We're cruising again!

For the 2nd time this year, I'm going on a cruise. This time, it will be a shorter 3 day cruise, leaving from Vancouver down the Pacific Coastline to Los Angeles with my wife and sans kids - woohoo! We'll pack small carry-on bags, take the SkyTrain to the city, and hop aboard the ship. When we get to LA, we'll rent a car so I can take Kelly to Universal Studios Hollywood for the day, then catch a late flight home.

We leave September 28th, and we're back October 1st. We'll be on-board the Golden Princess for our 8th wedding anniversary on the 30th, which will make this trip extra special. We are SO excited, and it's all booked!

Happy Mother's Day

A little blast from the past to all mothers out there:

Too funny, darn lucky!

You can call me a "regular" at Tim Horton's. I've gone almost everyday ever since I worked downtown in 2000. These days, I frequent the Tim's just behind the house, about 2 blocks away. The ladies that work the day shifts have gotten to know me so well, that they pretty much start making my custom order the moment I walk through the door. What's my custom order you ask? I always have the Breakfast Sandwich with sausage, but instead of having it on their toasted bagel or homestyle biscuit, I have them put it on a whole wheat roll. "Chris" (the lady usually working), will even custom cut the eggs and sausage so that they perfectly fit onto the long, narrow bun. I just like it better that way, and it's a bit healthier too.

Anyhow, yesterday was probably the 4th time that I've accidentally left my coffee cup on the roof of my car as I drive away. Ever single time, I quickly notice that my drink is not in it's cup holder, stop the car, get out of the car, and it's still on the roof. I usually put the cup on the roof while I'm putting the kids into the car, and forget it there. Once, I drove about 3 km down a hill, turning onto a highway, then stopping the car to check the roof, only to find the cup still there clinging on for dear life. Yesterday, I left the cup behind the passenger door on the roof. When I stopped the car down the road, it had slid diagonally across the roof just above the driver's seat. It's like it knew where it's owner was!

Has this ever happened to you?

Sometimes it just pays to buy the right thing the first time

Yesterday, I returned the iMode iPod clock radio I purchased a couple of months ago. While it had some really cool features and was priced right, its navigation and interface plainly sucked. It was extremely unfriendly to work with. In fact, Kelly was late to work (more than once) because the alarm didn't go off. Also, it's backlight was so bloody bright, it reminded me of that Seinfeld episode when Kramer couldn't fall asleep due to the blinding neon sign beaming into his apartment coming from the Kenny Rogers Chicken restaurant across the street. Enough said, the thing was not what I expected so I turfed it.

I'm not one to usually scrimp on buying stuff. Last year, I bought a 58" plasma HDTV for the bedroom. You can call that overkill if you want; I do. When I setup my home studio back in the early 90's, I spent more than $2000 on Genelec monitor speakers. 3 years ago, I bought the top of the line Apple PowerMac G5 computer. I paid extra last winter to buy a matching an Apple 23" HD display. Sure, I could of bought an LG or Samsung for probably less than half of the price, but I didn't.

I originally wanted to buy an iHome clock radio, but couldn't justify paying double the price for one. So, I bought that piece of shit instead. Now, I have an iHome and I'm happy with it. It's interface is a "piece of cake" to operate, it sounds better than the iMode, and will probably wake up my wife in time to get ready for work. Even the display can be dimmed, so that we'll get a good night's rest and won't get 3rd degree burns across our face from it. By the way, you'll notice in the photo that my iPhone docks with it, along with an old iPod shuffle to the right.

1st BBQ of 2008

It's April 26th, and I've finally decided to fire up the BBQ this evening. We love BBQ'ing any time of year, however our BBQ is not under cover, so sometimes it's a bit challenging dealing with our West Coast weather. Tonight we BBQ'd steaks, some peppers, baked potatoes, and steamed some spinach on the stove. Several years ago, we broke down and bought ourselves a Weber gas BBQ, which we've enjoyed since. I always hated running out of propane when you least expect, either when company is over for dinner, or you've just about finished cooking dinner. I equate owning a gas range or BBQ to the feeling of getting your very first hard drive. You wonder how you ever managed without it.

Phil retires

One of my 80's heros has announced his retirement today. He states that he has no plans to tour or release another album, but will continue to write music, simply because he does not know how to stop. I've never seen Phil Collins with Genesis, or on his own live. I suppose he could always accompany Cher on yet another farewell tour. Stay tuned on that one!

Podcasting in Plain English