Serial Adventurist

A summer evening on Hornby Island

2011-10-22T16:24:00.000-07:00

My bike..

2011-10-19T21:42:00.000-07:00

.. died.

Some days..

2011-10-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

..I wish important people would slow down and let me ask them a damned question. And for goodness sakes, stop being so vague.

Serial Plagiarist - thanks AMT

2011-03-13T16:22:00.000-07:00

I have reached a new threshold of ridiculosity. My list of locations between now and early August.

Edmonton
Calgary
Edmonton
Port Moody/Vancouver
Edmonton
London (doesn't really count because it is a layover, but hey, I'm trying to impress you here!)
Amsterdam
Ghent
Brussels
London (see above)
Edmonton
Montreal (see above)
Saint John
Montreal (etc.)
Edmonton
New York
Boston
Edmonton
Port Moody/Vancouver
Hornby Island
Edmonton

Mer-Mot Base-mas (Merry Christmas!)

2010-12-08T20:00:00.001-08:00

We did our annual snowboarding trip a bit earlier this year. There wasn't as much snow as we would've liked but we still had a great time!
On the way up to Marmot Basin.
Look! We're turning into real life snow boarders!!
Mandatory departure shot.

Hallowe'en

2010-11-28T08:34:00.000-08:00

No, we don't get kids trick or treating at our door. No, we didn't dress up or go to a party this year. We did carve pumpkins though. I had no idea how long these things would last, so by the time Hallowe'en arrived (when we did light them and put them on our balcony) they had started to collapse in on themselves. How is it that I don't know how long a carved pumpkin will last? Is that adult knowledge? Or Parent knowledge? (If it is the latter I have some excuse I think)

I also recently discovered, 15 years too late in my opinion, that if you store potatoes in a light location they turn green and become poisonous. I feel I should have known this before my 30s.

For the fans..

2010-11-21T20:51:00.000-08:00

A while ago I was in San Diego. It was mostly as you would expect, and therefore quite pleasant (above, sunset on Mission Beach).

In my old-made-new reasonably priced hotel, the chambermaid folded the toilet paper into a little boat.
The conference venue. Tres chic. Tres $250/night.

When I am near the ocean, I try my best to enjoy it if I can. Here is what is usually feasible in descending order (most feasible to least).

1) Being at the water's edge
2) Listening to the waves (depends on whether one is in an area with no wind, or lots of noise)
3) Smelling the ocean (again, not always possible. It helps if the beach isn't build up and if the tide is out)
4) Putting my hands in the water.

In SD I got to do all four which was nice. This may seem frivolous to some of you, but it is something I can't really explain. Anyway, it was a nice addition to my trip.

Hiking the Crypt Lake Trail - Waterton BC - Part II

2010-08-31T22:37:00.000-07:00

Coming out of the cave...
...to a "path" with a little steel rope to hang on to...
...but the view was worth it.

Finally, Crypt Lake.

As is tradition, Stu contemplates going for a swim...
The follow-through.
On the way down we discovered nature's Angkor Wat.

Stu tried to escort a snow ball all the way down. It didn't make it.
But we did!
Looking fine on the taxi back to Waterton.

Hiking the Crypt Lake Trail - Waterton BC - Part I

2010-08-31T22:19:00.000-07:00

Voted 'Best Hike in Canada' in 1983, the Crypt Lake Hike in Waterton is a must-do for any able person visiting the park in moderately good weather. Awaking (albeit late) to fabulous weather, Stu and I had no choice but to rush down to catch the 10am water taxi to the trail head.
And we hiked..
Over some absolutely gorgeous terrain. Up 2,100 ft over 9km.
And along some ledges.. Notice that there is no protection at this point.

And through some tunnels. Notice the cherry red face. Much upwardness.

From our friends in BC...

2010-08-19T13:56:00.000-07:00

Here are some typical views from my balcony, albeit with some odd cloud formations (which is why, I suppose, I took these pictures in the first place).
And here is what I see today:
BC wildfires have intensified of late, it would seem.
It reminds me of pictures of Shanghai on its worst days.

Backstairs Cafe

2010-08-14T14:49:00.001-07:00

There is a secret log house in downtown Edmonton which overlooks the Victoria Park golf course. I hasn't always been a secret. For example, Mel Hurtig (publisher of The Canadian Encyclopedia) must have been quite familiar with it when he lived there. And it isn't a secret to the operators of The Backstairs Cafe, Edmonton's occasional secret bistro, who now do vegan brunches and dinners on the verandas and in the great room of the house.
Stu and I somehow managed to get a table at during one of their rare brunches. These are pictures of us waiting for our table. We ended up sharing the meal (juice, coffee with soy milk, hash browns, pumpkin waffles, and home made vegan sausage) with a kindly couple from Spruce Grove who regaled us with stories galore about growing up in Edmonton. They also picked up the tab. It was pretty awesome.

Were you wondering? No, probably not.

2010-08-14T09:07:00.001-07:00

My office is inaccessible on weekends so on days 6 & 7 of my written candidacy exam I worked at home. This is what that looked like. Above is what it looks like when I take a break on my balcony with a beer. Breaks are important.

There will be more conversations like this one...

2010-08-13T14:19:00.000-07:00

SA to Neonatologist: ...yeah, so I'll probably see you around the hospital..

N: Oh, I'm going there right now. A baby is being born with its intestines on the outside of its body...

SA: oh (expressing concern)

N: Yeah, we just have to stuff'em back in again...

SA: ...

---

So yeah, I'll be spending some time working at the hospital this fall as the ethics resident. I am really looking forward to it (tempered by some trepidation)! Conversations like this will become much more common, I'm sure.

Canada Day! and some other stuff

2010-07-01T14:53:00.000-07:00

The strategy is to leave my blog stagnant long enough to ensure that nobody bothers to read it anymore. Then I can tell the world (or, erm, nobody) what I really think!

Or maybe it can simply act as a personal record for me to look back on from time to time.

So, in the interests of noting the comings and goings of my life, I passed my candidacy exam yesterday. Something that, for a lot of time, I didn't think I would ever do. So finally doing it is pretty cool. The prospect of actually doing the research I've been talking about for the past year is a bit daunting though.

In other news, today is Canada Day. So far, this has meant waking up early-ish, intending to make a fantastic home-made breakfast but ending up having a delicious breakfast sandwich from the local deli instead. It has also meant getting a good start on the Globe and Mail Canada day cryptic, topped off with a 25km ride in the river valley. So all of that is pretty nice. It also means that I will now go for pizza, and then meet up with friends for merry-making and fireworks watching. Can't complain really.

Happy Canada day to everyone!

well shit.

2010-07-01T14:49:00.000-07:00

PhD (C)

Nowhere to sit on the Upper East Side

2010-05-07T15:43:00.000-07:00

Early for meeting Marianne at her work, I walked near 2nd ave and 77th st looking for somewhere to kill a bit of time (a public bench? a patch of grass?). The park (Central Park) is too far away, and every business is so quaint that my disinterested browsing would be conspicuous. Treed courtyards are fenced off (with fancy wrought iron fences mind you) and stoops seem clearly to be the turf of the adjacent residences. So with 30 minutes to go, a coffee in hand, I just wandered.

I don't think I want to complain though. The weather was delightful, and I was on my way to meet a good friend for a fantastic lunch of hot sandwiches accompanied by a Kir Royale (AND finished off with a genuine tiramisu). And shit, I'm in New York!

Words and turns of phrase I don't like but cannot penalize students for using because they are in the dictionary

2010-02-03T17:35:00.000-08:00

irregardless
orientate

Starting sentences with: "Being that..." as in "Being that Katherine is awesome, one must supply her with americanos and complements on a regular basis..."

Using the term "begs the question" (which originally referred to circular reasoning) to mean "raises the question". This particular battle has long been lost but it still gets my dander up.

Productivity... A How-to guide

2010-02-02T10:54:00.001-08:00

- order books on how to do a dissertation off the internet
- go to the library every day to get just one book (keeping in mind that the library is a block away)
- blog (cliched self referential bullet!)

Grad School Glamour: Part I

2010-01-29T11:29:00.000-08:00

Today I spent at least an hour trying to track down an author whose name I had only heard. The name came up during a committee meeting - this person's book is the "bible" of NICU culture and ethics. A clear must have, if only to find out what all the fuss is about. Oh, and to also appear keen, and as though I am listening, etc. etc.

The name sounded like: Hazel McAffrey (first pass in my notes from the meeting).

Google thought I might mean, McCaffrey, which apparently is quite a popular name. No Hazel McCaffrey in the library, on google-web, or in google-scholar. This lady does not exist. More variations. McCaffery, McKaffrey, McKaffery, MacCaffery, MacCaffrey. No. No. no. This is silly. I knock on the office door of one of my committee members. No answer.

I had to go to the library _anyway_, so I perused the entire ethics section (found some other good books: yay! No Hazel M%*$: boo). Next, headed to the pediatrics section, neonatal care plans, neonatal nursing practice, premature babies from birth to age one... and FINALLY. There she is. Hazel friggin' McHaffie!! Geeee-susss.

Lesson: Get people to spell shit out for you.

Good lord.

Escape Part IV

2009-12-06T20:57:00.001-08:00

How I look when I am relaxin' and escapin'.
Arizona landscape.
San Xavier Mission. Old and cool.

Escape Part III

2009-12-06T20:55:00.000-08:00

Salty party times.
The drinkers (I was the dd).
Paradise.

Escape Part II

2009-12-06T20:51:00.001-08:00

This is what freedom looks like at Cave Creek, Arizona.
Rustic-ness.
Quaintness
Traveling companions.

Escape to Warmth Part I

2009-12-06T20:39:00.000-08:00

Last week I ended up in Arizona for delightfully indulgent reasons. It was too hard to explain to people that I was simply going away to get some nice weather and to catch up with good friends. As a result, I pretended I was not going away, which limited the escape-y-ness of it all. Still, it was pretty nice.

The pool.
Stock shot.
Sun sets early, but it is quite beautiful!

This is one of those days...

2009-10-19T12:22:00.000-07:00

...where printing something out feels like a major accomplishment (haHA! NOW I am doing work, look at that printer go!!!)

...where the office is chilly that it feels as though I will never warm up (thermostat denial - there is no way it is 24C in here)

..where I wish I had office mates, or general folks around (hey M-dawg, wanna go for a coffee?)

...where my list of accomplishments (apart from an important conference call this morning that has spurred exactly zero productivity thus:) 1) think about doing work; 2) blog about doing work; 3) feel guilty about not doing work. I have done (1) and (2)... on to (3) soon...

Man this blog sucks

2009-09-20T18:49:00.000-07:00

but this picture is pretty cool..

One of each

2009-07-12T17:28:00.000-07:00

Above: Hunter - A NS Duck Tolling Retriever. He will only get cuter.
Hangover cure (not this is not a link - stupid blogger). Swimming in the pacific ocean. Me in a coat on the right. Stu in his swim shorts. Crazytown.
Beautiful ladies pre-ceremony.
Beautiful belay spot. Lovely hot day of climbing. Squamish is amazing.
In Victoria there is a bush shaped like a duck.

Things I miss about Edmonton Summers - Past and Present

2009-07-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

warm nights
thunder storms
amazing sunsets from my balcony
a cold beer on O'Byrnes' patio after a Saturday afternoon bike ride
wandering around Heritage Festival eating a chocolate dipped banana like it is some kind of cultural delicacy
knowing that drinks at the Garneau are the default plan
long days - daylight until 11pm!
bike rides to the climbing gym with drives home
trips to the mountains to hang out at the base of crags
all those people I know
all those people I know but never see
all those people I used to know, but still see
and so on
backyard parties with firepits made from old washing machines
fireworks
green tree-covered streets
pick-up soccer
Taste of Edmonton (overrated, but a classic)
spending long lunch hours out with the intern army
walking across the high level bridge
wading at the legislature
getting fresh fruit and veg from the farmers market
walking through Elk island during a heat wave
cocktails on Marianne's balcony
hearing the fireworks when the Cracker Cats win
slushy drinks at JB (never-as-fun-as-it-looks)

Almost Hunter!

2009-06-30T09:05:00.000-07:00

So two days after her wedding my sister's family are welcoming a new member. Hunter Hopewell-Jensen looks remarkably like the dog pictured here. Pictures of the actual Hunter to arrive shortly.

Hair cut

2009-06-19T15:38:00.000-07:00

In an effort to look rockin' for my sister's upcoming nuptials I booked myself an appointment at a hip salon at Main and Broadway in Vancouver. We all know I can pass as hip when required (right? right??) so I felt pretty good lounging around in this style-current endroit sippin' on my americano purchased from the independent coffee shop next door and lookin' sassy (cause hip people always us the word 'sassy').

Of course all of this comes undone when I open my mouth.

My assumption is that is hip people, specially the type that can be found near/in a hair salon, are pretty committed to the health and well-being of their coiffure (and general image). This entails that they do things like, say, get their hair cut more than once a year. In fact, they may even be the type to book their next appointment as they leave their current appointment. So when my ultra hip hair stylist asks when _I_ last got a hair cut, I reply: "oh, not too long ago. Four months ago maybe?" Hip stylist is silent. Me: "oh, I guess that is quite a while ago...." Clearly, if I am hip (which, fine, I am not) then I am not the type who is committed to my hair "style". Anyway, I made it patently obvious that I am not as hip as I was trying convey. Sigh.. whatevs.. right?

I also have all kinds of issues about making small talk. This shouldn't really have been a problem because Hip Stylist is actually an old friend from highschool (so really, any attempt to pretend is in vain). In a previous era I would have filled him in on all the gossip of formerly mutual friends I am still in touch with but in the age of fb he is pretty caught up on the major headlines. In other ways facebook provides fodder for other conversations (so... why were you dressed as a clown in that pic?) but this can be dangerous because it reveals the extent to which one is a fb stalker (in my case, a very great extent, as least when it comes to photos). Lose lose. Oh well, we did in fact chat, and sometimes we didn't. My hair was cut and styled and made all lovely lovely so I guess I can't complain.

The bird is gone

2009-06-17T09:32:00.000-07:00

First, blogger's ease with which pictures can be moved around is limited (or: it sucks). It has also decided today that it will randomly place my text. *Grrr-sigh..*

So yes, goose-at-the-end-of-the-pole has mysteriously disappeared. Only the pole remains, now serving absolutely no purpose. At least the ridiculous bird offered meaning to the pole's presence (insofar as such presence has meaning)

No major events to report. I have adopted a routine of kicking my own ass. I do this in a variety of ways - gym routines, climbing, reminiscing, procrastinating.

It's kindof a good'nbad list.

Climbing and working out have been rather positive developments. I have yet to achieve PH status like my tuxedoed friend here, but am confident that sweating up a storm, huffing and puffing, and generally looking like an ass in public are all steps along the way.

The pretty pencil drawing of the building shows one of the places where the sweat-magic happens - Port Moody Rec Centre. The results physically have been subtle. But I can do a mean lunge and could probably sit in a boat pose (with questionable technique) for a good minute. I look forward to learning how these skills apply in my daily life.

Surrey wildlife

2009-05-23T19:53:00.000-07:00

Edmonton Adventures

2009-05-23T19:48:00.000-07:00

Green onion cakes and matching t-shirts.

What the craps?

2009-05-19T13:41:00.001-07:00

Admittedly, my 'job' is fairly loosely organized. And I have been away for the last week. This still doesn't completely explain why I haven't seen one co-worker all day.

Nary a soul.

The 'mo

2009-04-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

In Nanaimo now, acclimatizing Her Ladyness (aka, Lady Jane Grey) to her new summer surroundings and spending time with P Units. Lady has discovered the outside world, and seems ready to set off to find the edge. To date, she has been on three tours of the backyard in a a harness. Intrepid solo adventures are on hold for now.

More importantly, I am preparing for the Big Move to Vancouver(ish). In the interim, I have been travelling the sea wall, wearing flip flops in near perfect weather, and moderately reintegrating into a semblance of Nanaimo life at my childhood home.

The moments that make it...

2009-03-10T18:41:00.000-07:00

[Stu and Kath sit across from one another, a Scrabble board between them. They sit quietly, moving wooden tiles around on their respective racks.]

Stu: Arg. My nose is leaking.

[Stu takes a tissue, balls up one end, and puts it up his nose]

Katherine: ....

[Stu continues to examine his letters. Katherine has stopped paying attention to the game.]

Stu: Just pretend it's a ghost.

Katherine: ....

[Stu places a word on the board.]

Katherine: Is the ghost going in to your nose or coming out?

Stu: Going in.

Katherine: Oh.

Innate value

2009-03-04T21:40:00.000-08:00

I felt like blogging tonight, but am pretty sure I have nothing to blog about. I know I don't have any rad pictures or exciting news to speak of. And yet, I persevere...

In grade 2 we had to keep calendars and every day we would record the weather (with a drawing of a cloud or sun) and make note of the temperature. Today it was sunny. And 3C. Now it is dark. And very windy. And - 6C.

Sometimes when people blog, they find some picture on the web to put up to illustrate some related theme or concept raised in the blog. Using this practice, it turns out that blogging about wind requires one to have pics of windmills. It's harder to get pictures of the wind itself, I guess.

So that's my blog post.

At last!

2009-02-16T18:13:00.001-08:00

Team Moore/Duthie pulled together to finish the Globe and Mail Saturday cryptic. An epic first!

Actually, probably, the best Valentines Day ever

2009-02-16T14:44:00.000-08:00

We started off at the lovely Strathcona Farmer's Market (or Framer's depending on how closely one pays attention to typos). It is far too easy to spend all kinds of dough here, but for tomatoes that actually smell like tomatoes (shocking!) and tasty arugula, it's worth it!
After the market we stopped off at Totem to get the skates sharpened, and then headed over to Wild Earth Market for breakfast. Of course, the Globe and Mail Saturday cryptic was on hand...(a plot point to be picked up later...)
Next we rocked the Victoria Park Oval (skating rink) with my bad-ass recreational skates. They are not figure skates, not hockey skates, they're recreational skates!!! All the awesomeness of of hockey skates (no pics!) but none of the nasty hard plastic. I could skate for hours! Did I mention Vic Park is free? It is truly one of the hidden gems of Edmonton winters.
Stu is ridiculously amazing on skates. Note the casual facial expression as he does one of his dramatic stops. I am working towards such greatness... slowly..
2010 pairs figures skating gold medalists. Notice also the frost in my hair. It was probably about -15C that day.
What better place to end up than the Sugar Bowl? There is no such place.

No more pics to prove it, but afterwards we picked up some odds and ends and made the most amazing dinner with fresh pasta and pesto, with a fresh arugula, tomato, and cucumber salad topped with a home made wasabi vinaigrette. gahhhh! Soooo delish!

What you got me for Christmas - part II

2009-01-26T20:05:00.000-08:00

Dear Angy and Leslie,

The rockin Indigo/Chapter/whateverthecrap gift cert you generously gave me for Christmas more than covered the two items pictured above. Yes, the plan was to get books, but there are so many great little book shops here, I decided to save my literary purchases for them. This was an easy choice after I realized how much more Chapters sells than books! This exercise ball represents all my good exercize intentions for the year - rock hard abs (admittedly under carb fuelled tummy) here I come! And of course, the 'bomb' - the little stove top espresso maker - will be partnered with a wee packet of espresso I bought at the Italian Centre eons ago. That wacky contraption on the left, is in fact, a sugar dispenser which came with the e.m. All in all, I am very happy with my items. Christmas just keeps on giving! Thanks to both of you for your generosity.

Love,

SA

What you got me for Christmas - part I

2009-01-26T19:55:00.000-08:00

Dear Mum and Dad,

Your GC to MEC contributed greatly to the purchase of my new climbing shoes. Yes, these Sirens (5-10 co.) will without a doubt, catapult my climbing ability from 5-8 minus to 5-8 d! Or so we all can hope. What we can know for sure, is that I won't be able to blame any lack of climbing ability on my shoes anymore. Why not? Because these shoes are rad. They can do no wrong.

So thanks.

Love

SA

Garbage trip - Part II

2009-01-16T22:01:00.001-08:00

(major apologies for the photo order - blogspot has commandeered the order of my pics and I don't have the energy to fight back. Evil blogspot!)

Above - The recycling sorting facility! Or part of it at least. The people on the lines are sorting out plastic and plastic coated cardboard from the paper line. Did you know that this waste facility diverts 60% of its household waste from the landfill? Of course, we all knew the recycling facilities were good, but a lot more of it is composted (as indicated on my previous post).

Cathode ray tubes (mostly in the form of TVs and computer monitors). These are dismantled manually. Manually! They cannot be crushed with usual recycling techniques because that would release lots of leaded glass and other harmful things. Computers are put through shredders to retrieve plastic and copper wiring. Motherboards are sent across North America, and eventually to Belgium to retrieve the gold and silver inside them. Phew.
Back at the leachate facility, these discs are covered in bacteria which break down dump ooze. Three cheers for biology! Go little guys!

Overall the facility is pretty cool and pretty inspiring. I had no idea that Edmonton was investing in so much waste management technology. In three years the facility will be using a new process to turn carbon containing waste into synthetic fuels which will then be burnt to produce electricity. They say this will divert 90% of household waste from the landfill.

Other things I have learned: wash your recyclable containers or they'll just get thrown into the garbage; disposable coffee cups are _not_ recyclable (paper coated in plastic); and oddly, shredded paper should be put into the garbage - it cannot easily be recycled and it helps with the composting process in the garbage stream.

Of course, the best thing we can all do is reduce the amount we buy, and consider whether something really needs to be replaced or thrown out. By shy of that, I think Edmonton's system is pretty cool.

Insert cheezy garbage title here - Part 1

2009-01-16T21:18:00.000-08:00

"Wasting" my time? Hey, don't "dump" on my field trip!

Ok, done. Among its many claims to fame (home of a finalist on The Bachelorette; guiness world record holder for most streets named after Wayne Gretzky) Edmonton is a world leader in waste management. One of my colleagues, an engineer at the facility, arranged for some PH folks to take a tour. A 3 hour tour (cue Gilligan's Island music). We saw many interesting things. Above, extra pallets and waste wood bound for mulching. This stuff will end up on city flower beds, capturing water for the plants in the dry months and insulating the roots from cold in the winter ones.
Known as the "Tipping" floor (or somesuch), all household garbage collected in public garbage trucks ends up here. The garbage is spread around and a worker manually removes any large objects that can not be composted. The rest of the garbage is marinated with sewage sludge to begin the initial stages of composting.
This is the group at the leachate facility. The man in blue is the veritable expert on managing the ooze that dumps produce. This guy is responsible for drawing the ooze from the dump, treating it, and sending it off to the waste water treatment plant. We were probably learning about pumps and pigs and and bacteria for an hour.
Moi. Avec pamphlets in many languages.

Centre Pieces, Speeches, little white lights...

2009-01-10T18:55:00.000-08:00

I love weddings. I love center pieces and speeches and wedding bands and seating plans and tuxedos and first dances and wedding games and little kids dancing with old people and extra toiletries in the bathroom and pre-fab dance floors and bottles of wine on the table and cash bars and the bride and groom and mini menus and picture slide shows and round tables.. I love it all.

Blatant blog theft - the phenomenology of these days

2008-12-07T14:08:00.001-08:00

Diet: peas, bran buds with psyllium, bananas, cheese, tea, coffee.

Attire: fur slippers, jeans, t-shirt, red hoody zip up.

Hours spent working (defined here as applying my mental faculties towards progress on exam studying or papers) per day: 10 - 12 hrs.

Hours of sleep per night: 6-7 hrs.

Techniques to do work: charting word counts; using different coloured pens; changing work locations (bed, desk, coffee table, spare room); stretches; good musical accompaniment

Techniques to avoid work: harassing the cat; dvd tv; managing dirty dishes; blogging.

Sounds: cat snores; traffic; indy pop; keyboard tapping; rustling of paper.

Daily outings: 6 minute walk to Wild Earth Bakery for Americano.

Abandoned: students, laundry, personal appearance, cleaning, work-life balance.

Tasks: 2 final papers (due tomorrow); 2 final exams (Wednesday, and Thursday).

All finished: noon, Dec 11.

The great curry I had last night.

2008-11-17T18:41:00.000-08:00

Naw, didn't have curry last night, but these are the finer details that are missing on this blog. The details that, if told with sufficient wit and style, will serve to entertain all 1.7 of my faithful readers. So what cool and fascinating minutiae comprise SA's exotic existence in northern-ish Canada? Where to start....

Big picture - in grad school now

Meso picture - getting towards the busy time. Y'know, that time where the only way to procrastinate is to do _other_ work. Oh, and blog, I guess, but this is an official break (ha!)

Micro picture - it is monday. I have a case study due this week, but nothing else major.

Last night I melted my very first Edmonton spatula in half (yes, into two separate pieces - over my burner). The apartment filled with deadly fumes which made me feel sick and lightheaded before I realized what was going on. Fare well faithful bendy IKEA kitchen implement - you served me well. I really did think I was falling ill - that would have been bad timing. I felt like a bit of an ass for destroying something so completely without noticing, but I've been told everyone has done it.

This morning I slept in a little too late for a monday. My day was wide open so i figured I needed some kind of structure to get things rolling. Solution? Eye brow shaping appointment. In so far as this kind of thing is necessary at all, this was very necessary. Esthetic-Lady told me I had nicely shaped eyebrows "when they are looked after". This was cooler than the guy at the climbing gym last night calling me a "big girl" but "meaning it as a compliment". As in, "hey you are a totally lame and pathetic doosh, but I mean that as a compliment!" Right. I then went to the medical school library to pick up some books on health policy ethics. I was getting things done! I then got on the wrong bus (sigh) and had to walk quite a few blocks back home stopping along the way to spend $170 on the wrong lap top battery. After popping in to a local cafe to get some reading done, I headed home. Which is where I am now.

Edmonton. Warning: may contains pictures of my cat, but hey, it's been a while so...

2008-10-19T16:48:00.001-07:00

Loungin'.

I finally got rid of the saggy bed that I got for free (which I appreciate) but which was contributing to me feeling about 50. Lady claimed it for England.
Sometimes all you can do is lie on the floor.
Edmonton has had a very lovely Fall season, as exemplified here in this picture of Terwilligar park (taken October 18). This is where I go to pretend I own a dog and that I do not live in the middle of a city.
I have never seen the North Saskatchewan so green.
Posin'.

An October weekend in Vancouver

2008-10-19T16:35:00.000-07:00

I went to Vancouver to attend a Weezer concert and spend some time with the family. Due to my typically sporadic camera use, I only have the following four pictures which have nothing to do with family or Weezer.
Playing with Mr Potato Head. Actually, this is Darth Tater.

Liz has taken up climbing so we took the opportunity to climb together. Liz's t-shirt supports my earlier claim about the concert.
Bouldering.
Bouldering again. We rocked it.

New York -II

2008-10-19T16:24:00.001-07:00

This was one of the final games played by the New York Yankees in the original(ish) Yankee Stadium. While it wasn't a wildly exciting game (against the Jays) we had a lot of fun taking it all in.
Another must do in New York - the Shake Shack in Madisson Square park (right Marianne?). It is the place to eat awesome shakes and burgers (the 'shroom burger is the best) and watch New Yorkers in their natural environment.
Below: Can you see Stu? He is "blending in". Notice the Real Life New York Socialite standing in the left of the shot. She was there with her lovely privileged children and her friends and their children. They ate hot dogs and drank wine out of plastic cups.
Apartment 138 (?) in Brooklyn. With Grace!
And Marianne! We grinned like idiots much of the time.

Ok. So I went to Skaha _after_ Saskatchewan. And then I went to New York!

2008-10-19T16:06:00.000-07:00

New York! Might I also add that I usually travel on my own, so taking a flight with someone else is totally awesome, if only for the benefit of not having to pack up all of my stuff when going to the bathroom. AND I didn't have to wage the unspoken war over the arm rest.

It goes without saying that New York is the best. It is the _most_ best when one has a sweet ass friend who lives in the city who has a surprisingly spacious apartment in the financial district and a wealth of useful insider knowledge about where to go, and how to get there.
There are many ways to be in NY. One of my favourite roles to play is the Blatant and Shameless Tourist. This role is nearly mandatory when in view of the Statue of Liberty. I heart New York indeed.
The other view from Battery Park. An authentic NYC sea gull!
Somehow this is my only picture taken in Grimaldi's - a very well known pizza joint in Brooklyn. The pizza was _amazing_ , and the staff were great. While I waited in line for the (only) bathroom (which smelled really bad and seemed to double as the staff change room) I observed the system in the open kitchen. Wait staff in black shirts, chefs in white, hot brick ovens, slabs of fresh mozzarella - all worked together in a perfectly precarious pizza making machine!
Coming back from a bbq in Brooklyn at Grace's, we had this entire subway car to ourselves. It didn't smell bad, nor were there any shifty looking passengers skulking in corners, but it was _very_ overheated. We stuck around anyway.

And then I went to Saskatchewan!

2008-10-19T13:06:00.000-07:00

I love those vacations which create alternate realities of awesomeness. Christopher Lake Saskatchewan is this for me. Stu and I joined the L. crew for three days of drinking, boating, golfing, eating, drinking, card playing, crosswording, drinking, eating, horseshoeing and general relaxation.

This is Waskesui ( Waskesiu?) Lake. I am making an attempt to make this photo more interesting. Not so sure anything was accomplished in that regard.
The village next to the lake has many quaint and wonderful businesses. We had some breakfast at the Cafe Patio Cafe. Notice the white cups of coffee and the little hand-painted table number.
Our campsite (the beach in front of Chateau L).
Part of the crew. I don't think there is a shot of this weekend without a drink in it somewhere.

Climbing - Skaha, BC

2008-10-19T12:59:00.001-07:00

Clearly I should be more creative when it comes to commemorating these trips. Or I should bring along a tripod, or a third person.

This is what climbers do when they are bored, apparently. I was happy to see them.
The approach to Skaha has a reputation for being pretty terrible. It isn't that long, but it sure gets the heart pumping.

The view from the top of the approach. If I were craftier I would photo-shop out the power lines. If only...

Summer shots - climbing!

2008-10-19T12:36:00.001-07:00

This summer I spent a lot of time driving and camping. I also managed to climb a few pitches in between.

Grassi Lakes
The climbing crew.
View from the 'difficult' approach to Grassi Lakes.
River running through Cougar Canyon.
Mt. Robson, BC. This is on the from Valemount, BC to Kamloops.

Liz's visit made me forget what my regular life was like.

2008-08-06T10:03:00.000-07:00

All photos taken by Liz.
Here, Lady and I share a moment on the balcony.
Two thirds of the team. I missed the dress-code memo. They even match the hammock!
First swing. The pinnacle of my golfing greatness.
More team membership.
There is even fun a beauty to be found in Beaumont, AB.

Stormy skies of late

2008-07-10T20:46:00.001-07:00

Canada Day

2008-07-10T20:43:00.000-07:00

There was no climbing to be done in Canmore on Canada Day...
So we made it back in time to claim our spot on the balcony for Edmonton's celebration.

Rock-Star

2008-07-02T09:53:00.000-07:00

Above, route 10-69 at Lake Louise - The best way to spend a day. Below, the dorky helmet shot as promised.

Addddd-venture!!!!

2008-06-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

So excited! I am off on my first climbing trip of the season at spectacular Lake Louise!! Cannot wait. Shit, I'm even excited about sitting around a camp fire in my bad-@xx camping jacket. Pictures of me in my cool yet absolutely dorkey climbing helmet to come!

At last!

2008-06-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

11:12am

The temperature was a reasonable 16-18C - warmer in the sun, cooler in the shade and the clear blue sky was interrupted only by the occasional fluffy cloud. My business attire and flip flops combo was a bit unusual on the course, especially with the can of Keith's tucked into my back pocket, but there aren't many rules and expectations amongst the trees in Kinsmen park. A visit to Youtube earlier in the day had taught me how to "swing like Tiger Woods" so I focused on keeping head still and my grip relaxed as I duffed balls left and right, nearly doubling par on the first nine. I wonder if it is strange that I enjoy something I am so bad at.

Day to day...

2008-06-19T07:41:00.000-07:00

8:42am

Storms and cool temperatures have kept the city green and lush but the sun still shines for much of the day. Evening storms have prevented any after work pitch and putt, but my slicing and hooking heart believes that there will be opportunities for +10 holes and ball hunting sometime soon. Bike riding has been less appealing because it entails getting bombared by little worms dangling from the deciduous trees that hang over the trail, but the Empress still serves up a good cocktail in a clean glass and the dart boards aren't bad at all. These just might be some good days.

It all boils down to this...

2008-06-03T10:28:00.000-07:00

Day 5 - Back on the road

2008-05-26T21:41:00.001-07:00

Sumac Ridge Gewurztraminer, 2006. This pairs well with sharp cheddar kraft dinner prepared with sauteed portabella mushrooms and sliced veggie italian sausage. Round the dish off with the late addition of a package of three cheese kraft dinner cheese powder.
The Okanagan brings out the madness in me. Note the stylish plaid camping coat (with built-in hoodie). In this outfit, no firewood is safe.
I am clearly baffled as to why, after days of rain, the sprinklers came on not once, but twice in the 14 hour period we spent at the site. Note the proximity to our tent. I have a special appreciation for automatic sprinkler systems - nary a drop reached our shelter.

Day 3,4 - Vancouver

2008-05-26T21:28:00.000-07:00

Guess where I am?

Later that night at the Blarney Stone being bad ass (obvsly). We listened to the long-standing house band, drank some drinks, and generally made merry. Walking from the bar to the sky train is scary.

And the following night at a, if not the, Port Moody hub of wild nightlife. Sisters are the best.

Trip - Day 2

2008-05-26T20:56:00.000-07:00

Day one pictures are on my camera. These ones are not from my camera. And so, day 2. Here we are on the beautiful ferry from Horseshoe Bay to the island.

This place is nicer than I remember. The prairies make the coast look _damn_ good.

A celebratory pose by the truck was in order.
Made it just in time to join the party. The boys brought down the house with their song and dance.

Old friends.

2008-05-14T20:39:00.000-07:00

Erin and Becky were in town for a wedding. They made me a delicious mexican feast.
I do believe we get better-looking every year (and spring did eventually come, as you can see).

Yes, I understand the implications of posting these shots..

2008-05-14T20:32:00.000-07:00

Above: Lady presides over the loo.

Below: She takes a water break. Harvey, the foster cat, waits patiently.
Below: The Harv-ster up close. The only cat Lady ever grew to lov- er, tolerate.

Shots 'o Spring

2008-05-14T18:40:00.000-07:00

From the balcony...

Holding Pattern

2008-05-01T12:18:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I like to type a concept into a Google images search just to see what will come up. This comes up with a search for "happiness":

I buy it.

This one comes up with a search for "intolerance":

This makes less sense to me. I'm sure some sage (or at least energetic) internet savvy person could look it up.

I also did a search for "holding pattern" which is a conceptual way to describe my existence (again) but (duh) it is something that is taught, mapped, and identifiable at a distance, and so is less conceptual than I once thought.

It shouldn't be a surprise, then, when this comes up:

And I thought holding patterns were simple things. The plan is to keep doing what you're doing without doing anything else. Making sure to stay were you are. In some kind of way that requires that you move. In one place.

Not all that simple when you describe it using a lot of fragmented sentences and fancy diagrams containing "TDEL"s and "Radial Lines". But really, a holding pattern the simple state of active stagnancy. And what is more simple than feverishly doing nothing at all?

- 16 C with the Wind chill, 20-25 cms snow

2008-04-21T08:31:00.000-07:00

This winter has officially lasted 7 months with no end in sight. No wonder Edmontonians like summer so much. Have any of you read the Laura Ingalls Wilder series? Remember how excited Laura is when she gets an orange? That is what the first days of 15C + with sun weather are like for the folks of this city - the proverbial rare, sun ripened orange.

Now that we're bored of skating, staying in to watch movies, curling up in toasty cafes, hunkering down in movie theatres, and skulking through weather neutral bowling alleys, what do we do as these snowy months wear on? Crash construction sites, it would seem.

My friend Leopold is celebrating the completion of his sub-flooring project and the 'maturation' of his homemade wine. This is the result.

The 'registration' process. Leopold and his wine had already decorated the rest of the floor boards. This was the public use slab.

Some floor art. The bath tub awaiting installation has a chromatherapy feature. I'm not sure how therapeutic this really is, but this involves some kind of light installation which changes the colour of the water. Yellow water is supposed to be "invigorating". Like, "holy shit, this water is yellow, I'm getting the hell outta this tub!", or at least that is what I assume.

Leopold's mum knitted this for him. He used to wear it to school when he was a wee one. No kidding. This guy had cajones at a young age.

Infected, pus-filled, maxillary sinus

2008-04-16T08:24:00.001-07:00

In spite of missing much of the tissue on the front of his or her face, this person looks happy. Maybe it's the toothy grin..

AND she's back! Back from the land of seeping sinuses and inflamed throats. Of uncomfortable naps on the couch, overdosing on Cepacol, and staring into space. Of realizing the awesome benefits of tea, or anything hot and steamy (but not in _that_ way), of watching movies on a weekday morning. Of appreciating the caloric density of peanut butter, and of how easily one can eat it out of the jar with a spoon. So smooth, so simple.

Now what?

Dress for the job you want.

2008-04-02T14:07:00.001-07:00

Today, it would appear that I want to be a colourblind post-rocker librarian. Black leather boots, brown baggy-ass cords, teal undershirt, grey v-neck top, black cardigan - earth tones gone horribly wrong, then forced to tolerate each other on the same body. I feel sympathy for JAD who faced the consequences of dressing in the dark for most of his teaching career. Unfortunately there was ample daylight within which to make my wardrobe choices this morn. Can't really pony up any excuse for this morphological presentation. Thankfully, I do not face the daily wrath of tactless and mouthy students. Instead, it is the quiet murmurings of disapproving admin staff. It's a good day to hide behind my 5 and a half feet of metalloplastic cube wall and listen to indie-punk on-line.

Old Bisbee, AZ

2008-03-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

How cute is little place?? The back story: was in texas. then was in arizona. vic and I took a roadtrip.
Actual pics from my trip to come, but get a load of this teensy place nestled in the desert-y mountains? Its filled with hippies and racist tourists, but overall, a wee gem.
What is with American map makers making it look like the US is a huge island? That blue to the south is Mexico (duh). We coulda made a run for the border, but I didn't have my passport with me and vegetarian buffet at the Hare Krishna temple was calling our names...

Dear ..

2008-03-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

University ____ ,

Can you please just get your shit together and get back to me? With something? Efff! Where do you get off stringing people along like this, especially when most other institutions have the courtesy to provide some kind of specific information to their applicants?? Saying I'll hear in the next several weeks is significantly less than helpful. Seriously.

Mum and Dad,

Would you completely disown me if I got a motorbike? I know everybody has a near death experience in their first year of riding, but _most_ people survive it right? I didn't tell you that I rented a glorified moped in Waterton and road half way to Cameron lake and back. I figure riding to South America would be like that, but on a larger scale. Also, cashing out RRSPs is just a bad idea right?

Lady Jane Grey,

You're pretty so you don't have to be nice right? I get that. But could you please _not_ scratch up my green chair when you're mad? The quarantine kitty will only be here for a few more days, and she gets crunchies because she has a functioning digestives system, unlike you. It only cost me $350 to figure out that you were probably all backed up because you kept eating my potted plants, which you shouldn't have been doing in the first place. Your diet of bland high fibre wet food serves you right. So suck it up.

--

Lots of love...

SA

Choose your own adventure

2008-03-11T14:33:00.000-07:00

So, possums (all four of you), the tantalizing spectre of grad school has not completely disappeared, but it has receded somewhat. I need to start thinking about a future outside of the academy. What is next for the ol' SA? Time for more schemes, without a doubt.

Option 1: Stay in Edmonton and finish off my secondment in this corner of the cubicle farm. I've been told I'd have a future here beyond Jan 2009 if I want it.

Option 2: Travel without formal plans - Asia? Eastern Europe? Savings be damned (they are already)!

Option 3: Look for something in my default line of work somewhere else. BC?

Option 4: Find some french language program in Quebec. Build on remnants of an existing skill.

Option 5: Give up on setting my own agenda and accept one of the many invitations from friends to move into their closets around the world..

--

Thoughts? Feedback? Other suggestions?

Don't buy the whole pig for just a little sausage...

2008-03-07T09:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I accidentally ate some chicken (the waitress mixed up the spring rolls). Tonight I'm going to a 'smoked meat' party (apparently rye bread, pickles, and cherry coke will also be provided). Usually, I think I'm a pretty chill vegetarian. And I can accept that meat occasionally arises as a theme in my life (I suspect it is identified as a theme, because I am a veggie). But every once in a long while, when I really think about the impact of meat consumption (social, economic, environmental, humanitarian) and I consider my compassionate, intelligent, socially aware, responsive meat eating friends, my chill-ness sometimes gets disrupted. Does bacon really taste that good?

I know, I know. it does. I get it.

But really? Is this the best we can do here?

Something hurts... is it my ego?

2008-03-06T08:04:00.001-08:00

I like my job a fair bit. I really do. These days I contribute to the development of things of actual importance. I speak with relative authority. I debate policy issues. I write original text. I work hard with a team and we, for the most part, deliver well thought out, reasoned work, which is developed with reasoned debate and analysis.

And then we bring it to the next level in the hierarchy. And then we sit in the office of a representative of this next level. And then we shrivel. And we get spoken to like we're six years old. And something inside of me starts to heat up. And vibrate. And I desperately wish I had a 'chip clip' to put over my mouth. And I commit to myself every 15 seconds not to say anything - not to explain that we had, in fact, "thought logically", and yes we did do "just a little bit of research", and that there were good reasons for why we did what we did. But that little spot just comes alive when someone accuses me of not thinking.. it is a powerful force...

I think I might have a problem with authority. At least with those claiming intellectual authority.

...I wonder if the dollar store sells those clips....

And this one makes....4?

2008-02-27T09:08:00.000-08:00

Daily irritations...

1) People in the elevator lobby who stand directly in front of opening elevator doors...
2) People in the elevator lobby who stand directly in front of opening elevator doors, and then act all surprised when people want to get off the arriving elevator.
3) The crinkly sound made from chip bags being opened.
4) Co-workers who sing as they work.
5) People who take the stall right next door to mine, when there are _two_ other stalls available.
6) Lunch counters whose salads all contain meat.
7) That carrots give me hiccups.
8) That carrots on an empty stomach make me feel nauseous.

On the scale of personal governance, from emotional to intellectual self (0 - emotional, 5 - Spock) I'm at about a 2. Intellectually, I have little tolerance for people who complain and focus on the crappier aspects of life, so I post these irritations with some feelings of conflict (arising from desires to be driven by intellect on these matters, rather than emotion). I also feel this emotionally, but these things are just so... irritating... (when I'm irritable, like now, hence the 2), so up they go.

On a range from actual self to idealized self (0 being actual self, and 5 being idealized self) I'd say I'm at about a 2 right now (setting aside any questions about how disparate these two notions of self really are). Ideally, I would not be posting these things, but, as the 2 indicates, I'm disregarding my idealized self for the moment.

Unfit Parent

2008-02-25T07:20:00.001-08:00

Lady Jane Grey really deserves better than an owner who brazenly steals photos from friends' blogs. But she is stuck with me now. We've made it official.

... gets me every time...

2008-02-15T10:14:00.000-08:00

Tapas followed by an art opening...

2008-02-12T08:53:00.000-08:00

Just kidding. Last night I did work at the Remedy with some linguists. And then I went and played one awesome game of pool, followed by several awful ones. And yet I keep returning, cocktail in hand. My conversion to a skulking billiards hall rat is almost complete....

Falling in Love at Church. Parts I and II

2008-02-11T08:05:00.000-08:00

At first, I thought he was a complete ass. And the congregation was just too eager to kneel at the pulpit.

Mid-way through the set, after the bizarre heckler approached him on stage to tell him he (the heckler) was going to take off, after a couple of false starts, and after he couldn't tune his guitar, I started to rethink my original position...
.. And by the time he had come back for a second set, and reworded the lyrics to Girl of My Dreams so it was less creepy, and organized a sing along... ..I was converted. At least for the final few moments...

Remember when...

2008-02-05T21:18:00.000-08:00

We drove up that winding mountain road to the pine forest in the hills? We stopped to look out over Arizona. The desert was unlike anywhere we'd been... cacti, grasses, vicious shrubs..

When we huddled under an umbrella watching Fra's soccer game? We did a mini-photo shoot. this was our best shot...

When we drank too much on weeknight at the Garneau (again)? This time it was Hallowe'en. You went all out with the bunny ears... I just worked on looking completely captivated...

When we were so friggen' sexy it hurt? And I was even wearing my ultra-hot office cardigan.

Those were good times....

Family affairs

2008-02-01T14:52:00.000-08:00

The Duthie sisters unite once again for a sub-committe meeting. Topics of discussion so far have included the cold, Alberta politics, walking in the cold, the Beatles, whether one needs gloves in the cold when outside for only a minute, Oilers hockey, and how cold it is.

There is no judgment here. Edmontonians (or at least those of us that live here) talk (blog, f-book) about the cold an awful lot, as you've no doubt noticed.

And don't worry, Mum, we are having fun. :)

And the winner is...

2008-01-29T14:52:00.000-08:00

Lady Jane Grey!!!!

To be picked up on Friday.

(and no, I didn't name her).

WritingFix’s Random Daily Prompt Generator

2008-01-29T14:47:00.000-08:00

The following is a list of writing prompts, courtesy of WritingFix. I didn't cull the randomly provided set very much at all. This is pretty much the tone of the promps... Do they strike you as... er... negative? or maybe just dark?

====

"What place do you think of when you think of total darkness? Write about that place."

"Then why would you eat with them? Write about someone who is/was a very unpleasant eater."

"Who taught you close to nothing? Write about the teacher who had the least impact on you."

"Why so red? Write about someone who is easy to make blush."

"Isn't your time worth more to you? Write about a person (maybe you) who has stood in a line too long."

"When did you finally become a realist about something? Write about an event that changed the way you thought."

"What do Crayolas tell us? Write a character sketch of a person (real or fictional) who couldn't color within the lines when using his/her crayons. What kind of adult do you imagine that person would make?"

"What's your yarn about yarn? Write a story where yarn is a very important story element."

"What made your childhood bearable? Write about it."

"Hello? Aloe? Write about a time you got a pretty bad sunburn."

They must have arrived in summer...

2008-01-28T12:14:00.000-08:00

Once or twice an Edmonton winter, I wonder what the hell anybody was thinking, settling here. Today was one of those days.

Temp: - 30 C

Windchill: -45 C

In my toasty apartment I am fine. In my five layers of fine knit synthetic wear, I can survive walking four blocks. But in a tee pee? Covered wagon? Bison-wear must have been a hot commodity.

Chunky.

2008-01-25T07:27:00.000-08:00

Many of my awesome bloggy friends chisel out minute tidbits of their lives and provide close comment of their significance to the rest of the day, and the rest of the universe. Usually, some meaningful but out of focus photo-representation is attached to drive home their perspicacious, and witty observations, and we all leave feeling as though the day has been made just that much more significant. You guys know you who are, and totally love you for it. But I completely SUCK at this form of blogging. Yesterday I was pulling photos of ETS buses off the net - they were to be my subject. A friggin' bus.

Alas, my life is not composed of easily extractable time slice tokens paired with abstract photography (my camera batteries are dead). The chunks are crude, and are represented by illegally obtained internet footage. So there.

"Your never hear about the crazy dog lady down the street.."

2008-01-23T09:07:00.000-08:00

By the time you read this, two things will have happened... 1) I will have gotten one step close to 'Cat Lady' status. 2) I will have blogged about it (which reinforces (1)).

I have not gained full CL status because: a) I will only be fostering the cats that I have. They will be available for adoption; and b) I will only have a maximum of TWO cats in my home at once. CL status requires a minimum of 3 cats in the home - this is the internationally accepted CL threshold.

Having said all of that, here are my potential foster cats:

i) Geerude and Fantasia - kittens, four months old.

ii) Minou, not yet two years old, has given birth to 2 litters of kittens (7 in the last batch).

--

So I've done it. Blogged about cats. That I don't even have yet.

I'm owning it.

It is owned.

New Beginnings...

2008-01-04T14:13:00.000-08:00

I have taken a job as a playmobile(ish) character. Its similar to the job I had before, but in a different plastic-town ministry. Nothing new or exciting to report yet, but I am confident that some crazy poly shit is going to hit the fan soon. I mean COME ON. In this line of work (you know what it is) how couldn't it?

Airline travel...

2007-12-24T20:24:00.000-08:00

By the time I get to the island tonight I will have been in seven different airports on twelve separate occasions since December 16th. Roughly...

Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto, Boston (visit), Boston (delay), Boston, Chicago, Denver, Edmonton (home), Edmonton, Vancouver, Island. I have read one and two half books straight (Sack's new book, Musicophelia, some modern code-y book Fiona gave me, Gilbert's Stumbling on Happiness), and am beginning to see the different merits in departure lounge design. Logan Airport (Boston) doesn't provide any room for boarding passengers to congregate apart from in the walkway between gates which makes for challenging navigation during boarding and general airline pandemonium. The random white country-kitsch rocking chairs scattered about these pseudo-lounges _does not_ make up for this fact. Denver is rife with annoying moving walkways which loudly announce the impending end of said walkways any time it detects a human being (i.e. always) and suffers from a sorry lack of food establishments near departure lounges (overpriced "chocolate" covered raisins are just not real food, I'm sorry). In spite of its Pierrot-esque black and white diamond linoleum floors, Chicago (O'Hare) does a terrible job of regulating the temperature - the cul-de-sac with the Starbucks kiosk (where I once sat for two days) is positively roasting.

United Airlines wins points over Air Canada, not only for providing a snack with the beverage service (mini pretzels every time), but also for having two kinds of tomato juice (regular and spicy). Also, if you ask for a pop, they will give you the whole can (compared to the paltry watered down third of a can presented on most AC flights). AC wins in the entertainment department with its seat-back entertainment units which work well, when they work at all.

On the flight between Vancouver and Toronto I sat next to an Eastern European guy who laughed loudly at 'The Bourne Ultimatum" (which I did not realize was a comedy) and recounted parts of the action loudly in some language I did not understand (at least I think that is what he was doing) to no one in particular for most of the movie. On the way back from Boston I sat next to a woman who had been on standby for 4 flights prior to mine and was feeling suitably sorry for herself (understandably). She fell asleep during take-off, facing me directly, with her mouth wide open. If this does not sound disconcerting, please trust me that it was. From Chicago to Denver I sat next to this poor woman who was sick when she got on the plane and proceeded to vomit, or be nearly vomiting, or be in the bathroom vomiting or nearly vomiting for the duration of the flight. Hey, I have been there, but puke is puke. During the final leg I sat next to a man who was literally spilling over his seat into mine. He snorted, sweat-ed, and sleep-apnea-ed his way through the flight, failed to display any courtesy to the flight crew, and generally wreaked with unpleasantness. It was a lucky trip.

Boston...

2007-12-17T22:37:00.000-08:00

Its cool and windy and damp. The snow is piled high where somebody has bothered to shovel it. I hope my Flys survive this place.

I examine kids/adults whom I take to be students at this school and I wonder if I can spot something that makes them unusual or extra-abled. So far they've looked pretty normal.

Hotel rooms are on my list of things favourite things (other items include rental cars, couples dancing when I know what I'm doing, karaoke in full swing, singing - maybe its just a list of things that make me smile). Similar to the promise presented with new stationery, I can optimistically plan a better life in a clean well furnished room that comes with a tub I know has been cleaned recently. Turns out hotel rooms alone are not that much fun after a while, though.

Specially when internet is 12 bucks a day.

Rip off.

Moving on

2007-12-07T11:13:00.000-08:00

Indeed. I need to kick my own ass sooner, and more often.

You heard it here first..

2007-11-29T11:52:00.000-08:00

Now don't get excited.

It's just a visit for some meetings, and I have to pay for it myself so it really isn't a big deal. In any case, some folks at the PhD Program in Health Policy at Harvard have expressed a mild interest in me and have "encouraged" me to come down before Christmas to visit some professors, sit in on a class, and meet some students.

So thats what I'm going to do.

Catching up? Screw it.

2007-11-28T15:08:00.001-08:00

The thought of getting all those UK picks and September picks and October picks up on this thing is overwhelming. Besides, people, I'm thinkging in the forward direction here! --> thattaway--> (left to right; ahead; in front of my eyes not behind them. you get it).

Although the best blogging season has begun. There is snow on the ground, and the temperature is dropping below - 20c. What else is there to do? But that is the rub, isn't it? What to blog about? The weather? But I've already done that! shit.

Les Soeurs

2007-11-05T15:59:00.000-08:00

On Saturday..

2007-10-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

... I made art.

A useful flow chart

2007-10-19T09:59:00.000-07:00

The Future...

2007-10-17T15:23:00.001-07:00

Really? Really?!

2007-10-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

Possible explanation for death of Polish man at YVR this week...

"Signs of agitated or excited delirium, also known as in-custody death syndrome, include acute agitation, violence, profuse sweating and insensitivity to pain."

I'm sorry ma'am, your son died of 'I bludgeoned him with my truncheon' syndrome. There was nothing we could do....

Hiking in Keswick (and a tiny bit of Penrith)

2007-10-14T00:10:00.001-07:00

Blog mutiny! Blogger has decided that I can't delete or rearrange these pics. Rather than fuss over it now or later, I've decided they will just stay where they are. Above: me overlooking the lovely village of Keswick, located in the Lake District in North West England.
Midway through a route march up Skiddaw - a local peak. The nearest dog's name is Rocky. Penny (my second cousin once removed pictured twice below) was looking after him while I was there. Her dog, Smokey, is in the distance.
The descent from Skiddaw. We took the long way 'round the back through a beautiful valley (notice the sheep on the hillside).
The valley. We could not have asked for a better day.
Ah! The castle ruins in Penrith, a larger village just east of Keswick.
Penny. We drank g'n ts and g'nss. She's a good sport.
And again.
Team Skiddaw. Rocky, Smokey, Penny, and me-y.
View of Keswick in the distance.

Hadrian's Wall

2007-10-13T14:30:00.000-07:00

Birdoswald Roman Fort. This is one of the forts interspersed along Hadrian's wall just east of Carlisle. This day was so lovely and the countryside, so picturesque, that I felt physically incapable of taking it all in.

It is pretty common for paths to pass through farmers' fields. Strolling past sheep and cows took some getting used to. One also has to watch where one steps. Remains of Hadrian's wall on the left.

A gorgeous river just a mile or so down the wall from the fort.

I normally don't take pictures of other people, especially kids, but I just had to capture this image because it reminded me so much of the things we used to do during visits to the UK when I was a kid.
Beyond the river, looking back.