Canadian Winter Olympic Torch relay

As most of you know Canada is hosting the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver BC, and part of the Olympics is the running of the Olympic torch (flame) to light the Olympic cauldron to start the Olympics whether it be summer or winter Olympics. And to celebrate Canada's Olympic's the Olympic torch is being run across Canada as a relay until it's final destination in Vancouver to light the Olympic cauldron to start the games.

Today the the torch is coming to Barrie where it will finish it's journey for today at Barrie city hall with a celebration of the Olympic torch coming to town with a ceremonial lighting of miniature cauldron symbolizing the lighting of the Olympic flame in Barrie as it's host for the night until the Olympic flame continues on it's journey tomorrow morning to North bay as it makes it's way to Vancouver.

Earlier today I went up to Elmvale, a town north of Barrie where the torch relay was running through on route to it's final destination for today in Barrie later tonight. The torch was scheduled to pass though Elmvale at 11:45am and I wanted a chance to see it up close as to when it reaches Barrie tonight at 7pm at city hall there will be thousands of people around and I didn't want to miss my chance to get up close and maybe a chance to touch the torch. Plus I'll be volunteering at Barrie city hall tonight for the celebrations and ceremony and I don't know if I will get a chance to get up close?

I'm so glad I went up to Elmvale! It was exciting to see, touch and run along with the Olympic torch and here is a video clip.

:)

My family Tradition

I have been reading this story to my kids since they were born, carrying on the tradition of Joannes father who read the same story to her since she was a baby.

Merry Christmas

***********MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE***********

-House is all cleaned up, Turkey is ready to be cooked in the morning and beer is in the fridge ready to be drank! I'm ready for Christmas! Woo Hoo!!

Training is stalled

I'm not getting much training in this week. I may try to get out to the running room with the running club tonight for a run, but it's cold out and I don't like running in the cold. I know I'm a wimp!

In other news! I renewed my family rec pass. I had a dilemma with Joanne having a single pass that runs into the end of January and I couldn't renew the family pass until that was up. So what they did instead was credited the difference of what was left on Joannes pass onto the new Family pass canceling out Joannes pass, Simple! Now I can get back to the rec center to do some diving if I want, plus the rest of the family can now use the rec pass to, all for about the same payment that Joanne was paying on her single pass, give or take $30.00 for 4 extra people using the pass.

I'll still be training at LA/Fitness though. I like it there and it have everything I need, plus it has better machines at my disposal, as well as having a open swim lane to myself every time I swim. :)

I'm also picking up a minoura bike trainer from a friend tomorrow who sold it to me for only $30.00 retail it sell for $200.00 I'm planing on using it at work over the winter during my dinner breaks as I ramp up my training come January using my old Raleigh Smiley bike on it.

My Christmas shopping is all done and presents wrapped. All I have to do is wait for the old jolly guy to come down the chimney Christmas night and come Christmas morning watch all the happy shining faces open presents, then cook Christmas dinner.

:)

Christmas came early!

Christmas came early, I have a new 2002 Chev Malibu in mint condition with only 65,000 km on it! Woo Hoo!

How and where?

Well My grandfather who is in long term care in Toronto is to sick to Drive anymore. NO he's not dieing or anything. He has emphysema and can't go out in the cold air anymore without having trouble breathing, plus the fact he is turning 80 years and has to re-write his driving exam, he decided he doesn't need to drive anymore. So he gave me his car which is in mint condition.

Too funny like in one of those old sales pitches with the used car dealer telling a buyer the old story that? " This car was driven and cared for by an old lady who only drove it to church on Sunday's. " Well the case is true with my grandfathers car! lol He only drove it to church once a week to go to church and run errands to the store over the years since he bought it new. The car is almost 8 years old and only has 65,000 km on it! He took great care in his car, there isn't a scratch on it!

My new 2008 cobalt that I just bought this past summer has almost as many km's as my grandpa's Malibu! My 2008 cobalt has 58,000 km's on it. I almost feel guilty driving my grandpa's Malibu it's in such great shape.

So I am passing off my 2008 red cobalt in this pictured here..And giving it to my daughters to share in driving, and I'm going to ride in class in my new Malibu. Woo Hoo!


Thanks Grandpa!!


Here it is my new 2002 Malibu ...

:)

Christmas Vacation

Woo Hoo! I'm on vacation for the next 2 weeks!!  Well, soon as I finish my shift tonight. ;)  I won't be back to work until the new year.  It looks like I'll have to go to the rec center over the holidays to workout, because I'm not going to drive 100 km to workout at LA Fitness in Brampton.  

Speaking of Brampton the Olympic torch relay came through this way today as it makes it's way across Canada to Vancouver BC  for the winter Olympics in Feb 2010.  I  missed seeing it  today as i was working out at the Club, Actually  it's a good thing I went in early to do my workout today as the Olympic torch relay was making it's way along part of my commute into work and would have made me late for work if I left at my normal time.  Anyway I'll get my chance to see the Olympic torch relay on the Dec 29TH as it will be making it's way into Barrie that day.  I originally  applied  to be a Torch barer but was not selected. :(  But I will get my chance to be up close to the torch as I volunteered with the city to help out that day for the big celebration Barrie will put on.  I'm still not sure what i'll be doing as a volunteer yet? But I was told it will be a chance in a lifetime.  

Today's Training ...

Run .....30 min.

Swim ...5 min....Just a cool down swim.

10 min sauna. 

:)

Here comes the snow

We got our dumping of snow last night and today and more tonight with snow squalls. It started yesterday as i was going into work and has been going steady since. My son Snow blew the driveway once and when I got home from work i had to do it again. When i woke up today and looked out it was still coming down and i blew the driveway again before coming into work today. I would say we have around 2 feet so far. Thank god for my new snow blower, it's so much easier and is even fun! :)

Last nights drive home was bad once i got to the outer edge of Barrie, but today's drive in to work from Barrie was really bad until about 35 km south of Barrie toward Toronto where it wasn't snowing. you can see here on this video clip i made on the way in to work today. I have driven though worse on the way home though, as last night drive home wasn't to bad.

Only swam 1000 m straight set, I had to cut it short to go out and do some X-Mas shopping.

:)

Happy Anniversary

Today is Joanne's and my 30Th Wedding Anniversary. Wow! where did the time go? We're not doing any celebrating as i don't see her during the week. I left her a bouquet of flowers to see when she got up in the morning before work and while I'm sleeping, and I left a gift for her to see when she gets home from work and I'm at work.

I bought her a five diamond heart on heart necklace in yellow gold.( symbolizing two hearts connect ) It's worth millions! but I got a good deal on it and paid a lot less. ;).... ( it's OK to post her gift because she has already opened it before I posted this.)

Edit; when I got home I checked out the necklace, as I haven't seen it since I bought it last month for this day. Well it seems it's not five diamonds in the heart, but is diamond in crusted on the hearts, making it sparkle brightly. My bad, my memory isn't as good as it used to be. But it's still worth millions!! ;)

I know I don't say it enough, I love you Joanne. See you on the weekend. WOW! 30 YEARS!!!


:)

Swim is feeling good

Today I went to LA Fitness and swam a straight 2000m set free in 36:12. My swimming is feeling good, now I need to work on speed. ;) ....Tomorrow will be a run day.


:)

Christmas Tradition

This past weekend we went out for our traditional Christmas tree hunt to cut our own Christmas tree at Drysdales tree farm with our family and friends. We have been doing this every year for over 15 years. The pictures below are from previous trips to Drysdales tree farm, as I forgot to bring my camera with us this year to our traditional tree cutting trip.

This is the Christmas store where Joanne ends up every year to buy some sort of x-mass trinket.

What the store looks like inside.

Some of the grounds.

Finding my tree

Dragging my tree to the wagon

Tree all wrapped up and ready to take home set up in our front living room, then go over to our friends for food and drinks.