14
days until test results come in
9
days until job hunt progress is revealed / days since I made the decision... I think
4.95
dollars under my credit card limit for this month
2
opposing scenarios that I really don't have time for
1
time for your mind, two times if you're tense baby let it unwind
three counts let it bouce to da muthafucking ounce?
It festered and grew over months
Without warning it bubbled over, and so
I told you.
Revealing myself for a moment
You could see my naked truth, and then
you cut me
And kept a piece for yourself
And now you ask me to wait, to wait
on your reply
Something something yadda doo
To find the what the when the how, the if
I WILL DIE!!!
What do you want to be?
I don't know. As a kid I wanted to be lots of things. An astronaut, a cowboy, a ninja, a fireman, an author. But as of right now? I haven't the slightest idea.
Let's look at it another way. How about happy? Do you want to be happy?
Well, of course.
Are you sure?
Yeah, I mean, doesn't everybody?
Not necessarily. The way I see it, some people want to be happy while others want to be "not miserable".
What's the difference?
In one, you will actively pursue certain situations in hopes of success. In the latter, you will actively avoid situations in fear of failure. A subtle, but I think important difference. So I'll ask you again, and really think about it this time. Do you want to be happy?
That's quite a loaded question isn't it? I think you're overly simplifying things and drawing presumptuous conclusions again.
I think you're missing the point.
Which is?
... Do you want to be happy?
Dude, shut up.
Ever do something that seemed to make sense at the time, but in hindsight was the opposite of what you wish you had done?
--
When I first started this blog, it was mainly for myself. A record of thoughts that I could reference in the future. An effort to learn about myself and see the subtle changes that occur over time.
In my last post, I flippantly remarked how my writings from 1997 had the same themes of my current writings. Today, I started writing an entry that seemed eerily similar to one I had written about 11 months ago (My hindsite is 20/80)
Similar, but thankfully not the same. At least not yet. And if I have any say in the matter, things will go different this time.
I believe.
Rifled through my largish archive of paper last night looking for a past midterm for a friend. Found it, but also found a collection of my poetry from 1997.
Love lost/scorned/won and faux-exoteric ramblings were the main themes. Nice to know I haven't changed much in the last 8 years :P
The thought of posting a sampling crossed my mind, but I think I'll spare you the horror (and myself the embarrassment) unless you really, really want me to (I'm no mind reader, let me know).
On the plus side, it was mostly free-form poetry, which I would like to believe came from a degree of sophistication rather lack of rhyming ability.
Come to think of it, I was given a rhyming dictionary at the time. She said it was to encourage me to keep up my poetry, but maybe it was a hint to write better poetry.
Oh come on, I was 15, what do you expect?
Wait, she was a year younger than me, who was she to judge?
Oh come on, I'm 23, can't I just let it go?
--
I hope I never find my short stories collection that dates back even farther. I remember them as being quite good. I was even published once... kind of. Part of me assumes that if I were to read them today, I'd see myself as quite the hack.
Hmm... looks like I need a little help believing.
Quote of the day:
"Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities."
- Aldous Huxley
As some of you may know, I am a huge FireFly fan and I loved the movie (Serenity). For those of you who haven't watched Serenity yet, here's a link for the first 9 minutes of the movie. I hope that it will pique your interest. And if you can't find anybody to go to the theatre with you, I'm not adverse to seeing it for a second time.
Although I've been bursting at the seems for a while, wanting to chat somebody up about the movie, I will continue to refrain from posting any spoilers on this blog. Call me up or msg me if you want to talk Serenity, because I certainly do. (I'm like a leaf in the wind... [sniff])
I will however raise some issues I have with the marketing of this movie. Put quite plainly, it sucked.
Edit: Moved rant to comments section. I don't like long posts. And no, I'm not subtley trying to get people to post comments; I'm trying to artificially increase my site hit numbers :P
So to end this overly long post, watch this movie. I guarentee it's better than the trailer implies. Previous knowledge of the tv show is not required for enjoyment, although it would make certain scenes more powerful.
Belief.
A strong belief in something, no matter what it may be, can be a great source of strength. If you watch people who have a strong belief in something, you will be amazed at the feats they are able to do in the name of that belief. Putting a man on the moon, uniting and/or overthrowing nations, even achieving celebrity-status could not have been done if somebody did not truly believe in something, whether an ideal, a goal, or a person.
But what happens when the foundations of your belief are shaken? Does your strength wane? Do you irrationally try to justify your belief? Have you now lost your strength and direction, wandering aimlessly now until you can renew your belief in something else? None of these scenarios is particularly ideal.
Following this way of thinking, one may want to put their belief to only that which is irrefutable, or that which if happens prove to be false... well... things would suck so much that wandering aimlessly doesn't seem like such a bad idea.
So what are these things that we can put undying faith in? How about yourself? Descartes' A Discourse on the Method talks of how when all uncertainties are removed, all that remains is yourself as a thinking... thing.
"I think therefore I am"
If you believe in yourself - truly and wholey believe in yourself, your existence, your worth - you will be able to accomplish amazing things by drawing on strength that can never be taken away from you.
Believe it.
You're a diaper.
Excuse me?
You're a diaper.
Alright... And how does that work?
You said that you'd support and help me whenever I came across a load that I couldn't handle myself.
You promised me no leaks; you said I could trust you with anything.
You promised to luvs me and said you would pampers me with huggies.
But now in the end I find that you are just full of shit.
True, I am just about full of your shit.
So after years of talk, I finally had my first salsa lesson from Karen last night. Had fun. Doing it again.
The goal? Eventually rid my inhibitions and work my way up to the hip-hugging goodness of bachata.
Art galleries, orchestras, and dancing... what's happening to me?
In other news, CANUCKS WON THEIR SEASON OPENER BABY!
[ahem]
In yet other news, I wrote a short essay on confusion that arises from attempts of subtlety. Then I deleted it. I decided that aside from the stated message of differing interpretations necessitating clarity in communication, my ulterior message was, ironically, too subtle.
So in plain language I'll say it.
Only a part of me doesn't want to lose.
(Irony!)
I don't know how some people can claim that The Shining is one of the best horror flicks around. It looks like a family friendly movie to me.
On the other hand, I'd say the frightful streets in West Side Story seems like a new take on zombie movies while Titanic is a standard horror flick.
(Apparently, all three come from "an assistants competition in recutting a trailer of a movie in a different genre". I've traced the links back to this blog (see Sept 29, and Sept 26). So credit where credit's due)
Have you seen Bruce Lee's 1964 screen test? Dizzamn! Too fast for the camera!
Random Bruce Lee fact: Bruce Lee was the Cha Cha Champion of Hong Kong in 1958. He worked part time as a Cha Cha instructor for a short time when he returned to San Francisco in April 1959.
--
Kitten War! How can you people say dogs are better than cats?
The wonderful thing about Tiggers, is that Tiggers are wonderful things...
"I'd like it wrapped up, please"
Three days.
They say "nothing lasts forever," I know that and I'm fine with that. But who would have thought three bloody days (and 5 hours).
Fucking eh, eh? Eh.
There's a new Grow puzzle game over at Eyemaze called Grow Cube. Took me about 30 minutes to solve it, but I was loved it every second. I blogged about other Eyemaze puzzle games previously.
Speaking of games, I'm an adventure game junkie and one that I'm particularly looking forward to is Indigo Prophesy (AKA Fahrenheit outside of North America). Played the demo, and I'm very intrigued.
Still on the topic of awesome stuff, Serenity is coming out on Friday September 30th. It apparently continues the story of one of my all time favourite TV series, Firefly (which Fox in its infinite wisdom cancelled after showing only nine episodes out of sequence).
Let me make this clear now: If this movie isn't a resounding box office hit, and I find out that you did not pay for a movie ticket to go watch this movie, I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND GUT YOU IN REEVER-LIKE FASHION! No power in the 'verse can stop me!
If you ask nicely, I may lend out my DVD version of the series.
And if you can sing the song of the Hero of Canton, the man they call Jayne, forgive me if I say I think you're awful shiney and want to bear your man babies.
(Hooray for Firefly references!)
I keep talking to others about how you should not expect change to occur overnight, yet I'm guilty of doing the same. I suppose what I should be preaching is that only expecting change does very little to enact change. If you want the change to happen, you should be proactive about it; meet it head on.-- Posted May 2, 2005 (link)
Why do you like dirty things?
It's not dirty, it's "rustic". I think it's cool.
I'm tired.
You're always tired, man.
Yeah, but not for much longer, though. I think I'm started to get tired of it.
Get tired of what?
Of getting tired.
What?
Don't you ever get tired of being tired? You know... so tired of being tired all the time that you instead start to be energized?
Dude... what?
It's like when I get tired of eating Fruit Loops all the time, I'll switch to Raisin Bran or Frosted Flakes. I figure once I get tired of being tired, I'll switch to being energized.
Do you even listen to yourself speak anymore?
Of course, I suppose I'll eventually get tired of being energized and move on to being angry or irritated... maybe even switching back to tired if the others don't work out. Don't mess with what works, that's what they say, right?
Do you ever get tired of being a jerk-wad?
... Sometimes.
Ever feel like just going crazy? Just because?
I feel like running down the street, greeting people with "Porkchop" and asking them, "Have your fingers ever tasted a cylindrical song that is quite tightly yellow?"
I imagine some people may look at me funny, or try not to look at me at all. While others would ask what is wrong with me.
To which I would reply, "Fish"
Then may then proceed to point at various things that my eye stumbles upon and rename their colours with words like "blellow", "grink", and "foosball".
I imagine that I would be quite fond of the colour, "foosball".
Foosball. Ever say a word so much that it loses meaning? Foosball. Foooooooosball.
Sometimes people ask me what's on my mind. I usually reply with a "nothing, really" or a "don't worry about it."
Here are a few thoughts that passed through my head this last week:
Watching TV:
I hate Tweety Bird. I hate Tweety Bird with a passion and the only reason I watched Looney Toons as a child was for the small glimmer of a dream that Sylvester would finally get his paws on Tweety and him shut up for good.
If I swerve off the road... would that shut him up? No, his bitching would probably just get worse.
Unless it's such a fantastic collision that at least one of us bites it. Then either he won't be able to talk or I won't be able to listen!
Genius!
Wait a minute... what if we both bite it and I end up listening to him for all eternity?
...
Better not risk it.
I wonder if jamming this chopstick in my ear would be too subtle of a hint.
Don't stare at her breasts, don't stare at her breasts, don't stare at her breasts, don't stare at her breasts, don't stare at her breasts, don't stare at her breasts, don't stare at her breasts, don't stare at her breasts, don't stare at her breasts...
...
Okay, just a quick peek...
If I were a piece of wood, what kind of wood would I be?
[Rocking out to various songs in my head]
Is someone getting the best,
the best, the best, the best of you
(Best of You - Foo Fighters)
Mr. Jones and me tell each other fairy tales
and we stare at the beautiful women
She's looking at you...
Oh no no she looking at me
(Mr Jones - Counting Crows)
Dream on, Dream on, Dream on, Dream on,
Dream on, Dream on, Dream on, AAAHHHHHhhhHhhHHhhHhh!
(Dream On - Aerosmith)
...
...
...
I'm
missing the point? yeah, that happens.
Something has changed and Not for the better,
maybe
it's Nothing but
you should always read between the lines.
Control yourself people. I almost ruined a perfectly good pink shirt!
You heard me, PINK!
On Friday, I attended the free open-air VSO concert at Deer Lake with Najin. Good performance, although being an open-air concert, everything was played through speakers, which really can't compare to hearing an orchestra perform in an acoustically designed hall.
Of note (because these were the only ones I recognized) were their renditions of some Tchaikovsky pieces and a selection from Carmen.
Also, 16 year old Christopher Lee from Korea performed a clarinet solo punctuated by lots of bobbing-shadow-boxing-type movements. Just when you thought he'd stop... he'd bob again. Hehe, "bob". Took a video of it, I'll see if I get around to posting it later. All kidding aside, though, he was really very good.
And as a warning to you all, resist the temptation of "fresh cut french fries". They really aren't as good as they sound. Sure, I finished off one and a half large trays of them... but remember who's talking. That itself doesn't say much.
You know what annoys me? People who say "good luck" annoy me.
Not only is it cliche and shows no imagination and very little effort on part of the person saying it, but it also implies that if you should succeed or do well then it is a result of chance, not merit.
Whenever I hear, "good luck," I assume the stipend of, "you'll need it". The implication is that your abilities either aren't up to par or your abilities don't matter. With the former, it's just an insult. With the latter, your success or failure is a function of luck or fate and not any thing particular that you did. And as you may know, I am a firm disbeliever in fate.
So what do I suggest as an alternative to "good luck"? How about "go kick some ass".
Have an important game or test coming up? Go kick some ass!
Have an interview tomorrow? Go kick some ass!
Hitting up a girl at the bar? Go kick some ass!
Trying to train a stubborn donkey? Go kick some ass!
Go kick some ass!
Or for something a little more civilized, an "I hope you do well" would suffice. Sure, you can read some implications in that phrase as well (lack of understanding of the person's skills or situation, hope => pray => you need some outside help) but I think it's an improvement over "good luck".
Or how about "You can DO IT!"
That works too.
So I've been using my PocketPC (Dell Axim X3) pretty religiously for the last 4 months, keeping track of appointments, contacts, and whatnot. Well, for the last 4 months minus three days. Three days that my axim lay sitting on top of my desk... not plugged in.
And for the third time in a year (you'd think I'd learn) my axim ran out of battery power and I LOST ALL MY DATA!
Running out of battery power I can understand. Designing a device that stores information in volatile RAM when it's a mobile device that most assuredly won't have continual access to an external power supply is one of the most retarded ideas I can think of.
That's right, not "special". Just retarded.
Yes, I have a working, up-to-date backup of my data, but spending the time and effort to roll out the data is more than I'm willing to take. When I was backpacking through Europe, there were a few near scares when I had to sneak quick charges at trainstations for fear of losing my data. Well, no more I can tell you that.
Pen and paper. That's the shit.
(Anybody out there interested in a Dell Axim X3? Despite my glowing review, it's actually pretty cool and useful! Really!)
I saw The Beautiful Country yesterday at Tinseltown (which, by the way... on second thought, I'll save this rant for another day).
It follows the story of Binh (Damien Nguyen), child of a Vietnamese mother and an American GI, as he searches for his mother, and then for a life in America. And while some loose threads are unresolved by the end, the final scene is very satisfying.
I did, however, have 2 problems with the movie.
Being Vietnamese myself, I understood most of the Vietnamese dialog and can say with some authority that the subtitling was terrible. If it was only couple lines here and there I would have forgiven it, but for the majority of the first act, Vietnamese was the only language spoken. I understand that translations are inherently difficult, especially going from languages that are completely unrelated. Differing idioms, sentence structure, and wordplay wreak havoc when trying to do a translation true to the original. Often what you end up with is something that is either all too literal to the meanings of individual words, or something that has taken a few liberties to try and maintain the spirit and convey the same meaning of the original work. What we had in The Beautiful Country was neither.
Most all lines were streamlined and simplified to 2 or 3 word sentences. Some lines took a lot of strayed so far from the actual spoken words that I had to scratch my head. And other lines weren't subtitled at all.
I've heard of bad dubbing/translations before, but what I don't understand is how this could happen when the people credited with the writing and directed are all Caucasion.
The only reasonable explanation I can come up with is that the writers had some brief notes that were given to a Vietnamese dialog specialist to flesh out, and through miscommunication or time/budgetary concerns, those brief notes ended up being used as the subtitles.
The other problem I had was with a certain plot element. What kind of crazy ship sails from Malasia to New York, fricken New York. Instead of going across the Pacific to some sane destination like Los Angelos, let's take the scenic route below Africa and across the Atlantic. If the writers really wanted to have Binh in New York (although the story didn't really need New York. Any major metropolitan city in America would have sufficed), have the boat land on a Pacific Rim dock and then have the slave trucks drive him over.
Okay, maybe a third problem is that I don't understand people's fascination with China-Doll type women. Don't understand it, probably never will.
Other than these two (and a half) points, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. A friend said it was too slow paced, but I thought the pacing was fine. It's a drama, not a popcorn-action flick. Be glad it wasn't Dragonball Z proportions of epic sucky pacing.
Recently found a link to hilarious satirical open letter to the kansas school board that advocates teaching the FSM (Flying Spagetti Monster) theory of ID (Intelligent Design) alongside evolution and other ID theories in schools.
Now I'm not going to get into the debate of the merits of ID as a scientific theory to be taught in schools, but rather I'd like to focus on another issue that was touched on in this open letter.
The trend of global warming is inversely related to the number of pirates!
You know what this means, the pirates have been losing ground over hundreds of years to their mortal enemies... the ninja.
For the sake of the world... for the sake of the children, we need more pirates. And we need them now.
Arr, matey!
Looking over my SFU transcript, and alarming pattern emerged.
Every year, my marks would peak in the Summer semester before taking a drastic fall in the Fall semester.
Every.
Single.
Year.
I even made a chart to illustrate the point:
Okay, so 2004 doesn't follow the pattern exactly since summer semester isn't the highest that year, but that was the only semester that I only took one course, so let's consider it an anomaly. But the Fall semester is still my worst GPA wise.
Delving back, summer-time is when I had lots of distractions from my school work, and fall semester was always the semester I promised myself that I'd crack down and get serious about school.
So what have I learned from this? Don't try so hard. I do my best when I'm not trying. It's when I try my best that everything goes in the crapper. Best intentions and all that jazz?
In other words, motivated underachievement works!
(or it could be related to taking on a larger workload and more intensive courses during the Fall. Who really knows...)
Is it too much to ask for people not to half-ass their jobs?
When ordering a pizza, I've become annoyed with the CSR's too such a point where I'm sure there are nasty comments on my file. Call me crazy if it's not reasonable to expect a modicum of competency from people who's sole job is to answer the fucking phone.
In the past, I worked at a Pizza chain's call centre for three years. I heard it all; the horror stories CSR's have to tell about customers are endless and, sadly, mostly true. However, it goes both ways. While you can get a bad customer, there are also lots of poor CSR's out there.
Here's a few tips on how to be a decent CSR and not have customers bitching at you.
1) Don't answer the phone as if it's a terrible inconvenience.And if not to better yourself, then do the above to spite all those idiot customers you're bound to get. If I never hear somebody ask the price for a 2 topping pizza, then order a 4 topping specialty pizza and complain why it's more expensive than the price I quoted, it'll be too soon.
Pardon me if I interrupted your reading time or your card game with the CSR next to you. Your job is to take calls, dingus. Your supervisor (should) have told you, "You can hear a smile through a phone," and believe it or not, it's not just corporate bullshit, it's true. Speech tones are infectious, so if you sound nice and helpful, chances are the customer on the other end will try to do the same. (Hmm... on that note, maybe I shouldn't have called you a dingus.)
2) LISTEN to what the customer on the line says.
If I ask what specials you have tonight, I don't want to have to give you my phone number and address before you answer my question. I understand that the order taking system you use may require that information before actually placing the order, but that's no reason for not being able to answer simple questions that have nothing to do with delivery time or price.
Also, if I order a pizza with capicollo and sun-dried tomatoes, that's what I want. If I end up getting a pizza with capicollo and diced tomatoes, I'm not a happy customer.
3) Know what you're talking about
If I ask you what size your large pizza is, your next sentence shouldn't start with "I think..." and it sure as hell better not have a "maybe" in it. While thinking is fine, guessing is not. If you don't know it off the top of your head, a simple "If you give me a moment I can find out," (with the intention of following through on it) can do wonders. "It depends," accompanied by a (mandatory) quantifying phrase is also acceptable.
4) Don't leave me in the dark
If it's going to take a minute or two to find the information to answer my question or process my order, tell me.
If you're going to put me on hold for over 5 minutes, tell me.
If there's a way to make things go smoother for both you and me, tell me.
If your quoted price doesn't include delivery, taxes, or other charges, tell me.
If you're going to call me back, tell me. Especially if the order won't go through until you get back in touch with me. It may be another number you need to dial to reach me, or the party/game/music may be too loud to hear the phone unless I'm expecting it.
Related to this, we have the fifth item...
5) Don't pass the buck
If you don't tell me that you're going to call me back, and you can't reach me because I turned off my phone or some other such business, who's fault is that? Any CSR worth her/his salt would not say it's the customer's. Did you tell me you were going to call back? Did you confirm the phone number? And when did the 30 minutes or less timer start? Common sense would indicate that, unless indicated otherwise, it starts exactly the moment you said it. Not 2 minutes after the call back confirmation.
And if I call back to complain about this or anything else, don't imply that it's my fault, don't say it's some other CSR, or the because of the computer. Just make strides to fix my problem. Chances are, I'm more interested in a resolution than playing the blame game.
6 & 7) Do your fucking job
It's your gad-damned job. You voluntarily applied for this job. Please, have some self-respect, pride, and common sense to do your job well. If not for my benefit or the benefit of the customers, then for yourself. It can make customers more helpful and your job easier. A good recommendation and employment history can result as well.
Grow was a Flash puzzle game I stumbled upon a while ago. The basic premise is to keep adding gadgets to a ball for it to continually grow and evolve. Certain gadgets have more growth phases than others, and certain growth phases have prerequisites, so using a little bit of grey matter and a lot of trial and error, you have to find the precise order that will evolve the ball into it's complete form.
Confusing? Just give it a try, you'll understand.
But the reason I mention it is that the maker has made a semi-sequal titled Grow RPG. Same premise, different animations and objects, but still amazingly addictive. Maybe even more so than the original.
Figuring the right order is all of the fun, so try not to spoil yourselves by Googling the solution. If you want a bit of a hint, I've taken screen shots of the end solution for both games:
Grow end shot
Grow RPG end shot
Edit: Fixed up unfinished thoughts and half-completed sentences. I used to be able to write coherently on the first try, I swear!
Press ESC twice to blast off to the Milkyway...
I was doing some cleaning when I happened upon my copy of SimGolf. I remembered loving this game way back when, so I decided to reinstall it for nostalgia's sake.
Now I remember why I uninstalled it.
This game has taken over my life.
Damn you Sid Meier! At the end of last year it was your remake of Pirates! that had me consumed. Let's just be glad I didn't pull out that other classic Sid Meier game I have in my closet, namely Alpha Centauri. I'd never see sunlight ever again. (never got into the Civilization series, but Alpha Centauri was pure turn-based heroin as far as I'm concerned)
SimGolf NEEDS a sequel. It DEMANDS a sequel. Or at the very least, a remake in the vein of Pirates!
Alright, now that I've gotten that off my chest, it's back to boozing and schmoozing I.M. Picky and Ivanna Richman. Gotta keep expanding my golf course and buy that snazzy airport!
(Somebody... for the love of all that is holy, help me kick this habit!)
I compiled all my Europe trip related bloggings here. I told some people that I would be doing this as well as annotating them with the appropriate pictures and comments... but what can I say. Look at the title of this blog!
I also added an RSS link to the right for those that are interested in such things and didn't know where to find it. I know I told some people that I was planning some significant changes in design and layout, but I think this is the extent of it for the near future. Once again, I refer you to the title of this blog.
Maybe I'll get around to all that extraneous stuff some other time.
Maybe.
I'm all in. How about you?
I'm out.
Ever wonder if Ryu and Chun Li of Street Fighter fame ever got together? And if they did, ever wonder if they would take up salsa dancing? Well, wonder no more.
Just bike the stick to the east. Uhh... I mean, click on the link below.
Link (11 MB)
You must see Batman Begins. Now. Seriously, get off your ass and watch it. If you've already seen it, go see it again. It's that damn good.
For anybody interested in a subscription to the Vancouver Sun, I just got the phone callers to drop their quoted rate to $9.99 / month which includes the Vancouver Sun and access to their pay online services.
Here's how it went down:
Dude calls me up and offers a promotional rate of $17 a month. I said no; the student rate I paid before was alot cheaper.
He then offered to match the price he had on file, $14/month, with the ability to freeze the rate at this price for as long as I continue the subscription. I still said no. There was a reason I dropped the subscription before at that price point.
As a last resort, he offered a price of $9.99/month which included access to their pay online services, also with the ability to freeze this rate for as long as I continue to subscription. While vaguely tempting, I still said no.
After I biked this box, I was biking for seven hours. It's a purple stick! Purple I bike! Purple!
(Bike on the stick to the east.)
Stick
Apparently, if you put in:
poland girls americans
"i like big butts and I cannot lie" +cd
siofok and nude
A friend recently pointed this out to me.
Regular cable subscribers don't get Fox News here in Canada, (although that may soon change) but with issues of corporate and political bias in media even in Canada (with CanWest Global's virtual monopoly) and the proported lack of investigative journalism in today's news coverage, this just may be what the doctor ordered.
http://www.iwtnews.com/birthofanetwork
Some info straight from their website:
The Problem
Serious news and full-spectrum debate -- on which democracy depends -- are disappearing from television. Across the globe, news media are concentrated in the hands of a few entertainment conglomerates whose interests determine news coverage. They promote superficial "infotainment" over tough investigation, context and holding authority accountable. Public broadcasters face shrinking budgets and growing political and commercial pressures.
The Solution
We need a news and current affairs network that defends the public interest and the highest standards of journalism. Independent World Television will be such a network, a non-profit broadcast service financed by viewers across the globe -- independent of corporate or government funding and commercial advertising.
Everything changes
It's just like that, don't worry about it.
I promised I wouldn't spam my address book about my Europe trip, so you'll have to get the links here. It's on ImageStation, so if you don't have an account, you'll have to sign up. Sorry, but this was the easiest way for me to upload over a gigabyte worth of pictures in one go.
London, England
Basel, Switzerland & Germany/France Road Trip
Interlaken, Switzerland & Surrounding Area
Lucerne, Switzerland
Zurich, Switzerland
Innsbruck, Austria & Swarovski Krystallwelten
Munich, Germany & Dachau Concentration Camp
Schloss Neuschwanstein (Disney inspiration castle)
Vienna, Austria
Cesky Krumlov & Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
Prague, Czech Republic
Dresden, Germany
Krakow, Poland & Salt Mines
Berlin, Germany
And as a bonus for reading my blog... a few shots of my Convocation this last Friday. Just a few since my camera died on me.
Update (2:57pm): Changed the links to "invitations" so that you don't have to sign up with imagestation if you don't want to.
Well, I'm back in Canada now. Pictures are coming soon; there's about a gigabyte worth that I have to upload, so please be patient with me. But first things first, let me recap the last bit of my Europe trip:
Location: Krakow, Poland
Duration: 1 night, 1 day
Ended up sleeping at the train station when I couldn't find suitable (read: cheap and convenient) accomodations. I wasn't alone in my overnight vigil, surrounded by dozens of other campers. Having locked my bags up in a locker at the station and staked out a spot on an indoor benches with my pillow, I had no real complaints.
I decided that I didn't have enough time to tour both Auschwitz and the Wieliczka Salt Mines the next day while still making my overnight train to Berlin that night. Having already visited the Dachau concentraion camp, I figured I should vary my experiences by attending the salt mines. The salt mines were quite the spectacle (and a reprieve from the 35 degree weather) with statues and a large underground cathedral carved out of salt crystals.
Location: Berlin, Germany
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Berlin was great, even if the weather was rather poor (cloudy, rainy, windy). I wholeheartedly recommend taking the New Berlin FREE Walking Tour to start things off. It's a quick visit to most of the major tourist attractions, and the guides will give you great commentary on its historical and pop-culture significance... or at least my guide did. Jesse was his name, if you ever get the chance to try it. Apparently Munich has a similar free walking tour, but I didn't get the chance to go on it.
Being my last free night in Europe, I decided to go on one of those organised pub crawls. Met a bunch of Canadians (we're everywhere!) and we hit 4 bars and 2 clubs that night. Got shitfaced and woke up in a strange bed in a strange hostel.
Fun times.
Location: London, Great Britain
Duration: 1 night
I didn't have time to see the town as I did when I first arrived in Europe, so not much to say other than it cost me about $50 Canadian to take the train from one airport (Luton) to the other (Gatwick) at midnight. Of all the airports and trainstations I've slept at (Dresden, Krakow, Luton), Gatwick was the nicest and most comfortable.
The airport was packed with sleepers and all the best spots (on cushy couches and chairs) were already taken by the time I got there, but luckily I ran into somebody who had a 2am flight and gave me their spot. Two funky shaped soft cushioned chairs that formed an elongated bowl for me to sleep in, and the bottom made for great storage since the only way somebody could take my bags (or even see them) was to separate the two chairs that I would be laying on.
Shopped the duty-free looking for some last minutes gifts and souvenirs, but before I had a chance to buy anything, I saw the screens say that my flight was closing boarding. After a mad dash to my departure gate, I find that they weren't even to begin letting people on the plane for another 45 minutes.
Stupid lying TV screens.
Location: Wandering the wispy, westerly winds
Duration: 11 hours 15 minutes
Hitch, Spanglish, and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events were the films shown on my flight heading home.
Hitch was enjoyable enough, although some of the dialogue (especially near the beginning) was hard to swallow. I liked Spanglish - a story that had a focus around a mother-daughter dynamic - even though it was a total chick flick. Lemony Snicket's, however, has got to be one of the worst movies I've seen. From the poor dialogue, trite plot devices, unlikable characters (all of the adults), and an overall tone that tried to be clever but I saw as just plain stupid, the only redeaming quality of the movie would be the costumes and set design. I realize it's based of a children's book, but that doesn't mean I can't call it a bad movie.
I read the first few pages of the book it's based on when the movie first came out (as a potential gift to a grade-school teacher friend), and the writing style annoyed the heck out of me. I can appreciate the attempt at a more personable, conversational style, as if telling the story in person in front of a group of crowded children, but I hated the tone and style of the narrator.
I suppose I am in the minority since it is apparently a hugely popular series that will be releasing its 12th book later this year. All I can say is that if I paid money to see it in the theatre, I would demand it back with a little extra for wasting my time.
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Duration: A good while, but hopefully not forever
The strangest thing I saw when I got back home was my room. It hadn't changed since I had left, but just the fact that there was but a single bed, and my personal artifacts could be seen all over the room just struck me as being wierd.
After a month of staying in hostel dorms, train stations, and airports, having my own room just felt out of place.
Location: Krakow, Poland
Local Time: 11pm
Alright, here comes a recap. This may very well be my last update from Europe before I make my connecting flights back to Vancouver this Wednesday.
Location: Cesky Krumlov, Česká Republika
Duration: 1 day, 1 night
A great small city perfect for relaxing. Had all the quaint appeal of a small town with all the requirements of a backpacker. At the train station I bunch of us English speakers huddled together for security as we searched for a hotel. I'm not one to bash on Americans (except for fun) but the two American girls in our group personified the stereotype of self-absorbed, bitchy, "why-the-hell-don't-these-people-speak-english" tourists.
The first hostel we went to, which everybody besides me had made reservations for, was fully booked. Because everybody in our group got into town a lot later than anticipated (about 4 or 5 hours), all their rooms had already been given away to other people. Contrast the way the Americans dealt with it compared to the Canadian and 3 Australians in our group. After initial attempts at working a deal (which wasn't going to happen unless the receptionist kicked out somebody from there room... which quickly became apparent that he would not do), the Canadian and Australians worked with the receptionist to find other accomodations in the city. The American girls on the other hand, complained and complained and complained some more. Arguing that they shouldn't have to stick to the "time of arrival" field they filled out with the booking agent, and the 2-hour leeway advertised on the website should be a 1 day leeway instead. Because that's only reasonable that you don't stick to formerly agreed to terms :rolls eyes:
Now I can understand being annoyed at the situation, especially when the booking agent (hostelworlds.com i think in this case) charges your credit card for missing a booking. But come on.
After we all moved to another hostel with room, I didn't see the American girls again, which is fine with me. Had a great time with the Canadian (from Winnipeg who is part of the campaign to bring the NHL back to town) and an Aussie who works in the UK doing project management.
Good beers, good scenery, good times.
Location: Ceske Budejovice, Česká Republika
Duration: 1 day
Home of the Budweiser brewery. Not the piss-water Bud we get in North America, but a good tasting Czech lager. Went on a tour and tour guide let me pour my own beer straight from the storage kegs. She kept telling me to drink more. I think she was trying to get me drunk, which under normal circumstances would be fine because she was hot. But there were 6 other people in the tour and I don't perform for crowds ;P
Location: Praha, Česká Republika
Duration: 3 Days, 3 Nights
Did I end up regretting booking three nights at Travellers in Prague? Not at all. Met some great people in that dorm. Not everybody shared my appreciation as one night we had this one guy with what is described as sleep apnea, resulting in really loud, inconsistant snoring. I had been drinking and smoking Shisha (flavoured tobacco) the day before, so I slept right through it.
Made a day trip to Kutna Hora to see the Church of Bones. 40,000 bones - or the bones of 40,000 people, I forget which - were used as decoration inside the church. Quite a morbid, but uniquely interesting, site.
Also, being outside of Prague, we were able to get a good Czech meal for a fraction of the cost. Lunch for 4 people in Kutna Hora was about the same price one person paid for dinner in Prague.
Location: Dresden, Germany
Duration: 2 Days, 1 Night
The days I was in Dresden had to be the hottest days of my trip. Took the opportunity to sunbathe a while in the tall grass next to the river. I didn't realize how large Dresden is. I was prepared for a small town like Cesky Krumlov, instead I get a city where I go to beer gardens (sadly with no 1 litre beers like in Munich), shopping, and movie theatres.
Watching Star Wars Episode 3 in German with a couple of Austrailians? Priceless.
Of course it wasn't all good. I lost my Timmy Ho mug... and me and another dorm mate swear it must have been these other people in our dorm that "mistakenly" took it with them when they checked out.
To make matters worse, I meant to make Dresden my base as I made a few day trips to nearby cities and sites, but there was not a single dorm bed available in the entire city after my first night.
I then decided to have an adventure and jump on an overnight train somewhere. France, Italy, Greece, and Amsterdam all crossed my mind, but since I had to be in Berlin in a few days, I decided somewhere closer: Krakow, Poland, which was on my initial itinerary.
If you've been an avid reader of my blog, you'll know that I cut Poland from my trip because of passport reasons. Technically, I shouldn't be allowed in because my passport isn't valid for at least 6 months. At this point I didn't really care. Everybody I talked to said they don't check that closely, and I figured if I got turned back, I would head to Rugen Island, Germany, and chill out with a story to tell.
I got in Poland. And they stamped my passport (Switzerland, Austria, and France suck because they didn't).
Location: Krakow, Poland
Duration: 1 night and counting (probably just 1 day and 1 night)
Of course, Krakow being one of the most popular (if not THE most popular) tourist destination in Poland, there aren't any dorm beds available here tonight. Darned weekend tourists!
Throwing my money into a cheap hotel as I prepare for my Auschwitz and the Wieliczka Salt Mine trip tomorrow. Then it's on to another overnight train to Berlin... my last stop...
Location: Praha, Česká Republika (Prague, Czech Republic)
Local time: 1:29pm
Paid for three nights... but might end up regretting it. Travellers hostel here in town is my least favourite hostel I've been to yet, and the only one I couldn't appreciate upon arrival. From the 4 flights of stairs and 3 locked doors you have to get through to get to your room, to the lacklustre kitchen (where you can't even use the fridge), to the unfriendly non-english speaking dormmates (not really the hostel's fault), to the hostel bar that is in another building, I'm really not liking this hostel. Let that be a lesson to you. Pre book your hostel when heading to Prague. Both my prime and my 2 backups were fully booked when I got in town.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still having a blast, just disappointed with the accomodations.
About one week left before I hop on a plane back home... I don't want to leave! You can't make me!
Location: Wein, Österreich (Vienna, Austria)
Duration: 3 nights
Vienna was nice... overall. First day was pissing rain and the wind was blowing like a bitch. Had to take the duct tape to my ruined umbrella after that. I think I'm getting used to all the baroque architecture as it just looked like another city to me. Certainly nicer than the other cities I've been in, especially the old town center, but the effect I think was but a glimmer of what it would have been had I flew into Prague to begin with as I had originally planned.
Not busy staring in amazement at the architecture and sites, I was able to cultivate a more civilized experience consisting of museums, orchestral performances, and Life Bowl 2005.
The museums I went to were art museums (The Leopold and The Modern Art Museum), and despite how I tried, I just could not appreciate most of the "modern" art on display. When it looks like an eight year old could have painted it, I can't buy it being on display in a museum. One painted was a landscape of sky, mountain, lake. It consisted of three horizontal bands of colour. The commentary said that the artist had boiled the landscape down to its base components and captured the true essence of it. It was three fucking bands of colour. I'm all for abstract interpretations, but if this qualifies being displayed in a museum, your better off finding meaning in tracks on a dirt road or something else that's is... you know... free. You can interpret anything you want from anything. You don't need a crappy painting by a talentless hack, you just need a good dose of imagination.
I figured it would be tragic to not attend a classical musical performance being in a city with such a rich musical history as Vienna. I enjoyed it a lot more than I though I would. I've told some people the story of my first musical. This didn't have as large an impact on my, but I still enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Pieces of Strauss and Mozart were featured along with the works of others. The venues (the Hofburg Palace and the Kursalon) were amazing and added to the effect. Who would have that a dude standing on a street in a wig could provide such enjoyment? Get your mind out of the gutter, I just mean that I bought the ticket from a street vendor. Saved myself 7 euros off the box office price and got a voucher for a free drink as well.
Life Bowl 2005 was a fasion show / open air concert. I saw the "Milkshake" girl perform and a bunch of people behind the fence attending what seemed to be one of those posh costume parties. Of note were a guy and girl dressed as characters from "The Incredibles", wearing only boots, panties, and body paint. Also, a girl dressed as a lobster, with huge claws, an awesome head dress, and 3 foot platform shoes stood out.
I had more written about Vienna, Cesky Krumlov, and Ceske Budejovice, but internet problems erased it. I'll try to write it again at some other time.
Location: Wien, Österreich (Vienna, Austria)
Local Time: 3:12pm
The Wombat does it again! Just like in München, the Wombat here in Wien put me up as the sole male in an otherwise all girl dorm. The three I met when I arrived last night were nice enough, but they were all leaving in the morning next morning. The other two ladies in my dorm I still haven't properly met, as they appear to be night owls, waking up at 6pm and crashing back at the room at around 5 in the morning.
Recapping a few things since my last update...
Location: München, Deutschland (Munich)
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Since my last update I went to Englisher Garden and watched some nude sunbathers, people surfing in a stream, and other people slamming back 1 litre steins of beer and bratwürst. Nice place. I picked up a souvenir from an unattentive dishwasher... a 1 litre souvenir!
If you're going to G's BBQ bash on June 4, you'll see me bringing it along.
I also took a trip to Füssen and visited Schlass Neuschwanstein, the partially completed castle of "mad" King Ludwig II in the late 1800's, and allegedly the inspiration for the Disney castle. Pictures were not allowed inside the castle, but (being the rebel that I am) I took some candid ones anyways. They didn't turn out so great, although a few were unintentionally quite nice from an artistic perspective... if I do say so myself.
Location: Passau, Deutschland
Duration: One night... and a bit
Passau was just supposed to be a transfer station on my way back to Austria. However, I met up with a few drunken German students (Germans, or at least the Germans I have met, are the nicest drunks in the world). Seeing as I had no place to sleep - I didn't think I would need one as my train was leaving at 4 in the morning - one of the girls offered her house to me.
I ended up delightfully missing my train in the morning.
I forgot to mention my day trips to Luzern, Switzerland, and the Swarovsky Krystallwelten (Crystal Worlds) in my previous postings, so here you go.
Location: Luzern, Switzerland
Duration: One afternoon
Luzern (Lucerne) I only stopped in for the afternoon on my way to Zurich. Mark Twain described the Lion of Luzern as "the saddest and most moving piece of rock in the world". I am inclined to agree. The posture and expression on the animal as a broken spear jutts from its side is full of emotion. Being carved out of the face of a giant rock wall lends the image even more power, and the quiet lake in front of it and the trees surrounding it adds to the sombre mood. The feelings evoked by the entire experience are ... undescribable. Taking into account the fact that it is a monument to an arguably pointless sacrifice mixes the emotions further. Luzern is worth visiting if only for the lion.
(Note: HELVETIORUM FIDEI AC VIRTUTI is the inscription on the monument that translates to: "To the loyalty and courage of the Swiss")
Of course, that's not the only thing Luzern has to offer. The main thing that also caught my eye were the two bridges that connect the old town centre to the rest of the city. Disturbing paintings of death and dismemberment look down upon you as you cross either bridge. If I knew more about the history of the city, or if I were able to read the captions, it may shed light on its significance. But as it is, the bridges are just a peculiar site seen during my trip.
Location: Krystallwelten in Watton, Austria
Duration: 1 afternoon
I guess I can describe Krystallwelton (Crystal Worlds) as an art exhibit where all the exhibits make use of Swarovky crystals. All of the exhibits are shiny and some look amazing, some seem ripped out of a cheesy sci-fi film, while others are so fantastical that it makes you wonder what the artist was smoking when (s)he designed it.
But the real story behind this daytrip is how I got to the location. It was supposed to be a 15 minute train ride followed by a 20 minute walk. It ended up taking me about 2 hours to get there.
First, I was distracted on the train (don't ask) and missed my stop. Getting off at the next stop, I found out that it would be an hour before the next train would arrive. I decided to explore the small town I was in. Nothing to write home about really, besides some of the younger children yelling and pointing at me. Waiting at the train station, I figured that if I only had to go back one stop, I could probably hike there and save myself some cash and do a little sight seeing. Or I could sneak on board the train and hope that they don't check my ticket. (Being a cheap bastard, paying for the ticket was out of the equation). Chose to hike; took me about 40 minutes and I figure it was about 5 km. How many cool sites was I able to leisurly peruse? None. Nothing made me want to stop and stare, although part of that may be because it was freaking hot and I had lost my cap a few days before.
The things I will do to save €2.
Location: München, Deutschland
Local Time: 11:40am
Stayed at the Wombat here in Munchen. Got put in a dorm where it was me and 4 ladies. (SWEET!) Do you think other hostels will group me in similar dorms if I ask nicely? Because women are less likely to snore than a bunch of smelly guys, of course. No other reason...
Location: München, Deutschland
Duration: 2 days, 2 nights, and counting
Yesterday was a field day for the conflict between hope and depression.
I started out heading to Dachau with one of my English-lady dormmates, Kate. For those who don't know, Dachau was the site of the original concentration camp upon which all others were modeled.
We left the hostel at 10am and didn't get back until about 5:30pm. If they weren't closing the site for the night, we would have been there for many hours more. There was just so much to see and learn. We weren't able to go on the guided tour (we should have reserved our spots and THEN go for coffee, not the other way around) but were able to follow along a comprehensive audio guide and the many plaques.
What's left of the camp today is different from what it would have looked like up to 1945, but reading the detailed accounts and memoirs... you can almost see it.
After Dachau I dragged along Kate and another English girl she met at her new dorm (she switched to a cheaper hostel) with me as I searched for the elusive "ARC". The only bar in town I was told would show the Gold medal game for sure (If you have to ask, "what gold medal game" you are not Canadian). Finally found it (it's nice travelling with somebody who studies languages and can talk to the locals fluently) and was excited to get a good hockey fix.
Then the game ended. And I was depressed.
Location: München, Deutschland (Munich, Germany)
Local Time: 6:45pm
Finally made it out of Switzerland and into some more sane countries, price-wise. Since my last update, I've been in Zurich, Innsbruck and a few smaller towns and cities in between.
Zurich, Switzerland
3 days, 3 nights
The Canadians are coming!Prior to Zurich, I had met and talked with maybe a total of three other Canadians. Once I hit Zurich, I ran into no fewer than twenty. City Backpacker, the hostel I stayed at was Canada overrun with maple leaves. On my last night in town, there were ten Canadians and one girl from Norway crowded around a table in the common room; not exactly the worldly variety I was expecting. Didn't meet anybody from BC, but other than the expectant Torontonians, there was decent representation from across the country: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. Sorry, no Newfie love in Zurich.
The Canadians are coming!
Location: Interlaken, Switzerland
Local time: 8:08pm
Still in Interlaken today. Filled up my camera memory card with pictures of my trip to the mountains near Grindelwald. Unfortunately the hiking paths up to the snowy areas were closed due to avalanche warnings. Going to try my hand at uploading pictures, but I'm running into technical difficulties, so I will find a shop to burn them to a disk for me.
In otherwords, expect no pictures until much later.
Location: Interlaken, Switzerland
Local time: 6:34pm
Current mood: Free (even more free in a couple hours)
I haven't used a pen and paper by choice for years, and now that I am, I find that I can write a lot. A LOT! Instead of transcribing my journal entries, I figure I'll just summarize everything.
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Duration: 3 nights
After I left London, I flew into Basel. Thursday was a holiday (Juses entering Heaven?) and most everything was closed; one of my dormmates, Jeorne, had a car so we decided to take a road trip. We headed for Germany and the Vitras Design Museum (Jeorne is an aspiring architect). Among the sites to see there:
From here we looked at a road map and randomly chose a small German town to visit, and then a French town after that. Highlight of this part of the journey? A 100+ year old church that almost felt inherently sacred with its beautiful stained glass windows, large pipe organ, and creaking wood panel decks. "Almost" because the effect was diluted somewhat by the incandecsent lights, construction/renovation signs, and tourist information panels scattered throughout.
A couple of my other doormmates were Japanese. They didnät speak much English, but I just love listening to Japanese women speak Japanese. It's right up there with British women speaking English. It just sounds right (and hot!)
Location: Interlaken, Switzerland
Duration: 2 days and counting
Next stop was Interlaken. A town gorgeously situated between two lakes and surrounded by mountains. My internal compass is frazzled a little by all the mountains (north is that way... no that way.. or is it over there?) but the scenery cannot be matched.
Met a Hong Kong/Australian girl at the train station (add slight Austrailian accents to my favourites' list) and we took a day trip on the train to a couple nearby towns of Spiez and Thun. Found a few cows and tried to say "hello", but they ran off into the barn by the time I got close enough. Sorry Jules, I'll try to find another opportunity to say "hi" to the cows for you.
Sharing my dorm with a couple of cool guys from a small town near Boston. Jelous was I when they talked of going skydiving in Interlaken... but what's a poor Canadian boy to do? Going to party with them later tonight. Should be a blast. Swiss partying as good as BC partying? I'll soon find out.
So that's a quick rundown of what I've been up to. Sorry I didn't make this entry even shorter and more concise, but I just don't have the time. I just now found a place that offers internet access for 6 Francs an hour (about $6.20 CAD), all the other Swiss places have been charging the equivalent of about $21 CAD per hour.
I'll say it again, what's a poor Canadian boy to do?
(Answer: party and meet foreign chicks with hot accents!)
London - May 2, 11:20pm @ Trafalgar Square
I guess I was expecting a culture shock to hit as soon as I got off the plane.
It's as if I was expecting purple skined aliens with three nipples or something. Sure, the building are grander, the prices more expensive, and people talk with accents, but it doesn't really feel all that different from Vancouver. To be fair, that's probably because I haven't really been conversing with the locals; I haven't experienced that dry British wit they are stereotypically known for.
Aside from some problems with the (crazy) phone system, I don't believe that I've done anything differently than how I would have back home. True, it's only the first night. I keep talking to others about how you should not expect change to occur overnight, yet I'm guilty of doing the same. I suppose what I should be preaching is that only expecting change does very little to enact change. If you want the change to happen, you should be proactive about it; meet it head on.
To bad confrontation is not my strong suit.
London - May 2, 10:07pm
I've taken some cool pictures around Buckingham Palace, one of which I plan on captioning: "Come my stony compatriots, time to storm the gates!" Use your imagination until I get a chance to upload it. Haven't thought much of where I'm going to sleep tonight. Sleeping for free is an option, but is it worth looking like a bum on the streets? Hopefully I'll find a place somewhere close to the city centre so that I can easily start my proposed Monopoly Board run tomorrow. I was thinking of doing a Monopoly Board pub crawl, but at these prices I don't think I can afford to go even half way around the board.
There's a bit of a breeze, but otherwise it's been a warm, clear night. Of course, now that I'ved stopped to writ this, my body is cooling down. Need to find a pub and get some grub.
London - May 2, 8PM @ Victoria Place
Called Tom's number again. Either I copied it down wrong, Klaus got it wrong, or Tom has changed his number, because I reached the voicemail of one Linda Smith.
Contingency planning has never been my strong suit; however, going with the flow and being able to adjust is a large part of what this trip is all about. The tourist information booths are closed now and the one person I've met is likely in his hotel room with his wife right now. Even if I could get in touch with him, I would choose not to interrupt their vacation. I'm not in that bad a position. I have a good chuck of pocket money, enough food and drink, as well as my wits to help me survive a couple nights in a foreign town by myself. Thankfully everybody speaks English (you have to love the accents!).
Speaking of food, a BK Whopper meal for £4.49? That's OVER $10 CAD! Good think I smuggled a bunch of the complementary drinks and munchies from the plane ride. Oh well, I'm off to find more food, bed, and maybe hit on some chicks with sexy British accents.
London - May 2, 7:30PM (London Time)
Air plane ride went well enough. Ran into a little excitement at the end when the pilot had to about his initial landing approach.
"Is something wrong with the plane?"
"Is something wrong at the airport?"
I brought a little notebook with me that I crack open and jot in whenever there's a lull. I'll transcribe the text here whenever I get a chance. Beware, my impromptu writing is awfully long winded.
--
Vancouver Airport - May 1, 11pm
I'm sitting on a plane right now preparing to fly to London. The more I think about it, the more excited I get.
On my way to the airport, I realized that I had forgotten to pack my razor. Simple enough to replace, I figure, but we shall see. Will I live to rue the day that I forgot to pack my razor? Or has not packing it unknowingly saved me tonnes of trouble at customs? Back to the plane, I am sat next to a middle-aged asian couple. They seem nigh enought, but it's certainly no hot blonde from Georgia. Taking into account the law of averages, I suppose this means that I have something to look forward to. Hopefully, the payout won't come after a long day's travel while I am sporting a day's worth of stubble and musk.
As I entered the airport, the line to the Air Transat counter was a huge anomaly. A slow moving giant in the midst of quick, light-footed Tolkien hobbits.
The pre-trip jitters have definitely given way to excitement. At least, I think it's excitement. There's a pressure raising in my chest. It doesn't constrict, but rather it's more like an untapped energy source itching to be released. The itch rises and ebbs; it hasn't reached a tumult yet, but the potential cannot be denied. A last minute rush to make paper copies of all my digital travel information was ground to a halt by my quirky printer at home. After nearly 14 years of service, perhaps it's time to retire my Canon Bubblejet - the bubbles having long since lost their optimal surface tension, resulting in a haphazard collage of black ink.
