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As usual I'm staying a bit late after work. I'm trying to finish off the T call numbers for the reference assessment project. It's actually fun but very detailed as many books must be evaluated to remain in reference, made circ, withdraw and/or see if a newer edition exists and order it. I'm overseeing the project and others have given me the results from their areas. We had our dept. meeting yesterday (first one in months) and as usual I'm doing more work. I don't mind it and like the challenge but don't understand why others don't volunteer more.

I tried adding the comments java script code to my blog and I can preview it but I don't see it live. Very strange. Darcy is on a well derserved break. She and two co-workers are driving to Tampa for a FLA leadership conference. Good news is that three Canadian teams advanced to the NHL conference semi finals. Will a Canadian team make it to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 1993? I feel worn out by lack of sleep. I wish I could find more time to read and as a result end up going to bed late.

Last bit of news is that I finally got my heart holter results and the cardiologist said that nothing out of the ordinary was there. The heart palpitations were just my heart skipping beats. I saw the readings printout and saw the variation in beats but it was steady. The doctor said not to be concerned because I did not faint, feel faint, or get sick despite the uncomfortable feelings. I got the feeling that despite all the technology and knowledge the West has, there is still much that doctors can't do. I still feel that the climate here affects my health and heart beat.

I was starting my Middle East trip four years ago. I'd love to be going on a trip somewhere for a month or two....
posted by Michael at 7:05 PM

 
Yikes! Almost a month since my last entry. I suppose one reason is that I flew home to Edmonton (March 14 to 22). A really nice visit despite the fact that my Grandmother Shires had died the previous month. The flights were horribly long but uneventful. It was nice to visit with my brother back home as we hadn't done it in almost four years. Arguably one of the highlights of my trip was learning about the quirky Canadian made television show called Trailer Park Boys. A very funny, silly plot with great characters. My dad and I were eating McDonalds and watching tv just a few hours after I had arrived. He turned the channel to Showcase. Seems to be the Canadian equivalent of America's HBO. Anyway I saw these characters yelling profanity while living in a trailer park and thought to myself what kind of reality show is this? Turns out the show has been on for three years and has developed a cult following. So I quickly bought the first two seasons on DVD with the third season coming out soon and the fourth season debuting in a week. Don't know how the episodes got on DVD so quickly. Perhaps because fewer than ten shows are made each year. I also bought online a baseball cap and shirt since the company doesn't ship to the U.S. I'm tempted to have a Trailer Park Boys party here to shock (maybe) my American friends.

So I've been back at work for a few weeks and life is back to its hectic pace. I just worked six straight days and work three next week due to Easter. I need to begin working again after my layoff although I did some major cardio workouts in Edmonton. I will not enroll in another spinning class!! The FLA Conference in Daytona Beach was okay and the trip up with Darcy worked out well. But god was I discombobulated after leaving work that Friday.

I'm ready to head over to Darcy's and practice drumming a bit. Her bellydance party is tomorrow. She is very good and doesn't realize it! Weather has been refreshingly cool and breezy lately. I spent last Sunday with Dante (my friend and colleague from Toronto) car shopping and he bought a 1998 Chevy Prizm. A great little car that is essentially a rebadged Corolla. So I've now helped two people buy their first ever car here - ironic. Speaking of cars - I switched my car insurance from Geico ($635/six months) to AIG ($457/six months). I'm paying much less for the same coverage. Granted AIG could be like Geico in offering cheap rates and then jacking them up after six months.

Last bit of news is that Craig and Malini will visit me in mid July! Will be nice to have visitors here. In fact this will my first time having relatives visit. It's understandable since Broward County is on the extreme edge of the continent. Better go now....
posted by Michael at 7:59 PM