalled by the items and a morbid sense of wanting to buy them. None of us actually bought any of the stuff, which upon reflection may of been a missed apportunity since it may actually be worth something some day or even today.
Lunenburg was only a few minutes down the road from Malone Bay and we parked on the main street headed in and started wandering around. It was a really interesting town as well, with all the old buildings nicely maintained and painted in bright colours. Not very far into our walk there was an incident. I was distracted by a horse and wagon and was asking Darrell to get some video of it so I could use the sound for Crucible, so I missed the incident, but Bertis and the Bonds filled me in as soon as I caught up with them. There was a group across the street from them at the corner by a large church, about to go up the street to the entrance and apparently one of the older gentlemen there passed some wind so loudly that our party could hear it all the way across the street. It was a source of hilarity for about two blocks, and had some recurrences throughout the day....let's face it Fart humour still makes most people giggle. We got up to the highest point in Lunenburg where the Lunenburg academy building stands. It a huge place est in 1895 in the same style as the Algonquin hotel. I took a bunch of pictures and will post them to my flikr page. In fact there are pictures from the whole weekend going up there when I get the chance. After the academy we wandered down to the water front and saw the Bluenose 2 and a few other sailing ships at the docks then checked out the fisherman's Memorial "DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO HAVE GONE DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS AND WHO HAVE NEVER RETURNED.... AND... AS A TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO OCCUPY THEIR BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS". It is an excellent monument of polished black granite pillars arranged as the points of a compass, with the names off those lost through the years dating to before 1925, as well a list of ships lost and ships lost with all hands. You could spend an entire day just at the monument reading all the names. One bright point about the entire thing is, as the dates get closer to the present time the lists get a lot smaller. There was still alot of Lunenburg left to explore when we left, but that just means we'll have to return to see more.
We got back to Oceanstone and decided to make burgers for dinner. Darrell and I quickly popped back out to Peggy's Cove so he could get a some video footage and I could take a few more pictures of things I may want to paint. Then we headed back to the cabin for dinner. I had made a great big batch of potatoe salad Friday night and brought it along, and there were the burgers, and the left over brithday cake Bertis and the Bonds brought with them for my birthday. (My birthday was actually friday but we had cake and stuff Saturday) Bertis cooked the first batch of burgers on the stove, then Darrell lit a fire in the woodstove and Brian cooked the second batch on top of it. (in a frying pan obviously). We had several drinks and some champaign, watched the season finale of Desperate Housewives, then threw in the DVD's for Little Britain Season 01.
Monday's checkout time was 11 am. Darrell and I were packed and on the road by 10:30. We made one more stop in Peggy's Cove before leaving to get a gift for Connell and Lynn to say thank you for puppysitting, and to get a couple more pictures of the warf (the light was wrong the day before). Then we were off and running... destination Connell and Lynn's house in Quispamsis to collect the kids. Elton and Tiff were very well behaved all weekend and happy to see us return. We got home and the car unloaded at 5:15 and I was back in it and on my way to the Imperial immediately for the Cue to Cue rehearsal for Crucible. I feel alot better about the sound for Crucible now, I was feeling very out of it and detached before last night. I have a few sound edits to make today and then should be ready for the run.... it is going to be a very hectic week with a lot for me to do at work, and my evening taken up with the theatre... I may need another trip somewhere sooner than expected.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Friday Feast May 19, 2006
Appetizer
What is the last thing you had to have repaired?
My Car.
Soup
If someone gave you $2,000 with the stipulation that you had to spend half of it on yourself and give the rest to charity, where would you spend the $1,000 and which charity would receive your remaining $1,000?
At this point I would Spend the $1000 on our house, more specifically on the yard.
I would give the other Thousand to the Bone Marrow Transplant Patient Support Fund at teh QE2 in Halifax. The fund was set up by former Bone Marrow transplant patients and it is to help Families of patients recieving transplant cover the cost of things like accomodation, food, & travel, so that no one has to go through transplant without someone there with them if cost is the only factor. Both Darrell, my Mom ,& my sister Amanda benefitted from the fund while I was in Hospital recieving my transplant and they were staying with me. The fund provided vouchers for the Hospital cafeteria for meals etc.
Salad
What is one of your favorite songs from the 1980s?
How can you pick just one? I went to Highschool in the 80's it's all "My Music"
since I can only pick one......The Bangles - Eternal Flame (I know it's s chick song, but I still like it)
Main Course
You enter a pet store. Which section do you go to first?
Obviously the dog toy section, aside from the fact it is usually the first section you encounter in most dog stores, I have two Labrador Retreivers... The dog toy section first followed very closely by the dog treat section, where else?
Dessert
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how athletic are you?
I like to think 7.5-8, but the reality is probably closer to 5-6 although as I get older and stay active that number goes up compared with others my age.
What is the last thing you had to have repaired?
My Car.
Soup
If someone gave you $2,000 with the stipulation that you had to spend half of it on yourself and give the rest to charity, where would you spend the $1,000 and which charity would receive your remaining $1,000?
At this point I would Spend the $1000 on our house, more specifically on the yard.
I would give the other Thousand to the Bone Marrow Transplant Patient Support Fund at teh QE2 in Halifax. The fund was set up by former Bone Marrow transplant patients and it is to help Families of patients recieving transplant cover the cost of things like accomodation, food, & travel, so that no one has to go through transplant without someone there with them if cost is the only factor. Both Darrell, my Mom ,& my sister Amanda benefitted from the fund while I was in Hospital recieving my transplant and they were staying with me. The fund provided vouchers for the Hospital cafeteria for meals etc.
Salad
What is one of your favorite songs from the 1980s?
How can you pick just one? I went to Highschool in the 80's it's all "My Music"
since I can only pick one......The Bangles - Eternal Flame (I know it's s chick song, but I still like it)
Main Course
You enter a pet store. Which section do you go to first?
Obviously the dog toy section, aside from the fact it is usually the first section you encounter in most dog stores, I have two Labrador Retreivers... The dog toy section first followed very closely by the dog treat section, where else?
Dessert
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how athletic are you?
I like to think 7.5-8, but the reality is probably closer to 5-6 although as I get older and stay active that number goes up compared with others my age.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Car Trouble?
After the car was towed out to the mechanics, he got in and tried to start it. It turned over but wouldn't start and the same warning lights came. He wasn't able to get to it until Monday morning, but when he hopped in Monday morning, it fired right up nothing was wrong. Apparently it was just fatigued and needed a time out. He drove it around a bit, started and restarted it a fwe times. Looked it over and couldn't find anything wrong. An indication that the fuel pump may possibley be starting to go, but that's something you don't replace unless you know for absolute sure it's going because it's damn expensive and a lot of work. So Basically it cost me forty dollars to have the mechanic start my car a few times and drive it around for me.... go figure. I'm still just glad it didn't decide to act up while I was in Halifax... that would have been very inconvenient.
The wood was delivered last night, so the planning now begins for the planter boxes. I will be spending a lot of time outside with a big can of stain for the next little while.
The wood was delivered last night, so the planning now begins for the planter boxes. I will be spending a lot of time outside with a big can of stain for the next little while.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Shoveling & Hauling & Raking... Oh My
That about sums up the weekend. We got a tandem load of top soil delivered and spent Saturday Shoveling it into wheelbarrows and hauling it over to its' new home in the yard. It was very very hard work, especially for Darrell who did about 2/3 of it. I don't know where he gets the stamina... I was having a hard time. We got the majority of the pile done before quitting for the day.
We were planning to go out to Brian & Helen's with Bertis for drinks, so I headed off to the liquor store in Rothesay and on my way back decided to see if Superstore Garden center had anything worth stopping for yet. Somehow my car must've got word that I got my Tax refund on Friday because after I had wandered around the garden center for minute, it decided it didn't want to start anymore. I called home for Darrell to come out and see if he could figure it out, but we ended up having to call CAA and have it towed out to Darrell's mechanic in Black River. (CAA is worth every penny that tow would've been about $150) I still haven't heard what's wrong with it, but the engine light comes on and the Security light flashes, so I'm hoping it's a switch or something easy like that. We did manage to get out to Brian & Helen's place and the five of us sat around and had a couple drinks and planned the long weekend a bit. We rented a cabin out in Peggy's Cove for the 20 & 21... it's going to be very fun, I can't wait. I've got so many things on the go right now it will be nice to just be somewhere else with nothing to worry about for a couple days.
Sunday was "Move the rest of the pile, rake it all out and seed it day". Another long day with lots of hard work. We got from the back corner of the house all the way across to the corner of the deck layered with top soil, raked, light layer of Peat moss, and grass seed... done with one dumptruck load of top soil, not bad. We are going to need two more loads to finish the rest of the back yard. I came into town for 12 thinking there was a production meeting and then realizing that the e-mail had said Saturday....for some reason I only looked at the time not the date, I must be getting old. I called my Mom, Stepmom, and Grandma and wished them all Happy Mother's day. I didn't do much in the way of treating myself on Sunday, although I did go out on Saturday and pick up a nice pair of steel toe landscaping boots from Work Wear World. They got a lot of use this weekend and will come in handy when I have to go to the refinery to take pictures and what not.
I hauled most of the rocks we dumped over the bank back up and used them to ring the garden area we created up by the well, when we took the front garden under the living room window out. Then I put some nice red colored cedar mulch in it and around the bushes planted there... it looks a lot nicer.
We have a load of wood being delivered today to build the new garden boxes for the front and side, as well as the wood to finish the moulding in the bedroom. So we have a very busy week ahead both at and away from work.
We were planning to go out to Brian & Helen's with Bertis for drinks, so I headed off to the liquor store in Rothesay and on my way back decided to see if Superstore Garden center had anything worth stopping for yet. Somehow my car must've got word that I got my Tax refund on Friday because after I had wandered around the garden center for minute, it decided it didn't want to start anymore. I called home for Darrell to come out and see if he could figure it out, but we ended up having to call CAA and have it towed out to Darrell's mechanic in Black River. (CAA is worth every penny that tow would've been about $150) I still haven't heard what's wrong with it, but the engine light comes on and the Security light flashes, so I'm hoping it's a switch or something easy like that. We did manage to get out to Brian & Helen's place and the five of us sat around and had a couple drinks and planned the long weekend a bit. We rented a cabin out in Peggy's Cove for the 20 & 21... it's going to be very fun, I can't wait. I've got so many things on the go right now it will be nice to just be somewhere else with nothing to worry about for a couple days.
Sunday was "Move the rest of the pile, rake it all out and seed it day". Another long day with lots of hard work. We got from the back corner of the house all the way across to the corner of the deck layered with top soil, raked, light layer of Peat moss, and grass seed... done with one dumptruck load of top soil, not bad. We are going to need two more loads to finish the rest of the back yard. I came into town for 12 thinking there was a production meeting and then realizing that the e-mail had said Saturday....for some reason I only looked at the time not the date, I must be getting old. I called my Mom, Stepmom, and Grandma and wished them all Happy Mother's day. I didn't do much in the way of treating myself on Sunday, although I did go out on Saturday and pick up a nice pair of steel toe landscaping boots from Work Wear World. They got a lot of use this weekend and will come in handy when I have to go to the refinery to take pictures and what not.
I hauled most of the rocks we dumped over the bank back up and used them to ring the garden area we created up by the well, when we took the front garden under the living room window out. Then I put some nice red colored cedar mulch in it and around the bushes planted there... it looks a lot nicer.
We have a load of wood being delivered today to build the new garden boxes for the front and side, as well as the wood to finish the moulding in the bedroom. So we have a very busy week ahead both at and away from work.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
