Sunday, November 29, 2009

My Beautiful Canoe

It's not everyday you have to plan where to house your canoe, let alone a 16 foot voyageur canoe. Ever since my Dad died, I think my Mum has seen this canoe as a burden, something she's had to deal with. I'd keep reassuring her that I would make arrangements and plan out what to do. Afterall, it would be I who would be using it in the future. This weekend has been several weeks in the planning, trying to coordinate my Uncle Paul's schedule and mine. Finally, we settled on a date; this weekend. Up until now, the beloved canoe has been sitting in our in-door parking space wrapped up in bubble wrap. And now, it's on it's way to my Uncle's house. Last night Uncle Paul and I headed out to buy the appropriate rope, and we gathered our thoughts. Under Uncle Paul's careful tutelage we brought the canoe out to his car, hoisted it up over the car, and strapped her down well. Once we were finished, I was confident with the results. What was an added bonus to this whole task is that Uncle Paul is so similar to my Dad it was very reminiscent of when Dad and I took the canoe out last time, going on 10 years ago. Now I can look forward to the Spring when Uncle Paul and I will take on the task of stripping the canoe, re-covering, then painting it. I feel a bit of research coming on!



Monday, November 23, 2009

Pygmy Hippos

Did you know that the pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis or Hexaprotodon liberiensis) actually exists? I assumed that they were made up when Global came out with a commercial talking about the 'Pygmy House Hippo' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TijcoS8qHIE. However, I learned today they are real... sort of. The real pygmy hippos are critically endangered and live in Western Africa. Through loss of habitat they are dying out. In the past, pygmy, dwarf, and common hippos existed, but sadly only common hippos and a few number of the pygmy hippos are around today. The main reason I am looking all this is because I have a new project! I am taking on a challenge at the Redpath Museum to clean and prepare a collection of finds, then I can have the opportunity of doing a research project on a specific portion of the collection. This is the first step towards working in my field. I've had my degree for a year and a half and haven't had the chance to use my skills during that time. It's all very exciting, and I shall keep you posted!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Who Can I Yell At?????

It has been a while since I've used this blog as a venting board, however this is the time. You know that feeling when you think to yourself "all I want is to get home and have nothing to do, nothing to worry about, not to complete". Well forget that for tonight!! Baahhhhhh. I went out to get a couple groceries. Luckily it was a short list and for the most of the items, no problem. But the next time I have to go searching through the entire grocery store to get bloody hummus, I'm taking a map. Ask me where the hummus is in Sainsbury's in England and it's fine...next to the sandwich fillers and taramasalata. But in IGA?? I certainly got my exercise for the day walking from the frozen section to the fresh veg, and back again...twice. Short of calling my Mother to ask where the hummus was I finally found it 30 minutes later. After this experience, I head back to the highway....the flashing yellow lights should have been an indicator. I get to the exit I need to turn left at and I wait...and wait...and wait. Finally a figure arrived next to my car uttering in French "you should have gone the other way, now you're blocking all the traffic!" I exclaimed, I'm trying to get over there, indicating the way to my house. No, he says I cannot turn, I'll never get the light. Bugger!!! Fine, I say "can I do a U-turn?" to which he replies "I can't give you permission...." so I do it anyway. I was so mad that basically when I was almost at my door he says I can't go that way. After a 20 minute detour I arrived home. This sucks! I hate construction and stupid traffic people who stop me from going home, without any notice.
I feel marginally better. Though, knowing that I'm not going to proof read this leaves me with a sense of dread thinking of all the typos and grammatical errors.