Welcome to the end week three of "no more coffee" for me. On my trip back from Hattiesburg/New Orleans, I drank a lot of coffee on the plane. And then the next morning with breakfast, I had two large mugs. And then when we went shopping, we stopped in at our favourite coffee shop, and I had a cappucino.
And I felt absolutely rotten. Over-jittered, nauseous... It was bad.
So I gave up morning coffee. And aside from a few minor withdrawal headaches the first few days, I've been just fine. It's not the caffeine - I've been drinking lots of tea. I suspect the acidity of coffee and I just don't mix well anymore.
I haven't completely abandoned coffee, but it's a treat drink as opposed to a regular beverage now. And that works fine for me.
30 November 2006
27 November 2006
Pointless Quizzes Amuse Me III
| You scored as Storyteller. The Storyteller is in it for the plot: the sense of mystery and the fun of participating in a narrative that has the satisfying arc of a good book or movie. He enjoys interacting with well-defined NPCs, even preferring antagonists who have genuine motivations and personality to mere monsters. To the Storyteller, the greatest reward of the game is participating in a compelling story with interesting and unpredictable plot threads, in which his actions and those of his fellow characters determine the resolution. With apologies to Robin Laws.
What RPG Player (Not Character) Type Are You? created with QuizFarm.com |
26 November 2006
A Night at the Opera
Last night was the first of the 2006/07 season of the Vancouver Opera, and we went to see Verdi's Macbeth.
It was an absolutely wonderful production. They used some "holographic" display technology for the sets to wonderful effect (the assassination of Banquo in particular stands out for me), the orchestra played splendidly, and the lead bass-baritone playing Macbeth, Greer Grimsley, was fantastic - he had an aria in the fourth act which generated a roar of spontaneous applause.
At the end of the show, when everyone was taking their curtain calls, even the orchestra stood up and applauded Grimsley.
A fantastic opening night, and a most excellent start to the season.
On an amusing note, it's been snowing here in Vancouver almost constantly since about 5pm yesterday, and the Skytrain downtown was packed solid both to and from the opera, as not only was there a Canucks game on, but also the delayed Rolling Stones concert.
The snow doesn't look like it's going to be stopping any time soon either.
It was an absolutely wonderful production. They used some "holographic" display technology for the sets to wonderful effect (the assassination of Banquo in particular stands out for me), the orchestra played splendidly, and the lead bass-baritone playing Macbeth, Greer Grimsley, was fantastic - he had an aria in the fourth act which generated a roar of spontaneous applause.
At the end of the show, when everyone was taking their curtain calls, even the orchestra stood up and applauded Grimsley.
A fantastic opening night, and a most excellent start to the season.
On an amusing note, it's been snowing here in Vancouver almost constantly since about 5pm yesterday, and the Skytrain downtown was packed solid both to and from the opera, as not only was there a Canucks game on, but also the delayed Rolling Stones concert.
The snow doesn't look like it's going to be stopping any time soon either.
21 November 2006
Shostakovich
CBC Radio 2 has been playing a lot of Shostakovich in celebration of the composer's centenary (he was born in 1906).
He was rather prolific, despite living under a repressive regime in the USSR. The state had rather specific ideas as to what was acceptable and not, much like the Nazis shutting down the Comedian Harmonists for producing music that wasn't in keeping with the atmosphere patriotic fervor they were hoping to engender among the masses.
Shostakovich has arguably produced some of the best 20th Century classical music. He's certainly one of the most prolific.
My favourite piece is Waltz 2 from his Jazz suite #2.
He was rather prolific, despite living under a repressive regime in the USSR. The state had rather specific ideas as to what was acceptable and not, much like the Nazis shutting down the Comedian Harmonists for producing music that wasn't in keeping with the atmosphere patriotic fervor they were hoping to engender among the masses.
Shostakovich has arguably produced some of the best 20th Century classical music. He's certainly one of the most prolific.
My favourite piece is Waltz 2 from his Jazz suite #2.
Cassoulet
I love cassoulet. It's a great dish, especially at this time of year.
It's also a dish that's both easy and hard to make. Easy because no one step is difficult. Indeed, as recipes go, it's among the easier of the classics. Hard because you need about three days to assemble everything. Not literally, but rather "day one, do these tasks, day two do those tasks, day three do a few last things and throw together and cook".
Fortunately, here in Vancouver we have the Oyama Sausage Company, an old school charcuterie deli and every year around this time they have their "Festival du Cassoulet". You pre-order, they make as many as they get ordered, you pick them up. You get a nice large tray for $12.99. Feeds two very hungry people, or four people for dinner with other things.
And looking at the ingredients list, I can barely make it myself for less money.
Delicious!
It's also a dish that's both easy and hard to make. Easy because no one step is difficult. Indeed, as recipes go, it's among the easier of the classics. Hard because you need about three days to assemble everything. Not literally, but rather "day one, do these tasks, day two do those tasks, day three do a few last things and throw together and cook".
Fortunately, here in Vancouver we have the Oyama Sausage Company, an old school charcuterie deli and every year around this time they have their "Festival du Cassoulet". You pre-order, they make as many as they get ordered, you pick them up. You get a nice large tray for $12.99. Feeds two very hungry people, or four people for dinner with other things.
And looking at the ingredients list, I can barely make it myself for less money.
Delicious!
20 November 2006
Pointless Quizzes Amuse Me II
You are The Sun
Happiness, Content, Joy.
The meanings for the Sun are fairly simple and consistent.
Young, healthy, new, fresh. The brain is working, things that were muddled come clear, everything falls into place, and everything seems to go your way.
The Sun is ruled by the Sun, of course. This is the light that comes after the long dark night, Apollo to the Moon's Diana. A positive card, it promises you your day in the sun. Glory, gain, triumph, pleasure, truth, success. As the moon symbolized inspiration from the unconscious, from dreams, this card symbolizes discoveries made fully consciousness and wide awake. You have an understanding and enjoyment of science and math, beautifully constructed music, carefully reasoned philosophy. It is a card of intellect, clarity of mind, and feelings of youthful energy.
What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.
05 November 2006
Glamour II
I'm safely back home. The rest of the business trip unfurled nicely.
I managed to get about 5 hours of sleep each night, mostly due to insomnia induced by time zone changes and unfamiliar surroundings. The beds in hotels sure aren't as comfortable as the ones at home (with the exception of the Peabody in Memphis, which had a most astonishingly comfortable bed).
I had a leisurely breakfast the next morning at the hotel buffet, making eggs "benedict" out of biscuits and sausage gravy and the over easy eggs I ordered from the waiter.
The sales guy and my colleague arrived at the site around 9:30am and we spent the next 5 hours straight with them - it was time well spent, and very productive. We headed back to the hotel, checked out, and around 4, managed to find a place that had been highly recommended to us - a barbecue joint called "Leatha's".
Wow, best barbecue ever. The ribs were smoky and tender, the sauce delicious, and those were defnitely contenders for the best baked beans I've ever had.
Around 5pm, we were on our way to New Orleans.
New Orleans is a fun town, even post-Katrina. All the street signs are still warped funny from the winds, and there are signs of wind damage throughout the town.
But Bourbon Street is still full of bars, "gentlemen's clubs", and every bar has a take out window so you can carry your tipple of choice down the street with you. I also had the obligatory beignets and coffee at Cafe du Monde, where the service is almost as bad as the beignets are good.
I did manage to find a non-cheesy-touristy gift shop in the French quarter and bought a couple of souvenirs. A quiet night in the hotel and the next morning we had a couple of hours to wander about.
New Orleans by day is as pretty as it is seedy by night. I had a mufulletta sandwich for breakfast, which I regretted as we later passed the famed "Central Grocery", which is the original. Oh well, next time. Not that one can't make a good mufulletta oneself.
We got to the airport very early, but our flight was on time and it was a leisurely wait. The flight home was nice and quiet and routine, and I was back home in time to tuck my daughter into bed at 8:30pm.
Time away from home: 63 hours
Time in transit to/from airports or on planes: 22hours
Time in transit to/from Hattiesburg (which has no airport): 6 hours
Time with customer: 5 hours
Time enjoying New Orleans: 6 hours
All in all a much more relaxing trip than the last time.
I managed to get about 5 hours of sleep each night, mostly due to insomnia induced by time zone changes and unfamiliar surroundings. The beds in hotels sure aren't as comfortable as the ones at home (with the exception of the Peabody in Memphis, which had a most astonishingly comfortable bed).
I had a leisurely breakfast the next morning at the hotel buffet, making eggs "benedict" out of biscuits and sausage gravy and the over easy eggs I ordered from the waiter.
The sales guy and my colleague arrived at the site around 9:30am and we spent the next 5 hours straight with them - it was time well spent, and very productive. We headed back to the hotel, checked out, and around 4, managed to find a place that had been highly recommended to us - a barbecue joint called "Leatha's".
Wow, best barbecue ever. The ribs were smoky and tender, the sauce delicious, and those were defnitely contenders for the best baked beans I've ever had.
Around 5pm, we were on our way to New Orleans.
New Orleans is a fun town, even post-Katrina. All the street signs are still warped funny from the winds, and there are signs of wind damage throughout the town.
But Bourbon Street is still full of bars, "gentlemen's clubs", and every bar has a take out window so you can carry your tipple of choice down the street with you. I also had the obligatory beignets and coffee at Cafe du Monde, where the service is almost as bad as the beignets are good.
I did manage to find a non-cheesy-touristy gift shop in the French quarter and bought a couple of souvenirs. A quiet night in the hotel and the next morning we had a couple of hours to wander about.
New Orleans by day is as pretty as it is seedy by night. I had a mufulletta sandwich for breakfast, which I regretted as we later passed the famed "Central Grocery", which is the original. Oh well, next time. Not that one can't make a good mufulletta oneself.
We got to the airport very early, but our flight was on time and it was a leisurely wait. The flight home was nice and quiet and routine, and I was back home in time to tuck my daughter into bed at 8:30pm.
Time away from home: 63 hours
Time in transit to/from airports or on planes: 22hours
Time in transit to/from Hattiesburg (which has no airport): 6 hours
Time with customer: 5 hours
Time enjoying New Orleans: 6 hours
All in all a much more relaxing trip than the last time.
01 November 2006
Glamour baby
Well, since my last "business travel is glamourous" post went over so well, another installment...
Today, 5am, get up.
5:30am call cab
6:08am arrive at airport
6:10am have filled in customs form and enter interminable lineup #1
6:50am clear customs lineup and enter security lineup. Attempt to persuade the "first class" lineup harpy that my 7:23 flight is in jeopardy due to long lineup met with "you'll make it"
7:20am clear security after security staff manage to avoid potential national security risk by confiscating and discarding my shaving gel as the container moderately exceeds the "rules"
7:24am sprint to gate along with other LAX bound passengers and make plane just so.
10:20am land in LAX at gate 82. Run to gate 71 as flight to New Orleans is already boarding.
11:15am plane leaves 45 minutes late due to replacement of switch in cockpit.
6:15pm arrive in New Orleans (Central time zone)
6:40pm arrive at Hertz rental counter where once again they have manage to cock up my reservation.
7:40pm colleague who joined me in LAX and I stop in Picayune, MS for dinner.
9:05pm after waiting almost an hour for pizza and wings (hello?) finally get back on road.
9:30pm arrive at hotel
It's 11:12pm local tme now. Who knows when I'll manage to get to sleep. I'll fill in the rest of the schedule tomorrow, but it looks like this time we'll get to spend 3 hours with the customer...
Today, 5am, get up.
5:30am call cab
6:08am arrive at airport
6:10am have filled in customs form and enter interminable lineup #1
6:50am clear customs lineup and enter security lineup. Attempt to persuade the "first class" lineup harpy that my 7:23 flight is in jeopardy due to long lineup met with "you'll make it"
7:20am clear security after security staff manage to avoid potential national security risk by confiscating and discarding my shaving gel as the container moderately exceeds the "rules"
7:24am sprint to gate along with other LAX bound passengers and make plane just so.
10:20am land in LAX at gate 82. Run to gate 71 as flight to New Orleans is already boarding.
11:15am plane leaves 45 minutes late due to replacement of switch in cockpit.
6:15pm arrive in New Orleans (Central time zone)
6:40pm arrive at Hertz rental counter where once again they have manage to cock up my reservation.
7:40pm colleague who joined me in LAX and I stop in Picayune, MS for dinner.
9:05pm after waiting almost an hour for pizza and wings (hello?) finally get back on road.
9:30pm arrive at hotel
It's 11:12pm local tme now. Who knows when I'll manage to get to sleep. I'll fill in the rest of the schedule tomorrow, but it looks like this time we'll get to spend 3 hours with the customer...
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