SUV

Some SUVs are hot, some people who drive them are hot. Some are just random soccer moms. The other day it was snowing like crazy and the roads were thick with snow. I, with my 97 low American car with no snow tires was going 60 in the 60 zone. After a red light and some difficulties stopping and getting started again I was back to cruising at the speed limit. In front of my however was this nice, black lexus suv who was going 20 under the limit for not apparent reason. My first thought was it was a soccer mom driving, or some ethnic minority so I was getting mad having to sit behind them on a road without traffic. When there was finally an extra lane to pass them I turned to check out which dumbass with an awesome 4*4 suv ride can’t drive in a lil bit of snow I was it was a random caucasian male. I think every car must have a clause, if you cant drive the car and use it the way its ment to be, you shouldn’t be allowed to drive it. The dude should have bough a smart car at least he’d be saving on gas. People this is Canada, it snows it gets cold so expect it and learn how to drive in it. Stupid drivers shouldn’t be allowed on the road, there is a reason why they invented cabs and transit.

The big 100

This is officially number 100 for posts. Society seems to think that certain levels and stages of life, achievement or whatever are worth celebrating and reflecting. I think this milestone represents 100 times over the past 11 months which I have been so bored or have had something random on my mind that I just had to write a post. That means the 5+ minutes it takes me to write the blog and post it would have left me with 500mins to do other things in my life. 500mins is the amount of day time minutes I have on my cell for 10 months. Crazy how good I am at wasting time. I don’t think that any milestone in between has been significant otherwise. For instance, this blog is no better than the last or better than the 32nd. In fact it might just be the worst one I’ve ever written. Well that concludes the reflection part of the big 100. I guess that leaves celebration?

The addict in me

Every place I have worked on my co-op terms have had some food/treat/snack which I have been addicted to and which is the signature snack of that place. Why is it that no matter where I am some random not good for you snack makes feel complete? It all started off from my first co-op experience in the little university city Waterloo where every Tuesday and in general everyday wasn’t complete without a chillate. Something about that soft, cool, smooth drink just made my day. Of course it also made me gain crazy amount of calories. Even the big city Toronto for the first time had the most amazing cookies, and if I eat a pound of them per week my craving wouldn’t be satisfied. However I did somehow manage to loose like 20 pounds while on my cookie diet, I don’t suggest you try it though. The next term way up North in Ottawa there was something about the fancy cheese and tomato bagels which made every morning good and got all of us co-ops addicted. Toronto in the summer had addicted to mmmmmuffins chocolate chip oatmean even though most of my coworkers seemed to be a fan of the cereal bar cereals (I dont see the point of paying $4 for cereal). Finally this term… I have yet to narrow down what keeps me happy but in the running is mr poutine, miss bagel with butter and madame croissant avec chocolat. Hmmm so many potentials but only one winner. Who will it be???

Toronto vs Ottawa a Media Analysis

I know there is a lot of competition between these two cities. They both host two popular NHL and CFL teams, they both host governments and they are both in the same province. One would expect that though population wise one is much larger than the other that both cities would have some similarities. For instance, the Ontario pizza company, Pizza Pizza has a deal with both NHL teams, if either of the team scores a certain amount of goals in the game, those who went to the game get a free slice of pizza. Since both teams are in the same division, play the same teams and play the same game, one would assume the goal count for the free slice to be the same. But noooooooo….. Leaf fans in Toronto can enjoy a free slice of pizza if their team scores 5 goals or more, however the Sens fans in Ottawa have to wait for their team to score 6 goals or more before enjoying the same perk. What is up with this? I know that somewhere an economist or actuary of some sort forecasted the expected amount of goals per game and then set a goal count in relation to how much they are willing to spend. So I guess this is Pizza Pizza’s way of saying the Sens are better than the Leafs?

Other interesting difference between the two cities is their weather report. Living in Ottawa, I know its cold but in general living in Canada one would expect it to be cold in the winter. The weather network however feels the need to issue out a warning to people in Toronto yesterday when the low +wind chill was at -24. In Ottawa however, the forecasted overnight low +wind chill was at -34 but no warning. What is up with this? It was told that Ottawa is 10 degrees colder than Toronto but someone somewhere decided that people in Ottawa shouldn’t be warned where as the people in Toronto should. I guess that’s the weather networks way of saying people in Toronto are weaker than in Ottawa.

10 odd things at work

Awkward situations at work

1. Mocking the parking job of someone then finding out it was your manager
2. Sending a joking email intended for a friend to your supervisor
3. Having various links of non work related windows open as your manager comes in to talk about your evaluation.
4. Forgetting your work shoes and then having to walk around in outdoor boots while in a suit
5. Walking into people expressing themselves in the bathroom
6. Walking into people expressing their love in the caf
7. Having to go to the bathroom really badly in a meeting which you are on point or the minute taker
8. Meeting your supervisor/manager in the bathroom when you have something urgently due
9. Having an open crush on a married coworker
10. Seeing your supervisor do push ups to get pumped for a meeting

Heart

As the big red and pink day approaches its really interesting how the water cooler topics turn from the weather and hockey game to what are the big plans and hopes for vday. I myself have never really been big on this marketing ploy of a day, some might say that haven’t been shown a good one or that when I am truly in love I will appreciate that day. But really if you are in love and really care for the person why don’t you appreciate everyday? I mean shouldn’t that be your goal, to make the other person happy and smile everyday? Why is it that you boast sending roses and chocolate and whatever on one random competitive day rather than when the person is feeling down or on any other day?

I really do believe that some people only bother going all out on vday because its like a competition. I did this for my wife/gf/chick and she loved it and I spent this much and I got that. Life isn’t a boasting competition its rather a journey and an adventure in which you attempt to strive towards happiness. So why some of you maybe in line buying over priced flowers and chocolate and if she’s lucky jewelry remember that time and love are really the most expensive gifts.

B & DD I love you both very much

Opposites

Have you ever noticed that some things are just better under certain conditions or settings? That in general they are plain but under certain circumstances they become magical? Like hot chocolate or poutine while walking outside on a freezing cold day or like ice cream or a cold refreshing drink on a warm summer day. It doesn’t always have to be climate oriented, but in general having a food/drink which is opposite than the temperature makes it the food/drink so much better. It’s the same as getting all green lights on the way home from a long stressful day at work, or a loving hug from someone you haven’t seen in a long time.

Seems like anything which is a break from the norm, whether it be from the weather or the standard routine becomes much more significant and is valued more than if it happened otherwise. I think because we enjoy the opposites so much we are all in some sense attracted to the opposite. We find comfort and excitement in things and people who are part of the norm. Though when this opposite become the norm we don’t seem to appreciate it as much. So then maybe all we all need is a break from reality. A break from ourselves.

B & DD: thanks 4 always making me smile

Inventors

Recently I feel that everything I do and say is being listened to by everyone. Yes I believe my thoughts are being read by corporate entities. I have come up with so many random ideas which have been stolen by some corporation. For example, hamburgers without buns… convenient how McDonald's brought a protein platter which is exactly like my idea. More recently I have a convo with my sister about how they should have delayed Internet texting. Guess what fido has now… yup you guess it.

So this is my plea, at work I seem to be trigger happy with my emails. aka I just send them out then wish I checked the spelling or added something else or that I should have attached the wrong version of the document. So all corporate inventors especially those who work with Google and Outlook….please make a proper retracting e-mail feature. I know there is a way to do it but the receiver still sees that you retracted your e-mail. I bet that this new feature would prove to be very marketable.

Thanks :)