Sunday Sweetness: Running

     Today, I thought I would talk about something that I've been doing for the past few years, running.  I know this'll turn a lot of you away but I thought I would just like to mention about how I've found running helpful outside of a healthy routine.  I find when I go out I'm able to put all my stress and frustration into each step.  The idea is it's better to put all that pent up energy into something productive, whether it is running, cleaning, or even some hobby of sorts.  Does it always work?  Not really.  But it beats losing it on folk all the time.

     So, happy Sunday everybody!  I hope it's relaxing, what ever it is you do to spend it.

Bibliography

 "Cross Country Logo Clip Art." Cross Country Logo Clip Art. Accessed June 14, 2015.

 "Is Candy Really a Food?" Saloncom RSS. Accessed June 14, 2015.  

Labor omnia vincit

     Hey.  Sorry for the gap, work has been keeping me busy.  While on the topic I think I'll make this post about that very topic.  Without going into detail, I work in the retail industry.  You meet all kinds of folk in that world.  I've seen people in their sixties throw temper-tantrums and people just ask for help but ignore everything you have to say.  I've even had one customer lose it on me for telling him that he can't climb the shelves in the store.  Despite all these little things, there are those little things that pop up that make showing up to work just a little bit tolerable.  Example, I was walking down the aisles when an old woman came up to me beaming.  There had been a part to an old lamp that she was looking for everywhere and it wasn't until she came to the shop that she found it.  She was so happy, she was looking for an employee to tell about it.  It's those little things that help keep me going and I hope they do the same for you.  So to end this post, here's a memorable quote from my favourite sci-fi series, Doctor Who.

  

Bibliography
"Doctor Who." Pinterest. Accessed June 14, 2015.
 
"Industry Clip Art Free Vector." Industry Clip Art Free Vector / 4Vector. Accessed June 14, 2015.

I've got some locomotions

Comemortive Stamp of George Stephenson
(1781-1848)

     I have a great passion for railway history and today marks the 234th birthday of George Stephenson, the renowned innovator of the steam locomotive.  When I found out about this my mind was quickly thrown back to grade 12 in high school, when I took a general Western Civilization course.  Upon arriving at the Industrial Revolution, we were told that George Stephenson build the Rocket, the grandfather of modern steam engines.  In actual fact, George Stephenson's son, Robert, was the one behind the Rocket, though his father did build another engine known as Locomotion.  So determined was I to prove that this was wrong that I brought one of my train encyclopaedias to class to make my point!  This was rekindled when the text book for one of my classes said the same thing, so I wrote an entire essay for my final assignment outlining the history of the steam locomotive from Watt's steam engine to the Rainhill Trials.

An artist's rendering of Trevithick's famous wager along the Pen-y-Darren Tramway in 1804.

     Though Stephenson and his son are often remembered for bringing the steam locomotive to the forefront of public transport, few seem to remember Richard Trevithick the Cornish inventor and mining engineer.  Trevithick's Puffing Devil set the stage for people like Stephenson to get in on the railway game by proving that the steam engine had the power to pull goods and passengers.  This was cemented February 1804 when Trevithick was challenged to use his innovation to haul 11 tons across the 10 mile Pen-y-Darren Tramway to Glamorganshire Canal in Abercynon.
     Though not quite the epic that was Rainhill, Pen-y-Darren wager is something that too needs to be remembered and shood be noted as an important stepping stone in the evolution of railways.  I'm not trying to undermine George Stephenson's efforts, I'm merely showing that he wasn't the one who kicked off the railway boom.  Even Stephenson recognized the importance of Trevithick and supported his predocessor in his later years when Trevithick fell into hard times.

J. M. Turner's Rain, Steam, and Speed - The Great Western Railway (1839).

Bibliography
"Cifunderground." Cifunderground. Accessed June 9, 2015.

 "Rain, Steam, and Speed - The Great Western Railway." Joseph Mallord William Turner. Accessed June 9, 2015.
 
"Stamp Catalog : Stamp ‹ Industrial Revolution- George Stephenson, Railways." Stamp: Industrial Revolution- George Stephenson, Railways (United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland) (Pioneers of the Industrial Revolution) Mi:GB 2739,Sg:GB 2920,WAD:GB043.09,Un:GB 3255. Accessed June 9, 2015.

Sunday Sweetness: This ain't no cookie cutter world

     Happy Sunday everyone!   Sorry for the delay.  I didn't have much to say yesterday so I will try to make up for it.

     This morning, I woke up to go to church  (yes I'm a Christian, suck it up and move on) an as I sit and wait for my pick up, my mind starts to wonder over stuff from the past.  One of these things is about some bad patches a friend and I had about faith.  I won't go into details of what happened but I can say that we differ greatly from one another.  Though we do have our differences, we have been able to move on from this to greener pastures.  It's the fact that we can disagree and move on that gives me hope for society.  Don't get me wrong,  humanity has gone down hill in some points but I firmly believe that we will eventually find a way to climb out of the mess we're in and improve.

Always rememeber...

     I was going to wait 'til later to post something but I think now is a good time.

     A friend of mine messaged me this morning telling em that a friend of her's from high school passed away.  Her friend was our age and died in a car accident, I won't go into any further details than that.

    The reason I mention this is because it reminded me of my post from last night (I won't make a habit of it, I promise).  You know, we have people in our lives, some who are there for a short moment and others who remain for the rest of out lives.  The tragedy is, we never know which group the people we love fall under.  So remember, tell them that you love them and care and say thank you.  They may be snatched from us when we least expect it, whether it be natural or sudden.  So remember, don't be afraid to say thank you and I love you.

Works Cited

 "Snoopy & Friends ~." Pinterest. Web. 5 June 2015.  

Long distance run.

    Two in a row!?  My goodness I've got stuff to say!

    Continuing on my topic of school I thought I would share another observation.  There have been two important friends who have been there for me named Zach and Brad.  They been inspirations and rocks for me during my darkest points in university and have been forces in driving me to do better.

     I met Zach in grade nine in high school.  That day there had been a motivational speaker.  The speaker invited students to get up and mention what our goals in life were.  I mentioned that I wanted to be an author.  At the end of the day, I was walking home from school.  It was fall and there were leaves about.  Some guy no older than me with blonde hair came up the street corner next to me and said: "Hey!  You're the one who said he wanted to become a writer." (or something to that extent) and then asked what I was working on.  That's how it began.  Since then I've known Zach for nine years.  We have an interesting dynamic of making shots at each other for fun.  He has been there when my grandfather was hospitalized and eventually passed away by listening the stresses that were going on at the time.  He has also been there when I was dealing with a bad funk that lasted for several months.  Now, I live out in Peterborough as one of his room mates.

     Brad and I met in first year of university.  Just by randomly.  He and I both shared a few classes.  Much like Zach, Brad has been my support during some of my lowest points.  Not too long ago.  Brad and I got into an accident driving home from class one snowy day.  It was scary for the both of us.  While Brad suffered only a few scrapes, I was left suffering from a concussion.  That incident still bothers me to this day.  Despite all this, Brad and I have be come close as friends.  Though I now live out in Peterborough and not my home town of Barrie, Brad and I are still as close as ever.

     What does yammering about friends have to do with what I talked about yesterday.  Well, much like celebrating small achievements like getting a diploma despite the calamities that we're facing to day, friends are there to give us strength in times of trouble.  They can be are biggest allies and critics, always willing to lend a hand of kindness in times of trouble or to knock you down a peg when you get too uppity.  So for that reason, here's to good friends!  A source of comfort and joy!

Works Cited

 "Friendship Quotes, Friendship Quote Graphics, Friendship Sayings." Friendship Quotes, Friendship Quote Graphics, Friendship Sayings. Web. 5 June 2015.  

Where are the Places We Can Go?

     I just recently graduated from my program at Laurentian University and something just occurred to me. I know a lot of people who went out like me and went and got a university degree and I've heard them gripe about the debt they're now in and how there's little work for them 'cause of those bloomin' boomers. All I have to say is this. Look at that piece of paper. It is a symbol of three or four or more years of blood sweat toil and tears (emphasis on the toil and tears part) that had to be endured. And guess what? You did it. No one but you went out to up your knowledge for better things. To climb mountains and swim seas. You're going to get in debt in other ways anyroad and jobs are going to come and go but you get to say: "I [insert name here] went out and got by myself a [insert your degree here] and no one can take that away."

     We can get pretty bogged down with the way the world is going. I always like to remember Dr. Seuss' book Oh, the Places You'll Go!. Unlike New York Post writer Kyle Smith, who claims the poem to be "trite, shallow and (an occupational hazard that can accompany writing for children) childish" (Smith para. 13), I think this book still has relevance. Smith is missing the point. Seuss isn't trying to give a fluffy message. He is saying that life is hard and you are going to face challenges but you can persevere and that life is full of highs and lows.  We have become a world of pessimists and cynics, thinking that the world is a darker place so there is no point in having some level of hope, joy, or optimism.  I'm sure that if we all took a step back - ignoring the cynics and pessimists who prefer to drag everyone down - I'm sure this world could be a small bit better than before.


     To end this.  You did it!  Congratulations!  You've fought long and hard and have made it.  No one ever promised it would be an easy road, but you did it so be proud of that accomplishment and not let the debt and unemployment get you down.  Those things will always be there whether you continued school or not.  Celebrate what you've done and don't let the bad pull you down.

Works Cited:

 Shmoop Editorial Team. "Oh, the Places You'll Go! Images." Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 3 June 2015.

Smith, Kyle. "Why This Dr. Seuss Book Should Never Again Be a Graduation Gift." Web. 3 June 2015.