Here's a nice sunrise photo I took while coming into work today at about 6:50am. If you look closely you see a person rowing on the Cataraqui River. Nice. (Click pic to enlarge.) 

Happiness is in the Twillight Zone

Why aren't people happy in relationships? Why do relationships start off ok, and then after about 2 years, the end up not-ok? Why does the same person who was on cloud nine in month three of the relationship, find themselves looking for greener pastures at a later date?

It's like the Twillight Zone: it's just inexplicable.

I must rent that movie... um... er... what's it called... something like "19 months." I think I want to see that movie. It's a B-grade Canadian movie that has the premise that romantic love only lasts 19 months. It follows two people as they try to break up in the 19th month. It might give me some insight into why relationships go stale after a certain period of time.

OOOOOOOOOOOO Canada!

Team Canada pulled it off with a beautiful 3-2 win over Finland yesterday. I was so happy for them. A perfect 6-0 in the tournament is wildly impressive! I was at the Grad Club watching it and the people packed into the tiny room really charged the atmosphere. We counted down the final minutes in unison and at the end the group sang "Oh Canada"! It was kind of weird to me, I had never been anywhere where people spontaneously broke into singing the National Anthem, but it felt pretty cool! Reminds me of the old days at Queen's when we used to break into spontaneous choruses of the "Oil Thigh" (I don't know how to spell it in Gaelic... heck ... I'm not sure I even know how to spell "Gaelic." *laugh*) On our way home, the intersection of Division and Pricess was almost blocked with people celebrating the win while waiving Canadian Flags. I loved it and honked my horn the entire way by!!!

So, congrats to Team Canada. I'm happy for them. I'm glad that Canadians get to celebrate their participation in sucha great game this year, because the NHL may not operate this year due to contract disputes. SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Eric whispers... "Go Wings Go")

More Hip! Overall the concert rocked! The Hip played 26 songs in total including 2 encores.... over 2 hours! On the left of this picture you'll see Dan Aykroyd on harmonica for this song. This was the end of their last song in the set: locked in the Trunk of a Car. Awesome! 

Here's a shot of the crowd when the Hip was on. This is the crowd to my right. WOW! 

The Tragically Hip! 

The Crowd was huge! Estimated at 22,000 and I am right in the middle of it. This is shooting directly behind me away from the stage during Matt Good's Set. 

Here's a few pics from the Across the Causeway benefit concert hosted by the Tragically Hip. Here's a shot of the Matt Good Band. 

Here's a picture of the pile of junk now piled in my yard from the basement flood. I feel like trailer-trash now. UGH! 

I know how Noah Feels

Yesterday was Hell Day. I felt like Kevin Costner in Waterworld: I played in water and watched dollars signs evaporate! Kingston had a record rainfall: 137 mm. The previous record was 129 mm in 1979. Consequently, my finished basement was flooded with 8 inches of water. The sheer volume of water coming into the sump pump pit from the footing drain overwhelmed my sump-pump system. I have two sump pumps and they both could not keep up. I estimate it was coming into the house at approximately 4 gallons per minute! Crazy eh?! My belongings likely spend about 12 hours under water. After coming home from work at 4pm, I spent nine back-aching hours trudging through the water and trying to salvage everything I could. There's huge damage: the walls will have to be cut open and insulation removed, all the furniture is damaged, and the status of the major appliances such as washer, water heater and furnace is yet unknown. Joy! Luckily, my insurance company will cover it. So I'll be spending the weekend making lists and stuff. What a drag. I had the presence of mind to take some photos, so when I develop them, I'll post one or two here.

Bleck!

First day of class

The first day of class has come and gone. Both my sections of LART5-Fundamentals of Teaching Adults feel really good. The students seem to be pretty keen and I think that we can have a really fun time in class together and learn something all the while. The computer lab went well too. It seems that most people are very keen on the Online Bonus Question programme. That's a good thing! Intersting note, despite having about 70 students registerred in this University course, no one is from outside Ontario. I guess they'll market there next year

Kingston Whatchamacaulits

Ted and I went to a Kingston Frontenacs game yesterday. Exhibition against Peterborough Petes. Despite the fog, Kingston won 6-2. Was well worth it for $5! I might go to the next $5 game on Wednesday. It was a shame that less that 1,000 people went. We really do need the new LVEC in K-town.

Did you know that prior to 1988 the team was called Kingston Canadians? I think I knew that but what I didn't know was that before the adopted the current name they were called Kingston Raiders for one year. Eeek. That's a crappy name. I'm not a huge fan of the current name but it sure beets Raiders. I vote go back to Kingston Canadians ;-)

Camping Rocks!

So, I've been gone camping all week at Sharbot Lake Provincial Campground. Quick... POP QUIZ.... what Lake is Shabot Lake Provincial Campground located on? (**Insert Jeopardy theme here**) "Sharbot Lake" you said? Oh... no... I'm sorry thats incorrect... but we have some lovely parting gifts for you!

It's on Black Lake. A much smaller lake than Sharbot Lake, but right adjacent to in. Only a short four minute canoe portage to his Sharbot Lake. The weather was taylor made for camping. Sunny every day... highs between 20 and 24. Gorgeous. I squeezed in a little fishing which I haven't had time to do in years and I actually caught a bass on Thursday. Nothing of any size but still fun nonetheless! Relaxing is the word. Found some of the old faithful Kelly Striper's Worms at the Black Lake store too. I could never remeber their name.... now I do!

So, I'm back in town for the long weekend and I hope to run a bunch of last minute errands to organize myself for starting to teach next week.