Raquel and I took in the Thunderbirds game this afternoon after I won free tickets. Half way through the game Raquel said “I think I like sports now!”

One cool touch was that they had a drum circle before the US and Canadian anthems.

The Thunderbirds turf and Jumbotron in the Scotiabank Center pregame.

A drum circle at Center field performing the Mi’kmaq Honour Song before the US and Canadian National anthems

Post game moment with the team gathered at center to celebrate the win

Apparently it has been 10 years since “this is fine” was published. This meme has deeply embedded itself in my professional life and even taken up a spot on my shelf.

Plush dog wearing a bowler and holding a mug from the “this is fine” comic sitting on my shelf.

The original artist posted a great reflection on the impact of this phenomenon on them.

And it feels like it’s only getting harder. The best I can ask for is for people to simply forget, but the dog persists. So I do what I can and try to keep in good humor and be thankful that I can still do what I do for a living.
Reflection on a decade from the author

After 3 days of birthday parties, Christmas, and family visits the pups are pretty happy to have a quiet morning.

Hugo curled up between my legs with Luna laying on top of him in my lap viewed from behind.

Hugo curled up between my legs with Luna laying on top of him in my lap with a view of their faces.

Took in the solstice sunset with the pups.

Hugo and Luna standing on the edge of flat water lake as the sun sets behind the clouds.

It was not as drastic as last time but I had my first haircut in almost 18 months this week. Couldn’t risk Gwen not recognizing me so has to keep it simple.

Before shot with hair past my shoulders and covering the left side of my face.

After shot where the longest hair in the back is neck length and the front is much shorter

As far as Gwen is concerned this may as well be the Infinity Gauntlet with all of the Infinity Gems installed. The moment I fully assemble it she will stop whatever she is doing and come pull it apart and distribute the rings to all corners of the room to keep the house safe.

Fisher price Rock-a-Stack assembled properly sitting on the play mat

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing my partner perform with the Aeolian Singers in their Endless Spaces concert.

If you’re HRM and interested in a show this afternoon they have one more performance at 2:30.

More Info

Program from the Aeolian Singers choral group concert “Endless Spaces: reaching for light, love, and spirit

The news that Kevin Conroy has passed hits hard. He will always be Batman to me and his work is very responsible for my love of comics and Batman.

I have no hard data on this but I feel like “Early Black Friday” is new this year. I have been seeing it advertised since before Halloween!!

I think we should apply the “not before Remembrance Day” rule to all Black Friday sales. (Not to mention that Black Friday isn’t even a thing in Canada)

Today is Hugo’s 8th birthday he got a big treat for a big day.

Hugo staring at his large bone shaped doggie treat that says happy birthday — Hugo’s eyes are so wide that he appears to want to consume the treat by looking at it.

Hugo eating the first half of his happy birthday cookie

Luna staring wide eyed at a fox face shaped dog cookie while Raquel restrains her. — Luna also got a little treat to prevent her from straight up stealing Hugo’s birthday treat.

Today was “new roof day” which is very exciting from a “keeping the elements out” perspective but very disruptive for the “ten month old who takes two naps a day upstairs” perspective.

Roofers hard at work putting new shingles on the upper roof of my home.

For all the horror stories of cancelled flights that I have heard tonight is a new one for me. Show up to the gate for me second flight to be told I’m no longer on it due to “air traffic control” delays.

Next flight isn’t for 13 hours. I don’t qualify for and food or hotel vouchers because it was an “uncontrollable” circumstance. The local WestJet employees helpfully suggest I call my credit card for travel insurance on the flight. They looked real sheepish when I informed them the flight was booked with WestJet Travel Bank that they’ve refused to refund for 2 years.

Stunningly poor experience and I felt very bad for all the employees who were very kind in their utter inability to help me.

Update: When trying to fill out feedback and refund forms on the WestJet website I encountered the following errors:

My last name is “invalid”
My city in my contact info is “invalid”
The phone number field required format 123-456-7890 but only allowed for numeric input so you cannot submit a call back number

The view from the plane window of the fog layer and a bit of the sunrise — Take off from Halifax means a lovely view of the top of the fog.

Aerial view of the CN Tower and the Sky dome — Classic Toronto shot on approach

WestJet Encore turbo prop plane on the runway — My old friend in Toronto, the runway load of a prop plane

Clouds over Lake Michigan with no land in sight — The size of the Great Lakes always surprises me

A multi level ramp system in place of a normal jet way — After the plane taxied to the far end of the runway by some bushes we road a bus back to the terminal to find this monstrosity waiting to get us up into the terminal

On the road for work again for the first time in 3 years. Excited to finally meet some of my coworkers in person!

Bags against a row of empty seats at airport gate.

First televised Penguins 🐧 game was today so Raquel broke out the tiny jersey she got Gwen when she saw us watching the game.

James and Gwen sitting on the couch in matching black and gold Pittsburgh Penguins jerseys — Gwen and I watching the Penguins preseason game together

Gwen crawling around the floor with her tongue stuck out — Gwen realizing there are more interesting things than preseason hockey

Craft Draught Showdown – September 2022

Posted on 29 September 2022

thatguygriff

Last night Raquel and I headed to The Carleton with Ross and Brittany for a double date Cider showdown between East Coast Cider Company and Maritime Express.

QUINOA

roasted pumpkin seeds, red peppers, lime vinaigrette

EAST COAST CIDER: Hopped Cider
MARITIME EXPRESS: Rhubarb

Ciders with the pumpkin spice quinoa dish

TUNA TARTARE

pickled beets, dulse, whipped mascarpone

EAST COAST CIDER: Low Tide
MARITIME EXPRESS: Blueberry Rosé

MUSHROOM CROQUETTE

wild mushrooms, wine jus, chili oil

EAST COAST CIDER: Pear Cider
MARITIME EXPRESS: Dayliner

BLACK RISOTTO

squid ink, noisette butter, spinach, crispy prosciutto, squid

EAST COAST CIDER: Ginger Cider
MARITIME EXPRESS: Cranberry

LIME TART

meringue, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, tonka beans

EAST COAST CIDER: Ambrose Raspberry Cider
MARITIME EXPRESS: Oaked Ruscat

Ambroise Raspberry cider and Baked Russet cider

Fiona rolled through and took out power for most of the province. Estimated restoration time is Wednesday afternoon so I had to improvise this morning