All Sorts of Schtuff

This photo is from a recent trip up-island, stopping in Duncan. We visited a great toy store there, and Bethy couldn't resist picking up some bubbles! This store was loaded with Playmobil, one of the staples of my childhood toy collection. They put out some elaborate stuff now: pirate ships, viking ships, medival castles, race tracks, jungle scenes. The best set I had as a kid was the Esso gas station, which my mom picked up from our corner station.

Our trip was to Quadra Island, where Bethy's aunt and uncle have enjoyed a beautiful home or about 20 years. We have a standing invite to stay with them anytime, and we finally took advantage. These are the same folks who have a couple of trailers set up on Denman Island, where we've visited numerous times -- and we plan to go back as soon as the season starts to change. Island life sure is great, I'd love to live in a place like Quadra or Denman one day -- so long as I have a boat to enjoy the surrounding waters and get to the big rock or mainland when necessary.

I've been filling in all this week for the morning sports guy, which has been loads of fun. A newscast and a sportscast every half-hour between 5-830am -- plus some BSing with the morning show host. It means a very early start to the day (at work by 4), but also an early finish. Tuesday was the NHL trade deadline, which was quite a busy shift. Also learned today I'll be subbing for the wake-up host for the last two weeks of March. Once in a while, I have to take a step back and look at what a cool job I have -- pinch me, I'm a radio guy!

I played at the BC Transit hockey tournament in Delta last week. I used to be on the Victoria team a few years back, and they still invite me to their tourneys. Great fun! They borrow a bus, set up a keg in the back, and it's a rolling party all the way there and back. Four games in two days, we went 2&2. The facility there is a four-rinks with a restaurant above where you can watch, dine and drink some more. Would be nice to have something like that here, but there's no market for it yet. Best we have are double sheets at a few rec centres.

Something I've noticed about voicemail: Plenty of folks like to leave a super-brief greeting message, only to be followed by that frustratingly long "At the tone, please record your message. When you're finished recording, press one for more options. If you'd like to.... etc etc etc..." HATE IT! My service provider (Rogers) has a way through the options menu to disable all that in favour of going straight to the beep. I wish more people would do that. Don't know if Telus phones allow it though.

A news item: The phone book is thinner this year, because so many people are gassing their land lines in favour of cells. They dropped more than 30,000 listings from last year I think.

Another news item: Al Gore, champion of climate change action and alternative energy, pays $10,000 per month to power his 12,000 square foot mansion in Tenessee. Haven't gotten around to watching his seminar yet, but it's sure created a religous-style, righteous-type movement in a short span of time. I agree clean energy is a no-brainer, but some folks are going about the debate with Amway fervor. Annoying.

Movies: Transformers and Simpsons are two flicks this summer I'm excited about. And it was confirmed today there will be a new Star Trek movie in a few years.

Sorry about the infrequent posting. Sometimes day-to-day life takes over. Thanks for surfing by!