Riding with the King

Oh yeah baby! I'm the happiest guy in Calgary today, unless there's some really happy guy getting married or something, but even then, it's a close one. Sue got my guitar signed for me!!! That's right, so I have a Sheraton II guitar, autographed by BB King. Soooooooo awesome. I know it's not the same as being at the show, but it's hard to be unhappy about it when I'm looking at the guitar. Hmm... I wonder if I can play better blues now. I'm gonna go find out

I've been downhearted baby

Sigh. So it looks like a no go for the B.B. King concert. One of those things totally beyond control. It's a bummer that work has to come before it, but in fairness Chris has totally gone out of his way to try to make it so I was in town for the show, AND his wife (who happens to be the executive director of the Jube) is being so amazing. She's gonna take my Sheraton to the show and do everything she can to get it signed. That was a big chunk of the reason I wanted to go so badly, so that's awesome. And I figure, if anyone can get it signed, it's her, and if she can't I DEFINITELY couldn't have.

In good news, I'm in town the next two nights. They're gonna crap when I show up at Choir practice tonight. Working in Red Deer, and we can't work late cuz our safety liason is off at 5, so we drove home tonight, same deal tomorrow. I'm totally happy with that, cuz it means only 2 nights (maybe three, but if I manage my time well enough, then 2) away this week, and then it's a bunch of work in Calgary and Okotoks, so I have a stint at home.

Anyway, gonna go make some calls before showing up to Choir practice.

Quizzes and photos

Hey, so first off, if anyone knows any good photo hosting sites that are free, lemme know. I want to set up something that has a good sized account though because I don't want to go through millions of 4 mb photos and shrink them down. If there's somewhere that lets you store lots of full sized images, and will automatically make a smaller thumbnail, that would be bitchin'

Second, stole a quiz from Alison... uh oh, I might reveal the parts of my innocence lost here:

[x] smoked a cigarette
[x] smoked a cigar.
[] smoked a joint
[] crashed a friend's car
[] stolen a car
[x] been dumped
[] shoplifted
[x] been fired
[] been in a fist fight
[] snuck out of my parent's house
[x] had feelings for someone who didn't have them back
[] been arrested
[] made out with a stranger
[] gone on a blind date
[x] had a crush on a teacher
[x] been to Europe
[x] skipped school
[] seen someone die
[x] been to Mexico
[x] been on a plane
[x] seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show
[] thrown up in a bar
[x] purposely set a part of myself on fire (well, it was kind of an accident)
[x] eaten Sushi
[x] been snowboarding
[x] met someone in person from the internet
[x] been in an abusive relationship (only if being whipped counts as abusive
[x] taken painkillers
[x] miss someone right now
[x] laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by
[x] made a snow angel
[] had a tea party
[x] flown a kite
[x] built a sand castle
[x] gone puddle jumping
[x] played dress up
[] played Miss America
[x] jumped into a pile of leaves
[x] gone sledding
[x] cheated while playing a game
[x] been lonely
[x] fallen asleep at SCHOOL
[] used a fake id
[x] watched the sun set
[] felt an earthquake
[x] touched a snake
[x] slept beneath the stars
[x] been tickled
[x] been robbed
[x] been misunderstood
[x] petted a goat
[x] won a contest
[x] run a red light
[-] been suspended from school (so very close to... weaseled my way out)
[x] been in a car accident
[] had braces
[x] felt like an outcast
[x] eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night
[x] had deja vu
[x] danced in the moonlight
[x] had deja vu
[x] hate the way you look
[x] witnessed a crime
[] pole danced
[] been obsessed with post-it notes
[x] squished barefoot through the mud
[x] been lost
[] been to the opposite side of the country
[x] swam in the ocean
[x] felt like dying
[x] cried yourself to sleep
[x] played cops and robbers
[] recently colored with crayons /coloredpencils /markers
[x] sang karaoke
[x] paid for a meal with only coins
[x] done something you told yourself you wouldn't
[x] made prank phone calls
[x] laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
[x] caught a snowflake on your tongue
[x] danced in the rain
[x] written a letter to Santa Claus
[] been kissed under the mistletoe
[x] watched the sun rise with someone you care about
[x] blown bubbles
[x] made a bonfire
[] crashed a party
[x] gone rollerskating
[x] had a wish come true
[] humped a monkey
[x] worn pearls (just never mind)
[x] jumped off a bridge
[x] screamed penis in public
[] ate dog/cat food
[] told a complete stranger you loved them
[] kissed a mirror
[x] sang in the shower
[-] have a little black dress (it was a costume, and I got rid of it)
[x] had a dream that you married someone else
[x] glued your hand to something
[] got your tongue stuck to a flag pole
[] kissed a fish
[x] worn the opposite sex's clothes
[] slept with a significant other's bestfriend
[] been a cheerleader
[x] sat on a roof top
[x] screamed at the top of your lungs
[x] done a one-handed cartwheel
[x] talked on the phone for more than 6 hours
[x] stayed up all night
[] didn't take a shower for a week
[] picked and ate an apple right off the tree
[x] climbed a tree
[x] had a tree house
[x] got scared watching a scary movie
[] believe in ghosts
[] have more than 30 pairs of shoes
[] worn a really ugly outfit to school just to see what others say
[] gone streaking
[] played ding-dong-ditch (what the hell is that?)
[] played chicken
[x] pushed into a pool/lake with all your clothes on
[-] been told you're beautiful by a complete stranger (no, but a stranger told me I was built like a tree)
[x] broken a bone
[x] been easily amused
[x] caught a fish then ate it
[x] caught a butterfly (i don't catch them, i just let them sit on me if they're so inclined.)
[] done it in a cemetary
[x] laughed so hard you cried
[x] cried so hard you laughed
[x] mooned someone
[x] had someone moon/flash you
[x] cheated on a test
[] have a Britney Spears CD
[x] forgotten someone's name
[x] slept naked
[x] braided someone's hair
[x] grown a beard
[] belong to the KKK.
[x] went to a park at night
[] done random things in Wal-Mart
[x] kissed in a pool
[] skinny dipped
[x] kissed someone of the same sex (happy new year Matt!)
[] watched a porn movie
[] had a dream about your best friends husband
[x] eaten seafood
[] wished on a star
[] went fishing for change in a wishing well
[] fallen in love with someone you met on the internet (so far severe crush is more accurate)
[x] been refered to more than once as some kind of food (only if you eat bears or trees)
[] fallen asleep during sex
[x] hit on your friends other just to see how they react

You make me wanna walk

Like a camel! OWWWWWW WEEE!

Sorry, had to get that outta my system. So I'm back on the road again. In Regina this week. I was kinda dreading this trip, but actually, so far it seems like it might be a good one (I'm nothing if not optimistic). I'll get to see Grandpa this week, which I'm pumped for... hopefully Chris and Ron and Gloria and Ellen too. Also the work environment doesn't look too bad. We're fairly out in the open, and no ear protection, which is nice. Me being alone in the silence with my thoughts for a week... man, that's dangerous. AND We got a new company vehicle to boot... it's a sweet cargo van that we're gonna put a workstation into. Whee, no more sore back from hunching over the tail of the xterra.

Unfortunately there is one factor making this a more difficult trip than anticipated. I tell ya man, these girls, making a guy all fluttery and stuff... life is tough. The background... Karen and I spent a day together out at the river yesterday. It was freakin' awesome... to put it poetically. We wandered around double ledge a bit, then headed up to Gooseberry Ledge for a sorta picnic. It was just awesome. It was quiet out there, except for the cows (which seemed to like blocking the road), and really beautiful. We just sat by the fire on the shore, had lunch, talked, stared at each other. It was really nice. Oh yeah, then jumped in the river. That part, while fun, not so nice... man it was COLD. Drove the forest trunk road to cochrane for dinner after, then hung out till the wee hours at her apartment. Suffice to say, things seem to be going great. I'm totally crushing on her.

But in reflection, for me anyway, there was more to the day than that. I've been wanting to get just a day to be out at the river, with no responsibility, no gear, no sporting. Just to be by the water and soak in the power. I guess it's not something I wanted to do alone, because I kept stalling it and stalling it. It was like a beautiful flood of memories, and a powerful spiritual event for me. I felt very close to God, and some of the strength from that feels like it's carried over. I really needed that. I'm glad to have had someone out there with me who could really appreciate the placed we were and was comfortable just sitting in silence for a big chunk of it too.

Well, before I wax so poetic the computer slides off the table (ouch, bad pun) I'm going to sleep... so very tired.

Apparently I'm an Idiot

Or so the local elderly busy body would have me believe.

I was out for a ride on the longboard tonite. I'd just finished watching Step Into Liquid (a surfing movie) and had a serious hankering for some of that action. Being 1200 km from the closest ocean, the skate is the closest deal. I went to check out a short (about 100m) curved slope nearby. Nothing steep (I'm not there yet), well lit, wide smooth road, can see in both directions. I've even stepped up the safety and dusted off the helmet and wrist guards. I'm on my third ride down the hill... nice carving, having a lot of fun, and this guy calls at me to stop for a minute. I'm used to it... usually people with questions about the board or something. So this guy starts goin off at me. He's just beside himself. He's going on about how aren't I a little old to be riding something stupid like that, asks me how old I am, flat out calls me an idiot. I'm gonna stand and let him intimidate me, so I ride off to finish the hill and go for another round, and he has the gall to call after me 'God Bless You', to which I respond 'Good cuz I doubt you would'. I was on the verge of going back and starting on not appreciating him using God like that in a criticism, and if he wants to ask God to bless me maybe he should be a little more meek, sincere, polite, whatever. Not worth it though. When I rode by on my way back up the hill he muttered something under his breath. I ignored him and got about 4 more nice runs in anyway.

Sigh, why do people have to be jerks.

Freezing Rides and Sweet Photogramaphy

Went for a ride up to the highwood pass on saturday. Man, it was cold up there. Seriously. It was about -5 in the sun, and going 120 or so apparently the windchill is in the neighbourhood of -20 or so (like the air temp feels like -20 on a calm day). Yeah, it was cold. When I got home I hopped in the shower for like 45 minutes, and was still chilly for about half an hour. I think I was verging on stage one hypothermia. That's when your core drops just a bit, and you stop shivering... it's supposed to be the warning sign that if you don't warm up soon you will be in trouble. Anyway, whining aside, it ended up being an amazing and beautiful ride. The snow was right up to the road, and it was sunny out. The Larches still had the yellow going on too. It was really something else, I've never seen it so beautiful up there, and whizzing through on the highway, with the sharp wind and nothing to block the view was just incredible... it really feels like it was a defining experience. I mean, where else in the world can you ride at 2206m above sea level, in effectively the winter, with fall colours... man, so amazing.

Also, crazy excited, I'm getting my Digital Rebel XT. I got a smokin deal on it... $1k for a brand new, in the box with warranty through a local camera shop that does some sales on ebay, so no shipping or exchange either. I can't wait. I fully plan for it to be the last camera I buy for a long time... if ever. The CMOS is actually higher quality than iso 400 colour film!

Man, now I'm all excited again... I guess no sleep for Ryan!

So sleepy

Man, not a wink last night. Dunno why, but my brain was firing on all 8 cylinders all night and I couldn't get it slowed down. I think I got a bit at like 5 am. I'm gonna blame it on two things:

1) The coffee I drank at 10 pm last night.
2) The general excited flutteryness of a budding relationship.

Went out with Karen, had an awesome time, although, me being the guy I am, managed to created one of the world's most awkward situations. I think it's like my acid test for potential relationships of any kind. If someone can see through the odd parts, then they get to see the good and different parts that make up the whole Ryan, who as we all know, is fantastic (and ever so humble... always humble!). That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Totally revved for thanksgiving. I'm in on two dinners right now, sunday and monday, so I'm in the process of trying to find one for saturday too. It's the curse/blessing of not having parents around for it. On the one hand, I miss them a lot, and mom's cooking is the greatest in the universe, (although Aunt Penny is pretty much just as good, especially at the cabbage rolls.... mmmmmm). On the other hand, I'm left to fend for myself, so I get to seek out extended family, or friends on occasion, and slide myself in for a weekend of absolute gluttony.

Speaking of which, I should get on the elliptical before I have a shower here.

King of the road

Whew, that was a long haul of road days. We finished the last shot up yesterday, and some odds and ends today. I tell ya, working down at Suffield was just an awesome project. Really neat work, with an immediate practical deliverable. Also, a fun group of people to work with from all over the world. Probably the coolest part though (aside from seeing a 5000kg bomb set off, which was really really damn cool) is that it's good and important work. The stuff we were doing is in use in afghanistan as we speak, so it's a relevant project. Went out to celebrate with the whole crew last night... what a gong show. I was doing great till the dutch major bought the unrefusable 'one more round'. I was right at the edge of the perfect amount, and I got toppled a bit. Nothing stupid, just more that I wanted. Still almost peed my pants laughing a few times. Man, those dutch know how to have some fun.

In other news, I'm covered in ugly (and REALLY itchy) red welts. I was attacked in the night by a very small spider, who got about 40 bites off without me noticing. Crap am I itchy.

Now I have liek 5 days off, which is good... nice very long weekend for thanksgiving, oh, and doing something with Karen tomorrow, hopefully sans nerves.

The chev got stuck

Then the Ford got stuck and the chev unstuck when the dodge showed up but the dodge got stuck in the tractor rut that eventually pulled out the ford.

I've been listening to Corb Lund. Awesome musician from our backyard... kind of a rockabilly/bluegrass artist. His stuff ranges from setzeresque like the Big Bitch Butch Bull Fiddle, to very countryish, like that listed above. Excellent, lots of energy, tight wicked arrangements.

Anyway, back to the field tomorrow. Just for a day or two though, so not too bad. Also blowing up a big bomb... wheee!

Going somewhere as yet to be determined with Karen on Wednesday. That'll be awesome. I'm excited to see where she picks!

Excited for thanksgiving. Not going to vancouver island which is a bummer, but It gives me the weekend to hang out with family and to work on the second prototype of the Fox Longboard. This one'll be 5 ply, 1.25 inches thick. I'm hopin the extra wood and a bit of extra curve'll really stiffen it up. If this one turns out good I'll also do a first test of the artwork. That'll probably be come spring though. Chris is workin on it for me now, but it'll probably be pretty cold by the time I get the board ready for it. Course, there's always chinooks. I'm pumped to play on sunday too. I tell ya, missing a few weeks really brings back the passion to play at the Church. It's such a gift to have the ability and means to play, and I love getting to use it to lead the congregation.

Anyway, gotta be at work at 4 tomorrow, so it's bedtime for me!

A better way to heaven

So the WMM album was starting to get me down. It's such a wicked rocker, but it's a little too angry... it was stirring things that just need time to fade, so I switched over to the colin james one, and some Lifted. The lead track on the Colin James album did the trick... totally perked me up.

Yeah, so everyone needs to mosey on over to Colm's blog (www.crazyirishguy.blogspot.com) and check out his latest. I really appreciated it. I know we have kinda different spiritualities and stuff, but his entry today inspired me a bit. It's a pretty awesome experience to have the next generation of youth ministry, and a guy I watched grow up in his faith for a long time challenge my own. It kinda helped me see the rut I'd drug myself into this month. With the big paycheck coming, I'd already had spending plans on a lot of junk. DVD burner, video capture card... piracy stuff. So I reevaluated what I really need, in context of ministry, and went out and bought the recording equipment I've been craving. It's pretty awesome to be able to record with decent (enough for a hobby anyway) quality the music that pops into my head from time to time. Some of it really hits me as inspired, but then I forget it before I can really get it all hashed out. I'm hoping this way I can get some good stuff ready for the rally in PA in november. It'll help with talks too... I'll be able to record them and then listen and re-vamp. Beyond that it's just good to think about my faith and direction a bit... to at least know it's on the front of my mind instead of slowly stagnating in the back.

In other news, the date tonight went good! I had a lot of fun, I'm pretty sure she did too... We didn't catch the film fest, which was a bit of a bummer, but we had fun a muriettas... I managed to squeeze a dance out of her :D I'm hoping things can keep progressing from here!

Alas, it is late and I am sleepy (gin'll do that to ya).