Opa’s Blog

I’m beginning a New Chapter of my Funny Life
Last week I received a radioactive implants using
radioactive lodline seeds.

After my procedure I received from you, my friends, so many get well wishes and you touched my heart very much.
I would like to thank you all for my start on my new Round of my Carousel of Life.

Thank you again, Horst (Opa)

On the way to the clinic it is raining
The clouds pouring out an endless stream of raindrops
Counting

The reception lady smiles at people coming
The elevator eat them one by one
Counting

A friendly nurse takes me to waiting area
Placing me, so many waiting
Counting

First Nation man beside a Chinese older man
Both as friends by illness, with many more
Counting

A lady waiting at a table with a 1000 pieces puzzle
She says, too often was she here
Counting

My call to the doctor’s office, for my treatment
Explaining varieties for help
Counting

The evil in my body, I will fight
100 seeds they are planting
Counting

Friends I have, sending energy so strong with love
I can counting on !

In August we had an exciting cycling adventure through the Pemberton Valley, B.C. Slow Food Cycle Sunday, within the framework of the “The 100 Mile diet“, was a free 50 km bicycle ride through the Pemberton Meadows.

We rented bicycles in Pemberton and started our ride through the Pemberton Valley. About 1000 people, children and adults, cycled from one farm to farm. We learned about the work of the farmers and talked with them about organic and conventional crops. It was a day of adventure, physical exercise and enjoyment for us. As always, we took a lot of photos and returned home happy.

The decision to go “Island Hopping” led to write this blog entry in a co-op writing between Anne (and she did most of this) and me.

After living on an island for 28 years, we finally managed to see the Sunshine Coast, Savary Island, Denman Island and Hornby Island and some of the east coast of Vancouver Island. All this on our scooter, traveling 400 km on winding highways and crossing the waters by ferry nine times, ranging from 10 minutes to 1.5 hour trips. Waiting at each of the ferry terminals, we felt like midgets amongst the leather adorned Harley Davidson riders. Needless to say – we did not even get a glance from them! Savary Island was the point furthest north, but also the most unusual island with sand dunes and wide sand beaches and the only one of our destinations we reached as passengers on a water taxi.

Points along the way: ferry to Horseshoe Bay; Ferry to Langdale; drive along the Sunshine Coast to Earls Cove; ferry to Saltery Bay; drive to Powell River – over night at Malaspina B&B ; drive to Lund (the end of the Sunshine Coast Highway); water taxi to Savary Island; were driven to other end of island to Indian Point; walked back along beach (found sand dollars and giant shells) and along sandy roads to return to Lund via water taxi (where a friendly “hello” from a fellow Bowen Islander surprised us).
Drove to Powell River; ferry to Comox on Vancouver Island; over night at Best Western in Courtenay. Drove to Buckley Bay; ferry to Denman Island (Denman West); drove across Denman Island to Gravelly Bay; ferry to Hornby Island (Shingle Spit); explored Hornby Island; picnic lunch from the Co-op Store; beautiful walk in the rain through Helliwell Park; in continuing rain returned to Shingle Spit; ferry to Gravelly Bay; in needle sharp rain drove across Denman Island to Denman West; ferry to Buckley Bay; and, still raining, drove to Qualicum Beach; very cold and wet arrived at Blue Willow House , enjoying a hot shower and a warm bed.
Drove to Nanaimo; ferry to Horseshoe Bay; ferry to Snug Cove, Bowen Island – and arrived home.
See All the pictures at my flickr set and enjoy.

Click To Play

I snuck in and made this post on Opa’s blog. Leave a comment to wish him happy birthday.

Springtime Jobs

Originally uploaded by Opa.
Preparing for our Guests

http://www.sevenhillsbnb.com/

Springtime Jobs

Originally uploaded by Opa.
Preparing for our Guests

http://www.sevenhillsbnb.com/

My friend John sent me the following advertisement from an Irish newspaper.

Car For Sale

1985 Blue Volkswagen?

Only 50 miles. Only first gear and reverse ever used.
Never driven hard. Original tires. Original brakes.
Original fuel and oil. Only 1 driver.
Owner wishing to sell due to employment lay-off.

Photo proofs the fact:

Yes, I did sign up again. My third time. And it was as informative and exciting as the last two conferences.
At the UBC Campus 300 bloggers and blogging neophytes came together to this event.

This time the event started with a big dinner at the Heritage Hall in Vancouver on Feb. 22nd (on Boris’ Birthday!) Yes, Boris and three chefs cooked dinner for 150 guests and we all enjoyed it. Thanks to Boris and his team.

On Feb. 24th the Blogging Conference started at Forestry Sciences Centre at UBC with a promising schedule. I would have liked to attend all presentations.
So, Anne and I tried to attend different sessions and share our impressions later.

After the Keynote Speaker Anil Dash who talked about “How to Make Change Happen With Your Blog”, I signed up with Richard Eriksson who talked about how to launch your own blog, described which tools to use and showed us the basics of writing, linking and posting. I found Richard’s introduction on how to start your own blog was very informative.

Richard Eriksson

“Building Rich Communities with Wikis”. Listening to two talks about using Wikis in education, introduced by Stewart Mader and John Willinsky, was my second session. I haven’t heard about Wikis before and was very impressed how successful the work with Wikis has been at UBC.

Stewart Mader John Willinsky

“Holding Paradox in the Palm of Your Hand” was the session I was looking forward to with Nancy White. I had enjoyed Nancy last year and I was amazed by her energy and how she can bring her audience to listen to her knowledge, her teaching and theories. I am looking forward to seeing Nancy at next year’s Northern Voice. :o)

Nancy White

My next session, “Why Do We Blog?” was presented by Darren Barefoot and Alex Waterhouse-Hayward. Both presenters have different reasons for blogging. For Darren Barefoot blogging is his profession and I always enjoy his superb writing style on his blogs. Darren ran a survey on the subject, “why are people blogging” and he talked about his results.
Alex Waterhouse-Hayward is a professional photographer and he talked about why he blogs. Alex is using his blog for family and business and he said how blogging changed his life.

Darren Barefoot

“Digital Photography for the Web “ a presentation by Kris Krug.
Kris’ introduction to creative digital photography reminded me on my first flickr-blog, , which is still my favored blog. His session covered the basics of taking, editing, and sharing pictures. I liked how Kris talked about his own professional experiences and knowledge and gave the audience enough time to talk about her own experiences.

Kris Krug

I felt the highlight of the Blogging Conference was coming together as blogging community, seeing people you know already through their postings, but actually never have seen in person. As many said, blogging is changing our life.

I’m so happy that Boris surprised me with an “Apple 15 Powerbook” for Christmas.

After spending lots of time transferring text data, photos, documents and etc. from the computer I shared with Anne, it is a joy to work with the Powerbook.
Well, till the last few days. :o(

What happened ?

# 1 : The screen went dim, as in saving mode, but didn’t go to a bright screen when I hit spacebar or another key. Well, no big deal, I fixed it at display in the system preferences.

How could that happen ?
Well, I think our cat “Felix” checked my new computer and tried out key “F1” :o)

# 2 : The Logitech wireless mouse stopped working. Old battery ? No, :o(
I fixed it by resetting Bluetooth Device.

How did that happen ?
Well, I think not Felix, he doesn’t know the white button “connect” under the belly of the mouse. So ?

# 3 : All my Contacts from my address book disappeared !
I still could transfer the addresses from the old computer, the new ones –“gone” :o(

How did that happen ?
Well, a “Bug”, any Ideas ?

# 4 : All my Bookmarks on “Firefox” disappeared !
Here again, I still could transfer the Links from the old computer, the new ones –“gone” :o(
How did that happen ?
Well, a “Bug”, any Ideas ?

# 5 : Yesterday, all my incoming e-mails were directed to my Junk Mail Folder (you might say “one day no e-mail-not bad). Well, in my case, one day without e-mails, it doesn’t happen. Finally I checked the Junk Mail folder and found the regular mails.

How did that happen ?
Well, a “Bug”, any Ideas ?

Virus on an Apple – no (?)