April 7th.

Paul via: Cyber Chocolate has intro'd me to a Wikipedia birthday meme ..

Rules: Look up the date of your birthday in Wikipedia. From the date page, pick three interesting historical events that occurred on that date, two births, and one death. (I did 4/3/2 because I wanted to show Norton/Jordon and Armstrong)

February 17 1963

Here's what happened:
1500 - Battle of Hemmingstedt.
1864 - American Civil War: CSS H. L. Hunley is the first submarine to engage and sink a warship, the USS Housatonic.
1979 - The Sino-Vietnamese War begins.
1996 - In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, world champion Garry Kasparov beats the Deep Blue supercomputer in a chess match.

Here's who was born:
1912 - Andre Norton, American author (d. 2005)
1963 - Michael Jordan, American basketball player
1972 - Billie Joe Armstrong, American singer and musician (Green Day)

And here's who died:
1909 - Geronimo, Apache leader (b. 1829)
1919 - Wilfrid Laurier, seventh Prime Minister of Canada (b. 1841)

The Movie Of Your Life Is A Cult Classic

Quirky, offbeat, and even a little campy - your life appeals to a select few. But if someone's obsessed with you, look out! Your fans are downright freaky. Your best movie matches: Office Space, Showgirls, The Big Lebowski

If Your Life Was a Movie, What Genre Would It Be?

Thanks Staci

As seen on Wimp.com Isn't this sad.

Just had a few doctors appointments, more things to make me a loser.

I have now a perscription for Progressive Lenses, it's a nice way of saying bifocals and my family doctor wants me to look into getting Orthpedic shoes. Hey maybe I not a loser, I'm just getting old.

March 31st.

Your Birthdate: February 17

You tend to find yourself lucky - both in business and in life. And while being wealthy is nice, you enjoy sharing your abundance with others. You put your luck to good use: you are very ambitious and goal oriented. Often times, you get over excited and take on more than you can manage. Your strength: Your ability to make your own luck Your weakness: Thinking you can do it all Your power color: Bronze Your power symbol: Half Moon Your power month: August

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Thanks to Emma for this.

March 28 th.

Well, I haven’t written very much lately because life has been very busy. In my last post I mentioned we had a very good two week vacation in Florida. Miss Jay replied to that with... “How can you be sick of amusement parks?”

Easy … we did 8 amusement parks in 8 days, with 4 days set aside for driving.

Day One = Disney - Magic Kingdom, 9am to 11pm
Day Two = Disney - Animal Kingdom 9 am to 7 pm
Day Three = Disney – Epcot 9 am to 6 pm
Day Four = Universal 9 am to 9 pm
Day Five = Discovery Cove 9 am to 5 pm
Day Six = Busch Gardens 9:30 am to 8:30 pm (include one hour drive to Tampa and back)
Day Seven = Disney MGM 9 am to 7 pm
Day Eight = Gatorland 10 am to 12:30 pm

Plus we had access to the rides at Kissimmee Old-Town at no charge, we did a Time Share presentation, so the kids (or at least middle youngest and Wife, eldest didn’t think they were cool) went on those rides most nights that we were home early.

Hey I’m not saying I didn’t have fun, we had a great time. It’s just that I am sick of crowds, lines, and noise. The rides were awesome.

If fact if you go, here are a list of must do rides.
Magic Kingdom => Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain
Animal Kingdom => Expedition Everest, Kali River Rapids,
Epcot => Soarin’ and Mission:Space
Disney MGM => Rock 'n' Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Universal => Jaws, Revenge of the Mummy
Busch Gardens => Gwazi, SheiKra, and Congo River Rapids.

But rides weren’t the only thing we did... all the parks have some really good thrill shows and 3D shows. Disney MGM’s Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Lights, Motors, Action!™ Extreme Stunt Show and Muppet Vision 3D or Disney Animal Kingdoms It's Tough to Be a Bug are well worth the lines and are a lot of fun, but use the fast passes that Disney offers for free.

If you plan a trip, spend the money and do a day at Discovery Cove. Large salt water pool were you swim with fish, a really large fresh water wading pool which is kept at 85 F (we never got middle out of that pool, she wouldn’t even get out to swim with the Dolphin), another pool where you can walk around and pet the rays, and finally a half hour swim with a Dolphin. They even have a aviary were you can walk through and see over 30 tropical birds that will fly down and eat off of cups in your hand. (Eldest liked this the best) On top of this, the day we went they introduced a guided horticultural walk; unfortunately having 3 kids and only 2 parents I missed out on this. You arrive at the door and the only thing you have to pay for is any souvenir or photos you want. All food, snacks and drinks are included in the price. In fact, even though we weren’t told, you can link you credit card to you pass so if you want to buy something you just have to swipe your pass. To me Discovery Cove was the best day of the trip. I had a ton of fun snorkeling in the salt water tank, kids loved it and I even got wife to snorkel with me (she doesn’t like deep water)

Gatorland was okay, you have to say that you went there when you go to Orlando. I have this great show of Eldest staring down a 13 foot gator that was swimming towards him. (he was on a enclosed walkway).

Youngest wanted to be carried all the time, Middle wanted to ride with either Mom or Dad, Eldest complained the most, he didn't want to wait in line, he was to hot, he didn't want to get wet or he just picked fights with his sisters. I did get some great shots of him when he was happy doing something. Gone was the pout, gone was the anger. I only saw the smile and joy. By the way Eldest is 14 now, as of March 24th, so yes we are in the middle of the teen years. Heaven help me.

So we’ve come home to relax from the vacation. More on life later.

March 27 th.

Well I'm back, we got to Florida and back safely .. Wife drove all the way down to Orlando .. we had a great time .. only I am sick to death of amusment parks .. go to my Flickr page, I've posted some photos .. more later

March 10 th.

Okay, its fact. I am a 43 year old loser. I just discovered because of my stupidity that my drivers license is suspended. Back in November I was in a car accident, the guy turned in front of me as I was making a left hand turn from a stop sign... so it's my fault and I was ticketed. I was going to fight it, but by the time (Jan 9th) I was able to get away from work to get to the Court house (the courts are only open from 9 am to 4pm for payments of fines or to set a court date) it was to late and the case had been sent to the crown attorney for closure and I was found guilty. I asked if I could pay the fine. No I have to wait for notification. The notification came in February, Wife had received a ticket around that time, and when I paid her ticket I had thought that I had paid mine and it passed from my mind.

Well low and behold, last night (March 9th) I got a letter notifying me that my license was suspended as of March 6th. Fuck... we are driving to Disney as of Sunday for two weeks... I have no license... it’s a $5000 fine if I'm caught driving...Fuck. I ran around this morning (as fast as the bus could take me) and paid off the fines. Then I get told, tough luck, it will take 4 business days to clear your suspension, please don't drive. Fuck... like I said I head for Orlando on Sunday.

I am officially a 43 Year Old Loser!

PS .. I will post some more photos when I get back, if Wife doesn’t kill me first.

March 2 nd.

Well, I promised some photos of Vegas and the Grand Canyon, I'm not going to load them up in the blog but I will invite you to go to my Flickr Page and take a quick look.

Vegas was incredible, but I'll never go back. I'm not a big crowd or noise person, and that is what Vegas is Crowded and Noisy. Can you beleive that I feel asleep during the Elton John show. He was talking about his song Daniel and how the video that they would show would finally explain the song .. I have no idea what the song is about because drifted off twice during it. Sad, Eltons music is awesome, the show was great but I just couldn't keep my eyes open. This shot was taken on the ground of Ceasers Palace, I couldn't get over taking a photo of a Angels Butt and a the models butt in the bill board.

The Grand Canyon was incredible .. We went to the Grand Canyon West on Hualapai land. This is a nation of about 2000 people who have been living in this area for thousands of years.

This is a photo taken at Eagle Point. Can you see why its called Eagle Point.

I stood on the edge of a 4000 foot drop, there are no fences or walls on the West rim, so if your faint of heart don't go. They fed us a great BBQ at Guano Point and allowed us about an hour to walk around. Most of the shots of the Canyon were taken here. They have tables set up with jewellery for sale I bought earings for wife, a silver necklace for each of my girls and a silver and turqoise ring for myself. Had to dicker on price, but I came away feeling that I got a deal. I picked Eldest up a really nice hoody back at the main trading post.






To get to the Grand Canyon West we had to drive on a dirt road through the Joshua Tree National Forest to get there. Ever ridden on a winding dirt road going 30 to 40 miles an hours. Wow. like I said take a look at the photos in Flickr.








I will go to Arizona again and take my kids to see the Grand Canyon, it puts the world into perspective.

We are really so small.

March 1 st.

Happy Birthday to Assorted Nonsense, or is your name CBC Workerbee or is it J M at Speculations or is it J M at radioblog. Who are you, with all your investigation (you take to many personality tests in other words) into you own self no wonder you have so many personalities.

February 28 th.

Have/did you ever...
1. Taken a picture naked? NO.
2. Painted your room? Yes
3. Kissed a member of the same sex? Yes, I miss him he died of aids.
4. Driven a car after drinking alcohol? Yes, survived some how.
5. Danced in front of your mirror? Yes.
6. Have a crush on a celebrity? Yes, Bernadette Peters
7. Been dumped? Yes
8. Stolen money from a friend? No
9. Gotten in a car with people you just met? No
10. Been in a fist fight? Yes, got the crap kicked out of me every time, I've got a glass jaw
11. Snuck out of the house as a teenager? No, didn’t have to sneak, my parents had given up by the time they reached me.
12. Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back? Yes.
13. Been arrested? No.
14. Made out with a stranger? Yes
15. Had a one night stand? Yes
16. Talked on the phone for more than two hours? Yes
17. Had a crush on your neighbor? No
18. Ditched school to do something more fun when you were a teenager? Yes, going to the Yank (the American Hotel in Barrie) in grade 11.
9. Slept in a bed with a member of the same sex? No
20. Seen someone die? No
21. Been on a plane? Yes
22. Kissed a picture? Yes
23. Slept in until 3? Yes.
24. Love someone or miss someone right now? Yes
25. Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by? Yes
26. Made a snow angel? Yes
27. Played dress up? No, not that I remember, does Halloween count?
28. Cheated while playing a game? Yes
29. Been lonely? Yes
30. Fallen asleep at work/school? Yes, both .. I used to be able to sleep under a desk.
31. Been to a night club? Yes
32. Felt an earthquake? Yes
33. Touched a snake? Yes
34. Ran a red light? Yes
35. Been suspended from school? No, was asked to leave French class and not to take it again .. does this count?
36. Had detention? Yes, to many times to count
37. Been in a car accident? Yes
38. Hated the way you look? Yes
39. Witnessed a crime? Yes
40. Pole danced? No, seen one never did one.
41. Been lost? Yes, but only in Ottawa
42. Been to the opposite side of the country: Canada, yes, but only the west, never been east.
43. Been so embarrassed that your cheeks tingled? Yes
44. Cried yourself to sleep? Yes, when first girlfriend dumped me.
46. Sang karaoke? No way, will never happen
47. Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? Yes, took wife to see Kenny G
48. Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? No, had snot come out though
49. Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes
50. Kissed in the rain? Yes
51. Sang in the shower? Yes
52. Made love in a park? No
53. Had a dream that your partner cheated? Yes, scared me to the quick
54. Glued your hand to something? Yes, crazy glue my hand to a model plane part, also my fingers together
55. Got your tongue stuck to a flag pole? Does a bridge count; in kindergarten I was dared by my friend to lick the Toronto St bridge in Bracebridge.
56. Ever walked out the door partially naked? No.
57. Been a cheerleader? No
58. Sat on a roof top? Yes
59. Didn't take a shower for a week? Yes,ever gone camping.
60. Ever too scared to watch scary movies alone? Yes
61. Played chicken? Yes, got a knife in the foot.
62. Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? Yes
63. Been told that you're hot by a complete stranger? No, never.
64. Broken a bone? Yes, if a finger counts.
65. Been easily amused? Yes
66. Laugh so hard you cry? Yes
67. Mooned/flashed someone? No
68. Cheated on a test? Yes
69. Forgotten someone's name? Yes
70. Been to a bar? Yes
71. Anyone offer to buy you a drink? No
73. Blacked out from drinking? Yes
74. Played a prank on someone? Yes
75. Been to a late night movie? Yes
76. Gone skinny dipping in the ocean? Just the bay .. can't get wife to do it though, I'm always the only one in the bay.
77. Failed a class? Yes, French see question 35
78. Choked on something? No
79. Played an instrument for more than 10 hours? No, why would you
80. Cheated on a girlfriend? Yes.
81. Did you celebrate the 4th of July? No, I'm Canadian.
82. Bought something you couldn’t afford? No, to much scottish blood.
83. Been caught doing the deed? No.
84. Felt like running away? Yes
85. Ran away? No
86. Did drugs? Yes, to many times
87. Called in sick when you weren’t? Yes
89. Made a parent cry? Yes
90. Cried over someone? Yes
91. Traded in a car that you had owned less than a year? No
92. Had the same girlfriend more than once? Yes, she was a bitch, but she could control me so easily with sex .. thank god I met Wife or I would have stuck with her.
93. Had/Have a dog? Had.
95. Own(ed) an instrument? No
96. Been in a band? No, or does sound guy/roady count?
97. Drank 25 sodas in a day? Beer yea, soda No, why would you.
98. Broken a CD? No
99. Shot a gun? Yes, M16/303/22 and a pellet gun. Was taught very early how to shoot a gun, but I also found out I’m allergic to gun powder. I get a really wicked face rash.
100. Had feelings for one of your friend’s girlfriend? Yes, but never did anything about it.

Many thanks to "a day in the life of a terrible mother" and Assorted Nonsense, but enough psychoanalyzing.
================================================================
Your results:You are the Hulk

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95%

You are a wanderer with
amazing strength.



Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...

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The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Second Level of Hell!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Very Low
Level 2 (Lustful)	Extreme
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	High
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Extreme
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very Low
Level 7 (Violent)	High
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Very High
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	High

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

February 24 th.

J.R.R. Tolkien: Lord of the Rings.
You are entertaining and imaginative, creating whole new worlds around yourself. Well loved, you have a whole league of imitators, none of which is quite as profound as you are. Stories and songs give a spark of joy in the middle of your eternal battle with the forces of evil.

Which literature classic are you?
brought to you by Quizilla by way of PLittle

February 17 th.

Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me, hey I'm Forty Three. Not a another day older, not another day younger, Shit I'm 43!

Won't be able to post much, I have to go with our company to Vegas for our users conference. I don't gamble and I don't drink. The only three things I'm doing is going to Elton John, The Grand Canyon, and I am going to try to get to Cirque du Sole "O". Other then those I'm going to be standing against a wall running a video camera trying to stay awake. Wife isn't coming with me, some one has to stay with the kids.
I'm taking the digital camera, so I'm hoping to get some great shots, I'll post them when I get home.

February 13 th.

Ramones
This is where you belong in the annals of punk history!

You probably don't realize how cool you actually are. You set the trend by not setting one. You do what you want and are surprised when other people like doing it your way. You may be simple but that's just fine. Who cares, right? you'll go down in history as the stuff of legends, though you have no idea why; as far as you knew, you were just some stupid person having some fun, right?

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 85% on wild apathy


You scored higher than 80% on pissed off


You scored higher than 29% on comically evil


You scored higher than 22% on socially aware

Link: The What classic punk band are you Test written by DrLebowski on Ok Cupid,

February 9 th.

Fuck this is not a game.. this is not right .. This young woman should be alive. This is my neighborhood, my Daughter takes gymnastics at the Northwood Community Centre, I have taken my kids swimming there, and we have been involved in city run classes and courses. I have to go there tonight for her gymnastics class.
Am I worried about myself, No, but how do you tell a six year old girl that it’s safe to go to class.
She has asked me about Chantel Dunns death. They are talking about it at school. I had to tell her thats its safe and not to be afraid, "Daddy will be with her".
Fuck you assholes for screwing around with my life .. you have killed someone for no reason and you have made little girls afraid to go out of their homes .. FUCK YOU.

February 3 rd.

I don't like the War in Iraq, or the invasion of Afghanistan I don't side with Bush and the far right (do you remember Escape from New York, could you see the Bush government turning the US into this type of state) and I really don't like to think of Canada or Canadians being involved in this.

Anyway, now that I've stated that I am against the war,(I don't want to sound naive but it hits you when you read something like this) I read a article in the Star today that is a bit of an eye opener. I'm not sure if in the US people are seeing the soldiers that are coming home, injured, crippled, I know that the media is not being allowed to view or record the coffins arriving back in the US. I know in Canada we don't, but does the media in the states cover these stories? I know that all we saw after the war started were the stories of soldiers coming home and killing their wives (titillating stories, reach large audiences). But we have not seen stories on how the injured are re-adjusting to life at home. What is happening? Is the US government creating a generation of respected hidden heroes (as long as they are out of site we don't have to think of them?). These are teenagers and twenty year old men, they are going to (hopefully) go to work in a few years and participate in our societies. How are we going to adjust to them if we don't understand how they lost a leg, an eye or a hand?

How many Canadians have been injured or died in Afghanistan, we don't see them so we don't think of their contributions, so we don't try to stop having them killed, injured or maimed. As long as it doesn't happen to us or someone we know, we seem to be okay with this.

Sad statement on western culture... Both left and right