The sad story of getting old.....

I think my body is trying to remind me that I am not 21 any longer...
My metabolism is slowing down (losing weight is becoming more and more difficult as opposed to gaining weight), I find out that I need more sleep and I am developing allergic reactions I didn't have in the past....
Up to now, I was under the impression I was allergic to only two things, atropine (used mostly as a local anaesthetic) and most likely pollen (since at certain times in spring and autumn I got running eyes.)
However, for the last 4 days I have not been feeling well, having nasal congestion, a burning sensation in my eyes and of course cough, which returned with a vengeance. At the beginning I thought I was coming down with the flu, but a friend of mine suggested to me to check for allergies. Since last year, (it was again at the end of May), I had exactly the same problem, and that was allergy, (the cure was a trip to Niagara Falls!), I decided to give it a try and I started taking anti-histamine pills....
Oh yeah, that was it! Now, I am breathing much better, my coughing "seizures" are reduced in number and intense, and I feel O.K, though a bit tired. But I still do not know what is causing it; it could be pollen, but that would mean that my tolerance to nature has decreased significantly.

Oh life.....

Things you find out....

I am not really a gamer, but I do enjoy playing at a PS console or a nice PC game whenever I have a chance. One of my favorite games is Civilization IV a strategy game, where you choose a civilization from the dawn of time (guess what ancient civilization I choose) and through diplomacy, war and technology you try to defeat rival civilizations.

One of the coolest things about this game (leaving aside Leonard Nimoy's narration or a certain individual's of our very own department voice participation) is the music. Especially the introductory theme is quite moving and uplifting. So, imagine my surprise when I did a search yesterday and found out that this song is actually the Lord's Prayer ("Our Father...") in Swahili! Now, I am not sure if a PC game is the proper place for the Lord's prayer to be heard, but why not? In any case, this is a remarkable product of evangelization.

The song ("Baba Yetu") can be downloaded from the composer's (Christopher Tin) site here. Check also "Coronation". Alternatively, you can listen to the original file (the version on the game is slightly different) here:


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Imagine that!

Strike me hot...

The Montréal transit workers decided to go on strike (although the Quebec government imposed the workers a 48 hour deadline that ends tomorrow, report from CBC here), so for the last couple of days, buses and metro are running only at specific hours.

Now, generally I do not have anything against people going on strike; people should have the right to work in decent conditions and to earn a decent salary. And a strike sometimes is the only way their message can get through ...(some very thick walls/people)

Just one question: why do they have to pick up the hottest days yet (we had about 30 C today) to go on strike? Why? This incident reminds me of the sudden TTC strike last year in Toronto. And guess what: That was a very hot and humid day as well.

Oh well, at least the comments left by my students on my TA evaluation really made my day. So, according to some of my students, I am "cute", the "most caring TA" and
charismatic".

O.K., now I am blushing.....

What? No T-shirt??

I just got an e-mail informing me that due to a mix up with the order, I will not get one of these nice Wug T-shirts that SLUM had them made for this year.
(After all these months.....)

Now, I am officially sad :( :(