It has been way too long.
Where have the last 2 months gone. Oh right, there is a strike at work and I have been filling in for going on 8 weeks now. Things are being paid for much faster than expected. Like the law out front for example, and the rest of the landscaping. Or maybe it was the two suites I bought in the span of a week. And then the very expensive health club membership. (Only 2 minutes from work.)
Well not exactly 100% much faster. More like 47% much faster. 47% being what is left after my marginal tax rate kicks in. The joy of living in Quebec.
But we have a lawn now.
Things are going well on the career side. Much positive feedback--direct and indirect. I seem to be doing all the right things. One of the advantages of having been through every sh*t situation imaginable in my previous jobs, now I am able to head everything off at the past. Redirect the chi if you will. Not that things have gotten political or that I am getting squeezed. Rather, I know now more than ever about what do and when so that things just flow. So much so, that I am freaking out one of my cube mates, who has been taken aback by networking efforts to date. I have encouraged him to replace the old maxim 'WWJD?' aka 'What Would Jesus Do?' with a more practical, up-to-date, 'WWKD?'
Recent meetings with my 2 mentors--one at work, one outside--have been very fulfilling.
Oh and we have a pool now too. Swam maybe a half dozen times before it got a little cold. BOught a pool heater but we will wait until next spring to hook up. Use the cashflow for other priorities. Memorable swims include making jokes with my Mah about Shamu the whale from SeaWorld, and
my bestfriend Shannon and the two Ashleys and a denommé Bubbaloo.
Got to Biodome in there as well. Still haven't been to La Ronde though.
As of 2 weeks now, I am in back in school as well. Figure 6 hours class plus 6 hours study per week plus the 58.5 hours work (w/ strike pay) plus 12.5 hours combined commute and that doesn't leave much time for anything else. I made a decision to finish what I started, since the original impetus/rationale for doing another degree is not as present as it once was.
HCW™ is good, and so is the HockeyDog. Anxious he is like me for the NHL season to start so we can don our jerseys out on the street. We continue to play shimmy and every once in a while, I have to give him a slash across the teeth so that he will back down ... it's only a game!!!
There was another trip to Rimouski in there as well, inlcuding go-karting and Texas-sized sushi (too much!).
Still no big ass TV in there but my T shares are accumulating nicely. Maybe look for some action on my part in the weeks before Christmas when I would actually have time to appreciate it.
The coming weeks are full of the usual. Work--study--sleep. Rinse once and repeat. Reformat and add to PowerPoint. 'nuff said.