Danen Rants and Raves

The Ikea Challenge

gdanen@gmail.com — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:48:38 GMT

There is one thing to be said for lower prices at Ikea, but has one ever counted (and priced out) the hours involved in collecting your own product in the warehouse and then assembling anything from a bed to a frying pan?

I wonder who is making the money... :)

Killer Freeze

gdanen@gmail.com — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:26:20 GMT

All my annuals froze last night/this morning.

October 10th was officially the last day of my growing season.

Open Letter To Webshots

gdanen@gmail.com — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:59:27 GMT

I have been a loyal Webshots user for several years, but the arbitrary changes made lately (even though I provided input via surveys) have left me with the feeling that it's all about business, not the user community that I have come to enjoy.

Several things bug me with the new developments. As a paying customer, I was to be free of advertising, yet the Webshots promos are so in your face. If I say NO once to buying prints etc, why can't my opinion be respected? Sure send me info in an email, but don't slow down my online experience.

Speaking of email, I signed up to receive my stats weekly, but have not seen them for a while.

I was told one of my albums was featured, but I could not find it. One of my photos was "photo of the day" and it too could not be found.

I have my settings so people I invite to view private albums can comment, yet they are not able to do so.

Prayer Works For You

gdanen@gmail.com — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:42:08 GMT

Today I presented Prayer Works For You at my church. I consider this the official launch!

Prayer Works For You

gdanen@gmail.com — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:27:17 GMT

A new website, Prayer Works For You has been created. The purpose of this website is to encourage Christians to pray or ask for prayer. There are many people hurting and in need of prayer. This is one way to connect praying people with those in need.

Check it out!

New Beginnings

gdanen@gmail.com — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:54:16 GMT

Yesterday all the final signatures were put on paper.

It is now official.

New Beginnings

gdanen@gmail.com — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:42:01 GMT

Today Cecile and I started a new life. Some of you were already aware of our divorce plans, and today Cecile signed the separation agreement. My turn in a few days.

New beginnings for both of us.

Nikon D700

gdanen@gmail.com — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:16:40 GMT

Bought a new camera, a Nikon D700. A little over a year ago I got the D200 and 3 weeks later the D300 was announced. I determined to skip the D300 and wait for the next model, and this is it.

Went to Elk Island national Park and you can judge the results for yourself.

Long Time

gdanen@gmail.com — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:31:25 GMT

Haven't posted for some time... Not much to say. Had a nice time is the Canadian Rockies in May, spring is almost done...

For the rest, not much news!

Spring Is Here

gdanen@gmail.com — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:49:34 GMT

20+ degrees compared to heavy snow a week ago. Washed the van, did some yard cleaning, hosed down some remaining snow in the shade... All in all, a great day to be alive!

Got a replacement pump for my aero garden so I planted some petunias, cosmos, and bush morning glories. Let's see how long before they bloom...

Did You Turn Off Your Lights?

gdanen@gmail.com — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:32:47 GMT

Did you observe Earth Hour and turn off your lights for an hour?

I am a bit disappointed that of the Canadian cities that observed the power out, Edmonton was not among them.

From the website:

On March 29, 2008 at 8 p.m., join millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour, an event created by the World Wildlife Fund.

Earth Hour was created by WWF in Sydney, Australia in 2007, and in one year has grown from an event in one city to a global movement. In 2008, millions of people, businesses, governments and civic organizations in nearly 200 cities around the globe will turn out for Earth Hour. More than 100 cities across North America will participate, including the US flagships–Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco and Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. View cities involved around the world.

It Must Be Spring

gdanen@gmail.com — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:35:43 GMT

Even though we still get frost at night, the daylilies and tulips are poking their noses above ground. Soon summer will be here and I will enjoy the warm weather again.

Sights like these are a good reminder!

FOBT

gdanen@gmail.com — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:11:16 GMT

Test results were negative, which means GOOD!

On with the rest of my life!

FOBT

gdanen@gmail.com — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:39:46 GMT

Just finished a Fecal Occult Blood Test as part of a new checkup regimen. Being on a diet for over a week, and taking poop samples is so much fun.

I just hope the results are good... My first for such a test...

End Of Regular CEA Tests

gdanen@gmail.com — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:22:15 GMT

Had my final 3-month CEA test and the score was below 0.5... The lowest is has ever been! Feels great.

End Of Physio

gdanen@gmail.com — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:44:08 GMT

YES!

Today was my last day of physio. Need to keep exercising my hips, but I'm doing a lot better than 2 months ago!!!

Lily Register

gdanen@gmail.com — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 14:05:38 GMT

Went to the post office to pick up the new edition of the RHS lily register that was sent to me as a complimentary copy for having the online lily register.

A massive work of 948 pages. Nice to see some recognition...

End Of Physio

gdanen@gmail.com — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:41:57 GMT

If all goes well, next week will be the end of my physio treatments.

I can walk again!!!

The Bucket List

gdanen@gmail.com — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 07:01:12 GMT

I have not seen the movie yet, but the description and the trailers have already spoken to me. Especially those 4 words "you live, you die" made an impact on me.

A long time ago, Carter Chambers' (Morgan Freeman) freshman year philosophy professor suggested that his students compose a "bucket list," a collection of all the things they wanted to do, see and experience in life before they kicked the bucket.

But while Carter was still trying to define his private dreams and plans, reality intruded. Marriage, children, myriad responsibilities and, ultimately, a 46-year job as an auto mechanic gradually turned his concept of a bucket list into little more than a bittersweet memory of lost opportunities and a mental exercise he occasionally thought about to pass the time while working under the hood of a car.

Meanwhile, corporate billionaire Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) never saw a list without a bottom line. He was always too busy making money and building an empire to think about what his deeper needs might be beyond the next big acquisition or cup of gourmet coffee.

Then life delivered an urgent and unexpected wake-up call to both of them.

Carter and Edward found themselves sharing a hospital room with plenty of time to think about what might happen next--and about how much of that was in their hands. For all their apparent differences, they soon discovered they had two very important things in common: an unrealized need to come to terms with who they were and the choices they'd made, and a pressing desire to spend the time they had left doing everything they ever wanted to do.

The list wasn't just a mental exercise anymore. It was an agenda.

So, against doctor's orders and all good sense, these two virtual strangers check themselves out of the hospital and hit the road together for the adventure of a lifetime--from the Taj Mahal to the Serengeti, the finest restaurants to the seediest tattoo parlors, the cockpit of vintage race cars to the open door of a prop plane--with just a sheet of paper and their passion for life to guide them.

Adding and crossing items off their list while taking in the grandeur and beauty of the world, they will grapple with the difficult questions and the even more difficult answers that plague all of us. And, without even realizing it, become true friends. With humor, insight, heart...and a fair amount of attitude.

Sometimes you just need a deadline to get your life in gear. "You live, you die…"

http://imdb.com/title/tt0825232/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OltHNarHA9A

Election Coming Up

gdanen@gmail.com — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 19:29:23 GMT

Not really a fan of politics, but I do vote. On March 3rd we go to the polls for a provincial election.

A friend is running as a Liberal candidate. See http://www.dawitisaac.com/ for his website.

Back

gdanen@gmail.com — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:26:47 GMT

Today my back is fine. The low pressure weather system has been replaced with an arctic high.

Temperature was -31C as I drove to work, with a wind chill of -48C. Sure not pleasant.

Back And Snow

gdanen@gmail.com — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 07:50:20 GMT

Here I was blaming my sore back yesterday on the results of physio therapy.

NOT!!! It's a regular blizzard today. It's the old arthritis acting up... Oh well... Must move to a no-blizzard country.

Follow Up

gdanen@gmail.com — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:49:16 GMT

Initially, I understood the cancer that was removed was FIVE kilograms. Then thought perhaps it might be 5 lbs. Today it was confirmed that it was indeed 5 kg, 11 lbs. The tumour had pushed the stomach and the intestines out of the way, causing constipation and inability to eat much.

Imagine 11 lbs and compare that to a newborn baby...

God Is Great

gdanen@gmail.com — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:26:17 GMT

Just heard from Joy that Gay is safely in post-op. No complications. They were able to remove the tumour intact without need to remove a kidney or the colon. She won't need a stoma after all. Isn't that fantastic? Another cancer beaten. If my leg muscles were not so sore, I would jump for joy.

Thank you so much for your prayers, also on behalf of Joy.

Operation

gdanen@gmail.com — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:01:09 GMT

Gay is getting operated on today in Melbourne, Australia. Over there it is the 18th already, early morning...

Prayer has been requested on her behalf.