A Perfect Day for Snowmobiling

Greetings,

The last 2 days have been busy and packed with crazy experiences. I went snowmobiling and snowshoeing yesterday (technically 2 days ago) with Pete to check out conditions on the Little Main Restigouche River. Shamefully, my camera battery died while I was trying to take a picture of Grand Falls at full torrent and I wasn't able to capture the beautiful day in the woods. We saw a doe up close at Boston Brook lodge and lots of tracks. It felt strange going snowmobiling in 14 C weather - the snow was getting pretty slushy by the time we left, what shockling little was left of it. About a week ago, there was appearantly about 4 feet of the stuff and roads that were unpassable then, were dry by the time we got there. We managed to get stuck - thank goodness for the come-a-long, and at one point thought we'd run out of feul 6 km from the truck - fortunately we were wrong. Snow machines are just cranky in warm weather - something to do with being air cooled.

I met baby Clayton and kidnapped his mother for tea. Then Gabe and I went out for our scheduled night on the town - dancing at the Hilltop. I'm not sure how energetically we danced (I thought I did okay for someone who'd been snowshoeing earlier that day), but it was fun to watch everyone else dance. The crew there included some entertaining characters. This morning we got up early to run errands downtown and ended up painting plates at the clay cafe. It was exactly what we needed to relax our brains after 4 weeks of crazyiness. After that, we ate some wings, our first and only meal of the day, went home and finished the fourth season of Due South. I'm sort of sad that we've run out of episodes, I have to admit that it's become my all time favourite TV show. Brilliant humour, great acting and heart warming human moments, not to mention the footage of Mississauga's city council chambers and the frozen north - all made the story memorable. I guess we'll have to watch it again, although there are still a few episodes I missed in the first season, so I may be able to enjoy a few more hours of it. I'll post a picture of the plates if they don't turn out too poorly. Its hard to imagine how they'll turn out from what they looked like when we handed them over to the lady. We get to pick them up sometime in the next few days. Now it is back to packing, cleaning and learning about economics, until my next blog. . .

Cheers,

Jennith

BTW - the photo is again taken in Fundy this April 3rd.

Packrat's Update

Well, I've been at it all day and I've gone through 3 boxes of papers and most of the stuff on my bookshelves. I've managed to chuck about 1/3 of it. Analyzing the procress, it is interesting to note that being stapled saved a lot of things and having feedback saved others I could probably go back and get rid of another 1/3 - I somehow doubt I'll ever look at my first year calculus notes or even the handouts from Mechanics of materials. I kept most of my assignments and exams, but through out most of my course notes. I kept a lot of print outs of articles that I probably could have gotten rid of, but it seems a waste to get rid of an article. I haven't even gotten to the 100's of pages from last summer. Those at least I may need to look at again. Dr. Wilson's notes fared pretty well. I justified keeping my calculus notes because I might just be teaching calculus come september and my computer science notes because Gabe is really interested in programming.

In my defense - about 1/3 of it is on a shelf/box that warrents a second going through. I'm hoping that if I keep on repeating the process I'll eventually get rid of some of it. I'll say "Geez, I'm never going to look at my geology lab manual from first year or I really hated that course - and don't even want to look at my exam again" So I guess I'd better keep at it while I still have momentum or go for a bike ride while its still a beautiful day.

Cheers,

Jennith 

The trials of a packrat

I have reached the point where I must sort through 5 years of odds and ends and papers and decide what to keep (and drag halfway accross the country), what to give away and what to simply throw out. I started with old notes, thinking that they'd be an easy toss -seeing as they're messy and unindexed - but even then - I felt like I was throwing knowledge away. (I can see my mom itching to write a comment now)

Sigh - even kitchen stuff - is it worth moving? Most of the pots were between $10-$20 (not Paderno or anything), but add them up and they turn into $100 pretty quick. We'll see. I'll be a process and a growing experience, but I'll survive it. Really it is just a warm up for doing the same thing to 5 years of biology notes and other papers from Lakehead when I get back home. Between teaching and Girl Guides I've learned to save things, because as soon as you throw them out you wish you hadn't.

So, off I go into the sunset or lunch anyways.

Jennith

P.S. The link is to the blog of another packrat - but the artical made me chuckle so I've attached it for your reading pleasure.

Urban Havens

Greetings,

After reading a fascinating article in Canadian Geographic (May/June 2005), I was inspired to write about my own interest in urban natural spaces. I've included a link to the Credit Valley Conservation area for anyone back home who was interested in what they are doing.

Jennifer Wells article "Secret Hollows" tells the story of a photographer-conservationist who has made a project of recording the Toronto's tiny nooks and crannies of urban wilderness and their interaction with the concrete and asphalt city infrastructure. Philip Jessup's (here are some of the pictures) amazement with the dogged survival of green spaces in spite of human citification has resulted in a series of photos intended to capture the "pentimento" or "trace of one painting faintly visible beneath another"(Wells, 2005) of the landscape. The story also briefly touches on some historic aspects of both the urbanization of Toronto's watersheds and the conservation movements that have moved towards protecting them. A related link on the Canadian Geographic site features "Lost River Walks" in Toronto.

My interest in the story is both personal and academic. In two of my courses, I have been working on problems related to mitigating the impacts of development. - How do you expand without obliterating the area's natural beauty? Or sometimes, simply how to expand without making a mess out of your watersheds? - I found myself often drawing on the example of my own neighbourhood for solutions, finding myself increasingly impressed with their success in creating a fantastic place to grow up.

My own connections to these "secret hollows" date back to childhood. When I turned 8, I earned the privledge of going for bike rides on the nearby trail system with my friend Simone. Where were we drawn to? Not the fancy parks for us, but the patch of woods on the far side of Derry Road (over the DeeHacheBee or Down Hill Bridge). Here, woodland flowers still manage to bloom in May and June and trees offer shade and that peacefulness that only forested places can possess. (Trees innately possessing a certain dignity of age and permanency) Certainly, Lake Aquitaine was one of my favourite places to visit (Lake Aquitane being a large stormwater/flood management facility disguised as small lake).

As I got older and we moved a few km away, Edenwood and Lake Wabakyne became new haunts. The trilliums of Edenwood (not to mention Trout lilies) continue to draw me to this ever more over-used patch of trees. I was lucky. I lived in a place safe enough for children to explore the world beyond their backyard and endowed with the paths and trails to get there. I had supposed that this was the rule not the exception for subdivisions, but I was wrong. I'm glad someone took the time to design a community to live in, rather than pack as many houses as they could onto what was once fertile farmland. I have not only enjoyed living there, but have benefited from their example.

Cheers,

Jennith

(The picture was taken at the UNB Woodlot in Fredericton)

A Perfect Day in a Sea of Rainy Ones

Its been grey and rainy since Monday - with a few random patches of bright sun. Luckily, our trip to Fundy was on Monday, which was as perfect as weather could be!!

I've included a photo of Fundy as the tide was coming in. You can see the cliff that protects the bay, fishing boats stranded by the tide and a sky so blue it hurts. I think Alma is my favourite human altered viewscape in Canada.

I've finished most of my writing for the term. I have a few things to tidy up for our senior report project and a map to colour and presentation to give - but I think I can actually take this evening off and possibly go socialize with people or better yet - paint and go to bed early or maybe watch a movie.

Yesterday, I had more random conversations with strangers (like the librairian and a fellow student) that I ran into in the halls than usual. Good conversations too!!! When we were in Fundy, we stopped and talked with all sorts of people. Partly because everyone knows Gabe, and partly because new faces are probably exciting there in April. I had a great chat with the local utilities technition (perhaps guru is the right word since he does everything from street sweeping (as he was when we met up with him to running the local water, sewage and storm systems.) He is currently taking courses increase his qualifications with respect to running the water and sewage systems. I'm going to miss friendly people when I go back to Mississauga. Its probably one of the things that bothers me the most about Toronto - most people react to a friendly greeting (like Good Morning) by staring at the ground, walking faster and protecting the wallet. Sigh. . . as if a 30 year old with her hair in braids and decent shoes (well, I suppose they are a bit deceptive after all the hiking I've done in them) is going to attack you. Its sad that people have become so paranoid.

Of course, after reading about that horrible attack in an Edmonton school - I suppose I don't blame them. (CTV STORY)

Growl at the world for evils and injustices and cruelty and greed and . . . you get the point.

Jennith

Well, in general, I have personally - fatigue aside - had a great week. I found my missing ball cap, and had a nice trip and visit with my brother, moved lots of stuff, accepted my iron ring, finished up the bulk of my remaining school work and got to eat cheese cake!

Hearing the sound of bells

Two more milestones on my journey through engineering are complete. My senior report project presention has been completed and I am relieved. Geoff has taken most of my belonging back to Ontario and now we have no glass dishes, but no worries we still have lots of tupperware.

Andrea and Geoff and Gabe all made last night special and memorable, even if Gabe and I lost badly in pool. We kidnapped Geoff and took him down to Fundy Park and watched the tide come in in Alma. Watch for more photos in the next few days.

Unfortunately, I have to get back to work now, but a quick hello until the weekend.

Jennith 

100 Most Banned Books 1990-2000

Check out the list of banned books. I was not suprised to see Harry Potter among them, however, several others shocked me throughly.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson is a fantastic book. A link to a blurb on her website is at: http://www.terabithia.com/books/terabithia.html

Julie and the Wolves, Roll of Thunder - Hear my Cry and a Wrinkle in Time are also personal favourites.

I'm just shaking my head. The world seems to have more people who want to stamp out even the suggestion of magic.

This puts the issue of the middle East war book that is under fire in a new light. I think parents underestimate childrens ability to handle challanging topics. These aren't books that'll give kids nightmares, they're just good books that tackle some of the tougher asspects of growing up.

Jenn

Westwind Subdivision

Greetings,

I'm working away on my Site Planning Group Project, trying to subdivide large areas of Fredericton into people friendly, low road chunks while following Fredericton's Subdivision by-laws regarding lot size and road width and cul-de-sac lengths and turn around radius and consider topography and existing features. Sound confusing? Well it isn't too bad. This is a project that I did earlier in the term. (Note the extensive park area)

I have included a link to a 28 page report on Urban Sprawl from the David Susuki Foundation, for anyone looking for a little light reading (don't worry - lots of pictures). Its pretty comprehensive, but not particularly technical. An interesting read.

So, back to work I go.

Jenn

No R(egg)rets

Here is a picture you would only ever take with a digital camera. Otherwise. . . you'd be wasting film. mmmmm. . . eggs.

really - back to work now

Jenn 

Figures. . .

As soon as I reposted, the first post showed up.

Figures. . .

Doesn't it!%$*$%@!

Jennith

Above is a close up of a red pine bud!

Path of Light (Picasa ate my post)

Greetings. . . if this shows up twice it is because picasa ate the first version as far as I can tell.

The photo is of the West Morland Bridge in all of its glory.

4 days to iron ring

7 days until the last day of classes

9 days before i can stop doing 18 hours of school a day for a little while

22 days until my last exam

42 days until I turn 30 (YIKES!!!) (I admit to cheating and counting the last 30 minutes of Thursday as a day, just so I could type 42 - but hey, who wouldn't)

So back to ye olde parametric curve assignment, so I can hande ite ine.

Jennithe 

Path of Light

Another shot of the West Morland Bridge in all of its glory.

4 days to Iron Ring

9 days until I can take a brief break

22 days until my last exam

42 days until I turn 30 (YIKES!!!) (I counted today just so I could type 42 rather than 41 - all the other ones I started from Friday.

So, now I'm going to go back to my crazy parametric curves assignment. . .

Night. . . Jennith 

White Lightening

Another photo of Fredericton, NB taken yesterday while I was on my walk. Today has been okay, relaxing compared to the last few weeks as I worked on my map and senior project presentation. Gabe and I went Toyota test driving on the way to pick up boxes from the liquor store. I've packed four boxes of books already.

So, we drove the Yaris. Not quite as good as I thought it would be, but not bad - and like the Rav4 it has good canoe anchor points. That said, I like the looks of the Echo much better - not to mention the name. However, it should be noted that the Corolla has impressive gas mileage and slightly more horsepower than the Yaris and is not a whole lot more and there are tonnes of them on the used market, so they may even be cheaper than echos... so there is a thought - job first of course, but you have to have dreams and motivations to get through the last weeks of your 4th university degree. Like as not I'll be driving an 86 sunbird - Erin's Dad had one when we were in school, cool car, not as cool as a grand am, but still cool. It was a good break anyways, and I got to drive something, even if I was a bit disappointed in the handling and pep.

I can't believe that Iron ring is only5 days away. My design group was chatting about it today. . ."I've been looking at my finger differently the last few days." said one member. It was agreed that we were all excited, but not sure what to suspect. Some expressed worries that it wouldn't fit. Myself, I feel stunned that this momentus occasion has snuck up on me quickly and noticing belatedly that there are things about Fredericton I'm going to miss - like being able to walk everywhere and the old train bridge and even the look of the houses and buildings downtown. So, I look around at my half empty bookshelves and soon to be blank walls and quasi furnished rooms (the only big thing left to sell is the couch) and it hits home that I'm leaving, moving and starting over again. I'm excited that Geoff is coming up, it'll be neat to show him around and a life-saver to have him move my awkwards and fragiles back to Ontario. I've reverted to thinking of myself as living in Ontario and kind of lookig forward to going back.

I can't seem to find the exact words to describe my anticipation of Iron Ring. The history behind it is certainly a bit intimidating as is the secrecy surrounding it. In some ways, it like the end of a journey I was meant to take, but the beginning of a lot of changes, now that I stand at the cross roads of opportunity. Day dreaming about cars aside (this being a hobby for the last 14 years), I really don't know what is in store for me. I don't even know if I'll be staying in Ontario as I could soon be sucked into Alberta with the rest of the countries job seekers or I could end up in the North. So, the ring represents the key to a door, which I won't get to peak though the window or see very far through for a while, but holding onto the key will be something. The rest of it will come together in a few weeks.

Fare thee well, and any family wool wishers in Ontario should contact me by Friday to place their order for Saturday morning, otherwise, you are sheep out of luck.

Cheers,

Jennith 

Last sunset view from the West Morland Bridge

Okay really the last, but they were all neat with the kookie clouds and stuff.

JP 

More Fredericton Sunset

 

Fresh Air is Good for the Brain

Its funny how you don't even realize you miss something so much until you go and do it. I did get some neat pictures. This one was taken by the Westmorland Bridge just as the sun was setting.

My walk was mentally refreshing and full of odd twists. While standing on the ramp to the now non-existant Carlton Bridge, I noticed that the yellow stripe was still visible. They must have used some paint back then. THen I met Mary, a young lady who I noticed setting fire to the grass. We ended up having a neat conversation. Cool kid. I ran into Randy and Rhonda randomly at the King's Place as I was cutting through to home. While walking through the grave yard I passed some people involved in some likely sketchy sales, but also got the sense that the dead were restless. I wouldn't give this feeling too much credit, since earlier in the day I'd had the sense for sure that my Tim Horton's cup was a RAV4 winner at least until I rolled up the Rrrrim to not win. I spent 10 minutes talking to a lady who owned a 4 year old Toyota Echo in Impulse Red. She had a lot good to say about it - she even pulls a small trailor with it. Its funny how people love to talk about their cars. I've done the same thing with a few people - all of whom enthusiastically enumerated the excellences of their Echos. I love striking up conversations with random strangers, they often result in crazy and interesting discussions.

I thought of at least a million things that I wanted to post about. . . but I think I'll spare you most of it today - walking is also linked to excessive philosophical musings on topics including idealism, parenting (i.e. you shouldn't let your 12 year wander around Toronto after dark), teaching, cars, canoeing, Doe Lake and Iron Ring (6 days). But I'll spare you for now and return to musing about storm sewer and such.

Good Night,

Jennithie 

Another Neat Web Video - Animusic Pipe Dream

Hey Everyone,

My group paper is in, so now it is just the rest of the detail. I've attached a link to a neat site - its a video. . . which I can't describe without ruining the suprise. Its just a neat idea.

http://www.gkko.com/videos/2533/animusic-pipe-dream

There is the link again.

Anywho, I"m going to take a walk and bring my camera - hopefully I'll have some pictures to post when I get back.

Cheers,

Jennith

NEAT WEBCAM!!!

Hey everyone (mom in particular)

I stumbled accross a link to this site while wandering briefly on Robin Hobb's News Group! Its a supper close up of a wild bald eagle sitting on her nest.

at: http://www.infotecbusinesssystems.com/index.asp?op=company.videoUpdate

Jennith

Final Fundy Foto

Here is the last picture that I'll post of Fundy for tonight. It was taken in Sept. 26th, 2005 - on Gabe and I's 1 year anniversary.

The next (as you scroll down) 5 posts are a series of pictures of Fundy National Park and Alma in different seasons and places. This is a special place for me, as it is the first place I went camping in New Brunswick. I visited Alma several times last summer - as Gabe was working in the Fundy General Store. There was a great 14 km looping hike that I did several times. The trail has some steep (worthy of Algonquin) hills and breath-taking views of the ocean and shoreline. It has a delightfully variety of ecosystems from beaver ponds to rocky red spruce woods to mixed woods to shoreline to bare rock to rocky beaches. . . Well, you get the point, there isn't much you can't see there short of mountains. Caribou plains - an easy trail - is my favourite and therefore of course includes several boardwalks traversing swamps and bogs and marshes and fens. I've neglected to include a picture form there at this point, but I'm sure I'll come accross one in the future.

I hope you've enjoy or will enjoy as you scroll down - this rapid Fundy Tour. For some truely spectactular photos of this area you should check out Brian Townsends website (see the LYNX).
Cheers,

Jennith 

Dickson's Falls in the Summer

Fundy in the summer - August 2005 - Fun Hike - Good Blackberries :D