Doug Delaney

Ireland

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:49:00 +0000

I felt guilty about not writing a post about my experiences in Ireland. I lost most of the pics. I lost the memory card with the majority of pics on it, but the previously mentioned Brazilian girl had a copy. Apparently she couldn't spare an hour of her time to mail it to me, although she promised several times. She's gone.

So here is the Ireland adventure...
I landed in Dublin the day of the U2 concert and spent the day finding my hostel, buying a new camera, buying a phone and grabbing a bite to eat. Then it was into cab and off to the concert. I had excellent seats and U2 didn't disappoint. Bono has a boatload of charisma and endless hits.

After it was finished I wanted to head downtown to find the famous Temple Bar area but there was a lineup with 80 thousand others all trying to hail a cab. I walked a few blocks and came across a bar so crowded, people were packed right across the sidewalk and onto the street. My kind of place. It was an adventure just trying to squeeze my way through to get a Guinness. I did it. Drank my pint but the lure of downtown still pulled strong. Or more accurately, I didn't fall in love. So back out onto the street to find a taxi. Still 75 thousand people out there. But I was alone. They were ambling. I would just hoof my way to the front of the crowd. Wrong. After a few more blocks I came to another bar. Much like the last. Big. Packed. If ya can't
beat em...

So I made my way inside. Better music. Prettier girls. No use hurrying. Might as well enjoy the beer. I worked my way through the different areas of the bar looking for a place to lean against. After about ten minutes I spotted a bannister at the top of some stairs and found a place to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. There was a pretty girl occupying the other bannister, minding her own business. I soaked in the music. The people. Debated my future.

After a few minutes the girl next to me lifted her empty Guinness glass. Looked at it. Put it back down. Watched the crowd... Was that my cue? She sure was pretty. So I leaned across and said "Excuse me, do you have any Irish in you?" Just kidding. I said "Want another Guinness?" She said "I'm just lazy..." I never went to my own room for my first three days in Ireland. We ended up going to see U2 again the second night. She was pretty, intelligent and adventurous. We had a lot of fun. She had just flown in for the concert and only stayed 3 days.

Temple Bar... Picture this... You are standing in a packed bar. Live music. One man and his guitar. Sometimes a duo. Sometimes a trio. The bar is a warren of tiny alcoves big enough for a table or two. Occasionally a minibar. It is packed so full you are squished up against someone on all sides. Not even enough room to snake your arm through to set your drink down while you fumble with your camera. So you hold your Guinness close to your chest against the inevitable bumps. The laughter around you is in twenty different languages. You recognize some of them, but you already know what they are saying, "Damn that guy with the blue eyes is hot!". The musician strikes up a chord. You recognize it. Everybody recognizes it. "Take Me Home, Country Road", "One Love", "Sweet Home Alabama". Everybody sings along at full volume. Someone cheers. Someone else cheers. Toasts are made. Friendships are sealed. Pictures are taken. Memories are born. The "Temple Bar" in the Temple Bar area of Dublin was my favorite, but there are many very similar.

I did the brewery tours. Jamesons and Guinness in Dublin, and Bushmills in N. Ireland. They were what you'de expect. Buy the tshirt and of course take home a sample.

Spent two days in Belfast. Looked for nightlife but didn't find anything intriguing. There are still many symbols of sectarianism once you get out of the city center but I didn't sense any threat. No charm for me in Belfast.

Then I flew down to Limerick to say hi to Emma. She has since given birth to a perfect child, Scott. I can't imagine a better mom (cept mine of course). Only got to spend an hour with her as I it was already early evening when she got off work and I still wanted to see "Durty Nellie's", billed as the oldest pub in Ireland. Never fell in love with it. Again, I understand it's all about the people and it was just the tour bus crowd when I was there. Next door I found a pleasant surprise in Bunratty Castle. I got there just on time for a medieval feast with authentic music, costumes, and fare. Wench Aislinn even brought Lord Doug a vegetarian meal and extra servings of mead. Next morning it was bus ride to Cork. The roads are very narrow all through Ireland and instead of traffic lights they use traffic circles. Lot more thinking involved driving there. On Cork it was right off one bus and on to another and whisked up to Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone. Was much fun for me. Then back to a Cork and back to Dublin. After a few days you don't even check the schedules anymore. There is always a bus leaving within the hour to wherever you want to go.

Back to the temple bar then next day up to Newgrange to see the passage tombs. As a history lover it was interesting but it has all been dug up and replaced so it is basically a reconstruction. While I was in the parking lot I noticed a sign saying "Battle of the Boyne" 6km. So I ripped up my bus ticket and called a cab to come out from town. Bit of a disappointment. It's basically a restaurant and an audio video demonstration. Not much to see. From there it was a cab ride to see the famous walls of Drogheda. Just remnants left. Happily right beside the bus station so... Back to Temple Bar.

I went to the geneology center and searched the records for my grandmothers birth certificate but apparently she was never born. As a last gasp effort I asked the really nice lady who worked there, if there was a mechanism for turning a baptismal certificate into a birth certificate and joy of joys there was. She mailed the paperwork and it is just matter of seeing a notary on my next day off then mailing it back to see if indeed I now have the final document to complete my application for an Irish passport.

A seven dollar item here costs seven euro there, so everything was about 60 percent more expensive at the time I went. Buy necessities before you leave home. Like a comfortable rain jacket. The only thing I wanted to see but didn't was Galway. Everyone said I should have gone there but the weather was crappy when the time came.

If I get the passport I will have a base in Ireland. If I will be be visiting Dublin regularly.

To Risk is to Live (v.234618)

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:29:00 +0000

I had the opportunity to invest in a bar in Mexico. I believed in the two guys that were starting the business and was offered 15% for 20K $US. I didn't have cash the to buy, but I could have borrowed it privately.

There were a lot of risks in this scenario. Losing my job and not being able to pay back my loan. Being stretched even thinner financially. The business could have failed. Endless reasons not to take a chance. In it's favor was my belief that owning a business is an important pillar in my quest for financial sovereignty. Also I knew the guys involved and believed they had the ability to succeed. Thirdly it was a learning opportunity.

The deal fell through because they never raised enough capital. Clearly not enough people interpreted the risk/reward ratio the same way I did. But in my opinion the moment you stop taking calculated risks you abdicate the incredible palate of possible futures you can eek during your limited existance.

Failure is how we learn. Embrace it.

I did end up learning a few things I find quite valuable. As I saw the business plan evolving I realized that it's really just an attempt to create an argument that is convincing enough to get others to buy into your vision. Would I have learned that in school? Maybe. I also learned that I could get others to invest money in my business. Until now I had only considered banks.

Anyone want to invest in a Music Studio/Bar/Hostel for Wayward Girls? ; )

It's going to happen. Something is going to happen.

Think I saw a leprecaun..

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:04:00 +0000

But alas it was before I kissed the Blarney stone and I couldn't coax him out of the castle ruins. I stood there for six hours cajoling, bribing, flattering, begging, but not even a sniff of a reply. Now I am doubting whether he was even in there. I sure hope so, or else all the strange looks I got from the passing tour bus groups might be embarassing.

One thing I did find was a ray of hope for my passport. I went to the Government Registrars Office in Dublin and personally searched the the records. They are handwritten and typewritten in well worn books. After exhausting every possible name, I was about to leave and thought to ask if there was a process for converting a Baptismal Certificate into a Birth Certificate, and praise the god of passports there is! To make it even better the woman I talked to was a fountain of optimism and helpfulness. Process is underway.

Haven't posted for a while primarily because my life has been a maelstrom. Last November the world economy crashed. No one feels it harder than construction workers. If the economy isn't expanding we ain't constructing. Of around eleven thousand construction workers at the plant I primarily worked at, over nine thousand lost their jobs in less than a two month period. The attrition continued until June this year. Every week the skeleton workforce that remained was pared down. The company I work for shrank to 10% of what it was at xmas. Sudden and brutal, then slow and painful. Happily my record is near spotless and my skill set and work ethic are almost unmatched, so I survived the slaughter in good shape. The corner seems to have turned and opportunities are opening up again. Barring a reversal, the future looks bright again.

I haven't made obvious progress in financial sovereignty in the last couple months, but I now have in place an accountant and a financial manager who I am pleased with. Since I found property managers for my rental units I don't even think about them any more. Happy Happy. I paid for my vacation out of savings so I won't have added credit card debt.

I kissed a girl, and I liked it! Met a girl in Ireland, who is from Brazil. Check back in a year and I'll tell ya how it worked out :)

Loved Dublin. Tons of live music of every sort, many fascinationing stories, and an endless stream of people looking to have fun. Expensive as a tourist though. Possibly more reasonable if you live there. Cloudy with occasional dribbling rain everyday I was there, but only wore a jacket four days out of twelve.

I lost the memory card with photos of the first four days in Ireland on it, but "the girl" has most of those photos and when I get them I will make a post about the other experiences I had there.

Cami is thriving, and Morgan starts college in September, and everyone I know is healthy, so my life is good. Oh and I'm driving sweet ass BMW. Normally I wouldn't mention what I am driving because I am soooo not my car, but it is just another little thing that causes me to be thankful.

Taking a university english course by correspondence, and have fallen behind, but will catch up. Working out semi regular. Not playing guitar as often as I would like.
But I feel like I am living life to it's fullest. So theres that :)

The world's luckiest guy

The way we were

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:23:00 +0000

I saw a movie "Once"...

It planted a seed.

I have always searched out live music in intimate venues. I have spent many hours considering how I could have more of it in my life.

In the movie, there was a small music studio. As soon as I saw it I knew instantly I could muster the resources to have one too. Epiphany.

The seed flourished into a sapling, and has overwhelmed all other considerations of what to do when I end the current phase of my life.

"From desire, ariseth the thought of some means we have seen produce the like of that which we aim at; and from the thought of that, the thought of means to that mean; and so continually, till we come to some beginning within our own power."
Hobbes, Leviathan

At this point in my ruminations I would like to meet people that have studios. In conversations I have already had, it seems clear the sound engineer will be an important draw to the studio. My thought is that if I do not meet the right engineers before I have the studio, I will tour universities asking the professors to recommend outstanding students. I will be living in Europe. The studio will be in Europe.

I am interested in opening a dialog with anyone who shares these interests.

On a different note.

I instituted a savings plan several months ago. 25% of my net. It has been successful. It's hard. I have fallen behind a couple times but always caught up. I find I don't have the discretionary income anymore, but I have adapted and I am happy I have savings now.

I am moving my investments to a personal money manager from my self-directed RRSP. Most people who have any wealth use them.

I should get the final decision on my Irish citizenship by the end of '09.

I have had to change my union affiliation to an Alberta local in order to stay in Fort McMurray. I considered coming back to BC, but the work situation here is questionable. This switch has ramifications. In BC I can retire at 55 with only a 15% hit to my pension, but in Alberta its a 30% hit. So the pension I have already earned won't be affected, but the part I earn in Alberta will take the hit. I'm not sure how I will deal with this.

I have two rental units now. Both are in the hands of Property Managers. They are well worth money, considering the units are in Edmonton and Terrace and not easily accessible by me. I don't have to spend any time thinking about the properties other than making payments (about $400/month beyond what rents cover).

Didn't go to Cuba at xmas, due to all the flux in my life over the work situation, but still plan on Paris in April and Ireland in September.

1288 days til the new chapter begins.

**presses the publish button...closes his eyes and wonders if the Hostel for Wayward Girls could somehow fit as an adjunct to the studio**

I'm a Loner

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:36:00 +0000

I am not anti-social.

I think people are the only reason to live. Without validation from others, there is no reason to exist.

Many of my thoughts are of how short life is, and all the things I won't accomplish that I have tremendous desire to experience.

I always wanted to be a helicoptor pilot. I'm not ruling it out, but I have to balance that against the time I would like to devote to going into the jungle villages and trying to convince old women to stop cutting off the clitoris's of young girls? And when do I go to university? Feel the thundering hooves of the wildebeasts pounding across the Serengeti? Spend the weeks going to all the gothic cathedrals and dwell on the men that built them? Travel from end to end in India? China? Azerbijan? Own another motorcycle? Catamaran? Learn to dance? Play guitar? Go where Alexander went? Caesar? Captain Henry Morgan? These men have tales to tell? I want to hear their stories?

So I think.

It's easier to think when you are alone.

But that's not the whole story.

My feelings are intense.

I feel awe, often.

Some sunrises make my jaw drop. Sunsets. Beautiful girls. Orchids. Thoughtful people. The fact that we are on the crust of a molten ball flying through the universe...

I treasure the company of my family and friends, and derive a large measure of who I am from my interaction with them.

But I often feel compelled. To do this. Or that. And I find it easier if I don't have to negotiate. You can judge for yourself if that makes me self-centered or selfish.

Which also explains why I haven't had a girlfriend for the last 10 years. I need a woman who stirs feelings in me so deep that I am willing to sublimate to some extent my own needs.

The good news is I felt that way with Emma, but I didn't make my case, and although she listened intently, she got away. I will find another. Just the process gives me hope. Serves as a beacon.

So if I am with you, it is because I want to be with you. Enjoy our time as is your wont. But understand there are powerful undercurrents pulling at me.

Tick Tock.

...because ordinary just isn't good enough today.

The rumors of my demise...

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:49:00 +0000

I have another character flaw.

I don't adapt well to change.

The last time I was due for an update I had a mildly traumatic event.

After having clawed, backstabbed and blackmailed to get my toe into Branch 90, Sterling Cranes' heavy lift division, I was ignominiously kicked off Suncor's site, for being over 6 feet off the ground without a safety harness.

I was up on the 330 ton crane in what I thought was at the very least a grey area. Apparently not. Within 30 minutes after said incident I was off the site and back in my room.

The next day I was on new site with an uncertain future. No internet. And a strong predilection to hunker down and reassess my choices.

Bodies strewn everywhere. And all for naught. Back to the bottom of the heap.

I finally ended up here: (my crane on the right)

in an excellent camp with a good job, but it was hours from town and very isolating.

Almost immediately upon settling there I got the opportunity to buy another rental apartment. Only this time I had learned from the first one and was determined to do it right. Cash flow positive.

Both rental units are now under professional property managers and I believe the newer one is cash flow positive. Time will tell.

The business I am focusing for my retirement (must find a new description for that period) is a music studio. A full professional studio, can be bought anywhere in the world for 750K. With 30% down you can get a business loan. At this point it's just a dream. Catamaran first.

Cami got married. I always describe Ryan as the kind of guy that walks into the room and makes everyone feel comfortable. Wish I was kewl like him.

Ya Ya, I'm kewl. But not as kewl as him. She dun good. As usual. Very proud of her.

Morgan is doing well. Still promising to go to school. He knows what to say to make me happy. He is also the prime source of hugs. Every one is appreciated.

OCT 23. Vegas. Always wanted to see Elton John in Vegas, but he is usually there in March, and for some reason I am always poor in March, maybe it's my xmas holiday. This year he is doing two weeks in the fall. Must see. Cher is there too. And Cirque. And helicopter ride into the grand canyon. Iiiiee. Only budgeted 4 days :)

The Irish embassy has accepted my application for citizenship. I have to wait 18 months from now for the answer.

I'm tired of telling people I am making good money, but I can't seem to get ahead. I owe more now than when I came here 6 months ago. It's always something. Soooo. I am going to do the save 10% thing. Only, Doug style. Two weeks ago I started putting 25% of my net income into savings as soon as I get my cheque. No idea if it sustainable, but I'll know soon enough :)

Getting my hated tattoo, laser removed. In contact with a new tattoo designer. I finally found a true artist, Jenny Jarrett at Liquid Amber to do the ink. Very excited again.

Ordered a carry-on backpack after much research. In theory if I pare down the stuff I take on trips to one small bag I can walk right onto planes and off again without long waits at the carousel. And no more lost/missing luggage.

1428 days.

Oh, and I landed back on my feet. back at Suncor, on a 500 ton Demag.
(The one in the middle)

Gonna publish now, because my thoughts are endless...

The things that matter in life...aren't things.

This is too cool. By...

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 03:44:00 +0000

This is too cool. By pressing the number 3 button on my cell phone I speed dial Jott, Jott asks me who I want to talk to, I say blogger. I hear a beep and I can talk for 30 seconds into my phone, Jott will transcribe it and forward it to my blog, 20 seconds I am done I can send this message anywhere to any link to any e-mail to any place. Jott.com, too cool. listen

Powered by Jott

A post by Gord Clarke

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:41:00 +0000

Stress is for incompetent people

If you are competent ,and you are doing the best you can, why in the world would you be stressed.

Gord Clarke

Based on a True Story

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:06:00 +0000

I am not sure which is the more important take away from this tale Google Alerts (GA) or recovered memory function. GA are a resource I use everyday.

One that I had set up was for memory loss. My memory was so bad at one point in my life that I had hold a finger on an entry in the phone book because I could not retain #'s in my memory long enough to dial them on the phone.

I came across GA one day and decided to try "Improve Memory" as my search term.

At first I had it set up to return results daily but this added too much to my daily routine, so I changed it to weekly.

Over the course of time two different threads appeared. Practice-practice-practice, and Omega 3 fatty acids.

Practicing memory games gets very boring very fast, so one day I bought some flaxseed oil and started using it. The difference is night and day. I can remember 10 digit numbers the first time I see them and I can retain them. Dramatic change.

Flesh eaters can get their Omega 3's from fish oils. For vegetarians I highly recommend flaxseed oil as Omega 3's are not pervasive in our diets.

I usually have 3 or 4 alerts open at anyone time tracking topics of interest, especially for late breaking updates.

I just found out about effective new treatment for smell loss through GA's. It's only effective while taking the medications, so not something I am interested in. But, it's new and interesting, and most importantly I know about it.

Net worth took a minor hit as I took losses in my stock portfolio faster than I am paying down debt. Looking back over time, it is becoming clear that I have increased my knowledge exponentially, but managing a portfolio is time consuming. As such I have decided to hand my portfolio over to a professional wealth manager. I will have to top it up to 20K plus first, so it's a work in progress.

I have also found a new accountant. Any good accountant will make you 10 times the money you pay them. Ask around. Get one.

Although my tenants always pay, they are always late. I can live with that, but I find it takes a lot of work to keep on top of what is a fair rent, and finding dependable local tradesmen (although this hasn't been an issue yet). I have decided to pay the 10% of the rent and hired a property manager.

Been doing my research on Cuba for xmas, mostly by reading Lonely Planet forums Cuba branch. It served me well for Egypt. I will buy a LP guide for the maps and schedules before I leave. Haven't bought the ticket yet, because it may be that it's cheaper to buy an all inclusive deal and then just go on your merry way. We'll see. I have also decided to try and make it for 2 weeks with only one piece of carry on luggage, instead of my back pack. No more waiting at the luggage carousel, or lost luggage.

The kids are alright, tonite.

Have accommodation's and ticket for Pemberton Music Fest.

Had a major crane upgrade since I posted last photo's. But photo's are against the rules, so it will be a bit before I post new ones.

Still waiting for answer on Irish passport.

My life is balanced between work and play. I can sustain it till I get my "A good woman".

Day 60

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 03:22:00 +0000

I am often asked what I do...

The Place.

The Crane. 225 Ton American.

The Plate. (33,000 lbs.)

Landing Plate 2.

Another angle.

Plate 3.

Taking shape.

Had my first workout today. Wow, long time. Apparently I don't adapt to change easily. Be nice to know this at, say, 15?! But I do adapt. And I have no fear of change.

Check this site out. Whats On When.

In the keyword field type Cirque du Soleil, or Elton John. Or in the country field, type Cuba and see whats happening on The Malecon.

If it is happening in the world, it is probably listed on this site.

How can you not get excited?

Family, Friends and Lovers

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 03:22:00 +0000

Protagoras said "Man is the measure of all things". With no proper context, it is open to interpretation.

So I will give you mine.

People are what life is all about.

Aristotle said "Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods"

It's easy to tell what is important to you, by how much time you spend at it.

A reversal of fortune..

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 02:27:00 +0000

For the first time in forever my Net Worth has taken a turn for the positive.

Having grown up with no respect for money, due I think to the not uncommon belief that money is not what defines a person, I struggled with accumulating it, even though I have easily earned a million dollars in my lifetime.

It took a desire to quit working and pursue other interests to make me focus on financial sovereignty. I started with the mantra "cash is king", moved to "debt freedom", both of which I still esteem, but what's working best for me today is "It's not what you make but what you keep".

Gryffindor on NetWorthIQ quite rightly pointed out that my defined benefit pension could be quantified as follows:

"The easy way would be to think of this as a bond that pays out interest -- around 24k. If you assume that the bond is around 5% that would be 20x times the cash flow or 480k."

I am looking to invest in a business if anyone is aware of any interesting opportunities.

I will stay in Ft. McMurray for 6 months and then decide whether to head back to Vancouver.

No response from the Irish embassy about my passport application yet.

Everyone is healthy.

Think I have found a property manager for the apartment in Edmonton. The tenants are up to date, but not paying by the due date, yet.

Viva la revolution! going to Cuba at Xmas. Added the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree forums Cuba branch to my feed reader today. Time to find some good hostels and begin planning my adventure. Hola!

Going to Paris next April, and then Ireland sometime in the summer.

1606 days.

Still not working out. Plucking my guitar once every couple weeks.

In Vancouver for the Easter long weekend. Then May long weekend. Then Cami and Ryan's Wedding.

My life is good, and I don't even have a girlfriend. Scary to think what it will be like when I am in love again.

And I'll sign off by sending my congratulations to Richard and Elaine Linville on their recent marriage.

By popular demand...

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 02:12:00 +0000

Several people (more than 2) have said they expected more photos from my trip to the Land of the Pharoahs.

I went back and correlated what was available and added a few more.

Voici! (practicing for my trip to Paris, Apr '09)

Incidently my favorite photo series was Sunrise at Mt. Sinai, and it had broken links which are now repaired. Check it out.

Then go!. Anywhere! Now!

Have I mentioned you only get 84.6 years?

This is my most enduring memory of Egypt.
Standing in front of the King Tut Hostel,
Talat Harb st., Cairo.

Feel the love.
Everywhere people were touching.
Thier joy is infectious.
After 7pm Cairo comes out to celebrate life and each other.

Cairo traffic is unregulated.
No rules. Just go!
Watch the pedestrians.
It's like Pong, Centipede, and Space Invaders
in real time, and extra points if ya hit the kid...

From Cairo I flew all the way south to Abu Simbel.
Ramses southern gateway to Egypt.

Took a few photos
and then started my journey north by heading to Aswan.

And from Aswan I sailed the Nile to Luxor.

After Luxor I spent a week in Dahab, chilling and diving.

I met many interesting people during my journey. It's the prime reason I travel. I never got photo's of half of them, and I regret it now.

In Karnak, the temple city, I was leaning up against a column taking in the majesty, and became surrounded by about 50 Egyptian 10 year olds. One of them waved at me. I waved back. They all waved at me. I waved back. One of them said "hello". I said "hello". They all said "hello".... You get the point. After a couple minutes one of them said "sing". I laughed and said "you sing". They all said "you sing!" They stared me down. I wavered.... "A...B...C...", and they all sang the rest of the song. Much clapping. Much waving. They all huddled around and we took a picture with their camera, but like a goober I didn't get a picture with my camera. Would 50 children surround a stranger and strike up a conversation here in Canada?

The pyramid and the Sphinx are huge.
Even larger than my forehead!

For $4 I bought all the hand made necklaces and
bracelets in the picture, and made 2 friends for life.
I still have the necklaces. Anyone want one? :)
As odd as it looks > they wanted the damn picture <.

Squat like an Egyptian.
In the tombs of the Nobles. Luxor.

Fishawi's is a cafe in the Khan El Khalili bazaar,
that brags it has been open 24 hours a day for
over 200 years. I met my Jordanian friends there.
Each seperately insisted I came and say with them
when I visit Jordan.

In Aswan I spent time hanging out as a tout.
They are much better salesmen.

The manager of the above mentioned bazaar makes
150 Egyptian Pounds per month for 6 days a week,
and 15 hours a day. He was well groomed, intelligent,
multi-lingual, and could probably come to Canada
and do my job. I make the equivilant of 150 EP in one hour.

I spent parts of everyday for a week in the Sinai
with Pam and Rachel. Good people.

Now it's time to start practicing my Spanish.

Buenvenido a Cuba!

At - 40 degrees fahrenheit

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 20:11:00 +0000

with a windchill to - 50, your face burns within a block. After 2 blocks your are earnestly looking for shelter. After 4 blocks you are popping into the nearest open door regardless of who is on the otherside.

At - 28 I can make it 50 yards to the lunchshack with my jacket open and no toque. I use this discomfort to help me focus on my mission. I would so hate to squander my time in this place.

Having said that, Ft. McMurray is a pleasant surprise. It is a thriving boomtown, not just a camp for wayward contruction workers. Most of the camps are as nice as a good 4 star hotel.

The test on whether taking this risk, and coming to a place where my social life is for all intents and purposes, on hold, will be in my networth.

Since last May when I closed on my rental unit in Edmonton, I have not made any forward progress toward financial soveignty. In fact I have been losing ground. This year I will do better, in fact, this is the sole motivation for coming to the Alberta Gold Rush.

Egypt. Confirmed all my biases about backpacking. I can't imagine ever travelling without staying in hostels with a loose intinerary. It forces you to explore, interact, and smell the roses. I loved Egypt. The culture is better suited to me than Canada's in many ways. One thing: bring toilet paper! It's the one thought that entered my mind more than any other. This year I'm thinking Cuba or Brazil. Hola! Saving Europe for when I move to the bonus round. 1640 days. Although I may pop over to Paris for a weekend getaway this year. Bonjour Madamoiselle!

My Irish passport application is in the mail. Dream. Plan. Live. You only have 84.6 years to do all that you ever hope to do.

The camp I am in shows no love for vegetarians. I will have to turn up the heat. I have somehow managed to gain at least 10 pounds in a week, though. My pants say so. Stress, I guess. No more bread and potato salad for me.

On my todo list is fixing all the pictures and videos from Egypt. Getting down to 180 lbs. Getting an accountant (have one in the works). The perennial debt freedom. Buying a cash flow positive rental property. And if I have enough left over, I want a used BMW.

Emma Stodart. This is a page ranking test. It would give me joy to have someone googling Emma to end up here. I'm easily amused :)

Haven't practiced guitar or worked out much since before my holiday. I'll do better.

Don't just color outside the lines, draw new lines. I just googled that line and it din't show up. As I say... easily amused.

Oh yeah!, I forgot...

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 19:41:00 +0000

Bidet!

Imagine having a crap, and one minute later being as sparkling clean as if you had just had a shower on a sunny spring morning.

Now imagine having a crap and smearing it around with toilet paper. I need say no more.

I will have a bidet if I ever own my personal residence again.

And if the subject ever comes up in polite conversation and I am asked if I still do it like a caveman, I will respond, "Yes, but only if there is no access to a bidet!", "Hellooo?!".

Final post from Egypt

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 08:28:00 +0000

Time to come home...

But first I'll wrap up the last couple days.

After seeing so many heiroglyphs, I am becoming somewhat proficient at decifering them.

I am pretty sure the fellow on the left is saying
"Step away from me with that thing!",
to the fellow on the right.

And I think someone that helped rebuild Luxor temple was having some fun with us.

What's wrong with this picture?

After Luxor it was off to Dahab for rest and relaxation. I just hung out, with peeps I had met on the journey. Did 2 dives at "The Islands" and "Rick's Reef".

From Dahab I went to Mount Sinai for the Sunrise. It was worthy enough that I created a webpage of the event.

Then back to Cairo for 2 days of good cheer before I come home.

A week in pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:27:00 +0000

Aswan to Luxor, felucca, temples, tombs, and hot air balloon.

Know your role

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:36:00 +0000

Before I came to Egypt, I used to think that women in burka's were either coerced or fanatics.

I remember arrogantly thinking that I wasn't afraid of any man who couldn't deal with having women unfettered.

After two weeks in Egypt I don't sense any coersion. The country is overwhelmingly muslim, but not exclusively. I have met many christians too.

The muslim women almost invariably wear some form of scarf, and then every permutation from bland scarf to colorful, short to long, with clothing provocative to formless, all the way to burka.

I have come top see the burka as a symbol of respect. That goes both ways. Invariably the women in burka's aren't the down trodden, but the proudest, and often the best groomed and most alert.

I need to get out more.

But is it safe in Egypt?

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 16:03:00 +0000

I can say without question after having wandering into the bowels of 20 cities, towns and villages from the north to south of Egypt that when and Egyptian first sees a stranger his/her first thought is "Welcome!"

Egyptians are friendlier than you. Yes, you, the person reading this.

Ask yourself what your first thought is when you see a stranger?

I am more welcomed everywhere by everyone here, that I am in my own country.

In every mosque. In every dark alley. In every encounter.

It is impossible to walk by a young person without receiving a Hello. Every person regardless of age or manner of dress, from fully western to traditional to full burka has a ready smile and an open invitation.

Ask youself what kind of society you live in. I do.

Day 6: The fog began to lift

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 15:41:00 +0000

The gibberish began to unravel it's mystery.

Previously jumbled, blurry script began to coalesce into distinct shapes.

*click*

The number, > 1 <, actually looks like a 1 in arabic.
The number, > 2 <, is a backwards 7.
The number, > 3 <, is a backwards 7 with a w horizontal stroke.
The number, > 4 <, is a backwards 3.
The number, > 5 <, is a zero.
The number, > 6 <, is a 7.
The number, > 7 <, is a V.
The number, > 8 <, a mountain, or upside down V.
The number, > 9 <, is a 9.
The number, > 0 <, is a dot

I see, said the blind man.

Now I can sort through my money from both sides, instead of the endless flipping and turning that marked me as fresh off the boat.

p.s. There is a muezzin's call outside my window, right now. It is very musical and soothing.

Am I turning?

Dateline: Aswan

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 02:51:00 +0000

Here are 3 video's I made in Cairo before I left. All traffic related.

Ready or not..here I come!

Headlights are not used because they blind the other driver. I can't argue with their logic.

It's scarier for me IN the car...

For me it is scarier being in the car. I am always a passenger, and there are some very bad drivers. it is impossible to comprehend their decisions ever when you are with them. They will honk their horn when no one is around. if the come around a corner and pedestrians are hurrying across the road, they will start blaring their horns and speed up. I have yet to see a car defer to pedestrians in any situation.

And yet I would rather be a pedestrian than a passenger. The non-stop, hair-raising, careening through the streets is more than I can take.

Lok Ma! No Rules!

In this intersection, I saw a man carrying a child run up beside a transit bus carrying a child. He slapped the side of the bus. The driver opened the back door without slowing. The man barely hoisted himself and the child up, and the door closed behind him. No rational human is in this intersection. Let alone boarding a moving bus with a small child. Iiiieee.

Abu Simbel

Leaving Aswan today I go away, with a couple thoughts. First, coming upon Abu Simbel 3500 years ago, must have excited an awe that few humans today ever experience. Unique in the world. The temples inside are maybe even more impressive.

Secondly, after seeing the immense size of the unfinished obelisk, I picture everyone back home riveted to a national geographic series about the sheer ingenuity of the techniques of separating it from the rock, the incredible effort expended, and last but maybe most fascinating , the obstacles that would have had to be overcome to transport this leviathan out of the quarry, over the hills, down to the river.

Lack of updates

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 00:21:00 +0000

and pics is due to intermittent service/time out error frustration, and it is going to get worse, because tomorrow I will begin sailing down the Nile on a felucca for 2 and a half days.

I have lots of pics and will have to do a travelogue when to a good I find a good internet connection.

I loved Cairo. It is open 24 hours. Always loud. Everyone is happy, friendly. I felt completely safe going into dark alleys (looking for shortcuts), or hopping in any taxi.
I don't remember ever being more than 10 seconds from a taxi. They are ubiquitous.

The Egyptian museum needs to be brought into the 21st century, but Tutankamun's treasure is even more exquisite than you can imagine. It makes me wonder where the treasure from the other hundred pharoahs is hidden. There has to be so much of it, and of such incredible beauty (There is no way items of this quality have been made in the last few centuries, because no one had this much wealth), that there has to be a huge network of traders in Egyptian Antiquities. Thousands of secret rooms around the globe.

Count the smiles

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:25:00 +0000

Eid. Cairo. 2007.

Doug was there.

And he'll be back.

My buns are burning

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:21:00 +0000

++ click for larger image ++

I have crawled, squatted and squeezed into half a dozen pyramids and mastaba's.

All of them thought inspiring, but the best was lying in the sarcophagus of Khufu in the Great Pyramid.

Herodotus, Alexander, Cleopatra, Pompey, Caesar, Mark Antony, Octavian and Napoleon were all in the Great pyramid.

And now Doug was too.

And you just know Napoleon lay down in the sarcophagus too. Egomaniacal bastard.

And I know just what he was thinking:

"When I grow up...!"

I have embraced the dark side

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Delaney) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:54:00 +0000

Sidewalks are for tourists. The honks, screeches, muezzins calls, blaring music are the pulse of life in Cairo.

I have even started to decifer the constant honking.

One blast: "WooHoo! Got you in my sights!"

Two Blasts: "I am planting a huge bruise on your hips, and I'm taking the kid down too!"

Blast and flashing headlights: "Yeah baby! We'll see how you drive without a side mirror!"

Blast, flashing lights and 4-way flashers: "Here! Add this to your dent collection!"

It gets better! They drive without headlights at night. Yup!

I'm getting pics tonight...