Dec 30th. Almost 2008.
Usually at the end of the year I like to write about the year in summary, and plans for the year to come. But not this post. I just haven't thought enough about it.
Christmas is by and gone, and I'm sorta glad it is. I spent a pile of time with family, and a little with friends. To tell you the truth, that wasn't all that enjoyable. When my family comes together it seems forced at times, not to mention the tension when all three generations are in one room. Thats ok though, I only do it once a year, and it was nice to see my oma and gramma.
I DID get fairly spoiled, and I'm pretty grateful of how fortunate I am, and not just because of the gifts.
Tomorrow is New Years Eve, and bring on the parties. Except I'm really not in the mood to fork over $$ for an overpriced ticket somewhere, and no lucrative offers came up. So I'm probably doing nothing tomorrow night, which would probably be the first time ever. If only I cared...
Thanks for reading, and happy new year...
'He buzzes like a fridge, he's like a detuned radio'
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Deadbeat Holiday
This is probably my last post before the 25th. I'm heading over to my parents house for a few days, and won't be around a computer. I imagine it won't be long before I'm bored out of my mind, but that's not the point.
I'm not as excited as I have been about christmas, but once I get to my parents I'm sure that'll all change. We aren't cooking a bird for christmas, and that's fine by me. My parents would rather make something they want than be traditional. I like that.
Anyway, When I come home I imagine I'll have an armload. I'm giving away an armload as well, which is fun. Sometimes I think that I'm a pretty generous guy, but I always seem embarrassed by how little I give at christmas. I think I have a distorted look on it. Anyway, I got people some pretty cool stuff I think.
I've been burning dvd's for people for days. I think I made like 20. Not that I mind doing stuff for people, I just don't want to ever go through the process of making a dvd on my computer ever again.
I hope it's all good for you like it is for me.
'Now's the right time, for a good song'
I'm not as excited as I have been about christmas, but once I get to my parents I'm sure that'll all change. We aren't cooking a bird for christmas, and that's fine by me. My parents would rather make something they want than be traditional. I like that.
Anyway, When I come home I imagine I'll have an armload. I'm giving away an armload as well, which is fun. Sometimes I think that I'm a pretty generous guy, but I always seem embarrassed by how little I give at christmas. I think I have a distorted look on it. Anyway, I got people some pretty cool stuff I think.
I've been burning dvd's for people for days. I think I made like 20. Not that I mind doing stuff for people, I just don't want to ever go through the process of making a dvd on my computer ever again.
I hope it's all good for you like it is for me.
'Now's the right time, for a good song'
Friday, December 21, 2007
Mother Superior
My mom has been going through a tough process at work. She's been trying to get a job that's been posted in upper management, and she had was told earlier in the year that she couldn't get it. So she looked for a similar job elsewhere, and found an upper management job in Victoria that was in the same field. When Nanaimo heard she was leaving, they offered her an opportunity to apply for the job here. So she stayed.
That was a while back. Yesterday my mom had the job interview, and was offered the job. She took it, and I'm pretty stoked. She gets her own truck! I'm just happy for her I guess. For my mom I think the holidays are going to be good no matter what happens from here on in.
Hope you have a moment like this over the break, where you can weigh all the time against one moment, and decide that the holidays were good or successful.
'Cold comfort for change'
That was a while back. Yesterday my mom had the job interview, and was offered the job. She took it, and I'm pretty stoked. She gets her own truck! I'm just happy for her I guess. For my mom I think the holidays are going to be good no matter what happens from here on in.
Hope you have a moment like this over the break, where you can weigh all the time against one moment, and decide that the holidays were good or successful.
'Cold comfort for change'
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Blood
A poker tournament.
$4 buy-in, 180 person sit'n'go, 215$ first place, 18 get paid, I got 4th. Those are the particulars. I think part of my strength as a poker player is being able to scrutinize my own play effectively. I made 2 smart plays and 2 bad plays over the almost 4 hours that I played, and it cost me winning more money.
Bad Move #1
I was in the small blind with 55 people left, and I was below average stack wise, but not low. I had been unsuccessful at stealing blinds, and I decided that I needed these blinds to start building back up. So when it was folded back to me, I pushed with 10/3. And I got called by the big blind, who had 9/q. I rivered a ten to double up, but what a bad play. I was impatient and it should have busto'd me in 55th. Luck.
Good Move #1
19 people left. On the bubble of making the money. I'm in 11th, and comfortable. I wind up in this hand with another guy that doesn't feel right, and I'm afraid I'm going to lose my stack. I have k/9 and the board reads k/6/2/6/9. The way the guy was betting didn't tell me anything, and when he shoved on the river, I was stuck. I tanked, and thought for at least a minute (half hoping someone else at another table would bust in the meantime) before folding. The guy flashed a 6, and refused to believe me when I said I had k/9.
Good Move #2
9 players left, and I'm excited that I'm actually going to make money. I'm in 4th. I see q/8 on the dealer button, and everyone folds to me. So i raise, and the big blind calls. The flop comes j/5/4, and the big blind bets out. I had played with him for over an hour, and eventually decided he was trying to steal. So I raised, and he folded to my resteal. With that hand I set a standard of stealing that would put me into first and give me a great shot.
Bad Move #2
4 people left, and the top 3 make decent money. My aim was for top 3. In 2nd place, I got into an unraised hand with the chip leader and the last place guy. I had j/q. flop comes 8/10/q. I think that because I was basically invincible until this point, I thought I could win the hand. I bet, CL raised, I thought and shoved. He instacalled with j/9, and I didn't improve. Patience would have been so much smarter, and the next hand someone else went busto. 2 hands, and the difference between me making 60$ or a lot more.
'home again, I like to be here when I can'
$4 buy-in, 180 person sit'n'go, 215$ first place, 18 get paid, I got 4th. Those are the particulars. I think part of my strength as a poker player is being able to scrutinize my own play effectively. I made 2 smart plays and 2 bad plays over the almost 4 hours that I played, and it cost me winning more money.
Bad Move #1
I was in the small blind with 55 people left, and I was below average stack wise, but not low. I had been unsuccessful at stealing blinds, and I decided that I needed these blinds to start building back up. So when it was folded back to me, I pushed with 10/3. And I got called by the big blind, who had 9/q. I rivered a ten to double up, but what a bad play. I was impatient and it should have busto'd me in 55th. Luck.
Good Move #1
19 people left. On the bubble of making the money. I'm in 11th, and comfortable. I wind up in this hand with another guy that doesn't feel right, and I'm afraid I'm going to lose my stack. I have k/9 and the board reads k/6/2/6/9. The way the guy was betting didn't tell me anything, and when he shoved on the river, I was stuck. I tanked, and thought for at least a minute (half hoping someone else at another table would bust in the meantime) before folding. The guy flashed a 6, and refused to believe me when I said I had k/9.
Good Move #2
9 players left, and I'm excited that I'm actually going to make money. I'm in 4th. I see q/8 on the dealer button, and everyone folds to me. So i raise, and the big blind calls. The flop comes j/5/4, and the big blind bets out. I had played with him for over an hour, and eventually decided he was trying to steal. So I raised, and he folded to my resteal. With that hand I set a standard of stealing that would put me into first and give me a great shot.
Bad Move #2
4 people left, and the top 3 make decent money. My aim was for top 3. In 2nd place, I got into an unraised hand with the chip leader and the last place guy. I had j/q. flop comes 8/10/q. I think that because I was basically invincible until this point, I thought I could win the hand. I bet, CL raised, I thought and shoved. He instacalled with j/9, and I didn't improve. Patience would have been so much smarter, and the next hand someone else went busto. 2 hands, and the difference between me making 60$ or a lot more.
'home again, I like to be here when I can'
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Echo
Christmas vacay is in full swing. And it's good to be here. I actually have next to nothing to write about, as I've been doing next to nothing (kinda the plan all along). Did some christmas type shit, you know.
So I'm listening to this song today, and it got me interested in the title. So I'll work backwards and tell you the story.
April 2006 in Tasmania. There's a mine with 17 guys working when an earthquake collapses the mine. 14 guys get out right away, and one guy is crushed to death from collapsed rock. Two men remain alive, but they're trapped real good, and almost a kilometer below the surface. Both had minor injuries, but were ok.
The two men survived by drinking ground water. The one guy had a muesli bar with him, and they waited a few days before splitting it (although one guy dropped and lost most of his half). Weak. The mine was still pretty unsafe for any rescue efforts, but some blasting was done to try and regain the tunnel, and find the men. Nobody knew they were still alive at that point.
After 5 days, thermal imaging revealed that the two men were still alive. So above ground they were scrambling to figure something out, underground the boys were entertaining hope. The blasting stopped because it was too dangerous, and a small hole was drilled all the way down (about 9cm's wide). Water, food, and communications were delivered. They would be given stuff until a bigger hole could be drilled to get them out.
When asked what they wanted, one guy said that he wanted an mp3 player with some foo fighters music. So along with letters from family, deoderant, warm clothes, and light, the guys got their ipod. And a letter from Dave Grohl. "Though I'm halfway around the world right now, my heart is with you both, and I want you to know that when you come home, there's two tickets to any Foos show, anywhere, and two cold beers waiting for yous. Deal?"
So after 14 days underground, the guys were pulled through a drilled hole, and walked out. They went to the mine gate, switched their safety tags to 'safe', and went home.
Eventually, Grohl was taken up on his offer... And over a year later, the Foo Fighter's released their latest album. Check out track 9.
'Half of the time we're gone, but we don't know where'
So I'm listening to this song today, and it got me interested in the title. So I'll work backwards and tell you the story.
April 2006 in Tasmania. There's a mine with 17 guys working when an earthquake collapses the mine. 14 guys get out right away, and one guy is crushed to death from collapsed rock. Two men remain alive, but they're trapped real good, and almost a kilometer below the surface. Both had minor injuries, but were ok.
The two men survived by drinking ground water. The one guy had a muesli bar with him, and they waited a few days before splitting it (although one guy dropped and lost most of his half). Weak. The mine was still pretty unsafe for any rescue efforts, but some blasting was done to try and regain the tunnel, and find the men. Nobody knew they were still alive at that point.
After 5 days, thermal imaging revealed that the two men were still alive. So above ground they were scrambling to figure something out, underground the boys were entertaining hope. The blasting stopped because it was too dangerous, and a small hole was drilled all the way down (about 9cm's wide). Water, food, and communications were delivered. They would be given stuff until a bigger hole could be drilled to get them out.
When asked what they wanted, one guy said that he wanted an mp3 player with some foo fighters music. So along with letters from family, deoderant, warm clothes, and light, the guys got their ipod. And a letter from Dave Grohl. "Though I'm halfway around the world right now, my heart is with you both, and I want you to know that when you come home, there's two tickets to any Foos show, anywhere, and two cold beers waiting for yous. Deal?"
So after 14 days underground, the guys were pulled through a drilled hole, and walked out. They went to the mine gate, switched their safety tags to 'safe', and went home.
Eventually, Grohl was taken up on his offer... And over a year later, the Foo Fighter's released their latest album. Check out track 9.
'Half of the time we're gone, but we don't know where'
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Piglet's Lament
Ahh yes. A lament. Seems the time of year when I hear a lot of laments. So I decided to hear Piglet's. I think that if you have your own laments, you can gain some perspective and/or insight from listening to others. Anyways, Piglet.
So Piglet is mourning, and I'm doing my best to listen. He's too small he says, and I'm too respectful to interject and point out that his friend Roo is actually smaller. He goes on in his squeaky voice. Apparently too many people don't take him seriously, but he's too timid to take a stand for himself.
I reassure him that size has no bearing on will, which he has in spades. Humble as always, Piglet continues to try to find faults in himself. Of course, Piglet has a friend who laments much more. Eeyore spends most of his time moping around and sympathizing for his own 'bothersome' situation.
After listening to Piglet, and considering Eeyore's case, I come to my own conclusion. And I'm keeping it to myself.
'Now I'm getting that sick taste in my mouth'
So Piglet is mourning, and I'm doing my best to listen. He's too small he says, and I'm too respectful to interject and point out that his friend Roo is actually smaller. He goes on in his squeaky voice. Apparently too many people don't take him seriously, but he's too timid to take a stand for himself.
I reassure him that size has no bearing on will, which he has in spades. Humble as always, Piglet continues to try to find faults in himself. Of course, Piglet has a friend who laments much more. Eeyore spends most of his time moping around and sympathizing for his own 'bothersome' situation.
After listening to Piglet, and considering Eeyore's case, I come to my own conclusion. And I'm keeping it to myself.
'Now I'm getting that sick taste in my mouth'
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Tired Of You
Can't wait until 9pm.
Two hours until I write my History exam, and I need a breather. Open book exams have never kicked my ass like this before. I've almost mastered this psychological exam feeling I get. I tend to study and prepare well enough, but lose interest in getting a good mark close to writing time. I then just plug through it, not really caring how I do, as long as I never have to look at it again. I've been working on that, trying to keep interest for long enough to prepare and write a good test.
One more exam after history, on Thursday morning. That'll be a breeze. I'm not even worried about research methods.
If I had stuck with my original program at school, I would have graduated this week with my teaching degree. Instead I'll grad in the spring with a degree that I think is more versatile. All the friends I made in that program are applying to teach now, which is kinda weird. Had a few 'grown up' moments this week actually.
Anyway, I applied for a few jobs but didnt really follow up, so I don't really have much to do over the break. Which is nice, but bad on the bankroll. I plan on working out lots, spending time with family and friends, and brushing up on some weak parts of my online poker game. I have been playing single table tournaments (stt's) really well, and totally sucking in multi table tournaments (mtt's). It's a totally different game, and I seem to get good at one and forget how to play the other. Me and blake will pound out some hours and figure out our bugs.
Peace love and understanding...
'I'm sure of your ability, to become my perfect enemy'
Two hours until I write my History exam, and I need a breather. Open book exams have never kicked my ass like this before. I've almost mastered this psychological exam feeling I get. I tend to study and prepare well enough, but lose interest in getting a good mark close to writing time. I then just plug through it, not really caring how I do, as long as I never have to look at it again. I've been working on that, trying to keep interest for long enough to prepare and write a good test.
One more exam after history, on Thursday morning. That'll be a breeze. I'm not even worried about research methods.
If I had stuck with my original program at school, I would have graduated this week with my teaching degree. Instead I'll grad in the spring with a degree that I think is more versatile. All the friends I made in that program are applying to teach now, which is kinda weird. Had a few 'grown up' moments this week actually.
Anyway, I applied for a few jobs but didnt really follow up, so I don't really have much to do over the break. Which is nice, but bad on the bankroll. I plan on working out lots, spending time with family and friends, and brushing up on some weak parts of my online poker game. I have been playing single table tournaments (stt's) really well, and totally sucking in multi table tournaments (mtt's). It's a totally different game, and I seem to get good at one and forget how to play the other. Me and blake will pound out some hours and figure out our bugs.
Peace love and understanding...
'I'm sure of your ability, to become my perfect enemy'
Saturday, December 8, 2007
If I Had It All
It's the weekend and I am so unmotivated to study for exams. I went to the pool and swam, except I suck at water. I was tired after 0.5 lengths. Anyway, the steam room was goood. My parents made me dinner tonight, and I miss good food.
If you need a song, dmb has a good one called "if i had it all". Definitely a goodie. I like songs that actually sing about something.
I'll be one roommate down soon as Saul is heading to Mexico. I hope he brings back something good (tequila, herpes, something...).
Anyway, bring on American history for the last time.
'There are no flowers, no not this time, there'll be no angels gracing the lines'
If you need a song, dmb has a good one called "if i had it all". Definitely a goodie. I like songs that actually sing about something.
I'll be one roommate down soon as Saul is heading to Mexico. I hope he brings back something good (tequila, herpes, something...).
Anyway, bring on American history for the last time.
'There are no flowers, no not this time, there'll be no angels gracing the lines'
Friday, December 7, 2007
Roller Queen
Just finished exam #1. Two more to go, and I feel the break coming. It's still around the corner, but it's close. Damn this fall flew by. I can't wait to rest and play video games and poker. I haven't blogged much on the basis that school sucks. I've been pretty stressed lately. I'm calling this in the air, I'm gonna be sick a week today.
I haven't played music for like 3 weeks, and half our band is leaving for the break. Which is pretty lame. I have this sinking feeling that we will never do anything together except play in our house. After the spring, 3 of the 4 of us will be graduated, and we all won't be sticking around. It sucks because I would much rather play with friends than play with better musicians that weren't as good friends.
In my wildest dreams I would love to make something happen musically, whether it be a live show or something bigger. In reality I am really busy, and this music thing HAS to take a back seat to school. So I have to try not to get frustrated with our lack of direction and enjoy the little time we have left. At most we play a few times a week, and sometimes it goes weeks in between sessions. The best part about playing music with these guys is that we can combine our skill set (albeit a limited set at that) to actually produce a sound I am proud of. That's the part I'll remember most.
Thanks for stoppin by.
'And how can we win, when fools can be kings'
I haven't played music for like 3 weeks, and half our band is leaving for the break. Which is pretty lame. I have this sinking feeling that we will never do anything together except play in our house. After the spring, 3 of the 4 of us will be graduated, and we all won't be sticking around. It sucks because I would much rather play with friends than play with better musicians that weren't as good friends.
In my wildest dreams I would love to make something happen musically, whether it be a live show or something bigger. In reality I am really busy, and this music thing HAS to take a back seat to school. So I have to try not to get frustrated with our lack of direction and enjoy the little time we have left. At most we play a few times a week, and sometimes it goes weeks in between sessions. The best part about playing music with these guys is that we can combine our skill set (albeit a limited set at that) to actually produce a sound I am proud of. That's the part I'll remember most.
Thanks for stoppin by.
'And how can we win, when fools can be kings'
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Viginti Tres
I'm still in awe.
Tool was amazing. We got to our spots a little early, and it felt like it took them forever to come out. It was well worth the wait. Although very quirky, Maynard is a hell of an artist. He sort of stayed in the background the whole time, never really acting like the clichéd rockstar frontman.
Danny Carey had a sick drum solo when Tool played 46 and 2, and it stole the show. The guy is such a sick drummer. He had like a 30 piece set in front of him. Pretty intense. I basically stood there in a hypnotic state for an hour and a half.
I really wanted to hear Parabol/Parabola, but they didn't play it, which wound up being ok. I would say the best song was probably Rosetta Stoned, just because of the mid section. So amazing. Anyways, we made it home despite the road conditions. Now back to the books I guess.
School might be canceled tomorrow. Don't tease me.
'Angels on the sideline, puzzled and amused'
Tool was amazing. We got to our spots a little early, and it felt like it took them forever to come out. It was well worth the wait. Although very quirky, Maynard is a hell of an artist. He sort of stayed in the background the whole time, never really acting like the clichéd rockstar frontman.
Danny Carey had a sick drum solo when Tool played 46 and 2, and it stole the show. The guy is such a sick drummer. He had like a 30 piece set in front of him. Pretty intense. I basically stood there in a hypnotic state for an hour and a half.
I really wanted to hear Parabol/Parabola, but they didn't play it, which wound up being ok. I would say the best song was probably Rosetta Stoned, just because of the mid section. So amazing. Anyways, we made it home despite the road conditions. Now back to the books I guess.
School might be canceled tomorrow. Don't tease me.
'Angels on the sideline, puzzled and amused'
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