Carve Your Own Pumpkin...

...without a knife.

Another week down

Hey y'all,

8 weeks down, 7 to go. And this one, like the rest, have been quite busy. Not really work-wise in a sense, but social-wise. Monday I went on the Haunted Walk of Ottawa which included a walk with a group of people around downtown Ottawa and the old Ottawa jail. Throughout the tour was a series of 'ghost/spooky' stories. I didn't really find them as interesting as the history of specific parts of the City. For example, the jail, which is now a Hostel, is mostly intact from years past. The jail was occupied until the 1970s and was built around the beginning of the 20th century. Stories about how the prisoners were treated was fascinating, as the original cells and solitary confinement 'suites' (as I like to call them) were still there. In fact, some are even used as visitor's rooms (of course, the walls between about 3 were taken down as the cells are themselves are quite small). What I found the most interesting was that the jail still had a working gallow with trapdoor. Really neat for sure. Even though it was kind of expensive (our group rate was $13 a person), I still recommend the tour for the history of the seedy underbelly within Ottawa. Other tours they have include delve deeper in, but those are a little more 'racy', so I hear, haha.

Tuesday and Wednesday I was in Toronto seeing my brother. It was a very short trip, however, it did give me another perspective on things. For example, Toronto, I am sorry to say, is NOT a place I would find myself living in the future. Too big and far too vile. It is good for a visit, just not to live...in my opinion, of course. I took the bus down and back...5 hours each way. The price was right, but those seats are just death. On the way back to Ottawa the bus ride was tolerable, except for the unpleasent break we had at the "Log Cabin Restaurant" where I had the worst sandwich outside federal government convienience stores...yikes. But on the the way to Toronto, I had a guy that sat beside me and talked about his horrible life for 3 hours straight. God...who knew that a 37 year-old man from Kitchener, Ontario, who was recently divorced from his wife of 12 years who is now living with his brother's family, got fired from Sunlife insurance because of gross negligence a day after he got a performance award, then went to work for Revenue Canada for 4 years, and ended up becoming a Kareoke DJ who is in direct competition with his best friend, would end up quitting hitchhiking after an unpleasent experience last month when a guy picked him up on the Gardner Expressway in Toronto, asking him if he was a serial killer, then forcing him into Christanity by telling him to bathe in a pool of virgin blood. Yeah..........so it goes. I should have kept reading my book...hahah...eeak.

By the way, my brother is fine. We had a good time in the 15 hours we had. Lots of food and walking...nothing better.

Yesterday I was at the Museum of civilization with about 8 people. We spent probably about 2 hours there before we needed to go to get some food. We went to the Lower Deck (anyone who is familiar with the one in Halifax will feel this is a rip off...which it is). It was a really good time, I need to go back soon for the live music.

Happy Halloween everbody. Hopefully trick-or-treating is in order. If it is, send me your stash! Haha.

'New' Pictures Up!!

Right Here. Quite amazing, actually. However, yesterday I took some awesome ones at Gatineau Park, which are not included in this set. Also, I deleted some good ones by mistake...oppps. But the important this is that they are there! Enjoy for what they are.

Had a great weekend. As I mentioned I ventured to Gatineau Park on Sunday to see some trees and to climb rocks. It was fantastic to get out of the city and see some views of a mountain. I went with Vartan and Suzanne. What a wacky bunch they are. I took a short video of an interesting moment that you will all have to see when I get home. Of course, it was probably funnier in person knowing a lot of other things are funnier if you experience them...but that's okay.

Going to Toronto tomorrow for a few days. Hopefully there will be time for some good photo ops. I am getting good at this, haha. At least in my opinion.

Quick! Winter is Coming...!

Morning, Folks...
'Tis getting damn cold 'round here. I should be bringing blankets and booze to work in order to warm up (oh right, they sell both of those things downstairs...one-stop shop!).

Had a fantastic weekend, although a little less shopping would have been in order...oh well. My sister came to the Capital for a few days to hang out, eat, and drink. However, I was drug to more shopping malls than I would have liked, but hey, it was good to see family that doesn't live here in Ottawa (although, I hardly ever see the other folks anyway). I spent too much money for my own good, but who cares, living it up is much funner than sitting like a log in a hallowed out hole, as per where I am living. A week from today I am going to Toronto to see my brother, that should be great fun as well.

Tomorrow night I may be going to see a Quebec Major Junior game here in Gatineau. The last one of those I experienced was when I saw a Halifax Moosehead game about 3 years ago (no, I have never been to a Rocket game...maybe when I get back home).

I booked my plane tickets home on Friday. I will be hopping on a plane Dec 18th at 9 eastern time. All good things must come to an end, however, I am looking forward (no I have not suffered any significant brain damage) to getting back into the academic world. Such is life.

I am kind of freaking out without the love-hate relationship I have with MSN Messenger. It is a pain in the ass, however, it is a great way to keep in touch. I find my current measures of communication good, but I cannot talk to as many people as I would like.

I have yet to get access to a computer in which I can upload my pictures. Sorry 'bout that.

That's all for now...you know the drill.

Iraq Audit Can't Find Billions

Here is an interesting little article: Iraq Audit Can't Find Billions.

Strike Over?

That could very well be the case. People were ordered back to work by the union as they continue to work on a deal. This probably only transpired because of one of two things: 1) They really feel confident that a deal can be reached today 2) It is supposed to rain and people melt in rain. Hard to say. But it hasen't been that bad around here unless you have a car or you were one of the unlucky people that had to wait between two and four hours to get into respective buildings on Wednesday. Now that was entertainment for sure...

Welp, my sister is coming to visit for the weekend tomorrow, and of course, it is supposed to rain like a monkey all weekend. Figures that she would bring the rain that all you maritimers have been having as of late. Haha, should be a good time.

Not too much else to report expect that on Monday or Tuesday I will finally be updating a bunch of pictures I have been stockpiling on my camera. I wish there was a website that could host videos, because I got a few to share if anybody is interested.

Have a good weekend. (And Chuck, if you are frequenting as you once were, give me a call when you have the chance). Cheers.

Steee-rike!

Today is Day 1 of the Federal Alliance of Canada strike. 40,000 here in Ottawa are now on strike, making things a little more interesting around here. Us student scabs got in after about 40 min - 1 hour of waiting outside in the line-ups. Protesters are jovial, and full of life... I don't want to see what they will be like by day 51, but that is their problem! A few police cars were around to aid. But everything seems to be in order...for now. I will post any interesting news as this progresses.

Had a pretty good weekend. Went out for happy hour at Big Daddy's Crab Shack on Friday. It wasn't too bad. Cheap food, expensive drinks...isn't that always the case anyway? Saturday was pretty lax...bought the latest Modest Mouse CD (Good News for People Who Love Bad News, which is an amazing piece of art). Also got a James Patterson novel...(far too addicted to those things for some reason). Sunday I went for a 5 1/2 hour walk around the city. Next time I will have to bring the camera...but silly me, I didn't think I would be going on such a trek! I went to visit the Prime Minister...but he wasen't home...I was not too pleased over that! Yesterday for Thanksgiving I made it over to Barb and Dale's and had a filling meal. I also met my cousins girlfriend who looks like she is about 12 (I think she is 17?). Well, he doesn't look any older and he is 20, so I guess that is okay ...in a creepy kind of way...it is like a couple of small children hugging, haha (I should probably delete this, but I am not!). Then after dinner we played some Halo...it was good to play a video game other than StarCraft or that Windows 3D Pinball and Solitare. Heck, my uncle even drove me home afterwards! What service.

Today is going to be a long day. Not a lot of people around, and my boss will probably come strolling in around 2:30 this afternoon!

I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving, post your experiences in the comment box provided!

Seasoned Adventures

Nice day outside today...really nice. However, I have yet to step foot out there. The "23" degrees is non-existent in my little world. I am sticking around to "bank" some time so that I may go to T-Dot at the end of the month. It is not so bad because I have things to do here, but still...the window teases me.

So what is new, you may ask? Well, not a heck of a lot. I am gradually getting situated into my new humble area of solitude. Each day it grows on me and each night the crying baby distrubs me less (needless to say, it still sounds like they are strangling the thing). Last night I went out with a few people to the "Honest Lawyer" (the name seems to be an oxymoron in my perspective). We each had a drink, played a couple games of pool on a crappy, small, and therefore, usless table. And also played a few games of Air Hockey...that was much more entertaining. Afterwards we got a bite to eat at the Heart and Crown, which was pretty good as we were all pretty hungry by about 7:45. Next week we are going to Minglewoods for an EC social, hopefully some more people show up than the last one.

Thanksgiving this weekend. Hopefully everyone has a place to go, and something to be thankful for. This year I believe I will be eating with Dale, Barbara (Aunt and Uncle who live in Nepean)and possibly Joesph, my cousin. It was nice of them to invite me for sure...I wonder if they will allow another straggler to join them, in John. Who knows, I may talk to them tonight...

Also...If you are going to call my cell...call after 8pm (9 atlantic)or on weekends because I just got a deal that it is only 5 cents a minute, compared to the lovely 29 I was paying before...much better for only 5 bucks a month.

I should get some work done...leave a comment, drop me a line, or email me at hilchies@gmail.com.

Je Suis le Meilleur!

For those of you who wish to get a hold of me and want a perminant number, I guess I am going to be continuing to use my cell phone (613-808-1075). I figure it will be cheaper in the long run to use it than to get a land line hooked up. So we will see how that turns out...

As some of you know, I moved in to my new place on Sunday evening with the help of Dale, my uncle, who was nice enough to chuck my stuff in the place and leave, from which I was fully capable of setting things up for the long haul. My Roomie is pretty cool. He is from Nova Scotia and is 32. He does something with web design, databases, etc, with EC. Anyway, last night after I went to bed, I soon discovered why my roommate decided to trade rooms when the other guy moved out: right on the other side of the wall (the house is like a duplex of sorts in that two residences are next to one another) there is a small child who religiously cries her brains out every hour and a half. Oh the joy when I discoved that. The next thing I discovered during the night was that there is one guy who runs a very loud generator, or pump, from across the street every couple hours. And lets say it doesn't run as smooth as one might think. The third observation was that the bed (or floor?) is slanted towards the door...so I slide down towards it. Haha...oh the joys of living in student housing. I will get some pictures when the time arrises.

Tonight I am going to the Civilization museum. It should be a good time. In the meantime, I must find a way to get the Senator's condo keys to security before tomorrow, as for some reason, the security office was closed at the time of my departure yesterday evening for the first time ever...go figure.

Fun Fun...there is always something :)

World on Fire...

Check this out: It is Sarah McLachlan's new video. It is fantastic, and not your typical "Bling Bling, show the fancy car and shake your ass" video that is normally on MuchMusic. Anyway, take a few minutes and watch.

I just had to post this...

Interesting...lucky bastards...Although, Myrons?

Matthew Good:
MON NOV 1
CHARLOTTETOWN PEI
Myron's Pub
with Auf Der Maur and Limblifter

Sickness, and not the moving bug

The last 3 day I have been rediculously sick. I have no idea where I picked it up, or how. Now, thank goodness, everybody I was around is getting sick but John...I will get him soon enough.

The Results (goes to show how much I knew before...I thought it was Risk *shrugs*) Management Tool (RMT) workshop was great, besides me nearly on my death bed, haha. I actually had to go home yesterday and sleep for 6 hours. My head still hasen't recovered...fun...

Tomorrow I am going to get my keys for the new place. I don't know if I am going to take my stuff over tomorrow or wait until Sunday, but either way, I am going there tomorrow at some point. I have far too many people to call tonight to confirm all this crap.

Also, as a reminder, I will post my new phone number when I get it. Do not call the number after October 5th unless you want to talk to a Senator...which some people may want to do, up to you. There is always my cell phone if the need arises to get a hold of moi.

In other news, Nicole, my admin assistant individual, is attempted to teach me french. It is kinda cool because, after all, I am a quick learner and she is surprised I can actually pronounce words well...Take that, Island school system...trying to ruin me for life.

Monday I am going to the Dome IMAX at the Civilization Museum to see the Pacific Reef film. It is going to rock to see things at 180 degrees above your head, and to be in the Barrier Reef..neato, I say.

So to capture this post into a sentence: I am sick, and not because it is the moving bug. How clever...