Week 29, 2006

Items of note:

• Searched to achieve: Rascal Flatts' Ghosts
  Instead discovered: Kem the perfect stranger
  
  
• Bachelor; archived July 1996?
  
  
• Banquet; Nine bottles of wine divided by 4 people
  
  
• Beach; I thought I didn't burn
  
  
• If somebody gives you the, "You're like a song... if only I could make an mp3 of you" line... run. Run away now.
  

Quotes:

• On I don't think that last part is going to happen
  B: "It's not about finding somebody 'better'; it's about finding somebody you can care about even more."
  
  
• On you think you know me better than I know myself?
  Bu: "Whatever, I don't care."
  Bo: "Yes you do."
  Bu: "... fuck!"
  

• On wedding traditions...
  DP: I'm trying to figure out the glass tapping code for 'second base'
  
  
• On dude, you're such a drama king...
  DB: "I AM!"
  
  
• On the count...
  BB: So this is the final countdown? Number 11?
  Br: Oh... yeah... pfft, this doesn't count.
  

Contemplations:

• Who was it that said the following?
  "I don't believe a word I say,
  but if I can make you believe it,
  maybe you can make me a believer."
  
  
• Rules are there for a reason. Especially in terms of stag parties. Stop breaking them you idjits!
  // "You do not TALK about fight club!"
  
  
• Who could have thought that a bunch of naked women prancing about could be so unfulfilling?
  

Motivation (return of the meandering rant)

The various titles of this blog revolve around it, but I don't believe I've ever really explained why.

It is my belief that the saying, "it's the thought that counts" is a 1/2 tonne load of bullshit. Not quite a full tonne of bullshit, but close enough. While I do agree that the thought does actually count, too often people throw around this cliché as an excuse. The problem is that it's not an excuse, at least, not a very good one. What it is, however, is a perspective; a perspective that demotes the importance of delivered, actionable results.

If you give a crappy gift, that's your fault. Yes, the receiver can be graceful and show appreciation for the "thought" of the gift, but what "thought" was going through the giver's head? Was it: "I need to find the best and most appropriate gift"? I'd venture a guess that as time passed, the thought morphed from "best and most appropriate gift" to "I need something and I need it now!"

Let's say the gift was given with the best intentions and the giver was fully expecting it to go over like gang busters. It doesn't. What happened here? Were faulty assumptions and/or conclusions made? Doesn't matter. The execution is the key point here, not the intent.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions? Well, smart mouth, so is the road to heaven... Or any road, for that matter. The intent is immaterial to the end result by which it is viewed and judged.

So what does any of this have to do with motivation?

I forget. But I meant well.

Rascal Flatts Ghosts

Motivated.
[hidden] But for how long? [/hidden]

But who the heck is Robi Rosa?
[hidden] Answer 1: Former Menudo member.
Answer 2: He whose lyrics sullen me to no end (unrelated to Answer 1).
Answer 3: "You bore me" [/hidden]

Week 28, 2006

Items of note:

• Why must people feel to need to buy a house in the sticks? (If I have to drive more than 45 minutes, I'm probably not coming over to visit.)
  
  
• Go, go, Flikr pro account!
  
  
• Commence the researching of gentlemens clubs and escorts!
  

Quotes:

• On what are you doing right now?
  BB: "Oh just sitting at work, picking my nose."
  
  
• On a very special kind of friendship...
  BT: "I will let you wash my linen."
  
  
• On oh will you please shut the fuck up...
  BB: Shh... Use your indoor voice.
  

Contemplations:

• I'm not a footnote. Who the heck wants to be a footnote?
  
  
• One call to make you smile 'the fool', two to take it away,
  Three to fill your mind with doubts, four to make it stay.
  
  
• I'm thinking of the long term for once. This is very weird; I should be thinking short term right now instead. [hidden] (Abbreviated names and language learning... shit, I expect to be freaked out by these thoughts... but they're more comforting than anything else. And that kind of freaks me out.) [/hidden]
  

Lessons learned:

• How to install laminate flooring.
  
  
• How to work 4 days in a row without sleep.
  
  
• How to go from chip lead to broke in 3 hands.

This made me chuckle

Apparently, the footage of Zidane's headbutt on Materazzi shown on television was different depending on what country you were in.


Linky: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/13/zidane_headbutt_outrage/

Week 27, 2006

Items of note:

• It's starting. Just like I told you it would.
  
  
• Somebody's finally moving out... sadly it's not me.
  
  
• Finally uploaded all my Europe trip pictures, sorted them, and tagged them... only took me 13 months!
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruce_nguyen/sets/
  

Quotes:

• On role reversals...
  Bu: Tell you what, [yadda yadda], then YOU can buy ME that drink!
  
  
• On allergic reactions to mosquito bites...
  Bo: Why's your left hand bigger than your right?
  
  
• On indoor workspaces...
  Cu: Go to the beach.
  Be: It's raining.
  Cu: Really? ... I need a cubicle with a window view

Contemplations:

• My memory sucks. [hidden](it meshes situations together)[/hidden]
  
  
• It makes no sense at all. [hidden](Why? I have no real answer to that)[/hidden]
  
  
• Another drink? Sure! [hidden](make it all go away)[/hidden]

Week 26, 2006

Items of note:

• Jazz Fest ends.
  
  
• Water rafting / camping.
  
  
• New hair style (Yes, again.). It's textured!
  

Quotes:

• On disappearing acts...
  bh: "Does [she] do this a lot?"
  bn: "Only when there's some cute white guy around."
  bh: "So... 'yes'?"
  
  
• On insomnia...
  B1: "No, I didn't sleep with her."
  B2: [raises eyebrow]
  B1: "Well, technically I suppose I did... although I didn't get much sleep..."
  B2: [preps a high-five]
  B1: "She slept like a babe through the whole thing, though."
  B2: [awkwardly inches away]
  
  
• On the turning point...
  B: "It's all in your reactions to arguments. You can feel like yelling at the person, shutting them out, or slapping some sense into them; but so long as you don't imagine yourself leaving the other person, I'd say the relationship is on solid footing."
  J: "Interesting perspective..."
  B: "Imagine killing the other person in their sleep? Sure, perfectly healthy! Imagine leaving them? Never in a long lasting relationship."
  

A Work In Progress

The Gimp + Laptop pointing device = Undue frustration.



We'll see how far I get before I never touch it again.
Instead of a touchpad, I think I work better with a pen.

A pipe dream

I want to start over.

"Hi."

Week 25, 2006

Items of note:

• Did you really delete my posted comment? Seriously. [hidden]Since when were rape jokes off limits?[/hidden]
  
  
• OUENDAN!
  
  
• Vij's, although a tad pricey, gets a thumbs up. Samosa Garden on the other hand...
  
  
• OUENDAN!!
  
  
• Day one: Holy bat-cakes!
  Day four: Yawn... come on now, let's get this over with.
  
  
• OUENDAN!!!

Quotes:

• On flash photography...
  B: (Eww, what a bunch of fugly people.)
  
  
• On I know, I just can't stop doing it...
  b: "Do you know how many things you say that could hurt me?"
  
  
• On I know, I just can't stop doing it... part 2
  B: "Stop hitting on me."
  b: "No, YOU stop hitting on ME."
  B: "I can't."
  b: "I know."
  
  
• On what's your point?
  W: "Where'd you meet them? They look pretty young."
  
  
• On just because it keeps being said, that doesn't make it true...
  B: "I feel very little sexual attraction whatsoever between us."
  

Lessons learned:

• On backtracking a snowball effect...
  First step towards change is aknowledgement. First sign towards aknowledgement is sharing. First requirement for sharing is trusting.
  
  I trust you?
  
  I trust you. [hidden] freak, i'm such a chick :P [/hidden]
  
  
• On self awareness...
  Forget temples, texts, and teachers. All one really needs is a severly pissed off ex-'not-a-girlfriend'.
  
  
• On social interactions...
  Got five sides to me, something like a pentagon
  

Dream theory:
I had a dream last night. I was driving home, got in an accident, wound up in a coma. Two people came to visit me and I floated around outside my body, viewing the interaction.

They talked. They seemed to care. One held my hand and touched my face, even tearing up a little. The other looked sad, but wouldn't do more than stand just barely inside the hospital room, near the exit.

I thought, if they switched places, I would be able to wake up.

Dr Lovejoy prescribes the following:

1) Read the newstory.

2) Watch the video.

3) Feel a little bit better about the kind of people there are in the world.

--

And if you need a little push to actually click the links, here's an excerpt from the newstory to get you in the mood:

"Most kids making a wish through the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho wish to go someplace, to meet someone or to have something special.

Aubrey's request - to "be" something - is the rarest kind of wish, said executive director Marcia Karakas. It's the first time in at least 10 years that a "be" wish has been received in the Idaho office..."

What did she want to be? Click the links above to find out.

Week 24, 2006

"When there's nothing left to burn, you have to set yourself on fire"

--Vocal opening from 'Your ex-lover is dead' by Stars

Quit imagining hidden innuendo in my quotes and posts. [hidden] It's hidden text you should be looking for! And you unformatted text RSS people are cheating. Yeah, I'm looking at you, K! And you too, S! [/hidden]

Items of note:

• DS Lite lite baby (Seven grown men playing Nintendo... Awesome! We need an eigth!) [hidden] No. Just, no. No dual meaning or homoerotic innuendo was meant to be implied here. [/hidden]
  
• So I married an axe murderer. [hidden] More 'a suddenly claustrophobically creepy I-want-to-have-your-babies crazy chick' than 'an axe murderer'. And more' I escaped from' instead of 'I married'. Yes, I could have handled it better, but she also could have been less psychotic about it. [/hidden]
  
• Will I, won't I, will I? It's always all about me. [hidden] No, it's never about me. It's always about the other guy, isn't it? Sometimes I like being 'the other guy'. This isn't one of them [/hidden]
  

Quotes:

• On a shirt I must get:
  S: I'm just not that into you.
  
  
• On reading people like a book:
  B: No, you don't.
  N: No, I don't.
  
  
• On damn you, Brain Age!
  R: Five times four is.... nine!
  

Contemplations:

• If 'avoidance' is a theme in your aspirations, then you really don't have any aspirations... unless you're the type that says flying is really just falling and missing the ground.
  
  
• If at first you don't succeed, try, try again? Sure. But if you still don't succeed, maybe it's time to rethink either your approach or your measure of success.
  
  
• Are people afraid of rejection? Or are they afraid of acceptance because of the ensuing responsibility? [hidden] The answer I'm looking for, if you've been paying attention, is 'neither'. It shouldn't be about avoidance. [/hidden]

Week 23, 2006

Thought of the Week:

“Serendipity. Look for something, find something else, and realize that what you've found is more suited to your needs than what you thought you were looking for.”

-- Lawrence Block

What did I think I was looking for?

Items of note:

• Happy Birthday [various people]!
  
  
• Happy Kwanzaa... I mean, Convocation [various people]!
  
  
• I'm so happy for you, Bobo. We is all growed up now :D
  
  
• Sunday: Boyz II Men @ Plush was filled with nostalgic goodness.
  
  
• I think you're right [hidden]I don't trust it[/hidden]
  

Quotes:

• On short term relationships:
  B: "It's better to end and move on quickly than to drag something out that you know is not going to work"
  J: "Exactly."
  B: "That's the perspective that doesn't make us sound like the dogs we are, so that's what I tell people."
  
  
• On coming home early:
  B: "I had work, ladyfriend has an exam tomorrow"
  M: "The only exams i know of are high school finals. You dog, you!"
  B: "Dude, midterms."
  M: "Suuuuurrre"
  
  
• On charts and graphs that should finally make it clear:
  K: "That is why i'm all for monogamous love but polygamous relationships"
  C: "I think I just had a 'eureka' moment."
  
  
• On did they really just say that?
  b: "And they're like, 'Don't let her go! After she's done with you I want her!'"
  
  
• On what I really want, [hidden]I think... oh shit I don't really know.[/hidden]
  B: "I want us to be great friends."
  
  
• On so many levels of wrongness at stag parties:
  D: "So there were 3 piles of 'toys' to choose from..."

Animator VS Animation

Been a while since I linked something.

Awesome flash animation titled "Animator VS Animation". Check it out.

http://www.theintarweb.org/content/Fun%20Stuff/Animator%20Vs%20Animation.swf

Why don't I listen to my own preachings?

Don't you hate it when you say something to reject another's hypothesis, but on closer examination what you said actually supports them and makes their argument stronger?

What am I getting at? I'm trying to force new experiences into the mold of old ones. We are of our own mold. To try and force us into another is a fruitless endeavour. I'm sorry I keep trying to do this.

Those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it? But what if you want to repeat the past? Where's the implied problem there?

I shouldn't need to spell it out for you, but I will still outline it:

• The variables are never all the same,
  
• Unique opportunites are not leveraged,
  
• Lack of growth

Quotes make people (me) sound smart.

"The most important revelation about the past stems from the realization that it is not important to try and get rid of it, but to realize that we are already, by definition, rid of it. We need not be convinced of the importance of living in the present, but instead realize that we inevitably live in the present, and the only thing to id is to face it. ... Whether we like it or not, we cannot escape the present. The only reality is now."

--George Lawrence-Ell (The Invisible Clock)

Completely off topic

Limits suck when they are there to restrict and confine you.

Limits are good when they provide focus and structure.

The limit this year is 10.

[counting on my fingers]

Oh wait... I mean 11.

I won't be your crutch.

Crutches come in pairs; there's only one of me.

Upon closer inspection

Ever listen to a song thinking it's about one subject, only to find out upon closer inspection that it's the complete opposite of what you thought?

Enter: Nothing Better by The Postal Service.

I thought it was a lovey-dovey song.

(Male part:)
"Tell me am I right,
To think that there could be nothing better,
Than making you my bride,
And slowly growing old together."

It's actually a breakup song.

(Female part:)
"Don't you feed me lines
About some idealistic future.
Your heart won't heal right
If you keep tearing out the sutures."

Later in the song:

(Male part:)
"I know that I've made mistakes.
And, I swear I'll never wrong you again."

(Girl part:)
You've got a lure I can't deny
But you've had your chance, So say goodbye.
Say goodbye.

When I realized this, I had the largest grin on my face. I don't know why.
I think I was laughing.

Yeah, I'm a bastard. I know.

Oh the things you discover when stuck in traffic on a Friday morning.

On another note, if you're so inclined, get the Styrofoam remix of Nothing Better off the We Will Become Silhouettes album. Ooh, and the Iron and Wine cover of Such Great Heights is coolio acoustic version of a great Postal Service song as well.

Expectations

Rant

They are always there. There to be lived up to, there to be graded against, and sometimes there to be forever out of reach.

You say you want to have no expectations?

Expectations are built on past experiences. Even simple things such as When you walk, you expect the ground to hold you. When I open my eyes in the morning, I expect to be able to see. After all, that's what happened every day before.

If this is the case, is 'having no experiences' the only way to have 'no expectations'?

Or does having no expectations mean to not rely on past experiences to define new ones?

--

Anti-rant

Using past experiences to define new ones is a fact of life. How would society function if the near future and every action is utterly and unequivocally put in a state of flux?
Dude murdered 17 women. But that shouldn't be taken into account of what he'll do in the future.

Yesterday I paid for food with a paper bill with the '10' symbol on it. Can I really expect to do the same? i.e. get food, use paper for goods/services trade, believe everybody values and interprets the '10' symbol the same way?

Common expectations provide a structure and stability necessarry for us to function. To idolize 'no expectations' is to idolize chaos.

--

Anti-anti-rant

Glib responses aside, but underlying point is not to ignore past experiences absolutely, the point is that you should strive to find the unique qualities and offerings of new experiences.

It is these unique qualities that make it worth while. It is these unique qualities that make us seek out new experiences. It is these unique qualities that motivate us.

(See what I did there? I tied it back to the blog title. Hooray for on topic posts!)

Videos: Ireland and Sand Sculpting

Finally got around to uploading some videos from my stint in Ireland. Pictures still aren't up yet, but I'm on the verge of giving in to a Flikr Pro account, so maybe soon.


Edited together clips of street performers I came across in Dublin. It was the St Paddy's Day weekend, so apparently there were more buskers than usual.
(link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S9qNiaVu3w)


Edited together an Oasis medley from a great cover artist I heard at Fitzsimons in Dublin. I know the video says it was St Paddy's Day, but actually it's the night AFTER St Paddy's. I'm too lazy to edit and re-upload.
(link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_4gxmi9_ng)


Percussion on the streets. The audio from the camera really doesn't capture it all and the poor bass response of the camera masks some of the subtler beats. This drummer went on for what seemed like 45minutes without any stop. Then he started again after a 5 minute rest. He kept on switching the beats, some were similar, but none were exactly the same.
(link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWEc2rqk1uA)

The following vids are from the "2006 Tournament of Sand Sculpture Champions" at Harrison Hot Springs. I've some pictures too, but haven't uploaded them yet. I think the videos make much more of an impact, especially for 3-dimensional art pieces like these.


"Hide and Peek" (yes, I have a pic of us playing hide-and-seek around the 'hide and peek' sculpture...)
(link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPhr4gcaF5s)


"Princess Power" (yes, I have a pic of me trying to slay the dragon... i mean going at it from behind... i mean... dang, that just came with out kinds of wrong didn't it?)
(link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVG86c3fzCk)

People like to think in threes

One. Today's the second day I've recently found myself heading unconsiously into Delta as I'm driving from Richmond. First, what is there for me in Delta? Second, it's a hell of a long detour I have to take to get back on track. Third, at least this time I didn't try to walk.

Two. Been having weird dreams lately. First, I'm not your buddy. Second, it's scary how easily that could have happened. Third, I'm serious, that's really not funny.

Three. It's not happening. First, I'm being honest here. Second, move along, nothing to see. Third, stop it, seriously; see, this is what I mean.

What's the name of this blog these days?

"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." ~Milton Berle

"Even when opportunity knocks a man still has to get up off his seat and open the door" ~Anonymous

"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us." ~Alexander Graham Bell

"Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them." ~Orison Swett Marden

"Don't be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams." ~Anonymous

Prison Break season finale sucked donkey balls

Honestly, in comparison to how the show started, the finale was dreadful. (Although Haywire + red helmet + "look ma, no hands" = thumbs up)

Review to come.

Maybe... if I get around to it.

Good news?

I wouldn't say it's "good news", but the news isn't as bad as originally thought.

It's not a cancerous tumour. I'm a little iffy on the translation, but I think it's this.

How the docs can confuse a liver fluke with liver cancer, I have no idea. Although I have a sneaking suspicion that a good chunk of the info I got was hyped up paranoia on behalf of my family.

I suppose that shows how much they care. But I can't help thinking that this is just another example of how... ahh screw it; now's not the time for a rant.

Get well soon.

Poetic license biznitches!

Twisted ankle,
Twisted logic.
soccer and excuses

Misled Anglo,
Misled ethnic.
fake accent

Hope-fed uncle,
Hope-fed bioptic.
cancerous future

Doing my part

shamelessly stolen from Karen's blog:
--

karaoke party, round 1. fight!

Wanna see last night's 5-hour karaoke binge?

Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/horcubee/sets/72057594118626271/

Video clip mania:

Round 2 will be next Thursday at our place [note: this is Karen's place, not mine]. Karaoke mike-o-matic. 2000 songs. 30-person cinema. Projection screen and surround sound.

How can you miss this?

I'm getting restless...

... this can lead to no good.

Reliability and Good Standing

Like a house of cards that takes care and time to build up, one slip up can ruin it all.

Crud, I didn't even start on the second story of my house...

Have to make sure my next effort is positioned on firmer ground.

Apparent contradictions

Yes, I said I didn't like Napolean Dynamite that much because I didn't appreciate the fact that "a lot of the humour seemed forced and as like it's making fun of the pathetic and socially inept," which apparently contradicts my prior actions.

First off, where do you get off comparing the hard of hearing to the pathetic and socially inept? (Hooray for changes of subject and boomerang attacks!)

Secondly, note the use of "forced" in my wording. Napolean Dynamite seemed to go out of its way to say, "hey, look how funny I am" whereas the sign language interpreter was hilariously funny unintentionally.

This might lead one to say that I have a sadistic streak that enjoys laughing at the misfortunes of real people.

I say it's just that I have a knack of finding the humour in real life situations.

I'm special like that.

(Yes, now I'm going out of my way... but let's not turn this post into an analysis of self-deprecation)

Movie Reviews (Not from a plane!)

I actually don't go too far off-topic this time around.

Two sentence and partial phrase review of About a Boy and Crash:

Part-way through one made me disappointed in myself.
Part-way through one made me disappointed in others.
Fuck nuts.

About a Boy (thumbs up)
Yes, I can see the parallels. It's scary. But it's not always that way. I don't have the English accent or the barrels full of money to fall back on.

I think Rachel Weisz played her part well. It was just a bit part, but very complementary to the plot, characterization, and film overall. Although I think it would have been better had she been left out of the resolution. But I guess they wanted to end on a happy-fun-joy-joy note.

I dunno though... the kid seemed like a total dweeb to me. Sweet kid. But a total dweeb.

Crash (thumbs up)
Racism is a central theme, but the message seems to be condemn the act, not the people.

The main characters are complex: the ones introduced with racial beliefs and acts end up showing redeeming qualities or moments, and even the ones who appear to have the strongest moral compasses will end up make compromises or poor judgement calls.

It's one of those movies that tries to make you think, but doesn't go to lengths to cram its own moral lesson down your throat.

The dialog was well written as well, I thought.

Brokeback Mountain (meh)
Pacing I thought could have used some help. Run time is 2h 14m. Most every scene could have been shortened by 2 to 4 seconds... the movie seemed to drag on.

Also, I really didn't like Jack. I could appreciate the character, just didn't like him. (Yes, I can see the parallels there as well. Shut up.)

I liked the movie a lot more after they left Brokeback mountain the first time. Up to that point it was a nice-ish

The love story itself I don't think was that well developed. Hard to understand how such deep emotional attachments could survived after 4 years of separation and no contact whatsoever.

Or wait... maybe I can. No... no... I really can't. It's the continual contact that makes it hard. If I could just go cold turkey for 4 years...

Napoleon Dynamite (meh)
I was told by multiple people that this would be a movie I would love. That this just screamed "Bruce's sense of humour".

I don't really like this movie.

It's not that I dislike it, I just don't think it's that good. A lot of the humour seemed forced and as like it's making fun of the pathetic and socially inept. I can see why people would think I would love this movie.

Napoleon's dance scene, however, was 4 different kinds of awesome!

--

Darn it, I need to watch a testosterone filled flick (no, I don't mean Brokeback Mountain again).

(C) Marvin Gaye has the answers to all your problems

"Hey dude, been hearing some rumblings. When you gonna pop the question?"

"I dunno..."

"But you ARE going to, eventually, aren't you?"

"Do you think it's right to promise to spend the rest of your life together with someone not because they're 'the one' but because they're 'the only'?"

"Bullshit. Unless you're the last two people alive, she's not 'the only'."

"You know what I mean."

"No, I don't actually. Do you mean she's the only one who laughs at your horrible jokes? The only one who knows you intimately and appreciates you? The only one you're comfortable with sharing thoughts, feelings, and passions with?"

"No, I mean the only one who will do the McNasty with me."

"Oh... this conversation just took a turn for the worse didn't it?"

"The worst part is that it's more like pity lovin' rather than that Marvin Gaye sexual healing lovin'."

"Oh that's a wicked cool song."

"Well, more self-pity. It's like mutual masterbation... not pitying the other person, but trying to feel better about ourselves."

"Baaaby, I can't hold it much longer // It's getting stronger and stronger // And when I get that feeling // I want, sexual healing..."

"I don't think it's very healthy, but... maybe part of me doesn't want to end it."

"Makes me feel so fine // Helps to relieve my mind..."

"It's like I'm caught up in this loop I can't get out of."

"Get up, get up, get up, get up // Let's make love tonight..."

I should end it... I know I should."

"Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up // 'Cause you do it right..."

"Thanks for the talk, man"

"Sexual Healing is something that's good for me // And it's good for me and it's good to me // My baby ohhh // Come take control, just grab a hold..."

More about me

Spent hours fiddling around with the design and layout of this blog... then lost it all.

Screw it.

I'm just going to add a couple items to the "Links" list in the sidebar and call it a day.
(Hooray motivated underachievement! Wait... what's the name of this blog nowadays?)

For the RSS inclined who can't be bothered to actually visit this blog, here are the links I added:

• My Froogle Wishlist
• My Life's To Do List

(Yes, I really do plan on wrestling an alligator one of these days)

Update

What's the count at now?

Eight?

I've lost track.

My Personal DNA Report

I usually don't do these... but it's 4 in the morning, I'm bored and jetlagged.

Oh and that low relative "confidence" score below? You fuckers are all liers :P

Linky: My Personal Dna Report

you are a cautious artist.


ABOUT YOU
--
you are an artist

Your appreciation of beauty, ability to think abstractly, and innovativeness make you an ARTIST.

Never one to be tied to a particular way of doing things, you let your imagination guide you in discovering different possibilities.

You would rather seek out new experiences than stick to your everyday habits, taking in as much of the world as possible.

Your eye for beauty and your willingness to consider different perspectives make your creative efforts interesting—even though you may not realize this yourself.

You prefer to think about things before voicing your opinion, considering a wide, diverse range of options.

While there are forms and styles that you prefer, you tend to keep an open mind when it comes to your artistic preferences.

You are curious about things, interested in the "why" more than the “how.”

You have an active imagination that leads you express yourself in a distinct way.

You're not afraid to let your emotions guide you, and you're generally considerate of others' feelings as well.

You tend to do things on the spur of the moment, not sticking to a set schedule.

You do your own thing when it comes to clothing, guided more by practical concerns than by other people's notions of style.

If you want to be different:

Be more open to risks in your creative efforts, and don't be quick to dismiss the praise of others.

Think about how attention to detail may help you be more sure of yourself.

HOW YOU RELATE TO OTHERS
--
You are Cautious

Being independent, practical, and somewhat guarded with others makes you CAUTIOUS.

You tend to keep to yourself, wary of trusting others with personal information.

The values that you hold are central to your identity—you are a very principled person.

You have respect for the natural order of things, and a good sense of right and wrong.

Investigating the world through observation, as opposed to interaction, is preferable to you.

You have an appreciation for those who have attained a certain level of accomplishment, particularly the rare few who have succeeded honestly.

You are efficient—when you work with others, you get down to business, and fulfill your obligations.

You sometimes wish that others would be more like you—less hindered by their emotions, more respectful, and more private.

If you want to be different:

Finding a few close others whom you can trust will allow you to express yourself more openly, and possibly to learn more about yourself.


YOUR PERSONALITY CHART

This chart shows thirteen personality traits. Each bar indicates the percentage of test takers who entered a lower value for that trait than you did. For example, if Confidence is at 80, that means that 80% of people entered lower values for confidence questions than you did. Based on a sample of 30,000 users.

Confidence	LowHigh	16
Openness	LowHigh	90
Extroversion	LowHigh	22
Empathy	LowHigh	34
Trust in others	LowHigh	34
Agency	LowHigh	46
Masculinity	LowHigh	76
Femininity	LowHigh	50
Spontaneity	LowHigh	94
Attention to style	LowHigh	30
Authoritarianism	LowHigh	68
Earthy/Imaginative	ImaginativeEarthy	28
Aesthetic/Functional	FunctionalAesthetic	72

PERSONAL DNA MAP

Below are several personalDNA maps that uniquely represent your personality. Mouse over any part of the box or strip to learn more about the traits that the colors represent.

Cautious Artist

Resolving unresolveds

I'm back in Vancouver. (The answer's still "No")
Forced myself to stay awake until 11pm (7am GMT) (I'm not going to start this with you again)
Then I slept for 8 hours and woke up feeling refreshed. (You're cut off. For reals this time.)
(whenever I type "woke" i end up typing "work"... i suppose the two have been ingrained irrevocably together in my mind...)
But I still don't want to write anything... so here's a blog entry that I wrote 2 weeks ago but clicked the wrong button so it was never posted:

Location: Belfast, Ireland
Date: Saturday March 10
Local Time: 1:08am

I forget what week number this is. Instead of figuring it out, let's just call it Week Guinness!

Note the first:
Yes, I do have news. No, I'm still not sharing (on this blog).

Note the second:
Yes, my goatee is real.

Note the third:
Even halfway around the world I can't get away from your shit. I've moved on, get over it.

Lesson the first:
Don't trust your eyes. It may look sunny outside your hotel room, but by the time you leave, it'll be pouring rain. (Darned crazy weather patterns... experience all four seasons in a day!)

Lesson the second:
Do laundry frequently. You go through alot more clothes when people are allowed to smoke in public places such as clubs, bars, and restaurants. (Forgot how much that sweet, sweet, delicious smell penetrates your clothing and hair)

Lesson the third:
Remember to tell everybody you bring to your room about the automatic mini bar. Move anything off the sensors and you're automatically billed. (Called reception and got it reversed, but it's still just a hassle to do that)

Story the first:
Sat in a bar drinking a harp. Girl walks up, sits on my knee and starts grinding.

Story the second:
Danced in a bar, I make eye contact, she gives me a look, whispers in her friend's ear, points, and giggles.

It's not an "ooh, exotic asian guy" moment. It's a "wtf is an asian guy doing here" moment.

I sometimes forget that I'm not White.

Story the third:
Friday the 10th... best work day yet. Productive and felt important and useful for the first time since I've joined IBM.

Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice To All Creation

It's 1:04am Saturday morning. I have news. Instead of sharing said news, I'll talk of a TV show I caught late one night here in Belfast:

Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice To All Creation.

• There is song and dance,
• There are crazy costumes,
• There is lots of wild sex.

Wild as in wild animal sex. Doggy style is apparently not exclusive to the canine breed. Actually, it appears to be the dominant style in the animal kingdom. (And actually, humans dressed up in animal costumes get it on as well.)

Interesting facts on iguanas:

• Male iguanas have two penises (penii?).
• They also regularly masterbate as to be able to ejaculate quickly when the time comes.
• This is needed because during the act, other male iguanas will come by and shove them off of the female.

More interesting facts on sparrows:

• Male sparrows regularly perform oral sex on their female counterparts.
• This is not foreplay.
• This is to peck out the sperm of the females previous mate.

On dolphins:

• Dolphins are horny, adventerous buggers.
• The bottlenose dolphin is known to do the wild thing with turtles.
• That's right, turtles.
  

On button beetles:

• Button beetle females breed with their sons, who are genetic clones of them.
• Being genetic clones, the offspring do not suffer from the pitfalls of incest because the same sets of genes are passed from both parents.
• This means there is no increased chance of passing on a defective gene as seen in incestuous relationships of other species.
  

On humans:

• Humans are attracted to the scent of people who are genetically different from them.
• This can explain why your brother's fart seems to stink so much more than other people's farts.
• This theory was tested by having men and women wear the same shirt for a few days while excercising vigurously. Then there was a blind smell test.
  

Do the Mario!

Were you hooked on da brothers?
Did you get down and Do the Mario?

Yes on both accounts for me.

If not, then "Well excuse me, princess!"
(Oh shit, oh shit, this is freaking awesome!)

Pretty pretty pictures

Location - Belfast, Northern Ireland
Local Time - 4:05pm

Some people wanted pictures. While I haven't been in a picture taking mood, here's a few. Pictures follow the captions.

Next time somebody tells you that you don't know how to park, tell them you learned to park in Ireland. (Seems like you can park in any direction you like, and ON the sidewalk is better than OFF the sidewalk as the streets are so narrow)


Outside of the empire club. Tuesday night comedy nights draws a huge crowd from the local university. Went there with co-workers Bob and Sahill. It was snowing like crazy. Sandra, Carol, and 3 rounds of Guinness kept us warm through the night... until the ladies ditched us to meet up with some of their guy friends.

Oh well, we still had another round of Guiness coming to drown our sorrows in.


I like the crayon-like snail crossing. Looked like it was part of Queens University of Belfast... the child-care centre maybe? Didn't look too closely.


City hall. A block away from my hotel (Holiday Inn) and right dab smack in the shopping district.



Story time #1:

In efforts to kill some time before dinner, a co-worker and me hit the mall.

As I walk inside, this red-headed lady tells me that right now, everything in the store is 20% until 9pm. I thank her for this information. She then asks if I'd like a free drink? I say that would be great. She then asks,

Would you like some orange juice or a beer?

So there I was, drinking a free beer inside the mall. I made it a tourist moment and had the red-head take our picture. Maybe I should have taken a picture with the red-headed lady that actually gave me a beer... but despite being red-headed, she wasn't that hot.



Story time #2
I have nothing against sign language or the deaf. However, I can't help but laugh when I watch sign-language-closed-captioning that is offered for certain programs on television here in Ireland.

I'm not laughing at the hard of hearing. I'm laughing with them! Check out the video below.



It's as if the dude translating into sign language is some hilarious jerk-off who is making fun of the speakers. It's awesome for all the wrong reasons.

For Your Eyes Only

Location - Belfast, Northern Ireland
Local Time - 3:02pm

I've been told that commenting on my blog isn't working... I tried it out and it appears to be fine. Najin, darling, honeybuns, sausage pie... it's just you. I think you need your pink hippie glasses back, your new ones don't seem to be doing the job.

In retrospect I suppose I had a predisposition to disliking Elizabethtown... Orlando Bloom + Kirsten Dunst + Grumpiness of a 10hour flight in economy-class (should have flown business class). I might give it a 2nd chance later on, but until then my "awful" verdict stands.

And yes I could have emailed this to you instead of posting it to my blog, but... like... same with you... so... nya nya nya.

Book Review: When Heaven and Earth Changed Places

When Heaven and Earth Changed Places: A Vietnamese woman's journey from war to peace.
Author: Le Ly Hayslip

Warning: I tend to drift off topic... as usual.

While the writing style left me wanting - especially after Wayson Choi’s endearingly crafted All That Matters and the entertaining perspective of Style’s The Game - the subject matter and content of Le Ly Hayslip’s Heaven and Earth was quite provocative.

The story recounts Hayslip’s life from peasant village girl to street-wise (or at least, less naïve) urbanite. From loyal Viet Cong beliefs to gradual appreciation for American GI’s, especially compared to the corrupt and amoral Vietnamese bureaucracy.

I had a discussion once with my parents about their distrust of basically everybody, even other Vietnamese people. Actually, ‘especially other Vietnamese people’ and especially when doing business. My father said the Communist government and societal structures not only encourage, but require illicit behaviour if you wish to live well. Really, I just think he thinks every world a person speaks is a lie unless it corresponds to his own thoughts.

Back to the book (kind of), apparently there is a movie rendition of Heaven and Earth directed by Oliver Stone. I watched it back in 1993 when it was released in theatres. I didn’t recall this until after I had finished reading it. Apparently the movie spans both of Hayslip’s autobiographical books (the second being “Child of War, Woman of Peace”) and takes many liberties trying to condense 2 books into 2 hours of film. That probably explains why certain parts seemed eerily familiar as I read through it. At the time, I just thought it was some half-remembered story of my parents that was tickling the back of my mind. The only thing I really remember was a bit part that Tai Thai had in the movie as Jimmy. Apparently it was a big thing that this Vietnamese music star had a 2 second scene in a Hollywood movie. Groan.

So to sum things up? Although I didn't enjoy the book as much as I thought I might (due to a certain somebody's personal recommendation) it's a good read full with insights. Warning: certain parts can get pretty brutal; however, it is never gratuitous.

Week 7 & 8, 2006

Current Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Local Time: 10:50am

Items of note:

• London, Ontario:
  
  • Oh Black people. Hahaha.
    
    
  • I disgust myself sometimes. If you only knew.
    
    
  • Food, food, food, food...
    

• Last week in Vancouver
  

  • Said goodbye to Bobo. The teeter-totter of jealousy has teetered; how long before it totters?
    
    
  • Read "When Heaven and Earth Changed Places" then read Tina's email from Tanzania. Conclusion: I'm lucky.
    
    
  • Spas, moisterizer, chap stick, pink shirts, and help shop for tampons. What of it? Wanna fight?
    
    
  • Pet peave: broken implied promises. It's not breaking the implied promise that annoys me, I'm more frustrated at myself for assuming there's an implied promise. Sometimes I think I should stop believing in people.
    
    
  • I begin to wonder "What if I never come back?" For the most part I think I would love it... for the most part, since I would have two regrets. I wanted to address them both before I left. Instead, I talked of one and tried to push the other out of mind.
    

• In Belfast:
  
  • So 2 Sundays ago I got on a plane to Ontario.
    A few days later as I adjust to the time zone,
    I hop on a plane half way across the country to Vancouver.
    A few days later as I adjust to the time zone,
    I hop on a plane half way across the globe to Belfast.
    
    In a span of 10 days, I’ve drank more coffee than I have in my entire life.
    
    
  • There’s a heated debate in Britain about adopting the metric system over the imperial system. What the fuck?
    
    One person argued that you wouldn’t go to France and say you can’t have baguettes anymore. W... T... F?
    
    
  • Fire alarms in either middle of the night or early in the morning equally suck.
    
    
• Movie reviews from high in the sky:The flight was horrid. Dude next to me smelled like fart. I’ve seen a handful of movies on planes.
  
  
  • Elizabethtown
    Awful. Orlando Bloom has no substance to him. I haven’t liked him in any of his movies that I’ve seen. Also, I have a really hard time finding Kirsten Dunst to be attractive. And what’s with that camera clicking motion her character has? Is it supposed to be cute? There’s a fine line between cute and annoying. They should totally kill her off in the next Spiderman movie.
    
    
  • Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride
    Art direction was nice overall, especially the world of the dead. I found the musical numbers to be uninspired and the plot pacing and narrative to be both jarring and plodding at times. Johnny Depp is still awesome.
    
    
  • Shakespeare in Love
    I liked this movie. It’s a unique fictional take on the development of Romeo and Juliet… or Romeo and Ethel and the Pirate King as in its apparent originally intended state. The Queen Victoria scenes stole the show.

Quotes:

• On travel beginnings:
  C:"I'm in a new town, expenses paid.
  I'm surrounded by good people.
  I'm surrounded by good food.
  I'm actually learning something.
  . . .
  I'm feeling like shit right now and hiding in my room
  (okay... maybe not so funny to some)"
  
  B:"why....?
  shit?
  puking?
  or girl stalking you?
  drunk as hell?"
  
  C: "all of the above?"
  
  
• On wink, wink, nudge, nudge:
  "So what are YOU gonna do about it?"
  
  
• On other unholy connections:
  "My personality is like spinach because..."
  
  
• On 'no dude, it doesn't work that way':
  "So you'll have the double whammy!"
  

I know, I know.

I'm doing it anyways.

Afterall, I'm in a different time zone.

Week 6, 2006

Items of note:

• Getting the karaoke itch. Damn you coughing illness! Damn you to hell!
  
  
• I thought my finances looked a little funny.
  I looked over my last couple credit card bills in more detail.
  I pored over my last couple automatic cell phone bill payments.
  Conclusion? Aww, fucknuts.
  
  
• Paper does not burn clean. The charred, blackened remains leave stains you won't notice at first - but sure as Shirley, they are there. Damned smudges. They're everywhere.
  (Don't you dare make Lady Macbeth allusions!)
  
  
• I've have the same handful of recurring dreams for years now. (Spiders, pearl and straw teeth, ninja hijinks, single parenting, and that one where you're running but your legs have no strength and your slowing down because your body is gradually turning into a mush of delicious blueberry jello.)
  
  Anyways, add another recurring dream to the list. There's this thing I'm trying to pull closer, but instead I'm pushing it away. For some reason I think the more I push, the closer I'll get. But alas, a push is a push is a push. I miss you so damn much. I think about you all the time, no matter who I'm with. It's unhealthy. It's unfair. Somebody make me stop.
  
  
• If I go to France... does that mean I have to wear a beret?
  No?
  Well... can I wear one anyways?
  (I'll talk more about this later)
  
  
• Brother's engagement party; fun. Build-up; annoying.
  
  

Quotes:

• On disgruntling real-world experiences:
  C: "hah, so can we gauge future career success in children by their ability to colour within the lines and connect the dots in order? cause that's what i feel like i'm doing"
  
  
• On interrupted sentences:
  B: "I'm going to London (cough) (cough) (hack)..."
  X: "SWEET!"
  B: "(cough)... Ontario."
  X: "Oh."
  
  
• On things that never are:
  "It's not the same."
  
  
• On cutting insight:
  I: "u must be pretty good at picking up girls... but bad at keeping them"
  B: "Is that what you really think of me?"
  I: "I'm half joking"
  B: "Only half?!"
  
  Yeah, I'm not that great at picking up girls either, haha.

Week 5, 2006

"Lack of money is no obstacle. Lack of an idea is an obstacle."

- Ken Hakuta

Ken Hakuta brought Wacky Wallwalkers to North America. Damn those were wicked cool. Worked best if you hucked them at mirrors. I can't believe that there's no internet shrine dedicated to this tremendous feat of human ingenuity! Dagnabit people! Show some respect!

Items of note:

• Chúc mừng năm mới!
  
  (To the tune of the meow mix jingle)
  Food, food, food, food,
  Food, food, food, food,
  Food, food, food, food,
  Food, food, food, food.
  
  I less than three this time of year (Dine-out + Lunar New Year)
  
  
• Street signs and billboards talk to me.
  
  
• I thought I was getting better, but all of a sudden it took a turn for the worse. I should probably get it checked out.
  
  
• It's been 17 years. Never again. I promise.
  

Quotes:

• On what makes this time of year so special:
  "I'm a fan of many, but gluttony has to be my favourite sin."
  
  
• On what really matters:
  The "special" quote.
  No, I'm not sharing this one because I know you're reading this, you stoler.
  You stole!
  Quit stoling, you stoler!
  
  
• On unintended consequences:
  Billboard: "Bait cars are everywhere"
  Me: "Quit taking up parking spaces!"
  

[Book Review] The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists

(Warning, this review gets tremendously off topic... and LONG!)

Yes, I've polished off another book. It's not a game. From this book, you can see:

• a narrative on the hamartia of apparently infallible idols.
• a warning of the devaluation of people resultant from the deconstruction of behaviours - viewing people not as "human" but as equations of various inputs and outputs to be solved.
• a lesson in evaluating changing goals and the goal fulfillment process.
  
• pointers to help you to "sarge".
• entertaining literary prose and laugh and smile along as you relate to AFC's, one-itis, and the desire to become a PUA.

The main theme I drew from this non-fiction book was as a warning to the dangers and temptations of becoming a social puppet rather than a unique person.

The narrator at one point comes to the realization that his desire to better himself, his friends, and his peers in his community never flourishes because their goals are all different. He wanted to learn so that he can pick up and sleep with any girl he wanted, yes, but also to bring that essence of confidence and execution to all other facets of his life. The others learning goals were aligned differently.

(And the off-topic-ness begins... feel free to stop reading here.)

edit: cut and moved to comments section. I didn't like what the length of the post did to the layout.

(Back on topic... resume reading.)

Oh, and as for the book? I liked it.

[Book Review] "All That Matters" by Wayson Choy

"Why not?"

Indeed.

--

Just finished "All That Matters," a Wayson Choy novel who's setting is Vancouver's Chinatown in the 1930's and 40's.

This time period of societal upheaval (The Great Depression, Japanese invasion of China, WWII) serves as the backdrop for a story that keeps a theme of balancing Old World beliefs and New World logic. The narrative has a sort of to-the-point yet very earnest quality to it that I positively adored.

However, I really don't think I have the time to write a full review that would do it justice, so I'll let Amazon try to say it instead.


(Time to buy Wayson Choy's first novel, "The Jade Peony," which, incidentally, follows the same basic story except from the viewpoint of the three other children in the family.)

Edit: Fucknuts, don't read the review for "The Jade Peony" on Amazon. Stupid spoilers...

(And "When Heaven and Earth Changed Places" just keeps getting bumped on my reading list.)

Week 4, 2006

There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot, but there are others who with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun.

- Pablo Picasso

I drew a yellow spot today. I can't wait to see what it becomes.

Items of note:

• Finally resumed salsa lessons.
  
  
• Finally resumed cardio training.
  
  
• Finally resumed strength training.
  
  
• Finally got paid - my bank account just jumped up by a factor of 45!
  Finally I can afford lunch.
  (related note: Holy freaking taxes, Batman!)
  
  
• Finally turned off the radio... wait... wait... no I didn't. I just cranked up the volume, baby! FREAK OUT! (C'est freak, c'est chique!)
  

Quotes:

• On competitions:
  A: "So how's it going?"
  B: "Last I checked, I was in the lead."
  A: "So you think you're going to win?"
  B: "Honestly? After 10 days of not shaving, I don't think either of us will be walking away a winner."
  
  (And no, I am not planning on posting any pictures. The sexy ruggedness - or cheesy patchiness - is something that can only be experienced in person.)
  
  
• On causes of memory loss:
  K: "Maybe she slipped something in your drink (wink, wink)"
  B: "Oh, I hate people who do that. Especially when they don't have to!"
  
  
• On SHIT THAT ISN'T YOURS, YOU FUCKTART!:
  B: "Have you seen my Stoli?"
  H: "It's over there on the counter."
  B: "Why is it filled with garlic?"
  H: "I'm making a tincture. It's supposed to lower your father's cholesterol and blood pressure."
  B: "Let me rephrase... why is there garlic in MY BOTTLE OF STOLI?!"
  
  
• On money, money, money, money... MONEY!
  B: "Check out this fat paycheque!"
  C: "Nice. But dude, that's your pre-tax gross earnings. THIS line shows your actual net earnings."
  B: ". . . wtf, I got raped!"
  

Contemplations:

• I think I know who's jacket it is. It should have went in the showbox.
  
  
• I'm really starting to get annoyed by "an"'s and "am"'s.
  (stop mocking me you near-rhyme grammar particles!)
  I do, however, still appeciate a good can of spam.
  (mmm... canned spam...)
  
  
• I liked it better when I didn't earn enough to have to pay any income tax.
  
  
• I keep the promises I make. Just not the ones I make to myself. (I haven't been kicking ass in the right places)
  
  
• I, I, I, I, I.
  

Truly great stories don't have endings...

A brief candle; both ends burning
An endless mile; a bus wheel turning
A friend to share the lonesome times
A handshake and a sip of wine
So say it loud and let it ring
We are all a part of everything
The future, present and the past
Fly on proud bird
You're free at last.

--Charlie Daniels

Week 3, 2006

"Better by far you should forget and smile than that you should remember and be sad."

Christina G. Rossetti quotes (English Poet. 1830-1894)

Items of note:

• Two and a half hour paid lunches are fun.
  
  
• I heart my paper shredder.
  
  
• Shoeboxes burn awfully well, even if it's not an actual shoebox.
  
  
• What's wrong with wanting to kick some ass?
  
  
• Burlesque? Classy!
  

Quotes:

• On drinking and memory:
  "I'm coming over."
  "Are you ok to drive?"
  "I'll walk."
  "To Delta from East Van?"
  "Yep. Wait a minute..."
  
  
• On memories and change:
  "I thought you were bringing your shoebox?"
  "I did."
  "What's with the garbage bag?"
  "That's my shoebox."
  
  
• On change and progress:
  "Remember back when... ?"
  "Yeah."
  "Yup."
  "... still?"
  "Yup."
  "Oh."
  "Yup."
  
  
• On progress and surprises:
  "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
  
  Oh, that still gets me everytime.
  

Doodle doodle

So I'm at work and without an assigned project. What do I do? Listen to mind numbing online training modules, (take extended lunches), and doodle.

The majority are non-referenced. A friend said my personal drawing style comes out when I'm free drawing as opposed to the referenced-sketches I've posted before; a simpler and stylized style.

I say it's just me being lazy since I can never picture proper proportions or lighting effects in my head.

And yes, I realize the irony of using an Accenture notepad at work.

Front of sheet:

Note that there are three (3) hotspots on the above picture that you can click on. Clicking on them will open a new window with large closeups of the sketches (really for my benefit more than any of yours).

I started with snowmen, being inspired after viewing a Calvin and Hobbes Snow Art Gallery. On a semi-related note, I love Bill Watterson. Yes, you read right, I would commit sweet man-love all night long if he would just put out some more Calvin and Hobbes strips.

I started with the shaded snowman on the left. Then decided I didn't like it and went for a more simplified approach.

The coffee cup is referenced from the stuff I drink at work. Was never really a big coffee drinker, but free good quality coffee has changed my mind.

Back of Sheet:

Note that there are six (6) hotspots on the above picture that you can click on. Clicking on them will open a new window with large closeups of the sketches (really for my benefit more than any of yours).

No references used here except for the IBM logo.

I'm a little disappointed in how the head of the draconian figure in the bottom right turned out. More dull-witted and less menacing than what I was going for. Although like most of my non-referenced sketches, I had no idea what I was drawing until part way through. It always starts with a couple of randomly drawn lines which I keep building upon until my mind clicks on an image.

updated 1:25am: fixed broken links

Week 2, 2006

(I snuck Week 1 in a post below... forgot to publish it after I wrote it)

Items of note:

• All expenses paid brainwashing adventure to TO... (1943! 1943! 1943!)
  
  
• Discovered I cheer up too many people. Decided it's about time to make somebody miserable.
  
  
• "On the bench..." (not really that notable)
  

Quotes:

• Me: Hey person one, here's your coat!
  P1 : That's not mine.
  
  Me: Hey person two, you left your coat at my place.
  P2 : No I didn't.
  
  Me: Hey person three, missing a coat?
  P3 : No.
  
  (repeat ad nauseam)
  
  
• Big Blue: Yadda, yadda, yadda, 1943!
  
  (repeat ad nauseam)
  
  
• Me: Cough, cough, hack, hack...
  
  (repeat ad nauseam)

Like a Horse and Carriage

Apparently, drinking and being a consultant for a prestigious multi-national corporation go hand-in-hand. This I tell you brother, you can't have one without the other.

Try, try, try to separate them
It's an illusion,
Try, try, try, and you will only come
To this conclusion

(Local time in Toronto, 10:45pm)

Stuck in a rut

I'm going to stop drinking.

What the heck for?

When my mind isn't occupied with thoughts of gin, it's daiquiri...

Frozen daiquiri or the original?

Original, don't dig the ice all that much. But that's besides the point. The point is that this line of thinking isn't healthy.

Denying yourself what you want isn't healthy, you know.

I can't have it anymore.

Why not?

It's complicated.

Try me.

Let's just say it involves bouts of gut wrenching and self loathing.

I thought you were pretty good with your alcohol.

I thought so too.

And you're usually a pretty happy drunk aren't you?

Yeah, I suppose.

So what happenned?

Things change.

Everything changes.

Some not quickly enough.

... what are we talking about again?

(Local time in Toronto, 11:58pm)

Week 1, 2006

2006 Week 1
Items of note

• January 4th, 2006.
  . . .
  
  
• Happy Birth-week, Debs!
  
  
• Met Laura DiBattista, Co-Anchor of CityTV News
  

Quotes:

• January 1st, 2006 - 2:00am in Vancouver, 12:00 somewhere else in the world:
  "Happy F'n Honolulu New Years!"
  
  
• Karen says White Flower Oil is a variant of opium.
  I say it's a variant of AMAZING.
  Perhaps we're both right.
  
  
• Talking to background while leaving a voice message:
  "You're lucky you're hot!"
  
  
• Eureka!
  "After the fact, my respect for them vanishes. It's really rather pathetic... for both"
  
  
• Me in delirium:
  "Oh honey, you're so sweet. That thing you do with the throat? Amazing!"
  
  
• At the Cactus Club:
  Ladies: "So your both 23?"
  Buddy: "Yeah, that's right."
  Me: "Dude, you're n..."
  (kick, kick)
  
  
• At Yuk Yuks (you really had to be there):
  MC: "Peanut butter!"
  
  
• Always with the dis:
  Me: How did you spend new years?
  She: Nothing special
  Me: Did you spend new years with [him]?
  She: Ya
  Me: I see. yeah, nothing special.
  
  (zing!)
  
  
• On backing out of roadtrips:
  "Do you want me to cancel now? Or wait until tomorrow once [she's] already in your car?"
  
  
• On winter cruises and suntans:
  "Are we talking 'nice tan' or 'omg, you're black!'?"
  
  
• On doing what I do best:
  "So is this the point where we make vague promises?
  

New Years Resolution 2006

I've got it on my bedroom wall to remind me when I wake up and when I sleep.

(It's a quick sketch with a sharpie. If you're going to critique it, you best be ready for a donkey style ass kicking! Wapow!)

I've got it on my phone to remind me when I'm out and about.



That's right, motivate THIS, mother suckaaaah!

A Fresh Start

Let the count begin anew.

One...

(It's not what you think... or rather, it's not what I think you think. I think.)

It's All About Me

"Restlessness is discontent and discontent is the first necessity of progress. Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I will show you a failure."

-- Thomas Edison (1847 - 1931)

If I'm only mostly satisfied, does it mean that I'm only mostly a failure?

I have said that I am mostly satisfied with the path and direction of my life. Really, I think I have actually just been complacent; dispassioned even.

“If we resist our passions, it is more through their weakness than from our strength”

-- François de la Rochefoucauld (1613-1680)

At first, my new year's resolution was to "be content". On further contemplation, I thought of making my resolution instead to "be discontent". Now, I have decided to make my resolution to "be passionate".

What is my passion?

Gin? Don't be ridiculous... wait... is it?