CaptainOrange

obligatory site photo We managed to sneak away to Waskesiu for a few days before our guests began arriving in earnest. We didn't really have enough time to go anywhere too remote, so we opted for the Narrows. It's a little busier than we'd like, but its the camp sites are pretty large and the people that camp there are relatively no nonsense. We didn't have to put up with anything more than a barking dog from our neighbours. Leo and Anwyn are both getting to be good campers. They set up their own tent, build fires (I still chop the wood), and cook some of the meals. We (by which I mean Wendy) are working on canoeing skills with them, but they still have a ways to go in terms of endurance. Moss Monster Now, if you are looking for performance and melodrama, Leora and Anwyn have endurance to spare. The weather on the first day was spectacular enough that I was able to forgive the ferocious mosquitoes that accompanied it. Good thing we got some canoeing an...

I can't say much for the weather lately. Or, maybe I will. At least it stopped raining long enough on Saturday for us to get a chance to burn our Christmas tree. While the endless cloud cover may make Vin happy as a... er... sun-hating clam, it doesn't do much to improve my mood. Oh, I get out in the weather and enjoy myself. Just last night I went for a 10km in my 5-fingers out in the pouring rain. Even there I was thwarted (by asbestos, no less). But, the twinkle in my eye lasts exactly as long as the physical activity. One thing I can  say is that with just a few breaks in the endless grey, I can get to see a lot of my favorite colour -- at the right time of day. Leora was away at a friend's birthday/sleepover (the second in two weeks) so Wen and I decided to go to a movie with Anwyn to help alleviate the sting of boredom. The clouds had been flirting back-and-forth with blue sky all day and I knew there was going to be a great sunset. We saw How to Train Your Dr...

Perhaps there is a school you can attend that will teach you how to find perfect gifts for your friends. I haven't been there, but I know someone who should be lecturing. From the hands of the man who brought me lock-picks, Swiss army knives and countless... Liquid Metal ... dangerous (previous blog entry) Prince Rupert's Drops ... adventures !(another old post) I give you Shape Lock , which is a brand name for something more generally known as "friendly plastics" or polycaprolactone (wikipedia). We had loads of fun with it the first day, but had to keep it on a shelf for a few days to allow me to speak directly to other humans. Even then concentration was difficult. My mind raced constantly thinking of cool uses for this stuff. Eventually, when the Christmas hubbub was dying down, I settled on a project that I've wanted to attempt for a long time -- making a custom attachment for my Gorilla Pod . Before we go any further, if at any time you find yo...

Brad and Jodi were up visiting for a couple of weeks. We managed a trip to the Narrows out at Waskesiu. Click below to see the photos with my oh-so-witty commentary. Waskesiu Later, Brad and I managed to melt glass with my new oxi-acetylene torch and to manufacture 1 Prince Rupert's Drop (Wikipedia.com) at a bargain price of about $100 *ouch* Prince Rupert's Drops

There is an inevitable conflict between finding the time to do really cool things in your spare time and then managing to tell everyone who might be interested about it. When you take the time to make a fire in excess of 660.32 °C (1220.58 °F) (wikipedia) and tell me about it the same day, you can berate me soundly. Below is a link to the best of the pictures with a few comments. Liquid Metal (linky link linkerton) Here is a short video of some of the second pour that we did. --edit January 13, 2013. Sorry. Discovered video is gone. Google! I didn't migrate it to youtube. I may add it later after I re-upload it. Mike--

In an attempt to allay my previously mentioned blues, we had a little get-together at our place to burn our Christmas tree. It has been sitting out in the back-yard since I turfed it out the french doors just before New-Years. It had been a nice enough day out, but was beginning to cool quickly with the sun down several hours. Leora and Anwyn had a fantastic time (which translated into adult lingo is something like "really loud and irritating") as they tossed hand fulls of loose snow crystals onto the myriad sparks which erupted from the (no longer) evergreen boughs. It was a smokey, aromatic and uplifting event. And what can I say? It was very orange. The previous weekend, we went with Wendy to Regina for a technology meeting, of which she was part. While there, we naturally visited the Saskatchewan Science Center. The bubbles are always the most enduringly popular item (for me and them). Once again, I am greatful for my digital camera. I took about 50 shots in the bub...