"let me finish!!!"

How many times have you been a conversation, or been listening to one and heard the words "let me finish!!" usually in an excited tone.

Its seems us humans have a very strong tendency to interrupt people when they are talking. This obviously annoys/angers people, and sparks them to chime out the aforementioned words.

Cats on the other hand, do not have this problem. I just conducted an experiment with my occasionally noisy cat Ruby. She gets into winy moods where she mixes up her speech with a variety of murmurs, mechs, and meows. My experiment reveals if i wait for her to finish what she's saying, then launch into conversation with her (maintaining eye contact), no matter how long i go for (within reason, up to 20 seconds or so) she won't interrupt me and will stay attentive and focused on me. Only when i complete my speech will she then, normally within a few seconds, respond with some of her usual noises. I think she's agreeing with me.

In some ways cats are far more polite than humans.

1 year old cats!!!

Its true. Our adorable ex-kittens are now cats. Winston and Ruby turn 1 today, and i'm very excited. I don't specifically have anything planned except a few extra rub downs, and slight lenience of my military rule.

Heres Ruby this morning, she's always moving so without flash, this is as good as i could do:


And here's the big dub, proud as always.


This is them at 8 weeks - yes, they were adorable then, and are just as adorable now as far as i'm conerned:


Happy birthday Winston and Ruby!!!

tricky toliets

I was in the manx briefly for dinner last night. Every time i go pee there (which is likely every time i go), i wonder how many times a night someone ventures into the wrong washroom. I always have to think about it and do association in my own way. This process always degrades to remembering that men have to walk slightly farther than women to do their business.

Anyone want to comment on what associations they use? I can never remember what those symbols mean or who they stand for, maybe someone can enlighten me. If i had some memory pillar to attach those symbols to i'd be less fearful of walking in on the opposite sex doing their business.

hayden at bsi

A few of us took the country drive this past thurs out to wakefield to see perhaps my first favorite singer songwriter, Hayden.

Apparently he's been busy and just finished his new album "yesterday". It was his first show in 3 years. He didn't practice. It showed. I love the guy, i think he's great, he's still a great storyteller, but i was a little peeved at how many times he fucked shit up, or had to start over. The first time its funny and shows a bit of personality and humanity, but the 10th time its annoying and shows a lack of respect. The tickets were not cheap (18 bux i think), and its a tour to get out there. He should've practiced.

I'm sure he lost a fan or two that night. He didn't loose me, but i'll certainly think twice about going to see him the next time he's around... i'll probably go anyway. And i will get his new album. At least i know he's human. Like me!!!

Mother Mother is the best thing since sliced gluten-free bread

Myself and several accompaniments had the incredible pleasure of seeing the newest best band ever Mother Mother at zaphods last night.

We've been listening to their album for the past 6 months or so since my buddy turned me on to them after hearing them on cbc radio 3. Hot damn, they are imo the most diverse and talented sound since arcade fire, for darn sure. Its sooo good, and now i realize there is ridiculous talent as well as amazing song writing. Its hard to tell sometimes, but last night proved all.

We gushed over them all night. They actually opened for 2 other far inferior bands. Dragonette, who features Martina Sorbera (apparently the daughter of our late finance minister) either greatly benefited from accompanying vocal tracks, or was flat out lip syncing. Catchy, but not a live performance. The other dudes, Most Serene Republic or something, had some cool sounds, but very little vocal talent/hooks to keep me interested. We left mid way through their performance. No idea why the gigs were ordered as such, Mother Mother stole the show shortly after 8pm when they started in on "Legs Away" and playing half their album and 2 other songs i've never heard. In that half hour there were no other sounds in the universe worth listening to.

As i was saying, we gushed hard. After their show they were mostly just swag selling and hanging out... i bought a t-shirt as we attempted to book them for future birthday parties; tour pending, it was something they seemed quite open to. Some autographs were signed.

They're from Vancouver, and likely won't be back till next spring. We all must go again!!! YES!!!

They rule!!!! Check out some tracks on their site. Note the following picture is the best pic i could get as i was mostly too busy listening in complete awe...

up early on a saturday

If this isn't a sign of age and responsibility what is. Waking up early (its 6:22am) on a saturday morning, tossed and turned, couldn't get back to sleep. Mostly because i'm not all that hungover and i'm excited about laying the fresh cedar for my balcony today.

What do people do at 6:22am on a saturday? Is there anything to do? I think i'll see what the grinders are up to...

I will indeed be posting pics later of the balcony, it should be pretty sweet.

One things for sure, i'm not all that interesting at 6:22am on a saturday.

nominal vs. dimensional??

One additional thing i should mention about Google Sketchup from my previous post, is that i put all the lumber sizes in in their "true" sizes. Otherwise, i wouldn't know exact distances and size of things!!! Am i not right here?

For instance, a 2x4 is not truely 2 by 4 inches. Its "about" 1.5 by 3.5 inches. How could i put in a piece of lumber that IS 2 by 4 inches into my drawings and expect sketchup to tell me the proper distances?

I understand if you measure everything "on center" you should be ok, but what about if simply want to measure the entire width of the structure?

If someone can clear this up for me i'd appreciate it.