3 Days ...

After my vacation to Jenn & Lee's Wedding!  I came home to work on my puzzle. I was going to get grey done!  Yes, I was committed ... until I actually started it.

It sucks.  I lasted a whole 3 days!  But look at what I accomplished (which wasn't much) ...

Just a little bit of the elephant

So, I have changed gears ... I'm going green!!  Leafy green, not grassy green. I have been making a lot of really good headway!  I forgot to do an update during the week (Wednesday or Thursday-ish?)  So here are the pictures from there

Around the big giraffe's head

Beside the lions

So, now here is the update to the update.  Since, I'm only missing a handful of the pieces, I'm pretty much done with the areas I have been working on.

Left side of the puzzle, I got lazy and didn't bother looking for the last 2 pieces in the middle

Part I of II

Part II of II

For the most part the trees and the greenery are now complete!

Right side of the puzzle

Just a note: I did end up working on some of the elephants, when I was working on the grey, I started to separate out some of the pieces (turns out it was the elephants on the right side).

Up next? The top corners!  Hopefully, those will be completed in a few days ... after that, I'll tackle the grassy green (bottom right hand corner) and then the 'box of miscellaneous dark pieces'.  I believe once those 3 items are completed ... then the large elephant will be worked on.  I hope it does not take 8-weeks like the blue did for the 9000 piece puzzle I did.

Giraffes ... completed!

Another puzzle update!  I had taken a break from the puzzle a couple of weeks ago because my sister-in-law visited from Vancouver and then just got lazy.  But this week I got back at it!  I have completed the giraffes as promised.

There are various pieces missing in various areas. Sorting through all of the pieces are starting to get tiring - I think I am about half done the puzzle ... so, there are still about 9000 other pieces to go.  I have not decided what to do next.  I may start with the 'trees' and other greenery. Stay tuned.

Oh! Zebras are more complete too!

Finished off the other zebra

Puzzle Update 2014!

Yes! The long awaited puzzle update!  How is it going? Well, I can tell you that I'm avoiding the very large elephant.  I'm going to probably try to do the entire rest of the puzzle before tackling that crazy thing! Since I've been unemployed, I've had plenty of time to work on it.  I got the lion's family pretty much completed ... as well as the *most* of the crocodile/alligator. I did some work on the 'smaller' elephant earlier before I was "Arnolded". There are just random pieces I find that I can place. I'm currently finding that this one is not as bad as the 9000 piece puzzle I did - less of the same colour. Its a very colourful puzzle and there are a lot of distinct looking 'areas'.  I say this now before I even attempt to tackle the large (similarly coloured) elephant.  By my estimates right now - I think I'm just over 50% completed. I'm not really sure though.

Next steps? Complete the giraffes. Zebras and then the rest of the 'green'.

Oh yah! You want pictures! So, I couldn't get the entire thing in with one picture (right now). So its in 2-parts.

Right, don't use those little foamy play mats.  They suck as puzzle place holders on the floor.

(I think I'm going to get some plywood to put the puzzle on soon)

Lion family - check!

Main body of the little elephant - legs not done (too much black)

Alligator/Crocodile - last 4 days of work!

Stop the bad news!

2014 hasn't really turned out to be a good year for me so far. However, we have some awesome good news. Crystal and I have a new addition to our family. Meet Brodie Jacob Leopold Marui!  (Yes, we actually gave him two middle names).

We adopted him from the Stratford-Perth Humane Society. He was born on August 23rd, 2010. According to the humane society, he is a Basset Hound, Welch Corgi mix.  However, with his colouring, we suspect there may be some German Shepherd in him.  He has a massive head and neck! So we needed to get a harness for him for his walks. He is well trained (sit, lay down, stay, high five) and house trained - yay! He loves to play with his squeaky toys and to run around the house with them. He seems to dislike water (puddles and rain), so I'm not sure how he is going to react with the pool. He is very friendly and seems to only want bite when he is in a playful mood.

Since I'm unemployed, I've been hanging out with the little guy. Crystal is a little jealous ;)

Queue the pictures!

For all of you puzzle fans out there ... I promise I will have a puzzle update in the next few days. I Promise - "Its not like I have anything else to do."

Not a rockstar ... But a one-hit wonder ...

A few weeks ago, I went to a mandatory meeting. The meeting was quick and brutal. After 9 years and about 8 months, BlackBerry terminated my employment.  I use the word "terminated" because that's what it says in the form letter in my package.

Luckily for Crystal and I, we have been quietly preparing for this.  So, no one should really be worrying about us.  Even though that I had really thought it was impossible for BlackBerry to actually let me go. But the impossible had happened (Hmmm, I should have really bought a lottery ticket that day).

Now, I would like to say that while I am very disappointed I didn't actually get to 10 years.  I'm actually not bitter at BlackBerry.  I really do not think I could be.  I still have a lot of friends there and I still hang out with them. So, I cannot hate the company that it turned out to be a simply a cost-cutting move. I still have a BlackBerry (Q10) and I absolutely love it! I had been using a Z10 for the last couple of years ... but I hated the touchscreen keyboard. The Q10's keyboard is one of the best (it reminds me of the old Bold 9000 or the Torch).

One of the things that people first ask me is, "Is BlackBerry going to make it?"  I can't really say.  Most of the work I was involved with did not contribute to the future product roadmap - so I actually really do not know.  I hope they do "make it."  I don't think they will be a dominate player like they were a decade (or so) ago.  But I still believe that the company will exist in some fashion.

I've been unemployed for a few weeks now and thus have a lot of free time on my hands. So, I've been working on my puzzle, going to baseball games, and doing a lot of housework. I'm not sure when I will start looking for work, or what my new job will look like. I'm looking at this as an opportunity for me to figure what I actually want to do next ... but for now, there will probably be lots of puzzle updates. Stay tuned ... maybe I'll actually finish this monster of a puzzle!

Thanks for all of the thoughts ...

Crystal and I would like to thank everyone.
We appreciate all of the kind words and actions by everyone.

Charley ...

Charlotte (Charley) Ann Marui passed away peacefully this morning.

She was a big Toronto Blue Jays fan like her dad.

She loved to nap like her mom.

She put up with a couple of crazy parents who would dress her up for Halloween ...

... and take her for Santa pictures (and join in on the fun)

Charley was loved.  Her parents were so blessed she came into their lives. Even though she occasionally pooped in the house.  We will miss her 'horsey' impression at the door, her getting up and loud head shaking at 3 am to go outside, 'snoozing' her, her 'sneaking' up to the dinner table for some human food, but most of all, we will miss the kisses she would give. She touched everyone she encountered. The house feels so empty without her.

We will all miss you. Rest in Peace baby.

He is back! ....

Dustin McGowan is to be activated tomorrow!!!!!!111

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-to-activate-mcgowan-on-saturday/

Its been 2 years since he pitched in the Majors.  So excited ... I should wear a McGowan jersey to the wedding tomorrow!

Puzzle Update

So, there has been a lack of updates about my puzzle.  Mainly because I haven't been working on my puzzle.  Its currently sitting in the basement, idling.  Maybe the cold winter months and the end of baseball will renew my interest in completing the puzzle.

Meanwhile, I ask you all this, is it wrong to dress up your dog for Halloween?  I say no.

Super Charley!!

Its like she has using her laser eyes!

Oh, for all you that don't know, we got a dog. Her name is Charley (if you didn't pick that up). She is 12 years old and we got her from the Guelph Humane Society. She is a  a lab-terrier.  She is not big (35 pounds), so don't let the picture deceive you!

Two Week Update

I missed last week because ... I was I up really late before taking my pictures.  For the most part the hippos are more complete.  I've also started with the rainbows. And the upper left corner.

The smaller hippo

Big Hippo!

Splashy elephant leg

Rainbows!!!

Week two brings a more complete rainbow.  Plus some official products of Keizo's Puzzling Time (tm)! I've also found that I'm looking through the pieces to location the 'random' pieces that are missing, like for the hippo.  I feel like I want to complete something ... errr, completely.

The upper left hand corner.  The rainbow is *mostly complete*

And LOOK Charleston Chew!  The official chew of Keizo's Puzzling Time (tm)!

And a BlackBerry!  The official smartphone of Keizo's Puzzling Time (tm)!

The smaller giraffe's head (since there was rainbow close by)

This is complete!  Except for around his ear! YAY!!

The other hippo!

Its the "Day After Tomorrow"!  The official movie of Keizo's Puzzling Time (tm)!! Since its been on every weekend for the last 4 weeks. Next weekend its on FX Canada!  Yay!

Hippos!

Finished most of the hippos.  It seems I need to pick through lots of pieces!  I think I've placed almost all of the purplish pieces.  I've needed to take separate pictures because its gotten too wide.

Alligator!

Big Hippo!

Elephant's leg with some splashy water!

Smaller hippo!

Damn TSN!

NHL playoffs are upon us! (Go Phoenix!)
And it seems all 3rd periods are sponsored by Mint Chip Klondike bars. I've seen so many commercials that I eventually NEED one (kinda like those Downy Un-Stoppables).

It took a couple of weeks of hunting and we finally found some at the Cambridge Zehrs!

Yay!

Boy this box is tricky

Need to get into it!

First bite!

Delicious!

Verdict: Yummy.

Late Update(s)

Its been a little while since I've update my progress on the puzzle. There was Easter and what not. I've also have a new camera and uploading pictures is far more difficult since I have to remove the SD card. I need an SD card reader.

I've moved things around and here is a picture of everything finished

Now, for the progress pictures. Just showing the incremental progress over the last 3-ish? weeks

Start with water splashy areas

Hippo!!

Attached the hippo to the alligator/crocodile

5 Months - 22 Days ... for What?

NOTHING! Absolutely nothing!

My 'Making the Playoff Beard' did NOT help the Leafs what-so-ever!!

Here is the faces of a Leaf fan during tonight's elimination game [Some (or all) of these pictures may have been staged .. haha]. Evil Keizo is dead ...!

Go Leafs Go!

What the hell was that first goal!?

Another tip in BY a defenceman! GAH!

It OVER! Makes me sad.

Say good bye to my little friend :(

Extension!!!!

Today the Blue Jays and Dustin McGowan agreed to a 2-year extension (with a club option for a 3rd year)!

This just goes to show how much the Blue Jays believe in him. Plus, sticking with him through thick and thicker.

Thanks Blue Jays. You made me a very very happy fan. Now, I'm definitely going to get a McGowan jersey (let's hope they don't screw it up).

Dustin McGowan Profile

One of my favourite Blue Jays blogs [Tao of Stieb] is doing 30 Jays in 30 Days.

Here is my favourite Blue Jay's profile!

Dustin McGowan

3 weeks, 2 days until season opener versus Cleveland!

Baseball is back baby! I need me some new Jays gear!