Observations
In my last update, I mentioned that I had more thoughts to write down, but since the post was getting quite long, I decided to wait for the new year to share them with you. I hope there is some, small, token anticipation, though not so much that you are disappointed with what I have to offer.
Anticipation is a tricky thing; it's often enjoyable because we can imagine a happy outcome, a reward, you might say, for our patience. Yet other times, it can be downright awful – I'm not talking about dreading something, not that kind of anticipation – I'm talking about anticipation that grows out of proportion to whatever it is you are waiting for, so that when the time finally arrives, you are buzzing with it, positively bursting, but the long-awaited reward turns out to be unsatisfactory and you are left feeling deflated and unhappy. One could argue of course, that it isn't the anticipation itself that is at fault, but the resulting negative emotion associated with unrequited desire, but I digress...
Observation: Canadians are everywhere. It's true. I meet one everytime I fly, and I'm not talking about flights to and from Canada, because that that would be too easy. On our last flight from Vegas to San Diego, I met an Acadian, who was living in Nevada because he was working there. Oddly, his destination was Conneticut – his flights were like a connect-the-dots puzzle because of holiday “mix-ups”. Poor guy. He was stoic about it though. Must the be Canadian in him...
We also met a Canadian family in the line up to a restaurant in Vegas. This of course is not that surprising, considering the fact that Vegas is a tourist destination, but I still found it to be a pleasant surprise. They were from Winnepeg I believe and were... c'mon, say it with me... “very nice and polite.”
I regularly bump into new people here in San Diego who are from Canada and just the other night, at a party of mostly unknown people, I met a fellow “Quebecer” who had come to San Diego to teach. My theory is that Canada will slowly but surely infiltrate the entire U.S.A, all the while being very quiet and polite about it, until eventually, large parts of this country (think blue states) will eventually come to realize they would rather be Canadian and politely cede, eh?
Or maybe not. It's just a theory.
We do get noticed however; it's our accent usually, but here's a new example: Phillip and I were eating at a deli in Vegas – one of those old-fashioned places that have black and white tiles everywhere, chequered tableclothes and pickled eggs in jars on the counter – I had ordered a lox plate and Phillip got the turkey dinner sandwich. There was an older couple sitting right beside us because the tables were those metal-edged pedestle affairs that can be pushed together for large parties but are otherwise separated by four inches of space for couples. My bagel and lox was huge: typical for American delis, and apparently my method of eating caught the attention of the gentleman, who asked us if we were European.
When we corrected him, he nodded, as if satisfied, and I couldn't resist asking why he thought we were from Europe. His answer: “You were eating with your knife and fork.” Well! I had no idea that the polite use of utensils was considered “foreign”. It's not like we've seen Americans on hands and knees, grubbing in their food with sauce-covered fingers, but perhaps because I found the bagel, cream cheese and lox too much to comfortably manage with my hands, I was identified an “non-native”. We got a good laugh out of that.
Another funny moment happened while Phillip and I were weaving our way through one of the many casinos that seem to grow like mushrooms in every available space of Las Vegas, including the underground walkways connecting the hotels. Of course, they are the main attraction in the lobby of every hotel, but in this case, we were on a lower level, looking for a box office, and quite lost. We were not alone in this predicament, for as we approached the the glowing promise of a directory map, we saw many other people with similar expressions of bewilderment etched upon their neon-lit faces. My favourite was a family that was circling the area like a herd of sheep when the mother suddenly exclaimed “Wait, I just got a whiff of fresh air! I think it's this way!”
One other, more disturbing thing we noticed on our visits to the classic tourists spots in Vegas is that the majority of people we saw there were obese. Some of them frighteningly so – often with obese children in tow. Considering the massive portions served in every popular restaurant we went to, and the tendency towards highly processed and fast foods available both at the drive through (a sad development in itself) and in our grocery stores,it's really not a surprise that North America as a whole is getting fatter every year. Living in Southern California, we have perhaps had less exposure to it; I believe California tends to be a “healthier” state than most, at least in appearance, so we were rather more aware of it in Vegas when suddenly everyone around us was three times our size. I won't quote statistics and sound-bites here, because I'm sure that most of you have heard them, but evidence to the reality of the situation can be seen in the fact that there are whole groups dedicated to studying the problem.
Something else that is prevalant everwhere we go: Starbucks. It's amazing! I have to admit, however, that we were grateful for the familiar symbol in one instance at least... It was our first morning in Vegas and we were both hungry, caffeine deprived and impatient with the endless lines at every hotel restaurant, so we left in search of a local breakfast place. After walking for a while, it became apparent to us why the concierge had looked at us strangely when we asked directions to the nearest bakery or pancake house. There's little else on the Strip except hotels, so we searched in vain for a while before finally ducking into another hotel, hoping for smaller crowds. Through the haze of smoke and flashing lights from hundreds of slot machines, we saw the white and green sign and, like castaways on a desert island hurrying towards a mirage, we pushed our way through the obstacle course of the casino floor and arrived gasping at our destination. I claimed the first empty table in the shop with a mixture of relief and resignation while Phillip stood in line - this one shorter than others we had seen. I had to fend off the various bids for the empty chair I was saving for Phillip and when he finally returned, I was informed that I should appreciate the mocha and muffin I was having because, in addition to the coffee and muffin Phillip had for his breakfast, we were out another twenty dollars. One would think that the sheer expense of their products would be a deterrent, but in the two-and-a-half years that we've lived here, we've discovered no less than three in our neighbourhood (walking distance) with an additional three within a five minute drive from us. Two of them opened in the last year. Still, I occasionally crave a grandé, non-fat, two-pump mocha, no whip cream, please.
If a cold beer is more to your liking, we spotted a sign during our travels at a local watering hole: “Happy Hour, 11am – 6am”. How's that for a tall drink? Wish I'd had my camera.
Speaking of which, Peter Lik is a photographer who had a gallery at the Venetian; here's a link to his site and a sample of his surrealist landscapes. The black-walled space they used to display his work highlighted the incredible light and colour in his images. I recommend a visit.
Well, that's all for this update. I know I rambled, but that's why I saved this stuff for last. It was a little bit of everything, all scraped together, so you'll forgive the ocassionaly dramatic turn of phrase, I hope, and drop us a line sometime.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Farewell, 2006!
As I begin to write, I realize that this will be my last post for 2006. Amazing how quickly the time passes. Come May, we will have been in San Diego for three years!
The last several weeks were relatively quiet, plus I did not feel prepared to relate to you any earlier than now the one small adventure I had, since it was neither thrilling nor fun. After several months of suffering very strange patterns of indigestion and taking far more Malox than I would like, I decided to look for a new GP, though our original practitioner had moved away and the group with whom he'd worked was no longer accepting our insurance. By the way, health insurance here is still a mystery to me and I fear that will always be the case.
Anyway, after going through a ridiculous rigmarole to actually find a doctor that was: 1)accepting new patients and, 2) would accept our particular insurance, I made an appointment, for which I was warned not to eat or drink anything after nine o'clock the night before. Perhaps I was spoiled by my last experience with the neuro-specialist, but this encounter was more like being a lab rat than a client deserving of health care. If any of you have ever had to undergo an “upper GI” exam, you have my deepest sympathies.
The ultrasound was not really that bad; cold, gooey gel on my belly and some minor prodding was quickly forgotten in the face of a starchy robe to wear over nothing but my birthday suit and socks, which was quite the fashion statement. More awkward was being made to wait in the little change closet in the hallway while people went wandering by! I couldn't close the door for fear the doctor would lose track of me, but there was a lot of tugging of the robe going on while I tried to read a book with the casual air of someone who often sits half-naked in a closet.
I was eventually led to a very chilly exam room which was dominated by a huge x-ray machine that looked like it was new in the sixties, and there I sat to waited some more until a lab technician came and mixed some “potions” as he so wittily called them. The doctor, who breezed in like a cold wind, barely said two words to me; this procedure was obviously done about a hundred times per day and they had it down to a bleak science. After stepping onto the platform and being blocked in by the metal film chamber, I was told to drink down something like Alka-Seltzer to the power of ten, immediately followed by chalky white barium.
Oh my f*cking god! I was warned that I “may have the urge to burp”, but that doesn't come close to describing the eruptions that emanated from me at an alarming rate and ferocity. I soon had barium all over my chin and hands as I tried desperately to quell the embarrassing variety of responses to these “potions”. The doctor looked disappointed with me and cruelly order another round of the gassy shot, which I wisely drank with smaller sips this time (I'd thrown back the first like a shot of tequila) and managed to hold it down long enough for the doc to get her x-rays of my esophagus.
Next, the platform was tilted to become horizontal and I was told to “roll like a log” for the barium to coat my stomach; while more pictures were taken of my insides. My flopping about and the pictures continued at a rather manic pace until I was made to sip more barium through a straw while lying on my stomach so they could observe my swallowing function or some such thing. During this whole episode, incessant burps were struggling out through my mouth and nose and I swear, one came out my ears.
When it was over, I was told to wait in the exam room (which was no warmer) and allowed to wash my hands and face before being let go. Burping all the way home, I had the sinking feeling that my ordeal would prove fruitless, and I was proved correct. Apparently there is no evident cause for my stomach pains. I've only suffered one bout of indigestion since then (as if my body is afraid of going through the ordeal again) and I'm thinking Malox will always be a staple in our medicine cabinet.
December was heralded in with the usual premature Christmas jingles in every store, though we were happily spared for the most part, since we did no shopping this year, except for a few cards and one or two gifts for each other. Despite this god-send, I missed the fun of gift-buying for the family. Next year, next year, I say! And thank you all very much for the gifts we received in the mail. They arrived whole and undamaged and were enjoyed and appreciated.
As many of you already know, our plans for Christmas this year were unconventional - four days and nights in Vegas! We began spoiling ourselves almost immediately when we realized we would have at least a three hour wait in Los Angeles. We paid the twenty-five dollar fee to take advantage of Delta's business-class lounge where we had free drinks and snacks and wireless access. It turned out to be a wise choice as we had arrived early and our connecting flight arrived two hours late.
We checked into the Paris Las Vegas hotel, which has a huge Eiffel Tower built into its entrance facade and is happily across from the Bellagio, which is famous for its musical fountain and light show. Check out Phillip's Picassa album for our Vegas shots. The interior, aside from the massive, in-your-face casino floor, has a concave ceiling painted to look like a blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds and ambient light that is at the perfect comfort level of pseudo-dusk or early morning. No nasty sun to make you squint while you gamble. There is a constant breeze coming from the vents, cleverly disguised in the leafy canopies of the fake trees scattered about and once you pass the slot machines and card tables, you can follow the quaint cobbled streets that take you along the shop fronts and restaurants throughout the “property”.
These hotels really are the next generation of accommodation; they are referred to as “properties” because they really are like an acreage, encompassing everything a body could possibly want to find in a quaint Parisian (or Venetian, or Roman, or Tropical, etc) village. There are many little shops catering to everything from commercial, mass-produced souvenir trinkets to high-end jewelery stores and exclusive designer fashions. There are also several restaurants, from all-you-can eat delis to typical American-style eateries – we visited the St. Louis on our first night due to fatigue and hunger and were sadly disappointed with the very bland, standard American fare. This was later rectified by a visit to the most exclusive Eiffel Tower Restaurant, requiring a reservation, the correct attire and a “laissez-faire” attitude about having your wallet yanked out through your nose.
We treated ourselves to this expensive meal on the last night because I'd heard the chef “upstairs” was fabulous. As it turns out, we were both delighted with the champagne aperitif, the baked Camembert starter and the wonderful Napa Valley Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc (2005) recommended my our charming, tuxedoed – and Russian! waiter. My vegetarian main was beautiful, if a little boring in flavour, but I found Phillip's organic chicken dish very subtle and delicious. My chocolate hazelnut desert with espresso was wonderful, but the whole experience reminded me that French food is very rich, often hearty, and not terribly interested in vegetarian expression.
Paris Las Vegas was not our favourite hotel in the end, mostly due to the over-abundance of cigarette smoke. After walking our feet off for nearly the entire length of The Strip, and visiting nearly every major hotel, we decided that New York -New York , Mandalay Bay and The Venetian took the cake for overall, cohesive themes, functional layouts and appealing offerings for the jaded consumer.
The shows were our main reason for visiting Vegas and we are happy to report that they were all fabulous! The first, Zumanity, at New York-New York, was a sensual celebration of human sexuality and eroticism and was done very tastefully, with a good dash of humour on the side. The point regarding variety in human pleasure was well made and the result was a very enjoyable spectacle.
The second show was a Beatles-themed affair titled “Love” that made me question whether Cirque de Soleil's creative juices were finally drying up, but nay, my doubting mind was quickly put at ease in the amazing theatre-in-the round, which made brilliant use of huge scrims; these curtains are ingenious theatre devices woven in such a way as to be made opaque, semi-transparent or invisible with the use of different lighting angles. Initially used to divide the auditorium into four sections, they seemed odd, but they were pulled back at the start of the show and brought out later to good effect. The whole show naturally used Beatles music, which heightened the nostalgic feeling of joy and hope as half the audience sang along (myself included) and acrobats cavorted in hippy costumes reminiscent of the era of peace and love and the anti-war movement of the sixties. Very very well done – our favourite show as it turns out.
The final show we saw was not by Cirque de Soleil, though definitely inspired by them. It was also in a round, domed theatre, but the stage was a huge, circular pool with multiple levels that could be raised and lowered for amazing variety. The performers wore a variety of costumes, from sea-dragons to ballerinas and synchronized swimmers of the 50's. It was a visual treat and what I found particularly interesting was the choice of white-only performers, all the males having been made to shave their heads bald and most of the women wearing skullcaps to give them a fifties-style wavy coif. Overall, these choices contributed to the highly styalized light, water and steam effects, which were very impressive. We did have one minor critique of the show, however; unlike Cirque, who use simultaneous groups of performers on-stage for transitions, this show didn't quite manage to hold the attention where it was supposed to be. We both found ourselves easily distracted by minor performances that pulled focus from the main attraction for too long or too often. Still, we had a wonderful time and hope to return for more shows sometime in the future.
We came home this week, replete with entertainment and have quite enjoyed sleeping in, lazing about the house, playing our favourite online game together and eating out whenever the mood strikes us (which has been frequently). Phillip has a bit of cold – probably as a result of the incredibly dry environment of Nevada, but we are both otherwise very healthy and content. We have some great memories of a very unusual Christmas holiday and hope that the New Year holds as much promise. I have more to share in the way of “observations” and anecdotes, but I will save them for our next post, which should also include a report of our New Year's Eve activities, which I promis for mid-January at the latest. Here's wishing you all happy, healthy and safe holidays.
K & P
As I begin to write, I realize that this will be my last post for 2006. Amazing how quickly the time passes. Come May, we will have been in San Diego for three years!
The last several weeks were relatively quiet, plus I did not feel prepared to relate to you any earlier than now the one small adventure I had, since it was neither thrilling nor fun. After several months of suffering very strange patterns of indigestion and taking far more Malox than I would like, I decided to look for a new GP, though our original practitioner had moved away and the group with whom he'd worked was no longer accepting our insurance. By the way, health insurance here is still a mystery to me and I fear that will always be the case.
Anyway, after going through a ridiculous rigmarole to actually find a doctor that was: 1)accepting new patients and, 2) would accept our particular insurance, I made an appointment, for which I was warned not to eat or drink anything after nine o'clock the night before. Perhaps I was spoiled by my last experience with the neuro-specialist, but this encounter was more like being a lab rat than a client deserving of health care. If any of you have ever had to undergo an “upper GI” exam, you have my deepest sympathies.
The ultrasound was not really that bad; cold, gooey gel on my belly and some minor prodding was quickly forgotten in the face of a starchy robe to wear over nothing but my birthday suit and socks, which was quite the fashion statement. More awkward was being made to wait in the little change closet in the hallway while people went wandering by! I couldn't close the door for fear the doctor would lose track of me, but there was a lot of tugging of the robe going on while I tried to read a book with the casual air of someone who often sits half-naked in a closet.
I was eventually led to a very chilly exam room which was dominated by a huge x-ray machine that looked like it was new in the sixties, and there I sat to waited some more until a lab technician came and mixed some “potions” as he so wittily called them. The doctor, who breezed in like a cold wind, barely said two words to me; this procedure was obviously done about a hundred times per day and they had it down to a bleak science. After stepping onto the platform and being blocked in by the metal film chamber, I was told to drink down something like Alka-Seltzer to the power of ten, immediately followed by chalky white barium.
Oh my f*cking god! I was warned that I “may have the urge to burp”, but that doesn't come close to describing the eruptions that emanated from me at an alarming rate and ferocity. I soon had barium all over my chin and hands as I tried desperately to quell the embarrassing variety of responses to these “potions”. The doctor looked disappointed with me and cruelly order another round of the gassy shot, which I wisely drank with smaller sips this time (I'd thrown back the first like a shot of tequila) and managed to hold it down long enough for the doc to get her x-rays of my esophagus.
Next, the platform was tilted to become horizontal and I was told to “roll like a log” for the barium to coat my stomach; while more pictures were taken of my insides. My flopping about and the pictures continued at a rather manic pace until I was made to sip more barium through a straw while lying on my stomach so they could observe my swallowing function or some such thing. During this whole episode, incessant burps were struggling out through my mouth and nose and I swear, one came out my ears.
When it was over, I was told to wait in the exam room (which was no warmer) and allowed to wash my hands and face before being let go. Burping all the way home, I had the sinking feeling that my ordeal would prove fruitless, and I was proved correct. Apparently there is no evident cause for my stomach pains. I've only suffered one bout of indigestion since then (as if my body is afraid of going through the ordeal again) and I'm thinking Malox will always be a staple in our medicine cabinet.
December was heralded in with the usual premature Christmas jingles in every store, though we were happily spared for the most part, since we did no shopping this year, except for a few cards and one or two gifts for each other. Despite this god-send, I missed the fun of gift-buying for the family. Next year, next year, I say! And thank you all very much for the gifts we received in the mail. They arrived whole and undamaged and were enjoyed and appreciated.
As many of you already know, our plans for Christmas this year were unconventional - four days and nights in Vegas! We began spoiling ourselves almost immediately when we realized we would have at least a three hour wait in Los Angeles. We paid the twenty-five dollar fee to take advantage of Delta's business-class lounge where we had free drinks and snacks and wireless access. It turned out to be a wise choice as we had arrived early and our connecting flight arrived two hours late.
We checked into the Paris Las Vegas hotel, which has a huge Eiffel Tower built into its entrance facade and is happily across from the Bellagio, which is famous for its musical fountain and light show. Check out Phillip's Picassa album for our Vegas shots. The interior, aside from the massive, in-your-face casino floor, has a concave ceiling painted to look like a blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds and ambient light that is at the perfect comfort level of pseudo-dusk or early morning. No nasty sun to make you squint while you gamble. There is a constant breeze coming from the vents, cleverly disguised in the leafy canopies of the fake trees scattered about and once you pass the slot machines and card tables, you can follow the quaint cobbled streets that take you along the shop fronts and restaurants throughout the “property”.
These hotels really are the next generation of accommodation; they are referred to as “properties” because they really are like an acreage, encompassing everything a body could possibly want to find in a quaint Parisian (or Venetian, or Roman, or Tropical, etc) village. There are many little shops catering to everything from commercial, mass-produced souvenir trinkets to high-end jewelery stores and exclusive designer fashions. There are also several restaurants, from all-you-can eat delis to typical American-style eateries – we visited the St. Louis on our first night due to fatigue and hunger and were sadly disappointed with the very bland, standard American fare. This was later rectified by a visit to the most exclusive Eiffel Tower Restaurant, requiring a reservation, the correct attire and a “laissez-faire” attitude about having your wallet yanked out through your nose.
We treated ourselves to this expensive meal on the last night because I'd heard the chef “upstairs” was fabulous. As it turns out, we were both delighted with the champagne aperitif, the baked Camembert starter and the wonderful Napa Valley Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc (2005) recommended my our charming, tuxedoed – and Russian! waiter. My vegetarian main was beautiful, if a little boring in flavour, but I found Phillip's organic chicken dish very subtle and delicious. My chocolate hazelnut desert with espresso was wonderful, but the whole experience reminded me that French food is very rich, often hearty, and not terribly interested in vegetarian expression.
Paris Las Vegas was not our favourite hotel in the end, mostly due to the over-abundance of cigarette smoke. After walking our feet off for nearly the entire length of The Strip, and visiting nearly every major hotel, we decided that New York -New York , Mandalay Bay and The Venetian took the cake for overall, cohesive themes, functional layouts and appealing offerings for the jaded consumer.
The shows were our main reason for visiting Vegas and we are happy to report that they were all fabulous! The first, Zumanity, at New York-New York, was a sensual celebration of human sexuality and eroticism and was done very tastefully, with a good dash of humour on the side. The point regarding variety in human pleasure was well made and the result was a very enjoyable spectacle.
The second show was a Beatles-themed affair titled “Love” that made me question whether Cirque de Soleil's creative juices were finally drying up, but nay, my doubting mind was quickly put at ease in the amazing theatre-in-the round, which made brilliant use of huge scrims; these curtains are ingenious theatre devices woven in such a way as to be made opaque, semi-transparent or invisible with the use of different lighting angles. Initially used to divide the auditorium into four sections, they seemed odd, but they were pulled back at the start of the show and brought out later to good effect. The whole show naturally used Beatles music, which heightened the nostalgic feeling of joy and hope as half the audience sang along (myself included) and acrobats cavorted in hippy costumes reminiscent of the era of peace and love and the anti-war movement of the sixties. Very very well done – our favourite show as it turns out.
The final show we saw was not by Cirque de Soleil, though definitely inspired by them. It was also in a round, domed theatre, but the stage was a huge, circular pool with multiple levels that could be raised and lowered for amazing variety. The performers wore a variety of costumes, from sea-dragons to ballerinas and synchronized swimmers of the 50's. It was a visual treat and what I found particularly interesting was the choice of white-only performers, all the males having been made to shave their heads bald and most of the women wearing skullcaps to give them a fifties-style wavy coif. Overall, these choices contributed to the highly styalized light, water and steam effects, which were very impressive. We did have one minor critique of the show, however; unlike Cirque, who use simultaneous groups of performers on-stage for transitions, this show didn't quite manage to hold the attention where it was supposed to be. We both found ourselves easily distracted by minor performances that pulled focus from the main attraction for too long or too often. Still, we had a wonderful time and hope to return for more shows sometime in the future.
We came home this week, replete with entertainment and have quite enjoyed sleeping in, lazing about the house, playing our favourite online game together and eating out whenever the mood strikes us (which has been frequently). Phillip has a bit of cold – probably as a result of the incredibly dry environment of Nevada, but we are both otherwise very healthy and content. We have some great memories of a very unusual Christmas holiday and hope that the New Year holds as much promise. I have more to share in the way of “observations” and anecdotes, but I will save them for our next post, which should also include a report of our New Year's Eve activities, which I promis for mid-January at the latest. Here's wishing you all happy, healthy and safe holidays.
K & P
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
NovemberHave 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.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
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:
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 :PThe 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:
Monday, October 09, 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.
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.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
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
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
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
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.
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.
Monday, September 18, 2006
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
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
Thursday, September 14, 2006
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!
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