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1月27日 the January sun
I live in the middle of Canada. In the summer time here, we usually have hot, sunny weather. The temperature can climb to plus 33 celcius on some days, and one of the best places to be on days like that is Grand Beach.
Those hot, sunny days are months away right now. Here, in the middle of winter, I miss cycling in the sunshine. My bike sits idle, and I look forward to the nicer weather of summer, zipping around feeling alive and free.
The winter this year has been mild. We have been lucky with warmer than usual temperatures.
When I drove to work this morning, I smiled at the colors of the sunrise. It was one of those mornings where it feels good to be alive.
During the first class, I sat near the window at the back of the room. The morning sunshine felt so good.
Not every day here in the winter is sunny. There are plenty of dreary, cloudy days that can take its toll on the spirit.
Today I soak up the sun. I smile, and appreciate the joy it brings me.
Not every day is sunny, so enjoy it while you can. Treasure the warmth and carry it with you on the cloudier days. Take the memory of the beautiful sunshine in your heart and let it comfort you in days of darkness.
Be joyful in the sunshine
Those cloudier days can be easier to get through when we remember that sunnier days are ahead. The dim days of winter won't last forever. Winter will slip into spring soon enough and those days on the beach will return again.
Seek out the things that bring us joy. Relish the happy times and keep them with you. They energize you and give hope. Focus on the good things that bring us strength..
Savor the sunshine. Recognize its beauty and enjoy it. Feel its warmth and be happy.
In our lives we all have cloudy days and sunny days. Enjoy the sun when it shines, and on those cloudy days, remember - the sun will return again.
: )
11月15日 welcome to Winterpeg
snowdrifts wind chill flurries
These are words I haven't used for about 8 months.
Winter has arrived in full force here. Overnight, the snow and wind have transformed the city to a winter wonderland. Rural schools are closed, and a winter storm warning has been issued for southern Manitoba.
Yesterday it was dry here. Today, it's a blustery November winter's day. Cars are getting stuck on the side streets, and the snow keeps falling. Trying to get anywhere today becomes an adventure.
Many staff members did not make it to school today, and several students were also absent (not surprisingly).
39 days until Christmas :p
My BC baby finds this quite amusing.
She removed the snow from my car this morning before I went to work.
: )
yee haw ; )
10月24日 a Monday late in October
It's that time of year
I need to put away my summer stuff. The portable air conditioner and the fans can go into storage, the summer clothes and my beach gear. It's time to get out the snow shovel and ice scraper. Any day now we will be getting the white stuff.
Yahoo oddities
Hmmm... It seems as though something strange is happening with my Yahoo stuff... I noticed I had different bookmarks, and a strange new profile when I went to access my account today. I hope it's only some temporary anomaly, or perhaps a harmless prank. Weird.
Sometimes clarification is needed
It's funny how easy it can be to misunderstand something. Sometimes I take for granted that I think I understand something. Little misunderstandings can sometimes lead to confusion and hurt feelings. To be able to clear up a small bit of information can make a big difference. It can be very important to stay aware of the fact that maybe something said means something other than what I think it means.
Slice him open
I found out today that in Science class tomorrow, we will be dissecting frogs. Eww...
Lights, Camera Action
Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie are in town to film a western. Downtown, they have transformed a couple of buildings to become part of the set. How does this effect me? Well, the University campus where I attend my classes at is a little less accessible. I will have to park a little further away. That's OK- I can use the exercise. This time of year I tend to do a lot less physical activity.
7 months 'till spring...
: )
9月2日 goodbye summerThe cooler weather is here, and Tuesday I return to work. I'll be working as a teaching assistant at a high school I worked at about 6 years ago.
They have cut back my hours half an hour a day, so less money, but I get to sleep in a little later.
This past summer for me has been a bit of a roller coaster ride. It is filled with memories of bike rides and the beach, of karaoke and Def Leppard, outdoor cafe's and walks by The Forks, hikes in the whiteshell, a cruise down the river and much much more.
For me it is a time of transition. This summer was wonderful (even with it's stressful times), and now we head into the fall. This time of year often seems to move so much faster. Soon it will be halloween, and then Christmas.
On another note, my 'puter has been crashing... So after a few unsuccessful attempts to fix problems, I have begun the process of wipe and reload. Fun stuff...
Wednesday I went to Grand Beach for a walk
It was a little cloudy, and there weren't too many people there
A walk down the beach is a nice way to get a little exercise
It's late August... summer is almost over
It's been an awesome summer
Most of the beach has fantastic soft sand, but this little stretch had some pretty rocks
If your looking for some privacy, or a warmer sheltered spot, there are many dunes to explore
A few rocks I collected on my walk down the beach
Have an excellent long weekend !
: )
7月17日 wicked stormI'm sorry.
I didn't want my space to be another place where someone complains about all that is wrong in thier life.
We were hammered by another storm last night.
Today I was out and saw trees down, pieces of people's roofs on the ground...
Fences and signs are down, phones are out. I came home last night after playing at a wedding to find a pool in my basement.
About four inches of water. It's still there.
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Winnipeg struggles to recover from back-to-back storms Last Updated Sun, 17 Jul 2005 12:21:10 EDT
CBC News
People in Winnipeg are facing power outages and impassable streets after two thunderstorms lashed the city overnight with high winds, heavy rain and hail. The back-to-back storms had windspeeds of up to 110 km/h and dumped as much as 90 millimetres of rain on some parts of the city. Motorists faced a number of travel hazards on Sunday, including flooded underpasses, roads strewn with trees and branches, and traffic lights that didn't function. Hydro crews were scrambling to restore power to homes and businesses across the city after the storms downed power poles. Anita Mitchell, a Manitoba Hydro spokeswoman, estimated that it would likely take much of the day for Hydro crews to get things back to normal. Rob Paola, a meteorologist for Environment Canada, said the south end of the city was hardest hit, with some areas receiving 90 millimetres of rain in roughly an hour. Flooding and sewer back-ups were a big problem in that area on Sunday and most underpasses there were flooded.
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There are still lights at intersections out.
I am actually OK though.
: )
7月9日 summer in the cityit's another hot one today in 'peg city. stinkin' hot.
the good news - it's not raining
 this is no ordinary summer in Manitoba, though.
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from The Winnipeg Free Press :
Firms swamped with calls
Saturday, July 9th, 2005 By Alexandra Paul WINNIPEGGERS with leaky basements may have to wait until September to get them fixed, the owner of one of the city's biggest foundation repair companies said yesterday. "This year is as bad or worse than any I've ever seen," said Bill McDuffe, owner of Saber Industries Inc., who has hired an additional eight men this week to help repair cracks in basements. McDuffe said he would put more men on the payroll if he could find them, but demand has dried up the labour pool in the city. Everywhere in southern Manitoba, rain that just won't quit has turned ground into mud. As the wet mud expands, it exerts enormous pressure on foundation walls and floors, holding homes in a hard grip that can cause extensive damage. That's what happened last weekend in Deloraine, where a flash flood hit the southwestern Manitoba town and drenched basements. One home nearly collapsed when a foundation wall caved in, leaving the house tilting precariously on the three walls left standing.
"When the clay is tight against the (basement) wall, water can't get to the weeping tiles. (Eventually) the pressure will actually crack the walls and it caves them in," said Sturgeon Construction president Todd Ritchot. "It's called hydrostatic pressure, and it's (because) wet clay will keep expanding when it rains." After every big rainfall -- like the one last night that dumped another 25 millimetres on the city -- homeowners have been swamping the city's foundation repair companies with calls about leaking basements. "After the rains, like (yesterday), we'll get 50 calls," said Gerry Bonham, manager of Abalon, who's hired 30 extra people this summer to keep up with calls. "It's a phenomenal year for us." "We go 7 to 7, 12 hours a day" said Ritchot. "It's getting to the point where we can't service them all." Lawrence Mak, a homeowner in East St. Paul, said he was called home urgently last week from vacation by frantic housesitters. When he arrived, Mak said, he saw the wooden foundation on his 2,400-square-foot bungalow had caved in along a five-metre length of the south wall. Mak said his housesitters told him the wall started moving inch by inch into the basement after heavy rains a week ago Wednesday. "They were scared as hell. The wall was moving in. It was creaking and groaning and they were running in and out grabbing pieces of furniture (to salvage)," Mak said. After the movement stopped, the wall was curved in the shape of a deep bow. It came to a stop after it protruded three full feet into his newly finished basement. "I never expected the ground to do that to me," the shaken homeowner said. "It pushed the wall three feet into my basement. It cracked the two-by-eight-foot treated studs holding the wall." Saber's McDuffe, who was called to provide an estimate of repair costs, said it could take anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000 to fix Mak's home. "I have to fix it, and I'll have to find the money," Mak said. In Edmonton, an executive with the Insurance Bureau of Canada said yesterday that homeowners are on the hook for basement seepage and leaks, no matter how devastating the damage. "Seepage is not an insured peril. If I had a house and I had a big crack in the (foundation) wall, it's not insured," said bureau vice-president Jim Rivait. In Alberta alone, insured losses related to flood damage totalled $151 million as of this week, Rivait said. Reports on the damage in southern Manitoba came as a surprise to the insurance executive. "What I'd heard is Manitoba isn't all that hard hit," Rivait said. Apart from the damage this summer's heavy rains cause to manmade structures, they also delay repairs, backing up jobs and forcing anxious homeowners to wait weeks for help. "Jobs that are supposed to take a week are taking two or three weeks," McDuffe said. Foundations can't be excavated in the rain. "The mud gets mucky. It gets like soup," McDuffe said. "You can have all the business in the world, (but it won't help) if you can't get it done. We're telling people to give us a call in the middle of August. We'll get to them in September," he said. "The reason is, not only is there too much work, but the water table is too high to do that work," McDuffe said. In Portage la Prairie, homeowners are on hold until December. "The water table is so high, I'm telling people we'll do the jobs in December, January and February," McDuffe said. In the Koko Platz area of Portage, saturated soil is squeezing in basement walls, and the pressure of the water underneath is lifting up basement floors, McDuffe said. In one home, water is spurting up from a crack in the basement floor like a fountain. Elsewhere, Winnipeg structural engineer Bill Brent said one of the strangest sights he's ever seen followed the same heavy rains that shoved in Mak's foundation wall in East St. Paul. "At first it looked like the Loch Ness monster coming up out of the water," said the engineer of the earth that rose up from the surface of a school playground next door to his home in Ile des Chenes. The structural engineer said he figured out pretty quickly what was happening -- pressure from an extremely high water table was forcing a buried drain pipe to float above ground. "Within two days, the entire length (of a drain pipe) popped out of the ground. It must have been... 30 metres long," said Brent. "It was a curious sight." alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca
What causes damage?
1. Clay expands when wet. It grips basement walls so tightly that water can't seep down to be drained away by weeping tiles at the base of foundation walls. 2. Mounting pressure from swelling clay and water also causes walls to crack; some collapse, a phenomenon knows to scientists as hydrostatic pressure. 3. Another form of hydrostatic pressure is caused when rising water tables crack concrete basement floors or shift basement footings. 4. A sure sign of water damage is a horizontal crack along a foundation wall. Repairs require foundation specialists and extensive labour at a cost of roughly $100 a running foot.
Don't get soaked
The Consumers Bureau is offering some tips to help homeowners get their basements, not their wallets, dried out: * Ask to see a valid seller's licence if approached by a canvasser going door-to-door offering to repair flood or rain damage or selling water-treatment systems. * If the canvasser does not show a licence, write down the individual's name as well as the name and address of the company and contact the bureau at 945-3800 or toll-free at 1-800-782-0067. * Get at least three written estimates outlining the work that will be done, materials to be supplied, labour specifications, total cost and cost breakdown, amount of deposit, and start and completion dates for the work. * Carefully check references before you agree to the job. * If there is something you don't understand in the contract, don't sign it. * Hold back 7.5 per cent of the cost for 40 days after the work is done to ensure no liens have been registered against your property by a supplier. * With home-repair loans, be wary of ads with 1-900 numbers that promise guaranteed loans. * Consider having a lawyer read through the agreement before you sign it. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
yesterday Phoenix Disaster Restoration came by again to rip out more of my basement and help dry it out
the big noisy fans blow day and night
extension cords run through out the house
dehumidifiers need to be emptied every few hours
what once was a finished basement is a mess
it can be a violating experience
this is where owning your own home can be a little stressful
but in comparison to others, it may not be so bad
I am not worried about tornados or hurricanes (like some of my friends out there in spaces land) My damage is not as bad as some others
(such as some of my spaces friends in other parts of the province)
My problems pale in comparison to the recent events in London
It is only temporary
In the bigger picture, I know that it will be pretty minor I have a wedding to play music at tonight
I will focus all my positive energies into playing great music and helping to make tonight a joyful, memorable night for this bridal party and their guests Pain is inevitable.
Suffering is optional. ~M. Kathleen Casey I can get through this.
: )
7月7日 ThursdayTO DO list
7月5日 basement bluesAbout 3/4 of my basement is (well- WAS) finished.
There was a rec room, and 2 smaller rooms. 6 days ago my basement flooded.
My friend Joanne came by and helped me out with a pump.
Phoenix Disaster Restoration came by
(after I called my insurance company). They had a crew who used chemicals, and removed carpets.
They removed bottom sections of walls.
Apparently this is standard proceedure. For the past few days,
a large noisy fan has been running to help dry things up. It may be a while before I can afford to rebuild down there.
Did I mention my roof leaked in 2 places as well?
: ) There's $3000.00 worth of work to be done on just the roof. Well, it could be worse.
The house could have been burned down. I could be in some Mexican Prison. I am not in a Cancer ward in some hospital. 6月30日 rain rain go away
It's very wet here right now. The water table is alarmingly high. The sewers and drain systems are close to the point of becoming overwhelmed. In yesterday’s paper, I think I saw a boat that had become lodged under a bridge because the river water was so high.
"The city is located in the flood plain at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers near the geographic centre of North America, and is protected from flooding by the Red River Floodway." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg
How high is the water?
Normal summer level of the Red River: 733.9 feet above sea level.
Current level of the Red -- a record for summer levels: 742.6 feet above sea level:
The level the Red River would be if floodway was not operating: 746.1 feet above sea level:
Assiniboine River at Headingley -- normal summer level: 757.5 feet above sea level
Assiniboine River's current level: 765 feet above sea level.
Normal summer level of Lake Winnipeg: 714 feet above sea level
Lake Winnipeg's current level: just under 716 feet above sea level.
Floodway: there are currently more than 14,000 cubic feet per second of water gushing through the gates. Normally there is no water in the floodway at this time of year.
Pretty soggy stuff…
Headlines in The Winnipeg Free Press today include "Province braces for flooding" By Leah Janzen A large swath of southern Manitoba is teetering on the brink of a flooding disaster and the amount of rain that falls today could tip the balance.
From The Winnipeg Sun:
Harvest of gloom
Mother Nature's wicked ways will create lasting hardships for Manitoba farmers who were hoping 2005 would be the year of a turnaround, an agricultural official said yesterday.
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New test for Taz
Bug-fighters are racing to keep waves of mosquitoes from emerging as increasing rainfall hits Winnipeg, and washes away their hard work.
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Rain washes away heat wave
Last week it was air conditioners, now it's rubber boots and umbrellas.
So...
Yesterday, I started dealing with water in my basement
This morning, I came down stairs to find that my roof has started to leak as well
I have the pump running in the basement, and pails trying to catch the leaks in the kitchen.
Today's Forecast: Periods of rain.
I must have done something
6月22日 hot stuff
Today it’s 31 ° C ( almost 90 ° F ) here.
I received a thank you card from my stepdaughter Dawn and her husband Derek today (for attending their wedding last fall), as well as a birthday card from them and my other stepdaughter Pam. It meant a lot to me, really. : )
I have a hard time sleeping with this heat, so I’m a little cranky today. Not to mention that my birthday has left me a little blue ( that’s another huge blog entry to be posted another time ).
One of my co-workers was collecting love advice for a teacher at our school getting married this summer.
It’s supposed to be just as hot tomorrow…
6月20日 yah baby
It’s 25 ° C the sun is shining and I’m ALIIIIIVE!
...Just got back from an awesome bike ride to the forks and downtown. I feel like a big
During my ride I saw two hot air balloons, slowly drifting, gently floating in the sky. That is one thing I’d love to do before I die – go for a ride in a hot air balloon.
Yesterday, my buddy Dave invited me over for a wonderful steak dinner. It was great – not just the food, but to see him and his family. He seems to have this knack for rescuing me from myself on those days when I seem to need it most. (For me, Father’s Day was just a reminder to me that I’d spent a quarter of my life raising my ex’s two girls, who I have lost touch with.)
Dave showed me a vid he picked up recently – “Evil Roy Slade” … It’s a hilarious old comedy with John Astin – hard to get here. If you ever get a chance, and you like goofy comedies – check it out…
The forecast says that it will be going up to 33 ° C Wednesday.
Life is good
: )
6月18日 31° C
Happy Saturday!
It's gonna be a warm one today in 'Peg city.
Today i'll be cutting the lawn in the backyard (woo hoo), and tonight I'll be playing music at a wedding reception.
Happy birthday Paul McCartney
LOL
Have an awesome day... ( I know I will!)
6月12日 beautiful Sunday
Today, I went for a nice bike ride to Kildonan Park.
I wish my answering machine had an undo command
When I got home from the bike ride today,
I pressed play on the tiny electronic box, and was greeted by a few seconds silence.
OK.
So I press delete, and then as I look at the side of the machine, I notice the volume was turned down.
NOOOOOOO!
So – if that was you who called,
: )
Last night I played at a Wedding.
Earlier yesterday, I had gone for a bike ride to The Forks.
6月9日 good news / bad news
first – the good news it’s stopped raining. I couldn’t resist barbecuing some burgers for dinner. YAY!
the bad news there is no bad news… it's all good : )
the good news I went to see my Pulmonologist (lung doctor) today. He told me to have a nice life – call him if ever I have any problems. He diagnosed me with mild asthma several months ago (my family doctor thought it was early Emphysema). I am quite healthy, thank you.
the bad news there is no bad news… it's all good : )
the good news I freed up a couple of gigs of hard drive space on my upstairs computer, I transferred a few documents to other hard drives, and burned 4 disks. That hard drive was getting dangerously close to be being full. I’ll clear off some more in July.
the bad news there is no bad news… it's all good : )
the good news I looked at my stats today- someone did a google search for “emptying the bathtub test” and my space was fifth in the results, so they dropped by. LOL I got a laugh out of that.
the bad news there is no bad news… it's all good : )
the good news Tomorrow is Friday…
the bad news there is no bad news… it's all good : )
5月21日 thoughts of summer
One thing about Winnipeg weather – it makes you really appreciate the nice days. Yesterday’s sunshine was wonderful, and I was lucky enough to enjoy it with a little Bocce ball, a dinner on an outdoor patio and a walk by the river. Everyday can’t be filled with sunshine, and that’s OK with me.
The rain beats on my window today on this soggy Saturday, and I am thinking about the upcoming three months.
A month from today I will turn forty-six. Birthdays seem to have a tendency to make one do a little reevaluation of one’s self, whether you want to or not. You can’t help but ask “Where am I in my life? Do I like where I am? What would I like to change?” I have a month to mull that over.
I am also trying to solidify plans for summer. Festivals, trips, visiting friends and lots of wonderful summer fun are not far off.
July 30th – Space Block Party - I hope enough people RSVP, otherwise it may get cancelled. It sounds like it could be a lot of fun, and a great chance to meet some wonderful friends. That will be a busy, fun weekend… I have some other friends coming in from out of town, and we are doing a BBQ, a trip to the Beach, and have rented a boat for a bash on the river. Saturday night I hope to be rubbing elbows with YOU in Morden though : )
August 18th – Toronto – I have a ton of Air Miles, and am looking at putting together a little trip to T O. If all goes well, I will be at one of my favorite bars in the world - Jeff Healy’s. < http://www.jeffhealeys.com/ > Thursday nights he plays there, and as part of my 4 day adventure there, I want to see Jeff do his thang.
Those are only two highlights of what I know will be a fantastic summer. Cycling, parks, festivals, concerts, parks, beaches, outdoor patios, carnivals, hiking and a whole lot more await just around the corner.
; )
5月7日 rainy Saturday
who am I ? As I was shaving this morning, I looked at myself in the mirror and asked who is this ? Am I who I think I am? How do others see me? Are expectations of others realistic? I guess the bigger question that surfaces from all these other questions asks – are impressions reasonable as we get to know another? I think we can’t help but project romantic fantasy like characteristics onto others when we don’t know them very well. Our hopes and dreams sometimes help shape what we hope others are. It can be easy to over inflate one’s expectations of another. Reality can be disappointing. I guess I try to take in other’s perspectives and integrate them into the bigger picture too. I listen to my close friends (who I’ve know for 25 years) and that is one important source of feedback. I hear what some of the ladies I have dated tell me, and that is another piece of the picture. I see what my cyber friends say about me, and that is another part of who I am. My co-workers provide me with a glimpse of who I am as a Teaching Assistant.
Some of us are many things to many people.
I am probably more effective at expressing myself through written word, than verbally. When people see my thoughts here, they form an impression of this part of me. But it is only this one part of me. I suspect that most people cannot help but conjure visions based on a few pictures and typed words in these spaces – it’s natural.
This outlet can help clarify feelings and thoughts,
Outside the rain falls. It is a cool cloudy wet day here. Thunder occasionally crashes through the air, and rumbles in the distance. There is a restlessness that stirs within me. I guess the weather has got me a little introspective.
I know who I am. I guess part of me hates to disappoint others. I am just as guilty as anyone else
5月1日 snow on the grass
I'd rather live here than in El Salvador and India.
I'd rather live here than Papua, New Guinea, or anywhere along the coastlines of Southeast Asia. July 17, 1998: A tsunami triggered by a 7.1-magnitude earthquake offshore triggers a tsunami that hits Papua, New Guinea. Waves as high as 12 metres kill about 3,000 people and destroy whole villages.
I'd rather live here than in the Florida Keys, Nicaragua and Honduras. Only three Category 5 hurricanes have made landfall in the U.S. in the past century – one that struck the Florida Keys in 1935, Hurricane Camille in 1969, and Hurricane Andrew in 1992. In November 1998, Hurricane Mitch tore through Central America, killing as many as 10,000 people and leaving two million homeless in Nicaragua and Honduras. The storm's 300 km/h winds and heavy rains caused more than $3 billion US in damage – more than half the combined gross domestic product of those two countries. Mitch also unleashed deadly landslides, and caused the worst flooding in the region in 200 years. In the storm's wake, with roads and infrastructure wiped out, thousands of people developed illnesses such as dengue fever, cholera and malaria.
I'd rather live here than Santa Cruz Mountains.
I'd rather live here than in Vietnam, Bangladesh, China, Nigeria, or Brazil.
I'd love to visit many of these places. It's a big beautiful world with lots to see and do; but I like coming home to Winnipeg.
There is a price to pay anywhere and everywhere. It's cold much of the time here, and our summers are short, but wonderful. We have awesome festivals, wonderful parks and tons of affordable and free stuff to do. Winnipeg is situated in a flood plain, and if it weren't for our wonderful floodway, this time of year would usually be a problem for us. There are so many places in the world with much bigger problems. I think it’s a great place to live… considering…
: )
12月23日 Baby it's cold outsideIt's minus 33 celcius out there this morning. Living in Winnipeg is awesome. The parks and beaches in the summer rock. But the winters are often harsh. Oh well, being a hearty prairie boy, I'll suck it up.
It's the busiest shopping day of the year today. I gotta visit the doctor this afternoon (around rush hour). That should be fun.
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Thank you for all the kind birthday wishes 
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