We've had a lot of rain in the last week. Now the sun has been out for a few days, the grass is green, the trees are in full leaf and spring flowers are everywhere. I think my favourites are the flowering ornamental plum trees, the blooms of which can range from pale pink to dark raspberry in colour.
Today in my travels I found myself alone in Moby the van, barrelling down the highway in the sunshine under a startlingly blue sky with the radio cranked and singing along to a song I remembered from when I was a teenager.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Book Review #5
I literally just finished reading the book A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz less than five minutes ago. It's a difficult book to describe. The back cover calls it "An irreverent comic adventure spanning three continents, about a father and son against each other and against the world."
It is philosophical, intellectual, irreverent, hilarious, and questions many of the ideals society holds dear. This is Australian Steve Toltz's first novel and I'm sure I'm not alone in hoping there are more to come. I shall leave you with a couple of quotes:
"...like most travelers, we had brought our preconceived notions with us on the journey and did not check them, as we should have, into immigration as hazardous materials best suited for quarantine."
and:
"I tried to go to sleep, and when I couldn't go there, I tried to get sleep to come to me. That didn't work either."
It is philosophical, intellectual, irreverent, hilarious, and questions many of the ideals society holds dear. This is Australian Steve Toltz's first novel and I'm sure I'm not alone in hoping there are more to come. I shall leave you with a couple of quotes:
"...like most travelers, we had brought our preconceived notions with us on the journey and did not check them, as we should have, into immigration as hazardous materials best suited for quarantine."
and:
"I tried to go to sleep, and when I couldn't go there, I tried to get sleep to come to me. That didn't work either."
Friday, May 23, 2008
Right Foot, Right Foot, Right Foot, Right Foot, ...
Well, OK, the police aren't yet saying if the fourth foot found is a right foot. It was, however, found while still inside a running shoe, just like the other three feet found within the last year or so. This is getting weirder and weirder.
If you have no idea what I'm talking about, the news article here explains that a severed human foot was found washed up on Canada's west coast, the fourth so far. I commented back in February about this bizarre situation when the third right foot was found. All feet were male, all were found still inside a running shoe, the first two were size 12, and the first three were right feet. I wonder if the latest one will continue the pattern.
UPDATE: Yes, the fourth foot found IS a right foot, still no word on if it was a size 12. The police, however, have stated that none of the feet have been "forcibly severed". Translation: each foot has separated from its body without human intervention, likely from decomposition and wave action while in the ocean. OK, but how did those four corpses wind up in the ocean in the first place? Shipwrecks? Misadventure? Murder?
If you have no idea what I'm talking about, the news article here explains that a severed human foot was found washed up on Canada's west coast, the fourth so far. I commented back in February about this bizarre situation when the third right foot was found. All feet were male, all were found still inside a running shoe, the first two were size 12, and the first three were right feet. I wonder if the latest one will continue the pattern.
UPDATE: Yes, the fourth foot found IS a right foot, still no word on if it was a size 12. The police, however, have stated that none of the feet have been "forcibly severed". Translation: each foot has separated from its body without human intervention, likely from decomposition and wave action while in the ocean. OK, but how did those four corpses wind up in the ocean in the first place? Shipwrecks? Misadventure? Murder?
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Interesting Things
In order to get to know some of my new coworkers better, I joined in a river pathway clean-up project in my city as part of my new company's team. It was fun: a couple of hours picking up garbage and recyclables on a beautiful sunny day, followed by a barbecue and prizes. I didn't win a prize (I rarely do, Lady Luck and I are not well-acquainted) but I enjoyed the sunshine and making some new friends.
I didn't win the "most interesting find" unofficial competition, but my odd find did make me laugh. It was a pair of men's black boxer shorts printed with little red hearts. I also found 41 cents in change.
I didn't win the "most interesting find" unofficial competition, but my odd find did make me laugh. It was a pair of men's black boxer shorts printed with little red hearts. I also found 41 cents in change.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
I Just Learned Something Else
I learned that a wee little spider (maybe 1 cm across, toe to toe, if spiders had toes, which I know they don't, but you know what I mean) is capable of withstanding a speed of 75 km/hr while perched on a windshield without slipping, sliding, or going to that great big spiderweb in the sky. That little fella just hunkered down and hung on. I wondered if the force of the wind had killed him, but upon returning to a stop he perked right up and scurried across my windshield and down the side of Moby (my big white whale of a van).
I wish I could find winter boots that grip the ice the same way those little spider legs gripped the glass.
I wish I could find winter boots that grip the ice the same way those little spider legs gripped the glass.
Monday, May 19, 2008
I Just Learned Something
Note to self: when the cat on your lap is the one who likes to headbutt you when she wants a cuddle, do NOT attempt to take a sip of hot coffee.
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