Tractor 1, Ryan's knee 0

So I can say I'm a pro star tractor driver now. I was up at a friend's farm helping him build stuff and spent 3 days hauling dirt in a tractor with a front end loader. Thing is it was half off road and the buddy in his Bobcat was chewing everything up... made it bumpy. The real fun came driving off the road. A tractor is front heavy, and add a crapload of dirt in a shovel and it gets even front heavier. Add driving down the ditch off the road and you have yourself a REAL good time. That is until you have the load too high, and the tractor tips. Yep, I tipped a tractor. It fell forward onto the shovel. If it was low no problem, but cuz I had it high it went down hard. I bailed and landed beside it. The wheels were still going which was scary, but I was in shock and hurt my knee bad enough that I couldn't stand up so I'm lucky the buddy saved my ass by killing the engine and righting it. In the end I had a cut on one knee and a mild sprain in the other one, and the tractor was unharmed. After that I learned the RIGHT way to go down a hill and aside from great amounts of fear everytime I drove down the hill the week finished without further incident.

Lessons learned this week.

#1 - Keep the dirt low
#2 - Drive slow
#3 - Metal siding and roofing
#4 - How to change the teeth on a ditch witch

Good times

Ryan 3, River 20, Becky 3

Hit the Kan yesterday for some surfing.  I got new fins, but they're a little short and too floppy so its tough to get enough power to break into the waves to surf.  The river was acting funny too... the sweet spot on Santa Claus was way smaller than normal, so it was tough to surf.  I taught Becky how though, it was fun.  She's in way better shape than I am, I'd go three times and be ready to pass on the board and fins, she'd try 12 and bail every time before she'd give up.  Seriously good times though.  Nice to finally be back on the river.

Going to shower and clean my trunk so I can get ready to leave for Edmonton.

Stealing from Alison again

hehehe... its great, she's a quiz finding machine, keeps me entertained

PAST
First grade teacher's name: Mrs. Smith
Last word you said: day
Last song you sang: Man in Black
Last thing you laughed at: Erin likeing Elton John
PRESENT
What's in your cd player?: Old School Johnny Cash
What color socks are you wearing?: White
What's under your bed?: floor
What time did you wake up today?: 8:20
CURRENT
Current hair: blonde
Current clothes: Grey hoodie, blue shorts, MEC underwear
Current annoyance: pain in my neck from muscle spasm last night
Current smell: pre-shower Fox
Current longing: sleep
Current desktop picture: Strong Bad's computer screen
Current favorite music artist: Johnny Cash
Current book: No Logo
Current worry: Wedding planning
Current hate: not being married already
Story behind your username: foxy - Last name is fox, canuck - was moving to ireland when I picked it
Current favorite article of clothing: Mec underwear
Favorite physical feature on a girl?: The whole package
Line from the last thing you wrote to someone: July 22
I am happiest when: I'm praying
I feel lonely: at random, inconvenient times
Favorite authors: Stephen King
Famous person you have met: BB king is probably the most famous one
Do you have any regrets?: Anyone who claims they don't is hiding from the truth
Sex or love: Only ever had love, and am perfectly happy with it
Favorite coffee: slurpee
Favorite smell: Erin
What makes you mad?: a lot of things
Favorite way to waste time: blogging (haha)
What is your best quality?: selflessness
Are in currently in love/lust?: Definitely love...  lust is gonna get there if we don't get hitched soon ;)
What's the craziest thing you have ever done?: Ummm...  too many to pick?
Bad habits?: swearing... thats the only one I'll admit outside of the confessional
Do you find it hard to trust people?: no
Last thing you bought yourself: Tim hortons food
Bath or shower?: shower
Favorite season: summer this year... will be winter when I can afford to ski regularly again
Favorite color: royal blue
Favorite time of day: evening
Gold or silver?: gold
Any secret crushes?: no 
FASHION
Do you wear a watch?: not usually
Favorite stores: MEC
How big is your closet?: not big enough
Ever spend more then $200 in a store?: of course
Do your friends know everything about you?: only one
What do they tend to be like?: people of trust, love, character, and a unique wackiness 
LAST
Book you read: Dark Tower, volume 6
Movie you saw: The Italian Job
you saw on the big screen: Mean Girls
Show you watched on TV: Simpsons
Thing you had to drink: Iced Cap
Thing you ate: Crueller
Time you showered: in 5 minutes
Time you smiled: not long ago
Time you laughed: also not long ago
Person you hugged: Erin
Person you talked to online: Matt
Person you talked to on the phone: Rev. Singh's secretary

Plug

This is a mad plug for the calgary blues and roots fest. This has kinda taken backseat to the folk and jazz fests, but this year it looks unbelievable! I seriously can't believe the line up they have...

I'll just list the ones famous enough for most people to know

Cake
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band
Jonny Lang
Wilson Pickett
The Flatlanders
The Funk Brothers with Joan Osborne and Sam Moore
The Blind Boys of Alabama
Rosanne Cash (yes, relative of johnny cash)
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
Clarence Clemons (and the temple of soul)

Check out www.bluesandroots.com for more info.

mmm... blogger thief

I stole this off of Alison's blog, I think she stole it from someone else

13 Things That You Just Need To Know About Me

Thirteen random things you like:
1. Gas Station Sun Glasses
2. Martinis
3. Kite Surfing
4. Whitewater
5. Zoot Suits
6. Ireland
7. Butterflies in my stomach
8. Freefall
9. My car
10. The Bosstones
11. Playing Guitar
12. Simple Shoes
13. My tattoos

Twelve movies:
1. The Green Mile
2. Shawshank Redemption
3. Big Fish
4. The Rundown
5. Twelve Monkeys
6. Hellzapoppin
7. Better off dead
8. Memphis Belle
9. The Untouchables
10. The Passion
11. In the Mouth of Madness
12. Mystery Men

Eleven good bands/artists:
1. Bosstones
2. Aquabats
3. Alison Krauss
4. Wide Mouth Mason
5. RHCP
6. Indigo Swing
7. Brian Setzer
8. BBVD
9. Smashmouth
10. Buddy Holly
11. Beasty Boys

Ten things about you ... physically:
1. I have stubby fingers
2. I have two tattoos
3. I've had laser eye surgery
4. My arms and legs tan awesomely, my torso, pasty white
5. Broken 3 bones
6. My eyes are anywhere between dull grey and bright blue depending on my mood and what I'm wearing
7. I'm 5'9
8. In grade 11 I was a skinny 160 pounds
9. I'm much more than that now
10. I have a mystery scar over my right eye

Nine good friends (not in any order, dammit):
1. Erin
2. Erin
3. Ryan
4. Matt
5. Denise
6. David
7. Sinead
8. J
9. Ger

Eight favourite foods/drinks:
1. Gumbo
2. Jambalaya
3. Pulled Pork
4. Pizza
5. Beer
6. Poitin
7. Burritos
8. Deep Fried Turkey

Seven things you wear daily:
1. Underwear
2. Claddagh/Engagement ring
3. Engineering ring
4. C.SS.R. Cross
5. Hair Spiker
6. Shirt
7. Shorts or pants

Six things that annoy you:
1. Jazz Chords on guitar
2. Power hungry people
3. Governments
4. Nepotism
5. Traffic
6. Self Righteousness

Five things you touch everyday:
1. Keyboard
2. Toothbrush
3. Bed
4. Food
5. Phone

Four shows you watch:
1. Simpsons
2. Family Guy
3. Malcolm in the Middle
4. Scrubs

Three celebrities you have a crush on:
1. Sheryl Crow
2. Before she got old Roma Downy
3. John Cusack... er... um... ah... Joan Cusack?

I dunno what the heck happened to two and one so I'm making them up

Two Worst Jobs Ever
1. Service advisor at Canadian Tire
2. Pizza maker at Little Ceasars

One chance to do over
1. University Program

Need to kiss the Blarney Stone

I've been meaning to update, but I haven't been feeling eloquent lately.

It's been a tough couple weeks. Everything is good, but it's been busy and stressful too. Last weekend I went to Devin's cabin. That was awesome... it was just me and his family. Had a great time and stuff, needed the relaxation, but at the same time I was desparately missing Erin.

The week itself was good. I got to hang out with Erin a fair bit, but it was always early nights cuz it was also comin' alive camp. I'm marginally less afraid of kids, but my role was hyping them up in the morning, which I enjoy doing, and it affords me about 3 feet of space from anyone most of the time. It was a great time though. One of my leaders made me a candy box in the craft session, and another leader filled it with candy for me... that was really cool.

This weekend was pretty much 99% meh. Friday I hung out with Erin a bit, but it was a lot of walking around and not much fun (aside from the being with her part, that was awesome). Today she was working, and she works tomorrow, so early night. I should just be thankful for the time I do get to see her, but I'm ready to be married. Not like, ready to get ready for it and all that stuff... just ready to be her husband... it's gonna be a long year.

I've been in a bit of a low and it's making me cranky. I feel terrible, cuz all day I want to be with Erin or talk to her, then I'm snappy when I do. It kills me cuz I just want to be with her and relax and feel better. I gotta figure out what's causing it and move on so I can be easygoing and happy again.

Maybe I should take up my moms offer to buy the ladder and sneak Erin over to the church one of these days ;)