Fuel Prices

I suppose it is one of those little quirks of mine, but before I go on most road trips I typically check out the fuel prices online to find the cheapest spot to fill up my car. I do realize it's not a lot of money in most cases (a few cents per litre), but for some reason it's almost a game for me to find the cheapest spot to refuel. I can't explain exactly why that is, but I do know I will be as happy as a button when I have a full tank of fuel heading into NS tomorrow since gasoline is over 10 cents more per litre there than here in Fredericton.

Treeplanting

As the buzz of a new planting season begins yet again it is always easy to imagine, but hard to know what the season will amount to. Especially this year as Ryan McLeod (my crewboss and planter extraordinaire) the man who taught me everything I know about the business and made me the planter that I am has finally thrown in the towel. This season to date sounds like it will be a bit shorter than the past couple years at Little Smokey Forestry Services, however if wanted there are always a few other good companies looking for experienced workers to fill in a few extra weeks of work. It's still the offseason so enough work talk for now.

Your Local Library

Throughout my life I have always enjoyed spending time at libraries and just wandering about the vast wealth of knowledge that is stored row by row, shelf by shelf. Often I just randomly start by picking up a classic book of literature and flip through the pages then browse through some non-fiction to discover how certain processes in nature or engineering work. This has always been something of enjoyment to me. Over the past number of years I have been to a healthy array of libraries especially while treeplanting or traveling North America (for Internet). In evaluation of which library I have enjoyed the most I would have to say it would be the one I visited in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was a beautifully architectured building, it possessed a great variety of books and had high speed internet along with being clean, organized and efficient. Somewhat one the side but also tied into the whole library/reading/Salt Lake City topic (or possibly not) I have been reading a book about the fundamentalist Mormon movement "Under the Banner of Heaven" that I have recently borrowed from the local New Brunswick library. I do quickly have to say that after reading this book I am ever more thankful for the Christian beliefs I have been brought up with and have grown into. When I finish this book in the next couple days I plan on putting up a quick summary. Which I may try to do more often when I finish reading an interesting book.
All in all get out to your local public library, pick up a good book then extend your knowledge by reading it. And if you happen upon a good read that you think I may enjoy, email me and let me know.

104th

Did you know PEI was the 104th largest Island in the world? 

Google Search

Have you ever tried to Google your name? I know for most people, such as myself, our names are so common there pops up millions of possible pages and we have to add extra search terms to be able to find pages related to ourselves. However, I did a search the other day for my name Jonathan Barrett and surprisingly enough this blog came up on the top of the list. I have since done it again a couple times out of interest's sake and found out that it is typically in the top couple spots of search for Jonathan Barrett (or "Jonathan Barrett") and top of the second page results for Jon Barrett (or "Jon Barrett"). I have to say I liked it better in the past when I had to modify my search with "Jonathan Barrett" PEI (or various other related terms) to get found on google. It limited some of the extremely random page clicks.

One year ago today

I find it interesting looking back at what I was up to a year ago as I was traveling. About this time I was exploring one of my favorite areas of Mexico (the Yucatan, especially around Tulum and Isle de Mujeres). More precisely to the day I had rented a scooter and was motoring around Cozumel. I found out that the place I wanted to stay at (along with everything else up and down the Caribbean coast of Cozumel) was destroyed by the hurricanes so I decided to just sleep on the beach. Needless to say I was glad I had a few things in my pack to make a couple burritos (tortias, re-fried beans, rice and hot sauce - since my lack of supplies on the beaches of the Baja I tried to keep a few staple foods with me). The photo shown is the Caribbean sunrise I woke up to which was incredible.

Crabbe Mtn

I have heard that the conditions at Crabbe have been good of late. Generally bitterly cold, but still good. I will have to try to make it out over the next month or two a couple times.

Toastmasters

Last night I went to a Toastmasters meeting to see if it is something that I would like to become a part of.  I have to say for a first time guest it was somewhat strange to see how regimented the meeting was carried out (with all the roles and protocols followed - even the use of a mallet).  Getting past that however it was an enjoyable time.  I can't say I learnt too much unfortunately, but I did get voted as the best table talk speaker (don't I feel special- I even got a certificate) for doing a couple short impromptu speeches.  I still have not decided if I will go back again despite having a desire to work on my public speaking abilities.

David Suzuki

I was able to attend a David Suzuki lecture yesterday as he is traveling across Canada on his "If you were prime minister" tour (he is trying to educate Canadians to support a government that is greener).  It was an interesting speech, some of which I obviously may not agree with, but overall very informative.  I do like the Nature Challenge that he puts out (it is similar to the one ton challenge the Canadian government produced).  The Nature Challenge gives 10 simple ways to reduce our footprint.  As Believers I feel it is our privilege to responsibly care for that which God has given us dominion over.

Warmer Days

Wisdom Teeth

  I'm definitely no dentist, but I think I may need my wisdom teeth pulled (at least the top ones).  They have been giving me this dull pain in that general back molar area of my mouth on occasion (and unfortunately for me the occasions seem to be growing more frequent).  I really don't know maybe that dull sensation is normal when they are coming in and I don't need them removed.  I have been reading up on it and there has been a study produced saying 60% of removals are unnecessary.   Also I found out they are called wisdom teeth because they normally come in later in life when we are supposedly wiser.