November

Have you ever been so convinced by someone's dopplegänger, even though your rational mind tells you it's highly unlikely to be them, that you stop the person and say “Jane?” Or not Jane, if it's a Joe or a Jim or a Judy, but you get my point. Well, I did that recently. And I acutally said “Jane?” because I thought this woman walking down the street in my neighbourhood was Jane Findley. Those of you who know her will be amazed when I say that here was a woman, taller than I, with short white hair, large blue eyes, and a confident walk that seemed so convincingly Jane-like that I was forced to reach out to her. Of course, I was immediately corrected as she pulled her arm away from me with something akin to distaste (not very Jane-like really) and went along her solitary way. She was listening to an iPod, so who knows what she thought I said to her?

Dopplegängers are very curious, don't you think? From the German words “doppel”, meaning “double” and “gänger” - “walker”, the dictionary describes it as: “the ghostly, or in some cases physical, double of a living person. In the vernacular, refers to any double or look-alike of a person, most commonly in reference to a so-called evil twin, or to bilocation.”

Apparently, I have several of these twins walking about. I have been told on more occasions than I care to remember that I look “just like” so-and-so, or have been told “I saw you go by yesterday”, only to correct the person with some other alibi. My guess is that I have fairly common features, and therefore, it is rather easy for me to look like a greater number of people. But Jane? She's not at all common in appearance. I would go so far as to say that she stands out in a crowd. This is why I was driven to stop a complete stranger on the street and call her “Jane”.

A less pleasant description of dopplegänger stems from myth: “Alternatively, the word is used to describe a phenomenon where you catch your own image out of the corner of your eye. In some traditions, seeing one's own doppelgänger is an omen of death. A doppelgänger seen by friends or relatives of a person may sometimes bring bad luck, or indicate an approaching illness or health problem.”

Obviously, I'm not superstitious, otherwise, I'd be asking someone to contact Jane and ask her how she's feeling, but I do find the notion of people who look so much alike as to mistaken for each other very curious. It's as though there are just so many molds with which to make a person that some tend to be used more often. Or, as I like to imagine for my case, some molds are preferred. ;)

To look at this from another perspective, having common features that I can also choose to look like a greater number of other people, ie; be someone else. Rather convenient for an actor, wouldn't you say? It's always a compliment to me when, after a show, someone will express great surprise at my appearance and say “Wow, I didn't recognize you in the show.” Maybe that's why I enjoy mask and clown so much. One really becomes a blank slate on which to paint a completely different picture. It can be quite liberating, not to mention fun!

Speaking of shows, I performed in a short play on the third and fourth this month. A play called “Bone China”; a snapshot moment between two sisters sitting in their parent's attic reminiscing while tentatively discussing the future in which one of them (my character's sister) will be dead of an inoperable brain tumour, leaving behind a three year old daughter that will not remember her. It's not as gloomy as it sounds; it is well balanced with humour and affection between the sisters and the director pointedly steered it away from a Disney tear-jerker, so I had good feelings about it. Our first performance was a little rocky at the start because my co-star panicked and dropped a page worth of lines – it's only a twenty minute play, so a page is signifigant, but I modified one of her lines and made it my own in order to get us back on track and we were fine after that, though not entirely happy. The second performance was good. A local critic asked me to contact him the next time I'm in a show, but he has a reputation of being a lecherous old coot, so I this was less of an honour than it would otherwise be.

In other entertainment news, I've finally broken down and submitted my resume and headshot to two local filmmakers who are known through a mutual friend. I won't tell you more about it until I hear back – if at all, because I'm a bit spooked by the idea of acting in front of a camera.. go figure.

I mentioned in our last update that the Qualcomm year-end party was coming up and that we had purchased vintage clothes for the event, so hence the picture. It was a fun, magician-themed night with a bit of fantasy thrown in by way of dueling knights who did a pretty good job weilding heavy broadswords at each other for our amusement. One of these days, we're going to discover that Qualcomm is an evil corporation bent on taking over the world and we'll look back at these events and go. “Uh huh. Just as we suspected.” It feels that way sometimes.

So, there you have it, a summary of highlights from October. We're planning to do American Thanksgiving with Phillip's soccer buddies this year – "the Sprouts". *snicker* Not much otherwise going on. We'll be in touch.

Woot, top post!

I did that just to bother Kat. We're sitting at an Open Mike at the local coffee shop listening to upstarts, wannabes, progressing artists ... and a few freaks. Normal offerings in North Park. Ooh. Opera. Mixed feelings about that one, truly not something I was expecting at a coffee shop.

I'm actually working. Obviously not as I write this, I'm writing between kicking things off and watching log files scroll by. I had to get the system to myself and night-time is the only chance I have to do that.

This weekend promises to be nothing but work. The Qualcomm Year End party is on Friday night, so that is the kind of work I don't mind. Just for the fun of it Kat and I decided to go retro this year and went to a place called Frock You! that deals in vintage clothing. Kat got a beautiful dress that looks like a 20s flapper dress (but we were assured was 60s, because they loved the 20s, that says something about cyclical fashion trends) and I picked up a suit circa 1940s, with suspenders and matching shirt. I decided to go without the tie, I'll be a crazy 1940s tieless rebel. I still have to go pick up a fedora to match the outfit, luckily there is the Village Hat Shop here in San Diego and has a wide range of hats to choose from. We'll have to post some pictures once we've gotten all dolled up. Kat looks stunning, as per normal :)

Sadly the rest of the weekend is me going in on Saturday to support a large release of new code, then being on call all Sunday for changes that are going through. Does it suck? Yes indeed it does.

I'll post a link to some pictures from six flags once I'm back on my own computer, I don't have them on the laptop. I must say that I managed a big Karma boost, I drove to six flags and sat outside the rides waiting while all the adrenaline freaks had their fixes. In my mind I was figuring out their wait:ride ratio, and it wasn't good. Assuming 2min per ride (and that is pretty generous) and five rides they went on the ratio was around 30:1. I did manage to get through the previous weeks Economist and half way through the new week, so not all was lost :P

The pictures are from a ride called Tatsu that looked ... well nausea inducing. They hung down from those supports and got thrown around a lot. You'll have to read from somebody who would enjoy that sort of thing a better explanation, I don't understand it. I did chat with a lady whose 70 year old husband was also in line to ride that thing, seems he had 'corrupted' the grand children into enjoying them. Given that our only common discussion point was a dislike of rides we didn't have a long conversation. Short sentences, sighs of common troubles, smirks of understanding, eye rolling, raised eyebrows, uncomfortable silences, shuffling, relieved partings.

Just in case people are wondering, the other guy in the photos is Todd, a friend from work. He really likes rides so he was more than happy to come along. Todd enjoys them, but I think Lisa tops that, she has a manic focus: she had a list of the top rides she wanted to go on. I felt like being part of themepark elite force: maximum rides, minimum time. go Go GO! I know some of you are pondering how somebody can manage a 'manic focus', she pulled it off, it's a little scary.
For those of you in Southern California, Todd's single, a really nice guy, and plays in a band. Heavy metal appreciation only.
The other person in the picture is Kat, you probably can't tell with all that hair in the way.

Links to pictures:

Lisa_visit_2006

When it Rains...

This is my favourite month, not only because of my second birthday (October 20th ) or “unbrithday” as I fondly call it, but because the weather becomes decidedly cooler and more serious. I should have followed my instincts the other day and taken a photo of the colourful leaves clinging gamely to a small oaky-looking sapling, but alas, after I returned, I forgot all about it. Until now, which means I'll feel obligated to go out there again and find that damn tree, just to prove to everyone that autumn happens here too.

Since last I wrote, gas prices in San Diego soared briefly to an all time high (in my experience) of 3.02 / gallon for premium, which is what we buy for the bikes. Gadzooks! Someone do the conversion on that. It must be nearly as expensive as buying gas in Canada!

I mentioned that my first one-act play was being read at a local festival and I must say, the event itself went quite well. We had a great audience, though because my script was read first, the actors were rather cold and it took a little while to get into rhythm. The woman I was most worried about (she didn't come to any rehearsals) proved my fears accurate by sitting very stiffly, leaving her hair in her face and reading like a computer. Oh well. One bit of feedback said that it was a “clever” play. Yay! I was going for clever and subtle. Phillip pointed out that I blew subtle out of the water. Heh. Well, one out of two isn't bad, right? If you'd like to read the script, you can email me. It's still a work in progress, so I'm you know... working on it.

Since then, I've started a new script for a ten minute play competition somewhere in middle America. They have posted their call for submissions with the theme of “Lone Shoe”. To explain, they are looking for short plays that might answer the question of those random shoes one sees every now and then, lonely and abandoned at the side of the road. Where did it come from? How did it get there? What's its story? I found the question amusing, so started writing. The deadline for submissions is February, so the Aspire Collective (the playwrights group I'm in) will be working on individual pieces that we can critique and edit before sending off. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

My dear friend of approximately twenty years, Lisa, came to stay with us for a week at the end of September and we had a great time. She was shown the usual San Diego attractions: Old Town, Little Italy, La Jolla, Balboa Park and the Zoo, Torrey Pines State Park and beach and we also drove up to Six Flags theme park. We also, of course, did some shopping and generally had a great time scooting around town and eating too much junk food. Good times. We highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to come south for a visit. That said, book soon! Phillip and I are planning a getaway at Christmastime to Las Vegas. Classic, no?

Lisa even came with me to the dentist where I had a cleaning appointment. Of course it was still regarded with trepidation, because rarely is a trip to the dentist JUST a cleaning for me. As feared, a cavity was discovered via x-ray, having formed underneath a very old filling. Because the old filling has to be removed, and the tooth beside it is already repaired and somewhat delicate, it will be a big, double crown job that will take two hours. This probably means I'll be in the torture-chair for at least three hours. Someone please just put me out out of my misery! I swear, I am starting to sympathize with my father's choice to have all his teeth pulled out.
Anyway, I hastily agreed to the first appointment I was given and skedaddled out of there. Unfortunately, when the day rolled around, I panicked and didn't go. Now we have a bill for seventy-five dollars for a “broken appointment”. Call me crazy, but that seems a little excessive to me. Yes, I broke an appointment, but bloody hell, I've spent more time in that office than many spend in pergatory and our insurance is literally tapped out for dentistry (over $2,500.00 at last count). That dentist is the devil and her staff are vile minions.

Last week, a new friend, Mary, invited me to a independent short-film premiere in which she starred. It was being presented at a hip new club downtown called “Thin” (entirely appropriate for the clubby girls of this city), but which won my heart by having eighteen year old Macallan's whiskey on the shelf. The bartender, seemingly surprised at actually selling an ounce of booze for fourteen dollars, poured me a double at no extra charge. Yay!

The film was cute and funny and Mary was hilarous – one of her special talents (revealed in the gag reels) is making her throat puff up like a bullfrog, I tell ya, this girl is going places. Anyway, we didn't get a chance to chat much, since she was busily working the room, so I finished my one drink and left with promises to call about a dozen people I barely know. Hopping on my scooter, I squinted into the maze of one-way streets in my search for the one that went North without being cut off by the highway.

Because of this confusion of directions, I made a mistake, turning left from a one-way onto what I thought was another one-way, but was in fact a normal street on which I was now the wrong side. I quickly corrected my mistake without any problems, since it was a relatively quiet Wednesday night. I would not have made the mistake if I had seen traffic going back and forth, but the only car on the road just then happened to be a police officer. He flashed his lights and made a U-turn, pulling up behind me. I was so surprised I did one of those “who, me?” gestures before pulling over. Big sigh.

The cop didn't buy my confused look, assuming I was playing dumb. (I was, but only a little.) The problem was that he accused me of being “impatient” about the pedestrians who had crossed in front of me before I turned into the left lane – legal, I remind you, if the street had been one way as I thought it was. I was being a “hothead on a motorbike” who was driving recklessly now. I was aghast at the injustice of his accusation. Really.

One of my rants about this city – Phillip will confirm this, is that drivers have no respect for pedestrians and routinely pull into an intersection while one is still crossing the street. One of the most impressive lessons from my driving course was to NEVER take your foot off the brake when a pedestrian is in front of your car. Now I was being accused of purposefully breaking the law because I couldn't wait for two people to cross in front of me. I insisted on being allowed to explain.

The officer had a poker face, so I gave him my explanation and papers (praying he wouldn't notice alcohol on my breath or the expired stickers on my plate) and waited while he disappeared into his car. When he came back, he explained that I had a court date in November and an unknown amount for a fine.

“So you didn't believe me when I said I made a mistake?” I asked glumly.

“I took your word for it and charged you for the lesser infraction.” Said Mr. Poker Face. I sighed.

So my very first traffic ticket EVER. Crossing the double line on a turn. Unknown ticket amount. Fourteen years of a perfect record down the tubes. Bleh. I'm going to fight it of course. I think one mistake on a quiet street hardly rates the over $250+ fine we're likely to pay – I asked a friend about the amount, and if anyone disagrees with me, I don't want to hear it. I'm not a hothead on a motorbike. Hell, I'm usually the pedestrian shaking my fist at the hotheads. I will let you all know how this little drama continues...

Halloween is fast approaching – my favourite day, and this year, Phillip and I are going “vintage”. Since Qualcomm is hosting its usual decadent bash this month, we decided to have a little fun with it and buy vintage clothing (not costumes) in which to attend. I am now the proud owner of a flapper-style dress – actually from the sixties, with delightful fringe down its length and rhinestone-decked straps, and Phillip is dashing in a grey pin-striped suit and suspenders with matching fedora. Snazzy! We'll take pictures.

Okay, I think I've gone on long enough. Thanks to those of you who replied to my last post. I apologize if I have not replied yet. I love to hear from you, it's just been like hills and valleys for me lately. Kisses all around!

K.

Streaming Audio at work Good or Evil?

I use it a lot so I can block out other people hallway conversations, and those who insist on having long speakerphone conversations with their doors open. I have co-workers who used to have speakerphone conversations when their offices were across the hall from each other. I could hear the echo of him saying it, then it coming out of her speakerphone. If they'd spoke a little loudly they could have done without the phone entirely.

The only reason this struck me was that I waited two minutes before going to a meeting so I could finish listening to Gordon Lightfoot's Canadian Railroad Trilogy. How could I not? That man has a way of writing very long songs :P The downside to tagging Gordon Lightfoot as a favourite is that Pandora keeps trying to make me listen to other artists like Jim Croce, who I have no interest in. Pandora is the free streaming music that Ben at work pointed me to, I used to listen to either Yahoo music or di.fm trance. The adds annoyed me for Yahoo music and Pandora has more options that pure trance from di.fm

Just finished watching a Train show, a corporate concert ... they played at a EMC corporate event that I happen to be at (EMC bought Documentum, the application I know very well). I heard from somebody in the audience that they were paid $25,000 to do the concert and they don't need to bring any of their own equipment. Nice job. They played a couple songs that I knew, then I left (yes, I left a free concert after it was halfway done).

Meet Virginia which oddly enough reminded me of An Emotional Fish song ... and I don't really remember where I heard of those guys, but I own the album (the An Emotional Fish album, not the Train album). I have to admit they knew the age of their audience because they played a cover of ramble on, sadly that was the one song I really enjoyed and hell, that song was released the same year I was born!

Most corporate events remind me of the scene from Roller Ball where the main character goes to a party for the rich corporate elite. Every time I go to one of these things (and that includes the Qualcomm Year End parties) I keep waiting for the revolution to happen and the poor to rise up and annihilate everyone. Too many bad sci-fi films in my youth.

Heh, I have to wonder why two of my references were from before I was nine.

Post From Anaheim
I now have access to the blog, bad things may happen.

I'm in Anaheim (if you couldn't figure that out from the title) for a Documentum conference. Last year it was in Las Vegas (woo!) this year it is in Anaheim (sounds of crickets). The only good thing is that I could take the motorcycle here instead of flying. One hour forty minutes of being on the bike and I find that I've stuff in my eye at 65mph (snuck under my full face helmet!) and loss of feeling in my hands. The benefit? I do love the smell of Southern California, and the ability to accelerate. By the way, for all of you thinking 'The smell of southern california?' you must come visit and get a good lungful when you get off the plan in San Diego.

Oh yeah, Disney Land is here ... and by here I mean three blocks away. I've been here three hours and if I see one more mickey mouse ballon, it's exceeded my kitch level for this year.

Good things about being in a hotel: Travel channel, and Adult Swim, and the joy of time shifting. Time shifting means that they play shows that usually end up at 1am EST at 10pm PST. Since I'm sitting in a hotel room very far away from anything interesting, I'm watching television. Isn't that what one does while doing business travel? Yes I could be checking my email and finding out the health of some of the systems I'm responsible for ... meh. The travel channel has grabbed my attention with travel to deep Indonesia and the islands of Java. I have to admit that some of the shots remind me of the cloud forest in Peru.

There was a chance of me heading off to Korea for work reasons, but that doesn't look like it is going to happen. I just found out that if I was to go I would need to do so in six days ... I'm not going to get a Visa in that short a time so it looks like it isn't going to happen. Brent (my immediate boss) has mentioned that I'll probably be able to sneak some travel in some time soon. I can wait.

A big hello out to Lincoln and Deb. They've arrived in London and they're getting all settled. Lincoln has met some VPs and Directors in Delloite and Touche. They've decided not to rent a more expensive flat near some green space because it is a little too expensive ... they're so self-centered. Where are Kat and I supposed to stay while we're there?

Why is everything that sounds yummy from Indonesia come with coconut milk?

Kat has asked me to link in some pictures from Peru, so here they

Peru Trip

Jul 11, 2006 - 103 Photos

Don't even say it. I know what you're thinking, and you're right. I agree wholeheartedly. Now that we've got that over with, let's move on...

I had a great visit in Ottawa and the Eastern Townships last month. The flight up was not great, despite my being cozily ensconced in buisniess class. You see, I have great difficulty sleeping on a plane, don't ask me why, though in this case, it may have had something to do with the snoring Japanese businessman beside me who reeked so badly of alchohol fumes, that I was glad that no one would be using a lighter onboard. *woosh!* I could picture it...

Anyway, Steph picked me up at the airport and I was only too happy to settle into the spare bedroom shortly after arrival to revive myself with a two-hour nap. Amazing what a few zzz's can do for one's mental alertness. Of course, I don't think Steph would have let me drive without it. ;)

It was nice to hang out for a few days, visiting and visiting, eating and visiting some more. There are babies galore and happy parents and granparents and me, the fabulous aunty. Heheh, I think I'll have cards made up. Everyone looked good and it was such a pleasure to be surrounded by friends and family again, if only for a short while.

I owe Steph a huge thanks *blows kisses* for the loan of the little Honda Civic ("it goes") to drive down East and all over Bolton Center, Mansonville, Stukely and beyond. It saved us a bundle of money and came with a book of CD's! "Blessed is the compact disc, for it shall deliver thee from the monotony of radio." On the way back to Ottawa, unfortunately, the weather was so terrible (BUCKETS of rain) that I could not spare the attention to change the disk for about two hours. As a result, Sarah McLaughlan's "Building a Mystery" album was etched into my brain for over a week after I got home. Poor Phillip was an innocent bystander and victim to my perpetual humming and did not go unscathed.

The flight back was much nicer, and it was good to come home to a husband (and a pooch) that missed me. Granted, Phillip was slightly less effusive in his greetings. He didn't try to lick my face even once. Scuttle was her usual self... "Oh. Were you away? I didn't notice."

The weather here has settled into a very pleasant string of days ranging in the mid to low 20's. Ahhhh! I must admit. The climate has grown on me, like a barnacle. No seriously, I remember when we first arrived saying "so what?!" about San Diego's fabled moderate temperatures, but now I gripe if it hovers too long near 30 or if I have to wear a sweater to go out at night. We're spoiled, I admit it. Still, that doesn't mean I don't miss the snow, but I think I've adopted Phillip's practical attitude; if we want, we can visit the snow.

Speaking of which, I don't know how many of you we've broken the news to, but after reviewing Phillip's time off schedule and our finances, we realize that we were hasty in our assertion that we would be visiting for Christmas this year, and for that, our apologies. As much as we'd both love to, it really isn't feasible this year. I'm bummed about this, for several reasons, as you might guess, but on the upside, we are going to be here for the cold months and throwing wide our doors to anyone who wishes to drop in for a visit. The only time we will be away will be a few days in December to go to Vegas for some shows, and then in March for Joan's birthday weekend in Florida. :) Looking forward to both!

Well, this has gone on long enough. I hope to hear back from you when you have a minute. Take care, be well!