Well, it's been two years, so that means it's time for another federal election! Because the ruling party doesn't have a majority of the seats, the oppostion parties decided to vote down a "confidence motion". Basically, the oppostion parties voted against a bill, this one was the federal budget, and this bill is considered essential for government to run. That means the Parliment has "lost confidence" in the government, the Prime Minister took a stroll over to the Governor General's house and asked for the government to be disolved and that the party leaders faces should be painted on buses.

Anyway, we're off! Six weeks of calling each other's policies ridiculous and appealing for our vote. I do agree that promising a tax cut for families AFTER the budget is balanced (scheduled for 2015 under the ruling Conservatives) while giving corporations tax cuts is assinign, but hey maybe people stopped listening as soon as they heard tax cut!

CBC, the network that brought us Little Mosque on the Prairie and Hockey Night in Canada, in conjuntion with the University of Toronto has put together a neat little tool to help us vote. Vote Compass gets you to answer some questions and pops up which party you agree with most (there's five main parties, although only four in my riding). Have a browse and see where your inner Canadian would mark the "X".

Tough Mudder

Adam called me about three weeks ago with this great idea. Tough Mudder 2012. "You're totally on my team." Straight out of the '90s, but that was my decade too, so I understood his Friends/Seinfeld dialect and I'm signing up.

Let's see, who's on the team:

Adam - graduated with a degree in modern dance, averaged over 5 hours of dancing a day while in school.
His boyfriend - Adam doesn't date slobs, so.....
His trainer - From the sounds of it, a guy who should actually be a trainer, not some guy who read a couple of articles in Men's Health.
Me - a firefighter who hasn't realy worried about cardio since the early part of the century (not that long ago really, but it adds to the dramatic effect)

I know I could power through the obstacles, that's kind of what firefighters do. The twelve and a half miles though, through mud with some swimming, not really my forte. (No Kia jokes, I promise.)

If you search a little bit through the Tough Mudder link, you'll find a set of reccomended exercises. A crazy tough run, followed by fifteen core sapping, sweat dripping, mentally wearing exercises done for a minute each with about a thirty second rest in between. I've split the run and exercises up between different days, but I'm loving it.

It's old school army type stuff. It's almost as much a mental challange as it is physical. By the end (and I've only been able to complete all fifteen the last two times), I'm sore, dripping, tired, and frankly a little unstable when I stand. But, it's awesome. I'm planning on being in the best shape of my life by the time the Tough Mudder rolls around, (I'd better be) so stay tuned.

Here's this post's song.

The Cave - Mumford and Sons

Lame

What's lame? The Norovirus. The gastrointestinal tract virus that likes to hang around hospitals, thus restricting the hospital to staff and patients only. So, I got to say good bye to my teary-eyed wife at the elevators as she was going up a floor for her pre-op. I knew it would be tough on her, but the plan was for me and her parents to be there right up to the surgery doors.

Now, I'm at home blogging waiting for a phone call from the surgeon in a few hours. I'll update then.

In the meantime, enjoy this song.

It's not always about me.

Kristie's headed for surgery next week to have a tumor on her kidney removed. She's doing her damnest to get ready for it and even getting a little metaphysical about it with some meditation. For those of you that don't know, Kristie meditating is kind of like a cat swimming, I was pretty sure I'd never see it.

She's a little more stressed about it than I am, she might say that's an understatement, but I've always been a "worry-when-there's-something-to-worry-about" type.

I am trying though, to keep her as stress free as I can. I'm not always the best at that, sometimes life gets in the way, and sometimes I need to fall asleep without finishing her back massage. I know, what a dink. :p

Until the time officially arrives and the alarm clock goes off way too early, we're going to live normally.

Oh, execept for getting wills and signing power of attorney forms. Other than that, it's World Juniors and NFL playoffs on the tv and episodes of Dexter in between.

Hey there.

It's me again, working on me and my life. Football and work and the other work seem to get in the way. I realise that I should include them because they aren't going away, not without some serious work and without some serious lottery winnings.

So, what's my plan, I ask? Make time for me to better myself physically and mentally. It's funny how things come into my life when I seem to need them. Like the Alive magazines that Mum always drops off when they're in town. Not much on depth, they present ideas that I then dig a little deeper into.

Ah, Mum, you definately present some great ideas in that method that is so very you. We who aren't as in touch with our inner feelings find your method a little uncomfortable, but we know that it's always with best intentions and, in the long run, what's best for us.

Thanks, eh.

"Professional" drinker

I read an article the other day. A wife described her husband as a "professional drinker". What she meant by that was he was able to drink socially without the problems the next day.

He obviously has the personal sense that I'm reaching for. The awareness to know when to have a glass of water or turn down the next drink or two, while still enjoying his evening.

I'm past the point of having to prove how much I can drink. Part of the wisdom of age I guess. It's that I enjoy the flavour and can't find a suitable substitute. Suitable flavour that is.

Perhaps that's it. I need to take something to switch to between drinks.

This blog seems to work. Ideas come with the writing.

As an aside, I've managed to lose a couple of more pounds - 15 in total. It's been motivating me to keep going. I missed fruit for a while though.

I started to feel sluggish and run down and then I realised that I hadn't had any fruit for a while. Now that I'm eating fruit more, I've been feeling better.

Fruit and exercise make you feel better. I should probably patent that, but I'll share it with you for free.

Damn Skeeters

So, two full days on the couch because I couldn't get any energy to do anything else. I'm blaming it on West Nile (a nurse friend "diagnosed" over the phone after a ten second consult). That means two things, I'm now immune to it and comfort food. Grilled cheese sandwiches or macaroni with tomato juice. It was tiring eating.

In the meantime, my belt is on it's last hole, my pants are too big, and I'm noticing a change in the mirror. Once I fell fully healthy, I may actually feel healthy.