Mountain Nomad Chronicles

Yesterday

Boy, I feel prolific today, third post. 

Yesterday was a good day.  We recently bought a new phone with lots of swanky features and it made tuning into church services over the telephone from our congregation in Whitehorse alot more listenable.  After lunch, my wife and daughter had a Girl Guide thing and my son and I went along to hang out in town.  We went for a walk in -35 C sunshine trying to find the remnants of a tunnel we dug a few weeks ago.  Then we watched some hockey games at the arena and played 20 Questions while we wondered what could keep a group of females so long.  T and I finished off the day watching  Grey's Anatomy.  Really funny, edgy and extremely well written show.  Just before I went to bed, I checked in on my friend's blog and read something that I thought was magical.  Follow the link.

Link: Remembered Regret [via showerinthedark]

y=-2.63x + 0.09x - 25

I took Math 11 twice in high school.  The first time I took it, I just eeked out a pass, so I took it again the following year to improve my GPA for college.  I had the same teacher both times and I can't remember his name.  Mr. S-something...he told fishing stories.  Generally a nice guy, but the kind of math teacher that would do an example on the board at the beginning of class and then sit in his desk the rest of the period.  He would help you out if you needed it, but you went to him, not vice-versa.  I think he was a little depressed.  Anyway, I had this thing for a friend of mine that was in the class the second time around and was probably another reason I retook it.   I sat in front of her as I remember.  I should have sat beside her, now looking back on the situation - I wouldn't have got in as much trouble for talking to her that way.  We were good friends...had been since the previous year, but I really dugg her.  How many individuals can one person be head over heels for at one time.  I set some records back then for sure.  I might have had a chance with her for a window of a few weeks but I was clueless and without the adequate skills to make anything "blossom".   It worked out for the best.  We both now happy in our own thirty-something wedded bliss.   We still talk once and awhile.  And she still calls me by the same name her and her friends used for me in high school - Griffin or Grif.  Funny it still feels good to be called that.  Although, I wish I knew what was behind that name.  It's been 13 years.  Shoot.

I'm going back to technical school next year and a 13 year-old Math 11 "B" is too old to count for anything, so I'm preparing for an assessment of my long forgotten number skills.  I spent the whole day today relearning algae, twig, and other spawns of the underworld.  I'm going to be at it for awhile. If I were a cursing man, I'd be cursing.

Dishes and podcasts brought my stress level down thankfully, especially when I heard the tunes of a new singer-songwriter out of Nashville by the name of Kate York on Paste Magazine's Culture Club.  Listen to this gem called All Dressed in You.  Reminds me abit of Edie Brickell.

New additions to my podcasting list.

I don't know how many of you listen to podcasts on your computers or Mp3 players, but here's a few more that I am listening to and would recommend checking out. 

• The Prosperity Show   - tips and techniques for improving your relationship with money.  It has some good tips, alot like Suze Orman's stuff
• Paste Culture Club -weekly indie music, film, culture show from my favorite music magazine.  Lots of good tunes, interviews and reviews.
• Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me -weekly radio trivia show that covers current events.  Very funny, but US-centric.
• To The Best of Our Knowledge - audio documentaries and interviews on interesting topics.

Follow the links to the shows' websites or search for the shows in iTunes Music Store.

Winter seems endless

I've was subbing at a local elementary school today. Walking into the building with another employee, she commented, "Boy I love these bright spring days!" Huh???  I look around and I see the same snow and ice that I have seen since October and the mercury shows -15 C.  It's not getting warmer.  The temperatures continue to bounce between -35 and -5, like it has since November.  The school spring break begins in a week and half.  Spring Break???  Please winter go away.  I want the snow to melt, the roads to clear, and I want no reason to wear down coats.  They call you a "sourdough" when you have survived a winter in the far north...based on my mood, I now get it.  The emphasis is on "sour".

Lilliputians Invade the Kitchen

Oh, this is awesome.  The photography of culinary photographers Akiko Ida And Pierre Javelle is priceless. 

Link: Akiko Ida And Pierre Javelle

I'm OK, just a little sore....

I got shot by the vice-president of the United States...you may have heard it was someone else, but that was a cover-up.  The story just broke.  Check it out!

Link: Cheney shoots Duncan

PostSecret: Valentine B-Sides

Months ago, my friend turned me onto this amazing blog.  The idea behind it is for completely anonymous people to decorate a postcard and portray a secret that they have never before revealed.  I know some of my readers may not appreciate reading some of the entries normally posted, but today's Valentine's theme is excellent and I feel ok about recommending it.  After this week, you never know what secrets will be revealed, no angry emails to me. 

Link: PostSecret

Blogging Firefox Extension - Performancing

I believe that everyone should be using Firefox as their browser, but if you're a blogger and need another reason to make the switch, here's one.  Performancing is a Firefox extension that allows quick, full capacity blog posting from anywhere you may roam on the net.  Once installed, you fill in all our blogging information (what service you use, username,etc) then it just sits as a little icon in the lower right corner of the browser.  Click on it anytime and a pane pops up that lets you fully compose and post to your blog.

Link: Performancing Extension

Security Now: How the Internet Works Pt. 1

Leo Laporte and Steve Gibson discuss from the ground up how the Internet works.  This is part 1 of an excellent podcast series that everyone that uses the net should listen to.  It is also a good primer before listening to other Security Now podcasts.

Link: How the Internet Works Pt.1 [Via thisweekintech.com]

Buy Vintage Glasses Online

I wear glasses that look vintage but are not.  I tend towards the black plastic frames that harkens back to mid-century designs.  They are cheaper, sturdy, and I like how they look.  Here's a place where you can pick up true vintage frames and they are unused (dead stock?).

Link: Allyn Scura - Vintage Eyewear