Sentient Life on the Third Rock

2009-01-19: Blue Mountain

e went skiing this past weekend at Blue Mountain on the escarpment in Collingwood, Ontario.  Jinny tried snowboarding for the first time.

2008-03-08 Toronto, Chilbok and More Snow

White. Light or heavy,
Expected but capricious,
And then she will go.

ell it's still snowing here again in the Great White North and I think I have just about had it.  It was all pretty and novel at first but this is going into the fourth month and I am not sure how much more I can take.  This season's total snowfall (as measured from Sept. 1, 2007) is now something like 200 centimetres with another 10-15cm expected by tomorrow morning. That's more than 6 feet of the white stuff for those of you south of the border.  At least my sheltie Chilbok loves it.  Here's more Chilbok in the snow.

Above: Chilbok in Balfour Park, Toronto, February 2008

2008-02-12 World Press Photo Contest

Above: British photographer Tim Hetherington has won this year’s prestigious World Press Photo Contest. His photograph of a US soldier in the Korengal Valley in the Eastern province of Afghanistan beat more than 80,000 other images submitted this year.

Above: First prize in the contemporary issues singles category was won by South African photographer Brent Stirton. While working for Newsweek he pictured the evacuation of dead Mountain Gorillas at Virunga National Park, Eastern Congo.

2008-01-01 New Years and Shelties in the Snow

appy New Year to all!  It was a snowy one here in Toronto.  We are supposed to get 10cm by tomorrow.  I feel so blessed for my life.  It is certainly not perfect but I guess I look at the deficiencies as the proverbial comforts of the rod and the staff.  I have so many plans for this year including writing a book, starting a company, getting married, buying a house and spending more time on this blog.  We will see.  Wish me luck!

Above: Looking south over David Balfour Park from our balcony.

Above: Chilbok in David Balfour Park.

2007-10-05 Leafs Smoke the Habs 4-3

Tomas Kaberle scores OT winner as Maple Leafs beat Montreal 4-3 @ ACC!

The gang got together in one of the company boxes at the Air Canada Center to watch the Leafs smoke the Habs 4-3.  See all the pre and post game photos --> here.

2007-09-03 Canada, Cottaging and Concrete

Above: Me and Jason getting ready to haul some concrete.

We spent the weekend at Jeff Norman's cottage on Lake Kawagama.  The lake is very large and pristine--you can literally see all the way to the bottom!  Jeff's cottage is not accessible by road so you have to boat over.  After helping Jeff to move a couple of thousand pounds of premixed concrete we finally got around to a little cliff diving and water skiing.  What a blast!  Thanks Jeff.  See all the photos --> here.

2007-04-08 The Pyramids

The Great Pyramids,
Another trip to Cairo.
Walking with pharaohs.

I spent the weekend in Cairo on business.  Despite being absolutely exhausted from the flight I had a great meeting today with the client.  I even had time to ride horses out to the pyramids in Giza with my co-worker.  The sun was setting behind the dunes and the Pyramids were disappearing slowly into the night.  The smells of the market were everywhere as the mosque loudspeaker called the faithful to evening prayers.

Above: Me and Camel at the Great Pyramid

I arrived yesterday from Toronto connecting in Frankfurt.  I changed and after what I can only characterize as a terrible misadventure with the ensuite bidet, immediately headed to the Cairo Museum which was conveniently located adjoining my hotel.  I have been to Cairo before but never made it to the museum.  It is everything you can imagine and more.  And it is packed--there are still unopened crates of more recent discoveries lining the hallways everywhere.  They are building a new much larger national museum near the Pyramids.

Above: The Cairo Museum

After the museum I headed over to Al Halili market in the old city.  It was getting late and one of the many english speaking "sales agents" encouraged me to follow him into the Delta Papyrus Center (21 El Ghouria St., 3FL No. 17, El Darb El Ahmar, Cairo) to check out the hand made art work.  After paying for a couple of scripts I noticed something very unexpected.  Right there under the desk glass were dozens of business cards and one of them belonged to Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street journal reporter who was kidnapped and murdered in Karachi, Pakistan.  Now that was unnerving.

I finished off the day with dinner at Abou El Sid, probably one of the best Egyptian restaurants in Cairo.

2007-04-04 FC Bustos

ednesday was the last game of the season for FC Bustos in our indoor soccer league.  I was a little under weather so I couldn't play.  That didn't prevent me from doing a few requisite 12 oz. curls after the game though!

Above: Jinny and Marcelo

Above: Frank and Jason

Above: Fab, me and Driss

2007-03-28 Dublin

was in Dublin last week on business and who would I run into walking into my hotel but Anton Shihoff.  Anton is now busy with the recent floatation of his company Finavera Renewables, an alternative energy concern.  Anton and I were roommates in Blackrock when I first moved to Ireland back in 2002.  I knew you when buddy!

2007-03-23 Koch & Co.

ay and Rachel Koch brought their family to visit us a couple of weeks back.  Jay and I actually went to first grade together so many years ago I don't even want to think about it.  (Let's just say decades.)  They have two adorable children Eleanor and Carter.  We took in a few sites around Toronto including Niagara Falls, CN Tower and the Zoo.  Thanks for a fantastic birthday present!  Check out more photos --> here.