Plugged?

Wow, I really should update my blog more frequently. I started off well with a few a week but now it has slowed down to one (tisk tisk).
Alright here we go. This last Monday a funny situation occurred. My co-worker (Ryan Malech) and I were having our morning break in my family's newly acquired Honda Ridgeline (I always have Ryan in brackets because I love to remind people that I work with him; plus if you click on his name it'll bring you to his wonderful blog). Now I haven't settled on a name for our Ridgeline yet but I think Reagan might be suitable. Anyways, we were chillin' outside in the cargo space mulling over the hundreds of clues for the massive Canada Day crossword (it's a full newspaper page!). Jerry (the next door neighbour), who we had just met that morning, happened to come by the truck to say hello and crack a few jokes. This guy is awesome. He must be around 70 years old and he is everything that is man. You just look at him and you know he is "the man". While he was talking to us the elderly woman who owned the house we were working on came out and waved at Jerry to come quickly. Jerry obeyed.. she asked for a favour... he complied and jogged back to his house to retrieve something. A couple of minutes later Jerry comes out with nothing else but a plunger. Oh dear, here is a dilemma. I just happened to use the elderly woman's washroom just before our break. Ryan and I looked at each other and then burst out in laughter. Unreal. I was fairly embarrassed but I laughed it off and got back to focusing on the crossword. Headin' back from our break I passed Jerry comin' out of the house and asked about the sitch [situation] inside. He mentioned that her downstairs bathroom had been plugged. Yes! I had used the up stairs bathroom! I was so relieved to hear those comforting words from Jerry. Phew, I was joyous the rest of the day.

Slip N' Slides and Apple Seeds

So my past weekend consisted of rain, rain, more rain, and a Slip N' Slide! A few of us gathered at a certain awesome cabin [cottage] (Manitobans have converted me to saying cabin!). Even though it was raining we managed to have a blast. I'll take you back to the Thursday before the weekend... My co-worker (Ryan Malech) and I were painting in the sweltering sun all day and dwelt on the idea of slipping and sliding after work. We asked our good friend if she owned one... nope. Luckily, she felt the need to purchase one (she's the BEST!). It was not used that night but it was brought along on our cabin crusade.
The wrath of the rain was relentless and we were stuck inside contemplating on what we were gonna do. The thought hit us. Of course! We pulled out the Slip N' Slide and headed out to the backyard. The place was a giant puddle and we were prepared to master the inflatable (it wasn't really blown up at all; we didn't think to bring a pump). We actually whipped out some dish soap as well to make things more interesting. That was my bath for the evening. Fun times.
A Slip N' Slide is all you need for a refreshing time. Either that or the classic sprinkler. I remember those good times back in my toddler days with the Crazy Daisy too!

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There were some good quotes today at work...
2 year old Joanna - "Norton (family's dog), don't drink the paint."
Here is some funny dialogue from the day...
Manny - "Is it okay if I give my apple core to Norton?"
Joanna's mother - "Don't apple seeds have Arsenic in them?"
Manny - *Chuckle* "Nope, don't think so. My dog eats them all the time."
Joanna's mother - "Well if your dog isn't dead it should be fine."

Wow, if apple seeds had Arsenic in them would apples still be considered the poster image of fruit? Would we be eating them!? Eve would have died right aways or soon after in the garden of Eden right? *Chuckle*, Okay, I looked it up (wow, this entry has drifted quite a ways). There is NO Arsenic in apple seeds! But there IS Cyanide! Here is a quote from http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/bot00/bot00208.htm...
"About the only way you can actually run into a problem with the toxicity of apple seeds is if you save the seeds from about a bushel of apples and eat them all at once."
Well look at that! Interesting... don't get any ideas.

Canada Day Dilemma

Today was Canada Day and for those of you who do not know, July 1st of 1867 was the birth date of our great nation! It is on the 1st of July because being 1st is better than being 4th (of July); Muahaha, Canada's the BEST! Anyways, this lovely day was perfect for the beach and that's exactly what I did. This time I was prepared for the sun's penetrable rays and brought the always reliable sun-to-the-screen. The beach was packed, I mean everyone and their sister was there (sorry our limo driver used that line a few weeks ago and I loved it!), and we were very smart to go earlier in the morning. Now let's fast forward. My cousin's band: Effect and Cause (they're amazing) was playing at The Forks at 4:30 and I wanted to go see them rock out. I cut it close coming back from the beach but I was able to catch the last half of their set. Now, I went alone to see them play and once they were done and gone I was a lonely chap. I was planning to stay all evening but I hadn't planned to meet up with anyone there right away.

Life Lesson: Never go to a massive public event alone.

I was all alone and felt like such a loser. I believe that today was the most I have ever texted in my LIFE! I know for a fact I texted over 100 times in a span of 6 hours. Unbelievable and sad. I was trying to find people and escape my one man pity party. Thousands upon thousands of people must of thought I was a loner/loser who was always lookin' at his phone. However, I found a way to beat the system! Since there were live bands playing I would go and stand next to a group and try to make it look like I was a part of their crew. I especially looked for attractive women. Hey, why not? It was a fun game! I bought myself those amazing mini-donuts and meandered, weaving through the mass mob of people.
Finally, my friends came to my aid. Five of The Super Seven (plus a few others) arrived and saved a troubled member in need. Phew, I was able to look strangers in the face again.
It turns out that The Ducks (who have apparently been nominated for a Grammy) were playing just as my friends arrived. Now, this name sounded awfully familiar and my friend (who I was in a band with) relieved my memory. We had actually played a show in Matlock with this group (the drummer was a jerk, he told me I could borrow his snare drum for our set but they blew us off and ditched early)! Whatevs [whatever], I guess they're pretty big now. Pshh, technically they opened for US! HA!
The night went on and we ended up not staying the full time for the fireworks (I have seen better, i.e. in Vancouver and in Rome on New Years!). I was hesitant; what if it was a good show? I ended up driving away only to stop a short distance later to park and watch some of the show. This way I would beat the unreal traf [traffic] jams and watch some good ol' fireworks! Ha, I beat the system again. So I ended my day watching the display from a bus stop on St. Mary's avenue. Excellent.