I haven't been feeling all that well the past couple of days and, it turns out, Allyson has brought disease into our home. I have been taking it easy since Friday night in order to avoid a bought with this pesky virus.  Yet, it turned into a sunny day today and I headed outdoors for a little while with Serendipity.  We walked around the block a few times - sniffing, digging, and doing our business.  (She did the sniffing and whatnot, I was merely there as a guardian but I can't help but feel involved.)  As we made our way, barking at the odd speeding vehicle, I began to reflect on our little bundle of fur.  It is amazing that only a couple of years ago, Serendipity's future was up for grabs.  She went through three major operations within a six month period and, one of those operations, had a small chance of success.

Her recovery from her spinal surgery, hip surgery, and her spaying (sure, spaying a dog is routine these days, but after two other surgeries, it wasn't for her since she had already been sedated prior) has been nothing short of miraculous.  Each time we visited the vet, they were ultra-careful with her as they felt a small dog like her may not survive the constant sedations, operations, and general stress these kinds of things bring. 

It seems like such a long time ago.  Our major worries these days are whether or not she chews one of her less savoury bone-toy-things and leaves disgusting piles of smelly slobber on the sofa.  I suppose no matter what kinds of experiences she has, she still maintains her core essence of being a dog. 

And, now, she is attempting to bite my foot... on that note, good night.

Technorati Tags: serendipity the pug, life, health

Got to work early (again) and did a whole lot done and successfully put some designs together that I have been kicking at for a week now.  We've had a surge in work these past couple of months and I am beginning to run of of steam some days. 

So, some exciting news in that we are (cough, finally) looking for an in-house designer at Left Right Minds.  My work load has increased to the point where I need to cut myself in half and then clone my brain.  It is a good problem to have and I need to solve it very quickly.  Are you out there?  Are you interested?  Do you want me to import my brain into yours?  I have some cool skills, great knowledge-base, and you may learn a few things about how to Magic The Gathering.

Also of note, last night, we attended Susie's birthday bash and it was an excellent time.  We had some Chinese food, a little fruity tasting beer, and quiet conversation.  I say quiet because I lost my voice part way through the evening - can't believe how much noise 20 or so people can make by simply chatting.  Incredible.  Oh, and the fortune cookie was stale but it did give me two fortunes that I am unable to recall now.  I am sure I was amazing as every fortune I receive ends with "between the sheets".

And, again, happy birthday, Susie - you totally rock!

Technorati Tags: susie gardner, birthday, chinese food

About a year and a bit ago, I was driving out of downtown Vancouver and up Granville Street when I saw a flash of light.  I thought it rather odd and started looking around to see if I could determine the source.  It was then I noticed a little fuzzy distortion in the centre of my vision.  I hadn't a clue what it was but it quickly got bigger.  Starting out as a little fuzzy dot that seemed to wiggle around, it grew larger until it covered my centre of vision - distorting everything. Before it got too big, I pulled off onto 6th Avenue and parked the car because, after about five minutes I couldn't see anything clearly.  I sat back and waited for my maker to appear and take me away as, for a few moments, I thought that this "was it".  It must have been about ten or fifteen minutes until my vision was clear enough to get back on the road.  As I made my way home, I became very tired and decided a nap was in order. A week or two later, I was in the eye doctor's office and he couldn't tell me what may have caused it.  My eyes were decent and I had no history of this kind of thing happening, so, it must have been a random experience. But it happened again (actually, about once every two or three months) and I have been trying to determine what is happening.  Unfortunately, Google failed me in attempting to find the right keywords for my experience and it wasn't until the other day (well done, Digg) that I found exactly what it is.  Apparently, I have been suffering from "ocular migraines".

The term "migraine" usually brings to mind a severe type of headache. But visual disturbances with or without headache pain also can accompany migraine processes thought to be related to changes in blood flow in the brain. These visual problems associated with migraines technically are known as ophthalmic migraines, but are much more commonly (though incorrectly) called ocular migraines.

It sounds scary but is, apparently, quite harmless.  (Just wait, now that I have written this, a large alien egg will hatch in my brain and excrete itself from my skull and proceed to eat people and I will want to "start the reactor" or some such nonsense.)  Of course, I am somewhat concerned since it happens when "blood flow" is changed or something.  At last, I have some idea about why I get these nasty little episodes.  Now, what to do about them? I think I should talk to Hugh Laurie.  He always seems to know what to do. Technorati Tags: ocular migraines, house, health

I was diving into a little history this evening.  Not the history you'd find in a book but the history of my own memory.  I was writing down some experiences from my memory and trying to make sense of them all.  I just started writing away and found that my mind wandered year to year and memory to memory without much coherence.  It was great.  But, one thing I did not expect: large, blank holes in my memory.  There are times I can't think of what I was doing, where I was going, or how I was feeling.  Very strange.  I think I will get back to it and then off to bed.

It was a wet day today and it was a bit cold.  Not sure if I am happy about this change in the weather but I will manage.  Better than it being overly hot like it was this summer.  Of course, ask me the same question when it gets cold and I will wish it were hot again.

I could really use a tea.

Technorati Tags: memory, age, years, emotions

On the way to the office this morning, we stopped in at the local convenience store to grab something (thinking about it now, I don't remember what it was we picked up - how odd).  When we left the store we ran into two police officers giving out copies of the Vancouver Sun in the name of the Raise a Reader Campaign.

I handed over a few bucks and took a paper.  I thought it was worth a mention.  Here is some information on what the Raise A Reader Campaign is:

The Canwest Raise-a-Reader campaign is an award-winning national initiative designed to raise awareness, funds and resources for family literacy programs across Canada.

Since its inception in 2002, Canwest and its partner newspapers throughout the country have raised more than $10 million dollars. The Canwest Foundation ensures that every dollar donated on Raise-a-Reader Day stays in the community where it was given, to support local literacy programs.

The Canwest Raise-a-Reader program has excellent momentum and this year, on the morning of Wednesday, September 24th, newspapers in 28 communities will host Raise-a-Reader Day activities on city streets from Victoria to St. John's. Thousands of volunteers and local celebrities will exchange special Raise-a-Reader edition newspapers for donations to literacy.

More than three million Canadians have problems dealing with printed materials such as reading a map or understanding a prescription. According to the International Adult Literacy Survey, low literacy levels are linked to low employment levels and high crime rates. Helping others to improve their reading skills is an investment in our community and our future.

Through the volunteer efforts of people across Canada, Raise-a-Reader is able to provide the necessary funding and resources to family literacy programs, libraries and school libraries in the greatest need.

I love to read and I can't imagine what it would be like if I couldn't read.  It would be difficult to function in life.  I encourage you to support the campaign and pick up a paper today.

Technorati Tags: raise a reader, vancouver sun, vancouver police

Stepped out of bed this morning to find that - yes - I am once again a hunter that is mighty.  I think this was the last of the furry creatures but I still have a few holes to plug up.  I may have to replace some drywall to keep these little buggers out.  I don't like killing these little pests but, as Allyson says: "They don't have to live in my house!"

Coffee this morning is of the "fair trade" brand that escapes my memory at the moment but it is less bitter than the Starbucks brand.  I wonder if Starbucks is a fair trade kind of company?  It looks like they are not.  Too bad, really.  I think I enjoy the local coffee houses over Starbucks.  The allure of local coffee places is the home-like quality some of them have. 

I have always wanted to run a bookstore/coffee house combination - but, I think, that is more of a retirement plan.  I am only in my mid-thirties, so, I have quite a way to go before I start thinking about purchasing a Clover machine.


Oh, please - does Starbucks have any decency?  Sigh.

Technorati Tags: coffee, mice, clover equipment, starbucks

Came home after quite a long day and noticed something across the street.  It seems almost every evening, just before dusk, a couple of skate boarders meet up and use the parking lot as a place to practice.  I never would have guessed that this patch of asphalt would be a place to jump their boards (or do whatever it is that skateboarders do) as it is a plain parking area with one angled face of concrete.  I assume this is what attracts them.

In any case, I had witnessed these two people before on many occasions while out walking the pug.  One is somewhat clean cut and looks "normal".  (I am biased as to what a "skater" should look like with denim, logger shirt, and hair hanging down over one side of the face.)  The other is about the same age but with a distinct mo-hawk style that is normally green.  I seem to recall it was a different colour earlier in the summer but I don't remember what it was.

The thing about them today that put the grain of thought into my mind was that these two guys are always across the street at the same time of day.  Our area of town attracts the bare minimum of window shoppers and I am interested in how they found this parking lot as the place to go.  How is this particular bit of lot attractive to them?  I know of a couple of skateboard parks not far from our home.  I thought perhaps they are just meeting at this location and then moving on to some other place.  But, they seem to hang out at this location for quite some time and, most often, it is late into the night before they finally head off.

Maybe there is some kind of "power" that attracts them to that particular spot.  It can't be the skating.  I noticed that Stonehenge is a couple of hundred years younger than previously thought.  Why did they build Stonehenge there?  Is there a connection?  Probably not but it did give me a few moments pause today to think about it.  It doesn't feel like autumn yet but, no matter, it will soon enough.  Long live the Stonehenge skaters!

Technorati Tags: skateboards, wonder, mohawks, haircuts