Good Ideas and Cold Feet
Why is it that when we get a good idea, that we know will work, that we know will be profitable, that we know will allow us to succeed, it takes every ounce of strength to put it into motion?
I've decided that I just need to push this idea ahead, put myself knee-deep into it, and then deal with what it means. I know this will work and I'm fairly sure I'll enjoy it, but I'm so afraid of committing myself to it.
Maybe the fear comes from this certainty I have about my idea. What if I'm so sure that my idea will work and then it fails. What does that say about me?
Then again, maybe I should stop whining, take it by the horns, and see where the wild ride takes me. Last year, I was whining about my book never being published and now I'm a published storyteller.
This is me jumping in feet first, eyes open, and chucking the life vest.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
How much is there in a Beowolf Cluster?
Last week, something went awry with my home PC. It just wouldn't reboot -- it kept chugging in place, never moving forward. Fortunately, I had recently backed up everything important, but reformatting that drive will mean half-a-day lost. Argh.
Happily, I had a Linux boot CD lying around, so I rebooted from the CD and up popped my first Linux session. I've always intended to explore the Linux option, but until now, had not had the chance. The computer booted up and loaded a Linux desktop, allowing me to explore it. I have to say, it was pretty neat. There were a few things that acted weirdly, but overall, it was interesting. I need to explore this OS a bit more in the future.
Then again... if I intend to be a super-villain, maybe Linux is what I really need.
Happily, I had a Linux boot CD lying around, so I rebooted from the CD and up popped my first Linux session. I've always intended to explore the Linux option, but until now, had not had the chance. The computer booted up and loaded a Linux desktop, allowing me to explore it. I have to say, it was pretty neat. There were a few things that acted weirdly, but overall, it was interesting. I need to explore this OS a bit more in the future.
Then again... if I intend to be a super-villain, maybe Linux is what I really need.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
What was Old is New Again
I was listening to an epsiode of the Goon Show (a radio comedy series from the 1940's featuring the late, great Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, and Harry Secombe) and they mentionned that the episode was "especially writted for the Wireless".
It made me wonder at the evolution of technology and how it changed the lives of the people who used it. The old wireless radios brought people together from across the globe, allowing them all to share the same experiences at the same time. They could be a part of history as it unfolded instead of reading it in the newspaper a few days later. It was the global village in its infancy.
But evenutally, the term Wireless to refer to a Radio became antiquated and quaint, referring to and older time, a (seemingly) more innocent time.
And now here we are with our computers, our Internet, our laptops, and a plethora of gadgets. It used to be that, if you wanted to access the Internet (our new global village), you had to sit in your office, your basement, or somewhere static to connect and surf.
But now, thanks to the Wireless Routers, you can access that electronic global village from your cellphone, your laptop, or your PDA. You don't have to wait until you get home or get to the office to find out what's happening in the world or around the corner.
So let's bid a warm welcome back the great term Wireless, harkening back to a time when we had to do without. I can't wait to see what technological doodad will uncover terms like "horseless carriage", "grammaphone", and "voicebox" from the mothballs.
I was listening to an epsiode of the Goon Show (a radio comedy series from the 1940's featuring the late, great Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, and Harry Secombe) and they mentionned that the episode was "especially writted for the Wireless".
It made me wonder at the evolution of technology and how it changed the lives of the people who used it. The old wireless radios brought people together from across the globe, allowing them all to share the same experiences at the same time. They could be a part of history as it unfolded instead of reading it in the newspaper a few days later. It was the global village in its infancy.But evenutally, the term Wireless to refer to a Radio became antiquated and quaint, referring to and older time, a (seemingly) more innocent time.
And now here we are with our computers, our Internet, our laptops, and a plethora of gadgets. It used to be that, if you wanted to access the Internet (our new global village), you had to sit in your office, your basement, or somewhere static to connect and surf.
But now, thanks to the Wireless Routers, you can access that electronic global village from your cellphone, your laptop, or your PDA. You don't have to wait until you get home or get to the office to find out what's happening in the world or around the corner.So let's bid a warm welcome back the great term Wireless, harkening back to a time when we had to do without. I can't wait to see what technological doodad will uncover terms like "horseless carriage", "grammaphone", and "voicebox" from the mothballs.
Monday, August 08, 2005
Suds and Stories
I was doing the dishes last night (gasp!) and I decided that listening to a story CD would take the sting out of the drudgery. I slipped the Eric Gauthier CD out of its sleeve, into the CD player, and selected my favourite tracks (1 & 5).
Track #1 is the story of how Ganesh got his elephant's head, told in a way that only Eric can pull off. He has a casual way of telling, filled with such Quebecois flavour, that it puts a new twist on such a classic tale, you'd swear this story happened in Chibougamou instead of India.
The only thing that embarrasses me is that I was apparently there when this CD was recorded and you can clearly hear me laughing. People often tell me that my laugh cannot be ignored, but having it recorded onto a CD for all time, it makes me *wince*.
If you get a chance to see Eric tell a tale, make sure you get yourself there. Just make sure that you're comfortable with the Quebecois accent and jargon, or you'll be mostly lost.
So if you've got my CD (You Don't Know Jack), pour some hot water on your dishes and give a listen. A good story is a great way to pass the time.
I was doing the dishes last night (gasp!) and I decided that listening to a story CD would take the sting out of the drudgery. I slipped the Eric Gauthier CD out of its sleeve, into the CD player, and selected my favourite tracks (1 & 5).
Track #1 is the story of how Ganesh got his elephant's head, told in a way that only Eric can pull off. He has a casual way of telling, filled with such Quebecois flavour, that it puts a new twist on such a classic tale, you'd swear this story happened in Chibougamou instead of India.
The only thing that embarrasses me is that I was apparently there when this CD was recorded and you can clearly hear me laughing. People often tell me that my laugh cannot be ignored, but having it recorded onto a CD for all time, it makes me *wince*.
If you get a chance to see Eric tell a tale, make sure you get yourself there. Just make sure that you're comfortable with the Quebecois accent and jargon, or you'll be mostly lost.
So if you've got my CD (You Don't Know Jack), pour some hot water on your dishes and give a listen. A good story is a great way to pass the time.
Friday, August 05, 2005
Another KG Come and Gone
I spent last weekend at Kaleidoscope Gathering 2005, a fair-sized pagan festival in eastern Ontario. This was my third KG and now I can't imagine my summer without attending one of these.
The current contract meant that I couldn't spend as much time at KG as I had originally intended. I could only get the Friday off, so I arrived on Friday at noon with Dez (a old friend who has accompanied me these last three years). Next year, if I've got a contract going on at this time, I'll tell my client I'm in Spain for this week with tickets already paid for and hotels reserved. I know people who were on site as of Tuesday (lucky buggers)!
I'll admit, KG is more of a party than a spiritual retreat, but that doesn't mean I don't get some spiritual deepening each time I go. With an attendance of 400 people, it's difficult not to have it turn into some kind of fiesta.
One of the events I always look forward to is the Stag King competition. It's a male-only event where the men get to compete in a series of trials (physical and intellectual) in the hopes of being crowned Stag King. Now I know I don't have a prayer of winning this event, but what I love about it is that the negative side of competition is non-existant. It's a bunch of guys competing for the fun of it, rather than it being an all-out smackdown to destroy your opponent. That is one of the reasons I'm not that competitive when it comes to sports (or life in general really).
The other part of KG I look forward to is the Bardic. It's an evening of entertainment presented by the attendees of KG itself. Of course, I always tell a tale, but it gets more and more difficult each year, mainly because we are restricted to 5 minutes each! Most of my stories are at least 10-20 minutes and it's a job-and-a-half to squish them down into the 5-minute constraint.
This year, I decided to tell the story of the Teamaster and the Samurai. I've been working on this story for a few months now (since my book launch back in February), but it took some doing to get it down to 5 minutes. I had noticed that Marcus had a katana (he had shown it off during the masquerade on Friday), so I went over to him to see if he'd lend it to me for the tale. He agreed, but we'll get back to that later.
When it was my turn to take the stage (or the firepit), I began to tell me tale. When I reached the part where the teamaster draws his sword, I drew the katana out of its sheath as I had been instructed. I drew it out slowly so that the blade could properly reflect the firelight, but also because I was afraid of it slipping out of my hands and impaling someone.
When it came time to resheath the sword, I stopped speaking so I could concentrate on not sticking it into my belly. As I slid the katana back in, I took a moment to scan the crowd. There must have been 300 people there and everyone was focussed on me. Despite the size of the crowd, there wasn't one word spoken, not one sound coming from them. It was as if they were all holding their collective breaths, waiting to see what would happen next.
I'll never forget that moment as long as I live. I remember thinking, "I don't care if I don't win the Bardic. I've just accomplished what I needed to do." I finished my story to tumultuous applause and cheering.
I went back to Marcus and handed back the blade. I took a step back as he inspected the blade for any blemishes and he began to swing it in a very ritualized fashion. I found out later that tradition dictates that if the blade is pulled from its sheath, blood must be paid. I figured this ritual he was performing might be a substitute for that blood price.
Once he was satisfied, he sheathed the sword and put it back into his bag. "Thanks Marcus," I said earnestly. "Your blade really added to the story I told."
"You're welcome," he replied, then looked thoughtful. "Y'know... Normally, I would not have let anyone else touch this blade. But because it's you, I made an exception."
"Th-thanks," I stammered, suprised. "But we don't really know each other that well. What do you mean by that?"
He smiled and replied, "It's true, we haven't known each other for that long, and most of the time, we tease each other mercilessly. But I've been hearing about you for years. You've got quite a reputation, not only in Montreal, but also in Ottawa and Toronto. Now that I've met you a few times, I'm glad to say that you more than live up to your reputation."
I was stunned. I have a reputation, one that extends beyond Montreal? I can't imagine how that happened. Sure, I post fairly regularly on elists and I stay fairly active in my own community, but I never thought that anyone would notice beyond that. I'm glad I didn't happen to be holding the katana at that point, because I would have probably dropped in shock.
And with that, another KG has left me in shock and deeply humbled. A fella could get used to his. There's more to my KG experience, but I've said enough here for now. I'll probably tell my other KG tales over here.
I spent last weekend at Kaleidoscope Gathering 2005, a fair-sized pagan festival in eastern Ontario. This was my third KG and now I can't imagine my summer without attending one of these.
The current contract meant that I couldn't spend as much time at KG as I had originally intended. I could only get the Friday off, so I arrived on Friday at noon with Dez (a old friend who has accompanied me these last three years). Next year, if I've got a contract going on at this time, I'll tell my client I'm in Spain for this week with tickets already paid for and hotels reserved. I know people who were on site as of Tuesday (lucky buggers)!
I'll admit, KG is more of a party than a spiritual retreat, but that doesn't mean I don't get some spiritual deepening each time I go. With an attendance of 400 people, it's difficult not to have it turn into some kind of fiesta.
One of the events I always look forward to is the Stag King competition. It's a male-only event where the men get to compete in a series of trials (physical and intellectual) in the hopes of being crowned Stag King. Now I know I don't have a prayer of winning this event, but what I love about it is that the negative side of competition is non-existant. It's a bunch of guys competing for the fun of it, rather than it being an all-out smackdown to destroy your opponent. That is one of the reasons I'm not that competitive when it comes to sports (or life in general really).
The other part of KG I look forward to is the Bardic. It's an evening of entertainment presented by the attendees of KG itself. Of course, I always tell a tale, but it gets more and more difficult each year, mainly because we are restricted to 5 minutes each! Most of my stories are at least 10-20 minutes and it's a job-and-a-half to squish them down into the 5-minute constraint.
This year, I decided to tell the story of the Teamaster and the Samurai. I've been working on this story for a few months now (since my book launch back in February), but it took some doing to get it down to 5 minutes. I had noticed that Marcus had a katana (he had shown it off during the masquerade on Friday), so I went over to him to see if he'd lend it to me for the tale. He agreed, but we'll get back to that later.
When it was my turn to take the stage (or the firepit), I began to tell me tale. When I reached the part where the teamaster draws his sword, I drew the katana out of its sheath as I had been instructed. I drew it out slowly so that the blade could properly reflect the firelight, but also because I was afraid of it slipping out of my hands and impaling someone.
When it came time to resheath the sword, I stopped speaking so I could concentrate on not sticking it into my belly. As I slid the katana back in, I took a moment to scan the crowd. There must have been 300 people there and everyone was focussed on me. Despite the size of the crowd, there wasn't one word spoken, not one sound coming from them. It was as if they were all holding their collective breaths, waiting to see what would happen next.
I'll never forget that moment as long as I live. I remember thinking, "I don't care if I don't win the Bardic. I've just accomplished what I needed to do." I finished my story to tumultuous applause and cheering.
I went back to Marcus and handed back the blade. I took a step back as he inspected the blade for any blemishes and he began to swing it in a very ritualized fashion. I found out later that tradition dictates that if the blade is pulled from its sheath, blood must be paid. I figured this ritual he was performing might be a substitute for that blood price.
Once he was satisfied, he sheathed the sword and put it back into his bag. "Thanks Marcus," I said earnestly. "Your blade really added to the story I told."
"You're welcome," he replied, then looked thoughtful. "Y'know... Normally, I would not have let anyone else touch this blade. But because it's you, I made an exception."
"Th-thanks," I stammered, suprised. "But we don't really know each other that well. What do you mean by that?"
He smiled and replied, "It's true, we haven't known each other for that long, and most of the time, we tease each other mercilessly. But I've been hearing about you for years. You've got quite a reputation, not only in Montreal, but also in Ottawa and Toronto. Now that I've met you a few times, I'm glad to say that you more than live up to your reputation."
I was stunned. I have a reputation, one that extends beyond Montreal? I can't imagine how that happened. Sure, I post fairly regularly on elists and I stay fairly active in my own community, but I never thought that anyone would notice beyond that. I'm glad I didn't happen to be holding the katana at that point, because I would have probably dropped in shock.
And with that, another KG has left me in shock and deeply humbled. A fella could get used to his. There's more to my KG experience, but I've said enough here for now. I'll probably tell my other KG tales over here.
Friday, July 22, 2005
Dust off the LPs
We were checking out a new bar last night (owned by a friend of mine who plays Domaine) called La Distillerie (corner Ontario and Sanguinet). They have a few good beers on tap and make cocktails with fresh fruit. Yummers!
A song came on over the conversation that mystified a few of us for a few moments. I maintained it had to be Boy George while others thought it was George Michael. In the end, I was disturbed to realized that my ears were sensitive to Boy's particular type of warbling.
Which led to these questions:
1. What was the first piece of music that you were given and what format was it in (tape, 45rpm, 33rpm, 78rpm, CD)?
2. What was the first piece of music that you bought and what format was it in?
My first 45rpms that I owned were as follows:
Illusion by Imagination
I Love Rock and Roll by Joan Jet and the Blackhearts
Hurts So Good by John Cougar Mellencamp
Jenny 867-5309 by Tommy Tutone
And the first 33rpm LP that I ever bought with my own money was (God, this is embarrassing):
Physical by Olivia Newton John
Share in my shame! Respond!
We were checking out a new bar last night (owned by a friend of mine who plays Domaine) called La Distillerie (corner Ontario and Sanguinet). They have a few good beers on tap and make cocktails with fresh fruit. Yummers!
A song came on over the conversation that mystified a few of us for a few moments. I maintained it had to be Boy George while others thought it was George Michael. In the end, I was disturbed to realized that my ears were sensitive to Boy's particular type of warbling.
Which led to these questions:
1. What was the first piece of music that you were given and what format was it in (tape, 45rpm, 33rpm, 78rpm, CD)?
2. What was the first piece of music that you bought and what format was it in?
My first 45rpms that I owned were as follows:
Illusion by Imagination
I Love Rock and Roll by Joan Jet and the Blackhearts
Hurts So Good by John Cougar Mellencamp
Jenny 867-5309 by Tommy Tutone
And the first 33rpm LP that I ever bought with my own money was (God, this is embarrassing):
Physical by Olivia Newton John
Share in my shame! Respond!
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Ultra Sound: Not Invasive?
As far as I know, Ultra Sound operations are supposed to be non-invasive, right? It's supposed to be the more humane way to go to see what's going on underneath the hood.
A friend of mine is going for an ultra sound examination today and she's afraid that, because she didn't need to drink water, fast, or howl at the moon the night before, this means the docs will be sticking cameras inside her to find out what's going on.
If that's true, what's non-invasive about that? That sounds plenty invasive! What the difference between that and the doctor lighting a candle, pulling on his hiking boots, and climbing right inside?
Sometimes doctors know a little too much about history. Sure, modern technology has made medical procedures to be much smoother and less risky, but having even a tiny camera shoved down your thoat (or any other orifice) is not something to which we look forward, no matter how medically amazing it is.
As far as I know, Ultra Sound operations are supposed to be non-invasive, right? It's supposed to be the more humane way to go to see what's going on underneath the hood.
A friend of mine is going for an ultra sound examination today and she's afraid that, because she didn't need to drink water, fast, or howl at the moon the night before, this means the docs will be sticking cameras inside her to find out what's going on.
If that's true, what's non-invasive about that? That sounds plenty invasive! What the difference between that and the doctor lighting a candle, pulling on his hiking boots, and climbing right inside?
Sometimes doctors know a little too much about history. Sure, modern technology has made medical procedures to be much smoother and less risky, but having even a tiny camera shoved down your thoat (or any other orifice) is not something to which we look forward, no matter how medically amazing it is.
Friday, July 15, 2005
Unexpected Photo Opp
I got a weird email from a friend yesterday. He was going through the Montreal Gazette recently and found a photo insert that was credited to me!
I've had my pictures published here and there before (this pic is being considered for a magazine called Sky and Telescope), but never in the newspaper. I'm thinking this is a case of mistaken identity, but I'd really like to see that photo insert.
I'll keep you posted. Maybe I'm famouser than I thinked!
I got a weird email from a friend yesterday. He was going through the Montreal Gazette recently and found a photo insert that was credited to me!
I've had my pictures published here and there before (this pic is being considered for a magazine called Sky and Telescope), but never in the newspaper. I'm thinking this is a case of mistaken identity, but I'd really like to see that photo insert.
I'll keep you posted. Maybe I'm famouser than I thinked!
Monday, July 11, 2005
What Was I Doing
Got this from her who got it from her.
10 years ago
I was 26 and I was very busy in my job as a freelance technical writer. My main client, Storm Technical Communications, had just closed their doors in Montreal, but I was soon to score a long-term contract with Bell Canada. I wasn't seeing anybody steady and that was just the way I liked it. In the summer of 1996, I had moved in with my friend Barbara into a 4000 sq.ft. loft in Old Montreal. It was a great place and we had fantastic parties there. Living with Barbara wasn't as great though and our friendship suffered a major blow from which neither of us ever recovered.
5 years ago
I was 31 and life wasn't too bad, considering what was coming. My job at Toon Boom was stressful, but satisfying. I was surrounded by good friends, my pagan life was still new and exciting, and I was recently re-singlified. Of course, September was a bad month all around, with world events going haywire and losing my Toon Boom job (which sent me into a spiraling depression that I was too depressed at the time to notice). I felt I was being taken down notch by notch and I wondered what was out there in store for me.
1 year ago
This time last year I was deeply in love with Ms. Carotte and was making plans to go out and visit here in TO. My contracts had ended and I decided to take the summer off. It was the summer of play. Festivals, Domaine (LARP), and general summer merriment. I had plans to visit a friend in Britanny, but I never followed through with them. I kinda regret that now.
Yesterday
I was just getting back from my fourth trip to H2O Adventures, a company that hosts a weekend of whitewater kayaking. WWK is a newfound love of mine, and although it terrifies me and I'm not good at it yet, I love it. I especially love bringing my crew with me and see them enjoy it as well.
5 snacks I enjoy
- Ritz Chips
- Corn Poofs
- Crispix mixed with trailmix
- Pepperoni sticks (from Dad's Bagels)
- Toast
5 songs I know all the words to
- O Canada
- Sit on my Face (and tell me that you love me): I get to sing this out loud in the metros more often than you might think
- The Toronto Song (by Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie)
- Home for a Rest (Spirit of the West)
5 things I would do with $100 Million
- Pay off my debts
- Take my friends on a wild vacation somewhere (maybe on a ship)
- Get some land in Hawkesbury and build my Dream Home
- Tour the world's storytelling festivals
- Take my pagan buddies to Stonehenge
5 bad habits I have
- chew my fingernails
- bite my lip
- get easily distracted
- being unfocussed
- fret about my body shape
5 things I like doing
- White Water Kayaking
- Alpine Skiing
- Hanging with my friends
- Talking trash over a good game of Poker
- Attending storytelling events (even when I'm not telling)
5 things I would never wear
- Leather pants
- Hand-cuffs
- Silk anything (except ties): it gives me the willies when I feel it against my skin
- contact lenses
- piercings in sensitive areas
5 TV shows I like
- Battlestar Galactica
- Myth Busters
- CSI: various flavours
- M*A*S*H
- Family Guy
5 joys of the moment
- A successful story told
- Seeing someone else thumbing through my published work
- Friendly discussion over pints
- Sharing in a friend's accomplishment
- Feeling a strong spiritual connection
5 favorite toys
- my computer
- my car
- my Creative Zen mp3 player
- my PalmPilot
- my digicam
Got this from her who got it from her.
10 years ago
I was 26 and I was very busy in my job as a freelance technical writer. My main client, Storm Technical Communications, had just closed their doors in Montreal, but I was soon to score a long-term contract with Bell Canada. I wasn't seeing anybody steady and that was just the way I liked it. In the summer of 1996, I had moved in with my friend Barbara into a 4000 sq.ft. loft in Old Montreal. It was a great place and we had fantastic parties there. Living with Barbara wasn't as great though and our friendship suffered a major blow from which neither of us ever recovered.
5 years ago
I was 31 and life wasn't too bad, considering what was coming. My job at Toon Boom was stressful, but satisfying. I was surrounded by good friends, my pagan life was still new and exciting, and I was recently re-singlified. Of course, September was a bad month all around, with world events going haywire and losing my Toon Boom job (which sent me into a spiraling depression that I was too depressed at the time to notice). I felt I was being taken down notch by notch and I wondered what was out there in store for me.
1 year ago
This time last year I was deeply in love with Ms. Carotte and was making plans to go out and visit here in TO. My contracts had ended and I decided to take the summer off. It was the summer of play. Festivals, Domaine (LARP), and general summer merriment. I had plans to visit a friend in Britanny, but I never followed through with them. I kinda regret that now.
Yesterday
I was just getting back from my fourth trip to H2O Adventures, a company that hosts a weekend of whitewater kayaking. WWK is a newfound love of mine, and although it terrifies me and I'm not good at it yet, I love it. I especially love bringing my crew with me and see them enjoy it as well.
5 snacks I enjoy
- Ritz Chips
- Corn Poofs
- Crispix mixed with trailmix
- Pepperoni sticks (from Dad's Bagels)
- Toast
5 songs I know all the words to
- O Canada
- Sit on my Face (and tell me that you love me): I get to sing this out loud in the metros more often than you might think
- The Toronto Song (by Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie)
- Home for a Rest (Spirit of the West)
5 things I would do with $100 Million
- Pay off my debts
- Take my friends on a wild vacation somewhere (maybe on a ship)
- Get some land in Hawkesbury and build my Dream Home
- Tour the world's storytelling festivals
- Take my pagan buddies to Stonehenge
5 bad habits I have
- chew my fingernails
- bite my lip
- get easily distracted
- being unfocussed
- fret about my body shape
5 things I like doing
- White Water Kayaking
- Alpine Skiing
- Hanging with my friends
- Talking trash over a good game of Poker
- Attending storytelling events (even when I'm not telling)
5 things I would never wear
- Leather pants
- Hand-cuffs
- Silk anything (except ties): it gives me the willies when I feel it against my skin
- contact lenses
- piercings in sensitive areas
5 TV shows I like
- Battlestar Galactica
- Myth Busters
- CSI: various flavours
- M*A*S*H
- Family Guy
5 joys of the moment
- A successful story told
- Seeing someone else thumbing through my published work
- Friendly discussion over pints
- Sharing in a friend's accomplishment
- Feeling a strong spiritual connection
5 favorite toys
- my computer
- my car
- my Creative Zen mp3 player
- my PalmPilot
- my digicam
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Speed up, Slow Down
This week has all been about speed. Did you see how the people were speeding during the rainstorm in Montreal? It's wet people... Time to slow down, not speed up!
But time is just zipping by and I'll be flipped over in a kayak before I even know on which side my toast is buttered. I've got no time, no time, no time, no time... I've taken on too many activities again and it's taking its toll on me.
I love my extra-curriculars, I always have. I don't get into all this stuff because I'm lonely (when I was single); there's just lots of stuff I want to experience and learn. When I get into a relationship, my free time gets majorly squeezed.
I don't mean to say that my gal is taking over my life, but there are only so many hours in a day, and spending quality time with her is important (and no, she's not theatening to tip a jar of mammory milk over my head so that I'll write that).
So I end up having to drop a few things so I can get everything done. It's heart-wrenching, but what can I do? Something's gotta give before someone tosses me out.
So here's what I have on my plate that's keeping me so busy:
Ms. Carotte (most moments)
Assorted friends (every other moment)
MPRC (every Thursday plus planning events)
Storytelling (twice or more a month)
Work (40 hours a week)
BNI (every Thursday morning, I'm the VP of my chapter)
Dragon Boating (Mondays, Wednesdays, and the odd race weekend)
Domaine LARP (one weekend a month)
Pagan festivals (three weekends in the summer)
But that's not all! There's loads more stuff I'd like to be doing with my free time, but as I complete projects, I need to find time to work these things in:
Teaching (pagan stuff)
Learn to play Tin Whistle
Learn to play Bodrahn
Learn how to draw (university educated and I draw like a four year-old)
Learn sign language
Learn how to fence
Learn more stories
Take a professional photography course
Attend more storytelling festivals/events
Tell more stories in French
Publish another book (a collection of Irish/Quebecois stories)
Do more Whitewater Kayaking
Direct theatrical plays again
Argh. Just not enough time in a day or a lifetime. Anything else you think I should add to this list?
This week has all been about speed. Did you see how the people were speeding during the rainstorm in Montreal? It's wet people... Time to slow down, not speed up!
But time is just zipping by and I'll be flipped over in a kayak before I even know on which side my toast is buttered. I've got no time, no time, no time, no time... I've taken on too many activities again and it's taking its toll on me.
I love my extra-curriculars, I always have. I don't get into all this stuff because I'm lonely (when I was single); there's just lots of stuff I want to experience and learn. When I get into a relationship, my free time gets majorly squeezed.
I don't mean to say that my gal is taking over my life, but there are only so many hours in a day, and spending quality time with her is important (and no, she's not theatening to tip a jar of mammory milk over my head so that I'll write that).
So I end up having to drop a few things so I can get everything done. It's heart-wrenching, but what can I do? Something's gotta give before someone tosses me out.
So here's what I have on my plate that's keeping me so busy:
Ms. Carotte (most moments)
Assorted friends (every other moment)
MPRC (every Thursday plus planning events)
Storytelling (twice or more a month)
Work (40 hours a week)
BNI (every Thursday morning, I'm the VP of my chapter)
Dragon Boating (Mondays, Wednesdays, and the odd race weekend)
Domaine LARP (one weekend a month)
Pagan festivals (three weekends in the summer)
But that's not all! There's loads more stuff I'd like to be doing with my free time, but as I complete projects, I need to find time to work these things in:
Teaching (pagan stuff)
Learn to play Tin Whistle
Learn to play Bodrahn
Learn how to draw (university educated and I draw like a four year-old)
Learn sign language
Learn how to fence
Learn more stories
Take a professional photography course
Attend more storytelling festivals/events
Tell more stories in French
Publish another book (a collection of Irish/Quebecois stories)
Do more Whitewater Kayaking
Direct theatrical plays again
Argh. Just not enough time in a day or a lifetime. Anything else you think I should add to this list?
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