On Friday I got a letter in the mail from the University of Guelph letting me know that my application for graduation has been accepted and I am officially a graduate from their biology program.
It has been a grueling 5 years but I'm finally done!!!
When I was first accepted by Guelph I was off my rocker excited about the prospect. I had every intention of going through with my bachelors and then making my way through another 4 years of vet school so I could be a large animal vet. I was so stoked but into my first year I started to second guess my decision.
The biology program at the University of Guelph was not at all what I expected. One memory that really sticks out was a bio lab where we were testing the respiration rates of lab mice. It really felt like kindergarten. There were different stations set up in the lab room that each group would take turns visiting. One where we, sorry not we but the lab TA, would handle the mouse and immerse them in some kind of environment (can't remember) and we would collect data about the mouse respiration and then truck all that data to the next station where another lab TA would input our data into some computer program that would provide us with the info we needed. It was really like kindergarten... So first collect your paints in all the colours you want then truck them down to station two where you will be provided with all sorts of brushes, then station 3 where you are given your choice of paper colour and finally station 4 you got to paint. So stupid. I don't recall learning anything in that lab. To be fair though I did some awesome labs too later on in my uni career one where I actually got to produce an Aspirin and another where I got to stick my arm shoulder deep into the stomach of a live cow and collect digestive data. Those labs were awesome!
I also quickly learned that at Ontario's greatest agricultural school I was not learning the sort of biology I was interested in... horses, dogs, domestic animals, but I was learning solely about the biology of meat industry animals. WTF?? I am a vegetarian and have absolutely no interest in learning about the inner workings of animals that will be put to slaughter or be held in close quarters for production purposes only. I fucking hated that. In fact I remember a class handout that was explaining the parts of a cow, not their biological parts but only the meat industry parts such as t-bone etc etc... I stopped paying attention right away. It really was fucking bullshit.
There was a class that was somewhat required to acquire my degree. It was called... let me think now... oh The structure of farm animals. It actually had a slaughter lab that you could opt out of but you still had to watch the video. I understand that the industry is a large part of animal biology but c'mon... as if everyone is there to learn that shit.
There were only a few classes that I truly enjoyed. There were two horse-y classes; horse nutrition and horse management. I loved those classes and excelled in them but then we're not in the habit of eating horses in this area. I tried to take other nutrition classes because nutrition is something that really interests me but cow, pig and chicken nutrition were based solely on the proper nutrition to make the best meat/eggs/milk possible. STUPID!
Other classes I loved had nothing to do with biology at all. They were the few electives I was allowed. I took a politics class in first year and thank god for that because everything else was science 100% of the time. I also took an english class and a sociology class and I really loved those. If I could do it all over again I would have gone to Uni for sociology because that really peaked my interest. And for the amount of effort that I would have put into a science paper and got a 60% on, I got a 95% in soc! Geez.
All in all though it was a good experience and I'm glad that I have the paper to prove that I actually completed it.
So, I was adamant about not attending my convocation as I have had just about enough of the cowboy boot, huge belt buckle, cowboy hat wearing peers of mine jeering at me as if I was weird but I think I'm gonna go as a way finalize that part of my life.
I learned a hell of a lot that I'm glad I now know and I also learned a hell of a lot of shit I don't really care about but I'm glad I persevered and finish it. It proves a discipline I wasn't sure I actually had in me.
I have two extra guest spots at my convocation. Who wants to come?
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
HST?
I just feel like talking.
Today I talked a lot about the new HST tax that is going to be introduced to Ontario. I fail to see the benefit to myself. In fact, it feels more like I'm about to be royally ripped off.
So now I'm going to be paying a full 13% tax on the same shit I can't afford to pay 5% tax on. How is this a benefit? The only things I have heard the government say are advantages are that its 'easier' and it will create 590 000 jobs. Jobs doing what? You really think they are going to invest all of, or some of, the mounds and mounds of money they bring in to Ontarian artists like myself. Because unless the jobs are there I don't really give a shit. So jobs in what? Anyone have any idea what that means? They haven't spoken about new social programs to put the extra tax money towards. I mean I'd really like to go to a dentist but when it comes to paying rent or going to the dentist I have to side with the roof over my head. I mean how much money is the government saving now that seeing the eye doctor is no longer free. Where did all that money go? I just don't get it.
I run a small business and the HST is going to royally fuck me. Now my customers are going to be paying more then they did in the past because now I have to pay full HST on the shirts that I buy for them for resale. This doesn't make sense to me at all. How many times can you really tax something before it becomes extortion. Not including what happens with a shirt before it gets to me, I will pay the HST on the all the shirts I buy raising the price by 8%, then when I sell it printed to a client and I have to charge the full 13% to them. If they are a business they will have to charge the 13% again. WTF? Maybe I'm wrong about this, is there a loophole I'm not aware of? But now with this new HST people in series are paying a full 13% every time the article is resold. Its fucking crazy.
I don't just feel like talking anymore, I feel like fighting!
Who agrees with the HST and why?
Today I talked a lot about the new HST tax that is going to be introduced to Ontario. I fail to see the benefit to myself. In fact, it feels more like I'm about to be royally ripped off.
So now I'm going to be paying a full 13% tax on the same shit I can't afford to pay 5% tax on. How is this a benefit? The only things I have heard the government say are advantages are that its 'easier' and it will create 590 000 jobs. Jobs doing what? You really think they are going to invest all of, or some of, the mounds and mounds of money they bring in to Ontarian artists like myself. Because unless the jobs are there I don't really give a shit. So jobs in what? Anyone have any idea what that means? They haven't spoken about new social programs to put the extra tax money towards. I mean I'd really like to go to a dentist but when it comes to paying rent or going to the dentist I have to side with the roof over my head. I mean how much money is the government saving now that seeing the eye doctor is no longer free. Where did all that money go? I just don't get it.
I run a small business and the HST is going to royally fuck me. Now my customers are going to be paying more then they did in the past because now I have to pay full HST on the shirts that I buy for them for resale. This doesn't make sense to me at all. How many times can you really tax something before it becomes extortion. Not including what happens with a shirt before it gets to me, I will pay the HST on the all the shirts I buy raising the price by 8%, then when I sell it printed to a client and I have to charge the full 13% to them. If they are a business they will have to charge the 13% again. WTF? Maybe I'm wrong about this, is there a loophole I'm not aware of? But now with this new HST people in series are paying a full 13% every time the article is resold. Its fucking crazy.
I don't just feel like talking anymore, I feel like fighting!
Who agrees with the HST and why?
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Storage galore! a hoarders new bff
Why are there so many storage places opening up around town? I was driving down Victoria street today and just before you hit the Breslau train bridge they are putting in a new, giant storage facility on the right hand side. This is going in just a few years after they put a huge facility right across the street.
Maybe I missed the memo but why do we need so many storage units?
I discussed with Jan what it could be that people need to store. I mean, it seems to me if you have too much stuff to fit in your house then maybe you should just junk it all and forget the storage unit. A few exceptions, if you are without a home and need a place to keep all your crap, cars, motorcylcles, skidoos other seasonal auto stuff, business stuff like landscaping equipment. What does everyone else store in there? and why do they have to be climate controlled?
When we lived in Guelph a few years ago we rented a storage unit on the outskirts of town to have band practice in. It was actually the best jam hall we ever had. It was climate controlled but only got as warm as 17 degrees inside and that was if you never, ever had to open the door (impossible as there was no washroom in there so the big bay door was often opened). It was a really cool environment though. There were other people that rented units to operate their auto mechanics garage and auto body shop. I think there was a small engine repair guy, woodworker, and of course the scrap steel collector. It was almost like a private business park with controlled keypad entry. I really liked it there and thought that for that reason storage facilities rule!!
When we moved back to Kitchener we called all the local storage places to see if we could hook up a new jam hall in town but every place we called refused and said that the units were for storage purposes only. This brings me back to my initial question; What on earth do people have that needs to be stored? What is so important that they must hang on to it and pay upwards of $200 a month for storage?
We have all seen that show Hoarders and self-righteously comment to each other that its absolutely ridiculous to have that much stuff. Are these new storage places not breeding a whole population of hoarders? I think so.
Anybody have a storage space and wanna shed some light? What do you keep in there?
Maybe I missed the memo but why do we need so many storage units?
I discussed with Jan what it could be that people need to store. I mean, it seems to me if you have too much stuff to fit in your house then maybe you should just junk it all and forget the storage unit. A few exceptions, if you are without a home and need a place to keep all your crap, cars, motorcylcles, skidoos other seasonal auto stuff, business stuff like landscaping equipment. What does everyone else store in there? and why do they have to be climate controlled?
When we lived in Guelph a few years ago we rented a storage unit on the outskirts of town to have band practice in. It was actually the best jam hall we ever had. It was climate controlled but only got as warm as 17 degrees inside and that was if you never, ever had to open the door (impossible as there was no washroom in there so the big bay door was often opened). It was a really cool environment though. There were other people that rented units to operate their auto mechanics garage and auto body shop. I think there was a small engine repair guy, woodworker, and of course the scrap steel collector. It was almost like a private business park with controlled keypad entry. I really liked it there and thought that for that reason storage facilities rule!!
When we moved back to Kitchener we called all the local storage places to see if we could hook up a new jam hall in town but every place we called refused and said that the units were for storage purposes only. This brings me back to my initial question; What on earth do people have that needs to be stored? What is so important that they must hang on to it and pay upwards of $200 a month for storage?
We have all seen that show Hoarders and self-righteously comment to each other that its absolutely ridiculous to have that much stuff. Are these new storage places not breeding a whole population of hoarders? I think so.
Anybody have a storage space and wanna shed some light? What do you keep in there?
Monday, January 11, 2010
EI
Its 9pm and I finally have some time to sit down at my computer and blog. Finally!
Today was hectic but hectic in an insanely productive sort of way. Stressful but necessary successful stress.
Spoke too soon... an email just came in... brb
After racing to Guelph for 9:45am this morning I stopped in at the employment insurance place to drop off my ROE. Yeah, I'm laid off, by no fault of my own. I need to start collecting EI. So, after filling out my application online on Friday (a super tedious job when my hours fluctuated so much over the past 6 months) I stepped into the office to complete the final part. I was greeted by a super nice security guard at the front and asked what I was looking to do. I showed him my ROE and he directed me to the one line in the whole place... the same line that had about 15 people ahead of me. I waited and waited. Thank god for iphones and the endless supply of entertainment though I feel like a bit of an asshole being the one anti-social person in the room screwing around on it but meh. Finally a lady came out from the back and made her way down the line asking everyone what they were their for. I assume this is normal practice as I think the instinct is to stand in that line regardless of what your looking to do, but judging by the various groups of people doing various different things in various parts of the room, I'm guessing it is not always the right choice. She approached me and I flashed her my ROE. She immediately jumped me a head of the line. YES!!! I hate waiting. She took my ROE, made a copy and handed it back stating that I will get something in the mail in 2 to 3 weeks. Oh geez...
The point of this is that to apply for EI I had almost no human contact and since this is the first time I've ever applied I have no idea if I have done it right. Do I really need ROE's from the last 2 years? What if I was a student at the time? Obviously my weekly wage back then was much different then it is today (or last week when I had a job). What if what I get mailed to me in 2 to 3 weeks is a letter saying that I have to drop something else off? Then I will have to go back down to the EI office, stand in that line, provide a original to photocopy and.. with any luck... get to wait another 2 to 3 weeks. Errrr.... thats frustrating.
But... Fingers crossed!
Today was hectic but hectic in an insanely productive sort of way. Stressful but necessary successful stress.
Spoke too soon... an email just came in... brb
After racing to Guelph for 9:45am this morning I stopped in at the employment insurance place to drop off my ROE. Yeah, I'm laid off, by no fault of my own. I need to start collecting EI. So, after filling out my application online on Friday (a super tedious job when my hours fluctuated so much over the past 6 months) I stepped into the office to complete the final part. I was greeted by a super nice security guard at the front and asked what I was looking to do. I showed him my ROE and he directed me to the one line in the whole place... the same line that had about 15 people ahead of me. I waited and waited. Thank god for iphones and the endless supply of entertainment though I feel like a bit of an asshole being the one anti-social person in the room screwing around on it but meh. Finally a lady came out from the back and made her way down the line asking everyone what they were their for. I assume this is normal practice as I think the instinct is to stand in that line regardless of what your looking to do, but judging by the various groups of people doing various different things in various parts of the room, I'm guessing it is not always the right choice. She approached me and I flashed her my ROE. She immediately jumped me a head of the line. YES!!! I hate waiting. She took my ROE, made a copy and handed it back stating that I will get something in the mail in 2 to 3 weeks. Oh geez...
The point of this is that to apply for EI I had almost no human contact and since this is the first time I've ever applied I have no idea if I have done it right. Do I really need ROE's from the last 2 years? What if I was a student at the time? Obviously my weekly wage back then was much different then it is today (or last week when I had a job). What if what I get mailed to me in 2 to 3 weeks is a letter saying that I have to drop something else off? Then I will have to go back down to the EI office, stand in that line, provide a original to photocopy and.. with any luck... get to wait another 2 to 3 weeks. Errrr.... thats frustrating.
But... Fingers crossed!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
My very first blog!! Where to begin?
First, I didn't actually wet my pants. In fact I haven't wet my pants since I was very young... like grade school young. Years and years ago, maybe 10 years ago before my creative side started to peter off, Jan and I wrote and published a zine (a sort of Do-it-yourself version of a magazine) called 'Flat 40oz and a Gutterbutt'. In that zine I wrote a column about anything and everything and I called it 'Oops! I wet my pants'. In an attempt to revive that same passion I had 10 years ago I chose to keep my column name. However, it is subject to change.
I was on a role and then my msn started dinging - annoying!
So... I'm getting married. After 10 years we decided that we're finally going to take the leap though, its hardly a leap since its been a decade but take the leap anyway. I'm excited! It is a wedding but not in the the traditional sense by any means. More like quote:married:unquote. It is the confirmation of common-law. That's what I like to call it. There will be no priest or hymns or other fancy-pants traditional wedding things. If its my day, I'm going to make it MY day and it will include everything I love traditional or not though note* it is a formal event and for it I will wear an actual wedding dress and this means you have to dress up too :) The date is set in STONE for June 19th, 2010. After much deliberating, agreeing, disagreeing, rearranging, communicating and organizing this is the date that works for everyone. It is NOT subject to change. Enough about the wedding though I foresee many wedding detail posts in the future.
My band is going on a Canadian tour this April all the way to BC and back. I can't wait!! Just as long as Jan and I have been together The Rotten has been rockin'n'rollin. Actually The Rotten outlives our relationship by a few months. I remind everyone, the Rotten came first. We've never done an actual tour. We've played lots of shows sort of far away like Montreal and Detroit but never across this vast country of ours. With the help of our awesome support system namely, Rebel Time Records, this tour is panning out to go down in the history books. I am super excited! Here is a list of our dates...
I was on a role and then my msn started dinging - annoying!
So... I'm getting married. After 10 years we decided that we're finally going to take the leap though, its hardly a leap since its been a decade but take the leap anyway. I'm excited! It is a wedding but not in the the traditional sense by any means. More like quote:married:unquote. It is the confirmation of common-law. That's what I like to call it. There will be no priest or hymns or other fancy-pants traditional wedding things. If its my day, I'm going to make it MY day and it will include everything I love traditional or not though note* it is a formal event and for it I will wear an actual wedding dress and this means you have to dress up too :) The date is set in STONE for June 19th, 2010. After much deliberating, agreeing, disagreeing, rearranging, communicating and organizing this is the date that works for everyone. It is NOT subject to change. Enough about the wedding though I foresee many wedding detail posts in the future.
My band is going on a Canadian tour this April all the way to BC and back. I can't wait!! Just as long as Jan and I have been together The Rotten has been rockin'n'rollin. Actually The Rotten outlives our relationship by a few months. I remind everyone, the Rotten came first. We've never done an actual tour. We've played lots of shows sort of far away like Montreal and Detroit but never across this vast country of ours. With the help of our awesome support system namely, Rebel Time Records, this tour is panning out to go down in the history books. I am super excited! Here is a list of our dates...
30 Mar Tue Sudbury
31-Mar Wed Thunder Bay
31-Mar Wed Thunder Bay
1-Apr Thu Winnipeg
2-Apr Fri Saskatoon
3-Apr Sat Edmonton
4-Apr Sun Peace River
5-Apr Mon Jasper
6-Apr Tue Prince George
7-Apr Wed Kamloops
8-Apr Thu Fraser Valley
9-Apr Fri Vancouver
10-Apr Sat Victoria
11-Apr Sun Courtenay
12-Apr Mon Nelson
13-Apr Tue Fraser Valley
14-Apr Wed Calgary
15-Apr Thu Lethbridge
16-Apr Fri Regina
17-Apr Sat Kenora
18-Apr Sun Thunder Bay
19 - Apr Mon Sault Ste Marie
20-Apr Tue Bovine
20-Apr Tue Bovine
22-Apr Thu Ottawa
23-Apr Fri Montreal
24-Apr Sat Quebec
25-Apr Sun Sherbrooke
Who knew bloggin could be so much fun?! Suddenly the internet is interesting again!
Who knew bloggin could be so much fun?! Suddenly the internet is interesting again!
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