About Court

This is Courtney Vallentyne's blog.

Quarterly Blog Update

So, it’s been an unintentional blog hiatus, the way these things sometimes happen.  Available time comes and goes, my estimation of how interesting I am goes up and down, and if these two things intersect at a low point, then that’s how you get no blog updates for over a month.

Still, here I am.  WordPress 3.8 came and with it a new blog theme, which I am sporting here just for fun.  Sometimes a new theme helps with the creative juices.  I kinda like it, let’s see how long it lasts.  Another benefit is the removal of that rather large, rather blurry header image I had been using of the dogs.  It was always meant to be replaced with something of better quality, but I never got around to it.  Go figure.

Anyway, here’s an update for you.  Recently Cael was reading something and he asked us “What’s a señor’s home?”  Nikki and I looked at each other, and had no idea until I looked at the word:  senior.  Pronunciation is important.

In the same vein, Quinn asked me “Dad, what’s vaganza?”  I naturally gave him my best parental blank stare, fervently hoping this wasn’t anything that would require “A Talk”.  He said, “yeah, this sentence here says is was an extra vaganza, what does that mean?”

So, people, remember that you can have a small amount of vaganza, but in general it’s always best to have extra vaganza on hand when you can arrange it.

So, in case I don’t get back to you here, have a fantastic holiday with all kinds of vaganza, and stay out of the señor’s home, but those señor’s discounts are pretty sweet sometimes.

Catnip for the 40-50 year olds

There’s a rapidly diminishing chance you haven’t seen this video yet if you are of a certain age.  For folks that enjoyed Led Zeppelin in their teenage years, this is pretty awesome stuff.  If you are older than that, well turn up your hearing aid and enjoy this.  If you are younger than that, get the hell off my lawn.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK_DOJa99oo#action=share

The associated story says this performance brought a tear to Robert Plant’s eye, which I can certainly empathize with.  Ann Wilson can still demolish those notes with ease, even if her range isn’t what it used to be.  Fantastic performance.

Saw this all over Facebook, cause I guess all of my friends are in the above-mentioned demographic.

 

School Recital

Ok, so I work for Microsoft, and as a result I’m obviously not the most unbiased source of this information, but this commercial is particularly well done.  I laughed, if only for the sheer silliness of the thing.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp567uaC7Bc&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DYp567uaC7Bc&nomobile=1

I recently had a chance to play with one of these babies, and I will say the camera is absolutely fantastic, without a doubt.

Cancer Patient Finishes Ironman while on Chemo, makes all of my “exercise achievements” irrelevant forever

So, in case you needed a hard objective look at just how few excuses there really are in life, allow me to present this kickass girl:

  • She had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January and half of her pancreas, stomach and gallbladder had to be removed. Statistics gave her only a 10-per-cent chance to live five more years.
  • just finished a round of chemo in January, going in for another one in September
  • (this one is just for me) is 50 years old, mother of two

Aaand then she proceeded to finish an Ironman triathlon on Sunday.  Not even her first Ironman, mind you.

So, it seems that she has earned the long sought after title of “Stupendous Badass”.  In other news, I have wasted my life and am currently handing over any integrity/honour/courage I may have thought I had.  Jebus, people.  That’s a tough cookie, I tip my hat to her.

Check it out on the CBC.

Bathroom dental floss

Image

Bathroom Dental FlossI’m not exactly sure who is going to use this dental floss. Its targeted at the guys who are very desperately worried about dental hygiene, but also flagrantly unconcerned about putting this stuff in your mouth in a public restroom. That’s gotta be a razor-thin market right there. Amiright?

Anyway, kudos to the management for worrying about my plaque.