Summer Rocks!

So, I'm back in the Big City and it's a complete mess. Not sure if you heard, but the whole eastern coast was trampled with a snow storm, this past weekend, dumping too much snow in just a short period of time.

Last night's flight from Pearson International to LaGuardia Airport was a little different than most flights. We took off on time (which is unheard of, for those of you who know my flight patterns well), the plane was larger than usual and we arrived ahead of schedule. All this adds up to disaster in the Big City. Okay, maybe not disaster but it definitely leaves you wondering!

After getting my luggage off the carousel, I headed to the dreaded taxi line. Only this time, it was worse than dreaded. Usually the line doubles back on itself causing a gauntlet of people waiting for 6 taxis at a time. Oh, the madness! But last night - last night was a little different. The line didn't just double back on itself; nor did it triple back on itself. It QUADRUPLED back on itself! Rumours of two hour waits, and a whole lot of frustrating people made this the perfect spot for people watching.

Just over an hour, and I finally got my own cab (unlike other customers who shared their rides just to accommodate the influx of people). Finally, a seat and a quick ride to my location. At least I thought it was going to be quick. After entering the cab and giving my all-to-common directions, the driver was stumped and didn't know where to go. Also, he warned me that he wasn't driving down any side streets as they were probably not snow-plowed yet. Great, just freakin' great!

Obviously, I made it and so here's how it is today. In some parts of the city, the streets are over-run with snow. Needless to say, the sidewalks are difficult to walk as they are literally small cow-paths with snow everywhere else. Some intersections are difficult to cross due to the large snowbanks preventing pedestrians from leaving one sidewalk and entering another. Unfortunately, the snow is not melting/slowly melting due to the cool temperatures (just below freezing) and this is creating a slushy mess.

Oh well, I should definitely enjoy heading to Key West tomorrow. I'll say it again - summer rocks!

So Interesting!

So, I stumbled across a little website about a month ago and kept forgetting to blog about it - until now. Follow the link below and it will bring you to the McDonald's products page on the wikipedia website. Interesting? Not yet!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mcdonalds_menu

If you scroll half way down the page, you are brought to a part of the site called "Discontinued menu items". This is where it gets interesting. See if you can remember any of these items from your past visits!

Just Another Simple Night!

Saturday was a great day but first things first.

Dinner at the East Village Life Cafe - the well know restaurant from the movie Rent. Eclectic in nature, the restaurant was cute and quaint to each patron walking through the doors. Our small group of eleven was no different. With small bursts of "La Vie Boheme", we laughed and drank our way to what would be a memorable evening.

Upon the arrival of our vehicle, all eleven jumped in to venture to the west side of Central Park for a little rendez-vous with an opera called La Boheme (at the Metropolitan Opera House). Donning our best scrubs, some in suits and others in tuxedos, we emptied into the belly of the grand entrance of the grounds to three great buildings of New York; the Metropolitan Opera House, New York Philharmonic and the New York City Opera. The feeling was magical as we embarked on a new adventure - my first opera.

The Met was both beautiful and artistic. With seats in the 5th mezzanine, we were able to appreciate the true beauty before us. The chandeliers raised, the lights dimmed and La Boheme was performed before our eyes. Each moment more magical than the previous. After the opera was complete, all 4 sets and 3 intermissions, we bid adieu to several and the six remaining walked a couple blocks south to Columbus Circle to enjoy drinks on the 35th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, overlooking Central Park.

It was a spectacular evening with great company and great entertainment.

Happy Birthday Rob!

In A Heartbeat...

It's that time of year again when we start racking our brains for that perfect gift for that special someone in our lives. What does this all mean?

Well, after reflecting on my current position in this world and how fortunate I am (and, as is my family and friends around me), I'm plagued with the thoughts of gift giving and what this really means. Last year I consciously made an effort to donate to those in need rather than splurge on gifts of plenty for family and friends. Some may see this as a bold move, but in the true spirit of Christmas, those who really understood didn't complain or gripe over my act of kindness.

Although my friends may have wanted to exchange gifts, they supported me and my selfless act. Looking back though, I wonder (to this day) if my family thought this was respectable or if it was a pointless act on my part.

Regardless, I know that my generosity to children in Toronto was appreciated and that I was able to spread the true meaning of Christmas among those less fortunate. Would I do this again? Just read the title of this blog and you'll know my thoughts.

Where Have You Been?

Again, time has flown by - I can't believe that November is just 2 days away.

My latest project has left me exhausted and yet there's still one week left - the big day happening Thursday. It will be filled with both content and excitement, as well as sadness, with the doors opening to a brand new store with many people standing in line. The end to my 11 hour shifts will be a thing of the past and I'll have quickly forgotten the stress and pain that I felt for the past three months. I can't wait for the big day!

Reflecting back, these past three months have been filled with a lot of work and very little personal life and family time. I guess Friday will be when I start to work on everything other than my work life.

Oh, You Look Much Better Today!

Well, it's Saturday and it's been a tough week. Although the Labour Day weekend was last weekend, making this a short work week, MY week was even shorter. I hate calling in sick to work, especially when I'm completely engulfed in the middle of a project that I'm enjoying, but it was quite mandatory.

Tuesday night, after work, I was watching television and that's when the body aches started - a sure sign that I was coming down with something. An hour later, after getting ready for bed, I was sweating and shivering myself to sleep. At this point, there's no doubt in my mind that I'm sick and I need to fight it with every possible shred of energy I have.

Two days of sleeping in my apartment and I was tired of these four walls. I was ready to bust out - even if I wasn't feeling better (although I was). I returned to work on Friday to play catch-up with everything I had missed over the previous two days.

It's funny though - well, people are funny. When I returned to work on Friday, people welcomed me back and added a comment that left me thinking.

"Oh, you look much better today!"

Thinking back on the week, Tuesday was a normal day for me and I didn't feel sick until Tuesday night when I was home alone. Nobody saw me Wednesday or Thursday and by Friday the comment started.

What do they mean by this if they never saw me sick in the first place?
Hmm, should I be offended?
Oh well, such is life!

The Lost Art of Etiquette

What happened? How did we get to the place we are in today where everyone is out for themselves and no one cares about the person beside them?

As time goes on, it seems we are forgetting the true sense of human decency. I'm not talking about pulling out a chair for a lady, or addressing people by "Mister" or "Miss" out of respect. No, this would be asking too much as I can't even walk down the street without practically pushing my way back onto the sidewalk because people are too ignorant to share. I tend to call these people "Sidewalk Hogs" - the type that walk shoulder to shoulder with friends spanning the whole sidewalk so that no one can get by either from behind or in front. It reeks of arrogance and I can't handle it.

Yesterday I was waiting to let exiting passengers off the subway train before I boarded. A "lady" (and I use the term loosely), pushes her way past me and boards the train before the exiting passengers have left the train. I shook my head in disgust.

I won't get into the issue of cell phones in movie theatres because I've touched on that in a previous blog. Not to mention, again, it happened to me last week and again, I shook my head in disgust.

We all need to live together on this planet, and we all need to inhabit a certain space. Is there no way to play nice and be somewhat kind with one another? I challenge each of you to open a door for someone you don't know, or scooch over on the sidewalk and let someone by. It will definitely bring a smile to your face!

A Festival or Two...

I decided to take advantage of the great weather yesterday and head down to the Buskerfest that was happening in Toronto. St. Lawrence Market was a buzz with spectators and many different street performers. From magicians to trapeze artists, talents were in full force.

After snapping a few photos, I headed north to the Eaton Centre, only to find another festival going on - Live Green Toronto. Part of Yonge street was closed for the event showcasing many different vendors and performers going "green". One stage even had the audience participate on stationary bikes to generate the power required for the musical instruments used in the performance.

Below are some pictures I took at Buskerfest and Live Green Toronto. Enjoy!

Everywhere, There's Signs!

I decided to walk to High Park today and take advantage of the great weather. With the iPod cranking out the tunes, a novel in hand and a few snacks in a bag, I was ready to spend a relaxing day reading and eating. The day was gorgeous and the walk was pleasant.

While walking to the park, I came upon two people carrying on a conversation through sign language. The language of signing has always fascinated me. So physical, so expressive and yet one is able to say many things without a "spoken" word. I remember years back when I started learning sign language; each inflection meaning something different. Part of the teachings involved "mouthing" the words while signing your words. Yes, even though your voice is not required, you're taught to still mouth the words as one sign can represent several different words - it's the inflection or emotion behind the sign that determines the meaning.

It is this, that I find so interesting with sign language. Each person using sign language seems to be wholly and completely free with the "language". The passion and dedication to each conversation is exciting. Amazingly, this lead to why I enjoyed my dancing for 10 years. Much like people signing, I was passionate about the dance and I was completely free with each song I performed. I loved the feeling of being on stage and performing for an audience (even if, momentarily, I was nervous and scared).

Two people signing, lead me to smile today! It was a gorgeous day!

Growing up...sucks!

Believe it or not, it's inevitable - people grow older. No matter how hard you try, the human body gets older. You can try and stay young by using wrinkle creams or dressing younger or living the life of a youthful chap, but reality is that you can't escape those pestering things in life that remind you that you're no longer 12 years old.

I often reflect back to a time when I didn't know the true meaning of income tax or what a credit card bill was or even that you had to change the oil in your car based on a regular, responsible schedule. My only concern was if I'd be found during the neighborhood hide n' seek game or if there was another way of staying out longer even if the sun had gone down an hour ago and I was already pushing my luck. Life seemed simpler back then and maybe it's because each home didn't have a laptop computer linked to the world or cell phones weren't in everyone's pockets. Regardless, times were easier with less responsibility.

So, what was it today that made me reflect on life as a child? Scrubbing my non-self cleaning oven.

Growing up does suck!

Pet Peeves.

Pet peeves! Plain and simple, we all have them.

The other night I went to a movie with a friend and after having the "please turn off your cell phones and texting devices" screen stuck on the large screen for several minutes before the movie started, people still ignored it. During the movie, one cell phone rang (out loud) - causing the person to answer it and talk for a short while and another one was never put away because texting was too important. I should probably note that there were only 8 people in the entire theatre. What are the chances that 2 of those people are disrespectful - apparently pretty high!

Dictionary.com defines a pet peeve as "a particular and often continual annoyance; personal bugbear".

As comic relief, I thought I'd list a few. Enjoy!

1. People who drive too slowly.
2. Crumbs in the butter.
3. Being able to see inside the toilet when you walk into the bathroom.
4. Seniors who own the same car as mine.
5. Paraphernalia hanging from a rearview mirror.
6. Password resets that don't allow you to use the same password over again.
7. People who ride the brake when driving for no apparent reason.
8. Fingerprints (that aren't mine) in the hair modelling paste that I buy.
9. Toilet paper should always be over the roll, never under!
10. Stepping onto a wet mat with dry feet (ie: the bath mat).
11. Talking to people on the telephone while they are having a conversation with their house pet.
12. Musical birthday cards.

So, in conclusion, please, turn off your damn cell phone ringers in theatres. I don't care that you think you're important!

As an added bonus, I think I'll leave this post open for future pet peeve additions. Be sure to check back to see if yours made it on the list.

Gaga for the Lady!

Although I wouldn't consider myself a true concert expert, I'd like to express my interest in the concert I recently attended. After purchasing tickets on the internet (www.stubhub.com), we were fortunate to get seats that overlooked the entire stage from the Platinum area (seats located in front of the private boxes) at a reduced price.

Now, I must admit, Lady Gaga attracts a certain audience, and they definitely came out to play. Costumes were donned in true Gaga fashion by a lot of people attending. Cigarette sunglasses, soda can curlers in the hair and every type of bra or breast covering ever invented were worn - all ages of both genders all trying to best any outrageous costume Gaga has every created. Did I mention this was all BEFORE the actual concert started?

The opening act left something to be desired (Semi Precious Weapons - unless you're into hard rock and a lot of profanity, I suggest passing on their album). As for the main act, Lady Gaga not only shone bright, but represented the absolute definition of entertainer. The songs were great, the stage was amazing and the energy in the building uncontainable. Not only was every person on their feet dancing for the whole concert but most were singing along while trying to memorize her fascinating costumes for future reference.

With the encore being "Bad Romance", the place was vibrating. Everyone sang, everyone danced and everyone enjoyed that moment as Lady Gaga entertained. Looking around the arena was awe-inspiring and spirit-lifting. With that, I highly recommend her concerts to anyone who may be thinking of venturing to her live shows.

Lady Gaga - you definitely won me over!

Happy Canada Day

On this day, I am truly lucky to reflect on the many different places within Canada that I have been able to visit. All of it's natural beauty, amazing people and major accomplishments as a nation; I am, and will always be, honoured to be Canadian.



Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta (named after Queen Victoria's fourth daughter, Princess Louise Caroline Alberta)



Provencher Bridge over the Red River in Winnipeg, Manitoba (this being the third bridge built in this location, completed in 2003)



Rest stop along the Ottawa River in Deep River, Ontario (the Ottawa River, for most of it's length, defines the border between Ontario and Quebec)



Peggy's Point Lighthouse in Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia (the current lighthouse was built in 1914, replacing the wooden structure built in 1868)



Confederation Bridge (links Prince Edward Island to the mainland of New Brunswick. The bridge took 4 years to build and is a total length of 12.9 km).

Don't Let the Rain Come Down...

As promised, here is my blurb on my short trip to Costa Rica.

With plans to get away and rest, it was the perfect destination. Unfortunately, the weather was not as cooperative. But let's face it, we were heading to the rainforest - rain was inevitable.

That didn't stop us from having a good time. Two hikes through the rainforest and a day at the infinity pool was just what I required.

The first hike took us along a broken trail with sightings of many creatures, vegetation and beaches. Monkey's swung through the trees while small Halloween Crabs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_crab) scurried into small holes within the ground. The surroundings were picturesque and definitely memorable.

The second hike took us deeper into the rainforest along a small river. After crossing the river twice in water up to my knees, the reward of a beautiful waterfall awaited my eyes. Knowing that several people turn at the sight of the first river crossing only made me appreciate the hidden waterfall more.

It was a memorable trip, a much needed rest, and a great destination for one's camera. Enjoy the pictures!

When You've Got Nothing to Do...

...grab your camera!

I went around taking pictures today, and this is what I caught around the area of Deep River. Enjoy!


Looking out at the Ottawa River from the beach in Deep River.



This photo was easy to take - it's the affects that make it difficult for me to like. I'm curious about the washed out colours and wanted to try something new.



A simple picture with a nice affect.

What Are You Looking At?

While being stranded in Deep River for two weeks, I decided to take a walk down to the waterfront (Ottawa River). On my travels, I found these two park benches.

My question is "when you're sitting on these benches, what are you looking at?"

It's not like you can see the river on the other side of that forest!

Time Flies...

So, recently while chatting with a friend, I was scolded for not putting anything on my blog. And although I knew I hadn't posted recently, I didn't think it was anywhere near two months. So, what have I been doing for the last two months?

Three words will sum it up easily: "working and travelling".

Now, before you get all excited, some of the travelling was for work, and not lavish places, I might add.

After an exhausting time in Halifax (and a hugely successful store grand opening), I finally got to spend some time in my own bed back in Toronto. Not too long though, because after only three nights, I was quickly whisked away to the great north to help out some colleagues in Sudbury. The down side - Sudbury, the up side - I was close enough to home (Sault Ste. Marie) to visit mom on Mother's Day. After two weeks and another store grand opening, I was finally headed home.

Listen, I may have only been home for a week but it was nice to relax! Okay, at this point, I must confess. I was gearing up for vacation and I'm not ashamed to admit it! Two whole weeks of not having to travel from city to city, staying in hotels and eating in restaurants. So what did I do on my vacation? I travelled.

After a quick stop in New York (a couple of nights), I was off to Costa Rica (yes, I travelled from city to city for vacation; sue me). What can I say? Costa Rica was beautiful, even if it was the rainy season! With a little luck, the sun shone more than half the time (pictures to follow on a later blog). And after a few days, Costa Rica no-more and back to New York (for a week) where relaxation was in order (so was a little exercise after all the restaurant eating). New York was great and I always look forward to my next return to that pulsating city.

So, back home for a week to take care of some meetings and get things in order for my next project. Where to next? The thriving metropolis of Deep River (population 5000). It pains me to think I was among millions of people in a city that vibrates continuously, then off to the dead of nothing where possibly nobody has a pulse.

After a small Twitter update, here I am, typing this blog from The Bear's Den in a town where the people are nice, the scenery is beautiful, and I'm bored out of my tree.

Well, at least there's wireless internet!
Cheers!

First Class Travel!

I've been very lucky with my job and where I've been able to travel across this great country (Canada). With all this travel, comes the ability to collect points. Collecting points leads to status and the ability to travel in style, which I cashed in on during my last flight to Halifax.

I arrived at the airport early and decided to use one of my lounge passes. Leather seats, free food, and best of all, free alcohol. Although my thoughts of first class travel were somewhat distorted (me, believing that rich people don't travel with crying kids was completely incorrect), I enjoyed the space, comfort and food before venturing off to my gate.

Ah, but once arriving at my gate, I noticed the long line of people waiting to board the plane. This left me with two options; stand in line and wait to show my boarding pass, or use the priority lane (which had no one) and bump to the front of the line. I chose the second option (don't get me wrong, I felt guilty, but I was determined to use my "privledge" to it's full extent). Upon showing my boarding pass (for a seat slightly behind first class) and showing my identification, they upgraded my seat leaving me feeling on top of the world.

Now, I've flown first class before, but never on a flight like this. My luck was truly cashing in because I was sitting in a first class POD (not just a seat, but a pod). My own seat (no one beside me fighting for MY armrests), my own footstool and my own window. The seats contort into all different positons similar to a lazyboy chair, with one excemption - they can lay flat into a bed so you can enjoy a comfortable snooze during flight.

After settling into my seat, drinks were served and menus were passed out for our dinner meal during flight (flight time was only going to be 1 hour and 45 minutes). Take-off was a little unusual but only because of the position of the seats (which are slightly angled to allow for more room for each individual pod). After airborne, I tended to some work while snacking on cashews and almonds. Dinner was served (cheesecake for dessert), and afterwards, I spent the remainder of the flight relaxing while listening to music on my iPod.

It truly is the best way to fly. The only downside, I'll probably be flying back to Toronto in economy class. Oh well, I enjoyed the experience and highly recommend to everyone that they should try it once.

My iPod kicked Michael Bublé's ass!

I'm a sucker for music - ALL kinds. Whether it be in my car, in my apartment or in my hotel room (while on the road for work), I'm always listening to music. I'm known for downloading different artists from iTunes before I even know who they are. I've been fairly lucky to build such a music collection while penny-pinching my way. So, when I downloaded the new Michael Bublé album straight to my iPod, I thought nothing unusual.

Turns out - I had WiFi connecting issues and had to restart the download. No big deal, right? Well, when the album finished downloading (after the second attempt), it caused the +4200 songs and 8 movies that were on my iPod to "hide". My song count went from 4230 to 15 and my movies/videos went from 12 to 1. I was stuck with 15 songs of Michael Bublé and one music video of his!

Did I mention that I was in Halifax for another week with no access to my original music collection on my computer?

Needless to say, the moment I got home, the score became:
iPod - 1, Michael Bublé - 0!

Olympic Fever Finale

So, the Olympics are closing and the past two weeks have been magical.

In reflection, I'm absolutely proud to be one of many people in this world to say that "I am Canadian". From hosting the Olympics in Vancouver, to beating the most gold metals ever won in olympic history by one country - I am completely awestruck! I will wear my Canadian flag with pride each and every day!

Congratulations to all of the atheletes who made these Olympics marvelous!

Dar' she blows...

Leaving dinner yesterday, I started back to the hotel room (yup, I'm away for work and that means living in hotels). Although winter is slowly diminishing, darkness had already crept in. Maybe a little too dark; turns out, the power was out in our neighborhood.

So, what's one to do? Well, after getting changed in my hotel room from the dim light of the iPod, there was no hope of catching up with the Olympic replay's from the day's events. A short venture to Tim Horton's (in another neighborhood) and the power was back!

Why the blackout? Wind storm! The winds were so strong that they knocked the power out - such brutt force!

Olympic Fever

So, the Olympics are upon us and the Opening Ceremonies are to begin in less than 30 mins. I must say, I'm very excited. As much as I hate winter, I find the winter Olympics to be quite enjoyable.

The speed, the challenge and the amazing risk that each particant faces each day. Standing at the starting line, waiting to achieve their dreams - it's all too aww inspiring to me. Even when faced with danger, they are able to plunge into fear and push the limits of their talents. I can't contain the excitement!

So, what's the down side to the Olympics? More air-time for Ben Mulroney! Ugh!

Anyway, Go Canada!!!

They've Done It Again!

So, Apple has done it again.

Not only have they released a new gadget but they've provided good reason why everyone needs one. Not only is it useful for many different functions, but it follows in the footsteps of so many previous Apple creations...it's cool!

Last week's announcement, with no surprise, was the talk of the office. How many workers in my building use Apple products legitimately for work? One! And yet, this generation, so tied to things that are shiny and new, couldn't resist trying to find out when the iPad would be released (not to mention, released to Canadians). Oh, but don't misinterpret my comments as I was one of those admirers, if not one of the leaders. Yes, I'm part of the generation that requires shiny and new (as I type this blog on my beautiful Mac computer). I'll be the first to admit picturing this new product in my hands while surfing the internet or watching a movie while sitting in an airport waiting to catch my next plane. Yes, it would be nice, but then would it be practical or necessary?

Much like every Apple product, it leaves you pondering, "do I really need one?"

The Greatest Place on Earth...

If there's one true benefit to having the job that I currently have, it's the ability to visit many different airports. I say this with true, positive conviction because there is no better place on this planet than the airport.

Amongst the mass of people all desperately trying to get to their final location, you'll find people like me, soaking in the environment, with a close eye for the abnormal. Yes, I'm talking to all those "people-watchers" out there! You know who you are, and whether you want to admit it or not, you're judging eyes are scanning the sea of people to find that one gem you can label.

Now, don't take this as a negative thing. I'm not saying that you need to be mean or brutally attack the unknowing participant. There are positive ways of judging and I challenge each and every one of you to do so the next time you're at the airport waiting for your plane.

I mean, where else can you see Abraham Lincoln as a custodian?

Farewell Good Buddy!

Yet again, that time has come where I need to venture to a new part of the country for work. The all-too-familiar suitcase packing is just the beginning of a long journey.

I look at my suitcase - the one I've had for just over a year and I think of the number of kilometers that case has gone across this country. From the western parts of Canada to the Atlantic provinces and several places in between. It's amazing to think that it's lasted and yet it's only been a short period of time.

Unfortunately, this may be it's last leg! After traveling with a paperclip to open the case (because both zipper tabs have broken off), I feel it's only a matter of time before the wheels will no longer roll. I've collected dirt from every major airport, and yet it's determined to always make it back to my home.

There are many things I've learned from this simple suitcase. From the colour (nobody else has orange so it's easy to find), to the perfect size for a two week stint in any part of this country, I will hold you in high regard; nothing will compare!

I must prepare for it's time - soon it will be a distant memory.

With Respect,
brent

P.S. Here's some photos from our journey's together!

I DID IT!

So the great move is now complete. Everything I own was packed in boxes, moved from one location to another and unpacked.

There's so many challenges with moving and yet people do it all the time. From the shear amount of "memories" that we feel we need to keep, to the important stuff that we must keep; it's all too overwhelming.

I unfortunately did not exercise my "purge it or pack it" rule when getting ready for this move and now, I'm faced with finding places for things that I really shouldn't have kept. If only I had the will power to toss the unnecessary. Instead of boxes, garbage bags would be required and instead of renting a moving truck, I could leave my unnecessaries at the curb. I know my back would thank me for it.

But, with everything said and done, I now have a new place to live. Boxes are all unpacked and I'm about to put the last few things in their place. All and all, I'm happy for my new place but even happier that it's all over!

Now for the address changes! Eek!