Wheee! It's Saturday and I am free!

Last night I went to my pal Ted's to talk business, eat BBQ and meet a whole mess of Germans. Dunkles bier, bitte!

When I finally got home, it was time to chat with border freak Jesper, who, along with 3 other border freaks, are meeting in Prague this very day to go zipping around the borderlands of Central Europe.

Being here does not amuse. But, I declined to join this trip for many reasons.

- It is a smaller trip
- The whole gang is not going
- To do this would put the Great Southern European Border Expedition in jeopardy.

The GSEBE could be the best yet: Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Montenegro, and my personal favourite Albania.

How I long to hoist a pint of local brew in some dusty Albanian town.

[The town turns out to meet visitors in Kukes, Albania]

All is not lost, however. I plan to do some international travelling this very day. Off to the Radio Museum in Bellingham, Washington in a few minutes.

I'm thinking Daddy needs a Sour Dough Jack at Jack in the Box for lunch.

Ah, life's simple pleasures.

A full report coming up...

Cheers!

And now, a giant sigh of relief.

After 19 days straight, a chance for some rest. And it wasn't just 19 days, it was 20 shifts and a few turn-arounds thrown in for good measure.

I am pooped.

I finished the week as it began, working from home. We like this a lot. Especially the flexibility to do things like run to Ikea (yesterday) in the middle of the day.

Things slow down for two whole days. Somewhat. My 2003 taxes, my quarter 2 GST and a bunch of boxes have other plans.

I think I shall shoot them the finger and do none of the above. So there.

On Saturday, I think I will head south to Bellingham, Washington to visit the American Radio Museum. They have odd hours, and were closed the last time I went through (on the way to Yakima and Seattle for baseball, last spring). That certainly seems like a century ago.

Sunday is a day to do nothing what-so-ever. And I mean that.

Lots of work until Sept. 4th and then... it looks like I am retired.

Well... time to shut this thing down and zone out. Actually I have a BBQ to go to. Too bad its raining!

Cheers!

Doug

When friends who have known you for nearly 20 years (16?!) tell you that you're working too much - and I mean people who REALLY know you - then you should take heed.

Thus was the email from my friends Scott and Katharine way over on the other coast.

Reading Roadspill prompted the missive. And it struck me.

I do realize that I have been working a lot. And I realize that it all has a cost. So far, that cost is limited to a very dull personal life, a missed summer, and a constant exhaustion.

But it is such a conundrum: when you don't know where the next cheque is coming from, it's hard to pass anything up.

So again, last night, I worked until 12 and was nose to the virtual grindstone at 6 a.m. this morning.

Ah, but all for a reason: freedom.

For me, freedom is defined as debt reduction. Expensive computers and trips around the planet (to drink beer in Estonia!) are all good. But they come at a cost. And that cost is debt. And that debt is what I am attacking.

And the attacking seems to be coming along. Just yesterday I dropped $2000 on the monster. And this Friday I hope to smack it with another grand.

And then, when the monster becomes a tiny version of its present self, I will be able to live lean and travel large.

Which, for me, is the whole point of existing at all.

Cathay Pacific has a great deal: From Vancouver, one can fly to Asia and visit 18 cities (or less) in 21 days. For $1499 CDN.

Wow. Hello, Kitty!

And this is why I am working so much: so I can look at that and say, SOLD!

Elsewhere in this world of mine: I neglected to mention that on Sunday I was an actor. A friend from CTV is shooting a feature film on an independent budget. But it is 16mm, and not that shallow video stuff (ha ha).

My character, the main one, is a doctor who loses some family in a most gruesome way.

On Sunday we shot a couple of scenes where I am running (puff puff) though the woods and make the awful discovery.

Was it ever fun! And there is much more to do. On Aug 14th we're shooting scenes in a (my) doctors office...

Music tips: Josh Joplin Group, Eels and Carbon Leaf. This is a repeat of earlier tips. But do source these bands out... they are well worth the effort. And keep dialing in RadioParadise.com on your internet radio!

After a hard day of writing Saskatchewan news from Deep Cove, it is now time to pack away the laptop and go look at the beauty that surrounds. Sure, it's as noisy as a F1 race... but there are mountains only feet away.

Cheers!

Today was a first: I worked from home for the CBC.

I've been trying to get things set up so that I can do my CBC.CA work from home, instead of going downtown all the time.

This is especially important as I often start early -- 5am or 6am. And then there are situations where turnaround is involved.

Last night I worked until 11pm downtown at CTV and was due to work at CBC at 6am. Doesn't leave a lot of time for sleep.

So, I decided that I would attempt to work from home for the first time. And it worked fairly well.

Here's the deal:

The software I need to use - and the network connection to the CBC intranet are all PC based. I have a Mac. So...

I installed a program called Virtual PC that allows my Mac to emulate a PC. And then I installed Windows within that.

The next step was to install the necessary CBC software.

All of this worked... but the weak spot is my internet connection.

I currently do not have a dedicated connection. Rather, I am the wireless network from my pal Randy who lives 2 floors above me.

This is a great savings for me: no need for cable or a dedicated phone line to have broadband. I get it WiFi. So I save by only having a cellphone for chatting and I get basic cable for free (until they find out that I am getting it for free :) )

The network connection that the CBC software needs is pretty touchy. If the connection is lost, the server in Toronto will lock me out for four hours! Unless I call IT.

Anyway, long story short -- it seems that even my weak Wifi connection is enough. And today proved it.

I woke up at 5 to 6 and started working while I made tea and breakfast. Then after a bit, I popped into the shower. Worked some more. Took a 2 hour break and then finished my day. They like it when the web people work a split shift, as it means content is loaded over a longer period.

And I certainly didn't mind a long break today.

I have a night shift at CTV tomorrow, as well as a full day for CBC... so I will work at home for CBC and then around 3, I'll zip downtown and work at CTV.

Originally I was going to sleep at CBC tomorrow night, as I work at CTV until midnight and have to be back at CBC at 6am Wednesday.

But NOW I can work at home in a nice environment tomorrow, then go to work, then come home... and get up (still with only 5 hours sleep) but I won't have to get up an hour before starting work... just 5 minutes beforehand. And I can even take a nap!

I am booked with CBC for the rest of the month. And I have some double shifts with CTV that I am going try and give away... I will be spending a lot more time in Deep Cove.

And counting cars. ;)

Cheers!

The count, Friday night:

23:13:08
23:13:27
23:13:34
23:13:41
---
23:14:25
23:14:50
---
23:15:40
----
23;16;00
23:16;15
----
23:17:08
ZZZZ

Another of my travel articles was published today in Vancouver's Georgia Straight.

To read it, click here: http://straight.com/content.cfm?id=4051!

Cheers!

Ok, 5 a.m. shifts suck.

Going to bed at 10 or 11 and then having the bastard alarm clock interrupt the slumber channel is bad if it happens once. But day after day? Christ on a bike! (just heard that one today!)

I've been working at CTV on the weekends... and Sunday I walked out of the studio at 11 p.m., walked 5 blocks to CBC and slept on the couch until my shift started at 5. Fun!

I've been sleeping at home for the last few days, however. And the pain ends next Tuesday (yes, that's 14 or 15 days straight)... and then I have 5 off.

What to do? What to do?

I think I will hire a car and drive to Calgary. I could use the scenery, the adventure, the escape.

The noise here at home is still brutal, and the next step is noise cancelling headphones. Burning the lease seems to be a bit of a problem. Oh well, May 15, 2005 isn't far off.

I've been captivated by the Democratic National Convention. I have always held American politics in great distain. Zero interest... until Bush stole the election in 2000...

Now, I am glued to the television watching speaker after speaker. Bill Clinton was amazing. As I watched him the other night, I wondered why he wasn't President. Stupid two term law.

And Gore was pretty good. Funny, but a bit stiff.

I finally caught Michael Moore vs. Fox "News" Channel's Bill O'Reilly. Go to www.foxnewschannel.com to find it. It is a great example of how screwed up the right and the Republicans are. God help us if they win again.


Good news on the money front -- the 2001 tax refund arrived, which means Daddy is gettin' a Nikon D70. Not just yet... but very soon.

I see that Edwards is on... so its time to watch that... then try to sleep.

Cheers!

It has started poorly, this quest of mine.

As readers of this site are aware, my current living arrangements leave a lot to be desired. Noise, ants, and distance from my favourite Cheryl are the main issues.

Today, I approached my landlord with the news that it was time for me to go.

He did not take this well.

The lease I have signed is the sticking point. He expects me to stay for the term. I'm doubting that will happen.

I have called the fine folks at the Tenancy Branch to see if I have a leg to stand on in terms of breaking the lease.

The other option that both the landlord and I have agreed to is that I can sublet should I want.

Having been a landlord in the past, I recoil from this option as it could be a much worse situation.

That said, I also could charge more for this place than I pay (as much as $200) and that is not necessarily a bad thing.

So we shall see. The last communique from Mr. Landlord was a terse statement that he will be on holidays until Aug 7. I reckon that means he has no plans to install the towel racks, fix the broken door, and deal with a big green stain on the carpet.

Perhaps this is good as it might tip the odds in my favour in terms of breaking the lease.

Luckily I have not handed over a bunch of post-dated cheques. And I have little motivation to do that now.

Also, there is always the option of being a bad (read: noisy) tenant. But that is a road I would rather not stroll down. What goes around comes around...

The weather in Vancouver is kooky hot. There are even heat warnings being issued for the weekend. Temperatures in the 30s are expected. It seems like its been like this since February.

I really don't recall what rain is. And I live in the rain shadow of the North Shore mountains.

It's time for sangria...

Cheers!

6:10 - 6:11 - 2
6:11 - 6:12 - 2
6:12 - 6:13 - 5
6:13 - 6:14 - 1
6:14 - 6:15 - 1

Well, my fears of no work in August have vanished. CBC called and offered 11 new days (10 of them doing the Sask. site. That makes 19 for the month. And I am happy with 20... but 19 is close enough.

Any dreams of Belize are moved ahead until September.

After work today, I went for beers with my favourite Cheryl, my favourite Lisa (it's a tie!), my favourite Tom, and my new favourite Val.

Of course I couldn't talk to Cheryl about anything, as she reads the fodder of my life here.

She should stop reading!!

So there.

Time for sleepy byes...

Cheers!