Monday

Today was another of those slow days after a night of limited sleep. I guess I should say broken sleep really. For various reasons I couldn't get back to sleep after I was first awakened just before 1 in the morning but I survived the day.

The weather was rainy and overcast, a typical autumn day here along the west coast in British Columbia's lower mainland. It was rain, sometimes heavy, in the morning with some clearing in the afternoon. The weather over the next few days looks more promissing but still very autumn like.

When I got home, sorted my things away and then made supper, I spent some time behind the computer (that's where I still am) reading emails and catching up on some of the blog reading. I also got an email from Robert, the blogger from Delayed and Distracted, who is currently studying in Strasbourg, France. He's made some new friends, improved his French language skills (and who can't avoid that if you're living in the language) and is excited about being in the city and its culture! And who can't be excited about it, I've been in the city three times myself over the years. Wish him luck in his studies and perhaps we'll see some interesting posts from Robert in future when time permits. Oh, you also see, we have our lives outside blogging, otherwise we wouldn't have something interesting to tell you and you'd miss out on all that!

Well, I'm off to bed soon and hope to get more sleep than was the case last night. Here's hoping the sandman hits pay dirt and has me in a deep sleep for a change (you've all heard of the Danish fairytale about the sandman spreading his dream sand haven't you?)! Have a good night!!! - Volker

P.S. - The above photo is a scene of the city of Strasbourg (ponts couverts vus de la terrasse panoramique). I've taken photos from that very terrace, a venue showing the various canals of the Ill River flowing through the old city, such a lovely shot! - The photo is from the Wikipedia Commons.

Sunday's summer-like weather and more...

Since the weather was so warm and very summer-like, I went into Vancouver to have another walk along the seawall at Stanley Park before having my blossom white tea at Starbucks and returning home. Fall is in the air and the autumn colours are evident if you look carefully. I'll have some photos soon on that subject. Meantime, I took the above photo at the Fraser Cemetery in Sapperton (New Westminster) a couple of weeks ago. Notice the Red-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus cafer) on the side of the tree in the photo. Its a member of the woodpecker family. It took some doing to get this photo since I was playing a game of hide and seek with the bird in order to get this one. I saw another one today on my way through the cemetery to Sapperton station (SkyTrain) from where I was heading into Vancouver. Their call is the same as the Yellow-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus) found back east which is the one I'm most familiar with. The call is unique and unmistakeable!

Chrysler introduced plans to produce three electic cars, the Dodge Durango, the Chrysler Aspen and the Dodge EV (pictured above). The latter has a similar colour scheme as the Superbee. Together with the ones to be produced by General Motors this should give consumers some choice, if we can only get around the price tag. Mass production will certainly bring down the per unit cost but all this is a beginning. By the way, Brad has a Dodge Charger Superbee. How interesting is that?!?! There was a photo of his car in his last post. Speaking of Brad, he hasn't arrived yet but I feel his arrival is very soon. I've got a parking spot arranged for his vehicle (the parking will be included in the October rent), so he doesn't have to worry about having his car towed, and they are anal about having vehicles towed here in the lower mainland. The cell phone that I have gotten for him, and is on my plan, should make it very easy for us to keep in ready communication. Plus it allows him to call others as well. The phone has other features which I'm sure he'll love but I won't get into that now. You'll just have to wait for my future post after he reacts when he's received the phone. So, its after 10 pm and nearing bedtime. Monday is the start of another work week and you all know what that means! Have a good week, and keep posted for more news plus exciting stuff. - Volker

Slow day

Sunday was slow. I spent most of the day at home with the exception of a quick trip to the grocery store at the mall across the street. One reason why it was slow, it was raining all day. So it was overcast and rainy, more like autumn than summer. This will change eventually. That is the nature of life here on the west coast and of life in general.

I added Scott Herman Fitness to the sidebar on the right. Check out his link if you haven't already done so. Look for changes in Scott's website soon. Perhaps you might even want to join. The basic membership is free.

Well, Monday its back to work, so an early night is in store for me tonight. I'll be back up after 5 am, so there'll be more later. - Volker

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

Horoscope

Today (Monday) was a dull, rainy, overcast day, a typical day in Vancouver during the winter months. A good things is that the daylight hours are getting longer, the rain less frequent and the temperatures warmer. As signs of spring go, various spring flowers are in bloom such as the snowdrops and crocuses, even some daffodils in places. We have something to look forward to but are mindful that the rest of Canada is still deep in the throws of winter.

While on an afternoon break at work, I was looking at the newspaper (The Province) when the current day's horoscope caught my attention. Since I'm a Leo, I had a look at the entry that pertained to that sign in today's paper (March 3rd).

Leo (July 23 - August 22)

You're keen to experience life at a deeper level. You don't want to merely talk about it or observe it. You want to live it fully! You want to reach out like Keats and grab life fully with both hands. "Beauty is truth, truth is beauty - that is all ye know on Earth, and all ye need to know."

What do you think? I tried to have a look at the Gemini entry but someone had cut out something on the next page, so a large part of that entry was missing. My friend Brad is a Gemini, the young salty is am referring to in the blog header description. He's also my co-author, so we hope to hear plenty from Brad over time. There are no accidents in life for all has meaning and a reason for being so. Any thoughts on this from your own perspective?

On another matter, working as a concierge at an administrative centre has its excitement and boring periods when very little happens. Most of the day is spent signing in visitors, issuing cards to visitors and also employees who've forgotten their own cards. There is accepting mail and sending it out plus other duties. It's mostly dull, routine stuff really with a few interesting moments (99 % dull, 1% excitement, and not always of the good kind). More to say on my life, my interests, interactions with others and the adventure to come in forthcoming posts but this is a start.

Not much of a post but a start for this new blog about the experiences, thoughts, perspectives and such of two friends. We're due to learn plenty about each other, ourselves and how others feel about us in the process. Perhaps you'll even learn something about yourselves too! Surely this will enrichs each of us and others as well. There will be a few photos thrown in from time to time to keep it interesting. Feel free to comment when the mood strikes!