maciagt.blogspot.com

Ok-ok -- First off -- I love my new mac...look at the weirdo pics I can take with it!! So, awesome!

It has been a long time since my last post. It was a hectic, crazy, term at the U but I'm happy to say that I am officially done for the year (sorta). With that, I've tried to get my new blog site up and running...I paid for the webspace so why not use it.

With that, this will be my last post here on Blogger......check out my new blog site here:
- http://tim.maciagonline.net

Take care and Merry Christmas!! (oh yes I did just say it....MERRY CHIRSTMAS!!!....no, Happy Holidays like the PC person is supposed to do......)
~T

Recently, someone has asked me the question: What does it mean to be Canadian? As the debate went on, the man whom I was talking with (one of my Dad's friends, I was helping him work on his fancy new MacBook Pro...he seemed like a pretty good guy) stated (not exactly, but pretty close) Canadians are no different than Americans, and it's only a matter of time before the border dividing our 2 nations is all but obsolete....we will be known as "North Saskatchewan", one of the many new states in the Upper American region that is now Canada. Well, I took a little offense to this. I argued that Canadians are totally different than Americans but at the time, my mind drew a blank....How are we different?, I asked myself.

Well, it's taken me a bit longer to think (only because I can be rather slow at times), but I know for a fact that we Canadians have a culture and way of life that is unique in the World, and it is something that I am very happy to be a part of and I'm very proud to be Canadian.

So, what can we consider part of our culture: Canada, by and large, is a peacekeeping nation. Although certain events, perpetrated by the moron heading the nation directly South of us and those on the other side of the World who only serve hate, has made our role as peacekeeper fuzzy, as the violence has escalated in this "War on Terror" (whatever that really means...I'd also lump the USA under Bush's leadership living in terror as well...and yes, I know there are differences so don't even bother eh!) and we were forced to take more of an active role in the offensive. I still feel that we are by and large, a peacekeeping nation. Nothing filled me with more pride when Jean Chretien told the USA way back when: "No, we are not going into Iraq"

Other things that make up our culture: The maple leaf, the beaver...heck, NATURE..out nation is simply beautiful (that what I have seen (west coast to TO))!!....hockey, Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall with temps ranging -40 deg cel to +40 deg cel. The CFL (go Riders of course), music: Canadian music simply is the best music out there with The Diggers, The Hip, The Rheos, Neil Young, Matt Mays, Blue Rodeo, Sam Roberts, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, The BNL, The New Pornos, Salteens, the list could go on and on, Multiculuralism, Equality, and of course, Freedom...and the list could go on and on (This is only a brief glimpse here...I don't want to babble forever ;-)

So, what I guess I'm saying is that YES, we Canadians do have a culture all our own...and YES, I am damn proud to be a part of this great nation I call my home!

Well, Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Canadians out there! This thanksgiving has been a little bit more hectic for me because of my insane work load this term but....turkey, stuffing, cabbage rolls, and yes....pie...mmmmmm

Over the years my family and I have enjoyed such a turkey feast. It was only until a few years ago that I found out that for years, we had been buying "utility grade" turkey. Here is kind of how it all played out:

• Not knowing what this meant, I asked my mom: "What is a utility turkey?"
  
• So, her response: "Well, you know....it's a ...you know....a turkey....that ...you know...... may be missin a few parts eh!"
  
• My response: "pardon me now!?!"
  
• Her response: "Ya, you know...its-a-missin-a-few-a-parts-a....you know ....Turkey minus beak....Turkey minus wing"
  
• My response: "oh my god!
  

Anyway, long story short...I personally vowed (along with my sisters) to NEVER have utility bird ever again! So, enter thanksgiving 2006. My aunt gave us a turkey bird a while back and it has been in the freezer for sometime so my mom thought we would finally cook'er up this thanksgiving. I had thought that this bird was "grade A" However, upon waking up this morning and getting ready to do some homework due for the next day (curses 831...), I ventured to see how things in the kitchen were going. So, what did I encounter...

There was my mom...getting the turkey bird ready for cookin. Here's how it played out:

• I ask: "So, how are things going?"
  
• Her response: "insert giggle...Well, ya, know....how to perform some "skin grafting" this morning!"
  
• My response: "Umm...now, now what was that...ah.....come again now?"
  
• Her response: "insert hysterical giggle....Well, yes....some skin grafting needed-a-to-be-a-done ...Well, you see...a utility bird ye be... and well.....you see, (insert more giggles) I had to "graft" some turkey neck skin and "re-graft" it to the turkey breast....(insert hysterical laughter)
  
• My response: "oh my goodness........."
  

So, for this year...a utility bird we have and with that, I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!! ..and for Christmas this year, I personally will go out and buy the turkey bird!!!!!!!

Well....what a crazy start to a most crazy semester!!!!!! This term I'll be teaching 2 CS labs at the U of R, taking 2 classes at the U, and working part time on the one day a week I have some "free" time....sigh

Well....that's the short of it all for now. I've also decided to keep this blog going for a while. I like blogger and it will take me some time to learn the ins-and-outs of maintaining some web space. So, with that...this blog will be kept for the time being. I'm going to use the server space purchased to make my own personal website (of my music and other stuff). That should be fun and not too time consuming in the "short run"...of this term.

Once this term is done....and if I'm still somewhat sane (I'm sooooo horribly busy this term....aye)....I'll re-think putting my blog on the webspace. We'll see how everything goes...

Well, just a short note for now! Good luck Krista in your interview!....very exciting!

....end communication....
~T

PS: Here's a pic with Joey, Harry and I......Harry sure seemed to like my new computer!!!

Hello all -- this is just a quick heads up! I've ordered some web space and I'll soon be moving my blog over to the new site (name will be announced later). I couldn't pass up on the offer ($3.95/month)...AND, it will be good for me as I will be able to build-up and refine my web developing skills. There may not be many more posts here on this site but I'm sure there may be a few here or there until I transition everything over (within the next 2 months I'm sure....)

More details to come later...

Take care
~T