Murphy's Law
The exchange rate has been going back up recently. Yesterday I noticed it was the highest it has been in well over a month -- 100.00 NZD = 73.8 CAD. And since we got paid yesterday, I decided it was time to transfer some more money back to Canadian funds in order to widdle away at the last of my outstanding line of credit. It was still depressing to see that $2000 NZD resulted in only 1433.02 CAD. A loss of nearly $600! This was better than my previous transfer that I had completed a month earlier when the exchange rate was closer to 0.701. The lowest I have seen it to-date has been somewhere about 67 or 68 cents.
Tonight I couldn't help but notice the exchange rate had gone up: 100.00 NZD New Zealand Dollars = 74.4682 CAD. Maybe I should transfer some more??!!!... Or maybe I should wait?!
It feels a bit like I'm playing the slots each time I go to transfer money. I feel like a professional gambler!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Cold & Rainy Blenheim, Warm and Toasty Fire!
The weather continues to be random and unpredictable. One day we will be teased with warm and sunny weather making me think that summer is just around the corner. The next day it will be cold and rainy. Today was one of those cold and rainy days.
When I got home after work I felt damp and chilled so I decided to put on the fire. Ooooh... what a wonderful feeling! I had no idea how much comfort a fire brought to me until I went through a period of "withdrawl" recently since the warmer temperatures have not necessitated a fire. As soon as I got the fire going tonight, the house immediately had a different feel to it. I felt calm, and relaxed, and warm right through. It's actually hard to find the right words to describe it fully.
I'm wondering how I will cope next winter without a fireplace. I think I'm gonna have to add that feature to my list of "must haves" when I start to look at buying a house. That, of course, will probably have to wait another year or two...
The weather continues to be random and unpredictable. One day we will be teased with warm and sunny weather making me think that summer is just around the corner. The next day it will be cold and rainy. Today was one of those cold and rainy days.
When I got home after work I felt damp and chilled so I decided to put on the fire. Ooooh... what a wonderful feeling! I had no idea how much comfort a fire brought to me until I went through a period of "withdrawl" recently since the warmer temperatures have not necessitated a fire. As soon as I got the fire going tonight, the house immediately had a different feel to it. I felt calm, and relaxed, and warm right through. It's actually hard to find the right words to describe it fully.
I'm wondering how I will cope next winter without a fireplace. I think I'm gonna have to add that feature to my list of "must haves" when I start to look at buying a house. That, of course, will probably have to wait another year or two...
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
WOF Test
In New Zealand, you not only need to renew your license plates once a year, but you also need to get what is called a "Warrant of Fitness" (otherwise known as a WOF test - pronounced "Woof") every 6 months. Apparently there is a pretty hefty fine if you are caught having either one of these things lapsed.
Lucky for me, I have evaded any such fines. I'm pretty sure that my license plate renewal was close to a month late. I was able to renew it at the Post Office when I finally realized that it was past due. Thanks to Paul who did my car repairs, my WOF was only three days late.
The WOF is actually a pretty simple process. It's almost "drive-thru" in style. Pull up. Get out of your car. Pay for car check form. Give keys and form to man in jumper suit. Wait 15 mins while they perform all sorts of crazy checks. Get a new sticker put in windshield. Drive away. $45 later, I'm good to go for 6 more months. Lucky for me, no major repairs needed... at least not this time!!
In New Zealand, you not only need to renew your license plates once a year, but you also need to get what is called a "Warrant of Fitness" (otherwise known as a WOF test - pronounced "Woof") every 6 months. Apparently there is a pretty hefty fine if you are caught having either one of these things lapsed.
Lucky for me, I have evaded any such fines. I'm pretty sure that my license plate renewal was close to a month late. I was able to renew it at the Post Office when I finally realized that it was past due. Thanks to Paul who did my car repairs, my WOF was only three days late.
The WOF is actually a pretty simple process. It's almost "drive-thru" in style. Pull up. Get out of your car. Pay for car check form. Give keys and form to man in jumper suit. Wait 15 mins while they perform all sorts of crazy checks. Get a new sticker put in windshield. Drive away. $45 later, I'm good to go for 6 more months. Lucky for me, no major repairs needed... at least not this time!!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Keeping Doors Open
I just had a conversation with a student that stopped by my classroom during my non-contact period. She came to me with a few worries about school. Somehow the conversation came around to her telling me that she's not going to most clases these days because there's "stuff" going on and (insert rest of long story that basically says she's giving up cause it's too hard to deal with things right now)...
Somehow or another I ended up recalling a conversation that I had with Peter Y this weekend at the end of our bike ride. It went something like this:
"Peter, thank you soooo much for helping me out so much with my training! You have no idea how much I appreciate what you've done for me, and how lucky I feel to benefit from your generosity! I'm not sure what I did to deserve it, but I appreciate it!"
He responded with "Ah... it's my pleasure! You are proof that if you put yourself out there, and simply ask questions, then you open doors to opportunities that await you." He followed it up with a further analogy of how too many people keep their doors closed and miss out on so many things in life.
I'm not sure how profound an effect my story may have had on my student, but at least it got her thinking. It also got me thinking. I think that a big reason for my enjoyment of teaching is a result of the mentoring that I get to do along the way. My "motivational speeches" are somewhat reinforcing to me and my own way of thinking...
I just had a conversation with a student that stopped by my classroom during my non-contact period. She came to me with a few worries about school. Somehow the conversation came around to her telling me that she's not going to most clases these days because there's "stuff" going on and (insert rest of long story that basically says she's giving up cause it's too hard to deal with things right now)...
Somehow or another I ended up recalling a conversation that I had with Peter Y this weekend at the end of our bike ride. It went something like this:
"Peter, thank you soooo much for helping me out so much with my training! You have no idea how much I appreciate what you've done for me, and how lucky I feel to benefit from your generosity! I'm not sure what I did to deserve it, but I appreciate it!"
He responded with "Ah... it's my pleasure! You are proof that if you put yourself out there, and simply ask questions, then you open doors to opportunities that await you." He followed it up with a further analogy of how too many people keep their doors closed and miss out on so many things in life.
I'm not sure how profound an effect my story may have had on my student, but at least it got her thinking. It also got me thinking. I think that a big reason for my enjoyment of teaching is a result of the mentoring that I get to do along the way. My "motivational speeches" are somewhat reinforcing to me and my own way of thinking...
Car Repairs
I got my car serviced today - something it was badly in need of. In fact, I haven't done a thing to it since I bought it at the end of April. I think this is why I need a man in my life -- so he can take care of my car!
I hate dealing with mechanics. I'm always afraid that they will rip me off. Since I know next-to-nothing about cars, I'm certain that they could hose me pretty good without me knowing it. To this point I have always relied on my brothers or my father to help me out when I needed car advice, but they are too far away to help me in NZ. However, to my very fortunate luck, I managed to find a co-worker who's husband is a mechanic and was willing to do some work on my car for me!
Paul took my car for the morning and gave it a full service. The most important thing was getting the oil changed, but I got him to look at a few other things that needed looking at too. When he was all done he brought my car back to my house and handed me a print-out summary of what he had done and explained everything to me: changed the oil, turned something down to slow the engine rev so that my car is less likely to sputter and choke when I turn it off (an embarassing noise that has been happening quite regularly when I am in a busy parking lot!), he checked my brakes, filled my tire pressure, adjusted my clutch and my handbrake, and he even polished my headlamps (necessary for passing the WOF test). All this for $94.50. I gave him $100 and told him to keep the change.
I think I'm gonna have to find a mechanic just like Paul when I get home. God knows, my Acura will need some TLC. Poor thing has been sitting in mom and dad's driveway for a year without moving (apart from when dad turns it on to take it around the block once a month to prevent the brakes from ceasing). Apparently the battery is shot and dad has to jump it every time he wants to take it out. I'm really hoping that's the only major repair needed when I return.
I got my car serviced today - something it was badly in need of. In fact, I haven't done a thing to it since I bought it at the end of April. I think this is why I need a man in my life -- so he can take care of my car!
I hate dealing with mechanics. I'm always afraid that they will rip me off. Since I know next-to-nothing about cars, I'm certain that they could hose me pretty good without me knowing it. To this point I have always relied on my brothers or my father to help me out when I needed car advice, but they are too far away to help me in NZ. However, to my very fortunate luck, I managed to find a co-worker who's husband is a mechanic and was willing to do some work on my car for me!
Paul took my car for the morning and gave it a full service. The most important thing was getting the oil changed, but I got him to look at a few other things that needed looking at too. When he was all done he brought my car back to my house and handed me a print-out summary of what he had done and explained everything to me: changed the oil, turned something down to slow the engine rev so that my car is less likely to sputter and choke when I turn it off (an embarassing noise that has been happening quite regularly when I am in a busy parking lot!), he checked my brakes, filled my tire pressure, adjusted my clutch and my handbrake, and he even polished my headlamps (necessary for passing the WOF test). All this for $94.50. I gave him $100 and told him to keep the change.
I think I'm gonna have to find a mechanic just like Paul when I get home. God knows, my Acura will need some TLC. Poor thing has been sitting in mom and dad's driveway for a year without moving (apart from when dad turns it on to take it around the block once a month to prevent the brakes from ceasing). Apparently the battery is shot and dad has to jump it every time he wants to take it out. I'm really hoping that's the only major repair needed when I return.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Happy VERY Belated Birthday Andrea!!
Oh my... sometimes I wonder about myself and my brain!
I somehow totally missed wishing my friend, Andrea, a happy birthday that was anywhere close to the actual date. To make it worse, I use a birthday reminder service from Canada Post that sent me an email a few days before I left for my school holidays that reminded me about Andrea's birthday. But for some reason, I had it in my head that her birthday was the 2nd-last day of October (October 30th) and that I must have incorrectly input her birthday into my reminder service. Turns out *I* was wrong -- her birthday is actually the 2nd day of October (October 2nd) and I toally missed out on it altogether!
These are some very public apologies to Andrea in hopes that she is still willing to be my friend, even after this very silly mistake... We have been friends for close to 10 year now! You'd think I'd have this right by now!!
HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY ANDREA!
Oh my... sometimes I wonder about myself and my brain!
I somehow totally missed wishing my friend, Andrea, a happy birthday that was anywhere close to the actual date. To make it worse, I use a birthday reminder service from Canada Post that sent me an email a few days before I left for my school holidays that reminded me about Andrea's birthday. But for some reason, I had it in my head that her birthday was the 2nd-last day of October (October 30th) and that I must have incorrectly input her birthday into my reminder service. Turns out *I* was wrong -- her birthday is actually the 2nd day of October (October 2nd) and I toally missed out on it altogether!
These are some very public apologies to Andrea in hopes that she is still willing to be my friend, even after this very silly mistake... We have been friends for close to 10 year now! You'd think I'd have this right by now!!
HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY ANDREA!
God's Path
Today was another great day that has left me deep in pondering thought...
Started off with me getting up super early (6am!) to meet Peter Yarrell and Dylan in Picton for another bike ride. This time we rode all the way out to Anakiwa which is where the bike leg of my race will start. So, that meant we had to bike all the way back. This was good, because I got to see what the entire bike-leg will feel like from start to finish.
On this ride Peter gave me a few more pointers about biking technique - particularly related to climbing hills. Peter insisted that I do not use my bottom chain ring while climbing hills - at least while training. He says it is like weight training - the resisitance of the hill will strengthen my thigh muscles so that come race day, they will be ready for the challenge! It makes total sense... but MAN! Was it ever hard work! I was totally knackered at the end of it... all 60kms!!
After the ride, we stopped at Peter's place for a cup of tea and then Dylan and I set out on the kayak stretch. This time I was committed to getting my feet positioned correctly, and using my arms and back properly with my strokes. I still wasn't fantastically fast (1hr 20 mins) but I felt good during and afterwards. My right hand cramped up pretty good. I'm pretty sure it has naturally developed a "death grip" on the paddle because it's attached to my stronger arm -- something I'm definitely going to have to fix. But I think the rest went alright.
I'm a wee bit nervous about having to get out of my boat at the end of the race and run to the finish line, based on how stiff I was today. My knee was pretty much locked up and it took me a good 30+ seconds to even stand myself up and get out of the boat. Certainly some "kinks" to get worked out!
After the kayak, Peter picked us up and I went back to his place for lunch. We had eggs and beans on toast. (a very kiwi meal) While sitting on the upstairs porch of his million-dollar mansion, overlooking the water and soaking up the sun, I chatted with his wife.
Conversation lead to me telling her about my resignation and I felt the need to explain why I did it (of course, this explanation was to benefit me, not her). I started to worry that I'm going to regret my decision -- particularly now, when the weather is getting so nice, and I'm really starting to get settled in my ways here, finding people to do things like go biking, running, and kayaking with. But before I could get too stressed about it and worry about my decision, I had this wave of calm wash over me that reminded me that God guides me everywhere I go, and with every decision I make. My decision is made. My resignation is final. This is the path that I was meant to follow.
Time to make the most of what little time I have left here!
Today was another great day that has left me deep in pondering thought...
Started off with me getting up super early (6am!) to meet Peter Yarrell and Dylan in Picton for another bike ride. This time we rode all the way out to Anakiwa which is where the bike leg of my race will start. So, that meant we had to bike all the way back. This was good, because I got to see what the entire bike-leg will feel like from start to finish.
On this ride Peter gave me a few more pointers about biking technique - particularly related to climbing hills. Peter insisted that I do not use my bottom chain ring while climbing hills - at least while training. He says it is like weight training - the resisitance of the hill will strengthen my thigh muscles so that come race day, they will be ready for the challenge! It makes total sense... but MAN! Was it ever hard work! I was totally knackered at the end of it... all 60kms!!
After the ride, we stopped at Peter's place for a cup of tea and then Dylan and I set out on the kayak stretch. This time I was committed to getting my feet positioned correctly, and using my arms and back properly with my strokes. I still wasn't fantastically fast (1hr 20 mins) but I felt good during and afterwards. My right hand cramped up pretty good. I'm pretty sure it has naturally developed a "death grip" on the paddle because it's attached to my stronger arm -- something I'm definitely going to have to fix. But I think the rest went alright.
I'm a wee bit nervous about having to get out of my boat at the end of the race and run to the finish line, based on how stiff I was today. My knee was pretty much locked up and it took me a good 30+ seconds to even stand myself up and get out of the boat. Certainly some "kinks" to get worked out!
After the kayak, Peter picked us up and I went back to his place for lunch. We had eggs and beans on toast. (a very kiwi meal) While sitting on the upstairs porch of his million-dollar mansion, overlooking the water and soaking up the sun, I chatted with his wife.
Conversation lead to me telling her about my resignation and I felt the need to explain why I did it (of course, this explanation was to benefit me, not her). I started to worry that I'm going to regret my decision -- particularly now, when the weather is getting so nice, and I'm really starting to get settled in my ways here, finding people to do things like go biking, running, and kayaking with. But before I could get too stressed about it and worry about my decision, I had this wave of calm wash over me that reminded me that God guides me everywhere I go, and with every decision I make. My decision is made. My resignation is final. This is the path that I was meant to follow.
Time to make the most of what little time I have left here!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
One last thing...
If there is anyone at home that is interested in a math teaching position in NZ (a BEAUTIFUL part of NZ!), let me know. There is a prime opportunity available here! It comes complete with a full set of lesson plans for 4 different courses, and a really great staff to work with.
(just thought I'd do my part to help my principal find a replacement for my position)
If there is anyone at home that is interested in a math teaching position in NZ (a BEAUTIFUL part of NZ!), let me know. There is a prime opportunity available here! It comes complete with a full set of lesson plans for 4 different courses, and a really great staff to work with.
(just thought I'd do my part to help my principal find a replacement for my position)
Resignation
Oh yeah... I also forgot to mention that I put in my letter of resignation today. Yes, mom and dad, it is true! Maybe this is the best anniversary gift I could give you... (probably the most expensive one too since it means I have to pay for my flight home now)... but yes... it's official.
It was very very hard to do. I still love this country and forever will! I am fully aware of how much next year would be a total breeze for me compared to the attrocious hours that I've had to put in this year! I'm also aware that my reputation would preceed me next year and my familiarity with this school would make me feel like I was a pro! It would be smooth sailing!
However, there are things at home awaiting me. Friends, family, little nephews, weddings, babies (no mom, not mine!), and a teacher's pension fund that needs contributing to!
I'll save more of the sappy good-bye NZ stuff for later. For now, I'll get back to my planning which I am procrastinating from so that I can meet up with Claire for a run in the hills and dinner.
Oh yeah... I also forgot to mention that I put in my letter of resignation today. Yes, mom and dad, it is true! Maybe this is the best anniversary gift I could give you... (probably the most expensive one too since it means I have to pay for my flight home now)... but yes... it's official.
It was very very hard to do. I still love this country and forever will! I am fully aware of how much next year would be a total breeze for me compared to the attrocious hours that I've had to put in this year! I'm also aware that my reputation would preceed me next year and my familiarity with this school would make me feel like I was a pro! It would be smooth sailing!
However, there are things at home awaiting me. Friends, family, little nephews, weddings, babies (no mom, not mine!), and a teacher's pension fund that needs contributing to!
I'll save more of the sappy good-bye NZ stuff for later. For now, I'll get back to my planning which I am procrastinating from so that I can meet up with Claire for a run in the hills and dinner.
Random Fact
I was just sitting here at my desk pondering the fact that I have not seen or heard a thunder/lightning storm since i arrived here in NZ! I've seen the odd one forecasted on the news for certain areas of the West Coast, but never has one hit Blenheim since I arrived.
I realize this is likely not to be all that exciting to most of my blog readers, but it is actually pretty bizarre to experience. I find myself, every time it rains, listening for thunder, and wondering if a noise I hear in the distance *might* be a slight rumble from the clouds...
I was just sitting here at my desk pondering the fact that I have not seen or heard a thunder/lightning storm since i arrived here in NZ! I've seen the odd one forecasted on the news for certain areas of the West Coast, but never has one hit Blenheim since I arrived.
I realize this is likely not to be all that exciting to most of my blog readers, but it is actually pretty bizarre to experience. I find myself, every time it rains, listening for thunder, and wondering if a noise I hear in the distance *might* be a slight rumble from the clouds...
Technology Woes
Murphy's Law is proving itself to me! When something goes, everything else decides to go too!
My watch strap broke over the holidays. This happened just after I replaced the battery which had died on me last term. I had even waited close to a month to replace the battery since I was trying to decide whether or not it would be worth it. But in the end, I thought I would still be better off paying $20 for a new battery vs. $80-$100 for a brand new watch.
For now I'm holding out on the strap. I just don't feel like spending the money on it. I'd tried using the hospital tape I found in my first aid kit to hold it together. However, this did not last more than a few days. I'm now trying the kiwi version of duct tape (thanks to Hugh in the the Science department for suggesting this one!). We'll see how long it lasts!
It seems like this is the season for things to start breaking. I currently have a running total of things that require attention but will likely not get fixed anytime soon due to my frugalness and financial situation:
1. watch strap (as mentioned above, but I forgot to mention that my alarm has also stopped functioning - it no longer has the ability to beep!)
2. Garmin - my favourite running gadget ever purchased (possibly the best investment I have ever made!) has become tempermental. It goes through phases of not turning on when it's supposed to. It may be a problem that only happens with a low-battery supply, but I have yet to troubleshoot it enough to offiically decide.
3. cell phone - for some reason my cell phone has decided to crap out on me as of recent. It appears to be stuck in a "crashing mode". When I try to type a text, it crashes before I'm able to send it, and often takes me three attempts (waiting for my phone to reboot each time) before I can send one message. I've been into Vodafone to see about getting it fixed. There is a 5-10 business day turnaround for repairs and they have no loaner phones available this week. I'm ashamed to admit, but I've become one of those people that can not function without my cell phone, so I'm gonna have to wait until the next loaner phone becomes available.
4. bedside lamp - the Warehouse special that I purchased earlier in the year for $10has lost it's ability to turn on. I have already checked, and it's not simply a dead lightbulb. I think it has something to do with a defective switch at the bottom. I've resorted to using my headlamp when I want to read in bed at night. Works like a charm!
5. my car - has been feeling a bit sick lately. There's a few things that need looking at, but the most noticeable being the super embarassing sputter and clunk it likes to make when I turn my car off. It doesn't happen EVERY time, but often enough - most certainly when I'm in a parking lot full of people walking by staring at my car while it draws lots of attention!
6. my camera - it's been on its way out for a while, but I thought it would last through to the end of the year. I'm not convinced anymore. It started off with a bad "fall" last year which snapped an important piece off that holds the memory card slot closed. Apparently my camera will not turn on if this door is not fully closed. As such, I have resorted to using masking tape to hold it shut. A bigger issue relates to the fact that my camera is old (purchased way back in 2004) and the battery is therefore very out of date. It is no longer reliable. If I charge it up one day, there is no guarantee that it will have any charge left the next. This goes for both of the batteries that I own! This is a bigger worry for me since I plan to do some more hiking in NZ before I head home. I will be very very sad if my camera battery poops out on me just when I go to take the best and most scenic shot to-date!
My lamp, headlamp, and "bedside table"...
My temporary watch solution...
Murphy's Law is proving itself to me! When something goes, everything else decides to go too!
My watch strap broke over the holidays. This happened just after I replaced the battery which had died on me last term. I had even waited close to a month to replace the battery since I was trying to decide whether or not it would be worth it. But in the end, I thought I would still be better off paying $20 for a new battery vs. $80-$100 for a brand new watch.
For now I'm holding out on the strap. I just don't feel like spending the money on it. I'd tried using the hospital tape I found in my first aid kit to hold it together. However, this did not last more than a few days. I'm now trying the kiwi version of duct tape (thanks to Hugh in the the Science department for suggesting this one!). We'll see how long it lasts!
It seems like this is the season for things to start breaking. I currently have a running total of things that require attention but will likely not get fixed anytime soon due to my frugalness and financial situation:
1. watch strap (as mentioned above, but I forgot to mention that my alarm has also stopped functioning - it no longer has the ability to beep!)
2. Garmin - my favourite running gadget ever purchased (possibly the best investment I have ever made!) has become tempermental. It goes through phases of not turning on when it's supposed to. It may be a problem that only happens with a low-battery supply, but I have yet to troubleshoot it enough to offiically decide.
3. cell phone - for some reason my cell phone has decided to crap out on me as of recent. It appears to be stuck in a "crashing mode". When I try to type a text, it crashes before I'm able to send it, and often takes me three attempts (waiting for my phone to reboot each time) before I can send one message. I've been into Vodafone to see about getting it fixed. There is a 5-10 business day turnaround for repairs and they have no loaner phones available this week. I'm ashamed to admit, but I've become one of those people that can not function without my cell phone, so I'm gonna have to wait until the next loaner phone becomes available.
4. bedside lamp - the Warehouse special that I purchased earlier in the year for $10has lost it's ability to turn on. I have already checked, and it's not simply a dead lightbulb. I think it has something to do with a defective switch at the bottom. I've resorted to using my headlamp when I want to read in bed at night. Works like a charm!
5. my car - has been feeling a bit sick lately. There's a few things that need looking at, but the most noticeable being the super embarassing sputter and clunk it likes to make when I turn my car off. It doesn't happen EVERY time, but often enough - most certainly when I'm in a parking lot full of people walking by staring at my car while it draws lots of attention!
6. my camera - it's been on its way out for a while, but I thought it would last through to the end of the year. I'm not convinced anymore. It started off with a bad "fall" last year which snapped an important piece off that holds the memory card slot closed. Apparently my camera will not turn on if this door is not fully closed. As such, I have resorted to using masking tape to hold it shut. A bigger issue relates to the fact that my camera is old (purchased way back in 2004) and the battery is therefore very out of date. It is no longer reliable. If I charge it up one day, there is no guarantee that it will have any charge left the next. This goes for both of the batteries that I own! This is a bigger worry for me since I plan to do some more hiking in NZ before I head home. I will be very very sad if my camera battery poops out on me just when I go to take the best and most scenic shot to-date!
My lamp, headlamp, and "bedside table"...
My temporary watch solution...
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Happy Birthday Grandma!
My Grandma Edwards is a very tech-savvy grandmother. In fact, she has been for several years now. You could almost argue that she's more tech-savvy than my mother who refuses to allow me to pay for a computer course so that she can get more comfortable using the computer!
Anywho... my grandmother's got her groove on with email, and using the internet. She even makes a point of following my blog on a regular basis! It's a great way for us to keep in contact!
Since I know that Grandma reads my blog, I thought I'd make a post dedicated to her and to wish her an extra special birthday. Although with the time-differences it might be too late for her to get this on her actual birthday, I know she'll get it tomorrow!
Happy Birthday, Grandma!!!
My Grandma Edwards is a very tech-savvy grandmother. In fact, she has been for several years now. You could almost argue that she's more tech-savvy than my mother who refuses to allow me to pay for a computer course so that she can get more comfortable using the computer!
Anywho... my grandmother's got her groove on with email, and using the internet. She even makes a point of following my blog on a regular basis! It's a great way for us to keep in contact!
Since I know that Grandma reads my blog, I thought I'd make a post dedicated to her and to wish her an extra special birthday. Although with the time-differences it might be too late for her to get this on her actual birthday, I know she'll get it tomorrow!
Happy Birthday, Grandma!!!
Christmas Already??!!
OMG! I just saw a commercial on TV that indirectly mentioned the fact that Christmas is coming!! It was an add for 3M removable plastic hooks. The commercial boasated the fact that these hooks are great for Christmas decorations since they are super strong, but can be easily taken down when the holidays are over.
All I can think right now is... Christmas???!!!... It just feels totally bizarre hearing Christmas carols in the background of a commerical that is reminding us that Christmas is coming, and yet it's only OCTOBER!!!
I guess that's what happens when you live in a country where Hallowe'en is not the massive event like it is in North America. I am certain that I have never seen a commercial that even mentions the idea of Christmas until AT LEAST November 1st!
Strange!
OMG! I just saw a commercial on TV that indirectly mentioned the fact that Christmas is coming!! It was an add for 3M removable plastic hooks. The commercial boasated the fact that these hooks are great for Christmas decorations since they are super strong, but can be easily taken down when the holidays are over.
All I can think right now is... Christmas???!!!... It just feels totally bizarre hearing Christmas carols in the background of a commerical that is reminding us that Christmas is coming, and yet it's only OCTOBER!!!
I guess that's what happens when you live in a country where Hallowe'en is not the massive event like it is in North America. I am certain that I have never seen a commercial that even mentions the idea of Christmas until AT LEAST November 1st!
Strange!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Back to School Blahs
Ok... my positive spirit has faded. I'm already looking forward to the end. And it's not because I'm dreading the teaching part, or going back to my classes, but rather, with how much work I have to do.
I can honestly say that I have worked harder this year than I probably EVER will again in my teaching career. I'm tired, and I'm ready to be done. I am done with planning for 4 different classes every single day... I'm sick of having to search for lesson ideas and curriculum material for courses that have no textbooks... Soooo ready to be done.
Ok... my positive spirit has faded. I'm already looking forward to the end. And it's not because I'm dreading the teaching part, or going back to my classes, but rather, with how much work I have to do.
I can honestly say that I have worked harder this year than I probably EVER will again in my teaching career. I'm tired, and I'm ready to be done. I am done with planning for 4 different classes every single day... I'm sick of having to search for lesson ideas and curriculum material for courses that have no textbooks... Soooo ready to be done.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Happy Anniversry Mom & Dad!!!
Although it's almost the end of the day today, it is just early morning on the 12th in Canada! I just want to take a moment, before I head to bed, to wish mom and dad the Happiest of Anniversaries! I'm sorry that I can't be there to celebrate with you, especially given that it's your 40th, but I can honestly say that I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to travel NZ with you this year! What a fantastic way to celebrate 40 years of marriage!
And always remember... I was the "accident" that managed to get you travelling (finally!) and see what the world has to offer! Thanks for being such great parents and congrats on 40 great years together!
Although it's almost the end of the day today, it is just early morning on the 12th in Canada! I just want to take a moment, before I head to bed, to wish mom and dad the Happiest of Anniversaries! I'm sorry that I can't be there to celebrate with you, especially given that it's your 40th, but I can honestly say that I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to travel NZ with you this year! What a fantastic way to celebrate 40 years of marriage!
And always remember... I was the "accident" that managed to get you travelling (finally!) and see what the world has to offer! Thanks for being such great parents and congrats on 40 great years together!
Thanksgiving Skype!
It was another great day today! Started off with a run in the hills with Claire -- this time we took a route that took us higher up ontop which meant harder work, but much better views. I think I could say this every time I write about running in the hills, but I absolutely LOVE it up there. It is remarkably therapeutic! Does wonders for your soul! After our run, Claire came back for lunch and did some laundry while we chatted and strategized about some of the hiking trips that we plan to do when the school year is finished.
After lunch, I hooked up with my family at home to have a great big "Thanksgiving Skype". As tradition holds, my mom and dad host Thanksgiving in Owen Sound every year. It is a celebration that we (my family and my entire extended family) have all come to love and appreciate. It is always disappointing when someone can't make it to the festivities for one reason or another. Naturally, I was sad to miss out on it this year.
However, it was refreshing to be able to see everyone's faces while talking to them through the webcam. It was kind of funny getting "passed around" to nearly all of my relatives in one gigantically long skype session. They had it set up on dad's laptop and passed it around the room from person to person. It was so great to see everyone's faces, and of course, to hear my uncle Ken (and others) singing Elvis tunes to me in the background and along with some bantering and heckling as the Montreal Canadiens were smoking the Toronto Maple Leafs.
It was particularly cool to have a face-to-face chat with both of my grandmothers! I can only imagine how much technology astounds them these days! It was also fun to watch Laura try to make Matt giggle for me, and WAY cool to hear Nathan say my name (very softly but quite distinctly) when they put him in front of the camera! Oh, and I even got to say hi to Obie (my aunt and uncle's dog that joins us every year)!
So yeah... all in all, this conversation left me on a natural high!
Immediately afterwards I dashed off to Picton where I met up with Peter Yarrell, once again, for another practice kayak session. Dylan joined us along with Emaline (an Irish surgeon that has recently moved to Blenheim) and another man named Collin. This time we did the full 8km journey around "the Snout" from Waikawa Bay to the Picton harbour -- just as we will be doing in the race. It started off splendidly... even though I was paddling into the wind. But from the second half-onwards, I started to get very frustrated with my boat as the pedals did not seem to be functioning properly and my legs were getting super tired from being overworked. A bit of a frustrating experience considering my upper body felt fine at the end. I think I've still got some "kinks" to work out before race day...
Tomorrow it's back to school for me. For some reason, I'm feeling surprisingly relaxed. I don't have quite the anxiety and nervousness that I had upon returning back to work after my previous two school holidays finished. I suppose this is a very good thing! 9 weeks to go and counting!!
It was another great day today! Started off with a run in the hills with Claire -- this time we took a route that took us higher up ontop which meant harder work, but much better views. I think I could say this every time I write about running in the hills, but I absolutely LOVE it up there. It is remarkably therapeutic! Does wonders for your soul! After our run, Claire came back for lunch and did some laundry while we chatted and strategized about some of the hiking trips that we plan to do when the school year is finished.
After lunch, I hooked up with my family at home to have a great big "Thanksgiving Skype". As tradition holds, my mom and dad host Thanksgiving in Owen Sound every year. It is a celebration that we (my family and my entire extended family) have all come to love and appreciate. It is always disappointing when someone can't make it to the festivities for one reason or another. Naturally, I was sad to miss out on it this year.
However, it was refreshing to be able to see everyone's faces while talking to them through the webcam. It was kind of funny getting "passed around" to nearly all of my relatives in one gigantically long skype session. They had it set up on dad's laptop and passed it around the room from person to person. It was so great to see everyone's faces, and of course, to hear my uncle Ken (and others) singing Elvis tunes to me in the background and along with some bantering and heckling as the Montreal Canadiens were smoking the Toronto Maple Leafs.
It was particularly cool to have a face-to-face chat with both of my grandmothers! I can only imagine how much technology astounds them these days! It was also fun to watch Laura try to make Matt giggle for me, and WAY cool to hear Nathan say my name (very softly but quite distinctly) when they put him in front of the camera! Oh, and I even got to say hi to Obie (my aunt and uncle's dog that joins us every year)!
So yeah... all in all, this conversation left me on a natural high!
Immediately afterwards I dashed off to Picton where I met up with Peter Yarrell, once again, for another practice kayak session. Dylan joined us along with Emaline (an Irish surgeon that has recently moved to Blenheim) and another man named Collin. This time we did the full 8km journey around "the Snout" from Waikawa Bay to the Picton harbour -- just as we will be doing in the race. It started off splendidly... even though I was paddling into the wind. But from the second half-onwards, I started to get very frustrated with my boat as the pedals did not seem to be functioning properly and my legs were getting super tired from being overworked. A bit of a frustrating experience considering my upper body felt fine at the end. I think I've still got some "kinks" to work out before race day...
Tomorrow it's back to school for me. For some reason, I'm feeling surprisingly relaxed. I don't have quite the anxiety and nervousness that I had upon returning back to work after my previous two school holidays finished. I suppose this is a very good thing! 9 weeks to go and counting!!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
General Fuzz
Yes.. More procrastination...
I forgot to mention that I discovered a new form of music that I really like by the name of General Fuzz. The artist classifies it as being "lush melodic instrumental electronica". lol... pretty cool when you need to create your own category just to describe your type of music!
This artist (James) is really cool! What makes him so cool? Well, to start, he writes and creates all of his music. And then, he posts it online and makes it available to download - free of charge! Yep... that's right... free!
I was listening to some of his tunes (there's lots to listen to!) and fell in love with one of his songs. I actually emailed him to tell him how awesome I thought he was, and how much I loved the piano melody in his song called Goodbyes. And on a whim, I asked him if there was any chance he had any sheet music that he'd be willing to send me so I could tinker away with it on the piano. In less than 2 hours I got the following response:
I don't have sheet music for my songs, but I could probably generate it for that tune. Its funny - goodbyes was the only tune I wrote by sitting at a piano and playing it out. There are only two songs written for the piano - goodbyes and paddington bear (which was written for my friend Githa while she was sick, but she sadly passed after).
So I wrote him back, and within another hour, received the next message back from him:
I've attached generated sheet music. Its certainly not totally accurate - especially in terms of rhythm. I just quantized it to 16th notes - so the notes may not totally match up properly. And there's no indication of left/right hand stuff. So, hey, good luck with it. Hopefully you can learn it by ear, and use this to sort of nudge you in the right direction.
If you are intersted in learning more about this guy, or listening to some of his music, check out his website here.
Yes.. More procrastination...
I forgot to mention that I discovered a new form of music that I really like by the name of General Fuzz. The artist classifies it as being "lush melodic instrumental electronica". lol... pretty cool when you need to create your own category just to describe your type of music!
This artist (James) is really cool! What makes him so cool? Well, to start, he writes and creates all of his music. And then, he posts it online and makes it available to download - free of charge! Yep... that's right... free!
I was listening to some of his tunes (there's lots to listen to!) and fell in love with one of his songs. I actually emailed him to tell him how awesome I thought he was, and how much I loved the piano melody in his song called Goodbyes. And on a whim, I asked him if there was any chance he had any sheet music that he'd be willing to send me so I could tinker away with it on the piano. In less than 2 hours I got the following response:
I don't have sheet music for my songs, but I could probably generate it for that tune. Its funny - goodbyes was the only tune I wrote by sitting at a piano and playing it out. There are only two songs written for the piano - goodbyes and paddington bear (which was written for my friend Githa while she was sick, but she sadly passed after).
So I wrote him back, and within another hour, received the next message back from him:
I've attached generated sheet music. Its certainly not totally accurate - especially in terms of rhythm. I just quantized it to 16th notes - so the notes may not totally match up properly. And there's no indication of left/right hand stuff. So, hey, good luck with it. Hopefully you can learn it by ear, and use this to sort of nudge you in the right direction.
If you are intersted in learning more about this guy, or listening to some of his music, check out his website here.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Sunny Days!
Today has been a marvelous day so far! Was up early and finished cleaning up the mess I had created by defrosting of our freezer which I started last night. (It was an emergency situation that I discovered when I went to cook dinner - the door was not fully shut and it appears it had been that way for quite some time. The result - caked on ice built up around the door and lots of soggy bread and other freezer items that needed to be dealt with).
Ok... so the defrosting of the freezer wasn't that fab, but the bike ride I went on afterwards was! I met up with Gemma and a few other ladies that she normally rides with. And one of those ladies brought along her daughter and one of her friends - both of which I happen to teach! (yet again, another product of living and teaching in a small town)
This was actually my first "bunch ride" experience. I was a bit nervous given that I am somewhat aware of how dangerous it can be, and also how particular some people are when you do not follow the "proper bunch ettiquette". However, I think I coped ok. They put a really good push on for most of the ride and I definitely struggled to keep up. I'm hoping that if I ride with them a few more times, that I'll get stronger and actually be able to take the lead for some of the time!
After this ride in the gloriously sunny morning, I met up with some more friends from work for lunch at the Drylands winery. It was so nice to sit outside on the patio and soak up some of the warming sun!
Now I'm back home, sitting at my computer, working up some more motivation to do some work. I'm still dragging my feet on that one (as you can tell by my blog writing procrastinatino), but I plan to start after this. We shall see how much I actually get done!
Today has been a marvelous day so far! Was up early and finished cleaning up the mess I had created by defrosting of our freezer which I started last night. (It was an emergency situation that I discovered when I went to cook dinner - the door was not fully shut and it appears it had been that way for quite some time. The result - caked on ice built up around the door and lots of soggy bread and other freezer items that needed to be dealt with).
Ok... so the defrosting of the freezer wasn't that fab, but the bike ride I went on afterwards was! I met up with Gemma and a few other ladies that she normally rides with. And one of those ladies brought along her daughter and one of her friends - both of which I happen to teach! (yet again, another product of living and teaching in a small town)
This was actually my first "bunch ride" experience. I was a bit nervous given that I am somewhat aware of how dangerous it can be, and also how particular some people are when you do not follow the "proper bunch ettiquette". However, I think I coped ok. They put a really good push on for most of the ride and I definitely struggled to keep up. I'm hoping that if I ride with them a few more times, that I'll get stronger and actually be able to take the lead for some of the time!
After this ride in the gloriously sunny morning, I met up with some more friends from work for lunch at the Drylands winery. It was so nice to sit outside on the patio and soak up some of the warming sun!
Now I'm back home, sitting at my computer, working up some more motivation to do some work. I'm still dragging my feet on that one (as you can tell by my blog writing procrastinatino), but I plan to start after this. We shall see how much I actually get done!
Hilarious Ad
There is an ad that has recently appeared on TV lately for a juice company called "Charlies". They boast having all natural juice that is really fruity.
The more I see this commercial, the more hilarious I think it is! Apparently these three guys are the founders of the company which makes it even better!
Check it out here for yourself.
There is an ad that has recently appeared on TV lately for a juice company called "Charlies". They boast having all natural juice that is really fruity.
The more I see this commercial, the more hilarious I think it is! Apparently these three guys are the founders of the company which makes it even better!
Check it out here for yourself.
Back in Blenheim
I said goodbye to mom and dad on Wednesday at the Auckland Airport after travelling up the North Island with them for the previous 10 days. It was another tearful moment, but surprisingly not too hard since I've pretty much decided that I will be returning home (back to Canada) at the end of this year. It was really great having the opportunity to travel with mom and dad and see some more of what NZ has to offer! I will be writing about our experiences shortly, but in the meantime, I will be spending the rest of my holidays enjoying the beautiful weather that I have come home to, and also doing some necessary lesson planning to prepare for the commencement of Term 4.
On a different note... I think I have stumbled upon the opportunity to do an Adventure Race in Marlborough next month with some girls from my school. Sounds like it's gonna be a good and tough one! A great way to experience my first 24 hour AR!
I said goodbye to mom and dad on Wednesday at the Auckland Airport after travelling up the North Island with them for the previous 10 days. It was another tearful moment, but surprisingly not too hard since I've pretty much decided that I will be returning home (back to Canada) at the end of this year. It was really great having the opportunity to travel with mom and dad and see some more of what NZ has to offer! I will be writing about our experiences shortly, but in the meantime, I will be spending the rest of my holidays enjoying the beautiful weather that I have come home to, and also doing some necessary lesson planning to prepare for the commencement of Term 4.
On a different note... I think I have stumbled upon the opportunity to do an Adventure Race in Marlborough next month with some girls from my school. Sounds like it's gonna be a good and tough one! A great way to experience my first 24 hour AR!
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