Friday, December 02, 2005

lousy tippers

Went out to dinner at P.F. Chang's on Bay Street today with some colleagues from work. One of the younger guys had a bit too much alcohol, and as a sesult, became an annoying drunk. Got up, started to complain to the restaurant management about stupid, mundane things, and then left only enough money to cover his check, minus tax and tip. After we mentioned it to him, he ignored up and carried on. A few of us had to add to our bills to make up for his scrooginess. My new pet peeve? Lousy-as tippers and cheap drunks.

And to top it off, the weather in San Fransisco has gotten progressively worse.

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

lard ball

I swear, by the end of this project, I will be one big lard ball! Been working until about 8:30 every night (and starting at around 7am), so by the time I get home, I'm too lazy to make dinner. Hence my trip to the grocery store today to load up my cart with frozen dinner entrées. As I checked out, I was digusted with myself. But it sure beats going to the McDonald's drive through every night for dinner.

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

changing leaves

So mellow and relaxed. A weekend in the mountains tends to have that kind of effect on people.

Left the city on Friday night after fighting I-93 Northbound traffic all the way home from work. After a stressful day where the only meal I had were the millions of Starburst candies that I had brought for my gang at work, but ended up devouring the majority of myself, Lily and I left for Joho's place - our meeting point for the weekend's adventures. Upon arrival, we had warm pasta and buffalo wings waiting for us on the table. I love Joho anticipates my needs and just takes care of things before I even ask.

With D in tow, we drive up to New Hampshire - the first really long drive that my new (and as-yet unnamed) RAV-4 has been on since I got it. The drive consists of a lot of highway, some country roads, and then a gravel road, then a bushy, unkempt road, leading up to a family cabin built by Joho's dad back before she was even born. A long drive behind us, we unpack the car and dust off the cobwebs, wipe the countertops, and start a fire in the wood oven before settling in for the night.

In the morning, D makes omelets for breakfast, while we toast bagels and slice fruit. cooking on a gas stove and washing dishes afterwards with a gas stove and a cabin without running water has its challenges, but we quickly grow accustomed to the way of the woods. We hike around the surrounding area marvelling at the peaceful serenity of the mountains, admire the changing colours of the autumn leaves, and breathe in the crisp, cold air.

Walking along the gravel road, we happen upon the neighbours and decide to pay a visit. It turns out they are harvesting apples from the orchard, so the four of us decide to lend a hand and spend the afternoon picking (and sampling) the fruit from the trees. Zealous to a fault, we fill two large crates (approximately 20 bushels each) before we are told to stop. We then head over to the barn where we sample some of the cider that is being pressed.

In return for our help, we are treated to pizzas and beer on the field in front of the house, where we sit cross legged on the grass and share stories about ourselves. The picnic lunch is soon followed by homemade apple pie accompanied by ice cream, and we are in heaven. The remainder of the afternoon consists of napping in the sun, climbing the big old crabapple tree in an attempt to secure a rope around one of the branches so we can shake the fruit off, and picking some more apples to bring home for baking.

Making a meal of soup, an evening game of Settlers, trips to the stream for water, star gazing in the pitch black evening and admiring the stardust, hiking to the top of Mount Prospect, and a visit into the town of Whitefield rounded off the trip. The trip was so relaxing - just being around nature, being away from work and the busyness of everyday life in the city (including my laptop, which I surprisingly decided at the last moment not to bring with me), and being with good friends made it that much more enjoyable.

Today, I scratched the bumper of my car against a concrete column in the garage, trying to avoid grazing the Audi parked next to me; missed a deadline at work; and got an e-mail from my landlord telling me that my electric bills have been sent to her and need to be paid, but I'm not as stressed out about it as I normally am.

Maybe tomorrow. Today, I'm still relying on my memories of the weekend to keep me sane.

Monday, September 19, 2005

dim sum and paperwork

Together with Joho, her roommate, and his new girlfriend, I went out for dim sum at China Pearl today. Havn't had really good Chinese food since leaving Vancouver. Okay, well maybe that's stretching it. The Chinatown in Philly was a good source of tasties. Nonetheless, I discovered a new favourite dish - lobster claw wrapped with shrimpmeat, then envelopped with crispy deep fried strips. Jennifer was a dim sum newbie, but a very good sport at that - going so far as to try the chicken feet, which even I tried to stay away from.

Afterwards, Joho and I walked around Chinatown checking out a fabric shop, where we picked out a golden brocade that will be the inspiration for the bedroom makeover we are planning for her. Then we headed back to my place where Joho had planned on studying before going over to her parents' place for a birthday dinner. I ended up napping for much longer than planned. But I guess I needed the sleep, after getting so little this past week.

Just spent the past hour organizing bills and paperwork from the move to Boston. I still have expense reports to file, paperwork to send out, and other exciting things like that which I've put off for far longer than I should have, but it feels a little better to be a little more organized. Now, I just need to get my bank account in order and get a Massachusetts driver's license. I hope they let me keep my BC license. It seems like I'm defecting to the dark side by getting an American license. But I guess I should get used to it...

I've officially been here for three months and five days and it still feels strange. Some days, I feel very much at home (especially with the West Coast weather that we've been having here lately), and others, I wake up, stuble out of bed and am confused as to how I ended up here. It's been a fun adventure so far though.


Am I the Only One? :: Barenaked Ladies

Sunday, September 18, 2005

taking a break...

I spent the past week conducting training sessions for the twenty or so newbies to the department. Initially, I was reluctant to conduct the training sessions, but they turned out pretty well. As it happens, mine have been the "fun sessions," as I've been told by some fo the participants, which always encouraging to hear. The best part for me has been seeing how these new guys interact with each other when I have them do group projects. It reveals so much about them and their working styles, and gives me a glimpse into how they will be to work with.

Between moments of frustration (not with the training - but with head office mishaps), it's been and incredibly turing week. I was glad to be able to take a break from it all and make a day trip out to Newport, RI today with Joho. Initially planned as a trip to listen to some timeshare spiel, then visiting the famed Newport Mansions, we skipped the mansion tours, and ended up having a great seafood lunch, then strolling around the shops, where we picked up some birthday gifts for friends and then some amber jewelry for Joho, as a belated birthday gift.

On our way home, we stopped at Newport Creamery's Awful Awful Ice Cream Stop for some peppermint stick ice cream. A perfect end to a fun day.


Running Out of Time :: Hot Hot Heat

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

random thoughts

I'm so tempted to pull a Felicity and chop off my locks, but there never seems to be enough time in the day to breathe let alone find a decent shearing establishment and do the deed.

Heck, I've barely blogged about my adventures in the past few months since I've moved out to the east coast. One day soon, I'll fill you in, dear Internet. The stories include many back-and-forth travels between Beantown and the City of Brotherly Love, and a tree falling on my car in the middle of a thunderstorm. Rolicking good times!


Smackwater Jack :: Carole King

jekyl/hyde

At lunch today, a story was relayed of drunken weekend debauchery. The story included a 'gay boy man whore' (her term, not mine) and a breeder chick looking to score at the a local watering hole. Taking their two randoms back to the apartment, there were requests from hers for a menange a trois including the aforementioned 'GBMW' which was denied, followed by a plea for "foot fucking" which was again denied to much laughter. The compromise turned out to be some toe sucking and foot worship to vuch laughter and disbelief. Halfway through the store, we looked over at the next table and noticed a mother and her six-year old daughter having lunch. The poor girl probably had a billion questions for her mommy on the ride home from the restuarant.

Much tamer was my previous evening's activities which included driving a friend and collegue to the dealership to pick up her new car, returning her rental,and having dinner at a great little Mexican cucina in Norwood. And my weekend consisted of making fun of a bedazzled Chris Isaak decked out in an electric blue sequinzed suit while in concert, exploring downtown Boston with a colleague, and attending a dinner party in Waltham.

It strikes me as interesting the differences between the two primary group of friends that I hang out with. perhaps it says something about my personality. what exactly that is, i'm not sure.


Sweetness :: Jimmy Eat World

Saturday, August 13, 2005

old man at the club

Is it sad that at the club tonight, I felt like I was 65?

The journey home included me being given a giant bear hug and then subsequently carried around quincy market, and then getting mooned by someone in our party as we made our way toward the highway. Amusing, yes. But am I too old for this? Probably not. But I feel it.

Funny thing is, we were at another venue earlier on in the evening watching senior citizens line dancing to electronica and I was probably more amused by them. Man, I'm aging too quickly for my years.

Saturday, July 09, 2005

home

It's been ages since my last post - I barely know where to begin.

At the present, I'm sitting on the floor of my old bedroom in my parents' house. My computer is on the carpet, and the only other things in the room are a bed and an abandoned wardrobe. Just a few hours earlier, the movers came and packed up my life into 63 boxes and carted them off in a huge 40 foot container. Because I've been spending the past few days back in Vancouver sorting my things in anticipation of the move, I've gotten very little sleep. The result was an already sleep-deprived me, being deprived of even more sleep. Racoons are jealous of the dark circles around my eyes.

Now that my stuff is gone, I have a sense of relief that the move portion of my trip is over, and I can now focus on my sister's wedding, which happens tomorrow. However, part of me feels a little wistful and unsettled. After a month of being on the road (or "on airplanes," as it were) between Philadelphia and Boston, living out of two suitcases, and eating out at greasy spoons every night, I've been looking foward to coming home. But now, home doesn't seem as much like "home" anymore - but rather, the place that I come to when I want to visit my parents. My mother has started to talk about converting my room into a sewing room, and happy as I am for her that she's starting to embrace being an empty nester, it saddens me to realize that this place, what has been my haven for so long, no matter how long I was away for school or work, really is now "my parents' place."

The idea of not having a home right now (I go back to living in hotel rooms for the next month until my stuff arrives in Boston and I move into my apartment) is kind of jarring, and I'm not certain how to feel about it. One thing I know though - no matter what I call this place, or what incarnation my old bedroom takes on, in my mind, this will always be home.

As soon as the movers drove away and I closed the door after waving them goodbye, I walked into the kitchen where my mom was over the sink, preparing to make a pot of soup. Paperwork in hand, I placed my arms around her and held her in a tight embrace. "I know," she said.

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

love bug

Over lunch the other day, the big cheese was talking about taking his kids to the movies and how excited they were about the new Lindsay Lohan movie. Stuggling with the name, he came up with "Herpes - The Love Bug, or something like that..."

The love bug, indeed.

Monday, May 16, 2005

jazzberryram's day off

Three days off from work and a weekend later, and I'm bored as all hell, itching for Monday morning to come so I can once again return to my office. Pathetic, isn't it?

Not to say that it hasn't been nice having some time off from the hectic pace of the office, but since I hadn't really planned anything exciting, I quickly got bored of hanging out with myself - since all my friends were either at school or at work while I was on a proverbial 'hall pass.'

I did go down to campus and visit some friends at my alma mater, which proved to be an interesting walk back in time. Had lunch with an old friend who now works on campus, then popped by to visit my former faculty advisor, an associate dean, as well as her secretary. It seems they always thought that I would return to academia in some form or another, and kept encouraging me in that direction. I never knew. Back when I was still working for the University, I thought it a plausible option, carving out a career at the University - in communications or marketing, or something along those lines. However, since I forayed into the world beyond the ivory tower, I haven't really looked back - until now. Not that I'm going to change my mind and return my one-way airfare to Boston, but it's nice to know that I have other options that I can hide up my sleeve for safekeeping, and that I have some backers.

After meeting old friends, and missing others who were in meetings when I swung by their offices, I wandered around campus, marvelling at all the architectural changes that have been made since I was a caffiene-addicted student toting my backpack from class to class to dorm room to class and back. As I walked into the Main Library and walked into the stacks, I got this erie feeling that I didn't belong. I made a quick exit, and headed back to my car to drive away.

One of the other days (I don't remember anymore - they've jumbled into one collective 'day off work'), I went to the local movie theatre to watch the latest film by Paul Haggis, Crash. It was gritty and heart-breaking, and I found myself tearing up at certain points, or with my jaw hanging in disbelief at others. It's a fairly realistic look at racism and bigotry, but at times, suffers under the weight of the stereotypes it portrays, even as it attempts to shatter them.

In a bit of a spending mood, I also went to the music store and picked up a few CDs to add to the collection:
The Thrills, Let's Bottle Bohemia
Moby, Hotel
Elliott Smith, From a Basement on a Hill

I also polished of Augusten Burroughs' memoir, Dry. An amusing read, both funny and poignant, making me laugh outloud at times, with this book Burroughs has cemented his status alongside satirist David Sedaris, as one of my favourite writers. Next up, Michael Cunningham, Land's End.

Thursday, May 12, 2005

i could have been arnold's neighbour

Now that I've accepted a job offer in a city where it's either freakishly one extreme or another - sweltering heat or bitterly freezing - I'm getting e-mails asking to set up interviews for the mild West Coast climates that I'm accustomed to. I just turned down an interview request for a job in West Sacramento.

That's okay, I doubt The Governator and I would have gotten along well anyway.

the start of goodbye

It's weird, I still don't have a start date, nor do I know when I'm making the move to Boston, but already, I'm starting to say farewell to some friends in anticipation for my cross-continent move. C's become a good friend of mine ever since we first met back in University - she the Program Assistant, and I, a student in the same Co-op Program. It's going to be hard to say our final goodbyes, especially since we're both pretty horrible at keeping in touch over e-mail, but we'll have to make that extra effort.

We drove to Yaletown and took a long walk along the SeaWall, enjoying the gorgeous sunshine and the amazing scenery. Seeing the tents lined up along the water in Vanier Park, and the warm sunshine hitting the waves, making them glisten, It struck me how much I'm going to miss all of this.

After wandering back to Yaletown, undecided on where to eat, we finally got back into the car and headed to CRU, a teeny little box of a restaurant on Broadway and Granville. Living up to the adage that "size doesn't matter, it's what you do with it that counts,' CRU lived up to its well deserved acclaim. Fast, friendly service by a gracious staff, a casual, yet elegant atmosphere that makes you forget that you're essentially dining in a sardine can, and delectable plates that tantilize the senses embody the sophisticated, yet down-home charm of this west coast eatery.

My selections included a plate of Beef tenderloin Carpaccio with caperberries, truffle aioli and shaved parmesan to whet the appetite, followed by aHerb-crusted New Zealand Lamb Loin served over fricasée of artichoke hearts, olives, potato and haricots vert . For dessrt, awarm Passion Fruit Soufflé with milk chocolate sauce to drizzle over top. We shared dessrts, and if I had to choose, C's Bitter Chocolate Torte with port-stewed rhubarb and crème fraîche, would be the winner, seeing as how I'm such a chocolate whore.

After we finished dessert and realized that the Amazing Race would be on TV shortly, we hurridly took care of the bill and rushed back to C's place, just in time for the start of the show. Both rooting for the powerhouse team of Rob & Amber, we were a little disappointed by the second-place finish. Despite the fact that they made several errors on this final leg of the race, they still played the game stronger than any of the other teams, and brought with them the Survivor manta of outwitting, outplaying, and outlasting the other teams. Unfortunately, their luck ran out as American Airlines whelled the plane back to the gate and allowed Uchena and Joyce to hop onto the flight at the last moment. Now, when has that ever happened in real life?


L'Appuntamento :: Ornella Vanoni

Thursday, May 05, 2005

it's not you, it's me...

I finally decided to give potential boss man (PBM) a call today to turn down his job offer and let him know that I've accepted the job in Boston. Strangely, the whole process felt like I was breaking up with him. First there was the whole build-up to the inevitable phone call. (Yes, I broke up with him over the phone. I know, I know - shame on me! In my defense though, he's waaay on the other side of the continent, and in a completely different timezone, folks. So, gimme a break!) I had already made up my mind about Boston, but put off calling him because I wasn't sure what to say, and I wasn't ready to have the awkward conversation. So, I put it off over the weekend, and procrastinated until today.

Funny thing is, I was actually prepared to call, but PBM beat me to it, which kinda caught me off-guard. We had the talk, I told him about my decision and he tried to sound excited for me. Then asked about Boston - which was kind of like telling the girl you're breaking up with about the new girl that you're seeing.

The whole process was relatively painless, and it made me wonder what took me so long to do it. The call ended amicably and we promised to stay in touch. Kinda like the last time I broke up with someone. I think that time, I wimped out and did it over the phone too. Don't hate!

pensive Posted by Hello

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

weekend in boston

We packed so much activity into such a short amount of time that coming back on the plane, I commented to M that it seemed like we had been gone for about a week.

Thursday
My procrastinating nature took over and I ended up packing my suitcase late Wednesday evening (or was it ealy Thursday morning?). This left me with only a few hours of restless sleep before I had to wake up, shower, and rush to avoid racking up waiting changes from the taxicab driver who was waiting for me on the driveway.

  • Got to the airport at 6:30, checked in, grabbed a toasted bagel spread thick with strawberry cream cheese from Tim Horton's, and met up with M, my travelling companion for the weekend.
  • We flew Vancouver to Chicago, marvelled at the psychedellic light show above the movators at O'Hare, grabbed a quick snacky meal (since United is too cheap to provide meals with any of their flights anymore), then flew to Boston.
  • Upon arriving at Logan International, we grabbed M's bags from Baggage Claim, then hopped on a bus to fetch our rental car (a great little Chevy Cobalt).
  • From there, we had initially planned on driving into the city from the I-93 on our way to the hotel to have dinner at a jazz club that we had found in one of the tour books we were rifling through at the bookstore last weekend, where we planned our trip itinerary. But the full day of flying left us weary, and because it was late, we decided instead to make a beeline for Brockton, MA and crash at the hotel.
  • The hotel is in a strange part of town, literally in the middle of a big box retail mall. Big rig trucks line the edge of the parking lot, while neon signs flash all around. We ask the concierge to point us to the nearest grocery store and get directions to the gas station instead since the grocery store was too far away.
  • At the gas station, we are greeted by two teenaged hoodlums smoking at the front door. One reaches to open the door and put down his cigarette, and as we enter and he slips behind the counter, we realize that he is, in fact, the gas station attendant. Classy!
  • After an unsuccessful food gtahering attempt, we spot a Wendy's from across the parking lot and make a beeline for it. Burgers and Frosties put smiles on our faces, while more teenaged slackers sitting by their cars in the lot, blasting music from their car radios frighten us a little.

Friday
We were scheduled to arrive at the offices at 10am, so we ended up having breakfast at the hotel before heading out.

  • Our interviews were held at the temporary offices, located in a colonial looking building/office park. Being the geeks we were, M and I posed and took pictures outside the building before heading in.
  • The big cheese tells me to stall during my interview with my potential department manager so that M and I can go out with the office for lunch at a nearby Thai place. I oblige and we end up having a great time meeting the rest of the office.
  • After lunch, the big cheese piles M, our potential department manager and I into his car and we head over to the construction site for a visit. The building is taking shape, and many exciting things are in the works.
  • Afterwards, M and I hightail it to Boston.
  • Visits to the John Hancock Tower, Prudential centre, old churches, Boston Common, Quincy Market for some clam chowder, and the aquarium, among others. We spot squirrels humping in Boston Common and like the silly little kids we are, giggle and whip out our cameras and start snapping away.
  • We meet with M's old highschool friend V in the lobby of the hotel of which she works and get a tour of the posh interiors. After the tour, her husband, B arrives and we head out.
  • We stroll along Newberry Street, checking out Fenway Park from a distance and window shop at some of the botiques along the way.
  • We arrive at Sonsie for dinner. Crab cakes with candied yams to start, a great polenta served in a chicken and tomato broth with steamed greens and a Chai Ice martini.
  • After dinner, we briefly entertain the idea of heading elsewhere for drinks or dessert, but instead opt to drive B&V back to their place in Brookline and and get a tour.
  • After a late night, M and I head back to the hotel.
  • On the drive back to Brockton, I comment on how strange and exciting it is to be in Boston and how I'm looking forward to moving there. As the words come out of my mounth, M points to a giant billboard that reads: "Welcome to Massachusetts, You're likely to live here."

Saturday
Slept in a little bit, but we both could have stayed in bed much longer. The hotel is kind of in a sketchy area, but the king sized beds are other-worldly. Soft as a cloud, but with just the right amount of firmness in the right places. It was a struggle to drag myself out of my slumber and get on with the day.

  • Driving to Providence, Rhode Island we enjoyed brunch at a charming little joint with the sun streaming through the large windows. French toast stuffed with strawberries and mascarpone cheese and a glass of ice cold OJ made for a delicious meal.
  • Walked around College Hill and visited the RISD Museum and strolled by Brown and RISD campuses. Dishevelled students in collegiate sweatshirts remind me of my own university days and make me reflect on them with a slight feeling of nostalgia.
  • Driving to Brookline to pick up V, we grabbed authentic Mexican burritos at Anna's Tacqueria in Allston with B&V and ran into two friends of theirs who end up dining with us.
  • With V in tow, M and I head to Quincy to walk along the beach and see the houses along the water, then check out Southie, which looks promising as a potential neighbourhood to live in - provided I can afford the rents.
  • M and I drop off V at the house and B convinces us to drive to Cambridge so we can see Hardvard and MIT. We drive, then get lost. Get directions, find MIT, then Harvard. Then get lost again trying to make it back to Brookline. Call V to get directions, then make it back two hours late...
  • ....for the classiest barbecue ever at B&V's. Luckily, their friends R&T were also late, so no harm, no foul. We sit in the chilly evening air chatting and munching on cheese and crackers while waiting for the steak and chicken to finish on the barbecue.
  • Inside the house, we feast on the barbecue, comparing different marinades and rating them in order of preference. Also served are a spinach salad with strawberry slices drizzled with poppy seed dressing, as well as an asparagus and olive orzo served with cherry tomtoes. Plenty of red wine and lots of great conversation (including R's impressions of various characters at the trial at which he was a member of the jury) makes my face turn various shades of red.
  • Dessert of homemade brownies served a la mode with a glass of ice wine leads to more conversation, which makes us lose track of time. When we finally realize that it's time to go home, we say our goodbyes and drive back to the hotel in Brockton.

Sunday
An early flight at 9:00am means leaving the hotel at 6:00am so we have enough time to return our rental car and check-in for our international flight.

  • Dead tired from a late night and an early morning, we both fall sleep on the plane ride from Logan to Pearson.
  • On the stopover in Toronto, we stop for burgers at Hogtown Grill and get in some really good conversation. It's funny, after spending a whole weekend with each other, we don't start really getting to know each other until this point.
  • On the flight from Toronto to Vancouver, we spot Kevin Neuman, lead anchor for Global National, a few rows ahead of us in business class.
Phew...what a weekend!

Saturday, April 09, 2005

training wheels

I returned potential boss man's (henceforth called PBM) call today. It started something like this...

Me: Hey, what's going on?
PBM: [hiccup] Sorry, I have the hiccups.
PBM: I'm having a beer - I'm not sure if it's helping or making it worse.
Me: Well, maybe if you drink it with your head between your legs or something...
Me: So, what else is up?
PBM: I'm teaching my daughter to...[hiccup]...ride a bike.
Me: For a second there, I thought you were going to say you were teaching her to drink!
PBM: She is a little wobbly. Maybe it would help keep her steady.

Thursday, April 07, 2005

indecisive

Every time I come close to making a decision, something comes along to change my mind, or at least make me question my decision. *sigh* It's a frustrating existence...

Since this whole job saga started back in the summer, I've been itching to move to Boston. Then, Philly came along with an unofficial offer. And ever since the unofficial job offer became a little more official, I switched gears and started thinking seriously about the possibility of moving to Philly. Right now, they're still in the HR cross-check/preparing a salary and relocation offer stage, but things are moving along at a faster pace than before, which is a nice change. My would-be manager is calling me on a pretty regular basis to find out how I'm doing, and to remind me that he wants me ("in the non-gay sense," he adds) which is also nice and somewhat weird.

However, while he was on vacation a few weeks ago, I was contacted by the folks in Boston. They wanted to fly me out for an interview, and not having heard any news from Philly, I immediately agreed. I fly out next Thursday and stay for the weekend. Because I've been stuck in the Philly groove for so long, I was having trouble with the whole Boston thing. I just thought of it as a free weekend vacation. That is, until I spoke with my friend J. Because he knows all the players involved (and is generally a pretty smart guy), he was able to offer some very good advice, and really made me re-evaluate the whole situation. Which in turn, made me really want to go to Boston instead. That, and the Boston recruiters have been really great, helping me make travel arrangements and offering advice on which neighbourhoods to explore for potential homes, should I decide to move there.

So, I've flip-flopped from Boston, to Philly, and back to Boston.

Then, yesterday I get another call from my would-be manager in Philly. Turns out he had the Art Director over for dinner the night before and they started talking about the centralization of Communications resources back to the head office (located in Philadelphia). Along that vein, she would like me to be in Philly so that I can work with her more closely on special projects and such. She's an amazing creative mind, and a great person, so I would jump at the opportunity to work with her. And the fact that she wants to work with me is an added bonus!

So, now I'm flip-flopping some more.

Thing is, both parties are aware that I'm being 'courted' by the other to some extent since I've been pretty honest with both sides. Plus, since the head office is somewhat aware of the whole goings-on, word spreads quickly. But, at this point, I don't have an offer yet from Boston, so I think my best bet is just to stick it out, fly over there for my interview, and see where the pieces fall. If I end up with two offers and I'm equally enticed to take both, then I'll probably do something lame like toss a coin and let that decide my future.

Heads or Tails?


Epoca :: Gotan Project

Sunday, March 27, 2005

crash


A random shop window that I passed by the other day which perfectly sums up my current state of mind. Posted by Hello

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

try again tomorrow...

Our network and computer sustems were undergoing upgrades this weekend and so, today the glitches became apparent. I mostly work with my two Macs, but I also have a PC in my office which my assistant and I use for various things that we have PC licences for. Anyway, the network upgrade made my printers go wonky, and my PC cranky, so I was getting pretty frustrated.

I started to open some AutoCAD, and up popped the following error message...

Troubleshooting Today
An error has been detected in Today. Choose one of the following
options to fix the problem.
...
If none of these options works, turn off Today. Then try turning on
Today at a later date to see if your problem has been fixed.


today Posted by Hello

After the annoingly frustrating morning that I'd already had, I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. So, I decided to go up and have breakfast in an effort to take my mind of my computer issues.

Sitting down to read the morning paper, I stumbled upon my horoscope...


horrorscope Posted by Hello

*sigh* And that's pretty much how the day went. Hope yours has been better! If not, turn off Today. Then try turning on Today at a later date to see if your problem has been fixed.

Monday, March 14, 2005

purgatory

My posting frequency has declined steadily over the past few months that I almost feel the need to overcompensate by writing one big ass post.

Over the past few months, I've been doing the back-and-forth with a prospective new employer in Philadelphia. He called to unofficially offer me a job back in January after I got back from vacation, but since the position wasn't yet vacant, he couldn't make a formal offer. Then, when the position was finally open in early February, the posting went up and he encouraged me to put in my aplpication - just to formalize everything. I tried to schedule an interview, but he told me there was no need - he'd already made up his mind that he wanted to hire me. I pressed for an interview, and he agreed, so we had sort of a reverse interview, where I ended up asking the majority of the questions.

After that, he said that he had to finish interviewing the rest of the candidates (in keeping with the HR policy) before he could go to HR and put together a formal job offer. Two weeks later, I hadn't heard anything yet, so I called him back. Apparently, he was in board meetings all week, so hadn't had an opportunity to finish interviews. I told him to hurry his ass up and get an offer drafted (with much more tact and diplomacy, of course) because I was losing patience. He agreed and promised to touch base with HR to see if he could expedite the process by getting the paperwork started before he finished interviewing, and keep me in the loop so I knew where things were at.

Friday, I still hadn't heard anything, and since I knew he was headed to Europe for meeting and a brief vacation with his family, wanted to touch base. Turns out he was out of the office, I guess in preparation for his two-week trip, so I guess I have another two weeks to wait before I hear from him. As you can probably tell, patience is not one of my strongest virtues. This is going to be the longest, most agonizing two weeks of my life!

Meanwhile, not being entirely sure if the Philadelphia opportunity will pan out, I've put myself back in the running for the job in Boston. Both jobs are essentially the same, although the scope and opportunities are somewhat different. I have a feeling taht the folks at head office would prefer to see me in Boston, but the longer term benefits of being in Philaldephia seem to outweigh the shorter term Boston benefits. Several months ago, I was agonizing over which opportunity to pursue. Then, I made up my mind that Philly would be the better option and starting planning my life around that eventuality. Now, despite the fact that my heart is still set on Philly, I'm just ready to take whichever opportunity decides topresent itself first.

I'm just really tired of waiting. And being stuck in this liminal space, between what I've been doing for the past three years and moving to new challenges in a new city, while exciting, is also kind of maddening. I feel like I've already done all the mental preparation that I need to do. I'm no longer freaked out by the prospect of uprooting myself and moving to the States, like I was a few months ago. At this point, I just want to get on with it!

At the same time, we're gearing up for some intense things at work right now, and I have half-a-mind to tell my manager not to count on me sticking around to see it all through to the end - just to be fair to him and the rest of the department. At the same time, I don't have a formal offer in hand, so I really don't have much to tell. Any announcement on my part would be foolhardy at this stage. Plus, the sadist in me wants to see the boss man squirm when he realizes that he's screwed if I leave. And he'll squirm more, the closer we get to deadline. For some strange reason though, I think he may already suspect that something's up. I don't have any concrete proof taht he knows, but let's just say that the prospective boss man in Philly doesn't exactly have a reputation for being tight-lipped. *sigh*

So, aside from the anxiety that this waiting is causing me, it's making it difficult for me to plan my vacation requests (which are due on Monday), or approve my assistant's requests. I've had to turn down a few speaking engagements at the old Alma Mater, miss out on buying concert tickets, and miss the sign-up deadline for the annual Vancouver Sun 10km Run. All of this, simply because I don't know where I'll be hanging my hat in the next month or two.

When this is all resolved, I'll breathe a huge sigh of relief. In the meantime, with my allergies rendering me a sneezing, snotty mess, and all this uncertainty making me cranky and irritable, I'm not fun to be around. Hence, my socially reclusive behaviour as of late.

This weekend, though has been somewhat better. I finally got outside, started some sketches and preliminary work on my sister's wedding invitation, took some photographs of the cherry blossoms, and picked up the latest HOW Magazine. Somewhere in there, I also managed to finish watching the adventures of Harold & Kumar, which I started watching during my weekend in Jersey last summer (appropriately enough), but never finished. Not the most intellectually stimulating film ever made, but amusing nonetheless and good for a few belly laughs. Also had lunch with my sister and her fiancee at Saffron Restaurant & Grill, a relatively new Indian restaurant in Burnaby. I haven't had good Indian food in a while, and it sure hit the spot!

It's a wonder what a little Indian food and frat boy humour can do to lift your spirits!


Belle :: Jack Johnson

Sunday, March 06, 2005

exceptions to the rule

In researching relocation considerations for Canadians moving to the United States (hopefully me, in the next month or so), I came across this interesting tidbit from the Canadian Foreign Affairs website:

U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionVery specific U.S. regulations govern what you
may bring into the United States. ....Switchblade knives are prohibited,
except those owned by persons with only one arm.


Now, a Captain Hook-style prosthetic I can understand. But a switchblade?!?


Thievery Corporation :: Marching the Hate Machines (Into the Sun) feat. The Flaming Lips

Monday, February 14, 2005

just another day

The holiday of doom for all single folk rears its ugly tomorrow. A day where unattached people like myself must walk by couples with arms interlocked, facing each other as they stroll down the street, wrapped up in a Hallmark moment all their own, oblivious to the world around them, and contemplate why nobody is buying us diamond tennis bracelets or taking us out for a fancy dinner. A day where people engaged in public displays of affection make you want to run off and vomit even more so than usual, or make you mutter snidely under your breath, "go get a freaking room!" A day where as you walk by flower shops teeming with blossoms of all shapes and sizes, you feel thankful for not having to whip out your wallet to pay the insanely marked-up prices that the other sods will inevitably do in the name of love. On the other hand, a crimson blush of embarassment passes your cheeks upon the realization that you have nobody to offer the flowers to even if you had wanted to buy them.

February 14th is strictly for couples only. As if I don't feel like a third wheel enough the rest of the year. This ridicilous holiday only serves to emphasize my singleness, which at other times of the year safely passes for being an independent spirit. A lone wolf, if you will.

I haven't always hated this holiday. I can remember a time when I was, in fact, eager for this holiday to arrive. Nights before the fourteenth, I'd sit on the floor with my scissors, gluesticks, scraps of red construction paper and doilies fanned out around me, working furiously in an effort to create the finest Valentine's cards in the second grade class. Only a few years later, would I succumb to the pressure of scrawling the words "won't you bee mine" in pencil on store bought cards with pictures of cartoon bumblebees engaged in all sorts of romantic activities printed on the other side.

Then there was that time that I inadvertedly scheduled a first date for the evening of the fourteenth. "Let's just hang out and have sushi," or so I thought. It wasn't until the before the date that my friends reminded me that it was a Valentine's Date - stressing the word "Valentine's" with such intensity that it frightened me to the core. "What did that mean? Did I have to buy flowers? What kind of flowers are appropriate for a first date?" My head was spinning. Luckily, I got my act together and figured it all out before the nervousness and anticipation set in. What followed was an evening of great conversation and some star gazing. Romantic and schmaltzy, like a good Valentine's date should be. So you see, I haven't always hated it.

But now that I'm single, dateless, and not currently blinded by puppy love, I'm reminded of how ridiculous it is to have a Hallmark holiday devised to dupe the lovestruck populace into fueling the machine of consumerism. Fancy meals, expensive gifts, symbols of extravagance, all apparently to show how much you love your significant other. Like we really need another day devoted to that. What? Anniversaries and birthdays aren't enough?

And then there's the effect it has on us single people. Now the spotlight is on us to see if we can get your act together in the next 364 days so that the same embarassing thing doesn't happen again this time next year. Knowing me, I'll probaly still be dateless and sitting at home with the remote control in one hand, a cold drink in the other, and a TV dinner on my lap.

A friend of mine is going out for an anti-Valentine's celebration with a group of other likewise single girlfriends tomorrow. On a whim, ne of the girls in decided to make invitations for the event. The cover reads sarcastically: "It's just another day."

Perfectly said.

Sunday, February 06, 2005

daytrip

Spent the day yesterday in Seattle with J & K as part of work-related "research." Our first stop was the Apple Store at University Village, where we completely geeked out and oogled the pretty machines inside. J showed us the Genius Bar where way-to-smart-for-their-own-good techies go to ask questions. And if the Apple guys get stumped, there's a red phone with a direct link to Apple headquarters in California. The complete geeks that we are, we ooh'ed and ahh'ed over the magic bat phone. After test driving various Macs and asking a bunch of questions, both K and I figured out what was on our respective shopping lists for when we came back across the border. Then, to complete the dorkification, we took digital photos of ourselves outside the Apple Store.

We had planned on eating at Zao's Noodle House, but seeing the long wait outside, we decided to try Burrito Loco instead. Freshly baked tortilla chips with tomato salsa and salsa verde for dipping, Chicken enchiladas with rice and beans, along with hibiscus juice at an authentic Mexican restaurant hit the spot and fueled us for a few more hours of retail resarch at Crate & Barrel and a few other stores.

Leaving UVillage, we drove toward Renton to visit the folks at the Seattle office, where we probably ended up staying way too long. It's always interesting to see how other branches of the same company work, and sometimes it helps us to appreciate the people and politics at our own offices even more.

After hightailing it out of the office, the three of us headed downtown to find someplace to have dinner. First though, we drove to REI to check out their use of graphics and just to be amazed by the fabulous space that they occupy. Then, we drove to the EMP to check out the unparalleled work of Frank Ghery. We had only meant to drive by so that I could see it, but when I laid eyes on it, I knew that we had to go down and explore a little. Seeing the building, with its curved metal walls reaching out all over the place and in various colours was almost surreal. It was like something out of a child's imagination translated onto the streets of downtown Seattle.

So, after wandering around for a little while, we decided that instead of finding somewhere else to eat, that we should just stay at the EMP and soak in the fabulous architecture. Luckily, we arrived at the Liquid Lounge a few minutes before Happy Hour ended, so we were able to take advantage of cheap eats and cheap drinks. Our playfully abusive waitress brought out some buffalo chicken wings with celery and blue cheese, oven-roasted greek olives with Mediterraean Sea salt and shredded Parmesan cheese, served with focaccia bread, Hummus with crisp, hearth-baked flatbread, and Caesar salad with crisp focaccia croutons, which we pretty much devoured. Good food, good conversation, and good music made for a great evening...or so we thought...

When we got back to the car, after joking taht we probably got a ticket for parking so long there, we discovered a boot on the car tire instead, along with a fine for $75. Luckily, the parking guy was still there, so we didn't have to get the impound guys to come down. At the same time all of this was happening, we were practically being accosted by a street thug harassing us for money so her could grab some dinner. After the fine was forked over and the boot removed, we all ducked into the car and drove home, kicking ourselves for not noticing the parking regulations signs prohibiting us from parking there.

The late night drive home consisted of a trip to Krispy Kreme for dessert, being amused by a seemingly stoned Krispy Kreme employee, the purchase of the perfect travel mug by J, listening to the most ecclectic mix of music on J's iPod/iTrip combo, and chatting about everything under the sun. I was dead tired by the time I finally got home, but in one of those satisfyingly tired kind of ways. The day was a blast and I couln't have had more fun with J & K. It makes me think that I don't really want to leave them to go off to Philly or Boston because I'll miss them way too much.

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

bleeding heart

Yesterday, as I was searching the English Department's website for some information about an event that I've been invited to speak at, I came across an entry on the events calendar page that made me stop in my tracks. The words read "memorial service," followed by a name that seemed vaguely familiar. After a few Google searches, my suspicions were unfortunately confirmed. The woman named turns out to have indeed been one of my first year English professors. She and I never really developed a relationship beyond the classroom (although I did see her at campus productions every so often in my years there), nor were any the papers or topics that I wrote in her class particularly memorable, somehow, however, she made an impression on me. Always vibrant and full of an assured and focussed brand of energy, she struck me as a woman who was passionate about teaching, steadfast in her convictions, and unshakable in her love of life.

Reading one of the many tributes to her reminded me of the fragility of our existence here on earth, but also impressed upon me the triumph of the human spirit even in the face of death. My heart bleeds for little Hana Gabriele, who will never meet her mother, but will nonetheless know her from the memories of the people who's lives she touched in her brief time here. A mother who gave much more than life and love before she even knew her daughter...

Sunday, January 23, 2005

i'm not a perfect blogger

The week's gone by in a bit of a blur - hence the non-existant blogging. (We all know that's the most overused excuse ever, but we'll let it slide again, right?) Anyway, because of the flurry of activity at work, I called my assistant, who's on contract with me for a year part-time (meaning two measly days per week) to come in for the whole week. It's kinda nice having someone to do all the grunt work for me while I perch on a chaise longue supervising his efforts while being fanned with enormous palm fronds and being fed grapes.

Aside from being my little 'boy bitch' (as I so endearingly refer to him), he's also amusing to have around. A particular brand of sarcastic humour notwithstanding, he and I share a fondness for The O.C. (Seth Cohen being a hero to us both) and we have similar tastes in music (which is important when you have to spend the whole day in the same room with somebody).

So anyway, I usually listen to Virgin Radio UK during the work day because they play much better music than any of the local stations, and I like listeniing to the British accents of the DJs. For some reason, this week was like a Hoobastank-fest of insane proportions. The Reason (I refuse to post an MP3 link to it because I now posess a complete vehemence for the song) kept playing on a loop! Okay, I exaggerate, but it seriously played like twice in an hour one morning, and then again later that afternoon. The same story in the days that followed. Every time it would come on, we would stop what we were doing and bang our heads on the table.

Then on Friday, the damn song played yet again! In a moment of frustration, i switched to iTunes on my computer and hit a random playlist to listen to instead. Minutes later, guess what song appeared on the playlist?!? You guessed it! Turns out I had loaded the entire album several months ago when the band wasn't so overplayed and I was still fond of the song.

So, in an effort to add some new tunes to my collection and to avoid any mention of the stanky hooba's next week, I went CD shopping this weekend. Hey, it's as good an excuse as any, right? Here are the new additions:

Keane - Hopes & Fears
De-Phazz - Plastic Love Memory
Chris Botti - When I Fall in Love
The Clash - London Calling
Jamie Cullum - Live at Blenheim Place [DVD]

As well, I shopped online for the following two items since I couldn't find them anywhere else. I'm pretty damned excited to get these babies in the mail. And since concert tickets have sold out every time they've come to Vancouver, I figure a DVD of the concert experience is as close as I'm gonna get for now.

Scissor Sisters - Remixed [EP]
Scissor Sisters - We Are Scissor Sisters and So Are You [DVD]

The hills are alive!

Monday, January 17, 2005

carwashes and bake sales

As for the weekend, it's been a real homebody adventure. Washing the salt and slush from my car using a rag and a small bucket of warm water, while confined in the garage is not an easy task. But it beats freezing your ass (and fingers) off in the cold trying to get water through the frozen hose pipe. Now Stella's good as new, and looking much shinier than the rest of her automotive compatriots on the road - inside and out.

And since nobody in this house seems to want to crawl out from under the warm shelter of their quilts to prepare a meal, I took it upon myself to make some potato corn chowder served up in ciabata bread bowls. Followed by a batch of banana raspberry muffins. Damn, I even impress myself sometimes!

Now for the rest of that laundry...

Gosh, you'd think I was holding a fundraiser or vying to be on the cast of Desperate Housewives or something!

dummies

Well, it's been a pretty uneventful week, especially after the sorta/kinda job offer and the news of L's resignation followed by the resulting depression. Nothing new on the job front - just starting to get a clearer picture of dates and timeslines. It looks like the soonest I can probably break free of my current post is March, although, looking at the big picture, June/July is probably a more realistic target date. It seems like a long time to wait, but I figure any mild assurance of a job offer that will rescue me from the hands of evil boss man and his fellow cronies is good enough for me. And if I have to wait a few extra months, then so be it. I've lasted a little over a year under his limp-wristed fist, what are a few extra months?

Came home Friday night with a pseudo bust form for my sister's wedding gown. Apparently, she needs one so that the dress doesn't get all wrinkly in the box. Being the kind and generous brother that I am, I spot one headed for the trash, and salvage it for her. Still in good shape, I fork over a whopping three bucks for it, and lug it home. Sure beats the $180 that I would have paid has I purchased one of the "real" busty bust forms that I had found through a local supplier!

Upon my arrival home, I decide to fish around my sister's closet and clothe the bust form. I had planned on putting the dress on it and presenting it to her in a "wow, i'm gonna cry, this is like a scene from one of those cheesy, sappy movies" kind of moment, but the intricate embroidery and beadwork on the dress freaked me out (what if i tore something?). So, I threw on some of her own clothes, adding a parka, scarf, and a hat as a final touch. Then, because I'm a prankster of a little brother, I backlit it to add to the creep factor. Long story short, when she finally came home and opened her door, there was a gasp, followed by "What the...? Who is...? Oh sheesh!"

When she realized taht it was a bust form, not a stranger lurking about in her room, she called me over and we had a good laugh. Then I told her to undress the dummy. She started with the top, but when I pointed sheepishly at the drawstring pants, she gave me a strange look before untying the drawstring to reveal...a mignificent codpiece!

Hey, for three dollars, you can't be too picky!


Crystal Village :: Pete Yorn

Monday, January 10, 2005

evil clients

I need to stop checking my work e-mail when I'm at home. It makes me crazy!

Friday, I sent out a final proof of an ad to a client. We had gone through a few revisions and settled on a final design and layout. The proof was just a confirmation before sending the artwork to publication. Today, I get an e-mail from the client asking to change the product featured and create more of a focus on the stupid dollar breakfast that is also being offered. Gag! Finality is never final with her.

Insert string of expletives here...

Boy, I'm really making up for my recent lack of posts. The need for catharis seems to be the best remedy for a wilting blog.

choice of maybe's

So, some big news at work this week. After nine or ten years with the company, my friend, and favourite long-distance colleague, L, is calling it quits. I must admit, I didn't find the news particularly surprising, but I was saddened and a little bewildered nonetheless. She's one of the "good guys," so to speak, and I had honestly hoped that we would be able to work together forever (as grade-school as that sounds). However, I respect her decision and wish her all the best as she moves on to greener pastures. And as she reminded me, just because she's leaving the copmany, it doesn't mean we can't still be friends.

Now, the twist (and there always seems to be one) is this - the day before L called to break the news to me, her boss called me from Philly to tell me about her decision, and to offer me her job. It seems the thought of losing someone so good freaked him out and he felt he needed to take immediate action. He talked to teh board, his management team, and they all decided that if I were to accept the job, they would throw in a relocation package for me. If I decline and the job goes to someone else, the relocation package is off the table.

My initial reaction is flattery - at the relocation offer (which is no longer standard), and at the mere thought that my feet are big enough to fill the figurative shoes L is leaving behind. But there are so many other factors that are at play before I can say yay or nay to this exciting and potentially challenging new offer. I kind of had my sights set on moving to Boston and all the different things associated with that move, and hadn't accounted for Philly as a possible destination. Now it feels as though I have to choose between two possibilities - neither of them with definite job offers at this point, just promises of jobs.

Choosing between two "maybe's" - is that how my New Year is starting off? This can't be a good sign...or can it?

made to be broken

One of my New Year's Resolutions should be to post more often, although I'm sure that if it does get added to the list, it will subsequently be the first to get broken. So off the list it stays. Meanwhile, here's the overly-ambitious 2005 list. (Afterall, don't motivational speakers always tell you to aim high and stuff?!?)

1. Update the portfolio and give it a makeover. I'm sick of how it looks.

2. Create actual web content for the online portfolio site. This means dusting off my years old (probablly bootleg) version of Dreamweaver and figuring out style sheets and stuff. Or maybe I'll just cheat my way through it and stay teh hell away from coding and stuff like that because it scares me.

3. Buy a new laptop and matching toys. I haven't consciously been saving up, but I know there's enough in the bank account to treat myself. I deserve it, dammit! And this PC is really starting to annoy the hell outta me.

4. Move. Out. Away. Whatever. I promised myself I'd be out of the house by time I turned 25. Looks like that didn't happen. I'm extending the deadline to my 26th birthday. If I don't move to a different city like I hope to do, I will resign myself to staying in Vancouver and buy a condo or apartment to nest in.

5. Watch at least one new movie a month. At the theatre. My newly purchased stash of discount movie tickets should ensure that I follow through on this culturally enriching resolution, tailored to broaden my horizons. Provided, of course, that I don't go catch retarded (albeit cult hit) flicks like "Dude, Where's my Car?"

6. Since I should probably have a fitness resolution, and I'm too lazy to add 'join a gym' to the list, I'm gonna start running again (after the cold disappears). And the goal is to beat my the 10 km Sun Run finish time that I set last year.

7. Stop spending money on clothes. I think there are articles in the closet with tags still on them, and yet, like a crazy shoppaholic clothes whore, I keep buying more. Enough! (Exceptions may be made on fabulous shoe purchases. But only if they are indeed fabulous. Or extremely comfortable.)

8. Pack lunches (and breakfasts). And eat at MickeyD's and Wendy's less. So far, I've been holding steady to this resolution, but we're only nine days into the year. This is most likely the first one I'll break. I'd place bets on it now.

9. Read a new book every month. And finish them.

10. Ten resolutions?!? Holy crap! I should know that too many resolutions are a recipe for failure! But whatever. Ten is a nice, round number. So be it. Hmmm...how about this? Write at least one postcard a month.

There you have it. The 2005 Made-to-be-Broken List!

Wednesday, January 05, 2005

back at it

First day back at work and I'm ready to go back on vacation. Sad, since during the last week of vacation, I was ready to go back to owrk. You can only do so much shopping and going to dress-fittings (for my sister's wedding gown, silly!) before becoming bored stupid. The trips to the spa, however, will be missed. Never have I been so relaxed in my life.

I rushed to work in a hurry, fearing that I'd be late on my first day back. Wrapped up all the pasalubong (souvenirs) that I brought back for my co-workers, hopped in teh shower, and packed a quick breakfast and lunch, and drove off. about 25 minutes into my morning commute, I glanced at the digital clock on my car dashboard and realized that it was a few minutes before 6:00 - and I wasn't sue to be in the office until 7:00. I guess my internal clock still hasn't completely adjusted to the time change.

Arriving early was actually nice. I got to wade through the tonne of e-mail that awaited, as well as check phone messages before everyone else arrived. My assistant, D, made a giant 'welcome back' balloon out of vinyl and tape scraps (as well as pop bottles and other miscellaneous bits and pieces, I'm told) and hung it in the middle of the office. I was also greeted by a fun new desktop pattern and screensaver on my computer. Fun stuff. It feels kinda strange to come back to an assistant that I've barely worked with and that my co-workers are now more familiar with since he's been around for the whole month while I've been away.

Once people started trickling in, I ended up going on the meeting circuit. First, a manager's meeting, then a customer service meeting, followed by a promotions/marketing meeting. No breaks, no lunch, still many unopened e-mails and bills to sort through - I'm tired just thinking about my day tomorrow.

How I long to be lying on a sunbed under the coconut trees on a white sandy beach, being massaged while the sound of the surf drowns out the commotion of the world around.

More blogging about the vacation (enjoyable and tasty), turning twenty-five (still hasn't fully sunk in yet), and new year's resolutions (lofty and ambitious, and a few already broken - so time to re-think and revise) to come at a later date.

Sway :: Michael Buble