Back to work and drudgery. Back to routine and thoughts of strangling incompetent supervisors. Just not a fan right now, though I have a tan so I can't complain too much, once this cold kicks it.
Some things are just more important than complaining about a job being sucky (as in sucking the life out of you), I do realize that. Surgery, for example, is a biggie. So is having to relearn your hand motor skills.
These are sufficient to distract me back to work. I wish these surgery-goers well.
27 November 2008
14 November 2008
19 October 2008
Bingo Blitz
I've had the opinion lately that I can fool the lottery.
Disregarding my, you know, engineering background, I feel that one day I'm going to find a pattern and choose a set of numbers that are 'bound' to win and then I'll prove everyone wrong.
My theory is based on the fact that it cannot be completely random: the machine was built by humans. Even random number generators are not completely random, as they're based on a random-esque formula.
OK, it might take me 18 years, but I might as well start playing it now.
Disregarding my, you know, engineering background, I feel that one day I'm going to find a pattern and choose a set of numbers that are 'bound' to win and then I'll prove everyone wrong.
My theory is based on the fact that it cannot be completely random: the machine was built by humans. Even random number generators are not completely random, as they're based on a random-esque formula.
OK, it might take me 18 years, but I might as well start playing it now.
27 September 2008
Panorama: Glacier Bay
I've recently figured out how to pan-o-ram it up with multiple shots. It's kinda fun and kinda time consuming as most hobbies go.
This shot in particular is kinda cool since there's a lady off to the side, looking at the same thing I am: the view from the back of the ship. Little did she know she's been captured forever, mwa ha ha!
And there's an interesting point to all this: how many pictures are we really being captured in around the world? And suddenly we realize the world is becoming smaller the more we travel.
This shot in particular is kinda cool since there's a lady off to the side, looking at the same thing I am: the view from the back of the ship. Little did she know she's been captured forever, mwa ha ha!
And there's an interesting point to all this: how many pictures are we really being captured in around the world? And suddenly we realize the world is becoming smaller the more we travel.
10 September 2008
The Last Frontier
We came back from an Alaskan cruise on Monday! We spent one week sailing up the inside passage and making port calls in Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, plus sea days in Glacier Bay and College Fjord.
Our friends got married at sea the first formal night. Short, sweet, and surprisingly moving, I didn't realize how choked up I get at these things -- especially in such an intimate setting with a dozen of your friends and family.
Best memories? The wedding photo of everyone on the staircase. ("Put your hand on her other cheek, please.") The gorgeous views of glaciers and mountains and whales and seals. Snorkeling in Ketchikan. Hottubbing at the back of the boat on frosty evenings. The White Pass railway trip up from Skagway to Fraser, BC. The brewpubs! (Sooo many new ratings!) Seeing Mount McKinley, the highest point in North America, on a clear day -- from Anchorage, more than 300km away! Panning for gold!!
Oddly enough, after watching a couple of Princess PopStar live performances, I have a strange urge to go and sing karaoke somewhere with my sister...
Our friends got married at sea the first formal night. Short, sweet, and surprisingly moving, I didn't realize how choked up I get at these things -- especially in such an intimate setting with a dozen of your friends and family.
Best memories? The wedding photo of everyone on the staircase. ("Put your hand on her other cheek, please.") The gorgeous views of glaciers and mountains and whales and seals. Snorkeling in Ketchikan. Hottubbing at the back of the boat on frosty evenings. The White Pass railway trip up from Skagway to Fraser, BC. The brewpubs! (Sooo many new ratings!) Seeing Mount McKinley, the highest point in North America, on a clear day -- from Anchorage, more than 300km away! Panning for gold!!
Oddly enough, after watching a couple of Princess PopStar live performances, I have a strange urge to go and sing karaoke somewhere with my sister...
21 August 2008
s'Cool Dreamin'
I had a dream last night that I went back to university.
It was September and I moved into a new residence room. Except we snuck in my fiancee and he stayed there the whole term without security knowing it.
Not sure what classes I was taking but seeing as I've been thinking about this lately, I'm pretty sure it had something to do with getting a degree to further my education in education. Am I eligible for a Masters in Education? Not sure yet...
... but I'm checking...
It was September and I moved into a new residence room. Except we snuck in my fiancee and he stayed there the whole term without security knowing it.
Not sure what classes I was taking but seeing as I've been thinking about this lately, I'm pretty sure it had something to do with getting a degree to further my education in education. Am I eligible for a Masters in Education? Not sure yet...
... but I'm checking...
20 August 2008
Brave New Book
I've decided to embark on a book journey: one of my own. Haven't done this in five years but now is a good time to start. I was inspired to after starting to read "The Mapmaker's Dream" -- a lovely book with an interesting plot and wonderful writing...
Words can be so magical sometimes, and so extraneous other times. I hope this is not too vain... or in vain.
Words can be so magical sometimes, and so extraneous other times. I hope this is not too vain... or in vain.
17 August 2008
Sage Advice
We were sitting in a McDonald's this morning, starting the day off healthily with an egg, bacon and cheese bagel and a cheese biscuit when I happened to start eavesdropping in on a nearby conversation.
Two elderly couples were sitting at the back of the restaurant, not eating so much as discussing various life notables they have found in their due courses. One of the women happened upon the topic of child-rearing:
"When you're raising children, it's not what you give them that's important: it's what you Choose *not* to give them that makes the difference."
Sigh. If only we can learn these things early in life...
Two elderly couples were sitting at the back of the restaurant, not eating so much as discussing various life notables they have found in their due courses. One of the women happened upon the topic of child-rearing:
"When you're raising children, it's not what you give them that's important: it's what you Choose *not* to give them that makes the difference."
Sigh. If only we can learn these things early in life...
29 July 2008
Plastic Charms
Oddly enough, I've recently become engaged.
Such a strange and new world, the realm of potential bridezilla. Cycling through modes of glee, frustration, anger, ponderment and wonderment and all throughout just the first week of elation.
Sigh. Already helpful suggestions have started trickling in. Am I to become a cynical bride-to-be? Will I be labelled as a "tried"-to-be?
(groan)
All this and more after receiving a silly green plastic ring from our Christmas cracker last year -- it was certainly charming, if not engaging... I liked the part where he had to convince me he was being serious. :) I also liked the part where he chose me. That was c-o-o-l.
Such a strange and new world, the realm of potential bridezilla. Cycling through modes of glee, frustration, anger, ponderment and wonderment and all throughout just the first week of elation.
Sigh. Already helpful suggestions have started trickling in. Am I to become a cynical bride-to-be? Will I be labelled as a "tried"-to-be?
(groan)
All this and more after receiving a silly green plastic ring from our Christmas cracker last year -- it was certainly charming, if not engaging... I liked the part where he had to convince me he was being serious. :) I also liked the part where he chose me. That was c-o-o-l.
05 July 2008
Duck Daze of Summer
Canada Day was beautiful this year: sunny, warm, breezy, clear and bright.
My family went to Edward's Gardens for the afternoon. Sandwich-eating and soccer-playing with the two little ones passed away the better part of our excursion.
We walked down the hill to watch the ducks and ducklings in the pond, and the waterwheel, and have fun romping around with piggy-backs. And then...
And then.
A clear voice rang out across the pond: "You killed it! You killed that duck! You killed it!"
I look over at an embarrassed young boy walking away from the scene of the accident with his brother. He had thrown a big rock into the pond, aiming for the ducks, and the rock had hit the duck and broken its neck. The duck was still alive, swimming sideways, floundering... drowning. It's mother was nearby, watching. The whole duck family swam over in a group and could only watch as we did to see the poor duckling try to right itself.
Only a few minutes more passed before the duckling stopped trying.
As far as we know, the boy was not punished. He had a talking to by his mother and another woman who saw the whole thing too, but nothing else.
At the risk of sounding cliche... Some kids are getting away with murder these days.
My family went to Edward's Gardens for the afternoon. Sandwich-eating and soccer-playing with the two little ones passed away the better part of our excursion.
We walked down the hill to watch the ducks and ducklings in the pond, and the waterwheel, and have fun romping around with piggy-backs. And then...
And then.
A clear voice rang out across the pond: "You killed it! You killed that duck! You killed it!"
I look over at an embarrassed young boy walking away from the scene of the accident with his brother. He had thrown a big rock into the pond, aiming for the ducks, and the rock had hit the duck and broken its neck. The duck was still alive, swimming sideways, floundering... drowning. It's mother was nearby, watching. The whole duck family swam over in a group and could only watch as we did to see the poor duckling try to right itself.
Only a few minutes more passed before the duckling stopped trying.
As far as we know, the boy was not punished. He had a talking to by his mother and another woman who saw the whole thing too, but nothing else.
At the risk of sounding cliche... Some kids are getting away with murder these days.
04 May 2008
Precipitation Participation
It's funny how a weekend away is more dependent on a sunny disposition than a rainy day.
You go away with a great bunch of people, and it may pour with rain the whole time but you remember having a blast huddling under the tent and listening to the music, the raindrops on the canvas and the laughter.
You go away with an unhappy camper, and it may be sunny and hot the whole time but you can only really remember that mini-hissy fit thrown, a hairy eyeball or two, or the snide remarks...
I like the former. That's a recipe for some fun times. :)
You go away with a great bunch of people, and it may pour with rain the whole time but you remember having a blast huddling under the tent and listening to the music, the raindrops on the canvas and the laughter.
You go away with an unhappy camper, and it may be sunny and hot the whole time but you can only really remember that mini-hissy fit thrown, a hairy eyeball or two, or the snide remarks...
I like the former. That's a recipe for some fun times. :)
05 February 2008
At A Loss For Words
I have a lost book milling about somewhere at the library.
I'm pretty sure I took it back a few months ago but I have a feeling they skipped it and put it straight on the shelf without scanning it in.
The annoying part is, I have no idea what the title is to remember what it is and what I did with it -- when I look it up online, it has some generic book name instead of a proper title and description.
The librarian clerks told me at the time that if it was at the library like I had said, then someone was bound to come by and check it out, so I would be cleared.
But sometimes I read obscure books...
And sometimes I forget to bring things back...
So which is it? ... And is it worth $8.95 and hassles to find out??
I'm pretty sure I took it back a few months ago but I have a feeling they skipped it and put it straight on the shelf without scanning it in.
The annoying part is, I have no idea what the title is to remember what it is and what I did with it -- when I look it up online, it has some generic book name instead of a proper title and description.
The librarian clerks told me at the time that if it was at the library like I had said, then someone was bound to come by and check it out, so I would be cleared.
But sometimes I read obscure books...
And sometimes I forget to bring things back...
So which is it? ... And is it worth $8.95 and hassles to find out??
29 January 2008
E-Computing
For all the information we save online, somewhere, somehow, someone is saving this information on a small chip. Millions of people are emailing and blogging and writing in forums and posting interesting items...
Does it all take up space?
How is this space impacting the environment?
Should we delete information we don't need anymore??
Does it all take up space?
How is this space impacting the environment?
Should we delete information we don't need anymore??
16 January 2008
Enlist Me
I love lists. Things to do... Spreadsheets... Menus... Sets of numbers... They all have order and rightness in this world.
And hey, here's a nice big list.
Yeah, I found it in an email forward, of all places (insert squishy sounds of rolling eyes).
It does have a few good'uns though: store brands are good enough, talkers should ask more questions, talent is often just hard work, and lastly, I'm wasting my time by proclaiming what I find important -- I really should just be doing it.
And hey, here's a nice big list.
Yeah, I found it in an email forward, of all places (insert squishy sounds of rolling eyes).
It does have a few good'uns though: store brands are good enough, talkers should ask more questions, talent is often just hard work, and lastly, I'm wasting my time by proclaiming what I find important -- I really should just be doing it.
13 January 2008
Ilana Talk
Happy New Year, 2008! I'm hoping this year will provide a little more stability than last in terms of job stuff and life stuff, but hey, something good always comes from something bad, right? So to start things off again for this year, here's a little exchange I overheard at one of our recent family gatherings...
My almost-2-yr-old niece was "explaining" (in her 2-3 word sentence structure) what a few different animals sound like to her grandparents and parents:
"Ilana, what sound does a dog make?"
"Wuhh wuhh."
"Ilana, what sound does a monkey make?"
"Ooo Ooo."
"Ilana, what sound does Ilana make?"
<pause> "... Ilana talk?"
And then later that evening,
"Ilana, what sound does a duck make?"
"Wak wak."
"Ilana, what sound does a cow make?"
"Mooooooo."
"Ilana, what sound does Daddy make?"
<no pause, big grin> "Ooo Ooo!"
My almost-2-yr-old niece was "explaining" (in her 2-3 word sentence structure) what a few different animals sound like to her grandparents and parents:
"Ilana, what sound does a dog make?"
"Wuhh wuhh."
"Ilana, what sound does a monkey make?"
"Ooo Ooo."
"Ilana, what sound does Ilana make?"
<pause> "... Ilana talk?"
And then later that evening,
"Ilana, what sound does a duck make?"
"Wak wak."
"Ilana, what sound does a cow make?"
"Mooooooo."
"Ilana, what sound does Daddy make?"
<no pause, big grin> "Ooo Ooo!"
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