HAPPY 2009 EVERYONE!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JON!!!

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,

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

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

...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

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.

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,

GET OUT THERE AND VOTE! ...

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

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

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,

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

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

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,

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,

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

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,

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,

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,

PENGUINS - REDWINGS STANLEY CUP FINAL!!!

Need I say more?

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,

HAPPY EASTER!!!

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,

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!

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.

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,

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008 !!