Over the Rainbow Bridge

Progress Report

2008-07-08T10:59:00.000-07:00

My horizon is clearer now that the new site is up. Working on web forms for a few content areas still DBAs!!! its like they have their own work to do ...
My boat ... I still hope to get it actually in the water this summer.
Levi and I have completed his bow.
Marina bought herself a Kawi cruiser, I am very proud of her ... of course now I need a M/C as well ...
Julie's site is up and functional but she does little work from it mostly just word of mouth for custom wedding outfits and dresses.
Ken is very busy with his wall beds.
Aidan is in summer camp.
Aura wishes she was in summer camp or Italy or anywhere else ... we really need to get her a new job.
Mom and Dad are doing well and staying home for the summer.
We did our first camping trip with Aidan and he and Lizzie shared their own tent.
Ththththth-at's all Folks ... for now

the times they are a changin'

2007-12-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

A number of things on the go aws we roll into a new year:
A beautiful new life http://timeasthis.blogspot.com/ in the family,
An old project being revamped into web 2.0 http://www.brainteasersnetwork.com/ soon to be a facebook app.
A complete revision of the gvsd site more later ...
A MOSS 2007 Site (again for gvsd)
A certain little boy is starting skating, floor hockey and resuming swimming in the new year as well so I guess I'm not the only one with projects on the go.

Shh they're listening ...

2007-12-18T06:28:00.000-08:00

Family trying to keep the close ties electronically, friends who want to stay in touch despite busy lives ...

and you all link to me and I am quiet ... I should apologize but then again who are we kidding ...

We are well another new school year has gone smoothly form my point of view. No one has been expelled fired nor taken seriously ill. I have almost finished paying for the summer trip to that beautiful lake where I spent time with my beautiful cousins. Maybe I can afford it again in a couple of years.
I have begun many projects and still have the old ones gathering dust errr I mean plodding along. Friends here are learning to ask me to do small pieces of projects for them. I do better that way. "Could you make a daily brainteaser feed?" - done, "Could you make a movie distribution system for Second Life" - done. "Could you hang your clothes up in the closet?" - Now why doesn't my wife learn she keep asking that one... Oh well some people are learning how to get me to do things.
Now didn't I have a boat around here somewhere that I was working on... o0o0o wait It's my turn on Scrabble!

2007-05-25T17:29:00.000-07:00

Blogger, facebook, second life

I need a life.

Well I have cut back on my sl activities in order to figure out where I am going with things instead of wasting time with no goals. I am going to Mindsharp's SharePoint training in 2 weeks. I am learning the oddities of Gaff rigged boats and Marina (oldest daughter) and I took a quick trip down to Washington to buy a 72 Celica. I'll post pics later.
Julie is getting her website up for her clothing company and Aidan and I are watching movies. Mom and Dad come home tomorrow. Aura is fighting a cold.
That's the news, stay tuned for the weather ... sunny and warm - SWEET.
A

Home

2007-04-04T22:16:00.000-07:00

"I'm home love, just let me just shake this dirt from off my feet.
There's a lot of work left to do out there, but the kids have it in hand.
It is hard not to do it all but the kids need to manage on their own.
I've missed you, come sit and listen while I tell you what I saw."

Maybe it's like that ...

... and Windy has stormy eyes ...

2007-03-12T06:50:00.000-07:00

I'll try not to make them flash.

90km / hr but little or no damage around the island today. We saw winds like this back in November and trees were down on power lines right and left. I guess the ones that are left are staying there.
My plans are on their way, I can finish my boat :)
I am not going to bring it out this summer despite the presence of a lake. That is too far to trailer anything that isn't required! I hope we get out on the lake somehow though.
Did you know that 4l of apple juice can cost hundreds of dollars? My dear boy of 6 thought he was big enough to get the unopend apple juice out of the fridge and it seems he couldn't quite manage it and those bottle kind of burst on impact. Drip drip drip was the sound that mom wanted me to investigate. I've not experienced apple juice dripping from a ceiling before. An odd odour which as said ceiling is that fibrous tile will no doubt continue and improve over time.
I guess this means more renos! out with the icky tile and in with nice new gyproc.
A

April Showers - Early

2007-03-11T14:26:00.000-07:00

Rain rain go away ...
Being home sick for 2 days and the sun is out the whole time. Wekkend rolls around I start to venture out and am feeling marginally human ... it rains and rains and rains and well you know it rains some more.
I do prefer rain to snow as a general state of precipitation. I like that it runs off my stuff and soaks into the soils or drains away. i prefe it in the tropics like when I was in Fiji and suddenly the heavens let loose buckets of water so thick and heavy you wonder if you need scub gear and then ... just as suddenly it is over and everything is steamy and humid like a greenhouse. A daily ratio of maybe 5% rain and 70% sun with about 25% night would do me fine.

Not that I'm complaining ( I'm complaining)

but I love my house ... it doesn't leak and the basement doesn't flood.

I'm sure that if it was sunny I'd still come up with another reason to stay inside and play on the computer anyway. It's what I do after all.
A

Renos

2007-01-14T09:02:00.000-08:00

Now that the company is gone I thought "Hey lets rip things up and scastter things throughout the house on evey available surface!" Actually word to the wise ... try not to do renovations in in both bathrooms at the same time if you only have two in the house. Mom and Dad have a fan in their bathroom now and the laundry room is sporting a new drywall ceiling instead of the tiles that it had previously.
The vent for the upstaris bathroom appears to have been the source of the moisture in the ceiling there however opening the ceiling up to explore revealed the (still live wiring) sockets of recessed lights that had been drywalled over. Since it appears that the only reason for the low ceiling in the bathroom was to allow the lights to be recessed we will remove the whole ceiling and put in a new one at the correct height.
Aura is getting rid of the pink walls in the living room too and that makes her happy!

and it happens again ...

2007-01-11T20:11:00.000-08:00

It snowed. However I refuse to sully this location with spurious tales of white fluffy stuff and instead as you can see we had a green and wet christmas. Eric and Erica Liam and Haaken came till the 29th then as they left Marina, Vlad, Leif and Levi came with a side order of Dakota for Dinner on the 30th. I haven't seen him since he was 11 I think, Aura and Aidan never had. As they all left on the 31 Julie, Ken and Silvan arrived. As often as we can manage to talk them into it we con Julie into being "free" for the night on her birthday by having her leave Silvan with us. We have the best New years whenever she can join us!
Work is back to usual ... I try to create new things to keep my bosses happy and busy with so that they let me play online and code. Coincidentally that is actually what they pay me for so I guess it is all good. Today I made a web form for adding weather alerts to the main page of the SD site. I then began working on a mail based system to supplement the web form as we all know how much administrators enjoy their blackberries.
Things are working so far I may be done both tomorrow though it is a short day as I start my new program with a personal trainer in the afternoon. It is not a New Years resolution it is just resignation that I am not going to survive as long as my genetics say I should unless I change my health.
A

well it had to happen

2006-11-27T18:16:00.000-08:00

Bragging, revelling and feeling secure in my little bit of island paradise ...
It snows!
and Snows
and no one ploughs the road and the busses can't go up the hills and the power goes out.
We have power again only 7 hours. woodstove and fireplace worked exceedingly well as backup heat sources. the new grocery is open so an easy walk to get supplies.
Still kind of annoying to have a remonder that home is not perfect. Of course it is not raining now ...

Torn between two ... no three ...Avatars

2006-10-23T08:34:00.000-07:00

When you are making up a world it is hard to decide what to do when you are making up yourself it is hard to decide what to be.

The first option I am leaning towards is a chaotic Dark elf called a Drow. As seen in the picture here I enjoy playing with this character in SL but to be true to the lore of this race is to be chaotic maybe chaotic good at best and >90% are chaotic evil or evil. That doesn't really matter but ... I have it on my brain and so it detracts a little from my own imaginings plus there is a whole new language to learn which is cool but ... even more emgrossing than SL alone.
Of course Mirth is not a very Drow name, but maybe I could claim relation to Drizzt Do'Urden who is a chaotic good Drow who came to the surface to live ...

then there's choice number 2 ....

all over but the waiting

2006-10-20T01:43:00.000-07:00

Aidan's surgery went well and he wasn't the only patient upset in the recovery room. His biggest complaints were 1) the IV and 2) "I can't talk anymore" The cutting of the tongue-tied tendon(?) necessitated freezing and so between the freezing and the increase in mobility he is having more problems forming word than before.
I was very concerned and kept having flashbacks to his cleft palate repair at age 9 months which was one of the most traumatic things that I have gone through.
We all survived this one and the boy is watching as much TV and as many movies as he feels up to for the next week.
Tonight however I am still calming down and besides he has stolen my bed ... Aura thinks it will be easier that way to give him his pain medicine every 4 hours.
vanya sulie il' er

Hospital

2006-10-18T18:05:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow Aidan goes into the hospital for a Tonsillectomy pray for us all and the doctors. It is pretty routine but hospitals and operations are iffy in my mind at least.

Sleeping tonight will not be easy!

A

2006-10-17T22:23:00.000-07:00

A good year for the roses It is amazing how things can change. The season is definitely not summer now. Rain tomorrow and forever after ... (well that's how it feels!) The dog is less puppy already even at 11 weeks and my wife doesn't mind Elvis Costello ever since he married her classmate Diana Krall.
Our gardens are waiting to be put to bed for the winter and there are 2 bags of bulbs to bury before the frost in hmmm when do we get frost here ... february?

sigh

That would be nice.

Well off to bed now, a couple of projects done. I set up a new NAS Netwoprk Attached Storage at home using freeNAS fast, easy, good! It only has about 20GB of drive space but I have a 250GB coming in and then I'll be happy. I have also added a DVD writer and backed up all of Aura's photos - 4 dvds full now. Only one to get all our documents :) Now I feel a little more secure about our data at home.

puppies and projects

2006-10-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

Over all I am now admitting to being caught in the undertow.

Puppy:
I am not sure that I am giving the puppy or the boy the right guidance as I want them to play and they are but ... I am uncomfortable with the game of chase that they both enjoy.

Projects:
I am trying to learn new technology (Vista, php, sql, CAML, Infopath, Sharepoint, LSL ...)I am trying to build a boat. I am trying to paint some walls. I am building a NAS with FreeNAS (up and running - waiting on a big drive to actually use it!) I am fixing cars Bikes and trucks. and I am building a new desk.

Mostly I am thinking of all of these things and hiding in a small dark hole.
A

Connecting with Life

2006-10-15T11:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday SL was down due to a bug /exploit for half the day and it made me think ...

How often do we sit waiting to connect ot RL (that would be ummm www.getreal.now I think. I've seen so many people who are running on automatic till they get the house paid or the car. till the kids are older or till I get that promotion ...

I am as guilty of it as the rest I sat here checking the blog faithfully to see when the gates would open again and I could go to that place where I didn't have to wait to do what I wanted. Hmmm

I missed spending time with My parents (How many of those days do I have left?), I missed spending time with my son (How much longer will he want papa to sit with him or play with him?) I even ignored my puppy (everyone else makes trips over to see the puppy and wishes they had one and I ... go online.

Well here I am again, online again and about to go SL again

or

maybe

not

today

A

real time sl time

2006-10-13T23:17:00.000-07:00

No matter what your version of life ... time passes. Luckily I survived another week. I have some energy left over and the weather is unexpectedly clearing when they had predicted rain.
I have projects galore and dear friends coming over for dinner on saturday. Sunday we'll see ...

I hope to get the Pelican into the workshop and get working on it - could be motivation for more regular posting here as well.

Right now my pelican is just a hull not sealed or finished at all kind of like this pic from http://www.crucker.com/mypelican/ where another build is chronicled.

Arrivals and Departures

2006-10-11T22:01:00.000-07:00

Our world has changed this summer, Lavina gittins returned home to our father. I know that she will be missed while also knowing that her family truly carries her with them wherever they go.
We attended her memorial in Saskatoon this Thanksgiving and even saw a little snow as we waited for the taxi to take us to the airport.

When we got home our addition was ecstatic to see us back! Lizzy is an Australian Shepherd and a ball of energy between those puppy naps!
Life is full.

Company

2006-08-04T18:19:00.000-07:00

Mike and the girls are out to visit. We re running around all over the place but Mike is as dignified as ever.

Life Cycles

2006-07-31T07:40:00.000-07:00

This has been a summer filled with cycles. We have met new babies to this world and seen our oldest immediate relatives. We have begun new jobs celebrated lives lived and lives just getting started.
My Dad's cousing Lavina passed away but of course with his hospital trip and Mom's nasty cold/ throat infection they didn't get to visit her as planned.
This weekend we celebrated with friends: a 25th anniversary and their daughter's wedding. JSK also came down for S birthday. Kim possible looked like a great hit!

more info on Dad and the Luminara festival pics too

2006-07-27T20:53:00.000-07:00

Dad went in for an angiogram today. They checked out the 3 main arteries to his heart. One had a major if not complete blockage at least ten years ago. His body compensated and basically made use of minor blood vessels to create it’s own bypass and the Dr says he couldn’t have done better and doesn’t want to touch it. A second Artery was fine no blockage evident and the third had some blockage which the Dr was able to treat by using a balloon to expand it then slipped a stint ( small metal tube) in place to keep the passage open. In time the tissues around the stint will conform to it and cover it in but it’s strength will keep the passage open.

That is all I know – I hope I got it correct.

Look at the shots Aura took!!!!

Life Plods on ...

2006-07-27T05:28:00.000-07:00

News update today only:

Dad is going in for an angiogram this morning.

Aidan is enjoying summer camp and doing well. His AI (Autism Interventionist) feels he needs little support in this environment - a tribute to his development, training to date and the team working at the camp. We'll see what happens in our lives now as the AEIP program ends at the end of August for our little man.

Aura is shooting a wedding this weekend as well as an anniversary celebration the same day.

Work - well the entertainment of working with beta is quite high. I have the Sharepoint beta back up and am learning the differences from 2003. We will have to revisit our overall plan as the new features and modified functionality of the continuing feature set dictate major changes.
A

Luminara 2006

2006-07-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

What is it about lights and night time that makes all the freaks come out?
Every year there is a luminara festival, with lanterns and glowsticks and fanciful lit shapes. There was a Lord of the Rings display where they made glowing shileds representing various characters from the story.
There was a mermaid telling stories - though Aidan heckeld her by trying to tell her how he had seen a sea serpent(in the middle of her story)- she quickly finished the story and hoped he would stop interrupting.
Someone tried to make a 15ft tall Aslan lantern but it wasn't complete and he was still working on it throughout the event.
Aidan enjoyed the glowsticks and wanted to dress up like one lady he saw who was covered in lights.
Aidan got home at 11pm and went to sleep quickly.
Tomorrow summer camps starts. He tried to go last week but his throat got so bad he lost his voice so we pulled him out for the week on Dr's orders and he rested at home with Grandma and Grandpa as well as his best friend - Teletoon (TV).
Andrew

Birthday's and anniversaries Oh My!!

2006-07-21T10:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Aura's birthday, last saturday was our anniversary. This month is a hard one for my little brain not only remembering when special days are but which are which.

We went out for Dinner with Mom and Dad, Robert and Marjorie as well as Brent, Jane, Melissa and Bailey. It was somewhat traumatic for Aidan as Bailey wanted to sit beside Aura and wanted a little space from Aidan. Being Aidan's hero of heroes is taxing it seems when you are 10. After many tears we got on with our meals.
I am still amazed at the raptor exhibit in Kamloops I'll add pics here after I get home.

I better get back to work. I am starting a trial import / upgrade of the existing sps2003 into the 2007beta today to see what breaks.

"I need Home for A rest"

2006-07-20T21:56:00.000-07:00

It is a good quote and kind of how I felt ... a 2 week relaxed yet whirlwind tour of the Western provinces and back home.

I've never been to Katepwa Lake and it is hardly out from Regina ... I don't know what was wrong with me ... it's beautiful there.

Drumheller was great dino boy is somewhat sated, the zoo was great in Calgary too. Stampede was ok but dino boy wanted to play and win every midway activity to get the toys!

I was surprised and really enjoyed the Wild Animal park in Kamloops. Nocely done and worth the stop definitely! The special exhibit of bird's of prey was amazing.

Back to the grind now. Getting a knowledge base functional in SPS 2003 while giving 2007 beta a test run - so far I'm very impressed and happy with it but a lot of changes that mean we need to revisit our whole deployment. Navigation and basic structure is much different. Lots to consider.
A

Booting Microsoft!

2006-04-12T23:17:00.000-07:00

Well yet again saved from inexplicable failure after an upgrade.
We rebuilt the Sharepoint Portal from scratch.
Updated the old portal after the new went live - all ok
updated the new portal - all goes south!#$!@#%!@
we have rebooted after sp2 and then moved teh tables entire over to SQL2005 and can't access some areas. So we start exploring settings I have full portal admin - I can't get at some settings. I get added to full server admin - now I can't even get the default.aspx to display.
I am thinking ok time to go back to the backup (broke the mirror prior to upgrade just in case.
Then we go well lets reboot one more time ...

Now it works perfectly, exactly like it did prior to updates ( hopefully more securely and maybe quicker)

For this I missed lunch!! @!$!@%~
Oh well onward and upward, more template anmd definition customization as well as business process definition to complete the site framework/layout and design.
A

ps sorry to bore the non MS inclined and non techie though I actually didn't get very technical - in my own defense.

all those blond kids

2006-04-11T12:01:00.000-07:00

In the Norse villages all the children were blond, according to a show Dad saw the real reason was not genetic but a naturopathec remedy for Head Lice involving Urea.

Well modern methods have changed but Aidan is still quite blond ... what really is in those bottle at the drugstore? Why in this day and age are Kindies re-infecting each other so much. I have heard from other parents at other schools that it is rampant in many schools.

We have been revisited 3 times since September. If we still treated using the old method at least I would know that the other kids were getting treated too.

:)
A

Web Master

2006-04-11T11:55:00.000-07:00

Well I got the position. It will be a significant change for us all. More money and less time off. Also Aura gets to mutter web master in a vaguely Japanese accent and then giggle.

We will be able to continue our Summer vacation as planned Drumheller Dinosaurs, Calgary Zoo, Great grandparents (Aidan has one on each side) and a visit to the Mitchell ranch.
A

Health

2006-03-31T12:13:00.000-08:00

When I left this morning, I assumed that everyone was fine. Aura called to ask me to give her a ride home from the clinic, when I get there aidan's school calls to say he is throwing up please come get him and when I get home I find out Mom is feeling sick today.
The day can change so quickly and unexpectedly!

A

I won't hear back on the new job till thirsday next week I guess.

The morrow waits...

2006-03-28T19:10:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I get to apply for the job I have been training to do and working at part time since Yule.
I hope to sleep.

There is no exam no interview most likely. I am the desired candidate. I have the required skill set ( I took a test to prove that a month ago)and more seniority than any potential applicant by a good margin (years not months nor days)yet until this is done I have this nagging feeling that I don't deserve it, that I am kidding myself or others and everyone will know when I don't actually get the job.

It is hard to live my life sometimes boldly (/ manically / maniacally?) optimistic and confident with these itty bitty little chasms of self doubt only visible when I actaully get to the edge.

A year ago I was asked by my manager "what do you see in the next 5 to 10 years for yourself?" I replied that I saw myself staying with the School District because my son was in school but I would like to become Web Master when it comes up and ... here it is.

Now what do I want to do??? Who knows.
A

Ageless or ....

2006-03-26T15:23:00.000-08:00

Today Dad was talking to someone and Dad was talking about his boys. After hearing a little about the three of us the man asked if I was the youngest. Dad answered that I was the oldest which got the man quite confused as he figured I was about 24. Since that is a little over a month from being exactly reverse order of the digits I was happy, then I remebered someone else saying it wasn't how I looked but how I acted ...

hmmmmmm

Being on hill our place is more olympian than asgardian, however with all the trees around I'll keep to my naming conventions. I am getting a start on the yard now and I am thinking of Bifrost ... maybe a garden bridge with stained glass panels and prisms to catch the light or mabe virtual completely and have hanging prisms in alll the trees casting rainbow bridges throughout the yard?
A

hundt

2006-03-06T17:49:00.000-08:00

Round and round we go on the breed selection. We were looking at Australian shepherds see: http://members.shaw.ca/hitide/ our first choice, http://www.holesome.com/debern/kennelpa.htm our second choice. Both of these haven't worked out for various reasons so we are back to Golden retreivers and looking at one fittingly named "dog" http://www.islandnet.com/~pacificg/New_stars.htm It would be a co-ownership as he is a show dog ... which we like in terms of quality of dog but ... are not sure about in terms of another set of time and energy commitments.

Round round we go ... maybe we'll come back to my Elkhound choice or maybe not.

A

problems on the blog

2006-03-06T08:15:00.000-08:00

Not a real post just a placeholder to see if this fixes it?

Interlocution

2006-03-04T13:50:00.000-08:00

Online conversations are the closest to interlocution in feeling. Chat, conversation, talk, visit all convey a feeling of that other mamal breathing the same air and warmed by the same sun.
Trying to reach out of my little cave lately, we'll see how long it lasts. I have tried 4 times since Halloween to get a puppy, each time it all looks like it is falling into place and then ... it falls through. I keep planning to go somewhere with Aura and ... life intrudes or I retreat into my little space and watch the box or play on the computer.
When I want to play with Aidan he's busy playing by himself then when he wants to do something I'm in the middle of a meal or a video game or .... something.
I am depressed and unmotivated and everything is basically going my way but it doesn't help, neither does knowing I'm depressed. I just keep answering that age old question ... how can I mess this up now?

Chrysalis breaking

2006-03-03T20:12:00.000-08:00

I feel a change a tension, creaking and cracking around me. Something hurts and my eyes tear.
New paths open before my bleary eyes, new trails and new trials.

Home Again

2005-11-07T00:15:00.000-08:00

Asgard will be up shortly I have to rebuild the firewall first. We are moved in and painting all those rooms we liked enough to buy the place. Oh well who wanted spare time anyway.
Our living room has had the Ikea touch but for the ktchen I'm gonna talk to Ken and see if he will create a custom China cabinet to match the table ... and maybe some new chairs too.
A couple of new sites in progress westshoremassage.com and whitecrestboxer.ca
Speaking of boxers and other dogs ... :) we are looking now I lean towars a Norwegian Elkhound or a male American Eskimo the others are leaning towards a Boxer or Dalmation or Clifford the big Red Dog (now who could be asking for that?)
He also wants Buzz Lightyear decals for the wall of his room.

Guild Wars is still fun, lately I have been reading any Dianna Wynne Jones I can get my hand on. Good characterizations. I loved Eight Days of Luke when I was younger and bought it again so Aidan can read it when he gets older. Now I am gobling up her latest works.
Somewhere between Zelazny and Norton but written for a younger crowd, good reading though for any age.

BC Teacher Strike

2005-10-14T10:48:00.000-07:00

The teacher's are on strike here. The rest of us can't work as a result. I hope it ends soon as we buy the new house in 2 weeks today. On the other hand ... I have more time to do things and have even posted (or am posting).

The governement goes on and on about the ilegality of the strike ... yet they had a vote and decided that they would make it illegal - no one else seems to see the farcical nature of this declaration. If I was playing a game with someone and they start changing the rules to favour their side as we were playing I'd quit. why does the government get to change the rules and then stand there as though we're talking about the 10 commandments carved in stone for ages. We are talking about an employer saying "you can't threaten us with job action we make the rules here". Then they posture and strut saying we won't bargain till you quit breaking the law. What spoiled egotists!

Not that the teachers are without faults but get real the issue is a broken process not law. over 50% of British Columbians are in support of the teachers and less than 20% support the governments actions. What does that say about representative government?

Get off your buts, honorable MLAs! Quit posturing and flexing your legal muscles and do what you are elected to do and manage the affairs of this province. I don't think that the issue of bullying is limited to the playgrounds. I think both sides need a detention and some time to cool off.

That's my thoughts anyway.

Moving Experiences

2005-08-12T09:05:00.000-07:00

I love moving so much we sold alfheim and are moving into a rental for 2 months till the asgard is ready. hjave to reconfigure the network for the new name now.

I'll revamp bifrost too move her up to a P333 and lock down the doorways.

Tidal wave??

2005-06-15T20:06:00.000-07:00

We heard this morning about a tidal wave warning issued last night after teh quake off California's coast. Everyone is making all this noise now because they didn't hear a thing about it last night.
1) It was a remote possibility that some remote northern areas might see a much diminished wave front.
2) It was called off an hour before the predicted time as there was absolutely no sign of disturbance this far north

If it was likely to affect us they would have done more as it is some of the more concerned that did hear the "warning" rushed up the mountain roads (breaking speed laws and running lights to get out of town)! What would have happened if more people had heard about it?????

We might have had deaths from the wave that never came - not just those trying to escape but what about the rush on Jordan River at 8pm???? I think the town normally rolls up the sidewalks by then.

Get a grip! When the end is here all will hear the Horn and see Bifrost. We wont miss it - trust me!

steadfast

2005-06-14T18:08:00.000-07:00

"showing up when and where you are expected to"

Or is it just not calling in sick on a sunny day?

Skraelings

2005-06-08T17:31:00.000-07:00

Du mussa skraekaso
Screachers - I wonder if it is true that the name came from the screaming and squealings whaen the lactose hit the digestive tracks of indineous ppl who did not have an acquired tolerance for dairy products as did the newly landed Norse?

An interesting image nonetheless.

What would visitors call us when we sup their mead of choice and can't handle it.

"We call that planet EEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIAAAAMMDDYYYYYYYYIIIIING after the noise they made after supping on stellar mead, It's a pity they didn't survive the first week of contact!"

H

The Voices ...

2005-05-11T20:59:00.000-07:00

Whispers interwoven in other's visions, something is rising in this world ...

Coaching - people call you and you "coach" them, help them grow and acheive.

A new communication paradigm - post post post modern: interactive, immersive, remote yet virtually omnipresent using the new instant communication and information systems.

An opening of the doors to the supernatural, tentative exploration of the unexplainable in the name of curiousity, people are looking for someone or something bigger than themselves.

The voices are calling, leading, daring you to grow ...

Familial Faces

2005-05-02T21:40:00.000-07:00

"A little sad as they leave"

The faces that have been there since you came into the world or the faces that you have seen since they came into the world ...

There is always a sadness when they are not around and a joy when they turn up again matched only by the deeper blues as they fade out of daily life again.

Sometimes I am not sure that the visits are worth the emotional toll of the partings.

Life is good, yet ...

Why is the good you have o'er shadowed by the memory of something that was itself o'er shadowed by something else at it's time?

I too am a little sad when they leave (and when I think of them leaving).

Eric The Red

2005-04-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the thought, I like the quote.

Despite the nomenclature that you have worn since I can remember ... (see above) I've always thought of you more as Baldur.

Watch out for relatives playing games.

Thinking about it the same was true for Eric the Red. Political manouvering not his strength he got move on notices everywhere he went. Not that they were unwarranted evictions but he definitely got no help from the family ties and then Leif well he had little choice but to discover a new world he couldn't be his fathers son in the "civilized norse realm"

Ever wonder what the boys will need to deal with growing up as our children? They have their own issues too of course. I still am dealing with the autism spectrum thing ... yours and mine, opposite end of the country same diagnosis. Mother of course doesn't see what all the fuss is about. Does that mean we are all just Baileys or just Mowats?

Speaking of family http://www.baileyfamilytree.net/ I think ... My new project an online database for our family. I may have gotten stuck though at the security stage. What do you think? Only give access to a trusted few and hope no one messes the whole thing up or build it with logging and rollback built in so I can undo any individuals changes/additions to any given point? (yes the latter is WAY more work)

Let me know.

craft

2005-04-02T21:45:00.000-08:00

Where has it gone? So much of the time one only does the minimum of study to get the desired result and ignores the basics and the understanding required to create on your own. The fast way the quick way get it done and figure it out later.
There was a time when one honed one's craft, taking pride in the knowledge and the execution not just the end result. Now it is get it done NOW.
I too fall into this pattern, recreating the work of others because i do not know enough to be truly original. Truly myself.

The Rains are falling

2005-03-29T10:42:00.000-08:00

The gates of heaven are opened and the rains pour down. New gardens drink it in while the new paths wash away.
Marina's gardens are laid out and await the sun to flourish.

Doing it

2004-12-12T18:58:00.000-08:00

I often say I'll try when asked to do something or to do it differently. Especially when asked to improve something or to quit doing something.

I've been told don't try, just do it.

From my point of view, while I can see the validity of their point, I have to allow myself that wiggle room. At least I feel I have to allow it. If I was climbing a cliff at the halfway point I would agree with their advice but in my life especially with my bad habits on the line ... failing is a viable option to me.

A new year is coming soon, will it bring renewal and inspiration to do it or just to try once more?

My Watch

2004-12-07T13:44:00.000-08:00

Strange figures gather in the mist,
Wisps of secrets, the scents of love
Faint breezes of the ones we’ve kissed

For war a hawk, for peace a dove
Symbols, memories need a tie
A voice to make them real enough

While I stand my watch mute and die

Standing Watch

2004-12-06T23:14:00.000-08:00

When you look and really see what is happening around you, how can you not get involved? Where does someone's freedom to make their own choices end and your responsibility to a fellow creature end?
We admire those who go far away and try to make a difference in the world but deride and ridicule those who try to change the world around here ...

"Why is he wasting his time? They'll never change."

How many of us are standing silent watch? Sentinels ready to defend their post, ready to sound the horn when war is forced upon their homes. dumbly watching the destruction and devastation on the other side of the line.

"Can't get involved, I can't afford the time off work or the risk of a criminal record. Can't put my family, my home at risk."

Valhalla is filled with those who died fighting, risking all. Hel's gates hold in those who played it safe, died in their sleep old or ill.

The decision is not good or ill but do or don't, yet I mutely watch assuming that my turn will come and standing watch will bring to me that which I must battle when the time is right.

Time Lapse

2004-12-05T23:08:00.000-08:00

Awake for most of the last 48 hrs but no posts ...
Ironic yet very much me.

Polished up Bifrost (SmoothWall Express 2.0) should keep most Ice Giants at bay awhile longer. Added a Wi/Fi link then lost myself in Age of Mythology during my sleep cycles and re-organized the play area. My little viking has all his stuff in colour coded and image labeled bins. Poor kid but he likes being able to surf from his play area.
At 4 surfing always involved water for me and here he is doing things his elders are nervous about. My dad is nowhere near as comfortable doing.

I seem to prefer the Major Dieties in AOM, I do well as Zeus or Odin, though my next best are Thor and Loki. Isis is my favouirite Egyptian. I build too much I think, I try to get too much power base - on easy level I win hands down, I am unstoppable when I finally advance but even one level up I often get caught with my pants down so to speak. I can run a great delaying campaign and occaisionally recover but I need to arm faster and strike decisively with smaller forces. I think I micromanage too much * rofl *

Well I'm going to sleep tonight though I watched "The Family Man" and got kind of sentimental - kind of feel like I should go kill off some AI civilization in AOM to restore the balance of testosterone but maybe I can deal with it by sleep instead.

AI - My son has been diagnosed as autism spectrum disorder, which really means that he doesn't react the way that they feel is normal, and there is some delay in behaviour and language. the language delay is minimizing daily and the rest if we teach it directly he seems to learn what he wants to but ... is that just my own stubborness in a small body?

Anyway AI Autism Inteventionist is what they call the young lady who comes out an plays social games with him. Activities planned to teach him social skills. Not tantrumming whe we try to wash or cut his hair, Potty training, not asking for hugs from women / girls that he has just met (btw it seems to be very effective from a cute blond 4 yr old "Hi what's your name?" "I'm ....." "Can I have a hug?" maybe he could do the self help book circuit? I see a big market in colleges and tech schools ...)

Anyway I always grin when someone talks about the AI and I do the mental shift it takes to realize they are talking about a real person.
Night has fallen hard and I must take my leave.

Dragons Live in the West

2004-12-02T20:26:00.000-08:00

It is funny how many dragons I know. The whole of my immediate family are born in the year of the dragon. My son, my wife and I, it only made sense that all our initials match too.

The things we do to our children ...

Loki's brood suffered by association as well as by action perhaps too by neglect. Jormungard was not Thor's bitter enemy till Loki used her to fool Thor and humiliate him. Thrown to the bottom of the see Jormungard grew to encircle Midgard.

Hel The 1/2 beatiful 1/2 decayed daughter was shocking even to Odin who offered her dominion over all who died except those who dies as heroes. Death by sickness or old age made you hers forever.

Fenrir was left to the capricious care of the Aesir, who warned by the Norns about all of Loki's children were unsurprisingly unsuccessful at calming and taming his wild ways. He ended up being tricked then tied to Rocks deep in a mountain

A fate not unlike his Father's who ended up chained to rocks deep in a mountain with the added pleasure or a serpent dripping poison on his face saved only by the grace of sigyn who catches the venom in a bowl. Whenever she turns and empties it he writhes in pain from the venom that drips continuously.

On the day they all rise up ASGARD and Bifrost will fall my horn will sound Giants and I will go down together. A new age will begin.

Skraelings

2004-12-01T21:10:00.000-08:00

I was drifting asea when I thought of skraelings. Their canvas boats and dugouts challenging the dragon ships as they neared the west.

I found a very good site @ http://www.heritage.nf.ca/aboriginal/beothuk.html in case you are interested.

The sea born and the forest born quite a different man than the city born English and French but who do you see when you look around now?

The beothuk seem much more Fenris' sort - wild in that 'I won't be bullied nor tamed' sort of way, yet something good in there somewhere if you don't push too hard. They lost but he still makes those chains groan in the dark depths of the mountain.

A toast then to those we've mistreated along the way, "we remember you".

The cold wind blows

2004-11-30T21:03:00.000-08:00

November ends.
Got some advice on muscle rehab.
To improve my forearms and get rid of the tendonitis start slow and easy with a light weight, 2 lbs she said.
I almost fell off my chair and she was kind of put out thought I was laughing at her advice.
I had to explain that I had thought I was starting out light and easy when I bought 35lb for my forearms.

She just rolled her eyes.

Funny how many times people do that around me.

Rumblings

2004-11-29T21:01:00.000-08:00

Jormangund is restless these last few nights. When he breaks free from his own deathgrip we are all asea.

There have been mighty upheavals around the world, earth quaking and political unrest. Despair and depression drain the life of many.

I am no storm crow but I watch, and wait.

When the day to day becomes the focus depression grows, I see this in so many lives, yet when things take a turn for the worse ... many times the day to day concerns become trivial.

Picture a young man, his life ahead of him he strives to provide for his family often neglecting them in his efforts to do so. A crash late one night and in the days that remain to him all his time is spent with those he loved yet abandonded.

I am upon the rainbow bridge, and see my love a dancing.
I stand there on the rainbow bridge as she my way is glancing.
I wait upon the rainbow bridge ignoring her advancing.
I stay upon the rainbow bridge rejecting her romancing.
I die upon the rainbow bridge her sweet love never chancing.

Shadows

2004-11-27T22:12:00.000-08:00

Friends become acquaintances and then shadows of a thought.
A name that rings a bell, which echos through our consciousness evoking images from our shared past.
You know how in movies, they show the strands of a cable snapping - one by one - to build up the suspense? I see that in the relationships around me...
A friend tonight made the perfectly reasonable suggstion that we not exchange gifts for our children this year as we seldom visit and besides they will be out of town for the holidays. It is a welcome suggestion in that we were trying to reduce the amount we spent on presents this year BUT it feels like one more strand in a friendship snapping and flying free.
By accepting the argument, we are each accepting the stated rationalizations. I don't want to agree to continue not visiting as often as we did when the children were first born but it is true that we aren't.

What does that say about all those friends I haven't seen since I graduated from high school 23 years ago. Can I still call them friends?

What about my brothers whom I mostly see at funerals for departed family?

Shadows,
what about my child will I see him less and less becoming a shadow in his life as sports and school then career and family grow to my exclusion. Will I regret that line I draw each night when I say just one more hug and kiss then you have to go to sleep? Should I be storing these up for a shadowy day that is creeping ever nearer?

Shadows,
have I become my own, when did I stop chasing the butterflies of my dreams and get down to chasing my next paycheque so intently?

Shadows,
If I see shadows all around, does that mean I have turned around with my back now to the light I used to desire so intensely?

Should I sound the horn?
Is it ragnorak approaching or only shadows making an old man jumpy?

The Mist

2004-11-26T18:21:00.000-08:00

Working nights for tooo long I feel like I had a drug problem that I have since forgotten! I can't remember much of the 90s (though some might not think that a loss).

I treasure each day with my love and my son.

I regret that the women on the other end of the phone on weekends and birthdays are no longer my little girls and I wish I could just fix the issues that they bring up now with a kiss or a hug.

But errant lovers, children playing hookey from school and bills don't follow the old rules and go away. I was told once that just my listening helps but ...

The mists swallow us all in time, swaddle us in confused half memories and bind us with promises and failures remembered by others.

An animal friends mailing list got to calling their pet's death crossing the rainbow bridge
:)
Bifrost must be happy to have a new role in the modern mythos perhaps Heimdahl too can find a new role or a new facet of himself in this new time. Guardian Poet and Warrior becomes tollbooth operator on a virtual highway?

The bridge

2004-11-25T23:50:00.000-08:00

Clarity, reveals the banality around. Only partial clarity, as light through the mist will call for Bifrost gaining us a pathway from realm to realm.
Dreams wither in the harsh light of day fading as a shadow at noon, yet like the shadow they only go away to lenghtne again at the end of the day.
This then is my view and my belief, Truth - Clarity is a thief.

"There is more in this world Horatio than is dreamt of in your philosophy"

While misquoted, no doubt, I believe it true and true I believe to be but philosophy, also no doubt.