Alive! 

Fraser River below. 

Then the glide down. 

Skydiving! 

Landing. 

So fun! 

Just kept falling. 

I introduce myself to dinner. 

The pig is tinfoiled and roasting. The pink things below the pig are red hot coals. 

The roasted pig. Note the steam rising in front of the light. 

A grill side view of the feasting. 

A Pig Cut in Half! 

Preparing the pig! 

I'M GOING SKYDIVING THIS AFTERNOON!

ELECTION AND PORK

The pig roast on Saturday went pretty well. On Sunday morning all that was left were bones and skulls so overall a well picked through carcas. My camera is broken so pictures are nto available.

The federal election went as expected. The natural governing party is no longer governing which in my opinion is good but the math of the legislature won't add up to much constructive governing. When the BQ gets 2.5 times the votes as the Greens shouldn't the Greens get about 20 seats. Alas the Green vote is not very efficient, from highs of 12% in Calgary centre to lows of 0.1% in many Quebec ridings, it will either be electoral reform or one great candidate that breaks through. Patience Deac.

In the mean time here are lyrics from a Neil Young song I've liked to play in the mornings since about grade 10 (written by Young, played by Young and Pearl Jam):

I'm an accident
I was driving way too fast
Couldn't stop though
So I let the moment last
I'm for rollin'
I'm for tossin' in my sleep
It's not guilt though
It's not the company I keep

People my age
They don't do the things I do
They go somehwere
While I run away with you
I got my friends
And I got my children too
I got her love
She's got my love too

I can't hear you
But I feel the things you say
I can't see you
But I see what's in my way
Now I'm floatin'
Cause I'm not tied to the ground
Words I've spoken
Seem to leave a hollow sound

On the long plain
See the rider in the night
See the chieftain
See the braves in cool moonlight
Who will love them
When they take another life
Who will hold them
When they tremble for the knife

Voicemail numbers
On an old computer screen
Rows of lovers
Parked forever in a dream
Screaming sirens
Echoing across the bay
To the old boats
From the city far away

Homeless heroes
Walk the streets of their hometown
Rows of zeros
On a field that's turning brown
They play baseball
They play football under lights
They play card games
And we watch them every night

Need distraction
Need romance and candlelight
Need random violence
Need entertainment tonight
Need the evidence
Want the testimony of
Expert witnesses
On the brutal crimes of love

I was too tired
To see the news when I got home
Pulled the curtain
Fell into bed alone
Started dreaming
Saw the rider once again
In the doorway
Where she stood and watched for him
Watched for him

I'm not present
I'm a drug that makes you dream
I'm an aerostar
I'm a cutlass supreme
In the wrong lane
Trying to turn against the flow
I'm the ocean
I'm the giant undertow

I'm the ocean
I'm the ocean
I'm the giant undertow
I'm the ocean
I'm the giant undertow
I'm the ocean
I'm the ocean

AS IF YOU NEEDED MORE THAN 1!

Top 10 Reasons to Vote Green on Monday

1. I want to feel good about my vote. I want to vote for someone, not against someone.
2. The Green Party has the best platform. The Green Party platform has earned positive reviews in the media, has done well under analysis by non-partisan organizations.
3. My great grandchildren will be proud of me. I want them to have a sustainable future, a green economy, and better democracy.
4. I want my vote to have an impact on the legislative agenda of the next parliament. MPs will spend the next session trying to look good for the next election, so they will be looking at who they lost votes to. Vote Green and Green priorities will set the agenda.
5. People are saying good things about the Green Party.
6. I am nobody's fool. I refuse to let Martin, Harper, Layton or Duceppe think he can scare me into "strategically" voting for him just for not being the worst among them.
7. Green Parties around the world get elected, govern countries, and make the world a better place.
8. Whoever I vote for will get $ 1.75 in public funding, per vote, per year. I feel good about the Green Party putting it to good use defending my values.
9. I am socially progressive, fiscally responsible, and committed to environmental sustainability - just like the Green Party.
10. One hundred and thirty nine years of Liberal and Conservative governments. Albert Einstein said it best: "The significant problems of our time are not going to be solved by the same level of thinking that got us into them."

http://www.greenparty.ca/reasons_to_vote_green.html#more

TRIAGULARITY

Dan's name was recently missing from the press releases of the company he works for, and I wanted to know why.

Dan: Are you an owner? Or do you just like seeing Dan’s name on the press release.

Deac: I'm an owner and I like to see Dan's name on the press releases. Since Dan's name went off the stock has not done as well. I thought there might be a correlation, less Dan = less value.

You might have nailed something there, but I don’t think I will bring it up. The equation “less Dan = less value” will someday appear in business text books, but will be strictly presented as “more Dan = more value”, or for those in the southern states “mo’ Dan mo’ money”

I'll definitely include it in any textbooks. From biggies equation I could also assume that "Mo Dan = Mo Problems"

Oh Snap! I didn’t consider the triangularity of the equations.

Sold!

Wow Craigs list works really well. Within five minutes I'd already sold some stuff. I think I may have underpriced but oh well.

BUY MY STUFF

Please visit my alternate blog www.deacstuff.blogspot.com. It will tell you what I'm selling and then you should buy it.

GREEN OF ANOTHER SORT

I purchased a 9OZ. tub of these peas today. That means the same diameter as this picture but about twice as tall. The crunchiness and heat make for such an intense snack. My sinuses are pleading for mercy but I can't stop ...

An update on this, eating this many peas can be very toxic.

GREEN

It is election time so that means Green time! My kitchen table is full of propaganda and I could be Knocking on your door tomorrow. In the mean time visit www.greenparty.ca and above all else vote!

... 

PIG ROAST

I ordered a pig today! Soon he will be roasted and look something like this fellow. Be there, the afternoon of Saturday January 21, 2006!

PASSED

I passed the US Fundamentals of Engineering Exam. I can't believe it, 8 hours not wasted. The letter said I received a mark of 80% but it definitely does not mean that I got 80% of the questions right. After nearly missing the test entirely at least I was one of the very special 45 of 46 that passed the test. Hopefully this bodes well for the rest of the tests I'll be writing in 2006.

That is not the only good piece of mail I received today. Bell Mobility sent me a cheque for $5.05 after I pestered them about pro rating my account to the date of cancellation. Can I buy you a California Roll?

... this was only the beginning of the New Years Feast! 

SPECULATION IS RISING THAT 2006 WILL BE A BANNER YEAR

The work day count down officially started today. My responsibilities are diminishing as my hunger to travel grows. 39 DAYS!

I had a great New Years. I have to say that nobody knows how to do things properly better than vS. This girl dazzles and amazes me; I can’t help but have a great time. New Years Eve started with a trip to Urban Fare where we exercised some impulse buying while sticking to the overall plan. Palenta, steak and wine left us droopy eyed with still hours to go before the ball dropped. Translink was gracious enough to over me a free train ride downtown where a room on the 10^th floor of the Fairmont awaited. A cross town cab brought us to Sarah’s party where I ate some of the most delicious rippled chips and celebrated the New Year. The threat of a dance off loomed large but never over shadowed the good nature of the party. The evening was capped off with a bravado filled walk back to the hotel with a cigarette in one hand and a bottle of champagne in the other.

... and here comes Sue around the bend. 

About 10km in 1.5 hours. Demographics be damned I dominated the Kananaskis Lakes Cross Country Ski Trails. 

My last day in Calgary was spent in Kananaskis X-Country skiing with Sue. It was a great day with just a dusting of the lightest snow that only the Rockies can produce.

What would Calgary be without a trip up to Sunshine Village with my good friends Dan and Al. 

Who is this sharp dressed man? 

Paul repairs the tree from below as Tom supervises from above. 

... and of course there's the feasting.