Putting Down Roots

Almost twenty years ago I came across a neat little story about the bamboo and the fern. The fern was planted the same time as the bamboo seeds. In a short while, the fern began growing in all its green an sprawling glory. The bamboo, on the other hand, showed no signs of sprouting. Not in the first year; not in the second. As a matter of fact, it was not until the fifth year that it started growing! Then, within months, it towered over the fern and all the other plants around it. What was happening all those years? It had been putting down roots.

I like that story. It reminds me of a Jamaican proverb: "Everybody pot nuh boil same time."  I get it that some won't embrace the sentiment. They might think if nothing is happening then you might need to find yourself on another road. I read something today to that effect: Just because you've been on a road for so long does it mean it's the right one. I choose to embrace the wisdom from the bamboo story. For, just because you do not see something happening, does it mean that nothing is happening. And, each person has that gut instinct that says whether it's time to fold or keep at it. Hey, if it's your dream; your passion; your love, that is definitely the right road. Keep at it. It is - as you are - a work in progress.

Now and again I get to witness a work in progress - tangible work that you can reach out and touch. I like to see buildings being erected - from foundation to ribbon-cutting or moving in. I just do. Maybe it stems from the whole heap o' construction projects my father had me involved in growing up. #swingbucket :-) So, anyway, when I saw the clearing of the property in Oakville for the new multi-level parking garage, I became excited. I took pics. Turns out, as I sorted this evening to showcase, that I took many. Here are a few, taken with BlackBerry Curve and PlayBook. I say that almost as though I have to make an excuse for the quality. Sigh. It is what it is. The Curve doesn't take excellent pics - mine doesn't even have a flash. Speaking of BB,  the company had so much potential at the start, eh? Now, they're cutting staff by 40 %; looking for a buyer...? I really hope this Canadian company will bounce back. Ok. Where was I?

Yes. The multi-level parking garage started in 2011. I don't quite remember which month, but, these pics start at December 1, 2011. Judging from where it stood at that time, I'm thinking work had begun sometime in summer 2011. Yes, I could look it up. But, why let the facts get in the way of my memory flow? Tee hee.

Thanks to excellent work by those construction workers, we now have a fine specimen of a 6-floor parking garage at Oakville GO station. When the garage finally opened in December 2012 - and, I parked there on the day of the first good snow (I think it was the day of that last pic) - it stood as a testament to something that, for almost a year, had been putting down roots.

December 2011

December 2011

February 2012

March 2012

April 2012

August 2012

August 2012

August 2012

August 2012

September 2012

October 2012

October 2012

October 2012

December 2012

Claudia
www.cyopro.com
www.twitter.com/cyopro

Of joy and sadness

My sis sent me her 'old' BlackBerry yesterday. It's in excellent condition and I really appreciated getting it - and told her so. Mine, an older version, was quite literally falling apart.

So, once I got some help figuring out where to put the chip - yes, I'm pretty tech savvy but it WAS that hidden - I was on my way!

I learnt this morning that three of Xena's puppies passed between yesterday and this morning. Drat. I...It just makes me a bit sad when I hear such news about the pups. But, I take heart in knowing that, even though I am not there to add my bit of care, my dad and mom are taking great care of them.

Stuff happens.


Claudia
www.cyopro.com
www.twitter.com/cyopro

iPad? Really, Steve?

And the hits just keep on coming!

I got more than a bellyful of laughs yesterday talking to my sis on the phone. (Just your regular ol’ BlackBerry. Nothing to see here, folks!)

She was conveying the quips that one of her fb friends kept rolling in, re the newly launched iPad. I was on the GO train and really couldn’t LOL! But, still, that didn’t keep the tears from brimming.

So, along the lines of:
• Well, Apple used to work hard at preventing leaks!
• Wireless. No strings attached. Period.
• Feeling bloated? There’s an app for that!
(Then he goes: “I’ll be here all week!”)

Another friend said something about the tablets, the excitement and the 10 commandments.

Personally, I think that it was a very creative move - capturing that middle-ground between laptop and iPhones. Apple now has representation from one end to the other (the ends we have in sight at the moment, anyway). Not so sure what the level of satisfaction is yet, however. (And that doesn’t mean I’m very keen on finding out.) As a friend of mine emailed last night, “I was intrigued until I realized it was just an oversized iPhone.”

I’m certainly not just going by that single take, but, I wonder whether there’s a collective yawn vs. a ka-ching! moment for Apple.

In the meantime, while we wait for the iPad to hit the market (and for the name to grow on the rest of us), have a go at your own quip, and check out a few others.

(Now the entire article is through subscription only? They sure worked fast, didn’t they?)

Claudia
www.cyopro.com
www.twitter.com/cyopro