The New Floodgates of the Mind

I was all set to write up a rant to all the scum and filth littering the streets of Montreal these days.

But, I just came back from the Van Houtte at the corner. I had miscalculated the amount of change I brought with me to pick up a coffee and muffin. When the girl rang it up and I realized I had no other change with me (but plenty in my desk drawer) I told her I’d only take the coffee. She asked to see what I had and then “poo-poo”ed me for the missing 11 cents and took it out of her Tip bowl.

What a nice gesture. I told her I’d be back with the change since I work across the street and she simply waved me away saying “don’t worry about it”.

Obviously, the next time I go there, I’ll be giving her back a lot more than what she gave me. That’s one to remember. And thus, I recant my rant for now and save it for another day 🙂

Peace Out

Happy Birthday !!!

Have yourself a great birthday weekend!! Make sure Christine spoils you rotten!!!

(of course, I can almost hear someone muttering how rotten you already are… you chocolate tease you….) 🙂

It feels like I’ve been blowing deadlines left, right, and center lately. The only item that’s currently on the right track is Comicopia 77!! Ever since I realized a few months back that I no longer can put the issue out within the deadline day, things have gone smoother. Packaging just takes a certain amount of time. So, the fact that I’ll be dragging along a ton of envelopes/ mailers to the Post Office tomorrow and mail off everyone’s issues is a good thing.

Sadly, the other stuff I’ve had to work on have fallen rapidly behind. (I grovel at your feet, Alan). I’m doing the best I can right now but my time and resources are limited beyond belief. I’m actually very greatful that the short film project was pushed to the end of next month because I would not have been able to shoot it this month, let alone edit it!

I can’t say that things will be 100% better soon. But I can say that things should be at least 75% better by September 🙂 As I mentioned previously, I’ll be getting the Zone 2 TRAM pass for July which means I’ll be able to spend more time on the Train. This time will be used to better organize and plan my “work/home” schedule (ie; the work I do at home schedule – which includes, mainly, my writing deals/ deadlines). I want to be back on the convention trail next year and to do that, I’ve got to get some new material “out there”.

The time may have come for a Palm Pilot. But I’ll try to make the best use of Chantale’s notebook first, though. My laptop is too “powerful”. In other words, it requires more battery than is currently available. I can’t even boot the bastard up on the battery juice it has.

Well, what more can I say? Chantale and I moved into an incredible new home in an insane amount of time. We’re getting married in a little more than 2 months. We’re both busy as hell at work. And we’re trying to organize a “real life” schedule at the same time. No wonder we’re dead tired at the end of the day…

“Christ you know it ain’t easy… you know how hard it can be…”
– John Lennon

Things We Said Today – Beatles

I’m feeling bizarre today. Almost as though I’m in something of a fog and can’t get a clear picture of what’s going on. Strange.

After getting off the train this morning, I made my way to Pharmaprix to get my tram pass for next month. I decided to spend the extra 10 bucks to get a pass that will get me to St. Anne (after which I can walk the 10kms home). But, the passes weren’t in yet. It’s only the 25th after all. I thought it was the 27th. Oh boy.

Walking to work, every time I got to a street I wanted to cross, the light would be red. So, I went with the flow and ended up meeting a young couple from Equador who are vacationing in town. They asked to have their photograph taken and I did so, happily. They looked really happy together and happy to be in Montreal so there was no way I could refuse 🙂

At work, I’ve been busy trying to get stuff in order and busy trying to get a doctor’s appointment. I saw my Doc last week for a referral to a dermatologist. I have this white patch on the side of my neck which occasionally burns. It’s burning today. And it seems to be spreading. The doc he referred me to only takes appointments starting in September. No way I can wait that long. Someone in my team came to tell me he was going to be late tomorrow as he’s going to see his doc for treatment of his hand. Turns out it’s a dermatologist. I get his name and number and he’s actually in the clinic that is in the same building as my Doctor (and Dentist, and Podiatrist). So, I call my doc and tell them I need a referral to this doc. The nurse attempts to call the original referrals but couldn’t get anything better. So, after I spoke with them, I got an appointment with my teammate’s dermatologist and my doc will write me a referral that I’ll pick up next week when I go see my Podiatrist. phew. It’s a month from now, but that’s better than 3.

Out of curiosity, I decided to see if I could find anything on the web. I scanned through the dermatologist forum and found a few comments which seem very similar to what I have. If it is the same, it’s basically a fungus of some kind which can be successfully treated. That’s good to know. I just wish I knew what I could put on it in the meantime…

Now, it’s almost lunchtime and I’m feeling a little groggy and out of it. I guess I should go try to get myself some food…

Well, this weekend was the last mad-dash effort to get all the Wedding Invitations done. And they were!

We printed up the final envelopes, put together the final invites, and then began assembling after I had licked and applied all the stamps! Return card with return envelopes, invite, map to the church and reception. It was long and tiring, but the end result was quite nice.

Last night, I licked all the envelopes and Chantale applied the ‘coup-de-grace’: a waxed, stamp/ seal of a Celtic Knot. Very, very nice 🙂

And so, this morning, they were mailed out. Now, we can continue with the rest of the work that needs doing, like the photographer, working out the ceremony, etc etc 🙂

Nothing. Just the title of the magazine currently on my desk 🙂

WHAT A DAY!! I’ve been very busy this morning, but “good” busy. I like getting things done, even if I’m actually doing someone else’s job (he’s on vacation, I’m helping out, I know my stuff and many people’s stuffs, so I’m the best candidate 🙂 ).

Things are good and done now. So, this means I may actually leave early tonight! Good news! I pick up the car and go home since Chantale’s heading out with her mom tonight. I’ll get some work done and then head out to Picasso’s for around 8pm to meet up with and and grab some food. Anyone else in the area is free to come on by and say hello 🙂

More work tomorrow on Comicopia, the Church Newsletter, and hopefully the Beatles Notes. Sunday we’re getting our Freezer delivered. Groovy! 🙂 This, of course, means I have to completely clean out the garage! eep! 🙂

I feel like I’m all over the place right now! Way too bouncy to be at work! But, I’m also starving as I, once again, have no food. I think I’ll go hunting around other cubicles and see if I can land me a snack 🙂 If all else fails, I’ll make myself a hot chocolate 🙂

It’s been a while since I reviewed what’s currently on my writing plate. Figured I may as well do this now as I’m about to leave for the day 🙂

First off, I have my notes on ‘s book “Before They Were Beatles” to write up and submit back to him so he can continue along with putting the book together. It’s an excellent book you all should order when it’s put out 🙂

Secondly, with Comicopia deadline for issue 77 due this weekend, I have to transcribe those notes in order to print up my section and then get to work with putting the actual magazine together (copied, collated, bound) and mailing it off to members.

Thirdly, the church newsletter couldn’t get done for June so I’m putting out a June/July issue some time next week and immediately preparing one for early August. These will both contain the Wedding Announcements/ Banners so it’s somewhat exciting 🙂 It would be nice if I could write up an article for them as well but we’ll have to see how things work out.

The rest of the stuff is “back burner” material that needs to be prioritized.

1- Fallen Angel (working title) – another “hero” set in the Realmont universe with tenous ties to an old serial (Circus Freaks)

2- Conclusion to The Night Stalker Chronicles

3- Wrapping up loose thread/storylines for the convergence of the other 3 Realmont tales

4- Another Red Devil tale

5 -Update on The Mysterious Minute-Men (yes, seriously, I’ve actually begun this and plotted out where it has to go)

6- Final storyline in The Diabolical Chef Jacques trilogy (way too many years in coming, I’ll grant you that.) Working title: The Chef Who Stole Christmas

When will I get to these? I’m not 100% certain. Obviously by July 1st I’ll be working on Comicopia 78 as that needs to get done before the beginning of August. The church newsletter has to follow suit immediately after. Deadline for Copia 78 will be August 22nd, which is the weekend before my Wedding. I need it to all be done by then because there is NO way I can put Copia out after the wedding unless I delay it for up to 3 weeks (and I’m really adverse to doing THAT!!)

So, if anything, perhaps some new material will begin to ooze out of my brain in September… just before I begin my LOMA 301 course… 🙂

I need to be institutionalized….

again. don’t know why, but I tossed and turned all night last night. i wasn’t making a salad, just trying to fall asleep!!! ack.

i’m looking forward to being able to sleep in on saturday. and sunday. and tuesday.

i passed over the ‘hump’ of work that was dragging me down and have a better handle on it now. not that i’m any less busy, but i’m at least more comfortable in monitoring where things are heading.

comicopia deadline tomorrow, stuff is moving, and life moves too 🙂 should be finished with the wedding invitations this weekend so we can mail them off on sunday or monday. that’s another item checked off. still have to pick up cameras and order our tuxes as well as hold a few more meetings, but the time is fast approaching. wow…

they were giving away free Klondike bars in the lobby today. mmmm. very good 🙂 a co-worker didn’t want hers so she gave it to me. mmmm. doubly-good. 🙂

i need coffee.

…because otherwise i’ll rip out my eyeballs and use them as ping pongs.

-I went to the Dentist yesterday and got a thorough scrubbing. BUT, I had no cavities. That is very neat. Especially with my chocolate cravings. 🙂

-Last week I bought Chantale the Season 2 DVD set of Mad About You. We love that series and enjoy snuggling up at nights and catching an episode or two. Much fun 🙂 But also quite tired. First time in a while we’ve been in bed and asleep by 9:30pm!!

-Past weekend was a really nice Father’s Day. I was awoken to lots of hugs, laughs, kisses, and gifts! Breakfast in bed (so sweet! my little munchkins each made me a different kind of toast) followed by gifts they made at school: Froggie Pencil Holders! How cute is that? 🙂 Chantale surprised me with the Babylon 5 “Gathering/ In The Beginning” DVD as well as Season 2. Wow. Totally blew my mind. And how was this done with me around all the time? Easy. Saturday while shopping at Future Shop, she got James to pretend he had to go to the bathroom. He asked me, I took him, and ended up waiting in there with him for about 5 minutes. In the meantime, Chantale and Melyssa paid for the DVDs. Nice use of Kid Antics 🙂

-We ushered at church again on Sunday which was really nice. A new family was there for a baptism and they really enjoyed the service. While there we realized that we’ve ushered for both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day this year 🙂

-Afterwards, lunch at my folks. Counting: myself, James, Melyssa, Chantale, her parents, my sister and her husband, my brother, his wife, and new daughter, and my parents. Big meal, big table, lots of chatting, and the Grand Prix 🙂 Mondo cool 🙂

-Supper was at my in-laws with just myself, Chantale, and her sister Sylvie. She headed out to Kingston to take on the role of Manager at La Vie En Rose at a store there. Kind of a hands-on training for 3 months after which she should come back to town. Again, another nice and delicious meal.

-By the end of the day, we were all, obviously, exhausted 🙂

Et voila. Now back to work!