is a big day for me.
and for my mastercard.
so good news on the knee front. I haven't heard back from the city yet about where they stand with my accident - but I did receive a letter from WSIB when I got home on Sunday night and it states that WSIB has allowed my claim for health benefits. Something completely unexpected.
When we're injured at work, we automatically fill out the WSIB form 6 - so that our company has an incident report. I didn't know that it would be filed and processed with WSIB as an official claim. And on top of that, I had NO idea that WSIB would even care should they receive my documents, as I wasn't out any work due to my injuries...i was just 'gimpy' (according to most co-workers) for two weeks. :p
So good news for me. I can be covered for 12 weeks of FULL physiotherapy. Isn't that incredible?
I feel so incredibly blessed - as I was never expecting this.
Thank you God!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
NZ: a country unlikely to make the world headlines
Except for lately.
I should technically be in NZ right now - about 1.5months into my backpacking adventure. If I had left at the beginning of September, as originally thought before the extension of my current work contract - I would have experienced the three following events (well, probably a lot more...but these have made headlines!)
1. September 26th, 2007. Mt. Ruapehu erupts without warning, luckily only injuring one person. (A Natioanl Geographic video of the event can be found here.)
2. October 15th, 2007. A large anti-terror raid is undertaken in different cities throughout New Zealand. This will be something that I will follow up with, as more information becomes available. Basically, at the moment, the information states that a multiple city police raid has taken place, and some arrests have been made under the arms act - but these arrests may be upgraded, and NZ police may use the Suppression of Terrorism Act for the first time.
Since I don't know much more than what has been published by different news casts, please click to some of the following links to read some initial information about this widespread raid.
- The Sydney Morning Herald
- BBC
- Stuff.co.nz
- SBS World News Australia
It's quite a scary situation - should the intention behing those arrested honestly be a full scale attack on various cities in NZ. Those targeted in the arrests are the Maori sovereignty and environmental activists. There is police surveilance footage of "military-style training exercise with live ammunition being fired in mountainous terrain."
I was half asleep on the couch when I saw the tail end of a news clip on BBC last night. But I woke up quick enough when I began to hear more about it.
I'm three days away from buying my ticket to NZ. And now I'm in a lull about the safety of what once was a very quiet country.
3. October 16th, 2007. A series of two 6.0 and greater earthquakes roll through the south island.
Bloomberg.com reports:
"New Zealand's South Island Struck by Two Earthquakes (Update3)
By Aaron Sheldrick and Bryan Lysaght
Oct. 16 (Bloomberg) -- New Zealand's South Island was hit by two earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater, the U.S. Geological Survey said on its Web site. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
A magnitude-6 quake struck 95 kilometers (59 miles) west- northwest of Queenstown at 10:28 a.m. local time today at a depth of 39 kilometers, the USGS said. Another quake, of magnitude 6.8, struck about nine hours earlier, 103 kilometers west-northwest of Queenstown. That quake was 25 kilometers deep.
There were no reports of casualties or damage, a Queenstown police sapokesman said by telephone after the first quake.
New Zealand lies in a zone where the Indo-Australian and Pacific tectonic plates meet. Quakes occur as the plates push together and tremors of magnitude 5 and higher can cause damage depending on their depth.
There was no tsunami threat to coastlines along the Pacific Ocean, the U.S. government's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said on its Web site after the bigger tremor. It added that local tsunami were possible within a few hundred kilometers of the quake. There were no reports of any.
A magnitude-7.4 quake struck near New Zealand's Auckland Islands on Sept. 30. The country has as many as 15,000 earthquakes a year and the biggest since instrumental recording began was a magnitude-7.8 temblor in 1931 in Hawke's Bay, according to the USGS Web site. "
Yes - did you see that. NZ is hit with approx FIFTEEN THOUSAND earthquakes every year. And they don't seem to all be such baby tremors.
I'm praying for this country. More so for peace within the people of the land.
I should technically be in NZ right now - about 1.5months into my backpacking adventure. If I had left at the beginning of September, as originally thought before the extension of my current work contract - I would have experienced the three following events (well, probably a lot more...but these have made headlines!)
1. September 26th, 2007. Mt. Ruapehu erupts without warning, luckily only injuring one person. (A Natioanl Geographic video of the event can be found here.)
2. October 15th, 2007. A large anti-terror raid is undertaken in different cities throughout New Zealand. This will be something that I will follow up with, as more information becomes available. Basically, at the moment, the information states that a multiple city police raid has taken place, and some arrests have been made under the arms act - but these arrests may be upgraded, and NZ police may use the Suppression of Terrorism Act for the first time.
Since I don't know much more than what has been published by different news casts, please click to some of the following links to read some initial information about this widespread raid.
- The Sydney Morning Herald
- BBC
- Stuff.co.nz
- SBS World News Australia
It's quite a scary situation - should the intention behing those arrested honestly be a full scale attack on various cities in NZ. Those targeted in the arrests are the Maori sovereignty and environmental activists. There is police surveilance footage of "military-style training exercise with live ammunition being fired in mountainous terrain."
I was half asleep on the couch when I saw the tail end of a news clip on BBC last night. But I woke up quick enough when I began to hear more about it.
I'm three days away from buying my ticket to NZ. And now I'm in a lull about the safety of what once was a very quiet country.
3. October 16th, 2007. A series of two 6.0 and greater earthquakes roll through the south island.
Bloomberg.com reports:
"New Zealand's South Island Struck by Two Earthquakes (Update3)
By Aaron Sheldrick and Bryan Lysaght
Oct. 16 (Bloomberg) -- New Zealand's South Island was hit by two earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater, the U.S. Geological Survey said on its Web site. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
A magnitude-6 quake struck 95 kilometers (59 miles) west- northwest of Queenstown at 10:28 a.m. local time today at a depth of 39 kilometers, the USGS said. Another quake, of magnitude 6.8, struck about nine hours earlier, 103 kilometers west-northwest of Queenstown. That quake was 25 kilometers deep.
There were no reports of casualties or damage, a Queenstown police sapokesman said by telephone after the first quake.
New Zealand lies in a zone where the Indo-Australian and Pacific tectonic plates meet. Quakes occur as the plates push together and tremors of magnitude 5 and higher can cause damage depending on their depth.
There was no tsunami threat to coastlines along the Pacific Ocean, the U.S. government's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said on its Web site after the bigger tremor. It added that local tsunami were possible within a few hundred kilometers of the quake. There were no reports of any.
A magnitude-7.4 quake struck near New Zealand's Auckland Islands on Sept. 30. The country has as many as 15,000 earthquakes a year and the biggest since instrumental recording began was a magnitude-7.8 temblor in 1931 in Hawke's Bay, according to the USGS Web site. "
Yes - did you see that. NZ is hit with approx FIFTEEN THOUSAND earthquakes every year. And they don't seem to all be such baby tremors.
I'm praying for this country. More so for peace within the people of the land.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Step two & three.
2. Buy ticket. Friday. Oct 19.
3. Passport application - hand in. Monday. Oct 22.
Found - boots that i might want. A possible clothing solution to my inability to fit into clothing found at the three outdoor adventure stores in the King/Spadina area.
Not found yet - good gore-tex pants. GPS system. My soon to be portable kitchen.
Upcoming...
I) Make appt with travel clinic - discuss/book vaccinations.
II) VISA application - email questions and hand it in come January 2008.
III) Trip planning...
IV) First Aid certification, CPR Training and Outdoor Survival weekend course. :)
3. Passport application - hand in. Monday. Oct 22.
Found - boots that i might want. A possible clothing solution to my inability to fit into clothing found at the three outdoor adventure stores in the King/Spadina area.
Not found yet - good gore-tex pants. GPS system. My soon to be portable kitchen.
Upcoming...
I) Make appt with travel clinic - discuss/book vaccinations.
II) VISA application - email questions and hand it in come January 2008.
III) Trip planning...
IV) First Aid certification, CPR Training and Outdoor Survival weekend course. :)
Sunday, October 7, 2007
step one: passport photo. Check.
So I got my horrible passport photo taken today. Which I kind of laugh about - cause I plan on chopping off my hair before my trip - and passport canada does advise sending a new picture in...but I don't know if i'm really going to abide by this suggestion. My face isn't changing.
Anyway. We (my mother, grandmother and myself) get to Walmart to get this lavish photo taken.
Our first obstacle. Rules.
What NOT to wear for picture. White shirt, hooded sweatshirt, tank top...and the list went on.
What did I have on? A hooded top (which I was going to take off) a white 3/4" sleeve shirt with a blue tank top underneath.
Where did these restrictions come from?
Anyway - we ended up leaving, shopping, and i found a shirt to make do and get this thing over with.
I do not particularly enjoy my ears. They stick out. I don't actually know why i want to cut my hair short considering my slight problem with my ears. Anyway - but you have to tuck your hair behind your ears and behind your shoulders - so as to expose the most of your face to the photograph. Yuck.
They took three pictures. The first was nixed because it made me look too pale apparently - but my mom said it looked nice. The second lost out because i cracked a stinkin' smile. And the third, the charmer, the convict looking photo was the winner.
Ew.
Seriously. I've had one friend with a really nice passport photo - Magali. She had this beautiful picture of her, I think it was on her France passport. Never will I pull off that kind of a look for a passport.
Yeah.
So - it's done. What can I do? Cry...or just not care. Despite the fact that all of New Zealand will be looking at this - as it will be the one document most used to identify myself abroad.
So - NZ. First step - get in the passport. We have to apply for the Work Holiday Visas as of January 1st - they only issue 2000 to Canadians a year - and I'm not waiting to be ousted come July.
Tickets for the flight...looking into a one way now from Toronto --> Vancouver --> Auckland (thanks to Air New Zealand opening up a non stop flight from Vancouver to Auckland recently). Best price - July 27th, 2008...964$ plus taxes. I think it's just over $1,100.00 CDN.
I think I'll be booking this ticket shortly.
You need the passport AND the ticket booked BEFORE you can apply for the Visa.
One step closer.
My parents (well, my mother - father dropped her off in front of the building) picked up new application forms and information at the New Zealand Consulate office in Ottawa before leaving last week. Wonderful.
NZ's been majorly on my mind this weekend. I'm excited. I'm also getting anxious.
I'm going to be honest here - I have realized recently that I really don't like time. It's more so time pressures. The moment a time frame is stamped on something I see it as a countdown - and it freaks me out. When we went to Wonderland in my youth, I remember going on a day where it was open for like 12 or more hours. I think at the 8hour mark I was already saying "oh man, we ONLY HAVE 8 hours left". EIGHT HOURS??? That's a lot of time.
But it's suffocating. Time pressures that is. And it's good to be honest about it with myself.
It can simply make me anxious. So for the most part, I try to avoid planning really strictly time events. I also avoid watches.
This might sound ridiculous considering I have almost a full year in New Zealand. But - the thing is that we are walking the entire country - so you have to take that into account when planning out travel times. The walking is a challenge to me, to my knees and also an economically sound option. It saves a great deal on travel costs - which can kill a budget very quickly.
So, to avoid having any anxiety about timing out this one year journey...I have to plan this trip with no worries...just loose plans with monthly goals of where I want to be when. And really - the only place I know I need to be at a certain time is the Southern Alps - which we NEED to do during the summer months of New Zealand - for safety reasons.
Other than that - we walk, we try the best we can to get where we need to be, roughly when we need to be there.
The end.
My knee is still sore and feeling a bit off. My grandfather mentioned that I should speak to an orthopedic surgeon about my knees to see if they suggest fluid injections for my knees - a procedure the sports medicine specialist told me was not an options. But then again, he wouldn't be authorized to do such a procedure. So - i will be talking to my family doctor about looking into this referal. This might be a positive step towards stronger knees.
Also - I think my parents are going to push towards getting me orthotics for Christmas. My dad recently purchased a pair to help with his step - and he has seen great improvements in pain relief (basically, he no longer feels pain!!). A good idea for me for NZ. I was already told twice i would need them by medical practitioners.
Some things that a medical practitioner tells you - is a mere suggestion. Yes, to improve a situation currently being experienced. But man - if you're not covered by some sort of insurance plan - these options fall out of possibility very quickly. Cost. I'd rather spend $400.00 on supplies - like good hiking boots, pots/kitchen stuff, pack lock, hydro sacks and gortex pants.
I'd rather.
My knees - probably couldn't care less if I get the hydro sacks. And I do have to listen to my knees while I'm on this journey.
Why does everything come down to a dollar amount. It's almost irritating.
9.5 months to go.
It will sound more official when I purchase the ticket and start counting down the days.
Oh - and this type of countdown doesn't stress me out. I'm rather excited about this adventure. It couldn't come fast enough.
:o)
Anyway. We (my mother, grandmother and myself) get to Walmart to get this lavish photo taken.
Our first obstacle. Rules.
What NOT to wear for picture. White shirt, hooded sweatshirt, tank top...and the list went on.
What did I have on? A hooded top (which I was going to take off) a white 3/4" sleeve shirt with a blue tank top underneath.
Where did these restrictions come from?
Anyway - we ended up leaving, shopping, and i found a shirt to make do and get this thing over with.
I do not particularly enjoy my ears. They stick out. I don't actually know why i want to cut my hair short considering my slight problem with my ears. Anyway - but you have to tuck your hair behind your ears and behind your shoulders - so as to expose the most of your face to the photograph. Yuck.
They took three pictures. The first was nixed because it made me look too pale apparently - but my mom said it looked nice. The second lost out because i cracked a stinkin' smile. And the third, the charmer, the convict looking photo was the winner.
Ew.
Seriously. I've had one friend with a really nice passport photo - Magali. She had this beautiful picture of her, I think it was on her France passport. Never will I pull off that kind of a look for a passport.
Yeah.
So - it's done. What can I do? Cry...or just not care. Despite the fact that all of New Zealand will be looking at this - as it will be the one document most used to identify myself abroad.
So - NZ. First step - get in the passport. We have to apply for the Work Holiday Visas as of January 1st - they only issue 2000 to Canadians a year - and I'm not waiting to be ousted come July.
Tickets for the flight...looking into a one way now from Toronto --> Vancouver --> Auckland (thanks to Air New Zealand opening up a non stop flight from Vancouver to Auckland recently). Best price - July 27th, 2008...964$ plus taxes. I think it's just over $1,100.00 CDN.
I think I'll be booking this ticket shortly.
You need the passport AND the ticket booked BEFORE you can apply for the Visa.
One step closer.
My parents (well, my mother - father dropped her off in front of the building) picked up new application forms and information at the New Zealand Consulate office in Ottawa before leaving last week. Wonderful.
NZ's been majorly on my mind this weekend. I'm excited. I'm also getting anxious.
I'm going to be honest here - I have realized recently that I really don't like time. It's more so time pressures. The moment a time frame is stamped on something I see it as a countdown - and it freaks me out. When we went to Wonderland in my youth, I remember going on a day where it was open for like 12 or more hours. I think at the 8hour mark I was already saying "oh man, we ONLY HAVE 8 hours left". EIGHT HOURS??? That's a lot of time.
But it's suffocating. Time pressures that is. And it's good to be honest about it with myself.
It can simply make me anxious. So for the most part, I try to avoid planning really strictly time events. I also avoid watches.
This might sound ridiculous considering I have almost a full year in New Zealand. But - the thing is that we are walking the entire country - so you have to take that into account when planning out travel times. The walking is a challenge to me, to my knees and also an economically sound option. It saves a great deal on travel costs - which can kill a budget very quickly.
So, to avoid having any anxiety about timing out this one year journey...I have to plan this trip with no worries...just loose plans with monthly goals of where I want to be when. And really - the only place I know I need to be at a certain time is the Southern Alps - which we NEED to do during the summer months of New Zealand - for safety reasons.
Other than that - we walk, we try the best we can to get where we need to be, roughly when we need to be there.
The end.
My knee is still sore and feeling a bit off. My grandfather mentioned that I should speak to an orthopedic surgeon about my knees to see if they suggest fluid injections for my knees - a procedure the sports medicine specialist told me was not an options. But then again, he wouldn't be authorized to do such a procedure. So - i will be talking to my family doctor about looking into this referal. This might be a positive step towards stronger knees.
Also - I think my parents are going to push towards getting me orthotics for Christmas. My dad recently purchased a pair to help with his step - and he has seen great improvements in pain relief (basically, he no longer feels pain!!). A good idea for me for NZ. I was already told twice i would need them by medical practitioners.
Some things that a medical practitioner tells you - is a mere suggestion. Yes, to improve a situation currently being experienced. But man - if you're not covered by some sort of insurance plan - these options fall out of possibility very quickly. Cost. I'd rather spend $400.00 on supplies - like good hiking boots, pots/kitchen stuff, pack lock, hydro sacks and gortex pants.
I'd rather.
My knees - probably couldn't care less if I get the hydro sacks. And I do have to listen to my knees while I'm on this journey.
Why does everything come down to a dollar amount. It's almost irritating.
9.5 months to go.
It will sound more official when I purchase the ticket and start counting down the days.
Oh - and this type of countdown doesn't stress me out. I'm rather excited about this adventure. It couldn't come fast enough.
:o)
Friday, October 5, 2007
do you think...
...someone would want to sponsor me (a travel buff? a travel magazine?) for writing about our journey in New Zealand? It's been suggested to me by a few people now. What if this would be a way to lock down extra finances - in exchange for daily writings.
I'm not an exceptional writer...in the least. But I do plan on blogging about this whole trip and journaling everything.
We're tramping the entire country. Taking a two week break in Vanuatu. Treking through China for another two weeks before a pit stop with the pandas and back home on a jet plane.
I'd read about that.
My knee specialist will scold me on Wednesday the 10th, when I meet with him to fix my new injury. I have yet to commit to physiotherapy - mainly due to lack of finances to support 75$/session 3-4 times a week. Uh...Excuse me?
Hopefully i'll be fit with good knee braces to help with the trip.
Hopefully, my knees will get stronger and better. :o)
I'm not an exceptional writer...in the least. But I do plan on blogging about this whole trip and journaling everything.
We're tramping the entire country. Taking a two week break in Vanuatu. Treking through China for another two weeks before a pit stop with the pandas and back home on a jet plane.
I'd read about that.
My knee specialist will scold me on Wednesday the 10th, when I meet with him to fix my new injury. I have yet to commit to physiotherapy - mainly due to lack of finances to support 75$/session 3-4 times a week. Uh...Excuse me?
Hopefully i'll be fit with good knee braces to help with the trip.
Hopefully, my knees will get stronger and better. :o)
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Passports: the fast track way.
So - there's a new way to apply for your Canadian Passport. You can 'fast track' your application. This basically means you don't have to go through the whole process of getting documents signed by guarantors and such (which can be a pain in the butt sometimes).
Doesn't that sound wonderful?
Basically, as long as you have a passport that was issued after January 31st, 2002, you can apply with this fast track form.
Kicker?
My last passport was issued on January 27th, 2002.
Dag-nabbit.
I go for passport pictures this Saturday. :)
The VISA applications are to be submitted in January of 2008.
Plane ticket proof is required prior to VISA application - which means - the trip will be booked by end of year, 2007.
Amazing.
Looks like it's almost official.
On the down side. I busted my knee on Monday with a fall. There is inner swelling. It is sparking a whole new physiotherapy debate. Due to the lack of fluid and cartiledge in my knee joint (long story) - there is no protection for my knee. So after my fall, my joint swelled up internally. Not a fun feeling. :(
Let's pray that my knees are still good to go for the trip come the summer.
Doesn't that sound wonderful?
Basically, as long as you have a passport that was issued after January 31st, 2002, you can apply with this fast track form.
Kicker?
My last passport was issued on January 27th, 2002.
Dag-nabbit.
I go for passport pictures this Saturday. :)
The VISA applications are to be submitted in January of 2008.
Plane ticket proof is required prior to VISA application - which means - the trip will be booked by end of year, 2007.
Amazing.
Looks like it's almost official.
On the down side. I busted my knee on Monday with a fall. There is inner swelling. It is sparking a whole new physiotherapy debate. Due to the lack of fluid and cartiledge in my knee joint (long story) - there is no protection for my knee. So after my fall, my joint swelled up internally. Not a fun feeling. :(
Let's pray that my knees are still good to go for the trip come the summer.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Sometime in July...
...of next year. I'll ACTUALLY BE ON A PLANE HEADING FOR NEW ZEALAND.
My heart aches for the departure date.
My film contract was extended until end of December. Praise God for financial provision. THANK YOU.
Leaving in January isn't the best idea for me - as my plan does not really allow for safe travels during the winter months for NZ. Most trails are closed from May through July due to winter conditions that are dangerous for trampers.
So I will be tramping through the North Island for the end of their winter, and by the time I hit the south island, all will be well.
I have a year to map out the journey and start saving for the next two expensive purchases - a PLB and a GPS unit (maybe).
By December, I will have the finances set aside 100% for this trip. I hope to find a temp film contract to get me through January through the end of May. Then I will spend the next month and a half storing, visiting, prepping and leaving. :)
Also in this time, i plan to investigate the condition of my knees a little bit further. I do have a really great set of walking poles with shock absorption, but none the less, good knee braces and proper physio (if that can truly exist at a cheaper price than 80$/hr 3-4 times a week) will do me wonders.
On a side health care note - i'd like to say how appauled I am that OHIP has removed physio as a covered medical treatment unless you spend a night in the hospital. No offense - but I didn't ask for my knees to be without fluid and grinding themselves to oblivion with apparently no real solution until basically the bones destroy one another. To me - that's a condition that I didn't really ask for - and it probably should be covered by OHIP in some way.
Dang it.
Oh well - I'm still hoping that training will help develop more muscle protection/support for my knees. :(
My heart aches for the departure date.
My film contract was extended until end of December. Praise God for financial provision. THANK YOU.
Leaving in January isn't the best idea for me - as my plan does not really allow for safe travels during the winter months for NZ. Most trails are closed from May through July due to winter conditions that are dangerous for trampers.
So I will be tramping through the North Island for the end of their winter, and by the time I hit the south island, all will be well.
I have a year to map out the journey and start saving for the next two expensive purchases - a PLB and a GPS unit (maybe).
By December, I will have the finances set aside 100% for this trip. I hope to find a temp film contract to get me through January through the end of May. Then I will spend the next month and a half storing, visiting, prepping and leaving. :)
Also in this time, i plan to investigate the condition of my knees a little bit further. I do have a really great set of walking poles with shock absorption, but none the less, good knee braces and proper physio (if that can truly exist at a cheaper price than 80$/hr 3-4 times a week) will do me wonders.
On a side health care note - i'd like to say how appauled I am that OHIP has removed physio as a covered medical treatment unless you spend a night in the hospital. No offense - but I didn't ask for my knees to be without fluid and grinding themselves to oblivion with apparently no real solution until basically the bones destroy one another. To me - that's a condition that I didn't really ask for - and it probably should be covered by OHIP in some way.
Dang it.
Oh well - I'm still hoping that training will help develop more muscle protection/support for my knees. :(
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