Rain rain go away!

Hey there people,

Where have all the bloggers gone? Oh I know, too busy with your education, and your law and medicine careers, to care about a little old blog? WTF?

Here's my update.

I now live in Vancouver (hence the title). SFU is treating me well, the program is pretty intense, but quite interesting, and I think I may just learn a few things while I'm here. I'm trying to represent Winnipeg as well as I can. We have a bit of a bad reputation in the rest of the country. People seem to think that Canada doesn't really exist from Calgary to Toronto. Well little do they know.

I've been living on pizza a beer mainly, and am loving my new Capoeira addiction. It really is an addiction. I get the shakes when I don't go for a few days. I must admit though that I suck pretty hard. It is surprisingly difficult. Give me 10 years and I will be kicking upside down while singing and playing a drum.

It is raining in Winnipeg, which is where I am now for the weekend. It was time to come back and see Liz for a few days and eat a s much turkey as humanly possible within three days.

I hope you are all doing well in the places you are calling home right now.

Take care,
Adam

About Face!

Did you guys realize that California is actually a pretty big state. Unfortunately, we aren't going to get to see in all, but we've put in a pretty good effort. We've been here in Santa Clara with my brother for a week now, nestled comfortably into the Silicon Valley between San Fransisco and Santa Cruz. I am blown away by the amount of wealth in this place. My old Toyota (which I think is pretty nice) is essentially the cheapest, and dirtiest car on the road. We were surrounded by BMWs, Lexus, and Benzs the other day in an area called Santana Row. This Santana Row area is like Corydon, but for the very wealthy. We had the pleasure of watching a guy fan himself with cash like he was some kind of rapper. Conspicuous consumption is brought to a whole new level here. But what can you expect from a place that sells products that are very literally found everywhere in the world. After this we are going to Yosemite, Vegas, turning 180 degrees and heading home to the flat lands. After driving through mountains non-stop, I'm really looking forward to driving in a straight line with no elevation changes.

Crater Lake in Oregon! By far the most spectacular thing I have ever seen.












Fern Canyon in Redwood National and State Parks. Apparently a scene from Jurassic Park was filmed here.











Adam

ps. Go see "Once".

Saint John Digs

Our apartment, as you can see, is fucking sweet. Oh shit, I can't wait till you guys come out here!!!!

Volcanoes, Barricuda Sharks, and Beach Houses

So, today I write from an internet cafe in Utila, a town where we have rented a freakin BEACH HOUSE and are living in ultimate retreat style. Here, I am taking diving lessons, and spent the morning on the coral reef. Pretty inspiring stuff: barricuda sharks, sea horses, huge manta rays etc, enough to pretty well make you shit your pants under water. Metaphorically speaking.

Last week I sledded down the side of a volcano, after standing in the crater and breathing in a good lung full of sulpher. With this, I was able to conquer my early childhood fear of dying a horrible death of lava, which I am sure is one of the major causes of death worldwide.

Next week, I'm headed home. Hopefully, will have a major hike to Mantario on my hands, alongside the preparations to move to New Brunswick and selling my car.

So as they say in Spanish, Adios!

West coast in 3 weeks or more

Having finally made it through the mountains and all the way to the coast, it feels like time for a blog. We tackled engine problems, outwitted mechanics, dodged mudslides, and evaded wildfires just to get here, but we are now in a small hamlet called "Vancouver" I hear it's going to be a pretty big deal some day. We should be here for 4 days and leaving on Tuesday for Squamish and then the famous Texada Island, home of Ken.

Things are going really well. We spent a two nights in Naramata with my uncle, and two nights in Kelowna visiting old host families and friends. Can't really knock the Okanogan valley, it is hot, scenic, and downright beautiful. I think I most people live there just to avoid something we have in the rest of Canada, ya know - winter.

I'm off to explore Vancity, and to try not to shop at LuluLemon (very difficult here).

As my uncle says "Keep the shiny side up and the dirty side down, and you'll be just fine". Words to live by,

75 % Party, 100 % of the Time

Status Update

Location: Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Objective: Learn to Surf, and Nachos as Big as Your Ass
State of Mind: Light

Unfortunately, Michelle had her bag (and passport) stolen last night at the beach, after a night of particularly good times. So, Michael and her left for San Jose to get a new one, then meeting us later, perhaps in Honduras. We're off tomorrow to Nicaragua, to get a little bit of something I like to call Volcano Boarding!!! done.

Keep it real, kids!

Central America Bound

Hey guys, so I'm off to Central America tomorrow at 7AM! I'll be leaving with Michael and Jackie for San Jose, Costa Rica. The next day we're meeting Michelle, Krista and Ken, at which point the party bus officially begins rocking.

Later, we'll be sweeping through Nicaragua, Honduras, and finally Guatemala before leaving from Guatemala City. Stay tuned to this blog for posts!

Get the Heck out of Town!!!

We are out of here. Gone, scram, jetting, "off and running like a herd of turtles" as my Grandpa says.

Tomorrow is the big day. So far our plan is Brandon, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary, sweet mountain playtime, Kelowna, Naramata, Vancouver, Squamish, Texada Island, Vancouver Island, and the United States of America. A few days in each, and a bunch more in the US. Can't wait.

A quick congratulations to Terra, Doug, Terry, and Jackie for polishing off some pretty tough degrees. And that is nothing to sneeze at.

See you all in a short while, and happy travels

Feeding the Blog (it likes people)

I stumbled across this site, which is more or less a waste of time. However as it points out, it does make good blog material! I did a survey - "How Well Traveled Are You", thinking that after dedicating the last 4 years of my life to travel, I would do reasonably well. Not so! Check out these results:

Your Travel Profile: You Are Extremely Well Traveled in Canada (100%)
You Are Well Traveled in the Midwestern United States (50%)
You Are Somewhat Well Traveled in the Western United States (32%)
You Are Somewhat Well Traveled in the Middle East (25%)
You Are Mostly Untraveled in Latin America (20%)
You Are Mostly Untraveled in the Southern United States (15%)
You Are Mostly Untraveled in the Northeastern United States (14%)
You Are Mostly Untraveled in the United Kingdom (13%)
You Are Mostly Untraveled in Asia (8%)
You Are Mostly Untraveled in Western Europe (7%)
You Are Untraveled in Africa (0%)
You Are Untraveled in Australia (0%)
You Are Untraveled in Eastern Europe (0%)
You Are Untraveled in New Zealand (0%)
You Are Untraveled in Scandinavia (0%)
You Are Untraveled in Southern Europe (0%)

Holla

Hahaha, so I thought I had forgotten my password, but alas, I figured it out. Nothing but smooth blogging from here baby. Now, if only I had something to say. Newest thing for me is that I got a clerkship position in Ottawa for August 2008-July 2009. That means you guys should all come and visit me! We are spreading the GP seed across the country, but must keep track of each other. I suggest regular meetings in different spots across our lovely country. Or, trips to Cuba? Mexico? Bahamas? Egypt? We have time to figure it out.

I leave you with this random image, just because its random.

Watch This Video

Go ahead. Make your day.

video.

Damned Straight!

As Confucius once said: " The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools."

I don't know what that means, but I am determined to keep this blog alive, even if it means eating 24 cases of tomato paste in one sitting, just because the king of blogworld told me to do it. I recently read that a blog is created every half second, but now it seems that facebook is really taking over as the "next thing" in keeping in touch with your friends. I say, screw that, we created this thing, so we'll keep it going. Some day, maybe it will even be as honoured a tradition among us friends as, say, Tubby's.

Having said that, I need your help in getting drunk and jiggy with me this weekend. Not necessarily in that order. So, here's the party details:

When: this Friday, March 23, starting say around 9PM
What: drunk me, possibly drunken boxing, remotely even drunken lesbian-esque kissing fun! Anything is possible!
Where: The Toad in the Hole
Why: because turning 25 is AWESOME, Confucius would totally be down.

See y'all there.

T

It's been too long

I think it has been far too long since we're posted anything here for the enjoyment of our fellow GPers. I think maybe we've been too busy with things like work, school, real life, and that damned Facebook. Focus people! Blogs are at stake here.

So I'm going to keep you posted on what's going down.

I'm having some life choices to make these days. As you know I got into Bioresource Eng at McGill, and already accepted their offer. But now I've been accepted to Simon Fraser REM. Ignoring the fact that I already told McGill that I was coming there, I'm a bit confused about what to do. I was hoping to live in Montreal do it up there, but I like the SFU program much better, and would likely get more out of it in terms of education and job preparation. Dilemma.

If any of you can decide for me, I'd love that. I think that at this fork in the road a quote from the great Will Farrel is only appropriate:

"I told you I don't speak Spanish, Baxter"

Think about that for a while.

The Plan for June

It's tough these days for me to think of much beyond the impending interviews of doom that I have going on for my residency spot. Nevertheless at the back of my mind I am reminded that, this year, on May 10th, I'll finally see the end of my formal medical education. And not a second too soon - it's high time I get my head out of the books and into the annals of medical malpractice hitory!

With that in mind, I think some form of kick-ass celebration is due. So, here is what I'd like to be doing this June:

For those of you who prefer not to live on the wild side of wild, what you are looking at is an example of the latest crazy-ass thing a white guy thought up: Volcano Boarding (check this link out!)

Hell yeah! It's a 6 week, rainforest/volcano/scuba filled romp through Central America!!! Who's with me?

This seemed necessary....Sorry If you get Pinched

Bloggers Who Criticize Government May Face Prison

Bill would allow rounding up and imprisoning of non-registered political writers

"Section 220 of S. 1, the lobbying reform bill currently before the Senate, would require grassroots causes, even bloggers, who communicate to 500 or more members of the public on policy matters, to register and report quarterly to Congress the same as the big K Street lobbyists. Section 220 would amend existing lobbying reporting law by creating the most expansive intrusion on First Amendment rights ever. For the first time in history, critics of Congress will need to register and report with Congress itself."

I'm really gonna have to watch what I say on here.
Here's the full story of the impending information lockdown: http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20070124&articleId=4569

Introducing...the boys of blog

Stacy B, Canada's most accomplished ski bunny.

Terry, Winnipeg's own Bob Marley (nice hat)

Jackson, Winnipeg's most missed expatriate

Me, a very very confused individual.

les quebecois

Hey guys, in Quebec now. I think one of the things I like best about this place is the beer, which as you all know can buy at any corner or grocery store. What is more, these beers are not your average manitobain, with names such as 1837 and Trois Pistoles I really feel like I'm drinking a part of Quebec's history. It doesn't hurt that they come in 14 or 18 proof, either.

Jackie and I went to a different kind of restaurant last night, one where you dine in complete darkness. We ordered le surprise, which ended up being some of the best damn prime rib steak I've ever had in my whole damn life. We also had a real nice chat with a couple from Ohio, and had no idea what they looked like until afterwards, when they led us out! The waiters are all blind themselves, and 5% of their profit goes to local organizations which support blind folk. Pretty cool.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I'll definitely be back in town for Stacy's b-day, and for the Hip concert this weekend. Stacy, you definitely witnessed the dance-off; I'm more interested in what happened later that night. Hey-oh!

Dance off's Aplenty

Dancing Bears are Cool and so are Dance-Offs

On the issue of dance off's, I would just like to come forward and say that when one is taking place I'm pretty sure everyone wins. Kudos to Batty for taking that one this past weekend, sadly I didn't see it or rather I was far too drunk to remember seeing it. Actually, at some points during that social I was just trying to fugure out where the hell I was. If one of you would please inform me whether or not I witnessed the Dance off then I would appreciate it. One last note I would like to make on the topic is that albeit Adam apparently beat Mr. Chan all those years ago, many more years before that I was previleged to behold "The Chan Man" lay dance-off waste to the majority of Dave Wesst's old school, Provencher. It happened during a school dance that Dave had invited us to and legend has it that Jackson took the floor with a large group of asian b-boys. When all was said and done, those b-boys knew their crown had been forfieted...and to the visiting team no less. Jackson Chan, my friends, holds a place in Dance-Off History!

Cash Bling $$ Yo! Bling Pearls...all this spanning of the globe is real nice and but you better make it to my B-Day on the 26th!!!!! I plan to have a dance-off with a fake tree and a bear at the same freakin time!

Bye for now everyone!

As much as I appreciate the recognition that I once beat Jackson at a dance off I would like to make a correction and say that I have competed in, and won, at least three dance offs in my life. One with J Rollings, one this past weekend, and one at the Pal against a random girl in a cowboy hat. I am very proud to say that I have never lost a dance off. Although Friday night's was a tough call and I can't say I totally won it, but I certainly didn't lose. More to come my friends.

I'm glad to hear you're busy flying around Terry. I wouldn't mind doing some travelling of my own. Just wait until this summer and I'll be everywhere!

One more thing: moustache day is fast approaching, I hope you're all nice and scruffy. That includes the ladies.

Going French

So, I have just returned from a social, in which I saw a dear friend of mine pulling off a move on the dance floor not unlike this one:For the record, that's the second dance-off Adam has won (sorry Jackson!!). You guys must have had some crazy times before I showed up. Anyway I am off to Montreal this morning, for no apparent reason other than because I have the power to do so. Lucia, expect a call. Yes, that's right, I'm flying to Montreal and back for the weekend. Jackie is there, but if nothing else, I go to escape the truly horrifying cold. It's been so cold in Winnipeg lately I think I died twice today when I went outside for 8 minutes. I've had to get to work via dogsled.

After Montreal, my schedule becomes even crazier, with me interviewing for approximately 15 different programs across the country. When that's all done, I'm off to China. More on that to come - night kids.

-T

ps. Terra, try watching the movie again, this time with 3D glasses on. The baby actually comes out of the screen at you!

BABEL

Hi All,

Glad to read you're all actively communicating through this blog. Speaking of movies, I saw "BABEL" this week, and it's excellent: one of those movies that juxtaposes people living in different parts of the world, with very distinct cultures. Anyways, I highly recommend it! That's it for now...

Weirdos

Boys, I saw Children of Men on Tuesday and have to say it is weird! Can one of you provide me some insight on the following:

- Why its called Children of Men when there are no children
- Why all the women became infertile
- Why Britain is the only region still active

I figure since it was two weirdo bloggers (Terry and Stacy) that suggested this movie, you guys may have the answers I need.

Party on!

Let's Get Hawaiian

I have a small announcement regarding tomorrow's social:
It is going to kick ass.

There I said it, and its out there, don't judge me, its just what I think. I'm thinking that I should probably take down my Christmas decorations prior to the pre-party so we can get in a slightly more summery mood.

I can make babies extinct by eating them all

Ok so yes I knew that my comment about the Scariness of Children of Men would incite retaliation and argument from bling bling badonka-bling Wuerz and honestly I kinda had my rebuttle well in the works after I made the "controvertial statement". What I meant by scary, Terry, was at the way our world could go if a globally traumatic event like the example used in the movie occurred. No more babies is a pretty bonkers possibility, but it provided a good platform to show our world in a way that is hard to imagine, yet concieveable(HAR!) given some time.

You don't need to buy me drinks to see Uke Hal cause I've always had the urge to drop my life and become a Uke-Roadie! If he ever performs then I'm all ova dat shit! Later my supa friends.

When Hal Freezes Over

Firstly, let me just say that Stacy, or Berrington, or whatever the honest to goodness my old pal Mr. Billingsley goes by these days, is somewhat misopinioned. Children of Men is a damned good flick, and does a great job of making one consider the possibilities for the future of mankind. I especially like how the world, when faced with extinction, resorts to anarchy and roving bands of opportunists and thugs. This being said, the film is not scary in the least, for one reason: human beings are NOT going to stop having babies! Christ, of all the things that scare me under the title "Possible Frightening Scenarios for the Future", of which Kevin Fetterline deciding to run for political office is a definite candidate, chicks getting knocked up is at the very bottom!

That being said, I wanted to move on to another issue. Many of you may know that I have a musician in the family, who variously goes by the name of "Manitoba Hal", "Ukelele Hal", and even "Hal Brolund" (but that last one is only when drunk, or at family reunions with other Icelanders present, which come to think of it is practically the same thing). Anyway, my uncle Hal has been on tour for the past few years. He actually has a YouTube channel of his own, which is something I have just discovered. From what I can tell, the most popular / most viewed channels seem to be hot chicks singing badly and filming themselves, which I guess was why YouTube was invented in the first place.

Anyway, it seems from my discussions with Manitoba Hal over Christmas that he is hanging up the tour hat for the time being. It's a rough life, trying to break into the music biz on your own. But I realized I have only been out to see one or two shows in the 10 years he's been going solo! So, long story short, if he plays again around these parts soon, I'm buying drinks for anyone who comes out to see him with me. End post.

Babies Look Different Now...

Deadites Rule and so does Children of Men

Children of Men is a really great movie.

It made me feel a way that can't be put into words, it's like a really tingly sorta feeling. It happens to me everytime I hear the live performances of One by U2 or No Woman, No Cry by Bob Marley - a huge mass of people, strangers all singing the same song creating a single voice. The feeling I get when I hear that voice is how I felt for alot of Children of Men. Other than that I think I'll say that it's the most realistic/scariest horror movie I've ever seen. I know Terry's gonna argue with me bout that comment. Seriously though, as Dave and I were leaving the theatre we passed someone who had brought their baby to the movie...I couldn't help but be amazed by the sight of it and I wasn't the only one - everyone leaving was admiring it with awe. It pretty strange but collectivley interesting to be a part of. If anyone needs someone to see it again with I'm there, if I'm not somewhere else that is.

Hey Bling, kudos for putting the Grindhouse trailer on here before I did and obviously you already knew that I intend to see it over and over and over and over again upon it's release. YEAH - are you kiddin me? Kurt Russell?? That movie is gonna

Filmz you Fool!

Jackie, Michael and I went to see Children of Men last night. It was pretty much the best thing ever. Even better than eggs with ketchup... no wait, I just found this picture, putting Eggs n' 'Chup back on top.

Nevertheless, the best movie of 2007 may well be this one. That's right, it's one short(ish) film by Rodriguez, the guy behind Sin City and Desperado, and one by Tarantino, who I believe needs no introduction. Anyone down for seeing it?

Marmalade is Made of Babies!

Zombies Rule and So Do Blogs

Check it, Check it Out I figured out how to use this crazy bloginess so now I will be blogging like there is no tomorrow(for blogs). I don't have time to rant right now, but one thing I do have time to say is that I'm nearly through 1984 and have decided that it is the best book I've read - even better than The Dark Tower by Stephen King and for me, that is saying alot!

Until my next entry, I bid you all adieu!

I hope not...

Really, it had to look better than that. From my experience with Stacy's chili it is almost like a fine peice of art waiting to fill your stomach with chili-ful goodness. Sorry I missed the big event.

I'm back at work and it's a bit of a drag. I much prefer bumming aroung Vancouver and having you kids over to my place several times a week.

Chili!!!

So, I intend to spend the rest of today preparing for Stacy's ultra spice chili. I'm hoping it will look equal to or better than this:


See y'all at in Peppa Country.