Nickel and Diming

I hate x-mas shopping at the best of times. When I have little money to play with it only intensifies my distaste and difficulties with picking the right gifts for people. That said, I'm down to just my mom and Carolyn left to shop for, and still have 2 weeks to go. I tend to start my shopping early every year now to take advantage of the best online store/eBay deals I can find, but after a couple weeks, I can't take all the 'shopping' anymore and want to get on with the 'buying' and be done with it. It still has to be better than waiting til the 23rd or 24th.

Having gotten tired of the 'christmas cheer' from walks around the lights in Waterloo park this week (and watching, on multiple occasions, old people ignoring signs and driving their cars right down the main pedestrian pathway), we decided to go for a walk around in the Galt portion of Cambridge along the river. 9:30 on a Tuesday night, no record shops, but no people either; it was a ghost town. The rain I'm sure had a little to do with that (and made taking pictures less than spectacular), but with a major construction project on the main bridge, and the architecture school out for exams, the most activity was a lone patron and a bartender sitting and watching a hockey game in an old, run-down bar.

It was a welcome change from the blaring carols on the outdoor speakers at the park, or the mall easy-listening versions of the same tunes while dodging ignorant and impatient people who feel the number of bags they are carrying is positively correlated to their importance in society.

Capitalizing on the Spirit of X-Mas

After looking on and off at Digital SLR cameras for over a year, and moreso since the dollar hit parity with the US, I couldn't pass up the deal on my new Digital Rebel XT.

For the most part I had done all the research comparing the entry level SLR models months ago, so it only took a little more reading, and an assuring e-mail from px about the performance of his, albeit higher end, but comparable camera.

Also impressive was that I got the camera in the mail one and a half business days after I confirmed purchase online, despite the number of units (1000 of my camera model alone) they must have been shipping out. Mark one in favour of the efficiency of a big box chain I suppose.

I've barely scratched the surface on its function use so far, and have been extremely impressed. I've expertly captured (lucked into) some nice shots already, but I'm sure there will be plenty more to come, so I'll hold those back for now, and wow you all with some outstanding birthday shots on my old camera.

Despite only a few of the people 'maybe attending' showing up, the birthday was a blast. Rounds of shots, with not a single prairie fire consumed, NTN trivia, a rumble in the streetside garden 5 feet from the bar, and a scarf not more than 6 hours old (a gift from the girlfriend no less) lost and presumably donated to a homeless man. The hangover didn't even really bring home the fact that I was another year older this time around.

X-mas around here was, as expected, a low key affair. But New Years is going to put an end to all the relaxing, a trip to a friend's cottage for a few days ironically is going to be the least relaxing part of my holidays. Though it should provide some great opportunities to play with my new toy. A lengthy photo post here should follow.

Happy New Year.

The Christians Need to Reclaim Christmas

I forget what network was touting this story line, but I am pretty sure it was the local CTV outlet advertising a segment on Christmas, and asking the question along the lines of "is it time for Christians to reclaim Christmas?" Are they serious!? First of all, I guarantee that its some of the purest 'Christians' our there that go and inflate numbers to the point that the average person spends $1000 on x-mas gifts, and buy into the whole commercialism they turn around and say is tainting the holiday.

But at this point, when the mission for many seems to be to convert the world anyways, why not embrace that everyone has bought into a holiday that in many cases transcends religious borders. Its not just Christians that are buying Christmas presents, and sharing in a sense of community around this time of year. While some downplay the issue, or keep low key during the holidays, there are plenty more that engage in the same gift giving, camaraderie and such that the 'holiday season' has really become; and after all, isn't that the point?

If some Jesus figure was to become the latest incarnate and come along and see people more or less enjoying getting together with people for the holidays, wouldn't they praise it? I sure didn't complain when one of the girls at the lab last term brought in pastries for everyone for Diwali, and I guarantee there will be no Hindu outcry against me for partaking in part of the ritual of one of their sacred days. But the Christians say its time to restake claim to the holiday? I say its a bunch of bullshit inspired by guilty conscience for not living up to what you feel your scripture asks of you, combined with an elitist mentality.

No need to start a crusade against commercialism or whatever else if you're one of these people with a guilty conscience, just go to church at more than just Christmas and Easter. For the rest of us who just see it as a time to relax, and for those that aren't wracked with guilt, grab some eggnog, and enjoy your new toys and drinking with your friends and family. It will be back to work soon enough.

In all honesty, happy holidays to everyone, regardless of your beliefs. Let me know if you see any good boxing day deals on Digital SLR cameras.

"..shorter of breath, and one day closer to death."

Yes friends, its that day of the year again. Late December, the most important birthday of the year. No uncertainty or fictitiousness about this one, unfortunately.

I'll be spending my day playing games, and making sure to not be heading uptown on an empty stomach. The night will undoubtedly be spent drinking, and fielding questions about if/when/why/why not I'm going back to school/work; questions that I've been hearing all to often lately. I suppose if I'd just make up my mind it would make things a lot easier. Perhaps I'll just go with lying to people for the night. In any case, I'm sure the questions will be met with abrupt responses, so if you're reading this ahead of meeting me at the bar tonight, you've been warned. If you're not reading it till after you've talked to me tonight, you know why I was that way.

And here's hoping I'm actually functional enough tomorrow to go out and finish grabbing a few little gifts for x-mas so I don't have to go out at all this weekend in the madness.

Cheers.


Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an off hand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun

And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but its sinking
And racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in the relative way, but youre older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death

Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the english way
The time is gone, the song is over, thought Id something more to say

Home, home again
I like to be here when I can
And when I come home cold and tired
Its good to warm my bones beside the fire
Far away across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spells.
Time - Pink Floyd

I Never Went to Junior High

The Catholic school board I was brought up in didn't have a junior high; just elementary and highschool each with its own little divisions, for what mostly seemed to be inter-school sport competition purposes. That said, it was shortly after the middle school/junior highschool time period had I been in school that I started mailing it in effort-wise.

It comes as no surprise then that I haven't written here for a few weeks after having been certified as a junior high accomplished blog 'writer'.

Three months at work has flown by, but it hasn't changed the status of my bachelors thesis, which is still a work in progress. I've stretched the definitions of the words 'work' and 'progress'. Its December 1st, and the people with the gaudiest of x-mas decorations already have them blazing at night. The mall parking lots are packed, and I have next to no ideas for gift giving this year, though I know none of them will be decorative x-mas coffee mugs or glasses.

Why is it that people give these little sets as gifts? 4 or 6 glasses at a time that don't fit with all the other tacky sets that are given during the holidays every year. We have at least 4 different sets sitting in boxes in the fruit cellar that never see the light of day, and likely never will. Its where poinsettia laced, reindeer printed glasses go to die.

And now its time to go dream up gift ideas that are only moderately better than a box of glasses.

Rock Dungeon

I spent the last two days at work cutting rock core in the basement of one of the biology buildings. Dirty, wet, loud, and yet peaceful. Working for 15 hours in a two day period, I didn't see a single living person down there.

That's not to say that I saw any dead people either, though at least one person has died down there; from my recollection, a girl who hung herself from the pipes during midterms the year before I started my degree. Things like this happen more often than you'd think to students, but the school does its best to hide the realities of these things. Probably for the best for the families of the dead.

But a few days down there to yourself, not bothered by anyone, and taking your life should be the last thing on your mind. Plus, I had some time to work on some do-it-yourself (read cheap) x-mas gifts. I know, with all my bitterness and contempt for winter, I should be punched in the face for mentioning it, but hey, I've learned you have to jump on these things when they present themselves...kind of like...well never mind. Steak's on..