4 am

Fiddleheads

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Sat, 30 May 2009 03:05:00 +0000

Had a Morel and Fiddlehead stirfry tonight for dinner. Took some photos of "the office" and took a nice walk around Swan River and contemplated life a little. Well, ok...a lot!

Talked to my mom today and she always has this amazing mom-way of putting things into perspective and making the world seem alright. Having my family close to me is really become more and more important as days go by. Moving to Manitoba in part to be closer to family was one of my top life decisions. I never realised how amazing these people that I am lucky enough to be related to actually are until I started to get to know them as adults.

Been tossing around the idea of going somewhere this September. I'm thinking either BC, or driving down to Yellowstone Park in Wyoming. I've always wanted to go to Yellowstone, although the drive would mean that I should ask someone to come with me. British Columbia is amazing, I would fly and more than likely go alone. As I have been to BC a few times and know places that I would like to go.

Vacationing alone has always been a favorite thing for me to do. I love the journey, the destination, and coming home a slightly different person. Getting out of my element and getting to know myself better in an unfamiliar environment has been a favorite personal challenge so far in my short life. I'm fairly certain it will be BC, as I'm feeling that hankering for alone time thing coming on.

Acutally. I might just wait for a seat sale. Alaska would be wonderful.

Speaking of possible get-aways. For my birthday, I have planned to hike the Mantario Trail in the Whiteshell Provincial Park here in MB. I have put it out there that I am going to do this on my birthday to several folks, but I may end up doing it alone. I think both ways would be an amazing and satisfying experience for me. Although mom has a few loving words to say about me doing it alone like "don't do it alone" ;) Hehehe!!!

Sandilands

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Fri, 29 May 2009 02:09:00 +0000

Went on a hike the other weekend in Sandilands Provincial Park in Southeastern Manitoba. Pictures never do it any justice. Breathtaking beauty.

Amazing Days are Here to Stay

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Fri, 29 May 2009 01:53:00 +0000

Being happy and satisfied with life isn't easy. It takes hard work to be happy. That dictates most everything that I do. All the decisions I make and things I say and feel. As a sidenote to this entry about the great day I had...none of it would be possible without a positive outlook and all of the background work that I've done to become a satisfied and happy gal.

So, on to my kickass life.

I went to work today with some great expectations of having a awesome day, which is the attitude I wake up with every day anyways. I felt that today was going to be a special day. And it was!

Had a great work day - wonderful weather, an easy block and great coworkers to be around.

Saw some tasty forst treats, picked them and came home and cooked them up! Yes, that's right, the MORELS are back! I'm up in the Porcupine Hills in MB again for Morel season and they are everywhere! I cooked some up with some lemon-pepper-esque stuff and veggies :)

Also today, saw a tons of red-tailed hawks, whitefish lake, a greibe and some beautiful blue herons.

I also got to go fishing :D

To the zero people that read this...goodnight! :D

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:04:00 +0000

A friend mentioned having a set of goals for the summ. Grand Idea. Maybe if I shoot some of them into cyberspace something will stick. Or at least I will come back and read this and remember the things I am working on.

Winter was hard for me this year. I'll say that. The warmer the weather gets and the more sun I feel on my face in the mornings the better I feel.

Goals:

Losin it. Yes. The winter weight gain. I could write a thousand excuses about this one. Repeato - hard winter and my physical self was put on the backburner. I'll be making my come back with running, hiking and other hilarious fitness goals...like...

100 Pushups - up to 24 from 12 - not likely to get 100...but will get more!
200 Crunches - up to 75 from 50
200 Squats - up to 150 from 70
Pull Ups - as many as possible by October 1st - I'm in a friendly comp with my roomie.

The usual goals of life, love and happiness apply to any and all activities, of course! :)

So, the job.

I'm tired so all you get is pictures of where I am training tonight. Maybe another post in a few months. ;)

I'm in the Sandilands Forest for another 4 days, than back up to the Swan River Valley, where many of my last years photos were taken. I suppose I should photo blog them....I'll likley pretend that I will, than get caught up in the amazingness that is summer :)

peace!

New Season of Bloggyness

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:42:00 +0000

I'm going back up north to do more tree surveying, this time for an entity that will remain unnamed! Said entity promises that I will be in lots of areas in the province, and while they didn't promise I would have a fun time and learn a lot - I'm pretty sure that's what I'm in for!

I will be taking zillions of pictures and running around in the bush all summer, yet again. I still have the same smile on my face that I had since I was hired, last week. I was offered the job on the same day that I was flying home to surprise my brother for his (early) birthday. I jumped out of a closet - he was semi-clueless about it all!

I start work in May, and end either in August, or I may be offered extensions I am told. I'm undecided about what I should do. Balancing a year of school and a really great job opportunity will take some thinking time.

Oh and updating all about that other stuff - I may have lied! School and my attempt at social life/getting out of the city a lot has left little time for blog posts! I have been updating my portfolio for my professional development course, and hadn't done many of the things I wanted too. Remember when you were a student? Know someone that is/was? Likely this is the also the story of their life, too!

Other personal updates -

I'm moving out of my little apartment, and in with some stellar roommates.
I'm super pumped about canoe/fish/camp/hiking season.
One of my contracts is ending - I was/am lucky enough to work with amazing folks, and would be lucky if I could always work with people of that caliber!

The summertime promises a lot of down time and free high speed wireless - lots of music downloads and blog posts inbetween exploring whereever I end up in Manitoba.

As many great adventures I had this winter...I'm glad to say goodbye to it and look forward to a great summertime (the icefishing - breakfast in bed!!)

For All the Spies

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:42:00 +0000

I haven't forgotten about this blog, and my passion to document is still here. Some incredible life changes have taken place, and the many experiences I have been having are so numerous that it's hard to eve keep up with them.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

I am no longer enrolled in a BSc. Physical Geography, and am now back in the degree program that I originally came here to do/finish a Bachelor of Environmental Studies. Sounds a little broad? I'll try to narrow it down! My focus is Conservation and Biodiversity. In the end, I will be hired (fingers crossed) to do work managing natural resources. Wildlife, plants or whatever else I can get my hands on. This change means I finish sooner. Which means a job sooner.

Oh, a job. So if you know me personally, you know that my summer position is over. I've been hired back working on the same project. Just doing some data analysis and dendrochronology. Yeah big words.

Oh, another job. I was hired on by the province doing some work with resource management! Without too much detail here, I'm excited. Real excited about this one. :)

I am now in a gigantic and beautiful old apartment building downtown Winnipeg. It's actually not far from the old place, but the feel is much different. It's quieter at night and is really much cozier (read: smaller) but I'm really diggin it. Old wood trim, brick, huge windows, high ceilings....would be better if it was a house in the middle of nowhere, but I have plenty of time for that, right? Yeah. Right. Still looking at land to purchace between Thunder Bay and Winnipeg (ish). Got a lead? Email me!

Also, I have learnt how to juggle better. Some background: My Papa told me that if I learn how to juggle, he will teach me how to weld. When I was...18 or so and deciding on college, I wanted to learn how to do underwater welding. My Parents = Unimpressed. So, I have always wanted to learn how to weld. In an attempt to get me to learn how to juggle, my Papa dangled the "I will teach you how to weld" carrot in front of my curious nose...and I've been running at it this whole time.

On an extremly personal note - I'm back at the gym in full force. I had been excersising and keeping in some sort of shape the summer through, but not in a regular way. I'm still keeping up with the running, but have now integrated a better strength-training workout into my life. I've also changed the way I eat quite a bit to allow for a high protien and high fibre diet. I'm flyin. My body feels incredible. I'm probably in the best shape of my life at the moment. Sure, I've weighed less than I do now, but I have more muscle mass, more endurace and more energy than I have had all my life. If you want to get on my program, I'll tell you my secrets! 1. Eat well 2. Excersise. It's actually that simple.

ALRIGHT. Enough excuses. Here's a list of upcoming adventures that I will be documenting:

Narcisse
Fishing
Hunting
Hazelwood Lake Conservation Area
Oak Hammock Marsh
Delta Marsh
Fitness Levels (anyone even want to read about that?)
Nutrition (really, it's faciniating to me, but you wanna hear about it?)
Manitoba Moose Hockey
Shotguns
Sibley (Sleeping Giant National Park)
Juggling
Welding

Blog of Interest (BOI)

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:33:00 +0000

Loads of links to neat projects that you might never have thought of doing, but wish you had.

He's a very talented Graphic Designer in the real world and I don't know enough about him. We will have to have ten too many beers one day to get a proper conversation going.

Playing with My Emotions

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:45:00 +0000

"If You Care" Coffee Filters....

I care about the Earth. I care about the environment and the health of my fellow humans and the ecosystem that we are apart of.

However, I'm not about to let some company push me around. Guilt-tripping me into buying their products. So I won't buy them. But if my mom told me too, I would.

Because there is no guilt-trip like a mom-made one.

Solar Energy

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:55:00 +0000

This is a picture of a solar shower at North Steeprock Lake, in the central part of Manitoba.

I showered here for about two weeks. At first the water was cold, than, it was hot. Hot to the point of my skin being that nice pink/red hue after a nice, long, hot shower. This water is taken directly from the lake, and I forgot to ask where the grey water goes.

Anyhow, we got two hot looong showers a day from it. I'm sure that we could have had more as well. I know we are all only supposed to take the five minute shower to save the world, but when you work in the bush and are using lake water anyways, it's all good. Need that shower. Like you have no idea. Unless you tree planted...than you know.

So how much hot water do you really need? How much hot water do you use?

Living in the bush I don't use any. Just the solar shower at North Steeprock...but I don't live there anymore. We are camping out of another park, where there is a resort. There are showers at the resort that cost two dollars for two minutes. Which means that my 'showers' are a soap-less dip in the lake.

I refuse to pay to shower.

Isn't that interesting? If you had to put change in your taps everytime you used water, would it make you use less? Even if it was the same as your usual water bill?

Morels (Morchella conica)

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:35:00 +0000

So I have been dining on these tasty little mushrooms up here in the Mixedwoods Boreal. Let me tell you, they are incredible.

They are found in loads of places in North America and Europe....but I'm unsure of other places in the world. I will have to look that up at a later time, I apologise for not having that information. We have been finding them in the Porcupine Mountain Provincial Forest and the Duck Mountain Provincial Park in Manitoba. For the most part we have been finding them in clearings with a lot of leaf-litter, old rotted trees and lots of sunshine. Often we have found them in areas with Trembling Aspen and sometimes with White Spruce trees. We have also began to find false Morels, which I also have pictures of. The false ones we found in mossier, boggy areas.

There are a lot of good web pages out there for general mushroom hunting information and specifically Morel hunting. If you do any research (or if you get a taste!) you will find that they are rare and cherished by many people. The interesting thing about Morels is that 'they' are unable to cultivate the tasty treats. I was thinking of doing a research project to incorporate Morels. Truly only so I can get out into the field and sample them. :)

So here are some captioned photos for you folks!

Beware of the False Morels (Gyromitra esculenta) !

Tasty treats from the forest!

They are hollow on the insides, unlike the False Morels which are filled in and much heavier.

So far, the best way (I think) we have had them was with dill, garlic, onion, salt, oil, cashews and almonds. We tried them once adding some cream, which is apparently a Ukrainian favorite and they were phenomenal.

The very first time I ate Morels. MMmmmmm!!!

Terrific T

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 02:46:00 +0000

My best friends new blog. This one promises interesting photos and hilarious commentary! Enjoy!

http://terrifictalesbyterriblet.blogspot.com/

Update from the Bush

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:49:00 +0000

I am staying at West Blue Lake in Manitoba right now. My Internet access has been hard to come by, but I have had some limited communication with the outside world.

Just background for anyone who isn't 'in the know'.

I live in Winnipeg (usually) and am up north very far away from my apartment and my partner working in the bush. I am assisting in a study on forest regeneration after forest fires. For now, the work is concentrated in the Porcupine Mountain and Duck Mountain areas.

Things I miss, from most to least:

- My friends and family
- A bed
- A stove/oven
- Climate control (it gets very cold at night)
- Clean, running water....
- Fresh fruit and vegetables
- Not having to wash my dishes every day
- Not having to hide my food from bears
- Not carrying bear spray/gun
- Restaurants
- Not smelling like a fire
- Movie Village
- Vi Ann
- #61
- Cycling
- My gym

Ok, ok...I suppose I could go on forever. I will stop. Lists are just so convenient and to the point. Ok just one more, but on a more positive note:

Things that are cool, from most to least:

- My intense new appreciation for my friends and family
- Morels
- Finding bones
- My brand new, firm ass from hiking
- Not being on the Internet a lot
- Species i.d. of the flora and fauna of the Mixedwoods Boreal Forest
- I will be home, one day
- Spending no money

Since my internet is weak, I am having a hard time uploading any photos that I have taken...I will be making a separate blog to document all of my adventures, but I figured since I had a bit of internet access, I would let everyone know that I'm still here!

I can't wait to get back. Expect too much to read!

Rural Architecture

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:35:00 +0000

Rural Architecture Blog is full of incredible photos and stories about....rural architecture!

The Next Two Months...

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Fri, 23 May 2008 22:41:00 +0000

I will be absent from the blogging world! There is a possibility I may write a few entries, but for the most part I will be north of a place called Swan River in Manitoba, fighting black flies and eating camp food.

I will be back in August, and will likely write out a blog to go on my professional portfolio. I will, of course, link it to this in case some wandering person happens to find this blog and be interested. Does anyone even read this? Beuller....Beuller......

I will be checking my email (rdohan - at - gmail.com) about once every week, and I do have a cell phone with limited coverage.

Have a good summer and expect lots of pictures when I come back!

Delta Marsh Field Station

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:46:00 +0000

Just some snaps from a brief stay at the Delta Marsh Field Station.

Pretty!

Yes, this picture is different from the above.

You look so cold!

Oriole nest.

Ready to strike!

Nice shot of a Robin! Spring!

I love Owls.

Heeeeeyyyy Pel-i-caaan!

Stock marsh photo #847

They didn't like me very much.

Bye, stalk you in the tall grass later!!

Sparrow shelters, they were all along the road, but I didn't get a good shot of it.

Stock marsh photo #842

I won this staring contest.

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:22:00 +0000

Winnipeg - First Impressions II

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Sun, 04 May 2008 17:42:00 +0000

The last University I was at, McMaster and my current, Manitoba, have tunnels connecting most of the buildings. I'm guesing for conveniences sake of avoiding weather and wheeling important equipment around. Most of the tunnels in McMaster were more bland than the ones I have seen at Manitoba.

There are several murals, and interesting pieces of graphitti throughout most of the tunnels.

This map was not made by me, and as far as I can tell was designed by a D. Stiles and D. Kohut. I wanted to include it as a visual for the 3 people that actually read this. Yes I am included in that estimate.

This small set are of my favorite, they connect the University Centre, to the Sciences area. So I walk through many times a week in the winter time. These are done by Takashi Iwasaki and if you like any of the below, click on the name to go to the webpage to see more work.

Winnipeg - First Impressions

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Sun, 04 May 2008 17:36:00 +0000

I decided that I should post some photos of my first visit to Winnipeg before we moved here.

This photo is a truck full of roller skates. Self explanatory, but I just wanted to emphasise in case anyone didn't believe me. This was outside of Mondragon in the Exchange District. The Exchange is a beautiful area with those old, gorgeous brick buildings that ooze with character and class. In the summer time there is also a Farmer's Market that is ran there.

This is the Assiniboine River, at a very extreme height. It runs from west/east through the city, the Red River runs north/south and they cross very close to where we live. I have been told that this is normal. The river gets it's brown colour from silt. Not pollution!

I found these at the Forks Market place, which is where those two rivers cross! It's a historical site where people have been meeting for trading purposes since forever. They also sell ceramic frogs there for holding your scrubbies. I bought the orange/brown one.

Louis Riel. Looking at the Assiniboine River. Hanged for treason. In some eyes seen as a rebel, and in others as a hero.

The Administration Building on the Unversity of Manitoba campus. One of the first buildings on campus, completed in 1912. It was originally the Manitoba Agricultural College. If you think it's gorgeous on the outside, wait until I get around to posting pictures of the inside. Spiral staircases, beautiful woods and stones - full of character and light.

Precious Blood Church. This was seen while randomly driving with some people. I stopped and took a picture because well...look at it!!!

Breaking the Law with Bills

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:15:00 +0000

Fact:
Kensington Market is awesome.

See hard proof below.

Language

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:49:00 +0000

A small fascination of mine. Slang, linguistics, languages, language groups, alphabets, etc.

This, more than anything is a reference post that I want to keep adding too. If you have ANY suggestions or things to add or change, I would be very grateful. This is not scientific in anyway, but I have lived a few different places and notice these things. It fascinates me to no end.

So I am making a list of notable differences in places I have personally visited or been. Pronunciation, nicknames, slang...

Winnipeg

"Hey" - People say "hey" after sentences. Either used as a question "That exam was hard, hey?" or "Yeah, that wasn't too bad, hey". Instead of saying "eh".

"Holy Dyna!" - used for and expression of surprise. Instead of saying "Holy Cow, Holy Crap" ...etc

"A Social" - A social is a party, usually to raise money for something. Usually you buy tickets for a social and there is alcohol and often prizes involved. Instead of "fundraiser" or "party".

"Jam Buster" - a donut with jam in it!

"The Lake" - if you go to a lake, cottage, fishing, or out camping, you are "Goin' out to The Lake this weekend..." - regardless if water of any type is involved.

Saskatchewan

"Bunnyhug" - a hooded sweat shirt.

Thunder Bay

"Pack Sack" - this means book bag, or back pack. Being from Thunder Bay, I didn't notice until D pointed it out, but when a person says "Pack Sack" they are really just saying "Bag Bag".

"Shag" - A party thrown by a couple who are engaged to be married, to raise money for them to start their new life together. Instead of "Stag and Doe" or "Social".

"Cal-gree" - A way to pronounce the city Calgary.

"Tron-oh" - A way to pronounce the city Toronto.

"Persian" - not someone from Persia, but a delicious cinnamon bun/donut hybrid with pink cherry frosting, oh yeah.

"Camp" - if you are going to a cottage, or actually camping. You are "Goin' to Camp this weekend."

"Gate Night" - the night before Halloween.

Southern Ontario (General)

"Cal-gary" - A way to pronounce the city Calgary.

"Tor-on-toh" - A way to pronounce the city Toronto.

"Stag and Doe" - A party thrown by a couple who are engaged to be married, to raise money for them to start their new life together. Instead of "Stag and Doe" or "Shag".

"Devil's Night" - the night before Halloween.

Ontario

"Polkaroo" - no one knows who Polkaroo is outside of Ontario...TV Ontario people. I have been caught trying to explain The Polkaroo a few times. If you don't know, there is no possible way to explain who or what Polkaroo is without visuals.

Chairs

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:13:00 +0000

How I Came to Own These Chairs -

Chapter One: The Seventies Table with Fake Wood
My immediate family has made use of them since the beginning of time. My parents somehow got them when they were first married - either they were a gift or purchased by them, I am not sure. So the set has been around for a while. They all lived at my parents house (table and four chairs) until about a year ago in Thunder Bay, ON.

Chapter Two: The Origin of the Bargaining Chip
D's parent's owned their table and chair set since the beginning of time as well. They were a mismatched set of four antique oak chairs and a round table with claw feet purchased from an auction or an estate sale in London, ON.

Chapter Three: Take Pity on Our Table-less Souls!
When me and D moved in together (almost three years ago now!!) D's folks lent us the antique table and chairs because we moved into a house and didn't have a lot of furniture. So the antique table and chairs lived with us until about a year ago in Hamilton, ON.

Chapter Four: Mom + The Table = Love
My mother came to visit us the second year that we lived together. She saw the table and fell madly in love with it. She would mention it in phone calls, and would talk about how I was going to sell it to her and how much she loved it. She told my Grandmother and some of my Aunties about it. There was no going back. This antique oak table would be hers. We knew that she would pull out her most powerful weapon, mom guilt, if we didn't strike a deal with her. So, we did.

Chapter Five: The Switch
If my Mom had the antique oak table, than what did we have? Nothing. So, my Mom suggested that we trade table and chair sets. But how?! Mom is in Thunder Bay, and we were in Hamilton!

Chapter Six: D Makes the Cut
Everything happens for a reason, right? D had been wondering what to do?! With life, of course. An application and acceptance letter later, D had been accepted to start graduate studies at the University of Manitoba in the Architecture program. So now, we were moving to Winnipeg, MB. Imagine our joy when we saw that it would cost a minimum of three grand to get us and our things there...but I digress. We now had a way to make the table switch, and we did! Driving twenty-four hours in a moving van with our car on a trailer to make all educational and antique table dreams finally come true!

Chapter Seven: Mom What Did You Do to These Chairs?!
They used to have this really cool black fake leather/vinyl on them....As you can plainly see, the fabric on the chairs was not as youthful and fun as I would choose.

Mom Fabric - patent pending.

Extreme Close Up.

On the road to being really, really, really, ridiculously good-looking chairs.

Hip Fabric - patent pending.

Put you back together, my friend!

Mom on left, me on right!

Chapter Eight: Conclusion
Don't judge a book by it's super ugly cover. You know what my mom said when she visited us and saw the post-mom chairs? She wanted them back now because she LOVED the new fabric!! Total cost of this project is approximately 15$. The fabric is a cotton/linen blend and was on sale at IKEA and as far as I know is, very unfortunately, discontinued. I worked at IKEA, in the textiles department and I really can vouch for the quality of the fabric and the price. The prices are incredible and the quality of the fabric is solid.

Oh, and the fake wood seventies table? There is a lot of dumpster diving (or goods reclamation) that happens in our neighborhood. We left the table out for someone to take, and it was gone within hours. This is how I got a lot of furniture when I was living downtown Toronto and I would recommend the practise to everyone! Keep usable items out of the landfills and money in your pocket!

We have a new table, but I'm too tired to take pictures! Next post, I promise! Now THAT is a score worth writing about too!

A Shirt and a Bag!

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:34:00 +0000

It is the end of the school year, and I have somehow found myself with some time and inspiration. Thankfully so, because my wardrobe is becoming tired and I have no money left at the end of the school year. Buying clothing is never an urgent task for me, I don't like to shop very much and I am very, very picky about clothing. If it's not perfect, I don't buy it. Clothes cost so much in comparison to the time and money that it takes to make them on your own it's incredible. The only thing I haven't even attempted is jeans, but with time, that will come too. I'm rarely happy with jeans.

So this first little number is basically a tube with some lines. Took me a couple of hours from start to finish to make itfabric district. I got the jersey fabric when I lived in Toronto from somewhere in the fashion district . Probably for about 3$ a metre. The apple fabric I got for 4$ a metre from Mitchell's Fabrics , a totally stellar fabric shop in Winnipeg. A far away shot, and a close up of the apple fabric that I adore. Total cost hovers around $1.75.

Of course! My new bag! I wanted a new, large bag for no real reason. I had this very nice denim fabric that I also got from Mitchell's Fabrics in the remnants bin. I don't think I paid more than 4$ for about a metre-and-a-half of it. The pictures don't do it justice, but it's a medium thick, blackish-grey denim and very nice. The appliques are from an old table cloth that I got from a VV. This was my first time using the applique stitch on my sewing machine, I think for a first time it turned out well. Total cost hovers around- 3$.

Silly Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:40:00 +0000

I just thought I would take a break from studying and post some old photos that I have taken. I have tons, but can't find the ones I was thinking about posting...hmm...

We have some solid graffiti artists in the city. Well, we have all sorts of artists here, Winnipeg is incredible for expression. Whoever did this is one of my favorites. My neighborhood, Osborne Village, is full of excitement and creativity.

This is a drink from a drink menu at a popular pizza chain, I don't usually go to large chains to eat. This is just another reason not too! The garnish just doesn't look right to me. A green bean? Where did you get that? My Grandmother's garden?! Who ok'ed that?!

Me and Tommy go way back.

This is Miles. This chair is now owned by Miles.

This is a gigantic hay snowperson. Some of you may recognise this from Oliver Road in Thunder Bay. I think this is a yearly spectacle.

This fox let me get much closer than this, but I can't seem to find the picture! He/she was watching people cook across the road. So cute! We were on our way back from camping. This is the road that goes towards Northern Lights Resort.

Mural in downtown Toronto, 2002.

Who doesn't?

I will let you draw your own conclusion. This is an Elm in Winnipeg in my neighborhood. There are big problems here with Dutch Elm disease.

Adventures

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:19:00 +0000

I have two adventures coming up in the near future. For anyone who doesn't know, I am doing my BSc in Physical Geography (focus area: Geomatics) and 2 co-op employment terms (possibly three) that I am fitting in there somewhere. I have a professional profile webpage for anyone who is interested as well. The layout is exciting, the content, is pretty dry.

Adventure #1

I have secured a job for this summer that will be incredible. I have previously mentioned that I am a field assistant for a Master's student (Forest Ecology) working about a six hour drive north from Winnipeg, MB. I just got our so-so final itinerary for where we are staying and approximately how long.

We will be in North Steeprock for about a month, Cowan for about two weeks and than Blue Lakes for about two weeks.

Luckily, I have a boss that I share a lot of common interests with. We both want to be able to grow some food while we are out there. Radishes, salad greens, etc.

I will be using my little Garmin GPS so I don't get lost, reading maps, taking vegetation samples and eating a lot of dried food. I will also be fighting blackflies left and right. I am so excited for this opportunity, my resume will sing & dance when I am done my school and coop placements.

This is my family`s camp, but its`the Boreal, you get the idea!

Adventure #2

This is actually a tentative adventure, as my plane ticket has not been purchased yet. I may do a semester (aiming for January 2009) in ICELAND! For a physical geography student, I really don't think there is any better place in the world to visit! Volcanoes, geysers, island, ocean, glaciers! And what a climate! It is just south of the arctic circle and doesn't get to -40 like we do here in Winnipeg, MB. They seem to hover between -5 and +15. There are months with all sunlight, months with no daylight. What a fascinating place.

They are also apparently the world's most developed nation at the moment. Which is interesting to me on so many different levels. I'm excited to compare/contrast the differences between Canada and Iceland.

I would be attending the University of Iceland that was formed in 1911. Just waiting on my application to go through, and I will be purchasing my plane ticket shortly after. The University of Manitoba and the University of Iceland hav an agreement so students can do this - this means that I do not have to pay international student fees, I just pay my home university fees. If you have never seen the difference in fees, look up any Canadian University or College fees and see the difference, it's astounding.

This is a picture of a building on the U of Ice campus. I did not take it and do not own it.

Cyclists, Rejoice

noreply@blogger.com (Four Ayem) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 04:12:00 +0000

Being a cyclist makes you aware of many things around you. Cyclist or not, take this awareness test just to see how good you REALLY are.

I love bicycles, and I have not done one post about cycling yet...I will take some photos of my lowriders and sweet red cruiser and post them soon.

http://www.dothetest.co.uk/