Monday, January 31, 2011

Photo #306

I made a great pork and vegetable stir-fry with rice tonight. I took a picture not because I didn't think you'd believe me, but because couldn't think of anything else to post today...


W.O 365

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Photo #305

Mmmm...Nice hot cup of chicken noodle soup...

I like how I managed to capture the steam rising from the cup.

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Photo #304

I always enjoy seeing the NHL All Star Game every year, and this year's game was really fun to watch...


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Friday, January 28, 2011

Photo #303

It's very hard to get anything done on the computer when you have a needy cat vying for your attention...


*Bonus photo: Big Yawn!

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Thursday, January 27, 2011

Photo #302

Today's post was inspired by one of my favorite Family Guy clips: The National Geographic Special on The Firetruck. (Just google it and you'll understand.) I saw the clip just recently and it was running through my mind when this ladder truck just happened to roll past my window this afternoon. Thank goodness for quick reflexes to get this picture...

I think Saanich has the coolest looking firetrucks. All red and everything.

W.O 365

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Photo #301

I can't say I've seen a pencil like this before...


Obviously this is from the bank I've been painting this week. (It was given to me, I didn't steal it.) My coworker asked: "Do you think the lead (graphite) goes all the way through?" I doubt it, but who knows. I think the real question is: how would you use the eraser once it wears down a bit?

W.O 365

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Photo # 300!

For my 300th photo, here's my bike...

I used to ride all the time but I haven't ridden my bike in over a year, if you can believe that. Now I'm going to need to since I'm working later than the buses run. So after oiling the chain, inflating the tires, and taking her for a test ride around the parkade I took this picture and thought: "This might as well be my 300th photo."
And you know something? I forgot just how much fun it is to ride my bike! It's a 2001 KHS Crest that I bought new in 2002 for a really good price. She's got an ultra light steel frame and 27 gears (3 in the front x 9 in the rear), so she's a little rocket too! Most of the parts are original except the handle bar, bar ends, seat, and of course the tires and brake pads - the original ones wore out years ago.
Now don't worry, I'll be safe out there. I have a helmet and lights and always obey the rules of the road. It's the drivers out there I worry about.

W.O 365

Monday, January 24, 2011

Photo #299

Dusting off the old tools and heading back to work tonight...


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Sunday, January 23, 2011

Photo #298

I think they mean it when they say "No Trespassing"...

Most people have an alarm or a dog, but I guess a cannon could be just as effective.
In case you're wondering, this is the S.S. Beaver, a museum ship in Victoria's harbour.

W.O 365

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Photo #297

Tonight was another one of those nights we just didn't feel like cooking...


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Friday, January 21, 2011

Photo #296

Uptown Phase 2 under construction...

This is just a few blocks from my home. Condo towers and retail stores will be going in here where the old Wal-Mart used to be.

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Thursday, January 20, 2011

Photo #295

I was stuck without a photo idea for today, and then I remembered these photos I took two days ago: The Homecoming statue in Victoria's Inner Harbour...

This was commissioned for the Canadian Navy's Centennial Celebration last year. Along the bottom are the names and crests of all of the current ships in the Pacific Fleet, based just outside of Victoria in Esquimalt.
I think the thing I like most about this statue is that the returning sailor has a teddy bear in his bag for his daughter. That's a nice touch by the artist...

W.O 365

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Photo #294

Today's a bit of a sad day for me. These guys showed up outside my balcony at 8:30 this morning, and by the time I was out of the shower they had their first victim...


Two hours later, it was all over. My view has been forever changed...

This is what the trees looked like back in July...
So yeah, there goes our privacy. Megan and I knew the city was planning on doing roadwork this year, but we didn't know they'd take out the trees. Apparently the underground utilities need work, so the trees had to go. For me these oaks were one of the things that sold me on our new home. Had we known this was going to happen, I might have thought twice about buying this place. I can only hope that when the work is done they will plant new trees.
If this story seems familiar, the same f'ing thing happened at our old address. See Photo #33. How does that song go? "Paved paradise and put up a parking lot..."

W.O 365

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Photo #293

Harbour Air sea plane moored to the dock at Victoria's Inner Harbour...

Someday I hope I get a chance to go for a flight in one of these.

W.O 365

Monday, January 17, 2011

Photo #292

I started reading my first book of 2011 last night and continued reading for a little while this morning. When I set the book down to get a snack, a sunbeam just happened to be dancing across my coffee table and I ended up with this cool photo...

No editing here. I just turned the flash off before I took the picture. As for the book itself, I really like it so far. I've always been a bit of a history buff, and of course a ship buff, so this book quenches my thirst for knowledge on both subjects! I actually bought the book with a bunch of others about two years ago and for some reason I read all the others but forgot about this one. I just ended up getting more books and reading them. Has that ever happened to you?

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Photo #291

Folding laundry and watching classic Star Trek. Yep, I'm a domesticated nerd...


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Saturday, January 15, 2011

Photo # 290

In my downtime this week I've started working on the Titanic's hull. In this shot I've flipped the hull upside down and just finished priming the bottom (below the waterline) in grey. The primer is what's going to make the red hull paint look awesome...

The bow is at the lower right.

The rest of the parts are all painted and built into sections just waiting for final assembly. My table becomes a virtual shipyard some days, but I always have things tidied up before Megan gets home! I'm not going to post any more progress updates from this point since I'm so close to completion. You'll see the finished ship soon. :)

W.O 365

Friday, January 14, 2011

Photo #289

Ta Da! One tall bookcase...

It's the same series as my desk, so the colour matches perfectly! It only took me about an hour to build it, counting a little break to let my neighbors downstairs know I would be hammering nails up here. They appreciated the courtesy.
I have several more books and things to fill the shelves with, but I staged this photo like this just to give a general idea of how the new bookcase looks in the den. I can't leave that many open spaces for the cat to climb into.

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Photo #288

My bookcase arrived around Noon today. Some assembly required...


*Bonus Photo: Cats are like kids. They're always more interested in the packaging...


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Thursday, January 13, 2011

Photo #287

There's supposed to be a bookcase here...

In the time I've been living in my new home I've slowly been finding efficient ways to use the tiny 8x8' room that is our den. It's one of those projects I didn't want to do all at once right when I moved in. I needed to live here for a while and get a feel for the room and how best to use the space. After hanging my guitars on the wall and moving my amplifier, I've managed to free up this little corner to the right of my desk for a nice, tall bookcase.
The problem is, the bookcase isn't here yet. I bought it yesterday and was told next day delivery, but such is not the case. I'm sure it will get here tomorrow, and for now you folks get a lovely picture of empty floorspace.
I know I'm still one photo behind where I should be, but if I get the bookcase tomorrow I'll post 2 back to back "pre & post assembly" photos to catch up. Fingers crossed.

W.O 365

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Photo #286

Snowy night in Saanich...

I really like how the flash reflected off the falling snowflakes.

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Monday, January 10, 2011

Photo #285

I really enjoy baking from time to time, and earlier this afternoon I made this banana nut bread that turned out great! My condo still smells a little like banana bread whenever I come in from outside. Mmmmmm...

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go have a slice of this bread and an ice cold glass of milk.

W.O 365

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Photo #284

Happy Birthday, Jimmy Page!

No Introduction Necessary: Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham & friends

Historical Note: Although John Paul Jones and John Bonham are on this album, it's actually not Led Zeppelin. This is a compilation of recordings Page made between 1968 and 1970 with several other British musicians, including Jones and Bonham, as a sort of side project in the early days of Led Zeppelin. These recordings are also known as the "Heavy Friends" sessions and there is an album out there with that name. I don't recall where I found this particular album, but I really like it. It sounds so good through headphones!

W.O 365

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Photo #283

My Mother-in-Law's travelling bear...

This little guy, small enough to fit in your hand, is usually clipped to my mother-in-law's purse whenever she travels, and they've been to a lot of places. I remember seeing it in Hawaii (in a Hawaiian shirt too!), and I'm told it's been to the Sturgis Bike Rally a couple of times wearing a little leather jacket. The list goes on! This photo was taken last night when the little bear stayed over at my home before boarding a plane this morning headed to Cancun, Mexico.
Have a fun and safe holiday, Camille and Stu...and little bear too!

W.O 365

Friday, January 7, 2011

Photo #282

Tidying up for a visit from my in-laws tonight...

I used my camera's 10 second timer to get this shot. Pretty cool, huh?

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Photo #281

I finally installed another guitar hanger in my den this afternoon. It's the one on the left...

The den is still a work in progress, but at least I've freed up a lot of floor space by hanging a couple of my guitars on the wall. Now I just need to find the best corner for my amplifier.
Side note: It's always interesting how my red wall appears almost purple when the flash hits it.
W.O 365

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Photo # 280

Megan and I are getting a little stir crazy. It's been over two years since we've travelled outside of BC, or anywhere off Vancouver Island for that matter, so we've started talking about taking a trip to somewhere nice and warm...

The countries shown on this inflatable globe aren't exactly to scale, but close enough. We're thinking of going to Puerto Vallarta, which is not shown but is on the West coast of Mexico. Of course none of this is confirmed yet, but it sure would be nice to get away for a week. Maybe for my upcoming birthday in February. Fingers crossed...

W.O 365

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Photo #279

It's been a little while since I've shown an update on the model of the Titanic that I'm building, so here's a shot I took this afternoon looking from bow to stern along the upper decks. I slid the top deck over to show you all the little walls and panels I just installed inside along the Promenade deck...

I'm still a long way from being finished! There are a lot of little parts left to install, and I still haven't started priming and painting the lower half of the ship! I'm really taking my time with this model. I'm not going for museum quality, but I want this ship to look as nice as possible sitting up on my shelf.

W.O 365

Monday, January 3, 2011

Photo #278

Today (Jan 3rd) is my lovely wife Megan's Birthday and, after a very long search, I finally found a copy of the book she really wanted...

This wasn't the only gift I gave her. I also bought her a DVD, a big slice of carrot cake, and a funny card, but this book was the one thing she really kept mentioning over the past few weeks. The problem was that it is very popular and was sold out everywhere, or so she was told. I wasn't convinced, so I went on a quest and looked through every bookstore in town and finally found what I'm pretty sure was the last available copy in Victoria. I now have a very happy wife!
Happy Birthday, Megan!

W.O 365

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Photo #277

A close up of one of the frosty glass panels on my balcony early this morning...

I suppose you the viewer can see what you want to see in the ice crystals, but I see two tall snow covered trees and a little guy on snow shoes coming down the trail between them. What do you see?

W.O 365

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Photo #276

For the past few years I've had the honor of making breakfast on New Year's Day...

For our first meal of 2011, I decided to make an omelette with ham, green pepper, green onion, and a slice of real cheddar that I broke up and sprinkled on top when it was almost fully cooked. Bon Appetit, and Happy New Year!