general appeal to the masses

so, i'm in Strasbourg right now with my sister.  it's day two of our 8 day "tour de france."  short, i know.  but it's almost the end of my time here in Europe and, well, i'm a little strapped for cash and really more excited about going home in a month than actually traveling right now.  don't get me wrong, sis, i really like traveling with you.  

being excited about coming back to Canada is, as a matter of fact, the reason for this post.  does anyone need a roommate or know of some sweet apartment in need of renting in the Winnipeg area?  as well, does anyone know of some sweet jobs coming up?  i already have a wonderful friend named Jess Klassen helping me out (she's an employment counselor), but i'd thought i'd check with everyone who may read this.  can't hurt, can it?

oh, and i'm still quit of smoking.  take that.

materialism saves the day

so, the other day i did some math.  i calculated the amount of money i will save now that i'm not smoking anymore.  i was startled by what i came up with.  let me go over it.

back in Canada i was smoking about half a pack a day.  that's 3.5 packs per week.  and at that point they were roughly $12 per pack.  by now they're probably $13, but we'll stick to $12.

$12 x 3.5 packs per week = $42 per week

in one month alone, i will save $168.  "what will i save in a year?" you might ask.  well, that would be the grand sum of $2,184!  i was a little shocked.  i mean $1000 wouldn't have surprised me.  but, double that?  

naturally, to keep my cravings down, i started thinking of all the things i will want to buy with the money i'll save.  going for a sky's the limit approach, but keeping to thing under $2000, here's the list i came up with.  materialism never felt so good.

15" Powerbook 1.67Mhz (why not a fancy new macbook?  i don't need the latest model because i need the next item at the same time as the new-ish laptop)

Digidesign Digi002 ProTools interface and software

Fender Rhodes electric piano

Fender Jazz Bass

1960's Fender Bassman

Reason 4.0

M-Audio Keystation 88 midi controller

touring van (i hope 2 grand will cut it)

Yamaha NS-10s

glasses! (i found out i could use glasses shortly before i left the continent and had no insurance)

and that's really about it.  it's a little one sided.  but, i spend a large part of my day thinking about music gear.  i could buy any two of these items with 2 G's.  and i think 6-8 would buy them all.  so, perhaps in 3-4 years time i'll have my list of wants completed.  and i'll just have to keep thinking about it for a while to keep myself from starting back up.

reflections on quitting smoking while trying to quit smoking.

so, i've quite smoking.  actually I'm only 4 days in, but who's counting?  

me.  

every minute.  

after nine years, it's become, well, a bit of a habit of mine.  one that was, by far, easier to start.  some of the things I will miss most about it will be: taking and spending some time outside thinking about things - either by myself or with someone, taking extra breaks at a workplace where break-times are unscheduled, and use it as an excuse to leave a conversation or group of people i don't wish to be around anymore.  what i think smoking has really been for me is a way to get me out of uncomfortable situations; or at least, let me take a break from them.  please don't get me wrong.  not every time i went for a cigarette was i trying to get away from you.  still though, don't fool yourself.  it may have been the case once or twice…

i'm joking of course.

so what will i do now?  i don't know.  i think i have to find something.  something less addictive.  something that doesn't make me want to spend 10 minutes every hour in -40 degree Winnipeg winter.  i may take up a pipe.  but, that'll only work for part of the time.  and will i just be altering my addiction to tobacco?  possibly.  perhaps, i will now learn how to deal with the situations that have made me run behind the bike shed for a smoke.  hmm, maybe.  or maybe, i'll just find another way out.  who's to know how i'll react in a situation.  i mean, now that i'm not continually drugged, i may discover that i can turn into the Hulk, or something like the Hulk.  maybe, Hulk Hogan.  wait, if i turn into Hulk Hogan because i quit smoking, i'll smoke double.  health be damned!  (which it will inevitably be.)  i can grow the handle-bar moustachio on my own thank you very much.  and without the aid of the steroids and that stupid yellow bandana.  stupid bandana.