Good afternoon/evening friends and associates.
It has been a long time since I have posted anything. I find myself bored at the moment so we'll see what happens with this. Since June 13th I have done a fair bit of travelling, working and reading.
In late June I made my first trip to Ottawa where I stayed for about three days. That first trip was quite nice. Greg took me on a mini-tour of the important areas. He even agreed to go on a tour of the Parliament Buildings which I could not resist being the political junkie that I am. I look forward to going back there when Parliament is actually in session.
My second trip to Ottawa was very brief. I was in the city for about 17 hours in total. I simply went to secure an apartment. The apartment is on the 21st floor of a 22 floor apartment complex. I had not been in a building that high before. My fear of heights made the elevator ride and going near windows difficult but I managed. Also on this trip I bought some records at a record store downtown. I was pleased to find this place. They have some decent records there and its fairly cheap. I listened to a few of them as my turn table is already in Ottawa.
Shortly after this trip I severed my relations with On-Line Support. That job was extremely unpleasant. I will try to avoid the customer service industry for the rest of my life. Most customers are idiots with a false sense of entitlement. The nice reasonable ones are too few and far between to make such a job tolerable. Given the stresses such a job entails I think those who are in it should be making well above minimum wage. I quit nearly 5 weeks ago and feel much better (though my bank account suffers). That is fine. I'd rather be poor than depressed or insane.
On my third trip to Ottawa I went to orientation at Carleton. There I got a decent tour of the campus and was givin my student ID and bus pass. I wish I had had the hair cut done before that day, or at least had shaved on that day. I didn't, and as a result I look like a serial killer in my ID. Ah well, I suppose it was bound to happen at some point. After the orientation I went out to Kanata to see Michael Buble in concert. Unfortunately I left my camera at the apartment. I deeply regret that as the show was amazing. He played new songs and old ones. Of the old standards he played "Mack the Knife", "All of Me", "I've Got the World on a String" and "You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You". I was happy, though my seat did once again test my fear of heights. I was on the third tier. Five rows down there is a drop and you can't see the tier below. The next thing down you see is the floor which is likely a good 8-10 stories below. I forgot all about that once the lights were dimmed and the show began.
On the way back to Timmins I stopped in North Bay to spend some time with my father. I was there for about four days. We went out on the boat and spent an afternoon at the beach with his girl friend. I took the train to Timmins from North Bay. I find the train to be much more comfortable than a bus. I wish there was a way of taking the train from North Bay to Ottawa. It would have been nice.
Also this summer I have decided to re-read War and Peace. I didn't get most of it first time around. I am also reading Brian Mulroney's Memoirs. I thought it was funny to note the only tax on the receipt for the latter was GST even though HST was supposed to have taken over a month before. About a week after buying that book I officially joined the NDP. Once I get into Ottawa I hope to become more involved with the party and see how it all works.
That is most likely going to be my last post from Timmins as I am leaving here in twelve days. Fare-thee-well.
