Finally CBC is back on the air - yea! As odd as it seams my fall has been disrupted, for the last few weeks I have gotten up in the morning to lousy radio and I feel disconnected in the mornings. I can't hear Terry on the radio, find out what's going on in the city and in the world and going to work means a constant switch back and forth trying to find something to listen to. Most of the radio in the city is written to be too fluffy light like Q94 and BOB or serious over non-issues like CJOB. They can't find a balance of fun but not stupid like CBC can.
I will be interesting to hear if anything has changed - they were out for a long time and there is bound to be some bad blood between management and staff. When I was a young my father was out of work with CBC for some weeks. It hurt us financially quite badly. I've come to the conclusion that there is very little to be really gained by either strikes or lockouts, both sides loose.
Evan
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Thursday, September 08, 2005
CBC Lockout...Letter to the Editor
Maybe CBC isn't worth its cost, MP says
BILL CURRY Globe and Mail, 8 September 2005
A few years ago I had a pin on my winter jacket- a small 'I (heart)CBC'. I had loads of people approach me and mention it and the most common statement was 'You mean CBC Radio right?' which I had to concede was exactly what I meant. I just couldn’t find a 'I Love CBC Radio' Pin.
CBC Radio is by far the best radio on the air - terrific morning wake up program that is intelligent and fun. Not written so the announcers sound vapid or degrading, the women announcers written as badly stereotyped. The annoying thing is it doesn't matter what channel you're on they’re all the same!
My wife and I are missing our fun afternoons on The Roundup with Tetsuro and getting up with Terry in Winnipeg. Excellent journalism on 'As it Happens', stories by Stuart on Sundays after church from the Vinyl Cafe. These are people we know and love hearing every day. We time our morning by who's on when - sports at 25 past the hour, news on the half. And all of that with NO commercials!
I don't much care about CBC TV; they don't carry much I like really. They might be better off moving to a commercial free, membership based model. Or include them in basic cable - I already pay for a couple of useless channels that I can't get rid of so it's not much different.
Its past time for CBC management to FIX THIS, find a compromise, make it happen - unlock the doors and get CBC back on the air. If you stay off too long, if the tide turns, and politicians can get more public credit for killing the CBC than keeping it alive as a station of BBC re-runs you're finished.
Missing My Radio in Winnipeg
Evan
BILL CURRY Globe and Mail, 8 September 2005
A few years ago I had a pin on my winter jacket- a small 'I (heart)
CBC Radio is by far the best radio on the air - terrific morning wake up program that is intelligent and fun. Not written so the announcers sound vapid or degrading, the women announcers written as badly stereotyped. The annoying thing is it doesn't matter what channel you're on they’re all the same!
My wife and I are missing our fun afternoons on The Roundup with Tetsuro and getting up with Terry in Winnipeg. Excellent journalism on 'As it Happens', stories by Stuart on Sundays after church from the Vinyl Cafe. These are people we know and love hearing every day. We time our morning by who's on when - sports at 25 past the hour, news on the half. And all of that with NO commercials!
I don't much care about CBC TV; they don't carry much I like really. They might be better off moving to a commercial free, membership based model. Or include them in basic cable - I already pay for a couple of useless channels that I can't get rid of so it's not much different.
Its past time for CBC management to FIX THIS, find a compromise, make it happen - unlock the doors and get CBC back on the air. If you stay off too long, if the tide turns, and politicians can get more public credit for killing the CBC than keeping it alive as a station of BBC re-runs you're finished.
Missing My Radio in Winnipeg
Evan
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
New arrival!!! Part 2
Ok,
We were in our own room and setting in, S. was able to use the shower,tub etc. Several times over the next hours and that helped - she didn't want to thow up when in there.
By 6pm S. was exhausted, dehydrated just 'tired of this' and the Dr. Suggested some drugs - we weren't exactly clear it seems on what they would do - they knocked her flat - she slept for 3 hours (I did too actually, in the pull out chair for an hour and a half). By 9 pm we were awake again S. was much farther along and had over a liter of fluid on-board (I had snuck out and found my first real meal in 17 hours as well)
It took 4 hours more but by 12:40 NB was here! Yea - the only thing that was a real surprise was that the umbilical cord broke! (Yes they can break) The cord was around NB's neck - a not unusual situation - and the Dr usually flips it over the head and all is OK - worst case he can clamp it and cut it quick and he was all set for that. Well he pulled on it two or three times and it broke, right close to the belly button. It goes off like a gunshot (it's under high pressure apparently) - blood flashes everywhere, across the Dr., me, S., the room etc. The Dr. had to pinch off what was left as a stub and then clamp off the cord. (He was so embarrassed the next day) After all of that it came out well
Now here's an intriguing series of co-incidences (or not) - I had been moving around the hospital a bit, once to go and get a coke / vending machine stuff and the 2nd time to go and get dinner. Who do I meet each time, but friends - the first one an older gentlemen from our home parish who I like and respect very much who recognized me, encouraged me, shook my hand and sent me back to my laboring wife. The 2nd time a close friend of S. and mine who would be becoming an Anglican deacon two days after NB was born and who will be his godmother. This very logical 5 is going to take both of these as a vote of confidence and 'extra support when needed' in answer to a few prayers!
Living 5 life the the fullest!
We were in our own room and setting in, S. was able to use the shower,tub etc. Several times over the next hours and that helped - she didn't want to thow up when in there.
By 6pm S. was exhausted, dehydrated just 'tired of this' and the Dr. Suggested some drugs - we weren't exactly clear it seems on what they would do - they knocked her flat - she slept for 3 hours (I did too actually, in the pull out chair for an hour and a half). By 9 pm we were awake again S. was much farther along and had over a liter of fluid on-board (I had snuck out and found my first real meal in 17 hours as well)
It took 4 hours more but by 12:40 NB was here! Yea - the only thing that was a real surprise was that the umbilical cord broke! (Yes they can break) The cord was around NB's neck - a not unusual situation - and the Dr usually flips it over the head and all is OK - worst case he can clamp it and cut it quick and he was all set for that. Well he pulled on it two or three times and it broke, right close to the belly button. It goes off like a gunshot (it's under high pressure apparently) - blood flashes everywhere, across the Dr., me, S., the room etc. The Dr. had to pinch off what was left as a stub and then clamp off the cord. (He was so embarrassed the next day) After all of that it came out well
Now here's an intriguing series of co-incidences (or not) - I had been moving around the hospital a bit, once to go and get a coke / vending machine stuff and the 2nd time to go and get dinner. Who do I meet each time, but friends - the first one an older gentlemen from our home parish who I like and respect very much who recognized me, encouraged me, shook my hand and sent me back to my laboring wife. The 2nd time a close friend of S. and mine who would be becoming an Anglican deacon two days after NB was born and who will be his godmother. This very logical 5 is going to take both of these as a vote of confidence and 'extra support when needed' in answer to a few prayers!
Living 5 life the the fullest!
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
New arrival!!!
Wow it's hard to believe that a month has gone buy already and I'm back to work (I took 3 weeks off plus my company gives 3 days automatically. )
Little info on how things went:
We woke up at about 1:30 in the morning with S. Having a contraction - they were about 10-15 minutes apart and we figured we'd have time for a cup of tea and finding out what was on late-night TV.
By 2:00 we were at 2 minutes apart - that was a little quick - we called the Dr. and he said to go into the hospital - we had an interesting run in (including coming up to the railway crossing at 2:45 in the morning with the gates coming down...it was like a bad movie - especially since it was only an engine (no cars) my guess was they wanted coffee at the Tim Hortons next to the tracks. Thankfully they saw us and did whatever they needed to do to get the gates up.
We got to triage and were assessed and not getting very far - S. Was having serial contractions now one on top of the other. Thankfully we had a couple of great nurses helping us, as well we took part in a study that gave us one-on-one access to a nurse for two hours much better. By 6am we were making progress nicely and could stay in the hospital - (if you haven't progressed much they send you home) we get to do the 2nd part of the study in a week (a paper follow-up questionnaire) and see how things went. I've requested a copy of the study when it's published - hey they offered.
Now here's an interesting observation; S. and I thought we were pretty relaxed, comfortable with what was coming - I had read and studied lots and was prepared for a long run myself. Relaxation during labour is very very subtle, while emotionally calm it turns out that physically calm is something else - we had to learn what that meant all over again. The big part of what the nurses helped us with was to learn to relax into the contraction, it's not easy or intuitive. Word of advice - be prepared to ditch what doesn't work, the idea of a 'cleansing breath' at the beginning of the contraction didn't work for us at all, though it had ben emphasized during the classes.
The only thing that was really an ongoing annoyance was nausea - S. was sick every time she did anything but sit in bed, walking, birth ball,standing etc. all made her throw up - no morning sickness during the entire pregnancy and now this.
So we sat around - and by 11am were moved to the LDRP (labor, Delivery, Recover, Postpartum) ward. Neat facility we got our own room, with our own bathroom, nice TV, bed and lots of space.
More to come...
Little info on how things went:
We woke up at about 1:30 in the morning with S. Having a contraction - they were about 10-15 minutes apart and we figured we'd have time for a cup of tea and finding out what was on late-night TV.
By 2:00 we were at 2 minutes apart - that was a little quick - we called the Dr. and he said to go into the hospital - we had an interesting run in (including coming up to the railway crossing at 2:45 in the morning with the gates coming down...it was like a bad movie - especially since it was only an engine (no cars) my guess was they wanted coffee at the Tim Hortons next to the tracks. Thankfully they saw us and did whatever they needed to do to get the gates up.
We got to triage and were assessed and not getting very far - S. Was having serial contractions now one on top of the other. Thankfully we had a couple of great nurses helping us, as well we took part in a study that gave us one-on-one access to a nurse for two hours much better. By 6am we were making progress nicely and could stay in the hospital - (if you haven't progressed much they send you home) we get to do the 2nd part of the study in a week (a paper follow-up questionnaire) and see how things went. I've requested a copy of the study when it's published - hey they offered.
Now here's an interesting observation; S. and I thought we were pretty relaxed, comfortable with what was coming - I had read and studied lots and was prepared for a long run myself. Relaxation during labour is very very subtle, while emotionally calm it turns out that physically calm is something else - we had to learn what that meant all over again. The big part of what the nurses helped us with was to learn to relax into the contraction, it's not easy or intuitive. Word of advice - be prepared to ditch what doesn't work, the idea of a 'cleansing breath' at the beginning of the contraction didn't work for us at all, though it had ben emphasized during the classes.
The only thing that was really an ongoing annoyance was nausea - S. was sick every time she did anything but sit in bed, walking, birth ball,standing etc. all made her throw up - no morning sickness during the entire pregnancy and now this.
So we sat around - and by 11am were moved to the LDRP (labor, Delivery, Recover, Postpartum) ward. Neat facility we got our own room, with our own bathroom, nice TV, bed and lots of space.
More to come...
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
B-8 and Holding...
Waiting isn't my strong suit - I can usually occupy my time with something else but waiting for New Being to appear is getting a little much. S. is in occasional pain and frequent discomfort - that I can do little about, other than massage and cups of tea. The nursery is ready, with all the furniture put together. I've even pre-washed all of the clothing that we had for him (and yes it's a him) and organized the various 'bins' that we have on the shelves.
Now we're just on-hold waiting to go ahead. Sorry no pearls of wisdom, no great predictions just a hope that this process will 'get on with it already'. (due warning - a bored Evan is a dangerous Evan - who knows what project I might become interested in - furnace cleaning - roof fixing (in the rain etc. )
B-8 and counting, guidance is internal...
Ev
Now we're just on-hold waiting to go ahead. Sorry no pearls of wisdom, no great predictions just a hope that this process will 'get on with it already'. (due warning - a bored Evan is a dangerous Evan - who knows what project I might become interested in - furnace cleaning - roof fixing (in the rain etc. )
B-8 and counting, guidance is internal...
Ev
Friday, June 03, 2005
[FUALI-DOT-COM] - Video Game Addict Test
I am 31% Video Game Addict.
I may play video games but they don’t rule my life. Good for me. But I should be careful not to fall in the grasp of the loving glow of the TV or monitor.
Just for Fun!
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Re: Children don't need life's bruises, Globe and Mail Andre Picard 2 June 05
See Mr. Picard's article in the Globe and mail at (you might need a subscription...?)
The Globe and Mail: Andr� Picard
Mr Picard, I'm afraid misses the point of his source letter, I agree with the letter writer, kids needs bumps, scrapes and colds, and a little mud and grime never hurt. I'm about to become a parent but S. and I are going to try and allow our kids to get some of those things (at least we're not going to freak out about scraped knees!)
Do we want them seriously hurt? NO, not even close. But I've taught axe and knife safety to Scouts (boys and girls 11-14) for years, no matter what I do, at some point Billy is going to cut his finger, not seriously - I've never had one requiring stitches - but he's going to do it. We teach them to work away from themselves, to carefully sharpen their knives so that they are safely sharp and not unsafely dull and all of the other things we're supposed to do and he's still going to do it. There is no way to make every activity risk free - as a matter of fact I want a little risk there, I want Sally to respect the tool she's working with, to know that it can hurt her and if she's not very carefully, to get a little knick as a life reminder - they rarely do it twice!
I'm not opposed to safe play structures and I insist on helmets for everyone on bikes, kids and adults included. When we're at camp no one goes in the water without a PFD - and I don't care how well you can swim. But, ('nother Scout example) Sally and Timmy will still flip their canoe one day on the lake - they are going to be cold and wet and scared - I can train them in canoe over canoe rescue (which is very difficult indeed in the middle of a windy lake, with your heavy clothes on and your PFD jammed up around your ears) I'll tell them to lash all of their equipment into the canoe and we'll stay together in a group and have an emergency plan. In the end, it's going to happen, and all of the kids who work together to pull Sally and Timmy out of the water, get a fire going quickly, setup their tents and get them dried out will take home life skills that cannot be taught any other way than being at risk - just a little bit.
The stories told around the campfire aren't the happy happy joy joy stories. The ones where we shared a little discomfort and came through. Ten years later we'll still tell the story of getting these two out of the water, how the rain came down and we fought to get the tents up and get everyone dried out and fed.
Evan
The Globe and Mail: Andr� Picard
Mr Picard, I'm afraid misses the point of his source letter, I agree with the letter writer, kids needs bumps, scrapes and colds, and a little mud and grime never hurt. I'm about to become a parent but S. and I are going to try and allow our kids to get some of those things (at least we're not going to freak out about scraped knees!)
Do we want them seriously hurt? NO, not even close. But I've taught axe and knife safety to Scouts (boys and girls 11-14) for years, no matter what I do, at some point Billy is going to cut his finger, not seriously - I've never had one requiring stitches - but he's going to do it. We teach them to work away from themselves, to carefully sharpen their knives so that they are safely sharp and not unsafely dull and all of the other things we're supposed to do and he's still going to do it. There is no way to make every activity risk free - as a matter of fact I want a little risk there, I want Sally to respect the tool she's working with, to know that it can hurt her and if she's not very carefully, to get a little knick as a life reminder - they rarely do it twice!
I'm not opposed to safe play structures and I insist on helmets for everyone on bikes, kids and adults included. When we're at camp no one goes in the water without a PFD - and I don't care how well you can swim. But, ('nother Scout example) Sally and Timmy will still flip their canoe one day on the lake - they are going to be cold and wet and scared - I can train them in canoe over canoe rescue (which is very difficult indeed in the middle of a windy lake, with your heavy clothes on and your PFD jammed up around your ears) I'll tell them to lash all of their equipment into the canoe and we'll stay together in a group and have an emergency plan. In the end, it's going to happen, and all of the kids who work together to pull Sally and Timmy out of the water, get a fire going quickly, setup their tents and get them dried out will take home life skills that cannot be taught any other way than being at risk - just a little bit.
The stories told around the campfire aren't the happy happy joy joy stories. The ones where we shared a little discomfort and came through. Ten years later we'll still tell the story of getting these two out of the water, how the rain came down and we fought to get the tents up and get everyone dried out and fed.
Evan
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
New Being Problems
Well,
It's been an interesting few of months. At the end of December last year I told you about our New Being - our first kid...Well now things have really changed.
This note catches up a lot of time... NB is going to have club feet (feet turned inwards at the ankles) and maybe some affect to his hands. This was discovered during the routine ultrasound checks that everyone goes through.
Needless to say, this was a great shock. We didn't really know how bad things might be (this could have been bad enough to end the pregnancy) or if this was relatively contained and truthful. A horrible place for a 5 to be in as well - I had no knowledge of what was going on, no ability to really find out (though we've been through a battery of tests over the last several months. I was able to access reasonable information off of the web quickly and was rapidly able to become more informed on this specific condition than our GP (Not to put him down, he has been great) besides, I had a mission and a library to work in...
As of now NB remains on schedule for arrival next month, the room is painted, all of his stuff bought (or ordered) and S and I are much more comfortable with the prospect of a little one with casts on both feet and splints on his writs.
Oh and yes, NB is a boy - you wouldn't believe how many people ask you what it is.
More about our wacky pre-natal classes to come.
Ev
It's been an interesting few of months. At the end of December last year I told you about our New Being - our first kid...Well now things have really changed.
This note catches up a lot of time... NB is going to have club feet (feet turned inwards at the ankles) and maybe some affect to his hands. This was discovered during the routine ultrasound checks that everyone goes through.
Needless to say, this was a great shock. We didn't really know how bad things might be (this could have been bad enough to end the pregnancy) or if this was relatively contained and truthful. A horrible place for a 5 to be in as well - I had no knowledge of what was going on, no ability to really find out (though we've been through a battery of tests over the last several months. I was able to access reasonable information off of the web quickly and was rapidly able to become more informed on this specific condition than our GP (Not to put him down, he has been great) besides, I had a mission and a library to work in...
As of now NB remains on schedule for arrival next month, the room is painted, all of his stuff bought (or ordered) and S and I are much more comfortable with the prospect of a little one with casts on both feet and splints on his writs.
Oh and yes, NB is a boy - you wouldn't believe how many people ask you what it is.
More about our wacky pre-natal classes to come.
Ev
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Page Numbers � Solar Flare: Science Fiction News Blog
Ok I may be a geek (computer, Scouting, wargames (table-top and computer) etc. ) but this is just silly, I admire single minded dedication to a topic of study and I really like Harry Potter books but come on folks - isn't worrying about the number of pages / chapters in a book grasping at straws. 'We can't find out anything else about the plot so we'll make the number of pages news?' The book will come out when it comes out.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Page Numbers � Solar Flare: Science Fiction News Blog
Sheesh
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Page Numbers � Solar Flare: Science Fiction News Blog
Sheesh
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
The Globe and Mail: Craig Chandler
The Globe and Mail: Craig Chandler
My Letter to the Editor in response to Mr Chandler's article.
Dear Editor;
Increasingly I'm torn, where do people like me who are socially very liberal turn? For example, I have no problem with early term abortion, distribution of and information on birth control or same-sex marriage. I support immigration to Canada and I am actively and personally concerned about the environment.
On the other hand I'm generally financially conservative for example I support gun control in principal but the gun registry is a waste of money. The amount of money paid to Quebec advertising companies apalls me and the waste canceling and re-issuing the helicopter contract is beyond words. This continues with submarines that leak, or burn.
In the middle of all this I support a strong war-ready military, not a peacekeeper force, though I'm proud of our continued success as peacekeepers. Our soldiers need decent pay, good uniforms and boots - not leaky submarines that waste taxpayers money. (It's tough to lend aid to a foreign country with a submarine) We need to be able to move those soldiers and their equipment anywhere in the world they are needed when they are needed - not two weeks later.
One third of what I make is taken by the government but I think that I've shown that most of that is squandered. We've paid down the deficit and we're working on the debt but I still haven't seen any real tax help.
If I support the Liberals I support further waste. If I support the Conservatives I pick up a set of baggage that I don't want. I'm an active Christian (Anglican) and the growth in the Evangelical movement scares me. I think that Bush is both scary and Nuts, and we were right to stay out of missile defense. I support a strong West - I think that a disproportionate amount of taxpayer money is spent keeping Quebecers 'happy' when in fact they are probably doing just fine really and would most likely be happier if we stopped interfering.
Where do 'middle of the roaders' like me actually turn? I won't support the unions by supporting the NDP and while the Green Party is getting there they aren't yet ready for prime time, but I'm listening to them.
I would suggest that many of my positions more closely resemble the opinions of the majority Canadians than Mr Chandler's article does but no party truly represents me very closely at all.
Let's not follow the American example of polarization to blue and red camps - let's follow the Canadian tradition of attempting to find a socially sensitive middle road.
Evan, Winnipeg
My Letter to the Editor in response to Mr Chandler's article.
Dear Editor;
Increasingly I'm torn, where do people like me who are socially very liberal turn? For example, I have no problem with early term abortion, distribution of and information on birth control or same-sex marriage. I support immigration to Canada and I am actively and personally concerned about the environment.
On the other hand I'm generally financially conservative for example I support gun control in principal but the gun registry is a waste of money. The amount of money paid to Quebec advertising companies apalls me and the waste canceling and re-issuing the helicopter contract is beyond words. This continues with submarines that leak, or burn.
In the middle of all this I support a strong war-ready military, not a peacekeeper force, though I'm proud of our continued success as peacekeepers. Our soldiers need decent pay, good uniforms and boots - not leaky submarines that waste taxpayers money. (It's tough to lend aid to a foreign country with a submarine) We need to be able to move those soldiers and their equipment anywhere in the world they are needed when they are needed - not two weeks later.
One third of what I make is taken by the government but I think that I've shown that most of that is squandered. We've paid down the deficit and we're working on the debt but I still haven't seen any real tax help.
If I support the Liberals I support further waste. If I support the Conservatives I pick up a set of baggage that I don't want. I'm an active Christian (Anglican) and the growth in the Evangelical movement scares me. I think that Bush is both scary and Nuts, and we were right to stay out of missile defense. I support a strong West - I think that a disproportionate amount of taxpayer money is spent keeping Quebecers 'happy' when in fact they are probably doing just fine really and would most likely be happier if we stopped interfering.
Where do 'middle of the roaders' like me actually turn? I won't support the unions by supporting the NDP and while the Green Party is getting there they aren't yet ready for prime time, but I'm listening to them.
I would suggest that many of my positions more closely resemble the opinions of the majority Canadians than Mr Chandler's article does but no party truly represents me very closely at all.
Let's not follow the American example of polarization to blue and red camps - let's follow the Canadian tradition of attempting to find a socially sensitive middle road.
Evan, Winnipeg
Friday, January 07, 2005
Friday Afternoon
Ever have one of those months? I was supposed to go camping this weekend and I'm not going to make it - not because I didn't have time it's just that frankly I don't want to - I have a bunch of stuff to do at home (not even New Being (NB) related actually) and other items that I'd 'like to get to' if I can.
One of the big ones is painting the master bedroom - we've been at that one for a week+ we have one wall and the bathroom left to get done, I've been beat most nights this week (with no real reason to be).
Tonight we're hosting a Murder (no, nothing criminal) a dinner party where guests play the part of characters in the story and together they try and solve the plot. That doesn't start until 7:30 and won't clear up until midnight at least.
Tomorrow I want to try and make an early start - paint the room and hope it has time to dry before I move the furniture back and try and move back in. Then we can clean up the spare bedroom.
All seems horribly mundane doesn't it? It's been a long time since I was able to devote serious consistent time to gaming or other relaxing pursuits, and with NB on the way I doubt that I will anytime soon...
Currently - finishing lunch, writing a new report for my current client, listening to the beeping of the students working on their forklift certification in the room where I'm programming - whew propane exhaust... sheesh.
One of the big ones is painting the master bedroom - we've been at that one for a week+ we have one wall and the bathroom left to get done, I've been beat most nights this week (with no real reason to be).
Tonight we're hosting a Murder (no, nothing criminal) a dinner party where guests play the part of characters in the story and together they try and solve the plot. That doesn't start until 7:30 and won't clear up until midnight at least.
Tomorrow I want to try and make an early start - paint the room and hope it has time to dry before I move the furniture back and try and move back in. Then we can clean up the spare bedroom.
All seems horribly mundane doesn't it? It's been a long time since I was able to devote serious consistent time to gaming or other relaxing pursuits, and with NB on the way I doubt that I will anytime soon...
Currently - finishing lunch, writing a new report for my current client, listening to the beeping of the students working on their forklift certification in the room where I'm programming - whew propane exhaust... sheesh.
Friday, December 24, 2004
Hey 'New Being' enroute
On Christmas day, during the Prayers of the People at church S. and I inserted the announcement that a 'New Being' is enroute to our home - and actually has been for some 90+ days. We felt that it was important for the prayers to have some positive news in them - too often we are pray only for sick or the dead - this seemed like just the thing to add to the joy of the evening.
So wish us luck - I'm in serious Data Acquisition Mode - Full 5 here - 2 books down for the count and I've already made 2 hunting trips to the bookstore and my amazon wish list has even more. I started The Big Red Book of Baby Planning (not a book, but my hardcopy planning, shopping and note-taking journal) and am ready to take notes and clip ads and articles with wild abandon! Now it's not exactly a fair comparison because S. has no choice but to be the carrying end of this team but that's ok - I have a basement to finish and a nursery to build.
Merry Christmas - may the spirits alive around the world this night bring you peace and joy.
So wish us luck - I'm in serious Data Acquisition Mode - Full 5 here - 2 books down for the count and I've already made 2 hunting trips to the bookstore and my amazon wish list has even more. I started The Big Red Book of Baby Planning (not a book, but my hardcopy planning, shopping and note-taking journal) and am ready to take notes and clip ads and articles with wild abandon! Now it's not exactly a fair comparison because S. has no choice but to be the carrying end of this team but that's ok - I have a basement to finish and a nursery to build.
Merry Christmas - may the spirits alive around the world this night bring you peace and joy.
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Christmas Rundown
Recently a church where I live had the Christmas lights stolen off their building. The parish had gotten together and raised $400 to pay for new low energy LED lights (which are just becoming widely available in Canada) and spent a fair amount of time getting them all up for the coming Sunday.
That Saturday night someone stole the lights off of the church (you know - the old punishment for desecration a church was hanging!). It's Christmas time and you steal lights off of a church -somewhere along the way we've seriously missed the boat here - when Christmas becomes more about what you have hanging off of your house than it does being kind and generous with strangers, friends and family then we are in real trouble.
Sigh...
That Saturday night someone stole the lights off of the church (you know - the old punishment for desecration a church was hanging!). It's Christmas time and you steal lights off of a church -somewhere along the way we've seriously missed the boat here - when Christmas becomes more about what you have hanging off of your house than it does being kind and generous with strangers, friends and family then we are in real trouble.
Sigh...
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Hockey Smockey - I want my newspaper back!
If you're a hockey fan you're not going to like this, I'd skip to the next post...
In the interests of full disclosure - I don't play hockey, watch hockey (never been to a game), skate, wack frozen bits of rubber on ice or out front on the street, hip check people (except when attempting to dance), drink beer, or subscribe to any sports TV channel or web site (the concept of 'sports reporter' is a joke, I don't even read the section of the paper that says sports) - the only reason that I'm commenting on this at all is because this nonsense is invading the front page of my newspaper and my websites - that makes it fair game.
The NHL players recently offered a 24% pay cut for their players. Now let's understand some statistics; for a player making 17 million in 5 years that reduces their income from 3.4 million to 2.58 million dollars per year.
And now a couple of questions: a) why does any one doing anything need to make that much b) The 2002 average Canadian income for a two parent double income family with kids is $67,700 (2002 dollars Source: Statistics Canada) that means that this player makes 38 Times as much and he (note that this is a male-only sport at this level) gets to do what he loves to do - play hockey.
And they are offering a 24% cut - humm this is a little like the sales at Canadian Tire, Sears etc. An item comes in and sells for 59.99 - eventually it drops to $19.99 (or less) on sale. As these companies avoid (not absolutely but generally) selling anything at a net loss that means that the wholesale price was under $19.99 to begin with and they started at a 200% markup.
I wonder - if players make 3.4 million, and they've put themselves on sale for 2.58 maybe we should just wait a while and they will eventually drop to a level that makes more sense - maybe in the 200K range.
Please everyone that is worried about Hockey - get a life - go to the library, buy a book, build something, play soccer (most of the rest of the world does), play Quidditch (if you read you'd know what that is) , take a trip someplace warm (without hockey) the world will NOT end if you don't see Don Cherry (don't even get me started on him)
Sigh...
In the interests of full disclosure - I don't play hockey, watch hockey (never been to a game), skate, wack frozen bits of rubber on ice or out front on the street, hip check people (except when attempting to dance), drink beer, or subscribe to any sports TV channel or web site (the concept of 'sports reporter' is a joke, I don't even read the section of the paper that says sports) - the only reason that I'm commenting on this at all is because this nonsense is invading the front page of my newspaper and my websites - that makes it fair game.
The NHL players recently offered a 24% pay cut for their players. Now let's understand some statistics; for a player making 17 million in 5 years that reduces their income from 3.4 million to 2.58 million dollars per year.
And now a couple of questions: a) why does any one doing anything need to make that much b) The 2002 average Canadian income for a two parent double income family with kids is $67,700 (2002 dollars Source: Statistics Canada) that means that this player makes 38 Times as much and he (note that this is a male-only sport at this level) gets to do what he loves to do - play hockey.
And they are offering a 24% cut - humm this is a little like the sales at Canadian Tire, Sears etc. An item comes in and sells for 59.99 - eventually it drops to $19.99 (or less) on sale. As these companies avoid (not absolutely but generally) selling anything at a net loss that means that the wholesale price was under $19.99 to begin with and they started at a 200% markup.
I wonder - if players make 3.4 million, and they've put themselves on sale for 2.58 maybe we should just wait a while and they will eventually drop to a level that makes more sense - maybe in the 200K range.
Please everyone that is worried about Hockey - get a life - go to the library, buy a book, build something, play soccer (most of the rest of the world does), play Quidditch (if you read you'd know what that is) , take a trip someplace warm (without hockey) the world will NOT end if you don't see Don Cherry (don't even get me started on him)
Sigh...
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Open House Round-up
Well, the open house has come and gone and was a great success. We had lots of friends, good food and fun for hours on Saturday, some 30+ visitors actually.
It's interesting the differences in what we use from year to year - last year we had lots of left over mulled wine, this year we used 1 1/2 batches (we use 30 cup coffee perks to make it) .
It's great to catch up with everyone and see them getting to know each other - a New-Old friend of mine (long story maybe for another post) turns out to have gone to school with our next door neighbor's. We had a chance to visit with our SouthSide neighbor's more than we have in the weeks since freeze up)
Spook (the cat) was so tired by the end of the day - he'd been so scritched, hugged and entertained that he couldn't keep his eyes open any longer - it's funny to see a cat try and stay awake just as he fades out.
S. was at a volunteer meeting in the morning and came home at about 1, we were opening our door at 3 so that left it to me to do much of the final cleaning and finishing off the tree. Apparently the Ladies at the meeting were surprised that her husband would do this - I'm continually surprised by this - isn't the idea of being married include splitting up the work even doing stuff you wouldn't normally do if needs require?
Humm - more to think about on that one later - for now I have Christmas shopping to do!
In the 2nd week of Advent 2004 - this is 5Life
It's interesting the differences in what we use from year to year - last year we had lots of left over mulled wine, this year we used 1 1/2 batches (we use 30 cup coffee perks to make it) .
It's great to catch up with everyone and see them getting to know each other - a New-Old friend of mine (long story maybe for another post) turns out to have gone to school with our next door neighbor's. We had a chance to visit with our SouthSide neighbor's more than we have in the weeks since freeze up)
Spook (the cat) was so tired by the end of the day - he'd been so scritched, hugged and entertained that he couldn't keep his eyes open any longer - it's funny to see a cat try and stay awake just as he fades out.
S. was at a volunteer meeting in the morning and came home at about 1, we were opening our door at 3 so that left it to me to do much of the final cleaning and finishing off the tree. Apparently the Ladies at the meeting were surprised that her husband would do this - I'm continually surprised by this - isn't the idea of being married include splitting up the work even doing stuff you wouldn't normally do if needs require?
Humm - more to think about on that one later - for now I have Christmas shopping to do!
In the 2nd week of Advent 2004 - this is 5Life
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Open House To Be
So, the Synod is over and our Open House is rapidly coming up! This annual event takes place in our home every year. I get into baking up a storm, shortbread, butter tarts, cookies and whatever else I can come up with, if anyone knows a recipe for Rice Krispiee cake that doesn't turn as hard a rock in a day or so I'd like to know!).
We've sent out an evite using (www.evite.com) to make it easier and cheaper for people to be invited and to send RSVP's
This weekend we'll take out the decorations, clean up the house and generally try and get ready as much ahead of time as possible!
We need to order glasses (we always rent them - it's not too expensive and is much less work than washing and cleaning everything. )
Then there is the desk in the kitchen to attack - unfortunately we don't use it much as a desk and more of a dumping ground - maybe we need a better chair, in order to make it more usable - it's counter top height so a regular office chair isn't going to work - maybe IKEA has something that will work there.
TTFN
We've sent out an evite using (www.evite.com) to make it easier and cheaper for people to be invited and to send RSVP's
This weekend we'll take out the decorations, clean up the house and generally try and get ready as much ahead of time as possible!
We need to order glasses (we always rent them - it's not too expensive and is much less work than washing and cleaning everything. )
Then there is the desk in the kitchen to attack - unfortunately we don't use it much as a desk and more of a dumping ground - maybe we need a better chair, in order to make it more usable - it's counter top height so a regular office chair isn't going to work - maybe IKEA has something that will work there.
TTFN
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Well I survived the Funeral
Well we survived, it was as long or longer than I had ever hoped was possible. We began by leaving home at noon and arriving in SmallTown USA some 2 Hours later. We stopped by the widow's home (where many grandkids and parents were staging for the trip to the funeral home.)
We then changed and left to go to the Funeral Home at 4 for family prayers - unfortunately I had it in my head that this would be 20-30 minutes long (this was my previous experience) then we could leave and come back at 7 for the memorial service - no such luck. We had family prayers from 4 to 5 then it seemed like the whole population of SmallTown showed up (they had to finally close the funeral home doors) between 5 and 7 to pay their respects. S. and I finally snuck out at 6 to go and get water, gum and hard candies. Then we had a nice 20 minute memorial service.
As a note to those running funerals in the future - take care of the living! Water, tea, coffee and some small nibbles are really a blessing especially for family that has to be there for 3 1/2 hours.
We then changed and left to go to the Funeral Home at 4 for family prayers - unfortunately I had it in my head that this would be 20-30 minutes long (this was my previous experience) then we could leave and come back at 7 for the memorial service - no such luck. We had family prayers from 4 to 5 then it seemed like the whole population of SmallTown showed up (they had to finally close the funeral home doors) between 5 and 7 to pay their respects. S. and I finally snuck out at 6 to go and get water, gum and hard candies. Then we had a nice 20 minute memorial service.
As a note to those running funerals in the future - take care of the living! Water, tea, coffee and some small nibbles are really a blessing especially for family that has to be there for 3 1/2 hours.
Thursday, October 14, 2004
This isn't happy happy joy joy...
Here's an interesting contrast, Wonderful Wife and I are going to have to travel out of province for a day to attend a family function. The contrast comes in when you compare how Wonderful Wife and I approach this situation - I'm not happy, this will involve two days of people I don't know well, dinners, gatherings etc. that will require continued personal interaction - i.e. talking. On top of all of that we're staying with relatives, so there's no escape (not that the relatives are not nice people, they are) the issue here is energy - I see this kind of situation as energy draining, with little or no ability to recover. On the other hand Wonderful Wife sees this as an opportunity to meet with family - generally an energy + evolution.
While it's true that I don't know this branch of the family well, it's also true that I find any large unlimited gathering like this as draining.
I wonder if other 5s find this kind of situation draining as well...hummm
Evan
While it's true that I don't know this branch of the family well, it's also true that I find any large unlimited gathering like this as draining.
I wonder if other 5s find this kind of situation draining as well...hummm
Evan
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
It just isn't meant to be...
Ever have one of those weeks (months) when things just don't work out... I've been involved in a major project at work for the past several weeks, the initial work I did was horribly tedious and detailed. Requiring very small manual changes to the code that creates printable labels, now that that is all done I've finally been able to go to the client and score a success with good test result.
Now, S. and I need to go off to a family funeral - it's out of province so we'll be away overnight. We need to go, not really an option not to, and of course, one of the days we're going to be away was the day this was to be installed. I doubt that I'll even get mentioned in the 'ataboy' email...
Sigh
Now, S. and I need to go off to a family funeral - it's out of province so we'll be away overnight. We need to go, not really an option not to, and of course, one of the days we're going to be away was the day this was to be installed. I doubt that I'll even get mentioned in the 'ataboy' email...
Sigh
Sunday, October 10, 2004
Ok so now it's a Deck
Well, we finally have a deck, got the platform up in a day thankfully, glad to have that project completed - now we can close up outside and get ready for the winter. Those of you who don't live in Winnipeg should realize - snow by Halloween is not uncommon - so we're just about out of time.
The Garage is much less full of 'stuff' (extra lumber and other items - much much better than it was before! I was thinking of going for a hike with the Scouts tomorrow but may stay home and clean the garage enough so that we can get the cars in - that would be nice! Then there is the Christmas lights to clean up, the roof to fix a shingle on and a couple of other 'outside' chores that need my attention - oh well and here I thought I was done...
Maybe next week (if it doesn't snow)
Evan
The Garage is much less full of 'stuff' (extra lumber and other items - much much better than it was before! I was thinking of going for a hike with the Scouts tomorrow but may stay home and clean the garage enough so that we can get the cars in - that would be nice! Then there is the Christmas lights to clean up, the roof to fix a shingle on and a couple of other 'outside' chores that need my attention - oh well and here I thought I was done...
Maybe next week (if it doesn't snow)
Evan
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