Asleep at the Wheel 40 Miles Left to Go
Check out the Evolution of Dance. This one has made the rounds before, so you may have already seen it. It’s a six-minute mix of music across a few genres, and is a bald, white guy’s interpretation of the dance that went with it. He’s pretty clearly tired at the end, but it’s impressive (particularly the hammer and vanilla ice bits – although “impressive” probably isn’t the right word).
I’ll play Moggy’s little meme game this morning. If you don’t like ’em, don’t read past here.
I play a little WoW here and there, enough that I’m in a guild. WoW has parts that require the cooperation of 5-40 people to complete, and being in a guild generally gives you a pool of like-minded people you play with to complete these parts and socialise. The 20-40 person parts typically require 3-8 hours to complete, and are known as “raids”. Our guild raids on weekends – Saturdays at 1pm, and Sundays at 4pm.
About a week ago, one of my guildies asked me why I never raided on Sunday. I explained that I usually had dinner or visited with the parental around that time, so couldn’t raid. They asked me if I didn’t want to raid instead, and I said “no”. They were a little confused, and asked why visiting with the parental was more important (they were a little younger than me).
This is why.
You just never know when you won’t be able to anymore.
I so have to get me some of these like, pronto.
I got a nice letter in the mail from the folks at Whisky Live in the UK today. I assume I received it because one of the whisky-like places I visited while in Scotland last year gave them my name. I’m kind of pleased they did, as the letter was an announcement for Whisky Live in Toronto, an event that is in less than a month and also one I have never heard of.
You probably haven’t, either.
So, if you like whisky (no “e”, we’re talkin aboot the stuff from the other side of the pond) and live within a reasonable distance of Toronto, well… this show just may be for you. Do check it out.
quick update: They do have whiskey there, too. Also, snooty Michael Jackson will be speaking, so maybe we’ll find out what dope he smokes before writing about everything he smells and tastes that no matter how hard you try, you never come close to smelling or tasting. There will be some companies that I’d like to hear from, too.
Leaves are falling all around,
It’s time I was on my way.
Thanks to you, I’m much obliged
For such a pleasant stay.But now it’s time for me to go,
The autumn moon lights my way.
For now I smell the rain,
And with it pain,
And it’s headed my way.
Ah, sometimes I grow so tired,
But I know I’ve got one thing I got to do,Ramble on,
And now’s the time, the time is now…– Ramble On, Led Zeppelin
So. I was driving to drop off some stuff I borrowed from a friend a month ago, and this song came on. It’s always been one of my faves from Led Zeppelin, but I’ve never really listened to it.
Today, for some reason, I did.
It’s been five years since I moved from NYC. I wish I never had, and it’s something I’ve never been able to get over for some reason. I’ve been hanging on for years about what could have been, and have been ignoring or pretending that what is now isn’t. So I’ve been pretty miserable. Sound familiar? I think it does, as I’ve written a similar vein of post several times in the last year or so?
So what’s different?
Since returning from Vancouver I’ve been in a fair bit of pain. It dates back to an ulty injury from over two years ago, and I finally got it looked at last week. The remedy has been excruciating. Short story – sciatic nerve bound up in scar tissue now released; said nerve cluster is informing nervous system that it is alive, well, and tired of being ignored for the past two years. In fact, said nerve cluster seems to have found a pair of maracas and a jug of tequila, and is having a party like those asshole neighbours who don’t know they should be in bed at 10pm on Saturday, not yelling and screaming and keeping me up! That’s a really long way of saying “Holy mother of god, it fucking hurts!” It also means standing or sitting or anything other than constant motion has been an excercise in agony, and I’ve been averaging an hour of sleep a night since last Wednesday.
Right. So where am I going with this, anyways? I haven’t been able to partake in any of the usual distractions – reading, TV, WoW, or anything else that lets me focus on something other than me. I’ve been stuck with me, myself, and I. So I’ve thought a lot, and I know what I want. I won’t get into that right now, but knowing is a huge change from just a week ago.
I’ll be moving in the direction I want to go by the end of the year. I know what I want to do, and I think I’ll even enjoy it. That’s been sorely missing for a. very. long. time.
More info as things straighten out – including my back. I’ve returned, and I feel like writing, working, commenting, and heckling again. Watch this space, more to come. Whether it’ll be interesting or not to you I’m not as concerned about, because it’s all about me 😀
Ok, that was a pretty damn fine weekend.
Mark, Coop, and I headed out to Van to meet up with a whack of others for Ryan and Rachel’s wedding, a spot of drinking, and general catching up with a bunch of friends.
The flight out was pretty good, but Air Canada managed to separate our bags from us (despite the planes being 50 feet apart – maybe those stupid=short connection times need some review, hey Mapleflot?), so they showed up a little later. Our hotel had a pretty decent view, and was close to food and beer, so it was all good.
On Friday Rachel and Ryan had a meet and greet at Shebeen, a whisky bar behind the Irish Heather in gastown. The Guinness was extra cold, the apetizers were tasty (and plentiful!), and the company was stellar. I begged off a little early because of a sore back that needed a lie-down, but it was a great evening.
After a bit of a sleep-in on Saturday we met up at Slickity Jim’s on Main Street (at Broadway) with Anat and her little ones, the (in)famous jhawke, and the mightyjc for some excellent foodicles. Bellys stuffed, we eventually made our way over to James’ and then onward to Queen Elizabeth Park for a round of disc golf where we were joined by friends and family. The evening was spent at the Atlantic Trap and Gill, where we met up with some guildies and ex-Ingenia-ites for some food, beverages, and… err… cupcakes.
Sunday was the main event at the Cole Harbour Community Centre for the ceremony, and an excellent reception at the yacht club. I have a tonne of pictures, but they require a bunch of processing as well as editorial approval from Rachel and Ryan. It was a great time, and the laid-back-have-fun mentality that (typically 😉 ) defines both Rachel and Ryan shone through… although that may be the open bar talking. We closed the place down shooting the breeze while enjoying the view.
05:15 came way too early yesterday – my first words were “shit, I’m still drunk” – but we made it to the airport and back to Ottawa without incident. Last night was an early night, and I think I’ll need a couple days to completely recover. It was an excellent time, and was wholly enjoyable. I have many more pics that will make their way over to my flickr account in the coming days, so have a boo this weekend.
Thanks to Rachel and Ryan for a great time, to Coop and Bobo for a great weekend, and to everyone else we met up with while in Vancouver; ’twas awesome.
“It is no where written that the American empire goes on forever.” – Chalmers Johnson
If you’re living in Canada, you must tune into the CBC tomorrow night (Thursday Aug 23rd) at 8pm. They’re airing Eugene Jarecki’s Why We Fight, a fascinating look at the military-industrial complex in the US today, how it got there, and how it can affect US policy and governance.
It asks a great question on multiple levels: “How much is too much?”
Check it out, I can’t recommend this one enough.
A pretty funny parody trailer. My fave is the Sinead O’Connor bit.
I think I’m going to hell.
I don’t care about your job at Scotia Capital.
I don’t care about how great you are and how many houses you own and how people inside Scotia Capital are fighting for your brainpan.
I don’t care about your views on the technology sector, especially since you clearly don’t understand a thing about it.
I don’t want to hear the 4,837 reasons you have on how leaving Calgary for Toronto is hard.
You have been talking non-stop since we boarded. I forgot my iPod so can’t drown you out.
For the love of dog, SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!
Since I can’t say it to him politely, I’ll just type it.
There. I feel better.
—
Update: 10min after I typed this, the poor guy who was stuck beside him moved to the very back of the train car. It was nice and quiet after that.