explore play

Free Climbing...

2011-04-22T00:25:00.001-05:00

Time Lapse - Creation at its Finest!

2011-04-17T21:32:00.001-05:00

The Mountain from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

Make A Difference!

2011-03-20T10:10:00.001-05:00

The Power of Sound

2011-02-23T17:13:00.001-06:00

SoundWorks Collection: Gary Hecker - Veteran Foley Artist from Michael Coleman on Vimeo.

Life Slowed Down

2011-01-20T11:57:00.004-06:00

Locked in a Vegas Hotel Room with a Phantom Flex from Tom Guilmette on Vimeo.

The Journey - Why is it so hard to walk in a straight line while our vision is obstructed?

2011-01-09T20:11:00.001-06:00

A Mystery: Why Can't We Walk Straight? from NPR on Vimeo.

This video got me thinking about how we as humankind like to think we are in control of our lives when in reality we veer so quickly off the path we are meant to be on when we don't relinquish that control and ask for some help from friends & I believe from our Creator! So stop veering - open your eyes and follow the Truth!

Exploring Your Call

2010-09-11T10:39:00.002-05:00

Back in the Office

2010-08-04T19:29:00.000-05:00

Admittedly, it isn't easy to return to the office after a six month sabbatical and a few weeks of holidays. Let's just say the office doesn't generate much in the way of inspiration or creativity like the great outdoors or travel does. It is amazing the ideas I have for interesting class topics or assignments when I'm mtn biking down single-track or rappelling off a cliff or exploring a new stretch of beach in new zealand.

My first office I had at the college was more of a broom closet and si I have to say having space, a window not only in my door but to the outside world is indeed an improvement. But I can't help but wish looking out the glass that I was somewhere else. But then again it could be worse - i could be in a cubical or a coffin and I hear neither are very conducive for your brain waves or pulse.

Now I will say you will have a much more upbeat & positive post when I get back in the classroom - that is where I best play & dream & inspire - oh and I actually get to do something called the dance of teaching & learning!

The Village

2010-07-20T19:50:00.001-05:00

Passion for Life!

2010-05-27T21:05:00.000-05:00

When I watched this video I couldn't help but chuckle. This man's passion is for marbles! Really? Kind if hard to relate to isn't it? Sort of like Steve Irwin's passion for crocodiles eh? But there is something attractive about passion for people, passion for making a difference in this world? I love to teach, I love to explore, I love to share stories, I love my wife, I love my kids, I love my friends! These are all unique passions that I have and for me they definitely trump any love for marbles.

I just returned home after a 4 month escape to New Zealand & Australia! I had an amazing opportunity to witness the beauty of both countries but every waterfall & mountain paled in comparison to the people I met! I have a passion for life! For living life to the full! Abundant living! That is real passion and a worthy obsession I think...a love for God & for people! Some people have a passion for growing ear hairs - I'm going to stick with loving life, loving people & loving the Creator of the Everything!

NZ Escape

2010-04-10T15:49:00.005-05:00

Well - as much as I probably should have blogged about our time in New Zealand, I clearly have not. I've tried to journal daily but have refrained from posting it as I want to weave pictures with my words and maybe post it at a later time. There is only so much time a person has in a day and my focus for this sabbatical was to lead a more balanced life with friends, family & work. I think I've done very well in that regard. Yes there have been a few busy moments such as teaching at Capernwray, and a few busy spots of instructing at Totara Springs, but for the most part there has been a good flow to life.

Flow - I love that word. It connects with me in so many different ways. When we talk about flow in mountain-biking - we are referring to how well a trail rides. Is there a balance of up, down, left, right as you ride. I was mountain-biking yesterday in a place called Rotorua famous for its thermal park but we instead went up a nearby mountain filled with giant redwood trees and world-class mountain bike trails. Some of the trails really had a perfect flow - it helps when the trail is mainly downhill but it is simply bliss to get into the rhythm of a trail and enjoy the kms fly by.

Interestingly, the final trail we enjoyed did not have a good flow but it was an incredible workout. What threw off the flow? For one, lots of climbing and steep climbing, the descents were quite difficult as well - with nice little jumps to get air off of, but there was no real transition between the climbs & descents. If life is just up & down and now in between times - it makes for a very tiring journey! We need regular life. This connects with our spiritual journeys as well. If life is this chase of mountain top experiences with God versus incredible lows of separation from Him - we lose the intimacy that can be developed in the in-between times.

Getting back to our time in New Zealand - it has been amazing for our family to experience this journey together. So amazing mountain tops, some struggling times as well, but for the most part we've been enjoying life in the everyday. In other words, most of our time was not living life as tourists but trying to get into the here & now of culture here. Being a tourist is too tiring for an extended period of time anyway. There is a limit of how far one wants to drive in a week - especially with kids.

So many highlights of visiting inspiring places, places of beauty & awe, but what we will miss the most will be the relationships, the people we've come to know here. We are looking forward to our next 3 week adventure in Australia, another 2 weeks on the south island (where we get to be tourists once again), and I do think we are at the point of really looking forward to going home to Canada. May long weekend will be a celebration for us.

Why my daughter fears butterflies...

2010-03-31T23:11:00.000-05:00

Exploring NZ

2010-03-31T03:39:00.002-05:00

Bird's Eye Video

2009-12-20T00:05:00.001-06:00

Slo-Mo Owl!

2009-12-19T12:43:00.001-06:00

Semester Wind Up

2009-11-29T19:18:00.002-06:00

I'm going through a bit of an interesting place thinking-wise as this semester winds up. It is the first time in 7 years that I won't be teaching come January due to my upcoming sabbatical. First off, I find it really difficult to let go. I know that my students will do fine without me, as there are many other capable professors available to mentor & encourage them but I really do care about my students. I experienced some pride a couple weekends ago as I hosted a youth event on campus and saw youth leaders that I trained over the past 7 years look after their youth groups. Interestingly, almost every year was represented and it definitely encouraged me that I have an amazing job!

We're heading off in mid-January for our grand adventure, our family sabbatical and we are anticipating many new memories & opportunities to be an encouragement to others on our journey. This past year has been an amazing one, I'm absolutely loving who my kids are becoming, where Wendy & I are at as a couple, and really looking forward to spending more time with them all in a brand new context. We're not quite ready to leave but can see that it is just around the corner!

Carpe Diem! Seize the day and live life to the fullest! My quest to bring life to others continues and I look forward to what I will learn in the process!

U2 360 in Chicago! Opening Night of the North American Tour

2009-09-14T21:14:00.005-05:00

Words are hard to come by when describing the incredible concert that we had the pleasure of witnessing on Sept. 12 in the heart of the USA - Chicago, IL on Soldier Field. It was a thrill to finally see the band U2 and be honored by their love of music, love of their fans, and love for the world. I'll post some pics shortly but here's the set list which was simply perfect. There are few songs that I would have added but a perfect mix of albums & an amazing re-creation of their latest album!

U2 has been a band that I've always enjoyed but fell in love with during the Joshua Tree era, and this love was reignited for Achtung Baby (still my favorite U2 album). It took me awhile to get into Zooropa & Pop and so didn't end up seeing them when they played Winnipeg (a huge regret) but I actually really enjoy both of those albums now. I enjoyed All That You Can't Leave Behind & Vertigo but I really like where they are exploring musically now and I'm hoping their next album will continue to push the envelope.

1 Breathe
2 No Line on the Horizon
3 Get On Your Boots
4 Magnificent
5 Beautiful Day/Blackbird (Beatles snippet)
6 Elevation
7 I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For/Stand By Me (Ben E. King snippet)
8 Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of
9 Unknown Caller
10 The Unforgettable Fire
11 City Of Blinding Lights
12 Vertigo
13 I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
14 Sunday Bloody Sunday/Oliver's Army (Elvis Costello snippet)
15 Pride (In The Name Of Love)
16 MLK
17 Walk On/You'll Never Walk Alone (snippet)
18 Where The Streets Have No Name

Encore
19 One
20 Bad/40 (snippet)

Second encore
21 Ultra Violet (Light My Way)
22 With Or Without You
23 Moment of Surrender

50 Things Being Destroyed by the Internet

2009-09-07T20:49:00.002-05:00

Matthew Moore of The Daily Telegraph has a list of fifty technological or cultural features being destroyed by the Internet. Here's the link to the article and here are a few samples. What would you add to the list?

3) Listening to an album all the way through
The single is one of the unlikely beneficiaries of the internet – a development which can be looked at in two ways. There's no longer any need to endure eight tracks of filler for a couple of decent tunes, but will "album albums" like Radiohead's Amnesiac get the widespread hearing they deserve?

13) Memory
When almost any fact, no matter how obscure, can be dug up within seconds through Google and Wikipedia, there is less value attached to the "mere" storage and retrieval of knowledge. What becomes important is how you use it – the internet age rewards creativity.

22) Enforceable copyright
The record companies, film studios and news agencies are fighting back, but can the floodgates ever be closed?…

Social Media

2009-09-07T20:45:00.003-05:00

I used to teach a course called Communications at the college I work at - if I still were - this would be my opening video. Welcome to a world of social media! It has its own interpersonal issues, strengths, weaknesses and it literally is changing the way we communicate, the way we relate, the way we even life our lives.

Onward

2009-08-20T22:01:00.003-05:00

I'm not much of a runner - at least not long-distance. My claim to fame in junior high was sprinting - especially the 200M and I did okay in the 100m. I witnessed the incredible 200m sprint record broken by the Jamaican "Insane" Bolt just this afternoon - 19:19 - WOW. My sprinting & running now is more about keeping up with my kids on the playground or at the park. But I still love pushing it on my mountain or road bike - there is nothing quite like sprinting up a hill or coasting down into a valley - the rush, the speed, the endorphins and torrent of blood flowing through your veins giving you a buzz. I like the mental aspect of adventure sports as well - it's almost like a moving chess board at times - and sometimes you take a calculated risk and hope it works out.

I came across this Nike-sponsored video on you-tube and I love the push of the song - Onward! Onward & upward I run. This semester is almost upon me and I'm ready to put my feet into the blocks and sprint those 12 or so weeks away but I want to enjoy the race - not just the finish. In fact, I want to see beyond the blur - I want to see detail, I want to see the beauty of it all! Enjoy! Live life to the fullest!

Cooling Off..

2009-08-10T15:08:00.003-05:00

Well with temps finally nearing what they should be this time of year I thought it appropriate to share this inspiring water slide video - enjoy!

Global Cooling?

2009-08-04T18:10:00.006-05:00

Interesting article on the global cooling we've been experiencing the last 11 years. Obviously the article isn't saying that we shouldn't do our part in protecting our planet but still very interesting how our climate seems to be doing the opposite of what the global warming advocates are saying will happen. Planet earth may survive despite what we've done to it as humans...either it is an incredible adaptation or science may need a new theory to get government grants for.

As an academic - I've always thought it important to look at all the angles/perspectives on a issue and I read a book by Bjørn Lomborg a few years ago entitled The Skeptical Environmentalist and it definitely captures another side to the argument. He believes that Global Warming is a reality and we should do something about it but that perhaps there is a smarter way of dealing with it.

He suggest that, "....we focus on the smartest solutions to the problems that the world faces, whether we're dealing with climate change, communicable diseases, malnutrition, agricultural subsidies, or anything else. Lomborg finds that the smartest way to tackle global warming is to invest heavily in R&D in non-carbon emitting technologies, which will enable everyone to switch over to cheaper-than-fossil-fuel technologies sooner and thus dramatically reduce the 21st century emissions. Specifically, he suggests a ten-fold increase in R&D in non-CO2 -emitting energy technologies like solar, wind, carbon capture, fusion, fission, energy conservation etc..."

Here's a little quote that urges us to check out his latest book Cool It from his website:

Bjorn Lomborg argues that many of the elaborate and expensive actions now being considered to stop global warming will cost hundreds of billions of dollars, are often based on emotional rather than strictly scientific assumptions, and may very well have little impact on the world's temperature for hundreds of years. Rather than starting with the most radical procedures, Lomborg argues that we should first focus our resources on more immediate concerns, such as fighting malaria and HIV/AIDS and assuring and maintaining a safe, fresh water supply-which can be addressed at a fraction of the cost and save millions of lives within our lifetime. He asks why the debate over climate change has stifled rational dialogue and killed meaningful dissent.
Lomborg presents us with a second generation of thinking on global warming that believes panic is neither warranted nor a constructive place from which to deal with any of humanity's problems, not just global warming. Cool It promises to be one of the most talked about and influential books of our time.

Anyways - apparently the forecast continues for cool temps, strong chance of rain for the rest of the summer...I may just have to travel where some Global Warming is actually taking place!

How Do You Spend Your Day?

2009-08-04T17:47:00.003-05:00

Well - I'm back at work...sort of. I actually spent a good chunk of the day preparing for my sabbatical by applying for passports for our kids - so other than doing some reading, I spent a good bit of my day standing in line. Read this article and the accompanying chart to see how different groups spend their day - very interesting results based on age, gender, employment status, & ethnic groups. Unfortunately it isn't based on Canadian statistics but I imagine we are not that far off from our American cousins - although I think we have a better employment rate right now. Apparently 1 in 10 Americans are not employed - something not seen in 27 years.

So how much time do you spend during your day sleeping, eating, socializing, working, thinking, watching TV & movies, etc. ???

Youth & Stupidity

2009-07-24T21:58:00.001-05:00

Radio Interview & Blog Merge

2009-06-16T09:03:00.004-05:00

So I finally merged my old explore play blog with my musings blog - and they got married! I'm glad Blogger finally got that feature figured out.

So post-Coldplay recap - my voice is a little strained & still in morning deep-tonality - perfect for a radio interview right. Anyways the local radio station needed a concert review of the show so I shared a couple highlights and I think it went well - it aired at 8:40am and my kids got to hear it - so they were stoked! Of course my daughter Chelsea reminded me that her friends' dad was on the radio everyday and that was his job. :) We actually have a number of friends involved in radio. Honestly - I play my own mixes much more often than listening to radio stations - I just like my mixes right? But hearing local news & talk radio has value don't get me wrong.

Hmm...next concert just around the corner and then I head to Texas for a week. Hot! Hot! Hot! We finally got the sun & the heat + 28 degrees yesterday and the forecast looks great for the week - prep for the deep south I guess!

Coldplay Concert Review & Set List Winnipeg MTS Centre

2009-06-15T23:59:00.007-05:00

An Intro:

The day after we celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary - my Wendy & I had the amazing opportunity to see Coldplay in concert at the MTS Centre. This is my attempt at capturing what Wendy called the most entertaining concert she's ever been at and I'm willing to back her up on that. Coldplay is one of those bands that is getting better with age - I first was exposed to them with their Parachutes offering thanks to my cousin's hubby who has a similar taste in good music.

As a musician myself - I am quite picky with what music I purchase & consume but Coldplay fit easy into my music collection with its strong U2 influence, positive but reflective lyrics, great rhythm section, grooving bass lines, and layered, melodic guitar riffs - not to mention the emotive croonings of a lead singer by the name of Chris Martin!

The Review:

The show started out with a giant 10' orb which started to pulsate a deep blue glow - the band appeared on stage behind a shadow box type screen and ran across with sparklers - their first song began - the instrumental Life in Technicolor and then dived into the powerful Violet Hill.

This band knows how to transition & build their setlists. They had us as an audience right from the beginning and took us all the way to the encore - there wasn't really any time to get bored - they took their responsibility as musicians & entertainers seriously. As the setlist progressed - the lighting changed with the orb becoming a video screen, red laser lights pierced the darkness with the powerful song Clocks and suddenly the show's intensity increased. By In My Place the band was in top form - ready to take on the song that was their doorway to fame from the Parachute era - Yellow!

Suddenly giant yellow balloons filled with confetti entered the arena and the audience excitedly played a game of catch & throw with at least 20-25 of them - and the entire arena was lit up with golden lights.

Chris popped one of the final balloons with the head of his guitar at the end of the song - showering the front stage & first rows in confetti. The man knows how to smile & celebrate the gift of music!

The next song Glass of Water - the atmosphere again changed as 5 more video orbs were lowered from the lighting rig above the band. And the band kept chugging away into Cemeteries of London and then seamlessly transitioned into 42 with a retro black & white movie flickering screen as a background.

The song that makes every girl swoon Fix You started out with Chris Martin on a mournful organ - he knows how to play his keys on top of singing his heart out!

The audience was one with this song and was followed by the song Strawberry Swing which had everyone clapping in unison with the kick drum.

We had great seats for the show but were admittedly a little jealous of the other side of the arena - as the band walked over to a mini stage that was designed to look like a lit-up disco dance floor. And they started into one of my favorite songs God Put A Smile On My Face - only a more techno/disco version of the song. Not exactly an intimate rendition of the song but quasi-intimate if that makes any sense? They played a reworked version of Talk and then headed back to the main stage for a solo piano rendition of The Hardest Part - I think this song was more intimate & touching than Fix You.

Again the band is a marvel at transitions and they went big with the song Viva La Vida complete with Timpani - gotta love big drums! I'm a bass player so you know I love a good rhythm!This was followed by Lost! also a great song from their latest CD offering.

Now I wasn't expecting more intimacy at this point but suddenly all four members walked off the stage down the aisle and up the stairs to a hidden stage at the back of the arena and did an acoustic-y version of Green Eyes and a little song they made up that referenced our love of the Winnipeg Jets (somebody did some research - thank Wikipedia I guess) - of course getting the crowd riled up! And then topped the acoustic set with The Monkees hit - I'm A Believer and invited the crowd to a cellphone mexican wave around the arena! I heard people murmur - hey that looks like blue fireflies - cool I've never seen that! This band has class and they adore their audience to go the extra mile to set up these mini-stages where they actually interact with their crowd!

I'm not sure if you call the next part their first encore but they had to run around to get backstage and so the PA played a techno version of Viva La Vida until the band was ready to take the audience into the powerful song Politik - one of the highlights of the show for me because they go so big with it! Big drums, strobe lights, layered guitars - big, big, big!

Again - a great transition into Lovers in Japan - and the band & audience is showered by confetti shaped like neon butterflies - I can't imagine the clean-up crews look at that point! But wow - what a show! It just kept showering down throughout the song! I love this song as well - great imagery on the screen that tied nicely with the lyrics. The band ended the set with Death & All His Friends and again were British gentlemen with thanks to the audience, bows, and were really genuinely enthusiastic about their crowd!

Of course Winnipeg brought them back with applause for the second encore of The Scientist & Life in Technicolor II.

And with that the show ended and the crowd exited the building to be graced with a gift from the band - a live 9 song EP Left Right Left Right Left. This band adores its fans and of course we love them back!

I should make a quick note about the opening bands. I really wasn't familiar with the opening band The Howling Bells but apparently they hail from the land down under - Australia and they had a few songs that stuck out but really we all know the audience was their for Coldplay. Chris Martin recommended the audience download their song Nightingale. The Scottish band Snow Patrol actually had a really good set but it seemed they really had to work at winning over the crowd and did so with the songs: Hands Open, Run & of course the crowd favorite Chasing Cars in their 9 song set-list (short & sweet).

Here's the setlist for Coldplay:

1. Life in Technicolor
2. Violet Hill
3. Clocks
4. In My Place
5. Yellow
6. Glass of Water
7. Cemeteries of London
8. 42
9. Fix You
10. Strawberry Swing
11. God Put a Smile on Your Face (techno)
12. Talk (techno)
13. The Hardest Part
14. Viva La Vida
15. Lost!
16. Green Eyes
17. Death will Never Conquer
18. I'm A Believer (The Monkees cover)
Encore:
19. Politik
20. Lovers in Japan
21. Death and All His Friends
Encore 2:
22. The Scientist
23. Life in Technicolor II

Note: pics taken on a tiny point & shoot digital - so not art but taken for memory's sake.

Preparing For What's Next

2009-06-04T17:30:00.003-05:00

Okay - so this blog has been set aside for a long time. Apparently, this happens in the life & death of blogs but I'm not giving up yet. I can see life emerging after a long cold winter - it might be slow but tiny sprigs of green will emerge. We've had a long season of winter this year in Manitoba - not sure why but our spring really was slow this year! So in the spirit of re-awakening - my goal is to record my thoughts a little more regularly.

You see - I'm preparing for what's next! I'm in the midst of exploring life in the context of a future sabbatical come January 2010. We will be traveling as a family overseas to a location yet to be disclosed but it will be warmer than Canada! I hope to capture that experience on an online journal of sorts - along with pictures taken along the way.

Okay but right now you are thinking but hold on - what are you going to do in the meantime? Well other than planning & dreaming - I'm not really sure. I suppose this will be a good place to figure it all out! I'm looking forward to exploring play wherever I am. Tomorrow I'm off on a short backpacking trip with a colleague of mine along with two student friends of his. We are tackling a section of the Mantario trail which I haven't been on for awhile. Looking forward to it! Hopefully the rain is done before we step on to the trail!

Life of David

2009-03-08T21:57:00.003-05:00

I'm teaching a course on the Psalms this semester and in fact almost through the majority of my lectures and now in the midst of presentations. A big section of the course is centred around the life of David & how we relate to his story. One of my favorite musicians Michael Knott did an album which essentially is his own story interwoven with the life of David. The album is from 2001 and here's the promo:

Magnificent

2009-03-02T21:44:00.005-06:00

I love what I do & I can't hide it. Teaching puts a spring in my step and I can't help but grin like the Cheshire Cat at all the opportunities I've had to challenge, encourage, & inspire during my lifetime. 52 days left in the semester and 7 years of teaching at a college level will have passed. Hard to believe just how fast time flies. SO many things to ponder - am I better teacher than when I first began? Or have I lost some that enthusiasm & optimism I had during graduate studies? I'm still being stretched as a teacher and I do think I've become more relational & less tied to my teaching notes. I still feel I'm just exploring the realm of experiential teaching within the classroom - it's hard to let go of the reigns I suppose. I've always believed that experience is the best teacher but I've also learned that you need a phenomenal guide for the learning experience to be of value. We need boundaries to explore - we need boundaries to push against.

I've written about why I do what I do but perhaps I should muse about why I can't not do what I do? So much to explore in this life!

I wrote a little speech 7 years ago that compared my graduate studies to that of the sport of whitewater kayaking. I think that challenge still rings true - we need to face danger, we need to face obstacles, otherwise we grow complacent & cloudy like a stagnant pool. We need change to grow and learning is all about change. I still have an incredibly strong passion to teach but I'm restless & admittedly tired. I'm due for a sabbatical (overdue actually) and I'm looking forward to January 2010 & the "great escape" with Wendy & our kids. New places to discover, new things to learn!

I purchased the BBC Planet Earth series for our family and this past Sunday enjoyed Disc 1 - which includes an overall look from pole to pole. One word captures it all - magnificent! In fact it reminded me of a new track from U2's new album (release tomorrow) No Line in the Horizon:

Magnificent
Magnificent

I was born
I was born to be with you
In this space and time
After that and ever after I haven't had a clue
Only to break rhyme
This foolishness can leave a heart black and blue

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love can heal such a scar

I was born
I was born to sing for you
I didn't have a choice but to lift you up
And sing whatever song you wanted me to
I give you back my voice
From the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise...

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love can heal such a scar

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify
The Magnificent
Magnificent

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love unites our hearts

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify
The Magnificent
Magnificent
Magnificent

Some Facebook Mocking...So True!

2009-02-27T21:28:00.001-06:00

Only 4 Chords Needed:

2009-01-27T17:50:00.001-06:00

All you need is four chords and a means of selling a song and voila! Enjoy - some classics in this youtube mix!

How the City Hurts Your Brain

2009-01-08T22:52:00.002-06:00

I haven't blogged yet this year - still numb from all the Christmas festivities & food perhaps. I came across an article in the Boston Globe on How the City Hurts Your Brain that I thought was worth exploring & posting. Here's excerpt:

Now scientists have begun to examine how the city affects the brain, and the results are chastening. Just being in an urban environment, they have found, impairs our basic mental processes. After spending a few minutes on a crowded city street, the brain is less able to hold things in memory, and suffers from reduced self-control. While it's long been recognized that city life is exhausting -- that's why Picasso left Paris -- this new research suggests that cities actually dull our thinking, sometimes dramatically so.

The article goes on to note that humans were designed to interact with nature and that even simply seeing trees helps patients in hospitals recover faster - providing a mental break from a harsh urban environment. Here's another tidbit I found interesting,

This research is also leading some scientists to dabble in urban design, as they look for ways to make the metropolis less damaging to the brain. The good news is that even slight alterations, such as planting more trees in the inner city or creating urban parks with a greater variety of plants, can significantly reduce the negative side effects of city life. The mind needs nature, and even a little bit can be a big help.

I'm about to take a group of students on a mission trip to inner-city Winnipeg and I've noticed that there is only so and so much I can take of living there. In part - it is the chaos of organizing & transporting people to different areas of the city that drains me but I'm used to being near nature. Even though I live in a small city - my backdoor literally exists into a park area.

I also have found that spending time at our parents cottage in the Whiteshell provides me with an outlet for stress & consistently is the best environment for me to actually relax. During my graduate studies - I skied every evening after completing research for a paper and I found it was the only way to shut my brain down effectively.

This article is a reminder for my need for interaction with nature in order to better balance my life and I urge everyone to take advantage of your escapes to God's Creation! Shalom!

Riding on Frozen Ground

2008-11-23T20:35:00.000-06:00

I had a great escape to the Sandilands with Pat & Ed - taking on the "roller-coaster" section of a trail that follows the main escarpment on the west side of the park.
We drove in through the clear-cut section (the aftermath of a fire) and got to the trailhead - unloaded the bikes and sped effortlessly over the frozen ground.
Sure some the hills' traction was compromised by the light snow but for the most part - the riding was fast. I went solo for the last half - taking a different trail than the others - I felt I need some alone time both mentally & spiritually - it was good!
Not sure how many kms I put on - about a dozen I'm guessing. I'm definitely out-of-shape compared to summer but I did surprisingly well. I hope it isn't the last ride of the year - we'll see if I can escape again this next weekend?

Bob Dylan Concert - 11.02.08

2008-11-03T08:21:00.005-06:00

For whatever reason - my Sunday only really started at 7:45pm when Dylan walked onto the stage at the MTS Centre. I suppose the time-change messed up my wiring because I was dragging my feet until the show started. Wow. WOW! Bob Dylan and His Band simply blew my preconceptions away.

That's right - Mr. Dylan playing some gee-tar!

I was expecting his voice to be somewhat mumbling & rambling but whoever was doing sound was spot on - his voice was perfect and musically the band was tight. Some of the songs listed below were completely reinvented - which is typical Dylan I'm told and I wish I could get some recordings of it.
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right had these amazing guitar parts that reminded me of a modern Moonlight Sonata (I joked with my sister who joined me for the show that Dylan had written that too).
My personal favs included: Don't Think Twice,Highway 61, I Still Believe, Ain't Talkin, Thunder on the Mountain, and the two closing numbers in the encore totally rocked - Rolling Stone & All Along The Watchtower! So there ya have it - I once again witnessed a legendary musician. It's been a good year of live music for me!
Setlist:
1. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
2. The Times They Are A-Changin'
3. The Levee's Gonna Break
4. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
5. 'Til I Fell In Love With You
6. Simple Twist Of Fate
7. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
8. I Believe In You
9. Desolation Row
10. Blind Willie McTell
11. Summer Days
12. Nettie Moore
13. Highway 61 Revisited
14. Ain't Talkin'
15. Thunder On The Mountain
Encore:
16. Like A Rolling Stone
17. All Along The Watchtower

Bob Dylan "prancing" on the stage...you go Mr. Zimmerman!

Band Members
Bob Dylan - keyboard, guitar, harp
Tony Garnier - bass
George Recile - drums
Stu Kimball - rhythm guitar
Denny Freeman - lead guitar
Donnie Herron - viola, banjo, electric mandolin, pedal steel, lap steel

Concert Review: Neil Young with special guests Death Cab For Cutie & Everest

2008-10-17T12:24:00.005-05:00

Well - another great show at the MTS centre on Oct. 16, 2008. Not as great seats as we had for Sheryl Crow but it was great to have a hometown legend like Neil back in the Peg. I could have done without two opening acts personally - even though I enjoyed Everest's sound (vocals reminded me of Paul Simon) and Death Cab For Cutie were brilliant but better suited as a feature act. Their set was short & sweet with most of my favorites. Here's a review from the Winnipeg Free Press and a few other links here & here.

Here is the setlist for those interested in Neil Young's show - a great mix of grunge-y rockers, some acoustic classics, and everything in between. Highlights for me were Cortez, Cinnamon Girl, Mother Earth, The Needle, Unknown Legend, Heart of Gold, & Old Man. I was hoping for Harvest Moon but was impressed with the great mix of old, in between, & new.

1. Love And Only Love
2. Hey Hey, My My
3. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
4. Powderfinger
5. Spirit Road
6. Cortez The Killer
7. Cinnamon Girl
8. Oh, Lonesome Me
9. Mother Earth
10. The Needle And The Damage Done
11. Unknown Legend
12. Heart Of Gold
13. Old Man
14. Get Back To The Country
15. Just Singing A Song
16. Sea Change
17. When Worlds Collide
18. Cowgirl In The Sand
19. Rockin' In The Free World

Encore:
20. A Day In The Life

Extreme Swinging?

2008-10-10T00:06:00.000-05:00

Concert Review: Joe Satriani with special guest Mountain

2008-10-06T23:53:00.006-05:00

Well - it appears my blog has become a concert review site. Last time I saw Joe Satriani was in 1990 - fast forward to 2008 and my same thoughts re-appeared - I clearly am not worthy of playing a stringed instrument compared to Satch. Not only can he shred effortlessly - his melodies & tone are unmatched! He played my favorite classics like Ice 9, Always With Me/Always With You (played at our wedding), Surfing With The Alien, Time Machine, Flying in a Blue Dream, One Big Rush, and some new ones like: the showstarter - I Just Wanna Rock (not my favorite but appropriate to open with to a crowd going), Asik Vaysel - really neat sound to this one!

I won't claim ownership of this pic but it captures well two legends!

I had no idea who the opening act Mountain was until clicking in while playing Rockband that Mississippi Queen was their song! Both Corky Laing & Leslie West of Mountain were entertaining but were joined by perhaps the most annoying bass player I have ever seen. He was a good player but seemed to think his 5 braids at the top of his head were a circus act as he twirled them repeatedly. Corky - apparently from Montreal - entertained the audience by firing about 40 drumsticks into the audience towards the end of their set. Leslie is still an accomplished vocalist & guitar player but has no clue about starting songs smoothly - his solos were cooking but intros & endings were brutal.

Satriani clearly was who most people came to see and my jaw was on the floor consistently...it was good to see Stuart Hamm back Joe up on bass. Very inspirational player - although he seems to have aged the most between the two. Joe is 52 years old and Stu 48 apparently but I would have sworn it was the reverse.
I still have my concert ticket stub from July 13/1990 - $24.75 at the Concert Hall. Ticket prices apparently have sky-rocketed with this show at Burton Cummings Theatre ringing in at $45 not including taxes & entertainment fees. Having said that - compared to Tom Petty and some of the other shows - that's cheap!
I haven't found a good setlist for the show - if I find one I'll post it! Here's another review of the show.

Sheryl Crow Concert - 9/27/08

2008-09-27T23:57:00.002-05:00

It seems Wendy & I have become regular concert goers as of late. We had amazing seats for the Sheryl Crow concert - 5th row on the aisle in line with the stage in the 106 section - basically about 30 feet away from center stage. She definitely is a great entertainer, musician and interacted well with the Winnipeg audience. The favorites were definitely her classic tunes but some of her new songs definitely caught our ear as well. Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo fame opened up the show with some of his solo hits and a couple of Blue Rodeo tunes from the vault as well. He has an amazing voice and super-talented musicians surrounding him. Wendy & I have seen Blue Rodeo a few times back in the day and so it was get to hear Cuddy again. Here's a local review for those interested.

Sheryl's website listed this as the setlist:

GOD BLESS
BABYLON
LOVE IS FREE
CHANGE
VEGAS
STRONG ENOUGH
CAN'T CRY
MOTIVATION
MISTAKE
GASOLINE
NEIGHBORHOOD
DETOURS
I SHALL BELIEVE
HAPPY
OUT OF OUR HEADS
SOAK
WINDING ROAD
****************************************
ALL I WANNA DO
ROCK AND ROLL

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Aug 9/08

2008-08-10T12:38:00.001-05:00

The show was fantastic sonically & visually and Tom Petty connected well to the Winnipeg audience.
The shot above you can see the cool backdrop (U2 videobeads) and the cubes that projected video or images. A very cool stage set-up from my perspective. The Steve Winwood set seemed to lag somewhat compared to Tom Petty and although the musicianship was top-knotch - Winwood didn't seem to connect as well to the crowd. He just doesn't have the long-term radio hits that TP & H have.
I love this shot - I find that my little point&shoot digital works better with more light projected - especially white light. It was great to have two songs with Winwood joining Petty (The Heartbreakers are probably the best backing band you could ever have - eg. Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash) - a lot more energy than when he was with his band. All in all a great rockin' show that Winnipeg loved!
Here's the setlist:

1.　You Wreck Me
2.　Listen To Her Heart
3.　I Won't Back Down
4.　Even The Losers
5.　Free Fallin'
6.　Mary Jane's Last Dance
7.　End of the Line
8.　Can't Find Way Back Home (with Steve Winwood)
9.　Gimme Some Lovin' (with Steve Winwood)
10.　Saving Grace
11.　Breakdown
12.　Honey Bee
13.　Learning to Fly
14.　Don't Come Around Here No More
15.　Refugee
- encore -
1.　Runnin' Down A Dream
2.　Mystic Eyes
3.　American Girl

A shot of Wendy, Mandy, Sarah, and the crowd at the show!

Recap of Birthday

2008-08-08T21:43:00.002-05:00

I worked for most of the morning - so much prep ahead yet but had set aside the afternoon for my daughter Aimee's birthday. We had "A"-shaped pancakes for breakfast thanks to the creativity of Wendy and the plan was unveiled to AJ that we would be going to Tinkertown & she could bring along her friend Piper. Aimee was so stoked! We spent almost 3 hours enjoying an assortment of rides and Zach actually went on a few as well. I'm not sure why they insist playing that crappy country pop stuff - pretty annoying music. It was a cooker too - 28 degrees C. We of course snacked on the famous donuts & some ice cream treats. Then it was off to Applebee's - Aimee's favorite restaurant! Nothing fancy for the girls - grilled cheese but I enjoyed the Lime Chicken & Wen had some Chicken Fettuccine. We followed that with a driveby to get a castle cakepan at a store, then off to ToysRUs for a birthday gift and party supplies. Wen will host a "princess" party next week for Aimee & some of her friends - this week just slipped away on us and we weren't able to get it all going. So there ya have it 08.08.08 - a great day for a birthday escape!

08.08.08

2008-08-08T11:33:00.001-05:00

Interesting numerical date today - start of the Olympics in Beijing and also my daughter Aimee's birthday! Lots planned for today!

Anything's Possible!

2008-08-06T09:54:00.001-05:00

The Vacation Is Over - Sort Of

2008-08-05T17:54:00.004-05:00

Well it's back to work as of today after another couple weeks of holidays - most spent at Star Lake. I managed to squeeze in a great mtn bike ride in Ingolf with Pat for a couple hours - around 20kms I'm guessing and although I haven't ridden as much as I'd like - most of my rides have been good.

I've done some road-riding with my buddy Paul as well and actually did a 40km "Magic" Loop today. I hope to get in some more riding before the semester picks up in September - I made some adjustments to my mtn bike that have helped make it a better ride as well.

So what have we done as a family over the past number of weeks? We did a trip out to Edmonton/Calgary/Banff to visit friends/family/mountains which was pretty epic. The kids especially enjoyed the view from on top of the mountain we "gondala'd up" and hopefully gave them a good taste of future hiking trips up mountains.

We've done some work to our house - including a couple garage sales to help us simplify and simply get rid of some accumulated stuff. We still have more of that to do though - hard getting rid of possessions - not sure why though? It seems as soon as one gets rid of something we tend to replace it. It's the classic "fill-the-box-you-have" phenomenon that I see played out in rooms, houses, and even hard-drives!

I think spending time at Star Lake or in our backyard have been the most family-oriented & relaxing though. Amazing how the "great outdoors" does that - recharges you!

Holidays & Blogging

2008-07-12T00:09:00.003-05:00

You'd think with some "extra" time on my hands I'd be blogging more often - apparently not. I do want to record though that I went to two great concerts this week. Tuesday - my cousin Alex and I enjoyed Jimmy Eat World at the Burton Cummings Theatre - seats could have been better but they put on a great show.

But the best show I've been to in a long time was this past Friday with Mark Knopfler (of Dire Straits) at the Concert Hall - amazing, amazing, amazing musicians & incredible tonality & sound! Thanks much S & D for the invite and getting the tickets. I just love shows that exhibit such amazing musicianship & class. Definitely up there with The Police show I saw last fall.
Update: Courtesy of Isaac - a setlist!

Cannibals
Why Aye Man
What It Is
Sailing to Philadelphia
True Love Will Never Fade
The Fish and the Bird
Hill Farmer's Blues
Romeo and Juliet
Sultans of Swing
Song for Sonny Liston
Marbletown
Speedway in Nazareth
Telegraph Road
Encore:

Brothers in Arms
So Far Away
Going Home (theme from Local Hero)

We've managed to squeeze in two garage sales which I've officially nicknamed Purge-itory - not convinced I'd be willing to do that again. Great making space & getting rid of some excess possessions but really time consuming. Celebrated with taking in the fireworks on July 1st here in Steinbach and escaping down south to Grand Forks for July 4th & my Grandma's 80th birthday.

I haven't done as much riding as I'd like - hope to escape sometime tomorrow - we'll see! We're enjoying a great summer though!

The Sandilands Fire

2008-06-12T20:58:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I know I mentioned the fire in a previous post but I haven't posted any pics as of yet. I'm still not sure what the outcomes will be from this fire. Obviously forest fires can be a natural thing and clear out the old to allow for new growth to occur but when fires happen through careless means (like ATV derbys held in provincial parks?) I get a little steamed. I already was upset from all the erosion caused by ATVs - especially in soil as easily disturbed as some of the sandy areas in the Sandilands.

The pic below is taken courtesy of my friend Pat at a section on what call the Race Trail as that is where our local mtn bike race association has held cross-country races. About 70% of the trail has been effected by the fire - some sections completely charred, other sections not as bad but I'm assuming with time - most of the trees will not recover & eventually be pushed over by winds.

Below is my lovely steed - with a backdrop of a burnt stand of pine trees & some curious "sand-boils" - which conveniently made a great place to stand up my bike in.

This is the trailhead to the race area which isn't as damaged but the heat cooked the needles of the pines and thus they are changing colour.

A close-up of the coloured-needles.

And this last shot is a picture of a different trailhead - we call the black single-track - it actually is a trail that comes of the black ski-trail.I'll post some more pics in the future...including some melted ski-signs.

Failure Is A Risk But A Necessary One

2008-06-02T22:01:00.004-05:00

A buddy of mine had this posted and after my string of "risk-related" posts I couldn't resist including it here on musings as well. It captures well some famous failures.

The Story of Stuff

2008-05-31T00:56:00.005-05:00

Okay - you need to go to The Story of Stuff site and see the full scoop...amazing video that captures well what is happening in our consumer-possessed world. We have way too much stuff and we buy way too much crap. And most of the damage has happened in the last 100 years. It almost seems we need to hit the reset button or something...I'm still angry about the fire in my park. 600 ATVs trashed 8000 acres of forest through their actions - I don't even understand how they have access to a park from all the erosion their spinning tires cause never mind the fire-starting potential. A good number of trails for hiking & mtn biking have been incinerated.

New Word Tool - Visuwords

2008-05-30T15:36:00.004-05:00

As a writer, researcher, and teacher I am naturally connected to the "world of words." I stumbled across Visuwords earlier today and I'm wondering if it might be useful in exploring concepts & even inspiring ideas. You simply enter your chosen word into the search box and the online graphical dictionary whirs and spits out a "live picture" of linked words that shows a relationship with other words & kind of provides a context for each word you explore. Take for example the word adventure:

Four Questions To Consider When Dealing With Risk

2008-05-30T15:17:00.008-05:00

I read Ben Carson's book Take The Risk back in November last year and my last post reminded me of Carson's thesis when considering risk. It was one of those amazing finds in airport bookstores that I sometimes am blessed with. I think it was on my way to Atlanta or on the way back that I found it. Very good read! I think Tony Dungee does the forward and hey any book on risk is bound to attract a danger addict like myself.
Carson is a neurologist who faces risks headlong everytime he operates - ever wonder how a brain surgeon deals with the life/death question with patients - read the book. Carson suggests these four questions to consider when dealing with risk:

What’s the best that can happen if i do this?

What’s the worst that can happen if i do this?

What’s the best that can happen if i don’t do this?

What’s the worst that can happen if i don’t do this?

Quote: Helen Keller on Security

2008-05-30T09:58:00.000-05:00

"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. . .Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. . . Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."
- Helen Keller, deafblind American author, activist and lecturer

It's All About Perspective

2008-05-24T14:12:00.000-05:00

Exploring Thailand

2008-05-02T23:23:00.003-05:00

Hey all in blogland (the half dozen of you who lurk this haunt every now and then)! I'm off to Thailand for two weeks and leave tomorrow for a flight to Vancouver-Hong Kong-Bangkok-Chiang Mai. I'll be traveling with a group of young adults from my church and volunteering at an orphanage/school/camp and our team will be presenting some music/drama/dances/crafts etc. It will be tough to be away from my family so your prayers & thoughts are appreciated! I doubt that I will have time to blog but I'll keep a journal and post it when I get back.

Sandilands Ride

2008-05-02T23:00:00.000-05:00

I got in a fast & furious ride on the race trail this afternoon - cool temps & a stiff wind but I was sweating up the steeps and grinning down the descents. Always good to be out on my bike - about 8kms so not a lot of distance but did it well under an hour.

Nice Spin in the Sandilands

2008-04-23T23:57:00.002-05:00

It seems a few different muscle fibres are used for mtn biking than road biking as I'm feeling a little fatigue tonight after a quick 9km ride earlier this evening on the race trail in the Sandilands. Amazing how the climbs were so easy in the fall compared to spring. Good to have the trails in great shape - I just need to get back there more often it seems for my fitness to get back on track.

Getting Back Cycling Legs

2008-04-16T23:11:00.001-05:00

I love escaping on my bike but I hate the process of getting back ones' legs. 47 kms today will have helped some - even though I'm wiped right now!

Exploring the Music of the Eighties

2008-04-16T21:40:00.005-05:00

It almost feels like I'm confessing when I admit I grew up as a teenager in the 80s but clearly it has shaped my taste in music. Being born in the 70s & the influence of my Dad's listening tastes exposed me to Johnny Cash & Elvis which I am forever grateful - interestingly on 8-track. I still have that machine somewhere in a box in my house.

But it was in the 80s that I heard the sound of U2, R.E.M. & the Police - post-punk and the new rock of the era. Both bands remain on my playing lists along with a number of other lesser known bands of the 80s. The 80s also birthed a new type of hard rock or metal that some now refer to as glam rock or hair bands. So Van Halen, Giant, White Lion, Stryper, White Cross, the Scorpians, Def Leppard, Queensryche, & others influenced my love of screaming guitars. As I write this the fluid melodies of Joe Satriani provide me with an inspiring background of sound.

Thankfully - it wasn't all metal being played on my walkman or stereo. Some musician friends exposed me to Canadian folk rock artist Bruce Cockburn which led me to others more eclectic music like the 77s, the Choir, INXS, Mark Heard, Neil Young, Tom Petty, the Traveling Wilburys, Peter Gabriel, Dire Straits, Paul Simon, Larry Norman, and thank God - Bob Dylan! I think this balanced out my taste in music and I moved beyond one category of music.

Fast forward to the late 90s and the 00s and I realized I did miss a whole category of music from the 80s with my focus on hard rock/metal/americana. This category is in the same vein as early U2 & the Police - a post-punk that morphed into what some call new wave. Some examples that I consider favorites in this genre include: Echo & the Bunnymen, the 77s, the Cure, the Smiths, and interestingly just this last week I discovered the band The Feelies. These bands influenced so many bands of the 90s & the 00s and have impacted me as well.

Music for me is an ocean of sound that I love to swim in and occasionally just get lost in & dream. The soundtrack of my life is varied and includes more genres than I dare to list right now. A post for another time is how the 90s further blew wide open my tastes. I love rediscovering music either I'd forgotten about or haven't heard in awhile or music that somehow I missed. As a musician and an audiophile - it really is one of my escapes.

To Bike is To Explore

2008-04-07T21:22:00.003-05:00

I'm super-stoked that my daughter Chelsea has finally mastered the art of cycling...she was really close to it clicking last fall and would go about 10 or so feet by herself. But now she is able to start on her own, safely do circuits and come to complete stop without wiping out! We've had a cold spring so far but we've taken advantage of plus temps.
I went for a nice 36km loop myself on the road bike with Pat & Paul - strong wind but it helped a bit on the stretch home. Gotta love two wheels for exploring this planet! I still remember my dad teaching me to bike on our front lawn and that feeling of freedom once I got the hang of it. I'm so proud of my daughter in how she is confident on her bike as well. The girl is fast - and I've taken up running apparently to keep up!

Bloodthirsty Loons...

2008-04-06T21:36:00.002-05:00

So I read an article in the Free Press the other day that a Loon can actually be a pretty aggressive bird when another Loon encroaches their territory. I came across another article online that says the same thing - I had no idea! I'll never hear the call of a loon as being that of a cry out to a lost lover as has also been surmised. It may be in fact a call to war! Loons have been known to fight to the death - piercing another loon through the chest and into the heart. I'm not sure I can look at a Loonie the same way again either.

Quote a Three Year Old - Amazing Stuff!

2008-03-31T10:54:00.005-05:00

Our little AJ has some amazing quotes: today she told me I should maybe close my laptop so it doesn't get dried up. "Don't get it all dried out daddy - because then you can't press things." I asked her why i wouldn't be able to press things & her response was, "Because God made it, painted it, cleans stuff for us too, and makes stuff for us, and papers for us to draw on, boots, Dora,..." I'm not sure how the two are connected.

Carpe Diem - Harvest the Fruit - Seize the Day

2008-03-23T20:45:00.006-05:00

iPod Game

Okay so here's the classic inspired by a former classmate - pull out your iPod & advance your shuffled playlist for each question.

1. What does next year have in store for you? Closer to You - The Wallflowers. This definitely is a song about intimacy & introspection. Sounds good to me!

2. What do you say when life gets hard? Race against Time - U2. This track has an amazing bassline that just drives & builds. This song is almost unknown instrumental with one real line "race against time" - I can hear me listening to this song while road-biking; good pace! As a side note - the song was originally released as a B-side for Where the Streets Have No Name.

3. What does your love life look like next year? Into Your Hideout - Pilot Speed - cool indy band I saw & heard open up for MuteMath in the fall. The song is about tearing walls down which I'll equate to continue to getting to know my lovely wife better and better.

4. Song that reminds you of good times? Out of Time - Jason Collett - another indie artist who I heard through Paste Magazine which sends me good music monthly along with an alright rag. This song fits in the rock-americana vein - a modern day Springsteen (definitely some Dylan influence) - good bass line here too. Reminds me that the good times are fleeting.

5. What do you think when you get up in the morning? Watch What You're Doing - Larry Norman - I loaded up some classic rock from the 70s after Norman passed away this past month. Classic blues rock song and great reminder to think before acting - especially as a teacher. If you know the song - amazing humour & great guitar tone.

6. What song will you dance to at your wedding? From West Texas - Explosions in the Sky - amazing song that drips with emotion, reflection, but I'm not sure it would be the best song to dance to - definitely would be a slow dance.

7. Song that reminds you of your first kiss? No One Like You - David Crowder Band - ha! I love it - it's actually a worship-type song that praises Yahweh with how Beautiful He is! I would say our first kiss was a God-inspired moment so it fits. I find a lot of love songs reflect well my relationship with the Creator. "There's never been anyone like you!"

8. Your favorite saying? We Are the Sound - The Afters. Hmm, it's a great song - I suppose it's somewhat about speaking up & about not giving up. It's not my favorite saying but I'm all for speaking up and not giving up.

9. Favorite place? Natural Beauty - Neil Young. Talk about eclectic and an amazing acoustic song by the legend from Winnipeg. This is a sad song and I have to admit being in that place is normally not where I'd like to be but I do know I learn from such circumstances. It seems my songs are all about seizing the moment - carpe diem.

10. Most Missed Memory? Norwegian Wood - The Beatles. Wow, trippy & reflective - gotta love the fab four. Admittedly this one takes me back to high school & the flirting in the hallways. Talking to girls, holding hands, etc.

11. What song describes your best friend? Jump - Van Halen. What? How'd that get in the mix...let's put our hands together for the Winnipeg Jets! Memories of a high school dance that wasn't was but was, seeing VH in the Winnipeg Arena twice...how does this describe my best friend? Well I have a few...I won't mention their names but it does capture the thrill of adventure we've experienced in life!

12. What song describes your ex? Good Intentions - Toad the Wet Sprocket. I think we both wanted things to work out but mistakes were made and the relationship died. Song is fitting - linked to era. I actually don't have too many regrets though years later as it all led to future decisions that has forever changed me. Oh and I skipped a couple tracks to get to this one...somehow the Hounds of Winter by Sting or God's Gonna Cut You Down by Cash didn't seem appropriate.

13. Where would you go on a first date? Ride - Cary Brothers. Great song that is all about escape - riding in a convertible with the top down is the picture I get or riding horses on some wooded trail.

14. Drug of choice? Hurt - Johnny Cash. Wow what a song. In my top 5 for sure - which is why it shows up on my iPod. This is a song about trying to escape but seeing the reality of hurt. My drug of choice has always been escape - usually on two-wheels or for a paddle - there is nothing like the high of surfing a wave or weaving through perfect single-track.

15. What song describes you? A Dream Like Mine - Bruce Cockburn. Hmm, again a bit of a Carpe Diem feel - imagining what could be. Love St. Bruce - seen three or four times and his lyrics ooze with depth & symbol. Great drums & bass - I love the subtleness of the surf guitar in this song.

16. What is the thing you like doing most? Synchronicity - The Police. Okay I saw these guys live back in November in Atlanta - they nailed this song! I love connecting things together when I teach - abstract things that somehow fit. I love connecting people together - & reconnecting people who have struggled in conflict. The thing i love most is teaching and so in a sense this song affirms that. Cool - I'll never look at this song the same.

17. The song that best describes the prime minister? Doomsday Clock - Smashing Pumpkins. Umm, okay that's a little freaky & no I didn't cheat on this one but I will say...I really haven't ever liked any politician anywhere. I don't think our prime minister is as scary as some country's leaders but can the power of leading any country be healthy? I definitely don't envy the responsibility that comes with such power.

18. Where will you be in 10 years? Typical - Mute Math. Ha! Okay I'm motivated by being unique and so my pet peeve is the typical. I love the music in this song and these guys put on an amazing live show!

"Come on, can’t I dream for one day
There’s nothing that can’t be done
But how long should it take somebody
Before they can be someone"

19. Your love life right now? Drunk With The Thought of You - Sheryl Crow. Okay, I'm laughing again. I love my wife and no she's not leading me to getting drunk - but I love the song's attempt at capturing being giddy with the thought of someone special - I think it is very Song of Solomon'ish. Love makes one do crazy things! Although I don't think this isn't a simple song about love & alcohol - it seems to be a song of unspoken love. I think in the busyness of being a dad, husband, & teacher - there are things unspoken & definitely times for escape! The song I wish I hit was Derek Webb's I Wanna Marry You All Over Again - great tune!!!

20. What is your state of mind like at the moment? The Book I Write - Spoon. I absolutely fell in love with this song when I heard it in the Stranger Than Fiction movie. This is the book I write - great line and absolutely apt.

21. How will you die? Bottom Line - the 77s. Okay hilariously there is a line, "I fall down every mountain I try to climb" that sounds pretty ominous. The bottom line is about "I'm going to live forever", about "I've got someone to love me forever" - interestingly these two lines are echos not captured in the liner notes. The bottom line for me is that I want to live my life to the fullest!

Spring's Thaw & Anticipating New Music

2008-03-22T13:21:00.008-05:00

So here I sit marking & grading once again. I'm feeling pretty good about where I'm at in the academic year but more assignments to come. I know that grad will be here soon and I'll be sending off yet another crop of graduates - I am finding it tougher every year. I imagine it is similar to what it feels like for parents releasing their 18 year olds to college.

Well March is thawing away the snow & ice that has accumulated since winter's first kiss back in November. The sun is slowly warming the earth and revealing new growth. I'm longing for some new music and thankfully some has made its ways to my ears through I-tunes. I'm loving the new Daniel Lanois album soundtrack to Here Is What Is and hope to purchase the movie it accompanies today sometime. It definitely is growing on me similar to what Shine did.
Sheryl Crow's album Detour is good & upbeat but not mind-blowing. Good music to play in the background I suppose and some songs are stirring lyrically. Reminds me most of her first album - somewhat trippy & happy but plays with some darker & political themes as well. A bit over-produced though, she needs to get in the studio with Lanois or Burnett or Rick Rubin methinks.
It definitely does not have the depth musically of Norah Jones' Live in 2007 EP - not that it is surprising because Norah knows how to hit the soul of the ear. The new Jack Johnson Sleep Through The Static is in the same category as Sheryl Crow - good but everything feels revisited - I've heard this before sort of. I really think this is the worst album cover I've seen in a very long time. I bought the first JJ basically because I listened to two tracks and liked the cover. It isn't that it is a bad album and admittedly he pulls out an electric for some songs which is refreshing but I'm still hoping for a more defining album.

I'm looking for something original this Spring and I'm hoping the new Death Cab For Cutie due in May will be that. Their new single "I Will Possess Your Heart" definitely is interesting and is a good wake-up from the winter song. Great intro bassline that grooves & provides an amazing foundation for the song. An 8:36 single = crazy eh?
The Afters new album Never Going Back to Ok is good driving music - lots of depth musically and to a point lyrically. I'm loving Wintersleep - great "drive" in their music - particularly in "Oblivion" - reminds me somehow of The Hip. So what am I waiting for this spring? Well the new Coldplay, Death Cab For Cutie, and we'll see if the Counting Crows can bring a new sound to my ears. Here is to hoping? Oh and the U2-3D Imax film - definitely worth the ticket price - great sound & amazing videography. Not cheesy 3D but a little freaky at times - Bono kind of steps into your personal space at times. Great songs but at an hour and half - left me wanting more. I'm not sure though visually if I could have gone 2 hours in 3D. So surreal! I also am hoping U2 will finish up their new album for fall - fingers crossed.

Some Quotes Concerning Adventure:

2008-03-14T12:50:00.005-05:00

"Remember what Bilbo used to say: It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." - J. R. R. Tolkien

"It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves - in finding themselves." - Andre Gide

"People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and yet they pass by themselves without wondering." - St. Augustine

Time

2008-03-09T23:30:00.000-05:00

Amazing how fast time flies when you are doing the things you love to do and how slowly the clock ticks when you find something monotonous or upsetting. My sixth year of college teaching is winding up and I'm in awe how fast things have gone. Wendy and I have three children who we dearly love and treasure - and they too are growing up so fast. Zachary is nearing that moment of walking - our baby will become a toddler. Chelsea & Aimee are both enjoying their transitions into kindergarten & preschool.

My birthday is today - March 9th. You blink and ten years whirs by eh? But I have very few regrets as I've lived a full life and want to continue to live in such a way. My heart for teaching continues to grow and I'm really struggling with seeing another group of students graduate. It is a bit like the "empty nest" syndrome that I experience every May. I hope my trip to Thailand with our church will off-set that a bit as I dive into another opportunity to challenge young adults - this time in a completely foreign culture.

Time has certainly past when I first met Wendy in our days at college & more meaningfully at camp. It twas' the God's Creation that put our two paths together, the stars, the dancing lights of Aurora Borealis, the reflection of it all in glassy waters. From the nervousness of new relationship to the warm comfort of being together for so long - it truly has been a miracle & so worth celebrating.

We've shared so many adventures together from traveling to the Caribbean, to Africa, to Costa Rica, and perhaps beyond in the future. From our time spent at Medeba exploring adventure sports & our leadership skills to building a home here in Manitoba - all of it has been stretching and rewarding. I'm in the midst of dreaming about sabbatical - a few years away and wondering where we'll be in the future. I know that I'll blink and our kids will be high school & exploring their own futures beyond our home. I hope I can still say "what a ride, what a ride!" and thank God for every minute I've had.

The Legend Brett Favre

2008-03-06T22:09:00.009-06:00

It's tough to see a hero retire but my admiration for Brett Favre continues on. I love football - it is one of toughest sports out there and from my perspective not only the most physical but one that requires the most mental effort. Every player has a role to play and critical for any forward progress to occur. The quarterbacks, receivers & running backs get the majority of the accolades but each player on the team is necessary. I love that. I would encourage y'all to check out his retirement video as it truly reflects this man's love of the game.

Favre completes his 17-year career as the NFL's all-time leader in every significant career passing category - touchdowns (442), completions (5,377), attempts (8,758) and yards (61,555), plus wins (160). His 253 consecutive starts (275 including playoffs) is the NFL record for quarterbacks and the second-longest recorded streak in league history.The league's only three-time MVP, Favre led the Packers to 11 playoff appearances, including seven division crowns, four NFC Championship Games, two Super Bowls and a World Championship with a victory in Super Bowl XXXI.

Clearly, Favre was not only a three time MVP but also an "everyman" - a person that anyone could relate to. He was a legend but so down-to-earth & clearly fallible. He's a hero that I will expose my son to as a man to emulate - someone who although went through struggles, fought & won.
Favre ended his career with class & character. Will I wonder - what if he stuck around another year? You betcha! But I admire him going out on top.

I consider myself blessed to have actually seen Brett Favre & the Packers play on Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Football will not be the same without him and it will be interesting to see where the Pack ends up next season but I've been a fan of the Pack for close to twenty years - 16 of them Favre has been the QB - and I will remain a Pack fan.

Wendy & I in Green Bay, WI watching the team & game I love!

Ukuleles

2008-03-03T00:21:00.002-06:00

An amazing song by the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain - got to love how a basic song structure can be used again and again. Did I ever share the story of taking ukulele lessons in Hawaii? I didn't go far in that scene but the ukulele is one of the many stringed instruments I've played.

Dealing With It...

2008-02-18T20:28:00.003-06:00

So here I sit at my Dell watching my words spill out on to this blog post. I've been battling a cold all weekend, a migraine taking me out completely on Saturday. I had the lofty goals of going for a ski that day but no energy or willpower could be mustered due to my weakened state. So instead of exploring play outdoors - I've spent most of my weekend indoors. Even my body winces as I cough out, revealing a soreness throughout my back, neck & joints. I'll admit it freely that I'm a complete "suck" when it comes to being sick.

Tomorrow it is back to teaching and I still have some prep to do - might be time to go with a dvd back-up lecturer or a small group time. We'll see how it all works out. I also have much to do in preparing for this next weekends' retreat at Camp Arnes. I'm looking forward to connecting with some junior highers from my home area and hopefully encouraging them in their journeys through life.

I'm looking forward to traveling this spring to Thailand with a group of young adults from our church to do some teaching, construction, & help out an orphanage. I'm guessing the photo ops will be prime and perhaps my writing will get a good igniter as well. Traveling for me has always helped my musings on life.

I'm also looking ahead to a summer of outdoor play with my youngest child Zachary - he should be in full-on run mode by then, and my girls hopefully will be furthering their cycling abilities. So much to look forward to but lots to be done before then. Cheers to getting better and curses to this dreaded cough that threatens my very breath.

Kayak vid - Outta Africa

2008-02-16T20:26:00.001-06:00

As most of you know I happen to love whitewater kayaking and although I don't get many opportunities to do it here in Manitoba when I get the chance I embrace it. Enjoy this video of a sport I hold dear.

Mountain Bike Vid - Bones Over Metal

2008-02-16T17:54:00.003-06:00

So I'm not into huge jumps like these guys but I love the same sport and definitely am missing riding these days. Nothing better as a stress reliever than a good fast run on some singletrack or downhill run.

Happy Valentine's

2008-02-14T23:05:00.000-06:00

Life keeps whirling on it seems this February...I love my wife, my daughters, my son, and all that God has graced me with from an amazing & inspiring job to the opportunities I have to travel, to keep adventuring, to encourage those I meet on this journey called life! I realize nothing I do is of value unless I love...and so this Valentine's I call out to planet earth - learn to love & learn to live! This video is a cool collection of postcards to postsecret - a library of broken hearts & mended ones. Enjoy!

5 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Kids Do

2008-02-13T21:17:00.000-06:00

I've always loved how the element of danger makes life interesting. Without adventure I get bored and so I've always had my inner "curious george" get me into some sort of trouble. Danger, adventure, curiosity in my life have led to growth - it seems to have the best way for me to learn new ways of thinking, experiencing, & living. Whether its been in sport, in love, in education - the element of some risk makes the challenge of living life all the more rewarding.

Growing up beside a river meant adventuring was just a step outside my house, a small forest is the buffer between my parents' property and the slow winding river - a perfect place for bike trails, tree houses, forts, and the thrill of exploration. I have stories filled with adventures that helped develop who I am today - whether it has been my many journeys overseas to exotic locales like Paraguay, Israel, Ethiopia or trips spent engaging the elements like ice-climbing in the Adirondacks, whitewater kayaking the Ottawa River, Scuba-diving off the coast of Bonaire, or mountain biking down a volcano in Costa Rica, all of these journeys of risk have taught me something about life - it is meant to be lived to the fullest!

I love to read and many of my books have adventure inserted into their title or fit neatly in the category. A classic book of adventure is Coral Island by R. M. Ballantyne - a tale of shipwrecked adventurers who learn to survive and even thrive on some pacific island. My love of archeology was largely inspired from the exploits of Indiana Jones and yes, I'm looking forward to the fourth installment this coming May. (I should note I've traveled to a few of the locations used in Indy movies in the past and it looks like this one is using Brazil's Iguazu Falls which I visited in the early 90s).

I want to pass on my love of adventure to my kids and so I have collected the complete set of Enid Blyton's Book of Adventure series with titles such as The Valley of Adventure, The Mountain of Adventure, etc. - all books that inspired me as a young boy to seek out challenges & become a part of my own legendary stories. And so when I came across The Dangerous Book For Boys & The Daring Book for Girls - I knew I had to add them to our family collection of books.

The following TED video by Gever Tulley illustrates the need for danger in our kids' lives - enjoy!

Quote: Mark Twain on the Secret of Getting Ahead

2008-02-12T00:44:00.000-06:00

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one."

- Mark Twain, humorist and author (1835 - 1910)

Grocery Store Wars

2008-01-29T18:30:00.000-06:00

Okay this is a little cheesy but I chuckled so I'm guessing you might to...enjoy!

TED - Ideas Worth Spreading

2008-01-27T20:04:00.002-06:00

A great website that promotes new ideas recently came to my attention. Great videos that I've accessed lately include speakers such as: J.J. Abrams (Creator of Lost, Alias, etc), Malcolm Gladwell (writer of Blink), Bono, Peter Gabriel, & Gever Tulley (5 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Children Do).

A Great Ski in the Sandilands

2008-01-27T19:03:00.000-06:00

With our weather hovering just below zero for a few days I decided enough is enough - I gotta get out and ski. So Saturday afternoon I went for a tour on our local ski trails (the fly-in golf course) out my backyard for an hour and did another great ski of about 9kms this Sunday afternoon. I've been working out with my iPod - helps me keep up my pace during fast songs and slow down the pace for slow songs - still working on the ultimate workout mix, any suggestions? New semester starts tomorrow - we'll see if I can squeeze another ski before the deep freeze returns or if I'll be back on the bike trainer indoors.

From Russia With Love

2008-01-15T21:18:00.000-06:00

A really cool story about a Russian couple reunited after 60 years apart due to Stalin's exile of people who didn't buy into communism. Check out the amazing reunion story of how they happened to meet in the village they were originally married .

King of the Mountain

2008-01-11T20:30:00.001-06:00

"I've had a full and rewarding life. Life's a bit like mountaineering - never look down." - Sir Edmund Hillary (20 July 1919 - 11 January 2008)

Merging Blogs

2008-01-06T22:03:00.001-06:00

Admittedly, I haven't been great at posting on either of my blogs since the arrival of facebook & other distractions so I'm thinking about streamlining my thoughts somewhat and just posting to this blog. But apparently there is no way of merging blogs other than copying and pasting each post - this would take a very long time! So anyone out there know how to do this more efficiently? Having said that - I'm not getting much in the way of comments since the advent of facebook either (or maybe this blog has become a wingless duck?) so I probably won't get an answer to my plea for help!

Album of the Year 2007

2008-01-03T00:54:00.000-06:00

Scotch Mist - A Film With Radiohead In It (All of In Rainbows)

Did I mention that really like this album?

RIP

2008-01-01T20:37:00.000-06:00

I'll be blogging now at musings and allowing this blog to wander cyberspace without my input. If I find ample time to move things over I may - cheers!

Happy New Year's Planet Earth!

2008-01-01T20:36:00.000-06:00

Explore BBC's Planet Earth set to Sigur Ros & Explore Play!

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T11:56:00.000-06:00

2007 in review via photo-collage - enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T09:13:00.000-06:00

A drawing by my daughter Chelsea capturing the Nativity story, pretty brilliant from my perspective!

Seven Great Medical Myths

2007-12-20T21:16:00.000-06:00

I came across this article that exposed some common medical myths, I have to admit that the turkey one I'm still suspicious about.

Drink at least eight glasses of water a day

This advice derives from a 1945 recommendation that adults should consume 2.5 litres of the stuff daily, or one milliliter for every calorie consumed. The crucial part of the recommendation – "most of this quantity is contained in prepared foods" – is often ignored. Drinking too much water can be dangerous.

Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight

It causes eye strain, difficulty in focusing and dries the eyes because of reduced blinking while squinting but there is no evidence it causes lasting damage.

We only use 10 per cent of our brains

Studies of patients with brain damage suggest damage to any area of the brain has lasting effects. Brain imaging studies have shown no area of the brain is completely inactive and despite "detailed probing" the non-functioning 90 per cent has not been located.

Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death

They don't. It is an illusion caused by the dehydration of the body which results in the skin retracting. This gives the appearance of increased length to the hair and nails – actual growth requires hormonal regulation which is not sustained after death.

Shaving causes hair to grow back faster or coarser

Shaved hair lacks the finer taper seen at the end of unshaved hair. It has also not been lightened by the sun, so it appears darker.

Mobile phones are dangerous in hospitals

Many hospitals still ban them, despite the lack of evidence that they interfere with electronic equipment, except in rare instances and at close quarters. Technological improvements have reduced the risk further.

Eating turkey makes people drowsy

This myth is based on the assertion that turkey contains high amounts of tryptophan, an amino acid involved in sleep. But turkey contains no more than chicken or beef. Its sleep-inducing effects are due to the quantities eaten.

The Final Countdown

2007-12-10T00:13:00.000-06:00

Cello trio Melo-M and the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra (of Latvia) perform Europe’s The Final Countdown. I thought it appropriate to post this considering it is the final week of college (final exams) this year for my students...Pretty amazing piece of music and yes it was written in 1986!

America's 10 Best Outdoor Towns

2007-12-05T12:20:00.000-06:00

MSN has released this list of “America’s 10 Best Outdoor Towns.” Featured on the list is New York’s ski haven Lake Placid, Oregon’s Hood River and the mountain biking hub Boone, N.C. Of the towns listed I've only been to Lake Placid which is known for its' skiing, and interestingly I spent time iceclimbing in the area. But just a beautiful but quaint Olympic village feel to Lake Placid. I'm wondering what towns in Canada would be our 10 Best Outdoor Towns?

Time-lapse photography at Vikings-Packers game

2007-11-19T23:35:00.000-06:00

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=684920

Atlanta Musings 11.18,07

2007-11-18T23:07:00.001-06:00

So here's a few clues that involved my last evening in Atlanta...and oh it rocked! Okay so I succumbed to going to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of seeing The Police on their potentially only reunion tour.

The Police got me through part of the 80s...and it was a great show! Oh and they opened the show with one of my favorites -Message in a Bottle! A great last night in Atlanta!

Melancholy Meanderings in Atlanta

2007-11-15T23:53:00.000-06:00

I have had another interesting day out here in Atlanta - it's been good and refreshing but also tiring if it can be both? I have gone through the spectrum of emotions and thoughts, explored new ideas and revisited old ones, and I am realizing that although I love what I do, I have so much more to explore in this world.

It has been a full day of seminars, hearing bands, and hearing some excellent communicators but I'm missing my family and wonder if I am where I should be right now. Somethings seem so complicated when it should be much more simple.

Listening. Breathing. Loving. Playing. Exploring. I don't use enough one word sentences in my life apparently. I need more time to pause, more time to reflect, more time to process where I'm going, how I'm getting there, and who I'm taking with on this journey.

I've always thought in pictures and when I hear people speak I often hear songs along with the images. I've gone through the gamut of song triggers today as well...Death Cab's I will Follow You In The Dark, Smashing Pumpkins' Rat in a Cage, U2's I Will Follow & 40, The Police's Message in a Bottle - I don't even need my iPod apparently - my playlist kicks in without any play button. Ironic because I have no idea where I lost my Shuffle. Oh here's another song: Stepping Deeper Into Mystery - Closer to the Light by Bruce Cockburn.

Hmm...are my musings wandering enough?

Atlanta Musings 11.15.07

2007-11-15T21:01:00.000-06:00

Well, I'm in Starbuck's using their wifi and exhausted. It's been a long day of traveling from Winnipeg to Toronto to Atlanta to the hotel to the conference to the CNN food court and back to the hotel. Amazing views of the countryside as we flew in - autumn's leaves are in full colour and we saw them at ground level while walking through the Olympic Park. Lots of deep reds, purples, oranges & browns. Not nearly the same yellows as back home but our fall lasts for maybe a month and then the leaves all blow away.

Kent & I met up with some other youth pastors we know from MB and perused through a plethora of book distributor's booths and picked up a view bargains but it really is the seminars and sessions that I'm looking forward to. I also connected with my friend Jodie (from Medeba days) who's employed by a college who decided to do some recruiting out here. Well - I'm ready for some zzz-time. More adventures in Atlanta to come.

Gotta Love My Packers

2007-11-12T01:02:00.000-06:00

I personally love this time of year...there is something in the air - that's right crisp cool air & football! My Green Bay Packers are playing unbelievable with a 8-1 record. So here's a pic of me and my boy Zach watching the Packer's blow away the Vikings 34-0! Today was a good day - the Bombers won their playoff game too!

Bad Day At The Office

2007-11-06T00:00:00.000-06:00

What makes this clip is actually the song...enjoy!

Gotta Love Football

2007-11-04T15:32:00.000-06:00

Trick or Treat!

2007-10-31T23:09:00.000-05:00

I just made it back from a few days of teaching outdoor education at Red Rock in time for our annual trick or treating on Halloween. I still have fond memories of being a kid growing up in Riverside and biking around wearing army fatigues & facepaint in my efforts to collect candy with my buddy Grant. I think one year we actually did a couple rounds in different outfits. I also seem to recall getting Easter eggs at one house...old candy! The other gross-out was getting homemade toffee popcorn or a healthy snack like apples.

Zachary - our sleeping dragon!

My princesses getting candy from Mrs. N. across the street from us!

Another brave visit to a neighbour's house to get some sweets.

My camera lens is a little fogged up for this shot after coming in from the cold.Wendy's annual tradition is to carve pumpkins and she goes full-on with it: here's this year's theme Super Mario! I guess the Wii influence is strong in our house these days.

Musings of a Busy Man

2007-10-27T23:26:00.000-05:00

Life whirls on...like tin can being pushed end over end by a gust of wind. Sometimes it all gets to be too much doesn't it? We want the busyness to relinquish its grip on our lives. We feel like we can't keep going, we can't hold on, we need to let go. It is not that we should play or work or spend time doing what we are called to do but sometimes, we simply are doing too much! So how do we find that balance of rest & work & play? How do I find the time to unwind and still spend time with family and still get that pile of work done?

The Sabbath was a day we once set aside. For merchants it seemed a waste to not be open when we could be making more money. The city I live in is rare in its decision to keep the majority of businesses from being open but I'm grateful. The Sabbath is a day created not for God but for us to enjoy. For us to rest, to worship our Creator, to enjoy His Creation. And so we pray & we play on Sundays. It is good.

But we're not so good at that resting part, and quite frankly, it takes a good 24 hours of not doing anything for us to even enjoy it. We often need a holiday after having a holiday just to adapt to it all.

Change is good thing, and if anything, the change from working to not working is a life-giver all on its own. This next week is our fall break in our college year but I'm taking advantage of the "free time" to take my students to camp for my outdoor education class. Okay so I'm still working but in part it will be play and definitely a change from the classroom - so I'm hoping I'll find some rest there. We'll see!

Moonlit Mtn Bike Ride!

2007-10-25T23:45:00.000-05:00

Wow! Simply one of the best rides of the year - 15kms of Sandilands bliss! Myself, Pat, Jason & Gord enjoyed an amazingly perfect ride with 10 degree temps and a gorgeous full-moon. The winding singletrack was lit up by helmet mounted lights and handlebar lights but once we got into some clearcut forested areas we turned our lights out and just used the full moon. We all agreed that it was one of the best rides we've had as the Body-Driven Team. I personally had a great ride and led the first half of the ride and managed to keep up with my racing buddies for the latter half. I am so stoked but definitely tired!

Lost Cities

2007-10-24T22:38:00.000-05:00

Ten Most Amazing Lost Cities:

I've always wanted to explore Machu Picchu - even it has become a little too trendy. Oddee has a neat article titled "10 Most Amazing Lost Cities." Machu Picchu, which translates to "Old Peak," a pre-Colombian Inca city built almost 600 years ago and abandoned shortly afterwards:

Machu Picchu is probably the most familiar symbol of the Inca Empire. It is often referred to as "The Lost City of the Incas". The site was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1983 when it was described as "an absolute masterpiece of architecture and a unique testimony to the Inca civilization".

So check out the link for some fascinating stories of lost cities!

Scary Mary

2007-10-24T22:29:00.000-05:00

Mary Poppins re-imagined as a thriller - tis the season?

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Album

2007-10-23T23:22:00.000-05:00

I'm not going to even bother reviewing this album - it is 5 stars and will sweep up Grammy's this year. Download it from I-Tunes asap and feel free to post your thoughts...I'll maybe review it later but I listened to one sample earlier today and boom I was downloading the whole album. Perfectly matched vocals and yes one of my favorite producers T-Bone Burnett graced the production of this album. Enjoy!

Outdoor Education

2007-10-22T09:37:00.000-05:00

One of the courses I get to teach in college is outdoor education and admittedly it is one of my favorites as it allows me and my students to escape outside. We did exactly that this past Friday for an overnight camp out in some potentially cold conditions. Four of my students wanted to try out a survival shelter for night constructed of sticks & a tarp, the rest put up tents, and they all survived the experience. Next week we head off to Red Rock for three days of skills training and some other cool activities are planned including meeting some local trappers.

I also managed to escape with JP & Pat for a mtn bike run Sunday from the Sandilands ranger station, red trail, suicide trail and back - I'm guessing we put on about 14kms but my odometer & speedometer stopped working again. Weather is looking good this week and so I'm hoping for more riding but I'm also not wanting to get too busy after last week's insanity.

Night Riders

2007-10-12T09:30:00.000-05:00

Pat & I escaped Wednesday night for a short but intense night ride on the Sandilands race track - the conditions were crisp & cool, trail was actually quite puddly from the rains we've had this week but all in all pretty sweet. Climbing worked fairly well for me even in the dark - thanks to a helmet 10W LED light and and a nice 20W Halogen on the handlebars. About 9kms so definitely not a long ride but there is merit to going for a short one every now and then.