Recipes Blog (or Website)

Okay, so some of you may already know what I am talking about, but for those of you who don't, what I've been planning on doing for sometime now is making a separate blog (or website) for recipes that will be linked to this one. The idea behind this is that during the Katimavik program we used a lot of different recipes from a lot of different sources, and with the end of the program all those recipes went in different directions across the country. I won't limit the number of submissions from anyone so you can feel free to submit as many as possible. If I get enough in French to warrant a second section I will separate the recipes to make it easier for everyone (I won't translate though). I will also mention that this is not limited to Katimavik participants, billet families, etc., but that anyone I know is welcome to make a submission as the more recipes the better!

I have studying to do so this is just a preview of my plans rather than a release, but feel free to begin typing up your favourite recipes and send them to Ed's Gmail account.

Micro$oft Sucks!!! ----> Try OpenOffice.org

Well, I've decided that today is officially Micro$oft Sucks day! I went to reinstall the copy of MS Office XP for Students and Teachers that work and registered fine two days ago. After reinstalling Windows XP due to registry issues, Office no longer would activate via the Internet and when I called MS to activate over the phone they wouldn't let me as it was activated on another computer! Yeah, mine! So when my friend had problems with her computer and needed to open Word files before she could get MS Office, I suggested OpenOffice.org. Seeing as I was having the same issue a couple weeks later I took my own advice. It is very similar to MS Office so it doesn't take a lot of getting used to. Also you can open a ton of different formats as well as being able to save to those formats, such as MS Word. The best part about Open Office is because it is open source and community developed.... It's FREE! That's right....FREE! Can anyone remember the last time Microsoft gave out MS Office for free? Oh, and Open Office works on Macs, PCs and Linux based machines. I came very close to telling the Microsoft representative on the phone that I was going to install Open Office instead but I don't feel it necessary to do them the favour of telling them anymore about where the eventual downfall of Micro$oft is coming from. While Open Office is open source, meaning anyone can edit the code for the program, it is NOT some program by a Joe Nobody. Google and Sun Microsystems (makers of Java) are the main backers in this initiative allowing it to be easily accessed and have quality that surpasses MS Office. I am a big supporter of Google, if for no other reason than they are one of the only companies with enough influence to take down Microsoft. The next time you get a second on your way to doing a Google search add in the word options after the slash and check out the small list. To really find out what Google is up to takes more work, but I suggest checking out this if you doubt me. Google is definitely here to stay.

I've added more pictures to the Katimavik album, and I'm still trying to figure out where post-Katimavik pictures are going since Facebook requires an account.

Main Man, Out.

Pictures 42 - 44 Up

So I got around to posting more pictures on the site. I have 3 more albums to go up on the Katimavik pictures page, then I'll see about posting pictures taken by other people in the group as a special treat.

Main Man, Out.

Quick Post

I am still alive and did not eat myself into oblivion over Thanksgiving, though I tried. Just a quick post as I have some changes to explain. First, the rest of the Katimavik pictures will be posted (sometime) in the normal fashion. Second, new pictures, seeing as I have a lot less of those will be posted in a new location, leaving the other to be strictly Katimavik pictures. This new location should be accessible by clicking on the Facebook tag with my picture in it on the right side menu bar. If it won't let you in without an account let me know and I will post new pictures in another location. As always to do so you can either leave a comment here or email me at Eddie Main.

I'm off as I have a mid-term tomorrow and another on Friday.

Main Man, Out.

Dude, Where's the Party?

So tonight's agenda had included a party at our place (always a good time), followed by a hazy morning. No one could make it and we couldn't find anything close enough to crash, so we went next door and hung out with the girls because they have a working TV. I figured that since I'm trying to get this back up to standard I might as well try to post some pictures before bed.

Also for those of you with Facebook, check mine out at Ed's Facebook.

Main Man, Out.

Still in Operation

Wow! I apologize to the people who I know that check this regularly. The end of Katimavik saw a great decline in both computers and spare time, which resulted in the catastrophic lack of posts and news. I intend to keep this blog running as a way of chronicalling my adventures in the world of higher education.

I will be posting pictures again as I have reliable access to the technology needed to do so. I also have some cool features that I will try to integrate into this blog, though I make no guarantees.

For now I will say that I enjoyed Frosh Week '06, though I found cross-campus activities to be sub-par to my expectations, my faculty events more than made up for the lack. A big shout out to all the wonderful AHS Frosh leaders and all the amazing AHSSIES who made it such a great week!

Class starts at 8:30 am tomorrow morning, thus ending this update.

Main Man, Out.

72 Hours Off This Weekend

Well, I know that I have been promising that I will put up pictures and I know that I haven't. I do apologize and have been trying to get the computer working again. I will be spending most of the weekend working on a computer and will be bringing my pictures home and posting them. 100% Guaranteed!!

I have lots of news but I am on a bad laptop connection and will save it for the weekend.

Main Man, Out.

5 Days and Counting!!!

Well, my birthday is right around the corner so I thought I would make a post, seeing as I have something to talk about. So, for those of you who may not know what is appropriate to get me, I have a few guidelines that may make things easier.

I have plenty of McDonald's and Tim Horton's gift certificates.
I have few Home Depot gift certificates.
I have been customizing cars, computers, and anything else lately.
I STILL collect Star Wars Lego.
I'm not kidding about the last one.
I currently really enjoy Celtic punk rock.
Star Wars.

Well, that's a start. I've finally got the airbrush to work, thought you would like to know Mom. I haven't painted anything yet, seeing as I lack prep equipment, but will begin as soon as I get some.

Billeting was amazing, and I took a ton of pictures of "Chateau Dunromin", which will probably hit the web in three phases, not to mention others that aren't up yet.

I'm starting to get nervous/excited about university seeing as I have to pick my courses beginning on my birthday. I trying my darndest to stay ahead of everything so that things will be easier. I missed the residence preference form date so I'll get placed randomly in the next little while.

I have an email to write for my computer and it's getting late, so I'll stop for now.
Take care everybody.

Main Man, Out.

Billeting Starts Tomorrow

So I don't know whether or not I will have internet access during billeting, so there may not be a post of contact info for while I'm billeting. Hopefully I will and I will be able to get some time to do some much needed maintance and updates to the site.

On another note, my birthday is fast approaching (26 days) so I'll soon be posting a wish list of small items, most of them useful for university next year.

That's all for now.

Main Man, Out.

I'm getting behind....

So, not having access to a computer at my job has really affected my blog quality. Therefore I will be endeavouring to remedy this problem, to the best of my ability.

The photo that I have added to this post (a rare occurrence indeed!) was taken at the Belleville Public Library after a talk given by David Suzuki. Since then I have started work at Sandbanks Provincial Park, been house manager for a week, done a Ju-Jitsu class, gone into Belleville again, and have been in the local paper.

The last 3 days have been long days, as I have been weed-whacking at the park. I've also discovered that I am immune to the effects of poison ivy.

Picture descriptions may have to wait until billeting, which begins next Friday, as may videos. (Though I will do my best to get something up sooner)

Main Man, Out.

More Pictures Are Up!

Well, I've posted picture albums 39 and 40 now. I should have descriptions up soon, and with any luck start catching back up on movies. For now though, I'm going to bed.

Main Man, Out.

Ed's Contact Info

The new address where I can be reached is:

Eddie Main
59 Inkerman Ave
SS 12
Picton, Ontario,
K0K 2T0

I don't have the phone number handy now but I will add it to this when I do.

Main Man, Out.

Pictures

I've uploaded a number of pictures to the site. I have two more albums, but I have hit my monthly upload limit so I'll try again in a few days. I will hopefully be able to get more videos up soon, as well.

Main Man, Out.

Technical Difficulties

Just wanted to post and let people know what is going on with the site right now. There have been some issues with the computer and our login not allowing us to install new devices (i.e. my camera, and hard drive). These have been resolved and I will try to bring the site up to speed as soon as possible.

I am working at Sandbanks Provincial Park this rotation, our house is bigger than either of the other two, the town is super friendly and the Oilers are going to the Cup finals. Therefore, life with me is good.

Main Man, Out.

Picture Descriptions for 36

Katimavik - Part 36 begin with our costumes that we bought at the Salvation Army Thrift Store for our final presentation. They were chosen on the basis of wacky and cheap (Wednesday Happy Hour is half off), and a budget of about $7 per costume. Some people bought shoes themselves, but everything else is in the budget. I must say that a beige cord suit is not to bad on me. The suit became my playoff suit, which I wore for every game of the Oilers vs. Sharks series that the Oilers won. We spent a lot of time hanging out at Niakwa Pizza and watching the games. Then we had an excursion to Gimli and Lake Winnipeg, where I got a stunning shot of two cool dudes and an awesome lake. There was this cool spitting frog fountain and of course, we had to do the fake peeing shot. Followed shortly thereafter with the real deal. I loved the blue in one of the paintings we saw hence the photo. We then went and checked out a Viking Statue to commemorate the founding of the town, and yes, because it was big I tried to climb it. We then toured a museum of the Icelandic history and took lots of crazy pictures of each other while waiting for our Project Leader to finish. We ended in Gimli by going to the beach and our PL gave us all finger puppets indicative of the animal we most resembled. I got a lion for my crazy mane. Then we did a group shot before we headed off to Narcisse to see the snake dens. Once we had toured the snake dens, which were near the end of their season, we had dinner and played a French version of twenty questions. When we got home, some of us went out to SNAC for a fire. The pictures with the big flames are the combustion of a Christmas Tree and three waxed cardboard boxes. And yes, some of those flames reached 12-14 feet high. I learned why a Christmas tree is such a fire hazard after watching that one burn.

The next picture post will probably be in Picton, after next Wednesday.

Main Man, Out.

Picture Descriptions for 34 and 35

Katimavik - Part 34 is actually not taken in a Katimavik activity, but is rather my time back in Ontario during my 48 hours off at the end of April. There's a couple of shots of the view from my window seat (thanks Mom), both on takeoff and on a clear, night landing in Toronto. I spent most of the weekend hanging out with people, and the rest of the pictures were from Danielle's house on Saturday night. There might have been some on Sunday, except for the fact that I partially dropped my camera into the hot tub. The gang present includes Bryan, Megs, Danielle, Steve and me.

Katimavik - Part 35 begins with why you should sleep in your bed, because if you don't you get pictures taken of you. Then we had two friends of a group member stay a couple of nights with us, as they traveled across Canada on tour. We did some community volunteering on the Trans-Canada Trail, raking bark chips flat for paths. It not only poured rain in the late afternoon, but sleet and hail as a bonus. We stopped working at that point. This is followed by some pictures of our quaint, little St. Norbert Katimahouse, and a peaceful participant in the doorway.

There is a chance that I may get album 36 up this week, but for those who don't remember how busy last rotation time was, this is slim chance.

Remember to check out the videos.

Main Man, Out.

Videos

Videos are now available at Ed's Tech Blog. I've posted a number so far, with the near future including Magnetic Hill and other amazing Katimavik moments.

Main Man, Out.

Main Man Unveils Two New Blogs!

The first new blog to be unveiled is one that has been a while in the making. It will be pre-approved access, via e-mail subscription, as it contains non-pg 13 content. The address will be give upon successful subscription. As always, Ed's E-mail

The second blog has had no preceding fanfare whatsoever as it was entirely a spur of the moment decision to create. This one is available at Ed Main Tech. I figure that this is a place for me to write out my thoughts on technology, and that it may or may not see any readership. Feel free if you disagree to post a comment, if you wish to make posts for me to look at send me an email or comment and I will subscribe you. Also, once I get my act together I will be posting the movies shot with my camera via YouTube on this blog.

Hope you enjoy.

Main Man, Out.

I Don't Know!

Well, I figured that I should post something re: my 48 hours off and going home. It was a blast though I would have enjoyed a few more days. I got about 6 hours of sleep, and another 2 hours on the plane home. Highlights include, hanging with friends, seeing everybody at church, befuddling people with the beard, and spending an hour and a half sitting in the front seat of a Land Rover Range Rover Sport Supercharged. Wow.

Low points include it only being 48 hours long, my dropping of the camera into the hot tub, and the weather in Winnipeg upon my return.

All in all, a very enjoyable weekend!

Main Man, Out.

Lost to a Crash!

Okay, I know that this might give some people heart failure, but a mere one day later I am posting picture descriptions.

Katimavik - Part 30 involves a bit of description. For my billeting stay this rotation I stayed with a family whose property backs onto the Red River. The Red River is the same one that flooded badly in 1997, making headlines across Canada. So, seeing as I was billeting during the first surge I decide to take some pictures. The edge of the property extends approximately another 10 feet past the furthest tree in the water. The entire bottom plateau disappeared one morning after the ice broke up. I went back a few days ago and the situation hasn't changed all that much save for the bank being reinforced with sandbags left over from impromptu dikes. Then we get into the fun stuff. My billet dad owned a 1979 Triumph Spitfire that he has been restoring. One Sunday he went to his friend's house where the car is stored to work on it and left me with the instructions to call for a ride when I woke up. Needless to say that that is me riding in the sidecar. The bike is a Harley Davidson Shriner Edition, and the sidecar is pretty awesome. The ride is very smooth, which is not what I was expecting. After a few routine maintenance items and a wash and wax, the car was ready. My billet dad took it home and I drove the truck home. We then went out driving, to enjoy the nice spring day. I was introduced to the neighbour down the street (as his garage door was open and he was working on the Lamborghini Jalpa), which is where the picture of the Lamborghini badge comes from, and the V-12 BMW. Then there are pictures from the St. Norbert bridges over the LaSalle River, taken at night.

Katimavik - Part 31 opens with a great shot of my billet family (with the neighbour's son), followed by my room in the basement where I stayed over billeting. After returning from billeting it was time to renew my subscription with the HAWK! This time we actually shaved the sides down with a razor and then dyed the hawk blue. I must say that I look very emo with it combed over one side. We visited the Manitoba Museum, which was really neat because they had a lot of life-sized displays which really made things easy to understand. My parents sent me a bunch of candy for Easter so this is how we discovered that a Lifesaver Mint fits well on the end of a tongue barbell. This is followed by the Whirl-o-Puke, a game played by walking around a person seated on a blanket and then pulling out, so as to spin the person around. (Nobody actually puked)

Katimavik - Part 32 starts with a motif that is found in the galleries, a random closeup of my tongue. Then there's a six picture mini-series on why people say the Prairies are flat... and it's because, well... they're really flat. I unfortunately missed the big sign saying Oakville, MB, but managed to get my camera out in time for the one after. We then spent lunch in Minnedosa, MB, where two of us got to see friends from home. After a prolonged trip into Riding Mountain National Park (we missed our turn), we returned to the Erickson house and spent the evening hanging out with the Erickson, Minnedosa, and Neepawa groups. The album finishes with a few shots of the LaSalle River in the daytime, so that you can actually see the water levels.

Katimavik - Part 33 contains more of Katimavik's official sport, including some lovely hand drawn stormtroopers by yours truly. A couple of pictures from hanging out in my room follow. Then there's a bunch of shots taken during the Earth Day Activities at SNAC, where we volunteered as part of Global Youth Service Day. The last picture is at the Retirement Apartments, where our PL's grandmother lives. We were there presenting a play that we wrote, and serving snacks as the second half of our Global Youth Service Day commitment.

The title to this post was due to the fact that these descriptions would have been the closest to the time of the picture posting, except Blogger goofed on me.

Also pictures for the next while might be in shorter supply as I partly dropped my camera in a hot tub on my time off, and killed the LCD screen. While it's in for repairs, I've borrowed my buddy's camera, which means that I will only take it places I know it won't get damaged.

Main Man, Out.