"I feel I'm incredibly fascinating and this blog bears witness to that simple fact. Friends, from far and wide, are often pestered to keep abreast of my life and opinions. I offer my most sincere greetings to random visitors as well."
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- British Columbia, CANADA
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Monday, April 07, 2008
Life is in the Details
Ordinary stuff becomes more precious over time. There are many examples of this phenomenon. Most family heirlooms are only keepsakes because they've existed for so long. Some objects that people have thrown away eventually become retro and valued. Lastly, a public persona, such as Madonna, has become a diva simply by not vanishing from the scene.
I was stopped at this light waiting to cross Deer Lake Parkway and head up Royal Oak Avenue. Even a picture such as this will grow more important as time passes. Things change and people do too. I wish, I'd taken a snap of this location before the upgrade when I used to toboggan down the smaller street in my pickup truck. It's still visible to the right. I wish I had taken photos at various traffic lights on commutes from other points in my life. It'd be interesting to see any image on the way home from work during my overseas years, for example.
Nothing is too trivial to make a record of it.
I was stopped at this light waiting to cross Deer Lake Parkway and head up Royal Oak Avenue. Even a picture such as this will grow more important as time passes. Things change and people do too. I wish, I'd taken a snap of this location before the upgrade when I used to toboggan down the smaller street in my pickup truck. It's still visible to the right. I wish I had taken photos at various traffic lights on commutes from other points in my life. It'd be interesting to see any image on the way home from work during my overseas years, for example.
Nothing is too trivial to make a record of it.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
The Original Skid Row
Although there are five free days for the Christmas break, we've still not decided on anything specific. I guess this is one time when there are not any last minute deals available. At least, I can't seem to find any three or four day get-aways selling for a song on the Internet nor in the local newspaper. On the contrary, it seems as though suckers who don't book early have to pay through the nose.
Of course, we could simply drive somewhere close. Hotels are seldom busy as business travel has ceased and many folks are staying with family even if they are travelling. I can remember going to the nearly frozen Okanagan one Christmas. On others we went to visit friends or jumped on a ferry for Victoria. It's only Wednesday, so there are still a couple of days to make a final decision.
It may even be fun just to slide down to Seattle for a few nights. Discounting the wait at the border, it's only a leisurely three hour trip. If one's willing to stay cheap, it's possible to find, because of the season, a hotel within walking distance to downtown for only $60 per night. In order to see the city where the term skid row was coined, I fired up Google Earth. I was first awed by the program in October 2005 and since then it's continued to grow and develop. It doesn't often get the press it deserves but for those of us who like geography it's truly a miracle.
Of course, we could simply drive somewhere close. Hotels are seldom busy as business travel has ceased and many folks are staying with family even if they are travelling. I can remember going to the nearly frozen Okanagan one Christmas. On others we went to visit friends or jumped on a ferry for Victoria. It's only Wednesday, so there are still a couple of days to make a final decision.
It may even be fun just to slide down to Seattle for a few nights. Discounting the wait at the border, it's only a leisurely three hour trip. If one's willing to stay cheap, it's possible to find, because of the season, a hotel within walking distance to downtown for only $60 per night. In order to see the city where the term skid row was coined, I fired up Google Earth. I was first awed by the program in October 2005 and since then it's continued to grow and develop. It doesn't often get the press it deserves but for those of us who like geography it's truly a miracle.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Guility as Charged
I know it's probably not politically correct to admit, but I rather enjoy my single-occupancy trip to the BCIT afternoon classes. I have a mere four cylinders sipping on gasoline and although it'd be possible to take transit for the commute, I don't.
From downtown New Westminster, I take Eighth Street. It turns into Canada Way as it crosses into Burnaby. The one-way trip is 12 or 13 kilometers. Even with the current road construction, it only takes about twenty minutes. I find the drive rather relaxing and on some days ... quite beautiful.
From downtown New Westminster, I take Eighth Street. It turns into Canada Way as it crosses into Burnaby. The one-way trip is 12 or 13 kilometers. Even with the current road construction, it only takes about twenty minutes. I find the drive rather relaxing and on some days ... quite beautiful.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Sucking Up Some Fuel
I want to drive. I don't mean just to the Burnaby Campus as I will do this morning. I mean I want to get out on the highway. The longest road trips we've done lately is travelling five kilometers to the Coquitlam Superstore on Saturdays. Earlier in the month, I had the oil changed in the Ranger; therefore, it's now ready and ripping for another three thousands miles.
In one way, it's nice to live here. Having a vehicle is like a passport to this continent. It'd be possible to start out at home in the morning but end the day in a place to which one has never ventured. It happens infrequently but knowing it's possible is reassuring. I have chuckled about a former colleague who spent quite a chuck of cash on a nice car. That by itself is not humourous, but he lives in a small, island country with less highway than a typical North American city. I doubt there's a stretch of tar of more than ten kilometers without a stoplight. That's a bit funny.
On the other hand, British Columbia, although a huge province is sparsely populated. In order to go anywhere it's usually necessary to head out the Fraser Valley toward Hope, BC. The majority of our road trips start and end with the same 125 kilometers of Canadian Route 1. That's a bit boring.
In one way, it's nice to live here. Having a vehicle is like a passport to this continent. It'd be possible to start out at home in the morning but end the day in a place to which one has never ventured. It happens infrequently but knowing it's possible is reassuring. I have chuckled about a former colleague who spent quite a chuck of cash on a nice car. That by itself is not humourous, but he lives in a small, island country with less highway than a typical North American city. I doubt there's a stretch of tar of more than ten kilometers without a stoplight. That's a bit funny.On the other hand, British Columbia, although a huge province is sparsely populated. In order to go anywhere it's usually necessary to head out the Fraser Valley toward Hope, BC. The majority of our road trips start and end with the same 125 kilometers of Canadian Route 1. That's a bit boring.
Labels: driving, maintenance, places, Ranger
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Never Sick of Beauty
As I was driving into work yesterday I noticed how beautiful this area is. It didn't only happen once. Several times on the 20 minute drive into Burnaby I drank in the great views. This week, the sky has been that deep, surreal blue that can happen when a high-pressure system parks itself overhead. The mountain were as clear as a bell and snow's still clinging to the peaks. All the summer vegetation is developed, green, and lush. This wasn't just because I happened to be in a good mood. The day was so impressive that traffic seemed a lot less rushed. Others must have been harbouring similar thoughts.
I wondered in how many places long-time residents were taken back by the sheer beauty. It's so easy to get used to one's environment and ignore it. I questioned why this doesn't happen ... here ... to me.
I wondered in how many places long-time residents were taken back by the sheer beauty. It's so easy to get used to one's environment and ignore it. I questioned why this doesn't happen ... here ... to me.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Back to Yackin' about Flickr
It was a year ago yesterday that I took some pictures on a trip over the mountains to BC's Okanagan region. After getting home, I sought a better way to share them than email. I discovered a site that has substantially changed my life. I'm approaching the one-year anniversary of being a member of Flickr.It has changed my whole perception about digital photos. Photos aren't of much consequence unless they can be shared. I have been doing just that. I've decided that scanning and adding pre-digital photos is important for my collection too.
Another milestone occurred yesterday in my relation to Flickr. I uploaded my 2000th image. It was a photo of Hick's Lake, BC from our trip to Harrison Hot Springs over the weekend.
Labels: British Columbia, driving, Flickr, Okanagan, road trip
Monday, June 05, 2006
How to Not Run a Business ...
I saw the following report about the plight of US automakers. Ford and GM actually lost money on each car sold in North America.I guess I'm helping the industry by not buying. I will have had my Ranger for ten years next month. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I cannot see myself buying a replacement vehicle for at least another decade.
According to the Harbour Report ...
"Detroit still trails Japanese automakers in profit per vehicle. Nissan, Toyota and Honda each earned a pretax margin of more than $1,200 on every vehicle sold in North America. Chrysler earned $223, while Ford lost $590 and GM lost $2,496 on each vehicle sold in 2005. The figures reflect differences in health-care and pension costs, and expenses associated with cash rebates and financing incentives."
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Get Out of Town
The guys were over on Monday. Among the things discussed were possible plans for future activities.We talked about a previous trip to the wineries in the BC Okanagan. It seems quite amazing that we rented that minivan nearly a year ago! Although we were only away for two nights, it was a highlight of last summer. This is why taking trips, large or small, is so important. I have no recollection of the weekend before or after that late June trip.
Routines are nice but memories occur only when they're broken. This is why I think travel is one of the most important things that people do. Nobody on their deathbed looks back at their life and wishes they'd spent more time at the office.
Labels: driving, road trip, travel planning
Friday, May 05, 2006
Canada Way or Kingsway?
The title doesn't matter as either way, I have to travel to campus via the Deer Lake Parkway. I'll be heading on this road again, today.
This makes the fifth time this week, I've driven to the Burnaby Campus of BCIT. Today the dynamics will be a bit different as it's our final day of class. We will do one last activity as a wrap up to COMM 0004, then the students will complete the course evaluations, and lastly, they'll write the final examination.
I'll be correcting and turning in the marks this evening. I need to correct promptly as we'll be leaving early tomorrow to catch a bus down I-5 to the Seatac airport.
This makes the fifth time this week, I've driven to the Burnaby Campus of BCIT. Today the dynamics will be a bit different as it's our final day of class. We will do one last activity as a wrap up to COMM 0004, then the students will complete the course evaluations, and lastly, they'll write the final examination.
I'll be correcting and turning in the marks this evening. I need to correct promptly as we'll be leaving early tomorrow to catch a bus down I-5 to the Seatac airport.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
The 'Queen of the North'
If you followed the news yesterday, you undoubtedly heard about the sinking of a BC ferry. Apparently, no people were lost or seriously injured.
This was taken aboard the ferry that is now gone. We had just left Port Hardy at the northern tip of Vancouver Island. The Queen of the North was heading north towards Prince Rupert. This was back in April of 2003. People from elsewhere have a difficult time picturing the actual size of this province. We were out on a road trip to see a bit of it ourselves.
Read an email with photos which was sent to friends and family upon our return from this trip.
This was taken aboard the ferry that is now gone. We had just left Port Hardy at the northern tip of Vancouver Island. The Queen of the North was heading north towards Prince Rupert. This was back in April of 2003. People from elsewhere have a difficult time picturing the actual size of this province. We were out on a road trip to see a bit of it ourselves.
Read an email with photos which was sent to friends and family upon our return from this trip.
Labels: BC Ferries, British Columbia, driving
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Case in Point (Part 2)
On Tuesday, I wrote about my ailing briefcase. Its working-life ends today. The other hinge is now broken. I shall have to find some sort of replacement this weekend.
It saddens me to have to give up something that has been so useful. Yesterday, a few students did point out that they aren't as old as it is. So, I'm starting the process of checking through those oft-ignored, inside pockets. Considering the junk I've been carrying around with me for decades, it's a wonder I don't have the medial deltoids of a steroids-addicted weight lifter.
I pulled out this Bahraini identity card yesterday. It's been there more than fifteen years. This means it travelled to back and forth to work during my entire time in the UAE and the ten years I've been in Canada.
It saddens me to have to give up something that has been so useful. Yesterday, a few students did point out that they aren't as old as it is. So, I'm starting the process of checking through those oft-ignored, inside pockets. Considering the junk I've been carrying around with me for decades, it's a wonder I don't have the medial deltoids of a steroids-addicted weight lifter.
I pulled out this Bahraini identity card yesterday. It's been there more than fifteen years. This means it travelled to back and forth to work during my entire time in the UAE and the ten years I've been in Canada.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Canadian Peaches
Visiting the fruit and vegetable shops are a pleasure this time of year. While during the winters we rely on imports, August is the optimum time for local fruit. There are still cherries in abundance. What some people in other places may not know is British Columbia also produces a large variety of Okanagan fruit.
Even wild blackberries despite their rogue reputation can be delicious.
Even wild blackberries despite their rogue reputation can be delicious.
Labels: British Columbia, driving, Okanagan, road trip
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Stop Often
In order to add a quick photo today, I raided an image from this week's trip to the Okanagan.This is a reststop on the Route 1 (Trans-Canada Highway). The city of Kamloops, BC is at the end of this lake. In the opposite direction the lake extends another fourty kilometers too.
We are blessed with a province with a diversity of geography. If one drives a mere half day away from the coast, there are all sorts of different climates and vistas.
Labels: British Columbia, driving, Okanagan, road trip
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Okanagan Trip - Day #3
It was already time to head home. Before hitting the road, we ate a traditional breakfast at a little greasy spoon. We drove along through Kamloops and stuck to Route 1 through the desert, grasslands, and finally thick forests of the coast. The mini-van showed around 1300 kilometers for the total trip by the time we'd parked here at 8:00 pm.Labels: British Columbia, driving, Okanagan, places, road trip
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Okanagan Trip - Day #2
The second day saw us driving up the valley. We did winery tours and had a nice leisurely picnic lunch at a roadside BC park. This was my day to drive. Although we thought we might stay in Kelowna, the crowds prompted us to continue along to Vernon. After a short evening shower, we saw the most intense rainbow that I've ever witnessed. The night was spent in a somewhat cheaper suite. Everything all seems to work out well without reservations of any type.
Labels: British Columbia, driving, Okanagan, places, road trip
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Okanagan Trip - Day #1
It was a good day. We were able to pack the rented mini-van and get on the road by 9:15 am. After sliding out to the city of Hope, we took Route 3 to Osoyoos. It was 35 degrees Celsius upon our arrival. We stayed on the third floor in a suite overlooking the lake.
Labels: British Columbia, driving, Okanagan, places, road trip, Tim
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Vineyards and Orchards
There's recently been talk (and email) from the guys. We're all considering taking a trip for a few nights in mid-June. The Okanagan is one suggested destination. I love heading over the Coastal Mountains and seeing just how quickly we can go from the Lower Mainland's temperate rain forest to the semi-desert of that area. It's a leisurely, half-day drive. The particulars of a plan haven't been ironed out. Yet if it develops, I'm sure it'll make for a good time.
This is a digital picture taken on a 2002 trip when my camera
was nearly new.
This is a digital picture taken on a 2002 trip when my camera
was nearly new.
Labels: British Columbia, camera, driving, Okanagan, places, road trip
Friday, March 18, 2005
Gimme a Brake
On Monday, my entry recounted waxing my old truck. Yesterday, I brought it to the garage for its 60,000-mile maintenance. Even though I went expressly to do so, the 
tiny service pamphlet didn't mention changing the timing belt at this time. This is normal-duty, preventive maintenance, isn't it?
Something else surprised me. After all these years, I still have half of my original brake pads/linings remaining. Every time I go to work, I curse the poor driving skills of most of the idiots on the road around me. They accelerate right up to within millimeters of the red traffic light. Like, ye gads, look ahead! Furthermore, I must drive down Royal Oak Avenue in Burnaby. It is a very long, steep incline but I never keep my foot on the brake pedal. Most people in the other vehicles do --- all the way down the hill, in fact. As my Ranger has a 5-speed stick transmission, I can keep it in third gear. I guess that's not a possibility for many cars on North American roads.
tiny service pamphlet didn't mention changing the timing belt at this time. This is normal-duty, preventive maintenance, isn't it?Something else surprised me. After all these years, I still have half of my original brake pads/linings remaining. Every time I go to work, I curse the poor driving skills of most of the idiots on the road around me. They accelerate right up to within millimeters of the red traffic light. Like, ye gads, look ahead! Furthermore, I must drive down Royal Oak Avenue in Burnaby. It is a very long, steep incline but I never keep my foot on the brake pedal. Most people in the other vehicles do --- all the way down the hill, in fact. As my Ranger has a 5-speed stick transmission, I can keep it in third gear. I guess that's not a possibility for many cars on North American roads.
Labels: driving, maintenance, Ranger
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Driving Range
The scanner was plugged in yesterday. I figured that I might as well find a print for a blog entry.We're considering taking a weekend road trip. I'm off and Jay doesn't work on Monday or Tuesday either. Perhaps, we'll head down to Portland, OR and swing back through the Cascade Mountains. We've only stopped in that city as a rest stop on trips down I-5 and have never stayed long enough to look around. Portland is just over the border on the other side of Washington State and is about 508 kilometers (315 miles) due south. The distance is perfect as when we return it'll be exactly the time to change my truck's timing belt.
I would have far less mileage on the Ranger had it not been for our cross-Canada trip. We took seven weeks in 2001 and camped in a tent. Our goal was to reach the other side of Canadian Route 1. It was also possible to cruise through most every major Canadian city along the way.
So when searching for a picture, I looked for us at Cape Spear, Newfoundland. That is most easterly point in North America. In fact, in the photo we were actually over 1200 kilometers closer to England than New Westminster!
Thursday, November 25, 2004
Street Smarts
I wouldn't make a very good street person.
In a blog entry yesterday evening, I mentioned that it was raining. As I was driving home, I was very pleased with myself and the world. Everything appeared shiny as the street, tail, and shop lights all reflected on the dark pavement. Drivers seems one degree less hostile and a smidgen more forgiving than usual. The rhythm of the wipers created music that seemed choreographed to the activities outside. The heater was warming the interior of the truck and I felt comfortable and safe.
To our US Friends:
In a blog entry yesterday evening, I mentioned that it was raining. As I was driving home, I was very pleased with myself and the world. Everything appeared shiny as the street, tail, and shop lights all reflected on the dark pavement. Drivers seems one degree less hostile and a smidgen more forgiving than usual. The rhythm of the wipers created music that seemed choreographed to the activities outside. The heater was warming the interior of the truck and I felt comfortable and safe.
To our US Friends:
Labels: driving, maintenance, relaxing, Vancouver, weather
Thursday, July 22, 2004
Searching for Fruit
I love our summertime diet when so many local fruits and vegetables hit the market. Blog readers from from far-away places, may not know that British Columbia's Okanagan region is famous for the production of apples, cherries, apricots, plums, grapes, pears, and peaches. This in turn, has led to a burgeoning wine industry too.
I also wanted to take this opporunity to state I've made a slight improvement in the search feature on this blog. The search link has always listed the pages containing the search item. Now, however, when a link is followed, the page should advance to the first appearance of the word. In testing, I wished to see the frequency of some vocabulary and I picked fruit. The number indicated after the type of fruit shows the number of pages that contain that reference:
I also wanted to take this opporunity to state I've made a slight improvement in the search feature on this blog. The search link has always listed the pages containing the search item. Now, however, when a link is followed, the page should advance to the first appearance of the word. In testing, I wished to see the frequency of some vocabulary and I picked fruit. The number indicated after the type of fruit shows the number of pages that contain that reference:
apple - 4
apricot - 0
banana - 1
blueberry - 0
cherry - 4
lemon - 0
orange - 1
peach - 1
strawberry - 1
Friday, April 23, 2004
SmartMedia is Not So Smart
Hum, I have 46 super-high quality photos sitting in my camera but when I plug it in, WinXP isn't recognizing the device. Eventually, I'm sure that I'll get it sorted out so as to add some visual representation of our recent circle trip to Washington state. The differences in geography were stunning. We saw temperate rainforest, a moutain pass where there's snow in July, dry desert grasslands, and prductive farms and meadows. The trip was was only 700 miles (1100 km).
It was a nice time. Oh and thank you, Thomas family, for a nice evening, good dinner and a great hike up your front-yard mountain!
It was a nice time. Oh and thank you, Thomas family, for a nice evening, good dinner and a great hike up your front-yard mountain!
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
The North Cascades Highway
We've travelled on thousands of kilometers of road in this province. British Columbia is huge but there are, relatively speaking, very few highways here. So, past journeys mean we've already been to most every place that is a comfortable two or three day drive.
We find ourselves with a few days to spare and will, therefore, drive to Washington state again. A few weeks back we headed down I-5 to WA Route 20 and headed over to Port Townsend to catch a ferry to the peninsular. Today, we'll go back to Route 20 and travel eastward. Just a few weeks ago, the North Cascades Highway reopened after its annual closure for the winter.
The weather is not supposed to be very good but maybe it'll get drier when we get out to the semi-desert. We could try to stay near the Grand Coulee Dam. Then, we will also stay with the Thomas family on Wednesday night. We've not visited them for years!
We find ourselves with a few days to spare and will, therefore, drive to Washington state again. A few weeks back we headed down I-5 to WA Route 20 and headed over to Port Townsend to catch a ferry to the peninsular. Today, we'll go back to Route 20 and travel eastward. Just a few weeks ago, the North Cascades Highway reopened after its annual closure for the winter.
The weather is not supposed to be very good but maybe it'll get drier when we get out to the semi-desert. We could try to stay near the Grand Coulee Dam. Then, we will also stay with the Thomas family on Wednesday night. We've not visited them for years!
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
How'd I Miss Logan Lake?
I was on the Net and cannot remember how I came across the name. I found a place that's only 3 hours from Vancouver that we've not been. When one wants to go east there are only three possible routes from the city of Hope. Logan Lake seems to be between several of those routes. Hum .. snowmobiling? Must be at a high elevation to have snow. We must take a weekend trip! (The town boasts about its great fishing too. So, this entry DOES connect to the previous one through a 'fish thread'.)
District of Logan Lake - Offical Web Site
District of Logan Lake - Offical Web Site
Labels: driving
Friday, November 21, 2003
How far is it? About an hour.
How can a request for distance sometimes elicit a response measuring time?
Continuing on the topic of hitting the road, I notice a big difference in perception between the east and west sides of our continent. The whole US eastern seaboard, from Portland, ME to Atlanta, GA and right on down to Key West, is essentially a continuous super-sized set of suburbs. So, one never has far to go. On the other hand, in the west there can be miles and miles between settlements. These differences have made many people 'out west' (where the states are big) more tolerant of long-distance driving. Whereas, people 'back east' prefer to live within a dozen miles of their job, in the west, I know people who routinely commute a hundred kilometers (sixty or seventy miles) each day.
In this 2002 picture, in order for our visitor to see a high school alumnus,
we easily made a 'road trip' a few hundred miles south.
Continuing on the topic of hitting the road, I notice a big difference in perception between the east and west sides of our continent. The whole US eastern seaboard, from Portland, ME to Atlanta, GA and right on down to Key West, is essentially a continuous super-sized set of suburbs. So, one never has far to go. On the other hand, in the west there can be miles and miles between settlements. These differences have made many people 'out west' (where the states are big) more tolerant of long-distance driving. Whereas, people 'back east' prefer to live within a dozen miles of their job, in the west, I know people who routinely commute a hundred kilometers (sixty or seventy miles) each day.
In this 2002 picture, in order for our visitor to see a high school alumnus,
we easily made a 'road trip' a few hundred miles south.
Saturday, October 04, 2003
California, Here We Come ...
It's pretty damned early now! The cheap tickets leave YVR at 7:00 am. On a weekend that's even too early to take public transit, so I've got to park in long-term, airport parking.
The last time we were in SF was in 1997 when we went to visit a friend who was terminally ill. Despite the smiles in the photograph below, it was a sad trip. That time we drove the 1600 km (990 miles) down. At the end of the short stay, Jay flew back for work and I drove the truck back alone.
This trip is just for a change of scenery and is taking place under much better circumstances. We'll be back on Tuesday evening but I hope to do some weblog entries from the hotel there.
The last time we were in SF was in 1997 when we went to visit a friend who was terminally ill. Despite the smiles in the photograph below, it was a sad trip. That time we drove the 1600 km (990 miles) down. At the end of the short stay, Jay flew back for work and I drove the truck back alone.
This trip is just for a change of scenery and is taking place under much better circumstances. We'll be back on Tuesday evening but I hope to do some weblog entries from the hotel there.
Labels: driving, places, San Francisco
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
Four
Travelled down the Okanagan Valley via 97B. Slept in Penticton.
Labels: British Columbia, driving, Okanagan, places, road trip
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
It's past time for a short road trip. Jay has a few days off this week too, so we'll go away for a bit. We've not spent very much time in the Thompson-Okanagan region. It's around 500 km (310 miles) to Salmon Arm.
Labels: British Columbia, driving, Okanagan, road trip, travel planning
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