For a small town boy, who's never been outside of North America, a 3 week trek to Europe is pretty intimidating. Don't get me wrong, I'm super excited, but I'm so nervous.
I'm flying direct from Ottawa to London this Saturday night, where I'll stay until Wednesday. Wednesday afternoon I'm flying to Istanbul and staying until next Monday. However, there's the possibility of a quick trip to Kazmir on Monday before leaving. Then it's off to Brussels where I'll be until Friday. On Tuesday, we're off to Gent for the afternoon. On Wednesday, we're training to Frankfurt and back. Details of this 'business portion' of the trip are being left sparse intentionally.
Then I'm off on my own, training to Amsterdam until Sunday morning. I found a 4-star hotel for $120 CDN a night, which is a kilometer from city center. On Sunday morning, I'm off to Paris where I'll stay in another 4-star hotel, less than a kilometer from the Arc de Triomphe, which was again $120/night. I might be visiting one last company on Monday in Paris, but will generally be enjoying what the city has to offer. Then I'm flying back to Ottawa next Wednesday afternoon (arriving next Wednesday morning).
All my travel arrangements are in place, and I'm just picking up a few last things for the trip...including my biggest splurge in a long time. I'll keep that a secret until tomorrow.
My plan is to update this blog with details from my trip (minus the business stuff) over the next few weeks. All of the hotels I'm in have wireless. Look forward to telling you all about the travels of this small town boy...
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
JPod The Series
After a year of being on the waiting list for JPod the CBC series (cancelled after a few episodes), it FINALLY came in! Watching episode 2 and loving it. So far, it's just an expansion of the book, but with so many more episodes, it's bound to get even better.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Happy Turkey Day!
Nothing deep or profound to write, but do have some ideas for entries down the road. After this week, I anticipate that my schedule will be slightly less hectic, and afford me more opportunities to write.
Thanksgiving for me is about spending time with family. Yes, food is a big part of it, but I'll take time with my family over turkey any day. As my nephews grow up, as my brother grows his first chest hairs, and as my parents embark on retirement, I come away thinking that I don't spend enough time with any of them.
Here's hoping you took the time this weekend to think about your many blessings in life. We all lead such rich lives, and should feel truly blessed. Happy thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving for me is about spending time with family. Yes, food is a big part of it, but I'll take time with my family over turkey any day. As my nephews grow up, as my brother grows his first chest hairs, and as my parents embark on retirement, I come away thinking that I don't spend enough time with any of them.
Here's hoping you took the time this weekend to think about your many blessings in life. We all lead such rich lives, and should feel truly blessed. Happy thanksgiving!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
What Accountants do in the Grocery Store...
Having told you one of the mental games I play while waiting for the bus, I'll tell you about another I play in the grocery store. Since I like to put my accounting skills to good use outside of work, I usually calculate how much my grocery bill will come to before getting cashed out.
There's two versions of this game. One is to add the items while picking them up, and keep a mental tally. The second, and more challenging, is to add them up at the cash, while putting them on the conveyer belt.
The goal of the game is to come within a dollar of the actual total. One of the things that makes this game difficult is the lack of tax on some 'essential' items. I'm generally not good at knowing what items are deemed 'essential', but do know the items that have 13% tax (chips, cookies, anything sweet or with lots of sugar).
How successful am I at the game? I guess within a dollar about 50% of the time. Once the taxes are harmonized, I'll be able to increase that to two thirds of the time within a dollar.
There you go, you're a little closer to figuring out the strange stuff that makes me tick ;-)
There's two versions of this game. One is to add the items while picking them up, and keep a mental tally. The second, and more challenging, is to add them up at the cash, while putting them on the conveyer belt.
The goal of the game is to come within a dollar of the actual total. One of the things that makes this game difficult is the lack of tax on some 'essential' items. I'm generally not good at knowing what items are deemed 'essential', but do know the items that have 13% tax (chips, cookies, anything sweet or with lots of sugar).
How successful am I at the game? I guess within a dollar about 50% of the time. Once the taxes are harmonized, I'll be able to increase that to two thirds of the time within a dollar.
There you go, you're a little closer to figuring out the strange stuff that makes me tick ;-)
Monday, September 21, 2009
Something I find sad...
I usually have to wait for my bus for about 5 minutes in the morning. One of the little games I'll play is to count the number of cars in a row that only have 1 passenger in them. This morning, I got up to 17 cars (rathre a personal best, or worst).
Nobody knows more than me that carpooling is frustrating. It's difficult to coordinate opportune times, clashing personalities, and cuts into your independance. Furthermore, I ackowledge that some people choose to drive to work as a status symbol, thinking the car they drive, and the fact they can afford $200 / month to park in downtown Ottawa makes them "special".
All that said, I find it sad that with as many people saying that they value the environment, that the average number of one person cars I count in a row is about 6 or 7. There are multiple buses that go down Bank Street. There are many more buses that travel adjacent to Bank Street along the transit way. Why can't more people take the bus and give up their cars?
Yes, buses smell.
Yes, buses are inconsistent.
Yes, you might have to sit beside another person at a time of day when you don't feel like talking (if you're lucky enough to get a seat at all).
Yes, Ottawa city council doesn't seem to get that public transit is not a profit center, but an expense center (which should be run to minimize expenses, not to turn a profit).
Yes, not everyone can take a bus.
BUT come on...stop saying you care about the environment, and take action to dramatically reduce your carbon footprint. That's all I have to say about that.
Nobody knows more than me that carpooling is frustrating. It's difficult to coordinate opportune times, clashing personalities, and cuts into your independance. Furthermore, I ackowledge that some people choose to drive to work as a status symbol, thinking the car they drive, and the fact they can afford $200 / month to park in downtown Ottawa makes them "special".
All that said, I find it sad that with as many people saying that they value the environment, that the average number of one person cars I count in a row is about 6 or 7. There are multiple buses that go down Bank Street. There are many more buses that travel adjacent to Bank Street along the transit way. Why can't more people take the bus and give up their cars?
Yes, buses smell.
Yes, buses are inconsistent.
Yes, you might have to sit beside another person at a time of day when you don't feel like talking (if you're lucky enough to get a seat at all).
Yes, Ottawa city council doesn't seem to get that public transit is not a profit center, but an expense center (which should be run to minimize expenses, not to turn a profit).
Yes, not everyone can take a bus.
BUT come on...stop saying you care about the environment, and take action to dramatically reduce your carbon footprint. That's all I have to say about that.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Europe or Bust!
Just when I thought things couldn't get any better, they did. Not only did I have an excellent weekend (more on that...never), my Manager told me today that I had been selected to go to Europe for two weeks in November to visit some companies. I'll be starting off in Brussels, spending a week or so there, then heading off to visit other companies in different countries. Since I have 4 weeks of vacation + 4 days I carried over, I'll probably take another week or so after the trip is over, since there are some countries in Europe (Rome, Austria) that I've always wanted to visit. I'll try to fly back through Washington DC so I can visit my good friend who's teaching there.
To summarize, things are going exceptionally well....so....I'm pretty sure the bottom is about to fall out *lol*
To summarize, things are going exceptionally well....so....I'm pretty sure the bottom is about to fall out *lol*
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Things are going well....
It's been a while, and I'm sure there are plenty of entries I could have written, but just didn't get around to them. It's crazy how busy this summer/early fall has been for me.
As the title indicates, things are going really well for me. When this happens, the pessimistic side of me always waits for something bad to happen. Life tends to even out for me, and I know I can't stay on this high for long.
Until things turn, I'll enjoy the positive streak. I do have some pretty exciting news to share including a team I'm on, a tv purchase, and something else....but I'll keep you in suspense ;-)
As the title indicates, things are going really well for me. When this happens, the pessimistic side of me always waits for something bad to happen. Life tends to even out for me, and I know I can't stay on this high for long.
Until things turn, I'll enjoy the positive streak. I do have some pretty exciting news to share including a team I'm on, a tv purchase, and something else....but I'll keep you in suspense ;-)
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