The fence is done! I have to say, I'm quite happy with how it turned out. I photographed it before the hinges were installed, hence the blocks under the gate and the clamp in the top corner.
Life of Dave
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Fence update
The fence is done! I have to say, I'm quite happy with how it turned out. I photographed it before the hinges were installed, hence the blocks under the gate and the clamp in the top corner.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The Art of Fence
Fencibility
Origin: 2009
Context: in the front, side and backyards of residential neighbourhoods of Vancouver and adjacent suburbs.
Related forms:
Fen-ci-ble, adjective
Fen-ced-ly, adverb
Fen-cing-ly, adverb
Fence-ment, noun
Use in a sentence: The goal is to seek a fencible, safe and off-leash solution to the containment of one’s beloved American Cocker Spaniel.
Forms of treatment: several bottles of chilled micro-brewed beer or ale.
At this point I think I could quite ably teach a course on fencibility. How many times can a simple 4 panel fence be built and re-built?
Or, more simply (but equally as exasperatingly) put…how long is a piece of string?
It’s a good thing I generally enjoy carpentry. Also, it never hurts to work under the guidance and supervision of a trusted carpentry Spaniel.
You know, the ones bred specifically for their finely tuned ability to identify cedar at 40 paces. Well OK, that’s an exaggeration; they actually MUCH prefer the scent (and taste!) of Milkbones. But none-the-less, I certainly enjoy Shelby’s company while I build stuff. She lowers my blood pressure when fence panels still don’t fit even after being measured twice or thrice.
Actually, I think there is a fair bit of sawdust (not necessarily Cedar) coursing through my veins. My Grandfather apprenticed as a shipwright in his youth and never tired of woodworking his whole life. I’ve inherited his tools and I try to give them a decent workout as often as I can. I’ve added some new technological wonders over the years like a compound mitre saw and a table saw, but there are a number of vintage tools in my wall-mounted tool chest (Grandpa-built) that I don’t even know what they are, much less what to do with them.
I was thinking…if Apple really wants to stomp Microsoft into the ground once and for all, they need to produce a software program called iFence. Simply download the program, select the fence style, and press ‘Enter’. Voila; instant fence.
But then I’d miss out on the smell of fresh-cut Cedar.
Origin: 2009
Context: in the front, side and backyards of residential neighbourhoods of Vancouver and adjacent suburbs.
Related forms:
Fen-ci-ble, adjective
Fen-ced-ly, adverb
Fen-cing-ly, adverb
Fence-ment, noun
Use in a sentence: The goal is to seek a fencible, safe and off-leash solution to the containment of one’s beloved American Cocker Spaniel.
Forms of treatment: several bottles of chilled micro-brewed beer or ale.
At this point I think I could quite ably teach a course on fencibility. How many times can a simple 4 panel fence be built and re-built?
Or, more simply (but equally as exasperatingly) put…how long is a piece of string?
It’s a good thing I generally enjoy carpentry. Also, it never hurts to work under the guidance and supervision of a trusted carpentry Spaniel.
You know, the ones bred specifically for their finely tuned ability to identify cedar at 40 paces. Well OK, that’s an exaggeration; they actually MUCH prefer the scent (and taste!) of Milkbones. But none-the-less, I certainly enjoy Shelby’s company while I build stuff. She lowers my blood pressure when fence panels still don’t fit even after being measured twice or thrice.
Actually, I think there is a fair bit of sawdust (not necessarily Cedar) coursing through my veins. My Grandfather apprenticed as a shipwright in his youth and never tired of woodworking his whole life. I’ve inherited his tools and I try to give them a decent workout as often as I can. I’ve added some new technological wonders over the years like a compound mitre saw and a table saw, but there are a number of vintage tools in my wall-mounted tool chest (Grandpa-built) that I don’t even know what they are, much less what to do with them.
I was thinking…if Apple really wants to stomp Microsoft into the ground once and for all, they need to produce a software program called iFence. Simply download the program, select the fence style, and press ‘Enter’. Voila; instant fence.
But then I’d miss out on the smell of fresh-cut Cedar.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
12th in a series originally posted on my Ride to Conquer Cancer personal page:
Cycle blog entry #12, June 4, 2009
It's hard to believe it was only last week I needed a wind breaker on my ride home from work. Today I need industrial strength sun screen. It's over 30 degrees this afternoon.
But as happens every year, three days into a run of undeniably hot weather people start asking, "Will this heat wave EVER end?"
Not me. I've always liked this kind of weather. My Dad was like that too. That got me to thinking about the coincidence that it'll be Father's Day during the weekend of The Ride.
If it's this hot on June 20 & 21 it'll be quite a confluence of memories and events for me. I'll explain what I mean. My Dad passed away from Cancer 18 years ago. He is one of the main motivations for me to sign up for this event; and he loved being out in the hot summer sun.
It'll be even more poignant for me to be riding in the heat because before he became a paraplegic my Dad rode a moped in Germany and had wanted to get a motorcycle when he came to Canada. We never really talked about bicycles, I guess since obviously he couldn't ride one with me as I was growing up. Although he kind of did. I remember fondly riding my first bike (with training wheels) with him rolling alongside in his wheelchair.
I guess with Father's Day approaching I have been sub-consciously thinking about my connection to my Father and all the things it would be nice to talk to him about these days.
Participating in a strenuous physical activity on a hot summer day seems to me to be a fitting tribute to my Dad.
Happy Father's Day, Dad.
Cycle blog entry #12, June 4, 2009
It's hard to believe it was only last week I needed a wind breaker on my ride home from work. Today I need industrial strength sun screen. It's over 30 degrees this afternoon.
But as happens every year, three days into a run of undeniably hot weather people start asking, "Will this heat wave EVER end?"
Not me. I've always liked this kind of weather. My Dad was like that too. That got me to thinking about the coincidence that it'll be Father's Day during the weekend of The Ride.
If it's this hot on June 20 & 21 it'll be quite a confluence of memories and events for me. I'll explain what I mean. My Dad passed away from Cancer 18 years ago. He is one of the main motivations for me to sign up for this event; and he loved being out in the hot summer sun.
It'll be even more poignant for me to be riding in the heat because before he became a paraplegic my Dad rode a moped in Germany and had wanted to get a motorcycle when he came to Canada. We never really talked about bicycles, I guess since obviously he couldn't ride one with me as I was growing up. Although he kind of did. I remember fondly riding my first bike (with training wheels) with him rolling alongside in his wheelchair.
I guess with Father's Day approaching I have been sub-consciously thinking about my connection to my Father and all the things it would be nice to talk to him about these days.
Participating in a strenuous physical activity on a hot summer day seems to me to be a fitting tribute to my Dad.
Happy Father's Day, Dad.
Cycle blog entry #11, May 22, 2009
I'm eagerly anticipating the completion this summer of the on-going upgrades to the Burnaby bike trail system. The "trail" is actually patterned after Vancouver's bike routes; a safer alternative for bicycles to travel on secondary roads parallel to major traffic thoroughfares.
The Central Valley Greenway is a bit patchy thus far. The railway overpass at Burnaby Lake (very close to my office) is scheduled to open in June. Recently I photographed the installation of the overpass sections as they were craned into place over several days. I like being able to look back and see the progress as each section was secured. The overpass seemed to inch its way across the road and railway tracks.
I've ridden the whole route between office and home a couple of times to see how it all fits together. After riding along the North trail of Burnaby Lake I followed Still Creek Avenue until it ends, then across a soil distribution yard which connects with the road where the new Costco is located. That road passes under Willingdon Avenue. Another gravel path breaks off from there and crosses a wooden foot bridge over Still Creek. From there I crossed Gilmore and traveled along a new asphalt trail under the Skytrain tracks that took me to Boundary Road, where Burnaby meets Vancouver.
It's a good jaunt, about 10 miles. Strangely enough, I seem to catch a head wind most times I ride home. It makes for a challenging workout since there's quite a hill at the end starting near Clark Drive along E. 10th. There's not much opportunity for coasting along the whole route. So despite not having done many long rides to train for this event, I think all the riding I've been doing lately on my daily commutes has certainly benefited me.
10th in a series originally posted on my Ride to Conquer Cancer personal page:
Cycle blog entry #10, May 13, 2009
I had a Eureka moment this afternoon as I rode home from the office in the rain.
I was riding along the new gravel path along the North side of Still Creek thinking about how I really have to get my act together soon concerning riding longer distances on weekends to build up my legs (and backside!) for the Ride. It's been 2 weeks since my trip to Iona Park and back.
I glanced down at my digital odometer/speedometer to see what speed I was maintaining on a flat surface with no head wind and noticed it was displaying miles per hour.
I've had this digital device almost as long as I've had the bike, about 3 years, and I guess I'd forgotten that I'd set it to display Imperial units. It took a couple of seconds to sink in, but I realized, of course, that if the speed was being recorded in MPH, then the distance was also most certainly in miles.
Since January I've been thinking I was traveling kilometers, but in reality I've been traveling MILES. From office to home isn't 10 km, it's 10 MILES (16.7 km). My ride to Iona park wasn't 32 km, it was 32 MILES (53 km).
No wonder I was tired when I got home! Doh!
Cycle blog entry #10, May 13, 2009
I had a Eureka moment this afternoon as I rode home from the office in the rain.
I was riding along the new gravel path along the North side of Still Creek thinking about how I really have to get my act together soon concerning riding longer distances on weekends to build up my legs (and backside!) for the Ride. It's been 2 weeks since my trip to Iona Park and back.
I glanced down at my digital odometer/speedometer to see what speed I was maintaining on a flat surface with no head wind and noticed it was displaying miles per hour.
I've had this digital device almost as long as I've had the bike, about 3 years, and I guess I'd forgotten that I'd set it to display Imperial units. It took a couple of seconds to sink in, but I realized, of course, that if the speed was being recorded in MPH, then the distance was also most certainly in miles.
Since January I've been thinking I was traveling kilometers, but in reality I've been traveling MILES. From office to home isn't 10 km, it's 10 MILES (16.7 km). My ride to Iona park wasn't 32 km, it was 32 MILES (53 km).
No wonder I was tired when I got home! Doh!
9th in a series originally posted on my Ride to Conquer Cancer personal page:
Cycle blog entry #9, May 4, 2009
A few days ago the ride organizers issued the Ride Guide. It's a booklet with more details about the upcoming event.
On June 20th we're going to begin our journey at 7:00 a.m. at Guildford Mall in Surrey. After the official opening ceremonies I'm guessing we'll travel along 152nd Avenue to South Surrey and then South along King George Highway to the border.
At this point only the start, middle and end destinations have been disclosed. All we really know about points in between is that we won't be riding on Route #1 or I-5. It'll all be secondary roads.
The end of Day 1 will find us relaxing/ recuperating at a campsite (or maybe a farmer's field?) in Mount Vernon. I scaled the distance in my handy-dandy atlas and calculated the distance to be about 110 km.
The finish line for this year's Ride to Conquer Cancer will be at the campus of the University of Washington. And as much as I'm sure participants will already be looking forward to next year's event, it would be nice to be able to say that it was the finish line for Cancer. The end of that race is coming, and all the support from your donations is speeding us along to that conclusion at an ever-increasing rate.
Thank you very much for supporting event participants and especially researchers, doctors and cancer patients.
Cycle blog entry #9, May 4, 2009
A few days ago the ride organizers issued the Ride Guide. It's a booklet with more details about the upcoming event.
On June 20th we're going to begin our journey at 7:00 a.m. at Guildford Mall in Surrey. After the official opening ceremonies I'm guessing we'll travel along 152nd Avenue to South Surrey and then South along King George Highway to the border.
At this point only the start, middle and end destinations have been disclosed. All we really know about points in between is that we won't be riding on Route #1 or I-5. It'll all be secondary roads.
The end of Day 1 will find us relaxing/ recuperating at a campsite (or maybe a farmer's field?) in Mount Vernon. I scaled the distance in my handy-dandy atlas and calculated the distance to be about 110 km.
The finish line for this year's Ride to Conquer Cancer will be at the campus of the University of Washington. And as much as I'm sure participants will already be looking forward to next year's event, it would be nice to be able to say that it was the finish line for Cancer. The end of that race is coming, and all the support from your donations is speeding us along to that conclusion at an ever-increasing rate.
Thank you very much for supporting event participants and especially researchers, doctors and cancer patients.
8th in a series originally posted on my Ride to Conquer Cancer personal page:
Cycle blog entry #8, May 1, 2009
We have a Social Committee where I work and they were kind enough to plan a fundraising event to benefit my Ride to Conquer Cancer. Yesterday was the Trow Chili Cook-off. Four managers agreed to participate and they prepared their secret chili concoctions, recipes no doubt passed down from generation to generation.
Ironically enough I almost missed the event myself. Posters were put up advertising the event starting at 1:30 pm. I thought I had plenty of time to go to a job site in the morning to perform a review of the construction. I got back at noon and the event was already underway.
A couple of the participating managers/chefs had had an important meeting re-scheduled so the cook-off got moved up. I had checked my email that morning before the re-scheduling occurred. All ended well however, although I almost missed tasting one of the chili recipes. There was barely a spoonful left in the bottom of the pot, but I did get to sample all four.
The fundraising consisted of donating $5 in order to taste and vote for your favourite. Weather was perfect as well. We ate chili on the West patio in the sunshine and raised $170 for the BC Cancer Foundation.
Many thanks to everyone that participated.
Cycle blog entry #8, May 1, 2009
We have a Social Committee where I work and they were kind enough to plan a fundraising event to benefit my Ride to Conquer Cancer. Yesterday was the Trow Chili Cook-off. Four managers agreed to participate and they prepared their secret chili concoctions, recipes no doubt passed down from generation to generation.
Ironically enough I almost missed the event myself. Posters were put up advertising the event starting at 1:30 pm. I thought I had plenty of time to go to a job site in the morning to perform a review of the construction. I got back at noon and the event was already underway.
A couple of the participating managers/chefs had had an important meeting re-scheduled so the cook-off got moved up. I had checked my email that morning before the re-scheduling occurred. All ended well however, although I almost missed tasting one of the chili recipes. There was barely a spoonful left in the bottom of the pot, but I did get to sample all four.
The fundraising consisted of donating $5 in order to taste and vote for your favourite. Weather was perfect as well. We ate chili on the West patio in the sunshine and raised $170 for the BC Cancer Foundation.
Many thanks to everyone that participated.
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