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Riding the bus home last night, some kids (yes, I'm at an age now where I call teens or anyone more than 5 years younger than me a kid) got on the bus smelling of pot. I could see them passing a joint around one last time before they boarded the bus. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a minority, here in BC - and the world, of people who don't smoke pot nor approve of it. I don't like drugs period - I try to not even take aspirin. I don't really know why I have this stance on drugs...I'm not a total goody goody law abiding citizen, and I don't really treat my body like a temple...I eat wrong and thrash on it with behind a boat sports and stuff. Sometimes I think I should just do drugs...just try them anyways, see what all the hype is about. But then I say 'no', just cause I don't wanna. And I think that's ok. I don't do drugs by choice - it's cheaper, I can remember stuff, and I don't have an addiction. I don't know where I'm going with this...I guess I just wanted to state my stance on drugs in case one day I do drugs and forget the way I used to be. Oh, and these whiny fucks who want their medicinal use dope...I think that's just a buncha bullshit. I really can't say for sure, cause I don't know if I've felt pain like these people say they experience, nor have I smoked a doobie to realize the effects, but in my mind I just think it's a ploy to get the stuff legalised. There are alternatives to relieve pain, and I'm not talking about drugs. Most of the time, I just live with the pain and it goes away eventually. I dunno, I guess I'm torn on the whole subject.

Anyways, these kids got on the bus and it made me think of a neat idea for an anti-drug PSA for TV (although I doubt it would work in steering kids away from drugs, it would be something to do). Have some kids hangin' out somewhere, talking, goofing off. Then a couple other kids come by a try to hang out too. Soon after the first group grabs their things and leaves...waving their hands in the air like something stinks. The 2nd group of kids give the shrug and "what?" kinda look. Then the screen changes to a picture of a bottle of cologne with a pot leaf on it and the text on screen and announcer say "Cannabis Cologne - your friends will love it".

Just a thought.

What a great place to work I've got. Yesterday was my first shift, and I could get used to 1400 - 2200 (although I know it's not always gonna be that). Missed the bus on my way there, so had to drive in further, get ahead of the bus, then catch it...shit happens. Many people that I met during my observation shifts last week came down to Master Control to congratulate me on getting the job...it was very nice. They genuinely seemed happy to have me aboard and working with them. Even people outside the Tech Ops dept congratulated me. I'm very happy to be working, and very happy to be working with such fine folk.

I ingested commercials and promos and also barcoded shows for air play.

Got my Apex AD-600A DVD player back from Gord on the weekend. That player is pretty wicked. Not only can I over-ride the region settings and macrovision, but it will convert, on-the-fly, my Zone 4 PAL discs into NTSC so they can display on an NTSC TV without trouble. I thought I was gonna have to get a Multi-System TV...it turns out not. The only drawback with the player is it's age - It doesn't play some discs properly because they use features developed for DVDs that came out after the AD-600A. Oh well, it usually works and if I can play my Zone 4s on it on my NTSC TV, I'm happy. Still got my Sony and my DVD-ROM for all the rest! Now I just need a kick ass sound system...

Last night, I'm in downtown Victoria after having watched Thirteen with the gang, and I'm driving home along Douglas street. This dude in front of me, in a little Tracker or some sort of Jeep wannabe with Washington State plates, puts on his indicator and attempts to turn left onto Yates street. Now, yes, Yates street is one way in the direction of this dork's intended travel, but on Douglas street there is a sign with an arrow pointing straight ahead meaning no turning. There's traffic coming the other direction, and people crossing the street, so of course this guy can't turn...but he's holding up traffic (read 'me') as he waits for it to clear so he can turn. Now, I am a big advocate of breaking stupid traffic laws such as "no turning here" or "no U-Turn", but only at times when it's not an inconvenience to someone else. I mean, come on, that's really why those signs are there anyways....because at busy times, if someone is trying to turn left, it holds up traffic. But at 1am, or another time when no other traffic is around, it shouldn't be a problem to turn left because it's not holding anyone up. But this dude was holding it up, which pisses me off. Sure I didn't have to be anywhere in a hurry...it was just the fact that he would hold up traffic like that...what an inconsiderate prick! I know, he's a tourist (or it could have been a she, I dunno) and may not have known about sign, or that if he drove a few more streets he could have legally turned left without a hassle from the guy behind him...but that's no excuse. When I'm in a city I don't know, I usually end up driving out of my way cause I missed a turn off or realised I couldn't turn where I wanted to...it happens.

Anyway, I honked at the guy, he didn't change his stance, so I changed lanes and sped around him. I didn't flip the bird or honk again...I don't do that, it's not my style.

I'm terrible at shaving. I look in the mirror afterwards and there's little patches I've missed, or only skimmed - it's just plain bad. I dunno why...I have a Gillette Mach 3 razor. With the price of the blades for that thing you'd think it'd be a perfect shave every time. I've tried electric razors too...but not the newest ones that 'constantly adapt to the contours of your face'. Sometimes I actually have to go back and re-shave parts of my face. Maybe I have some weird contours on my face.

The call came in yesterday just after 16:00...

Planman: Hello?
Cindy: Hi, is this Mark?
Planman: Yes
Cindy: Hi Mark, it's Cindy calling from the New VI.
Mark: Oh, hello
Cindy: Mark I'm calling to...well, would you like to work here?
Mark: Yes, of course I would!
Cindy: Well great...

and so it went. So you are now reading the words of the newest employee at The New VI, the CHUM "New Network" TV station in downtown Victoria! I start Monday. Thanks to Mike and Pam for passing on the job posting to me.

I was in there Monday and Tuesday this week, just observing how things work and getting a feel for the work environment. I loved it. What a great bunch of people to work with...and the equipment is very cool. All brand new just 2 years ago, top notch automation system and news preparation system, monitors everywhere, patch hydrants everywhere...I'm very happy and excited.

It's been raining good for a few days now...I hope the interior is getting this much rain. I like rain...it makes me feel not so guilty for staying inside and bangin' away on the 'puter.

Watched Independence Day last night (on the Eye-Trek of course). You know, the movie starts out decent enough and as a whole isn't as terrible as some. But the whole idea of our computer systems (and a Mac no less) being able to interface with an alien computer system is just absurd..not to mention the graphics that come up on the screen during the interface. I know, I know...it's movie computers and they'll never represent the real world. Ah well, it's still fun to watch and the Special Edition DVD is pretty damn cool (which is why it's part of my collection).

Gonna join the Fantasy Hockey Pool...even though I have no idea who the good players are these days...I'm so outta touch.

Downtown Victoria lacks pay phones. There aren't even any outside the Telus building...what up with that? Yeah, they're there, but they're never nearby when you need to use one. I guess everyone has a cell phone these days...so I looked into them. Bell seems to have pretty good coverage and some of their plans look pretty good. Rogers plans seem to suck, as does their coverage I'm pretty sure.

Things went well at The New VI today...it's looking very good for Planman to get a job there. I go in for 2 days next week...unpaid, just to get a feel of what's involved, as well as for them to get to know me. One day in Master, one day in the studio. Looking forward to it!

Had a Sally Bun for lunch today with Dad...mmmmmmm, I haven't had one of those in years. So good. Lox, Dill, and Cream Cheese was mine...good, but I've had better.

My hair is finally growing into where it used to be before it was shaved. I didn't mind it shaved, but I think I prefer to have hair and I'm going to keep it this way for a while. Maybe I'll shave again, who knows. Maybe I'll just decide one day.
Be Spontaneous.
I'd like to be more spontaneous. I need to be more spontaneous. Just outta the blue (or red or green) take off, do something I haven't done before, or have done before and that I enjoy. With friends, without friends...whatever the activity deserves. I keep blaming my lack of spontanaeity on the fact I don't have money...but there are cheap things to do too...I'm just lazy I guess.
Need a job.
It was fun being a bum but now I really need to get some work. Funds are low, I'm living with my parents...which is ok, but I don't wanna be a burden on them - after all, they deserve to be free of the kids after raisin' us for so long. It sucks bein' a bum now anyways cause all my friends have jobs, so there's no one to play with during the day..and usually the night too. Used to be I could hang out with Tree, but now she works, and when she's off I never see her anymore. She's not even online to chat with. Rol is sort of available at times...he chats while at work and he takes off early for fun stuff sometimes...like yesterday we went sailin'. Rol is cool...he's sorta my hero right now (not that I don't think highly of all my friends) cause he seems to have his shit together - got a longtime girlfriend who is cool, got a house, got a good job, and seems to have a makeshift plan for the next portion of his life.
Girlfriend.
Once again I'm resorting to online dating. It's not bad I guess...it just seems like a bit of a cop out. But since I don't meet women the old fashioned way, and I am a computer kinda guy, maybe it's worth a shot. I've got a profile on Lavalife, and lemme tell you there are some great local women with profiles on that site. I haven't paid for "credits" yet, so I can't communicate with anyone...I think I'll have to pay up. It would be nice though if someone initiated contact with me. I tried this in New Zealand too...I got a couple responses and even one or two initiated messages...but nothing came of any of them - didn't even meet them.

So I'm drivin' along Gillespie Rd today and this biker comes up the hill behind me and I notice his right turn signal is on. Now I know I'd feel like a fool if I left my turn signal on, and I hate to see it when people change lanes on the highway and forget to turn the signal off (besides the fact that using a turn signal to change lanes is pretty much not necessary), so I usually try to help them out by letting them know they've left it on. While driving, pretty much the only way to do this is to turn your turn signal on (the same one) while you drive in front of them. As I was in front of this biker, I did just this. He noticed pretty much right away and turned it off and gave a wave and we went on our merry way (and I turned my signal off of course).

The wave is very important, and I haven't witnessed it a lot in recent days. When someone helps you out, either by letting you merge in busy traffic, or letting you (a pedestrian) cross, or letting you know your turn signal is on...the least thing you can do it give them a wave. Since you can't really say the words "thank you" the next best thing is the wave. I'm very big on the wave and try to remember to do it every time it's needed. It's a nice gesture, and it makes the person who did the good deed feel good about doing it. If you don't give a wave, the person may get discouraged and not be so nice in future instances...regarding you or someone else.

So give a wave and say thank you. Manners aren't restricted to the dinner table, eh?

Rain clouds have moved in and it already pissed a little bit today...it's looking good!

Yeah, those clouds? they faded away and it was sunny and hot...again.

I'm not scared of spiders, but I don't really like having them on my person either. They are everywhere right now. I don't remember there ever being this many, but apparently it's always like this around this time of year. Guess I've been gone long enough to remember. You walk through a doorway, or past a chair close to a wall, or between any two objects relatively close together, and you're covered in web and possibly spider. Don't you hate that when you're not sure if the spider got on you? It's bad enough having the web all over you...you keep finding it throughout the day, but you pat yourself down and brush off everywhere to make sure that spider ain't crawling around in places you don't want. Ugh...they are ugly little things too.

Fired up the old Eye-Trek tonight and watched Any Given Sunday. I'd say my favourite Oliver Stone flick. Excellent cinematography - really cool angles and hand-held work not to mention great lighting, cool soundtrack that just keeps pumping between rock and rap and other "in between" stuff. The DVD menu is cool...I love a good DVD menu, gets you in the right mood for the movie. And this movie is football...I don't play football and I don't know much about it...but this movie sure makes you feel like you're in the game, but not just the game, the whole politics of football...the larger game of football. All the acting is superb, Pacino, Foxx, LL, Quaid, Woods, Diaz (who is still a babe even when she plays a cranky business bitch), and McGinley...sure his part isn't very big in this, but he never really has huge parts...he's a great supporting or background actor and he can be just fucking hilarious too (check out Scrubs on NBC). I don't have many bad things to say about this movie, I just plain enjoy it.

I'm loving my desktop picture right now. It's a picture I took when I was in Australia, on the Pacific Star catamaran cruising through the Whitsunday Islands. If you want it, get it here. And no, it's not a screen saver, I hate when people call it a screen saver, it's your desktop. A screen saver comes on after a set amount of time and has motion to it to avoid burning a static image onto your screen (and monitors are pretty good these days so screen savers aren't even all that necessary). I suggest using it in "centered" mode, not stretched on 1024 resolution (it'll just crop the edges).

Clouds are finally rolling in...maybe we'll get some rain!

I'm having a problem with ambition and motivation. I don't have any passion for anything. I used to be into cars (Corvettes mostly) and computer games, and movies. I'm still interested in these things, but I don't have the passion I used to...I don't live for them anymore. I don't know what I live for right now. It's kind of discouraging. I know I'll find something...or maybe someone, but right now it's tough to feel excited about doing anything. Oh I like hangin out with my friends and doin' 'behind a boat' sports and watchin' movies and playin' games, but just getting myself personally motivated to do anything is getting to be a chore. I think I need a job, that would help. Having something regular, that I can count on to keep me busy would be good. I'm tryin'. I'm looking for one. I'm hoping they'll call from the New VI soon, but I'm perusing the papers too, cause I'm goin' broke quick. I'm so thankful my parents are letting me live with them for the time being...they are truly the world's best parents.

Lunch time, gonna go have me some buffalo chicken strips. Then I gotta wash the vinyl siding on the house.

Well I finally got off my fat ass and did some stuff around the house today. I cleaned the bird cage and took out the garbage, then I re-arranged my bedroom a bit to accomodate a desk for my laptop...much better now. I rode my bike to the store and bought the newspaper and an Eat-More (I wanted to buy hot dog buns too, but they didn't have them). I looked for jobs in the paper and online and got my resume printed off for one (don't know the company, they just said it was a warehouse/driver position). I made a pie crust using Dave's Mom's Cookbook then put the apples my mom had already prepared into it...it turned out quite good, I was very impressed with myself!

Setup the Eye-Trek on my laptop this evening and watched American Psycho. I love that movie, but I'm not sure why. The production values are quite good on it...it's beautifully shot - the lighting, the sets - and the DVD keeps it looking sharp. I've read the book too, and I just don't know what it is that attracts me to the movie. I think I can identify with Bateman on some level...I'm not a psycho, but sometimes I do feel that something's just different. He wants to feel accepted and fit in so he does things he doesn't really enjoy to be part of the crowd...I know I've done that and I think many others have too. It helps that Reese Witherspoon is in the movie too...shit she's cute. Fuck, I need a girlfriend.

You know, I'm almost getting sick of this hot, sunny weather. Since I got back from New Zealand at the beginning of June it has rained maybe 4 or 5 days. It's so dry it's crazy. East Sooke Park is closed because of high fire hazard...I've never seen it closed in 26 years. Luckily the Potholes are still open. Choy and I went there yesterday...rode our bikes along the Goose, then jumped in off a small cliff upstream of "teacup". It was chilly, but damn refreshing. My parents don't like it when I jump off the cliffs at the potholes (or probably anywhere for that matter). I realize their concern, but I still do it. It's fun, it's a rush, and at most holes it's the easiest way to get in the water. You always hear of people dieing at the Potholes every year because they were jumping off the cliffs. I think those people didn't take caution and were either careless as they walked over the rocks, or stupid in not making sure they were jumping into deep water with no rocks just under the surface. If you use your brain, then cliff jumping at the Potholes is safe and fun. I got my picture on the front page of the Sooke Mirror one year, jumping in at "wyler"...I'll try and dig it up and scan it.

Tree invited us over for dinner after swimmin'. Her parents are awesome cooks. We had homemade beef barley soup, fresh turnips and cucumber from their garden, salmon, BBQ chicken, fried potatoes, swiss chard (it was called Silverbeet in New Zealand), fresh herb bread, and basmati rice. Mmmm Mmm it was goood! Thanks Mr. & Mrs. C!

Mom and Dad went out fishin' today. I could have gone, but I find I just don't really enjoy fishing. I don't mind going out a couple times a year, but today I just didn't feel like it...even though it looks like a perfect day for it.