Summertime, Living Is Easy

Well after being unemployed for five months I have started working at Home Hardware again. I was excited to be working again as I was running out of activities to keep me occupied throughout the day, but once I walked through the warehouse doors, I felt the life force be sucked out of me. After a week of being back I am already into some of my old habits, which include staying awake much later than I should and eating junk food late in the night as well. With the increasingly becoming better I will be back to commuting to work on my bike, and improvements to my diet and exercise routines.

As the weather works towards its peak it is time to plant the vegetable garden again this year. In 2010 I attempted, and succeeded rather well for my first attempt at growing vegetables and herbs, and combining the info I have read throughout the winter, and last years experience I know that 2011 can be more productive. This time round I will be sure to plant all forms of lettuce in succession so we have it available for a longer period, and will avoid planting potatoes as they failed to produce anything that was amazing. The biggest surprise for me was the carrots that were of exceptional quality, and I am looking forward to making a soup with them again. I am hoping that the cucumbers, zucchini, squash and tomatoes perform better this year as well. The biggest challenge with the garden I have planted, due to its size, is keeping control of the weeds. I managed to stay on top for the first half, but once summer reached its peak I lost all control, but managed what I could.

There is something incredibly rewarding at the end of the harvest season when you look back at all the fresh vegetables and herbs that you put you energy into, and the cost savings from not having to purchase them at the grocery store. It brings a smile to your face to know that you contributed to improving your health and the environment, and I find there are few other satisfactions in life.

Craig

Waterloo Region

I have been following the plans in Waterloo Region to improve the public transit and am encouraged and discouraged by its residents.

I am in support of the plans to include Light Rail Transit in the region, although I feel that their initial idea of running it from Conestoga Mall to Fairview Mall is not the ideal choice. If I were on the transit council my plan would be for the Light Rail to run from St.Jacobs(or the Farmers Market, with buses to St.Jacobs) to the Ainslie St terminal in Cambridge. This is one of the plans the the region has, but it comes with the highest cost for local taxpayers. I understand the frustration from Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig at not being included with the current semi-approved Light Rail plan, as rapid buses are to be in place from Fairview Mall to the Ainslie St terminal, with plans in the future to expand the rail line.

I am opposed to increasing transit only using buses as this comes with higher costs by having to increase the amount of roads we have. I feel the biggest issue is vehicles with one occupant, and in this situation that requires households to own more than one vehicle. If it is possible for residents to remove one vehicle it could save them thousands of dollars over the year through maintenance, fuel, and insurance. With this extra income they have the option to treat themselves to anything they want, holidays, house renovations, and have the monetary funds available when an emergency occurs.

The first step that needs to be taken in the Region is a central hub that connects buses, Light Rail, VIA Rail and GO Transit, which is currently in the works in Kitchener. Once this hub is built we will have the option to take VIA Rail to several cities on Southwestern Ontario and as far East as Montreal, which can then connect to other cities. By having this option we can hop on a bus at a stop, hopefully only a short distance from our doorstep, to the central hub, and if anyone works in the GTA they can transfer to the GO Train. From this hub I would also like to see the GO Train or VIA Rail have a link to Pearson International Airport, Waterloo Regional International Airport and London Airport. Currently the only transportation options residents of Waterloo have to airports are from a family member, friend and Airways Transit/Taxi. When a friend or family drives you it is convenient but it can become tiresome after a while if you fly frequently, and the cost from Airways Transit/Taxis is too high in my personal opinion, so I would like to have a cost effective option with convenience.

While the Region works on improving the public transit they need to improve the other methods of moving about the city, by this I mean better maintained sidewalks and increased bicycle lanes. Obviously with these improvements safety comes into question, and I feel confident that Waterloo will do a good job. Having read a few statements from people concerned about taking the small town charm from the cities that make up Waterloo Region I understand their concern when it comes to improving transit by installing Light Rail, but we also need to look at the major employers currently operating here. Of the three highest employers two are involved with investing and insurance, while the third is in the Information Technology business and is known around the world for its innovation, and with these three companies operating here I feel that the small town charm has gone, so why not move forward and embrace what the Region can offer its future residents without harming the current ones. I am looking forward to what the Region implements, but it is up the its residents, and if you disappoint the residents they will move from the Region and advise others to do the same or convince people to not move here.

This will be my first full year living in Waterloo Region with my partner, and I am looking forward to it even if it comes across in some of my posts and potentially not enjoying it. I shall participate in the events hosted by each city throughout the year and am looking forward to new events coming to the area. If you would like anymore info here are a few websites to better inform you:

Pro LRT - Tri-Cities Transport Action Group

Opposed to LRT - Taxpayers for Sensible Transit

Region of Waterloo - Rapid Transit Info

What are your thoughts on the future plans the Region has in store, and what is something you would like to see come to the Region or for councilors to change or implement?

Craig

Blog Inspiration

The inspiration for this blog came from my love of earth, air, fire and water, hence the Elemental in the title. As for the alchemy well that's drawn from my interest in the fantasy genre from novels, history and video games. If it were not for the elements, alchemy would never have been attempted, and I feel alchemy is the precursor to modern day sciences like chemistry, biology and psychology.