Happy Birthday Karen

My sister, Karen, turns 23 today. That's what she'll tell you if she asks. I won't tell you otherwise.

It's not 23 though.

This is a picture of me and her, at her graduation a couple of years ago. She wants to own and operate a bed and breakfast someday. I think she'd be good at it. I think she should be a gardener too. She's a part time artist, probably the best one in the room at the time the picture was taken. Definitely in the top 3 on the street when we were walking to the car after lunch.

(that bit there was an inside joke that I hope you got, Karen)

We've had our disputes over time. I've picked on her more than I should, and more than she could bare, at times. But, that's what big brothers are for. But, I still love her a tonne, and celebrate another year of having a younger sister.

The Crew

This is the crew.

Ride for Africycle 2.0

Last year, David Blondel and Jordan Vander Klok road from Peterborough to Bloomfield to raise funds for Africycle.

This year, with two new riding mates, the route has been extended. Starting in Port Hope, and ending in Port Hope, we will ride around Lake Ontario. There will be 3 ferry trips, several campsite visits, several floors at friends houses slept on, several sights seen, several muscles ached, several goals achieved, several bonds of friendship tested and strengthened, and several dollars raised.

More details will be available soon. Check out the site.

Update: For more on Africycle, click here.

Clinton

What follows is purely my opinion, as is basically everything else on this blog, which is fine, since it's mine.

I really don't want the Republicans to win the next election in the states. The last 7 years with Bush have been terrible. He has wasted lives and dollars fighting an unjust war. He has rewarded the richest of his subjects with tax cuts, financed by those who make less, and the generations that follow. The American federal debt is closing in on 10 trillion dollars. Incredible.

I'm not an American, so should this really matter to me? Not directly, but indirectly it does. The policies and economy that he has presided over seem to be steering the USA into a massive recession. Some are even using the 'd' word, in their warnings. Depression. This affects me as a neighbor, and it affects the world overall. The blame doesn't lie 100% on Mr. Bush, but I can assure you that if everything was peaches and roses, he'd be the first to take credit. So, if it's not all corn on the cob and apple pie, will he take credit as well?

I say all this as a prelude to this comment. I want the democrats to win the next election. I would prefer if the Democrat to win would be Barack Obama. Things were looking very good for him until this past Tuesday. He's still in the lead, and by basically the same margin over Hillary, however, it just prolongs the decision. The republicans already have their candidate, John McCain. This means they can start 'rallying the troops', raising funds, forming strategy. It gives them a bit of a headstart - which they need.

I had really hoped that things would go in Barack's favor this week, that he would win handily in Ohio and Texas, and that Hillary would be forced to withdraw from the race. I read today that she needs to win 60% of the remaining delegates in order to win. I doubt that is possible. But, who knows, stranger things have happened.

It's kinda like the Leafs. Everyone knows they're not going to make the playoffs, but they hang around just long enough to do no one any good. They're out of the good draft picks, and out of the playoffs... Again. Mind you, I'm not a Leafs fan, so it's comical to watch.

sick

I'm not feeling well. It hit me yesterday morning at about 3:30 AM. Tight throat, headache, coughing, sneezing, the aches in every joint. I went to work yesterday morning, and went home at noon for lunch. I didn't make it back. I put on a really slow movie (Letters from Iwo Jima) and fell asleep. Today is a bit better, but my nose is dripping like a broken faucet. It's raw from the kleenex. I should invest in the special variety that moisturizes as you wipe. I think the guy in the cubicle beside me is getting a little annoyed at my near constant nose blowing. It's payback. He's a loud talker. When he's on the phone, I can barely concentrate on my work.

I realized an hour ago that I haven't had a coffee in two days, and that might be the source of my headaches. So, I walked across the road to Tim's, for some fresh air, and a coffee. I feel a bit better. The caffeine headache seems to have dissipated. I love coffee. Even the stuff they serve at Tim Horton's.