All posts by Paul Cipywnyk

Food, Japan, Photography, Society

Nikkei Matsuri 2017

Fun festival at the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre just up the hill from our place in south Burnaby, BC. The main draw for me? Japadog . . . : -)

Nikkei Matsuri 2017

It was also great to run into a gal pushing 100 years old that we met at a party about three years ago. She was out and about at the event with her walker, since she lives in the Japanese seniors’ residence there, and we had a good long chat in Japanese, mostly Yumi and Yuki, with me following along as best I could.

Here’s a post about that convivial, multilingual, multi-generational potluck.

Business, Society

You Don’t Have to Hit a Homer for a Sense of Accomplishment

Chipping away. . .

People often set big goals. While laudable, I’m not sure that’s always the best way to get things done, chalk up accomplishments, and just plain feel good about yourself, particularly when it comes to projects that take less than a month, a week, or even a day.

Recently I’ve been trying smaller steps, in greater frequency, and it feels good.

Today after work I:

  • cleaned and organized my desk in my home office and can now see 2/3 of the surface
  • cleaned and organized my side desk and can now see 2/3 of the surface
  • got rid of stuff that had sat untouched for years in several desk drawers
  • shredded about 1/3 of a legal-size filing-cabinet drawer of financial records that were well past the date of potential interest to the authorities
  • filled a banker’s box to overflowing with old magazines and put it in the garage to place in recycling
  • filled another banker’s box with books to donate
  • did a load of laundry
  • . . . and so forth.

None of these activities took more than 15-20 minutes each, but it all added up. I could have gone further into the filing cabinets, but why kill myself? Lots more shredding in there to feel good about over the next several days : -).

 

Business, Canoeing, Hiking, Society

Completed Standard First Aid for Industry

I completed a St. John Ambulance (Burnaby branch) Standard First Aid for Industry with CPR/AED course and certification over the weekend.

Thanks to Danni, a superb instructor, who was very knowledgeable, down to earth, and fun.

I’m zonked now — it was an intense two days, but also happy to have refreshed my first-aid knowledge. I hadn’t taken a formal first-aid course since my youth, in Red Cross swimming classes and Boy Scouts, several decades ago.

Nature, Pets

Medicating Pets

I’ve medicated dogs, I’ve medicated cats, and I’ve medicated turtles.

They are all aware and after the first dose immediately catch on to what’s coming.

And they all cotton to various ruses within a try or two. . .

Yes, even the turtle.

I would say that in terms of potential injury to the applier of medication, cats can be the worst. Sharp fangs, incredibly twisty and strong for body size, and those fangs carry potential infection. Dogs don’t like meds, but are less likely to retaliate on a loved and trusted one.

Turtles? After the first few oral doses, if they start clamming up, it is damn hard to get them to swallow anything. You have to irritate them to the point that they get angry and open up and hiss and snap, and try to get a syringe of fluid spritzed into the mouth. Sigh.

I hate it when a pet goes from “hey, Daddy’s here!” state, to, “Oh, No, Daddy, don’t do that again” state. But, that’s part of the responsibility, eh?

And I’ll be recognized as good Daddy again some day.