Happy Ho Ho

Happy Holiday Season to all! I work in an environment where we don't celebrate Christmas so I'm careful what I say. Anyway we had a great holiday at our house with everyone getting some great stuff. The kids were totally into it. I didn't think Emma was going to really be that excited but she figured it out pretty quick. We are well into the turkey celebration with tonight being the turkey burger festival and tomorrow night marking the turkey soup finale.

I've been planning the New Years feast and hardly wait to come up with it all.

But I find myself constantly checking CNN and following what has happened half a World away. Can you imagine being on a dream vacation laying on the beach and look up to see that coming? How about if you had family there or if you lived there?

I'm certainly not going to bitch about the snow. NS power on the other hand currently the has the value of flea shit I don't know how long people will put up with their half assed service. I'm sure the front line folks are doing all that they can but too many pennies have been pinched.

That's all for now. Remember your resolutions and keep them...

What's in store for 05?

I feel like this week is gonna take forever to get thru. I'm still like a little kid when it comes to Christmas. Feeling good this year as I have no idea what Jen's getting me or anyone else for that matter. Snooping around ruins surprises, remember that kids.

Before you know it's going to be 2005. Resolutions ready? I've been thinking about some. This blog is one thing I wanted to do to keep track of what's going on. I also need like everyone else to drop a few lbs. Get in better shape too and get my whole family active. While I travel around for work I look for different things to see and do. But you know, I haven't seen it all here yet either.

People come from everywhere to check out NS and I've missed a lot. Hikes on Cape Split, the Cabot Trail, Louisbourg, Whale watching and the Stan Rogers Festival have all escaped me so far. Lots of "like to do's" I may damn well have to get a tent. Jen will laugh her ass off when she reads that. I've never really been one for sleeping on the ground.

I have a long list of projects on the bulletin board of things that need to get done around the house. The never ending honeydo list. Organization of one's life, time to get that done but it's hard if you've been 3500 miles away for the week. Little steps.

Most importantly more quality time with family and friends. Renew and preserve friendships. Like Willie said "Gee ain't it funny how time slips away...".

Take a few minutes and think of what was good for you in 04. For me? Family, new beginnings, smeltfest, Cuba with Jen & the Cubans, Liam catching fish, Emma becoming Emma, pool time, the deckstravaganza, little vacation time in the woods, the beach, Fourchu, Pictou, Guysborough, the odd round of golf, cars going around in circles, 4 wheeling, laughing myself silly,rock n roll, the World Champion Boston Red Sox, NASCAR, trying new things, life in Canada, life on the road in America and life in the Air. I won't even mention what I think about airports.

Make a note before you forget for soon it will be 2006.

Better Prepared This Year

A week to go till HO HO and I think I'm done shopping a little stocking action and that's it and the run to the LC of course. A dusting of white stuff would be nice but not too much. Looks like I'm home till the 4th. That seems like a long stretch to be home when you're used to living out of a suitcase. I know the diet and exercise will be starting up in the new year. No need of a fat man past Christmas. Still can't believe I suffered thru 3 hrs of the Apprentice last night. Dear God I miss decent TV. Only 65 days till the Daytona 500. The mother of all parties.

The Mac's 

The best $5 ever ???

A good rule of thumb while travelling in the US. When you have meetings to attend try and stay nearby. Today I had to get to the South of Atlanta for my meeting problem being I was staying in the North about 60 miles away and it was "rush"hour nobody was rushing. Anyway meeting went okay. Time for some lunch in Mcdonough, GA at a place called OB's. No secret I love to eat but damn this was some good Bar-B-Q. I had pulled pork shoulder, hush puppies, baked beans, brunswick stew and I was in heaven. All that for $6.75, back to the best $5 ever line. That same exit was the exit for the Atlanta Motor Speedway so being that close I had to take a peek. Did you know that for $5 they'll tour you around the track? Yep and it was the first time I've been on a NSACAR track 24 degree banking is steep in a van, can't imagine what Bristol would be like anyway I was in the pits, victory lane, and the Chevy luxury box. $5 well spent indeed! Back to traffic people drive crazier in Atlanta than I've experienced anywhere yet. Crossed the Chattahoochee river on the way back to the Hotel. Definitely something different about the south. Back home tomorrow...

Life is a Highway

Cheesy song reference I know but today I had some miles to log after a meeting in Winston-Salem I had to roll to Atlanta. What's between A and B? Only the NASCAR's premier race shops. Lunch was spent in Welcome,NC home of Richard Childress Racing. Great museum and you've got access to the new shop. I had to fly not much time to spare next stop DEI. The garage-mahal is quite a spot kinda sticks out like a sore thumb in the middle of nowhere. Mid afternoon still flying gotta get to Charlotte with one stop, Hendrick Motorsports home of Jeff Gordon. It was cool but I guess you just can't beat what they had a RCR but then again RCR cost $10 while the others were free. Okay gotta make up time gotta get to Atlanta. Why are there so many strip clubs on the Interstate? Not even like this in Quebec. Wait what's this place coming up Buford, GA. Oh man that's another story for another time. Until Atlanta...

Tragically Carolinian

Another night, another hotel in a strange far off place.
Yesterday was a mixed bag.
Low point was visiting my Uncle in the hospital the day after we found out he's got the big C in a not so good place. Makes you think about things said and left unsaid. Gotta work on that.
On a brighter note the evening brought The Tragically Hip for some well earned rock n roll and a gathering of great friends. Wisdom was not with us when we closed the Lower Deck , nor was it with us when we got donairs. It was with me however on Friday when I found another flight for today other than 6:25 AM, that brings me to Winston Salem, NC via Greensboro via a three hour delay in Newark.
That's right I'm in the heart of NASCAR country. I've got to drive tomorrow to Atlanta and low and behold there are a couple of race shops on the way so I guess I'll work thru lunch LOL. Thought life was grand when I booked a 2005 Mustang for the trip, due to the delay it wound up a Sebring convertible lots of fun in December.
For now there's more reflection on things mentioned earlier.
Night Night

Welcome to the Return of the Mac

Hey There,

Back in the early 90s when I was in Computer Geek school I came home one weekend and told my folks that I wanted to become an Internet provider. They looked at me like I had three heads. Soon after that I created my first web page, one thing leads to another. Turns out I'm not a geek after all and I don't keep things up to date. Moral of the story? I've lost contact with a lot of friends and as I'm only in Canada every other week because of my job I wanted a way to keep in touch with more folks who might wonder "Where's Rob, where's he been and where's he going?"

With that, welcome to my little space on the Net.

Cheers,
Rob