The Ramblings of a Random Freak

Wow.

It’s the 4th of July – just had an excellent brunch with Peter, now to prepare for a night at the office – since I last updated I’ve been rather busy – I saw a band (Iron Maiden), I drove back to Vancouver, I turned 38, I’ve worked 4 days after my awesome 10 days off work… I met a wickedly cool speed skater lady (who was exceptionally awesome)

None of that is in order

I also got me a bedroom and a guaranteed underground parking spot too

I also got my voice problem (I lost it) properly diagnosed – now they’re looking for cause, and to check and see if it’s healing properly. I’ve had no voice since March 22nd, 2010, and it’s expected to take 8-10 months to heal… best case scenario, end of December I’ll have a voice again. Have to go later this month and get a CT Scan, because the problem is I blew a nerve, and the right vocal chord is paralyzed.

Now, I work tonight, have two days off (normal) work 2 days, and then off for a week… going to see Tool play on Friday night – they’re incredible live, and I’m utterly thrilled to be going… good way to start the week off work thing.

and that, in a nutshell, is the synopsis of my time since last I wrote.

Is it really July 2010? The last time I looked at the calendar, it was still April of 2008… how time flies

So many great cups of tea to be had… Been in Calgary for a couple days, and decided to sit and enjoy some tea for a few hours – good way to spend a day for sure, delicious and healthy too

Sit back, enjoy some tea… Don’t even ask me about tires…

For some reason Dilbert is often the highlight of my day – today, not only was it funny, it was a close second to the actual highlight…

hot girl with soccer ball – topless

Read more…

So the last few days have been overly interesting.

I went online and discovered that in 2005 the province of Alberta opened all adoption records, so I sent in an application to find out who my birth mother is. The main reason I say mother, rather than parents, is the information we did have told us that my father was “unknown”.

After I got the application downloaded, I was feeling productive so I posted the relevant facts on an adoption registry.

Enter the e-mail I got a few days later…

A gentleman who might be my father sent me an e-mail.

No idea where it’s going from here, but depending on what the government sends me, I may have some answers soon.

Needless to say I’m excited

It’s really, really easy, living in a supermarket world, to ignore the realities that allow us to buy things in such bulk, so easily.

When the only place you’ve seen a steak is Safeway, or Costco, or where it is you shop, it’s really, really hard to picture that steak as a part of a large, healthy animal.

Here’s the thing – we’re not going to convince the world that eating meat is wrong. Not now, and maybe not ever – but if you can simply get the image of where that meat comes from into the collective consciousness of the world?

A lot more people are going to care that what they buy is treated properly.

Animals should be treated as well as pets – as in, they should be allowed the same kindnesses we’d expect that people would give a dog or cat, or horse. They should have ample space to graze, to play, to socialize. They should be fed foods that are good for them. They should have exercise and stimulation.

When a dairy cow has a calf, she should be allowed to feed it until it’s weaned, and then she can go and work providing milk to the machines – as her job. When she’s finished for the day, she should be returned to the fields and allowed time with her calf.

Maybe more people should live a life without the use of animal products, but there’s a smaller step people can take – a start down a path that’s more green, and more healthy, and more environmentally friendly.

The best way to start down that path is to think local – and to be aware of where your food comes from… even familiar – go to the farm, hug a cow, and thank them for providing for you. (be sure to go with the knowledge of the person who runs the farm/ranch)… Some people will see these animals and realize that maybe, just maybe, eating them is not what they want to do anymore. Some people will see these animals, and feel better knowing that what they eat was treated properly in life. And some people are just idiots who won’t care at all.

As long as you’re not the last person, you’re on your way to being more green, and helping to make the world a better place, for all creatures. We all own this planet – not just the humans, the cows, the chickens, the wolves… every creature on this earth has just as much right to a good life as you do. Let’s show them some respect.

I was looking at Vegan meat substitutes, and I’ve tried 4 different varieties of Gardein vegetable protein dishes – and I have to say, so far all both delicious and quite authentic.

So far, the 4 items I’ve tried were awesome.

BBQ Shreds – if nobody told you before you ate it that it was vegan, you’d easily declare it pulled pork – it’d be nice to have a choice of sauces, but it’s delicious.

BBQ Skewers – like BBQ beef? You’ll probably think that’s what you’re eating – but nothing except vegetables died for your eating enjoyment.

Thai Trio – a chicken ball stuffed with veggies, with rice and a delicious thai style sauce. Not quite chicken, but tasty.

Sicilian Trio – same as the Thai, but with Italian style sauce.

The idea of the Trio is a complete meal, ready in a few minutes, and I’d be happy to recommend them to anyone, vegan, vegetarian or omnivore.

I have a pretty decent palette when it comes to food, and while the chicken doesn’t fool me, the beef and pork are bang on… And the clearly not chicken is delicious as well.

I wonder how much money I’d have to put away every single paycheque to actually take a high school style summer vacation, but still maintain my current standard of living, and have the christmas holidays too…

I think I could manage it – be off work from say… June 21st until September 1st, and December 21st until January 2nd

I’d have to do a little money tweaking, since I only get 3 weeks of holidays, so there would have to be some serious saving involved, but oh man would that be worth it.

I’m going to look into this for 2011.

it’ll be like going back to school!

Or rather, I’d like it to be

At one point I floated the idea of using my blog to chronicle my search for an awesome girlfriend, but that idea kinda flopped with me, since I really haven’t been trying at all, for one really solid reason…

Right now I’d make a lame assed boyfriend.

Now, the reasons behind that are pretty good.

1. I work terrible hours
2. I live with my ex
3. I’m broke as hell
4. I’m working on getting in better shape

Next year, all of this will change… I’m getting my own place, I’ll have more income (or rather, less outgo), I’ll be seeing some results from the 4-5 day a week gym visits… I’ll still be working terrible hours, but hey, can’t win em all.

Now the reasons I’d be a catch:

1. I’m easy to please
2. I enjoy pleasing
3. I don’t drink
4. I don’t use drugs
5. I’m a pacifist
6. I love animals
7. I have a solid income
8. I have pretty blue eyes
9. I’m (rumour has it) very good in bed
10. I really don’t care whether you find out about #9 anytime soon

I also have my own car, I own a guitar that I kind of know how to play, and I don’t have many friends here (there are many more in Calgary) – I moved to Vancouver for a few reasons, one being that most of my friends are a bad influence. Sadly moving here was too effective, as now I’m single with no life and a small group of friends.

I love it here though, so Alberta doesn’t fit anywhere into my plans.

And the dating thing is currently on hold, since it’s not really a good fit right now.