Not From Toronto

Tuesday, November 29th, 2005

a few chums short of a life

A few times each year Jannette takes the kids down to California to visit her parents (now just her Dad). When I can, I accompany them, but those trips are not very common. With my recent career history, taking a week off to stroll along the Pacific might be nice, but not prudent financially. Thus, I typically stay home most trips, work, and try to get through my honey-do list.

While the three of them were away this time around, I made a startling realization. Usually the house is extremely quiet with everyone but myself and the cats around, but this time around it seemed overly so. I realized it wasn't the house that was quiet, it was just that I was spending so much more time in the house (not having a day job that requires leaving the house generally) and not having much to do. That's when it struck me. When I'm all by my lonesome, I should be visiting my friends and spending time with them like I typically can't when the house is full. Problem is, I only have two friends in town. Two!

MrSka @ 08:00 AM EST [Keep reading...]

Monday, November 28th, 2005

The Logical Conclusion to $14,615 US

NFT Feature I really enjoy my subscription to Scientific American. While there are some articles that are simply too cranial for my leisure-oriented consumption, many articles are very interesting, both technically and scientifically. What has caught my attention over the course of the past year, however, has been one particular full-page ad for an exercise machine. Normally I would simply ignore such ads entirely, but this particular ad grabs your attention with a purple large-print banner reading "$14,615". Eventually, I started to notice.

Once I did, my curiosity was engaged. The ad is for an exercise machine called the Range Of Motion machine (or ROM), and its claim to fame, other than a king's ransom price tag, is providing a full-body workout in only four minutes. Supposedly, instead of wasting your precious time going to the gym for an hour, walking, treadmilling, stair climbing, or any other aerobic long-duration activity, you can simply hop on the ROM for four minutes a day and achieve amazing results. Skeptical? You bet. Skeptical, but very curious.

[Warning: This article is quite long and involved. You will need time to not only read it, but digest it as well. I wrote it over the course of a week, so don't expect some nice fluffy reading. You've been advised.]

MrSka @ 07:19 AM EST [Keep reading...]

Sunday, November 27th, 2005

movie reviews

I've had the chance recently to watch a whole bunch of DVDs. Here are my thoughts:

MrSka @ 10:34 PM EST [Keep reading...]

Saturday, November 26th, 2005

crunch time

When I first took this position working under Bob and John, I was amazed at how generous they were. Not only did they acknowledge that I needed a certain income to maintain how my family lives, but they were giving me benefits to boot. For that I was truly grateful.

Unfortunately, some of that generosity is late in coming.

MrSka @ 09:35 PM EST [Keep reading...]

Thursday, November 17th, 2005

3rd Almost-Annual Christmas No-Way-In-Hell Fantasy Wish List

NFT Feature A few months ago I remembered starting the Not From Toronto Annual Christmas No-Way-In-Hell Fantasy Wish list way back in 2002, and quickly realized that I had totally forgot about doing one last year. I suppose that's excusable (or at least understandable), as I had been laid off just around the time I'd normally do the list, and had other things on my mind (like finding work, being able to eat, that sort of stuff). So to make up for last year I'm not only resurrecting the List, but packing in more No-Way-In-Hell than ever before!

MrSka @ 02:15 PM EST [Keep reading...]

Tuesday, November 15th, 2005

Timmie's, USA

This has been a busy week thus far. Monday I was in St. Catharines, and finished up the day in Windsor. Today I took a trip into Ohio with John and Bob, which took us a grand total of 12 hours round trip. Gruelling, especially when we only ate lunch at 4pm. Tomorrow, I have training here in Windsor, and then I'm off back home.

On today's trip I got to do something I didn't think I'd do. We stopped at Tim Horton's in Ohio.

MrSka @ 09:24 PM EST [Keep reading...]

Tuesday, November 8th, 2005

breakthrough!

Things have been relatively busy on the job front, but there hasn't been anything so asounding that I've been simply twitching to sit down and write about it. I did get down to Windsor last week to pick up a company car, visit a tool shop in Detroit, and visit yet another tool shop in Windsor, but not much to write home about.

Over the past few weeks the idea of renaming the company has been brought up. I am fully in favour for it, and have pushed for it whenever possible. After talking to Bob yesterday, it seems that he too has finally seen the light, and the company is finally going to be renamed. Hallelujah!

MrSka @ 06:53 AM EST [Keep reading...]

Monday, November 7th, 2005

back to school?

Today I had a meeting with the head of admissions for the Masters program I have been trying to get into. Seeing as my entire career has changed since last I talked to him, I thought it would be a good idea to go in and speak directly with him, and see what kind of a chance I have at being admitted.

I'm happy to say I came away smiling.

MrSka @ 03:44 PM EST [Keep reading...]

November 2005
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