How I hate when things magically start working

I tried to log on here yesterday and the site wouldn't let me in. So I tried to retrieve my password. Except it told me I had to log in to retrieve my password. I tried multiple times. And then swore multiple times, quite audibly. Then I tried to go to the "In case of problems, contact Blogger support" page. Of course I had to be able to log in to get to that too. I love the system. And now today it's magically working again. Jerks.

We had a barbecue at work today. I'm stuffed. So tasty. I hope there'll be leftovers so I can snack all evening, since I'm going to be here by myself. Mmm, fruit-licious...

Only one week before I go visit my honey in Newfoundland. I can't wait. And I get a week off of work. Could anything be better? Yes, but only if it was covered in chocolate. Or if I was covered in chocolate. But that would be a waste of chocolate.

I'm done now.

UPDATE: Turns out it's stupid IE's fault. Not mine. Never mine. I got Mozilla now, I'll be ok.

Restless

I feel like doing something tonight, but I don't know what.  I'm tired, but I don't want to read.  I'm afraid I'll fall asleep, wake up in the middle of the night, and not be able to get to sleep again. 

I obviously have nothing to talk about.  So, do you like stuff?

So I'm lazy...

So sue me.  Just because I've been reading more than I've been typing lately.  I started this rather addictive series a couple days ago. And then this morning I was able to get my hands on the rest of the trilogy. My life is complete. For the rest of the weekend anyways.

The trilogy is called the Fionavar Tapestry, and I got sucked in.  One of those modern-mixed-with-otherworld-fantasy type books.  I've been rather into them of late.  Nothing, IMHO, is as good as Tad Williams Otherland series, but this is still quite good.  Well written, but a bit hard to follow at times, since anything to do with the gods is in an odd writing style, sort of archaic and given to subtleties rather than explaining everything explicitly.  Not that there's anything wrong with asking the reader to use their intelligence. 

Actually, now that I think about it (using my intelligence, see), the science fiction genre in general caters to brainless reading.  Everything is spelled out, nothing left to figure out.  I feel, quite often, that the people in the books are stupid, since they can't see the obvious.  The characters need a narrator.  I've been getting annoyed lately with the stupidity of book characters.  If they're not as smart as me, they don't deserve to be the main or supporting character in a book.  It especially aggravates me when the rest of the book is well-written and intelligent.  Ah well, thems the breaks.  That's what I get for reading instead of writing. 

So ends my rant. 

Travel the world, meet new people, eat noodles

When H and I were in New Zealand, we were living quite cheaply, as we hadn't made a whole lot of money before leaving Canada. We bought a car and camped as we travelled around in order to save. It's difficult to keep perishable food when you drive around in a hot car all day and very rarely see a fridge. Food there is quite expensive too, and we pretty much lived off of peanut butter sandwiches, noodle-and-sauce packages, and cereal with powdered milk. Have you ever tried eating cereal with powdered milk? It is vile. H tried it again when we got back, as she loved the stuff when we were over there, and she couldn't eat it. I don't think either of us ate peanut butter for a while. And never again will I be able to eat sidekick noodles.
 
You know how you're supposed to try new things when you go to another country? That's if you have a less limited income. Admittedly, when we first got there we tried things, but as the money dwindled we became misers.  Starving misers.  We both have bad joints, mostly bad knees, so we didn't do a whole lot of walking.  And I still managed to lose 20 lbs.  It's better than the Atkins Diet! 

Who am I really?

So, some background information:

I grew up on a small farm about an hour out of Regina. I have a great family - my mom is a nurse; my dad has a teaching degree but farms; I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters, one older and one younger of each. My older brother and sister are married (not to each other, although we are from the farm). I am the happy owner of a nephew and niece, and it is one of my goals in life to corrupt their young impressionable minds. Hey, what are aunts and uncles for?

I went to the University of Regina and received a degree in Electronic Systems Engineering. I was going to put the "much-esteemed University of Regina", but that would be a blatant lie. I had a full scholarship coming out of high school so I went. What I really wanted to do at the time was become a mechanic, but my mom insisted I go to university. Ah well, I'm not dead yet. I was also going to put that I earned my degree, but I still think I should have failed out. Or at least failed those classes in which my acquired knowledge couldn't fill a teaspoon, and been forced to re-take them. Life is funny. Not necessarily ha ha funny. Sometimes it is, in the words of C who I counselled camp with, "crappy fuck off funny".

After I convocated I worked for a few months to earn enough to go travelling. I went with my buddy H and had a great time. Well, not all the time I know, but looking back it was great. We went to Malaysia for ten days, New Zealand for three months, and Australia for one month. We had work-travel visas in New Zealand. I'd recommend getting them if you want a fun experience and are under 30 years of age. Definitely the way to go, even if you don't end up working much. At least you have that backup for if and when you run out of money. Plus you learn so much more. I also recommend travelling after high school, it's a great experience. And with the work-holiday visa you can do it on a limited budget, which is cool when you're fresh out of high school or post-secondary training.

Now that I'm back from my trip I've gotten a real job. HA HA HA, real job! I work doing tech support at a little company here in Regina, which is sort of getting towards my field, I guess. If you squint your eyes just right... Being able to afford food is good. I'm still looking for a real engineering job, but since I've been out 2 years now I'm not holding my breath.

My current half-ass goal is to get my ARCT in Voice so I can teach music part time. Then I wouldn't have to work my mediocre job full time. And I'm sure I wouldn't have the patience to teach full time either. So this way I wouldn't kill anyone. That counts for something, right?

Anywho, that's me in a nutshell. More or less.

A-Bikin' I Did Go

I went biking tonight for the third time since I had knee surgery*. I only went as far as last time (about two thirds of the way to work and back), but I was slightly less tired, and had fewer stops. Yes, I sure am pathetic. But I'm working on it. I hope I can start biking to work soon. Without having to sleep for an hour after getting there, that is. And also without my lungs collapsing. I'm pretty sure the first time it's going to take me at least 30 minutes. We'll see.

* For those that don't know, I had an ACL replacement on my right knee at the end of March 2004. I had the same surgery on my left knee a little over 3 years ago. Fun? I think not. At least the second time I knew what was coming.

After fiddling a bit

Yes, this site is hideous. Obviously some more work is needed. Please be patient. Or if that isn't possible, at least try not to destroy anything of mine.

UPDATE: Changed the look, I'm much happier now. Easily pleased, aren't I?

Just starting...

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