Random Thoughts

I heard this quote attributed to Prof. Sam Keen on the television tonight: We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.  What is it that makes us go out and look for perfection when it may not be what we want?

Sometimes, you don't realise how nice life is. But when you are reminded of the past, it gives you some perspective. Not everything is like butter folks, not everything is like freaking butter.  I can't remember the number of phone calls and meetings I have been where the theme has been like this cartoon strip. I am glad that is in the past. 

As I sit here, staring at DurableSubcriber.java , I am drawn to John Denver and his song about sunshine. Sometimes, I forget that the world is a bit more wondrous, a bit larger than my little problems.  So, put your problems aside for a moment and appreciate the little things in life. That last cup of coffee you had. The last conversation you had with your friend or relative. The last time you had a home cooked meal at your mother's dining table. DurableSubscriber can wait...

Because of you, in gardens of blossoming flowers  I ache from the perfumes of spring. I have forgotten your face,  I no longer remember your hands; how did your lips feel on mine?  Because of you, I love the white statues drowsing in the parks, the white statues that have neither voice nor sight. I have forgotten your voice, your happy voice;  I have forgotten your eyes. Like a flower to its perfume,  I am bound to my vague memory of you.  I live with pain that is like a wound;  if you touch me, you will do me irreparable harm. Your caresses enfold me,  like climbing vines on melancholy walls. I have forgotten your love,  yet I seem to glimpse you in every window. Because of you, the heady perfumes of summer pain me;  because of you, I again seek out the signs that precipitate desires:  shooting stars, falling objects.  So says Pablo Neruda. Some days, I miss your perfume. Other days,

It is early November and many of us Canadians are wearing the ubiquitous red poppies on our lapels. Those of you who watch the BBC likely have seen our British cousins wear a similar poppy on their lapels. We wear it of course, in honour of all those soldiers who died at all those wars. We wear it for Remembrance Day. Canadians hold the poppy very close to their heart. After all, the inspiration for it came from a Canadian. As I've touched upon before , In Flanders fields is a poem written by a Canadian soldier and physician, Lieutenant Colonel Dr. John McCrae. He penned that poem after seeing his friend die. The poem stirs up a great many emotions in Canadians I find. While we may not believe in war all that much, you can sense a wee bit of fierce pride when it comes to the wars of yesteryear and what many of our countrymen and women gave up for the world to be the way it is today. If you're into figures, know this: fully, one million Canadians went to fight in the second wor

Those of you that have known me in the last few years know that I try and climb a local Vancouver mountain (Grouse Mountain) as often as I can. I hadn't tackled the grind since mid-September last, so I decided to have a go at it. And lucky for me, it was still open. The day was decent (no rain) and the trail wasn't busy. But then, by the half-way mark, there was ice. Everywhere. I fell a couple of times along the way and had a few more close calls. Suffice to say, I won't attempt it anymore this season. Of course, come Monday, they closed the grind for the season. So, I feel lucky that I got to go one last time this season. This brings us to the end-of-year summary of the hiking season. It isn't so much that hiking season is over as much as Grouse grind season being over. But we shall overlook that simplification.  At the beginning of this season, I had set myself a goal of beating my best time from before. I didn't really come close. Now, keep in mind th

So, I'm taking part in Movember. As in growing a moustache for the month of November and trying my best to raise funds for Prostate Cancer Canada. I've actually got about 15 people from work to sign onto the campaign, although half have yet to sign up on day 1.  If you would like to donate to my awesome moustache (which will take time to grow since the rules state that I have to start today clean-shaven) or just feel like helping, go ahead and do so. If you're part of a team or doing your individual thing, let me know. I am curious who else participates.  This is the sort of thing I wish more companies encouraged. We're growing a moustache and having fun at it and raising funds for a good cause. Much better than the company buying me food, drinks and what not so I can bring a can of soup for the food bank. I never did understand how that made sense. If the intention is to raise money for charity, then why spend far more money/good than will be raised on the em