The Great Purge '07

One of the things that has been on my TODO list for a long time (3 years?) is to get rid of all the old clothes that I don't wear anymore. Get rid of all of the things that I have been keeping as "I'll use this some day..." things.

Now, for most people I think that this is a lot easier than for me. It just feels wrong to throw things out if they can be used some time later. Wrong if someone else could use them soon. However, I think that I have stepped over the line of ridiculous for the size of our small apartment. :-/

So, today I'll be working on making a bag for good-will and a rag bag. I'm not allowed to ask anyone if they need a bag (or 2) or rags and it's killing me. So I'm not asking. I'm just blogging about it. *cough*

I'm also extending this purge to my computer. While I bide my time until I get a new one, and before I wipe the whole computer, I'm trying it out with uninstalling everything that I can. No development tools, no databases, no Norton (the worse offender for memory!)...

Let it begin.

Shopping for a new phone / provider

Our cell phone is getting old (for a cell phone) and it's getting difficult to charge it. I'm starting to look around for a new provider / phones for both of us. I know that this isn't the best time of year to shop for a phone, so that part sucks.

Currently we're doing pre-paid with Bell, but I am open to any suggestions.

Anyone have any phone / plan / prepaid option that they like to use?

I went so far east in Canada people were speaking with Irish accents

There are quiet a few things that I learned traveling this summer that would be useful to know.

1) Newfoundland (NL) is not included in the "maritime provinces". I guess that it joined Canada too late to get in on that

2) In NL they don't have "lakes". Everything is a "pond" even if it is huge.

3) Eastern Canada is really, really pretty. I had no idea. I didn't know that NL had fjords... It's like BC but with a LOT less people.

4) Moose are pretty laid back. They won't run off like deer will, they're chill while they eat and walk past you.

5) The song I's the b'y that builds the boat... is about NL, with mentions of towns like Fogo (Island) where they speak with Irish accents. Really.

6) In Nova Scotia they call scenic views "lookoffs" where in Ontario I'm used to calling them "lookouts"

7) In NL: the roads are as bad as they say (or worse) and the people are as friendly as they say (or better).

8) In every prov east of Ontario, provincial pride seems huge. People fly their prov flag and identify with being from "Nova Scotia" or "Newfoundland" or "Quebec". In Ontario, I only see the Canadian flag, never the prov.

9) I never want to travel again without a Lonely Planet travel book. We ended up buying one from a used book store about 3/4 through our trip.

10) Icebergs are full of bubbles. They make a fizzing sound as they melt if you get close enough to the small ones. The big ones are dangerous since a large piece and break off and swamp your boat. It's also really hard (compressed) ice. Great for keeping your drink cold. ;-)