It's weird...however much my schedule gets outta whack (working night shifts, living in the dark hours) I still maintain my regular eating schedule. Like, breakfast type foods in the AM hours, and lunch and dinner type foods in the PM hours. Maybe it's partly cause that's how restaurants serve it up. I don't eat out that much...but I did stop at McD's this morning on my way home from work. I went through the drive-thru. What ever happened to the menu on the drive-thru? Maybe it's only this one I went through, but there wasn't a menu, just the little McDeal's menu with the combo's and what days they're on sale. No full menu telling me everything available. Not that I don't pretty much have it memorized, but still. I don't always know the price and maybe I want to branch out from my usual and try something new. I didn't...I had a couple sausage McMuffins and a couple hashbrowns (which were cold) and an orange juice.

The cold, or whatever the hell I had, is lingering on, but mostly gone. I feel much better.

No work this week, but it wasn't all that lazy. Didn't get much accomplished though. Wednesday Q and I planned to see Elephant...turned out we saw Elephants and we were quite...uh, disappointed. Fuckin' Telus! Telus is not in the good books with anyone right now I think. They've been making Choy and his housemates wait for weeks to hook up the phone service in their house. They were supposed to do it yesterday, but guess what? They didn't show. Then, the Telus website told Q and I that the movie we wanted to see was playing at the IMAX theatre (which I thought a bit weird, but went along with)...that turned out to be wrong. I tells ya...Hydro I got no problem with, Shaw I got no problem with, Telus I got big problems with.

Thursday Tree and I went to Vancouver to check out a 4Runner for her. It was a '99 and looked pretty good. Price was good if it hadn't been in an accident and had other claims on it. The guys and Midas put it up on a hoist for us to have a look underneath and it looked a bit rusty for only being 4 years old. I dunno that much about vehicles, but it didn't seem quite right and plus it was just on the edge of her price range. It was a fun trip anyways. Q and Sarah were on the ferry for the ride home.

It's kinda fun checkin' out vehicles when you're not the one doing the buying. You get to learn about them and be a little more critical cause it's not your decision. Plus it's cool to go with Tree cause she lets me test drive them too...cause she wants that second opinion.

Gotta go to work...just call me the Weekend Warrior!

Mmmm, chinese food...ginger beef, sweet & sour chicken balls, hot & spicy chow mein, wor wonton soup...mmmm.

Either I've gotten a lot bigger since I last had 'em, or Tim Horton's apple fritters have gotten a lot smaller. They're still a decent size, but I seem to remember them being huge. Now it's like 5 bites and it's gone. It used to be more like 10 bites...maybe even 12. They still taste pretty good though. I've stopped in there on my last 2 mornings. I don't think I'm gonna make a habit of it though. It's fun once in a while.

I feel much better today. No more aches, no more headache, just a slight sore throat and a bit of phlegm (yummy eh?). I think I'll be back to 100% by tuesday.

Ugh, I got a flu shot the other day. Now I feel sick. It's supposed to make it so you don't get the flu, right? Maybe it's just the initial effects...I mean it is a weak strain of the flu, right? I was a little sick before I got the shot anyways...so maybe it's a combo thingy. Anyways, I feel like poop...headache, slight sore throat, achy. Hope I can sleep it off. Why do people hate getting shots? I can't even feel the needle going into my arm. The doc could do the whole shot and walk away and I'd be like, "you gonna give me the shot, or what?". That needle is so thin.

My hours got cut back at work a bit...I'm mostly a weekend shifter for the next while. I'll take what I can get, but I may need to get a 2nd job...we'll see how it goes. In a funny reversal of roles, Monday I get to train Mike on switching New Day. He's done it before...it's just been a while. Should be fun.

Fuck, Elisabeth Shue is hot! Karate Kid was on YTV tonight...I watched some of it. The parts with her are well worth it. I think she's always been a babe.

The Heritage Hockey game was today. CBC broadcast it in High Definition over Bell ExpressVu. I never seen HD before, but my boss set up his HD projector at work so we could have a look and also to ask questions of him about HD. Man, it is so much more crisp and clear. Beautiful 16:9 picture. It was awesome. I gotta get me an HDTV...and I hope stations in Canada start broadcasting it in the somewhat near future. The game was cool...good to see all the old timers out there.

16 more ways to die!

Arrgh...what happened?

Ah, lazy days. I haven't done much since my last post. Finished reading 1984...pretty good book. Slow in parts, but other parts really get goin'. Watched some TV...yeah I do it for a living, and I do it at home for personal entertainment as well. Played Kings Cribbage with mom last night...I kicked butt. Made a couple changes to the website (check out the Daily Planman image...you can now click on it and see the archive of Daily Planmans). It's raining, I'm hangin' out inside. Doin' a lot of thinking. When I get to thinking, I get to worrying. I hate worrying...I'm gonna get an ulcer. Things get blown out of proportion when I think and worry (I hope they're only blown out of proportion in my mind). I gotta keep myself occupied. Startin' to think more about starting on that book I keep sayin' I'm gonna write.

Only 31 more ways to die!

Mom made a pillow for Lemieux...he loves it.

The Canucks are playing the Canadiens tonight...wearing their vintage jerseys...you know, the ones with the horizontal hockey stick with blue and green background. Classic. I should check out the game.

I haven't had a true hang-over in years. Today I do. I've felt groggy and tired after a night out drinkin'...but today I actually have a headache (it's lessened in intensity, but still lingering) and some bloodshot eyes. I'm not exactly glad that I have a hang-over...but I guess it does mean that I partied it up well last night...so that's good. I slept most of the day and I feel better now.

I has been confirmed...my brother and I, although there's 3 years between us and he's a little blonder than I, are identical. Someone told me that in high school and I shrugged it off. But last night, at Hugo's, Gord's landlady (who also happens to be a co-worker of mom's, so she knows us all) saw me at the bar and said hi. Then she asked if Brandy was there...Brandy being Gord's girlfriend. I realised she thought I was Gord. He's only been living in their garage suite for 3 years and paying rent every month, yet she thought I was him. Wacky.

Sunday has become no-hair-product day. Well, actually any day where I don't plan on going anywhere is a no-hair-product day. My hair needs a rest from the wax...a good cleansing. It feels softer, but it's poofier.

I am now officially trained and ready to fly solo in Master Control at the New VI! Friday night I actually handled the entire shift, what was supposed to be my last training shift, on my own as Pauly was sick and didn't come in. I feel confident with the work I've been doing there and I'm glad my supervisors and co-workers feel that way too.

So I go to London Drugs yesterday cause I got time to kill before work. Yes, I am a glutton for London Drugs...I dunno why, it's just easy. Anyways, I needed toothpaste and shaving cream. I browsed around cause I had nothing better to do, then I wandered into the toothpaste and shaving cream aisle (after wandering down the "feminine products" aisle by mistake). Wow, Crest toothpaste is on sale...4 tubes for $4.99! That's a deal if I ever heard of one. So of course I have to get it. I chose the Tatar Control Crest in the 130ml tubes. So I got 4 boxes of toothpaste in my hands and I turn around to check out the shaving cream. Wow, Gillete Shaving Gel is on sale...2 cans for $5.79! That's a deal if I ever heard of one. So of course I have to get it. I chose the "skin renewal" type of gel...I have no idea if it's really any different than the others..I mean, c'mon, it's just gel that turns into foam. So now I have 4 boxes of toothpaste and 2 cans of shave gel and it's little awkward. But I'm a guy and because of that I will not resort to the little carry basket because it's not macho enough...I guess. I'll use it at the grocery store when I'm getting a lot of stuff...and believe me, I can fill one of those baskets. So I wander around the store some more cause I still got time. I dropped a couple toothpaste boxes a few times...but they can withstand the impact. I dunno why I make things tough for myself...it's just the way I do business. I don't even know where I'm goin' with this, but I think I'm done. I'm set for the next year for toothpaste.

Happy Birthday to Elaine today!

It's my brother's birthday today...Happy 23rd Gord!

Ok, one more driving topic then I'm off that for a bit. I have issues with driving and here is one of them. Turn signals. They are so overused. I know, the don't hurt anyone, but they annoy me. There's really only a few instances where a turn signal is required...and by required I mean it's nice to use for the other driver's around you...it's not a requirement to use a turn signal when you want to turn your car (as some driver's seem to think).

Situation 1: You're driving along the road with other traffic and you want to turn off. Left or right...if someone is following you, it's nice to use your turn signal so that they know why you are slowing down. It is not necessary to use the turn signal when no one is following you, nor do you need to use it when there is a left or right turning lane from which you can turn.

Situation 2: When changing lanes in heavy traffic it is nice to indicate where you are going so that the drivers around you know what's happening. If traffic is light it is not necessary to indicate...no one cares if it doesn't directly affect them. Aside - Changing lanes often results in the the indicator being left on as you carry down the highway (most often in vehicles driven by grey hairs). Use caution when indicating for a lane change and only move the lever enough to signal so that when you let go it will spring back to the neutral position. There is no need to fully engage the indicator lock.

Situation 3: If you are at a stop light and plan to turn left, but there is no left turn lane, then you should indicate your intentions so that other drivers know why you aren't moving when the light turns green...or so that they can go around you if possible.

That's it! There shouldn't be any need to indicate in any other driving situation...it's just a waste of time and tungsten. For example:

- If you are in a left or right turning lane, YOU DO NOT NEED TO INDICATE...IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO CAN LEGALLY TURN
- If you are at a stop sign and plan to turn either way, it should be pretty obvious from the way the front end of your vehicle is angled and the way your tires are turned as to your intentions

There may be some special cases where an indicator would be nice to use...use your judgement. I've tried to cover the basics here.

I can be such as asshole on the road. I forced the pull on two cars today. It hasn't happened in a while and I wasn't even expecting it too...but I guess I was riding them a little too close and they didn't like that. True, it is a rainy day and it probably wasn't the best idea...not that it's ever wise to tailgate I guess. When I do like to tailgate is when the guy in front is an asshole himself...for whatever reason...maybe he tailgated you before...or passed you in a bad spot...or he cut you or someone else off. Whatever. I should probably stop driving so close. Why is it though that traffic just bungs right up when the weather is wet? People seem to suddenly get all scared and start doing stupid things. Outside of town it seems better...us rural folk, we know how to drive. It's the townies that screw it all up.

Man, what a mess at work today. New positioning on the morning news anchor...turns out no one liked it (Wasn't my shot...I just did what I was told). So we're changing it again...tomorrow should be better. Then the News Flash was a bit messy. I ran the CG and aside from leaving one key up a little too long, my part was smooth. Phew. I think it was just a Monday thing.

I'm on TV this week! Amanda did a What's Up hit in Master Control to promote some World Music thing. I got to "turn her on". It runs at various times throughout this week.

Ok, so I dunno about you, but I had an excellent weekend. I met Jen up in Nanaimo and it went very well. We walked around the mall for a bit and did a little shopping. Then we walked the seawalk (or whatever they call it in Nanaimo) by the harbour and then looped up into downtown to go past the New VI Bureau there (so I can say I was there). Then we hung out at her friends' house with a bunch of her other friends for the rest of the night. Had some beers, ate spaghetti, and played some games...guys vs girls - Guys won Guesstures, Girls won Taboo. I like her...I wanna see her more.

I am pretty lucky with my driving. So far in over 10 years of driving I've only had 2 speeding tickets (one being a photo radar in Auckland in which I was going 62 in a 50 zone). All the speed traps on my Nanaimo trip happened to be on the other side of the highway from me. Yes, I was speeding. Not super fast, but I was over the speed limit by 20km/h at times. I know I just wrote a few days ago about how I gotta slow down cause it's really not worth speedin'. I do, I will, I'm trying. I'm conscious of it and I'm going to make an effort to slow down. Speed is just so fun though. Me and Pauly at work were talking about the fact that cars go so fast but they really don't have to. Why do the car makers put so much power into them? I mean, I love the power of a BFE...but it's most fun when you're taking off and accelerating. What we thought they should do, was to put speed limiters on cars...there's really no reason a vehicle needs to travel faster than say 130km/h anywhere in North America...as far as I know. Keep all the power for acceleration, put just put on a limiter on the speedo so that once the vehicle hits 130 it shuts down the fuel supply to the engine (they do this in some sports cars so that the car doesn't exceed the speed rating on it's tires...so just put the same limiter on the engine computer for a lower speed). It was Pauly's idea first to say that limiters should be put on cars driven by young drivers (I don't know what the cut-off should be...3 years driving experience?) and it should be the responsibility of the parent to ensure the vehicle is fitted with one and if they're caught without it they are fined. Ok, I'm gettin a little carried away her...but these are some ideas.

The last few Sunday's I've noticed a lot of motorcycles on the roads...I guess Sundays is bikin' days. Didn't see so many today. I wanna get my bike licence. Tree and Choy said they wanna too...so maybe next spring...although I dunno if I'll be able to afford it. See, if you get your bike licence, you should get a bike...otherwise it's kinda pointless. We'll see...I hope I keep getting lots of hours at work. Moving out needs to be the first money struggle focus.

Letterman is a dad! Congratulations Dave! He was talkin about his son on the show last night...the top ten list was pretty funny.

I don't think I'd want to be 56 and having my first child. I think if I get to 35 and it hasn't happened, then it probably won't happen. I don't want to be an old dad. I don't want to come to my kid's graduation with a cane. I don't even know if I should have kids...it's a big responsibility. Sure I'd be up to the task, but I just can't help thinking...what if I screw up? What if the kid turns out to be a murderer or something? What if I don't give the right messages? I think I'm thinking too negative about this. I'd probably make a good dad. I hope. Anyways, I can't really think of having kids, cause I don't have a wife. I can't even think about having a wife cause I don't have a girlfriend. But one day I could...so then things will change.

3 shifts left and then it's the weekend! I think it's gonna be a good weekend. I get to meet her this weekend.

3 teenagers died last night cause they crashed their car, most likely because they were speeding. They actually hit the median on highway 1 and flipped and bounced in to the ditch on the other side of the road. No one knows for sure, but they expect that they were travelling at upwards of 180km/h. Now, I'm a speeder...granted I don't go that fast, but on highways in the interior of BC and Alberta I've been known to hit speeds of 160km/h. Usually I don't even realize I'm going that fast...I mean the roads are straight, there's no other traffic and I just get into a zone where I'm king of the road. I know it's bad...but I can't help it. I'm addicted to speed. Ok, maybe not addicted...but I just hate going the speed limit...they always seem so slow. I consider myself a good driver...but I know that I'm nothing special and that I'm not invincible and that a crash could be waiting around any corner. I'm lucky I haven't hit a deer yet. Will this incident on the Trans Canada slow me down? Possibly...but probably not forever. Old habits die hard and while I may not go that fast on that stretch of road, I'll probably find myself on a straight stretch of highway, somewhere near Bumfuck, Saskatchewan, going well over the speed limit. If I take myself out that's one thing...if I take someone else out that's a completely different thing. Maybe I should slow down...I don't know why I'm in a rush all the time...I always give myself plenty of time to get anywhere. I should start racing cars...on a race track...that way I'll get my speed fix and drive safer on the public roads.

NYPD Blue has the best theme music...I love it...the percussion is awesome! The best bumpers and stingers too. Mike Post is wicked.

I'm looking forward to this weekend!

I handed out candies to the kiddies on Halloween. I never know what to say to them when they come to the door. They all say Trick or Treat and I go, "oooo, look at you guys. Wow, good costumes, what are you supposed to be?" and after they answer I'll ask 'em what kinda candy they want and I show them the bowl and they get whatever kinda chocolate bar they want. The I usually look in their candy bags and ask them how much loot they got already and if it's going good...cause I figure our meeting hasn't lasted long enough so I try to stretch it out. Then I say good bye and they go on their ghoulish way. I dunno...what else do you say?

I think I insulted this one kid...he was with a bunch of other kids and I was trying to guess what he was. He didn't have his mask on, just the rest of the costume which was purple and a dinosaur. Plus the kid was young...like 5 or so. So I asked if he was Barney. He said no, he was just a dinosaur. So I said, but Barney is a dinosaur, then he said, I'm not Barney. Whoops...sorry kid. I didn't mean anything, I just thought maybe you were. I wouldn't wanna be called Barney either. Is Barney still popular with the kiddies anyways?