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.

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!

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 ;-)

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.

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*

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 ;-)

TV Situation - Update

"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.