Echoes of Echoes

Long overdue post.

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:35:11 GMT

Well, I have to admit that being busy isn't a bad thing, but it does wreak some havoc with keeping my LJ current. Sorry to those who are too stubborn or challenged to have a Facebook, because that thing is always up-to-date with my goings on.

So what have I been up to? Well... I've been seeing a wonderful girl (the one mentioned in the previous posts.) In the absence of a 30 day month, tomorrow will have to suffice as our two month mark.
Click here for a picture The details. She is from Colombia. She's been in Canada for 4 years. She loves anime. I am learning Spanish. She has the most amazing dark brown eyes. I am learning to dance to a variety of latin music and getting better. There are some very humorous videos of Kevin, Emerson, Eiichi and I dancing at a big Latino Party up on Facebook.

I'm somewhat addicted to the Pro Wrestling game on Facebook. 7 time Vancouver Champion. Ridiculous how much fun I have with that. Over Christmas I played a lot of Link's Crossbow game on the wii. Really fun! And I played a lot of Resident Evil:UC until Rock Band came along. and I admit that I have been playing A LOT of Rock Band on the PS3 with my room-mate Eiichi and Emerson. We named our band Chika (inside Joke from Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles) and we are having so much fun with it that we have even had a photo shoot for our band at the White Rock pier.

For Example...
Chika action!
handsome AND talented.
Clearly... a t-shirt opportunity

Things that are coming up:

Tomorrow night I am going to the Nintendo Fan Event for Super Smash Brothers: Brawl. I get to play and I have a chance to win a copy. Very exciting! I imagine that this will replace Rock Band for the foreseeable future.
After Easter I will be hitting SakuraCon again. I'm hoping to cook up a Master Roshi costume this year and Cosplay it for a change.
May I am off to Las Vegas with my Mom, Dad and Sister
August is a week fishing (but Whispering Pines is gone, so we are at Emerald for the first time). That's sort of weird after so many years at the other resort.
The Saturday after the Fishing trip is Warped Tour (but not in Vancouver, down to the Gorge in Washington)
The following week should be my Southern Alberta Visit.
October Eiichi and I, and probably Emerson (sorry mom) are driving to Salt Lake City for General Conference.
Late December I have a couple weeks off in anticipation of Rachel's visit.

Things I need to do more of:

Finish writing a piece for the Story with Kay.
Paint some more of the Empire Army (or at least finish Chris' dire wolves
Read my LJ.

Year In Review Meme for 2007

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 21:13:55 GMT

Fourth year in a row!

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Drove to Alberta on my own

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make New Years' Resolutions.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
a few friends had babies this year

4. Did anyone close to you die?
I lost a few friends and some one I felt close to - James E. Faust

5. What countries did you visit?
The US of A a few times.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Money in my savings account

7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Saturday August 18th. Boris dies in Calgary and I have to scramble to get a flight home.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Completing the Service Catalogue at work

9. What was your biggest failure?
I bailed out of my English Class to focus on Psych. 2 days after the refund deadline.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I was sick a few too many times but I was never injured

11. What was the best thing you bought?
my Nintendo Wii

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mine! 5 times on the Grouse Grind in the summer! Great discipline when faced with sugary temptations too.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
A good friend let a bad habit and a weakness over-shadow his most important relationship

14. Where did most of your money go?
Bringing the kids for an Easter Visit and to mechanics to fix Boris

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Rachel and Kaithan's visit and SakuraCon!

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
My Heart - Paramore (anything by Paramore or Funeral for a Friend)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? thinner
iii. richer or poorer? poorer in the pocket book, richer in experience

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Gone to the Temple

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Paid mechanics

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Hanging out with mom, dad and Gloria

22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
No.

23. How many one-night stands?
None.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Survivor, Alias

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope

26. What was the best book you read?
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen (hadn't read it in years and years)

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Paramore, Funeral for a Friend, Vega4

28. What did you want and get?
Time with my kids, Time with absent friends

29. What did you want and not get?
my guild to stay in one meaningful piece

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Enchanted.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Dinner with the family as usual. 42

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
less automotive calamity!

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
emo kid

34. What kept you sane?
My nintendo Wii, mle, itch, music and movies

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Megan Fox in Transformers.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
'08 US Election

37. Who did you miss?
Rachel and Kaithan

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Mah Vivi and Ness-chan!

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
It isn't what other people THINK you want that matters, it's what YOU want.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

"Gosh my old calculator ain't go no bow,
Nippley man I met, He ate my motorboat!
Calm down and park that comfy shin guard armor!
Welcome the dude who ain't the buyer of mugs.
Girly Man!! .... "

Buffalax lyrics to Tollywood music video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtJRNyPK-lc

wikipedia meme

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 09:43:19 GMT

1. Go to the Wikipedia home page and click random article. That is your band's name.
2. Click random article again; that is your album name.
3. Click random article 15 more times; those are the tracks on your album.

Band Name: Metzenbaum scissors

Album Name: Takaracho Station

1. Norman Hetherington
2. Dasi Station
3. Ice'n'Green
4. Rapport congruency
5. 1500
6. USS Stevens (DD-86)
7. Euptelea pleiospermum
8. First Information Report
9. Zanthoxylum lindense
10. Interstate 275 (Florida)
11. Darrick Brownlow
12. Saar 3 class missile boat
13. Mörnsheim
14. American Ethnologist
15. Choke point

Golden Compass - no spoilers

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 06:12:39 GMT

Just got back from the Golden Compass. I'd like to give it two thumbs up and a yay.

Like most book to movie adaptations it is forced to leave a lot on the table, but I was happy with what made it. Excellent casting. I'm satisfied with it and look forward to the Subtle Knife when it comes out. It makes me want to re-read the series. Good stuff.

Kaithan... the story begins.

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:39:27 GMT

Hey Kay. I needed to get something out onto paper, so I wrote a little bit. For those who may read this other than Kaithan, this is the beginning of a story world that Kay and I are working on. We are in the process of defining the magic system and some of the key history that will establish the setting. Once we have something in place we will no doubt invite our friends to come read and participate as they wish.

The old man stood for a long while at the end of the path, staring at the garden - his eyes wandering the well-kept, orderly rows. Unseen, the watcher observed him, waiting. There was nothing special about this old man that he could see. He was, the watcher thought, around 60 years old and his movements down the curved path from the small cottage had been steady and measured. He was, it seemed, in good health. The watcher had not seen his face other than briefly as the old man's flat and wide hat kept his face in shadow. It was strange, he thought, to see someone so far south wearing the traditional rice-harvester hat of the northern coastlands beyond Moray.

At length the old man moved. Slowly, with great care and patience, he inspected each plant in the garden one by one. He spoke softly as he went, but the watcher could not hear what he said. In his hand, the gardener carried a blue watering can. Each plant received a brief shower as he moved down the rows. A more skilled observer would have questioned how it was possible to produce so much water from a single small can. The watcher took no note of it at all. As the old man moved down the final row he moved steadily closer to where the watcher was hidden in the bushy shadows of a large tree.

The watcher's fingers moved soundlessly up the shaft of the arrow he held, knocking it on the bowstring. The perfect moment would present itself when the old man rose after watering the last plant. It would be a simple shot at this range. Quick and uncomplicated. He did not know who this old man was or why someone wished him dead. It was never his policy to learn more than where he could be found and a good description. Some times a name, but he promptly forgot such things once the arrow flew. He sighted down the shaft of the arrow and slowly drew back. Soon.

At the foot of the garden the old man stooped to water one last plant. "That will do Hallah," he said quietly, but the wind carried his voice to the watcher. "Thank you as always." The watcher's eyes darted quickly around but could find no one else. Looking back, he saw the gardener place the watering can on the grass and then stretch hugely. The old man was side-on to him as he stretched. Entirely the wrong angle.

Just then a small bird, a wren of some sort, swooped around the old man chirping madly. It made two circuits and then landed on his shoulder. "Ho now," the old man exclaimed, "slow down... slow d- ... is that so? " The bird was not chirping now, the watcher noted, and yet the gardener seemed to be having a conversation with it. "Well that won't do at all will it?" a listening pause. "Of course, of course... that will be quite a surprise... " Focused as he was on the gardener's chest, the watcher did not notice the shimmer of light that manifested ever so briefly around the old man's right hand as he stepped out of the garden and turned.

The arrow flew, fast and true directly towards the old man's chest. Only to be snatched from the air with preternatural speed and thrown back towards him equally fast and true. Fatally so. The watcher knew even as the shaft pierced him that he was dead where he stood. He fell against the tree, his bow tumbling from his fingers into the scrub brush he'd used to conceal himself. His last thought as the red darkness descended was the question, "how?"

Love or War?

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 19:36:04 GMT

Freeverse reply to Scott Perrie's question.

WarLove!
begging who's next?
I mistook your
violence
for sex.

in your arms
dropping bombs
on your bedroom
battlefield.

Peace talks
cease fire
my desire is not sated
by this daisy in my rifle.

djm

When Your Heart Stops Beating - Music Meme

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 06:10:12 GMT

Viked from zyada

1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write that song name down no matter how silly it sounds.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Kiss Me Deadly (Generation X)

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Age Six Racer (Dashboard Confessional)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Sucker (New Found Glory)

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Like Knives (City and Colour)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Balance (Allister)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Perfect Circle (REM)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Nowhere (Longview)

WHAT DO YOU OFTEN THINK ABOUT?
Backwaters (David Sylvian)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
No One is Convinced (Daphne Loves Derby)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Pretty in Pink (Psychedelic Furs)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Further (Longview)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
By The Way (Last Winter)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Solar Sister (the Posies)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
If You Asked (Longview)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Wasteland (Augustana)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
The Ink in the Well (David Sylvian)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Ways and Means (Snow Patrol)

WHAT IS YOUR NICKNAME?
Hallelujah (Paramore)

WHAT WILL YOU NAME THIS MEME?
When Your Heart Stops Beating (+44)

I'm pretty impressed with how often those answer almost work. That is pretty cool.

Avast Ye Dogs

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:47:48 GMT

Today be a day of deeds 'n' valour. T'day ye walk th' walk an' talk th' talk. Arrrr.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jcxumTouO8

Music Meme from Last FM (revisited)

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 07:10:48 GMT

step 1. grab your Last.FM top 10 Artist list:

1 Daphne Loves Derby
2 Catherine Wheel
3 Copeland
4 My Vitriol
5 Snow Patrol
6 Rufio
7 Mae
8 Hawthorne Heights
9 The Posies
10 The Church

step 2. answer the following questions based on that list:

What was the first song you ever heard by 6?

"Still"

What is your favorite album by 2?

"Chrome"

What are your favorite lyrics that 5 has sung?

"We need to feel breathless with love
And not collapse under its weight
I'm gasping for the air to fill
My lungs with everything I've lost " - It's Beginning to Get to me.

How many times have you seen 4 live?

Never but oh I would love to!

What is your favorite song by 7?

"The Ocean"

What is a good memory you have involving 10?

Dancing to The Unguarded Moment at Bumpers. The song always reminds me of that time.

Is there a song by 3 that makes you sad?

There was a time when a few of their songs had some certain tristesse, but not anymore.

What are your favorite lyrics that 2 has sung?

"Everyone needs someone to live by. Everyone needs someone... to live" - Heal

What is your favorite song by 9?

"Love Letter Boxes"

How did you get in to 3?

Discovered Copeland through the Daphne Loves Derby community on LJ.

What was the first song you heard by 1?

"Come Winter "(the original acoustic version)

What is your favorite song by 4?

"Ode to the Red Queen"

How many time have you seen 9 live?

none.

What is a good memory you have involving 2?

Meeting the band at Richards on Richards backstage.

Is there a song by 8 that makes you sad?

Not at all, HH isn't exactly that sort of band.

What is your favorite album of 5?

Open Eyes is just barely ahead of Final Straw. Very close.

What is your favorite lyric that 3 has sung?

"Wait now prince, there's a brilliant sky above,
and a jealous moon in love
and it's starved for our attention" - When Paula Sparks

What is your favorite song by 1?

"Tennis Court Soundtrack"

What is your favorite song by 10?

"Reptile"

How many times have you seen 8 live?

Twice

What was the first song you heard by 8?

"Ohio is for Lovers"

What is your favorite cover by 2?

CW does an amazing cover of Pink Floyd's "Wish you were here"

Boris.... is back from the dead.

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 22:37:16 GMT

Yes, you read the subject line correctly. Boris, my 1991 Ford Explorer XLT who died at the end of my Calgary trip 3 weeks ago with a broken transmission is back on the road. The bank would not give me enough money to buy a new vehicle worth having, but they would let me have just barely enough to bring Boris back to life. $2300 later, Boris is back and better than ever. Still need to do another oh... $500 of work on him, but I am really impressed with the new transmission. I drove back from Calgary yesterday the truck drove beautifully. More power in the later gears too it seems. Going up hills, even really long ones, I always had a little more if I needed it. As much as it would be cool to have a new vehicle... something made in this century perhaps, I have to admit that I really love Boris and I am happy to have him back. We had a good drive home.

Vacation redux

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 19:05:53 GMT

Well... I'm home.

It's been a wonderful couple weeks of vacation.

Week one was our annual fishing trip to Loon Lake and spells the end of an era for us. The fishing was great! Dad caught 14 fish, I caught 5, Gloria had 4 and mom 3. It has been a long time since we pulled that many keepers out of the lake. We threw back at least twice that. Gloria managed to end up in emergency with a cut on her leg that required 5 stitches. She's going to have an impressive scar. The wound was caused by a Raspberry Jam jar. Jackie and Bob are selling the resort and it looks like a developer is the buyer, which means that next season will be the last on before the resort is knocked down and replaced with several small houses. Sad. We have booked ourself in at Evergreen, just down the lake for next year so that we can still have our trips each summer. It will be weird to go to a different place, but in the end, fishing on Loon Lake is the same no matter which dock you launch from.

Week Two was a trip to Calgary that I secretly planned so that I could surprise some friends. I didn't tell anyone in my family because I knew that my mom would worry terribly about me on the 12 hour drive. It was fun, starting out on the Saturday morning in my truck. I updated my facebook status from my phone as I passed Hope. I really REALLY enjoyed that drive with music blasting from my iPod. I would play set of music from a single artist and then between those sets I would let the iPod dish out 5 random songs. I dubbed these sets my "Mandatory Fives". I have 4000+ songs of all types on my player. Letting it choose 5 at random is a bit risky because there are hundreds of songs I don't like on my player. Songs that are there for other people's benefit. Some sets would be remarkably good. I had one near Merritt that was all 80's music. Others were a challenge to listen all the way through, but I stuck by my guns. I arrived at my cousin Aaron's place at around 9pm Calgary time. It is a really beautiful drive through the southern BC heartland and Rockies.

Sunday, I got up early so that I could go down to Cranston Ward and surprise Debbi at Church. I couldn't figure out how to get Aaron's shower to work. Darn new-fangled thang! So I had a little crouched down bath/shower from the faucet. Had to admit to Aaron later that I couldn't suss out how to work it. Made it to Cranston with time to spare. I don't know how I didn't know that Katerina was in that ward too, but it was funny when she came in, looked right at me and just nodded and continued on her way. I had to call her over. It was like her mind saw me and just thought "There's Don and he's at Chuch and that's where we always see each other" and didn't connect the part where that was usually back in Surrey. It was pretty fun. Found Debbi down in the nursery and her reaction was a bit subdued. Sort of a classic response from her said in that certain bemused tone she has. "What are you doing here?" slightest shake of her head. I stayed and talked to her for about half-an-hour, arranged to have dinner at her place Thursday, then headed back NW to go to Aaron and Jodie's ward. Dinner was at Reuben and Cindy's place and after dinner we got to check out their 70" High Def TV. Daaaaaang. The brakes on my truck felt a bit weird, I think the front left will need to be done as soon as I get home.

Monday I went over to Jos and Djo's place and hung out with Jos and Aj. It was pretty excellent to just loaf around and talk about stuff like old times. Aj has really come a long way in the short time since they moved back to Calgary. He knows his ABCs and can sign them as well. He still struggles with his diction and you have to correct his pronunciation, but he is really trying hard to repeat what you say. While Jos went and picked up Djo from work, AJ sat on the couch and I drew letters and numbers for him and he identified them one after another. That was cool. Once Djo got home from work, we went out for something to eat. We ended up at Perkin's. Disaster. Flat out awful experience for everyone. It is my recommendation that this establishment be burned to the ground as a safety precaution. While out driving, I noticed that in the low gears, sometimes the truck needed to be revved higher than usual to get any pull. Like it was slipping a little out of gear. Need to get that looked at too.

Tuesday I went to Market Mall, bought a couple DVDs and a book, got my watch a new battery! Yay, only took me a month to do that. Then I went over to U of C and picked up Emily and her friend Natalie so that we could go to the Beehive Bookstore. Got to say hello to Kristi too. At the bookstore Emily was the ultimate Queen of Indecision and it was very amusing watching her not decide what she wanted to buy, particularily when it came to music Cds. After I dropped the girls off back at EFY, I went back over to the Willard's to pick up Jos. We met up with Aaron, Reuben, Kevin and Kelsie to see Transformers. Kevin, Kelsie and I had already seen it, but it is worth seeing twice on the big screen. This time around I was really struck by how Megan Fox reminds me of the girl from my english class that I went out with a few times at the start of the year. Megan is in a very similar category of beauty as Jacy. A lot has to do with her bright blue eyes and the shape of her mouth. It was distracting in a good sort of way. I miss hanging with Jacy.

Wednesday I drove down to Cardston to see the Temple there. Man what a mind-numbing drive that is! I have never appreciated the drive to Bellevue so much before! Nevertheless, the Temple is very cool and beautiful inside. After the session, I drove to Raymond and stayed overnight with the Runquists. Their kids have grown a lot since they moved out there. It was neat to sit around with Cathy and Tyler and catch them up on stuff going on back in Surreyland.

Thursday I stayed at the Runquists for as long as I could. We took a walk into main street to return a video and rent a couple more. Lizzie decided that she wanted to hold my hand the whole way. Best walk ever. By the time we got back to the house all three girls were talking to me and showing me things they could do and it was clear that Uncle Don was in their good books. It was very hard to say goodbye when the time came. Too late, I learned that I had two other friends living in Raymond and another friend in Lethbridge who would have driven down to Raymond to say hello. Sorry James, David and Lajayne, and Sarahlynn. Next time I promise. I drove back to Calgary and made it to Debbi's place in time for dinner. Sadly Debbi couldn't stick around after dinner because she had a girl's night out. Dinner was really good though and I have a new appreciation for vanilla yoghurt I never imagined I would. After dinner I hung around for a bit, watched some Curious George and then went out to look at fish related stuff with Kevin and Kelsie. Got back to Aaron's place after that and he and I tried to watch 1408 but the DVD rip didn't work. We watched the Fog instead. Worst Ending Ever. Very disappointed. Salma Blair though... she's hot.

Friday was my last day in town. I spent most of it just lazing around at Aaron's after he and Jodie left for Jodie's sister's wedding. Hit the Willard's place at dinner time. Jos and I played some NHL '07 and then we watched Van Hellsing.

Saturday morning I set out at 8:30 on my long drive home. It only lasted a few blocks. The transmission on my truck blew. We had it towed, the shop looked at it and it was determined that I needed a new transmission. I don't have $1500 to $2000 to put into my truck, so it is still in Calgary and I flew home on Westjet. I will be back in Calgary on the Labour Day weekend. to deal with final disposition of the truck. If you had told me before I left on this Calgary trip that I would have all the experiences I did and it would cost me the truck to do it, I would have still gone, without hesitation. I had an AMAZING week seeing all my friends back there.

Finally a quiz for someone older than 16!!

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 05:39:59 GMT

Tired of all of those surveys made up by high school kids?
'Have you ever kissed someone?'
'Missed someone?'
'Told someone you loved them?'
'Drank alcohol?'

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
phone

2. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
White Spot sadly.

3. Last time you puked from drinking?
I was 9.

4. When is the last time you got drunk and danced on a bar?
Never

5. Name of your first grade teacher?
Mrs. Ritchie

6. What do you really want to be doing right now?
spending time with someone who digs me too.

7. What did you want to be when you were grown up?
English Teacher

8. How many colleges did you attend?
2

9. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
It was clean and I like the band

10. Gas prices?
are too bloody high

11. If you could move anywhere and take someone with you?
I like it here, but I would move into my own place with my kids if I could.

12. First thought when the alarm went off this morning
so soon?

13. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
I'm blowing this

14. Favourite style of underwear?
clean

15. Favourite style of underwear for the opposite sex?
simple cotton panties

16. What errand/chore do you despise?
cleaning the fridge

17. If you didn't have to work, would you volunteer?
Sure. I have in the past.

18. Get up early or sleep in?
Sleep in!

19. What is your favourite cartoon character?
Shouldn't that be WHO? Nausicaa

20. Favourite NON sexual thing to do at night with a girl/guy?
give backrub while watching a movie

21. Have you found real love yet?
yes, a couple times.

22. When did you first start feeling old?
Hasn't hit me yet.

23. Favourite 80's movie?
Better Off Dead w/ John Cusack

24. Your favourite lunch meat?
turkey

25. What do you get every time you go into Sam's Club? Or Walmart?
Everytime? I don't buy something every time. What's Sam's Club?

26. Beach or lake?
the lake

27. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
No

28. How many people do you stalk on Facebook?
er... two?

29. Favourite guilty pleasure?
Jane Austen

30. Favourite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about?
I have no shame. I have movie OTHER people are embarrased that I have. but I am fine with them.

31. What's your drink?
Water

32. Cowboys or Indians?
Indians

33. Cops or robbers?
Cops

34. Who from high school would you like to run into?
Lanita

35. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?
The Fox if I don't have CDs to play.

36. Norm or Cliff?
Cliff!

37. The Cosby Show or the Simpsons?
Simpsons

39. Do you like the person who sits directly across from you at work?
Keano? AKA Easy Money? the K-train? He's great fun!

40. If you could get away with it, who would you kill?
The person resonsible for cancelling Firefly.

41. What famous person(s) would you like to have dinner with?
Joss Whedon

42. What famous person would you like to sleep with?
This is an awkward question.

43. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?
Yes. Kitchen fires are not my friend.

44. Last book you read for real?
Black Sun Rising.

45. Do you have a teddy bear?
since I was 2.

46. Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?
Airport washroom

47. Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go?
Malibu

48. Do you go to church?
Every week.

49. At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or a new relationship?
Relationship

50. Just how old are you?
42

A Project I've been wanting to do

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 20:11:47 GMT

I've been thinking about this lately. I asked for input once before but no one was interested or had the time, but I am still wanting to do something with this idea. Here's what I am wanting;

Poetry Readings. Specifically readings by you, my friends, of your favourite poem of mine. I am curious about how they sound to others. I only really have experience with one other person reading my poetry and I loved listening to her versions of them. Greedily, I want more. I would love it if some of you would take the time to record something for me and send it my way. If you aren't shy, I may create a page and include your readings on it for others to hear (but only if you are comfortable with that.)

I'm also curious as to what poems people would choose.

The 4th of July

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:58:52 GMT

a few years back ijason, hiloui and I began a tradition of going to Birch Bay for the fireworks event on the 4th of July. I've mentioned this before, it's awesome. Instead of the city putting on a show for 15 minutes, the community is allowed to fire off whatever they've got (other than bottle rockets - those get conviscated) at the beach for hours. It's unlike anything else I've ever experienced. This year was the best show so far.

I staked out our usual spot at 7pm on a day that saw the temperature soar to 30c. It was beautiful and the scenery was most enjoyable. Some of my friends showed up around 9ish and people were as usual already firing stuff off. Let me tell you, we had some fun neighbours. I bought $70 worth of roman candles and the like. My favourite being the TNT 300 that fires off (you guessed it) 300 whistling, banging, popping aerials in rapid succession. It rules. Also had a 8 barrel howitzer roman candle set that I managed to get 4 firing at once and then 2 and 2 again. Cool. Next year though... mortars. The guy next to me was lobbing some awesome shots. I wanna be that guy.

The best part is always the 10pm - 11pm block. People hold off on shooting their best stuff until then. There was one point where I looked directly up at 5 different aerials exploding above me. Who wants to sit and watch stuff get shot off a barge when you can stand in the the heart of it and participate? AMAZING FUN.

another year, another Warped Tour

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 18:42:22 GMT

Warped Tour was good again this year. I went with Scott, Eiichi and Amanda and spent most of the time watching bands with Scott. I've never really hung out with him much despite knowing him for a few years now. It was fun seeing a few bands I've seen before and discovering a few new ones. Very high on my list of exciting new discoveries this year are Paramore, Funeral for a Friend, and The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. FFAF in particular blew me away. The lead guitarist is a freakin' artist! I was just amazed by his playing. FFAF has a post-hardcore mixed with prog rock sound that reminds me of Coheed and Cambria with much more balsy vocals. I LOVED their set. Paramore had a very tight set and I cannot figure out how they aren't much much bigger by now. Hayley's vocals are very radio friendly and she's adorable, these guys could be knocking the Avril's of the world on their backsides with their legitimate punkypop goodness.

Despite taking precautions and applying sunscreen regularily throughout the day I still managed to get a bit of a sunburn. As usual the left side of my neck towards the back is a stripe of lurid red agony. I really need to do better at protecting that spot next year.

Fireworks tonight in Birch Bay. It's supposed to get up to 30c today. I think this is the first really perfect weather day I can remember on a July 4th for about 5 years. I hereby dedicate this post to absent friends. It won't be the same without you. Be well. Miss you.

ps. little spoon, this would be better with you there. I'm just sayin' =P

The Grouse Grind

Sun, 17 Jun 2007 02:41:57 GMT

Today was a big day for me. Today I tackled the infamous Grouse Grind for the first time. For those unfamiliar with it, here are the statistics...

the Grouse GrindTM - often referred to as Mother Nature's Stairmaster. This rigorous 2.9 km (1.8 mile) hike takes you straight up the face of Grouse Mountain. By the time you reach the plateau, your ascent will have gained 853 metres (2,800 feet). Average completion time: 1.5 hours In a way it is reminiscent of the 'back way' into Mordor up the stairway from Minas Morgul to Cirith Ungol. Only with trees.

Mandeep from work picked me up at 9am and we drove into Vancouver to meet up with Joseph from work and a couple others. It was raining lightly. This, I am told, is the most ideal condition to climb in because the rain is mostly shielded by the trees but you are kept relatively cool. We got to the Mountain right at 10am and started our ascent at 10:10.

It didn't take long before the others were off and gone while I slowly picked my way along. I realized very early that this was going to be the hardest physical challenge I'd ever faced. It took me forty minutes to reach the 1/4 marker. As I drank some water I seriously considered turning back and going down to the parking lot and taking the Gondola up instead and meeting the gang there. I was inspired by the grade 7 kids with their gym teacher who were ahead of me. I would catch up to them as they rested and then they would be off while I caught my breath. It was that group that got my feet moving at the 1/4 mark.

At the 1/2 mark I noted that Frodo was acting strangely and wondered if the weight of the ring might be too great a burden for him. The gym teacher indicated that the second half was actually shorter than the first half. The markers represent distance up the mountain and the second half gains height faster than the first two legs. Steeper. The word he was not using was 'steeper'. I sat and ate a couple granola bars as the kids set off.

I caught them a couple times on the way to the 3/4 marker but eventually lost them. Just as I got to the 3/4 marker Mandeep called me on my cel to ask how I was doing. They had been waiting for an hour at that point up at the lodge at the top. I plodded on through the final 1/4 of the Grind being passed by old ladies and everyone else.

Finally the trees thinned and I emerged from the path into the greyness of the mountain. 2 hours and 30 minutes after I had started. Mandeep told me when I found them in the ski lodge that the first time he tried the climb he turned back at the 1/4 mark. They were all impressed that I stuck with it. I have to admit that I am pretty proud to have gutted it out. I have never done anything so hard before. Remarkably, I am going to do it again next month and try to better my time.

I hurt everywhere. I don't even want to think about what I am going to feel like tomorrow.

Take that Diabetes! You want me to exercise? I'll give you exercise! *karate chop to the Grouse Grind's throat*

the answers...

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:53:01 GMT

1) This Charming Man - the Smiths
2) Grazed Knees - Snow Patrol
3) Swamp Thing - the Chameleons
4) Under the Milky Way - the Church
5) Hands Down - Dashboard Confessional
6) Boston - Augustana
7) Day Late Friend - Anberlin
8) Car Underwater - Armor for Sleep
9) Don't Change - INXS
10) Doot Doot - Freur

A different 'spin' on the music meme....

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 18:25:49 GMT

Here are the first lines from 10 songs selected by setting my ipod to pull songs from those recently played, with preference toward higher rated songs. I skipped anything without lyrics or that was another song by an artist already included in the list.

Name the song and the artist. A fabulous prize goes to the person who gets the most correct answers. If you cheat and search for the answers, expect a gallon of negative karma. ;) (totally lifted this sentence from Dana)

1) Punctured bicycle on a hillside desolate, will nature make a man of me yet?

2) I'm trying not to stare, it's too late.

3) I can already hear your tune calling me across the room.

4) Sometimes when this place gets kind of empty, sound of their breath fades with the light.

5) Breathe in for luck, breathe in so deep, this air is blessed, you share with me.

6) In the light of the sun, is there anyone? Oh it has begun...

7) So let me get this straight. you say now you loved me all along?

8) Believe the news, I'm gone for good. Call off the search, no one will know that I'm down here.

9) I'm standing here on the ground. The sky above won't fall down.

10) What's in a name? Face on a stage. Where are you now?

and people who know me know that I listen to a lot of alternative stuff, so good luck.

not lookin' good at all.

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 05:47:34 GMT

42%Mingle² - Free Online Dating

well that tears it

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 05:24:18 GMT

Although it probably won't be counted official until the test result come back Monday, odds are that I have type 2 diabetes. it's official, diabetes sucks. I have a significant sweet tooth. Everything I really like is bad for my blood sugar. What a drag. So, here's to changing my diet. It looks like my boss is going to give me a mountain bike, so I can get cracking with the more exercise part of the plan. That's not so bad in and of itself. I keep coming back to the 'cut down on all that pie' side of the deal and that is just a heartbreaker. Pie is life!!

... time passes

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:49:21 GMT

I had a great week off. It was so nice to get away from work and the project I am on.

It was fun to be back at the lake in May. It has been many years since I was up there early in the season like that. The weather started a bit dismal and cold, but as the week progressed the skyies cleared up and the tempature jumped as high as 29c. The fishing was pretty slow though. We only caught 3 fish total in the 6 days up there. Dad caught the first, I caught the biggest and mom caught one as well leaving Gloria skunked although she was robbed of a fish right at the boat on the last day. Criminal. It was beautiful up at the lake though. Just being out fishing was enough, catching anything was a bonus.

I only had a half day back at home before my mom and I took off to Seattle to participate in a Ward Temple day (and a half). We did baptisms in the evening on Friday and then did a full day from initiatories to sealings on Saturday. It was a wonderful time and a great feeling to be there with mom and so many friends from Surrey 3rd. For my birthday, mom, dad and Gloria, gave me enough cash to purchase my temple bag, bundle as well as a couple DVDs at the Desert Bookstore. VERY cool.

Had dinner with the folks last night and watched the game. Just a quiet relaxing night which ended with a call from Rachel and Kaithan. All-in-all a great birthday.

this year it equals life, the universe and everything. it's a weird feeling. I feel like I should know the question by now.

what I did

Tue, 22 May 2007 15:40:23 GMT

Last Thursday night I got to see Brian Regan again. Funniest comedian out there! I went down to the show with Eiichi, ijason and mlelds3. We had seats in row J, lower orchestra. Nice and close so we could enjoy all of Brian's facial expressions. It was a good night.

Friday night I spent mostly playing GW and making a lot of progress towards my Elona and Tyria prot titles on Teana. Much much love for the ponies and jinxes that I was out with throughout the weekend. I've only got 2 Tyria bonus left and 3 in Elona. I'm pretty surprised really. I hadn't planned for this. I'm fairly happy that it is Teana that is going to have all 3 titles since she was the first character I created. She will have her second birthday in 3 weeks.

Saturday I took the stereo out of my old car and then swapped my 2 new tires from that car to my dad's car. In the afternoon, the wrecker came and took my car away. Farewell Otis, you served me well. I will miss your sticker-covered dashboard. I like my new truck though, I have to say it. I like the new Boris. I'm not sure what to do about stickers though. I'm less inclined to cover him with stickers. Check out things at BeamRiders and it will cost me $70 to get my good stereo put into the truck in place of the meh one I have now. That will have to wait then. Saturday night I kicked around in the game for a bit and watched a couple DVDs.

Sunday was Church and relaxing. My lesson in Sunday School was really good. I miss teaching those lessons a lot. Teaching in quorum isn't the same. A good relaxing day.

Monday I slept in until 10 or so. After I woke up I pretty much spent the next 5 or so hours painting or building warhammer figures from Kaithan's lizardmen army. I finished the skink spearmen and then got to work assembling the 2 regiments of Saurus Infantry. I had a lot of fun with the customizations by mixing and matching between the infantry and the cold one riders. Definitely a relaxing project. I think these guys will look good once I get to painting them. I've also finished the drummer for the cold one riders and have another 3 riders under way. Went out to ijason's place to catch up on shows and hang out.

and now I am back to work...

Hey Rachel!

Wed, 02 May 2007 01:11:08 GMT

Happy 17th Birthday. I know it isn't the 2nd here yet, but I hope you are having a good day today.

I O U one birthday present.

We'll figure that out when I sort out the car troubles.

rest in pieces...

Tue, 01 May 2007 19:25:26 GMT

Yep. My car is a goner. Repair to tire. $100 or so. Repair to front end $1800. Problems with my front end do not stem from the pothole but are cumulative and fairly long-standing. The car is becoming increasingly dangerous to drive. It is time to retire it.

Rob, here at work, has an explorer he's looking to sell for $500. Instead of one big thing wrong with it, it has several small things wrong with it than can be addressed one at a time. He's going to bring me the work list. I may be dumping the death trap I'm driving for a slightly less money intensive driving project.

not that I have $500 to spare any more than I have $1800. bleh.

tired of tires

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:00:00 GMT

Thursday night, driving back from ijason's place I hit a wicked pothole. It was raining and the pothole was disguised as a puddle. It was a nasty one though. Nasty enough to damage my rim and blow my tire. Right front. Faithful readers may recall that a couple month's back I had to get a new right rear tire... bleh. I pulled off to the side of the road and began the ordeal of swapping the blown tire for my spare. It took me over an hour. The lugnuts were so stiff (rusted) that I was actually standing on the crowbar to make them turn. It was exhausting. Mom and Dad came out for some moral support (and potentially to call BCAA) and we finally got the tire changed and I limped the car home.

Friday I drove to work with the plan of driving to the service station when I got off in the afternoon and getting that tire looked at. I actually only made it a few blocks up the road before the spare tire gave up too. I drove on the flat for a couple more blocks and got the car to the first service station I found. Left the car with them and went to get a bite to eat. When I got back I was informed that the blown tire was not repairable and that I should make a claim with ICBC. The blown spare tire was repaired and swapped to the rear right and my recently purchased tire was now up front. So I can drive short distances while I get this sorted out. Hopefully today. The mechanic also informed me that my front suspension was really messed up (my shocks have been useless for months) and the CV cuff on the right front is shot. Let's see how much of this I can get fixed under my insurance.

Saturday was a good day. Dan, Eiichi and I drove down to the Temple in Seattle. Left my place just after 7am, border was about half an hour wait. Hit the Temple just before 10. I really can't wait for the new Temple in Langley to be built. It really will be nice to have at best a 30 minute drive instead of the 2 1/2 hours. You know, Dan drives like a madman... He actually scared me a few times. That doesn't happen very often. It was a great day at the Temple and I really needed it. It was fun to hang with Dan and Itch for the drive and we had some good laughs.

Canucks need to fix their powerplay. 'nuff said