tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-123206852011-11-18T22:11:09.105-05:00A Blog I started mainly to experiment... with the eventual idea of sharing my mundane little life and its pursuits.-- jlbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11078069100236583825noreply@blogger.comBlogger2861100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-78474769947267140192011-11-18T19:49:00.006-05:002011-11-18T22:11:09.140-05:00

Don't know how many readers I have anymore, as I am so sporadic on posting, but I actually have a Part Two to a post from earlier this year. Little Jack of JackDrawsAnything.com has finished his ambitious project, and I was one of the last few donors who got my drawing request in before the to-do list had to be cut off to allow the youngster to still have a normal life!With my life being a little

Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594418045303610918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-19187918148914393772011-10-09T17:43:00.002-04:002011-10-09T18:10:52.611-04:00

I will see if I can sort myself out well enough to write more later.Below is the official obituary/notification, from Smith's, tidied up to add links.For those who have us on Facebook, Jenn wrote a heartfelt tribute that I could pretty much just second: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jennifer-botari/bye-mom.Visitation Location:Burlington Art Centre

Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594418045303610918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-4414845874329851382011-08-26T21:51:00.001-04:002011-08-29T22:04:01.185-04:00

It's a rare thing to revisit a childhood memory and not find it somehow lacking once one has a middle-aged perspective. So, it's that much sweeter when such a visitation doesn't disappoint. After a triple snootful of dog fur fibre experimenting today I really needed to clear the fuzz from my allergic head. I decided to do one better than yesterday's brief, grungy swim and head in the general

Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594418045303610918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-34562067327817056632011-05-24T21:09:00.002-04:002011-05-24T21:35:45.401-04:00

I've been using a Medtronic Paradigm VEO insulin pump for a bit over 3 months now. There have been ups and downs, but generally, I really like it. My A1C came down a bit, but the big advantage particularly since I sprung for the extra cost of the Continuous Glucose Monitor, is the levelling off of ups and downs, and the 24/7 profiling and feedback to really help with fine-tuning what goes

Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594418045303610918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-81103242481838121812011-04-17T11:54:00.007-04:002011-04-17T13:35:05.627-04:00

The one thing Harper's accomplished for me is driving me to a better education and understanding of our democratic systems in Canada. Mainly by abusing them badly, mind you.I never was very politically active. I grew up with voting parents, who watched and listened to news, so I knew from childhood that each individual had a role to play in democracy. Admittedly, though, I didn't see a big

Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594418045303610918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-794209888639663332011-04-05T19:55:00.002-04:002011-04-05T22:14:57.191-04:00

... because, seriously, "The Economy" doesn't give a damn and will go on the way it goes.But I'm a little worried about basic personal rights and freedoms in my country right now.I keep writing and deleting blog posts this past week, because I'm practically incoherent with rage over what's been going on. This is my 3rd attempt tonight. Seriously, if you want better writing, follow me on Twitter

Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594418045303610918noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-42057496271400580642011-03-26T19:29:00.004-04:002011-03-26T19:55:52.493-04:00

Alright, so I tend to blog when something's really bugging me... Like politics. And you'll get the ranting soon, but it's all tangled up in my brain right now and I can't be articulate yet about everything I'm feeling ranty about.Recreationally (as opposed to politically) my Twitter universe includes Neil Gaiman, because I like his books and his voice and he goes interesting places and tweets

Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594418045303610918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-91336184281769279362011-02-14T21:41:00.001-05:002011-02-14T21:41:39.736-05:00

Check it out!That there armbanded gizmo is my new pancreas! We went on-line at 10 this morning. I'm still trying to think up a name for it.It's the Minimed Paradigm VEO insulin pump w/CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitoring) capability. I'm not using the CGM yet, as the protocol commonly seems to be get the pump started, and test, test, test, then start the sensor to do all the in-between metering.So

Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594418045303610918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-23868248676377523092011-02-04T21:55:00.004-05:002011-02-08T22:52:05.010-05:00

I was scolded last week for caring more about anonymous strangers on another continent than loved ones closed to home. Never mind by whom or context - not important. I feel it is important to point out that it's not true - I care a great deal about my friends & family, more than I do for "strangers" absolutely. But I don't see a measure of care as some finite resource I can only dole out so far

Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594418045303610918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-82251829462332469252011-01-17T11:47:00.002-05:002011-01-17T12:09:55.094-05:00

... in so many ways.No secret that I have some wellness challenges. Diabetes, and a weird form of it no less, for one. My BMI (eg, my "weight") has been high - all my post-adolescent life. Even when I was smaller and fitter than I am now, I was "overweight" according to "the charts". Adding to things, as I age, I'm starting to show the signs of some familial glitches that come up in my ancestry -

Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594418045303610918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-12810777387800209962011-01-03T22:21:00.009-05:002011-01-04T08:35:16.429-05:00

I'm not that keen on "New Year's Resolutions". Really, just trying to cope with the everyday is sometimes enough. I'm ALWAYS trying to get to some goal, so really, all I'd "resolve" to do is... keep at it.However, 2010 became rather disorganized, probably due to my divided attention, in the fibre arts aspects of life, so I'm aiming, in 2011, to at least get some stuff done and off the WIP or

Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594418045303610918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-84018908830857145202010-12-01T12:13:00.004-05:002010-12-01T12:26:42.533-05:00

Yikes, almost two months. Twitter usage has really cut down on my feeling like I NEED to blog, somehow, but there's bits that just don't fit into 140 chars.Today, however, we may just have a point-form summary.Casa del Meezer is recovering from the loss of Sprout!. Senior Ms. Meezer Blue and Junior Special Ops Troublemaker Sudo have mostly renegotiated the household rankings. It's quite funny

Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594418045303610918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-40095639693925247842010-10-06T21:42:00.003-04:002010-10-06T22:07:02.960-04:00

Da Sprout! at about 5 years of age, 2002All Photos by Adam BenjaminT'was not the happiest weekend at Casa del Meezer. Long story short, Sprout! has now departed this world. Her longstanding heart condition was not staying stable despite treatment. It had probably been going on for a while, but kidney failure was noted to have manifested last week. Our wonderful Dr. Bonnie, who I swear has been

Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594418045303610918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-44835810383215545582010-07-25T16:28:00.000-04:002010-07-25T16:28:02.333-04:00

It's been while since there's been anyone furry on the blog.  Here's a couple recent shots: Sudo Yeah, he always sits like that.  Pretty boy, likes to pose.  Snuggly Meezers Sorry for the low-light graininess there - it's impossible get a direct flash photo of these guys with the point and shoot and still see the blue eyes.  Blue and Sudo mostly get along. Sprout!'s still not sure she likes

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-22317494895719905112010-07-06T13:15:00.000-04:002010-07-06T13:15:20.434-04:00

So, remember the photo from last month? Not only have I not killed my plants, they seem to be doing well.  here's some mid-June progress: at which time I spotted this wee proto-cucumber. As of yesterday, I have harvested my first veggie! Apparently cucumbers are prolific and early veggies.  I did not know!  By the looks of it, there's much more where that came from. There's a bona fide

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-61023092099124145932010-06-06T21:06:00.000-04:002010-06-06T21:06:07.016-04:00

.... and, well, my own patio is pretty local. Over the years, we've made some attempts to be more environmentally conscious, eco-conscious, socially conscious... with varying degrees of success. It's challenging to live in an urban, time-clock-punching, online-scheduling world and make "slow food" at every meal after bicycling all over the county to pick up the groceries from local farmers. In

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-5977959652458090592010-05-27T10:49:00.001-04:002010-05-27T10:50:49.590-04:00

Well, it's been a while then. Amazing how planning ONE little party, and then dealing with its aftermath, can totally suck one's life away. I've dropped a whole bunch of projects, gotten behind in correspondence, exercise, looking after myself, and of course blogging. I'm hoping this'll be a sign of getting back to normality! So, well, as you might have caught, I'm all married up now. Just

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-12415201192462621702010-04-06T11:09:00.002-04:002010-04-06T13:21:35.099-04:00

Hi all. So, the lack of blogging has been due to the fact that I've stupidly added a wedding, of the express-planning variety, to my "to do" list since early February. It's going well, if by well one could mean there's no dress yet, my shawl is only 80% done, but we do have a paid contract with an officiant, so the signatures will happen and a legal marriage will result - I may just be wearing

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-87869825975141203302010-02-23T22:17:00.000-05:002010-02-23T22:17:45.655-05:00

So after 10 + years together, the erstwhile spouse and I are going legal. Our "Wedding Window" site. I have no idea how much time/energy I'll have to blog, as what I do have may be going into the wedding project as well as my handspinning projects. And teaching. And knitting a shawl. And O M G whatamIthinkinghowcanIpossiblyhavetimeforthis? 10 years together, 10 weeks to plan the wedding.

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-45203712549796918392010-01-13T12:34:00.001-05:002010-01-13T12:36:23.771-05:00

I've been seething and stewing and writing then discarding various rants over the Prorogue. Short version: Affront to democracy. Disgusted that it still seems many Canadians including our PM don't have a grasp of 9th grade social studies as to how the Parliament and Government of Canada work. And yes, Mister PM - CANADIANS CARE. Something a little more critical is afoot in the world,

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-40860734063323769682009-12-06T21:00:00.001-05:002009-12-06T21:02:28.533-05:00

December 6th, 1989 was a distressingly memorable day for me. I was writing one of the first, or maybe it was even THE first, exam of my Engineering education at Guelph. Guelph was a small-ish engineering faculty, around 300 students total at that time, with less than 100 in my first year. Proportionately, however, we had a dubious claim to fame. 23% of the students in my year were women - a

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-38348429104959804152009-11-11T13:11:00.000-05:002009-11-11T13:11:25.981-05:00

Few Canadians need look very far to find among their family, friends and associates one who has served or does serve in our Armed Forces. Today is for remembering those who have, literally in many cases, spent their lives in service of Canada and allies around the world, and also for thanking those who still make that commitment. Near home or far overseas, career or reserve, past or present,

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-91334659841178530912009-11-01T22:09:00.000-05:002009-11-01T22:09:10.596-05:00

I really don't think I'll be formally joining the NaBloPoMo, however, since I stand a better chance at that than I do at NaNoWriMo, I figured I'd start on a good note for November. It's been a crazy spell, hence not much blogging. I've been working, knitting, looking in on my once-again-hospitalized Mom when I can, working out, and trying to return my out-of-control clutter to something livable

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-60092771413975347772009-08-26T20:37:00.004-04:002009-08-26T20:49:43.320-04:00

Well, so much for any idea of blogging from Haliburton. Plus, I have no Mac just now, she had a little breakdown and is in therapy at the Mac doctor. Nothing major, no bad disks or all, just can't operate on battery power, and well, that's the whole point of a laptop, right?So I spent a bit of time today working, doing homework, spinning, and catching up on Ravelry stash and project updates

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-79610046708670904072009-08-13T11:22:00.002-04:002009-08-13T11:57:01.675-04:00

Dear Stephanie and Tina, and everyone involved in SS09:I originally began a blog post about how wonderful my weekend at Sock Summit was, but it was eaten by an a abrupt drop of WiFi and a mis-tap on my iPod Touch after 2 hours work while waiting at the airport. As I didn't have enough time to re-type it and my next layover didn't include free WiFi, I decided instead to wait until I had made it

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-87436883245577311932009-08-09T02:47:00.003-04:002009-08-10T02:45:34.907-04:00

The only fail today was the continuing irkedness at the PCC charging $13/ day for wireless ( which I am NOT paying, hence only tweeting/posting from hotel). I mean, come on, Burgerville has free WiFi and the airport is $5. Lots of fun today, though!Started with a spinning painted roving class, and got going like Taz on my new teeny Jenkins.Lunches with Shall We Knit, Oh Susannah (my roomies from

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-52728279610746187982009-08-08T02:41:00.003-04:002009-08-13T13:39:14.960-04:00

Only one Fail today, which was just that I had both breakfast and blood stains from a capillary hit with my novopen on my pants before the day got going. Usually stained pants before the day starts leads to a bad day but the yarn mojo is strong here, so it didn't matter. The following are all WIN!Abby Franquemont made my whole trip worth it before 9:30 am.STR!!!!! Ravens and Rare

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-4453275586309479582009-08-07T02:27:00.003-04:002009-08-13T13:18:08.419-04:00

SS Fail: (well, sorta, but expected) 1am arrival woke my already sleeping roomies.SS Win: Time zone offset at least in right direction for early wake up. Not late for anything.SS Win: Hotel and PCC both in free transit zone. Light rail almost door to door, no fees.SS Win: Stunned looks on staff of multiple coffeeshops faced with stampeding woolly hoards needing coffee.SS Win: Seamless

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-46658098318902960002009-08-06T01:02:00.003-04:002009-08-06T01:18:39.693-04:00

Travel Win: Early arrival at PearsonTravel Fail: Departing flight delayed so as to guarantee missed connection.Travel Fail: Air Canada ticketdork sends me to United counter saying I should reschedule my connection!Travel Fail: United says not their problem,AC should put me up in hotel, go talk to them.Travel WIN: 2nd Air Canada rep is not a ticketdork but a fully qualified agent, and much more

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-6586064808998845952009-07-17T13:13:00.001-04:002009-07-17T13:15:08.205-04:00

Hint of thing finished:More thing:

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-56820152758543011142009-07-13T12:31:00.002-04:002009-07-13T12:35:17.667-04:00

I don't know the woman who writes The Seated View, but I know of her through other knit-bloggers, such as the Yarn Harlot, who is a friend of Lene's.Her post today is a very, VERY apt description of what chronic pain of many types can be like. I'm lucky - I've not gotten that bad, and I am fighting my way out. But it can be so easy to slide into a downward spiral. Don't forget to get outside

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-90765348789180626792009-07-10T22:40:00.002-04:002009-07-10T22:59:42.380-04:00

Yeek, almost 2 months since a blog. Well, part of that is due to falling into the twibes of Twitter, so you've seen my sidebar popping up and updating a few times a day.I did check out of life for a bit, though. Deep details not important, but ongoing sleep problems became so severe I did actually agree to pursue pharmaceutical adjustments & some lifestyle management, and got medical leave from

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-60819540710342291602009-05-18T16:00:00.003-04:002009-05-18T16:16:38.255-04:00

So what's new out there?Not much with me. Anyone who's been around heard I've taken some leave from work, as my brain decided to stop sleeping nearly totally.Prescription is for rest, diet, exercise... and Cymbalta, which is a little bumpy so far but we're getting along better since I discovered it should be taken in the morning. Cymbalta's an anti-depressant, but one of two clinically

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-37222808543839109102009-04-27T20:12:00.006-04:002009-04-27T20:38:17.758-04:00

I got a box. (Sprout! thinks it's for her - NOPE)squeeeeee! *happydance*If you're not sure what this is, based on the return address, this is probably a very uninteresting blog post. Move along, I'll have better things to show off later.

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-71340390867220715032009-04-21T21:09:00.003-04:002009-04-21T21:11:31.985-04:00

I don't do these "forward to everyone you know" emails, but I've been in a mood lately and this one came by and tickled my funny bone. It was also sent as a graphic. So I'm using my blog to share, what the heck.Click on it to biggify if your glasses aren't strong enough. Smile!

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-48684015371762231252009-04-13T20:23:00.002-04:002009-04-13T20:28:17.647-04:00

It's not news to anyone that I don't watch TV. Mainly because most of it is crap. I find these reality-talent shows, particularly the audition episodes, particularly loathesome. Watching pompous jerks like Simon whatsisface and friends humiliate struggling performers just makes my skin crawl.Another reason I don't bother watching is that the exceedingly rare, shining moments will usually find

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-61456798081845989312009-04-10T16:58:00.003-04:002009-04-10T17:38:28.131-04:00

Today I will refer the knitters among you, as well as those in related arts areas (for really - you sing songs at shows? make dresses on comission? Operate a cooking classroom? this could be so applicable....) to a thoughtful and troubling post by an enterprising knit designer.Pamela of FlintKnits.I don't think most of us will have much doubt where the right and wrong of this is - just maybe

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-66029849738635453552009-04-04T17:22:00.005-04:002009-04-10T22:51:52.034-04:00

Added some previews of stuff going into Etsy stock on my other Blog just now.Other than commercial stuff, and my first wholesale order getting underway (yay!), here's another recent completion. My new favourite thing for kids, this Bootee pattern is the cutest. "Stripey Bootees" from "50 Baby Bootees to Knit" by Zoe Mellor. These are for Max, and are in the mail now!And my progressing WIP, the

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-81743073010657618922009-03-31T20:39:00.002-04:002009-03-31T20:42:00.103-04:00

Look, I finished something!February Sockdown!, with a few hours to spare. Gotta start April's tomorrow. I had a bit of a panic because I lost March's somewhere, but I found it under a lamp in my room.And now, due to the unexplained spectacular exhaustion I have again found myself suffering - I'm going to bed.

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-71567695374605710402009-03-29T21:43:00.002-04:002009-03-29T21:54:36.929-04:00

So, today's adventure (after solo-teaching my very first exercise class of the new format I'm not quite ready for yet) has involved finding new, compact modular shelving to replace the pine board IKEA stuff that takes up more room than it provides in storage.This has resulted in some minor reassembly injuries, and somehow my room looks even more like it has been suicide-bombed by militant punk

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-76494093760497823502009-03-17T21:25:00.008-04:002009-03-18T08:38:09.069-04:00

Just to prove I'm still here. Been extremely fatigued and running out of hours in a day lately, it seems. But I had a normal-ish weekend (after the previous one involved way too much time biking my ass off) and did some knitting and spinning.So, to prove I do still knit, here are some of the WIPS. March sockdown:February Sockdown, they're a little farther along now:And, more cute booties

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-49458140801911567582009-03-09T22:27:00.002-04:002009-03-09T22:35:29.478-04:00

Well, that was a humbling experience.I thought I'd pick up some training, advance a bit... take my workouts up a notch.I'm going to have to take them up a pretty damn big gap, that's for sure. I just attended a jam-packed weekend of training for RPM, the Les Mills Indoor Cycle program that my gym offers. I've taught Cycle for a few years. I can do this, thinks me. No problem, new stuff to

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-27301862925991419932009-03-02T19:34:00.002-05:002009-03-02T19:38:59.791-05:00

A brief reunion with some of our fellow Photo Cuba travelers yesterday reminded me that now that I'd culled and uploaded my photos, I should probably share!So, I've created a new sub-gallery from my main page. If you're the sort who hates having others' vacation photos inflicted on them, do move along, I may say something interesting another day.If you'd like to see a bit of why I'll probably be

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-54132819330061550252009-02-16T17:29:00.002-05:002009-02-16T17:45:39.781-05:00

How do two weeks disappear so fast?Cuba was wonderful. Great weather (even though the locals didn't all think so), friendly warm people, new friends both Canadian and Cuban, and lots of good learning about both photography and culture. A very immersive trip - we were not simply sitting poolside sipping pina coladas, though there was a bit of that too. I could easily have filled two more weeks

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-16040709947670295262009-01-29T12:07:00.002-05:002009-01-29T12:23:17.388-05:00

So, in reference to my last post, referencing the comment I had prior to that: A Raveller more resourceful than I has assembled a blog post outing what was going on.SubWayKnitter got it sorted here, mostly. Most of which I found as well, by this time, but nicely written up. Seems that my commenter "Cynthia" is a fake persona of a pretty stupid marketing drone for an online craft-market

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-55499321055432253342009-01-24T13:12:00.003-05:002009-01-24T13:18:57.399-05:00

Well, just goes to show however cynical I think I am about the net.... people can still prey on my goodwill.No big harm done. Don't know if anyone who occasionally wanders by here reads the comments, but there's one on the post before this one that looks to be from a somewhat naive student researcher/writer.I'm a little annoyed at myself to say I took the time to respond, assuming she was

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-28183220048276397622009-01-05T19:58:00.005-05:002009-01-05T20:08:44.872-05:00

My goodness, it's all come and gone again. January 5th and I'm still feeling like there's Christmas knitting lurking around here somewhere.Just wanted to share a few of the Spousal Unit's snaps of one of my later 2008 projects that I hadn't yet posted.Before:aaaaannnd... After! The wonders of felting. It can even change the colour of your shirt.And, not nearly so artistic a photo, particularly

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-77397034695904533402008-12-10T11:03:00.003-05:002008-12-10T11:09:13.032-05:00

Welllll... I am still watching and waiting to see what Parliament is going to look like when it resumes.Seems we have a St. Michael to redeem the Liberals, the way has been cleared. I keep mentally composing nasty letters to my Conservative MP, who won this region by I kid you not, 17 votes, and he knows it. He won because 17 hockey parents had things to do with their kids and assumed their

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-42849367117436955672008-12-05T22:15:00.004-05:002008-12-06T01:04:05.940-05:00

This sure seems to be NaBloPoWe (NationalBlogPostingWeek) for us newfound political junkies. Tonight I'm posting about yesterday, and have ever more questions than answers.... I'm afraid I may have run out of articulate, as well, as most of what I've been able to do about yesterday is babble a little twitchily.Yesterday, at the request of our somewhat ill-behaved Prime Minister, the Governor

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-38372178894001582252008-12-04T19:52:00.005-05:002008-12-04T21:17:24.589-05:00

I had alot to do today, but have become aware that at least a few more people besides my blood relations and knitting pals have been by this way. This is cool! And I got another comment yesterday, also cool. But I feel this added something to my to-do list, and my intended blog du jour is now different because I want to respond to my commenter. Mary has added a new challenge to my blog, for I

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-8503755255446559902008-12-04T00:15:00.004-05:002008-12-04T00:27:35.325-05:00

Further to the "separatist" accusation. Disclosure: it is a link to the Liberal Party web site.http://www.liberal.ca/video_e.aspx?guid=0FB6D5B1-3DD1-41E2-8EEA-E8D6811DBD00However, it is not propaganda or scripted, M. Trudeau is answering some tough challenges from the media on the issue, with facts and informed opinion. Agree or don't with opinion, he is well composed and admirably quick

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-13450414378995894232008-12-03T19:17:00.011-05:002008-12-03T23:53:29.125-05:00

Wow, can I first say I'm flattered to find myself quoted and referred to, even in a small way, for being a competent information source for this. I am far from an expert and know only a fraction of what there is to know about this current situation, but I am making a huge effort right now to be sure of my facts, and avoid the mudslinging and rhetoric that so many bloggers and commenters are

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-28785531707082240392008-12-02T19:08:00.002-05:002008-12-02T19:18:29.383-05:00

Read it, dammit.http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=FOR20081130&articleId=11226Watch it, dammit.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTmNaEqMqA8What is going on IS democracy. Get involved and get educated, or we can lose it.

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-73762602705095856462008-12-01T19:36:00.008-05:002008-12-03T23:34:44.350-05:00

Alright. There are very, very interesting things happening in the Government of Canada just now. Really interesting things you should get reading about. For starters - would everyone who knows less than I do about the processes by which Canada is governed please SHUT THE FLAK UP and go read a grade 9 Civics text. I'm going to punch the next person who says the proposal to form a Liberal-NDP

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-12648562404097262382008-11-08T20:38:00.005-05:002008-11-08T21:04:21.325-05:00

I don't know if it was stress, work, feeling tired all the time, or the drag of the US election, but I was beginning to worry I was losing my fibre mojo, my sock mojo in particular. I didn't finish a single qualifying pair for Summer of Socks, I don't think. One half-knit toe is still lurking in a corner somewhere, occasionally peeking out and glaring at me. I had my first hit of Single Sock

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-72232069906937441332008-11-03T21:27:00.002-05:002008-11-03T21:31:43.001-05:00

I've often lamented that the government that really has the most influence on my country is not one I can ever vote for. Like it or not, Canadians are drawn along with the US administration of the day, and it's rare that our leaders have had the balls to stand up to the US Administration - the Chretien/Martin government's refusal to engage in Iraq is one of the few proud moments when they

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-75590196749348604812008-10-29T14:53:00.005-04:002008-10-29T15:13:03.750-04:00

My project ADD had really taken hold over the summer. It also didn't help that I got a couple pairs of socks going one-at-a-time, which leaves me susceptible to Single Sock Syndrome and always takes immensely longer to finish the pair than when I do two-at-once.I took advantage of some social chat time at a friend's party to pick away while watching other people's kids goof around and chatting

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-56621190514717537052008-10-26T21:43:00.003-04:002008-10-26T21:51:15.468-04:00

Sunday night, and I'm back to work tomorrow. Holy flying wristwatches, my week off went fast.I used to not "be able" to use all my vacation, back when I had much less of it! Couldn't think of anything to do that was more interesting than work. Now, well, a 3-day work week and a 10-month year wouldn't suit. I could actually feel that it took until about Wednesday to start decompressing (I was

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-75337126242493464372008-10-21T20:54:00.002-04:002008-10-21T21:19:53.187-04:00

Home again, after a whirlwind extended weekend trip to New York State, where I visited my University roomie and her family, and spent a couple of days - well, probably day-and-a-half - at the New York State Sheep and Wool festival, a fibre-fanatic's fantasyland of all things wooly.Thursday night, we drove partway there, dropping off some class supplies with a Buffalo contact, and getting to

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-30680272374299225012008-10-15T22:03:00.004-04:002008-10-16T14:35:32.669-04:00

Hey, does anyone who reads this know what was up at RIM 14 today?My workday afternoon was interrupted by a little flurry of activity and I followed the meandering coworkers (including my manager, so she couldn't really complain about me going) to the windows. Our street was blocked off, traffic out of our lot was being routed in one direction only, pedestrians were being stopped, and there were

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-74856587100428566832008-10-12T00:40:00.002-04:002008-10-12T00:54:46.634-04:00

Hey, Mom - update just for you!Nothing much is new or exciting except that I've juuuuust about finished my first assignment - first two, really - for the OHS Spinning Certificate Level 1 class. Four small skeins of yarn are drying on a towel, ready for documentation assembly tomorrow.Otherwise, I'm up after midnight snacking on liquorice as despite a very nice, sensible blood glucose reading of

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-61543239157703760332008-09-14T22:54:00.003-04:002008-10-16T14:36:14.143-04:00

So I got some fun news, or it will be once I get out from under my current workload....I've been accepted into a local small Handmade Fair, the Stitch'n'Kitsch. I'll be a "guest artist" for their Fall shows, on October 4th and December 13. I sent in a hopeful application with no real expectation, as Stitch'n'Kitsch is usually about the finished goods. It's a GREAT gift shopping day for those

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-61423566183915593292008-09-05T12:52:00.003-04:002008-09-14T22:54:10.192-04:00

Sorry I kind of dropped this 3 days into classes that week. The remainder of Haliburton was immensely educational, intense, tiring, somewhat social, and I had time for sleep, OR time with my classmates OR blogging... any two would have been stretching it and so the electronic journalling got the cut for a bit.Since my uneventful trip back, I feel like I've been on the go. Last week was really

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-73720966392952132152008-08-18T22:16:00.002-04:002008-08-18T22:19:55.490-04:00

Spun lots. Learned to ply. Suck at heavier grist/larger diameter yarns, partly because JW doesn't go slow enough - turns out my bottom ratio is not even 8:1 as documented, more like 8.8:1. Most wheels start with 3 or 5:1.Haven't looked at the few snaps I took of college roof beams.Had dinner with parents and a great-aunt I've never met.Discovered the world's best buttertarts (possibly could be

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-67107606609248907452008-08-17T20:55:00.007-04:002008-08-18T22:22:45.658-04:00

I don't think I need to bore blogland with the finer details of Woollen spinning or spinning in the grease. They are not mutually exclusive, the first is fine, the second is a bit messier and smellier than this knitter prefers to work with, but I can see the point of it in some cases. I guess I'll be doing a bit more of it in the coming months as my homework requires me to to make a project

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-63666520221042997702008-08-16T19:47:00.007-04:002008-08-16T20:29:47.156-04:00

Day #1 of the OHS Spinning Class seemed to alternate between intimidation, and being told not to be intimidated! Well, not quite that bad. We started with a check-in, materials pick-up, "contracts" that basically were to state we would abide by the OHS guidelines, read them, and not hassle teachers with material in the book. There was a lunch social, followed by an hour talk about the program,

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-90826982373376147632008-08-16T09:23:00.002-04:002008-08-16T09:27:50.248-04:00

So, here I am - in a free upgraded room with Wi-Fi - in Haliburton, Ontario, getting ready for breakfast and my first half-day of classes. I got out for a walk, about 4.5 km, in the morning fog. It smells like many a childhood vacation here, with a touch of Scottish Highlands (now that I know what Scottish Highlands smell like) but that may be from the rain. We had evening and overnight rain,

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-41730577081493250922008-08-13T21:26:00.004-04:002008-08-13T21:56:04.648-04:00

This....Is my little Sony Cybershot W80. Last year's B-day present. Now what, pray, could cause it to be cowering there, hiding beside the cat, small as she is, contemplating it's mortality?OK, so, if I'm posting a photo of my camera, think about this for a moment. Ummm, yep. Something *else* must be taking the photo.Here's what Sony was staring at in quaking fear. THIS year's B-day present

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-19846401311275537802008-08-09T20:17:00.004-04:002008-08-09T20:43:44.895-04:00

I am really liking today's weather. My favourable opinion is probably helped by not having been caught in any of it, as I managed to have just made it into the car or just into a building every time the heavens opened today. So I've had nice vantage points for watching and listening to it while being only slightly humidified because the windows are open.I like thunderstorms. They're one of

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-40607129076513798002008-08-07T22:31:00.002-04:002008-08-07T22:33:08.349-04:00

OK, so I'm a bit dorky with how proud of myself I am about this, but had to share it on both blogs.I made Monique a little add-on, so she can accessorize to match her spinning work.

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-23356077765632694762008-07-24T19:05:00.002-04:002008-07-24T19:08:54.367-04:00

Got Blue back.Dr. Bonnie gave up on un-clogging the feeding tube and took it out.When I called, she told me I had to come and get Blue before she ate all the cat food in the place. Apparently she's gotten over whatever was causing her to starve herself. She's now sitting in my lap as I type, bonking me in the nose with her head.Only thing still missing is her voice, but we can deal with that

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-6705345845295715382008-07-24T12:11:00.005-04:002008-07-24T12:23:08.569-04:00

... then there was the incident involving a bottle of Coke, the cat, and a syringe. I had to change my shirt 3 times before noon today.I'm also wondering if I'm the only person ever to have to clean cat food off the bedroom ceiling. Dr. Bonnie assures me I am not.Blue is actually doing well, and even took a couple licks of food by herself this morning, followed by about 12 mls syringed into her

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-16514671940996200562008-07-23T12:20:00.002-04:002008-07-23T12:37:34.428-04:00

The email late Monday night was that Blue is better, but has pancreatitis, but the consulting vet didn't charge to re-do the ultrasound, and that she hadn't barfed since Sunday morning and could go home Tuesday if that stayed the same.Tuesday, I phoned the vet, and they said I could have her back, but Dr. Bonnie put her on the phone, and all I heard was "Eeeep! EEEEEK!" and I told her that was

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-54697611875015864042008-07-21T17:12:00.005-04:002008-07-21T17:31:43.557-04:00

Ok, so, the latest Blue report was only from the clinic reception manager, who says she hasn't barfed today and is perky and social and noisy - so, acting like my normal Blue at least. So we'll stop the cat moping and get back to some run-of-the-mill blog fodder: Yes, I Still Knit!I have broken my New Year's Resolution about only 5 WIPs/only 3 socks at one time, and I'm realizing that the

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-42295645070061265512008-07-20T21:39:00.002-04:002008-07-20T21:46:19.993-04:00

So, I had to review my own blog to watch the happy dance video a few more times. Had a visit with Mom and Dad today, during which I was procrastinating phoning the vet about Blue again.Blue went back to Dr. Bonnie Friday, as she was vomiting more and getting less food with each feeding. Bonnie got a bit into her, probably better because she was excited, Friday night. Saturday morning revealed

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-85344039180532997632008-07-18T20:28:00.006-04:002008-07-18T21:11:27.530-04:00

In a week that has vacillated between painful exhausted boredom and frantic stress, all of it sleep deprived, I must thank Podgy for pointing me to this (once I got the headspace to catch up with blog-neighbours).Very odd. Strangely compelling. A little burst of joy in an often-sad world. Grab a tissue, it is indeed one of those so-happy-you-might-cry things.Full story (and full quality video)

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-24485035630443790832008-07-09T15:40:00.004-04:002008-07-09T20:47:23.188-04:00

Now that I think about it, there's not much after my last entry. After Lavenham, a supermarket stock-up trip and cold dinner on Friday was followed by an evening in.Saturday daytime was spent getting Patrice's kids up and off to whatever they were about, a bit of prep for that evening's b-day party for the youngest, Danielle, and then taking an afternoon breather to browse St. Ives and the River

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-8720217050440193652008-07-07T10:15:00.004-04:002008-07-07T10:39:23.421-04:00

Well, we are back, and the suitcases promptly barfed all over the living room, as I declined to lug mine upstairs overloaded as it was with goodies and treats best left down. I'm catching up on personal email and determinedly ignoring anything work-related until I get back there tomorrow.Our second week was more internet-limited, as there were plenty of places to connect in London - for a fee.

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-17352295564826815532008-06-29T12:36:00.002-04:002008-06-29T12:41:41.264-04:00

Ah, our Scotland time is over.Really haven't got more pictures to load, as Adam's the photographer but does alot of post-work on them (so we won't see them until we're home). We've just spent a last afternoon out about Glasgow for a bit of a walk. Visited the eclectic Kelvingrove Museum, a gallery of a little bit of everything - natural history, ancient history, art from the last couple of

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-76199865857172353682008-06-26T18:29:00.005-04:002008-06-26T18:59:43.021-04:00

It is 11:30 pm Thursday in Glasgow, and the last of twilight is just fading. Beautiful here. So far North that daylight begins before 4 and ends after 11. Which is great for summer travel. It is very lush here, a temperate rainforest green everywhere. Our hosts tell us this is brief. The climate here suits me, at least so far. It rains daily, however, the remedy for that situation seems to

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-80269429036260314712008-06-19T15:49:00.003-04:002008-06-19T15:58:19.878-04:00

Poor Blue cat is, as expected, still hospitalized and not at all her usual self.The vet and techs assure me that her current state is no surprise, and the beginning of recovery. She's dopey, groggy, out-of-sorts, and messy. She started feeding with a protein gel yesterday and is getting small feedings every two hours. She's gucky and matted, because she's got enough oomph in her to fuss and

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-83678692360355034502008-06-17T16:34:00.002-04:002008-06-17T16:35:57.581-04:00

Minor surgery to install an esophageal feeding tube went OK, and Blue is up and about though dopey.Here's hoping. Vet says no visiting hours today as Blue's upset and groggy and she's afraid I'd be distressed over it.

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-6264819824634167702008-06-17T12:24:00.002-04:002008-06-17T12:33:22.285-04:00

We have some tests back and are waiting for some, but the diagnosis seems to be hepatic lipidosis/fatty liver disease. A condition that can be fatal (always, if not treated) but has a good prognosis if caught. It occurs often secondary to something, as it is the result of a cat not eating and losing weight rapidly. The "something" it is secondary to can be bad, but can also be stress, social

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-59839896711171923502008-06-16T21:35:00.004-04:002008-06-16T21:43:04.505-04:00

Wow, I should be looking forward to vacation starting Friday, but I am sad and drained.Blue is now in Dr. Bonnie's care, as of this morning. She's getting IV fluids, bloodwork, and an ultrasound as soon as it can be arrange. She started moping late last week, and we were watching her and wondering if she'd finally caught on that Maui wasn't coming home. Maui had been gone before, for days at

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-7329904808980303562008-06-06T21:11:00.003-04:002008-06-06T21:15:32.677-04:00

A couple of the more recent favourite shots of the Him-cat.He did seem to like posing for cameras.And I have no idea what he thought he was doing here, but this is what happened when the "bird" toy got "caught".Bye-bye, you little space cadet. I'm sorry. We tried so hard.

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-89672408122592137162008-06-06T20:47:00.002-04:002008-06-06T20:52:10.317-04:00

Well, I'm now down to a "normal" number of pets, which for some reason most of society thinks is two.Maui made it through a complicated surgery, which involved some kind of bile duct repair, only to crash in recovery and not make it back. Dr. Bonnie was incredibly gentle and I guess quite upset herself, she was with him the whole time. He had severe pancreatitis, we don't yet know why. She

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-49587792980323331932008-06-06T13:46:00.003-04:002008-06-06T13:50:05.969-04:00

Maui's having surgery at 2. We were down to "he'll die soon, or we open him up to see if it's fixable". He's been at the vet since yesterday morning again, on IV because he can't eat or drink. Dr. Bonnie left a message at 12:45 that the surgeon would be in at 2, did I want to go ahead.It's risky and might not help, but I can't really say no, as it seems he's close to the end without it.This is

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-59493023145946326042008-06-02T19:26:00.002-04:002008-06-02T19:31:56.170-04:00

Well, despite the cold, damp morning, the Bike and Hike went well overall for the hospital. Without even all the final on-site and last minute donations, the event was able to announce that Cardiac Care in Waterloo Region was $225000 better funded than it had been before Sunday. So, thank you, everyone who donated whatever amount you could. There are so many worthy causes out there, I

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-13249642283740255912008-05-29T15:29:00.002-04:002008-04-29T15:40:01.568-04:00

Did you know that in Waterloo Region, a person suffering a cardiac event can be whisked from wherever they fall, by ambulance to St. Mary's Hospital and a possibly life-saving angioplasty in less than an hour?That's what I've helped accomplish over the past 5 years.Once again, on June 1 this year, I will be participating in the Bike and Hike Corporate Challenge, raising funds for the St. Mary's

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-37891350996235046992008-05-26T20:54:00.004-04:002008-05-26T21:03:28.890-04:00

Maui's staying for another overnighter at Dr. Bonnie's Home for Incorrigible Meezers (aka The Cat Hospital of K-W), as he was severely dehydrated which was the most acute cause of his discomfort and disorientation. We're not sure what the root is, but he stopped eating/drinking at some point. X-rays were normal except for air pockets in his intestine, which, while not "normal" could have had

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-9555229235662396102008-05-25T20:09:00.002-04:002008-05-25T20:48:56.263-04:00

Ah, there's more angst in the cat house.Maui's been perking along with an approximately monthly injection of Vetacortyl, basically a broad steroid to control whatever combination of allergies/IBD/lymphoma he has - with cats, really, what can you do but try to make them "feel better"? It's about quality of life for them and for us.Well, after the last one about 3 or 3.5 weeks ago, he really

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-54375323117205143952008-05-19T00:34:00.002-04:002008-05-19T00:45:41.910-04:00

Yep, so busy I'm titleing both today's blogs (the dye blog and this one) the same. Different content though. Check the Gallery, my Lofty Blog, or Etsy for the dye jobs.Monique and I are slowly working away on that 100 grams of superwash I bought for "practice".It is possible that trying to spin all of it into one long single for Navajo 3-ply sock yarn wasn't the quickest way to spin

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-39396667836140758722008-05-08T16:28:00.002-04:002008-05-08T16:31:36.561-04:00

Quick note here, as I'm at work.Check out the Etsy Mini (the yarn pictures, over there --->) on the right. I've dyed up a few more skeins, and have two more dye project trips this month, so I took the plunge into the online sales world with Etsy.We'll see how that goes. It's not a living to be made, but maybe a step to a self-supporting hobby.Also, I've added a new blog, specific to the

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-43670858182893983202008-05-06T14:03:00.003-04:002008-05-06T14:14:12.803-04:00

Well, quit school, that is. I think I'm finally giving up on the idea that I want to "further" my education, at least in the computing field. I just dropped my course at Athabasca.Pretty much since graduating, with distinction, with my B.Sc.Eng., I've been "in school" trying to get somewhere. The M.Sc. fell through, then my health nearly fell through, and since getting over the whole

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-11155747437524642082008-04-27T18:58:00.003-04:002008-04-27T19:07:04.186-04:00

OK, OK, I am a neglectful blogger this month. Work is draining, I've been busy, I've been away, I've been reading Ravelry melodramas....There's been nothing that exciting, really. I'm writing right now as the spouse is trying to nap in the other room and I can't really do anything that might make the slightest noise or it wakes him up - or at least, it sets the cats talking to me, and THEY wake

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-27434242325208787212008-04-02T21:24:00.004-04:002008-04-03T18:05:58.764-04:00

So, nothing new from me today, but just got to update on yesterday's amusements.Hot as my Firefighter with Sock was, I totally got trounced by some of the Toronto competitors.Nobody actually caught David Miller, but a couple of people got the Mayor's EA.We had Mounted Police Officers.Apparently a somewhat questionable mis-interpretation of Mounted Police was not only allowed but encouraged by the

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-13028088868141462952008-04-01T21:16:00.010-04:002008-04-03T18:14:36.293-04:00

So, I'll bet today Stephanie Pearl-McPhee has accomplished more for Toronto Tourism than the city's entire budget for the year.You can check out this post for the explanation of the inexplicable, but as many things Stephanie suggests seem to do (see: Knitters Without Borders), I'm guessing this got bigger than she ever thought. Just for fun I thought I'd play the home version, since I couldn't

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-91266719028417947342008-03-30T21:32:00.002-04:002008-03-30T21:44:58.347-04:00

Hee! Look what's arrived this week:After a week's dalliance in a Customs depot in Quebec, during which she seems to have acquired the name Monique, my long-sought JourneyWheel made it here, safe and sound. The first evening was spent figuring out how to get the belts on properly - several times over as I was retying them to adjust - and then having Adam do her glamour-portrait as you see

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-34433499436188212322008-03-28T10:11:00.003-04:002008-03-28T10:23:15.916-04:00

A year ago, one city, Sydney, Australia, decided to take an hour to reduce energy consumption. Their goal was 5%, their means was to turn off the lights for one hour during peak evening consumption. They reached an energy consumption reduction of over 10%, calculated by some reports as equivalent to removing 48,000 cars from the road.This year, March 29th, at 8 pm local time, cities around the

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12320685.post-84169728819270451842008-03-15T18:05:00.005-04:002008-03-15T19:57:03.990-04:00

After a couple of scores at upscale furniture store Schreiter's over in Kitchener, our loft decor and furnishing intentions got stalled for a little more than a year. The sofa itself has seen little enough use as it seems we spend most of our time in desk chairs, even at home.However, I was still harboring the intention to get rid of the last few student doofers and slowly-disintegrating chairs,

-- jlbnoreply@blogger.com0