Workmares revisited

The last couple nights, I've discovered a new type of workmare (a dream related to work, in case you were unaware).

I'm not just dreaming about being at work, or people I work with - but now I'm dreaming about being inside my work. Last night I was actually in a videogame. Sounds like fun you say? Apparently you don't know our video games - they involve a lot of shooting and stuff. Great fun when you're doing the shooting. Not so much when you are being shot at.

I'm taking this as another sign that I've been working too much this summer.

Fire makes it good

I was playing Bioshock the other day (a new xbox game that's been getting good reviews) and I must confess that one of the things I quite like are the ambient scenes when they have someone do the old run-flaming-into-a-room-and-then-collapse stunt.

What is it about fire that ups the fun factor of anything by 12?

Juggling? Any dum dum can juggle bowling pins, but you light those bowling pins on fire and I'll watch.
Car crashes? Who doesn't watch Nascar for the car crashes - but hey - one of those wrecks catches on fire and you've got compelling television.
Camping? Sure it's great getting outdoors and all, but until you have a campfire - it's just missing something.
Homework? Who hasn't used the excuse that their homework accidentally burned up?

My suggestion to you for the rest of the week - see where you can add fire to your own life...I guarantee a 12 point increase in the amount of fun you have.



NOTE: This blog cannot be held liable for any related damage that may occur when adding fire to anything

Hello? Summer? You still out there?

As I emerge blinking into the unfamiliar sunshine, after being cooped up for the last six months, I find myself unsure of what to do. Like someone sticking their foot in an icy stream and then pulling it out in shock. What does one do when you have time for a life? It's been so long I hardly remember.

Fringe just ended last weekend - a sure sign that summer in Edmonton is nearly done and fall is on the way. The labour day football games are next week. I've just skipped an entire season.

I guess that's ok, though. I've always liked autumn. Nice and cool in the mornings, still warm enough in the afternoons to get outside and enjoy it - and then cool enough in the evenings to bring out some heavier clothes that have been pushed to the back of the closet for the summer.

The river valley is beautiful (for the two weeks when the leaves have changed colours before falling to the ground and leaving a barren wasteland). The farmer's markets are full with produce from the harvest. The University is back in session (with its accompanying crop of beautiful women back in town).

Bring on the autumn, I say...

Feeling restless

So I just finished the series Freaks and Geeks the other night. If you haven't seen it, you should. It's a great coming of age, high school series - kind of similiar to Wonderyears but set in 1980 so it resonates a little more with me. The 80's were my time. Oh to have those years to do again. It definately cranked up the nostalgia factor for me.
Combine that with my current project coming to an end after three years and meeting up with my old friends who are off leading lives in exotic places - I find myself feeling a little restless.

Pretty much as long as I can remember I've found that my life seems to revolve around four or five year stints. High school, University, First Career, The Travels, Back to School, and Second Career.

I'm now over five years at my current job - the longest I've been in one place in my life. Not that I'm looking for a new job or a new life - I'm still loving what I'm doing - but those feelings of restlessness are definately here. That temptation to blow everything up and start anew.

Maybe a bit of travelling combined with a fresh new game to work on and getting some life-time back will start the next cycle without the need for more dramatic changes.

PG Ratings (or how Bioware learned to stop worrying and love swear words)

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Fringe time

It's time for the last of Edmonton's summer festivals - the Fringe.
I'm not such a big theatre-goer during the year, but at Fringe - I'm willing to experiment a bit.

Checking out my first play tonight.

...and just maybe the beer gardens afterwards. God I love festivals.

An 'Awesome' trip

Well the road trip was amazing. If you've never driven the Coquihalla, I highly recommend it.
It feels like you're driving out of the clouds - this amazing, lush forest towering above you on each side. Plus you can just fly when you're on it. Divided all the way from Kamloops into Vancouver. Made the trip in 12 hours on the way there and just under 11 on the way back.
Even managed a few wild life sightings as well - a bear, some mountain goats and even a couple moose (which I hadn't ever seen before, actually)

Anyways - it was good having the four horsemen together again. Some things may change over time, but you know your real friends are the ones that you pick up things right where you left off - no matter how long its been since you've seen them.

On a side note - Kyle noted that western canadians seem to be using the word 'awesome' an awful lot these days - and not in it's original sense - that of striking 'awe', but more as an alternative way of saying 'great'. Funny thing was, as soon as Kyle pointed it out, I couldn't help but notice every time I happened to say it. That's my new goal - I'm expanding my vocabulary and routing out all of the awesomes I can...

wonderful... admirable...dynamite...transcendent...fantastic...first-rate...marvelous...terrific......tremendous...exceptional