Life's a journey

I made delicious scones [Flickr]

2009-11-03T00:17:58-08:00

Michael Tyas posted a photo:

I think I may have gotten off of my fast food kick I've been on for a
couple months.

In the middle of September

2009-09-20T22:21:00.001-05:00

I won't let a little thing like having no body to go with stop me from going to the beach!

internet in the rain

2009-09-11T15:59:00.001-05:00

I'm typing this from a moving bus in the middle of the pouring rain on my computer.

I love my new iPhone.

The Manitoba Legislative Building in Photosynth

2009-09-09T20:38:00.003-05:00

Click the controls and then press the P key to turn on or off the photos. The bitmap is pretty great too.

The Manitoba Legislative Building is one of my favorite in all of Canada. I've been meaning to get it into a Photosynth since the winter, and finally had a chance to do so this afternoon.

Running through the sprinklers at THE FORKS

2009-09-06T19:13:00.000-05:00

Cache me if you can

2009-08-31T01:09:00.001-05:00

As I taped it off the tv screen, it left something to be desired. But the gist is there. This has been my project all summer!

WIPEOUT!

2009-08-10T05:16:00.000-05:00

Rush hour traffic on the river

2009-08-09T15:39:00.001-05:00

iPhone you

2009-08-08T14:18:00.003-05:00

I got an iPhone 3Gs.

It's my school experiment for the year. Last year my experiment was a tablet PC, so I could hand write my notes on an electronic medium. The reason that the iPhone is my experiment for this year is that I can tether the smart phone to my computer and get wireless internet essentially anywhere I can get a cellular signal. This is important because at school I can never rely on their internet being up and running at all times.

This year my schedule will keep me on campus for longer periods of time during some days, and my productivity during this time would be greatly improved if I have access to a solid internet connection, instead of having to hunt like a dog for a connection or computer that works.

Crowded and Lonely

2009-07-27T00:54:00.002-05:00

My summer has had its share of highs and lows.

I love my work as a public servant in the heritage sector, linked to my degree in environmental studies in university. I love working for the government in general. I'm learning so much, developing really useful skills, and gaining a new perspective on the world and how it operates. I've been developing a new program from the ground up, that has involved a whole host of skill sets; research; designing of a self guided tour by GPS and guide booklet; marketing; delivering presentations, and; technical writing. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever see myself in such a privileged position in only my second year of university. These are some golden days.

At the same time, however, the friendships I cherish have been sliding. And I regret this, but I don't know really how I can do anything about it. The physical makeup of my friendships has changed in the past year. Now the majority of my friends have married, become ONE with one another, and I'm finding it hard to keep up to date. We don't hang out any more, it seems. The only time I see the majority of my friends now are at 'events,' flash in the pan evenings where I have to worry about getting dressed up and spending an equal amount of time with everyone in attendance before the night is through. Common conversations may sound like "Hey, I haven't seen you in ages, how are you? What's new?" The answers are often overwhelming. Change is occurring in the lives of my friends, nay, my loved ones, and I'm no longer a part of it, I feel.

In a reading group in my teenage years I read the book "The Five Love Languages" and the core lessons have stuck. There are five love languages, actions which most validate the receiving party. Quality time, words of affirmation, receiving gifts, a helping hand, and physical touch. My love language is the first one mentioned, quality time. I feel most validated when someone I care about makes time to really connect with me, one on one. It could be going on a walk or a conversation after church, or popping by for a quick visit on a Saturday afternoon. It is being invited over for a movie night or going to the beach. Unfortunately, I feel a massive disconnect with my friends this summer. Everybody is so busy, true, but I wonder if most of my friend's just don't realize this is a need of mine.

Further complicating the issue is my inability to express my love language, which are giving words of affirmation. I like to be there for people, to offer words of encouragement or advice; to listen, to help work through issues and be a sounding board for ideas. Since I'm not seeing people on a regular basis, I feel as though strong relationships are slipping through my fingers no matter how hard I hate it.

I'm certain that my friends would be slightly shocked and feel guilty if they read these words (which they won't because nobody I know reads my blog), but the point isn't to say that anybody is doing anything wrong. I'm sure they think I'm doing just fine. I go to the parties and smile, how are they to know I'm 'drowning in a desert'?

Lady O'Lakes

2009-07-09T21:57:00.002-05:00

I saw Lady O'Lakes at the Liptonia pre-Folkfest show last night. Excellent people, skillful music, beautiful sound.

Biking home from work

2009-07-07T17:26:00.002-05:00

I love that my commute takes me past my favourite building in all of Winnipeg.

2009-07-06T17:19:00.002-05:00

Best viewed with the sound to a minimum. Moses Mayes was FANTASTIC! They appear every year it seems, and they're a huge crowd pleaser.

Fire eaters on Canada Day

2009-07-06T01:17:00.001-05:00

Ms. Melissa

2009-07-04T17:41:00.002-05:00

My dear friend Melissa came to Winnipeg for a visit, and I got to meet up with her on Thursday afternoon. We went to lunch at The Current, one of the nicer restaurants at The Forks, and then I gave her a tour of historic tour I have been developing this summer. It was wonderful to catch up with her. I hope it is not another year till I see her again.

A hot tub goes full circle

2009-07-04T13:51:00.003-05:00

Last night I celebrated a bit of an anniversary. It wasn't specific to the date, but rather the returning to a season. I went to a hot tub party at Tim's. It was the first time I'd been to his place this summer. I was flooded with memories of last year once the smells of the pool and some beer hit my system. Last year around this time, Carolyn and TJ had just met, and Tim and Jane had decided an hour previously to start dating. One year later, one set are married and the other are talking about future apartments. Both couples were in attendance. The turning and returning were a time for reflection.

On top of the WAG

2009-06-27T17:56:00.003-05:00

The other evening, Tim invited me to the grand reopening of the Winnipeg Art Gallery's (WAG) rooftop sculpture garden. They were serving scrumptious appetisers and were showing an exhibition by Joe Fafard. It was a beautiful summer evening, and I had my bike. On the way back to the house, I meandered past the Manitoba Legislative Building and soaked in the evening.

Baptised in BDI

2009-06-23T20:05:00.003-05:00

I have finally visited the BDI icecream store. It's a Winnipeg icon. I can't believe it took two over years to accomplish! The store is right next to the Red River and a converted rail to walk bridge. The procedure is simple: order icecream; the length of the bridge; throw out your wrappers, and; walk back.

I biked there with Meg P.

A Facebook Free Event.

2009-06-22T19:19:00.007-05:00

Last week Mike F suggested we have a potlcuk at our residence, and that we invite people the 'old fashioned way' such as face to face, over the phone, or maybe even text message. Above all, he petitioned, we should avoid advertising the event on Facebook. It was to be a true test of our cultural amnesia, our ability to plan as the ability existed before 2006.

Four people came (only three of which are photographically verified). This might seem like a low turnout, but in actuality we only invited eight people. That is because we did not plan ahead with one another, and all of us assumed that the other had invited the others. We need to sit down and plan the guest list next time. But a 50% turnout was still pretty good.

Also, we had no idea who was actually coming. We got maybes from everybody. Next time I'm going to recommend we ask for Yes or No. Also, we did not know what people, should they show up, were bringing. This caused some problems in the hours leading up to the event, when we got perturbed phone calls from potential guests wondering if there was going to be two servings of meatballs, etc. Again, we need to have some sort of organization. Angie gave great advice. You give the first person who says they're coming the freedom to chose what they'll bring. Then, the next person who confirms, you say "such and such is bringing salad" and that gets the ball rolling. Good advice :)

I'm looking forward to our next Facebook free event!

Two months of infirmity

2009-06-17T20:10:00.002-05:00

I've been sick for, it feels, over two months. It started with exams in April and I haven't been able to recover. Multiple colds, perhaps H1N1, and last night, middle of the night & sleep depriving nausea.

There's something so depressing about vomiting alone.

Alive!

2009-06-15T17:04:00.002-05:00

I biked to and from work for the first time this morning. I managed to beat the bus I usually take. I think I'm really going to enjoy cycling over the summer!

Silence as blog post

2009-06-14T17:35:00.003-05:00

I haven't posted anything in around two months. Priorities for time, a new job, and the need to refresh myself from the busy and difficult school schedule have lead to the silence. My friend Wesley said that my silence was in itself a blog post, and I guess I agree.

Exams went relatively well for me this year, and I am happy with the marks I received in school. My highest mark was a 97% in technical writing, which I was particularly pleased with. I really do enjoy technical writing and also being good at is an exciting revelation.

I was in Guatemala for a week in the beginning of May for my friend's wedding. TJ and Carolyn tied the knot with 34 of their closest friends and family in the Santa Domingo resort in Antigua on May 5. I was there as official videographer for the wedding, and tonight is their Winnipeg wedding reception, where I'll be showing the video to those who couldn't be with us in Guatemala. That country was great, but seven days was just enough time for me to really appreciate coming back home to Canada. I got a little sick on day 3 of the trip and it has taken me a long time to return to 'regular' health. I hope to post some of the adventures from Guatemala soon.

This summer I'm working for a government agency at a national historic site in Winnipeg. I'm designing a really great self guiding interpretive tour using cutting edge GPS technology. It's a wonderful opportunity for me to mesh technical writing and my passion for new media and technology together. I feel very blessed to be working in a professional capacity in only my second year of university! I could see myself doing this type of work for the rest of my life!

Finally, I've rented a bike from my roommate for the season so that I can commute to work. Winnipeg has some excellent bike trails in the summer, and I'm fortunate enough to live between the beautiful Assiniboine river walk and my work. I'll be foregoing the bus pass for the next couple months and getting some wind in my hair.

Finally, I'm still single and starting to feel a little lonely. I'm nearly 27 and still don't have that special someone to share life with, someone that makes me tingle when they enter the room. There may be some contestants, but...I don't kiss and tell.

There's the update in a nutshell!

Polyphasic sleep experiment complete

2009-04-07T13:08:00.003-05:00

It ended over a month ago in a lackluster, anticlimactic kind of way. I was busy with school and hadn't the time to write the final report. Lucky for you, I've got tonsillitis. Here's how it all ended.

I mastered it. I was sleeping for a total of 4.5 hours a day, spaced over 4 sleep periods. And that's what killed it for me. I had spent two weeks fighting through crushing fatigue and strange sleeping patterns and finally emerged victorious, but that's when I realized I had merely crested one of many hurdles. Loneliness was my next enemy, and I had no strategy to overcome it.

Staying up to all hours without needed to sleep is a very lonely experience when it is done without a companion. I didn't notice the loneliness when I was distracted by the tiredness and fighting to fit into the schedule. Once I felt normal, the walls began to close in around me. I tried playing Sim City. I tried Facebook and chat with my international friends, but they weren't always available (or willing to entertain). I began to desire sleep as a way of whisking me to an hour that my roommates were awake, like time travel. So I've discovered the true meaning of sleep.

Time Travel

Coming off the experiment, an interesting thing happened. I could only sleep for 4-5 hours at a time, and when I woke up I felt extremely refreshed and invigorated. Any more than 5 hours, and I felt like I'd been in bed all day long. My guess is that my sleep time became more efficient in the two weeks I messed with it, so 8 hours were compressed into 4. This lasted for a week, but eventually my body's equilibrium had me pressing the snooze alarm once again.

The biggest thing I've learned from this experiment is that I can make it on only a few hours of sleep. I've given up opportunities in the past when I didn't think I'd had enough sleep and wouldn't be able to function. This experiment has proven that I can indeed function, and my previous fears of bone cruising exhaustion were unfounded.

Ultimately, I may one day return to the polyphasic sleep lifestyle, but it will likely only be if I had someone to share all that extra time with.

P.S. I'm not making the video, because it's boring and doesn't reveal any helpful information.

Expecting Tyas Photography

2009-03-27T17:24:00.004-05:00

My sister-in-law has started her own personal photography business! It's called Tyas Photography. Now I have two things to look forward to: becoming an uncle, and her business taking off!

Did I forget to mention that Jared and Amanda are expecting? How silly of me!!!

Homework FREEZE Zone.

2009-03-15T23:32:00.003-05:00

I was feeling really bored. My roommate had been working on an essay all day. I proposed he stop working on his essay. He proposed making a fort.

Polyphasic sleep experiment: day 8

2009-03-06T13:46:00.002-06:00

I have no idea what happened. I went to sleep at 5 AM, as per my schedule, woke up at 9:30 AM this morning. My alarm was set for 8, and class started at 9:30. What happened? I have no idea. I don't think that the alarm clock malfunctioned, nor was it set improperly because I never change the setting. It kind of felt like waking up in a strange house, except it was just a strange time.

I have a running theory that I unconsciously turned off the alarm without forming any memories of the action. To combat this, I've set the Alarm 2 function on my clock, as well as set my cell phone for a few minutes after 8, which I'll put in a different part of the room.

It should also be mentioned that there's something to be said about failing one's polyphasic sleep schedule. It's depressing. Some people eat chocolate or smoke when they get depressed. As a Polyphasic Sleeper, I feel that the most self destructive thing I can do to myself is just curl up under the covers and sleep. So I slept until noon. The shame!