Christine's World

World Blogger Championship of Online Poker

2010-10-16T02:17:00.005-04:00

Here's a new badge.....

Blogger Tournament at Pokerstars.com

I played in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker 2010

2010-10-10T17:53:00.001-04:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

LOTRO goes F2P, and other news

2010-09-07T12:25:00.005-04:00

Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) goes "Free to Play" on September 10, 2010. The trailer is here. This means that you have the option of playing for free, but there are catches. You can only go so far in Free to Play before you HAVE to start paying, because you have to pay to access content (quests, etc.) in areas beyond the "newbie" areas.

In other news, students are flooding back to campus this week. Today marked the "academic" portion of Windsor Welcome Week, and we are giving talks to first year students about academic mattters - following the course sequence, study habits, keeping a balance between partying, studying, and a part-time job. I'm sure the students would rather be ANYWHERE else but listening to all this boring stuff.

Update to my quest to turn $0 to a fortune playing internet poker - the $6.75 I won from that tournament back in May got whittled down to almost zero, and then I won five dollars and change in another tournament. That was on Full Tilt. On PokerStars, last week I won thirty cents in a freeroll. I also seem to be doing better in multi-level freerolls, actually getting to round two a lot more often.

Stay tuned for updates.

TTFN,

CRAPCRAPCRAP!!!

2010-06-05T09:11:00.000-04:00

I remembered wrong AGAIN!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTEN!!!!!

Poker Odyssey

2010-05-19T17:57:00.002-04:00

No, this isn't another one of those PokerStars contest entries. I have a started a quest to turn $0 into a fortune on Full Tilt Poker.

I started last night with a Tournament Dollar Freeroll. I came in sixth place out of 7500 players. I won $6.75 in Tournament dollars, which I can use to enter money tournaments.

Stay tuned.....

TTFN,

Port Elgin, and other stuff

2010-04-24T15:28:00.003-04:00

Our Administrative Committee went to the CAW Family Education Centre in Port Elgin the week of April 12 for a one-week course on Collective Bargaining. It was a great learning experience and we met people from all over the country. I can't say any more - what happens in Port Elgin, stays in Port Elgin, right Heather and Shirley? Thanks to Jon, who stayed at my house with Bandit while I was away. Pictures are posted here .

Right after I cam back, Jon moved into his new apartment. It's in the same building, but four floors up. It's also MUCH bigger - two bedrooms, as opposed to the 1/2 bedroom bachelor apartment he had before. I just can't believe he packed so much stuff into that old place!

In other news, I've still been playing LOTRO and poker. I've been thinking of expanding my repertoire and watched these two short videos on YouTube:

Yeah, it's time for Part 3 and 4 of PokerStars SCOOP Blogger Promotion. How'd ya guess? Hehehe.

TTFN,

Yeah... it's been a while..

2010-03-23T18:18:00.002-04:00

...since I've posted meaningful stuff.

On Friday, the Chair of our Campus Community Police's Union was suspended without, to my mind, the University having followed proper procedure in their Collective Agreement. On Monday morning, the various Unions representing bargaining units across campus set up a demonstration at the parking lot that a number executives, including the Director of Human Resources, park in. See Windsor Star story here. I don't know if it's more because the Chair and his boss didn't get along (understatement of the century), or if it's the Administration trying to "stir the pot" (again an understatement) in advance of upcoming Negotiations for new Collective Agreements. If it's the latter, I think all they've done is prove that the various bargaining units, when provoked, show incredible solidarity.

In related news, our Administrative Committee will be going up toe CAW Family Education Centre in Port Elgin for a one-week course in Collective Bargaining. We have some new Committee members, and not only will we get an opportunity to get some different perspectives on the rocess, but we'll get to "bond" as a Committee.

In other, unrelated news, I'm still trying to get into the SCOOP Poker Tournament. This is part two of five blog posts where we put in a phrase, and link it to their site. It's kinda fun, and I'm sliding them in, since most of my friends don't appreciate poker the way I do. I've been doing freerolls all over the place, in my quest to go to a major tournament free. It'll probably happen the same day I win the lottery. Not that I'm pessimistic, or anything, lol.

TTFN,

Wonder how long it will take for anyone to get this?

2010-03-10T18:32:00.002-05:00

The Winter Olympics and...Poker?

2010-02-27T08:53:00.003-05:00

WOOHOO!!! At the time I'm writng this, TEN of Canada's tweny-one medals are GOLD!!! That's two more than the US, who have thirty-four in total!!!

I've been couch-potatoing, watching as much of the coverage as I can. As I'm writing this, I am watching repeat coverage of Canada choking, and ending up with silver in women's curling. But then I remember that we now have TEN gold medals!!! With the possibility of at least four more to come that I can think of off the top of my head - Men's Pursuit in long-track speedskating, four-man bobsleigh, men's hockey, men's curling.

I've been playing a lot of Lord of the Rings Online, levelling up lower-end characters, and playing poker. PokerStars has been having freeroll tournaments for a couple of events, one being a new North American Poker Tour. The problem with freerolls is that the majority don't take them as seriously, and will go all-in with 2-5 off-suit, and then catch a straight. If you get caught up in that and call one of these doughheads, and call them with pocket aces, and get them cracked, it can get pretty frustrating. If you can make through the morons, to the top third of the field, then you get to actually play poker. Then you actually have to think, because the people who are left after the doughhead carnage can actually play, which is why playing poker is clearly a game of skill.

Yeah, yeah, that was really lame, wasn't it. PokerStars is having a new promotion for those people who played in the World Blogger Championsip of Online Poker, and we have to write posts, and put in their sentences in your post somewhere, and a link to PokerStars in the process. Guess which sentence was the mandatory one ? I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. There will be four more....mwah hahahaha.

TTFN,

Union Administrative Committee election

2010-02-11T20:44:00.002-05:00

The elections for our Union Administrative Committee were held yesterday. I was nominated to serve as one of the seven Administrative Committee members (re-election for me). The top four vote-getters also serve on the Negotiations committee for our new Collective Agreement (The old one expires at the end of June).

Not only did I get re-elected, but this time I will be on the Negotiations committee. I am glad that I got re-elected, but I'm somewhat apprehensive about what is going to be a very hard round of bargaining, with the budget cuts across campus.

Stay tuned..

TTFN,

C

World Championship of Online Poker Event #3 NL Hold'em (again)

2010-01-27T21:07:00.000-05:00

Best result yet....187 out of 1826!!! WOOT!

World Championship of Online Poker Event #2 Pot Limit Omaha

2010-01-26T17:35:00.000-05:00

Out in 1123rd out of 1624 entrants.

My two pair got beat by another, higher two pair.

TTFN,

World Championship of Online Poker Event #1 No Limit Holdem

2010-01-25T17:33:00.002-05:00

It started with 1740 players.... pretty unevertful for the most part. Tried to be patient, bided my time.

FInally down to about 300 chips, anf got pocket nines. Ace on the flop...went out in 1102nd.

Oh well... there' always the next event tomorrow!

TTFN,

Another New Template

2010-01-23T00:42:00.001-05:00

We'll try this one for a while... see how it goes...

I'll be posting new Rabbit pics soon.

TTFN,

2010-01-19T21:41:00.002-05:00

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker! The WBCOOP is a free online Poker tournament open to all Bloggers, so register on WBCOOP to play.

Registration code: 630530

2009-12-31T07:44:00.001-05:00

Hope it's a good one!!!

No drinking and driving!!!

TTFN,

2009-12-29T11:06:00.001-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JON!!!!!

For his birthday, I bought him a copy of Metallica and Philosophy: A Crash Course in Brain Surgery, Family Guy: Something, Something, Something Darkside, and a box of Ferraro Rocher.

2009-12-29T10:38:00.009-05:00

Holiday Update

The picture below was taken with the new camera Jon gave me for Christmas - a Canon PowerShot SD1200IS - 10 MP. He also bought a 8GB memory card - holds 3000 pictures (yes three THOUSAND)!! The camera also does video.

Keeping with Jon's gift theme of the "Rabbit with the Sharp, Pointt Teeth"... a t-shirt.

Jon's mom also spoiled me rotten. Two books, a lightweight hoodie, and various stocking items.

Bandit also made out like, well, a bandit. I gave her a toy, a new collar, and a rawhide bone. Jon bought her a rubber frisbee type toy, and Jon's mom gave her a ball that holds kibble, and when the dog rolls it around, the kibble falls out randomly. Bandit was never interested in those when she was a puppy, but she bats it around the house now.

More updates soon!

TTFN,

2009-12-24T15:55:00.003-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

2009-11-05T21:50:00.001-05:00

Pics from Halloween

Try here...

TTFN,

2009-10-11T15:34:00.000-04:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

2009-07-02T22:50:00.002-04:00

WOW... This is COOL!!

A blog that features local (Windsor/Essex County) food outlets.

http://mylocalfood.blogspot.com/

As posted in that blog, there is a new, open-air farmers market set to open for the first time this Saturday. It's in the old Greyhound bus Depot on Chatham Street

Enjoy!

TTFN,

2009-07-01T01:45:00.000-04:00

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!

2009-06-14T14:10:00.001-04:00

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS - 2009 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS!!!!

...'nuff said.

TTFN

2009-06-06T09:15:00.001-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTEN!!!

Hey! I finally remembered it correctly!!!!

2009-05-24T22:52:00.007-04:00

Rabbit food

The rabbit isn't EATING this... he's just waving it around to show his support for the Wings, because I don't have any Penguins stuff.

This is what he'll be eating after the playoffs are over

Jon gave me the lobster from his last trip to Nova Scotia. Guess what its name is? (HINT: see post below..lol)

In other news, Bandit got a buzz cut. I tried to talk Jon into a haircut, but he would have no part in it. Doesn't Bandit look cute?

Before...

After.....

TTFN,

2009-05-01T23:08:00.002-04:00

Funniest word of the year is....

(drum roll, please) ... douchenozzle.

I was reading on Yahoo about Guy Lafleur getting convicted and possibly going to jail (Story here). I was reading the comments, expecting the Habs faithful to jump to Guy's defense, when three comments in, there it was "and wow, his kid looks like a douchenozzle". I laughed so hard I nearly peed my pants.

Spread the word ... douchnozzle ....

TTFN,

2009-04-20T17:34:00.003-04:00

Freaking Snuggie lovers

It's not bad enough that Snuggies are a cult phenomenon....because lets face it... it's for morons too lazy to move their arm from outside a blanket to pick up the freaking phone.

This past weekend Snuggie lovers from the Chicago area participated in a pub-crawl! Story is here!

I much prefer the parody commercials for Snuggies - this one in particular.

Wow - that's TWO posts in a day.... hehehe.

TTFN

2009-04-20T11:13:00.002-04:00

Yet another comic strip pays homage to Monty Python...

I love this comic strip. It's Dog Eat Doug.

2009-04-11T20:50:00.003-04:00

Happy Easter!!!

All ur chicks r belong to Rabbit.

TTFN,

2009-04-04T11:13:00.003-04:00

Don't Jon and I clean up well?

Jon and I went to the Commerce Society's annual Semi-Formal event last night. As evidence that, at least ONCE per year, I put on makeup, spend 45 minutes with the curling iron, and put on a dress. Jon looks pretty hot, too, dontcha think?

2009-04-01T20:35:00.004-04:00

As for the last post...

APRIL FOOLS!!!

Thanks for playing folks!

(Seriously, who actually thought I'd get married? Sheesh.)

TTFN, suckas

2009-04-01T12:39:00.002-04:00

HE PROPOSED!!!!!

After more than a year together, my scrawny geek guy Snookums proposed this past weekend!

It was so cute! Jon and Bandit and I took a walk in one of the riverfront parks. (Well, ok, Bandit was dragging us through the park.) Jon stopped at a bench, looked all serious, and said we needed "to talk". That's when he popped the question. Bandit approves - she's likes him better than me.

I'll post a pic of the ring later.

TTFN,

2009-03-06T13:53:00.001-05:00

Nothing to Say...

Folks have been bugging me to update my blog. I've had nothing to say these days...so I haven't posted.

Still nothing..... but stay tuned.

TTFN,

2008-12-31T23:19:00.000-05:00

HAPPY 2009 EVERYONE!!!!

2008-12-28T21:42:00.000-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JON!!!

2008-12-28T21:34:00.003-05:00

Holiday travelogue

It's been an eventful trip so far.

We left on Saturday before Christmas before noon. The weather caught up to us around Cornwall, and stopped for the night. It was clear for most of the day on Sunday as we drove through Quebec, and once we got into New Brunswick, the snow started again. We stopped at this little motel in Grand Falls, NB, and the weather really caught up to us. We got hammered overnight, and had to shovel out before moving along the next morning. The roads through the rest of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were pretty snow covered and cars were sliding around. Thank G-d for Jon's Liberty with the 4x4.

We got to Jon's parent's house on Monday night, and pretty much have been staying close to home since. We went into Halifax for a few day-after Boxing Day sales (stores aren't allowed to open on Boxing Day here), but didn't really buy all that much. Jon got a new leather coat.

Jon's birthday is tomorrow, and I still don't know what he wants to do.

Pics are here, and will be updated as I take more...

TTFN,

2008-12-24T15:49:00.001-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

2008-12-17T20:41:00.003-05:00

It's That Time of Year Again...

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!

The WBCOOP is an online Poker tournament open to all Bloggers.

Registration code: 519562

2008-12-10T14:03:00.005-05:00

...and folks say I don't have a sense of humour...

...I do... it's just twisted. As many of you know, I have a "Rabbit with the Sharp, Pointy Teeth" from Monty Python and the Holy Grail in my office. Normally, there is a piggy bank in its mouth, but I just had to put a Christmas spin on it.

I replace the original crappy cell phone pic with one from my digital cam.

TTFN

2008-10-24T16:09:00.002-04:00

What I've been looking at on the web lately

Found Magazine - this one is my favourite.

One of my co-workers had a shirt made out of it. I will be too. More disturbing is that someone posted a link in the comments section to a picture of it tattooed to someone's leg, in full size.

We the Robots - Today's comic

It is Indexed - the one I was sent by Sabina.

This one sums up my attitude in general.

2008-10-15T22:28:00.003-04:00

CRAPCRAPCRAP!!!

The Conservatives won ANOTHER minority government! Unions all over the country pushed an 'ABC' (Anything But Conservative) standard of voting, which, to my mind, just managed to split the vote, and lots of NDP candidates didn't win seats. Overall, the NDP won more seats than the last election, but I think they might have more, had there not been the ABC philosophy.

Let's see how long this lasts. Another election NEXT year?

TTFN,

2008-10-14T18:03:00.002-04:00

GET OUT THERE AND VOTE! ...

...or else you don't get to bitch about what the government does!

2008-10-12T13:33:00.002-04:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

2008-10-07T01:02:00.003-04:00

Mt. St. Helen's and Seattle

Maria and I came back from our trip to Mt. St. Helen's and Seattle this past Thursday.

I met Maria on Sunday afternoon in Seattle's airport. We picked up our rental car and drove down to the Nob Hill Bed and Breakfast in St. Helen, Oregon. We stayed in the French suite, and had a scrumptious breakfast with all organic foods. Yummy! They had this liquid body wash that foamed. I bought a lavender bottle.

We then went up to Mt. St. Helen's. We'd been viewing the Volcanocam for years, but the pictures didn't do it justice. There are still areas where, almost 30 years later, the forest hasn't grown back, and you can see the burnt trees that have been blown over by the force of the blast.

We then went to Seattle, and visited the Space Needle, and did some shopping at the Pike Place Market, which is celebrating its 100th year.

Pics from the trip are here.

In other news, the Faculty settled their strike with University. Classes began yesterday, just in time for me to come back from vacation, shockingly.

TTFN,

2008-09-21T12:00:00.002-04:00

WUFA Strike...and rally

The Windsor University Faculty Association (WUFA) went on strike on September 17. There are a lot of issues that led to the strike.

A rally was held on Friday, September 19. Members from Faculty Associations from all over Canada attended, along with local union members, MPs, and newly-elected CAW President Ken Lewenza attended to show support. Pics from the event are here.

Within a few hours of the rally, the University removed access to the website WUFA had on its servers. The Canadian Association of University Teachers is loaning them web space here.

TTFN,

C

2008-08-31T22:42:00.003-04:00

My birthday... and a visit to see Kristen

Last week was my birthday. It was a pretty quiet - Jon brought me a present... and a brownie cheesecake. My present was a Nintendo DS. I found what it was before my birthday. We were in an EB games store in Halifax, and I said that I was going to look to see if they had any used ones. Jon VERY quickly said "NO ... they don't sell used ones here... " He had to tell me that that was my present and he'd already bought it...lol.

He is also letting me use his old computer, which is MUCH better than my old desktop. I can play LOTRO on this one... in "high" graphic level! I couldn't even run it on my old desktop. I've been playing on my laptop in low graphics mode.

Yesterday, Jon, Bandit, and I went to see Kristen and Al yesterday. Kristen gave me a birthday present, which was featured in her blog earlier in the week. I knew when I saw it that it probably would be a present.

In other news, Jon and I will be going to the Labour Day parade. Fall classes start next week..... ugh.

TTFN

2008-08-18T22:36:00.003-04:00

Finally Pics from Nova Scotia, and others...

As most of you know, Jon and I went out to Nova Scotia with Bandit the last two weeks of July. Bandit, as is normal for her, took over Jon's parents' house within the first five minutes of arriving, claiming the property as "New Banditland". Who knew Nova Scotia had been misnamed?

Pictures are here. Be sure to go back to visit the page in a couple of days. I don't have Jon's pics yet. There were some things I noticed about Nova Scotia:

Most houses are sided. Unlike Windsor, where brick is everywhere, there's not much brick out in Nova Scotia. Siding and shakes seem to be the rule.
Even though the speed limit is 110 km/h, everyone seems to do 90. Really irritating, considering I'm usually doing 120 on the 401.
Cows ice cream is REALLY good!!!!!
The Bluenose II is smaller than I thought it would be.
If I never see fog again, it will be too soon for me. Ditto for tree lined roads where you can't see what's on either side.
The above being said, when the fog lifted, and you got away from the tree-lined road, it's a really beautiful place!
The best banana split on the planet, is not from Cows, but from a restaurant called Sweet Basil in Halifax. It had the most amazing caramel sauce...
Lobsters aren't available all year around, dammit.
But I DID eat lots of scallops. mmmmmmm... scallops.... drooooolllllll. The smaller ones are best.
I don't think that anywhere but the East Coast would you find a bag of smething called "Salted Fish Bits" on special in a grocery store flyer.

A huge thanks to Jon's parents for letting Bandit and I stay during our visit!!!

In other news, Kristen is recuperating from surgery, done while I was away. I'll be visiting on the Labour Day weekend.

A week or so ago, the Odette School of Business held its annual Faculty and Staff picnic. As part of the activities, there was an activity (for the kids, but I did it anyway). There were these little plaster piggy banks to paint. I brought it into my office. The Rabbit with the Sharp Pointy Teeth decided it was food. I'm waiting for someone to comment on it.

In other news, it's my birthday this weekend. I'm taking a couple of days off this week, just to hang out and relax.

TTFN,

2008-07-19T08:57:00.001-04:00

I'M ON VACATION...

... and Jon, Bandit and I leave for Nova Scotia later this morning. It's the first time that I've been that far east (in Canada), and the first time I've had more than one week of vacation at a one go since college. Actually, even then I worked through the summers.

I'll try to post updates while I'm gone.

TTFN,

2008-06-24T21:58:00.002-04:00

George Carlin - May 12, 1937 - June 22, 2008

George Carlin was my favourite comedian. He's the reason I almost NEVER say "Have a 'nice' day". Here are a few of my favorite bits

Have a Nice Day

Seven Words You Can't say on TV/Radio

Soft Language (sound on this one's bad)

I have many other favourites, but I couldn't find them online.

TTFN

2008-06-15T21:20:00.004-04:00

Bandit and Jon get haircuts... but not me.

I finally brought Bandit in for a grooming. She was getting really shaggy. While she was getting grommed, I convinced Jon that it was time to get a haircut too.

Pics are on my Facebook site here. Don't they look cute now?

TTFN,

2008-06-08T22:59:00.002-04:00

I can't believe I got it wrong AGAIN!!!!

I do it every year... I remember Kristen's birthday, just never on the right date.....

I got her a cool present at Art in the Park... so that should compensate (I hope).

Speaking of Art in the Park, there seemed to be a lot less pottery and more jewelry and food stuff this year. Of COURSE it was sweltering hot, but at least it didn't rain during one of the days like it usually does. I ordered some earrings to match the gold celtic-inspired ring form the same guy I got the ring from. They will have 5mm peridots on them. Jon had a good time, although he was not optimistic about that. He was calling it "Fart in the Park".

TTFN,

2008-06-06T14:17:00.002-04:00

NO MORE HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA THEME!!!

As of the last game of the 2008 Stanley Cup Final, the CBC ended its current license agreement with the 'owners' of the Hockey Night in Canada theme, with no plans to renew it, due to cost issues. I was dumbfounded!!! So, I whipped this email off to the CBC (via their comments form) today.

Today I read with some outrage, that the CBC was not renewing its agreement with the 'owner' of the Hockey Night in Canada theme.

I am sure that the CBC is, or will be, sifting through thousands of letters/emails expressing the same outrage and shock as my own. That theme is as Canadian as hockey itself! Ask a Canadian what would instantly reminds them of Canada, and I can almost guarantee that the Hockey Night in Canada theme is in their top five. Most Canadian can identify it in five notes or less.

The CBC is supposed to be a guardian of those things which make us uniquely Canadian. Don't let yet another piece of our cultural heritage fall by the wayside in the interests in profit margins.

I'm sure the CBC will ignore it...

TTFN,

2008-05-19T23:42:00.001-04:00

PENGUINS - REDWINGS STANLEY CUP FINAL!!!

Need I say more?

2008-05-19T17:34:00.002-04:00

Yeah... it's been a long time since I've posted...

...but I've been busy, so get over it. Recent events include (not necessarily in their proper order)

first-round Red Wing playoff game
I'm THIS close to a Penguins/Red Wings Stanley Cup Final. I am SOOOOOO excited!!!
I passed probation in my new job.
I've been playing WAAAY too much Lord of the Rings online. How much is too much? I've only been on for about four months, and I'm already a level 47 (out of 50). Jon is a 48. To be fair, Jon and his buddies took me into areas I probably wouldn't normally would have gone into so early, and levelled up much quicker than normal. Thank G-d an expansion pack is coming up.
It's been a year since Greg and I broke up. In true Greg form, he weenied out on picking up his crap from my garage. Should I just have a garage sale and get it over with?
and best news for last...Jon and I have been together for six months!!!

Upcoming events...

Academic Standing Committee - where the fates of all the people on Academic Probation get decided.
Head Start - incoming students get to tour campus, and talk to people in their chosen departments, and have a glimpse of all our services.
Jon and I are planning a trip out to Nova Scotia... with Bandit tagging along. We took a trip in his Jeep to see how she would behave in it. We stopped off at his place. She was still all excited and barked her ass off. I don't thinks we'll bring her back to the apartment building for a while, although we do plan on a short drive, maybe to a Provincial Park or something.
Maria is going up to Seattle with her sister for a week in September. I'm hoping to join her at the end of that week, and we're going to see Mt. St. Helens, the first stop on our "Volcano Tour". When one oof us ever wins the lottery, we're going on a full Volcano Tour. Stops will include, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, and the list goes on...

TTFN,

2008-03-20T23:06:00.002-04:00

HAPPY EASTER!!!

2008-03-05T22:12:00.004-05:00

Stupid snow!!

Last night overnight about 7 inches of snow fell. The snow plow came by rather early and I was awoken by the sound of someone stuck in the plowed snow at the corner, revving their engine really high, making themselves even more stuck.

Just as I went to shovel myself out, the snowplow came by again, but not all the way to the edge of the street. This meant I could probably shovel through to get my car out of my driveway. However, just as I was getting down to the end of the driveway, the snowplow came by yet AGAIN, except he had the blade right down scraping the pavement, and right to the edge of the street, leaving a knee- to mid-thigh deep pile of snowplow cement at the end of my driveway. To make matters worse, the son-of-a-bitch had the balls to WAVE at me!!!

Lucky for me, the guy who works at or owns the mechanic's shop across the street came out to plow his sidewalk and parking lot. I asked him if he had time or inclination to get the snow bricks out of the end of my driveway so I could get to work (I was already late by this time). He did after he plowed a couple of sidewalks, including my neighbour 's and my side sidewalk where the snow plow goes. He wouldn't take any money for it either. A big thanks to my knight-in-shining armour!!!

TTFN,

2008-02-17T15:07:00.006-05:00

Valentine's Day, 2008

This is Jon.

This is Jon with Bandit. Bandit LOVES Jon. He brings her stuff, the most recent being a stuffed bunny, which, surprisingly enough, is still intact a couple of weeks later.

Most women's boyfriends (GOD I hate that word) would bring fuzzy pink bunny slippers for Valentine's Day, but not mine....nonono. Knowing my love of all thing Monty Python, Jon brought me Monty Python and the Holy Grail Rabbit with the Big Pointy Teeth Slippers! There's even a little pocket for the teeth to fit into. To bad I can't wear them. Bandit thinks that they're stuffed...they're bunnies...they're for HER to eat. He also brought me one of the volumes of Looney Tunes on DVD. This was after surprising me ON Valentine's Day (we didn't exchange gifts until Saturday) with breakfast before I left for work. What a sweetie!

2008-01-26T13:06:00.000-05:00

My last day in Math & Stats

Friday was my last day in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. The folks from the Department all went to lunch at El Mayor. There was soooo much food. They just kept bring out platters of new dishes... hummous and baba ghanouz, kibbee and falafel, fatoush and tabouleh salads, a lentil and rice dish, an eggplant and chickpea dish, then platters of shish kafke and shish tawook with this wonderful spiced rice dish, and roast chicken. THEN they brought various desserts and thick coffee.

The folks in the Department left Tim in charge of procuring a going away present for me. He had come into my office one day a week or so ago, and told me about how his wife had been looking for a computer bag. I played right into his hand. I went on and on about how I empathized and how I had been looking all over the place for a bag that DIDN'T look like a computer bag, WHERE I had already been to look for bags, and why I didn't like the ones I had found. The bag he found was perfect! It looks a brown leather tote that you would never know had a computer stored in it. It's even the perfect size for my laptop.

In other news, Jon must be really desperate to have me "understand" his penchant for games like Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO), and Everquest. Earlier in the week, he told me that he had a present for me that I "neither needed nor wanted". When he came over yesterday, he presented me with a copy of LOTRO and a card for 60 days of membership. We set up my character this morning (I'm an elf Lore-Master), and we went through a few training quests. He even added himself and his guild members to my friend list. I've already told him, however, that any time spent playing on LOTRO does NOT count as spending time together. Something tells me that this is going to cut into my poker/blackjack time., dammit.

TTFN.

2008-01-07T18:12:00.000-05:00

A new year...a new guy...a new job...

Let's face it, 2007 SUCKED!!! It could only get better for 2008, right? Maybe...

For the longest time I was feeling rather dissatisfied with my life. I thought that, after Greg and I broke up, I would start feeling better about things. Nope. Well, ok, I felt somewhat better, but still overall, blah.

I think the real turning point came when I cancelled the vacation I take every year the week of my birthday. There were faculty interviews, and a decision had to be made and forms filled immediately after a decision was made so the hiring process could get started. At the end of the week NO DECISION. The Committee delayed it until the next week!!! I cancelled vacation for NOTHING!

It was pretty much the sum total of my work life. I pushed paperwork around, and for what? A bunch of bureaucratic bullshit that in the grand scheme of things, meant NOTHING! So some fucked up committee could decide if we followed some procedure correctly? Whoopdee-flippin'-doo!!!! I was going home every day feeling like I had accomplished nothing. And I really hadn't. At least when I worked for Satan at the pharmaceutical company, there was something tangible at the end of the day.

So, I applied for a couple of positions, and got one of them. It's a lateral move, rank-wise and $$, but I'll be working for Associate Deans, instead of a Department Head, so it's a promotion of sorts. I won't have to deal with most of the bureaucracy. I'll be counselling students most of the time. Maybe I'll help a few of them. I'll actually feel like I DID something important with my day. Maybe...

So now you're asking "new guy", what's all this about a new guy? Haha I did the story out of order mwah hahahaha!

Sorry...where was I? Oh yeah, new guy. Maybe next post. It's my blog, and I'll write about stuff (or not) if I want to, stuff (or not) if I want to...

TTFN,

2008-01-01T14:00:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008 !!

2007-12-30T10:28:00.000-05:00

Overall - a sucky holiday season!

You know how there's this thing where women get some sort of amnesia about how much pain is involved in giving birth, so they'd actually be willing to go through it again? There must be something similar about spending the holidays alone, because I don't remember spending the holidays alone being so horrid the last time I did it, which was fifteen or so years ago. On the other hand, I DID catch up on my sleep.

The lone bright spot was getting to see Kristen and Allan for a few days, a trip I just returned from Saturday night. We ate, we shopped, we laughed our asses off, as we usually do when we get together. We make, and get, jokes that no one else seems to understand, or else we get that 'wtf' look.

I just got the new laptop I ordered at the Future Shop Boxing Day sale. It's great - I can play more than one poker tournament without staling the computer.

Hope everyone has a great New Year's Eve. DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE, or I'll hunt you down and kick your ass!!!

TTFN,

C

2007-12-23T19:45:00.000-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!

2007-12-01T10:49:00.001-05:00

It was probably the best concert I DIDN'T get to see...

Last night, Bedouin Sound Clash played at The Basement, the University's pub. A friend (who eons ago made me promise not to mention him by name in my blog) and I decided at the last minute to see if we could get in.

The event was sold out, but we were told to stand in a line for people with no tickets (we had dubbed it the "Loser line"), and, after all the people who had tickets, and/or were on the guest list were let in, we might get in if there were no shows. The line for people who had tickets snaked around the corner, through the woods and up the road to Grandma's house. This was at about 8:15 pm. We were told that the band wouldn't be going on until 11 pm, after two opening acts.

They didn't start letting ticket holders in until almost 9 pm (when the first opening act started.) There were three or four hundred people in line. The staff was soooooo disorganized. There were two bracelets - a green one that proved that you had a ticket or were on the guest list, and a blue one that signified whether or not you were legal to drink. Instead of taking bunches of bracelets through the line, checking for ID and tickets and handing out bracelets accordingly, so all the staff at the door had to do was search purses and check for bracelets, there was a couple of people who were randomly checking and handing out ONE colour of bracelet, while there was a HUGE logjam at the door with people who were still handing in tickets, checking themselves off the guest list, AND checking their coats and getting bags searched.

By 1045 pm, they STILL hadn't let in all the people in the ticket line, and the band was supposed to be coming on in 15 minutes. We just said "screw it" and went back to the DH and had another couple drinks before toddling off home.

If I had been one of the people still in line at 1045 after missing both opening acts, and about miss the first set of the main act, I would have walked up to the front of the line and demanded my money back. What a big, giant clusterf***.

2007-11-13T10:35:00.000-05:00

Michigan vs Ohio State this weekend!!!

This Saturday marks the annual Michigan/Ohio State game. My understanding of the situation is, if Michigan wins, they capture the Big Ten title, and go to the Rose Bowl.

GO BLUE!!

2007-11-12T21:06:00.000-05:00

What a busy freakin' weekend!!!

Friday Night - Windsor International Film Festival

Film - Weirdsville

The opening scene has a mouse swimming, trying to get out of a grungy toilet. I was somewhat afraid that the movie would go downhill from there, but I was wrong. The movie was brilliant with an awesome soundtrack that comes out on CD November 27, 2007.

Saturday Night - WIFF and a late Halloween party

Film - Persepolis

This animated film from France won the Jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival. The film is about a Iranian girl's childhood during Iran's war with Iraq. She tries to find her own identity during the ousting of the Shah, a war, and Islamist rule.

I need to see the movie again. Maybe next time I'll spend less time trying to compare the subtitles with what was being said....

Late Halloween Party - Denis and Monica's place

After Persepolis, Maria and I stopped off at my place to a) let the dog out, and have a play, and b) pick up the bucket o' frozen daiquiris from the freezer, before heading off to Denis and Monica's late Halloween party. There was a nice mix of people and pets (My puppy scratch is healing nicely, thanks for asking) and tons of food. A good time was had by all, especially the
guy who went in drag. He looked better in a dress than I do *sigh*.

Sunday night - In Remembrance - a Concert by the Windsor Classic Chorale and Friends

One of the Grad House gang is an alto with the Windsor Classic Chorale. They had their first concert of the season last night - the second of what is an annual event commemorating Remembrance Day. There was a piper, a trumpet player, a cellist, and some local celebrities reading letters from soldiers from the World Wars. It was a beautiful concert.

In non-weekend related news, I booked my accommodations for my annual Holiday trip to visit Kristen. Too late to back on pet-sitting with Bandit, Greg...

TTFN,

C

2007-10-29T00:25:00.000-04:00

WOOHOO!!!!! My afghan swap squares are DONE...

...well... at least the ones I have to mail out, anyway. I'll be posting pics of the squares I receive soon.

In other news, Kristen came down to visit this weekend, and bunked at my house. We went to the new Bistro on the corner of Riverside and Ouellette. I had the soup of the day, which was Sweet Potato. It tasted like, and had the texture of, liquid pumpkin pie filling. It was yummy.

TTFN,

2007-10-14T15:36:00.000-04:00

Well... THAT didn't take long!

Over 1300 people played in the Blogger Championship tournament I mentioned a few posts ago.

I went out 1259th. My pocket aces got cracked by pocket kings. First card out the door on the flop... a king.

Oh well, maybe next year.

TTFN,

C

2007-10-08T00:40:00.000-04:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

2007-10-03T15:54:00.000-04:00

PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker

Here we go again....

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!

This Online Poker Tournament is a No Limit Texas Holdem event exclusive to Bloggers.

Registration code: 7840997

TTFN

C

2007-09-29T22:48:00.000-04:00

I've been seeing a lot of movies lately...

... as single people usually do. I've kept up with almost all of the movies I wanted to see this summer (although I was wondering if I would have to go see The Simpsons by myself).

Last week Lorne and I went to see Eastern Promises. I thought it was an excellent movie, with a fight scene that will go down as one of the most memorable in movie history. Lorne's review is here. I would only repeat most of what he said, but he said it so much better than I would have.

This week, we went to see The Kingdom. I had such high hopes for this movie. Then I started seeing reviews, most of which were borderline, or bad. It was okay, but I could have dne with far less of the"Americans are here to save the day" crap. Oh well.

Next week it will probably be Across the Universe.

TTFN,

C

2007-08-28T09:31:00.000-04:00

Canada Geese walking across California Avenue

There was a small flock of Canada Geese strolling across California Avenue on my way to work this morning. By the time I got my phone out of my purse to take a picture, most of them had walked across the street.

Sorry about the grainy pictures. It's the camera in my cell phone, after all.

2007-08-26T17:11:00.000-04:00

I had a birthday on Friday

Yep, birthday number 41. As most of you know, I'm usually on vacation on my birthday because I don't like a big fuss made over me, but, due to circumstances beyond my control, I ended up working last week. Dina had the "brilliant" idea of having a Department gathering with cake (mmmmm... chocolate......) and gave me a beautiful plant arrangement. Pics are here.

Lorne and I went to see The Bourne Ultimatum. Great movie...needed popcorn. ;)

TTFN,

C

2007-08-12T15:21:00.000-04:00

I GOT IT MOST OF IT CUT OFF!!!!!

Today was haircut day!!! I raised $775 for the Canadian Cancer Society!!! YAY me!

Thanks to all those people that donated! Pictures are here.

TTFN,

C

2007-08-09T17:44:00.001-04:00

It's not just the Monarchs that are out en masse...

2007-08-09T09:06:00.000-04:00

I'm a campus celebrity...

The University's DailyNews published a story about my fundraising efforts for my hair cutting adventure, coming this Sunday. Tory J, University phtographer extrodinaire took a great picture, as always. Now that I think about it, there have only been two pictures of me taken in the last five years or so, that I actually liked, and Tory has taken both of them.

It's here.

TTFN,

C

2007-08-09T08:57:00.000-04:00

EEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKK!!!!!

Chocolate Manufacturers filed a petition with the US FDA to change the manufacturing standards for hundres of foods - including CHOCOLATE!!!

They want to add other fats beside cocoa butter. Ick!!

Full story here. Guittard Chocolate's Opposition site here.

TTFN,

C

2007-08-05T18:46:00.000-04:00

Monarch Butterfly and Funny Bandit pic

How cool is this? I came home this afternoon and found a Monarch butterfly fluttering around my yard.

While I refilled Bandit's treat food container, Bandit put her head in the bag, and got stuck. I had to take a picture. Sorry Bandit, I'm putting it on my blog.

TTFN,

C

2007-08-03T23:57:00.000-04:00

I'm getting my hair chopped off for charity

Yes, you read correctly. On August 12, I will be getting my hair chopped to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. The event is being held at Colasanti's Tropical Gardens in Ruthven.

Email, or leave a comment, if you'd like to make a pledge.

I'll post pics (before, during, after) next week.

Stay tuned

C

2007-07-22T19:38:00.001-04:00

Bandit gets her stitches out and Harry Potter

Bandit got her stitches out. As soon as the fur grows back, you'll never know that she was ever injured.

In other news, the last Harry Potter book arrived at 9:45 on Saturday morning. Yes, I've already finished it.

TTFN,

C

2007-07-08T19:27:00.000-04:00

Bandit got into her first fight... and lost

Bandit and the dog next door got into a little fight on Friday night. I think Bandit must have been guarding her toy. Before Bandit knew what hit her, Sheba (The dog next door, twice her size) defended herself, and sank her teeth into Bandit's face. One of the teeth sank right through Bandit's cheek, the other went above Bandit's eye...missed by about an inch or so.

You can't see the stitches above her eye in this picture, but there's a couple there. I had just brought her home from the vet when this pic was taken, and she was still pretty groggr. I had to go to the emergency vet, which of course jacks up their prices. They had to put Bandit out to shave her and put in the stitches. Over $400 bucks, and I still ahve to get the stitches taken out...

TTFN,

2007-07-01T17:39:00.001-04:00

I just found a new comic..... Unshelved. It's kinda quirky. I like it.

TTFN,

C

2007-07-01T09:23:00.000-04:00

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!!!

2007-06-25T17:19:00.000-04:00

Kristen and Allan's Wedding - the sequel (This time, it's LEGAL)

Kristen and Allan renewed their vows this past Saturday, and finally were able to make legal the church-sanctioned ceremony held over four years ago. Allan's son, Jason, and I reprised our roles as Best Man and Maid-of-Honour, respectively, to sign the marraige license. Hmmm, I wonder what would have happened if at the last minute, either of us had refused...... nah that wouldn't have happened.

It was short ceremony, followed by a wonderful dinner at a restaurant in Fonthill.

Pictures are here in my Facebook site. For those of you who don't have Facebook, click here. Enjoy!

TTFN,

2007-05-27T21:57:00.000-04:00

I'm only posting because Kristen is nagging me!!! :P

As some of you may, or may not, have heard, Greg and I broke up. Turns out he only used me to get free tuition to finish his degree, and then dumped me after having a months-long affair with a chick he met on the internet (and I just thought he was cruising for porn, like normal guys, silly me). As you can tell, I'm still in the "angry, men suck" stage of the recovery process.

In other news, the 16th International Workshop on Matrices and Statistics starts this coming Friday. If I manage not to kill anyone (They know who they are.), or have any type of complete meltdown, I'll be really surprised. Stay tuned.

(There Kristen, happy, now ;) )

TTFN,

2007-04-07T01:23:00.000-04:00

HAPPY EASTER!!!

2007-03-14T13:14:00.000-04:00

The ultimate gadget!!

I'm surprised it took so long, but the rimroller has finally arrived!!!

What is a "rimroller", you ask? For those of you who are fans of Tim Hortons "Roll up the Rim to Win" contests, this gadget rolls the rim of the cup up for you!

It really works! Greg ordered me one. I came home for lunch today, and he's all excited because it had finally arrived. I took my time, going downstairs to get something to nuke, and putting it in the microwave. Greg was doing his 'excited dance', getting more impatient because I didn't rush over to the coffee table to look (I'm SO evil that way.). I couldn't help but laugh when I saw it.

Lee Valley admits that its not their usual thing to sell, but it was such a great Canadian product, they decided to distribute it. You'd think Timmy's would be selling them at their stores (at about $5 each).

If you order one, better order a bunch of other stuff. Shipping was almost 8 bucks!

TTFN,

2007-01-01T00:11:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2007!!!

Hope it's a good one!!!

TTFN,

2006-10-12T18:07:00.000-04:00

SNOW IN OCTOBER!!!

Yes you ARE seeing that correctly. At 5:45 pm on October 12, I took this picture of the snow. So far, none of it is sticking (knck on wood)

In other news, we went up to Greg's parents' cottage for Thanksgiving. I took this picture of the full moon poking through the trees.

TTFN,

2006-09-05T17:47:00.000-04:00

Labour Day, 2006

I took a few pics at the Labour Day parade. They're here.

TTFN,

2006-08-26T20:22:00.000-04:00

Vacation and birthday, 2006

I just came back from vacation and birthday celebrations

Maria came up for the birthday bash, and we went up to Kettle Point (it's only a couple of kilometres from the cottage) . Pictures are here.

I celebrated one of those "milestone" birthdays on Thursday. If you want to know WHICH one, pictures are here. (Yes...that cake IS what you think it is!) Thanks to Karen for baking tha cake. Thanks to those folks who came up to help me celebrate my birthday...on a weeknight!

TTFN,

2006-08-07T17:12:00.000-04:00

Xmas in July (on Civic Holiday Weekend)

It was that time of year again. Yesterday marked the latest in Oakes family reunions. Pictures are here.

If you want the original, uncropped versions, please email me.

In other news, seventeen days until I hit that "milestone" birthday. Ugh.

TTFN,

2006-07-24T12:00:00.000-04:00

Photos from the garden here.

On Canada Day weekend we went to Greg's parents' cottage. Greg ended up with a bug all weekend.

I don't know if I want to go up for the family reunion next weekend. The last three times we went up there, something bad happened to one/both of us.

Easter- Greg got his teeh broken
Victoria Day - car accident on the way home
Canada Day - Greg's mysterious bug

Stay tuned...

TTFN

2006-07-01T22:55:00.000-04:00

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!

2006-05-31T19:35:00.000-04:00

Here we go again - PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker.

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!

This Online Poker Tournament is a No Limit Texas Holdem event exclusive to Bloggers.

Registration code: 4938891

2006-05-23T13:34:00.000-04:00

If it weren't for bad luck.....

...I'd have no luck at all.

Why do I say that? Well, let's see...in the last five weeks or so, Greg has had his front two teeth broken, I bashed my head, and got a big cut on it, and yesterday, we were in a car accident.

We were driving home from Greg's parents' cottage, when a pickup truck in front of us decided to slam on his brakes and make a left turn. I hit my brakes, and stopped before hitting him, but the guy driving behind me, bashes me in the rear end. Everyone is ok

I KNEW I should have gone on that field trip with Maria...

TTFN,

2006-05-09T12:39:00.000-04:00

%#$#$!$*%& - I LOST!!!

After all that trouble, I lost in the second round - about 50th out of 240 left in the tournament. The top 36 went on to the playoffs.

Just goes to show...you can know how to bluff, know about pot odds, and all that stuff, but once in a while, you STILL need to get good cards, which I DIDN'T get.

Oh well, there's always next year.

TTFN,

2006-05-05T13:22:00.000-04:00

WOW...it's been a long time since I've posted.

Okokok... I haven't put up Christmas pics, or posted anything since New Year's Eve. I've been busy. I'll post that stuff later.

I'm playing in the Degree Poker Championship again. I ALMOST didn't get to play...

In order to get into the Degree Poker Championship (DPC), a person had to go online and fill out a form. There were draws for five or six consecutive weeks, and if your name was picked, you got to play. I got the call on April 6th, telling me that more details, and a waiver form, would be sent to me via email. That email never came. I phoned, and emailed, and finally received another voicemail on April 26th, telling me that another email was sent that afternoon. That email never showed up in my email box either.

Not knowing WHICH preliminary round I was in, but knowing that the first preliminary tournament was at 8AM on May 3rd, I showed up there at around 530 AM (you had to be there two hours early to register), I gave them my series of emails, and was told that they would look into it, and to come back at 6 AM. When I came back, my emails were sitting on the desk of the person who was checking IDs, and I was told that I would have to wait until the line cleared before I would be taken care of. I stood there for forty-five minutes until the line cleared, only to be told that because they hadn't received my waiver within 48 hours of their email, I wouldn't be allowed to play. My head nearly exploded!!! I calmly (well, as calmly as I could through clenched teeth) explained to the guy that I had been emailing, and phoning since I received the initial call on April 6th, saying that I had not received the email. When I asked to see the person running the tournament, I was told that he was off on tournament business elsewhere in the casino. I was then told that my only other option would be to go stand in line for a walk-up place in one of the other preliminary tournaments.

As part of the DPC the Casino was given about 20 "walk-up" seats per preliminary tournament for their customers, and it was a draw. When I went to stand in line at about 7:45, there were already a couple of hundred people in line, and they weren't taking any names until 8 AM.

I was standing in line, fuming and talking to a guy standing in line with me, when I got a tap on my shoulder. It was one of the tournament directors. He apologized for the confusion, and said that I shouldn't lose the oportunity to play, simply because of a technical glitch. They had to verify my story before they let me play, and I guess having me stand in the Walk-up line was one sure way to keep me in the casino while they sorted it all out.

I was escorted to the Tournament Registration desk, and had to fill out the waiver forms, both for the tournament, and TSN (Canadian equivalent to ESPN, for you Americans). I hope I answered the skill-testing question correctly, I was so flustered. I was then given my seat assignment and I went into the room where the tournament ws being held.

It was just like last year's tournament, in that blinds went up every 20 minutes. By the end, they were at $3000-6000 with a $300 ante. I won a few pots at the beginning, but then could hardly get a face card to save my life. I was pretty short stacked, and when I would finally get a decent hand, I would go all-in before the flop, only to have everyone fold to me, buying me another round.

The preliminary tournaments played down to 20. As we neared 20, people were getting more and more cautious. At our table, one guy two seats over from me was all-in on his big blind, because that was all he had left. The big stack called him (he was small blind), and had him dominated. That was player #21. I made it to the next round!!! Someone leaned over to me and said "Ya know..." I finished the thought "...in two hands, that would have been me. Yeah, yeah...but it WASN'T!" I don't know who I felt worse for, the guy who went out in 21st place, or they guy who went out in the FIRST hand of the tournament, with his full house beaten by four of a kind.

More on Monday night...

TTFN,

2005-12-31T16:12:00.000-05:00

HAPPY 34 th BIRTHDAY GREG!!!!

(More on holiday activities later)

TTFN,

2005-12-24T13:03:00.000-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!