Hmmmm, I just discovered a good place to shop (OK, I didn't discover it, I was told about it). I didn't even know the place existed! It's like Costco (which I don't shop at), except you don't need a membership. Great Canadian Wholesale...and it's not far away from where I live! I managed to blow $75 there...more than I had intended...but I stocked up on a few things. Prices are generally better than the regular grocery stores, not sure how they compare to Costco...but at least I don't have to buy a friggin membership or be a business owner or anything. I've got hoisin sauce for life!

Metalmike and I relaunched Midnightmetal.com (aka metalmike.com, goremetal.com, etc) last night. I've been databasising the site for the last few months...using php and mysql to streamline and clean up his main site administration duties. Basically I did up a custom content management system so that he can easily update the main areas of the site. The changes will be more or less transparent to regular visitors of the site, although a few new features have been added. It feels good having that done...not that I minded doing it. I love a challenge and I'm always up for learning new stuff. There's a few little things left to do, and I don't doubt he'll find some bugs, but otherwise, I'm free to focus on some other projects...namely my new side business of authoring DVDs. I'm still trying to come up with a good name for the company, but I'm also thinking up marketing strategies and services/product concepts. It's sort of exciting...I've never really wanted to run a business, but now I do. I'm going to do up a business plan and really think things out. Any suggestions for a name?

So I'm rootin' around in the back seat of my car today and I notice that my rear passenger side floor mat has been moved and is sitting on top of the rear driver side floor mat. I was like, wtf? Who would do that? I don't drive too many people around in the back seat, but occasionally there is one or two people back there. But why would they move the floor mat? The Club...yes, that gets in the way and I can understand moving that. I just don't get it. I'm so confused.

Regardless, I moved it back to it's rightful position and all is pretty good.

Gotta love February weather in Victoria...at least this year. The plants and animals (including humans) are all confused.

Saw Forces of Nature with my Grandma at the IMAX this afternoon. I'm always amazed at the images they are able to capture on film...even if they are re-creations of actual events. Beautiful stuff.

Awesome turnout at soccer last night! We had like 14 people. 6 on 6 with a sub for each team. I got the scoring started off with a couple goals early on. Nothing else from me for the rest of the night...but my team did score the bulk of the goals. It was fun, as always. We even played a little bit of football after. Jack made up some flags and we backed and forth on the soccer pitch with the pigskin. Good fun as well, but I think I prefer soccer. I'm not too bad at throwing a football though.

I've got lots to read lately...started DaVinci Code last night. Not bad so far. Got Fugitives & Refugees waiting for me, and MetalMike sent me a Vonnegut novel, Hocus Pocus, for my literary enjoyment. I'm gonna have to learn to read faster. I can't help it if I'm slow...I like to make sure I take every word in. Sometimes though, I can read a whole chapter and not know really what I just read...cause my mind wanders and I think of other things. Reading was just the physical thing I was doing while my mind did something totally different. Weird how that works, eh?

Had a decent weekend. Didn't get up to too much, but what I did was good.

Saturday did a little browse shopping...checked out LCD monitors at Future Shop and Staples. Gonna wait for a few months, let the prices come down and see if the specs improve a bit. I'm looking between NEC, Samsung, and Viewsonic...although I'd consider something else as well. LG is decent. Watched Spartacus on Saturday afternoon...it's over 3 hrs long and I couldn't do it in the late night, even though I'm up till 4am, I think it would have put me to sleep. It was a good flick (for 1960). Following that, went to see another movie, Sideways, at the theatre. Very good...I could identify well with some aspects of the movie...namely Paul Giamatti's character. After that, I parted ways with Q, S, R, & K (and D, althogh I didn't really know D), and headed for a little work gathering at ET's house. It was good...I managed to mingle well and carry on a few conversations. I was quite impressed with myself. I want to get to know people at work better, this was a good in. One surprise guest was Mr. Sunny D, who I haven't seen since the last day of ACP. He came along with B and it was good to see him...he was just in town for a few days for an interview (so he may be moving here soon).

Sunday was pretty lazy. Mel came over in the late afternoon. We went for a walk, then I made dinner (tortellini), then we watched tv and had dessert.

Finally finished BrainDroppings by Carlin...I had read it years before, but bought it for myself and read it again. Gotta love Carlin...hilarious & a good philosopher. Now I can move onto either DaVinci Code or Fugitives & Refugees...I think I'll do DaVinci first as it's not mine and I should return it. I'm such a slow reader though...it'll probably take me 3 or 4 months.

One goal for me last night...I let in about 3 though (I think). Good game, my team lost, but as usual, it was all just for fun and exercise. I had a couple other chances to score, and just couldn't manage to get it in. One major opportunity I missed because the ball was just out of the reach of my foot and my momentum was in the opposite direction and I just couldn't reverse it quick enough. It was heartbreaking!

Fuck, Valentines Day is next week. I've never had a girlfriend for Valentines (ok, I've never really had a girlfriend anytime of the year). Am I actually gonna have to do something for it? Flowers? Card? So cliche. Do I actually have a girlfriend? We've just classified our relationship as "dating"...but is it really?

I should probably get a haircut. But part of me wants to grow my hair long. I'm almost at the Zach Braff length...maybe even passed it.

The film festival started up on friday. Mel and I went to see The Love Crimes of Gillian Guess on Saturday. It was good, lots of metaphor/symbolism, but I think I was able to follow it for the most part. I really don't know much about the story...I didn't pay attention when it was big in the news. The lead actress (playing Guess), Joely Collins, was in attendance for the screening, as were the producers. They did a little Q&A after the show...I didn't ask anything. Also of note, Gil Bellows (of Ally McBeal and Shawshank Redemption (among others) fame) was in attendance...just as a festival goer as far as I could tell. I noticed him standing in line, with his wife I assume. People either didn't recognize him, or were leaving him along, which I thought was good. He's in town shooting Terminal City, which was written by Angus Fraser, who wrote Love Crimes...

Yesterday, hung out with Sara in the evening. Something weird is happening with her computer...I can't figure it out. She can get to some websites, but not all. Big major ones, no problem. Small ones (like this one), no go. I tried to fix it, but haven't been able to sort it out yet. I think it has something to do with the ARP cache not being able to clear itself, but I can't figure out how to do it...anything I've found doesn't seem to work. We went to see another festival flick...I, Curmudgeon. It was very good, a documentary on curmudgeoneous or pessimistic people...fueled by the director's own dissatisfaction. A very basic production, but quite good with the variety of people and ideas presented.

If there's anyone in Canada that can pull off a late night talk show, it's gotta be George Stroumboulopoulos. I didn't watch him much when he worked for CHUM (MuchNews didn't have any set time it was on), but I caught a few things he did. Now he's wth CBC doing a daily show on NewsWorld. I've begun recording it and have it on while I'm doing stuff in my place. His delivery and technique is very good, very relaxed, yet thorough. He's smart, up to date, and cool. Ralph Benmergi and Mike Bullard don't come anywhere near this guy's talent and persona. Stroumbo...you got my vote!

There's pretty much only one city in Canada (ok, one area) where you can wear shorts and a t-shirt, and drive with your window down on February 2nd. Victoria. Yes, we may come to a screeching halt when it snows for a day (I didn't not contribute to the mess...nor would I have), but it's a small price to pay for having the majority of our winter days being comfortably warm.

Wow, I seem to be all "Canada this" and "Canada that" in this post. Ah well...I'm Canadian, I'm allowed.

Hoping to take in some films over the next couple weeks...the Victoria Independent Film and Video Festival is starting up tomorrow. Been perusing the program...looks like some gooders.