Well, it’s been a few days since I last wrote a blog entry while riding the bike at the gym.. and I figured today is as good of a day as any to do it.

Last week was spent behind the ‘Garlic Curtain’ (aka Yorkton) visiting the family. It has been a while since I travelled home, so this was a good catch up visit complete with rich, hearty, homestyle food. It was so tasty -yet bad for the waistline. That said, it’s home cooking and it is hard to beat.

While I was in Yorkton, I was relatively stranded from the social grid (save for my Macbook Pro) because my iPhone decided not to work. It simply wouldn’t detect the EDGE network, cutting me off from cell phone calls, text messages and the mobile web. It was amazing how quickly I got used to not having my phone handy at all times to do simple things like quickly looking something up on Google, or posting a witty – yet salient – quip to Twitter. By the time I hit the road on Friday, it was a total surprise to not only hear my phone ring, but to have stable service.

However, when my phone DID ring, I was dismayed that it was (yet again) for the folks who owned the number before I did. It seems they have a collection agency chasing them, and it’s the kind of one that uses a robocaller to make outbound calls. I tried calling in to the number once to tell them they have the wrong number, but after a 45 minute wait on hold, I said ’screw it’ and just started ignoring the calls. By the end of the week lady week, the calls were approaching two-a-day. That is when the straw broke the camel’s back. I called Rogers and got them to change the number. (They even did it at no charge!). Since then? No annoying calls. Hurrah!

Bike talk time is 15:10.

This weekend also saw me complete the purchase of all the gear I need to to and hurt myself in the mountains. I am quite proud to say I now own a snowboard jacket, pants, mitts, a new beanie, and wrist guards. Oh. And. A base layer. All I need to do now is rent a board and boots, and I’m set.

Going snowboarding is going to be one hell of a fun week. For the last three years, I’ve kept on saying I’d to and learn… And now I’m finally going. Whether I’d not I’m any good is beside the point. It’s all about having fun. And not breaking any limbs. And, if I yen turn out to be even half hood? I’ll have a new winter hobby.

The only thing left to do before heading off for the mountains is to get a haircut. Right now, I’m between three options. The least offensive (and probably most-worth-the-value) us to go to Angles and get the ol faux hawk. It is versatile, and wears well both for work and play. U could shave it all off again (which isn’t a bad thing since cold weather season is near and I get touque head somethig bad.) The other options I’m considering (and mom – because she reads this blog – cover your eyes) is to go for the shaved down mohawk landing strip… which could make me look particularily badass, and be easily converted to a plain ok shaved head upon my return to work.

Ahhhh. Decisions, decisions. What to to, what to do. (Your suggestions are welcome in the comments… )

Bike talk time is 27:20.

And with that, I’m going to wrap up yet another blog post from a stationary bike. It’s been a slice!

+J