Disconnected

I'll be away for a couple days the first part of the new week.  I'm heading a few hours south to Calgary for a two-day course on Design and Construction of Earthworks.  (Or: How to Build Stuff Made of Dirt.)

This is a good thing since I come from an educational background of Chemical Engineering and I'm more familiar with how to extract stuff that originally came from dirt into other, more useful, stuff that will eventually (and sort of ironically) end up in a landfill somewhere, thereby completing the cycle.

My work laptop computer is getting a little on the old side (nearly three years) and so is one of the few remaining that doesn't have a built-in wireless card.  Ergo, I can't surf porn sitting in my underwear in my hotel room tonight and Monday night.  I'll have to read a book or something.

Should be a good course though.  I love learning new things.

I highly recommend flu bugs for weight loss.  I've been subdued by something that seems to have taken up residence in my gut for the past couple days.  Thankfully not intense enough to prevent me from sharing a large popcorn with my wife at the movies last night while the boys were with the grandparents.  I'm down over seven pounds so far and may be able to stick it out for a total of 15 or so before it runs its course.  It's the sprints to the bathroom in the middle of learning about silt and water slurries in Calgary that will have me simultaneously distressed and giggling that I'm worried about.

(Note: there really is no April Fool's content in this post.  I am going to Calgary.  And I have an annoying stomach flu.  I briefly contemplated writing something about my vasectomy failing and a third Fraser on the way, but it seemed too trite.  Back on Wednesday.)

Comments

[Moksha Gren]

Sorry to hear about the bug. A few weeks ago, some nasty stuff went around these parts. I lucked out but just about everyone I knew got hit with it Hope you recover soon.

I love the new banner. It's one of my favorites to date.

We'll miss you while you're out of town. But don't think I didn't notice what you've done. Try to get sympathy points before you leave your blog unattended so mark and I won't make good on our threat to trash your blog with innappropriate comments in you absence.

"Oh, we couldn't possibly be mean to Simon now...he's got a stomach bug."

"Maybe we should be nice to Simon since he'll be all porn-deprived in Calgary."

You over-estimate my capacity for sympathy, my friend.

[Tal]

Dammit! How come stomach bugs never do that to me?!

Enjoy your course Simon, sounds like it could be interesting. Of course I say this from the perspective of a person who can only think of things like highway crossings made of dirt...what else is there? Um, hills?

[Paula]

It's a close competition, but I think Tavish's belly wins by a roll.

[Simon]

Moksha, glad you like the new banner. I just realised last night that I didn't plan for one and scrolled through recent pics until I found one I liked, cropped it, slapped on the name and uploaded that puppy. Took five minutes. Go figger.

And guess what? I got high speed cable access from my room. That's right!! I'll be looking out for your no-good shenanigans at the paltry cost of $9.95 per night. But I'm not paying for it so I don't care!

Tal, it's been mostly water and I'm going to drink a bunch of it back in beer later tonight. Don't know if that makes you feel any better. But it does me.

Paula, Tav's porked up these past months very admirably. He does us all proud.

[Linda]

Sorry aboot your bug. Have fun in Calgary. Love the banner. Gotta run.

[TerriTorial]

My favourite banner ever..Great job!! Have fun in Calgary.....bring Immodium.

[Mark]

That is a great banner pic. Those boys are going to have some crazy adventures together.

I hope you don't miss the office grind too terribly while you're away.

[Simon]

Linda, thanks. So far, very little fun had. Boring as hell. But going to see a new 2-week old baby tonight, so that should be fun!

Terri, I did bring the Immodium. As of now, I'm just farting a lot. Which a BIG improvement over last night. (Aren't you glad you mentioned it?!)

Mark, those boys ARE going to have some crazy times. Scares me a wee bit. I sort of do miss the office. (A little.) This course was REALLY dry the first day. Hoping day 2 goes better.

[Émilie B.]

LOVE that banner. It's very nice, especially that the format of the image works so splendidly as a banner... no wait, especially the two cute kids.

I second stomach flu as a weight loss system. Lost 10 pounds at my first 3 months pregnancy, another 20-25 or so at my second pregnancy + breast-feeding, then 10 pounds when I got the stomach flu in Jan. The stomach flu was the one with the shortest after effects. *grin* Terrible weekend, though. Good luck with yours; I'd've hated to have to go through it during a class.

[Mark]

To Émilie B. -- Nice double contraction in "I'd've." I'm impressed.

[Moksha Gren]

Emilie - I'd'ven't thought you could get so many contractions together like that.

Si - Here's hoping day two of "Excrusiatingly Detailed Instructions on How to Play in the Dirt" goes better than day one.

[Émilie B.]

Well I did think that was a bit much, but figured I could get away with it, with the second-language excuse and all. So two's the rule, eh?

[Moksha Gren]

Emilie - I'd say that two contractions is probably wrong in a technical sense. But round these parts...we kinda enjoy breakin' the rules. We're grammar rebels. Rebels without a Clause, if you will.