So voting closed on that DMBoot competition. At one point I made it into the top 300, but due to a lack of interest (I stopped voting as regularly) ended up at 345.
Not bad though (even though it means nothing!) given that my optimistic hope was to end in the top 500.
I still wouldn't mind a pair of these, actually.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Weekender
I may or may not get to the last two facts of the factoid-meme...
Meanwhile, check out the weekend:
Leah was of course away - she flew out to Sydney last Sunday. I went to the Tranzac on Friday night to see the Gertrudes. This is the big band that Josh Lyons plays in. I stayed long enough to watch their first set - it was super fun and chaotic. Their was even a song featuring 5 accordians.
On Saturday, I did a whole bunch of chores - everything from laundry, to yardwork, to cleaning house. In the afternoon I went to watch the Incredible Hulk. It was pretty good (although I tend to be pretty forgiving of superhero movies). The coolest part was seeing Toronto scattered throughout the movie. Since I went to see it at the AMC at Dundas Square, the big fight at the end was given an added level of weirdness. The big street fight takes place in 'New York', just around the corner from the theatre on Yonge street. While I was watching, it sort of felt like all I had to do was run outside and I would see the Hulk throwing down with the other beast-guy. Also, it was kinda fun to see Bruce Banner being stalked by army guys as he walked across Kings College Circle.
That night I stopped by Jessica's birthday party.
On Sunday I went to the airport to meet Leah. Her flight was early enough that I had to take the Bloor bus rather than the subway. This turned out to be way less terrible than I expected. We were both pretty wrecked from lack of sleep - so we took a nap before going to church early - Leah had to lead a couple of songs...
The end.
Meanwhile, check out the weekend:
Leah was of course away - she flew out to Sydney last Sunday. I went to the Tranzac on Friday night to see the Gertrudes. This is the big band that Josh Lyons plays in. I stayed long enough to watch their first set - it was super fun and chaotic. Their was even a song featuring 5 accordians.
On Saturday, I did a whole bunch of chores - everything from laundry, to yardwork, to cleaning house. In the afternoon I went to watch the Incredible Hulk. It was pretty good (although I tend to be pretty forgiving of superhero movies). The coolest part was seeing Toronto scattered throughout the movie. Since I went to see it at the AMC at Dundas Square, the big fight at the end was given an added level of weirdness. The big street fight takes place in 'New York', just around the corner from the theatre on Yonge street. While I was watching, it sort of felt like all I had to do was run outside and I would see the Hulk throwing down with the other beast-guy. Also, it was kinda fun to see Bruce Banner being stalked by army guys as he walked across Kings College Circle.
That night I stopped by Jessica's birthday party.
On Sunday I went to the airport to meet Leah. Her flight was early enough that I had to take the Bloor bus rather than the subway. This turned out to be way less terrible than I expected. We were both pretty wrecked from lack of sleep - so we took a nap before going to church early - Leah had to lead a couple of songs...
The end.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Fact #5
I have to sleep quite a bit in order to function. This is not unusual for humans, I guess... although it seems I have always known people that can function on a lot less that 8 hours a night. I pretty much cannot - it is not an option.
In college I studied Architecture. There are countless heroic tales of students spending sequential sleepless nights working on projects... and this seems to be a worldwide phenomenon of architecture schools everywhere. Something about design (a project is never ever really finished), combined with the control freak tendancies of those drawn to the field, make design school the perfect environment for sick sleep deprivation experiments. Classmates often had tales of falling asleep in unusual circumstances (in the shower; waiting at a red-light whilst driving home - both true stories)
I however, after a couple of all night sessions, pretty much decided that I would have to find another way to do things. After all, what good is it to complete a project if you always feel like dying???
I have heard that as you get older, you require less sleep. I hope that this is true.
In college I studied Architecture. There are countless heroic tales of students spending sequential sleepless nights working on projects... and this seems to be a worldwide phenomenon of architecture schools everywhere. Something about design (a project is never ever really finished), combined with the control freak tendancies of those drawn to the field, make design school the perfect environment for sick sleep deprivation experiments. Classmates often had tales of falling asleep in unusual circumstances (in the shower; waiting at a red-light whilst driving home - both true stories)
I however, after a couple of all night sessions, pretty much decided that I would have to find another way to do things. After all, what good is it to complete a project if you always feel like dying???
I have heard that as you get older, you require less sleep. I hope that this is true.
Bikes
Hopefully the more bikes they find, the more chance there is of this guy never having the chance to sell another bike again.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Fact #4
I like walking. It's sort of hard for me to think of things that I like doing. Watching good movies is pretty high on my list.
I have a hard time doing nothing - just relaxing - sitting around. I am much better off doing something - although this can result in the feeling of being constantly busy. Unable to rest.
Walking forces you to do pretty much nothing, but at the same time, you're not doing nothing. Sometimes it can fool me into relaxing.
As an added bonus, it's kinda good for you, and it's pretty cheap...
Walking also seems to give my brain more space to work.
I have a hard time doing nothing - just relaxing - sitting around. I am much better off doing something - although this can result in the feeling of being constantly busy. Unable to rest.
Walking forces you to do pretty much nothing, but at the same time, you're not doing nothing. Sometimes it can fool me into relaxing.
As an added bonus, it's kinda good for you, and it's pretty cheap...
Walking also seems to give my brain more space to work.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Fact #3
These are a few books that I have read more than once:
Kitchen
A Separate Peace
Life After God
Perelandra
A Canticle for Liebowitz
The Chosen
Lilith
Riddley Walker
Kitchen
A Separate Peace
Life After God
Perelandra
A Canticle for Liebowitz
The Chosen
Lilith
Riddley Walker
Monday, July 21, 2008
Fact #2
During my last few weeks of high-school, I was taking some pinhole camera photographs for an art class, and was given free reign to roam around the building and premises. On one occasion, I grabbed two of my friends out of their class, and we took some pictures together.
This wasn't remarkable, but I remember being amazed that nobody questioned us. We were all decent students, and I suppose that the staff assumed (correctly, I guess, at least in my case) that we were supposed to be roaming around. And we certainly were not missing anything by not being in class.
I also took a few weeks off of school right before graduation, to go to Hawaii with my dad. I took my Calculus book, and the work that my teacher had assigned. I flew a few days before my father (frequent flyers can't be chosers), and had to navigate all kinds of screwed up flights and airline sponsored hotel accommodations on my own. While I was there, my dad was working. I would integrate and derive for a few hours each morning, and then bike to, and hike down into, this great Hawaiian valley. Or I would get a ride into town, and hang around on my own all day. When I got back to Georgia, I found out that my classmates had only covered a fraction of the material that I did.
I sort of wish that I had skipped a lot more of high-school.
This wasn't remarkable, but I remember being amazed that nobody questioned us. We were all decent students, and I suppose that the staff assumed (correctly, I guess, at least in my case) that we were supposed to be roaming around. And we certainly were not missing anything by not being in class.
I also took a few weeks off of school right before graduation, to go to Hawaii with my dad. I took my Calculus book, and the work that my teacher had assigned. I flew a few days before my father (frequent flyers can't be chosers), and had to navigate all kinds of screwed up flights and airline sponsored hotel accommodations on my own. While I was there, my dad was working. I would integrate and derive for a few hours each morning, and then bike to, and hike down into, this great Hawaiian valley. Or I would get a ride into town, and hang around on my own all day. When I got back to Georgia, I found out that my classmates had only covered a fraction of the material that I did.
I sort of wish that I had skipped a lot more of high-school.
Meme
I don't really like the term meme. I suspect that this is maybe because it sounds like a madeup word. Or maybe it is because it could usually be replaced by any number of much less fancy sounding words ('idea' for example). It sounds like it was cooked up by a PhD student.
Anyway, it seems that Felicity tagged me in a blog-meme of sorts... which is basically a blog-based chain-letter. I am supposed to list seven odd facts about myself, and then get seven other bloggers to do likewise... This continues until the world runs out of bloggers, or until enough lazy people like myself don't follow the rules.
So FACT #1 of the Seven Factoid Meme goes like this:
Anybody who knows me at all knows that I grew up in South Africa, and that my family left at some point and moved to the USA, before I ended up in Canada. What people might not know is what a big deal this ended up being for my parents and my brothers and for myself. It seems obvious to say that the move changed our lives... but I didn't really expect it too. Silly me!
Another related part of Factoid One is that my memory is horrible. I forget almost everything I ever learn.
I sometimes enjoy the use of amnesia/memory loss as a literary device.
Let's wrap up fact #1 with some related quotes that I like:
There's so much I want to tell you about the way I'm disappearing. - The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers
I think there is something we were supposed to do before we lost our memories. - Michael Grace Jr
Anyway, it seems that Felicity tagged me in a blog-meme of sorts... which is basically a blog-based chain-letter. I am supposed to list seven odd facts about myself, and then get seven other bloggers to do likewise... This continues until the world runs out of bloggers, or until enough lazy people like myself don't follow the rules.
So FACT #1 of the Seven Factoid Meme goes like this:
Anybody who knows me at all knows that I grew up in South Africa, and that my family left at some point and moved to the USA, before I ended up in Canada. What people might not know is what a big deal this ended up being for my parents and my brothers and for myself. It seems obvious to say that the move changed our lives... but I didn't really expect it too. Silly me!
Another related part of Factoid One is that my memory is horrible. I forget almost everything I ever learn.
I sometimes enjoy the use of amnesia/memory loss as a literary device.
Let's wrap up fact #1 with some related quotes that I like:
There's so much I want to tell you about the way I'm disappearing. - The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers
I think there is something we were supposed to do before we lost our memories. - Michael Grace Jr
Weekend Update
It's Monday - and I feel somewhat sluggish.
Saturday - I did laundry while Leah went and bought some stuff that she needed for her trip to Cape Breton. In the afternoon we went to Andrew's to record some singing for the Their Shallow Valley record. There were quite a few people there for some singalong anthems. It was ridiculously hot, with the airconditioning/fans off (too noisy) and a bunch of people in a little room near the top of the house.
Afterwards we went to Anne and Joel's for dinner.
On Sunday we got up really early to go to the airport. It was rainy and grey. After a cab ride there (expensive and fast) and a TTC ride home (slow and cheap) , I took a nap for a couple of hours. Afterwards I went to the Green Room for breakfast. If that place has one thing going for it (and it does), it is the insanely low price of breakfast.
After church I stopped by Blockbuster on the way home. I randomly rented The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, knowing absolutely nothing about it. Turns out it is the true story of a guy who had a stroke and ended up being able to move nothing but one eye. He wrote about it, dictating by blinking to an interpreter who would recite the letters of the alphabet, in order of frequency of use.
The book he wrote was the basis for the movie.
Saturday - I did laundry while Leah went and bought some stuff that she needed for her trip to Cape Breton. In the afternoon we went to Andrew's to record some singing for the Their Shallow Valley record. There were quite a few people there for some singalong anthems. It was ridiculously hot, with the airconditioning/fans off (too noisy) and a bunch of people in a little room near the top of the house.
Afterwards we went to Anne and Joel's for dinner.
On Sunday we got up really early to go to the airport. It was rainy and grey. After a cab ride there (expensive and fast) and a TTC ride home (slow and cheap) , I took a nap for a couple of hours. Afterwards I went to the Green Room for breakfast. If that place has one thing going for it (and it does), it is the insanely low price of breakfast.
After church I stopped by Blockbuster on the way home. I randomly rented The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, knowing absolutely nothing about it. Turns out it is the true story of a guy who had a stroke and ended up being able to move nothing but one eye. He wrote about it, dictating by blinking to an interpreter who would recite the letters of the alphabet, in order of frequency of use.
The book he wrote was the basis for the movie.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Weekend
Friday - We didn't do much... went for a walk after dinner.
Saturday - I went to the outdoor art show with Jen. Leah stayed home to work on some music for Sunday. We went to see Joy's new paintings, which are always pretty amazing.
That evening we went to Joel and Anne's for dinner.
Sunday - Leah played at church in the morning and the evening. In between, I went grocery shopping.
Saturday - I went to the outdoor art show with Jen. Leah stayed home to work on some music for Sunday. We went to see Joy's new paintings, which are always pretty amazing.
That evening we went to Joel and Anne's for dinner.
Sunday - Leah played at church in the morning and the evening. In between, I went grocery shopping.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Chameleons
Last night we walked up to the Reptile and Hand Carved Walking Sticks store, to see the chameleons. We happened to meet the owner of the store, Paul, who told us all about them, and about bearded lizard creatures too. He brought one of these out to run around on Leah, and then showed us the full grown parents and the babies.
Turns out the baby chameleons were just hatched over the weekend. They were having their first ever meal yesterday. This explains why they are so freaking small.
Also, the full grown male chameleon that he has is HUGE. It is proabably over 18 inches long! Check out more pics on the website...
Monday, July 07, 2008
Are You Flying?
I don't have much sympathy for your fear
What is so hard to grasp about the idea
That everyone goes away in their time?
You have yours, you do, as I have mine
And do you cry every time a baby is born?
Yes, do you cry every time a baby is born?
I bought a CD this last weekend (influenced by Mary) - Fear of Flying, by David Karsten Daniels. I have listened to it a couple of times - and am not sure what to think yet. The songs don't shy away from difficult questions, and it seems to make for a difficult listen. I'm not sure I would say I am enjoying it exactly, but it is pretty sweet.
What is so hard to grasp about the idea
That everyone goes away in their time?
You have yours, you do, as I have mine
And do you cry every time a baby is born?
Yes, do you cry every time a baby is born?
I bought a CD this last weekend (influenced by Mary) - Fear of Flying, by David Karsten Daniels. I have listened to it a couple of times - and am not sure what to think yet. The songs don't shy away from difficult questions, and it seems to make for a difficult listen. I'm not sure I would say I am enjoying it exactly, but it is pretty sweet.
Weekend
On Friday I went out to Orangeville for work, to visit a doctors' clinic.
When I got back, I headed straight to Evergreen for the Summer Team Fundraiser. Leah played some songs with Rachel and Mike (from church). Some other people played some other songs, and one guy read a story. Evergreen was unable to get as much government funding as they have in the past, so the summer team volunteers are kind of on their own in terms of raising support.
Speaking of which, it was interesting to learn from Leah that Yonge Street Mission relies on corporate and private funding more than the government. Otherwise one election can end in all of your programs being suspended...
It was also interesting to listen to This American Life last week - with a story about two guys that decided to live on the streets in NYC. They said that nobody needs to go hungry, and that it is the churches that keep people fed. The government run places are apparently stingy, and their food sucks too..!
On Saturday, Leah went to the recording studio (Andrew's house). I stayed home and got sun-burned planting flowers in front of the house. I hope they can thrive on gravel and bus fumes.
On Sunday I did the laundry. I also bought a knitted bag at a one-woman yardsale.
She was ten, and was selling bags that she had made, lemonade, and barbies!
On the way back from the grocery store I saw baby chameleons in the window of the weird-reptiles store. They were maybe 2 inches long!
I played drums at church. I haven't played in months, so it was... interesting.
When I got back, I headed straight to Evergreen for the Summer Team Fundraiser. Leah played some songs with Rachel and Mike (from church). Some other people played some other songs, and one guy read a story. Evergreen was unable to get as much government funding as they have in the past, so the summer team volunteers are kind of on their own in terms of raising support.
Speaking of which, it was interesting to learn from Leah that Yonge Street Mission relies on corporate and private funding more than the government. Otherwise one election can end in all of your programs being suspended...
It was also interesting to listen to This American Life last week - with a story about two guys that decided to live on the streets in NYC. They said that nobody needs to go hungry, and that it is the churches that keep people fed. The government run places are apparently stingy, and their food sucks too..!
On Saturday, Leah went to the recording studio (Andrew's house). I stayed home and got sun-burned planting flowers in front of the house. I hope they can thrive on gravel and bus fumes.
On Sunday I did the laundry. I also bought a knitted bag at a one-woman yardsale.
She was ten, and was selling bags that she had made, lemonade, and barbies!
On the way back from the grocery store I saw baby chameleons in the window of the weird-reptiles store. They were maybe 2 inches long!
I played drums at church. I haven't played in months, so it was... interesting.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Speaking of shoes...
...Happy Independence Day!!!
Hopefully you're not at work =(
(although I guess I can't complain... I got 2 days off)
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Weekender
In Canada, we like to celebrate things before they happen in the USA. Thanksgiving comes way earlier, and Canada day comes before the 4th of July.
And Christmas happens on December 21st, to coincide with the solstice.
This weekend was a long one, in order to celebrate our home and native land. With the holiday landing on a Tuesday, some people were lucky enough to get Monday off too. I was one of those lucky people.
On Friday evening, Anne and Joel stopped by for a barbecue, and to practice some music with Leah.
On Saturday, we (mostly Leah) did the laundry, and then went to Anne's birthday party. For some reason it was themed (cowboys), and it featured a living room performance by Their Shallow Valley. Actually, half the performance took place in the living room, and then it moved out to the UHaul parking lot on Queen Street. It was quite the spectacle, since most of the band were ridiculously dressed due to the cowboy theme.
It was interesting to see who stopped to listen, and which nervous hipsters walked right past. I think maybe they were unsure how to interpret the situation (actually cool? / ironic cool? / actually lame ?... somebody please tell me if I am allowed to enjoy this music!)
On Sunday we had church at St George the Martyr (one of my fave Toronto churches). Afterwards we had a picnic in the park.
On Monday Leah had to work. I did perhaps the biggest/most expensive visit to the grocery store of my life so far. I also made the long trek out to Ikea, to buy a shelf that they were sold out of. Thinking quickly, I bought some random other piece of a bookshelf unit, which was actually a better size. I also bought a much needed fan at Canadian Tire. That night we went to the Cameron House for a rousing country extravaganza. Leah played bass and pretty much killed it. Anne and Joel were their usual engaging selves. And Chuck Diesel was in fine form. Among other things, he managed to strip down to his wife-beater mid song.
Yesterday we went to see the Visitor. I didn't know anything about it, other than the fact that it was written by the guy who wrote the Station Agent. I love watching good movies.
And Christmas happens on December 21st, to coincide with the solstice.
This weekend was a long one, in order to celebrate our home and native land. With the holiday landing on a Tuesday, some people were lucky enough to get Monday off too. I was one of those lucky people.
On Friday evening, Anne and Joel stopped by for a barbecue, and to practice some music with Leah.
On Saturday, we (mostly Leah) did the laundry, and then went to Anne's birthday party. For some reason it was themed (cowboys), and it featured a living room performance by Their Shallow Valley. Actually, half the performance took place in the living room, and then it moved out to the UHaul parking lot on Queen Street. It was quite the spectacle, since most of the band were ridiculously dressed due to the cowboy theme.
It was interesting to see who stopped to listen, and which nervous hipsters walked right past. I think maybe they were unsure how to interpret the situation (actually cool? / ironic cool? / actually lame ?... somebody please tell me if I am allowed to enjoy this music!)
On Sunday we had church at St George the Martyr (one of my fave Toronto churches). Afterwards we had a picnic in the park.
On Monday Leah had to work. I did perhaps the biggest/most expensive visit to the grocery store of my life so far. I also made the long trek out to Ikea, to buy a shelf that they were sold out of. Thinking quickly, I bought some random other piece of a bookshelf unit, which was actually a better size. I also bought a much needed fan at Canadian Tire. That night we went to the Cameron House for a rousing country extravaganza. Leah played bass and pretty much killed it. Anne and Joel were their usual engaging selves. And Chuck Diesel was in fine form. Among other things, he managed to strip down to his wife-beater mid song.
Yesterday we went to see the Visitor. I didn't know anything about it, other than the fact that it was written by the guy who wrote the Station Agent. I love watching good movies.
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