New hard drive is working

The new hard drive is now properly installed and working. I am supposed to be getting a commercial OS on Sunday and then will proceed from there by downloading all the software I require to do the various tasks on the laptop. A tech at work had a look at the computer and was able to correct the problem.

I'm in at work on Sunday for fire training. Although I am a concierge, knowing what to do in the case of a fire or other emergency is part of the job. So, I'll be there at 8 am which means getting up early six days in a row. Oh well!

Have a great weekend! - Volker

Brad, blogging and life at sea

Back in March of this year I invited Brad to be my co-author of this blog. This was his reaction in an email dated March 3rd:

"I willingly accept the role of co-author & the role of posting insight regarding us amongst this blog.

Also, I will post in this blog my current up to date thoughts, feelings and ongoings aboard the boat, so both you (Volker) and others will be kept up to par with my daily activities." - Brad

Then on March 15th, which was the last time I heard from him, he mentioned the following:

"All is well & days are long." - Brad

In this last email he wrote that he was using a borrowed computer and borrowed time to send a quick message while getting a coffee and a dinner before heading back out from a port in New Brunswick. Seems he's too busy for the moment to post which I can well imagine. I didn't hear from him during Easter weekend as expected. Likely ice conditions and other factors contributed to this delay in contact.

Then it also recently that four seal hunters lost their lives. The fourth is still missing as I understand it. Of the six onboard the two on watch survived. As I understand it, the boats stopped their work in honour of those that passed on. A sad weekend that's for sure.

So, needless to say, I am very much looking forward to hearing from Brad when he does break his silence. He must be overworked and very tired at day's end! - Volker

Marine Forecast for the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Nova Scotia

To give you an idea of the marine weather forecast in the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Cabot Strait, here it is for your interest:

Environment Canada's Official Text Forecasts

Marine Synopsis for the Maritimes

* NOTE: Corrected and/or amended bulletins are listed first *
FQCN20 CWHX 081822

Marine synopsis for the Maritimes issued by Environment Canada
At 3.30 PM ADT Tuesday 8 April 2008.

A broad area of high pressure stretching from the Gulf of St
Lawrence to Nova Scotia will gradually slide southward tonight and
Wednesday. Moderate to strong northeasterlies over southern waters
will diminish to light winds by Wednesday afternoon as the high moves
southward. Elsewhere generally light winds are forecast throughout
the period in the vicinity of the high.
On Wednesday evening a trough of low pressure will approach the
district from the west. Over westernmost waters winds will increase
to moderate southerlies ahead of the trough.
END/ASPC

see: http://text.weatheroffice.gc.ca/forecast/textforecost_e.html?Bulletin=fqcn20.cwhx

-Volker

More on horoscopes

Last week the weekly paper called the West End [WE] had an interesting horoscope prediction for the week of April 3-9/2008 [Free Will Astrology].

Leo (July 23-Aug.22)
The feats you're pulling off may not appear spectacular to a casual observer. But in my view, they are some of the most interesting accomplishments you've enjoyed in a while. Here's a brief a brief description of some of your subtly glorious break-throughs: 1. You've made yourself less susceptible to being manipulated by guilt or pushed around by bullies, 2. You're getting smarter about how you treat the people and things you love, 3. You're at the peak of your ability to discern the difference between rash risks motivated by fear and smart gambles driven by authentic intuition.

In general these could apply to anyone and is why I would prefer drawing up a natal chart based upon the place, date and time of birth rather than the generalities presented in daily or weekly horoscopes. My own birth date is August 14th born at 7:10 pm in Bruchsal, Germany. The book that I used to draw up my chart (and the chart itself) is in storage until the end of the month. When my belonging come out of storage, I plan to review my own chart and draw one up for my friend Brad, who is a Gemini and born June 17th (May 21-June 20). Since he is born in the cusp, the sign Cancer (June 21-July 22) has influence. However, a natal chart is like a blue print or map of what is ahead in life. Obsticles can be overcome and predictions are based upon current human actions. Changes in these actions may change the outcome for the future. Also, personal predictions have greater leaway than say those for the collective, or humans beings in general.

I would like to hear from Brad and then find out more particulars on him for drawing up a natal chart. More on this subject later. Feel free to comment. - Volker

home computer offline for a while

The new hard drive I bought recently to replace the one that died made no difference. My laptop still won't boot, so I am cancelling my internet at the current place (I'm moving at the end of the month anyway) and set up a new account with phone services at the new place. I'd rather use my funds to pay the rent and moving expenses rather than sinking them in a computer right now. A tech will look at the laptop when I bring it in to work next week but there is no rush on it. It will be looked at when he has time. Such is life!

So now with the move coming up, there is so much work to do such as finding the funds to pay the storage and moving expenses and such. The phone and internet issue is simple by comparison. That about sums up what this month will be. - Volker

Recent deaths of sealers off Cape Breton

The recent deaths of seal hunters off Cape Breton gave me a bit of a shock on the weekend. Since Brad is still at sea off Nova Scotia my heart almost stopped. I learned the details from the news on tv and more when I did some research on the net the other day. A fishing vessel was being towed by a coast guard ship after having some troubles. Then at about 1:14 am the fishing vessel capsized after running up on ice. Three persons sleeping below deck drowned and a fourth is still missing. The two that survived were above keeping watch. These were needless deaths as far as I can tell. So why were the six men allowed to remain on the vessel being towed in the first place? Hopefully the investigations into this matter will shed some light into this and hopefully such things may be prevented in future. Whether you agree with it or not, the seal hunt itself is another issue entirely.

Now I haven't heard from Brad since before Easter. I have since heard that the ice has been an issue this year. With all the snowstorms in central and eastern Canada and now the melting causing flooding, such as in Ontario, I am sure that the resulting melt water is affecting the current outflow into the Atlantic. This and the wind would cause issues with the sea ice. More on this later. - Volker

Lease application approved

It is official: the lease for the apartment has been approved. This is a one bedroom apartment for Brad and I. Once he is here, settled and we know his monthly income, we have the option to upgrade to a two bedroom apartment. The lease is for one year. Now my real work begins contacting the mover to get my stuff out of storage plus contacting Telus regarding phone and internet service. More on this later. - Volker