Author: RTOlson

Congrats to the Vancouver/Whistler area for winning the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Let’s see if Canada can put on “the best Games ever.” Regardless, CBC’s Olympic coverage usually puts NBC’s to shame. Maybe it’s because CBC actually shows sporting events live and without the dramatic pap.

I have fond memories from the 1988 Calgary Games which are the first Olympics I really remember.

Speaking of Canada, July 1 was Canada Day (or la fête du Canada) which commemorates the confederation of Canada as one entity in the 1860s.
CBC TV carried a live concert. The introduction included several Canadians (famous and otherwise) singing “O Canada.”

William Shatner popped up in there “singing” the national anthem. His singing style was more a proclamatory statement instead of an actual melody — like Capt. Kirk or Rex Harrison from “My Fair Lady.” Otherwise lots of good fun.

For someone who has to deal with grammar on a daily basis, this CBC article sheds some light on a long-standing issue regarding how the flag is raised during a time of mourning.

I went to the “Porkies” today for work. It was nice getting out and about.

A couple of thoughts — I really should have brought my boots. I walked about a mile in my dress shoes and it was a slightly uncomfortable experience. Secondly, I was surprised how many flies there were. I lived in the South, but it was pretty bad.

Still the view at the top of Summit Peak was really nice. I think it would be really nice during the fall color season. Now its time to write up my stuff.

Journey’s end

I’ve been doing this ‘blog off and on for about six months now. I really don’t know the direction of this space (but I haven’t really known the direction of my Web site for nearly seven years now). So far, I don’t really link to other Web sites, offer professional insight, commentary or dwell on my private thoughts. I never intended this to be a entirely personal or professional site and it’s actually neither right now.

I guess the only attraction on this Web site is me, and goodness knows what limited quality I am. Beware, this is just a minor prelude before moving to the core of my thoughts — as vague and personal as they seem. I need a canvas for my pensive brooding and a public Web page seems the best place. 😉

I feel like I’m at a crossroads. Something big in my life has just ended this weekend, and I’m coming to grips with it. It’s the end of the first real interpersonal relationship in my life where I’ve really opened myself up.

I knew the ending was coming, but perhaps I’ve just been avoiding the inevitable — or holding out hope. I don’t know if the pain that sidelined me yesterday was the horrendous bug bites from the swampland that I found myself in or something else. Most likely the bug bites, because I don’t think heartbreak includes swelled joints (Them bugs really got me).

I can look at the other person and not be entirely happy with the path that she’s taking (although there’s some pluses to her new course, I see many, many pitfalls ahead).

Still, it’s water under the bridge. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood and all that. … I should be happy for her.

Throughout this entire, 20-month thing, I’ve encouraged (really preached) that we find personal happiness from within — although we certainly drew from each other. Now a decision has been made that doesn’t include me and I’m bummed out about it.

At the end, the thing that stinks to me is that there was nothing permanent or lasting — except the memories. It’s irksome that the truth would be only known to us (something that certainly isn’t the case with her new path). It’s something I would have wanted to shout and sing about, but was forced to keep under wraps (mostly), anonymous. Now it’s smothered. Pity.

Well, enough of the pages of black text and lurid emoting, back to the Trek BBS, DVDs and late-night reading for me. 😉

Home again
POWAY — Learning a lesson from last year, I’m taking vacation in the middle of the year, instead of September and December. What better place to go on vacation than sunny San Diego? So here I am.

It’s just nice hanging out with my family, although the family’s relatively new cat has a free run of what used to be “my” bedroom (until I kicked her out). Melinda and Katie are getting so mature and grown up. I’m not hip to their ways and it shows.

I haven’t gotten out too much yet (I have been playing way too much Ratchet and Clank on the PS2). I did get to have dinner with my friend Dave, which was enjoyable. Too bad I don’t have too many friends to keep tabs on (although I’m writing two Houghton friends right now).

I’m looking forward to hitting some museums, the beach and perhaps the Japanese Friendship Garden. Hopefully I’ll be able to go to a couple of ball games (although the Padres are absolutely dreadful this season).

Of course, catching up on some good food and decent shopping are up on the list as well. I already when to Little Tokyo with mom. I had some tempura and tuna sushi that was delightful. More later.

Where’s the diving board?
Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim relaunched again this week with a new look. They’ve decided to eschew the former “First Aid Instructions” cards in favor of simple white text over a black background while smooooooooth jazz plays in the background as bumpers between shows and commercial breaks.

I don’t know if I like it all too much, but there are many advantages to the new format — cheap, easy and quick! The network said the same things (with their cards) Tuesday night.

I still like the old Adult Swim stuff — the old logo, bunch of elderly people swimming around a municipal pool. I guess AOLTW is hoping the new format will cater to the adult, mature taste where McDonald’s Arch Deluxe failed.

It’s Wednesday already. Time really flies with a four-day workweek. It’s raining outside, and Ray Charles is singing sorta blue song on iTunes.

I’ve got a massive amount of leftovers from the BBQ that I really need to get rid of before I leave on vacation. Maybe I can have another cookout and this time not buy anything.

Tap in

I’m really looking forward to the new season of “The Wire” begins Sunday on HBO. The first season really kicked butt.

The second season looks at the “seamy underside” of the Baltimore waterfront with police and drug lords. The show is from David Simon, the writer who wrote “Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets.” So you know it has to be good.

BB-Q

Celebrated Memorial Day with a barbeque in the front yard. It’s been nearly two years since the Gazetteers have had a cook-out. The break was probably a good thing, but it was cool hanging out with Katie, Michele and Olivia. Zac showed up late, but it was cool. We reflected a little bit on friends who were no longer with us (in Houghton, I mean. They’re stil alive.).

I think I overdid it, but I wanted to make sure that the cookout had everything. So I offered up hamburgers, steaks and chicken (and chips and fruit salad). The grill was slow in warming up (I need to have more patience.).

The weather was excellent though (it was sunny with a slight gust). The bugs weren’t out at all, but I put on a little DEET just in case.

I’m really kinda of tuckered out, but my apartment is clean for the first time in … well, a long time. I just feel like stretching back and relaxing. Speaking of, just one more week before a legnthier break.

There’s so many other wonderful things to talk about — later. I want to complain about a Windows “feature” that makes being on surfing on a wintel machine so frustrating.

I’m busy trying to send some e-mails via Yahoo! Mail – I send the message and I go to another browser window to pull together more research. When Y! mail is done sending a message, it pops up to the top just to let me know that it’s done sending my message. It interrupts what I’m doing, breaking up my train of thought and frustrates me to no end.

I have absolutely no use for such a feature and I haven’t found a way to turn it off. Thank goodness I don’t have to use Windows all that often.