Joel Grueberman

Communion Dec 9 07

2007-12-08T23:47:00.000-08:00

‘Tis the season, once again.
And once again for a brief period of time the thoughts of many turn to celebrations. For some the only occasion to celebrate is the season itself, for some it is the ring of the cash register rescuing their business from the red. We might even suppose that for all it is an opportunity to remember that Jesus was born.

The threat that some might happen to be drawn into thinking about Christ seems to coincide with movies this time of year that would convince us that Christmas has nothing at all to do with God. Yet it would seem to reason, that at this time of year the chances are pretty good that your neighbor or someone that you meet along the way is thinking about the real reason for the season.

I’ve been reading a lot of books lately and one of the books I read was about business. One of the chapters was about managing risk vs. achieving your goals. The author said that it’s a fine thing to study your objective. To talk about it and to think about it, to find out as much as you can about it, but he says, until you actually reach the point that you do something about it, with out a “critical success event”; all your efforts amount to very little.

The author was referring to buying a house, meaning that if you never submit an offer, all the information you’ve gained about the market, location and so on is completely wasted.

You may be wondering what all this has to do with communion. At communion we gather around this table to remember a critical success event in the life of Christ. If Christ had not gone to the cross we would not be celebrating our salvation as we do every time we meet here. Christmas time represents the beginning of the life of Jesus and his example to us as the ultimate “Doer of the Word.”

I hope that the time that you spend this Christmas moves you. That as your friends and neighbors or complete strangers to you are thinking about the beginning of the life of Christ, you would be more than a Hearer, Reader, Scholar, Thinker or Discusser of the Word, but that you would take the opportunity to be a Doer of the Word this holiday season.

Give a gift worthy of the occasion. Share the message of the Birth, Life, Death and Resurrection with others during this holiday season.

more nano

2007-11-29T13:13:00.000-08:00

“Ma’am, you can’t go in there!” a man shouted.
“What do you mean ‘I can’t go in there’? My son is in there. I’m not afraid of you; now get out of my way.” There was a period of silence and then the door opened and in walked the one person that Dave did not expect to see: Meredith. She covered her mouth and tried to stifle a scream when she saw him, she rushed to his bedside, the tears already beginning to fill her beautiful blue eyes.
“Dave? What did they do to you?” She reached out to touch him but when she saw the wrappings on his body she only hovered over him with her hands. She found his fingers and gave them a light squeeze. “Son, say something.”
“You look good, mom.” He croaked from his dry throat.
“Forget about me. What’s going on, Dave? Why are they guarding your room? What happened to you?”
“It’s a long story. You wouldn’t believe. I’m not sure I believe me.” She looked at him as if to say that she wasn’t going anywhere so he better start talking. Dave began to tell her everything that had happened from the time that he got on the airplane. He would pause when she would gasp or sigh, but she would always prod him to continue. Soon Dave was tired of talking and Meredith had used up all the tissues in a large box at the bedside. There was a long period of silence and then a thought crossed Dave’s mind.
“Mom, where am I?”
“This is a hospital… in Key Largo.”
“Key Largo?” Dave was shocked. His flight was supposed to leave Bogatá and arrive in Miami.
“How did I get here?”
“The police brought you here. You didn’t have any ID so they put you here as a John Doe.”
“How did you find me?”
“We’ve been trying to get information from the government about why they had stopped looking for you. They stopped returning my calls so I started to call around. Ryan’s mother gave me the number of his production company. I talked to real nice girl on the phone. She said she would call me if she heard anything. I got a call three days ago. She said that you had been booked on a flight to Miami, so I came to meet you, maybe bring you home…” She trailed off.
“But I never came.”
“No I waited for an hour but you never appeared so I asked the airline. The lady at the desk said that you were on the plane. When I asked why you hadn’t gotten off the plane she called her manager. She came back and told me that she was mistaken, that you had never gotten on the plane. I knew something was wrong because she seemed upset, like somebody had frightened her. I called your uncle Al and he made some calls. I went to the hotel and waited; he called me and said that a buddy of his in a K-9 unit in Key Largo had forwarded him a video of a crazy person getting tackled by a police dog. He recognized your face and he called me…” She stopped when she saw the look on his face.
“What’s the matter?”
“Do you think I’m crazy?”
“Oh no, son, that’s just the video.”

What I have been doing instead of blogging

2007-11-17T12:21:00.000-08:00

He heard the dripping of water and felt the humid breeze against his face. It rained in the jungle, at times Dave was sure the jungle was rain mixed with the odd sunny break when the water that had fallen would steam up into the canopy. He heard voices and he looked around to see where they were coming from but he couldn’t see anyone.

Then he found himself standing across from Ryan; he barely recognized his friend. The Guerilla soldiers had not gotten the answers that they wanted and his showed. It was Dave’s fault, although Ryan would never say that, but Dave knew that if he had never mentioned this stupid idea to his friend, then at least the good chance existed that only Dave would have been in this predicament. Ryan’s face was badly bruised and his left eye was swollen shut… but that was not the worst. The worst had just begun.

A flock of birds launched from the trees and began to swirl above his head and dove closer and closer. The air was filled with sound of beating wings. The sky grew dark and the ground began to shake with small tremors. Dave looked and could see Ryan, but he could no longer see his face, only a blank space where it had once been. He called out but his voice fell only inches from his mouth. Ryan’s body was limp in the grasp of his torturers. The sky grew darker and the noise grew denser and pressed in against him. The birds flew so close to him that he could feel their wing tip brush against his skin, gently at first and then a large black bird with a silver beak and blood red eyes slashed his arm; its wingtip was razor sharp and fountain of blood gushed from the gash in Dave’s arm. The blood flowed freely like it would never run out and Dave looked down to see where he had been wounded but he felt no pain. Instead he heard a scream pierce through the swirling of the cyclone of feathered wings glinting with there silver tips. He turned his head toward the scream and suddenly he realized that the scream came from the only feature he could recognize on his friend’s face. He strained to move closer but his feet felt like lead. He looked down and his legs now looked like the tree trunks of the jungle around him, the razor wings began to hack away him like a million axes chopping at a tree. He could see his body being pared down and he could do nothing about it and yet he felt no pain. Dave could still see Ryan and he could hear his screams but he couldn’t understand what he was saying, but it seemed that he was directing his rage at Dave.

Dave strained to move but couldn’t, he tried to reach for Ryan he found that his arms where now bloody stumps; he screamed but the sound that heard was not his own voice but the screech of a great bird and then the sky exploded…

Dave woke with a start. The peal of thunder shook the aircraft and Dave looked around and realized where he was. He could see that all was not right, the passengers where tense and the flight attendants where huddling near the intercom hoping that no one would look to them for help.

The storm that the pilots had originally tried to avoid had backtracked and now they found that they could not avoid it and now they found themselves flying into the belly of the beast. The pilot came on the intercom and tried calm the passengers.

2007-11-13T10:50:00.001-08:00

Huzzah! I'm a big kid now...

2007-09-25T22:09:00.000-07:00

Here is a day in the life of me. I got to work at 7am and cut the greens, then we cleaned up a dead elm tree and cut some rough and herded leaves into piles for the wind to blow around. and then....

... its finally here. The day that I actually get a story in print. I sent of the same article that I wrote in my blog and they printed it. All 600 words on page 16 but still... there it is.

Wanderlust

2007-09-21T12:28:00.000-07:00

It’s very likely that few people in Dauphin are aware that we have been recently visited by a well-traveled couple from Hannover, Germany. Dauphin was a chance stop on a journey for, Ingrid and Herbert Klages, that began in the Port of Hamburg, Germany when they loaded their Fiat RV onto a freighter bound for Buenos Aires, Argentina. The journey has continued to include a tour of Brazil and Argentina, as well as, a trip to the southern tip of South America, known in German as Feuerland (Fire Land). As if that were not enough the trip turned north to include the Western route from Chile north through South America to Central America, Mexico and Baja California. Their travels also included time spent in California, before continuing on up to Vancouver Island and the beautiful city of Victoria. Nowhere near finished, they left the awe inspiring real estate behind for the wilds of the British Columbia interior and Alaska, finishing their trek north at the Arctic Circle, before turning around and heading south. Their return leg brought them to Dauphin, on Thursday night, Sept 20^th, as they prepared to return home via Halifax where they will load their RV for passage to Hamburg.

Highlights of their tour have included the wonders of South America, the natural majesty of Patagonia and the frontier country of inlets and waterways of southern Chile. The great altitude changes from the Gaucho plains of Argentina to Lake Titicaca in the Andes Mountains. They were challenged by the humidity of Mexico and the oppressive heat of 55ºC in Death Valley, California, when their air conditioner gave out, but they persevered retrofitting their camper with fans to cool their living space. Quite impressive is the fact that since they left the ship in Buenos Aires they have depended on this small living space, at times completely. Their trip began on July 22, 2006 and nearly 18 months will have passed by the time they return home by boat from Halifax.

They have not traveled alone, as for most of the journey they have been accompanied by up to 5 other couples from Germany, each couple in their own RV. Included in their group has also been a German doctor vacationing with them. At times members of the group have put their trust in a portable defibrillator, as members of their group have suffered from heart troubles. All of the members of the group are retirees or of that age and have realized a lifelong dream by participating in this trip. However, this is not their first great journey; other trips have included travels from Moscow to China on the Trans-Siberian Railway and RV journeys in Northern Africa.

When asked what impressed them in their travels, they responded that they were shocked by the grandiose creations in Las Vegas and the “only-in-America” use of water in the desert. Also, the number adopt-a-highway projects struck them as odd, since in Germany it’s generally thought, that in return for high taxes the government should maintain the roadways. The sight of abandoned farms caused them to speculate about the lives of hopeful immigrants who came to Canada and all that is left are the weathered wooden buildings. In addition, they found that Canadian driver’s often drive aggressively even when compared to our American neighbors, perhaps contributed to by what seemed to them to be a conspicuous lack of “Mountie” presence on Canadian highways, also missing have been the wildlife that they hoped to see, particularly moose. It was hoped that a trip through Riding Mountain might solve that, if not a side trip to Lake Audy to see the buffalo might be a good substitute.

For all of their preconceived notions, they have had their share of disappointments but they have also found many wonderful surprises along the way and the return home from their journey-of-a-lifetime with many wonderful memories and souvenirs for their 6 children, 12 grandchildren and many friends tracking their travels from home via the Internet.

Information and pictures from their can be found at www.panamericana06.de (in German)

I feel like I just shot Old Yeller...

2007-07-30T12:24:00.000-07:00

So here it is... I have been way from the blog but its not like I have been taking a mental break. I just had to have some me time. I needed to make some decisions that were pressing on my mind and to day I made a big one. At least I think I did...
As you know if you check out this blog even semi-regularily I have been debating what to do with my life and looking at a few options like getting a job with a company and devoting my life to the status quo or rolling the dice on starting my own business. I have also tempted myself with the idea of going back to school. The main difference from when I went to school the first time and this time is experience... a.k.a. the stuff you learn by screwing up a lot.
The experience of the first go-round taught one big lesson: Debt Sucks!

If you can avoid debt I would highly recommend it. I dreamt yesterday of the day that I will be out of debt. I might just take up travelling on a shoestring, like a hobo. Why? Because I could, the bank would no longer look for its pound of flesh once a month. I would be free... not unlike an ex-con breathing free air for the first time in years. Really, what difference is there? in one: you make a stupid mistake for reasons that seem acceptable at the time, they assign you the terms of your penalty and then they give you a number... in the other its all that and a free stress ball for signing up. What kind of sick sense of humor is that, why don't they just shake your hand and say "Welcome to Hell!!".

So we come to Old Yeller:
I just effectively ended my application to go to Journalism Arts at SAIT in Calgary. The reason for this decision is that it is looking highly unlikely that I will get a grant to study. That would mean that I would need to take out a student loan, meaning that I would be digging the debt hole all the deeper. I just spend the last 8 years filling in that cavity. Plus I found out that my application for Housing hit a snag, it turns out that because of the never-ending housing boom, coupled with the never-satisfied labour shortage, my apartment will not be finished and I will have no where to live. Not a good thing in Calgary, especially as a student.
So despite being accepted for Journalism school, I will have to do like the they do at the Oscars and say that its nice just to be nominated and bow out this time.

Thats not to say that I am done with writing, the good thing about Old Yellow dogs is that if you have to shoot one, you can always get another one. (I think I just lost the sentimental folks) I am already planning my novel attempt for November.

I must apologize...

2007-06-20T17:37:00.000-07:00

It seems that my last blog entry was one, although clearly graphic in its attempt to convey the honest facts, deemed by some... ok by most to be over the top.

To that end: I apologize.

Update: I am feeling much better. I feel like I will be up and going again within the week. The horrible rash and the stinging pain are all but gone, but I am still taking painkillers because I'm a big baby.

Boredom is the reason for the topic of this blog. I did something while I was sick that may shock even more than the textbook style pictures of my last posting. Sensitive viewers may wish to avert their eyes:

In case you're no good at this I will tell you. I shaved. I have had a beard or at least some form of facial hair since the second semester of grade 12. I grew a beard for the Musical at Western in which I played the Wazir. Briefly while I worked at Safeway, I had to shave, but basically for at least the last 10 years I have had a beard and in a moment of boredom while standing at the bathroom mirror, I wondered what I would look like with a fu manchu. It wasn't pretty.

So I decided to go all the way. Some might ask,"Why did you stop there? Why not shave your head as well?" To those I say,"I wasn't that bored."

So now I poll the public... "To beard or not to beard?"

(the third picture group up there shows at least one occasion when my sisters got bored and I bore the brunt.)

May Long Update

2007-05-17T08:12:00.000-07:00

So this is more for my American friends. I know my Canadian friends will just roll there eyes and think of something mean to say and then politely refrain. Its actually a pretty funny video. What makes it good, is that unlike some movies about hockey, the guy in the video actually has the moves. No triple deek or flying V here..

In other news...

I played my first ever golf match on Monday with Randy my golf partner and we won. I got a birdie on the third hole and Randy birdied 18 so that ended up being the difference. And I shot my best round of the year (91) so things are looking up. Now if I could just find a few sponsors... Anyone? Anyone? Buhler?

On my birthday

2007-05-09T21:12:00.000-07:00

This day in history: the birth control pill was formally introduced for sale. Fortunately for me, NO SALE.

Yes today was my birthday. It all started... no not that story. This morning I showed up to work with a box of Tim Horton's donuts. Which I know in North America, its common for other people to provide a cake. But I like the German tradition of "Its your birthday, why should I care?" I know its not marketed that way, but it makes sense. If you want people to celebrate with you, bring cake. If you want to be left alone, eat your cake in private, sitting in the dark, crying about your age. Its really up to you.

Anyway, needless to say they ate the donuts despite the obvious cultural faux pas.

And then we went mini-golfing. Or crazy golfing as I am finding out it is called in other parts of the world. Although I think putting a little wooden border around the short grass shows an awful lot of mental capacity. More so than searching for a little white ball in the rough, whilst foaming at the mouth and cursing under your breath, despite the fact that you put it there. And then to top it all off you go and do it repeatedly the whole time telling yourself that your having fun. Yup thats sanity.

Anyway, to top off the day. I fixed my new car. (Not too often that sentence happens) The car that I got for $1, from a friend who left town in a hurry, wouldn't start. My dad and I towed it home and puzzled over the possible cause of its untimely death. After consulting a manual borrowed from a former Toyota mechanic and several head scartching results of the misinterpretations of the manual that covers every engine ever made by Toyota and several misfiring rough running oopses... Tonight I put the key in and hoped and Eureka! It started and ran like a Toyota!!

So that was my day. I got beat in putt putt but now my car no longer makes that sound.

Thanks to everyone who remembered and said hey. If you missed it, see you next year and remember I'll be the one with the cake.

If I blog it maybe it'll come true

2007-05-06T20:25:00.000-07:00

So here's the scoop: I am well. My father is nearly finished his Chemotherapy, he has an appointment in Winnipeg in the morning to find out how he is doing. He's doing fairly good for a guy whose test show that he is mostly dead. I guess that's what Chemo is designed to do, see who's got more kick; you or the cancer.

In other news, I am still in the business entrepreneurship project and still working in developing a plan for a business. Right now the numbers don't look good for starting a business in this location... but thats ok. Thats one of the potential outcomes in any good business plan: plan not feasible, please play again.

The picture is of a fountain in Helsinki, Finland that I took with a 35mm camera back in 2001. Surprisingly, the glossy looks better than the digital. Anyway, its always been a favorite of mine. I have been looking over old pictures lately to try and get a sense of how my photography skills are. The reason for that is that I was recently accepted into Journalism Arts at SAIT in Calgary. The course starts this fall and right now I am trying to get the funding that I need to pay for the whole thing.

I'm still not sure if I can go, but at least now its a real option and not some crazy pipe dream...

I'm going off the leash

2007-04-15T16:33:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day of my cell phone contract. The youtube is the Tragically Hip ie)Canada's Band. I just thought it spoke to the old joke 'the only different between a crazy person talking to themselves and a person on a cell phone; is the cell phone.' (maybe now, like in the video, the crazy people are the ones without a cell phone?)

So anyway, to update. My dad is doing good. This was his 65th birthday today. He only has one more round of Chemo and the doctor's have said that they will not be prescribing any more just yet. So now we have to get on with projects. He bought 20 bundles of wood laminate for the kitchen. Plus I got a free car that needs a serious tuneup. We have a tractor that needs to be overhauled, bathroom to build and a new garage/shop to engineer and build. So no time for cell phones...

Where does the time go?

2007-03-07T12:38:00.000-08:00

Click here to take my Online Golf Survey

And once you've done that, see if you might have made a good medieval soldier. Or if you should just stick to golf.

SO... its been more than a month. And "what has happened ?" you might be thinking, or perhaps you are thinking I'm dead... if that's the case, none of you are trying very hard to find out.

I am not Dead.

However, since my last post some one did kill the Mayor's wife. Its put our little dorf on the map at least for the 5 seconds it got on the national news.

Its been a little bit odd really. It was big news for a few days but now the pace has slowed and I think a lot of people have just gone on without much thought to the fact that a "high profile" person in this community has been murdered. (Especially since the police haven't made any statements.)

I have been busy with my research and with feeding Ma and Pa. I have been at the gym 6 days a week and I took up ice hockey after about a year off. I am studying Greenkeeping and Horticulture which means alot of reading and I planted a(n) herb garden.

At work I am Project Leader for a seminar of Youth at Risk (18-30 year olds) and how to better prepare them for life. I also had to write a comprehensive résumé and it turned out to be 8 pages.

Manitoba Foxworthy

2007-02-28T15:09:00.000-08:00

If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through
36" of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by, you might be a Manitoban

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you might be a Manitoban.

If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you might be a Manitoban.

If you have had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who
dialed a wrong number, you might be a Manitoban.

If "Vacation" means going south past Grand Forks for the weekend, you might be a Manitoban.

If you measure distance in hours, you might be a Manitoban.

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you might be a Manitoban.

If you often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and then
back

again, you might be a Manitoban.

If you can drive 110 KM/H through 2 feet of snow during a raging
blizzard, without flinchin, you might be a Manitoban.

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit,
you might be a Manitoban.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled
with snow, you might be a Manitoban.

If you know all 4 seasons by: almost winter, winter, still winter and
road construction, you might be a Manitoban.

If your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next to
your blue spruce, you might be a Manitoban.

If down south to you means the U.S. border, you might be a Manitoban.

If your 1st of July BBQ was moved indoors due to frost, you might be a Manitoban.

If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you might be a Manitoban.

If you find -20 degrees "a little chilly", you might be a Manitoban.

If you actually understand these jokes, and you forward them to all
your Manitoba friends, you might be a Manitoban.

half an hour to kill

2007-02-22T13:32:00.000-08:00

Here I sit. I'm ready to call it quits for the day and yet I find that time still hasn't caught up to my needs. So where do I go. I put on the headphones and link up Radio Blau and turn to my oft neglected blog.

What's new with me?

Well, I passed my XP exam today: 98%... so I am officially certified to open my email. And next week I start on my Excel training so at least my excuse of not knowing how to organize my numbers won't be a valid excuse for not being able to show a profit.

I am also in a class of 12 people studying the basics of Greenskeeping. This is an online delivery course and I am the only one from Canada. The rest are mostly from Europe or the UK, so they'll most likely be in bed when I start to study. Its kind of cool, in theory I could attend class in my bathrobe... (some of you who know me know how possible that is outside the virtual realm.)

Today I had my first real massage... I'd recommend it to anyone. Just don't try and do any heavy thinking afterward. I was very relaxed and now very thirsty, go figure.

Dad is doing ok. His Chemo continues to make him cranky. And thats ok. Now he limits his outbursts of construction to one wall a day. Not bad considering he has cancer.

Oh look at the time, the blog has done its work.

My favorite KIDS

2007-02-15T21:38:00.000-08:00

(Insert Creativity)

2007-01-30T14:25:00.000-08:00

So I figured I better write something. I would say that I should write before people give up on me and stop visiting. I'm afraid that moment has passed.
I haven't written anything for about a month because (cue lame excuse) Christmas was too much for me.
Anyway, Dad is doing good. He got his latest tests that show his White Blood Cells have returned to normal following two go-rounds with chemo. Some of the numbers are still a concern but the obvious signs that he is well enough to be stir-crazy is that I came home for lunch to find him mapping out the entire electrical system for the house. He was going to the breaker box and turning of a breaker and then going around plugging in the coffee grinder to see if he had power. Just when I needed the microwave he was testing that general vicinity. Halarity ensued.

My Entrepreneurship Project is also going well. I can spell entrepreneur on the first shot now.

Well, I have to go do my other job now. Making Supper. Its chicken stir fry tonight!

Later,

Joel

Dave's on Youtube!!!

2007-01-04T16:20:00.000-08:00

So its finally here. Dave is now in Cyberspace! I know I have posted my dad in pictures but today is similar in scope to Lumiere's first short film in Paris. Because its Dave on Youtube!!!

Good news to report about Dad:

After his first week of Chemotherapy, his numbers are very much improved. Which is probably a very good thing because it's Christmas after all, or it was. In other words the season where people get in their cars and drive long distances in less than perfect weather to bring viral diseases from far off lands. All the holiday hubbub has resulted two people in the house coming down with a flu in our stomachs and heads. Myself included: Bah Flu bug!

Freaky: play both at same time

2006-12-22T03:37:00.000-08:00

Change: the great constant

2006-12-13T13:34:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had one of those days where it seems for a moment that your life has been put on fast forward? All the cosmic tumblers are spinning wildly; clicking in to place to unlock the secret of the mystery of your existence...

Ya, me neither.

I did have a day where my life seemed to change with each passing phone call and those phone calls and emails came in quick succession and seemed to carve out the next six months to a year in the time it takes to drink a coffee.

The week before I left for my trip to Ohio, I was planning on staying Alberta for a while and seeing what kind of future I could carve out in this land of milk and honey. But then I received a couple rejection emails from jobs that I had invested several interviews in, so that was the first sign of the mini-apocolypse. The next sign came in the form of a medical report from home that said my dad's numbers (blood test) are all out of wack and getting wackier. So what do you do when your heart has already embarked before your mind has the sense to follow?

I had an interesting chat with my former boss; a guy that you already know about if you've read much of this blog. His opinion of the whole thing is that my sole purpose in live is to be successful. Family it seems, in his opinion, is a fine thing so long as it doesn't hinder a man's ability to be free to capitalise and take his advantage. I won't say that I haven't considered the ramifications that any decision I make will have on my future.

Sometimes it takes hearing what you've been thinking come out of somebody else's mouth for you to understand how vile some ideas are.

"quod in omni vita facimus in aeternum resonat" Gladiator

The third sign came in an email / phone call double header, a program that I had placed on the back burner as a nice idea but not feasible, became seemingly plausible as an option and then as other opportunities passed away, the path became all the more clear. Like a dark horse the longshot came from the back of the pack and changed my plans completely.

Ok, enough fluff? I am going home for a period of about seven months to study entrepreneurship and to be close enough to help out at home if my Dad needs anything while he poisons his body with Chemo drugs. It seems like a strange game of chicken and I am going home to try and cheat for the home side.

Right now the business model that I am working on is a driving range. So if you have ideas or heaps of unused venture capital give me a shout. If you want to just say hi thats cool too.

Pictures: Niagara Falls: the Canadian side (1), Looking back to the American side (2)

Update from Mom

2006-12-05T21:22:00.001-08:00

On Monday morning we had been asked to arrive a bit earlier as David has been chosen to be part of one of the research projects currently going on regarding CLL, and they needed five extra tubes of blood – which were to be extracted before 1:00 p.m.

When we saw Dr. Johnston (David’s oncologist) it was as we have suspected for some time, his recommendation is that David begin chemotherapy. It will be completed here in Dauphin under the care of a wonderful woman, Dr. Matheson. She is a kind and thoroughly dedicated doctor. David’s first chemo (Chlorambucil) will simply be pills, taken daily for one week of each month, for six months. If, after two months, the first medication is not doing what is needed to bring his levels back into a more normal range, another medication will be added (Fludarabine). This combination will continue for six months (or eight months in all).

David’s hemoglobin levels were of some concern and the possibility of a blood transfusion in the future is possible. In my discussion with Janet Olson tonight, a nurse in our congregation, she notes the levels of his hemoglobin changes are equal right now to about a pint of blood.

David is beginning to enjoy his retirement; when I called him today he had been shoveling the driveway and the pathways to his bird feeders and was filling the bird feeders when I came home from work. He has taken several pictures of the blue jays in particular, and is beginning to make lists and drawings of what tasks he wants to accomplish next. He does also reluctantly enjoy the call of his body to rest – falls asleep easily, and rests fairly well.

For those of you who don’t know we spent the week of American Thanksgiving in a trip that mean we flew from Winnipeg to Ottawa , visited with Rachael, and met up with Joel who had flown from Alberta , to travel with Mindy, to Ohio to visit with Josh and Jeanine and with Mark and Jill. We had a great time.

NONanoNOMO

2006-12-01T15:33:00.000-08:00

It's over.
I have finished the race and unlike most races everyone who finishes this race is a winner. So like most people who have spent most of their free time for the last month typing without regard for whether or not what they wrote was ever going to be enjoyed by anyone else and having coasted across the finish line, to celebrate: I took a nap.

Now I have to go out and get a life.

I did go and get a new assignment. I went to the local newspaper and was assigned the task of writing a small article on my latest trip; the hidden side of Ottawa, the one worth visiting... I don't think the editor has a bias.

So IF they choose to publish it, then I guess that makes me a freelance journalist. (Have you ever seen a bigger if?)

It's on

2006-11-07T18:26:00.000-08:00

I have begun to write. I have about 4000 words. Well you can see at the bottom just how many words I have. So if I don't communicate much with you in the next little while its cuz I'm writin.

Weekend Update

2006-11-03T12:55:00.001-08:00

I need to first off apologize to those people I have mislead. Corner Gas is only avaliable for free online within Canada. I found this out when I mistakenly informed our dear Brother and fellow Corner Gas fan, Ed.

Nanowrimo:

I am sad to report that I still have a word count of Zero. I have been meaning to get started but I have also been in the throws of unemployment. I had an interview this morning for a job with a good company but I am not sure that it will pan out. In one hour I need to go work my second shift for a local restaurant. I have been trying out as a cook. I have been hesitant in the past to work in food services because I feared that it would ruin my hobby as an amatuer chef. Its definitely hard work but I am working on getting this Greek restaurant to start producing a Viking style Dürüm Döner like in Chemnitz. Once thats accomplished I might move on.

In other interesting news, I applied to work for the local police in the emergency dispatch sector. Turns out if I progress far enough along on the process that I will eventually be required to take a polygraph test. That just seems odd to me. Makes me think of Round Corner in Leipzig and the espionage business. The things you have to do to get a job these days... Maybe I should have stuck with ... I'm not gonna finish that.

Caio.

Weekend Update again...

2006-10-28T16:05:00.000-07:00

Free at last, free at last...

I have worked what I think is my last day for the Aeration company. My boss wants me to go for lunch with him and discuss the future and make him an offer for next year. I'm really not sure if thats something that I look forward to. To be honest I don't mind the work. I can't say the same for my boss. He and I just don't communicate well. So I think I might just ask for too much money and that'll be the end of it. Unless he accepts... then what will I do? Maybe I will just have to tell him that its been a slice but no thanks.

Having said that, I went to a career fair today. I walked around and pitched myself to about 30 of 150 companies. Despite any rumours that the "Alberta Advantage" is running out they didn't seem to be showing it. I got a couple great responses from two companies that I would really like to work for. So we'll see how it goes.

Nanowrimo..

I went straight from the Career Fair, skipping the opportunity to see George Strombolopolous and whatever enlightened hoo-haa he might have to say, to a gathering of would-be novelists. The meeting was set for a small independent book store up in the old part of Calgary. Which as it turns out is a WIFI location that makes great coffee. Annie's Books hosted the first get-to-gether of the local Nanowrimo participants. Several first timers but all in all many very interesting but also very normal (I know, first impression) people. So now I feel a little better about the monumental task set before me. 50,000 words isn't so bad when you have a support group to shame you into action. I also have a working title: Salad Days

Canadians abroad (both real and imagined) support:

I recently read in Allison's blog that she felt out of the loop on Canadiana. In an effort to combat the ill effects I share some good news. Corner Gas and several other CTV programs are avaliable on the internet as a streaming video. So now you don't have to wait for me to smuggle DVDs into Europe. http://www.ctv.ca/

Ok. I have to go now and find a job. or not so that I can write a novel. Dilema...

Those Bloody Christians...

2006-10-17T09:55:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if you all know who Ian Wright is, but I have been a big fan of his for a while. Anyway, he's the original guide for the Pilot Productions show called Lonely Planet and now called Globe Trekker on OLN. He's been doing his job for about 13 years now and I think I've been a fan for about ten of those years.

As I was driving home on Friday night I saw a sign in front of a travel store in Calgary. It said "Ian Wright LIVE" at MacKewan Hall at the U of Calgary. I wanted to stop and see about tickets but I was already barrelling up 14th with a fully loaded trailer with two tractors so I figured I would just look it up online. Anyway, I wasn't sure I would have the time to go, but as it turned out we got a freak snowfall here in Calgary, so I had time off!

So after work and a haircut on Monday I headed into town hoping that there were still tickets, which there were. Which I was happy about because I had already commited to paying 6 bucks for parking. But I was a little miffed that I paid 4 bucks for the convenience of walking to the ticket window and handing them the money. The same as I would have if I had reserved them online. Its amazing how some companies choose to do disingenuous* things and expect you to understand, when they could just raise the price and say tough. Like Telus charging an access fee...

Anyway... Ian Wright comes on at 8pm, well 8:15. And he is hilarious. About 6oo people have showed up to see the guy and he has us all in stitches. It seems everyone in the audience is a travel nut or plans to be. He shows pictures and tells stories and more than just whats on the show. For about two hours I am thinking this is awesome and its amazing how this all worked out. He ends the show part and starts taking questions, people begin to leave because its already about 10:30, I stayed and there's only about 150 left. People are asking questions and he's being polite in answering and telling more stories. Then some lady asks "In your travels what would say is the greatest negative impact of Western Culture?" He pauses for half a second and then he says,"Those bloody Christians... their everywhere." He goes on, "I would say religion in general, its just caused so much damage." "And Coca-Cola. And rich kids trying to blend in with locals by hageling poor people in the markets." I'll have to say I was stunned. I wasn't angry until a group people in the front rows began to clap. They began to clap right after is first comments.

I thought about it... I thought about stepping up to the open microphone and asking why he had said that. It seemed odd. If he had said 'the problem with world is those bloody Muslims' he'd be in the paper and run out of town. Or if he had said those 'Israelis', but his anger burns against Christians. I felt like I had been transported to the story of the White Rose when a speaker might have said something at a University about the Jews and the enlightened front rows might have applauded in the same way.

Well I didn't go to the mic and I didn't wait for an autograph. I went to my car and started to drive. Paul Simon song lyrics popped in my head:

A man walks down the street

He says why am I short of attention

Got a short little span of attention

And wo my nights are so long

Where's my wife and family

What if I die here

Who'll be my role-model

Now that my role-model is

Gone Gone

He ducked back down the alley

With some roly-poly little bat-faced girl

All along along

There were incidents and accidents

There were hints and allegations

Its a pretty sad thing to have your bubble burst.

But then I thought about it. He's been in about 80 countries and most of these countries are becoming popular tourist destinations and before he gets there, there's those bloody Christians. Sure... people have done enough damage in the name of Christ to encite a person who has seen it from the outside to think that all Christians are the same. I guess its been a while since I felt like a minority. I'm not sure how to finish this off so...

(Disingenuous: synonymous with generally brown material associated with male cattle)

weekend update

2006-10-13T10:47:00.000-07:00

So not much to report. Well, thats not true, I'm just not sure I have time to sift through the details of my life. I did go to Lectureship at WCC and had a great time. Not sure I have ever said that before. May be there is something wrong with me. The speakers were quite good and I spent the whole time running into people that I hadn't seen in while.

The focus of the weekend has changed a little. They used to have a lot of speakers or so it seemed. Now they have backed that off a bit but they have added a serious missions emphasis. It almost feels like a mini missions workshop. This year I heard about the work being done in Ukraine from Mike Armour. It was amazing and because I've been in Estonia and East Germany, it was also close to my heart. House churches and camps... and the emphasis on treating new Christians as RTP (ready to preach) and the government being open to the freedom of religion.

Also, I have updated the settings on this blog and fixed some dead links. Now anyone can post a comment. I had been soliciting comments but I had the settings so that only bloggers could post. Kinda pulling a Henry Ford,' you can have any color so long as its black. ' And I have updated the Nanowrimo link. I do plan on participating this year. It seems that its always right when my life and my job situation are up in the air. Maybe turmoil makes for good writing. I also came up with a term for those people who don't have blogs but who read blogs: "Virblogins" (soft g) Maybe there is already a term, lurkers are in chat rooms and noobs are inexperienced LAN gamers. So far as I know a blogging hasn't been blessed with a predjudicial derogitory name so there's my contribution.

Anyway, all you bloggers and Virblogins, feel free to comment.

New season of Corner Gas

2006-10-02T19:40:00.001-07:00

I'm not going to write about Corner Gas. Titles are the hardest part of blogging so I've decided to just name the first thing I see and get over the grief. But to those who care the title of this blog tells you what you need to know and all together now: "woo hoo!"

Its been a while since my last blog and the downside of that is that it leaves me with too much to write about.

In response to the subject of my last blog. I continue to be employed by the same company but not for much longer. We are winding down for the year. Now is the time of year that my mother has turned into a cliché "Joel wonders what's next" which she writes in the church bulletin. I hope thats the end of it. I really have a quite justified fear that my personal trials will become a regular feature for the Lord's body to ponder.

Anyway... I had an epiphany the other day. I had just come from my financial Bar Mitzvah. Now financially speaking I am an adult. How? you say. Well I bought an RRSP. I had a conversation with my banker and we looked over my situation and all in all its not a horrible mess. Now don't start sending application for grants, I'm not loaded. I just can't feel my live scraping the bottom anymore. But thats not what I want to talk about anyway. I'm not going to gloat about my less than ... well there you go.

What occured to me and it required a banker to do some simple subtraction for me. But I have 37 years until I reach retirement age. Actually probably closer to 39-40 if the current trend continues. Thats longer than I have been alive already. And the first 20 years were kind of a unfocused foray into ignorance. So that means I have about 7 years of actual focused life experience. And I'm pretty sure thats not very significant. So anything that I may have done in that time is valuable experience but it it by no means the lion's share of my life's work.

What I mean to say is that in kind of a "Scrooged" sort of way I still have time to make changes. Even if I am not satisfied with my life or my job or whatever. I still have time to do something else.

So I have hatched a plan... and like any hatchling it is now incubating in my brain. But unlike something that incubates I am exposing it to the elements. SO... what I hope to gain from this is at least two-fold. 1) I hope to gain some feedback from people who actually read this blog, who know me and are willing put in their two-bits. 2) I think that if I actually publish this idea it will be harder to simply let the momentum of this idea evaporate.

Vince Lombardi once said, "The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender."

I saw that quote painted on a wall. It struck me that maybe thats what has been missing from my life. Maybe thats why I find it pretty easy to move from idea to idea. I think often I treat the stuff that I focus on like hands in a poker game. I always just "limp in", I never get "pot commited" to that point where I will see the hand out to the end. If this summer has taught me anything its that hard work is the same as an investment. The work environment wasn't the best but the work I did was honest and showed a result at the end of the day. I think the reason that I have decided to stick it out is that I think walking away would make all the work I put in this summer seem like a waste.

But having said that, I'm sick of grunt work...

The idea that surfaced while I was on the tractor logging whatever thousands loop of whatever fairway was this... Journalism.

So thats the idea that I submit for your perusal. I was thinking, I like to write and take photos. Plus I have the travel bug. It seemed like a a good fit. But thats as far as I have gotten. Well, I did look at some schools and I have enrolled in an online journalism training site.

So now its your turn.

In other news,

My dad has had a second set of tests. Despite our hopes that he was doing really well. His tests show that his Leukemic blood cell count has increased. Indicating that treatment will likely be neccessary. We had been encouraged by the way he seemed to have plenty of energy this summer. So these tests came as a big stunner. More than that I really feel that for the first time in my life I actually heard dejection in my dad's voice. If you know my dad, you know he's even and cool tempered. So I ask that people pray for him to be encouraged.

Well, thats all for now.

But do you like my background?

2006-09-14T16:55:00.000-07:00

Its been a hellish week. Well perhaps thats an overstatement... So in regards to my last post. I decided on Saturday that I had no choice but to tell my boss that I would not go along with a plan that would have me lying to some people with lots of power and guns, so that I could go to work. Use your imagination and you can probably figure it out.
Then I waited for the best moment, I would go over what I would say while I rode around on the tractor. Then the perfect moment came and went about 3 times over 3 days. Each time I would let it pass and beat myself up for being a coward. We worked quite a bit this week.
Yesterday, it seemed that I might dodge the bullet. The plans had changed and we were no longer going ahead with the bad plans. Then last night my boss called and said that plans had changed again and we were going back with the original (bad). Opportunity #4 passed as I acted as if nothing was up.
This morning, I got my breakfast and headed into work. I actually called myself a useless chicken and waited for my boss to arrive. When he did he immediately started talking about the job in question and to my surprise I said it," I have a problem with this plan."
I explained the situation and to my surprise there was no yelling, no raised voice.
Fifth chance seems to work for me.

Anyway, he also said that he guessed the plans he had for this fall (fraud) wouldn't work for me either. So It seems that things have worked for now. To my surprise he asked me if he thought I was being paid fairly. I wonder if he thinks thats the reason.

No I have the worst cold. When I cough I adjust all the vertabrae in my back. Its not as cool as it sounds.

Cyber Chic Baby

2006-09-09T14:27:00.000-07:00

So I'm sitting here in one of those places that let kids come in an play ultra violent video games. I'm not playing one of those games, video games and I kinda parted ways after mario got silly.

Anyway, I realize the world has changed because the little blond headed kid beside me is playing some fantasy game where you go around collecting points after kicking the imaginary crap out of wizards and demons. He's listening to an eclectic mix of cop-killer rap and swearing at the computer.

Somebody asks you if you want to have kids someday. Sheesh.

Anyway, some might be wondering what the audio clip is. 2theJohn asked me why my name on here is Greuberman. The answer is that Ed in Chemnitz and I used to call each other names. If you listen to the whole thing it becomes clear. But if one of us said something definitive the other might muse "Oh, Ed Greuberman..." or "Oh, Joel Greuberman..." Oh inside jokes...

I hope you like the changes to the blog...

What am I thinking today... I'm trying to decide if I have the minerals to act on my inate sense of right and wrong. I am confronted with the knowledge that my current employer has no such moral compunction. I don't want to go into too much detail but it involves me breaking the law. What gets me is that no one at work seems to think this is a big deal. The worst of it is I don't even want the job anymore, I just wanted to finish out the summer and move on. Now he's offered me more work but it involves more shady deals. Chiefly defrauding the government.

So what would you do blow the whistle or just leave?

Things I like

2006-09-04T21:41:00.000-07:00

Aside from the obvious like whiskers on kittens. I do like some things. Despite the fact that I tend to dislike my job and who doesn't from time to time. I love the smell of disturbed earth. The machine that I run at work makes holes in the ground and creates channels for drainage or removes thatch that allows water and nutrients and all that good stuff in. Either way, the earth is disturbed by 50 or so HP/PS of jackhammering mechanical authority, which by the way only disturbs at the most the top 12 inches of the earth. (I was told about a drilling project that created a single well head 35 kilometers deep in the Gulf of Mexico) In the great scheme of things we have barely scratched the surface, though we talk about it like we've moved mountains.
Well all this banging away releases gases and vapors that have a marvelous aroma. Smells as you know trigger memory and this evenings memory, as I carved through a wet spot in the low angle light of a prairie harvest sunset, transported my mind to the subway/tram stop at the SportPalais in Antwerp, Belgium. Of course that triggered other memories and since this is Belgium we're talking about, I began to be hungry for a packet of fresh fries and Stoovlees with mayo and 6 minutes removed from my life. But of course thats 6 minutes on the end and from what I've heard no big loss. So thats a slice of my life for the blog...

I have to plug a radio station that is also a fav: http://www.ckua.org/

Satan might be in your face, but God is everywhere.

Warning: Blog may offend

2006-08-24T19:06:00.000-07:00

I apologize.

I apologize for being so edgy. I guess I've been a little stressed out this summer. I haven't written in my blog for a while because I didn't think anything that I would write would uplifting or helpful. Turns out I was right.

I took a shot at Americans in my last blog, two Americans whose company I enjoy very much. If I had to go to another planet and I could only take two americans, these two would easily be top ten. You have to understand, that it is very Canadian to jab Americans when we can. Its in our very nature, we watch the american news and tv from a young age. Did you know most internal Canadian humor is taking potshots at the U.S.? (not Jim Carrey, he's external) Many of us know americans and at some level are americans ourselves. How chilling is that?

Before that I took aim at Celebraties... which I think someone should do. Now the emmy's are coming and I see no better time for a pre-emptive strike... oops their showing a 9/11 doc on CBC. Thats the Canadian Broadcasting Company, legitimate cover for the nation's mind control ministry. I guess thats seeping in...

You know, Americans shouldn't feel bad. Its not as if its Joe Public americans fault for anything thats blamed on Americans. The problem is that it gets on TV. TV that people actually watch. Its the politicians and the stupidy of power that should be blamed. The americans better get ready to shove cheek. Canada's causing a stink in Afghanistan. And our soldiers are starting to come home in boxes. So Michael Moore will make a documentary about the menacing northern mauraders disguised as peacekeepers killing brown men in foreign lands.

Warning: The offensiver part
Has anyone tried getting these people drunk?
I've heard the Taliban, Al qaeda and muslims in general don't drink. It seemed that before the adjective American was applied to white people, they were all brown natives causing trouble fighting and terrorising. But then came the booze with the whites and a little time. And then voila... see how that turned out?

Now I can't recommend that... its just a thought. If your offended by that think back to how you felt about people shooting and bombing those same people to death.

You know, I wasn't going to write another offensive blog. It just seems to be a phase that I am in. I guess I'll just have to work through it. Hang in there... Ah I just pictured that little kitty in my head.

Well, its 7 minutes to midnight and I think we as a planet have proven that evolution is a hoax.

just the facts

2006-08-22T20:29:00.000-07:00

So I find it difficult to believe in the information age that the definition of an unknown word could remain a mystery. I harken, as only an old person can, to the days before the internet (no not the military internet, the internet that we the masses use. Like at least pre-1996. ) Anyway, I digress, in the time before google, (circa 199- b.g.) a person (older) might be heard to remark when asked for the definition of a word... "Look it up?"as they slid a massive red webster's collegiate edition in your (younger) direction with a slightly devilish grin.

But I will save you the trouble. An Inukshuk

By the way, Jennifer. Inukshuk is neither verb nor as you have requested of me is it reflexive. Although ideas of how it might be well thats the magic of open forums eh?

Given the general ignorance to the actual etymology of Inukshuk... I think, we have stumbled upon a breakthrough. A cultural gap that is being bridged. I find the fact that both of the people who have scratched their heads in wonder at this inocuous idiom are both American, of no importance whatsoever. Seriously...

If you find that offensive, I refer you to my mother's love.."oh, blow it out your ear!" Try it. It hurts.

There how's that for edgy?

A word of caution

2006-08-18T19:56:00.000-07:00

Be careful. Be critical if someone who doesn't do it, tells you you'd be good at it. For obvious reasons. How old is Ed McMahon? He was older than dirt when I was a kid. Now I'm old. It hurts when I get up. And he is still shakin his money maker. Selling tubs...
Does anyone think that the little Cindy girl on the Dairy Queen commercials is evil?
See this is what you get when you ask for too much, too soon.
Just how many people read this blog anyway?
So I'm working on my attempt at the Nanowrimo (google it) , but I've kind of stalled. Anyway, this is an invitation to people to take a look at the idea and see if there is a story lurking inside them. So this is the beginning of 2 months of crazy hours and long days. Days that turn into weeks and loss of any kind of normal sleeping pattern.
If I'm not interested in doing this kind of work, why don't I quit? Is there such a thing as loyalty or is just being afraid to make waves?
So does anyone want to take a shot at what I would be good at? Don't worry I won't be overly critical... you might just make it into my novel...

I'm curious if you read this.. leave a comment. Any comment. Some kind of literal Inukshuk. So this person will know you were here.

So I'm no powerblogger

2006-08-17T19:46:00.000-07:00

I was informed by John* that I haven't blogged in a while and that it was distressing to him. So I guess I will, having been guilted into it. So here goes... (*its his real name.)
My last blog entry was in regards to my father, who has since been here to the GCA (Greater Calgary Area, I know its T.O. ripoff but I don't care) and had a pretty good time. We took a little trip down to Elbow Falls. Then we drove down the Powderface trail and for the first time in my life I saw my father take pictures. He's usually the one driving, so it was kind of odd. We survived the trail not recommended for travel and went as far as Kananaskis, so dad could see where I used to work.
They (mom and dad) took off pretty quick, because this was the end of a long road trip that started with a jaunt down to Ottawa, to visit my sister Rachael and her husband Maxim. Then they ripped over to Bozeman, Montana. Where I did the Cannonball run past Flathead lakes and reserves (reservations, for the Amis) and took my car to the top. Then when I got it back home, it promptly died. So I spent the next couple weeks trying to revive a car that should have a DNR order taped to the hood.

Well the news on Dave is that he looks good. Wait thats not news... no seriously he looks good. Judge for yourself...
We are still waiting to find out what the treatment will be but we have been blessed with many people's prayers and the constant support of our church family.

Anyway, in regards to how I feel. I'm just so happy that somebody finally confessed to that Jon Bennet Ramsey murder. At least that draws some attention away from poor Mel Gibson. Not to mention all the trouble they put Ms. Aniston through... is she getting married? Is she ever going to be happy again. Is it anyone's business?

I'm just out here working. For some reason, the TV people think I need to live a fantasy life through their infatuation with fame and the pitfalls of being human at the same time. I'm worried about the people who actually might be offended by the fact that I don't care about the people on TV. Well not really worried per se...

Well my battery is dying.. so I can't edit and save... its one or the other.

An update on Dad

2006-06-23T16:19:00.000-07:00

My dad, David Muller, had some more blood tests in Winnipeg. The results suggest that he has CLL (Chronic Lymphocyctic Leukemia). Of the 4 or more variations of Leukemia this is perhaps the most manageable. Fortunately there is lots of information on the internet, via national Cancer Society websites, if you want to know more.
The doctors have given us a hopeful outlook and now we "wait and see"what will happen in the next few months. The next blood tests will determine how quickly the CLL lymphocytes are doubling, like normal cells they divide to reproduce, unlike normal cells CLL cells do not die. That in itself is pretty amazing, but it is also the crux of the matter. As they reproduce they take up space and eventually crowd out useful cells like red blood, platelets and non-mutated infection fighting white blood cells.
The ultimate problem is that eventually this competition for space results in a depletion of the good guys and a glut of CLL cells. This leads to susceptability to disease and infection.
Please continue to pray for my dad and the doctors, as we wait to see what happens next.

Please Pray for my Dad

2006-06-05T21:50:00.000-07:00

In the last few days I have been praying and waiting to find out what the tests that my father had this week would result. I had almost built up some hope that I would hear good news when they called me this evening. The white blood cell count indicates that rather than a normal count of ten (and I must admit I don't know what that number means), my father's test returned with a count of 65. The doctor's say that this means my dad has Leukemia. We don't yet know what kind of Leukemia because that requires more tests and a removal of a lymph node for analysis.
Please pray for my dad and his health. The doctor's and their skills. And my family as they adjust to this new challenge.

my latest drama

2006-05-27T04:58:00.000-07:00

My roomie has an ex-wife and three kids. I met the ex and his daughter this week after a 16 hour day at work. They came to unanounced while I was watching the hockey game on Thursday. The daughter wanted her bikes cause she and friend wanted to go to Banff for the long weekend. Well I guess the needed a bigger car so the ex-wife brought her Explorer. Because they came unannounced my roomie was out at work. And the bikes are all chained up, there's just a environment of paranoia and mistrust going on. Anyway, they left to "call and get the keys" I waited for about an hour for them to come back and then I left to get groceries. When I came back they (the ex and the kid) were waiting in the parking lot. The ex asked what I'd been up to and if I wanted her to call the cops. I was a bit surprised that this formerly sweet person was now snapping at me. It turns out the cause of this Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde transformation related to the chain that was now on the door. Which she thought that I had done up. The truth is that my roomie having been alerted to the presence of his family raced home from work and locked the chain. Then as I stood in the hallway, with the daughter and lawful owner of the bikes, he calls me and tells me not to let her in. So I explain his wishes and suggest a compromise, she accepts this or so I thought and I go down to the laundry to locate the key that is taped to the back of a washing machine. I get in and make a bit of supper and watch the highlights of the game.
Then I get ready for bed and notice from the window that the explorer is still in the parking lot. I decide that I'll lock the chain and leave a note on the door for the roomie who comes home at 3am. As I go out to put the note on the door there stands the daughter and a constable Jason Macdonald, from Stratford, PEI. Well he's a bit late coming into the story an so needs to be brought up to speed. He asks me to let her in and take her stuff , but there's still the matter of the chain. No problem as they've bought a bolt cutter, problem: thats not legal cause she doesn't own the chain. Anyway, I meantioned to the officer that she had a set of keys and he asks her to give me the keys, she tries to change the subject but I eventually get them. Which probably would not have happened without the Constable standing there. Anyway, about 1130 I get to bed and its 5 when I get up and drive out to work a little bleary eyed and not sure what's gone on was real or not.

long time no post

2006-04-27T20:08:00.000-07:00

hey a new post after a long long break. i am in airdrie, alberta. i am working with a golf course company and doing alot of driving and learning a ton very quickly. i am also going to see a bunch of golf courses this summer. i have already been to 5 in the last week. so here are a couple pics of Kananaskis, where i worked last summer. i worked there as a groundskeeper, this year i was back but as specialist. its kinda wierd to go back to work where you don't work anymore and work. i'm not sure i've taken many pictures from the seat of a tractor, but seeing as thats were i spend most of my time now it may become more common.

NHL ACADEMY

2005-11-14T11:37:00.000-08:00

NHL ACADEMY
Check out this link.

2005-11-09T23:21:00.000-08:00

Photos: the carvalanche, the trees and the river.
Bonus: NaNoWriMo update: 1 plot, 1 main character, 3 minor characters, 6 alluded characters - 5 tragic deaths of alluded characters, 4697 words. And I still had time to go for a walk and take some pictures.

first snow in Dauphin

2005-11-08T21:42:00.000-08:00

It started snowing while I was asleep this morning and its still snowing. Yesterday there was nothing. Today, voila!

NewNano

2005-11-08T18:03:00.000-08:00

Well, I did it. The die is cast. I have now written about 2000 words in my first NANOWRIMO.

NoNaNO update

2005-11-03T21:59:00.001-08:00

Current level of Verbosity: 0

2005-11-03T21:59:00.000-08:00

drive careful-like

2005-11-02T15:25:00.000-08:00

http://www.chumfm.com/MorningShow/bits/march24.swf

check it out.

2005_participant_med

2005-10-31T14:57:00.000-08:00

2005_participant_med
Originally uploaded by djmuller33.

Tempus Fugit-about-it

2005-08-31T14:58:00.000-07:00

What happened to August?? It seems that it was just the beginning a few days ago. Now I have only one month until I am basically finished my job here in the mountains. By then, I hope that I am somewhere. Seriously, I am just not sure whats happening and I am suffering from that general funk that won't let me decide. The funk gets thicker with time ... the older I get(s) the more it sets. I imagine by the time I am 30; I'll be huddled in the corner, sucking my thumb, my mind racked with doubt. It always seems to come down to be responsible and earn a living or do what you want to do. Nicht wahr?

so...

2005-08-24T15:03:00.000-07:00

I think its probably time that I update this thing. In the coming months this space will become the place that I use to keep the world (yes, the entire world) updated as to my goings-on. So, keep yourself tuned to this locations for pictures and stories and whitty reparte. Which is what I will write when I have nothing to say... ah, whitty reparte.

Psycho

2004-12-09T14:01:00.000-08:00

Psycho
Originally uploaded by djmuller33.

Joel 008

2004-12-09T13:51:00.000-08:00

Joel 008
Originally uploaded by djmuller33.

My First Blog

2004-08-22T12:30:00.000-07:00

So I am just seeing if this thing actually works. I thought it might be a cool thing to try.