The New Floodgates of the Mind

Yesterday I officially announced to most people I work with that one of my Programmer Analysts would be moving from his current role in support to working for Core Technology as a developer. It came as a shock to most including the Senior Manager of Core who wondered how I could give him up so easily. (I replied that it wasn’t easy at all, it was simply in HIS best interests AND in the best interests of the Company). In this fashion, our Company will still be able to benefit from his knowledge and all he’s learned, developed, and put in place over the last two years.

As a Leader, it is an incredibly joyous moment to realize you are surrounded by some of the best people in a company, and especially satisfying to know that you were the one to guide them on that track (or at least point the direction, hoping they would take the right road). To that end, it is also somewhat sad when one of them decides to spread their wings and take a new flight path. The feelings are both one of loss (losing a companion and good worker) and pride (happy they are wanted by other teams). Such are my feelings right now as Muadib_ca, better known as my friend Marc-Andre, makes his way to a new department, with my full blessings.

He’s a hell of a worker who will go as far as he wants to in his career. And, best of all, he’s become a good friend of mine in the last two years we worked together. That friendship will continue to remain, luckily. I guess the only thing that’ll change is that he won’t always be forced to follow my orders from now on, unless I trap him into a project to benefit the Department 🙂

Have a blast, Marc! See you at Chez Cora’s! 🙂

Is it Monday or is it Tuesday? Really, because I’m confused.

Woke up feeling somewhat annoyed with myself. Hate the fact that I can’t get my skin under control and especially in knowing that it has a lot to do with stress. Always leaving for work feeling rushed. Missed my regular train knowing I’d be late again. Getting caught in the rain and my umbrella breaking. Hating the smell of my wet pants. Getting to my floor and realizing I’d forgotten my pass at home thus feeling restricted in the office…

sigh.

First off, thank you everyone for your birthday wishes! It was great getting Birthday messages as it’s been quite some time since it happened (the greetings, not the birthday, wise guys 🙂 )

The weekend turned out to be great outside of some minor irritations. For example, we were all set to camp in the back yard on Friday night but the storm that hit was SO major it ripped it right out of the ground and I had to fight the wind and rain to drag it into the garage. Outside of that, though, it was a great time:

Saturday morning we got up early and hit the road to Ottawa. Went shopping at Old Navy (great clothes!) then picked up some food at Tim Horton’s and had a small picnic on the grounds of the Science Museum.

Sunday morning, the kids and I headed to church and did some shopping afterwards. We got back to the house to find it full of friends and family! Chantale nailed me with a surprise birthday party!! The first one I EVER had in my life!! How incredible is this woman I am so lucky enough to call my wife, partner, and soul mate? 🙂 It was a great day for a barbeque and I had a blast. The food was wonderful, the event lots of fun, and the theme? Ah, the theme was just too funny for words. What theme would be good for a comics fan? Super Heroes of course 🙂 We had Spider-Man and Hulk table settings and party favors, with a giant Justice League Adventures Ice Cream Cake (oooh baby!). I was spoiled rotten 🙂

In keeping with the display of gifts, here’s the Olympus Stylus digital camera given to me by Chantale, my folks, and my in-laws. 🙂

Happy Birthday to ME!! 🙂

Took the day off to celebrate! To me, not going to work on my birthday IS celebrating! So there! 🙂

Chantale gave me an exquisite gift today! A Roots Navigator 420 silver watch! If you’re interested in seeing what it looks like, head over to the watchroots.com site and look for it. It’s the R420XSIL model. Quite a beauty, eh? 🙂

Weather announced is late rain/ possible thundershowers. Bah. I want to set up the camping tent in the back yard so the kids and I can have an outdoor sleepout tonight 🙂 We all love camping and I figured this would be a quick way to get us ready for the summer. Plus, that way, we’ll be at the house so that tomorrow morning we can head out to Ottawa early! See, we’re going to Old Navy to pick me out a gift from the kids 🙂 To be honest, I’m expecting a really nice weekend 🙂

I got home last night, opened up my mailbox, and lo-and-behold, a copy of Alter Ego #36. Way back when the editor told me he’d send me a sample copy containing the transcript of an interview I and Mark Shainblum had done with Les Barker a few years back.

I take it inside, get myself nice and relaxed, put the pooch outside and sit on the balcony with an ice tea, and rip open the package. Sure enough, one side is all about Golden Age American Superheroes, and the flip side is all about Golden Age Canadian Superheroes! Woo hoo! Looks great and I immediately begin to flip through the Canadian side. Page 1 has its usual list of “Special Thanks to…” section and there’s my name right there, second in the list. Yay. Next page shows the table of contents and there’s a listing for Les Barker. Cool. Flip to the editorial and read about the contributors. Uh-oh. Apologies to Mark as there wasn’t enough space to squeeze the interview in. Rats. Jump to the Les Barker page and it’s an intro written up as part of a documentary on Les and, once again, a note at the top indicates that it is to whet the readers appetites for the taped transcript from myself and Mark. Bummer.

Once again, so close, and missed it by “that much”. I shake my head and begin to laugh. I’ve been in the industry for so long now that stuff like that is really second nature. In fact, it’s somewhat part of the game which is why when a target IS reached, it’s that much more satisfying.

I go back to the beginning of the magazine and flip through it slowly. It’s a great companion issue to Canuck Comics and my own notes on G.A. Canadian heroes so either way, it’s a nice payment for me. Plus, I’m sure Roy Thomas will end up running the transcript in an upcoming issue and I’ll get that copy as well.

I’m stuffed! Just got back from lunch wherein my Team took me out to celebrate my birthday tomorrow. We went to Indiana’s bar & grill and had an excellent meal! (My personal choice was the Smoked Meat platter – fries – coleslaw). Desert ended up being BAKLAVA!!!! Oh wow but it was good!!!!

Walking (or rolling) back to work, I come to my desk to find a cake! Aiee! More food! (oh but it was soo good… 🙂 )

A couple of hours left in the day, and I am so full I hope I don’t doze off! 🙂 Good thing I brought a change of clothes as I’m walking home from the train tonight since Chantale has the late shift. And tomorrow: day off! (I always keep a vacation day handy just so I can enjoy MY birthday by NOT working 🙂 )

I’m not too sure, actually. Yesterday was an icky day that started off horribly when I made myself a large cup of coffee (using special beans I had set aside a while back). I almost finished the milk and decided to just gulp the rest so I can throw the carton away. I never got to swallow because it was disgusting and I spit it all out. Rotten milk with over a week left on the expiry date. What do you think this did to my coffee? Yup. Flushed that away, too.

I didn’t think this morning would be bad but instead I got up somewhat upset. I don’t like waking up feeling grouchy and had no clue as to where that came from. However, it did put me in the proper frame of mind so that when I walked into work (after missing my regular train) and was greeted with system problems before getting two steps through the door, I could take it completely in stride. Then, at 10am, a lunch meeting was cancelled (“with apologies”) which screwed me over since I didn’t bring a lunch knowing I was going to be eating at the meeting! bleah.

Well, I’ve been making sure I always look to the positive so to counteract these two, I have the following to look forward to: Saturday June 5th, we’re going to “La Maison Hauntee” for a theatre/supper treat. But before that, we’re going to the Harry Potter premiere/party at the Colisseum in Kirkland! Woo-hoo! 🙂

And in related news… I’m looking forward to some time off. Hopefully I can put together a vacation schedule for this summer soon.

End of the working day.

Still in a good mood.

Just a little tired.

Will probably change once I go outside (SUN!)

Grab some comics, go on home.

It’s Friday, baby! Friday! Do you understand?!?!!?

To quote one of my favorite bands (who were in town a few weeks back and I didn’t even know about it, dammit!):

“It’s friday night… ya gotta have some fun tonight… otherwise it fucken ain’t worth a fuck!”
-U.K. Subs

I got up this morning just FULL of energy. Don’t ask me why, I have no clue (and I’m not complaining, either!). I think yesterday was just so busy/stressful/heavy/impacting that once night came I decompressed way too much. We took Casey to the Vet for her last vaccinations and to check out her ears as she’s been scratching too much. Turned out to be ear mites so we’ve gotta give her drops for a few weeks. No biggie but boy does she freak when the cold drops go in her ears!

When we got home it was 11pm. So, we got cozy, heated up some Michelina’s (supper was waaay gone already), rewound the tape in the vcr and watched the “10 years of Friends” special followed by Survivor. Called it a night at 1am leaving the much-hyped Friends finale for tonight 🙂

Got up at 7am and got cracking to leave. I guess Fridays are always the easiest/ best days to get ready since it’s Casual dress which means Jeans + Running Shoes + Cozy Sweater 🙂 Not really big on plans this weekend outside of the International Potluck supper at Church Saturday night, Ushering at church Sunday morning, Mothers-day lunch at my folks Sunday and Mothers-day supper/ bday supper at my in-laws Sunday night.

Hm. I guess that is a little busy. 🙂

Well, again, I’m in a good mood and there it shall stay. Stephen King’s “On Writing” is one of those “stimulant” books I was discussing with Chantale and Francisco last night. So, obviously, my mind is currently being assailed by numerous characters vying for attention and exposition.

And as all you writers know, that’s not a bad thing at all 🙂

quoted from Stephen King in his “On Writing” book:

“…whenever I see a first novel dedicated to a wife (or a husband), I smile and think, There’s someone who knows. Writing is a lonely job. Having someone who believes in you makes a lot of difference. They don’t have to make speeches. Just believing is usually enough.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.