Yesterday we experienced an unexpected snowfall. It wasn’t on the forecast, nor did the weather app adjust to show snow.
Within an hour the snow began to stick. And it was a gross, slushy type of snow. Not the cute fun stuff that kids can play in. But rather a heavy mush that was difficult to walk and drive through.
My son did his best to clear the driveway so it wouldn’t turn to ice overnight. I added salt to help as well. This morning, it was cold out, but raining. So 99% of the snow is now gone. This is a typical Vancouver style winter now. Wet and cold with a grey sky.
I’m always okay with a white Christmas. But a couple weeks early is not needed.
Even as my work is getting chaotic and busy, I try and admire the beauty that can be found all around me.
I still love seeing graffiti on railcars. Many of these artists use vibrant colours and imagery to tell a story. I do my best to capture these images when I can. Sometimes I get lucky and the cars are in a good spot where the background is magnificent.
Recently I saw an image and tag that I have not seen before. A simple word- BORN with the image of a dragons head beside it. I’m not sure what the artist was trying to portray, but I like it. The contrasting colours with good fade and artwork make it stand out. At quick glance, you know what it says and what the picture is. Having a grey “canvas” railcar really helps to draw your attention to the image.
I wish I could create art like this. But I also love to see the creativity out there. Some people are just born to be good at it.
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.
The definition of “Bare Minimum Monday” means that you are intentionally starting your week slow, that you are not going to tackle any major tasks, and only do the bare minimum tasks required of you for your job. This is made to help with anxiety of getting overworked.
Not every Monday needs to be like this. But I do like the idea that you start the work week activities at a slower pace. Jumping head first into daunting tasks can be overwhelming. That sort of work ethic isn’t for everybody. So do what’s right for you.
Sometimes I feel like I could be doing less at work because I see my coworkers doing less. Other times I feel I am not doing enough- again because I see some coworkers doing more. Honestly, it’s a balancing act of being proud of the work I do and not burning myself out. In the end, my Mondays are naturally slower than the rest of my week. Sometimes even the Bare Minimum is hard to achieve because of circumstances.
Normally I talk about myself in my blog. Sometimes at the end I ask if anyone wants to share in the comments, and I’ll get a few responses. But today I wanted to try something a bit different.
Today, I want to know more about all of you. I want to know one of the following two things. You can answer both if you wish.
Have you completed something important on your bucket list- and how did you do it?
What is on your bucket list and how do you plan on accomplishing it?
That’s it. Pretty simple questions. What I would like to find out is where people are getting their ambition to achieve their goals.
I am hoping that the answers will help other people in getting to their goals. Because we are all in this together and we need to cheer one another on! Please, do not be afraid to share your responses. I’d love to hear the answers.
Some days I have so much to write about that I have a few days worth of blogs lined up. Other times, like today, I am drawing a blank. I have been trying to get motivation by wandering around the house. But it feels as though I have written so much already about living here. I’m sure I will write more about things going on around the homestead in the future. I do love our home and the people in it.
I’m not traveling again any time soon, so not much to report about plans or anything like I did yesterday. That will come up as the dates get closer. Not much to write about for work either. That feels like the “same old same old” as they say. But the routine is comforting.
With my daily blogs being routine, I do find comfort in sharing my life with the world. I know certain topics get more attention than others. Or the interest level that people like to comment on changes. So thank you for coming on my journey. Not much to read here today though. Just wait until I bombard you with Star Wars. This month will be filled with those blogs! Until then, thanks for reading!
In true Canadian fashion- Sorry world for the behavior of a few noisy people.
I’m not the sort of person who shares political opinions publicly. I just don’t bother to get into arguments of who’s side is right or wrong.
However, I have not and will not support the “Freedom Convoy” group. I am embarrassed that there are people who are doing such acts with a delusion that they are supported by a majority. Stop this idiocy. And who in their right mind would support the disruption of trade during a time that is already difficult?
I am 100% in support of vaccines and measures put in place to help keep the general public healthy and safe. Science bitch.
Again, sorry to the rest of the world for the behavior of the few. And what the hell? White supremacy groups in Canada are alive and well it seems. That is appalling after everything that everyone else has been fighting to remove.
Don’t bother to engage me in an argument to prove these terrorist blockades are good. You have nazis on your side. And telling me that it’s “only a handful” isn’t going to cut it.
British Columbia is feeling the effects of climate change and the destruction it brings with it. This summer was forest fires; which occurs every year it seems. However, Mother Nature isn’t done with wreaking havoc.
As you may know, there is a lot of damage being done because of heavy rainfall over the last few days. Places that we never thought would be hit, are now under water and mud. The Greater Vancouver area is all but shut off from the rest of the world. Our major routes in and out have been washed away.
There has been landslides before. Just not of this magnitude. Major railways are hit hard as well. Loss of bridges means that merchandise isn’t being moved. The delays will be felt for months to come for the rest of Canada as British Columbia is a major artery for import and export. The floods have finally been declared a State of Emergency.
Those of us who live here, please be on the lookout for your friends, families and coworkers. They may be affected differently and emotionally by these events. Sending “Thoughts and Prayers” on Facebook might make you feel like you’ve helped in the grief. If you really want to help, donating to the Red Cross is one of the most secure and reliable ways to do so.
At 2:22am this morning, thieves stole the catalytic converter from our daughter’s Honda Element. It took them less than four minutes. Clearly they have done this before to other vehicles.
Our camera caught some footage of the theft. Unlucky for us, a spider decided to make its web in front of the top part of the lens, so we got a bit of glare on the upper portion. Looking back at the footage, there still would be no way to tell the license plate of the truck that stopped on the road. The cost to us will be $300 deductible for insurance and the time lost of not having the vehicle on the road.
As disappointing as this event is, and as frustrating as the theft can be, I’m hoping for some justice to come about. It turns out the Facebook group for our neighborhood has people sharing information about the incident. Hopefully we can get more information to the local authorities about what happened.
When I started my blog a few years ago, I had no idea what to write about, hence the name “Making It Up As I Go.” I just knew that I enjoyed writing and storytelling. Within the first few hundred followers, I met a unique community of people in the virtual world. One of whom was Andi Webb.
He discovered my blog and began to write comments, to which I would respond. He was friendly, kind, and encouraging as I started on my hobby of sharing stories. I’d like to think that he was my first “online friend” after decades of me being on the internet. Since I was always skeptical of interacting with complete strangers- I finally found a place in blogging that was filled with support and love. Andi’s encouragement made me want to write more about parenting and being a father.
I also mention Andi because I began to follow his blog- Diary Of A Gay Dad and saw that being a father comes with all sorts of challenges. But the results are fully rewarding. Having entered in to view his life of raising five small children with his partner- I knew there had to be a backstory. There most certainly was.
Last Christmas, my wife gifted me his novel. Unfortunately, it got shelved because of our move. I finally unpacked it and could not put it down. Andi wrote a fantastic book titled Eighteen Moons. This was the first book of many that I have waiting on my bedside, wanting to read.
I don’t want to get too much into his tale, as it could spoil what you would see as a difficult journey. A journey of surrogacy that would take him out of his comfort zone, into many foreign countries; filled with heartache, strength, and a bureaucracy that would try anyone’s patience and sanity.
As a parent, you feel for their hardships. As a father, you understand how far someone would go to have get their family together hoping for a happily ever after.
Obviously I highly recommend the book. Here is a link to it on Amazon: Eighteen Moons Be sure and take the opportunity to read it.
Yesterday we spent the afternoon and evening with a couple of friends. All of our kids were off doing their own thing, so my wife and I had a night to ourselves. First was hanging out at our place for a drink and appetizers.
Costco is great for finding quick and easy foods to share. I made some mini wontons and potato skins for us to share. Hanging out in the kitchen is always a great way to converse. Having a large kitchen island made it even better.
Afterwards we headed to a local establishment called “The Vault Restaurant”. It’s been around for ages and was built in an old bank. Kind of a steampunk/industrial feel inside. The food was great and the company was entertaining. It was ridiculously fun.
It’s been a while since my wife and I headed out for a night with friends. I’m glad we did as it turned into a fantastic evening. Date nights are becoming somewhat more frequent now that our kids are teenagers. It means my wife and I can get to know one another again. For that, I am grateful.
About a month ago I mentioned about Making Space In The Garage. We have been able to park my wife’s car on her side since then. We also rearranged some of the storage last week to make it more accessible and easier to manage. This afternoon- we tackled my side. And won!
With a few things still needing better placement, I’m happy with the progress. We have some donations to send out and some recycling to toss that will help with the space. But all in all, I now have a spot to park my car.
We now have two cars parked in a two car garage! This makes me tremendously happy. Much to their chagrin- I had to have to kids out there to enjoy my moment of triumph! This was a total “Dad Flex” to unbury the garage and park our cars.
Work is a bit slow these days. It reminds me of a time a few years ago when I was working nights and it was equally slow. My boss and I decided to make some toys from office supplies.
Office Wars
The pencil crossbow was my favorite. I ended up making two of these and my boss and I did target practice at empty boxes. These things were quite powerful and a ton of fun.
Found on Reddit
We also made various animals from the large binder clips. The Scorpion one was the coolest by far. In fact my wife calls the clips “Scorpion Clips” now because of this.
Pretty sure these activities stem from a childhood of school boredom. At least the art has gotten better than just a few pencil holes stabbed in an eraser. Or using the protractor set to create a catapult.
Do you create using office or school supplies when bored? Let me know in the comments.
Today every cellular phone in BC that was on had an Emergency Alert sent to it. It scared me, even though I had heard earlier on the radio that it was going to occur. A simultaneous broadcast on all of the cellular providers.
It’s astonishing how long ago this type of alert was only on TV or radio. The tests on tv only ever happened during commercials. I also remember it happening at random intervals during the day, But not all at the same time on every channel. It was just broadcast whenever the station chose to. I’ll always remember the lines spoken:
“This has been a test. Had it been a real emergency…“
I write a blog post every day. I do this mostly for me to just get out some thoughts and share my experiences. Because I have been writing for so long, I sometimes just post without proofreading my work.
I’ve posted grammatical errors, spelling errors, wrong photos, and even posts without titles. Sometimes I’ll catch my error as soon as I hit “Publish”. Then I scramble to correct it before anyone else sees it. Other times my wife will point out my mistake and I’ll get on it after the initial embarrassment passes.
On the rare occasion I’ll find a mistake months later- when I want to link back to it. Discovering a mistake that far along is the worst feeling. I appreciate that my readers don’t point out my flaws. Engaging with people over the content of what I write is far superior than someone pointing out my shortcomings.
Thinking back on it- over the past five years I don’t think anyone has made an observation on my errors. At least not publicly. Thank you for that.
And thank you for reading my blog for all of these years. Mistakes and all. I appreciate it.
A few hours ago, a container ship (roughly as long as the height of the Empire State Building) got stuck in the Suez Canal.
The implications of how it is affecting the world economy hit almost immediately. Prices of gas has already shot up. Following soon will be the price of merchandise and goods. This vessel is preventing another 100 ships from going through the canal. It’s absolutely insane how quick the market is reacting to the news.
In true Internet fashion, the public’s reactions are humorous and just as quick. My favorite is the Austin Powers reference seen here. At the end of the day, no one is hurt and the ship will get moved. But the humor is far more appealing to most of us compared to the frustration of how much products and gas will cost in the coming days.
All you can do is laugh at the situation. I cannot wait to see what else comes from the talk show hosts and comedians today.
Over the past couple of weeks we have been actively donating and Giving away items that we no longer use. However it feels as though we’ve hardly made any headway in decluttering. Now that most of the “gently used” and “well loved” items are gone, it’s time for the big play.
Time to get ready and Junk It all.
That means gathering all the big items that are just too damn large to toss out or get recycled and have someone haul them off for us. It’s going to be a pretty arduous task to collect everything in order to get the best bang for my buck when collected.
We have an old pool table, a fridge, scrap wood, scrap metal, old electronics, broken power tools, and just stuff that we need to ditch. Some items are still in our possession because of the mindset “Maybe this will be useful one day.” Only that day never arrives.
Catchy radio jingle. That means I should call them.
So as I take advantage of the weather over the next day or two, the trash heap will grow. Until I finally have had enough and call a junk removal company to haul it all away.
Why do we keep so much crap? Is it laziness in throwing it all away? Or perhaps the frustration that you once owned something that is now rendered useless? Whatever it may be, I have a collection of junk to get rid off now.
I have no idea why today was so difficult. Work was challenging, but nothing crazy. Driving home had a bad pocket of volume, but no reason behind it once we passed the area. And then at home, everyone was on edge and short with each other.
Why?
No idea. Just a bad day of feeling poopy.
Now I’m laying in bed getting ready to go to sleep, when something completely obscure occurred to me…
You poo poo.
As in “poo” the action.
And “poo” the product.
Or am I calling you a name?
“Poo poo.” It doesn’t make any sense. Kind of like today’s blog. But it brought me a giggle to irritate my wife by annunciating the word “poo” with different inflections.
Finally, she said “You poo poo” to me. Pretty sure it was meant an insult. However she did giggle after.
I can now go to sleep happy after a conversation with my oldest where she asked, “Does Pooh poo poo-poo?” That sentence alone makes sense. Because you can also ask, “ Does poo-poo poo Pooh?”
Generally in my blog I don’t talk about politics or religion. For the most part I think the general population is entitled to their opinions and mindsets and are free to share those ideologies as they see fit. As long as it doesn’t encroach or get forced on other’s beliefs or opinions.
I want people to let others just live their lives in peace and happiness. Sure, anger is a part of living. Not everyone will be happy with decisions made by the government. Peaceful protests are a great way to get others talking. But those protests can quickly turn to riots and violence.
What happened the other day- in fact what has been happening over the past four years- is hatred. Plain and simple. Like many people throughout the world, I was appalled at the actions of these extremists.
I’m not an American. But viewing an attempted coup d’etat because of a change in government was a disgraceful act helmed by a political leader. This was all happening in what I would perceive normally as a civilized democracy. A country where every vote is counted and the results are accepted.
Whoever the president of the United States is doesn’t affect me. So my option on that matter doesn’t need to be shared. Seeing the growing numbers of racists come out of the woodwork does affect me.
I love living where I do. The Greater Vancouver area has a diverse cultural system allowing for everyone to live their lives how they want. I worry that closeted bigots and racists will see what is happening in the US and instead of being understanding of different cultures- will bring that hatred here. I know Canada isn’t perfect, but it’s on the way.
We need to speak up against racism, sexism, bigotry, and all other hatred. I’m known as a privileged white male and I want to do my part in creating a world that treats everyone with respect.
I don’t talk politics. And I have no photos to share today. Just a rant. An opinion- that we, as a society, can do better.
Today is the official day to vote for the Provincial Election of British Columbia. There was the option to mail in a vote or hit the advance voting stations. We chose to head out first thing this morning and cast our ballots.
It was also our 18 year old daughter’s first chance to vote and have her voice heard as an adult. As much as I wanted to commemorate the day with a picture of her- you’re not supposed to take any photos inside. But even before and after, she was adamant that she didn’t want me taking her picture. So I didn’t.
My first time voting was also at the age of 18. Since then, I have voted in every election that comes around, including referendums. Who I vote for doesn’t always win. In fact it feels like they rarely win. But it gives me a chance to share my choice in hopes to better the rest of the population.
It seems a tad bit crazy to be out voting during a pandemic. But here we are. So if you go out to vote today (or those in the USA who need to vote) remember to stay safe and follow guidelines. Wear the mask, use the sanitizer and keep your distance from others. But get out there and have your voice heard!
Over the past few days at my work in North Vancouver, we have seen an influx in moths. And they are everywhere.
At night, they take over the lamps and lights. During the day, the moths just hang out on everything white. My car often has a dozen of the little critters on it.
The smoke and the moths makes it feel like an invasion taking over Vancouver. It’ll be nice once the moths begin to disappear. This year has been the worst so far for the moths.
Even Arthur, our moth mascot, found love after an entire year hanging out and ran off.
This morning our laundry line snapped after a dozen years of use. So I went to Home Depot and grabbed a new line and put it up. I also picked up a few 2×4 boards and some odds and ends for some other projects. Until shortly after lunch, we were all busy.
This afternoon was a warm one with lots of sunshine. We chose to hang out in the backyard on our tree deck. We needed a break after a full morning of working around the house. Did I say it was warm? I lied. It was hot.
We played a couple of different versions of the card game Timeline. A great trivia style game that involves figuring out when events took place. I recommend this game to everyone. We always have fun playing it. Bonus- it’s educational!
We followed it with a few aggressive games of Uno. That is sure to tear families apart the way Monopoly does. Lots of yelling and accusations of cheating.
My friend Greg is a lot like me. He is always on the go with new projects and building stuff. Recently he began a project that was a far bigger undertaking than I think I could handle. But I’m impressed with his skills and the work done so far.
On Saturday I stopped by to offer some help. I was also curious to see how the project was going. He and his wife were given a travel trailer that needed a bit of work. There was a few bad spots where some leaking had occurred.
Instead of just throwing some duct tape and caulking on it, Greg peeled back the layers and began the challenge of fixing the trailer- from the frame out. What he has done so far is throughly impressive. He is hoping to have the outside of the trailer back together by fall. At the pace he is going, I imagine it to be completed.
Our buddy Matt has also been helping Greg along the way. Something about Dads and power tools… Building and creating makes us feel like providers you our families. Plus it’s fun to see sparks fly.
I now know that if I have a big project to do, I will summon the DAD PROJECT POWERS of Greg to assist me. I can already think of a project that will need his help.
Today was a slow work day. Sunday’s at work are usually like this lately. I had a bit of free time in the afternoon as I waited for a conference call, so it was monthly arts and crafts time.
I received a tin from Lootcrate a few years ago and I had no use for it at home. So off to work it went. Inside it is filled with the perfect stationary.
I filled it with highlighters! The Joker sits beside my keyboard ready for my monthly arts and crafts. I opened him up and colour coded an excel spreadsheet. The one I highlight every month- our work schedule. Then I post it on the wall.
I think my coworkers appreciate the effort. Blue is for night shift, yellow for days. Green is for vacation. Orange is for safety and pink is for the Stat holiday. This has been my regular colour scheme for the past few years now. I do this because we do not have a colour printer at work. And I get to enjoy the calming nature of colouring.
I hate to sweat. It’s probably why I don’t overexert myself. I also dislike sweating due to the summer heat.
This isn’t the first time I’ve complained about the summer heat. In fact it was almost exactly two years ago that I wrote, Gonna Make You Sweat.
But I really dislike getting sweat stains on my shirts. Especially in the arm pits. That’s probably why I don’t wear light coloured clothes. Or certain fabrics. I find I even get sweaty when I’m driving as well. Seems my body doesn’t like being nervous.
Yes. I hate driving. And I often sweat while doing it. Even short commutes will get me wet (in a bad way). Something about controlling a box made of glass and metal that travels 100x faster than I could run makes me nervous. But only when I think about it while I drive. Which is why I play the radio or talk on the phone while I drive. I need the distraction from my mind.
But I digress. Sweating is yucky. I don’t like it. Not one bit. And getting doubly sweaty because of summer driving makes me upset.
Making It Up As I Go 