Month: October 2023

Halloween Is Upon Us!

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Today is my favorite day of the year. I love the atmosphere that Halloween brings forth into the world. I find that this day is as important as Christmas for children. I’ve always loved seeing and hearing the joy and laughter of kids as they head out into the world to seek candy in their costumes.

Years ago

I have dressed up almost every year for tonight. My wife and I have thrown epic parties in the past, with dozens of folks attending. We have taken our children to Disneyland to Trick or Treat in the park. We have attended Comikaze and the kids entered costume contests.

I would take hours to carve pumpkins- and have now passed on that desire towards my children. They take the time to make intricate images in their works of art.

Dressing up has always been a favorite activity of ours as well. With costumes being handmade to a degree of authenticity at times. To say that Halloween isn’t important to me is an understatement.

I hope that everyone has a fun and safe day out there. And remember that Halloween isn’t just for kids. Teenagers and adults love it too!

Happy Halloween Eve

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Tonight is the night before Halloween. Tomorrow the kids at school will be focused on waiting until the end of the day. The excitement of Trick or Treating will be on their minds all day. Some kids will be in costume trying to focus on school.

I also know of many adults who will be in costume throughout the day and into the night. Why not! Dressing up and having fun once in a while is great for your mental health. It takes away from the constant seriousness that life throws at us.

I hope that everyone is getting excited for Halloween! I know I am. I can’t wait to see all the costumes that get shared on social media and in person.

Ticket to Ride: Europe

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Last night my wife and I went to a friend’s place to play a board game and have dinner. These are a couple of coworkers of mine from CN Rail. Naturally we spoke about work, much to my wife’s chagrin. But we tried to keep it to a minimum.

However we did play one of my wife’s favorite tabletop games- Ticket to Ride: Europe. It’s a game of setting up tracks between cities in Europe. The goal is to earn points through “Tickets” that start at one city and end at another. Some of the tickets are nearby one another, other can stretch across the entire board. You can also block people from connecting their locations and in turn they lose points at the end of the game.

It’s a fun, strategic style game where you really don’t know where people are trying to get to. Everyone keeps their goals to themselves and you have no idea what cards were drawn. I do recommend the game, and there are numerous iterations of the game as well as various expansions available. Beginners should start with USA as it is the most basic of them. Added features appear in other versions to keep it interesting.

Enjoying time indoors with friends as the weather gets colder is a great way to get through the autumn and winter weekends. Finding a good board game helps. So get out there and stay inside playing games!

Beautiful Autumn Day

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Last night we were able to see a spectacular array of fireworks in the distance. Overnight we witnessed the full moon lighting up the sky outside our window. Giving forth an almost daylight sensation as we slept.

Today brought forth another beautiful autumn day. And because of the clear skies last night, there was a crisp chill in the air this morning. I love seeing a blue sky above an ever changing landscape as the plants go through their seasonal cycles.

The fresh air makes for a wonderful fall experience. These sunny days bring warmth in the light, and cool in the shade. Bordering on a change from summer to winter. I like this season at times. Today is a day that I appreciate this world. I hope you do as well.

Shots!

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Yesterday afternoon I went to my local pharmacy and got my flu shot and Covid booster. I get my flu shot every year, and since Covid vaccines came out- I have been getting my booster as required.

I’m not here to start a debate or discussion about whether you should go and do this as well. I do this to protect my health due to the fact that I had an upper lobectomy performed to my left lung as a child. I also suffer asthma and allergies fairly regularly. The last thing I want is to become deathly ill.

I have felt like death a handful of times in my life. Almost yearly, as a child, I was home sick with the flu for weeks on end. Then as an adult, I have been sick a couple of times around Christmas/New Years. Contracting H1N1 in 2009 was really bad for me and that was when I decided to get my flu shot yearly.

All that aside, getting these shots yesterday was not a big deal. However, this morning I woke up with both arms tender from the entry point of the needle. My body is also feeling a bit sore and worn down. My energy levels are diminished, and I have been laying in bed on my day off for over two hours now with no desire to get up. Instead of writing my blog in the afternoon, I am finishing it off early.

I’m going to get up and start my day. Albeit in a more subdued style. Chances are that I’ll do a couple chores, watch tv, then do a couple more chores prior to dinner. Then relax playing some video games or watching tv. A lazy sort of day to be certain. But having one or two days feeling lethargic is better than being unable to breathe for a week or two.

All Wrapped Up

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Today was a sunny day. Naturally I took advantage of it. First thing this morning there was a lot of frost, and in the shady areas, it remained all day. I even found some ice where puddles once were. It was time to finish winterizing the backyard.

Our palm tree was the priority for me to protect. It has had some good growth over the years and I want it to last for many more. It grew a ton of palm fronds throughout this summer. I tied up the palms, wrapped the tree in new burlap, and ran old Christmas lights around it. I want to keep it warm and protected this winter.

At the end of last winter, I noticed the majority of palm trees in the neighborhood didn’t survive. Last year, I protected the tree much in the same way I did today. During the snowfalls last winter, I would remove the snow from the top with a broom. I suspect I’ll be doing much of the same this winter.

I love that our palm tree adds an air of exotic tropical locale in the backyard near our pool. It makes me not ever want to vacation away from home during the summer months. Hence the reason I want to work hard to protect this tree. Tomorrow I’ll finish winterizing the backyard in the sun. A sad time, but necessary in order to enjoy next spring and summer.

One Year

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Today marks one year of no alcohol in my system. I have been alcohol free for 365 days. The longest stretch I made before was 300 days. Todays milestone is important to me.

I quit cold turkey, just like I did when I was a smoker. It was a challenge at first, and I have had a few moments where I thought alcohol was the answer. An answer to a good time, a stressful moment, or boredom.

I began drinking fairly regularly at age 17. When I was a teen, I had a friend with a fake id, and a boss who would buy beer all the time for me. Most of my life was filled with drinking. Many of my friends could “count on me” to be there to go for drinks- any time any place. Alcohol became a big part of who I thought I was.

Sure, I had fun. But I also did stupid shit. Drinking and driving, puking, embarrassing family and friends or getting blackout drunk weren’t the best highlights of my life. But I stopped drinking for other reasons.

I began to worry about my health. Mentally and physically. I was drinking daily after work and I’m excess on my days off. I would count down the moments to that first drink. I would drink until I went to bed or began to pass out. Not only that, but it was starting to have a big impact on my heart as well. I was having irregular heartbeats all too frequently.

One year later, and I know that having “One Drink” would be one too many and start me back on the path of regular drinking. Not drinking is why I make rugs and focus on pinball. I want to have something to show for what I do with my time. A beer gut and addiction isn’t what I want.

Halloween is Next Week

Posted on by Josef Havelka

With Halloween only a week away, I wonder how many people will be rushing out to get a costume last minute. In the past I have usually made my costumes weeks in advance. That’s because we would have already been on the road to California to end our October. We did trick or treat in Disneyland numerous times. It was loads of fun.

This year I’m dusting off an old costume of mine. Since no one is going to be at the house to hand out candy- it will be my job next week to do so. I didn’t really see the need in putting money or effort into a new costume this year. But I still want to give away candy and laugh with kids.

So the question remains: which costume should I do?

Joey-Wan Kenobi
Hudsucker Proxy
Hunter S. Thompson

I’m always partial to being a Jedi. Star Wars is just plain great. But the other two are easy as well. I have been growing me beard out again since September, so I could do that costume without issue. For the other two- I’d have to shave. But I know my family would like that look more.

Any thoughts? Let me know in the comments.

Pie Hole: Revisited

Posted on by Josef Havelka

A few years ago, we enjoyed some dinner pies from a place called The Pie Hole in Burnaby. They are rather pricey, but really tasty. So we hadn’t bought them for ages. Then the other week, my wife and I noticed one was in Langley that just opened. It was time to revisit the Pie Hole.

Our dinner the other day was great. One nine inch pie was more than enough for four of us to enjoy. Buying a $48 dinner wasn’t exactly the best deal, but it was a good treat to not have to make dinner- besides turning on the oven. I do enjoy a good pie for dinner, although I would rather make it myself. So that will be the goal next time. I need to make a buttery crust like the Pie Hole does!

So tasty. Okay, maybe I’ll buy another pie from them in the future now that they are closer to our home. Not cooking is great as well sometimes.

Accidents Happen

Posted on by Josef Havelka

This evening, as we were finishing dinner, we got a call from our middle child. She was leaving school and got herself into a minor fender bender. She was physically okay, but the car not so much.

She was in an underground parking lot and hit the corner of a pillar. She’s not quite sure how she did it. She must’ve hit it at the perfect spot- the bumper cracked and pushed in.

I drove out to her school with my son to assess if the car was drivable. I brought duct tape, my drill and zip ties with me. I tied up the corner of the bumper away from the ground and wheel well.

I also drove out there to bring her back home. I know that it can be nerve racking when things like this happen. A person may seem okay, but a bit of anxiety and emotions can take over later on. I ended up driving the car home with my daughter. My son drove my car home, following behind me just in case something fell off the car, or there was other issues that I didn’t see. The car made it home without incident. Now to get the damage assessed and see what the cost to repair will be.

A late night on a Sunday that I wasn’t prepared for. I’m glad that our kids aren’t scared to call us if things go badly. Accidents happen, and my wife and I aren’t upset at our daughter that this occurred. We are happy that she is safe. It’s just a part of parenting- always being there for your kids, even if they are adults.

Is Electric Worth It?

Posted on by Josef Havelka

With electric vehicles becoming more prevalent in Canada, I have decided to start looking into potentially purchasing one. So it’s time to start looking.

Today, my wife and I took the Polestar 2 for a test drive. The car is from a company offshoot of Volvo. It was a comfortably enough car. Kind of a small suv- they call it a “fastback” like the cars of yesteryear. There is no real legroom in the backseat of the car. And the middle seat is all but useless. But I’m looking for a car to drive my wife and I around- no more kids. Comfort in the front of the car was great.

As with most electric vehicles, it has some good pick up and go. That was fun. Stopping was strong as well. The car was relatively nice to drive and would make a fantastic commuter car.

But then comes cost. Certain EVs have better government rebates than others. But part of that “saved money” will be spent upgrading our garage to have a charging station. I’m looking that any “Monthly payments” would be the same or less than what I spend on gas for my current suv.

So there is a lot to consider when buying electric. Such as travel distance, recharge time, comfort, cost etc… Since I’m in no rush, expect me to talk about other EVs over the next few months. If anyone has an electric vehicle that have like- let me know. I’d love to test drive some other ones.

Grad Cruise

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Last night our youngest went out for a Grad Cruise. This was one of the first big events for his final year of high school. An evening out with classmates cruising the Vancouver Harbour.

About a week ago, my wife took Theory out to buy a suit for his graduation year. I was hoping that he would take some pictures. He sent me these three pictures of him with his friends. He looks pretty good with a tie and dress shirt. He also borrowed my Pac-Man Timex and a dress belt.

I love to see our kids grow up. But at the same time, it brings a tear to my eye. Seeing our youngest growing up is pretty awesome. He can look like a gentleman, but I know he’s still my kid.

It sounded like he had a good time. From the pictures he sent, it looks like he enjoyed his time with friends.

Lamppost: Finally

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Since we moved in- the lamppost on the street in front of our home has not worked. I email the city every couple of months to report it. Well today it finally happened. They came and repaired it!

The last time I saw them replacing a light in the neighborhood, I spoke to the worker doing it. He told me they were waiting for a special light fixture to arrive. I guess it finally did.

Let there be light! I waited to see it turn on at dusk. This is what I have become, an old man waiting for the city to fix something. The little things in life bring me a strange joy. Oh my heck. Seriously? A street lamp?

I need better things to do with myself. But at least I’ll see the street on the way home.

Heavy Rains

Posted on by Josef Havelka

The past few days there has been an extreme rain fall where I work. I have watched the rain come down in buckets, causing flooding on the roads and making it just plain miserable. The roads to and from work have also been flooding, looking almost like a river. I guess that’s why it’s called an “Atmospheric River.”

I was glad to leave work and get home safely.It wasn’t as miserable at my house. A good place to enjoy a darkened evening inside by the fire. Only a bit of rain, but a nice comfort feeling being indoors.

If you’re outside during these storms, drive safe and stay warm.

Bowls

Posted on by Josef Havelka

I saved some things over the years that are important to me. Stuff that brings back of good memories from my life long ago. Of the things I have kept are bowls.

I have a set of four soup bowls that my dad owned at one point. Nothing fancy about them. They are just a basic white ceramic bowl with a brown swirl design inside. These get used periodically for comfort food meals- like tonight’s split pea soup.

I also have a set of two Pyrex mixing bowls from my father. As a child, I would watch him knead dough in the large bowl with a big wooden spoon. I was absolutely enthralled at the energy required to knead dough by hand. I have never tried to do it myself mind you. But I still use the bowl to proof dough made in one of my Kitchen Aid Mixers (one of which was passed down from my father).

My favorite bowl was a glass bowl with round scalloped edges. As a child, my mother made Jello in it all the time. I think she had this bowl since before getting married… As a teenager and beyond- this was my Mr. Noodles bowl. It was the perfect size for one packet or even two packets of those ramen goodness.

But today it got cracked and chipped. I legitimately cried when I saw this. All my memories of using this bowl are just that now- memories of using the bowl. I won’t be able to have the pleasure of making noodles or Jello ever again in it. I’ll miss the clicking sound of my spoon handle along the scalloped edges.

I’m going to finish this blog like this now as I am crying again. Mostly for the good memories the bowl gave me of my youth and of my family growing up.

Astrosmash 2023

Posted on by Josef Havelka

The first home video game system my family owned was the Intellivision back in 1981. The first game I played was Astrosmash. Over the years, I will play that game periodically and have gotten so good at the game that my score rolls over now.

New Astrosmash Game

Tonight I am playing a revised version of the game on the Nintendo Switch. This game was supposed to be released on the Intellivision Amico back in 2020. But heavy delays and poor planning has halted the production of the Amico system. But at least the game will be playable.

Matching Astrosmash Shirts

I’m looking forward to playing this game with my wife. She asked that I did not play without her while she was away this weekend. Lee-Anne enjoys cooperative gaming with me. I think it will be a fun game to play- I’ll give you an update once I try it out.

WEC 2023

Posted on by Josef Havelka

My son was away this weekend at the Western Elite Circuit in Calgary. He was competing against other speed skaters from around the world. Most from various Canadian provinces, but a few from places like Great Britain.

I do enjoy the fact that I can stream his races from home. I even shared the YouTube link with my not-so tech savvy mother so she could watch him as well. I like watching him skate, both in person and from afar.

I have seen such growth in his skills, and I know that if he continues to push, he can get much better. He is constantly achieving PBs (Personal Bests) at every competition he attends. Of course he also has bad races, but he reflects on those and gains wisdom on what to do next time.

I’m always proud of my son, just like I am proud of his older siblings. They are each trying to push their abilities to the next level. All my wife and I can do is support them as best we can.

Salt Lamp Revitalization

Posted on by Josef Havelka

My wife picked up a salt lamp from the Facebook Free Marketplace. It had a few issues that needed attention. First- the lamp switch wasn’t working, that was an easy fix. Secondly, the previous owner got the lamp very, very wet. So it had lost its chunkiness. So I had a plan.

Too Smooth

I decided to take my Dremel to it and carve it up. I figured if it works- cool, if not- all it cost me was my time and energy. So I got to work with an idea.

I carved out some flames on one side, and Calcifer on the other. I have never carved a wood or soapstone, let alone a salt lamp. I enjoyed making it, and think it turned out alright for a first attempt. Would I ever carve another salt lamp? Heck no. It was extremely dusty and messy. Even though I wore long sleeves, gloves, a mask and safety glasses- my body felt like I was washing with a salt lick.

That being said, I did enjoy the carving portion and may consider doing it again one day with some other type of material. For now, I’m going to enjoy the ember glow of the lamp.

Challenging My Rug Making Skills

Posted on by Josef Havelka

This week I was making three custom order rugs for people I know. Each one was different in design elements. I also made an extra rug for my wife at her request.

The first rug I completed was for my son’s friend. He asked for a rug to gift to his father. He sent me an image, so I made him a fun narwhal rug from the movie Elf. The writing was the biggest challenge for me on this rug.

The next rug I finished was for a coworker. He wanted me to make one of his dog as a gift to his wife. I have never attempted to make a rug from an image of a pet before, so this one posed many challenges- specifically colour matching of fur and where to make the contrast cuts.

The next rug I finished was for a friend who works for the RCMP. He wanted his badge to be made into rug form. The two biggest challenges on this rug was the center emblem and carving out his badge number. But again, I am really happy with how it turned out.

The last rug I finished was for my wife. She has requested that I make rugs for every season to put on the window seat in our living room. I really like this one as I was able to design it myself in the style of my choosing. The autumn colours really pop with a light blue background.

As proud as I am of my rugs, I don’t think they photograph as well as I want. All of these rugs should be seen in person to really appreciate the detailed work. Having the opportunity touching the softness of the yarn as well is important.

I’m going to be slowing down on the custom orders for a bit, I find I push myself to hard to get them completed. Specifically this week, since I was on vacation, was a good time to power through these requests. Next set of rugs will take longer, as I have other things I wish to do with my free time coming up to Halloween and Christmas. But I won’t neglect my sense of pride in getting the rugs done properly.

Just The Tip

Posted on by Josef Havelka

I was making rugs this week, as I often do these days, and I ran into an issue. Actually I ran into a few issues. First, I busted my threader. It’s a long thin metal loop used to thread the yarn the rough the machine. I was able to make a new one with some thin wire from inside a CAT5 computer cable. So that worked as a great fix.

The next issue I had was with the scissors part of my tufting gun. It wasn’t cutting the yarn. So I replaced that part as I have a couple spare blades. Not a big deal, just tedious to get it working properly again. But then came the big problem…

I broke the tip of my tufting gun! I managed to hit my wood frame as I was working on a rug and it bent. So I tried to bend it back and it snapped off. The tufting gun was no longer usable. I was livid to say the least after just performing some maintenance on the gun.

Lucky for me, I still had the first gun I bought last year. This thing was “smooth like butter” as my wife says. It worked flawlessly. I almost regretted ever abandoning it for the other gun. In the end I was able to finish my rugs, and I found a renewed love for my original machine. Now to get some parts as back up to repair my 2nd gun and have on hand just in case I screw up again.

Camera Swap

Posted on by Josef Havelka

A few years ago, a rock damaged the front facing camera on my Nissan Rogue. It wasn’t something that required urgent repair, so I left it alone. But seeing as how my kids use the vehicle occasionally, I thought it may be time to get it fixed.

Of course, I checked at a dealership to see how much it would cost. At $400 plus tax, I sought an alternative way to get it done- on my own. So I bought a replacement camera off Amazon for a quarter the cost. I had my son give me a hand to swap it out.

After about thirty minutes of trying to figure out how to access the camera’s location- we had it swapped out fairly easily. Hopefully this one lasts longer than the original.

Now, we can see where we are parking the car with ease. It will help the kids bring the car closer to an object without striking anything. It’s good to have this safety feature working again. I’m glad my son helped out, I like to show him that it’s sometimes better to do repairs on your own. I also appreciated having a second set of eyes to come up with a solution to tackle this repair.

This is definitely the kind of thing that should be passed down to my kids. Doing things on your own gives a sense of accomplishment. Now we have a working camera in my Rogue.

Thanksgiving Meals

Posted on by Josef Havelka

This year for Thanksgiving we didn’t plan on having a turkey. Turns out two of our kids don’t like turkey, and our oldest is pescatarian. I was a bit saddened by the lack of turkey on turkey day. But my wife and I got lucky- a friend of ours invited us out for dinner on Sunday.

It was a great dinner on the back deck of their home. We had ham and turkey, enjoyed with the company of numerous friends. I was really happy to get some turkey last weekend!

On Monday our kids joined my wife and I for a formal dinner. Instead of turkey, we made a French onion soup, then a baked cod, followed by a strawberry rhubarb pie. It may not have been turkey dinner, but it was a great meal made by the family.

A loving thanks to my friends and family for spending time with me and sharing wonderful meals last weekend. It was fantastic and I really needed to spend that time with everyone.

I hope your weekend was as good as mine was.

Thanks and Giving

Posted on by Josef Havelka

As I mentioned, this past weekend I spent at the Nightmare Before Christmas Market. I sold some rugs and bought some stuff. But the one thing that I did that brought me the most joy at the crafter fair? Trying to encourage others to make rugs.

A few people paused and talked to me about making rugs. Some were just starting, others were unsure where to start. I enthusiastically described how I make the rugs. I told them to give me a follow on Instagram and that I’d gladly answer any further questions they may have. Honestly, I make my rugs as a hobby and it was never intended to be a “Side Hustle”. Selling my rugs does help in allowing me to buy more yarn and material. I also do trades for my rugs- bartering my goods and services for other goods and services.

I like giving back to others, especially with my knowledge from my own trials and errors. Making rugs is my most recent adventure. The other is my pinball game. Today I taught my son some basics about electronics and repairs. He was extremely receptive to learning a new skill. This is a a set of skills that he can utilize towards other avenues in his life as things come up. My knowledge of electronics came from when I was in high school. I used it over the years- specifically on arcade games and car stereo installations.

Sharing knowledge shouldn’t always come with a price. Receiving thanks or seeing others succeed is payment enough for me. I hope that I was able to inspire more folks this weekend (including my son). May you all share that knowledge with the next group of people who need help.

Day 2: The Nightmare Before Christmas Market

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Today is day two of my first craft fair market as Tuftleupagus. I had a ton of fun yesterday selling rugs and meeting people. I forgot how enjoyable these things can be. There is a certain “air” about these sorts of events- especially as a maker/creator/artist/crafter.

You make something you love, you know other people will love it too. You also know that there will be people who don’t. Those are the people you do your best to ignore. But it can make you second guess your work. But the people who want your work, will WANT your work.

I enjoyed my first day. I sold two of my absolute favorite rugs almost immediately. I was a bit sad to let them go, but I can always make them again for myself. I sold some other rugs as well yesterday and got a lot of interest for selling more today.

This is the only market I am doing this year. it was a chance to get my feet wet. It has been a couple of years since I have been a vendor at something like this. I enjoyed my first day and look forward to my second day. Once this is done, I have a couple of custom orders to make because of this show! That’s cool as well.

So come see me for a brief five hour day. I’ll give you a discount if you show me that you read my blog!

Nightmare Before Christmas Market

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Today is the day!

I’m at my first market to sell my rugs. What started as a hobby has overrun my home with a lot of rugs. Hopefully my rugs find new homes this weekend.

Besides my rugs, there are so many other great things here. You need to come out and check out some of these fun and creepy Halloween items!

Come down and check it out this weekend!

MARKET LOCATION: Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

MARKET HOURS:

11-7 Saturday, October 7th

10-4 Sunday, October 8th