Tough Lesson Today

Thanks to BTP for suggesting this assignment.

Sadly, I did receive an assignment and not a reminder.

My assignment: Tell three people today what I admire about them.. This is something I should be reminded to do... but it wound up being an assignment.

BTP and I came upon eachother on msn last night... we chatted a bit about her jewelry making and such..
As we were chatting I offhandedly make a crack about doing nothing. BTP replied: "I'm just here waiting." (or something like
that).

Huma: "Waiting for what?"
BTP: "Waiting for the world to be a better place."
Huma: Well, how can I help with that?
BTP: "What?"
Huma:"Challenge me. Something tangible. That I can do without quitting my job or moving away."
a couple minutes of idle chit chat about ultimate and candles and jewelry ensue (candles and jewelry... I need to eat some red meat fast)
BTP: "OK - tomorrow, tell 3 people what you admire about them."
Huma: "I suppoose you want it to be someon I wouldn't normally say that to... that'ss the point of the exercise, right?"
BTP: "Precisely.. you'll improve their day, because people do need to hear that more often."
Huma: "Shit.. that'll be tough at work."
this whole "quote" thing (picture me making the two finger international sign for quotations) here is quite paraphrased... but I do have the spirit of the conversation right on

Now here's how my day went:

got to work - decided than on a day I'm reviewing a contract with my new employer, I shouldn't do the rounds here. Althoug I've been around these folks for over a year I haven't much in common with any of them and don't really know them.

emailed a former coworker / lady in my building during my lunch - she and I talk nearly everyday... she's a nice person in a different place in life (hubby, 2.4 kids, place in the burbs, etc), but I find chatting with her nice.. kind of a gateway to a different life and perspective.

emailed one of the girls on my team from home - now, I do admire / respect guts. While she is demanding of herself and others (should those others claim to be capable, or "talking the talk"), she is sincere in her appreciation of the efforts of others. She can turn the tough off and on.

Phoned Martina in Vancouver this evening. I couldn't get her either at home or on her cell, so I left her a voice message telling her why I admire her - I admire her passion and sincere love for what she does (tennis) and how she genuinely enjoys teaching others (her students) learn and improve.

The Tough Lesson:

Why is this so tough to do?
Because the moment you express an honest appreciation for a peron, you're actually making yourself feel vulnerable.
What would I expect from these people? I did msn chat with Guts afterwards and she was appreciative. "You think I'm nice? Thanks." is likely the most interesting response I'll probably get.
Part of the hesitation is having my "display" (can't think of anyt better word) rejected or laughed off. This is probaly why I chose the people I did. I trust each of them to not just shrug it off.
The other part of today's lesson - Looking around, thinking of people I know made me realise.. I don't really 'admire' many of the people I know. I respect and appreciate different things in people, but admire? does this make me something of a jackass?

I have always refused to 'aspire to be' like someone else. "I will not try being like Wayne Gretzky, though his backhand is worth watching so I can get a better backhand" is a way I've always wanted to learn.
"I'm no more or less capable of achieving what you have, so I won't look up to you." Is another phrase that comes to mind.
Growing up, this way of thinking helped me out while living what I found to be a difficult home life. But as an adult (which I never care to call myself :), zhould I be changing my approach to people?
YES.
I found today that I think I jump having a negative of people without getting to know them. I'm rather condescending in my thoughts of people... and I'm not happy about this.

Anyway - had a quick MSN with BTP (yes - spent most of my evening on near my msn messenger... sigh), who's given me another assignment for tomorrow: "Don't be so hard on myself."

I wish I got a far easier assignment.
I wish this was a reminder, and not an assignment.

Am I Theme Song Worthy?

Had company over the other night and some of us were discussing the better blog topics we’ve seen.

One of my favourites was by Rawbean last summer, when I just started my blog.

Now, the mention of cool blog topics and the fact I have found another Huma (‘Music Huma’ as I like to call them) got me thinking:
“What would people pick as a ‘theme song for my blog?”
So I ask that you folks give the HUMA songs a listen and let me know if you think any of them suit me or my blog. Why would said song suit my blog or I? Should I have a different song than my blog (yes, you’d have to know me personally to answer this, but odds are you do…)?

Anyway – have a listen here or here you can listen to other stuff if you like as well – and even suggest it.

I did receive an email from Huma - the band where he even made the suggestion of composing a tune... This is an honour I cannot pass up.... so maybe you'd like to post a comment to provide the band insight into the the blog or the the blogger. Perhaps this will inspire great things from Huma-the band. (who knows?)

NOTE: Don’t think I’ll embed this music on this blog – do you really think I have those skills? Sorry, but not embedding audio media here (I don't if blogspot even supports that).

I've been tagged

Well Well Well...

Those chain emails where you answer 10 questions and forward them all to your friends to help a child in Peru get the medical treatment he needs to survive cancer and then work in a pet rescue shelter have evolved to the world of blogging.

Well cool by me.. cuz if you're actually coming to my site - you're looking to waste some time and I'm not polluting you ibox with my answers :).

4 Jobs I've Had
1. Stall mucker (shovelling horse poop)
2. Midnight Shift Banquet Porter (cleaning up after weddings and parties on Saturday nights)
3. Sandwich Artist (but I had to give the shirt back when I quit... sigh)
4. Tree Nursery / landscaping
I intentionally listed jobs from earlier in life because when you write them down they seem to reflect something about me, and they seem more interesting than what I do now

4 Movies I can watch over and over
1. Willow
2. Zulu (w/ Michael Cain)
3. Princess Bride ("Rodents of unusual size? I don't believe they exist.")
4. Robotech series on DVD (if DVD box sets don't count then I'll say The Newton Boys)

4 Places I've Lived
1. Winnipeg, Manitoba
2. Beausejour, Manitoba
3. that's about it
4. not too exciting, eh?

4 Places I've Vacationed
1. Vancouver, BC
2. Montreal, PQ
3. Calgary, AB
4. St Petersburg, FLA (though may not count, as I was visited the snowbird grandparents while I was in high school)

4 Of My Favorite Dishes
1. MY whole wheat, lead in your gut, oatbran, flax seed, oat bran .... you can only eat 1 at a sitting PANCAKES
2. Agedashi Tofu (from Asahi)
3. MY Reuben (no 1000 island dressing here... "get outta here with that"!)
4. Szechuan Beef from Grand Garden Dim Sum

4 Non-Blogger Sites I visit daily
1. UltiVillage.com - Clip of the day
2. Wimp.com (careful what you click on)
3. cbc.ca
4. BBC World News (not everyday, but a few times a week)

4 Places I'd Like to Visit
1. Santiago, Chile
2. Madagascar (cuz I'm pretty certain tehre are rain forests there, and gotta prove Milo wrong)
3. Belarus (or any of the former Soviet Baltic states)
4. Mongolia (just to visit a place that's hopefully untouched by Coke, IBM, Protctor and Gamble, etc)

4 People I'm Tagging for this Meme (What's a Meme?...and the people I tag, if it's not your thing, no worries...)
1. Blondie
2. Druski
3. Boney M(she hasn't posted to a blog yet... but I think she might now)
4. Rodrigo (cuz I haven't worked a shift with him in a while, and wonder if he's alive?)

Spooky Stuff

Check out the last few paragraphs of this article.

US forces should be able to "disrupt or destroy the full spectrum of globally emerging communications systems, sensors, and weapons systems dependent on the electromagnetic spectrum".

If you're too lazy to read the article, this is from a document obtained in the US via the Rreedom of Info Act. A document regarding US obejective in electronic warfare.
So we have a Superpower looking to have the ability to shut down all "globaly emerging communications systems". Sorry, but I'm not that comfortable thinking that a government wants the ability to shut down anything that may be considered a threat to their security. From the nation that brought the world the Monroe doctrine, Iran-contra, the Taliban, Pinnochet, Noriega all in the past 40 years; how much faith should we have they won't abuse this new tatic?

Anyway, just wanted to spread a touch of fear throughout the blogging world. sorry about that...but this is kinda crappy... a little Orwellian if you ask me.

Sals on the bridge

A friend and I visited the Sals on the Provencher bridge (aka Esplanade Riel) today for lunch.

To me, Salisbury House has always been a place to order reasonable greasy food, enjoy yourself as you study, or drown your hangover and people watch. I've heard how this Sal's is nicer; nicer decor, table service, etc.

So we made the trek... a pleasant except for the wind. We got there and waited, let's say 10 - 15 minutes to be seated. The restaurant was busy, but really... shoudn't they have more than 3 staff on the floor for a restaurant nearly 3/4 full? I'm not one to complain about these types of thinjgs, BUT, we both only have the hour for lunch.....

Anyway... we sit down, and get our menus; normal Salisbury fare. There are all day breakfasts, nips, sandwiches, etc. I had the THREE CHEESE BURGER while Boney M (name changed to respect privacy had the normal cheeseburger... and they were typical, standard , lacklustre burgers.. kinda what I like at Sals.

My overall review / impression. I Will go back. I can't imagine anything better than having a greasy breakfaast, with typical easy going, relaxed service Sals style; the morning of a hangover, while looking out on the river, but in too much pain to appreciate it.

Folks... unless you have somewhere to be - I SAY GO. River dining Sals style... what's more winnipeg than that? It's like the North end Esatern European is treading on the turf of the Franco-Manitobain.... Truly Canadian.

Whatever happened to Aqua?

You ever sit back and wonder about those 1 hit wonders? Or those bands you secretly enjoyed but would not admit to enjoying?

What about a group like AH-HA? Anyone curious to know about Kriss-Kross... yeah - the kids with the pants on backwards. Playing high school basketball in rural Manitoba we'd have our pre-game warm up compilation would go something like:

Jump Jump - Kriss Kross

Jump Jump - Cypress Hill (maybe that's not the name of the tune, but it's all they ever said)

Kickstart My Heart - Motley Crue (hey, RURAL Manitoba)

Welcome to the Jungle - Guns n' Roses (booo yahhhh) this would REALLY intimidate the other teams as they walked in to this BLARING and the throngs of fans screaming (note: in small town MB, a 'throng' is defined as anything more than half of the participants on the court, filed or rink).

Do you think Kriss Kross may make a comeback? - they'd be what 25 yrs old? Pants on backwards...hats on sideways... I know I'd wear THAT to the office so I could show my allegiance with the KK. I'd likely have to start calling everyone a 'punk' or something OR BETTER YET I'd call people the REVERSE of an insult... (get it? pants on backwards.... compliments that are insults?)

How about the Spice Girls? I found Wannabe in my MP3 collection (not sure how it got there). What if they made a comeback?

Could you imagine this line up at the greatest music festival of ALL TIME:

Kriss Kross

Aqua

Spice Girls

Boney M

your pick here

Who would you add?
Who sang the song 'Boom Boom Boom (let's go back to my room)'?
Maybe this post can bring Sunfest back!

Self Googling

I googled myself, curious to what I'd find of interest and here we are:

One indie band cutting their first album - I emailed them to get the skinny on their rendition of the name Huma..... we'll see if they reply.

A religious web site dedicated to Islam - cool

Aparrently I'm a legend! :)

A shopping mall in Austria? - can anyone figure out what language this is?

some artist in Germany? - anyone else have a better guess?

Anywho - I thought finding the band was neat. Check them out, they have free MP3 downloads...

Should a man accessorize?

Had lunch with Gazoo today... and he had a 'BURNING QUESTION'.

First off, Gazoo and I get along pretty well. He's all in to the "I want to live a good life in the burbs... big BBQ, nice car, deck, GQ / IKEA lifestyle."

While I on the other hand am more of the, "Why have nice things? You worry about them breaking? why live in the burbs if you spend your time commuting? Why waste time dressing up when I'm too obnoxious for women to spend time with me even if they might consider me attractive?"

Gazoo -> Nice shoes
Huma -> comfy runners / hiking shoes....

ANWAY!!!

We're at lunch and Mr. 'Irons his shirts' tells me about how he and his girlfriend (lets call her.......'The touch' not becuz she's a massage therapist, but because she's on eof the few people that can make me actually shut up now and then:)...... sidetracked.

K - Gazoo and Touch are shopping for scarves at Danier (that's right, a couple who's night out is freaking SCARF SHOPPING) and as they're each trying on scarves, the female clerk comments:
"Oh! A man wearing a scarf, that's different."

This apparently is distressing Gazoo. He asks me if there's anything 'odd' about a guy wearing a scarf.
Huma: "No. If you need to keep warm, you keep warm." what wisdom, eh?
Now Gazoo mentions that he is perhaps more particular about the scarf he's looking for. It needs to go with his new black jacket.
Huma: "You mean your scarf is part of an 'outfit'? Like you're 'accessorizing'?" then I bite in to my cheeseburger (which sucked) as he's got a 'chicken wrap' in fron t of him
Gazoo: "Uhhh yeah.. it is accessorizing. Is that bad? Do YOU have an opinion about that?"
Huma: "Opinion, not really. But I suppose you taking the time to find the 'right' scarf to go with your jacket is likely why the clerk thought it odd. Half this city either is, or is related to a farmer or rail worker; I doubt the clerks at Danier see many guys taking the time to find the right cough cough accessory to go with their jacket."
Gazoo: What wrong with accessorizing? Jewelerry is an accessory. You think it's weird you wear....he notices I have on a watch, no other jewellery jewellery.
Huma:"I wouldn't 'accessorize' ever. Jewellery is either a symbol (i.e. wedding ring) or something sentimental.... but most guys don't wear stuff to be 'pretty'"

ANYWHO FOLKS?
AM I WRONG?

My cards were read...

K - Well... My original introduction to card reading....

This past September my amazing friend bought me a birthday present ticket to Green Day in Vancouver. Yes, I turned 29, she's uhhhhh... I forget (she's either going to roll her eyes at me being 'stupid' or going to get angry and the whole 'How could you?!' including a slight jump / slump she does so well)..... where the $#!%$# was I ... green day, Vancouver , fabulous frien... go it!!!!!

In spite of being next to a pile of 14 - 17 year olds, the concert was great and it's ALL because she's the BEST FRIEND IN THE WORLD! (hehehe, now she CAN'T be angry... cuz anyone else reading this will think her mean for being all eye rolling with me :)

I call this amazing friend Martina because she an AWESOME tennise player and MArtina is the best lady tennis player in the world

Now your next question is: "So you played cards with Green Day? Get to the point!"
My answer: "Don't RUSH ME!!!!!"

Cards (and a confession):
Green Day has NOTHING to do with these cards.

One of Martina's Vancouver friends (all of whom are really great people) NOTE: Not kissing butt this time, Martina wastes no time with losers ... does card reading (like fortunes).... K - well, so far as I could tell, she dealt cards into a funky pile and madeup stuff about them possibly as an excuse to ask me a bunch of personal questions.... If I recall correctly it went like:
Poker Face (the name I give her, after realising she seems to smile and laugh at everything... including a comedian pulling a torn ace of spades from him butt?????): I see the Queen of diamonds... do you have a girl back home?
Huma: uhhhhh.. no.
Poker Face: Well the 5 of clubs indicates wealth and it's touching a Jack of *whatever* (remember, I think she made this all up) which means a rich guy named Jack is going to steal your money....

And so on...... What did I get from it? In my words:

There's a woman you're going to buy something for: TRUE - I'll ply a woman with as much liquor as neccessary for her to tolerate my garbage :)

there's money in your life: TRUE - I work in Financial services.. it's everyone elses $$$$

a bunch of others I've forgotten since September

NOW - to be fair, what she read / interepreted did make me think about self fulfilling prophecies.

Soooooooo.........

A couple months go by.... and Martina is visiting Winnipeg for the holidays.
I visit her folks place, and her mom and auntie offer to read my cards.... everyone else scatters as I sit.... they all crawl back to the table the way zebra return to the watering hole once they feel the pride of tigers is satisfied with their recent prize.
Auntie begins dealing the cards in thesmae pile / fashion as did Poker Face, but pauses part way through, looks at Mommy Martina, who consults a dog-eared page of a library book title something like "How to read the cards of some guy you have cornered in your kitchen."

Well anyway, after much consultation of the book and the cards, they read to me what seemed like every conceivable combination of what this pile of cards should mean.
MY FAVOURITE PART OF THE READING:
auntie This card (imagine voice muffled because her face is inches from the book) is about money... and it's touching this card, which means...
Mommy Martina I thinnk it means lots. He'll have lots of $$$$
Auntie Really? I looks here like he'll have very little.
an akward silence as Mommy and Auntie look at eachother.. I can read their thoughts....
Auntie I have no idea what this means - I thought it meant loss
MommyI'm stumped too.... I thought it meant 'lots'. We need to tell him something otherwise he'll know we're amateurs
They look at me at the same time:
Mommy and Auntie: This means you will have either very much $$$ or very little $$$$.

****************************************

Well - it so happens I had my NEW DIGITAL CAMERA (oooohhhhh) with me, and figured I should get a second opinion.

Poker Face, please have a look here and let me know what my fortune/future beholds.


Poker face... PLEASE HELP! Should I store money? throw it away on frivilous things? Lie? Cheat? Steal? Please, I need your second opinion.

Big Brother is concerned

Mostly about the fact many folks are only checking out this blog on Monday's.
Yes, I have a stat counter. I can see how often people return to this site, though I don't know who is returning or precisely how often (I'd have to pay for that).

After me dropping this bombshell, you must be wondering "Why is he looking at a stat counter?".

The answer is simple... Vanity. It's kinda neat seeing how many different folks enjoy coming back to see what's on my mind. It's also a real ego stroke.... "Gee, my thoughts and opinions must be pretty deep, interesting, intriguing, etc."
It's weird though, how having a look at the 'stats' can sometimes cause some 'performance anxiety'....
"There's a bunch of people checking my blog... my next post better be good... they're counting on me!" - Right, like you're riveted at the prospect at looking to see what Huma has in store for you today..."

It's also neat to see what posts genereate interest.

Apparently Gazooisms drew some attention... I'm sure it's mostly folks who feel sorry for the illiterate little guy. (btw - remind me to post of 'metrosexuality' and how it's apparently 'ok').
Another one was My Pain about typical computer support stuff I deal with for a living.
Now, I find these two had a few hits, though no one really left many comments. as for 'My Pain' - I suspect people may have gone to the linked site, and not returned... which is fine... cuz who really cares about the nerd in the computer closet? Right?

Well - I'm about to sort through some of my moving pics and will hopefully have some up later (that'd be a two'fer - OR EVEN A THREE'FER if you count the post from 2:45 AM as today and not last night!)

But anyway... let's get some comments here.

What makes a good post?
Why have the last 3 buses I've ridden smelled of urine?
Why did I order 18 wings last night and then have cake after I got home?
Is it really OK to call yourself a 'metro-sexual' and turn down a liquid lunch because you're spending lunch at "Linen n' Things"?
When will these DUMB questions end?! THIS I can answer.

Where have I been?

Hey folks!
It's been 9 days since I posted? Geez. And I've had some good ideas too, but strange thing is... I've had TOO MUCH free time. Not really sitting at home on the computer.

Anyway, I'm hosting my housewarming in a couple weeks, so hopefully I'll have some furniture for people instead of making them sit on my floor.

I'm loading my camera software now, so I'll have some more pics of my old place vs new place later this weekend.

Went to Smitty's after a game Sunday... Its was pretty good - though unfortunately they had WWE wrestling on.. and even more disappointing.... I sat their staring up at the screen nearly the entire time. That stuff is mind numbing and embarassingly addictive. Granted, the wrestling isn't why I was there, I was there for beer, wings and company (all three of which were great)... and then the owners seemed to say. "Hey! Have you ever tried crack?" and then turned ALL the TV's to wrestling. Anyway. I have to admit, there is amazing athleticism, and of course they've got tons of chicks trapsing around with their breasts pushed up against their chins - so it is a pretty stereotypical guy thing to be drawn in to.

But have you ever wondered why most of these guys, are running around in speedos? I understand the preference for tight or 'fitted' clothing, but what the hell? Even funnier - all these Nascar-esque fans who I'd presume would insist anyone in a speedo should move to a democrat run state, are screaming and can't get enough of it? Weird, sad and pathetically addicting.

Anyway, gonna see if the Bay has any furniture on cheap. Have a good Saturday.

Another reason being a guy is soooo fun

Click on the link (in my title)
Press Play.
You see my reason.

WOOHOO!!

I'm back and my internet connection is up and running.
Still tidying up the new place, taking my time doing it... but you'll see the pics here soon.

Hope NY's treated everyone well.

Check out Blondie's blog and leave an encouraging post. She's a touch nervous about having good enough content.... but hey - look at the blonk I'm spewing (yeah, Blonk - that's right, I made it up... how about that for all you gazoo lovers out there!), she shouldn't worry.