Flying High For Pie

I've had an iPhone since April. One of the advantages of such a device is that it is not simply a mobile phone, but also sports web browsing, email and a whole raft of applications.

Today I'm blogging whilst aboard the Queen of Cowachan, en route to Nanaiamo, Vancouver Island. I've been in BC since Sunday, staying with my since-kindergarten-friend, Sharon in Burnaby. I'm here to celebrate my 40th birthday come Thursday.

I've always enjoyed reading blogs that incorporate photos along with the story, so here we go...




THIS WAS A FIRST FOR ME: TO WATCH THE DE-ICING PROCESS. THERE'S A GUY WHO SITS IN A POD, WHILE A DRIVER RUNS THE TRUCK AROUND THE PLANE. THE POD OPERATOR CAN MOVE THE POD UP AND DOWN THE BODY OF THE PLANE. THE DE-ICER IS TINTED PINK, MUCH LIKE DRYWALL PRIMER.







COMPARATIVE SHOTS: THE WEATHER IN CALGARY ON DEPARTURE, THE ENVIRONMENT ABOVE THE WEATHER, ON DESCENT AND ON THE GROUND IN VANCOUVER.








THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS EXPEDITION IS TO CELEBRATE MY 40TH BIRTHDAY WITH PIE FROM THE CHILLIWACK AIRPORT. ON MY ARRIVAL, SHARON PICKED ME UP AND WE DROVE TO THE AIRPORT AT CHILLIWACK WHICH IS HOME TO A GREAT LITTLE DINER. WE SAT IN FOR LUNCH AND PICKED UP OUR PRE-ORDERED PIES. FOR ME, IT WAS THE LONG-ANTICIPATED COCONUT CREAM - WHICH I HAVE CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTY FINDING IN CALGARY. SHARON'S FRIEND MALA HAD US ORDER A BANANNA CREAM FOR HER, AND I PICKED UP A BLUEBERRY PIE FOR THE TREK TO NANIAMO. WE ALSO CELEBRATED WITH A GOOD BOTTLE OF SCOTCH: GLENMORANGIE WITH A SHERRY FINISH.






LIKE ME, SHARON TENDS TO TAKE PICTURES OF ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING. HERE SHE'S PHTOGRAPHING THE ONE PIECE OF CARAMEL SOMETHING-OR-OTHER THAT SHE PICKED UP FOR ANOTHER FRIEND WHO'S ALSO CELEBRATING 40 THIS WEEK. SHE HOWEVER, COULD NOT JOIN US IN OUR FESTIVITIES.
LATER, SHARON SNAPS A SHOT OF SOME CREAM PIE THAT INTRIGUED HER.







MALA THEN SNAPS A PHOTO OF ME SNAPPING A PHOTO OF SHRON'S PHOTO.

...to be continued

As I ready the Armchair Year in Review...

...something happened today that caused me to laugh.

About 4:30 this afternoon I was invited for dinner downstairs. It happens frequently, and is pretty casual. I usually end up taking a salad and maybe a bottle of juice or wine.

Tonight it was wine, but I'd forgotten the salad tongs. I found out that April doesn't own any salad tongs.

"Odd,"

I thought to myself,

"she's vegetarian."

Not that being vegetarian automatically means there would be no question about the tongs, but really... do you see why I was a little surprised. Before I headed upstairs to grab my beautiful wooden set, I thought it smart to ask,

"...you have a corkscrew?"

just in case. The response?

"Of course I have a corkscrew... I'm vegetarian!'

So, there you have it.

Who knew?

For a joke during dinner, I suddenly exclaimed,

"Oh my gosh, I p'd on the table!"

"What!?"

"Look!"

I simply had to share...

...this

2010

Welcome to the New Year.

In fact, welcome to the new decade. Where did ten years go? I heard a girl on the radio today. She was talking about that very thing. Her topic of conversation was music, but she still asked the all-important question.

Time, indeed, marches on.

I was thinking of posting before the clock struck 12, but was really quite busy. You see, this is the first New Years Eve I've had off in... 23 years? The boys are out there doing their thing, and here I sit contemplating stuff and things.

In actual fact, I got a bit of a bug today - a bug to organize! Check this out:



The office. I should have taken a 'before' shot for comparison, but take my word for it: it's been a zoo here. This feels great, and it's my theme for the next couple days, anyway.

I may still post a 'year in review' of sorts since I really didn't blog much last year. Back to the organizing - which feels really good, by the way!

Until then...

A lack of information...

As I was logging on to Blogger just now I was stumped for a post title.

After log-in, I noticed I've posted 411 times since opening the Armchair in 2005. I thought to myself,

"Hmm... 411... that's like the number you dial for information."

Certainly there hasn't been a lot of that here in recent months. In fact, it's been over a month since I last checked in. I've felt sluggish about blogging, and have really been out of my normal operating mode: no pottery, no yoga, no English classes.

I have been busy though. Work's been monopolizing my time - catching up on housekeeping matters and keeping my eye on the horizon has been a full-time-and-then-some job. In some ways I feel like I've slipped from "ship's captain" back down to "grunt of the sea", but perhaps it's a captain's duty to do what needs to be done for the benefit of the whole. I'm looking forward to climbing myself back up on to the look-out tower in January if only to get a big-picture view of not only the work world, but my life (and lifestyle) as a whole.

As I approach 40, (about six weeks away) I'm finding myself a wee bit confused. The calendar says I'm almost 4-0, but in my mind I feel much younger. The other day I had a wee panic about it. I thought about all the stuff I haven't done yet, where I thought I might be by now, and really - what my true-to-life position really is.

For the last number of years I've madly been defending myself against what typically happens to self-employed folks - becoming married to my job. It happened in my 20s and early 30s, and those on the outside would probably say I've done a pretty good job of finding good wholesome activity to provide a counter to the insanity that can and does easily take over.

Today marks 23 years (1986) since we did our first event for actual dollars. The next year will see some significant changes in how we go about making those dollars, not to mention what will get done with those dollars. The challenge will be to somehow "box up" the work so I don't slide into the abyss. I love my work, really. Trouble is I love a lot of other things too, and I want to fit it all in.

The next post will touch on a couple gifts I picked up for the business - both of which should help keep a lid on boss's hourly involvement,

On the list for January: Pump up the biz, Back to pottery (remember pottery??) and a wee bit of travel... oh, and more blogging!

Stay tuned...

Small Victories

Ever slogged away at something only to feel fruitless in your endeavours?

That's kinda how I've felt over the last couple months. Each step forward seemed to be met with two or three back - or even more confusing, sideways. Every so often though, I'd experience some kind of victory, however small, perhaps just enough to encourage me to keep going.

Today I had one of those days - a Small Victories day. All the phone calls I made or took seemed to yield good fortune and forward motion. Email traffic was similar in nature, and what breaks I took were enough to refocus and return to moving forward.

I've spent the day working away at the University - away from my home office. I think it's a good move to work here since the space I work in ISN'T my home. In fact, working in a computer lab with upwards of 60 other people at any given time puts me in 'work' mode, but also around people. I need that; it puts a whole new spin on my day. Also, since I'm not in a position to take a class this term, it keeps me motivated and excited to get back to class in January... maybe.

Not everything has been Rosy, but with today's positive vibe, the mix is easier to take. I'm on my way home to find out what went crazy-wrong on Friday to effectively take out three speaker cabinets at an event.

It smells expensive.

Dance as you go!

Since you asked...

It's been one of those days -- you know the times when one thing after another seems to complicate your progress?

I'm finding a great deal of inspiration in music. It seems I'm not the only one who's "been there". As a small business guy, I'm convinced this song was written for me.

I know you think if you take that leap
You'll be in too deep, at the mercy of the current.
Winds are high, the cliff is steep.
The sharp drop-off acts like a deterrent.

Walk out into the great unknown.
You'll never finish if you don't get started.
How about you take that one small step
Into the world that's still uncharted.

I know you feel if you sing your tune
You'll be doomed to being a one-hit wonder.
Burn too brightly, peak too soon;
Gotta get out from the cloud you're under.

Some folks are gonna do you wrong
Because you do the things they wanted to but couldn't.
They'll try to cast doubt, that's their siren song.
You'll be tempted to listen, but really you shouldn't.

Every now and then just let it ride;
You'll be a winner if you just survive.
You can't miss what you never had;
You never had a chance this good,
And that's too bad.

You're gonna think you've got it all worked out,
But something takes you down,
Makes you holler "uncle!"
Even though you're on a mission to civilize,
You'd better have a cushion
If you're pushin' back the jungle.

I know, you're tired of breaking trail.
Every small detail is hampering your vision.
Fog descends like a twilight veil.
If you push on,
you'll get what you were wishing for!

Somewhere you've got a small reserve:
Tricks up your sleeve,
Chips you haven't cashed in.
If you want to get the things you deserve,
Throw caution to the wind: stick with passion.

I know you're scared to make the leap,
You're in too deep.
I know you feel if you sing your tune
You'll be doomed.
I know you're tired of breaking trail;
Every small detail...

-James Keelaghan, 2008