I changed my mind

I do have a resolution. I resolve to be louder. I resolve to be heard. One of the problems of the environmental movements is ignorance. Most people don't understand what is happening to our precious earth. They don't understand the impact of not recycling, not conserving and not being informed. This drives me crazy. So I resolve to share with those around me what is happening to the earth and how he/she can help slow down the deterioration. It all comes down to individual action. Collectively we can make a difference.

Until I get on my feet, I am staying with my brother and his family. Unfortunately they aren't environmentally friendly so I am going to make it my first mission to get them on the right track. Albeit they live (and now I) live in Alberta, a province that refuses to bite the hand that feeds them, I believe everyone together can make a difference.

It's Resolution time! Start your engines running! (Or if you're in NE Alberta turn them off!)

Time to lay it all on the table and look ahead to the new year. What do I need to change and what can I improve in my life? Two questions that would elicit many possible answers.

Most people resolve to lose weight, save money, be nicer etcetera. I just don't know. Sure I can join the masses and choose one of the forementioned resolutions but I don't like to follow. Therefore I am going to skip the resolutions again this year.

The dumbest people I know are those who know it all.

where's the big, bad Western snow storm?

Time is beginning (for me) to quickly disappear. I have a zillion things to do before I start my new job. After I start that I need to find a place to live. I can't stay with my brother forever. We might end up killing each other.

I am still waiting for this big storm here in the West. Thus far, knock on wood, it hasn't been so bad. The snow was coming down heavily while I test drove a car. And not surprisingly it stopped as soon as I handed the keys back to the dealer. The salesman annoyed me too much to even consider buying a car from him. Tomorrow I am off to look at more models.

My new wheels:Yey or Nay?

As you know I need a car for my new job. I am narrowing down the models. This truck is on my shortlist. What do you think?

Year in Review Part #5

A

Awesome and Aadventurous is how I would describe this year. In 12 months, I have been to Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Hong Kong, South Korea, North Korea(DMZ), Vietnam and India.

B

I have read so many Books and it's difficult to mention a favorite. I'm staying with my Brother for abit until I get my own place. Boy some days, I miss Busan, my home for three years.

C

I was so happy to be back in Canada and the nation's Capital after four years.

D

In Nova Scotia, I visited with my cousins Denise and Dewayne and my aunt Debbie.

E

I was very careful of Everything that I choose to Eatwhether it was in Korea or India. For the record, I did not Eat dog or cat while in Asia.

F

I left behind my wonderful Friends in Korea in February.

Year in Review Part #4

G

Great is how I felt after returning to football this summer in Ottawa. All my friends' kids have Grown. Grand Prairie is where I have been for a month. I bathed in the dirty holy river of Ganges in India.

H

Both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh were Hectic cities that I visited in Vietnam while Historical Hoian was laid back. It rained the week or so that I was in Hong Kong.

I

I am just happy to be. I know I am fortunate to have experienced the many things I did this past year.

J

In January I took my second black belt test. I couldn't Jump very high because of my torn ligament.

K

All the Kids I taught cried when I left. (ha ha)Everyone I worked with over the years were very Kind.

Year in Review Part #3

L

Lazy is how I have been feeling since I returned to Canada. But I know my brain and my body needed to Lounge for a bit to get my mind straight.

M

Mercy is what I felt for all those beggars that I saw in India and Vietnam this year. Married is what Many of my friends did while I was away.

N

Never again will I fly with many layovers. I was in Nova Scotia for three weeks. Despite the rain I had a really good visit with family and friends.

O

Only the strong survive. I was happy to watch my beloved Oilers play hockey once more. Now if Only they could pick up their game.

P

I met and reconnected with many fabulous People in the past year.

Q

Sometimes I wish the world would be quiet and still.

Year in Review Part #2

R

Relief is what I felt when I survived a long long train ride in India. Rajasthan was the state I spent most of my time in India.

S

I hadn't seen Sonalee (my old roomie in Toronto) in Several years so it was so nice to spent some time with her and her family in Mumbai.

T

I was Told I had to be Tough to Travel in India alone. Now that I am back I don't think that's the word for it. I think it starts with the letter C.

U

Hmm U. I'll have to come back to this one.

V

I spent six weeks in Vietnam. I started in Ho Chi Minh and finished in the capital city of Hanoi. Victorous is what I felt when I survived an overnight train ride in Jaipur, India.

Year in Review Part #1

Most media outlets have started their year in review and look to the new year. All the highlighting stories of the year are being recounted and predictions for 2008 are in full force. It's a fun walk down memory lane for those who care.

Anyway I thought I would do something similar here on my blog. Starting alphabetically but backwards I am going to recount some of my memories of the past year or whatever I can think of that starts with that letter. Today I give you the letter W through to Z.

W

Wow, What a year. I was in Vietnam for roughly six Weeks after Korea. Think Vietnam War. Wondrous Halong Bay. Weird side dishes and snacks. Wacko motorcycle drivers.

X

In February, I was eXtremely eXcited to finish my last month teaching in Busan. I was eXhausted because of all the last minute packing. In fact, the night before I left for Ho Chi Minh, I got a tad bit intoXicated with Julie and John.

Y

Okay the letter Y. Much better. In January, I was Yearning to get the hell out of Korea and start travelling. I was Yawning through most of my classes because I could barely keep my eyes open. I found it difficult to teach with only a few hours of sleep.

Z

Hmm not a good start. I can't think of anything that happened to me in the past year that starts with the letter zed.

Shocking but not surprising event

I am thankful that I was born in a democracy and I continue to live here today. I am saddened by the assassination of former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto in a suicide attack. This was the second attempt (and successful one) since returning to Pakistan after eight years in exile. How sad. I hope there's some way that peace and democracy will find its way to that region. I hope her death doesn't cause too many repercussions and chaos.

A picture is worth a thousand words

I took Taylor and Kayley to the playground after lunch yesterday for a fun photo shoot. Children are such hams and they love having their pictures taken. The weather was perfect for goofing off. Earlier we took the recycling to the recycling depot and took the dogs for a work out.

Happy Christmas

Sanchez spent most of his day wrapped in Jaime's housecoat. He didn't understand all the commotion. Around midnight last night he chased a fat old man wearing a red suit up the chimney. I think the event traumatized him so he kept a low profile the whole day.

Never eat lobster. I will never eat lobster again. I don't know what I was thinking. Last night a friend of a friend of a friend brought a bunch of lobster back from Nova Scotia. My brother cooked some up for us last night. I don't usually eat fish because I am a born again vegetarian but I wanted to join in the festivities. I feel badly enough that I won't be dining on the turkey.

When your body is not used to a certain food or beverage it behaves strangely. And mine was no exception when my system shocked me awake at 3:30 am. My stomach was all weird and I couldn't get back to sleep. So I stayed up.

I read some of The Kite Runner (great book!, played Scrabble and hockey trivia online with other insomniacs, and tossed and turned. The house was still and my abrupt wakening woke no one.

Now I sit here at noon trying to calm my belly down and enjoy the day. I am going to try to take a little nap.

Weyerhaeuser what?

Jaime works as a security guard at one of Grand Prairie's largest lumber mills. I don't think I've ever been to such a factory. I was curious to see what goes on there. Unfortunately no one offered to give me a tour. I think the temperature outside stopped anyone from offering to be my tour guide.


The steam seen from miles away is supposedly just steam and is nonhazardous to the environment and people. Jaime says that these type of companies run all year long and only shut down for 14 days out of the year for general maintenance.

Kids being kids ignore the posted sign. The ice was rough but that was about it. This is the rink that's around the corner from my brother's house. I took Sadie out for look see this morning. She didn't bring her skates so we were resigned to running across the fields.

In -7 degree weather

I was surprised that I did not encounter others on my walk. The weather is finally agreeable to outdoor activity. The last few days were bitterly cold. I know I am kidding myself when I think the weather will stay close to zero. It is northern Alberta afterall.

I am delighted. I thought it was supposed to be grey and dreary here. If you look upwards, a lovely blue sky with patches of orange or red will surprise you.

The best things in life are not things.

Nothing lately impresses me. Why are people so in to their stuff? Like the new Wii or the latest cellphone. I just don't care. Does that make me nuts that I don't care about possessions? Seriously I don't. Maybe it's because I don't own a lot of junk. I am perfectly happy owning less and being more.

So many people complain about holiday madness and all the money they spend. They complain about stress and meeting expectations. A relative bragged that she wrapped 30 or more presents for her son. Her son is young enough not to remember the presents in a month or two.

I just don't get it. Why can't people be more proactive when it comes to changing what makes them so stressed and upset? Spend time with your families playing board games or simply talking. Make your holidays simplier. No one else will do it for you.

I encourage ethical gift giving. Scrap all that crap that no one wants and give to people who need. A gift that keeps on giving, for example would be making a purchase in the person's name to a poor farmer or sponsoring a child in Africa. It doesn't have to be rocket science.

On reading well

I don't know why it took me so long to read Love in the time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I am not quite finished yet but I must say the writing and story line is just brillant. After reading One Hundred Years of Solitude I should have grabbed this book up and read it immediately. I think it was the threat of more characters named Juan that detered me. (Or Sarah's mocking of the book)

Anyway it took a movie preview to make me rush out and get the book. I'm one of those sane people who prefers the book usually over the movie. I wanted to read the book before I even thought of viewing the movie. I am so glad that I did.

Strength is in unity

I met my future master for TKD today. He chatted my ear off for nearly 45 minutes. It turns out he's from Nova Scotia, has trained in South Korea and has been practicing martial arts for over 20 years.

Talking to him, I was getting excited to start training again. At the same time I am worried that I suck now. Not that I was a brillant martial artist before but taking a year off because of injury has to do some harm. I told him I would start the first week in January. I need the time to remember the poomsaes and practice my kicks.

While most of Canada endured the effects of a crippling winter storm, I spent an uneventful day in Grand Prairie. It hasn't snowed here in about a week. And I am not complaining. Though I hope everyone in Ottawa is safe and sound.

I'm meeting with one of the masters at a TKD academy in town tomorrow. Pei-ju is going to send me my black belt this week. I am looking forward to taking formal classes again. I hope I don't suck too much.

British Columba's Finest

Is it a prerequisite for owning a 4x4 truck that you must have one or more large dogs accompany you on your roadtrips? I swear every truck that passes me has at least one dog alongside his owner.

I have a story. It's not my story to tell but I will. Sorry if some of the details are fuzzy.

A Campbell River police officer ran the plates on a truck driving along some highway in British Columbia. Finding that the driver of the truck had an expired registration, the officer pulled the truck over.

The driver didn't realize his registration had run out. He explained to the officer that he just moved to the province and didn't know that his registration was expired. Apparently there was a bit of an argument where the cop called the driver a liar. Maybe the driver got a little lippy with the cop. I'm unsure of the nitty gritty.

The police officer called a tow truck to impound the vehicle. He waited in his patrol car until the truck came and then sped off leaving the driver on the side of the road. Fortunately for the driver his wheelchair was with him while he waited for a taxi to pick him up.

The driver is a paraplegic paralyzed from the waist down. I know this story because it happened yesterday to Jaime's brother (my brother's girlfriend). He called Jaime from the side of the highway where he waited for over an hour and a half for a taxi to rescue him. Understandably he was shaken as he dodged rocks being spun at him by trucks and cars whizzing by. Not to mention it was pouring rain and cold yesterday afternoon.

I couldn't believe it. How can a freaking police officer leave a person in a wheelchair on the side of a highway out in the middle of nowhere in the pouring rain? Who cares if the driver did something wrong? Or who cares if the cop didn't like the driver? You don't leave somebody in a wheelchair as a target for oncoming traffic. What if the driver didn't have a cellphone? What would have happened then? I am really pissed off and I don't even know Jaime's brother. Human decency dictates that we don't do shit like that. Merry Christmas to you Constable Sueter.

storming the pontiacs

With player names I can't pronounce (let alone spell)the Grand Prairie Storm prevailed over the Bonnyville Pontiacs 2-1 at the Canada Games Centre last night. The win edges the Storm one point ahead of the Pontiacs in the Alberta Junior Hockey League's North Division with 44 points.

I took my brother to the game. I don't think he was overly thrilled to be spending his Friday night at a hockey rink filled with squealing adolescents. But then again I could be wrong.

Unlike the 67s' games, the overwhelming majority of the fan base were young girls wearing too much makeup and young boys chasing eachother through the stands. I guess this is what kids do on Friday nights in Grand Prairie. I hope I can convince Johnny and Jaime to go to more games with me.

Twice the batteries in my Ipod have drained while I was out exploring. Twice I have forgotten to cover my ears. I am determined not to let these little inconveniences deter me from enjoying my time.

I am taking my brother out tonight for his birthday. We're going to see the Grand Prairie Storm junior hockey team at the Crystal Centre. I am excited to watch some Western hockey. Granted they are the Oilers but it will do.

My start date for my new job isn't set in stone. One thing I do know is that I start after the new year. I am so excited about this new adventure that I am about to go on. I am not one hundred percent excited about living this far north but it won't kill me. At least I hope it won't.

Snowy Sadie Slides

Sadie is taking a little stroll across the path near my brother's house. Isn't she a gorgeous pup? She loves rolling around in the snow. Jaime and I took both dogs out for a good walk this afternoon. The weather has been awesome these last few days. It makes me wonder whether last week was just a bad dream.

Mind the gap

Although Ontario and Alberta are two provinces in the same country, they are worlds apart. I didn't really grasp this until I spent some time in Northwestern Alberta.

I knew I was not in Kansas anymore when I was pressed to spot a car amongst the monstrous vehicles on the road. And speaking of the roads, I don't think they heard of snow ploughs in this town. That's small town living for you all right. I am trying really hard to keep an open mind about this town. Country folk often get their panties in a bunch when city folk tell them how things should be done.

sign of the times

Funny, I don't think there's any need for starving in this city. There are Help Wanted signs everywhere. A cashier at Tim Hortons makes $14 an hour. The same goes for any other service job. No wonder the service is so bad here. Owners will hire just about anyone to fill in the gap.

I went to the Salvation Army yesterday to use the facilities. When you have to go, you have to go! It was around lunch time and volunteers were serving lunch. This made me think that I should start volunteering again. Since I have the time before I start working again, I'll spend a few hours a day helping out.

challenging the norm

Beer and liquor stores rival Tim Hortons in ubiquity and multitude in FSJ. It's a good thing too because there's not much going on in this "Energetic City". Drinking alcohol or coffee is a great way to pass an afternoon. If this doesn't pique your interest, why not go down to your local Costco where you are bound to be approached by a middle aged woman selling pot. (A true story)

I spent four days hanging out with Denise and family in FSJ. We sat around and chatted about old times. On my last night there Denise and I learned the Soulja Boy dance.

all along highway 43

Jaime's dad drove me to Fort Saint John. Along the way I tried to take some pictures while sticking my head out the window. Fortunately I didn't drop my camera but I did have many blurry shots. Another plus for digital.

into the wild wild west

All around me are trees and snow and some more trees and snow. I've left Grand Prairie nothing and arrived in Fort St. John. For the last week or so I have been hanging out with my brother Johnny and his family in northwestern Alberta. The day after I arrived, I had a job interview at the local paper. Then yesterday I had a phone interview at the paper here in FSJ. I'll have a second interview in the next day or so.

I am been slack in updating my blog. My laptop was giving me some problems so I just let it be at the shop. Now I am back online and ready to blog away with my thoughts and photos. I am positive that Denise and Josh will keep me on my toes.