"So close, but no cigar!"
- Not Bill Clinton
I posted my entertainment unit on usedottawa.com last night, and within minutes had a message from an Asian guy "Bill" wanting to pick it up from me tonight. Sweet deal I thought, I could finally rid myself of the monstrosity, and get myself a new tv. I've had my eye on this 50 inch LCD at Future Shop, but my brother accurately pointed out that 50 inches might be too big for my condo given how close my seating is to my tv.
But I digress...so Bill comes a couple minutes late tonight, and he's 5'1ish, but at least he had a trolley. He comes up to my unit, I put the entertainment unit on his trolley....and then he says "Hmmm, I think this is too big to fit in my car".
Seriously, you brought a car to pick up a 5 foot by 4 foot entertainment unit? OMG...of course it won't fit in your car. I had the dimensions posted on usedottawa, and assumed anyone interested would have a truck to pick up the unit. Why do I give people too much credit for knowing how big 5 feet by 4 feet is?
Anyway, I'm going to pay my 'junk' guy to lug it away this weekend. I really want a new tv, and need to get rid of the clunky, old, monstrosity of an entertainment unit.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Upset!
T - together
E - everyone
A - achieves
M - more
(Corny cliche that I despise...even if it is true)
Remember that youtube video from a couple of posts ago? Lately, I've been part of a few underdog teams, that played 'balls to the wall' and accomplished the upset. Tonight was particularly sweet as we knocked off the 9th ranked team who was favored to beat us (ranked 16th) .
This gets me to the point of my post, the thing I like most about team sports...and this will sound corny, is that success is sweeter when you have people to share it with. The captain of my team, thinks he's having an awful season (he's not, he's harder on himself than I am). Watching his eyes light up when he caught the last point was special. We've already beat our seat, won a Spirit prize, and developped tremendously this season. I've got to the point with this crazy sport, where one win or loss means nothing, but watching his face as he scored the winning point...was the high-light of my sporting summer.
Whatever happens this weekend, our team is already winners. It's time to kick back and have fun :)
E - everyone
A - achieves
M - more
(Corny cliche that I despise...even if it is true)
Remember that youtube video from a couple of posts ago? Lately, I've been part of a few underdog teams, that played 'balls to the wall' and accomplished the upset. Tonight was particularly sweet as we knocked off the 9th ranked team who was favored to beat us (ranked 16th) .
This gets me to the point of my post, the thing I like most about team sports...and this will sound corny, is that success is sweeter when you have people to share it with. The captain of my team, thinks he's having an awful season (he's not, he's harder on himself than I am). Watching his eyes light up when he caught the last point was special. We've already beat our seat, won a Spirit prize, and developped tremendously this season. I've got to the point with this crazy sport, where one win or loss means nothing, but watching his face as he scored the winning point...was the high-light of my sporting summer.
Whatever happens this weekend, our team is already winners. It's time to kick back and have fun :)
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Book Review: Feelers
About 50% of the books I take out of the Ottawa Public Library are ones I stumble across while roaming the aisles. An interesting cover catches my eye, and that was definitely the case with Feelers (by Brian Wiprud). A roll of $100 greenbacks with blood flowing out of Franklin's eye made me want to investigate. Then reading the synopsis on the back confirmed my suspicion that this could be an entertaining novel.
For the uninformed (like me), feelers are a type of house cleaners that bid for the privlege of cleaning out houses that belonged to recently deceased individuals, in the hopes of finding money and valuables. I'm not sure this profession actually exists, but if it does, it's a cross between maids, contractors, mafia, and psychics.
In Feelers, a spanish-American finds $800K in "tight-ones" (rolls of $100s wound tightly into peanut cans), and in doing so, involves himself in a murder plot, love triangle, and revenge plot from a fellow feeler. The story was fast paced, with lots of suspense and violence. There's also a few 'human interest' stories interwined, as all the characters are genuinely interesting people, who the reader yearns to learn more about.
This is an easy summer read at about 250 pages. I highly recommend it for those of you who enjoy sex, money, and violence (sorry, no rock and roll). I'll give it $750K of tight ones out of $800K.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Cottaging...and Lovin' It
"You'll have to excuse me, I'm not at my best
I've been gone for a month, I've been drunk since I left.
These so-called vacations will soon be my death
I'm so sick from the drink, I need home for a rest."
Spirit of the West - Home for a Rest
I've been lucky enough this summer to get invited out to a friend's cottage for three or four weekends. Having arrived home a couple of hours ago, I'm feeling a bit like I need another day of weekend to recover :P
This past weekend was simply wonderful. The hot and humid weather made it ideal for swimming, and lounging lakeside on comfortable chairs. The lake water was like a bath tub, which made exented stays in it tempting. I ended up getting quite a bit of sun since my sunscreen doesn't seem to be waterproof, and I was submerged for 3 or 4 hours over the course of two days. One of the best times was when one friend threw a....circular implement...while I dove off a dock 20 meters away, and the other friend caught the action on her digital camera. Of course her aunt and uncle got a kick out of watching grown men and women amuse themselves with the....circular implement...for over an hour.
The company conisted of the cottage proprietor friend, and another good friend through (everything but...) sports. Cottaging is a bit strange, in that the mix of people tends to make or break the weekend. Needless to say, the conversation flowed nicely, and any moments of silence were welcomes by all three of us.
The food was also exceptional. Having five years of fast-food experience, I usually offer to grill whatever meat is on the menu. Last night for supper, I grilled hot italian sausages (to perfection!), followed by bacon this morning (in the frying pan), and hamburgers for supper (supplemented with jerk BBQ sauce). My male friend made this amazing asparagus and green onion mixture to go with the sausages, and then cooked my egg just the way I like it this morning.
It's always tough to transition back to work mode after a weekend at the cottage, but here's hoping I can improve with practice ;-)
I've been gone for a month, I've been drunk since I left.
These so-called vacations will soon be my death
I'm so sick from the drink, I need home for a rest."
Spirit of the West - Home for a Rest
I've been lucky enough this summer to get invited out to a friend's cottage for three or four weekends. Having arrived home a couple of hours ago, I'm feeling a bit like I need another day of weekend to recover :P
This past weekend was simply wonderful. The hot and humid weather made it ideal for swimming, and lounging lakeside on comfortable chairs. The lake water was like a bath tub, which made exented stays in it tempting. I ended up getting quite a bit of sun since my sunscreen doesn't seem to be waterproof, and I was submerged for 3 or 4 hours over the course of two days. One of the best times was when one friend threw a....circular implement...while I dove off a dock 20 meters away, and the other friend caught the action on her digital camera. Of course her aunt and uncle got a kick out of watching grown men and women amuse themselves with the....circular implement...for over an hour.
The company conisted of the cottage proprietor friend, and another good friend through (everything but...) sports. Cottaging is a bit strange, in that the mix of people tends to make or break the weekend. Needless to say, the conversation flowed nicely, and any moments of silence were welcomes by all three of us.
The food was also exceptional. Having five years of fast-food experience, I usually offer to grill whatever meat is on the menu. Last night for supper, I grilled hot italian sausages (to perfection!), followed by bacon this morning (in the frying pan), and hamburgers for supper (supplemented with jerk BBQ sauce). My male friend made this amazing asparagus and green onion mixture to go with the sausages, and then cooked my egg just the way I like it this morning.
It's always tough to transition back to work mode after a weekend at the cottage, but here's hoping I can improve with practice ;-)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Two Months Without A DVD Player...
About two months ago, my tv remote stopped working. It was probably due to the universal remote Rogers gave me that I can't program to control my tv/DVD player/VCR. Without my tv remote, I can't change the video source to my DVD player (or Playstation). The buttons at the bottom of my tv screen only control the power, volume, and channels.
Initially, I was ready to go out and buy a 26 inch LCD or Plasma tv. However, the only reason I would have bought a tv that size, was because my home entertainment unit is about 27 inches wide. I paid $40 for the unit about five years ago, and remember lugging it on and off the trolley (I bought it from my super's parents, who live in my building).
I recently looked into having someone come and haul my entertainment unit away. It'll cost between $20 - $40, which isn't an issue. However, I haven't proceeded due to a lack of time, and because I've thought about trying to sell/give away the unit to someone who'd like it (it's in good shape). The catch is, I'll need to take a photo of it, and I just can't seem to find the time/energy to do that when the lighting in my living room is optimal.
All this to say, I haven't been able to watch DVDs in two months. I'm a huge fan of renting movies, and also have a great collection of...(everything BUT...) sports DVDs. Plus, I bought season 3 of 24 on vacation, and have been waiting to watch it.
I really need to get my butt in gear and figure out the whole tv situation. It's not like it's a money issue, I'd be quite happy to buy a new 40 inch tv....I just have to find somewhere to put it. Until then, no more Blockbuster nights *sigh*
Monday, August 10, 2009
Why I Love Youtube
Exhibit #1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sahSEi7diAc
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the prosecution rests its case.
Boys and girls, if that doesn't get you pumped up, I don't know what will.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sahSEi7diAc
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the prosecution rests its case.
Boys and girls, if that doesn't get you pumped up, I don't know what will.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Being a fan of the Harry Potter series, I look forward to the release of the blockbuster movies each summer. I'd been wanting to see the Half Blood Prince (HBP) for about 2 weeks, before finally going over the long-weekend with two good friends.
The movie didn't disappoint. The character development of Draco Malfoy was excellent. That blonde kid can really act. I also enjoyed the developing Ron/Hermoine and Harry/Ginny relationships. The quidditch scene was breathtaking. However, the best part of the movie was the climax - Dumblemore's death.
On the other hand, the movie didn't exceed my expectations. I continue to wonder how much 'darker' they can make the movies before they'll lose the pre-14 crowd that the books were initially targetted at. I also felt that not enough emphasis was placed on developing the Death Eaters. Lastly, like all movie series, it's hard to get over the feeling that this movie is simply setting up the next.
All in all, I'll give the movie three horny Hogwarts students out of five. Even though the special effects were best displayed in the theatre, you can probably get away with just renting the movie on DVD if you have a big enough television.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
It's weird how people grow up...
"Debbie just hit the wall
She never had it all
One Prozac a day
Husband's a CPA
Her dreams went out the door
When she turned twenty four
Only been with one man
What happened to her plan?"
Bowling for Soup - 1985
Just got back from my friend's wedding dinner and reception, and I must say, it was interesting. My 'date' bailed on me, but I still had an enjoyable evening. Not only did I get to meet my friend's beautiful wife, but I got to catch up with three friends from my University of Ottawa days. I'm going to tell you a bit about what they were like when I knew them (1997 - 2001), and what they're up to now. As the title of this post indicates, it's weird how people grow up...
The Groom
Back in the day - The life of the party. Non-stop talker, joker, entertainer. Although he was smart, he never 'shone' academically, cause he was too busy putting smiles on everyone's faces.
Circa 2009 - As his impromptu 'thank you' speech proved, he's still the entertainer. Had a classic line about moving from thinking with his heart (and getting into trouble), to thinking with his head (and still getting into trouble), to letting his wife do his thinking for him (in order to avoid trouble). He's finally letting his intellect shine through as he pursues his PhD at a prestigous Americam university.
The DJ
Back in the day - Very social, artistic, but could pull amazing grades due to his innate intellect. Appeared on three newspaper covers during University as a DJ/member of a band. Had perhaps the best nickname (given by the groom) - Simple and Plain, Ian Swain.
Circa 2009 - Works in stastical analysis and marketing for a think tank in Toronto, studying the relationship between economic development, and various other factors common to urban living. Has a beautiful girlfriend, who is also a musician. He continues to DJ ("scratch"), playing a show last night in Montreal.
The Quiet Girl
Back in the day - Although she never talked much, when she opened her mouth, you knew it was for something important. I'd characterize her as creative, captivating, and friendly. She used to mention her boyfriend named Jeff who she met at 16....
Circa 2009 -....and ended up marrying! They have two beautiful daughters together, and live in the suburbs. She's been successful with her career as well, working in her chosen field in two medium-profile positions in the government. She seems fufilled at a relatively young age.
The Devout, Thinker
Back in the day - Former president of the Muslim Student Association (one of the largest clubs at the U of O), he was a quiet leader. In groups, he was a hard worker, as well as being an idea man. I always had so much respect for him since he held very strong beliefs.
Circa 2009 - Recently married, with his first child on the way, he continues to be very devout in his beliefs. Having passed the bar, and appeared on tv as part of a high-profile human rights case, he's also accomplised in his career. Seems to be striking the perfect balance between work, family, and religion.
Rather than being the only single person at the table, I felt a bit inadequate when comparing professional accomplishments. However, I'm genuinely happy for all four of my friends who are doing spectacular. The groom talked about "falling into a good crowd" at University, and the great times he had during his undergrad, and I couldn't agree more. Those were the days....
She never had it all
One Prozac a day
Husband's a CPA
Her dreams went out the door
When she turned twenty four
Only been with one man
What happened to her plan?"
Bowling for Soup - 1985
Just got back from my friend's wedding dinner and reception, and I must say, it was interesting. My 'date' bailed on me, but I still had an enjoyable evening. Not only did I get to meet my friend's beautiful wife, but I got to catch up with three friends from my University of Ottawa days. I'm going to tell you a bit about what they were like when I knew them (1997 - 2001), and what they're up to now. As the title of this post indicates, it's weird how people grow up...
The Groom
Back in the day - The life of the party. Non-stop talker, joker, entertainer. Although he was smart, he never 'shone' academically, cause he was too busy putting smiles on everyone's faces.
Circa 2009 - As his impromptu 'thank you' speech proved, he's still the entertainer. Had a classic line about moving from thinking with his heart (and getting into trouble), to thinking with his head (and still getting into trouble), to letting his wife do his thinking for him (in order to avoid trouble). He's finally letting his intellect shine through as he pursues his PhD at a prestigous Americam university.
The DJ
Back in the day - Very social, artistic, but could pull amazing grades due to his innate intellect. Appeared on three newspaper covers during University as a DJ/member of a band. Had perhaps the best nickname (given by the groom) - Simple and Plain, Ian Swain.
Circa 2009 - Works in stastical analysis and marketing for a think tank in Toronto, studying the relationship between economic development, and various other factors common to urban living. Has a beautiful girlfriend, who is also a musician. He continues to DJ ("scratch"), playing a show last night in Montreal.
The Quiet Girl
Back in the day - Although she never talked much, when she opened her mouth, you knew it was for something important. I'd characterize her as creative, captivating, and friendly. She used to mention her boyfriend named Jeff who she met at 16....
Circa 2009 -....and ended up marrying! They have two beautiful daughters together, and live in the suburbs. She's been successful with her career as well, working in her chosen field in two medium-profile positions in the government. She seems fufilled at a relatively young age.
The Devout, Thinker
Back in the day - Former president of the Muslim Student Association (one of the largest clubs at the U of O), he was a quiet leader. In groups, he was a hard worker, as well as being an idea man. I always had so much respect for him since he held very strong beliefs.
Circa 2009 - Recently married, with his first child on the way, he continues to be very devout in his beliefs. Having passed the bar, and appeared on tv as part of a high-profile human rights case, he's also accomplised in his career. Seems to be striking the perfect balance between work, family, and religion.
Rather than being the only single person at the table, I felt a bit inadequate when comparing professional accomplishments. However, I'm genuinely happy for all four of my friends who are doing spectacular. The groom talked about "falling into a good crowd" at University, and the great times he had during his undergrad, and I couldn't agree more. Those were the days....
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