HappyHappyDonut

If this were computing, we would talk about a core dump which is when your Unix–based system literally barfs everything, resulting in lost data and hours of waiting for your hard drive to stop spinning like crazy. However, since this is not about Unix, we'll use core dump as metaphor for catching up, which is what I intend to do.

The last 3 months, the period of time commencing with my return to work full–time and the début of summer school, have flown by. Autumn is almost here and if I blink too fast I feel like I have done nothing. When in fact I have done something. Well at least some stuff (with pictures to boot!)

Here goes:

• Went camping with HCW™ and Boy to the Diable Vert, a great rustic campground in the townships, a couple of times. Swimming, playing with Boy and more.
• Volunteered at the fifth edition of Roule–O–Max, the wheelchair relay race fundraiser that HCW™ founded five, I say five, years ago to sensitize the able–bodied to the reality of the physically handicapped. My role is two–fold: bring refreshments (hotdogs, watermelon, and water) to the other volunteers along the course; and to motivate the people in the race, while roller–skating up and down the course, which is considerably less of a slog than in a wheelchair. This last part is where I have the most fun, and is consequently, where most people find me a little too over–the–top. Take my weird sense of humour, translate it into French, and most of the time people are left bewildered. Some examples:
  • I would roll up beside slowpokes and remind them (in French) that it was the Turtle that won the race, and not the Hare
  • I would tell people who ran off the track that we didn't need help mowing the lawn
  • I would tell people on team 11 that that was like being number 1 ... twice
  • I would tell people on team 12 that that was like being number 1 and number 2
  • I would tell people how tired I was from roller–skating after only five minutes and that I was giving up (a reference to the Quebec–based 80s comedy troupe, le Groupe sanguin) and they should do the same
  • And many other wisecracks... including vaunting the merits of all–you–can–eat hot dogs just beyond the finish line
  That being said, though most people think I am too weird, they invite me back each year to be a volunteer. I suspect they don't know how hard it is to come up with dumb yet original jokes year after year, and in French to boot. One thing is sure though. They were happy to pay good money to put me on the dunking machine.
• Went camping chez a colleague of HCW™ last weekend. Got to go canoeing for the first time in at least 15 years. (Comparisons with Trudeau floated about.) Tried to remember all the cool stuff my Dad showed me on those great 10 and 11–day camping trips from the North (or was it South) Saskatchewan river on in to Banff with family and friends. Relaxed alot while Boy got dirty.
• Ate more apples in the last 2 days than in the last year. Yes, my boss provides free apples at work. Not only am I regular and more healthy in the process, but HCW™ is happy too!
• Ordered a high–bandwidth iSight video camera for my laptop... can't wait to set up iChat AV with my friend CFD and QuickTime Broadcaster so the PC hordes in my family and entourage can take part as well.
• Spent an afternoon riding out and back to Lachine by way of the Lachine canal
• Went to go see the Montreal Alouettes pound the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (for the second time in the less than a week) at the wonderful Molson Stadium, which is plunked into the side of Mount Royal. Paid $30 for a $20 ticket in the end zone cheap seats (and made someone at the Concordia Alumni Association happy) while also managing to see flying cheerleaders and the Als' freaky mascot.
• Had a wonderful dinner courtesy of Dan–O and Bri, along with Nic. D and Anne. D. and HCW™. Spent the evening making, then eating, copious amounts of sushi while Boy scavenged for remaining bits of dog chews, much to the dismay of Zoe, and I drank some nice red wine.
• Started my first–ever real cold–calling of customers at work (that first time years ago in Quebec City, where I tried to sell electronic catalogues in French to people who had barely heard of the Internet, doesn't count).
• Missed by an hour or two my friend Shannon as he passed through Montreal on his way to New Brunswick
• Scored a freaky, perfect 100% mark on my first assignment in my operations management class. My only worry now is that if it's like the time I hit a hole–in–one while playing golf and my game was shot for the rest of the day, it's all downhill from here. Anyway, an ode to the joys of the individual assignment. Groupwork is for the dogs.
• Started work on a parody of this site, called LapiJapiDonut — a play off of my nicknames for HCW™ and Boy. Took the pictures (Boy was more than happy to, but HCW™ was not up to it) but haven't set up the web page.
• Had a great birthday party with some of my bestest friends in the world. Only missing Maggie, Stevie and Shannon.
• Went to see the French language production of Chicago at Place des Arts with HCW™
• Plus whatever I wrote about for the last 2–3 months.

That's all I can think of for now. Still to come is my brother's wedding and the end of the school term.

Things I didn't do include:

• See The Hulk, Terminator 3, and a whole bunch of other movies...
• Go to the Fantasia film Festival, even though it was held right at Concordia.
• Visit my mother– and father–in–law
• The Gay Pride parade
• The Just For Laughs Festival
• The Jazz Festival
• Play any golf at all
• Plus a lot more I probably forget...

How was your summer? (Please tell me via the "Comments" link below.)

'Nuff said.

PS: For those of you who have been counting, this is my 115th entry into my blog. That's quite impressive. I'm thinking of doing a "best of" in a bound edition around the holidays... :-)