Tuesday, February 28, 2006
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4:32 p.m.
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 So, as promised, I'll talk briefly about my experience with the Ultimate Avengers DVD. It's not the worst cartoon I've ever seen, but the early trailers made it look like a direct copy of the amazing comic series, The Ultimates, by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. Aaron and Jer have read this and would no doubt agree with me.
This is not that movie.
It's passable, but many of the scenes shown in the trailer disappeared from the movie. This makes them dirty lying bastards.
Anyway, the whole review (and it's long) that I wrote is up at Comixfan. Honestly, it's fun enough to watch, but only a sucker like myself pays $15 for it.
Serves me right for having faith in Marvel.
Now to figure out that black suit Spider-Man is wearing in the next movie...
GEEK TALK DONE!
Monday, February 27, 2006
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12:01 p.m.
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 I don't normally condone this sort of nonsense, but I don't feel like writing up my Ultimate Avengers impressions just yet. I'll post images and a link tomorrow to a full review I wrote, but for now, just trust me that it isn't the worst thing I've ever seen, but it doesn't deliver on much of its early promise.
Aaron and Jer both did this nonsense list, and normally I avoid such things, but I may as well participate.
Four jobs I've had
Production artist
Movie extra
Hotel maid
supply teacher
(for fun... also paper route, office cleaner, gas station attendent, shopper's drug mart grunt, canadian tire grunt, home hardware cashier, fabric dome maker, imperial tobacco grunt, flea market grunt, changing lamps in office buildings, camp counsellor, L.I.T. co-oridnator, reporter, writer, business editor, art director, tutor, karate instructor, psychiatrist assistant, eBay listings writer, Christmas theme store worker, hotel porter, and I'm sure much, much more).
Four movies I can watch over and over
Shawshank Redemption
Stand By Me
Star Wars
The Princess Bride
Four places I have lived
Jasper, Alberta
Guelph, Ontario
Bolton, Ontario
Toronto, Ontario
Four TV shows I like to watch
Lost
Survivor
Alias
Dead Like Me
Four foods that I like
Cheeseburger
Chicken parm
Popcorn
Bruschetta
Four websites I visit daily
Whedonesque
Action-Figure.com
Newsarama
Coming Soon
Four things I want to do before I die
Sky diving
Publish a written Marvel story (not just a Marvel comic, which I can't believe I've done)
Publish a novel
Make Catherine & Truffle happy
Four places I would rather be right now
Work! (Just kidding, bash my brains in please)
Um... hrm. Home, NYC, Guelph, at Teacher's College
Is that it? Is that good enough? Wow, I sure hope so. Looking at that list makes me feel like a geek with my own little world of geekery. Not that it's a BAD thing, though!
In other news, I went up a level in karate over the weekend. Then, to celebrate, I helped supervise a tournament for little kids, hung out with Molly Johnson, and cleaned the apartment.
Nothing else happened. At all.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
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9:55 a.m.
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I made this wallpaper at work today because I was bored and didn't have much to do (for once). It's made up of 17 separate images and took the better part of my non-working day. This is a day that gave me a minute to call my mom, who wasn't home, for her birthday (Happy Birthday), and Nathan and I enough time to go to Best Buy so that I could buy the Ultimate Avengers DVD. More on that tomorrow.
So, that's my wallpaper. I like it. I needed a change. If anyone wants it, let me know what size and I'll send it to you. I don't expect to hear from anyone, as you're all jerks and likely making fun of me this very instant.
Good lord, I want to go home already.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
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11:26 a.m.
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 Because I'm bored, I was doing a job search at Jeff Gaulin's handy job site, and took a look at a posting made for an online writer for a media publication. Opening the job revealed that the position was at Brunico, and therefore of no interest to me (being the home of Kidscreen magazine and nest of self-important vipers) and saw this line in particular:
"If you have interned and written for a school publication, while we wish you the best of luck, this job is not for you, so please do not apply. We are looking for someone who can quickly become an expert in this field, and network successfully within this complex business sector in order to help develop a growing niche business brand."
What a bunch of f***ing hypocrits. This is one of Humber College's main sources of internships for their students and Brunico is essentially slapping them in the face and saying they aren't worth hiring. I mean, if they didn't offer internships in the first place, I wouldn't be so annoyed, but come ON... how can you devalue something you participate in?
Note to Humber: STOP SENDING PEOPLE HERE.
The more time away from school, the more convinced I become that while worthwhile to build skills and give a bit of experience, it really isn't going to do squat as Toronto is populated by companies like Brunico.
To call it frustrating is an understatement.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
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11:18 a.m.
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 WHO WAS ST. VALENTINE?
No one knows for certain, but the leading candidate is a third-century Roman priest named Valentine. After Claudius II decreed that his soldiers were not allowed to marry, the romantic Valentine defied the emperor and performed secret wedding ceremonies—for which he was caught and imprisoned. Valentine was enamored of the jailer’s daughter and, shortly before his execution, left her a love note that was signed “From Your Valentine.” He was beheaded on February 14, 269.
I thought I should put something romantic up for Valentine's Day. There's romance for those of you in love, and a bit of gore for those of you waiting in the wings.
Events have been busy of late, but I have not posted about anything. I think it's because I hate February. It's just a very useless month in the grand scheme of things. There are some interesting days, such as Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, and my mom's birthday, but on the whole, it's just a bland, pointless month. I'm pleased it's the shortest. I just need a good long weekend.
Speaking of weekends, last week I had my interview at York University for Teacher's College. According to one sweaty guy who looked about ready to faint, York gets more than 7000 applicants a year, interviews about 2200, and takes about a 1000 total.
I had everything prepared to the gills. If I don't get in, it won't be because I didn't do my best. In that, at least, I'm pleased.
During my interview, I was asked to prepare five minutes beforehand about what inspired me to become a teacher. One of the two people present gestured at me to begin, so I took a breath, stood up, and gave my talk.
The rest of the interview went well, and at the end, they both commented on how I was the only person they interviewed who stood up. They said it was effective and impressive. These are VERY good things to hear after an interview like this. I'm liking my chances now more than ever, but I refuse to get my hopes up. And for those of you smart-asses out there, no, I didn't mention a blow-up doll.
I was one of four guys waiting for an interview. One was the nervous guy, another was a Hell's Angel reject, and one guy, decked out in a tweed jacket and jeans, looked like he was expecting a job as a professor. The rest of the waiting room had more than twenty women waiting for an interview. Crazy.
That off my back, I can finally relax. Other amazing news is that Catherine had her review at work, and they told her that she was basically perfect (something I already knew) and gave her a hefty raise for being so great. I couldn't be more pleased, and tonight we're doing a Valentine's Day/raise/end of teacher's college prep celebration to pat ourselves on the back. It will include eating and then likely passing out from exhaustion.
I really should be working, so I'll go now.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
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2:43 p.m.
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 The graduate with a science degree asks 'Why does it work?'
The graduate with an engineering degree asks 'How does it do that?'
The graduate with an accounting degree asks 'How much does it cost?'
The graduate with the Arts degree asks 'Do you want fries with that?'
So far this has been a terrible week for no concrete reason. Just one of those times when you wake up and feel awful. Mine is directly stress related. My interview for teacher's college is coming up this week (Saturday) and though I've been doing my best to prep, it feels as though all of my efforts will be for nothing. I can't seem to concentrate or retain what it is I'm looking at.
It's a horrible feeling. Catherine assures me I'll do fine (so long as I don't mention the blow-up doll) and I'm sure she's right, but I also have to prepare a five minute talk on a classroom teaching experience that made me realize why I want to be a teacher.
I can talk a lot (practiced last night), but I REALLY want to get this right. It might be my only shot.
That's a lot of pressure.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
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9:19 a.m.
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 Stumbled across this site which is too funny. www.chucknorrisfacts.com
1. Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried. Ever.
2. Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.
3. Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.
4. The chief export of Chuck Norris is pain.
5. If you can see Chuck Norris, he can see you. If you can't see Chuck Norris, you may be only seconds away from death.
6. Chuck Norris has counted to infinity. Twice.
7. Chuck Norris does not hunt because the word hunting implies the probability of failure. Chuck Norris goes killing.
8. Chuck Norris' blood type is AK+. Ass-Kicking Positive. It is compatible only with heavy construction equipment, tanks, and fighter jets.
9. Chuck Norris is 1/8th Cherokee. This has nothing to do with ancestry, the man ate a fucking Indian.
10. In fine print on the last page of the Guinness Book of World Records it notes that all world records are held by Chuck Norris, and those listed in the book are simply the closest anyone else has ever gotten.
11. There is no chin behind Chuck Norris' beard. There is only another fist.
Ahh, Chuck... what humour and insight you've brought into my life as of late. Thanks to Walker, Texas Ranger clips shown on Conan, I'll always think of your bizarre show.
"Walker says I have AIDS."
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
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2:10 p.m.
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 There are days and weeks when nothing seems to happen, then all of a sudden you find yourself inspired for not one entry, but two or three. Instead, I'll put them all together. None will be included in order of importance, but of the happenstance of random keystrokes.
The first is my little degu, Truffle. As some of you may know, shortly before Christmas Catherine noticed that one of her eyes had turned blood red, so we quickly took her to the vet. The vet passed us on to an eye specialist who told us Truffle had a detached retina, causing the eye to fill up with blood.
What does this mean? According to the vet, not much. Truffle is already blind thanks to cataracts, though you'd never know it to watch her run around on the floor. She's been known to follow Catherine and I around as we go about our business, and sneak into the bedroom if we open the door.
The vet gave us some drops, told us that Truffle didn't even know her eye was off and felt no pain. Y'okay, I guess.
Well, last Thursday, before we headed out to Jamie and Nicole's (for Nic's surprise birthday party that wasn't much of a surprise when it came to our arrival), Truffle's eye turned red again. Not as red as last time, but enough to be noticable. I tried to get the antibiotic drops, but no luck as the eye guy was closed on Fridays. Not very helpful.
So I went and got them on Monday. I was told that since we weren't scheduling another appointment that would cost us more than $300, that these were the last drops we would be given. I assumed they were free, but got charged $40 for a 5ml bottle. I wanted to ask the vet a question, and was told he'd call me the next day.
He did.
"Is this kind of bleeding going to be normal for a detached retina?" I asked.
"I don't know," he replied.
I waited. Rephrased slightly.
"I'm not sure. You'll probably wind up knowing more about degu retinal detachment than I do," he said.
WTF? He's an EYE SPECIALIST and can't tell me if this is common, in degus or in any other creature! Well worth the initial fees, I'm sure. Good lord.
Event the second: we went to see Jamie and Nicole again, as well as their basset hound, Morgan. Cute dog that Catherine seemed to like a great deal, but then again, she has a soft spot for dogs. It was good to see Jamie and Nic (who is now pregnant and an old, OLD, 28 years). Jer, Paul, Vicky, Catherine and I made the trip down.
It was supposed to be a surprise, but Nic's mom, reaching her secrecy limit, spilled the beans with only a couple hours to spare. D'oh well. Still lots of fun, games, chips, and more. We should do it again soon.
Event the third: I got a letter from York University yesterday. This was to let me know that I'd been selected for an interview to determine if they want me in their teacher's college program. This would be exceptional news if I got in, and is a solid indicator that I'm being considered. I imagine many applicants won't get an offer for an interview at all. So long as I don't mention a blow-up doll, I figure I'm solid. Or at least at this point I know I've got a fighting chance.
And that makes me happy.
PS. Tivo is still my master. Catherine actually said at one point "I don't feel like doing anything this weekend. I just want to spend time with Tivo."
I've been replaced.
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