Congrats Canada!!!

I just finished watching the Torino closing ceremonies. Canada has so much to be proud of with it's greatest ever showing at the Winter Olympics! 24 medals is quite a feat, and we are only one medal below the Americans! 3rd in the world! It truly makes one proud of their athletes, though I cannot begin to tell you how disappointed I am with the Men's Hockey Team. *sigh oh well, four more years until home turf* How sweet would that be to win the Mens Hockey Gold on home turf!

Here is to 2010!!!

Vancouver 2010 - (<- Click This) Canada awaits you

RASC

We did it! Malice, and I are now official members of RASC. Now how wonderful is that! We are going to have an incredible year of learning, watching, and enjoying the beauty of what the sky beholds (and beyond of course).

Where is the Snow Tonight?

Sometimes, on days like this I believe that Toronto has a bubble over it. It has to be something like this for us to keep missing out on all of these Storms. Now, my friends will tell me "Shannon, we are on just the wrong side of the Lake". My response to that is, so is Oakville, Hamilton, and so on. Could we not just flip the Lake perhaps?

WHERE ARE THE SNOWSTORMS? I just want one honest to goodness snowstorm, just one and I do not think that is asking for a great deal. Do you know many times I hear from my family and friends in my hometown, wanting to inform me about their snowdays? That the storm is so bad that have had to pull the snowplows and salt trucks off the road. Does Toronto have that? Noooooooo Does Toronto truly know what a really bad snowstorm is? Not really! In Toronto, when there is a bad snowfall they call it a Storm. In Toronto, when there is a heavy continuous snowfall, they call it a snowstorm. Well City Folks, I have news for you - unless you remember the winter of 1999 then you do not know what a true snowstorm is. Actually, in 1999 it was not so much that they were snowstorms as it was just a great deal of snow in a relatively short time frame.

Now, I am not asking for the bitter cold where it gives one brain freeze in less than 60 seconds (because remember folks it needs to be a certain temperature to snow). All I am asking for is one very good blizzard.

But I am also torn when it comes to wanting a storm. For then I think about the homeless, and those who cannot afford heat. Then, I think about all the animals outdoors including domestic where people simply could not care less about their pets. The more I think about it, the more gulity I feel.

So perhaps, it is best that I do not get my wish after all.

Wrong Impressions

Not too long ago, someone told me that sometimes I come across as standoffish. I was stunned, though this is not the first time that I have been told this. The truth is that I am a painfully shy person, especially around those that I do not know very well (if at all). I have two reactions, I either will not say very much (hence where the standoffish comes into play), or I will talk excessively. Mostly, I will remain quiet, but there seems to be no middle ground for me. So now I wonder, how many of those whom we believe are unfriendly are in fact shy. It is written that first impressions count. In fact, I do not believe that this can be accurate. How can one person truly summarize someone in less than 60 seconds? What if that person is having a bad day, or is not feeling well. My belief is that until one gets to know someone then any impressions until that time are inaccurate.

Today I Am A Bug

Are you familiar at all with the expression?

Some Days You Are The
Bug
Some Days You Are The
Windshield

Well, today I am definitely a bug. Tomorrow, I will be a bug. But on Wednesday,

I AM THE WINDSHIELD!

and that is all that I am going to say :P

Coming Soon And It's About Time

It is almost complete, and what a beauty to behold...

Toronto finally, finally, (and did I say finally?) gets its very own Opera and Ballet House.

The Canadian Premiere of Wagner's 5 Rings begins this September...the Four Seaons Centre's Open House is in June, and I cannot wait.

This Centre is unlike any other in Canada, and will be among the best of the best in the world.

Every seat will have a full view of the stage, the acoustics will be exceptional, and the Ballet Performances will be intimate.

I cannot wait...

GO AVALANCHE!!!

I have been a very neglectful fan this season(for not mentioning my fav Hockey Team). But, oh how sweet it is to down the Flames 7-4!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:)

It's Over For Now

Well, it came...I voted, and it went. The Election is over for now. However, we all know that we will be back at the polls in about 2 years or less. All these weeks, of enduring Politicians making promises they have no intention of keeping. Just to get a glimpse of fleeting fame. We are basically in the same position we were 18 months ago. We have voted in a minority Government, that remains unstable. However, there are some changes...We have voted in a Government that we have no confidence in..but for some reason we thought we would take a chance on...We voted in a Government that have no real experience in governing, but wanting for some strange reason to cosy up to our neighbours to the South. In fact, repairing that relationship appears on the surface to be more important to them than our Health Care, our failing Public Transit systems just to name a few. I could truly go on for quite some time.

Let's just say that I am not satisfied with the party that we have voted in to rule our great Canada.

In fact, I am down right scared!

Here's to the next Election!

Anxiously Awaiting The Results

Well, here I am trying to find out the results of the Election. I have just discovered about an hour ago, that it is actually (now) against the law to discuss the results of the Election until 10:00 PM on a Blog(can you believe that this is the law). Yet, one can discuss the results over the phone and IM (hmmm, I cannot post it on a Blog, but I can IM everyone)...makes no sense... *confused*

So, I am scared...truly scared about who will be our next Leader ...and I have a feeling that whomever it is...we will be once again heading to the polls in the not too far future...

One of My Favourite Sites

It is now 2:30 in the morning, and I am not able to sleep. Even, though I have been trying since Midnight.

So far I have skimmed the latest "National Geographic", read some passages from 2 different books, tossed and turned countless times, and listened to the radio...all done to no avail...

Thus, I am currently surfing one of my favourite sites....and hoping that one day...they have a Canadian version.

I have managed to find a few items that they sell, here in Canada...but alas if only...

This site is an absolute delight for those of use who love to read, and who love books...

http://www.levenger.com

My wishlist for this site is huge, and continues to grow...perhaps it is best that it is an American site...

Alas, I am going back to bed...and toss and turn and toss some more...

Good Night

What Does Your Birthdate Mean?

You're a restless rebel with an unpredictable nature.Bright but unbridled, you tend to seek out wild experiences over new ideas.People are frustrated by your great potential, but you love your unconventional life.You're a heartbreaker. People get attached to you, and then you're gone.
Your strength: Your thirst for adventure
Your weakness: Not taking time for slow pleasures
Your power color: Hot pink
Your power symbol: Figure eight
Your power month: March

Enough Already!

I am going to probably be raked over the coals for this one. But, my belief in the goodwill of the Canadian Politician (and intelligence mind you) is failing by the minute. This is from me, someone whom has both loved and followed politics all of my life. Someone who feels very strongly about what we have accomplished in this Nation. Our history is what defines us, and our beliefs are what keeps us strong. However, our political parties are a mess right now and to be completely honest I would much rather vote for Snoopy (and yes, I know he is American). We have Paul Martin who seemed to be such a strong voice in Parliment until he butted heads with Jean. We will never know the true story, but it seems to have taken it's toll on him in a matter of months. We have Stephen Harper who does not know what he stands for, and who through the previous tough times in this country disappeared from view. Yet, he resurfaces when there is a chance that his party will win (And Stephen, your party is this strong because we are simply fed up with corruption and this has nothing to do with who you are because trust me, if we were voting based on character, you would not even be on the ballot). You can call it conservative all you like, but your beliefs are that of the reform party. Sometimes, I believe Stephen forgets he is from Ontario and not the west. Then, we come to Jack Layton - the man who is responsible for this mess....he is the one that agreed to bring down the Liberals and stated that they were not good for Canada....well, now he has completely flipped the other way and is trying to bring down what the Polls say will be a Conservative Minority....Jack, you cannot have it both ways. You obviously do not know what to stand behind, and you do not stand up to your own ideas...but flop every which way depending on where you see the most votes...that does not make a great Leader...

Oh, and to address all those various polls that the media keep pushing down our throats...remember they are only accurate based on the question...in otherwords, they mean nothing! Remember, the polls in the US declared Al Gore the winner in George Bush's first term...but that is another story altogether...

If the Conservatives are attempting to make believe that they are the former PC Conservative party and are using that reputation to base their campaign on...Should we remind Stephen of the history of the Mulroney Legacy....he brought in GST....he brought in Free Trade which has resulted in most of our goods no longer being made in Canada...even Roots no longer makes and produces all of their goods in Canada...the Taxpayers paid for the furnishing of Sussex House, and I could go on...but you get the idea...

Now on Monday, I will do my duty as a Canadian and vote but I do not have confidence in any of the current Leaders of any party at this time. How sad...

Site Trackers

In the past few days, I have discovered that apparently I am located somewhere in the States; at least when it comes to viewing Blogs. For those of you who use site tracking software, when I am on your site it will show me as a visitor from America. I know why it shows up that way, and I am wondering how truly accurate those tracking sites are.

Just a little tidbit for those whom do not realise I read your Blogs, or perhaps I have stopped.

I just want you to know I still read, and enjoy them faithfully! :)

I Think I Have Finally Found An Apt

I think that I have finally found an apartment where I want to live. Today, I went to see it and, it is in a great location. Everything (except work) is within walking distance. If I only was a coffee and tea drinker...the neighbourhood is certainly a mecca for those that do drink the stuff.
I have a cooking school just literally down the street (and for all of those whom truly know me very well, know that I am not a great cook...in fact, I am a really bad one). However, I love to bake (again, not great at it but better at baking than cooking). And...with a cooking school down the street...I have hope :)
I love the apt building, and it even has a Media Room with a Big Screen Projection TV that I can book for friends night...just imagine the movies..!
A library, 24 laundry room, indoor swimming pool on the top floor, and much more... Now, the only thing that I question is why would an apt building build their pool on the top floor? What happens if the thing started to leak? Would it not be easier to build the pool in the strongest part of the building (the basement)? Perhaps, I am just over thinking this. Actually, I woud say that one of my greatest flaws and strenghts is being analytical. The flaw is...I am over-analytical, and that is where my weakness comes into play. I always over -think things, and always have. I take something ... break it down into all different sections, analyse every one, and put it back together. I am the one whom always reads the manual even before I take something out of the box. One of my goals this year, is to learn how to break it into different sections, and put it back together (without inspecting every little space)...

So getting back to the apt...I will decide at the end of this week, but I think I have found my new home!

A new beginning.....

Global Warming....Is it real or fabrication?

Over the past several years, I have been reading about the Climate Change and the Global Warming effect. I am a true skeptic at heart, and tend to research things before I believe in them. Since the Global Warming theory first gained international support in 1988, there has been so much media on this, including several published articles in renowned science journals that I took it as fact (for the most part). Yet, in the back of my mind, I have always remembered an article written in National Geographic (before the world {general population} knew of Global Warming) that stated another Ice Age is coming.
The question is what do we believe, and how much influence does money have on the Science World, and what it reports.

We know that the temperature in the Antarctica is cooling (yes, even though one section of the Larsen B ice shelf collapsed - yet the other sections are increasing in size) . We know that Hansen's theory (yes, Folks - Global Warming is only a theory) that he reported in 1988 has some serious flaws.

We know that several respected scientists dispute the fact that Global Warming exists, and that it is generally the media and the public that has pushed it to the foreground.

So where does this all lead us to? Can we completely dispute "Global Warming", no we cannot. However, we cannot accept is as fact either.

In this day and age, the unfortunate side of growth and change is that money now rules the world.

In today's world, the bottom line counts. We have allowed bean counters to rule our companies and make decisions based soley on figures. What looks good on paper, does not look good in the real world. Yet, we do not have the courage to change this.

As a result, areas that are essential to knowledge, change, and technology are starving for funds. This allows those with money to influence what information is released based on the grants that one receives. It may be a paragraph, it may be a chapter, but we do know that money talks and has too much influence over the world today. It is now not what is best for man, but what is best for the pocketbook of Companies.

So for now Global Warming is still pushed to the forefront, but you can be certain that the next article that I read - first I will look at who has the most to gain before I accept it as truth...

No Freezing Rain

Tonight, is just a quick post to say how thrilled I am that we did not receive any freezing rain. As much as I love winter, freezing rain and I do not mix well together. It is so mild out that one would think it was Spring, instead of the first week of January.

It is absolutely beautiful out, and one can hear the crunch of the snow under foot. Although, it is not that "crisp crunch" that one encounters on a clear and cold winters' night... I am happy with any "crunch" at this point....to not hear the slip sliding sound of my feet giving way to the hard unforgiving ice.

Happy 2006 To All!

I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! Can you believe that we are now entering the latter half of the decade. I am still trying to come to terms that we are in the 21st Century.

I have severely neglected my Blog for a couple of weeks now. The Holiday Season went by fast, and it is hard to believe that it is over for another year. Now, with quiet times upon us my poor Blog will cease to be ignored by moi.

I have now seen "King Kong" twice in two days. I am still not disappointed, and will go so far to say as this is definitely the best version of the movie that exists today. Although, Peter Jackson must have a fascination with creepy crawlers (it was a bit overdone in the movie), it was a more thoughtful movie than the previous versions. I could truly go one about my love of "King Kong" but I will probably end up describing "spoiler scenes" to make a point (I do not want to give anything away). Last night, I watched the 1933 original and I made comparisons to this version. The movie was a true feat during it's time but unfortunately the script does not hold up well to time.

Enough of that subject, what I am really excited about is the "Ferrari" (yes that is right friends, a Ferrari") that will be in the "Miami Vice" movie. To those who know me well enough, this will be a great shock as my dislike for Ferrari is intense. However, how can anyone not love the"Ferrari F430 Spider" what a rush at 490 @ 8500 RPM. It looks great in the trailer for the movie. I am glad that they are remaining true to the originial series (yes even though the Daytona Spyder used in the original series was a replica). But, with Michael Mann at the head of this movie project, how can they fail. Countdown to the movie has begun!

Out of Title Ideas

Today, I am at a complete loss of what to title should be labelled. Should I just call it busy, and how we are now into our busiest season at work...(one of the few depts at the Company where I work that is). Hence, I have had almost no time to update my Blog (less alone do my Christmas Shopping). This year, I am afraid my family is going to be receiving their presents after Christmas (how truly horrible am I to ship off my gifts) in time for them to have them the week after Christmas. I can assure myself and my family, that next year I will be shopping throughout the year and will have my shopping complete before the first of December.

Now my second issue is with my ISP. I have not been able to use their software for approximately 5 days now. A few weeks ago, I upgraded to their new Security release and since then - when I attempt to VPN/Remote Desktop into my work desktop, it shuts me down and kicks me completely out. It appears as if something recognises that the port is open (and it takes it approximately 30-90 seconds to recognise this) and I get tossed off not only remote desktop, but VPN and my ISP as well. I was going to work on the issue myself, but quite frankly I have not had the time. Therefore, after confirming that this was not work related I contacted my ISP. God help me, I should have worked on resolving the issue myself. I have now gone from VPN issues to not being able to use/upgrade/reinstall my ISP software (what was I thinking contacted their Tech Support). I have spoken with 3 Tech Support Helpdesks in all different parts of the world (for a total of 7.5 hrs), and I am now even worse off than the original issue. The worse is that I pay $48 and change (per month) for this service (on top of the rest) and I cannot use it. Today, I am writing to my ISP (well, E-mailing them) and I am not fully paying for this service until it is resolved.
The Tech Support Analysts are either reading scripts or manuals (not sure that they are even computer techs), and they have no thoughts as to what the root cause is. The last one told me that because I know what I am doing with Computers, that is was up to me to fix it. After I confirmed with them, that I heard correctly I was too stunned to protest. I am now using a direct connection to my ISP in order to be on the Net, and my VPN/Remote Desktop works. My connection is definitely slower, but my frustration grows by the day.

And that is my rant of the day. :(

The Last of My Blog Tag Posts

Blog Tag Post Final #4
The last of my Blog Tags

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:

1. Share my good fortune with family and friends


2. Purchase land right on the Ocean in NS and build my log home. Design it myself, and have it so that when I wake up in the morning, the first thing I see is the ocean.


3. Give money to Animal Shelters/Humane Societies and the Canadian Cancer Society


4. Go back to school full time


5. Invest the rest because what does a Million dollars buy you these days?

Five things you like doing (no particular order):

1. Going for long walks in the snow


2. Going to the Theatre


3. Going for long walks along the beach


4. Reading


5. Museums

Five things you would never wear again:

1. Legwarmers – Had enough the first go round


2. Bubble Skirts – What we were thinking?


3. A Papa Smurf Costume in a Christmas Parade – have you even been chased by a group of kids all wanting to meet you (Intimidating)


4. Perms – I look like a poodle


5. Light Jackets in the Winter – Now I just want to be warm

Five favorite toys (no particular order):

1. Trivia Games


2. Stuffed Animals


3. “Clue” the Board Game


4. Card Games


5. Science and Exploration

Games Night

Games Night was a blast, and I learned that I have absolutely no acting skills (Thanks Hoopla). It was a great evening, and everyone was so wonderful about teaching me how to play the various games. I have to give a big thank you to Taras for picking me up. :)
As well, thank you to our host Chris, who I now fully believe is the real life MacGyver. I also finally got to see the famous "Garland"!

I just wish I did a better job of avoiding all the cameras, as I truly hate having my picture taken.

Thank you to everyone who was there for such a perfect evening! :)