Reliving my Youth

If you've never heard of it, there's this game called Quake. It came out in the mid-90's and was very popular. Then Quake 2 came out and was even more popular. I used to play it a lot and was pretty damn good at it. In fact, on the servers I played on frequently, I was very well known and, dare I say it, feared. I was in a couple of clans and... Well you get the idea - I was a Q2 freak. If you ever want to play, I bet I could still kick your ass.

Anyhoo, a little while later, Quake 3 came out and then a few years after that Quake 4. With those last two iterations, I never was able to pick up the old rail gun and frag the world like I could in Q2. Maybe the gameplay was different, maybe the weapons changed, maybe the gamespeed changed, or maybe I just plain sucked. Whatever it was, I don't really care but recently I've started something that makes me wish I was better at Q3: Quake Live. Its basically Quake 3 but played right out of your browser. No game to buy, nothing more than a plug-in to download and install, and most importantly, no lag to be found. I play it on a 7 year old computer and it runs at 120+ fps. I open my browser and I'm playing the game less than 1 minute later. Seriously, it actually runs just as well if not better than my real copy of Q3. If any of this didn't come across as supergeeky or if it did but you are in the least bit interested in Quake, you have to try QuakeLive. It is totally worth the hours of unproductive effort. Now if only I could install the plug-in on my computer at work...

My Way

At work, I've somehow become the non-official official orientation guy for when new people start.  Not such a big deal cuz I kinda enjoy it anyway.  Since last year, I've had 4 new people (aka, my bitches - not the derogatory annoying girl kinda bitch, but more the prison bitch) that I've had to train.  So far, I'm quite proud that they all do things my way and that they think of me as the guy that knows everything.  Really though, when they all find out that I actually don't know much, I'm in trouble and they'll be calling me their bitch.  But at least they'll all still be doing things my way.

Vampires Suck

So my co-worker tells me about this show on TV (HBO) about vampires and how it is really kinda racy and she has to turn the volume down when she's watching it because it gets a little porn-ish.  Then she tells me that Anna Paquin is in it.  Naked.  And then she tells me to PVR the damn thing so I can watch it.  So for a while I do that and the storyline seems okay and Anna Paquin seems pretty aight (naked) and then there's the porn-ish parts which really aren't all that porn-ish, they're more just rated R kinda stuff.  Anyway, I got bored of the show and deleted all of them off my PVR.  So now my co-worker is getting other people at work to read the books but I gotta say this: it's kinda boring.  If she ever reads this, she'll probably kill me.

MiL On the Way

In about 2 weeks, my mother-in-law is coming. She usually stays with us because she wants to be with the twins and will usually take a short side trip to San Francisco. Most people moan and groan and roll their eyes when they hear their mother-in-law is coming to visit, but I actually really enjoy it. Not only does she come and help (a lot) with the kids, but she also takes care of Celia and I. When the kids were still in the hospital, sometimes we wouldn't come home until 10 or 11pm and when walked in the door, mom2 would have some hot food waiting for us. There is nothing better than food ready for you when you walk in the door. Maybe a cold beer but that's just being greedy. Anyway, I never expect her to cook for us or anything, but she does and I love it. The other bonus is that she often takes my side when Celia and I disagree. :)

Pet Peeve

One of my pet peeves is when people do the 3period thing (eg, "...")  but go overboard and put, like, 20 periods.  for example:

"hey........... haven't talked to you in a while........... we should get together!"

I'm Back

It's been a while.  Sorry to all my faithful readers if I've left you hanging.  Let me give you a quick recap of the past month:

Twins' birthday - they turned 2 earlier this month.  We didn't do anything wild or crazy, just a little dinner with the family, godparents, and the neighbour.  As it turns out, the neighbour's kid goes to the same daycare as our kids.

Night shifts - I did a whole week of night shifts for some implementation we had out in Abbotsford.  It wasn't so bad except I was bored out of my mind.  As it turns out, the twins don't sleep through the night and Celia had a rough week.

Parents - my parents finally moved back into their own house.  There are a few things the contractors did a crappy job on.  If I ever find out their name, I'll let you know so you can never ever hire them for anything ever.  Stupid shit too like not lining up the tiles in the backsplash or not laying the floor tiles flat.  Seriously, that's stupid shit.

Work - there's a big shake-up at work.  Not a bad one, but everyone is working on something different.  Well, not everyone, but teams were switched around and new teams were formed.  I don't know why people always get mad at me for finding stuff out.  I mean, if it really was a big secret, why are they telling me?  Then I get in trouble for talking about it.  Personally, I think being able to find out everything that's going on, even the stuff that isn't officially going on (you know what I mean), is a skill and a good skill to have.  Don't hate me for having mad skillz.

Well that's about it.  What's going to be happening in the next few weeks?  I don't know.  I'm seriously starting to think about moving again.  Maybe we'll move in with my parents and save a bajillion dollars.  Man, that's a great idea.  Also, I've decided that the next opportunity that comes my way, I'm taking.  I probably should have taken the last one but I don't think that one was the one for me.  But the next one is mine.  Now that I say that, there probably won't be another one for a long time.  I suck.

Smarten Up

You know that saying, "live every day like its the last day of your life"? or "live for today and worry about tomorrow when it comes"? They sound really great and they get people to open up and enjoy their lives but I have to disagree with them at some point. It gives people permission to be irresponsible and go overboard. I mean, why not get stupid drunk tonight? Live it up, right? Well at some point you have to take responsibility for your life and for your future. I mean, what's the point of going to school or exercising or even getting married? None of those thing are a tonne of fun today, but they are rewarding tomorrow and the day after that and 20 years from now. I think the meaning of the saying is to simply be mindful of the present and enjoy the experience as it's happening so that you never look back and regret that you missed out on something. Anyway, I think I'm just saying don't be stupid and try to justify it by saying the world might end tomorrow.

Pass

I really like my job. I mean I really really like my job. I like what I've done, I like what I do, and I like what I'm going to do. I like that what I do affects a very large number of people and that it actually contributes to the work that nurses do (even if they think it doesn't). So, with all the things I like about my job, why do I feel like I need to move on and do something different? And if that's the case, why do I continue to avoid new things? There's another opportunity being presented to me and again, I'm passing it up so that I can stay and work at my current job. This new one isn't a sure thing or anything, but the opportunity is there and I really think I might have a decent chance at it, but I'm not sure it's what I want to do. I won't get into details because those are really not worth writing down (I've gone over them in my head a million times) but basically, this new thing isn't exciting enough to make me leave the job I love. What am I waiting for? A dream job. that's the problem, maybe its just a dream.

doubling up

Who wears boxer shorts under a pair of shorts? What's the fricken point? You're just wearing 2 pairs of shorts.

The Urge

I have a problem.  I joke around about people that buy clothes all the time and then find something in their closet that still has the tag on but they bought it last year.  I just can't seem to buy clothes like that.  My problem, however, is that I like to buy other stuff.  I like to buy expensive toys like new TV's, computers, phones, etc etc.  Right now I'm seriously thinking about buying a notebook computer.  Do I need one?  No.  Does Celia need one?  Well, no but it sure would be helpful now that she's in school.  Does she need one for the program that's she's in?  She could probably get away with not having one but again, it would be helpful.  So now she's put it in my mind that we should get a notebook for school.  I personally have no problem with that.  I've been comparing computers and trying to find one that meets my non-existent budget.  Do I get an entry-level MacBook or an above-average PC notebook?  High-end is out of the question.  Entry-level macbooks are still pretty good (I personally think it's because of the OS).  The PC notebook has much better hardware, but the operating system eats up half of that anyway.  The mac is lighter, thinner, more portable.  The PC is more mainstream so software is cheaper and easier to find.  Plus, I still need something that runs Windows because my VPN for work doesn't support a mac.  Look at me, comparing the two like I can actually afford a new computer.

Brave New World

In a world of text messaging, email, blogs, instant messengers, online communities, and all other kinds of electronic communication, some would say that we're losing our ability to communicate effectively.  I think I would have to disagree with this.  I've read that teenagers are able to convey just as much information and emotion in a text message as they would in a face-to-face conversation.  I think chatting online gives people a chance to know each other's personalities rather than having one's physical appearance affect how they interact.  Online communities like Facebook or MySpace allow people to stay in touch in ways we've never been able to before.  Do you know what your old elementary school friends are doing now?  I found out that a girl I went to school with over 20 years ago just got married and another is married with 2 very cute daughters.  Just 2 years ago I had no idea if these people were even still alive.  Even though we only leave each other brief messages once in a while, we're still in closer contact than we've ever been since 1988.  I remember a time when people kept diaries and journals and kept them locked in a secret hiding place in their room.  I may not do that, but I've been writing in my blog since 2003 and sharing my thoughts, opinions, experiences, highs, lows, and everything in between with anyone bored enough to read it.  Doesn't matter whether or not anyone reads it though, I write it for the same reason people write in private diaries - I just need an outlet to speak my mind and let it all out.  So my point of all this is that with all the technology that's out there, literally at our fingertips with iPhones and Blackberries, I think the opportunity to communicate is greater than ever before.  If you choose not to communicate or choose to communicate ineffectively, that's up to you.  There's nothing forcing you to stay indoors in front of your computer and there's nothing forcing you to ignore the ringing of your phone.  Quit blaming the tools and be accountable for your own choices.

Movie Previews

Remember that Street Fighter movie from the nineties?  The crappy one with Jean-Claude VD?  Well, they're making a new Street Fighter movie except this time the main character is Chun Li.  The trailer kinda makes it look like the Elektra movie.

Another movie that's coming out is GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra.  When I was a kid I used to have a lot of GI Joes so I like to think of myself as a fan.  The trailer looks kinda cool with Snake Eyes jumping around and doing flips like spiderman.

Lastly, there's a new Astroboy movie.  If you don't know who Astroboy is, then you're missing out.  I used to love the old cartoon when I was a kid.  He was the super-robot version of Pinocchio.

Superstar

My niece is in a commercial.  She's so cute.

So Much Fun

Every time my kids get sick they each do their own distinctive thing.  Lucas tends to sleep a lot and just be a little lump until he feels better.  Amelia becomes very clingy and doesn't want to be put down.  Both of them can be very exhausting for us as we end up spending a lot of time with them, day and night.  Then one day they will just get up and start playing like nothing happened.  Amelia has been sick the past few days but yesterday she decided she felt better and was running around, laughing, and dancing again.  She's so fun to watch.

When the kids were born I couldn't wait for the day when I would come home from work and they would scream "daddy!" and come running to greet me.  That day has finally come.  When I come home from work, I can hear them upstairs calling "daddy, daddy!" and when I get to the top of the stairs, they are there just standing there waiting for me.  Then they either give me a big hug or they run off expecting me to chase them and start playing.  Oh, they are so much fun.

Finally

"What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world," he said. "Duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and the promise of citizenship."

If this kind of thing keeps up, I think this new president might help people like americans.

Hey, I have a question. How come Obama is always described as the first black president? I thought he was only half-black. So the white people can take comfort in knowing he's still half-white and the black people can rejoice in that his half-blackness? I think if I was his white parent I'd be a little offended that I wasn't being acknowledged.

Good News Guys

I was told not to tell this to anyone.  I'm sorry, if I kept it a secret I would be betraying my fellow man.  

Pre-eclampsia:

Preeclampsia is a disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and the postpartum period and affects both the mother and the unborn baby. Affecting at least 5-8% of all pregnancies, it is a rapidly progressive condition characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine.  The only known treatments for eclampsia or advancing pre-eclampsia are abortion or delivery, either by induction or Caesarean section.  Many studies have also suggested the importance of a woman's immunological tolerance to her baby's father, whose genes are present in the young fetus and its placenta and which may pose a challenge to her immune system.  Researchers are increasingly recognizing the importance of a woman's continued exposure to her partner's semen as early as several years before conception. 

Okay, everything make sense so far?  Read on...

Having already noted the importance of a woman's immunological tolerance to her baby's paternal genes, several Dutch reproductive biologists decided to take their research a step further. Consistent with the fact that human immune systems tolerate things better when they enter the body via the mouth, the Dutch researchers conducted a series of studies that confirmed a surprisingly strong correlation between a diminished incidence of pre-eclampsia and a woman's practice of oral sex, and noted that the protective effects were strongest if she swallowed her partner's semen.

Okay guys, there is now scientific research to back up your claim that "it's good for you."  If you want references to text above, let me know and I'll tell you go do your own damn research if you don't believe me.

Public Service Announcement

Last Friday Celia and I had a babysitter so we went out for our friend's birthday.  First of all, finding street parking in Yaletown at 9pm on a Friday night is a nightmare.  Don't even bother trying.  We drove in circles for 45 minutes just to park.  Then again, we ended up with a pretty decent spot close to our party.  Anyway, you know when you're drinking and you start to get a little tired because you're not drinking enough to give you that drunken superman energy but you've had just enough to drink to make you a little sleepy?  Well for me that's one or two drinks.  If that's all I have, I need to go to bed soon.  Anything more and I'm up partying till the wee hours of the morning.  Or throwing up, one or the other.  Anyway, to overcome the whole sleepy thing, the secret is this: Red Bull and Vodka.  You can even go heavy on the Vodka.  With just a couple of these, you have the energy to survive the party and you're not hammered.  Anyway, that's my advice to you all.  I'm not advertising for Red Bull or anything because if I was then I would be getting paid and I'm not so consider this a PSA.  Drink Red Bull and Vodka. 

Growing Up

Next month the twins are going to daycare.  With Celia going back to school and with no nanny available, we needed some form of childcare on a daily basis.  Daycare isn't so bad, there are other kids about their age and there's structure to their day.  Exactly the kind of thing I want.  Today I was talking to someone about it and then I said it out loud: "They'll be in daycare monday to friday for about 8 or 9 hours a day."  Holy crap, that's a lot of time to be spending with strangers.  I mean, I do it every day at work but for a two year old that's a lot of non-family time.  Someday they'll be in school and it'll be similar situation.  Then someday they'll be old enough to be out on their own and then they'll be out all night and then they'll move out and then I'll hardly ever see them.  Now I don't want them to grow up.

Day 2 Vancouver Blizzard December 2008

Chilled Vancouver commuters faced their second day of winter hell today, as an additional centimetre of the peculiar white stuff fell, bringing the lower mainland to its knees and causing millions of dollars worth of damage to the marijuana crops. Scientists suspect that the substance is some form of frozen water particles and experts from Saskatchewan are being flown in. With temperatures dipping to the almost but not quite near zero mark, Vancouverites were warned to double insulate their lattes before venturing out.

Vancouver police recommended that people stay inside except for emergencies, such as running out of espresso or biscotti to see them through Vancouver's most terrible storm to date. The local Canadian Tire reported that they had completely sold out of fur-lined sandals.

Drivers were cautioned to put their convertible tops up, and several have been shocked to learn that their SUV's actually have four wheel drive, although most have no idea how to use it.

Weary commuters faced soggy sushi, and the threat of frozen breast implants. Although Dr. John Blatherwick, of the Coastal Health Authority reassured everyone that most breast implants were perfectly safe to 25 below, down-filled bras are flying off the shelves at Mountain Equipment Co-op.

"The government has to do something," snarled an angry Trevor Warburton. "I didn't pay $540,000 for my one bedroom condo so I could sit around and be treated like someone from Saskatchewan."

2009 Resolutions

Every January I have resolutions for the new year (except for last year, I must have forgotten) and this year I've decided to go big.  Here they are:

1. Lose 15 lbs
   
2. Stop buying lunch at work
   
3. Be more responsible with money
   
4. Quit smoking 100% (I'm at 95% right now.  If you don't know, that just means I'm doing pretty damn good right now)
   
5. Paint my house
   
6. Finish any and all renovations
   
7. Clean the garage so we can have both vehicles in there
   
8. Exercise at least 3 days/week (see #1)
   

There we go.  I think the toughest one is actually #7.  Anyway, happy new year to everyone and best wishes for you and your loved ones.