The Occasional Solipsist

Happy Canada Day

2008-07-01T07:10:00.001-04:00

Canada is the best country in the world, on this day or any other. I just thought it needed to be said, for any that weren't familiar with that fact, or for any who needed reminding.

Sure there are lots of things to bitch about (this new Canadianized DMCA intent on ruining the online experience for all Canadians, a pending two-tiered national health system, a right wing government intent on helping only those who already have plenty, and a lot of ridiculous collective guilt over the treatment of so-called indigenous or distinct societies) but all things considered I would rather be here than anywhere else in the world.

I'm just glad I live in a country so awesome that those are the things that I have to complain about.

like discovering plutonium by accident

2008-06-27T01:06:00.002-04:00

I watched and absolutely loved 'Turn Left', the 11th episode of the 4th season of Doctor Who the other night. I love this show a lot. Probably more than might be considered healthy. It speaks to the little kid in me who knew at the time that he was in the middle of a childhood that was going to suck some hard ass when he was old enough to look back at it later.

That's probably why I am such a kid at heart now. Or still. I read comics without shame. I play video games, although who doesn't anymore I guess. And I love watching tv and movies that are remakes of properties that I hold fond memories of watching when I was a kid. I guess I just explained away, in passing, Hollywood's entire reasoning for remaking those properties.

Anyway, Doctor Who is among my favourite, if not my favourite property to get remade. I was nuts for the original series during the late 70s/early 80s (aka: the Tom Baker years). And I have been following the new series with religious fervor. (Although after 4 years, its probably time to stop calling it 'new').

Probably the coolest thing about the Doctor, aside from the gadgets, the whole being near-immortal, and the way-fucking-cool Time Machine he had, was that he got to have adventures with smart, beautiful women who were way more than arm candy, but were equal partners in his experiences. I always fantasized that I would get to be like him, and in one way, I have. My partner is smart, funny, beautiful and challenges me all the time. Hmm, maybe the show has revealed itself to be the root of my sexual awakening? Meh, either way, if I could just get myself a TARDIS and a sonic screwdriver, I'd be all set.

Where I had originally intended this subtle love-in for Superwife to go was to reiterate my obsession with the Best Doctor Who Companion Ever, Rose Tyler, played by the lovely Billie Piper. And to mention that the episode I just watched I have been waiting patiently for since the tear-jerking season 2 finale. The one where Rose Tyler comes back for real. Sortof. And to mention that 'Turn Left' was a stand out episode in a whole season of stand out episodes. It was really a great show, and a fantastic pay-off to anyone who has been following the 'new' series.

And finally, I brought this whole thing up to let anyone who might be interested know that I just found out that Billie Piper is starring as a prostitute on a new Showtime series based on the blogs of a British bad girl called 'Secret Diary of a Call Girl'. And not only is she awesome in it (so I hear), she gets naked in it. A lot.

Personally, I am not sure if I am interested in seeing her without her clothes off, having sex, or talking directly to the camera Ferris Bueller style about taking her clothes off and having sex. Something about how that might sully the whole Best Doctor Who Companion Ever thing offends me a little.

Aw, who the fuck am I kidding? Time to go visit piratebay.

comfortably bored

2008-06-25T00:42:00.000-04:00

I am currently enjoying the long time off part of my shift work that comes around every five weeks, and find myself bored. Not in a negative or self-destructive way, nor even in a restless one. Just in an 'I've run out of projects to do, things to read, movies to watch, but I am still just quite content to enjoy not having to carry stress from my job' kind of way.

Its not lost on me that I am so lucky with the job that I have, and among other benefits, the time off that my shift work entails. That I don't mind working a swing shift is a given, as all-nighters and long days aren't a problem for me. But that Superwife equally doesn't mind my weird times of absence, or that I had a good day when being interviewed for the full time version of my job, and was subsequently successful in that competition. These things aren't lost on me.

I am also feeling a little more contemplative than normal. As I usually do this time of year, I have been thinking a lot about my friend Jon Cooley, who died way too young from cancer over the Canada Day weekend, what, almost seven years ago? Man how could that much time have gone by? I have never been able to be close to a lot of people. I usually draw a wall between myself and others that find a reason to make the attempt, and those attempts are few and far between, probably because I have always been a bit of an odd duck. I don't know who to blame for the way that I am. No one but myself I guess. But with Jon it was just different, and not because he died and I can now posthumously elevate our relationship, like some people are wont to do with their own friendships after losing someone. He and I always had a way of communicating to each other on a level that I have only since found with my wife and partner. My life has been a little poorer for Jon's absence and I still miss him greatly, even after all this time.

Hmm, now I have gone from contemplative to morose. But I am not, not really. Just bored. And maybe a little melancholy. I don't find thinking about absent friends morbid, but life affirming. I am not dead, or as far as I know, currently afflicted with anything more serious than inexorably working towards my own end like everyone else on this flying mudball. I am in a healthy, loving relationship with someone who for reasons mostly unknown to me has chosen me to spend her life with. I have a wonderful, vivacious, inquisitive daughter to help me see the world through, and along with a job that affords me the luxury of having so much time off at once that I can claim mild boredom as my only current problem, I guess I am doing all right.

I was going to go off about how Fucking Spectacular the 11th episode of Doctor Who was, what with Billie Piper finally returning to the show (sorry if that was a spoiler), but I think I'll just save anything more about that for later. I think I'll soon crawl into bed with the wife, and with no ulterior motives other than to feel her comfortable presence alongside mine, go rub her back in her sleep or something.

an atheist meme

2008-06-23T01:42:00.003-04:00

A blog that I follow 'religiously' (har, har) recently posted a meme that outlines the hows and whys of an atheist individual's belief system. Sometimes I try to avoid these memes, but it seemed that the focus of this was one I couldn't pass up. That and I am on the long stretch of time off part of my swing shift, and with everybody sleeping, and only so much Unreal Tournament one can play...

Q1. How would you define “atheism”?

An total absence of belief in a supreme being (or beings).

Q2. Was your upbringing religious? If so, what tradition?

Baptized anglican, raised among missionary, catholic, anglican faiths, among others. I had a zealot for a Mother that just couldn't make up her mind about which one fit her best. Probably helped me see that everyone was peddling an only slightly different flavour of bullshit.

Q3. How would you describe “Intelligent Design”, using only one word?

Ludicrous.

Q4. What scientific endeavour really excites you?

Space exploration. We should have been on Mars 20 years ago, and since we're not there yet, I am following the current Mars mission with interest.

Q5. If you could change one thing about the “atheist community”, what would it be and why?

Let's find a way to be less lethargic about things and get more effectively organized.

Q6. If your child came up to you and said “I’m joining the clergy”, what would be your first response?

"Can't we go get you a tattoo and a nipple ring instead?"

Q7. What’s your favourite theistic argument, and how do you usually refute it?

That the wonder of the universe just can't be explained by science and rationalism alone. I refute it by saying simply that I look at the wonder of the universe and want to understand it without abstractions or supernaturalism. It is enough that it is magnificent to an atheist, and to a theist, it isn't.

Q8. What’s your most “controversial” (as far as general attitudes amongst other atheists goes) viewpoint?

When I go off about that '100% Fatal Fundie Virus' that I keep hoping will go around and take care of that pesky religion problem for us. Only problem is there wouldn't be all that many people left in the world afterwards, sadly.

Q9. Of the “Four Horsemen” (Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens and Harris) who is your favourite, and why?

Harris. He so eloquently represents the Atheist position. Dawkins is a close second.

Q10. If you could convince just one theistic person to abandon their beliefs, who would it be?

Just one? Can I pick a country instead? Like maybe the majority of the vocal United States, please.

Props again to Nullifidian for the meme.

monster movies

2008-06-15T01:38:00.002-04:00

I finally got around to seeing Cloverfield tonight, and I know I am way late to this party, but I hadn't seen it in theaters, and the guy I review Blu-Ray's for hasn't sent this one my way yet. For all I know it hasn't even been released yet. As I write this I am offline, and can't check on that. And the chances of me remembering to check and edit this post later, they are slim. We're over at the Out-Laws place tonight watching their house and dog while they're out of town, and their high speed connection is a no-show. I love living in the bush, but fuckme do I miss having fast, reliable internet.

So I just finished watching a copy of the flick, and it was so shockingly good that I can't believe I didn't go see it at the theater. Like a 90 minute heart attack, but without all that numbness and dying. Just a really immersive, pulse poundingly good scary flick. Think something like a Godzilla movie, but good, and shot from one perspective just like The Blair Witch Project, without giving you vertigo.

I hate to admit to being a cliche but I really was on the edge of the couch as I leaned over my laptop with this one.

And speaking of monsters: I was to have seen The Incredible Hulk tonight, but one of my movie-going buddies bailed on me and I never heard from another. No worries though, as Superwife and I are going to go see it later this week. She rocks so hard, that she is willing to use one of our very infrequent dates to go see it with me. She does have an affinity for the big green guy though; she used to watch the old 70's show with an afghan over her face to get her through the scary parts. We went to see the Ang Lee Hulk a few years ago and I almost lost out on taking her to comics-inspired flicks entirely, she was that disappointed. Hopefully this time Bruce Banner and his alter-ego will put on a better show.

I have a thing for tee shirts

2008-06-11T15:32:00.002-04:00

So I have been on a bit of a new t-shirt kick lately, partly because I need some new fun clothes to cover myself with when I go to Comic-Con next month, and partly because I am no longer a size small, and its time to face that fact and stop wearing clothes that show off my small but not going anywhere Buddha belly.

I got my new 'I GALACTUS PLANETS' t-shirt in the mail this past Friday, and refuse to take it off except to wash it, it's that cool. If you're any kind of comics geek, and there's any left, go to dieselsweeties and pick one up.

I also snapped up a sweet Silver Surfer shirt that I am waiting expectantly for, and the Batman shirt from Threadless that I have been waiting for months to have reprinted. I can't wait to walk around with that one on either. Yes, I know I am a dork. But I could be a wife-beater, or a serial killer or something. So it could be worse.

reviewing from 'The Ridiculously Huge Moths' Planet

2008-06-09T01:39:00.006-04:00

Ok, so I am sitting here tonight, cranking out a few reviews for a couple of flicks I watched today, for my it-doesn't-pay-but-I-get-free-movies other job and I am realizing a new added benefit of living in the middle of the goddamn woods that I was heretofore unaware of. The moths. Certainly I knew about the black flies, and the mosquitoes, both of which are an ongoing issue around here that doesn't look to be resolving itself soon. But, moths? Really?

The things out here are so gigantic, and there are so many of them that I feel like we moved out to a country version of The Lost World or something. One of them was banging into the screen so hard just now that I thought it was a fucking bird. A big one. Not sure what to do about this other than hang moth balls around the roof line. These things are so big I could get a shotgun and that might actually work.

And by the way, one of the 2 flicks I reviewed tonight was 'Strange Wilderness' which is so shitty and stupid that I would only recommend using it for the purposes of torture, and even then I'm sure it would violate the Geneva Convention somehow.

The other was 'The Golden Compass' which is so good that if you haven't yet seen it, I would recommend putting this blog down immediately and going to whatever means you use to get films and consume it. Its that good.

letter to trinity: 35 months

2008-06-07T15:55:00.000-04:00

Dear Trinity,

One more month and you are going to be three years old. I hardly know what to say about that, though when the time comes I'll do my best regardless.

I wanted to talk to you this month about your Mom a bit, because she doesn't use this kind of communication to talk to you, and deserves the same kind of conduit to you that I have. Probably because after keeping up with an almost-3-year-old every day, she's too tired to sit down and type. And your Mom isn't much for technology anyway. Uses it as a tool when she needs it, but that's about it. Her and I couldn't be more different that way.

This month you have managed to be fairly busy while still maintaining some semblance of routine at home, and you have your Mom to thank for that. I work a weird swing shift job and am gone at all different times of day, and I can't keep my own schedule straight so I can't expect you to.

But your Mom is there every morning to wake up with you, and get you breakfast, and read and play and experience the day with you. I am more of a footnote I guess. Sometimes I am there, and sometimes I am either sleeping or at work. But your Mom is a rock.

So whatever happens between now and whenever you read this, I wanted to tall you that your Mom loves you more than you can possibly imagine and that, in my opinion, she is the best Mom ever. I've noticed that people experience parenting very differently, some taking to it as second nature, some doing the bare minimum they think their responsibilities obligate them to, and still others that probably shouldn't have been parents at all. But your Mom is in a class all her own. She is patient, and nurturing, and encouraging, and so loving. But don't go thinking she's a pushover or anything. If you ever need her to be firm (or you do something that requires her to be), your Mom can be as tough as diamond when she needs to be. I know that I've said this before but she is going to be your most stalwart supporter, so lean on that woman whenever you need to.

It goes without saying (yet here I am saying it, and not for the first time) that I am also there for you whenever you need me to be, because there isn't a thing that I wouldn't do for you, your happiness, your safety. The problem is that I have less patience and even lesser resolve. So I end up being less nurturing and a little more demanding of you, yet if you flash those brown eyes and either dive-bomb me with a hug or turn on the waterworks, I pretty much completely cave in t whatever demands you make.

What have you done this month? Well we took you to the Toronto Zoo and aside from the recurring issue of fighting with you about keeping your sun hat on, everyone had a great time. You were amazed by all of the animals, but were particularly fascinated with the elephants, and with any baby animals there. During the trip, you got to meet your new cousin, and you had a lot of fun playing with a real baby, in spite of the fact that he did little more than sleep.

You still delight your Mom and I with some of the things you say. Yesterday you overheard me talking to your Grandma about one of our less popular extended family members, her third husband. The guy's name is Barry but for reasons that I won't get into here, we either refer to him as 'Bunkie', or when we has really annoyed one of us, we refer to him as 'Underpants'. So while I was on the call, you were yelling at the top of your lungs 'Bunkie Underpants'! It was awesome.

You also have been taking to signing quite a bit lately, because either at home or in the car we always have music on. One of your favourites is 'Born to Be Wild' by Steppenwolf and that one you can sing the first verse of spectacularly well. The song you love most seems to be The Beatles 'Hey Jude', because that one you sing along with your Grandpa, and seem to have a pretty rocking time of it.

See you next month.

Love Daddy

2 great loves together at last

2008-06-01T15:22:00.000-04:00

"what the heck? where did this come from..."
Originally uploaded by icedsoul

Found this on flickr. This photographer has come up with the novel idea of taking a picture a day for a year of his stormtroopers in various locales as he goes about his daily life.

Here is pic number one, and because this guy has combined Star Wars with Doctor Who in the same manner as someone great once combined Chocolate and Peanut Butter, consider me subscribed, at least for the rest of the year.

zoo-bound tomorrow, and Indy 4 update

2008-05-28T00:42:00.001-04:00

So I am sitting in a hotel room in Toronto right now, while Trin and Superwife slumber away in the double bed beside me. And I can't sleep even though I have been on day shifts for the last 4 days. My mind would just rather be awake then asleep I guess.

We came down here to take Trin to the zoo and either delight her with the fact that all those animals she sees on tv and in books are real, or scare the shit out of her with that same fact as they stomp around in front of her. Either way, we're hoping for a big reaction.

Oh, and here's an update: I went to see Indy 4 after work last night with a pal, and don't listen to anyone that tells you otherwise, this movie. Is. Fucking. Awesome. Fucking awesome I tells ya! Its fun, campy and full of comedy, just like all its predecessors. Yes, there is a very scif-fi MacGuffin instead of the usual religious tripe. So? If anything, that made the movie better than any of the first three. Check out this thread if you're interested in hearing more on the debate. If you are a fan of these movies, don't be a sheep and listen to the naysayers. Go see it. You won't have more fun at the movies this year until, well, until you get around to seeing Iron Man. Or until Dark Knight comes out. Or Hulk. Or X-Files 2. Well still, it is very good.

And just so its been said, Shift Work FTW!, cause its a Tuesday night and my workweek is over til Friday night.

no Indy for me

2008-05-23T02:05:00.003-04:00

So this week Superwife and I sat through 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' and 'The Last Crusade' by way of getting me ready for 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'. We skipped 'Temple of Doom' because I caught part of it on a movie channel a few weeks ago, and it is my least favourite of the three anyway. All that stupid death cult crap.

Anywho, the B-I-L, a couple of buddies and I went out to see the premiere of Indy tonight, after buying my tickets online earlier only to discover that a car accident across town had somewhow killed power to the only movie theater in the city, and the night's show had been cancelled. Kee-rist. The joys of living in near a small town are becoming increasingly apparent.

I am back to shift work again tomorrow, but hopefully I will get to see the show sometime soon, before someone goes and pulls a 'Darth Vader is Luke's father' on me.

dammit Jim, I'm a geek, not a groundskeeper!

2008-05-20T02:02:00.003-04:00

So I have been having some fun with the Out-Laws lately, specifically the F-I-L. Great guy, as I have said before, but now that we are in the middle of getting the outside of our place ready, he is being just a little more vocal in giving his opinion on how I should get things done than I am comfortable with. He is a very forceful guy, used to being completely in charge at work, and that bleeds out a bit whenever anyone is working with him. Normally its all good, as I am usually helping him do something, and I acquiesce to him where his business is concerned. But lately, he's been helping out at our new place, and he has been a huge help, bringing over tools, and machinery, even driving his tractor over to help smooth out topsoil. Holy shit I am going to sound ungrateful complaining about this.

But, here's the thing: As helpful as he is, he thinks that there is only one right way to do anything, and guess whose way that is?(I'll give you a hint; it's not mine.) And he might be right, but that is not the point.

One part of doing things his way is for me to agree to every suggestion he might have on how best to prepare our lot, which I rankle at, because I do not like people telling me what to do. Advise, if asked, sure. But tell me what to do with my own place? Grr. The other, and more judgemental way of doing things his way is the not-completely-voiced opinion that I should be out in the yard shoveling, raking, planting, whatever every free second I have. Which is not my favourite thing to do. In fact, I get no enjoyment whatsoever out of working in the yard other than that once its done, I won't have to think about it except to mow the fucker. And I hate that too, btw. And because the only exercise I get anymore is the occasional bout of yoga, I am so ill-equipped for extended periods of manual labour that tonight every muscle in my body is screaming at me for being so abusive to myself. Especially my back. Maybe might have to step up the yoga regimen.

So basically I am in the position where I don't want to take advice because I am not asking for it, and I am annoyed that I am being judged based on someone else's idea of how my time off at home should be best spent. Maybe I don't have a fucking clue how to prepare a lot, or even maintain it, but it is mine, and if I want to fuck it up, I think that is my prerogative.

And while I am on lingering familial issues: I love Superwife's sister like one of my own; she's a terrific person, but fuck me does she try to get a rise out of everyone sometimes. I used to think I was exempt from it, but yesterday when she was over, she threw out a string of Jesus, God and The Holy Father Bless You's, when Trin sneezed, even though she knows that shit drives me nuts. When someone says 'Bless you' I say 'No thank you', and mean it. And I want my home to be a place that is free of all the religious horseshit I grew up with, and perpetuating that crap (intentional or otherwise) in front of my kid is not something I tolerate. I actually hate that Christians think that its polite to say that to everyone in the world. What if the recipients of the christian sentiment are of a spiritual persuasion that does not accept blessings, or are even Atheist, like me? I think the next time someone says 'Bless you' to me I am seriously telling them to fuck off. I think that will garner a response.

And did I mention my back is killing me? I did? Oh. Well it still is.

I could not work for a living and be fine with it

2008-05-16T00:33:00.004-04:00

Not exactly a very noteworthy position I guess. Who actually wants to work for a living anyways? Whoever answers 'Me' to that question is either a liar or someone I don't care to know. Probably both.

I have had some funny things going on lately work-wise, and even though I am on the 'time-off' part of my swing shift schedule, I find myself thinking way too much about work. Hence the post about it.

2 weeks ago I turned down a job promotion that would have meant moving from shift work to days for a little bit more money than I make now. And I don't regret that move a bit, because after working really fucked up hours on shifts for the last 2 years, or working for a company on Vegas time for a year or so before that, it turns out that I don't much care for the 9 to 5 anymore. I am not sure that I can say I ever did, come to think about it.

And last week I had a job interview for the contract gig I currently have. I went in thinking I didn't even want the job, cause I make more money on contract, but as it turns out, I kicked all kinds of ass in the interview, and I realized afterwards that I really do want to keep doing this job for the foreseeable future. Which likely means I won't end up getting it, but there it is anyway.

Where the hell is this post going again? Oh yeah, all this thinking about work, and I have come to the realization that I would be quite cool with not spending the bulk of my time doing something for someone else just so that I can sneak in a few minutes every once in awhile to whine about it on my blog. So if I have some long-lost wealthy relative out there who's only got me in the will, no offense, but can you go ahead and die already so I can focus on my retirement?

I miss Billie Piper

2008-05-10T02:16:00.008-04:00

So I've just got around to catching the first episode of the 4th season of the 'new' Doctor Who. At what point does a series that has been remade stop being called new and just referred to as what it is anyway? How about Who 2.0 or something?

Either way. The series brings back the Donna Noble character, who filled the gap between Billie Piper's spectacular character 'Rose' (Season 1 and 2) and the great-but-not-Rose Martha Stewart (Season 3). She was all right too, but where Doctor Who companions are concerned, there's Rose and then there's anyone-who-isn't Rose. I guess Romana would be worth an honourable mention as well, but she's almost 60, and I just can't crush on that, no matter who she's married to.

I fucking love Doctor Who, btw. I have since I was a little kid. I think I can thank a cousin of mine for that initial indoctrination (see what I did there?). I'd watch it when my parents would dump me off at an Aunt's place, and even though these visits pre-dated videotape by a good margin, it seemed like it was always on there. This cousin of mine watched the show, read the books, and even knitted herself a 12' scarf and wore it along with her long brown trench coat. She would've been cool in an uber-geek way to me, but the family rumour was that she slept in the same bed as her Mom, and that just killed the whole thing for me. Ugh.

Where was I? Billie Piper. Right. So I get around to watching the season 4 premiere, 'Partners in Crime' and thanks to the asshats at CBC, I have to download a copy that was upped by British fans after their national broadcasting company did the right thing and aired it in the first place. Fucking CBC. I will watch Rick Mercer on that channel, but otherwise, no thanks. The episode was classic Who. Lots of David Tennant running around trying to save a bunch of people, plenty of sonic screwdriver action, and a whacky alien. But right in one of the final scenes of the ep, there is a cameo with a certain totally unexpected blonde character, who is supposedly exiled to a parallel dimension forever. She appears for a few seconds, interacting with the new companion briefly, and then walks away, fading into transparency.

Even though she's been off the show officially for two seasons, I seem to be unable to help my fascination with Rose's character. There's just so much to like about her. She is smart, and isn't at all afraid to stand up to her partner. She exudes so much natural beauty. She is not rail-skinny and not what you might first think of as model-pretty. She actually reminds me a lot of Superwife. Beautiful, but not the kind that looks fake. The kind that just is. Hmm, now that I think about it, if Superwife were to put on a blonde wig and start singing ferociously bad pop songs, I could get something going here. And even though I know she'll never read this, I seriously don't know how she puts up with me, even for just thinking nonsense like that.

But she'd still look good in that wig.

we get each other

2008-05-07T13:18:00.002-04:00

Whilst watching Wonder Woman yesterday (yes the 1970's comics-inspired tv show with Lynda Carter in the Amazonian title role), during a gun fight, as the bullets richochet harmlessly away, Superwife exclaims to the bad guys:

"Quit aiming at her bracelets everytime!"

I laughed my ass off. And that's exactly the kind of thing that when it happens, reminds me why I love her so much.

letter to trinity: 34 months

2008-05-06T15:15:00.000-04:00

Dear Trinity,

Has a month gone by already? Where did that one go?

I thought I'd first tell you about how your voice affects me these days. I have been working more nights this month than usual and your Mom and you have been calling and leaving me messages on my phone's voicemail. Usually they are of you telling me what you guys are doing at that given moment, either what you did after supper, or what books you might read later. Maybe it is to tell me that you love me or that you had a big poop. I have been saving all of them and listened to them in a row last night while at work. Its good that I was again on nights, because I might have to answer questions from people wondering why I was crying a little at work.

You are so funny lately. You asked me the other day if I was going to go to work that night, and when I said no, you actually yelled 'Woohoo!' and did a little dance. It was awesome. Speaking of dancing, somewhere along the way you have decided that the thing to do while dancing is pull your pants down so that the crack of your butt is exposed, followed usually by a lot of giggling. Not sure where that one comes from, but I do know that you keep doing it because I can't help laughing every time I see you do it. If I have, in so doing, encouraged you into a profession that I might not have otherwise approved of, I formally apologize.

You and I went for haircuts together this month and it was a lot of fun. I couldn't believe how still and obedient you were with the girl doing your hair. Frankly I was thinking about seeing if we could set her up at our place in some way, since you seemed to enjoy the experience so much that you forgot to be your normal wild self. But then the moment passed and I realized that one of the things I love most about you is that you are your own person. But it really was adorable.

Storytime has had a bit of a paradigm shift this month. You have now gone past the point where you want us to read your stories to you, as well as past reading your books to us, and have moved right to attempting to read my books to me. It is very cute and made better by the fact that you like to make up your own stories and characters as you flip the pages. Case in point:

And now, the screaming. Looking back and reading this, do you remember that when you were 34 months old one of the best ways you could think of to get our attention was to scream as loud as you can? We certainly are having a tough time figuring it out. You get a lot of attention from both of us, and you pretty much always have your Mom around to interact with, so its a strange thing when you start screaming for no apparent reason other than to get us to stop doing whatever it is we're doing and try to get you from hurting your larynx and our ears any further.

The weather finally started changing for the better a bit this month, although we only had nice weather for a few days and then it either got cold again, rained a lot, or often times both. We actually had snow on the road when we came home from visiting your Aunt and cousin. We had a nice time visiting with them, and not only were you ok with the long drive, you really didn't seem to care that you were cooped up in a car for 5 hours straight each way.

When the weather was nice though, we took you to a bigger park than our usual one and we tried flying a kite, to limited success. But you had a blast alternatively chasing that thing around the park or dragging it along the ground. The view through your eyes really is a fun one. Maybe a little opaque sometimes, but it still provides a sense of wonder to my life that I would never otherwise have.

I love you,

Daddy

Everything I needed to know about life I learned from Star Trek. Until now.

2008-04-30T07:08:00.001-04:00

The concept of Star Trek as teacher is not exactly a new sentiment for me. I was introduced to it at the tender age of 4 by way of my Mom taking me to see ST:TMP in a theater (yes, I am that old), and it has been my constant companion ever since.

Way back before Trin, even before Superwife, I had a wall poster that said exactly this: Everything I needed to know about life I learned from Star Trek, and it contained a number of mostly comical adages about life for the geek who pays more attention to science fiction than to the so-called real world. Things like 'always set yourphaser on stun' and 'never trust anyone with pointed ears'. I can't find an image of it, or there would be one in this post, but you get the idea.

I recently watched the TNG Season 6 episode Tapestry, in which Picard's artificial heart fails on him during a mission and he dies on the operating table because of it. He is then taken back in time to see if he can change the event that caused him to have an artificial heart in the first place, a purported wrong choice that led to him getting stabbed. He makes the appropriate changes, avoids getting stabbed, and is then brought into what should be his present, only to find that history is not as he remembers it. He is now a Junior grade Lieutenant, living a quiet, safe life shuffling papers around. Turns out that choosing the safe, easy path led to a life of not taking the opportunities he was presented with, and ultimately creating a much different life than the one he remembered. Picard then goes back in time yet again, sets history right, gets stabbed in the heart, and with the timeline restored, wakes up on an operating table in his present, his artificial heart once again working.

Where is this going exactly, you might ask? Well, yesterday I was presented with not one, but two job opportunities; one a headhunter contact, and the other a firm offer, both of which would lead to me getting off of shift work and back into working the daily grind like most of the rest of the world. One would in all likelihood be for less money than the one I have now, the other was a little more; one would offer significantly new challenges, and the other was basically a modified version of the job I have, just doing it straight days.

Essentially, (and here's the Star Trek part) like Picard I was faced with two paths: I could take the easier, safer path and maybe be sentenced to a life of quiet non-involvement, or I could take one of the other offered positions, and maybe start a chain of changes that could lead to who knows what. (Maybe my own ship someday?) But here's where Picard and I part ways. Because where he was horrified to find himself trapped in a job with no passion, of never being noticed by anyone, I am quite content with the same. Some might see it as a lack of ambition, some might think I am just plain lazy, but the truth is that as long as my basic needs are met in a job (i.e. enough money to support my family), I just don't get gratification from job recognition. I like coming into a job, doing my thing to the best of my ability and going home to the people that matter to me. And that is all. I don't crave praise at a job or need to feel validated by others for my accomplishments. I work to live baby, never the other way around.

So for a litany of reasons, I made the choice to stay where I was for now, and Superwife, as always, remains my stalwart supporter. As long as I am happy, she is happy for me. She is the absolute tits, in case I haven't said so lately, btw. It is so great that the only friend whose opinion I honestly value, who supports me no matter what, also happens to be my wife. If we were ever to part ways, I am so screwed, because I could never ask for a better partner in life.

I guess now it remains to be seen how much this event will impact the direction of my life, at least in the short term. Maybe my decision isn't as life-changing as getting stabbed in the heart, but only time provides the appropriate context to put these kinds of events in.

career advice with John Tesh

2008-04-24T01:41:00.001-04:00

As heard in the car the other day, listening to the radio with Superwife:

John Tesh: "..so that's why experts say that you will live a longer, happier life if you select a career that financially rewards you for doing the thing that you love and are really good at."

Me: "A little bit obvious, but thanks anyways John."

Superwife: "That's a good idea but I don't think it would be all that good for our marriage."

Me: "What do you mean?"

Superwife: "Because with that advice, I should have been a prostitute."

Me: "..."

the new office

2008-04-16T01:01:00.001-04:00

the new office
Originally uploaded by raistlinsghost

So I have officially been moved to the basement now, as my 'old' office has been converted to a toy room for the munchkin. Now that she is going to be 3, she should be able to occupy 2 bedrooms, right?

craving this

2008-04-10T00:08:00.001-04:00

I have been waiting for this shirt to be become available again at Threadless for-fucking-ever and even though it was just reprinted, the sonofabitching thing was part of the spring sale and sold out in less than a microsecond or two. Maybe they only reprinted one of them. But if anyone reads this, loves me, and loves me enough to buy me something, well, there's the link. Size Medium because I eat more nowadays. And if not for me, for any Batfan, once its available again you are going to want one of these anyways.

letter to trinity: 33 months

2008-04-08T23:28:00.001-04:00

Dear Trinity,

I'm writing you a little later than normal this month; for some reason I haven't felt like I have all that new to tell you lately. But of course, like any other month, you continue to grow and change and develop and I am just not making a big deal enough out of that. Or maybe its that I have been so busy either having fun or losing my (admittedly small amount of) patience with you. One neato thing about your personality developing is that as it grows so does your capacity to want to get your own way, and so often what you want conflicts with what I think might be the right course of action. Foreshadowing for the future, you think?

This month has been about par for our life as it is nowadays. I work a lot, you and your Mom hang out at home a lot, or visit with your family up here. When I am off, we get to hang out, continue watching the few episodes of Star trek that might be considered kid-friendly.

We are going to head down to see your Aunt and some old friends 5 hours away tomorrow morning and I am both really looking forward to the trip and dreading it because its been almost a year since we've had you in the car for that length of time. We will just have to see how it goes.

Your Grandpa came to visit with us this past month. You had such a good time with him, which really surprised us, because you really haven't seen him that much, so we figured you'd be shy around him. But not so. You played harder with him than you have with anyone, launching yourself at him like a skydiver. You made him pretend to be the Big Bad Wolf (of 'Three Little Pigs' fame) about a hundred times, but in your version of the story, the little pig was always the winner. The next time we see him will likely be at his 4th wedding this summer, if we can get to it. Yeah, 4th wedding I said. Ask me about that one sometime.

This month I noticed a greater than usual amount of people commenting about your immense vocabulary and your control over it. I imagine that a function of being around adults more means that you are likely to pick up linguistic skills easier, but its just as plausible that you are a ridiculously smart girl instead. I like that one.

Some favourite things of yours this month: Kraft Dinner. No matter what meal it is, the one thing that we are guaranteed that you will at least eat some of, is Kraft Dinner. You usually like to share too, which always brings a smile. Your favourite book lately has been a collection of condensed Disney stories, that you often prefer to flip through yourself a few times before you pick one (or all) for me to read. Your favourite tv show has been 'Peep and the Big Wide World'. You call it Peep and the Whole Wide World, and you scream bloody murder if we try to correct you. I just call it Peep.

I couldn't settle on what pictures to post with this letter, so I am attaching more than the normal amount. Each of them is just too adorable to toss into the pile of other pictures I'm not showing the world (and you).

See you next month.

As always, your Daddy loves you.

waiting for the apocalypse

2008-04-08T04:38:00.002-04:00

I don't know what else there is to say other than this is the bestest thing I'll read all week. Maybe longer. Go read.

If only this apocalypse had already happened.

back in business

2008-04-04T07:37:00.001-04:00

So I have had my two new favourite toys for just over a week now, and now that I am almost finished working a week of nights, I am finally going to get to play with them. By toys, I mean my HP laptop sent to replace the one that died a horrible death from motherboard failure (twice) and the Asus Eee I bought as a backup for when (not if!) my new HP experiences a similar fate.

But the Eee’s Linux distro just plain sucks balls. I don’t care what anyone says, geeks who feel that because Linux is open source, you are compelled to both like it and hate Windows are just being elitist. I get a lot of shit for that attitude at work, but the world gets by for the most part on Windows platforms. Sorry, but there it is. I’m not a Linux hater, but this particular distro totally sucks, so I dumped it and installed Windows XP on my Eee and now I love it.

The new HP does run a lot better than the old one though, and it has an unnecessarily large screen, all the better to watch movies on (read:porn). The thing is 17 inches, and something in the neighbourhood of 10 lbs or so. Its more of a gigantic paperweight than a portable, but I guess that's what the Eee is for. I am planning on finally getting in on an MMO on it this weekend (City of Heroes!), even though I have always said that the only way I would ever have had time to play one would be after Superwife divorces me. (Which hopefully won't be happening anytime soon). We’ll see how that goes.

Ah, that’s what I’ve missed most about not having a pc at home: The ability to satisfy my compulsion to post inane horseshit that no one really cares about, any time I want.

in absentia

2008-03-19T00:36:00.002-04:00

Been hard to get a chance lately to collect my thoughts, let alone write them down, mostly due to the fact that I have been laptop-less for going on 6 weeks. That and when I do get a chance to do anything I feel obligated to write reviews for the DVD site I get free Blu-Rays from. (Tip of the hat goes to Eyecravedvd.com.)

I am currently plugging away right now on a loaner machine that I have to give back tomorrow so I am trying to get as much done tonight as I can. But no more reviews tonight. Three in a week is my limit.

I am desperately awaiting the arrival of not one, but two laptops, as HP is finally (fucking finally!) going to replace the one that I have had to send back twice to them for motherboard failures. And I am also eagerly awaiting my new eee pc, so that I have something to always take with me and a backup in case my new HP turns out to be as reliable as the last one.

Listening to the free instrumental album off the new Nine Inch Nails release, Ghosts and its really good. And free, as in the band is offering it for download and has upped it to every torrent site in the cloud at no cost in the hopes that downloaders might then buy the whole 4 album package. Which I won't be, thanks. Although I might just download the whole thing for nothing (snicker).

Been working on my resume tonight too. Unfortunately for me, there are some postings at my job for the job I currently have to make it a full time gig. Bummer for me because I like working on contract; better money. And now I have to compete for a job I currently have, and might lose, which is teh sucks. But such is life.

And now that I take the time to update the blog, I find I have relatively little else to say. An old friend of mine recently was written up in an article for a St. Catharines newspaper and it is worth a read. He is a motivational speaker, and aside from being a bit of a religious nutter, he is one of the coolest guys I have ever met. Awesome attitude, and I was really happy for him when I came across the article. One of these guys that, were he to be handed lemons by life, would likely build a lemonade stand and donate the whole thing to a passing homeless guy.

clarity

2008-03-10T00:00:00.004-04:00

I was all set tonight to write about how morose I have been of late, how off kilter I have been feeling ever since the time off part of my swing shift started. How Superwife and I have been bumping heads a bit, how because I work such fucked up hours that half the time when I am home, I feel like a stranger in my own house.

And then tonight, the stars aligned, Trin went to sleep early enough and Superwife wasn't totally exhausted, and we had the opportunity to get some much needed private time in. And amazingly, all that other nonsense seemed to just disappear like the bs that it is.

So nevermind. I was just being a whiny jerk.

That's clarity for you.