My little corner of the world

Seattle, take two!

2009-07-05T17:20:00.003-06:00

Well, I am currently sitting in front of a computer in Seattle in the apartment of someone very important to me. One of the major benefits of going on this little excursion is the opportunity to visit Heather! It makes me want to stop and stay here for awhile longer...

However, that is not to be the case. Later this afternoon, we'll be leaving The Emerald City to journey south to Cape Disappointment, a state park on the border between Washington and Oregon. I know, from the name, it doesn't sound like the most exciting place, but the name has historical significance... I don't have time to get into it, but look it up on Wikipedia, it's actually quite interesting!

Tonight, we'll be at a campsite, so I don't know if I'll be able to post anything, but I will try to get online again soon. To all my friends back in Grande Prairie, you stay classy, and I'll see some of you soon in Vegas!

My Little Corner of the World... on the road!

2009-07-04T06:11:00.005-06:00

Well, it's official... in a little over an hour, we will be heading down highway 40, south through Jasper on our way to Kamloops, and the first leg of our whirlwind summer adventure! That blue Toyota Matrix in the image at the top of this page? It's currently loaded to the brim with tents, sleeping bags, luggage, and camping supplies. On top of that, it will transport three friends thousands of kilometers over the next two weeks. Before we're done, our trip will take us to the beautiful Oregon coast, the lights of San Francisco, the creations of the imagineers at Disneyland in Anaheim, the beautiful fakery of Las Vegas, and the mountains of Montana. It is my intent to update this blog daily as an account of our journey. As I do not have a laptop, I will not be able to upload pictures until I get home. However, some of the great experiences we undertake will be posted. I am intending to find internet cafes and other wireless hot-spots in order to make this possible. So, join us on our very cool summer trip, and hopefully we'll come back in one piece with some interesting stories to tell!

Hoo boy... it's been forever.

2009-06-04T11:00:00.005-06:00

Wow, it has been nearly a year since the last time I posted. I should try to catch up on what's been going on in my life.

I'm nearly finished teaching another year at St. Joseph Catholic High School here in Grande Prairie. The year has had its share of challenges, excitement, and trials. As I watch the grad class of 2009 begin the process of moving on to bigger and better things, I am reminded of the excitement and promise that accompanied my own graduation in June of 2000. I had already been accepted to the local college to begin studying to get my teaching degree, but there was still the promise of the unknown, and the tantalizing alure of what will forever be known to high school students as "the real world." As I help grade twelve students earn that last credit or two needed to graduate, I wonder what the future holds for them. Some will go off to college and university; some will travel, exploring the world and themselves before deciding what the rest of their life will be. Others will begin their lives in the working world right out of high school.

Well, I suppose I should update everyone on what's happening with me in the next few weeks. For starters, next Friday I fly out to Seattle. Seattle is one of those places that I've always wanted to see. My parents visited Seattle before I was born, and they always talk very fondly about it. I'm also planning on meeting, in person, someone I've gotten to know very well over the last few weeks. She has become someone very important to me, and I can't wait until we are able to see and talk to each other in person for the first time. In addition, I can't wait for her to show me around Seattle, and let me see everything that that beautiful city has to offer.

Following the end of the school year, I will be embarking on an amazing two-week road trip down the Pacific coast of the US, going through Washington, Oregon, and California. After a day in Disneyland, we'll be travelling north to Las Vegas to partake in everything that the adult amusement park has to offer. Then, after about three days in Vegas, we'll drive north through Utah, Idaho, and Montana. After fifteen days on the road, we will once again be home.

I do plan on posting the itinerary for the trip here, as well as posting pictures and stories from both trips as they happen. I know my track record for updates has been, frankly, miserable. However, all I can say is stay tuned.

Las Vegas...

2008-07-21T19:40:00.002-06:00

Well, the excitement of the summer is fast approaching: On August 14th, me and three friends will be heading to Las Vegas, Nevada! I'm pretty excited, as I haven't even been to the US since I was about seven years old. There are a few must-sees there, including The Blue Man Group, Star Trek: The Experience, the Grand Canyon, and Circ d'soleil. If anyone else has any suggestions, please let me know! We'll be there for four nights, heading home on the afternoon of the 18th. We'll be staying at the Las Vegas Hilton, so if anyone's stayed there before, let me know what it's like!

The final stretch...

2008-05-05T21:07:00.002-06:00

Well folks, countdown time has officially begun. In a mere ten days, I will be moving into my new apartment. Frankly speaking, I can't wait. It's truly going to be the first time that I will be living in "my place." The closest I've ever come to that is sharing an apartment with two friends back in university. However, this time, my roommate and I will be sharing the place equally. None of this rooming at someone else's place anymore. In ten days, I will be living in a sweet apartment with my best friend. I couldn't be happier!

The Long Wait Continues...

2008-04-21T12:42:00.002-06:00

The saga of the new apartment is nearing its thrilling conclusion! My friend has agreed to get the place with me. All that remains is hearing from Boardwalk following a check of our credit, renting histories, and income. I see no reason why we won't be able to get the place. Hopefully, we can move in on May 15th as planned!

In other news, this bloody cold just won't go away. I stayed home from work last Wednesday, and did parent/teacher interviews again on Thursday. I should have stayed home on Friday, but instead I went in to work. Now, Monday is here, and I'm stuck at home. No matter what, I'm going back to work tomorrow, as I can't afford to miss more work.

Crappy Squared

2008-04-15T22:25:00.005-06:00

Still waiting on my friend! Seems it will not be until Thursday that I get my answer... and it doesn't look good.

In other news, I am sick as a dog. On Monday, in block four, a student of mine needed assistance with her computer project. I leaned in beside her to help her out, and she chose that moment to cough. Now, she did try to cover her mouth, but this only served to direct the cough onto my face. Sure enough, this morning, I woke up with a horribly sore throat, and the worst sinus headache in recent memory. Unfortunately, today was the first day of Parent/Teacher interviews, meaning calling in sick was simply not an option. So, after arriving home tonight at about 9:30 from work, I made the decision to call in for tomorrow. Hopefully that will give me enough time to sleep this thing off before PTIs resume on Thursday.

New Digs? I Hope So...

2008-04-14T23:12:00.005-06:00

So, I've just returned home from checking out a new apartment. The apartment in question is an absolutely beautiful suite in the Prairie Sunrise Towers here in Grande Prairie. I've recently made the decision to alter my living arrangements mostly due to the frustration of living in a home where I feel more like a guest than a resident. This is not to speak unkindly of my roommate, as he is a good friend and very patient with having an interloper in his condo. However, the power imbalance is frustrating, and it would be very nice to have a place to call my own.

Tonight, however, will decide whether or not I can actually move in. You see, my best friend has yet to decide if he can manage the increased cost of moving out of his mother's house. I would truly enjoy sharing an apartment with him, as the two of us get along swimmingly, and would make ideal roommates (in my humble opinion.) So, as it stands now, I should know tomorrow night at this time if, in fact, I will be moving on May the 1st. Fingers crossed!

Artists, ownership, etc.

2008-01-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

First of all, let me say right off the bat, if you saw the title and thought that this would be a post about downloaded music, the RIAA, etc, I'm sorry to tell you that it is not. Basically, this post came about when a well-known vlogger on YouTube named Paperlilies posted on her blog about how she feels that her audience expects her to act a certain way, and she feels obligated to do so. She is what is known as a "YouTube Partner," which means that YouTube pays her money for her videos. I have no idea how one becomes a partner, just that your videos have to be well-known, and have a certain quality that most (including my own) lack. Most of the following is adapted from a response I made to Paperlilies' post.

It's been my experience that when something or someone is "big," the people who are entertained end up feeling a sense of "ownership." Basically, the audience comes to expect certain things from their entertainment, and when the entertainer deviates from those established norms, the audience feels betrayed.

Eventually, the phenomenon outgrows the original entertainer, and becomes "bigger" than him or her. For example, I am a geek. Therefore, as a geek, I am a fan of a little show called Star Trek. If you look at the history of Star Trek, it began as an innocent, campy, but entertaining program that aired for three years in the 1960s. However, Star Trek soon became a huge phenomenon. Now, people whine and complain that it's not like it used to be and that it's not what they expect anymore. In fact, a new movie is slated to be released for Christmas 2008 in which the original characters are being re-cast, the ship is being re-designed, and classic characters such as Kirk and Spock will again be on the big screen, albeit Shatner-less. Everywhere I look are Trekkies screaming that "you can't do this!" or "you're raping my childhood!" Seriously? "Raping" your childhood? To these fans, I must ask: How many James Bonds have there been? Or Batmans... men... whatever? I'm sorry, but there is fandom, and then there is fanaticism. This brings me to my original point: the audience does not "own" the entertainment. People such as this should realize that there are other people in the audience, and the world cannot simply mold itself to their own vision. If one sees something that doesn't follow their vision 100%, whining and complaining about it will not help. If you don't like the product, don't consume it!

Audiences have to learn that they do not "own" the entertainment; they have no special control over what an artist does or says in crafting his or her particular art. As much as I love watching Paperlilies, or Star Trek, I know that it is entertainment. It is up to the entertainer to do as he or she sees fit, and if people don't like it, then they shouldn't watch just to bitch and moan. Again, if the product does not line up with what the consumer wants, they should not watch it.

In any case, I apologize for the rant. Also, sorry if it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. This was basically an off-the-cuff reaction to Bryony's (Paperlilies) post, and the vitriol I've seen on the 'net with regards to J.J. Abrams' new Star Trek movie. Oh, and I'm hoping to include links to Paperlilies' Blog and YouTube Channel over on the left hand side. Also, I'll stick up a link to my YouTube Channel... but don't watch it. Seriously, it sucks.

G'night all!

Something interesting...

2007-11-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

Okay, here's the deal. I believe I know the reason I'm not updating this blog as much as I would like to. It really all comes down to the fact that not much is happening in my life that I would qualify as "interesting." Wait, let me re-phrase that. It is interesting to me, but I get the feeling that the day-to-day minutia of my life would be about as fascinating to others as the news that the President of the US is having a colonoscopy. Although, come to think of it, the aforementioned "event" did warrant coverage on CNN, so what do I know?

Far be it for me to question what sorts of presidential outpatient procedures are newsworthy, but was that a slow news day or what? I mean, I can imagine the terror that would be generated from the knowledge that Dick Cheney was the leader of the free world for a few hours, but still! Also, I suppose that with recent developments, the term "free world" should indeed have quotation marks surrounding it. I am constantly shocked to realize that we live in a world where people can be locked up by the United States of America without trial, and left to languish in the infamous Guantanamo Bay. Hey! The constitution says we can't torture people or subject them to cruel and unusual punishment! Ah, but that's within the United States. Just hold them in a location outside the US, and it's O-TAY! As a side note, the solitary confinement cells at Guantanamo are about the side of a refrigerator. Nope, no cruel or unusual punishment there.

And with that, I believe I have found the secret to coming up with something to write about. No one wants to hear about whats going on in my life in any great detail. Unless something truly, monumentally fascinating occurs, the details of my life aren't much different from the person living down the street from me. No, maybe commentary on what's going on in the world is the way to go.

At least until I go to Japan to teach english.

Until next time!

Link to Amnesty International.

Whoa... what's the date today?

2007-07-12T10:18:00.000-06:00

Well, due to (believe it or not) popular demand, I'm writing another blog post. I know that it was last year since last I wrote, but it's never too late, right? I suppose there are limits, though. I should probably start by updating you on my life lately.

Where to begin? Well, I got a full-time job at St. Joe's following my student teaching. I covered a maternity leave there from January to June. The experience was... interesting, to say the least. One effect it had was to cement in my mind what I said in an earlier post: teaching is not for me, at least not in the short term. Also, I do want the freedom to do some travelling, maybe visit some places abroad for a few years. But first, I'll have to make some more coin. With that in mind, I've recently gotten a job at Peace Country Health. I work at the Queen Elizabeth II hospital here in Grande Prairie, in Outpatient Booking. Basically, it's my job to book visits for minor procedures, such as colonoscopies and epidural injections. Believe it or not, the job is quite fascinating, and I really am enjoying it. And, contrary to what some people would have you believe, I do NOT wash bedpans at any point in my day. Whatsoever.

Since I last posted, I've also moved to Grande Prairie, and currently room with Mike Lemay, Denis Lemay, and Terrence Sask. It's a pretty sweet arrangement, and I've really enjoyed my time there. Unfortunately, I can see changes approaching fast on the horizon, and it may almost be time to move on.

Remember my earlier post entitled "Shiny Happy People.."? Well, the points I brought up in that post are once again manifesting themselves in the lives of my friends. On the 21st of this month, I'll be attending the wedding of one of my best friends, Serge Couture. He'll be getting married to Andrea Buote, another teacher in the Catholic School District in Grande Prairie. I can't wait to go the wedding, which will be in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. Also getting married on the 21st is my good friend, Catherine Ashby. Her and her fiance, Brian Wynder, will be wed in Edmonton. I wish I could attend both! There is also news in this area regarding a close friend of mine, but I'm not sure how public he's made the news, so I'll hold off in revealing it for now.

Since I am no longer teaching, I should have a great deal more time to myself, and can therefore commit more time to doing things like posting to this blog. So, hopefully, you'll hear more from me (provided I haven't bored you all to tears). Have a great rest of the week, and keep in touch!

An Inconvenient Class

2006-12-16T11:43:00.000-07:00

I'd like to share something that happened to me the other day while teaching a social studies class. Without naming the class, the school, or the students involved, I would like to tell you all about showing Al Gore's film An Inconvenient Truth in class. As various facts and figures were put forward by Mr. Gore, students engaged in the requisite "wow"s and "I didn't know that"s. However, one student, who continually tries to see how much he can push my buttons, kept saying things such as "This movie is BS" or "Oh my God this is boring." After taking him aside and dressing him down a bit, the class continued without further incident. At the end of the class, I required the students to answer a few questions about the film. While the student in question chose to take a zero on the assignment and not pass it in, many of the other responses I received were very interesting. One student in my class who is very quiet but does some amazing written work, in response to the question "Does An Inconvenient Truth do a good job in presenting the issue of global warming? In what ways could the film be improved?", wrote this:
"Yes, I believe that Mr. Gore's film does an excellent job in presenting the issue. This issue seems to be a very important one, and An Inconvenient Truth is a harsh and uncompromising analysis of the problems we may one day face. Unfortunately, I think that some of the film's impact may have been lost on some in the class. When I heard the comment that the film was 'boring' I wanted to vomit. How can anyone be so narrowminded to not even listen to what's being said, even if you don't agree with it?"
Needless to say, I was very pleased with this student's response, and full marks were awarded. This just goes to show you that even when something seems to "go wrong" in a classroom, benefits can arise from it. The second student's outrage over what was said may have further fueled her desire to take a stand on the issue or to one day be involved in active works to solve issues such as these.

Sorry I've been so reticent to post lately, I have been extremely busy in the classroom. But, I have some fantastic news! As of yesterday, December 15th, my student teaching has ended! As of Monday, December 18th, my actual teaching begins! That's right, I've been hired to cover a medical leave at St. Joseph's Catholic High School in Grande Prairie, Alberta. It's a short term contract, but I am very much looking forward to working (for PAY this time!) with all my former teachers from my high school days! And, wonder of wonders, I'm actually starting to get used to being called "Mr. Gunther." I know, I'm scared too.

Have a great weekend!

Lest We Forget...

2006-11-11T21:08:00.000-07:00

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

-Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

Happy Birthday to Me!

2006-10-01T23:30:00.000-06:00

Well, today was my twenty-fourth birthday. I'm now only one year away from being a quarter-century old. I know, I know, I'm still a youngster according to most, but still, I can't shake the idea that in six years, I'll be thirty. Ye Gods.

I had a pretty good time tonight. I was taken for dinner to Moxie's by some friends of mine, and we spent a good couple of hours B.S.ing and reminiscing over the good times had by us over the past few years. It was a nice break from the work that comprises the course I'm taking at the university. And what a course it is! Right now, I'm working on my final assignment which is to produce an entire unit plan for a high school social studies class. I'm going with grade eleven, topic A. This section of the curriculum has to do with the development and interactions of nations, and studies the events of nineteenth-century Europe. And yes, before you ask, it IS as exciting as it sounds. Really!

I've found out where my placement for my education pracicum is going to be. On Monday, October 16th, I will be teaching at St. Joseph's Catholic High School back in Grande Prairie. I'm very excited, but also pretty nervous. I'm sure I'll do okay, but there's always that worry in the back of my mind... Oh well, I'm sure I'll be fine.

Books:
Still reading The Gunslinger series by Stephen King, in between analysing the Social Studies 20 Curriculum, perusing teacher's resource manuals, and looking for ideas for teaching social studies 20 in journals and periodicals. Right now I'm on book four, entitled Wizard and Glass. This book takes on a much different tone than the previous books. In it, we learn much of the Gunslinger's past, including a seminal event in his life that led him to where he is today.

Music:
Not much new in the music scene for me, as I said, I like the old stuff. Therefore, go listen to Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction." One of my classmates brought it up the other day as a great song to use in a social studies classroom, and I would have to agree. Plus, it has the added bonus of being #913 on Sun FM's top 1000 songs of all time!
Another song I love, even though it's not an oldie, is track two on the Barenaked Ladies' new album, Barenaked Ladies Are Me, called "Bank Job." Laced with BNL's typical absurdity, the song is simply fun to listen to!

'Til next time, good night all!

Five Years Later

2006-09-11T23:10:00.000-06:00

I know I haven't posted in awhile, and alot has changed since my last post. I want to do an update about what's going on in my life, but that will wait until another time. However, I didn't want this date to go by without posting a few of my thoughts.

Today is September 11th, 2006. All of you will remember the terrible events that took place five years ago today in New York City, Washington DC, and the crash of United Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. Today will always be marked by the world as a horrible and senseless attack on the people of the United States of America. When talking about September 11th, especially as a liberal-minded university student living in Western Canada, the temptation always exists to take pot-shots at the American institutions of government, and the people who currently occupy those seats. Those of you who know me will know my opinions of George W. Bush, the current U.S. administration, and the wars currently being fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. If you don't know, please feel free to ask me. I'm always up for a good debate/chat/discussion. You'll find that I am quite passionate about current world events. However, this post is not about that. This post is about an attack on innocent civilians perpetrated by criminals. No matter what preceeded it, no matter what excuse is dreamt up, the attack was completely and utterly without cause or justification. Today, I would like to extend my deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the September 11th attacks. No, the world did not fundamentally change on 9/11/2001. Yes, certain people have used these attacks to justify further killings. However, that does not change the loss and the tragedy of the day. And even though other parts of the world have known tragedy equal to and exceeding the attack on the US that day, that reasoning does not negate the horrendousness of the 9/11 attacks. 2996 innocent people were murdered that day, and they should all be in our thoughts and memories. They will certainly be in mine, as will the memories of anyone in the world who is senselessly murdered in the name of rightousness.

Golf, Costco, and School

2006-08-30T11:13:00.000-06:00

Well, here I am on the cusp of yet another return to Edmonton for university. This time, however, it will be a little different. I only have one semester left, and it is my practicum semester. This means that I will only be in Edmonchuck for about six weeks before I head back home to teach for another nine weeks. In a way, I will really miss going to university, but at the same time, I am very eager to just get everything done. I'm ready to start my life!

Yesterday, a few friends and I played 18 holes at Grovedale Golf Course. I had a great time, and although the round took WAY longer than it should have, I think everyone had fun. On the front nine, I shot a 43, which was a personal best. However, it kind of fell apart on the back, on which I shot a 53. Oh well.

Last Sunday was my last day at Costco. I never thought I'd say this, but I'll really miss the place. The people I worked with are what really made Costco memorable. A few, I will likely not see again. But, there are of course a few who I believe will become life-long friends. At least, I hope so. On my last day, a bunch of the front end staff got together and gave me a huge homemade card, signed by everyone I worked with. It really meant alot to me, and I will always remember fondly the time I spent with those people. Thanks, Kayla!

Movies

After our golf game, a few of us went to see the Mark Wahlberg movie Invincible. I really enjoyed it. The film is about the NFL career of Philidelphia Eagles' Vince Papale, who made the team after attending open tryouts following a series of humiliating defeats for the team. Saying that I enjoyed the film is actually saying alot, as sport movies have never really been my thing. The film was very well-written, quite well-acted, and the characters displayed a real depth of genuine emotion. In my personal opinion, the real highlight of the film was Greg Kinnear's portrayal of Coach Dick Vermeil. Not only is Kinnear a top-notch actor, he is a dead ringer for Vermeil, judging by film from the real life career of Papale at the end of the film. Also a highlight of the film was Elizabeth Banks as Janet, Papale's love interest, and current real-life wife. She's cute, talented, and the character was a source of comic relief as a die-hard New York Giants fan in the stronghold of the Philidelphia Eagles.

Shiny Happy People Holding Hands...

2006-08-01T23:38:00.000-06:00

Wow, what is it with weddings? This last weekend, I drove my trusty little Dodge Neon and three excited girls to a wedding in Westlock, Alberta. The wedding was of a college friend, Candi Dyky, and her new husband, Rod Beauchamp. It was an exciting affair (of course), and I have to say, no expense was spared. I literally felt guilty at the amount of money that must have been spent putting the wedding together. I think Candi's parents must have been sent to the poor house with the apparent cost of the entire shindig. But, of course, a great time was had by all, and Candi looked absolutely beautiful (as any and every bride does). The week before this opulent affair, another good friend of mine, Nikki (this time from high school), was married to her fiance, and a few of my friends will be attending Jolene Senkow's wedding in Calgary in a few weeks. It seems as though everyone I know is getting married (or, at least, going to a wedding). Now, one would think that the fact that I have not had a relationship in the the last two years that lasted longer than a Mento would be troubling to me, but in actuality, it's not. I know that someday, I'll find that special someone, yadda yadda yadda... moving on!

Oh, and on a completely unrelated matter, my good friend Serge has asked his girlfrind Andrea to marry him. She, of course, said yes, and they'll be getting married next July in Prince Edward Island. So, congratulations are in order to the both of them; have fun planning the wedding, guys! (Although, it's pretty safe to say that Serge won't have much of a hand in the planning...)

Folks, I know it's been awhile since my last posting, and I'd like to apologize. I know that most of you sit at home on the edge of your seats waiting with baited breath to read what I have to say about the goings-on in my life, or what I think about everything from middle east politics to what I thought was funny about a particular movie. Wait, where's everyone going? Aw...

Books

Well, I'm sorry to say, it's taking quite awhile to get through Friedman's The World is Flat. Not because it's boring; on the contrary. It is quite interesting, and I look forward to picking it up again. No, the reason it is sitting in the back seat of my car unread is because I made the mistake of picking up Stephen King's The Gunslinger. For those of you unfamiliar with the book, The Gunslinger is the first volume of seven in King's The Dark Tower series. These books represent King's attempt to create a fantasy series in the vein of Tolkein or C.S. Lewis. Stephen King, however, takes the idea in a different direction. The stories take place in a strange, yet somewhat familiar alternate reality. However, the stories make brief sojourns into our world, and the crossing of paths of people from both worlds makes for a very compelling and fun read. I am currently blasting my way through these books; currently, I am halfway through book three, The Waste Lands. The books in the Dark Tower series are, in order:

I: The Gunslinger;
II: The Drawing of the Three;
III: The Waste Lands;
IV: Wizard and Glass;
V: Wolves of the Calla;
VI: Song of Susannah;
& VII: The Dark Tower.

I urge anyone who wants to stay up late at night reading to pick up book one today. I am recommending these books from an unbiased perspective; I honestly can't think of another Stephen King book I have ever read before. I don't even think I ever finished The Shining, so my recommendation doesn't come from a fanboyish Stephen King fetish, but from the pure enjoyment of reading a great story.

Well, that's all I can think of to say tonight. I'm going to get some sleep (but not before reading a little bit more of The Waste Lands). Good night all!

WWIII

2006-07-17T23:18:00.000-06:00

So, as someone who keeps up to date on current events, I have to say that the events of the past week have absolutely floored me. I pride myself on my awareness of what is going on in the world around me, but I must admit, last week I took a couple of days off of keeping up with the news. Then, one day, I listen to the CBC hourly news and, lo and behold, World War Three has begun. Wow. The events in the Gaza Strip and the current exchange of rockets between Hezballah and Israel, and Israel's constant bombing of Lebanon (including, incredibly, the international airport, preventing many from being able to flee the country) have left me feeling very despondent and jaded about our current state of world affairs. If you had asked me three weeks ago what the future of the middle east was going to be like, I could have gone on for some time about what I believed the result of recent events could be. But now, since all hell has broken loose between Israel and Lebanon, I just don't know. In many ways, I would give anything to go back to the period from 1989-1992. It was a different world at the time. With the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of Soviet Russia, many people in the so-called first world felt this would be an era of un-precedented peace. Finally, the great struggle between the world's two superpowers was at an end, and peace would reign over the Earth. Unfortunately, we could not have been more wrong. Wars are fought every day on this planet, and with well over two hundred dead on both sides in the current conflict (along with seven Canadian citizens, I might add), it looks as though this state of affairs will continue for quite awhile longer. However, it is not the end of the world. As a very smart man reminded me this morning, all of this has happened before, and all of it will happen again. But I am an optimist. I am a Star Trek fan, and that comes bundled with it an innate optimism that humanity will one day overcome the violence of our past and learn to live with each other in a world of common respect, free of bigotry and hatred of all kinds. While I am not completely naive and think this will happen anytime soon, I sleep well at night believing simply that it will happen. Someday.

Dogs, Cars, and Spam

2006-07-11T23:24:00.000-06:00

So, we have a new puppy at our place, a male border collie named Chip. He's pretty active, (mostly) well-behaved, but still quite a handful. I really look forward to the day he's not in the house anymore. I think he'll be much happier once he gets outside too. I don't have any good pictures of him yet, but as soon as I take some nice shots, I'll be sure to post them.

Movies

On Sunday night, a bunch of the staff from Costco went to see Disney's Cars. I have to say, I really enjoyed it. I didn't really have a huge desire to see the movie, but I thought it would be nice to do something with the people from work for once. I'm glad I went. The film is quite funny, and has some of the same adult "nudge-nudge, wink-wink" humour in it that made Shrek and The Incredibles so hilarious. There are, of course, some cutesy "Disney" kids moments in the film, and at some points, the discriminating adults will have to suppress their gag reflex. But, on the whole, I rate Cars a solid three out of four.

Link of the Day

Spamusement! Spamusement is a comic created by taking the actual subject lines from spam emails and drawing the situation that comes to the twisted mind of the comic's author. Some of the results are a little mixed, but most are really hilarious! Check it out!

Yay! Saturday off!

2006-07-08T20:34:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone, may I say how great it is to have Saturday off??? Well, if I can't, too bad, 'cause I just did.

The past couple of days have been fun. Last night, I finally got to see Superman Returns with some friends of mine. Oh! And I got to see Bonnie again, who is back from her whirlwind adventure around the world! Today, I hung out with Monika, and picked up our gift for Candi's wedding. After that, we went to see The Break-Up. So, yeah, it's been a movie weekend.

Movies

Superman Returns: All I can say is, wow! I was absolutely blown away by this film. As he has demonstrated with his previous films, most notably (in my opinion) in X2: X-Men United, director Bryan Singer definitely has an eye and an ear towards character development. Even though Superman Returns certainly is a showcase for some of the most ground-breaking special and visual effects, the characters are what really make the film work. Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane is acceptable (and CUTE!), while new-comer Brandon Routh does a great Superman and an even better Clark Kent. However, the real treat is Kevin Spacey's Lex Luthor. I have to admit, I had my doubts about him in the role, but they were quickly put to rest. I should have known better; Kevin Spacey has always been a top-notch actor in my opinion. American Beauty remains one of my favorite films, due in no small part to Spacey's portrayal of odd-ball Lester Burnham. Go see Superman Returns if you haven't already. Oh, and just a word of warning: the film clocks in at over two and a half hours, so make sure to visit the little boy's or girl's room first.

The Break-Up: Hmm. I have to say, when Monika and I went to see this movie this afternoon, I was expecting something a little different. I think I wanted a little more comedy, a little less chick-flick. After all, one of my favorite recent comedies is The Wedding Crashers, a film that was catapulted into the "excellent" range by Vince Vaughn. While The Break-Up had a few of those hilarious moments, it was more a romantic comedy(read: Chick-flick) than a showcase of Vaughn's comedic talent. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those guys completely opposed to so-called "chick-flicks," but I prefer to see them when it's seen as a sensitive and generous gesture by me in a boyfriend kinda-way, not when it's just me and a friend expecting to watch a comedy. So, guys, if there's a chance to score brownie points with the girlfriend, take her to this film. Hmm... although, taking a girl to a movie called The Break-Up might not give them the best impression... therefore, no matter who you are, watch this movie at your own risk!

Music

Just had Blue Rodeo's "Side of the Road" playing... good song, I command you to listen to it.

::Insert Witty Title Here::

2006-07-05T23:29:00.000-06:00

Man, I'm pooped. Today was non-stop, and incredibly tiring. I know, I know, you're all thinking "Oh, come on. How tiring can it possibly be to work at Costco???" Well, to put it shortly, very. And because it is so tiring, shortly is the only way I can put it. So tonight will be a very short posting.

Music

Go and listen to "Woodstock". GREAT song. The Matthew Souther Comfort version is acceptable, but the best version of the song is by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

Link of the Day

Irregular Webcomic! Irregular Webcomic is, ironically, one of the most regularly-updated webcomics I have ever had the fortune to read. The man who puts them together does one literally *every day*! It is a fun little comic strip that is not drawn, but rather each panel is a photograph of lego men or role-playing game figures. The comic is extremely amusing, focusing on different on-going storylines such as James Bond-style antics, Indiana Jones-like stories, and table-top roleplaying game adventures. Be aware of horrible puns and intellectual humour. Needless to say, this comic will appeal to the nerd/geek segment of the population. But, you know what I always say: Everyone's a geek about something.

The wheel's turning, but the hamster's dead.

2006-07-04T23:20:00.000-06:00

Happy Independence Day to all my American readers!!! (Er... there's *maybe* one... hey Crystal, have you checked out my blog? ;)

Have you ever done a job where it just seems as though you fall into a predictable routine, and end up feeling like a robot on an assembly line, doing the same movements over and over? That's a little like what working as a cashier at Costco feels like. Over and over... "Can I have your card please? Do you have any items on coupon? Your total is $339.58. On the card? Thanks, have a great night!" Repeat. I think that it's that sort of robot-like repetitiveness that the front-end supervisors like their cashiers to get into. I got into the routine tonight, and all of the sudden, I'm putting more and more customers through! My "members per hour," while not great, was a respectable 47. (The "do not go below this line" MPH is 45.) While this was definitely not perfect, I was bringing up the store average, which was a rather slow 42.5 MPH for the day. So, I guess the lesson is, buckle down, accept the torrid pace and tediousness of the job, and you will excell!

Music

I have two songs tonight that deserve to be listened to if you haven't heard them in awhile. The first is The Guess Who's "These Eyes." I listened to it tonight on the way home, and wow! It's amazing how great a song can be, even if you've heard it a million or so times. If you haven't heard it in awhile, listen to it now! The other song is R.E.M.'s "Shiny Happy People." I don't know why, but it was the perfect song to hear tonight. Upbeat, impossibly chipper, and a great melody. Fun!

Ah, what the heck, here's another joke:

A man stumbles up to the only other patron in a bar and asks if he could buy him a drink.
"Why of course," comes the reply.
The first man then asks: "Where are you from?"
"I'm from Ireland," replies the second man.
The first man responds: "You don't say, I'm from Ireland too! Let's have another round to Ireland."

"Of Course," replies the second man. Curious, the first man then asks: "Where in Ireland are you from?" "Dublin," comes the reply.

"I can't believe it," says the first man. "I'm from Dublin too! Let's have another drink to Dublin."

"Of course," replies the second man. Curiosity again strikes and the first man asks: "What school did you go to?"

"Saint Mary's," replies the second man. "I graduated in '62."
"This is unbelievable!" the first man says. "I went to Saint Mary's and I graduated in '62, too!"

About that time in comes one of the regulars and sits down at the bar. "What's been going on?" he asks the bartender. "Nothing much," replies the bartender. "The O'Malley twins are drunk again."

'Til next time!

I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

2006-07-03T23:15:00.000-06:00

Another day gone... and it was a strange one. The job at Costco can be fun, but sometimes it is extremely hectic and demanding. Some days, there is hardly any time to stop and take a breather, and since they have trained me to do cashiering, it's only gotten worse. Today, though... was odd. For the first half of the day, it was extremely busy. There were people everywhere you looked, and there were times that the lines at the tills were 10 or so members long! Then, five o'clock came, and... nothing. It was as though the store died. The entire warehouse had a slightly funerial feeling, which was somewhat off-putting. In any case, I am at home now, relaxing, washing clothes, and generally trying to ignore the ugly scratch I have on my cheek... (I had an encounter with a particularly nasty pineapple... don't ask).

Ugh... tomorrow I work from 5pm-10pm... only five hours, which sucks pay-cheque-wise, AND I'm at Costco until TEN! Bleh.

Well... since I don't have much to say today, I'll leave you with a joke:

An elderly gent was invited to his old friend's home for dinner one evening.

He was impressed by the way his friend preceded every request to his wife with endearing terms - "Honey," "My Love," "Darling," "Sweetheart," "Pumpkin," etc.
The couple had been married almost 70 years and, clearly, they were still very much in love.

While the wife was in the kitchen, the man leaned over and said to his host, "I think it's wonderful that, after all these years, you still call your wife those loving pet names."

The old man hung his head. "I have to tell you the truth," he said. "I forgot her name about 10 years ago."

Aw, c'mon. It was funny.

Happy Maple Leaf Day!!!

2006-07-01T16:13:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone, Happy Canada Day to one and all! Today has been a terrific day, and last night was alot of fun as well. First of all, Chris and I went to see Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, but more on that later. After the film, we went over to Meg's place to watch the fireworks, and may I say, City of Grande Prairie, you have outdone yourself! The fireworks display was very impressive! Not quite as spectacular as the show last year in Edmonton, but after all, it was Alberta's centennial AND they had a much larger fireworks budget, I'm sure.

Today was quite fun as well. After a great sleeping in, my Dad and I went golfing with my uncle Brian, his father Milt, and my two young cousins, James and Sean. It was a really slow nine holes at Grovedale, as we were teaching James how to golf. I think he had alot of fun, despite the slowness of the sport.

Right now I'm enjoying a quiet, relaxing Canada Day afternoon, and I am not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. Because it's such a beautiful day outside, I decided to snap a few pictures, mostly of our new litter of kittens. They're already a few weeks old, but they are starting to get fairly tame. One, however, proved too elusive to catch, and I couldn't lure him out from under the deck. This was the best picture I was able to get of this little scaredy-cat. Two of the kittens are almost identical, save for a little darker coloring on one. The names of these two kittens are Casper and Spooky. Finally, I have one more kitten which we have been unable to name. He's a cute little black kitten. If anyone has any suggestions of names for him and the scaredy-cat, please let me hear them! The final pic is one of the mother, Hoshi, looking like a worn-out mother. Just for interest's sake, here's a pic of Hoshi when she was just a kitten.

Movies

Last night, Chris and I went to see An Inconvenient Truth, a documentary film all about the climate crisis, and Al Gore's personal mission to make people aware of the problem, and how they can help solve it. I found the film very interesting as well as enlightening. An Inconvenient Truth dispelled many of the fallacies I had taken as fact, and what I found most surprising was how easily we as a people could turn back the clock and pull back from the edge if we only would accept the fact of climate change and acknowledge our part in causing it. I urge everyone to see this film. I do not of course advocate a blind acceptance of all aspects of the documentary. As with every form of media, there are inherent biases as well as a certain level of theatricality present. Please watch the film with a critical mind, but with an open one as well. And for crying out loud, ask the questions that need asking, and do the research. The problem is real, but the solution is not impossible.

Link of the Day

Overheard in New York. This is a hilarious accounting of some of the most absurd and amusing conversations overheard by regular everyday people in New York City. Some of the conversations overheard are simply inane, but some are genuinely witty and clever. It's updated everyday, so anytime you want a quick laugh, just pop on in and read some of the latest entries. Sometimes disturbing, but always funny!

So... this is a blog, huh?

2006-06-29T23:57:00.001-06:00

Somehow I thought it would be a little more... I dunno, involved? Who knew how easy it would be to just spew out some random thoughts into the great unwashed masses of cyberspace? Oh great, that's a great way to start, call your readership "unwashed." Wait, readership? Who in the world is ever going to read this?!? Hmmm... I guess there are a few things I haven't worked out yet.

So, I suppose I should start by telling you all a little about me. (Again, though, 'you all'? Who is reading this???) Well, I'm 23, living in an area known as Grovedale, which is actually a small hamlet outside the city of Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada. It's kind of odd that I tell everyone I live in Grovedale, mostly because Grovedale is merely a school, a general store, a hockey arena, and a community hall. I actually live a good fifteen or so kilometers from Grovedale proper. I currently live with my parents, lately only during the summer months. September to April, I'm usually living in Edmonton, attending the University of Alberta. Although, seeing as I only have six weeks of school and a practicum left before I get my Education degree, I'll only be in Edmonton until about mid-October this time around. After I'm done my practicum in December, I have absolutely no idea what I am going to do with my life. One thing is fairly certain: I don't think I was meant to teach high school. Don't get me wrong, I completely intend to finish my degree, it's just that my yearn to teach social studies and english has waned somewhat over the last couple of years... In any case, I don't have to make any firm decisions on that front just yet.

Well, lemme see... I'm an avid skier, I used to be an avid golfer and am just now getting back into it, I love reading, listening to music, and building scale models. Yeah, I know, yawn, right? Well, I enjoy it, and I'm making no apologies for it!

One thing I want to do with this blog is list book recommedations, movie reviews, links that I frequent, and favorite music. So, without further ado, here are today's:

Books

Just finished: Village of the Small Houses by Ian Ferguson. This book tells the story of a young man growing up in the small town of Fort Vermillion in northern Alberta. A very excellent story that really puts you smack dab in the middle of the lives of the people chronicled in its pages. The story is brought close to home to me by the fact that my father was living for a summer in Fort Vermillion during the period in which this story takes place. Village of the Small Houses is touted on the front cover as being a "memoir of sorts." Ian Ferguson grew up in the community, and while most of the book is a direct telling of his experiences, some of it has been fictionalized. Of interest to note is the fact that during the period chronicled in the book, Fort Vermillion was the third-poorest community in Canada. At the time the book was written, things had improved. Fort Vermillion had become merely the fifth-poorest community in the nation.

Just started: The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century by Thomas Friedman. This books promises to talk about history, geo-politics, and the forces of globalization at play in the world at the dawn of the twenty-first century. I don't know much about Thomas Friedman or his politics, so I'm interested to see what he has to say. I'll keep you all posted!

Movies

Last movie watched: The Pink Panther (2006) I watched this film for the second time the other day on DVD, and I have to say, I was suitably impressed. Although no-one can replace Peter Sellers as Inspector Clousseau, I have to say that Steve Martin did a very stand up job. The best part of his performance was the fact that he didn't try to impersonate Peter Seller's Clousseau, but created his own take on the famous French inspector. Not exactly a sparkling jewel in the crown of Hollywood achievement, but certainly watchable.

Movies I'm looking forward to seeing: An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore's dire warning on the dangers of global warming, and of course! Superman Returns, director Bryan Singer's take on the Man of Steel. Not sure when I'm going to be able to see Superman, but I'll be going to see An Inconvenient Truth tomorrow night with my friend Chris. (Or is it tonight? Wow, after midnight already!)

Music

Well, as far as music goes, I'm mostly into oldies. I'm currently compiling a CD collection of the top 1000 rock songs of all time, from a list put together annually by the local radio station in Grande Prairie, 97.7 Sun FM. Right now, my favorite songs to listen to in the car are "The Load-out" and "Stay" by Jackson Browne, and an all-time favorite of mine, "Heart of Gold" by Neil Young.

Link of the Day

sarah. on the run. Fans of the G4/Tech TV program "Attack of the Show" will know Sarah Lane from her time on the program, and her previous work with other G4/Tech TV programs. An intelligent, beautiful, and sassy woman, she has captured the hearts of many viewers. So much so that her departure from Tech TV was a very sad event, and she is missed dearly. However, she has just recently gotten married, and she is experiencing a year-long honeymoon with her husband, Brendan Moran, travelling all around the world. She is updating her blog with beautiful prose and photographs every so often. However, the real treat is her and Brendan's podcast, "The Travelling Morans." If you are a fan of Sarah or Brendan, check it out! If you're not, check it out anyway! You will love the adventures (and mis-adventures) these two experience as they make their way around the world. Stops include Greece, Turkey, Russia, Vietnam, and many others.