A nice Sunday afternoon (Blog 6 of 30)

You don't have to go thousands of miles away to find nice places or fun things to do.  In fact, there are interesting places everywhere.... you just have to find them.... and maybe go with the right people.

Here is sample of our Sunday afternoon hike out at a quiet cove on Rafferty Dam. 

 
A little windy..... a little sunny..... but lovely none-the-less. 

Three steps to a quieter Saturday morning (Blog 5 of 30)

Some of the world's greatest discoveries have come unintentionally.... by means of a fortunate accident.  (I cannot think of any right off the top of my head, but go with me on this ok?...... Oh wait......"Vulcanized Rubber" is one.... go look that up!  HA!!!)

Anyway, this morning I stumbled onto a three-step method guaranteed to get rid of those religious door knocking people who usually show up early on Saturday mornings and want to discuss all manner of things - you know who I mean (Ed. note:  Please read down through the disclaimer at the bottom of this post).

Step 1:  Meet them at the door carrying a big butcher knife.  Seriously, that is what I did this morning.  You should have seen the look on dude's face!!!  Baaaa haaa haaaa!!!!!  I was holding it at about chest level so it was easy to see.  When I opened the door, he took about three steps back down the stairs and was like "Whoa, whoa!!"

Now, that was the "accidental discovery" part.  I did not intend to threaten the poor man.  When he rang the bell I was actually opening up a new car battery tester that my lovely wife bought me (40% off at C Tire this week - best deal you will find anywhere).  It just so happened that I forgot to put the knife down.  It got his attention very quickly, though, and actually threw off the rest of his talk (I never did put the knife down.... he kept glancing at it).

Step 2:  Listen politely.  That seemed to confuse him as well.  I think he was prepared for an argument when he rang the bell... then he saw the knife and his "fight instinct" turned to "flight"..... then I wasn't fighting back..... his emotional chart would have been all over the place.  He was completely discombobulated.

Step 3:  Tell him that you work for the church of Christ in town.  Admittedly, this is going to be harder for some of you than for others (unless you enjoy lying..... and then you have other issues to deal with).  Generally speaking, this piece of information stops them dead in their tracks..... and gets you a look that says, "Well why did you not mention this before????"

So there you go.  Three fool-proof, proven steps to rid yourself of this common problem.

Or just do step 1.  A few times of that and I am sure word will get around.  :)

Disclaimer:  While I do not agree with everything they teach and I believe that door knocking is actually hurting their cause rather than helping it.... I have to give them a pat on the back for trying.  Lots of people claim to believe lots of stuff that they say they believe is SUPER IMPORTANT and they do NOTHING about any of it.  At least these guys believe what they believe enough to try and tell others because they believe that you need to believe it too.  If we believed in the way they believed, maybe more people would believe.... I really believe that!  :)

That should be enough for now (Blog 4 of 30)

I (Tim) did not like biology in school.  I preferred physics.  It was much more logical and followed rules that made sense.  Biological things, on the other hand, did not seem to understand logic.

Prime example:  Last night, I played squash for the first time in a year and a half.  Logically, I should have been well-rested!  I mean, not only have I not played squash in a year and half, I have not done anything in a year and a half (Unless you count watching football on TV.... there is a lot of running up and down the stairs to get snacks when I am doing that).

In this case, physics would talk about "kinetic energy" or "potential energy" (energy that is stored up and ready to be used and converted to action.... or something like that.... I really did not pay attention.).  Biologically, that did not seem to make sense to my body.

After only ten minutes, I was sweating badly and had a hard time catching my breath.... and that was when I was still in the locker room getting dressed.

After 4 minutes on the court, I was so sore I could literally feel my spleen aching (and I don't even know where my spleen is).  The 20 minutes in I got huge pains on both sides of my body.  For a moment, I wondered if I was having a heart attack, but then I realized that the pain was too low to be my heart... unless my heart had jiggled loose and relocated itself - a distinct possibility that had me worried for quite a while too.  (A dislocated heart sounds painful and hard to rehab from.)

To get me through, I kept singing "Gang of Rhythm" by "Walk off the earth".  It is a funny happy song (if you have never heard it, click here).  When exercising I always have a song going through my head.  I find it helps my mood and keeps me playing well.  I also find that if you sing the words out loud, at the top of your lungs and very off key just as your opponent is about to hit the ball... that helps too.

In addition to all of this, the squash court was so hot that the concession people were actually cooking pizzas in there.  I am not kidding!  When we opened the door to go in, steam came out!  Nothing says "Optimum exercising conditions" like being in a room that is so hot the paint is peeling off the walls.   (By the way, do not get the "pizza special" at the leisure centre today.... just saying)  

Anyway, I survived and I am sore today.  However, I did manage to win 6 of 8 games.  Hopefully, that is enough to break my opponent's spirit so that he never calls me to play that silly game again.

Once every year and a half is enough, don't you think?  :)

How well do you know the Pippus'.... or is it "Pippi"? (blog 3 of 30)

The group below is called "Celtic Thunder" and they are coming to Estevan next week.  As you would expect, they sing mostly old time Irish tunes (At least I hope this is the case.  Some of their stuff sounds very  "Broadway show tune-ish".....  they better not pull out much of that stuff or "someone" is going to be "booing"!!!!!

Anyway, at work I am signed up to an email list, originating in Houston, Texas, that has to do with Biblical texts (fun stuff right?).  Yesterday - out of the blue - buddy sends me the video below.  When I saw who it was, I had to watch.

The song is super cheesy - but there is one part in particular where my girls (all three) went "ooooooohhhhhh". 

Test #1:  Watch the video and tell me what part they really liked.  (You can describe it or write down the time in the video when it happens)

Test #2:  (To be fair) There is a part that I (Tim) like too..... name it.

How well do you know our family?????  We will find out in 4 minutes and 14 seconds.  Enjoy!  :)

PS.  After watching the video, I am afraid that I may have to dress as a white haired old lady to go to this concert - just to fit in with the proper demographic.  

Want to be happier? Watch this! (2 of 30 blogs in 30 days)

I do not know this guy.  I do not know anything about him.  Sari found the video somewhere and was all excited about.  I said, "Ya, ya, whatever".

You have to watch this!  Seriously.

By the way, he does not mention the Christianity and he is not coming from a faith perspective, but this is part of the gospel message (Ask me if you want to know more about that)

Enjoy!

My new project

With winter coming (I know that is not a nice thought, but it is likely to happen anyway), I have been looking for a project to take on for the winter.

Tonight I found it......  a 1983 Honda CB 1000.

I put an ad on a local classified page and this guy contacted me.  He said he had this bike that ran but did not run well.  It had a new seat and new tires.  When I heard how big it was I thought he would want too much money for it, but I asked anyway and he said, "The seat cost me $100 and the tires were $500 new.  If you give me 1/2 the price of the tires and pay for the seat, I will throw in the rest of the bike".

So what does $250 get you in terms of a motorcycle.  Surprisingly a lot I think.  Have a look!

 I think it looks really good for a $250 bike.  Once I get it running, put some signal lights back on it, sort out a few electrical issues, find some mirrors that will work with the straight handlebar that is on it (which I think looks really cool).... I think I will have a bike that is worth a lot more than I paid for it.

And if I can't get it running, I will sell the seat and the tires and rims (and whatever else is worth something) and I am still making money.

What do you think?

PS.  I think it is a big enough bike that it will sell (A "Manly 1000ccs")... and being that it is 30 years old it can be licensed as an antique for $139/year.   I know guys who have newer bikes that are pushing $130/month.  Couple all that with new tires..... It has got to be easy to flip right?

On the Souris

A beautiful, sunny Sunday afternoon seemed like a good time to go canoeing (and "inflatable boating") on the Souris river.  We saw a pair of huge owls, an eagle,turtles, a muskrat and a bunch of other stuff as you will see.

Flooding

A couple of weeks ago, we got almost 3 inches of rain in less than an hour.  It caused a lot flooding around town.  Click here to read a story about it.  Below is a picture from the paper showing Megan and her buddy from next door wading in what was the street.  The water actually went down a lot before this picture was taken.  I was in the ditch behind our house trying to clear the catch basin and I was in up to my waist.  Good times!!

Speedway fun!

Have I mentioned that I love working at the "Estevan Motor Speedway"? It has been a great time! Here are a couple of pictures from last night.... in victory lane with each of the class winners. Pictures courtesy of Byron Fichter the track photographer.

A Princess Story

When I posted the Montana pics I said that I would tell some stories.... here is one of them.

The day we arrived at the cabin, people were sick.  I mean puking sick.  Like "looking like death warmed over" puking sick.

Within days Megan was barfing.... all night long!  From like 2 am till Thursday.  :) 

So, the next day Megan was sleeping it off... Sari was tired from being up all night with Megan.... I was somewhat tired from sort of being up all night with Megan (I heard her first, but Sari is the more compassionate one so she opted to go help)...... and Katie..... well, Katie was bored!

"Why do I have to do nothing just because Megan is sick?" she asked (She gets her sympathy from me!).   "I want to go to the bookstore in Bozeman."

So down the mountain we went.

At the bookstore, Katie seemed a little less than her normal bubbly self.  At the next bookstore, she looked a little pale.  As we drove to the grocery store she said, "I don't feel so good!"  As we walked around the store, she began to wobble a bit.

Back in the SUV and heading down main street, she began to perk up a bit (there were some cute boys on the sidewalk)..... and then - Blam!!!.... she threw up. 

Now one thing we discovered..... No matter how much you try, it is is impossible to look cute while throwing up in an SUV while cruising down main street Bozeman.  Suddenly, the cute boys were gone.

Another important discovery.... the air return for the a/c must be right in front of the passenger seat because as soon as she threw up, the smell came wafting through the vents and right into my face (use your imagination here... then double that.... and that is about 1/2 as bad as it actually was)

At this point (being the compassionate dad that I am), I broke out my best Queen of England/Princess voice and said (reading with your "Queen voice").... "My name is Katelyn and I will have you know that we shall not throw up on the mountain!!!  We must throw up in Bozeman.  You shall drive us there so that we can be sick in a proper manner!!!!"

She was not amused at the time.

However, if you see her say, "We shall not throw up on the mountain"..... she will know what you are talking about.  :)

Montana

Here are some shots from our recent trip to Montana.  Mostly pictures - but I will toss in a little commentary where needed (check back later in the week for stories)......

Aunt Mindy's cabin on the top of a mountain near Bozeman, Montana

One of many hikes (this one was very tame - unlike the hike the girls and I took - more later)

Cabin tradition.... be up early to watch for the sun's first peak over the mountains

Whitewater rafting on the Yellowstone River

We had a good time and (as I said) we have some good stories to tell.... later.  :)

Pictures @ Motherwell Homestead

Why does all the fun stuff happen when we are away?????

That burnt patch was caused by a lightning strike in the valley a few hundred yards behind our house. Our neighbours were home went it happened and called the fire department. Said they had never heard anything like that sound..... and we missed it. :(

Oh and here is a bonus picture.... check out who is lurking in the background at the speedway.... (insert scary "lurking shark" music here)

Ok - more pictures and stories in the coming days.  We are off to a wedding so no telling what sort of "dance moves" pictures we will come up with... if the girls let me dance.  I think they are just jealous!  :)

Cool

We just returned from a week in Dauphin visiting Sari's parents and hanging out (more about that later - pics etc), but one of the things that we had the chance to do was see these guys.... they are called "The Asham Stompers". They do a show based around the "Red River Jig" and Metis culture and it was really entertaining (even if the girls made me watch the last 30 minutes sitting in a blinding rainstorm.... it was literally coming down so hard that you could not see at times. Everyone else headed for the big tent or to their cars.... Katie, Megan and I sat in the bleachers getting soaked while the dancers danced on in the rain. It seemed only fair).

The video is sort of long (and it is not the performance we saw) but it will give you the idea.

Any "Estevan Arts Council" people reading this blog??? "Stars for Saskatchewan" anyone??????