Kev

Calling Moggy out on this one. So, which superhero are you, anyways? I’m pleased with my result, and even more pleased that Wonder Woman was nowhere near the top (although we shall not speak of Robin being so high on the list, ’cause that really chaffs my nads).

I am, I ammmmmm, I am Iron Man, and I know what’s happening.

Iron Man 80% Robin 72% Spider-Man 70% Green Lantern 65% Hulk 60% Batman 55% Superman 50% The Flash 50% Catwoman 45% Supergirl 40% Wonder Woman 35%

Inventor. Businessman. Genius. kev.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test

Thanks to the folks in Edmonton this eve for a kick-ass rendition of our national anthem on live TV. Paul Lorieau has been making a habit lately of turning the pre-game singing duties of O Canada over to the assembled masses at Rexall Place. It’s working. They sing it loud and proud in Oil Country, and it kind of grabs you by the heart when you see that kind of thing.

It’s amazing how often we get to see that kind of spirit from our friends in Alberta (both Edmonton and Calgary). The rest of the country could learn a thing or six from them.

Go Oilers!

Nothing like hitting the nail right fucking on the head. (Expletive deleteds not required, but added because god dammit, the Roloson nonsense just ain’t right)

I admit it, I’m still hoping the Oilers pull it out tonight on Saturday.

Wow.

Jen hit 3,000 pics on flickr today. The amazing thing is how many of those 3,000 pics are a delight to look at. She’s super-talented, and I strongly encourage you to check out her pics and writings if you haven’t already.

Congrats jen, ’tis truly awesome.

It’s been a busy few days, with an unscheduled trip to Toronto a whole day after returning from two weeks overseas. The nonsense that Mapleflot put me through seven days ago feels like it was seven years ago, and London is a surprisingly distant memory already. I’m fried, and feel like a truck hit me. Kind of like the feeling you get the morning after drinking the whole bottle of Tequila.

Yergh.

Between Thursday and Monday I logged just over 85 hours, and I’m feeling the effects now that my body realises it can relax a little. The experience was a lot better than it could have been, and I really enjoyed working with my clients (and their clients, too). Considering the preparation time and the scale of the project, it went better than anyone had any right to expect, with only a couple hiccups along the way. At the end of it all, everyone was happy, which was the important thing if I don’t consider my personal well-being 😉

Still, it was a situation that I didn’t appreciate being put into, and I intend to make good on the promise I made to myself and my company. I’m too old for this shit, really don’t enjoy it, and am smart enough to know that the effort really won’t help improve my situation in the long term. Cynical maybe, but experience tells me I’m right.

I’ve got the next three days off to catch up on sleep and everything that’s accumulated around the house over the last month. At some point we’re going out to celebrate brithdays long past, and hoo-boy does the grass need cutting. I’m also going to try and sneak in some quality time with the camera, and maybe even get out for a bike ride or two.

Rambling and babbling I am, but I am alive, and I’ll try and unscramble my brain and post something a little more cohesive later. My trip to London was good for me, and I’ve got a lot I want to commit to media.

For now, it’s time for a nap.

I always thought the MTV version of Big Brother was the most vacuous, no-talent, inane, and worthless piece of shit I ever had the misfortune to channel-surf through. Turns out I was mistaken; the origin of the show is much, much worse.

Think Glitter meets a Paris Hilton memoirs docukmentary combined with a Jenny Craig infomercial, a Moby video, and an Abercrombie Fitch advertising campaign.

I shall rinse my brain with bleach, and that’s after less than 30 seconds. I must find a book store, ’cause surfing through the four channels at the hotel just doesn’t pass much time, and I’m done the four books I brought.

So, despite the hotel and lack of network access outside work hours (which is actually not a bad thing, I’ve read three books since arriving), I’m actually enjoying my trip here. I’m actually being productive, and have been contributing something worthwhile (in my mind) for the first time in a very long time.

I got the opportunity to visit with axe just outside Waterloo Station, and it’s kind of funny how many friends I’ve met up with in faraway places for a pint. A former underling from Globix (hi Ed!) was also here, but is now a salesy kind of guy and chose to hang out with stuffy clients instead of me. I’m not hurt or anything, and I drowned my sorrows in a pint of Guinness last night at the local. I just missed a former colleague from SGI, and had we connected 24 hours earlier, we probably would have been able to meet up. It’s like London’s a point of convergence or something.

I also got the opportunity to visit Karen on here home turf. I took the tube and the train out to Langley (and back! in one piece! without getting lost! but the fares confused me!), and we went to her favourite local. The pancake with duck and the salmon were good, and the banana fritters were awesome. The company was also excellent, and it was nice to be able to get out. Thanks for taking time out K, I enjoyed it immensely, and was very pleased to see that the side mirrors are now safe. 🙂

On top of all that, I’ve also had a great opportunity to think. It’s amazing how much of that I can do when there’s no network to distract me, and I’m beginning to realize I may just be a packet junkie. I know I haven’t been happy for a long time, and I’ve figured out that I’m dead-ended on a number of avenues.

I haven’t been able to get things turned around because it’s been easier to be apathetic and distracted, but without those distractions I’ve been forced to take a good hard look at me. I’m not crazy about what I see. At all. That said, I can see very clearly that it can be changed with some effort. I just have to figure out how to apply and sustain that effort, which seems to be the underlying theme with me across the board.

And I’m babbling now, so I’ll stop. I hope to figure out some more along the way this weekend, but some changes are in order.

This trip has been good for me, and that’s been a very pleasant surprise.

I’m actually looking the correct way when I cross the street.

I get the whole M&S thing.

I’m thinking the tube is one of the most intelligently executed subway systems I’ve been on (although it’s a little warm)

Spaniards know way too many songs, and are far too eager to sing them into the wee hours.

The embankment is a really nice place to be at 0630, but it’s not the same as the canal.

The coffee is hopeless, and there’s even less point in talking about decaf than there normally is (even the people in Starbucks look at you funny).

I am beginning to understand cricket.

It’s definitely time to come home. Unfortunately, my stay has been extended for an extra 3-4 days to certify something I’m not sure I can (I don’t understand it either, but I’ll do my best to help out). I don’t mind too much, because it means I’ll have the opportunity to sight-see, but it’s funny how you get your mind set on going home at a certain date, and when it changes, it’s a little deflating. It probably doesn’t help that the people I know here will all be out of town.

Ah well, I’ll take pics and have fun! Or find a pub. Or something.