The Walking Dead is a reality

I had a lot of funny thoughts this past year mostly because I finally have time to think recreationally.  I have been having many funny conversations with myself.  I can go on and on about conversations I would like to have other people participate in.  Today, I will share one of my less funny thoughts.

A funny observation I made as a child on my first lengthy international flight in the late 90s is that at the economy class, you have a bunch of uncomfortable mindless zombies.  Planes at that time were already equipped with mini devices at the back of each chair.  Passengers had the option of playing games, listening to music, watching tv or movies.  If you visit the washroom and look back you will see all these people pre-occupied by a tiny screen.  As a child, I thought that's pretty funny looking and doesn't look healthy at all.

Now, these devices are more advanced, less clunky and mobile.  You see them everywhere.  Now, we have mindless zombies walking around the streets with the same devices that used to be attached to chairs.

I honestly don't know how we socialize anymore.  The devices are so informative that a young person would rather consult that device then speak to a live human being.  Am I that useless and boring compared to your lovely device?

Art not shame

I am currently enjoying the weekly local newspaper.  This week the front page news is about an initiative to prevent suicide in youth. You can read about it from my local newspaper.

I didn't know that suicide was the second leading cause of youth between the age of 10 to 24 in Canada until today. Hopefully, there's no misprint.  If there are, I'll have to wait for corrections to be published next week.

I guess since I've passed this age group, my likelihood of dying from suicide is much lower because my age alone is a testament that I survived the change of adolescence into adulthood.

No wonder the world feel so cruel as an adult.  All free programs are geared towards youth and all programs are designed to keep them motivated and happy.  What about me?

All jokes aside, suicide is very sad and not being happy with yourself is deadly.  I may be hard on myself but there are a lot of stuff I am grateful for and proud of.

Youths who manage to successfully suicide are very brave and smart.  If I were to suicide I want to make sure it is remote, quick and painless.  Worse case scenario, I am alive and immobilized.  There's a lot of risked associated with attempted suicide.

I am sad for the suicidal youth and the supportive family who constantly have to remind such youth that he/she is loved.

At the end of the day, the family can only do so much.  Why are youths in Canada so suicidal? I guess this statistic make sense if you look at it this way, at infancy you are at high risk of death because you are weak and fragile, once you've reached youth you are physically very fit but not fully mentally developed, once you've reached adulthood, you are physically and mentally developed but are now deteriorating.

No goal at the gym person

If I was a no goal at the gym person, you would not see me at the gym.  As such, such person only appears for a short period of time at the gym before disappearing permanently or becoming a now I have some sort of goal at the gym person.

---end---

If I was a gym owner, I would hope I have reasonable members.  Members who know what they want and costs. It is much easier to provide service to people who knows what they want.

Self-consciousness is human nature.  I am sorry if you enter a gym and is intimidated by a bunch of people who are healthy.  I am angry if you didn't even give any of its many services a try because you cannot concentrate on yourself when you are there.

If I was a gym owner, I would love people who buys a one year membership in a lump sum and never shows up.  They are beneficial to the cashflow of my gym and will not cost any damages at all.

If I was a gym owner with a well oiled gym, I would already know my stable accounts receivables and expenses so new members who pay a lump sum and never shows up are great!  We don't need to worry about the added expense to having an unknown factor at the gym.

Anyhow, I say this because I have at least one ex-friend who would complain about signing up for stuff and feeling bad for not showing up.  I don't know what to say to such person except to nod and smile.

Such ex-friend even became a member to the gym I attend on a regular basis.  The said friend excitedly announced to me that she has joined my gym and we can workout together!  I was excited too and was waiting for her first invitation.  Well, the invitation never came.  After a long while, I followed up with such ex-friend to see what is going on, turns out she was no longer a member and didn't like my gym.

The same ex-friend also recommended an anime about outdoor cycling which made her want to ride her bicycle again, I don't know if she actually ended up setting foot on her bicycle but I enjoyed that anime very much and have been cycling outdoor by myself unbeknownst to her.

Anyways, another DreamyThursday, brought to you by Yours Truly.

My Limited Tough Mudder Experience

My Tough Mudder experience is forever tainted because I participated with the wrong partner.  Okee and I have been running together for a year now so we know each other well.  If she was a human being, I would take her to Tough Mudder in a heartbeat!

In 2013, I and my then boyfriend volunteered for Tough Mudder.  We volunteered because I wanted to race for free the following year and he was unemployed.   Unfortunately, we only volunteered for half a day which means each of us would have to pay at least $40.00.  Volunteering was very boring because I was basically doing nothing.  I was positioned at the starting line.  My job was to prevent too many people from participating in any given heats.  I think I did my job well because I was sitting on the wall that they are suppose to climb/jump across immediately before the starting line which means I took out an entrance just from sitting there alone.  I had an announcer speaker so I shouted "REMEMBER TO STRETCH" from time to time.  My task was completed pretty early on so I only volunteered for half a day because I was pretty much dismissed and we were free to just roam around.  I was really impressed with the MC, he gave the same speech for every heat but it was very motivating listening to him speak at the starting line.  As a volunteer, I had the opportunity to hear at least one (1) personal story.  The "Tough Mudder" just came up to me and shared his story with me and I listened.

The following year, we went back to Tough Mudder, this time as participants.  My then boyfriend lied and said he volunteered for the whole day and participated for free, I did not lie and so I had to pay.  It was not fair.  Once you answered, that's it.  Back in 2014, they did not check volunteer records.  I don't know if they check now.

The weather was sucky so a lot of the obstacles were shut down due to fear of participants being shocked by thunder which I found ironic.  They have an obstacle set up called electrotherapy or something which basically means if you are lucky enough to be shocked by some electric wire while you are walking through a bunch of electric wires, you will fall flat on your face and hit mud.  I guess a real electric shock from thunder is that much more dangerous than their man-made electrotherapy obstacle.  When you approach a closed down obstacle, you have the option to wait until it is re-opened or you can just continue running/walking.  There is no punishment for not attempting or failing an obstacle in Tough Mudder.  In other words, you are tough by simply walking or running 10 miles.

My then boyfriend disappointed me greatly during Tough Mudder.  Not only did he not help me, he could have injured me gravely.  He gives up before even trying and I was a fool to think that he would help me at all.  The only thing he taught me was that you are allowed to give up without even trying. To me, going to events like these, means I can try something I normally wouldn't get to try so why would I give up without trying.  For example, he skipped the last big mud trenches near the end of the race.  Granted, I did not want to go through it either but how often do you get to walk into ditches and trenches?

There was also an obstacle where you have to carry a wooden log.  Every log available was extremely heavy.  He could not handle the weight of the log that we were carrying together at one point and just threw the log down, my whole head could have come off.  Luckily, I dodged and luckily he did not throw it in a direction where other participants were traveling!  Anyhow, the log came at me and I dodged and I was livid but did not say anything.

He also made fun of a guy who looked pale and was vomiting spit.  Anyhow, whatever my then boyfriend said to the guy was mean, not warranted and did not sound friendly at all.  The unwell guy and his friend looked really angry.  I apologized sincerely on behalf of my then boyfriend immediately and told him to keep going.

I have participated in Spartan Race before and I was always envious of the helpful boy friend boost or whatever, the one time I got to participate in Tough Mudder, which was marketed as a team event, I got a partner who was not helpful and could have took my head off.  With that said though, you can finish Spartan Race alone but there are a few obstacles in Tough Mudder where you need a partner to complete.  For example, the carrying your partner obstacle which was not present when I participated.

Mount Everest 2.0 is a special obstacle, I don't think I can get to to the top of Mount Everest 2.0 alone but I know some people can and they can help others easily.  Even if I am able to get on top of Mount Everest 2.0 by myself, I don't think I will be able to pull people up because I do not have enough arm strength.  For example, I know how and when to jump up with enough momentum so they can easily pull me up at the top.  My then boyfriend on the other hand, was heavier than I was and did not jump correctly and a third person had to walk over to pull him up because he did not let go of the two (2) struggling person who was trying to pull him up.  The two struggling person pulled me up easily and with ease and did not know me or my then boyfriend.  This year, I had a lot of free time and I think why Mount Everest 2.0 is called Mount Everest 2.0, it's like saying you cannot climb Mount Everest alone.  Whoever got their first helped all those who followed.  You also don't want to stay at the top for so long because there is only that much space.

My then boyfriend was also scared of height so everyone waited 5 minutes for him to jump off the plank.  He also failed to climb this really fun high rope climb wall thing.  Anyhow, it was no fun going with someone who basically skipped almost every obstacle.

It was disappointing this year when my friends went and my schedule just wasn't working out.  I was already exhausted from Spartan Race and the various outdoor cycling I have been doing.  Although I felt guilty afterward for not going and cheering them on but, if I went, I'll feel grumpy that I am not participating.

Surveillance

Handheld devices with multiple functions are pretty awesome.  The pros and cons of such devices are shared everywhere.  For example, it can save time and waste the same amount of time it saved.

This posting will most likely fall into the cons category.  Handheld devices are so cheap and easy to produce now that they are everywhere in a first world country.  Most of the functions on these devices are great to have but not necessary.

The one thing that always worried me with these devices is its camera function.  People used to complain about or worry about CCTV surveillance, with all these handheld video camera around when is there no surveillance?  My family used to joke about recording arguments (only the voice portion), this has never happened but who in their right mind would want to listen to a heated argument again?

I see a lot of YouTube celebrities sharing glimpse of their lives on YouTube, sometimes even footage of their babies during baths which are obviously censored but I always thought what if your computer got hacked? Look at Edison Chen.

I still question the "security" of such devices even when you are using an apple product.

I bring the point of the baby bath up because my father used to invite his students to our family home at the end of the school year. One year, the students were looking at family photo albums and obviously there were photos of me as a naked toddler during a bath.  My father's students which were at least 10 years older than me poked fun at me and my naked pictures.  I don't know what was so funny, I was an extremely cute toddler.  My body no longer looked like that.  If I can redo the invitations to my family home at the end of their school year, I would set up the following criteria for students to gain entrance to my home: must bring a naked photo of your toddler self because I don't know which one of my family album you will flip through without permission.

Anyhow, we went from seeing the Youtube Star pamper herself in a bath (footage edited to ensure no nudity) to now her bathing her child.  I question if they are trying to tease some people sometimes.  I just don't understand.  I'm sorry, if I offend any star but sometimes it really feels like you are selling yourself and your baby.  Just for the record, I don't like watching you enjoy your nice warm bath and facial in bath.  I actually wonder who enjoys watching you bathe yourself.

Kickboxing Gym Comparison

I have only been to three (3) Kickboxing gyms.  I attended my first kickboxing gym for six (6) months because there was a money back guarantee.  I kept going consistently for six (6) months because I wanted to ensure I got my money back not because I got a good workout or because they taught well.  I never got my money back and I never liked their classes anyways so I am not going to talk about that gym at all.  It was a waste of my time and money.

Keep in mind that I was never obese so my review of gyms will be drastically different from someone who has never been active their entire life.  I was an active child, I became inactive because I became an "adult".

One of the first thing that a staff at a gym might ask a potential member would be something along the line of "what do you want to get out of your time spent at our gym".  If I was a gym owner, I wouldn't want someone training at my gym who doesn't know what he/she wants.  In other words, that person has no goals and you will have to give them a goal.  I am about to go into a long tangent about this kind of "no goal at the gym" person so please re-visit this blog on a DreamyThursday, where I will write about such person.

For myself, I started going to the gym regularly because I wanted to exercise again.  I stayed as a member because the gym has everything I needed and the gym introduce new things to members from time to time.  I believe the things that make it to my gym are carefully selected.  Some equipment and movements are present at almost every gym because those are the basics.  More members means more people, more people means more differences.  That's why at my gym, there is a variety of equipment, programs and studios.  I enjoy training outside a lot but you cannot train outside all the time.  You also need a place to clean up after if you ventured too far away from home.

My point is, if you feel heavy (or you don't feel light on your feet), you need to train with a professional.  This could be a personal trainer or a fitness class instructor.  You can train with a friend, once you have reached your friend's level or went beyond your friend's level.  You don't want to encroach on someone's "personal" time.  A professional should be able to answer all of your questions and address any of your concerns, don't expect your friend to have the answers.

Today, I am going to compare Hers Kickboxing and 9 Rounds both located in Markham.   I have attended the free one (1) visit trial at both gyms and that is my only exposure to both gyms.  The two gyms are completely different.  I am writing my review or comparison from memory.

Hers Kickboxing provides members with instructor-led classes and each person gets a dummy. In my visit, I was really impressed with the instructor and I enjoyed hitting the dummy very much.  The instructor had really good forms and I bet you can learn a lot from her.  During the class, the instructor will first show you what you are supposed to do and then you practice with the dummy for a specified time period.  The instructor may correct your form if you are doing it incorrectly or teach you a more advanced movement.  Anyways, students are faced away from each other, the only thing they are seeing during their practice is the dummy.  I was able to hit the dummy as hard as I wanted because it was a DUMMY.  The funny thing was, before class started I placed my hand on the dummy's shoulder and smiled while facing the mirror.  I thought it would make such a great picture, me with my hand on of the shoulder of the dummy.  We looked like we were best friends.  Unfortunately for the dummy, I will be hitting and kicking it for an hour.  The dummy taught me a lot too, if I were to get into a fight with a man of the dummy's size, I would lose.  One hit from the dummy and I am gone.  Needless to say, I had a lot of fun at Hers Kickboxing.  They even gave me a small warm towel before I left.

In summary, group classes at Hers Kickboxing are 45 to 60 minutes long.  The one (1) class I attended had an instructor showing us movements to do for short periods of time so you are practicing maybe 5 to 10 moves on a dummy during classes.

9 Rounds Kickboxing.  The training is in its name.  They provide you with 9 rounds of training or 9 training stations.  At each station, you complete a three (3) minutes training exercise.  The training moves are kickboxing inspired.  The entire workout is only thirty (30) minutes.  A personal trainer will be there the whole time to guide you through your thirty (30) minutes training.  My experience with 9 Rounds was pleasant and it was fun but it didn't feel that different from my current gym.  It's there to get you moving but don't expect to learn how to kickbox.

Both Kickboxing gyms will give you a good workout. I am currently in pretty decent shape so if I am unable to complete a workout, it means something is wrong.  It makes sense if I am 500 lbs and I am huffing and puffing after station one (1) and maybe I'll collapse by station five (5).

I guess I prefer the dummy because hitting the face is different from hitting the body. You can go outside and hit a tree and hurt your hand. The Tree is not moving.

If I have to pick, I would pick Hers Kickboxing over 9 rounds because it's closer to what I am looking for.  It does provide something different than my current gym but I can see why 9 rounds is very popular in the states.  It's just not right for me.

Reading and Making my first photobook EVER

I'm currently reading The Making of Gone with the Wind and making my 40 pages 8.5" by 11" photobook documenting my 2017 Spartan Race experience.

I'm using Photobook Canada which currently has a deal of $23.99 tax included, shipping is extra.  Groupon's current deal is $25.00 for the same thing.  I am using it for the first time so no comment on how easy it is or how hard it is to use yet.

Last time I bought a groupon for Photobook Canada for $10.00 and never completed the project because, well, not enough "qualified" photos and no motivation.

This Leisure Friday

I walked Okee, I threw out garbage, I ate breakfast, i brushed my teeth, I read, I assisted, I ate lunch, I bike rode, I shopped, I purchased, I bike rode some more, I shopped some more, I bike rode even more, I picked up newspaper, I bike rode home, I drank, I changed, I read, I ate dinner, I read some more, I showered, I am now relaxing.

Good night.

Gone with the Wind

Dear my non-existent readers:

I am gone with the wind.  If I feel like writing I will.

Spartan Race Route Map

Map helps with navigation as well as imagination.  Yesterday, I proposed the Spartan/Gladiator Event.  Today, I was working on the proposed route map and how I would utilize the obstacles.

You will see from the Route Map that many people will fail to enter the Stadium because the first obstacle is the rope climb.  In order to get into the stadium, one must first complete the rope climb.

After that is a 7 Feet Wall or the Olympus climb. Falling off the Olympus means sliding back to the entrance (meaning you have to do the rope climb again).

following obstacle #2, participants can either attempt the monkey bars or platinum rig or do a barb wire crawl (falling off the monkey bars or platinum rig means landing on the barb wire).

#4 which is currently not on the map would probably be a water or mud activity.

Please keep in mind that every obstacle will be manned by Gladiators.  Talk about a grand/difficult entrance.

If I was a Spartan Race Event Creator

If I was a Spartan Race Event Creator, I would create a new event entitled "Gladiator".

Spartan Race has six (6) events: Sprint, Super, Beast, Ultra-Beast, Hurricane and Agoge.  I have never participated in a Hurricane or Agoge event but after being a Season Pass holder this year, I think I have enough experience and knowledge that I can make a fun event suggestion.

A lot of people were sad that the Gladiators were gone from the Spartan Race, I was one of those people.  I even wrote a blog post a few months back wondering why I have not seen a Gladiator on any Spartan Race course since 2013.  With that said, I present to you the Spartan/Gladiator Event.

*please read all red texts in the image attached to this blog post.

If I was promoting the Spartan/Gladiator Event, it will go something like this:

Spartans, we are back!  We heard you loud and clear that you would like to be slaughtered by us again.  We would like to invite you all to our stadiums.  We have watched you compete in your Spartan Race for years as spectators, supports and racers.

Who are we?  We are the Gladiators! and WE ARE BACK!!!

We cordially invite you lots to our stadiums where you will attempt to complete a three (3) kilometers obstacles course with 20+ obstacles manned by us, the gladiators.  Those of you who manage to get to the finish line may be admitted into our ranks.

As a courtesy to you, the final obstacle you will face will be a rope climb; however, we will pull you down and dump cold water on you as your attempt to climb up that rope.  Consider yourself lucky, if you manage to get to the rope climb.

There will be no penalties for failing an obstacle, you simply have to cross the finish line.  Good luck!  We look foward to seeing you!  :)

We are lucky

Because we created many things that give us more time.

Firsts

I have only experienced one break up in my whole life.  I am left wondering does it get easier or harder?  Hopefully, I will never find out because break ups are hard.

My loyal non-existent readers would know that I love thrift shopping.  Last night, I was thinking how funny it would be to see me wearing your ex-girlfriends things so that's why there is all these bargain finds at thrift places everywhere.  Luckily for me, during my first break up, I got most of my stuff back minus a training bra that I loved.  My ex-boyfriend brought back stuff that I made for him to return to me but failed to bring me my training bra.  I cannot find this training bra anywhere and I had it since like grade five (5).  No other bra can ever replace that first bra.

That's why I still appreciate stuff that may be unpopular or uncommon because everything exists for a reason.  With that said, this morning I was looking at Mukluks and it reminded me of my introduction to aboriginal studies class, which I took in my last year of undergrad studies.  My teacher at the time said this about mukluks and I am paraphrasing here:

"It's funny to see people wearing mukluks now because we used to be made fun of wearing mukluks".

I love mukluks, they are warm, comfy and water resistant.   I sorta ruined my first pair when I tried to clean it with the wrong stuff.  My dog also took a bite out of it but I am still loving my first pair.  It even has the pre-vibram sole!

I am yellow, so what.

"A dream is a wish your heart makes".

I wish I can write well today.

Most of my posts for the summer have been pretty light-hearted and funny.  Today's post is going to be a bit serious because I just read a long and serious article about racism.

Most of the articles about racism I come across are written by white people or black people.  I am yellow.  Yellow people usually write in a language that white and black people cannot comprehend.  Obviously, my experience of racism would be totally different from that of a black or white person.  My yellow privilege is also different.

For example, I am not even sure if I have experienced this type of discrimination before, I might have.  A yellow person might look down upon another yellow person.  I read a Chinese book recently where Chinese people (as in mainland China people immigrating or moving to Hong Kong) talk about being discriminated against in Hong Kong by Hong Kongers.

If you look at colour this way, black, white and yellow, even among yellow, there are many different types of yellows.  Depending on where you live, maybe the type of discrimination you would experience would be different due to geographical and cultural differences.

Growing up in Canada as an immigrant, I have definitely been rejected many times.  I am a strong person, I love myself so even though I was called many things, I am still here.  It actually feels worse when a yellow person of a different gender calls me those things.  Thinking back though, my lack of language back then actually shielded me from things that may have been said to me, about me or to spread rumours about others.  Although, I was already at an age where I can sort of guess what might have been said.

Now that I can hear, speak and write, it actually hurts more to hear such things said by a grown person.  It's painful whenever these "unacceptable" situations happen because I might become witness to unpleasant arguments or a reader to a long ass composition.

A writer must remember, the longer you write, the more confusing your writing becomes.  It is easy to use "key" words that you think everyone will understand.  My suggestion is to keep your writing short and to the point.

Find me on Facebook

This summer, while eating lunch and watching people fish, a stranger asked me to find him on Facebook.  I did not attempt to find such person on Facebook.

This summer, I believe  a care taker said hi to me and my dog twice; however he appeared to not recognize me and my dog the second time he saw us.

Anyhow, the three or two person I mentioned have a goatee.  I've been wondering if the "find me on Facebook" guy and the one or two care takers is one and the same person.

If he is then he lost some weight.  He looks better now!

Submitting job applications

If you have a computer and internet connection, it is pretty easy to submit a job application, provided that you already have a pretty well written resume and can quickly type up a decent cover letter.

Just think about how difficult it might have been to prepare and submit a job application before the computer, the photocopier and the internet.

If you are applying to an astronaut in Canada remember to read An astronaut's guide to Life on Earth:  What Going to Space Taught Me About Ingenuity, Determination, and Being Prepared for Anything.  There was at least one chapter about how long his job application to his dream job, was and it was written in English and French.

Anyhow, I, among other things, submitted at least 3 job applications today. Not too shabby.

Has it been a year yet?

The computer and this blog is once again making me procrastinate.  Having some time alone, out of nowhere, I thought of things I want to do, somewhat concrete.

It's been almost a year now since I lost my full-time job and I think today, I can write an outline of what I want to do for this *new* year and my goals for a longer period of time.  Fall is a new year for some people, at the very least it is the start of a new school year.

At least, I know what I don't want to do, where kind of environment I don't want to work in.  Let's pen down what I want to do first before any researching!  Usually, I get confused when I start doing research because information is easily available.  Information distracts you because life is so long and one can really do anything!

Really looking forward to this year and many more to follow.

Over 200+ Burpees

120 Burpees on Friday
Most likely 120 Burpees or more on Saturday
Fun, fun, fun
Mud, Mud, Mud

That pretty much sum up my Ontario Spartan Race Trifecta Weekend!

Really loved the flat terrain for a change, Canadian landscape.

Spartan Race Plushie Request Group

I'll be off to the Spartan Race Ontario Trifecta Weekend shortly.  Traveling with me will be my handwritten letter to Spartan Race requesting for an official Spartan Race Plushie and my poster (see image).

https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/101884151713645377206
https://www.facebook.com/groups/269251916924590/

Frame of Reference

After reading Spartan UP!, I have occasionally listened to the Spartan UP podcast where Joe and his team talk about people they interviewed and show you bits of each interview.  I don't think I would ever be interviewed and I'll probably be too Spartan struck to tell my story calmly and at a good pace so I am going to write it out instead.

This story is very personal so if you don't know me I would suggest that you stop reading right now.

I have been hospitalized at least three (3) times.  My greatest fear is insomnia.  By the time I show up at the emergency department by myself or with friends/family, I have already not been able to sleep for one (1) or two (2) weeks.  I would love to wait for the family doctor's office to open but usually, the family doctor's office is not open because it's the weekend.

Each time, I am made to wait forever at the emergency department.  The first time I was hospitalized, I actually screamed at the emergency department hall because I was left in a dark room with my mother for quite some time after answering some questions and encountering two (2) or three (3) staffs.  I waited patiently but I just couldn't take it anymore I didn't know what was going on.  Normally, I would not scream at an emergency waiting hall.  Shortly, after that, I was hospitalized.

I finally fell asleep and spend a week or so at the hospital.  Each morning, I would ask the nurse to open the shower room for me so that I can shower and start my day.  I also watched So you think you can dance with other hospitalized people.  I actually asked if I could change the channel because So you think you can dance was on.  I asked my psychiatrist some funny questions like "Are there actors and actresses in scrub in here?" or "Do you give people placebos?".  Anyhow, I was on a mission to leave the hospital because I didn't want to be there for too long.

Unfortunately, after returning home, I was unable to sleep again so I went back to the hospital for a second short stay (also a week or so).  Obviously, my self-confidence plummeted after this experience and I was not sure if I was ready for work so I worked an easy job, easy to me anyways, for three years before finally deciding to go back to college to gain some technical skills.  Mind you, I was already a University graduate.

I was extremely happy when I got my first full-time job but I was still fearful of insomnia.  I did well.  Anyhow, lots of things happened so insomnia eventually came back and I was hospitalized for the third time.  Yes, I had to wait forever at the emergency room again but this time I did not scream.  Again, I wanted to make sure I don't stay in the hospital for too long.  It was during Christmas, the hospital was going through renovations so only cold shower was available.  I checked with other hospitalized people at the cafeteria if their showers are also cold and asked the nurses to check the shower as well.  I wanted to make sure that the water was really cold and that it was not me not knowing how to use the showers.

I don't know how many people had seen that part of the hospital before renovation and after but I have lived there for at least a few weeks before and after renovations.  I am sad about some of the renovations they did.  For example, a common area used to look out at the meadows, now all you see is a wall. I also don't like the doors at the hospital, they were so loud and each time you open or close it you hear the lock.  The TV is behind this dark glass thing which makes you not want to watch TV.

I think I might have went back to the hospital for a fourth (4th) time after that for the same insomnia problem. Anyways, with the cold showers and other unexpected scary stuff, I honestly, don't want to be hospitalized ever again.

If someone asks me if I would rather be sad or happy, I would say sad because you can cry yourself to sleep and it feels great!  I am scared of feeling too excited or happy about anything.

P.S.  The one time that I did manage to show up at the doctor's office, I was crying loudly and uncontrollably while seeing my family doctor.  I am pretty sure everyone heard me on that floor because it's not sound proof.

Canadian National Exhibition - Sept 4, 2017

"The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is Canada's largest independent community event and one of the top five agricultural fairs in North America."

Yesterday, I went to the CNE (aka the EX) for the second time.  Currently, I'm enjoying the 2017 CNE Commemorative Book to learn more about the EX.  It was very memorable because this year I saw a whole bunch of shows.  The first time I went, I kept wondering why people were lining up so this year, I made sure I knew all of the scheduled show time so I can sprint from show to show.  I saw all of the shows I highlighted and even had extra time to do some happy shopping and burgers eating.

The night before my day at the Ex, I studied show time with my CNE Guidebook 2017.  When I arrived at the EX, I immediately took a map from the information booth and basically mapped out where I was supposed to be at what time.  I got lost many time yesterday but everytime I was walking towards the right direction.

The first building I visited was the Press Building because that is where the 2017 CNE Commemorative Book was sold.  I went all the way to the EX to get this book, I could not find it online.  After that, I soothingly walked to the waterfront area to see the Air Show.  Unfortunately, I could not stay till the end of the Air Show because I had to see the Ice Skating show at 2.  The following is my CNE visit in point form:

1. Commute to CNE
2. Purchase General Admission ($19)
3. Take a map from Information Session
4. Look for CNE Commemorative Book and end up at the Press building
5. Canadian International Air Show (75 years old Gord was very memorable)
6. Oh Canada! Ice Skating Aerial Skating Show (loved it!)
7. CNE Aquarama (I was too far)
8.  Rush back into CNE before the gate closes at 5:00 p.m.
9.  RUSH:  Parkour Competitive Demonstrations (the last scheduled show was cancelled so I saw the last show that was not cancelled)
10.  Small visit to the Casino and got kicked out of an empty table
11.  Bought two (2) burgers for myself
12.  Speed eat half a burger
13.  The President's Choice SuperDogs CanaDogs Show (had me going aww and woo and aww and woo)
14.  Eat remaining burgers and salad
15.  Spend a quarter
16.  MZ Laser - Laser Illusion Experience (it was raining so the show was only 5 minutes and the last scheduled show got cancelled).  I guess the last illusion was tricking me into thinking the 8:45 show was still happening.

I forgot when I went shopping but I bought some amazing products.  Three (3) cute animal figures, one (1) set of coasters, two (2) small plates, one (1) family figure, six (6) jars of beer/wine jelly, four (4) jars of flavoured honey.

Anyways, I had a lot of fun.  Maybe next year I'll buy a ride all day pass and ride all of the rides.  There were LOTS OF RIDES. Who knew you can stuff so many rides into a waterfront property.

Recovery

My old body feels a lot better after a new body workout. :)

Ride to Conquer Whatever

It is Saturday so I'm horsing around somewhere.

Yesterday, I proposed the Teddy Bear Race and mentioned my ride on Ride for Karen.  During that ride, I also wonder if there was a Ride for Karen - Horse edition.

In Ontario, we close the highway once or twice a year for the ride to conquer cancer.  It would be nice if once in a while it's ride for cancer or whatever with horses instead of bicycles.

It always rides for something but the ride has always been bicycle I think.

Just a thought.

Teddy Bear Race - Draft One

If I was a Google employee, which I am not, I am allowed to devote 20% of my working time to a project of my choice.  I present to you the Teddy Bear Race.

A few weeks ago, while randomly bike riding I saw a bunch of cyclist cycling for Ride for Karen, they quickly passed me and I just kept riding until I wanted to return home.  During my ride on some country roads, I saw a lot of old school mail boxes and I thought wouldn't it be interesting if during your ride you actually have to find a teddy bear in a mail box, take it and ride back to the finish line with it.  This thought came up because of two (2) reasons:

(1) I loved the children's book "One Teddy Bear Is Enough!" by Ginnie Hofmann.  In this story, the original or first Teddy Bear didn't like the arrival of the "new" Teddy Bear and thought about getting rid of such rival by putting such rival into a mail box for delivery.

(2) There are a lot of fundraising done with Teddy Bears.

My idea for Teddy Bear Race is very simple, participants walk/run/ride on the designated route.  Let's say 50 people are participating, at most only 25 of them will find a Teddy Bear.  I say this because some participants might want to carry more than one (1) Teddy Bear.  In other words, there are more than 25 mail boxes but only 25 Teddy Bears.  The teddy bears will be clearly visible so if a mail box doesn't look like it has a Teddy Bear, it was never there or someone already took it.  This way, sponsors, and donators can donate a Teddy Bear of their choice and have a volunteer pick it up.  Obviously, I cannot guarantee the condition of the Teddy Bear upon arrival.

Anyhow, I don't have Ginnie Hofmann's permission but her picture clearly shows you how to use an old school mailbox.