The Mad Dash

I just got back from soccer, stretched and showered and wolfed down a bowl of Raisin Bran. It is almost 1:30am. My attempt at waking up will begin in 5hrs and last approximately 20 mins on a good day, and 30 minutes on a bad day. During this time I will hit the snooze button 4 times, think about staying in bed all day about 3 times, and come up with about 5 solid excuses to present to my boss as to why I need the day off. At about 6:55am something in my brain will start telling me to fuck off and get the hell out of bed. At which point I will sit up and curse the same sense of responsibility that resulted in me having almost perfect attendance during high school.

I will leave for the train 4 minutes too late and roar my way through the morning streets, cursing the slow drivers and giving the finger to the lord of traffic lights. I will pull into the station as the train does, and sprint like a lunatic to reach the doors. I usually make it. And my day has begun.

Well, it's time to start this cycle all over again.

G'nite!

Skeletor.

I'm sorry, I know Nic Cage is starring as Ghost Rider. But if you ask me, I think he'd be better suited playing Skeletor in the remake of "He-Man and the masters of the universe"...

He's just looking freaky as hell. Tell me if I'm wrong.

In other news, the past 2 weeks I've tried to see movies at the local theatre. Twice I have been foiled by a bunch of tittering tweeners, who continue to crowd my neighbourhood cinema and, should I manage to finally buy a ticket and obtain a decent seat, enrage me by talking loudly during the movie and giggling delightedly at all the wrong parts. Hmm, yes, I am getting old.

cheers.

8 hours

The curse of working might be that every day seems to dissolve into one. So much so that I have difficulty distinguishing one day from the next. I see the same faces and have the same conversations every single day. It's like one long dream.

I pass the receptionist on my way to the washroom a number of times day. Every time I pass I feel obligated to smile and say "how are ya?!" She smiles and says "great and you?" And I smile and say "good thanks!" and walk quietly on my way. She's a genuinely nice person, but I truly don't need an update on the status of her day every hour or so. But that is the obligation thrust upon me by the working world. Upon reaching the washroom, there is inevitably someone there and we dance our way through the same conversation that I had moments earlier. It's like one long inane chat. And on my way back to my desk I feel obligated to say something to the receptionist again. I'll throw in something like, "Only 2 more hours to go!" or I'll say "can't wait for the weekend!" with a grin on my face. Anything to fill the awkward 3 second moment of silence that occurs when I pass her desk. She'll laugh in commiseration. A few seconds later I am back in a room full of people and repeat this sort of conversation on a much grander scale.

Now I can't stay boring for long, and every so often I will throw in a witty remark to remind them that it is possible to add some creativity to the conversation. A suggestion that they have not taken to as yet.

OK, so a slight exaggeration. But I made my point.

Lord, TGIF..... have a great weekend!

!

So I saw a couple of movies this weekend. One was supposed to be good, and was. It was also supposed to be a chick flick, but wasn't. The other was supposed to be good, and wasn't. It turned out to be like a bad high school play co-directed by Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles.

The one movie I am looking forward to seeing is "The Prestige" - Chris Nolan, the man's got talent to spare. Witness "Batman Begins" and "Insomnia". Even "Memento". Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett, and the always entertaining Michael Caine. Add a story about feuding magicians, a dark, brooding set design and you have the makings of a masterful entertainment.

I like watching Studio 60. The problem is, not many people do. It is destined to be one of the many new shows that get the hook. The question is when. It is well written and well acted, so obviously it won't last. Give it a few more weeks...the ratings are dropping week to week, and it's ironic to think that a show about a show that wants to bring smart entertainment back to the masses is going to be dropped because it's too smart to be appreciated by the masses.

cheers.

Magic

The true meaning of YNWA, pure magic.

Click : HERE
and HERE

Cheers!

Nightwatch

I like looking at stars. Stars make everything else fade into insignificance. Stargazing brings back humility, a sense of spirituality. Perhaps I should have been an astronomer or astrologist. There is something very soothing about looking at a clear night sky alit only by fiery stars millions of miles away. Everyday problems seem so trivial, so meaningless. It is probably the same reason why I love the ocean. When faced with such raw natural power we can only surrender and let it wash away the minutiae that pollutes our daily lives. In this era of email, text messages, instant messaging, cell phones - all this noise - bullshit that separates us even further from what is truly important, nature brings us back. Looking at a night sky full of stars, or standing in front of a raging ocean - both remind us that we are but an insignificant speck in the scheme of things.

And that's something we all need reminding of once in a while.


(p.s. I was not even remotely high when writing above text, no matter how unrealistic it seems.)

Odds and ends, part 15

Came back from a pleasant sushi dinner. It sure tasted good. And apparently I so enjoyed the sight of it, I subconsciously requested to see it again. And see it again I did, a slight 10 minutes later, upon arriving home. That's the trouble with sushi. Even good sushi is never quite 100% safe. At the all you can eat buffet you end up eating an aquarium-sized feast of raw regurgitations of the sea. And you better believe a single little sick sardine makes his way to the big show somehow. With his translucent red coat, he is elegantly and cleverly disguised. And there you go - throw a bed of sticky rice under him and what do you get? Salmon sashimi. Perhaps you'd know him by his other alias: Salmonella sashimi.

In other news:

- I like 4 day work weeks. They are f'n fantastic.

- Crossing my fingers and toes, will let you know how it goes. Drinks may be on me come Friday.

- Now playing in Marto's head: The Killers new album - Sam's Town...early reports from my brain say it's a great follow up to an unbelievable debut album.

- Now seeking: book recommendations...just finished Freakonomics. Very interesting beginning, weak ending. Overall a good one. Reverse the order of some of the insights and you have a blockbuster.

cheers, and have a good week all.
----------------------------------

Borat.

Sorry, I can't hype this enough.

For Borat action click here.
For more Borat action click here.
For even more Borat action click here.

Jagshemash!

p.s. I think the studio blundered big time by not releasing this 2 months ago, when it had all the buzz, towards the end of summer. That would have allowed good word of mouth among summer crowds to make a true phenom. I think it had a real possibility of becoming an underground smash - now however, the buzz has died. Oh well, I am still looking forward to it.

Feast or famine....

Well, the past 24 hrs has been one of famine then feast. And I have indulged in both. That and sleep...but a new year has begun, and though this is not the time and place for self-reflection, that is a process that I will be going through. In fact I have already, and I have thought long and hard. I reflected deeply and came up with this:

People would be so much happier if they could wear sports socks with dress shoes. In fact I strongly believe this idea could make the world a better place.

I mean really, dress socks are scratchy and for the most part just irritating. Sometimes they're too tight, cutting the bloodflow to your feet. Sometimes the fabric makes your foot sweat. If people could make the change to a strong, cushioned sports sock, this could make a profound impact on our everyday lives.

A small daily change can have a huge effect on your life.

Now perhaps this blog was a true waste of time. Cutting out this blog from your daily reading (
ha..!) would save you 20 secs a day, giving you enough time over the course of a decade to methodically re-invent previously flawed strategies on cultivating life in outer space.

Small steps, my friends, small steps.

And that is all I have to say about that.