Diverging Roads

i'm a teenager again

2008-06-04T08:20:00.000-05:00

conversation at a tim horton's drive-thru window

2008-04-13T19:41:00.003-05:00

Me: (pulls up to drive-thru window with van window open. stops)

Cashier: (opens drive-thru window. looks at me expectantly)

(crickets)

Me: (hands exact change to cashier curiously)

Cashier: (takes money and rings it in. hands me 2 cups of coffee)

Me: (takes coffee and places them in cupholders. turns back and looks at cashier expectantly)

Cashier: (looks back at me with dumbfounded expression)

(crickets)

Me: (drives away)

the art of the possible

2008-04-11T20:27:00.003-05:00

The following is a message you may have already received from me if you're in my email address book. It's a forwarded message from Gigi who's a new AAE Wingman from up here in Canada. I thought I'd include the contents here so that I can reach as many folks as possible (since my blog imports into Facebook as well). More from me below.

Gigi writes:

Hi friends,

I want to tell you about a project I'm involved in called ARTEMIS ETERNAL.
Luckily there's a 2-minute clip about it called 'AAE -The Story So Far' for
a quick catch up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tokCs7Wl5d8

Why I (or whoever sent this to you) thinks you'd be a good Wingman:

1. You consume more story than anything else. (You're doing it right now.)

2. Six companies control all the media and story you see, right down to how
you see it and that does mirror and shape your life. Time Warner for example
owns a movie studio (Warner Brothers) TV stations (TNT, CW) cable (Time
Warner Cable) Internet (America Online) magazines that publicize their
properties (Entertainment Weekely, Time, People), book publishers, music
labels… it is a list you would not believe and is controlled by very few
people.

3. To shift the cues for the better, someone has to do it first and do it
right by proving it possible. A professionally lead project has provided the
oppourtunity and now the baton passes to us: The audience, the people who
make it impossible by funding those six media conglomerates. But we can turn
it around - By becoming Wingmen.

Here's the awesome project site: http://www.artemiseternal.com

Here's a press release in case you have questions (you can google it for
more press):
http://prro.marketwire.com/prroom/prro_details.do?id=353A15DD0A00F060&release_id=383974

And did you see me in the video? Yep, little ol' me now involved with a
serious film project. I found out about this in Canada's Globe & Mail
(biggest paper up north for you Americans) and I became involved in
something so extraordinary and genuine with a huge social return. I'm
incredibly proud.

Contribute $1 and become a Wingman. Join in our projects as much as you
like, you'll get to know the filmmaker, who is an extraordinary talent, come
to the screenings and meet the cast in person and be one of the one's to say
"I called it!" (I bet that's our next video) when this film gets nominated
for the Oscar in the best short film category, which is presented during the
regular telecast.

If you don't have $1 you can still help and be a part of this. The filmmaker
made the project that way to include everyone: Forward this to your list of
friends and colleagues and come hang out with us online. This is for anyone
who watches story and consumes media, especially those who love movies,
anime-styles, scifi and fantasy.

We have to cut through all the crap that is Paris Hilton updates and E! news
live. We have to be the news wires for this story. Forward this! I don't
want anyone to say down the line "D'oh, I wish I had known about that!!"
Everyone should have the opportunity to at least explore the website
experience but they need to know about it first! (And thanks to Tim for
covering this on the largest scifi site online!)

Welcome to the art of the possible, heroes & friends! Make it contagious!

Storytelling belongs to the people,

Gigi

Forward this as much as you can.
Please note that I'm not involved with the production beyond being a Wingman
but if you want to email me questions I can try to answer anything I know
about.

"Be the change you want to see in the world." {{ghandi}}

A couple interesting points:

1. Those who watched the video link might have been surprised to see yours truly featured in it. Those who didn't watch it.....are probably going to go do so right now.

2. People are learning about the Artemis Eternal project thanks to Gigi's email. Gigi learned about Artemis Eternal from the Globe & Mail. The Globe & Mail learned about Artemis Eternal from ME. See how this works?

This is about demanding better movies from the studio system....and letting them know that if they don't.....we, the audience, will figure out a way to do it ourselves.

Raised: $40,000.
Remaining: $60,000.

This is the art of the possible. Be a part of history. Get your name in the credits.

And as an aside to you Sudbury folks......Cinefest Sudbury is the 4th largest film festival in Canada.....with sufficient support, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Artemis Eternal team come and enter the film at Cinefest and bring the travelling road tour to Sudbury. It may even be your chance to not only see a great short film on the big screen, but meet a future Academy Award winning filmmaker.

Isn't that worth $1?

AAE - The Story So Far

2008-03-28T21:51:00.002-05:00

Can't see the video? Click here, yo.

believe

2008-02-24T10:41:00.003-05:00

Jess on CU@USC

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

there is no try

2008-02-18T22:29:00.000-05:00

Luke: I can't believe it.
Yoda: That is why you fail.

I want to let you in on a little secret. The big movie studios are afraid of Jessica Stover. Afraid of her and others like her. Those who are in tune with such things know that there is change in the wind. The way that media is conceived, produced and distributed is changing daily. One need only look to iTunes to see an example of this. It used to be you had to listen to the radio, figure out what songs you liked, go out to the store and find the album, buy it, then bring it home to listen to it. Today, with a computer and your index finger, you can preview music and purchase it instantly from your own home. And you need only buy those songs you want. The power is shifting from big business and going instead to the artist and the consumer. If you are a student of history, this shouldn't really come as a surprise.

Bear McCreary, the composer of the music for Battlestar Galactica said it well in his blog entry An Open Letter to the New Patrons:

"For centuries, artists have balanced the need to express themselves creatively with the need to sustain their livelihood. We’re all aware of the cliched starving bohemian artist; its a cliche because its true. But, even successful composers struggle with this balance daily. J.S. Bach’s incredibly influential canon of contrapuntal works were originally composed for weekly church services. Mozart had his royal patron, Emperor Joseph II, and the vast majority of his music was essentially written for pay. Indeed, were he alive today Wolfgang Amadeus would be writing music for film and television to pay the bills. Shostakovich wrote Stalin-approved music for the tyrannical Russian state, literally writing for his life."

Patronage for the arts used to come from the elite of society. They commissioned portraits, musical compositions and funded the theatre. Today, with the advent of the Internet, the power to support artists and their work has been given to all of us. We can give our money to those things which we value, rather than letting the big studios tell us what we want. But as with all power, it can cut both ways. Bear recognizes this as well:

"Unlike the radio and television audiences of the past, our relationship is symbiotic. Like all artist / patron relationships, ours has the potential to be incredibly rewarding for all involved. But, if you download the show illegally, you sacrifice your role in the relationship. You’re no longer a patron of influence, but a spectator from the sidelines, a political pundit who doesn’t vote."

Apathy is easy. It requires nothing. No effort. No money. No action. Unfortunately, what you get as a result is the status quo. If we don't express with our voices and our wallets that which we want, we will continue to get more of the same. Spider-man 3. Rambo. Episodes I through III. American Pie: Stifler Does the Retirement Home.

I opened with a quote from Star Wars because George Lucas is one of the best examples of cinematic storytelling at it's best, and at it's worst. The original trilogy was independant, innovative, and ground-breaking in it's execution. It was idealistic and passionate. George Lucas was Luke Skywalker. By the time the second trilogy came out, though, he had become Darth Vader. The movies were unimaginative, formulaic and cold. It was a stark portrayal of what happens when creativity goes corporate.

Jessica Stover, and those like her, are trying to bring the magic back, but they can't do it alone. I've mentioned it here before, and I'll do it again, because it is important. Jess is in the pre-production stage of a short film called Artemis Eternal, which she has written. Unfortunately, Jess is not independently wealthy, nor does she have the luxury of investors with very deep pockets. She's just a girl in L.A. struggling to realize a dream. And she wants us to dream with her. To support her. To fund her. For as little as $1, you can buy a film credit, interactivity, and involvement in a film to be proud of.

Now, while I've prattled on about these things, it should be noted that the filmmaker says it much better herself. So, here is what is important.

1. There is a new website for Artemis Eternal. I ask that you go there and check it out. You won't be disappointed. It will not only inspire you, but help you to realize that this isn't some elaborate scheme to part you and your money. This is a real project, that will see real results.

2. On Wednesday at 9:30 EST (6:30 PST), Jess will be appearing on CU@USC which you can watch live on the Internets. She will be sharing the same seat once occupied by George Lucas and Patrick Stewart, and talking about her film projects....and maybe even jump off some stuff. You are encouraged to check it out.

3. Join the Facebook group to support the project. Invite your friends.

4. Donate $1 or more to the project. It may feel like nothing, but every little bit counts.

5. Spread the words. Tell your friends. Blog it. Digg it. Participation is the engine that powers this train.

the battle has been won

2008-02-16T12:46:00.001-05:00

the reason i haven't been on the internet lately

2008-02-13T22:23:00.001-05:00

dancing queen

2008-01-27T21:00:00.000-05:00

coming soon to a theatre near you

2008-01-13T21:20:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd share some trailers for some of the movies I'm looking forward to seeing.

In case you cared.

Vantage Point
Juno
The Dark Knight
Billy the Kid
In Bruges
Pride and Glory

conversations in my mind

2008-01-07T06:52:00.000-05:00

Upon observing my daughter's hair sticking out in a million directions after having her toque removed:

Me: Ha....nice hair, kid. You look like Alfred Einstein.

(pause)

Self: ...?
Me: What?
Self: Did you just say....ALFRED....Einstein?
Me: ....Maybe.
Self: You're an idiot.
Me: Yes....Yes I am.

broken hearted hoover fixer sucker guy

2008-01-06T10:29:00.000-05:00

Saturday night in my household generally tends to be a rather boring affair. The common practice is to curl up on the couch after the baby is in bed and catch up on some television shows that have been recorded on the PVR over the course of the week. However, given the writer's strike, most of the programs I watch are off the air or in repeats. We also cancelled the movie channel a few weeks back to save a few bucks, so I ended up doing something I haven't done very often in the past year or so. I went to the video store to rent a movie.

Although somewhat hesitant to admit it, when I left the house last night, my intention was to pick up Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. While that my seem normal to many who may read this, there are other's who are likely saying to themselves, "Duuuuuude. Noooo."

But I have my reasons. I saw the first Fantastic Four, so right there it almost requires me to see the sequel. Also, as many know, I'm a big comic book geek from back in the day, so to not see a big budget superhero film, regardless of anticipated lameness, is almost sacrilege.

Anyway....I got to the video store, and sure enough, they had a copy available. I snatched it up in my right hand and before heading to the checkout desk, had a quick look at what else was on the shelves. And that's when I saw it. Once. Being the type of guy who turns to the entertainment section of the newspaper and throws out the sports section, and watches shows like Ebert and Roeper, I was familiar with the low-budget musical that had received a fair amount of critical acclaim this year. I reached out with my left hand and plucked it off the shelf.

So there I stood, pretty much alone in front of a library of new releases at the local video store/laundromat/dry cleaner. In one hand, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. In the other, Once. I knew my wife was waiting at home, expecting me to return with the former, and that she very well might enjoy it more than the latter. But I also knew that I had really enjoyed the previews I had seen for Once, and although it was being dubbed a "musical", a term which will normally send me running from a movie screaming like a frightened schoolgirl, I couldn't put it back on the shelf. So I had a dilemma, because I knew I couldn't get both. (You see, once you have a baby, if you can stay up past 11pm, you've taken performance enhancing drugs. Seriously.) If I rent the big budget superhero flick over the low budget personal musical, will I be able to look at myself in the mirror. Will I be able to show my face to others? Will I irreparably damage my cinesoul and unbalance my box office karma? Can I afford that?

I could not, and so I put Fantastic Four back on the shelf and didn't look back. And while my wife may tell you now that she regrets that decision, I certainly do not.

Once is a brilliant little film that is certainly deserving of the accolades it has received. If you love (good) music, you will love this movie. The songs are simply mesmerizing and beautifully performed. The lead, Glen Hansard of The Frames is someone who I was completely unfamiliar with before now, but he gives a simple and wonderful performance. The other lead, Marketa Irglova is similarly enchanting with a lovely voice, and watching the chemistry between the two, it is hard to avoid a smile creeping onto your face. The dialogue is minimal and real and honest, and the real story is told through the music. This morning, my first task was to download the soundtrack off of iTunes.

I can't speak to Fantastic Four, because I haven't seen it. But I certainly recommend that the next time you're in the video store, to take a chance on this little movie. If you don't enjoy it, and the music doesn't move you, then go out and buy the latest Kevin Federline album. You deserve each other.

the destiny

2007-12-27T08:20:00.001-05:00

A little while back I put this picture on my desktop as wallpaper. It's a picture of some nebula that I stumbled upon while....well...using StumbleUpon. I rather liked it because it reminded me of the Eye of Jupiter symbolism which plays a major part of my favourite television program, Battlestar Galactica. It's a symbol woven into the fabric of the story and seems to be connected to Kara "Starbuck" Thrace's so-called "special destiny`".

My 14 month old daughter, Alex, seems to particularily enjoy the picture. Every time I turn the computer on and she sees the image, she stares at it, then looks at me, and says "Wow!" This has been going on for weeks. She doesn't seem to get tired of it. I like to think now that perhaps my own little princess has her own "special destiny".

But then I suppose, every father thinks that about his little girl, eh?

Related: A little Starbuck fanvid goodness....

coooooooooooool

2007-12-06T19:43:00.001-05:00

from Quantum Mechanix (anyone looking for XMAS ideas for yours truly? :P)

missing: common sense

2007-12-01T08:27:00.000-05:00

22 Minutes on Cst. Chris Garrett

Sign the Petition

amber alert

2007-11-01T18:32:00.000-05:00

News out of my hometown of Sudbury, ON:

"Police in Sudbury, Ont., have issued an Amber Alert for a newborn girl they allege was taken from a hospital by an unidentified woman wearing clothing that made it appear she was on staff.

Police in Sudbury, Ont., have released this image of a woman in connection with the Amber Alert issued Thursday afternoon after a baby girl was taken from St. Joseph's hospital.
(Greater Sudbury Police Service)

Investigators said the woman, who is not related to the child, walked out of the St. Joseph site of the Sudbury Regional Hospital with the infant at around 1 p.m. ET Thursday.

The baby is described as Caucasian, with dark hair and bruising on her face. She was wearing a white flannel hospital gown and was wrapped in a white blanket.

Police described the woman as aboriginal, five-foot-six, slim and between 26 and 30 years old.

She was wearing white pants, a white V-neck shirt and a black sweater, and had her black hair in a ponytail.

The woman's clothing appeared similar to garb staff would wear on a daily basis, said Sudbury police Const. Bert Lapalme

"Anyone looking at the picture will understand that this suspect wanted to make believe to the people in the hospital that she was staff,” Lapalme told CBC News. "The suspect's appearance … could easily fool a number of people."

Investigators said she may have boarded a city bus.

Sudbury hospital officials said the facility has been locked down, meaning no one is allowed in or out, while more than 100 police officers were canvassing the area.

"We have officers scouring the city," Lapalme said."

-via cbc.ca

Update: (2007/11/01 22:00)

"A newborn girl allegedly illegally taken from a Sudbury, Ont., hospital has been located and is safe, police said Thursday night.

An infant was the subject of a nationwide Amber Alert after she was taken from the Sudbury Regional Hospital.

Police ended the alert about five hours later, saying the child had been found in Kirkland Lake, 300 kilometres north of Sudbury.

A woman is in custody."

all in a day's work

2007-10-31T19:36:00.000-05:00

Look closely.

epiphany

2007-10-29T16:51:00.000-05:00

***

responsibility
is a sword
in the belly
of creativity

***

alex: year one

2007-10-23T21:03:00.000-05:00

Music: Hard Sun by Eddie Veder and The Guide by Borne

funniest. digital. short. ever.

2007-09-30T12:04:00.000-05:00

While some have said that Saturday Night Live has lost some of it's steam in the last few years, I have to admit that Andy Samberg and his digital shorts are hilarious. If you missed last nights offering, then you missed "I Ran".

adventures in parenting

2007-09-29T21:11:00.000-05:00

So the title of this post is a reference to the 80's movie Adventures in Babysitting. However, when I told co-worker Peter that I was babysitting this weekend, he corrected me and said, "No Dave.....you're parenting." (Pete's a blunt kinda fellow). Hence the edit.

You see, we were hit with two wedding to attend, two weekends in a row. This weekend, it was Tam's cousin. Next weekend, my sister. So rather than subject Alex to excessive travel or a lengthy stay away from home, it was decided the wife would fly solo this weekend and I would stay home with the young'un and the critters.

Things so far (knocks wood) have been pretty good. There was a brief episode last night, where she woke up crying, but she eventually went back to sleep. (Whew!) This morning she woke up roughly her normal time, and the morning routine seemed to be falling into place. Until it was time for her nap. Apparently, she was having none of it. So, I bundled her up and we hit the road. It allowed the opportunity for her to have a short nap in the van, and then we had some quality daddy/daughter shopping time. We hit Future Shop, the suit store, Wal*Mart and I even took the little one for her first visit to the comic book store so she could get her baby geek on. Early exposure is the key. After all that activity and excitement, we returned home, I plugged a bottle in her mouth, and she was out for the count for a few hours.

Oh wait. Correction. That last part was what I envisioned happening. In reality, she was not ready for a nap (like I was). So....it was playtime. For a couple hours. Then we watched a little tube and she zonked out on me for about 1/2 hour. The rest of the evening was pretty standard. Feeding...webcam....skipped the bath, bottle and bed. She went down just after 7pm. It's 10:30 now....I've had a chance to watch a bit of t.v. and even a movie (The Queen, which was very good, and yet another illustration in my changing movie tastes). So far....so good.

Let's hope it stays that way. And we'll see what tomorrow brings.

(Editor's Note: I neglected to mention one exciting bit during our shopping excursion. While taking lunch at McDonald's in Wal*Mart, a ginormous wasp perched itself on Alex's cheek, just below her eye. It was a tense couple seconds, but I managed to flick it.....flick it good......and send it on it's way. Crisis averted. That is all.)

the dark side of hollywood

2007-09-23T10:38:00.000-05:00

A few days ago, for no reason in particular, I found myself musing about George Lucas. More specifically, I was trying to figure out how the original Star Wars series could have been so good, and the second series so god-awful. I came to the ultimate conclusion that it was in large part due to the fact that when creating Episodes IV through VI, Lucas was a filmmaker. When creating Episodes Ridiculous through Lame, he was a businessman.

I think part of what I love about the first trilogy is that despite the lasers and spaceships and alien muppets, there is a gritty, tactile realism to the whole thing. You can suspend your disbelief about the story, because the components of the story exist in the real world. With the second trilogy (a.k.a. crapfest) there is such a reliance on computer graphics that I have difficulty suspending that disbelief. It lacks that human element which I believe the story needs. I liken it to a stage magician, doing the trick where he taps two metal rings together and links them. The illusion works, assuming you believe the metal rings to be solid. If you doubt the reality of the rings, the illusion fails. Jar Jar Binks makes me doubt the reality of the rings.

Anyway, the reason that I bring all this up is that yesterday while flicking though the channels, I happened upon an A&E special on Lucas and Star Wars. It made me remember everything I loved about Star Wars, and everything I hated about Revenge of the Sith. Lucas has said that the remastered first trilogy and the second are more in keeping with his vision of the story. I find that sad, since I think the original production is the one that stands the test of time. In the interviews, Lucas himself admitted that when he made the first films, he was a staunch supporter of independent filmmaking and loathed corporate interference in the creative process. At the same time, he admitted that over the years, he has become the corporate head that he used to rally against, much like Anakin Skywalker's spectacular fall to the Dark Side, where he becomes Darth Vader (who used to be the greatest villain of all time). It's nice to know that he at least acknowledges the fact....even though he somehow seems to think the Dark Side is where it's at, these days.

I'm curious what other people think about the subject, and given Lucas' recent track record, I'm wondering if there's anyone who actually is looking forward to the new Indiana Jones film.

Also.....THIS.

that was painful

2007-09-18T20:31:00.000-05:00

Someone please....please....PLEASE remind me not to collect 3 months worth of pictures (mostly of Alex) before deciding to upload them to Flickr. Updating was not fun. At all.

With that said, I've upgraded to a Flickr pro account, so now all the older pictures are once again accessible.....and I don't have a monthly limit.

With that done, I guess I'll have to tackle the numerous video tapes. *sigh*

And maybe...just maybe....I'll try to start blogging again.

(this doesn't count)

non-nerd

2007-09-08T14:28:00.000-05:00

More geeky, really........

if it ain't scottish.....

2007-08-16T21:06:00.000-05:00

I had hoped to do a bit of a more in-depth update about our activities last weekend, but seem to have run out of time since I'll be travelling for work over the next week.

In brief, last Saturday we made a trek out to Fergus, Ontario for the annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games. It was my first time going, and I was glad we did. Aside from the searing heat, it was a lot of fun. Piping competitions, heavy events, highland dancing, music, food, all kinds of Scottish merch.....lots to do. Here are a few select pictures from our little excursion.

Alex and Nessie

Concession Row

Massed Bands

In the Shade

Caber Toss

Highland Fling

Hammin' it up

Cooling Off

amusing

2007-07-28T09:20:00.001-05:00

attention: lindsay lohan

2007-07-24T14:31:00.000-05:00

Take the undeserved money you've earned from craptastic movies and music, and use it to hire a driver.

Dumbass.

prairie dispatch

2007-07-10T09:20:00.001-05:00

So we're just starting into Day 4 or our 9 day Saskatchewan adventure. It was a rather hectic couple of days getting packed and prepared, including driving the pets and mother-in-law to Parry Sound and trying to arrange how we were going to get to the airport (to avoid paying the criminal parking fees). We ultimately decided to have Tam's sister drive us using our Blazer, which provided enough space for all our luggage (as depicted). It was an early departure for the airport, but it gave us just enough time to get all of our baggage checked in and us through security, etc. Fortunately, we even had a few minutes to spare to grab some breakfast and Tim Horton's coffee, which was greatly needed by that point.

Before too long, the boarding call came and we headed out to the plane. It was a bit smaller than I had hoped, with only 2 seats per aisle, rather than 3. This meant we didn't have a vacant seat to use for Alex, so we had to hold her for the duration of the 3 hour flight. Luckily, she was an angel. She fell asleep on mom as we were heading out to the runway, and slept for the first 2 1/2 hours of the flight. The last half hour she spent smiling at and charming the pants off other passengers and the flight crew. We were very fortunate. The flight itself was pretty good as well. Our Jazz flight had leather seats with televisions in the headrest. A touch screen menu allowed you to select what you wanted to watch, including the ability to pause, rewind, etc. I settled on Shooter with "Marky Mark" Wahlberg. I remember not being overly thrilled with the previews, and wasn't expecting much, but found it to actually be fairly entertaining for the most part.

Once on the ground in Regina, we were able to quickly retrieve our bags and then headed to the car rental counter. We were given a Hyundai Sonata, but had to wait while it was gassed and cleaned.

That's when we decided to kill some time by calling home. And there was some news waiting for us. Tam's sister Sheri was stranded on the side of the road with our Blazer. Apparently the alternator went and there was no power. CAA wouldn't come out for a tow as Tam and I (the cardholders) weren't present. So, I had to call CAA and use my diplomatic skills to gain a little assistance. After explaining the situation, they agreed to extend the coverage on a one-time basis and would tow the vehicle 10 kms for free. So, we had them go out to pick up our vehicle and haul it to the nearest Canadian Tire. ($400+ later, it was fixed, and the problem had been addressed).

We picked up our Sonata, installed the car seat, packed it full with our luggage, and were on our way in the Queen city. We made a quick stop in at Wal*Mart for some essentials, and then proceed to our friends Kelvin & Marie-Eve's place for a play date between Alex and their son William. William is a cute little guy and he and Alex seemed to get along well. They played, the boys had a few beers, and all was well.

Around suppertime the gang of us headed over to Scott and Amy's, the two who prompted this trip to Saskatchewan due to their upcoming wedding the following weekend. We got to see their house for the first time, which was extremely nice. I'm a little jealous, I don't mind saying. We lugged all our bags into the basement suite since they were nice enough to offer us a room for the night, sparing us a hotel. We had a nice BBQ supper and it was just nice to be able to hang out with old friends who we hadn't seen in a while.

The next morning we went out for a nice breakfast at Smitty's, then after packing up said our goodbye's and left them to their stressful week of preparations. From there it was onward to Saskatoon, a 2.5 hour trek north of Regina. It was a nice day for a drive. You forget how open everything is out on the prairie. The sky just goes on forever...as far as the eye can see. It's a pretty interesting thing to experience. The weather was nice, and the drive went well. Alex slept most of the way.

Once in Saskatoon, we proceeded to Don & Rhianon's, where we'd be staying for the next few days. We got to visit their house there for the first time, and met their newest additions, Banjo and Mercedes.....two purebred Boxers. Banjo is already a prize-winning show dog, and Mercedes is soon to follow, I'm sure.

It is now Tuesday morning, I'm sitting in Don's basement with Alex sleeping on me while the two dogs rip around the family room. We'll see what the day holds. More to come later.

pop quiz

2007-07-03T22:42:00.000-05:00

Scenario:

You are in the gym at your workplace, listening to your iPod Shuffle. There is 1 minute left in your treadmill workout when Metallica's One is randomly selected and begins to play. What do you do?

a) Immediately pause the song, finish the remainder of your workout, and listen to it next time.
b) Start listening to the song, finish the remainder of your workout, then stop it when you're done.
c) Listen to the song while you finish your workout, and take your time making your way to the lockers/showers until it's done.
d) Power through and extend your workout 6 minutes and 27 seconds until the song is complete, reveling in the guitar wizardry that is Kirk Hammett.

Correct answer in the Comments section.

that figures

2007-06-27T13:51:00.000-05:00

Today, I was clever.

I've been putting off getting my bloodwork done (well, not so much putting off but just being really busy), and now I'm in the position of needing to get it done prior to my Dr.'s appointment which is fast approaching.

So I decided I'd go to the lab around 1pm, to avoid the 7am rush that I've encountered before (thanks to the 12 hour fasting rule). I decided to go there today. Wednesday. At 1pm. After fasting for 12 hours.

After attending 2 labs, it became apparent that no lab in Barrie was open past 1pm on a Wednesday. Every other day of the week, sure.

But not Wednesday.

the week in review

2007-06-26T22:48:00.000-05:00

Tuesday to Friday

The President of Ireland in Toronto

Friday and Saturday

Prime Minister of Canada in Toronto, ON

Sunday

Me at home...alone.....losing my mind.

Monday to Tuesday

Prime Minister of Canada in Thunder Bay, ON

Wednesday, 00:05 hours

Right this moment.

Thankfully, though, I am now officially on days off for five (5) whole days.

Well.....assuming things don't get out of hand.

soundtrack of dave

2007-06-19T08:03:00.000-05:00

(Disclaimer: I usually don't do these....but I was curious. :P)

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?

So, here's how it works:

1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie

Opening Credits: Casey's Song - City & Colour

Waking Up: Don't Go Off Wandering - Limp Bizkit

First Day At School: With You - Linkin Park

Falling In Love: Come Around - The Watchmen

Fight Song: What Do You Do For Money Honey - AC/DC

Breaking Up: Alabama Motel Room - Matthew Good Band

Prom: Kecharitomene - Loreena McKennitt

Life: Creep - Stone Temple Pilots

Mental Breakdown: The Workers Sing A Song Of Mass Production - Matthew Good Band

Driving: Factory - Melissa McClelland

Flashback: Calculation Theme - Metric

Getting Back Together: Sharks and Danger - Alexisonfire

Wedding: On My Way - The Watchmen

Birth of Child: Nutshell - Alice In Chains

Final Battle: 21st Century Living - Matthew Good

Death Scene: Ghost Rider - Rollins Band

Funeral Song: Blue Orchid - The White Stripes

End Credits: Champagne For My Real Friends, Real Pain For My Sham Friends - Fall Out Boy

i'm back....

2007-06-09T20:48:00.000-05:00

....with a video link.....'cause I'm lazy, yo.

Alex (kinda) walks.

today's poll: closed, open, or with tongue?

2007-05-07T20:53:00.000-05:00

two reviews, one low price

2007-05-05T19:56:00.000-05:00

It's funny how things work. Since Alex was born 7 months ago, I haven't been able to see a movie at the theatre. And yet this week, I made it to the big screen twice.

The first one I took in was earlier in the week while on training for work. We had a free evening, it was cheap night at the show, so a group of us got together and made our way into town. The movie I wanted to see was Hot Fuzz, but it wasn't playing at the theatre in question, and the ultimate decision by the group was to see Next. The general consensus was that if nothing else, it had Jessica Biel in it.

It had nothing else.

The basic premise is that Nicolas Cage is a precognitive who can see the future. But only his future. And only two minutes. Except in the case of Jessica Biel's character. He can see further where she is concerned. The FBI are tracking a group of terrorists who have smuggled a nuke into the country and are going to blow up Los Angeles. Julianne Moore is an FBI agent who thinks Cage is the key to finding the terrorists. Apparently, the terrorists also think this. These are superstitious times.

The entire plot for this movie is absurd. To believe that the FBI would abandon traditional investigative measures in a time of crisis to chase after an alleged precog who wants nothing to do with them requires an unreasonable suspension of disbelief. Add to that the fact that the minute the terrorists hear the FBI is looking for Cage, they decide they need to find him first?

The characters are revealed in such a two dimensional nature that it is almost impossible to feel anything for them. Cage is creepy and uncharismatic. Julianne Moore, who I generally enjoy, is completely ridiculous as an over the top FBI agent. The terrorists are....possibly French? It's hard to say, since it's never really revealed who they are or what their motivations are. The whole terrorist plot appears to be just a vehicle to have Julianne Moore chase cage down, and then team up to take out the bad guys.

I've heard that the movie wasn't screened for critics. It seems the people behind the movie could see into the future as well.

Next.

This afternoon, we took advantage of Alex's Aunt Sheri and had her babysit while we went out to see Spiderman 3. I had been eagerly awaiting this release for the better part of the last year. I've always been a big Spider-man fan, the first two films were excellent, the black Spidey suit is one of the greatest storylines in comics, same cast, same director. What could go wrong?

Everything, it would seem.

At least X-Men: The Last Stand was able to blame it's craperific-ness on a new director. Spider-man 3 has no such scapegoat. The writer's completely pooched the story. As I watched this 2 1/2 hour train wreck, I kept asking myself how they could possibly get things so wrong. I could list the problems.....in fact I will:

The retcon of Uncle Ben's death.
The convenient and unexplained arrival of the alien symbiote.
The strange and mind-boggling experiment responsible for creating the Sandman.
Mary Jane singing.
The fact that edgy Peter just came off as comical......and looking like Crispin Glover.
Peter dancing.
Uninspired action sequences.
The Twist. Literally.
Peter being so geeky the geeks would make fun of him.
Strange butlers who come out of nowhere to completely alter the storyline.

I'm sure there is more, but I've already started to wipe this traumatic experience from my memory. The one good thing I have to say is that Bryce Dallas Howard was well cast as the lovely Gwen Stacy.

Too bad she should have appeared and died in the first film.

'Nuff said.

alexandra in april

2007-04-29T18:51:00.000-05:00

Okay......so my posts sort of fell by the wayside for the month of April. What can I say? I've been busy.

But I'm not the only one. Little Alex is growing like a weed, and accomplishing a number of firsts. I unfortunately have been away at work for much of it, but fortunately with digital technology, we've been able to capture some of these momentous events.

While we haven't taken too many pictures (and may have accidently deleted some), I have recently uploaded a number to my flickr acount so go check it out.

We've also managed to capture a few videos as well. Some of the events include:

First Easter (with family)

First (semi) solid foods.

First unassisted sitting.

First assisted steps. (The jury is still out on this one. Mom says she walked. I'm a little more skeptical. Have your opinion heard in our comments section.....now open.)

First teeth. (Note: As I write this, mom was heard screaming upstairs as Alex sunk her new teeth into mom's hand while getting her evening bath.)

So much happening. And I'm bound to miss more as I have to head out and play secret agent for a week. When I emerge from the shadows this weekend, perhaps there will be more to report.

(maybe even a Spider-man 3 review)

(if I'm ~~brave~~ stupid enough to attend on opening night)

jessica mae stover

2007-04-28T10:52:00.000-05:00

"It is time that we stop focusing on what we are not and start focusing on what we are. Long ago, I chose me. I chose to believe." - Jessica Mae Stover

(photo courtesy of Jessica Stover Dot Com)

I do not recall the exact instant that I decided to join the RCMP, but I know it happened early on in my high school experience. It was then that I abandoned my previous ambitions as a designer of architecture and started focusing on a career path as an officer of the peace. Strangely enough, it was also during this time that I really started to explore my creative side. There are probably a number of teachers who could attest to the fact that I put more time and energy sketching new superheroes in my binder than on graphing parabolas on the x and y axis. Whether it be art, or movies, or music, playing role-playing games after school or writing short novella's or haiku in Mr. Goddard's creative writing class, I spent more time with my head in the clouds than focusing on the rather academic leaning of my course load. To a certain extent, this trend continued into university, though I was able to reign it in a bit (and working 30 hour weeks on top of a full university course load kept me occupied). There was even a time that I considered abandoning law and pursuing a career in the entertainment industry (as a writer/director of television or movies), but considering where I am today, we all know what decision I ultimately made.

To me, Jessica Mae Stover is the embodiment what might have been; the other path. She is someone who I have come to greatly respect and admire over the course of the last year since making her introduction.

Avatar of the Awesome.

I first became acquainted with Jess, an actress/(screen)writer/industry insider, through Wil Wheaton.

(yes....of Star Trek fame)

(no....I don't know him personally)

Wil has a rather popular website and linked to a rather hilarious string of posts in which she visits the Nerds lining up outside Grauman's Theatre in preparation for the release of Revenge of the Sith (even though it wasn't screening at Grauman's). The piece was aptly titled Revenge of the Nerds. It was enough to get me to start reading her website, Jessica Stover Dot Com (JSDC) on a regular basis.

Now at this point, I could go on at length about Jess' biography and adventures and poems and hilarious posts and etc etc, infinity x2. But I won't. Instead I'll direct you to JSDC where you can explore for yourself. Take the time to visit the different areas and read the cleverly archived posts. It's well worth it.

What I would like to do here is talk about some of the interesting projects currently underway.

One which I have talked about here before is The Silver Legacy, which is the full-length epic screenplay that Jess is trying to get greenlit for production. An audience Demand has been initiated to start a grassroots movement supporting this project, and if it's something that appeals to you, I encourage you to support it.

There are also new Limited Edition Prints of concept art from TSL available for purchase, the proceeds of which are now going to fund Jess' new project, a sci-fi fantasy short film (codename: AAE) that she has written and is executive producing. Anyone purchasing one of the prints (I already have mine....just waiting to be framed) or donating at least $5 to the project will have their name listed in the credits under Special Thanks. Isn't that worth five bucks (or a sweet limited edition print, numbered and signed by the author and artist)?

I've been following the exploits of this spirited lass from Virginia (now in L.A.) for well over a year, and can tell you that I have no doubt that she is going to be successful and become a famous screenwriter and important artist in the genre of film. Now....so I don't have to say "I told you so", why don't you join me here on the ground floor of something big?

Seriously.

I'm not going to ask you again.

the hilarity of sneezes

2007-03-31T10:37:00.001-05:00

that time i was on coach's corner

2007-03-31T07:26:00.000-05:00

On March 17th, 2007, while the Toronto Maple Leafs were playing the Montreal Canadiens, I appeared on Coach's Corner with Don Cherry. Okay....well not exactly. A little while back at our office we gathered in red serge and took a photo to send to the troops in Afghanistan. Someone involved knows Don I believe, and arranged to have the photo shown on the program, along with a plug for the "O" Division Slain Peace Officers Fund. Thanks Don.

Original

Coach's Corner

obsolete

2007-03-24T11:59:00.000-05:00

You know things are bad when even the robots are being replaced.

24 16 things wrong with 24

2007-03-23T22:03:00.000-05:00

1. No one ever goes to the bathroom.
2. Jack is able to style his hair and give himself a shave in under 5 minutes, going from caveman to GQ model. With a pair of scissors.
3. No one ever has to charge their cell phone.
4. A taser won't knock the target unconscious.
5. In any given episode, Chloe covers up for someone.
6. Every season, someone inside CTU is a mole/traitor. Perhaps during the slow periods, when not in crisis mode, they should look at revamping their background checks.
7. You can get from any point in Los Angeles to another in less time than it takes for a commercial break.
8. In any given episode, Chloe circumvents protocols to help Jack. Why does she still have a job?
9. Jack Lite a.k.a. Ricky Schroeder
10. Twenty four things are a lot of things.
11. No one ever laughs.
12. Jack's brother and father involved in the conspiracy? Days of Our Lives called. They want their script back.
13. No one ever eats. Or drinks. Unless it's an overwrought story arc involving Miles O'Brien.
14. O'Brien? Really?
15. What have the terrorists got against Los Angeles?
16. Conveniently, the terrorists limit their activity to one 24 hour period.

more tim than al

2007-03-21T05:12:00.000-05:00

It's a little after 6 a.m.

I've been up since 5, getting ready for work, as is my usual routine. What isn't usual is I had to go to the basement to do my shave and other business as yesterday I ripped apart our main floor bathroom in preparation for a tile contractor coming in today to lay some flooring. As I'm in the basement bathroom doing my thing, all of a sudden I hear:

Drip...........drip..........drip.

I glance up towards one corner and see that the paint is bubbling and peeling. Freakin' water is leaking from upstairs.

Going to check, I realize that the shut off valve for the toilet that I took out yesterday only works about 99%, allowing 1% of water to bubble out the top and drip down to the floor. Apparently it was sufficient to cause enough damage to make me want to gouge my eyes out with a jagged piece of glass. Additionally, I can't quite figure out how to stop that 1% other than shutting water off to the house.

Why me?

Update: The tile guys didn't show up today as they ran behind with another project. Tam had a plumber come in to fix the valve to the tune of 100 bones. Awesome.

another video. deal with it.

2007-03-15T20:18:00.000-05:00

feeteater

2007-03-10T21:11:00.000-05:00

mystique

2007-03-08T22:44:00.000-05:00

As a new father, I've come to realize that a baby is a very expressive creature. A widening of the eyes, reddening of the face, the curling of the lip....all these things can have a profound effect on the child's appearance. I've found a webpage that helps to illustrate this seemingly chameleon-like ability in action.

Click, and be amazed.

yes, i like the "funny books"

2007-03-07T15:24:00.000-05:00

I mentioned in a post yesterday that over the weekend I "got my geek on" and picked up a comic book. The comic in question is The Dark Tower #1, based on Stephen King's series of the same name. It wasn't the comic I had gone in looking for, but when I spotted it on the shelf it caught my eye. I had read at least the first book of the series back in high school (back when Stephen King counted among the authors I read), and recall enjoying it, though for some reason lost interest as the story progressed.

Comics are near and dear to my heart, as I credit them with igniting my passion for reading. It started with Archie Comics and Superman digests, progressed to the Franklin W. Dixon Hardy Boys books, and then other comics such as Spider-man, Captain America and the X-Men. Over the years my tastes have changed (refined) a bit and I lean more towards titles and graphic novels such as Grey, Grendel, and The Hedge Knight.

But I still love comics. I think it would be great to still be able to collect, but financially it's just not feasible. One of those things I've just had to give up as a grown up, I suppose. That being said, I still pick up the odd issue for old times sake, but therefore am a bit more picky about what I choose.

The first installment of The Dark Tower was very good. The art is striking (I think it uses only a four-colour scheme....with very earthy tones), and the story of course is one I had enjoyed back when I read the novel. I'd certainly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the genre.

red coats and yellow ribbons

2007-03-07T15:14:00.000-05:00

Support Our Troops

cordially, future dwight

2007-03-06T17:51:00.000-05:00

Wouldn't it be cool if you could send yourself a message from the future?

I haven't heard of any way to do that yet, but I have found a way to contact my future self from the present. Check it out.

the weekend that almost wasn't

2007-03-06T17:13:00.000-05:00

So this weekend was supposed to be chock full of familial visitation, but circumstances dictated otherwise.

My sister, brother-in-law and nephew were supposed to come by on Saturday but the boys were coming out of illness and my sister was starting into it, so they opted not to make the 2 hour journey and stay home to recouperate. I'm sure Serious Gord was keeping their hands full anyway. So instead we went into town and ran a few errands. A few staple items were picked up at Wal*Mart, and I picked up some guitar strings and a comic book ('cause once in a while you gotta get your geek on...)

Sunday was supposed to see Alex's Grandpa and Granny come by after their fun-filled weekend in Toronto, but they were serving as airport shuttle for their friends so ended up staying an extra night. Subsequently Sunday became a day for groceries and housecleaning. Yeah.....we got down with our bad selves.

Monday morning I got up early to head in and get some blood work done (after a 12 hour fast...yay). I got there at 7:05 a.m......and was about 20th in line. Awesome. It was also kind of stormy with blowing snow and such, so travel was rather treacherous with white-outs in places. Grandpa and Granny showed up in the early afternoon, and apparently just in time to miss this catastrophe on the highway. They got to spend some quality time with the little one, and I got a few guitar lessons from pops. I also managed to throw out my back while carting some firewood from outside into the basement. Sweet.

And now it's Monday afternoon. Grandpa and Granny have departed for home. Mom and Alex are laying on the couch snoring while I plunk around in cyberspace.

i think i can

2007-03-06T17:08:00.000-05:00

So Shane "Rock It" Nickerson has laid down the gauntlet. I have decided to take up the challenge and attempt to blog more for the next thirty days.

Caveat: I may be away a few days on work related endeavours, so posting during these times may be impossible.

Begin.

kids say the darndest things

2007-02-17T12:48:00.000-05:00

My little girl is growing up.

pootube

2007-02-17T12:37:00.000-05:00

I am so sick of television lately. It seems like most of the stuff that is fed to us these days is so banal. Anyone who knows me knows that I watch a lot of television, and there are a number of programs that I record on a regular basis. Here is a short list of the shows I watch:

Heroes
How I Met Your Mother *
The Class
American Idol
Survivor
Battlestar Galactica *
24
Criminal Minds
Boston Legal
The Unit *
Family Guy *
The Office *
My Name Is Earl
ER
Saturday Night Live
Desperate Housewives
More???

I'm considering dropping everything but those with the '*'. Especially 24, Housewives and Boston Legal. Those three are just getting ridiculous. I think I'll do a post about why I think 24 has completely lost it's way.

rethink

2007-02-07T15:44:00.000-05:00

I just saw this video which was featured on YouTube.

I thought it was pretty cool, so figured I'd share it.

boxer in training

2007-02-04T09:54:00.000-05:00

The quality on this is pretty poor due to the lighting. Hopefully when we get our new laptop/webcam setup, we can post something a bit better.

Anyway, this is just a little clip we took with our (old) digital camera of Alex playing in her chair.

I'll have to get her a speedbag when she's older.

NOTE: There are also some new pictures on flickr for youse guys who don't check regularily.

movin' on up

2007-01-30T20:46:00.000-05:00

I finally broke down and did it. My new (laptop) computer has been ordered from Dell.

Inspiron 6400, 2 Ghz Dual Core, 2G RAM, 160 GB HD, Windows Vista.

Now the wait begins....

boiled frogs

2007-01-27T20:16:00.000-05:00

by Alexisonfire

A man sits at his desk
One year from retirement,
And he's up for review
Not quite sure what to do
Each passing year
The workload grows

I'm always wishing, I'm always wishing too late
For things to go my way
It always ends up the same
(Count your blessings)
I must be missing, I must be missing the point
Your signal fades away and all I'm left with is noise
(Count your blessings on one hand)

So wait up, I'm not sleeping alone again tonight
There's so much to dream about, there must be more to my life

Poor little tin man, still swinging his axe,
Even though his joints are clogged with rust

My youth is slipping, my youth is slipping away
Safe in monotony, (so safe), day after day
(Count your blessings)
My youth is slipping, my youth is slipping away
Cold wind blows off the lake, and I know for sure that it's too late
(Count your blessings on one hand)

So wait up, I'm not sleeping alone again tonight
There's so much to dream about, there must be more to my life
Can't help but feel betrayed, punch the clock every single day
There's no loyalty and no remorse
Youth sold for a pension cheque
And it makes him fucking sick
He's heating up, he can't say no

(Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh)[x6]

So wait up, I'm not sleeping alone again tonight,
There's so much to dream about, there must be more to my life.
(So wait up)
So wait up I'm not sleeping alone again tonight
Between the light and shallow waves is where I'm going to die
Wait up for me
Wait up for me
Wait up for me

hemmingway had the right idea

2007-01-26T22:03:00.000-05:00

From brother-in-law Steve:

...um, I haven't forgot about this... What's the pub date?

No, I haven't forgotten either. The story is pretty much written.....in my head. It's just a matter of trying to find the time to sit down and put it to page. Unfortunately, recreational writing projects are rather low on the priority list these days.

So....pub date? When I get to it. ;)

you boys ever been to mex-ee-co?

2007-01-19T20:45:00.000-05:00

From ctv.ca:

An Ontario man is dead and his wife is injured after an apparent hit-and-run accident, just two weeks after they arrived in Mexico for their vacation, CTV News has learned.

Clifford and Janette Glasier, of Chatham, Ont. had been renting a house in the country for four months until the end of April.

The snowbirds were struck in an apparent hit-and-run while crossing a main street near Lake Chapala while walking home after dinner Wednesday night.

Clifford, 67, was pronounced dead on the scene, while his wife, 55, is fighting for her life in hospital.

[....]

The death comes less than two weeks after a 19-year-old Canadian man was killed outside a nightclub in Acapulco, Mexico.

Mexican officials insist Adam DePrisco was killed in a hit-and-run accident, and a preliminary autopsy by Ontario's top coroner showed the injuries were consistent with being knocked down by a vehicle.

But DePrisco's friends and family have disputed that claim, saying he died of injuries sustained in a vicious beating.

This latest death also comes about 11 months after a Woodbridge, Ont. couple, Dominic and Nancy Ianiero, were found slain at a resort near Cancun.

Mexican authorities have been accused of bungling the murder investigation.

I wonder if the all-inclusive resorts will start to offer funerals as well.

strike a pose

2007-01-19T20:30:00.000-05:00

We took the munchkin in for photographs a couple weeks ago to preserve for all eternity her 3 month cuteness. There was the obligatory portrait pose, as well as an adorable one depicting the hatching of our little chickadee.

Awwwww.

boop, boop!

2007-01-14T11:38:00.000-05:00

No. You're not hallucinating.

So the past couple weeks have been busy to the point where blogging has fallen relatively low on the priority list. I'll try and get some new pictures and the like up on my flickr page today.

I've come to the conclusion that there really aren't enough hours in a day.

24 hours
- 1 (to get ready for work)
- 2 (to drive to and from work)
- 10 (at work)
- 1 (prepare and consume supper)
- 1 (to walk and attend to the dog)
- 1 (to feed, change, play with baby)
- 2 (to hold sleeping baby....and watch t.v.)
- 1 (to try and help put baby to bed)
- 5 (to sleep)
_____
= 0

As my calculations will demonstrate, life these days doesn't leave a lot of time for Internets and extra-curriculars. And those days I don't work you have to factor in family visits, doctor's appointments, shopping, household chores....and maybe a couple extra hours of sleep.

It's little wonder that I wish I was Hiro.

Of course, Jack Bauer can seem to get a lot done in 24 hours too.

auld lang syne

2007-01-01T19:48:00.000-05:00

And so we say farewell to 2006.

I'd post some pictures of our New Year's Eve merriment, but there are none.....mainly to protect our dignity. No....not because things got so out of hand that there was a publication ban....but because our evening was so lame it's embarrassing. Welcome to parenthood I suppose. The better part of our evening was spent watching Brokeback Mountain and trying to put the little one to bed. I rung in the new year in a rocking chair beside the crib. Woo. Oh...and Hoo.

Hope everyone has a great 2007.

i'll be home for christmas

2006-12-24T12:00:00.000-05:00

There's just something about being "home" for the holidays. A certain familiarity and sense of belonging that you just can't quite get anywhere else. Like listening to the local radio station and hearing the voice of the guy who used to live in the apartment upstairs from you when you were a kid, and let you play the original Donkey Kong on his Intellivision. Or getting together with the friend you've known since 6th grade with your wives and babies and talking about how one is doing exactly what he set out to do in high school and the other is somewhere completely different than anticipated. Or driving by the fast food restaurant you worked at for 8 years and being flooded by the memories of days past. Or helping your Dad and brother-in-law pick up an old piano (that weighs roughly a billion pounds) and bringing it to your sister's house as a gift for your musical prodigy of a niece. Or just sitting around the house with the family and enjoying good food and good drink and being merry.

Or watching the adorable smile on your daughter's face as she gazes at her Auntie while sitting on her Gran's lap.

Yep. Nothing quite like it. Merry Christmas to all.

(Now if we could just get some snow!)

christmas past

2006-12-23T15:44:00.000-05:00

yes, destiny has her hand on my back, and she's pushing

2006-12-19T21:36:00.000-05:00

What is with the coincidences lately? Seriously. As someone who doesn't generally believe in "fate", it almost seems as though the universe has been speaking to me.

Although I am a Canadian of somewhat mixed ancestry, I suppose I tend to identify myself as being of Scottish descent, if one is to trace my patriarchal lineage. A couple of years ago I became a member of the Canadian society for our Clan. What it amounts to is a little ID card and a subscription to An Dul, the Clan newsletter. The newsletter isn't on a set schedule, but is generally published 2-3 times annually. I sent in my membership renewal well over a year ago, and had yet to receive an issue. I'm not sure what my exact train of thought was, but for some reason that very fact surfaced in my mind yesterday while setting off on a trek to Costco. "When the hell am I going to get something....?", I mused.

Upon returning from our shopping extravaganza, I decided to check the mail. No...there was no copy of An Dul there. BUT.......there was a letter from the Convenor of the Clan society. Basically, professional and personal committments were making it difficult for him to devote the time necessary to assemble and publish the newsletter, and he was seeking a volunteer to assume the task.

Now....I had long been considering contributing something to the newsletter, and now that I am living in an area where I have more access to events (i.e. highland games in Fergus) I was hoping to perhaps become a bit more invovled. As such, it seems rather serendipitus that this letter should arrive at all, let alone on the very day I was already thinking on the subject. That being said, I don't know that I'm in a significantly better situation than the Convenor, if at all, to take over the responsibility. The prospect is interesting, but between work and a newborn (edit: and my darling wife), I find it hard enough to assemble a blog post, let alone a newsletter. Not to mention I'm a terrible, terrible procrastinator. Let's be honest.

Coincidence? Fate? Professor X-like psychic abilities? I wish I knew.

the benefits of media exposure

2006-12-15T20:38:00.000-05:00

Here's an interesting graphic that I located via Matthew Good via the BBC.

I guess it's easier for people to donate their money to a natural disaster which comes, does it's damage and is gone, as opposed to systemic problems such as war, disease and famine which require more than a hammer and a handful of nails.

i'm probably going to regret this

2006-12-12T13:11:00.000-05:00

"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart."

-William Wordsworth-

I suffer from the somewhat romantic notion that I'm a writer. I believe it grabbed hold of me when I entered high school and became enamoured by story. All but disregarding the sciences, the classes which received my focus were English, History and Art. Throughout these formative years I wrote short stories, poems, a novella.....I sketched and painted....all in an attempt to tap into my artistic side.

I'm not sure that I was entirely successful. Having gone back and read some of what I wrote back then, I can't say that I was blown away. In truth.....I was somewhat appalled that I thought I was any good at all. In any event, my chosen profession is not one that really nourishes the creative spirit, so once I entered university and subsequently the workforce, my outlets of creative expression fell by the wayside.

And yet, something deep inside me tells me that I'm still a writer, hanging onto the notion of publishing a novel or scripting a screenplay. I want to start writing again. Unfortunately, as I try to come up with ideas of what to write about.....I stumble. Either I think too long on an idea and talk myself out of it, or I feel it is too similar to t.v. show X or movie Y, or some other work that I don't want to rip-off. I need something to get my feet wet. I've come up with a plan.

I call it, Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Creative Writing Edition.

Lame as it sounds, here is the premise:

The audience, namely you, will throw out some general ideas which I will use to formulate a story, which I will write and post here. We'll need some structure, and since I don't have Drew Carey as a moderator, it will work on a first come, first serve basis. I've identified four categories of ideas, so the first 4 commentors (in the following order) will contribute to the story:

Comment 1 - Genre (i.e. science-fiction, adventure, western, etc)
Comment 2 - Setting (location, setting, time, etc), eg. space station, grocery store, feudal Japan
Comment 3 - A defining characteristic of the main character (physical, character, occupation, etc)
Comment 4 - Random (some random element to incorporate in the story)

Only one contribution per person. Suggestions should be short and to the point (1-4 words).

Folks....this may end up as a train wreck. I offer no guarantees on length or time for completion, but promise that whether it is garbage or gold, I will post something. Now....let's see how it all shakes out.

And. GO.

winter was here

2006-12-12T12:43:00.000-05:00

This photo was snapped a few days ago. It looked like winter had finally arrived. However, mild weather yesterday and today has all but melted the snow. Perhaps it won't be a white Christmas after all.

Let this also serve as announcement that there are some new photos on my flickr page.

video killed the radio star

2006-12-09T21:36:00.000-05:00

Given that a vast majority of the people I work with are dinosaurs, I am considered relatively computer savvy. Among the savvy, however, I am a bit of a dunce. Take, for example, the fact that I just yesterday discovered the existence of Windows Movie Maker on my computer.

In my defence, I've only been running XP for about 3 years.

you say it's your birthday

2006-12-03T22:55:00.000-05:00

It was a special day for a special boy. Today my nephew Gordon marked a milestone. One year old! We made the 2 1/2 hour trek to my sister's house to share in the festivities. My brother-in-law composed a great video marking the special occassion.

Happy Birthday, Gordon!

progress doesn't look so good

2006-12-03T08:46:00.000-05:00

Check this out:

Here is what the view from my back deck looked like 4 months ago.

Here is what the view from my back deck looks like today.

I guess 'greenbelt' just doesn't mean what it used to.

what would maslow say

2006-12-02T08:06:00.000-05:00

(Edit: The picture that is supposed to open this post keeps disappearing - thanks Blogger Beta. Here is what you should see.)

(Edit Redux: If you see the picture, disregard edit numero uno....that's spanish for 1 ...I think).

Among the many pet names I have for my daughter, one of my favourites is the Hungry Hungry Hippo. Sometimes when she's hungry, while I'm holding her to me, her head will bob back and forth into my shoulder, her lips smacking as she tries to latch onto something to suck. It just conjures up images of the old board game (how cool was that!) and it makes me laugh.

kismet

2006-12-01T20:13:00.000-05:00

Did you ever get the feeling that life was trying to tell you something? A series of events or signs which all seem to point in the same direction? A big sledgehammer of "Hey! Pay attention!" whacking you upside the head?

I have. And I think it's telling me to go to Africa.

It defies logic, but examine the evidence, all of which have occurred in the last 2 weeks:

A short while ago I overheard a conversation in which a couple people were talking about travel and where they would like to go. The subject got me asking the question of myself. Having had the opportunity to visit Scotland last year (which had always been my first desire when it came to international travel), I began thinking of other places. Italy, Australia, western U.S., Hawaii, .....Africa. The latter stood out a bit for some reason, and I'm not sure why. It had never before struck me as some place I wanted to go. Anyway....my mind then set to wandering and thoughts of travel faded.
While sitting in the passenger seat of a car, I ended up in the middle of a conversation between the driver and someone standing outside my window. The topic: Africa. One had just got back from there where he was helping to build schools and other such humanitarian efforts. The other had worked there years ago for a few months. Both were of the opinion that it was a life changing experience.
In the course of my duties at work, I came into contact with some people from The United Republic of Tanzania (Africa). One asks if I've ever been to Africa. Upon replying in the negative, he says I really should come.
A short time later, while standing around and minding my own business, a random pedestrian walks up to me asking directions to the underground parking level. He spots a pin on my lapel (which depicts the flag of Tanzania....reference point #3) and asks if I'm from Tanzania (though looking doubtful). I say no, but he doesn't press the matter further. Instead, he pulls out his business card and hands it to me. He works for Zara Tours.....a trekking and climbing company from........duh duh duh......Tanzania. He says I should come see the country and bids me good day.
Today I went to the mail and picked my most recent issue of Macleans. On the cover; a story on Darfur in Africa.

What do you think? Coincidence, or fate?

In related news, today is World Aids Day.

turn, turn, turn

2006-12-01T17:29:00.000-05:00

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

-excerpt from Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken-

And so it begins. Again.

Those who know me may think that this is my second blog. In reality, it is the fifth. For the sake of those who care, let me explain.

When I first stumbled onto the Internet phenomenon known as blogging, I decided to try my hand at it. With a little assistance from Blogger, I was soon the proud owner of The Cardinal Rules. What it amounted to was a place for me to vent and rant about frustrations with my job and the idiocy of popular culture. This then led to my belief that a blog might be a good way for my high school friends and I to keep in contact, so I created a group blog called The Hoikety Choik Frat House v. 2.0. (Long story). After a few posts, interest fizzled, and it proved to be a failed venture. It was not long after before both blogs were deleted.

Next up was a brief attempt at serious blogging in the form of Camelot is Burning. If memory serves, it consisted of an introductory post and an original poem (5 lines) before being unceremoniously nuked. I gave up on blogging.

Until...

...a short while later, when I discovered that a number of my familial relations had been infected by this "blog" craze. So, in the spirit of keeping close personal ties with the relatives, I again jumped on the bandwagon. This time with.......The Greatest Blog Ever Written.

Ugh. While striking me as particularly clever at the time (a play on The Greatest Story Ever Told.....with a tongue-in-cheek twist via the subtitle, ex. ...is unavailable at this time. We apologize for the inconvenience.), I grew to hate it. Nonetheless, I muddled through to the tune of just over 100 posts.

But it's time for a change.

The result is what you read. In addition to the anecdotal retelling of life in suburbia, I had always hoped that my blog would give me the opportunity to explore some of my more serious musings on things such as religion, politics and world events and provide an outlet for my creative side. I'm not sure why exactly I couldn't adequately tap into some of those things with my last blog, but with any luck I can overcome that hurdle here.

And perhaps post a bit more frequently. (Admit it.....you were thinking it.)

With that said, let's take a journey down this new road.......and see where it leads us.