C'mon Victoria

Snow Removal


So it snowed.  No big deal this being Canada and all.  Thing is when it comes to Victoria no one can handle this.  From calling a snow day due to 5 inches of snow to the city itself not having even a small snow budget. Its all a joke.

Seriously people! 

5 inches of snow is not a big deal.  I'm left puzzled at how exactly this makes it a snow day when you can still easy get out your front door.  Islanders have it easy! Back east in Onterrible when it snows they can easily get a foot or more at a time.  People there even know how to pick up a snow shovel and clean their own sidewalk.  Plows actually clean the streets ASAP not just leave cars and trucks to do their dirty work.  Sidewalks here seem to be left to melt away or for someone to break their neck.  Which ever comes first.  Then some 24-48hrs later some chump finally comes out with table salt to melt it away. 

What a joke.

Maybe what we need here is a little back east education to bring all the islanders and wood be islanders up to par on snow and the proper procedures of its clean up.  Its not that hard people.  Remember this is Canada?!  We're bound to get some of the white stuff no matter when we are.

Till next time

Hang in there New Zealand

In case you live under a rock....

For the second time in about 6 months New Zealand has been rocked by an earthquake.  The quake was a magnitude 6.3.  Scary when most of the people you know live there.  The epicenter of the quake was the south island city of Christchurch where many buildings already weakened by the previous quake crumbled under the pressure this time around.  Many people are still missing and the death toll is on the rise (75 and counting) as rescuers dug through the crumbled concrete, twisted metal and huge mounds of brick across Christchurch, officials feared that the death toll could rise further, ranking the 6.3-magnitude earthquake among the island nation's worst in 80 years.

NZ Prime Minister John Key said at a news conference that 75 people were confirmed to have been killed, with 55 of them identified. He declared a state of national emergency, giving the government wider powers to take control of a rescue and recovery operation that was growing by the hour.

With the state of emergency in effect leaders from around the world have sent NZ their condolences following the massive quake.

Pope sends a telegram

In a message from the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI is the latest to send condolences to New Zealand.

"At this time my thoughts turn especially to the people that are being severely tested by this tragedy. Let us ask God to relieve their suffering and to support all who are involved in the rescue operations. I also ask you to join me in praying for all who have lost their lives," he said. 

The Vatican says a telegram was sent on Wednesday to Christchurch's bishop. It said the pontiff was saddened to learn of the sudden devastation and loss of life in Christchurch and that Pope Benedict is praying for those urgently working to free those who are trapped in rubble and for blessings of strength and courage for all New Zealanders.

Commonwealth message of support

Commonwealth's Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma has sent a message of support to Prime Minister John Key following yesterday's destructive quake.

"We have learned with distress and profound concern of the earthquake and aftershocks that have so severely blighted Christchurch yet again," he said.

"Our hearts and condolences go immediately to the bereaved. Our encouragement and solidarity go to the emergency services and so many others who are striving to assist those in need.

"The thoughts and prayers of fellow Commonwealth citizens around the world are with the people of New Zealand, and the residents of Christchurch especially, at this time of tragedy and challenge."
 
Queen: Utterly shocked

Queen Elizabeth II has sent a message of condolence to Prime Minister John Key, following the Christchurch earthquake today, which has so far claimed the lives of at least 65 people.

"I have been utterly shocked by the news of another earthquake in Christchurch. Please convey my deep sympathy to the families and friends of those who have been killed; my thoughts are with all those who have been affected by this dreadful event," she said in a statement on her website.

Obama rambled on about something or other but I won’t bore any one with his babble.

The earthquake knocked out power and telephone lines and burst pipes, flooding the streets with water.

Firefighters climbed ladders to pluck people trapped on roofs of office towers to safety. Plumes of gray smoke drifted into the air from fires burning in the rubble, and helicopters used giant buckets to drench them with water.

The quake even shook off a massive chunk of ice from the country's biggest glacier some 120 miles (190 kilometers) east of Christchurch.

Christchurch's airport reopened for domestic flights on Wednesday. Military flights were being added to move tourists to other cities.

Thousands of people in the city moved into temporary shelters at schools and community halls. Others, including tourists who had abandoned their hotels, huddled in hastily pitched tents and under plastic sheeting as drizzling rain fell, while the Red Cross tried to find them accommodation. 

300 people were listed as missing but cautioned that they did not know the number trapped in collapsed buildings. More than 400 rescue workers were joining the search, including teams from Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, the United States and Britain.

Some who were trapped were able to call out using their mobile phones, reaching family, officials and media.

A more powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch, a city of 350,000, on Sept. 4, but caused no deaths. The latest one was deadlier because it was closer to where people live and work, centered 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the city, and shallower, experts say. 

Survey says....
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was an aftershock from September's temblor. A strong aftershock in December caused further damage to buildings. The city was still rebuilding from those quakes when Tuesday's hit. 

New Zealand's worst earthquake was one that struck in 1931 at Hawke's Bay on the country's North Island, which killed at least 256 people. 

It’s sad to know that miles away people I call family and others I call friends are hurting and there is not much you can do besides pray and hope for the best.  

Stay strong Kiwi’s and you’ll pull through!

Internet humor explained

Having decided I didn't really understood the flow of internet humor after receiving this weeks office email joke I figured it was time to do a little research.  My many questions were answered when I stumbled across this flow chart that explained it all.

Three cheers for sharing

The Art of Flight

So, well checking out wwwDOTthisis50DOTcom I stumbled across the upcoming snowboard flic "The Art of Flight". After getting over the initial shock that I round a snowboarding trailer on a rap moguls website I finally watched the trailer.  I couldn't be more in anticipation for a snowboard flic that this one after watching this  three minute and nine second epic.  With the likes of  Gigi Ruf, DCP and Travis Rice what more can I say.  Go fig I found the trailer myself and thought why not share it.

The Art of FLIGHT follows Travis Rice, John Jackson, Mark Landvik, Scotty Lago, Jake Blauvelt, Nicolas Muller, Gigi Ruf, DCP and Pat Moore as they dream up new global adventures and progress the sport to unimaginable levels 

Here's the trailer for your approval

I'm still drooling.  Must get up to the mountain soon

What is Singles Awareness Day?

 So it goes like this....

 In response to the huge push by retailers for us to buy all of their candy, flowers and greeting cards February 15 has been declared Singles Awareness Day! This is the day that all of the single people can proudly stand up and show that it is OKAY to be single! 

Sure, some people would prefer to have their February celebration on February 14, but the rest of us appreciate the break from the commercialism. 

The goal of Singles Awareness Day is to let singles have celebrations, get-togethers, etc. and to exchange gifts with their single friends. The awareness day was established by single people who were just sick of feeling left out on Valentine's Day, and support of the day is growing every year. 

Suggested activities for this day are sending yourself flowers, planning parties for other singles to mix and meet and to participate in some sort of single's event. This is especially recommended if you don't WANT to be single. Of course, for those who kind of like being single it's a blessing and a reason to have some fun! 

Originally, most singles referred to February 14 as Single's Awareness Day (acronym: SAD) until it just became too depressing! Choosing the next day allowed single people a chance to turn this into a celebration rather than a festival of self-pity or whatever they were doing before. It seems like a refreshing change of pace to know that you can survive Valentine's Day and move on to YOUR day, doesn't it? 

And if you are happy to be single, then February 15 is your day to tell the world. The dates approaching quickly, so it might be time to start planning your party right now.

Maybe this will help everyone "single" to be not so "single" next year

Am I the first one to be aware of this?  Go figure its after I get married, haha.

C'mon Victoria

Poop

Does anyone besides me clean up after their dog in this city?  No matter where you walk you run into doggy droppings everywhere.  I even found them in the middle of the street.

Like c'mon people!  It takes two seconds to pick up after your animal.  Go figure its not the funnest thing to do but seriously!?

I wonder if these irresponsible pet owners think they're too good to be cleaning up after their animals.  I figure that if you fed the lil poop machine then you should clean it up, plain and simple.  Why leave it for someone else to stubble across one way or the other?!  I'd hate to see the backyards of these owners but then again I bet they're as clean as can be considering they let their canines defecate everywhere else .  Maybe the wife and I are just still in the honeymoon stage of dog ownership and feel that cleaning up after Ralph is the right thing to do for us him, and everyone else.  Not like cleaning up poop is high on my agenda of things to do, I just do it.  Its part of being a dog owner.

Who hasn't at some point in time stepped in poop and cursed irresponsible dog owners and their laziness.  Its comes to a point where enough is enough.  Its not like garbage can's are hard to find in this city.  Take a look around you'll pass one everyone 50 feet almost.

Clean up after your animals please

Ralph

It’s no big secret I’ve wanted a dog again for some time.  Ask my friends or better yet my wife and they’ll tell you.  I’m dog obsessed!  I was getting to be such a basket case that I would stop any and every dog anywhere for a quick pet.  Ever since leaving my first dog Piper back in Ontario to move out to British Columbia I was dead set one day I would be a dog owner again.  For years I wasn’t ready, maybe it was finding myself, maybe it was waiting for that perfect one.  Finally well prowling the local doggy classifieds I found Ralph’s ad

Luck was on my side the faithful day I stumbled across Ralph’s online ad.  His current owners had recently found out that their youngest daughter was allergic to animal dander.  Ralph turned out to be five which was the same age my gal was when I gave her up to come out to BC so it was like I was righting the wrong.  It was my perfect chance to pay it forward and give Ralph the new forever home he deserved for being so loyal his previous family.  Being a Boston terrier at five he was full grown and knew all the right things to do.  You know, pee outside, look super cute and not wreck up the place.  He was perfect for us.  Soon enough I was on my way to get our new lil big man. 

Welcome to your new home Lil man.

The fetching of Ralph:

Ralph came to us via Parksville.  More over I came to Ralph.   Well we met halfway in Nanaimo.  No, it’s not the place Nanaimo bars were founded but yes I have ate one or two there before.  After spending almost a week talking the wife into how he would be great for us I set out to pick him up.  It was a rainy Friday and I was more than excited.  I slept maybe a few hours the night before in anticipation of our the lil guy’s arrival.  The day started off wet and remained that way for the entire trip but we trudged on.  Upon arrival in Nanaimo and a quick game of phone tag we met up with Ralph’s owners and he was soon in the back of a friends jeep maxing and relaxing.  After a much longer than expected lunch break to an un-named sushi bar.  I wasn’t even supposed to go to as directed by the wife (truth is she's a food blogger and wanted to tag along for the meet and greet and the eats) we were homeward bound to show Ralph his new home and introduce him to his new mom.  Little did she know how quickly she would fall in love with our lil man upon meeting?

Stay tuned for the further adventures of Ralph in the big city.

WOMEN = PROBLEMS