dreary day...

Just finished my delectable dinner consisting of a foot long Subway sandwich:) An atypical California day...or so I've been told...dreary and grey, rain alternating between light drizzle and its heavier relative...but still nothing to write home about...but it matched my mood:( Hope tomorrow will be better!

It's kinda funny...I guess it's similar at home (if we exchange the rain for snow)...I think most just aren't prepared for it. Case in point, went to work this afternoon...as I was heading home, the freeway onramp has a small curve...I was following a pickup...as soon as I came around the curve, I noticed the truck was pointed in my direction...I suppose the lady took the run too fast, skidded, turned her steering wheel the wrong direction and ended up spinning 180 degrees. Thank goodness, she was ok! Another interesting observation was when I was driving home tonight on the freeway (I like to hang out at the neighbourhood Walmart:P), and ppl still do the obstacle course routine at 80 mph in limited visibility and relatively heavy rain...definitely different.

In other news...am settling in now...at work, am trying to organize all my training...haha, ordered a 30 inch LCD:) Combined with a new vid card and Core 2 Duo box that's coming...made my week...I know...simple minds...yada, yada, yada:P I suppose with my usual mundane existence...it comes as great surprise that my poor, frail heart could handle all this excitement...haha:P

Outside of work...I am settling into my new place...the morning and afternoon drives are interesting...as I am always facing the sun:) I can sense that as things slow down (only one thing left to do - get my DL)...I do feel a small twinge of being homesick. I will try to keep myself as busy as possible with work, gym, writing papers, working on website, etc...and hopefully it won't be too bad...but that remains to be seen.

In other areas, the biggest hurdle I foresee is the long distance relationship. Some days things are easy...and some days, even small things are magnified.

At the end of the day, I suppose...with all decisions, there are consequences...some good, some bad...

It's funny...as I think about what I have written today...it strikes me that I started with one topic and it transitioned in both tone and scope...but perhaps that is how the human mind truly is...sometimes it is just utterly random...

...welcome to my world:)

back to work:(...

Got back last night...spent most of the day travelling...got to YVR at 10 am for a 12 pm flight...that got delayed 90 mins...so instead of getting to LA just before peak rush hour, I got there at 5...by the time I went to Ikea (and had 3 hot dogs, a bag of chips, a frozen yogurt and a large drink - hey, I didn't have lunch!)...and 50+ miles and a huge fire consuming one of the hills around Westlake...I was home...at 830 pm:(

This trip home was too short. But it was amusing...on Friday afternoon, heading to LAX gave me an idea of the things to come:) Left work at 2 pm, got through security at 545...after going to terminal 2 instead of terminal 7...and having to trudge across the parking lot with all my junk! Sheesh!

The weekend was relatively uneventful...but that's nice...didn't go dancing or boarding...my gf was sick...but it was just nice to spend some time with her and my dad...and not have to rush around...sometimes I think that we spend so much time running from one task to another (case in point...I have already spent more than a month in TO)...that we forget about the little things...the ones that make life what it is...and worth living...so this was nice:)

i can drive now, but i can't get a credit card:(...

Well, after 3 hours had elapsed between walking into the local DMV and walking out triumphantly...I managed to register my car...though it cost me $540. Ok, will start a rant...why doesn't the state of California recognize that I paid 2 taxes in Canada?...even though it's printed on my vehicle purchase form. They only gave me credit for paying one tax...then assessed the state tax on the car and made me pay the difference..sheesh! But I have license plates!!! Finally! I also passed my written exam...and my car passed the smog test...woo hoo...$650 bucks later, my car "exists." Then, was off to AAA to buy insurance...$1400 later, I am insured...I think I will just move back to Vancouver and ride the bus! At least my bus pass would be covered by work:(

Haha, on a different note, spent 45 mins on the phone with the bank this morning...went from the customer service rep to the credit "specialist," back to cust. service and then was on hold for credit again...gave up after waiting for 10 mins. You would think that they would be happy to give me a credit card...after all, I had finally gotten my SSN...but NO! I do not qualify...and they don't know why either (???)...the funny thing is that my checking account is with their bank and they know how much gets deposited by my company... What the $#@*! For goodness sake, perhaps I don't have enough education or a good enough job(?). Sigh...once again...more fun times ahead!

life in TO...

Well, a few more observations...
-I hate networking...have spent way too much time tinkering with the %$^#(* network at my place ...and it still doesn't work:(
-driving at 80 mph (128 kph) with 40 mph (64 kph) crosswind gusts makes freeway driving that much more interesting...factor in crazy, aggressive drivers...and I never fall asleep at the wheel
-the closest Asian supermarket is 40 miles away...and they don't even sell the dumplings I like:(
-In 'n Out Burger is really good (or have I mentioned that already?)...it's worth repeating
-some Americans don't know any geography outside their state
-having no internet sucks!...but I detest networking even more...(notice I separated my two references about networking...this way, I don't seem to be going on a rant...haha:P)
-driving to Fry's Electronics 3 times in 2 days is too much...I should get a job there, considering how much time I spend perusing the networking section...that makes it 3 references (if you're counting at home)
-and the strangest thing I have noticed so far...a Chinese restaurant (albeit fast food) doesn't have any Chinese ppl working in them...not even a token Asian-looking person...:P

Aside from that, am continuing the existence that can best be described as mundane...

...good to know I do one thing well:P

children of men...

Am watching the movie "Children of Men" right now...definitely not the standard Hollywood fare. Not to give anything away...but the movie is set in the not so distant future (2027) where women are no longer fertile...it is a time where, even though humanity cannot ensure its future, it continues to destroy itself...a dark, distopian future characterized by a police state with areas that are reminiscent of the European ghettos of WW2 and fighting that brings reminders of the current situation in the Middle East. It is a time when there is seemingly no hope...

I am not sure if this is a brilliant movie or not...or even how to classify this movie...is it an action movie?...or something to provoke thought?...is it a statement about the world we live in?...is it about sacrifice?...not sure...maybe it is all those things...no matter what, it works on many levels...I really liked this movie...

It made me think...humans are dominant in this world of ours...but within that, we are the only species that can create what spans the ages...but also have the ability to destroy what we have created and kill each other...

discussion with coworker...

Had some interesting talks with my officemate. She's been with the company for 15 years...as such, she's seen a lot...and b/c of that...she is a little bit of a guide to me, as I try to adapt. Over the few weeks I have been here, we have had some interesting discussions...

-this company looks good on the outside, but depending where one looks, it can be quite ugly
-politics are everywhere...even those who are good and don't play can become victims
-it is better to be selective in choosing who to talk to...in a competitive environment, there is always the possibility of one's intentions not being the same as another's perception...(see above point:P)
-ppl in TO lead a charmed life...top 10% in good stats, bottom 10% in bad ones...can't complain about that, I suppose
-there is no good, authentic Chinese food for many, many miles around:( ...I want my BBQ pork!
-everything is far apart
-recycling seems to be a foreign concept (in fact, environmental issues seem to be less impt...maybe I'm the only one who notices the huge blanket of haze that covers LA
-in the US, one is truly a number...SSN anyone?
-seems like too many ppl are really materialistic (ok, I like my toys, but it's a different league here)...seems many live beyond their means...I suppose that's where the 15 credit cards come in...

And the funniest thing...
-ppl look at me funny for wearing shorts...in California of all places...since when was 55 F cold?

Until next time... :P

am still frustrated...

Sigh...more than 3 weeks after flying down to TO...still cannot get a SSN. Called the office today...apparently the 4 - 6 weeks I was initially told was an optimistic estimate...instead it could be as long as two months:( In the meantime, due to my not having a SSN, I cannot do the following:
-do the written/road test to obtain a California DL
-register my car (so have to see if I can get my rental extended)
-buy insurance for my car b/c it can't be registered
-get a credit card
-exist in any system that pertains to health/dental coverage, stock purchase plans, timesheets, access to internal payroll db's
-breathe!!!

I jest with my last point...but to be honest, am getting very frustrated with the whole process. Oh well, I suppose that this is just part of relocating to a new country...but considering the supposedly good relationship between Canada and the US, this is a bit surprising...

interesting week...

Well, the holidays are over...am back at work now...can rest now:P Where are my manners?...Happy New Year! All the best to you and yours!

Flew back from Vancouver last Tuesday, with ma fan girl close behind...drove to SF the following day...the first 50 miles were pretty nice, but the last 310 miles were terrible...boring, boring hills!!! Stayed at a friend's place (thanks Ms T!)...extraordinarily gracious to offer us her place. Got a chance to go to "Sushi on the Run"...the place run by whom we affectionately refer to as the sushi nazi (after the soup nazi from Seinfeld:P). Went to bubble drink with some other friends...the ma fan girl got sick during the night...and boy, was she ever...was a nurse for the next day...she finally had her fever decrease at 5 pm on Thursday night...I collapsed from exhaustion...hope that never happens again.

We spent the next day running around SF like tourists...but ma fan girl had little energy after not eating most of the previous day. Decided to drive back to TO in the evening...left Mountain View at 10:30 pm and got home at 3:30 am...sigh, that was an adventure. Met some strange ppl on the highway in the wee hours...but what can I expect in the good ol' US of A?:)

Saturday and Sunday were filled with 9 hours at the outlet mall (funny how shopping energizes Y)...and in traffic in LA:( Watched the "Pursuit of Happyness" on Sunday night and then Y was back to Vancouver early on Monday morning:(

Found something out over the past week with her...

1. I am pretty stupid when it comes to relationships - I tend to make too much out of little.
2. She is smarter than me in many things - but that's probably why she is special to me - but only God knows why I'm special...haha:P
3. Long drives help ppl know each other better - there's nothing to do but keep each other company!

No matter what...we made it through...we had a few moments...but the memories of this week will make us stronger...and that is a great thing:)

PS. I got my first paycheque...I feel like a kid in a candy store:P