Manifest Destiny

So after about five months of research, test drives, mathematics, spreadsheets, and much more the decision was finally made this week. I signed for 2008 Nissan Versa SL Hatchback on Monday with the credit check clearing two days later. Sadly, that was where the good news ended.

I received a call on Wednesday noting that my baby wasn't available to me because it hadn't yet been built. The version I got, with the Technology package, comes with Bluetooth inside, a 6-CD deck, 6-speakers with subwoofer, iPod input, and XM Radio, a package that helped push the decision for me. That and the CVT which I'm completely fascinated with, and to heck with the doubters. Apparently such a thing must be built and shipped, and thus won't be in my paws for three weeks. A tough piece of news considering the ION was due back this coming Monday. I've paid to extend the lease one month, we'll see what I can squeeze out of Nissan in return. I think a fourth year of warranty should cover the pain and mental suffering.

In other news it appears confirmed that I'm heading on a cruise (finally) in January with my family and Rob and Carrie. It's been four years since my last proper, full-length, non-working vacation so I'm quite excited by the prospect. Back to my two favourite ports - Cozumel and Key West, which I'm pumped about. I'll finally satiate my long-standing desire to see the Mayan ruins this time around as well. I also plan to drink the worm or scorpion (again) I hope. Maybe this time consuming the beast in the bottle?

Tomorrow, downtown Toronto day. Sunday, hopefully another nice hike. This is a story for another day but I have to note that being slightly more fit and active is the best decision I've ever made. It's been a long, long struggle that continues to endure - I just joined a gym and started going today. But the good news is I've gained only a few pounds in a few years, settling in at 185 from my one-time high of 240 and capable of hiking and walking for hours, and running 5km in under 25-minutes. When I think of where I was only six years ago right now, attached to a couch every night and ordering stuffed crust Cheese Lovers from Pizza Hut.. frightening. What's next? Need to get a few more 5km's under my belt before I start seriously looking towards the M-word...

Round of Blues

Another week and a half off - I'm sure you've all missed it! Heh. Sadly the past few weeks were so deeply devoted to pulling off a morbidly expensive and important event with work. It was to take place at the Rogers Centre, and yesterday, it did.

We set up in the .400 Summit Suite for some seminars and snacks and, over the course of these seminars, got to watch the roof open and check out the Jays' batting practice. A distraction from the vendor seminars, especially as three of four seminars were dry as could be. We took an escort from there to the double-length Executive Lounge near Gate 3 for a brief technology fair segment and then opened the doors to dinner, drinks, and the Jays/Angels game. I attempted to provide typical ballpark fare for the day - popcorn to start with dinner consisting of dogs, wings, pizza, salads, and ice cream bars.

All told a successful day, which we needed, but an emotionally and phyiscally draining few weeks for sure. It's back into the fire as my crew is hard at work planning something big that we'll announce Monday. I'll surround all these efforts with a golf game on Sunday and, hopefully, a new Nissan Versa early next week. I have to decide soon, the ION is 11 days away from coming due.

I shall make every effort to improve posting times, but you never know.. I'm kind of busy trying to run an ECHL dynasty right now...

Walk Through The World

So the long weekend went well (and I suppose it's still going well, soon will be off to do a bit more Nissan shopping). Without the ability to get a campground at the last minute Mike and I decided the weekend would be spent hiking the local trails, and I was to introduce him to Geocaching. And so we did!

Saturday we got a late start but headed over to the smaller of the nearby trails, the Humber River Trail within the conservation area in and around the Islington/Major Mac area of Kleinburg. To our surprise it was not only a great little natural escape in the midst of the city, but we tracked down eight Geocaches within the small forested area, most of them relatively easy pickings from the main trails. The hike itself was a gentle, wide-trailed one that didn't require a ton of energy exertion. On the way back we hit a bonus cache whose stats we'd picked out one of the others, and a second in Kleinburg's old train house, now located alongside the school on Islington. Mike found that one, a small tin with magnets attached to a black light on the outside wall! After a quick sub dinner and some pops we got tired and crashed for a busy Sunday.

Sunday we took our sweet time getting up, loading up on energy snacks and water, packing our stuff, and finally heading to the trailhead for the Humber Valley Heritage Trail right here in Bolton. This is a 25km trail that stretches from H50 and Columbia Way straight up into the Albion Hills Conservation Area, with a few access points along the way (Edelweiss, Duffy's Lane, and Castlederg were the ones we passed). This trail would prove significantly more of a challenge than Saturday's - much thinner, a lot more bushwhacking, and constant changes in elevation. We were in and out of the sun, but perhaps the coolest thing of all was how different each section of this trail could look. At one point it appeared we were on the set for 'Lost', then 'Jurassic Park', and so it went. Such a varied trail!

Two of the "must-have" Geocaches for me were Bella's Bounty and Hey I Like Your "Stile", both of whom were amongst the five we managed to knock off as we ventured 8km in and the same 8km back out. With the day escaping us and having taken so much time to relax, seek out the caches, and even pause for lunch we figured we'd end it at Castlederg and walk back. Oddly enough it was about 4x longer in than out! Last night it was some high-protein turkey burgers with pancetta and sharp cheddar for dinner alongside a couple more pops.

So today the adventure ends - perhaps a couple caches as I drop Mike back off. I have to say, though, the trail-hiking bug has bitten, can't wait to get back out!