Samantha Lundin Thom

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC7MH3EzBWM]

I’ve done a little research to learn more about the Japanese tradition of using furoshiki to wrap purchases, use as a bag, or for gift wrapping. These cloths can be folded in a multitude of ways to carry anything. The Japanese Minister for the Environment is now calling for a return to this Japanese tradition to reduce the amount of plastic bags being consumed. I saw one site that quoted Japan uses 30 billion plastic bags annually. Just think of how many we must use here in Canada.

I like furoshiki better than the current Canadian craze for post-consumer pop-bottle fabric bags because they are more compact to bring along on errand day and much more versatile. Check out furoshiki.com for more details. Plus, here’s a very informative video showing three different folding options for everyday use.

Click on the “Our Wedding” tab above to read about the latest wedding news.

I’ve just spent two weeks in Ottawa and Kingston and have had a wonderful time soaking up the things I miss so much about home. This includes friends and family (of course), excellent cuisine accessible at even the most unlikely of places; Thunderstorms; White Pine Trees - soooo majestic; the soft and pink granite curves of the Canadian Shield; the smell of clover in the air; fresh corn on the cob; fresh tomatoes; Lakes, Lakes, Lakes, and more Lakes, canals, and rivers… But I never would have appreciated these things as much if I hadn’t become a BC resident.

I’ve posted the rest of my photos on my flickr account, so if you want to see more, you’ll have to register as one of my “friends”. You can write me to find out more about how to do that.

Click on the “Our Wedding” tab above, find and read my comment about RSVPs, then post a comment to let us know if you will be coming to Vegas with us.

My friend Julia came up to the Nass for a visit this weekend. We showed her a brief tour of the valley and took her to Fishery Bay, where everyone is gearing up for the imminent oolichan run. We finally have some warmer weather and the rain is starting to eat away at the mounds of snow still covering the landscape.

The Nisga’a Nation may be small and remote, but we’ve got our own UNBC satellite campus. I’m taking Biology 101 to convert my teaching certificate from Ontario to BC. The course is being taught by a colleague of mine and we’re having a lot of fun. There are 4 students in my class - what a ratio!

The labs are so much fun! watch out! that starch solution is more dangerous than it looks!

If you haven’t heard yet, Peter and I are engaged! He proposed at the perfect moment during a quiet New Year’s Eve dinner at Octopus Garden in Vancouver. This is one of our favourite sushi restaurants and Peter asked Sada, the suchi chef to ask me in Japanese! It was a lot of fun.

We’ve now set the date for August 9, 2008 in Las Vegas. I’ll keep you posted with ideas we’re bouncing around.

On February 13, 2007, my brother Murray’s company D-Wave demonstrated their new Quantum Computer. It is the most powerful computer in existence. Murray is heavily involved with engineering the device’s structure with the dilution fridge, and the connection of the microchip. The UK Register has an excellent and intellectually accessible article that explains the significance of this technology. These two photos show two pars of the computer that have Murray’s latex-gloved fingerprints all over them.

hi everyone… i’m finally starting to work on creating a personal blog. i can’t wait to share my ‘happenings’ with you…