The view of Markham from my desk (over two other rows of desks) does have its charm. While the vista of light industrial warehouses and hydro towers isn't the most beautiful thing in the world, there is something to be said for being able to see a long way. It's a sort of "big sky country" by comparison to our downtown office, where since the building across the street started actually building things above ground, the view had been limited to fire trucks, traffic jams and pedestrians (there are traffic jams to see up here, but not nearly as many of the other two)
Don't get me wrong, I'd still prefer the downtown view (and the location that comes with it), but it's a silver (well, maybe nickel) lining.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
"Women's Room"
I suppose it only makes sense. It is called the "Men's room", why wouldn't you call it the "Women's Room", but I'm not sure I've ever seen that anywhere other than my new office. I would have called it (without considering the appropriateness of any answer) called it the "Ladies' room". Upon examination, it does occur to me that we, collectively, no longer refer to that portion of the population as "Ladies" for the most part, unless you are talking about your grandmother's bridge club, or an auxiliary attachment to some long standing "Men's" organization (Lion's, Kiwanis, Loyal Order of Water Buffalo)
Strangely, I would have said "the Women's washroom"... just not "Women's Room". I suppose since we, collectively, have adopted the group noun "Women" in replacement for "Ladies", it makes sense to move to "Women's room" but I've just never seen it before. This new workplace is very progressive!
What are the washroom/bathroom/toiletrooms (a whole 'nother can of worms) where you are called?
Strangely, I would have said "the Women's washroom"... just not "Women's Room". I suppose since we, collectively, have adopted the group noun "Women" in replacement for "Ladies", it makes sense to move to "Women's room" but I've just never seen it before. This new workplace is very progressive!
What are the washroom/bathroom/toiletrooms (a whole 'nother can of worms) where you are called?
Friday, August 27, 2010
The Commute (part 1 of many)
So after 4 days of commuting, I've got a decent idea of what the best route (yes Karen, short of driving myself) will be, and if these times hold up for the winter things could be worse.
So far my morning commutes have been (timed from locking my door to enterring the building):
I think if I were to drive myself... the time would probably somewhere around 25-30 minutes, as long as I left at that time, which probably isn't worth the bother... now if I did have a car and drove, I could then return the favour a drive Rob, but he still might need the car to pick up Clare.
As for the afternoon commute.... I haven't been timing it as thoroughly, but mostly I've been heading out with Rob (which allows us to take the High Occupancy Lane (which actually could save 10 or 15 minutes depending on the time we leave)) and getting dropped on a streetcar route on his was to pick up Clare. I think it was about 45 minutes door to door... that still can be optimized a fair bit, I think... need to figure out if the college car or the dundas car (or even the queen car) will be fastest. It won't be as quick as the morning because I can't avoid using surface routes in the afternoon.
So far my morning commutes have been (timed from locking my door to enterring the building):
- 56 minutes (Subway and Steeles Express)
- 46 minutes (Subway and Rob Express via viaduct)
- 51 minutes (Subway and Steeles Express... this was a dream for wait time)
- 37 minutes (Subway and Rob Express via Pape/O'Connor.. and that includes 8 minutes of waiting for Rob, which I can't exactly optimize away, since I'd rather be 5 mintues early than 2 minutes late to not keep Rob waiting)
I think if I were to drive myself... the time would probably somewhere around 25-30 minutes, as long as I left at that time, which probably isn't worth the bother... now if I did have a car and drove, I could then return the favour a drive Rob, but he still might need the car to pick up Clare.
As for the afternoon commute.... I haven't been timing it as thoroughly, but mostly I've been heading out with Rob (which allows us to take the High Occupancy Lane (which actually could save 10 or 15 minutes depending on the time we leave)) and getting dropped on a streetcar route on his was to pick up Clare. I think it was about 45 minutes door to door... that still can be optimized a fair bit, I think... need to figure out if the college car or the dundas car (or even the queen car) will be fastest. It won't be as quick as the morning because I can't avoid using surface routes in the afternoon.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
I'm back!
After a long hiatus, I might start this up again. Here are some of the things I might be writing about:
- Susanna and I are just back from a long trip to Europe, so I'll have a bunch of photos to link from here once I get them all off the camera which Karen most generously loaned to me for the trip.
- My office has officially moved to almost-Markham (south side of Steeles, east of the 404), so I'm still trying to figure out my commute. Suggestions are welcome!
- Some of my usual rants on obviously unimportant things.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Anameim Results
As many of my readers may know already, I've now returned from my trip to California which was partly pleasure and partly barbershop (just kidding... that's pleasure too).
My Quartet, "Chameleon" finished a respectable 37th place scoring our highest overall score ever (and best overall position). If the individual category scores are to be believed, we are pretty good musicians, mediocre singers and piss-poor presenters (I exaggerate at both ends!). I'm also pretty lucky to join a small group of singers who have sung in the international quartet contest on two parts now (bari last year, lead this year), and I believe that I have the current longest running international competitor streak, at 12 years(which includes 10 years as a chorus competitor, one year where I was just a college competitor, and last year where I was just a "regular" quartet competitor)... woohoo!
The chorus (TNL) after a year off returned to the international stage and placed a respectable 5th place (the competition is getting much more difficult).
On the whole, the international convention was good fun. I'll post links to some of my California pictures when I find the time to sift through them (which should be soon, as I'll be a lonely bachelor for a three weeks after Susanna leaves for Taiwan tomorrow night).
My Quartet, "Chameleon" finished a respectable 37th place scoring our highest overall score ever (and best overall position). If the individual category scores are to be believed, we are pretty good musicians, mediocre singers and piss-poor presenters (I exaggerate at both ends!). I'm also pretty lucky to join a small group of singers who have sung in the international quartet contest on two parts now (bari last year, lead this year), and I believe that I have the current longest running international competitor streak, at 12 years(which includes 10 years as a chorus competitor, one year where I was just a college competitor, and last year where I was just a "regular" quartet competitor)... woohoo!
The chorus (TNL) after a year off returned to the international stage and placed a respectable 5th place (the competition is getting much more difficult).
On the whole, the international convention was good fun. I'll post links to some of my California pictures when I find the time to sift through them (which should be soon, as I'll be a lonely bachelor for a three weeks after Susanna leaves for Taiwan tomorrow night).
Monday, July 13, 2009
Seen in California
On a sign in a window in a desert zoo: "Cold Beer, Ice cream".
On another sign in the same window "Closed for summer"
On another sign in the same window "Closed for summer"
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