I'm Busy That Weekend...

There isn't much that could convince me to stay in Vancouver on the weekend of August 24th.

This is just too important.

Substitute

I don't know how I came across this page, but this guy could have stolen the part of the psycho in Silence of the Lambs.

The List is Incomplete

With a few spare moments left before I take my computer equipment apart to make way for my sister, I found this:

Canon XL1S

It quickly made it to the top of my previously mentioned "If someone I know wins the lottery, I hope they get me one of these" list.

Celine Will Kill Your iMac

This is a downright evil act on the part of Sony, the RIAA and every proponent of copy protection that feels the simple act of playing a CD in your computer should damage your hardware.

Some dark side of me thinks it serves people right for trying to listen to Celine Dion though.

Add It To The List

Another thing to add to my "If someone I know wins the lottery, I hope they get me one of these" list:

Larrivée L-09

Kung Fu Fighting

All I know about this particular martial art is that you can fend off approaching waiters with swift, painful chops and crush glassware like it was paper.

Midnight Oil Live

It was pretty awesome. Derek said it better than I could have.

What's Happening Here?

I'm not sure, but I think this guy is enjoying himself....whatever he's doing.

Big Changes Afoot

With the arrival of my sister just over a week from now, my apartment is undergoing some fundamental changes.

The office is going to become a second bedroom, with all the equipment that currently lives there being dispersed to various ad hoc storage nooks. The piano, guitars and various musical instrumentia are moving from my bedroom to the living room, the bike is rolling around looking for a new place to sleep and a lot of previously forgotten rubble has been unearthed.

I am constantly amazed at the amount of stuff I have stored throughout my place. This upheaval has identified a huge amount of clutter that I need to thin out. My background in Archaeology should help as I attempt to extract the valuable items from the strata of stuff that clogs my closets and drowns my desk.

James Brown is presently dispensing some sage advice: "Gotta get on the good foot"

Things Missed

Things I have missed while away in Spain:

• Tragically Hip


• Non-Smoking Sections


• Large bathroom/shower


• Tea with 'Las


• The Canucks winning 2 games in the playoffs


• My own bed

Things I didn't miss:

• Miserable weather


• Work


• Mayonnaise


• Overpriced, underserviced transit system


• English

Homeward Bound

After 16 days and many sights, sounds, tastes and Spanish lessons, it's time to go home.

I had a great time, even while living in close quarters with my sister for 2 weeks. Spain is a country worth returning to, and my interest in learning the language has been solidified.

Currently, I am sitting in the domestic departures wing of Pearson International, waiting for the gate call. The airport is boring and linear with low ceilings that make you feel trapped on the bottom bunk.

The flight from Spain was 8.5 hours, 40 of which was spent on the ground in Madrid as the ground crew tried to manually start the starboard engine after repeated attempts by the pilot & crew. I was a little nervous, wondering what else might decide to stop working while we were 30,000 feet over the Atlantic.

The plane pulled through like a trooper and landed us all safely just a few minutes ago. My fellow passengers were few and I had the luxury of stretching over a couple of chairs and catching some sleep after the tiny airplane meal was served. I quite like those little trays, with their Kinder-Suprise-like engineering that fits all of the pieces together in a snug little serving.

As we crossed the Atlantic I watched the deep-blue pass miles below. Waves would crest and break, creating a momentary flash of white so small they looked like twinkling stars.

Home is just a few hours away.

Spain is already a memory.

Quick Update

This is the hardest keyboard I have ever had to use. It is completely flat
and feels like I am typing on the hood of a car. My typing speed has been
reduced to about 8 wpm.

I am at an Internet terminal in the Cordoba Youth Hostel, right in the
middle of town. Cordoba is beautiful and very old, with narrow windy
streets, lots of ancient walls and many street vendors.

I was in Seville for a few days and saw quite a bit, including an impromptu
symphony in a small square. We took the train here yesterday, and this
afternoon, I will be on the ultra high-speed AVE to Madrid. It apparently
reaches speeds of 280 km/h, which seems impossibly fast for ground
transport.

There is much more to say, but this terminal will run out soon, and my
fingers are getting bruised trying to mash my words out on this surface.

A tip before I go: If you drink tea, as I do, do not order it here in
Spain...it is shockingly bad.