Saturday

Today was a day that I sat listening to music writing a business plan. It was a rainy, yet welcomed day to relax. I though I had something more to say, but I cannot remember. I actually was supposed to meet someone out, but the gusting winds made for an uninviting day. I did make it to the garage to give my cruiser a good cleaning and lube, and replace a spoke. The bearings that I replaced last year still seem to be doing quite well. Not bad for my first time doing it. And I continue to be surprised how much of a beating this bike continues to take and still performs flawlessly.

Tomorrow I take delivery of two mature blueberry plants, so hopefully I will have some berries this year and many more for next year's harvest. I need to begin putting aside a day each week (at least) to catch up on gardening. Maybe I will set aside all of next weekend to do yard work.

But days to bumble around the house and putz around the garage are also fun and necessary.

Here's another church picture taken last week near my house.

Friday

Nothing today really. But a friend and I went looking for house to include on our urban garden tour next weekend. Or actually two weekends away. We visit different people's gardens in the city and they tell us what they've done with their gardens that were once lawns.

One thing I've stated numerous times here is that grass clipping are our nation's largest agricultural product. Maybe someday they will be able to make cellulosic ethanol from this crop or something else of value, as I really do not see any other purpose that lawns serve. I hope next weekend I will take out my front yard and plant vegetables. Let's hope that I persevere and rent the desodder. I know it's not the purist's way to remove one's yard, but it sure is quick.

This picture was taken last week looking down one of the Letter Streets - maybe H Street - towards the water. I think that is Orcas Island in the distance.

But right now the wind is picking up and a warm front is coming through. Sprinkles of rain on the window. Much more rain predicted tonight and tomorrow. Seven degrees Celsius and steady. Time for bed.

CBC Radio 2

I never got that box to put on top of your television, and I never got to radio shack to buy some rabbit ears (to pick up the four or five non-digitalized Canadian stations), so my evenings, when I'm home, are spent listening to the radio. And the station's been stuck on CBC Radio 2, which plays the most interesting music at night: modern and avant garde jazz and classical and acoustic and folk, and everything else in between. A pretty interesting station for one's listening pleasure.

And we did get a movie tonight called The Visitor. One of the better movies I've seen in quite some time. A weekend ahead of much needed bike maintenance and hopefully getting some gardening done. Hopefully.

Tibet

TIBETAN DEATHS UNDER CHINESE OCCUPATION
Tortured in prison: 173,221
Executed: 156,758
Killed in fighting: 432,705
Starved to death: 342,970
Suicide: 9,002
"Struggled" to death: 97,731
TOTAL: 1,207,387

Yesterday was also another great anniversary: The 50th anniversary of the Chinese occupation of Tibet. This data is as of 1988, so I wonder how many more thousands and thousands were killed or otherwise eradicated by the Chinese military and government.

Saddam murdered around 300,000 from 1979-2003. In twice the amount of the time of Saddam's regime, the Chinese killed five times as many people. We attack and occupy Iraq to depose of this evil dictator, while we give China 'most favoured nation' status under Clinton. I wonder if there are any corporate interests at play here in these scenarios? So sad that this is what the United States represents.

Time to close shop and get ready to ride home. Another chilly day, but the cold is lifting.

Car

Another day, another Dow 30 swing in the hundreds. I heard on the radio that credit card late payments have dramatically and surprisingly declined since the recession has hit. I, wonder if we will enter into an era of frugality, if not by fad, then by need. Please excuse my business meanderings - just mere musings.

But if today is March tenth, which I believe it is, then I read it is Car Freedom Day. Basically, every dollar that Americans earn up until this point in the year goes toward car ownership and upkeep. I'd rather put my car payment towards the mortgage: Every $250 I put towards principal now shaves a month off the mortgage on the back end. And I know that most people suggest putting it into some asset class like stocks or metals, but I'd rather just pay down all debt from a defensive standpoint. And yes, hyperinflation may be very real in the immediate future, and holding debt instruments is a better maneuver in such a situation. But again, I'd rather reduce my debt exposure.

And oops. I looked at a '72 VW Camper yesterday that I might be able to get for a song and run on home made ethanol to take to the mountains on occasion. But that's another story for another time.

And even though it is bitter cold, it's still not bad biking around town. I look forward to the ride home in a few minutes from my moonlighting gig on my (still sort of) new (and paid for) Felt Curbside.

Forest Gardens

This picture to the right is my daily driver.

I was told tonight of an interesting fact tonight that there are 7,000 edible plants in Cascadia. (I think I got the decimal place right.) I went to see a friend speak that is very active in native gardening in a tiered poly-cultural setting.

You see, when the Europeans came to the Americas - and especially South America - there was abundant vegetation growing seemingly wild around the camps. The Europeans were used to large swaths of one crop, so this seemed uncivilised. Lttle did they realize that all sort of edible plants and herbs were growing merely within arms reach of their dwellings or circle.

So in a defensive measure (by growing one's food), or out of the beauty of nurturing local plant varieties, the concept of 'forest gardening' sounds enticing. Especially in a city settting. I like the term Urban Gardening, and I've been getting involved in it sort of as a hobby. And I've been told that you can produce enough food for two people on a 4,000sqft lot (yes, less than a tenth of an acre). Things that are coming back include the garlic, kale, herbs, one of the raspberries. The chicken coop is pretty much done, I just need to get some inhabitants. And in two weekends - weather permitting - the front yard comes out. Most of it, at least.

And after discussing all this wonderful food grown around here, I sit here eathing a third of a pound of pasta. At least it was organic. I wonder if I will like eating fresh fruits and veggies grown in my yard as much as I like the thought of it? I hope so.

Sequoia

The tree on the right I've been told is a sequoia. Pretty nifty. I took this picture Saturday coming back from the market. A fun day today. Not much more to say tonight. This picture is taken in the Lettered Streets towards the Assumption Church. I live a few blocks on the other side of this church. I thi knthis is around Jenkins and E Streets.

Time to be tired for a few days while my body adjusts to the new hours.