My Garage Smells Like An Ashtray

Since moving in, I noticed that my garage smells a little off. I chalked it up to it being a garage and how it had probably stored things that wouldn't matter if they smelled. I couldn't put my finger on exactly what smell it was. However, the inside of my car is starting to pick up on the smell, and now when I get into it when out somewhere, I can distinctly smell cigarettes.

This is unfortunate, since I definitely plan to keep my car in the garage. However, I have to get rid of the smell. Problem is that there's no one source of the smell... it's probably just seeped into the walls over long periods of exposure.

Does anyone know how to get rid of a smell like this? All I can think of is to leave the window and doors open as much as possible, but I can't do that all the time as it's an invitation to steal my stuff.

Cedar Point 2011a

This weekend I had the pleasure to introduce a few people to one of the best things in the world: Cedar Point. This was the earliest in the season I've ever been and was rewarded with some pretty light crowds, especially on Sunday. Monday was a bit busier, and besides some school groups getting in a late year trip in, I can't explain why really. We used Saturday and Tuesday as travel days.

We stayed at the on-site Hotel Breakers, which really is by far the best way to do it. A bit of extra money per night gets you so much convenience, especially traveling with a baby.

Also, we lucked out incredibly with the weather. It was mid-20's for both days in the park and when we got up this morning to leave, it was a pouring thunderstorm. The nice weather also let us take advantage of the water park.

Some stats: 5 rides on Maverick (within the first hour and a half of park opening on Monday); 3 on Millennium Force and Magnum XL-200; 2 on Top Thrill Dragster, Power Tower, Disaster Transport and Iron Dragon; 1 on Raptor, Mean Streak, Blue Streak, Gemini, Sky Hawk and Wicked Twister. Unfortunately, the new Wind Seeker wasn't ready yet.

Now enjoy a photo from the Millennium Force line at dusk.

So Long Apartment

I haven't seen my apartment this empty since I moved into it.

Yesterday I handed in my keys at the apartment and there's no looking back. Now I have to go through all these boxes and find my stuff again. It took me 2 days to find my new prescription sunglasses. Really, who boxes things in the Xbox box?

Final Painting Results

Here's what my basement looks like after a two-coat painting session yesterday.

I went with a less brown colour and more grey... and a little lighter than I had originally thought.

Springtime Slurpee

Coke at 7-Eleven on King St at Wellington in Kitchener this afternoon.

Now that was good Slurpee.

All Good Stories Must Have An Ending

One of my favourite shows on right now, Chuck, just got renewed for a 13 episode fifth season, which will be its last. This is only good news, as far as I'm concerned, even though it means the end of Chuck after this coming Fall.

I fully believe that a show that tells a larger story over the course of its run (as opposed to an episodic type show in which each episode is self contained and doesn't require any significant previous knowledge) needs a proper ending to be considered a good story as a whole. Think of Lost, and if it was cancelled before the writers could wrap things up. Despite of whether you liked the series finale, at least they were able to wrap up most of the million loose ends they created.

For the past 2 years, Chuck has survived by receiving an initial renewal of 13 episodes and then getting an additional 9 episodes added on to that mid-season. This has forced the writers to create 4 different episodes that has enough closure to be considered a series finale, but enough left unresolved to be a season finale cliffhanger. I think it's made the stories over the last 2 years seem forced.

Now with the knowledge that the show will end after 13 more episodes, I hope they can write a great close to the series and therefore, make it complete.

Painting Opinions Solicited

So, I've decided that one of the things I'm going to do first with my new house is to paint the basement room. This room will function as my main TV room... a pseudo home theatre room. Right now, it's painted yellow and the walls have a few scuff marks. Here's how it looks now...

My thought is that a home theatre should have a darker colour, both because it'll reflect less light from the TV and because a darker room will seem cozier. Using an online room painter, here's my first go at what direction I should take...

Any opinions or suggestions on what to do here?

I Bought A House. No, Seriously This Time.

Some of you may have heard, some maybe not as I haven't made an official online announcement yet (until now), but I finally bought a house. For real this time. I wanted to avoid the situation from last time and waited until I had the keys in my hands before getting all announcy on everyone.

I got the keys on Monday.

It's in the Forest Hills area of Kitchener, near Fisher-Hallman & Hwy 7/8. I'll be avoiding a privacy faux-pas by not giving the exact address on le blog here, but I'll be sending out a mass email announcing the new address and phone number situation. Moving day looks to be May 28th as I have the apartment until the end of the month, so I'm just going to take my time with it. Oh, and I have moving favours that I can totally call in now... for real this time. Thou art truly forewarned now.

No Election Is A Waste

I just got back from casting my ballot in this, the 41st Canadian General Election. After starting out very boring (for lack of a better word), the campaign got really crazy really quickly. Now, I'm certainly not a fan of Jack Layton (this video/article shows why I'll never vote for a party led by him, petty as it may be), but I hold out great hope by the poll numbers the NDP has gotten in Quebec, especially since it seems to be mostly at the expense of the Bloq Quebecois. The sooner they're out of the federal election scene, the better.

One of the argument that was thrown around early on was the idea that this election was unnecessary and a waste, usually (and understandably) by Conservative supporters. My counter-argument is that no election is a waste, especially this one. This was the longest serving minority parliament in Canadian history, which seems to suggest that our political parties are adjusting to the new reality of minorities. If an election wasn't called now, it would be in a few month or a year at most. So, the expense of an election would just be spent then. Of course, over time, more money will be spent than if elections were held every 3 to 5 years. But it would maybe be one or 2 elections extra over 20 years and in the grand scheme of federal budgets, would be a drop in the bucket.

I love elections, but mostly election night. Despite if who I want to win actually does, seeing the numbers roll in and the seat counters at the bottom of the screen is just some sort of nerd crack to me.

Enjoy election day everybody.

Round 2 Pick-a-roo

I went 5 for 8 last round. Let's do better this time.

Washington over Tampa in 6
Boston over Philadelphia in 7
Nashville over Vancouver in 6
Detroit over San Jose in 5