Time of the Year ... again

The exams are just around the corner. Spring is also here which means that it will be golfing season very soon. I am looking forward to hit balls, ride my bike and start my coop position.

I have been late in updating this blog so I will summarize it very quickly for those who are interested in what I have been doing in the last 3 months. During reading week, I took the plane from Ottawa to London to visit Krystel. Once in London, I spent a wonderful week with Krystel and we visited a the wide tourist attractions that London had to offer.

Westminster.

Me and Krystel in the London Eye.

View of the London Eye from St. James Park.

Me in the tube station at Bond Street.

Me in front of the Tower Bridge.

After a few days, we took the plane from London to Prague. This is where we celebrated our 7th year anniversary. Prague is truly a romantic city with architecture, art and culture that is very different to Western Europe. We really enjoyed the two days that we spent in Prague. I could not describe our experience as well as Krystel did in her blog post.

Coming soon... Spain.

Holidays

The holidays when really fast. I remember the last day of my coop job like it was yesterday. During the holidays, we had a few parties including Christmas, New Years and Krystel's going -away parties. The common element in all those parties was the food and I'm not talking about regular food. We had raclette, turkey, and a 7-8 course meal that were all great.

For Christmas, I received a nice blue iPod from Krystel and ironically I also gave her an iPod. I really like to listen to music on the bus or just around the house.

Krystel with her nice red purse.

Winnie the Pooh reunion on Krystel's bed. Krystel and I both got a small Winnie for Christmas.

Me and Krystel during the holidays. Sharing a cuddling moment before she left.

Krystel and I during dinner.

Krystel has left for England on January 4th. Already more than 10 days and I miss her alot. As her going-away gift she has received a digital camera to capture memories of her time in London and in Europe. She has been posting regular posts on her blog that you can visit at http://krystelcarrier.blogspot.com/. She has been doing a great job to post her messages in French and English and they are well written (compared to me). I have to add that the pictures that she has posted on her blog capture alot of detail. Krystel is a natural photographer.

A sneek preview of the next post: Classes, Trip to London and more.

Halloween

Not alot has happened since the Bon Echo camping. I went golfing a few times and I am still working weekdays.

Krystel's friend invited us to a halloween party where everyone was costumed. I was a sorcerer... probably the worst costume there. I got some really great ideas that I will use next year.

Here are a few pictures.Krystel the winter fairy!
Krystel's Witch Pumpkin
My very, very scary pumpkin!

Bon Echo - Fall Camping

Last weekend (Sept. 30- Oct. 1), Krystel, me, Pam and Alex went camping in Bon Echo Provincial Park a little more than 2 hours from Ottawa. The fall colors were amazing. Beside the cold temperature and the bit of rain we still had alot of fun.

A group picture before the big hike.

Krystel's idea to take the underneath of the mushroom.

A very colorful fall picture along the hiking trail.

A very red tree.Bon Echo's famous cliff.

Krystel and I enjoying the warmth of the fire.

A very nice picture that Krystel took with all the colours. We both agreed that this was the best picture of the weekend.

Canadian Rockies

Here are some pictures of my trip in the Canadian Rockies. Although the trip was short and we did alot of things, it was a real blast. Pour l'histoire complète du voyage de moi et Julien, visiter http://jcortex.blogspot.com/ Julien a raconté notre aventure dans les rocheuses avec une exactitude impécable.

DAY 1 - Banff & Lake Louise

DAY 2 - Icefield Parkway & Athabasca Glacier


DAY 3 - Mount Athabasca & Yoho Lake


DAY 4 - Emerald Lake & Laughing Falls

DAY 5 - Iceline Trail & Lake O'Hara


DAY 6 - Alpine Route & Lake O'Hara

Yet again...

Yes, school has begun. It really feels weird studying during the summertime. So far, the workload has been very acceptable and with only 4 courses at a time, I feel like I will actually have time to understand some material.

I am really looking forward for the summer vacation in early August. How about you?

" Le Paradis " - Ptarmigan Lake, close to Lake Louise.

Murder Mystery

Last Saturday, we organized a murder mystery. It was my second time and I would have to say that I performed alot better this time around. Krystel and Pam decided that the theme for the supper would be Hawaiian. So everyone dressed up with hawaiian clothes and we had a few decorations. Only Krystel had suspected Pam of being the murderer.


As for food, Alex and Caley made their first lasagna.Marc and Lindsey also prepared astir-fry.

Amanda made a cheesecake from scratch with was the best that I've ever tasted. (sorry I don't have a picture)

In between the scenes of the game we enjoyed watching the Senators dominate the Lightnings. GO Sens GO!

Almost May ...

Yesterday and today, coming out of work (RMC) there were millions, probably billions of these flying insects. After much effort I found it; Mayflies. Reading up on Wikipedia "they are an aquatic insects where the larval stage occurs in fresh water." It also says that these flies only live for a day or two. It all make sense now, these flies are "May"flies.


They were everywhere... 3 of them made their way in my shirt. As I made my way across the bridge, there was a light breeze which prevented them from swarming.

Beside that, Steve came to Kingston to checkout the summer position. We then watched the Mtl-Car game on TV and we were cheering for the Habs (for that reason they won). Afterwards, we went to Grizzly's where we played a few pool games with Julien and Jeff.

Pool and Billiards

After Tuesday's pool competition with some international students, and some of their friends, I've come to realized that every country has their own rules for pool(or billiards). I've got some rules from 4 different countries(including Canada). I've also research the international rules which resembles canadian rules. For one point of comparasion lets compare how the 8th ball needs to be pocketed.1-French Rule

Before touching the 8th ball, the cue ball must touch a cushion.

2- German Rule

The 8th ball has to be pocketed in the opposite pocket then the last full or stripe ball.

3- English Rule and Canadian Rule

The shooter must call the pocket which the 8th ball will be pocketed.

Buzzed at work?

Getting buzzed at work.. well almost. Today I had to perform the ceremony. Yes, the cleaning ceremony of the samples and get them ready for testing. It involves cleaning them with iso-octane, iso-propanol and acetone and inserting the beakers in an utrasonic cleaner. The entire procedure can take about 1.5 hours.

The fumes from the three chemicals are enough to make you pass out if you take a huge sniff of them. Well maybe not pass out - but surely give you a buzz. But of course I would never be so stupid to buzz myself at work (or any other time).

Here are two more picture of Yoho NP.

A picture taken after the sunset. Emerald Lake in Yoho NP.

HOODOOS! Very cool natural sand/rock formation that is caused by erosion. These peaks are about 15-20 ft high.

I just had to post this picture from National Geographic. The Cameleon is great against the blue/green background.

Spring Forward

To be honest, I can't wait till this time of year, when its light outside for a longer time. Waiting for this weekend to arrive is like waiting for the longest day of the summer to come.

It also means that summer is right around the corner. Only 19 more days for my coop job - I've been in kingston for 3 months.

Talking about summer, here are more pictures that I took in Banff, Yoho and Jasper National Parks. Can't wait to get back there this summer.I beleive you can see Mt McArthur in Yoho NP where the sun is setting. Nice sunset.

Spirit Island lost in the fog. Jasper National Park.

Mt Stephen's overshadowing the little town of Field BC in Yoho NP.

Lake Oeasa - up from Lake O'Hara.Forest fire devastation in Kootenay NP.

Boiler Room

I've been rock climbing at the Boiler Room in Kingston twice. Julien, one of my housemate and a good climber himself, is teaching me the basics of climbing. The rating of the walls inside the facility start at 5.2 and go up to 5.12. I've started on walls of difficulty 5.5 and now I am climbing up some 5.7.

Thinking about summer holidays just makes you really lazy. Thinking about summer vacation makes me daydream. I though I might post some of my favorite places since summer is almost here.
Looking at precipitations from Whistler Mountain in Jasper National Park.
Looking at Mt. Wapta going up Mt. Field. Takkakah Falls can be seen in the background.


A lake in Jasper right after sunset.

Lost lake in Northern Ontario. The island in the middle of the lake is where the cottage is.