A collection of digital wonders and some other stuff
It’s a civic holiday this Monday, so I’m away for the long weekend visiting family in Medicine Hat. My sister and her kids are going to be there—hopefully I’ll get some nice action shots of the boys jumping off the couch.
Speaking of my sister, check out her site jackiehutch.blogspot.com new site Jackie Hutchinson photography.
Posting has been sparse lately so it’s probably not particularly surprising when I say I may not be adding a whole lot while I’m gone.
Here’s some video footage of me going over Lundbreck Falls on my last kayaking trip taken by my friend Janson.
Also, check out Janson’s enthusiastic report on the trip.
Yesterday I went kayaking down the Crowsnest River with a bunch of friends. It was a stretch of the river that none of us had gone down before, and frankly it was a bit boring with very little white water. At the halfway point we came upon Lundbreck Falls. The plan was to portage around it, but after taking some time to study it, I decided to go for it!
The adrenaline rush totally made my day.
Jeff Milner going over Lundbreck Falls.
Photo by Tom Buchanan (used on the web with permission). Here’s my Lundbreck Falls Run set on Flickr.
Update: You can see me going over in this Lundbreck Falls Drop video on Youtube, compliments of my friend Janson.
I’ve never considered myself a huge “Mad About You” fan, but I used to enjoy catching episodes on a semi-regular basis. One scene that made me laugh and sticks out in my mind, was when Jaime demonstrates to Paul exactly how easy it is to change an empty roll of toilet paper. The scene:
[Mad About You – Toilet Paper – YouTube]
Many times I’ve thought about reenacting that scene for my roommates who seem to like the class and convenience a freestanding roll brings to the operation.
Not too long ago I finally got through to them.
Shortly after that, my roommate came to me with some bad news. Apparently while changing the toilet paper roll he dropped the little plastic holder, the technical term is “insert”, while simultaneously flushing. In an instant it was goodbye insert; hello flooding toilet.
After some futile attempts at dislodging we decided our best bet would be to call Roto Rooter.
They came; they plunged; they charged $100 and left in less than 5 minutes. I can’t say I was overly thrilled about the apparent ease of running his special tools down the toilet, pushing the insert further down the line to become someone else’s problem, but who cares, the toilet appeared to be working again and what’s more the roommate paid me back.
However, even with the 24 hour guarantee on the work, I had a sinking suspicion this problem wasn’t completely resolved.
The next morning I left for my holiday to Punta Cana and returned Sunday afternoon—long after the 24 hours had expired—to discover the toilet having difficulties flushing and leaking water etc, into the basement bathroom on each flush.
I called Roto Rooter again.
Greeted by a pleasant voice on the phone, I explained the situation. She seemed pretty sure that I would have to pay for the clearing but conceded that if it was the same thing, then maybe they’d make an exception. She explained that they wouldn’t be able to tell what it was if they pushed it through. I asked about the use of a camera to check it out. Well, they had cameras, she patiently explained, but I’d be charged if they used them. So in order for me to find out whether or not I’d have to pay, I’d have to be charged. There it was, a nice little catch 22.
Later that day a new, but equally inspiring, Roto Rooter specialist showed up at my house. After a quick removal of the toilet and a little toilet water accidentally poured down the heating vent (I had to tell myself, just grin and bear it), the guy ran his toilet snake tool down the pipe where it “90s” and though he didn’t actually see that it was the same problem, he trusted my story and thankfully they didn’t charge me again.
Yay for Roto Rooter—though it did take two house calls to get it fixed.
Now I’m not saying this happened, but if you ever drop something in the toilet, don’t flush it. Be brave and pull it out, or failing that, get someone else to do it. Telling the owner of the house that it was dropped mid-flush is highly suspicious but I realize, not impossible.
P.S. Post vacation, where you might have accidentally drank the water, is a terrible time for toilet problems. Just saying.
I’m leaving for Calgary in about an hour and then tomorrow I’m off to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. There’s not likely to be much action around here in the meantime.
Update: I’ve got some photos from my trip up at Flickr.
I heard the crackling of a large truck on ice out my window this morning, and I knew my new computer had finally arrived! From what I’ve seen so far, the Intel Core 2 Quad really is all it’s cracked up to be—wow this thing is fast!
By way of a little self indulgence, here is a photo my brother took of me dunking the basketball last weekend. Does my long hair and beard remind anyone else of Teen Wolf?
It’s usually a good thing when someone says they just can’t eat another bite. That is, when you assume it’s because they’re full—not when you accidentally added 6 times too much salt.
So for the record:
Half a teaspoon ? 1 tablespoon
I’m going out for brunch lunch.
I never grew a beard in my entire life. I grew it out of solidarity for my writers, and to prove that I have some testosterone. The biggest comment I’m getting the last couple of days is that I look like the character of Kris Kringle in “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”
-Conan O’Brien
“I know what you’re thinking to yourself: Dave looks like a missing hiker,”
-David Letterman
Dave’s beard is already gone. I think Conan will keep his for a while longer. People have some strange issues with beards…
I’ve been doing some subcontracting lately. I’m feeling quite perturbed about the company’s animosity toward my beard. One of the reasons I choose to work from home is that I like sporting a bit of scruff. Now the owner of the company I’ve been contracting for, wants me to shave it off.
We’re meeting with some clients tomorrow and he’s made it clear, “We both need to be dressed professionally with a button up shirt, tie & slacks, well groomed and shaved.”
I knew that my beard was going to be an issue with these guys. When I started they had me sign a contract stating that I understand employees are to be clean-shaven. The next page went to great length to make sure it was clear to me that I’m merely a contractor, not an employee. Therefore I would not be entitled to any of the benefits that employees are entitled. Apparently he must feel that that doesn’t let me out of the “no beard” clause.
You might be wondering, what’s so great about having a beard anyway? Well, for one thing, it’s my face, my body; it’s a matter of autonomy. Men with beards are ascribed attributes of masculinity, wisdom, sexual virility, and high status. Who wouldn’t want that? Furthermore, my girlfriend likes it.
When an employer dictates what you wear to work, you’re free to change into anything you like at the end of the day. When an employer dictates the amount of facial hair you’re allowed to keep, well, get you’d better get used to it or start working from home.
I don’t see why—so long as I maintain it—anyone should care if I choose to sport a little facial hair. Either you’re a fan or not, but regardless, it won’t hurt you. I’m a contract designer. I work from home. The company that contracts me out rarely sees me face to face. On the rare occasion that I meet with clients I make it clear that I’m working for the company as a contractor. So far I haven’t noticed any client caring about my beard.
I can understand if a company wants to follow the trends of the last 30 years in an effort to brand themselves as conventional. That’s their prerogative. But as for me, right now as a self-employed contractor, the price to have my services is that you leave my beard the hell alone.
In answer to the age of question of “What would you like for Christmas”, I told my parents I would be interested in having a guitar. A couple of Christmas’s later, my parents came through for me! I am now the proud owner of a fantastic sounding Fender acoustic guitar.
Learning to play has been slow but rewarding. The first couple of days were painful on my fingertips. Then suddenly, after a blister or two, I can now play for as long as I like.
It’s great.
Really.
The guitar I picked out came as a package along with extra strings, a strap, some picks, a tuner, and a “Getting Started on Guitar” DVD.
I was surprised to find how easy and useful the DVD turned out to be. The host teaches you how to play a basic chord and then another track lets you play along to some canned backup music. The process repeats, slowly building up your skill.
It’s pretty sweet; my only complaint is that after the music stops, you have to grab the remote and navigate back to the song to start it playing again. It would be nice to be able to set it to repeat, and to have more than 3 practice tracks.
Lately I discovered a method of practising that solves this problem.
I got myself a copy of “Play Guitar Today! A Complete Guide to the Basics”. It’s a music book for beginners that has a CD enclosed for backup music. Well I ripped the CD to iTunes, scanned the music, and then set each track with it’s appropriate “album art” ie. the sheet music or instruction that fits.
Now when I practise the guitar, iTunes is the teacher. The corresponding sheet music pops up and I can go to town.
It was a bit of a hassle setting this up, but I’d recommend it to anyone learning to play—it’s totally worth it.
I wonder how long it will be until they sell it like this?