No teary-eyed goodbyes, please. I’m sure you’ll all miss me in the week that I’m away, but hopefully I’ll get the chance to post of my adventures from the freezing cold internet cafes of Calgary. It’ll be just like I never left.

I’ve decided on the controversial step to not take a laptop. This means that my two items of cabbin baggage should be enough to pack all the things I want to take. So that’s good.

Did I mention that I spent close to $1000 on clothes yesterday? I got this swish new leather jacket, a new pair of shoes, a belt, a pair of trousers and two shirts. I look very dapper, I can assure you. I can’t wait until it’s winter here, and I can saunter about looking so very sophisticated.

Hi Chuckateers. I’m quite tired this morning, with a busy day to go. I got the Purchase Order through, which is very exciting too.

So today I have to pick up the CD recorded on Tuesday night, pay for the Canada trip ($4243.96 is the answer to yesterday’s quiz), buy a warm jumper (if I can find one in the 30+ degree heat we’re suffering through here), a new belt, new shoes and change some money to Canadian dollars.

I’ve just received word from the customer that a suit isn’t required, so my new goal is to not check any luggage and only take hand luggage. It’ll be a challenge, but I think I’m up to it.

My sale and trip to Canada are confirmed, so yeah.

Here are my details:
31-Jan Brisbane - Los Angeles on QF 25 DEP 1205 arrive 1030
31-Jan Los Angeles - Vancouver on QF 3777 Dep 1259 arrive 1553
31-Jan Vancouver - Calgary on QF 6228 Dep 1900 arrive 2122

Staying for 6 nights at the Fairmont Allister Hotel, 133 9th Avenue.
It looks like a pretty swank hotel.

Then head home:
06-Feb Calgary - Vancouver dep 1400 arrive 1430
06-Feb Vancouver - Los Angeles dep 1630 arrive 1924
06-Feb Los Angeles - Sydney QF12 dep 2230 arrive 8 Feb 0800
08-Feb Sydney - Brisbane dep 1005 arr 1030

So, let’s make a game out of this. Guess how much it cost in comments or by reply email. GO!

As Keanu Reeves has often said, “Whoa.” The ‘Straya Day party was fun, and althoguh its now the end of the long weekend, the benifits extend to this week, with this week being a short one. But as it turns out, it’s also going to be a long one. A VERY long one. Let me explain:

Those at the ‘Straya Day party would’ve heard my news about being 85% likely to go to Canada next week. This is now up to 95% with the company saying that they’ve decided they would like to buy the product, and could I please send an invoice along with a quote for me to visit. So that means I’ll probably be leaving on Saturday for about 10 days including flying time.

Saturday was Blacky’s birthday, so we went to Sushi Station for lunch. I love sushi, and it is a resolution of mine to become an expert at eating using chopsticks. I’ve even asked Bek for lessons. She was pretty blase` about the whole experiment, but I don’t think she understood the level which I was planning to achieve with chopsticking.

Saturday night there was a huge storm which caused a blackout, and we missed the final 10 overs of the cricket. Not happy about that Jan. I decided to drive to M&D’s where I could sleep with a fan on, but had to overcome the obstacle of a locked garage without power. It was actually a lot of work to open. Took me about 10 minutes.

Sunday I woke up and had a shitload of stuff to do. Leyton had called asking if I had a barbeque (an important aspect of any barbeque-related function) so I had to find one and relocate it to my car. While searching, I also located a canopy which I threw in as well. Got some octopus straps, rope and tiedowns for emergencies, and a cricket bat and AFL ball for games and added them to the mix. Washing baskets and rubbish bags for make-shift eskies. I stopped in at my place for a shower, and bought 8 bags of ice, a six-pack of beer and water. Finally, I was ready to go.

The day was a good one. Apart from the usual suspects, Chris and Celia, Bryce and Callun, and Dave and Julie came along. Leyton had some friends along (it was his party after all) and so did Brek. We had a pool that comfortably fitted 4 adults with two more dangling their feet, over which the canopy had been erected to provide shade. The barbeque had been setup. I’d jury-rigged my car to play the radio loudly without activating any exterior lights, in the hope of saving battery life. It didn’t work, my battery went flat, and at the end of the day I had to call RACQ. But for the duration of the bbq, it was brilliant.

Speaking of the RACQ guy, he arrived about 2 minutes before another storm completely pissed down. Furious rain, and I had to drive about in it for 1/2 hour to recharge my battery. Apparently my alternator isn’t charging properly, and I need to see an auto-electrician about that soon-ish. Everyone (almost) had come back to my place for sausage rolls, watermelon, playstation and Ricochet Robot. When they left at about 7:30pm, I fell into bed, exhausted.

Monday was a good lazy day. I slept in and then made Blacky breakfast before realising that he was out playing golf already. (He ate it when he came home for those wondering.) Bek needed to stop by to pick up her mobile phone, and Leyton stopped over later to pick up his wallet. Dave and Julie forget their thermos, which is sitting on my breakfast bar. Forgetful group huh?

Edward and Bryce came over at three to play Puerto Rico with me and Blacky. I made a late charge, but Blacky had already won. Was a fun game, can’t wait to get my own copy. It should be about 2-3 weeks longer.

Watched the cricket to the end, against my better judgement. Good game, shame the Zimbabwe top order can’t bat. Oh briefly, I wanted to mention this: my player of the series? VVS Laxman. Brilliant performance in nearly all games this series. Worst player of the series? Martin. Dude’s crap, kick him out already. Kattich would be a good replacement, because he’s a Queenslander. There, glad to have that out of my system. You may go back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Holla. Things are going well. Went shopping last night and bought some groceries, which is always super exciting. Expensive though - I blame Blacky’s love of all things frozen. Picked up some snags for the Australia day bbq too, so that’s covered. I wonder how Bek’s getting there … Bek? Pick us up on the way through eh? Eh? Eh?

Soccer was another dud event last night … I think Tim went in to get a schedule so that we could actually play some time, but I’m not sure. /sigh

Mum and dad got off to NZ safely yesterday, so that’s good. I hope they’re having a blast.

D’argghhhh … I did it again. Went waaay over my bandwidth limit and it’s going to cost me. Yech.

On the bright side, had a productive day at work yesterday and today and things are going quite well. Tonight might be soccer I guess … haven’t been told anything though.

Can you believe that it’s a long weekend in like, a day and a half? How good is that?

It’s true what they say: nobody makes soup in a cup like Continental Cup-a-Soup. I’ve transofrmed into a soup junkie of late, and the current blend that’s riding the tidal wave of my affection is the Asian range. They’re all good - Thai Red Curry, Laksa, Seafood Laksa and Creamy Thai Chicken Curry are the ones that I’ve tried now, but I intend to treat them like pokemon, and catch them all.

Doctor’s appointment yesterday afternoon and family night last night. I’ll be staying at M&D’s tonight as well, because I have to drive them to the airport tomorrow - they’re off to New Zealand like the jetabouts they are. If only they’d discover Bali and retire there … I’d have the perfect excuse to spend all of my holidays there. Haha, like that would have any impact on where I spend my holidays.

Speaking of holidays, I’ve got my week-or-so off in the USA planning going on right now … I’m delighted to learn that Mar 6 features an Ice Hockey game, and Mar 7 features Baseball and/or Basketball in LA. That’s the first couple of days planned - I love spectator sports. Godfrey’s still toying (in the back of his mind) of coming too, which would be awesome, but not likely from what I gather, especially with his other travel commitments later in the year.

Those who visit the website itself, as opposed to those who received the mailings, will have noticed a slight change in the layout and a new logo picture. There’s going to be some playing about with the layout still, though, so don’t get too attached.

This may only work in the States, but it’s cool none the less:

* Enter a phone number & you’ll get a directory listing

* Enter an address & you’ll get a map to the address

* Enter a UPC & you’ll get the items information & where you can buy it

* Enter a tracking number & you’ll get the shipping information

* Enter “define:xxxxx” & you’ll get that word’s definition

* Enter a carrier & flight number & you’ll get the flight’s information

* Enter “Convert # measurement to measurement” and it will convert it.

* Enter a U.S. telephone area code (e.g. 760), and results feature a thumbnail map naming the geographic region at the top of the results page.

* Enter a Vehicle ID number (VIN) (e.g. JM1BJ225431140254) returns a link from carfax.com for a page with more information about the year, make and model of a specific car.

I didn’t get much sleep tonight for some reason. I think that I overexcited my brain by thinking of things that I had to do. Not just things I had to do today either … there’s the constant option of upgrading my car, what modifications I need to make to my apartment, which things I should buy for my apartment … and before you know it, it’s midnight and I’m still awake, really tired, but can’t sleep.

I hate that.

Another weekend over, and back at work. But what a weekend this turned out to be. To start with, Friday was 24, and Brek and Bryce joined Blacky and I for 3 sweet episodes on the big screen. Was great. Leyton is about 7 episodes behind now, though, so we’re starting to fear that he’ll never catch up.

Saturday, Bry and Woo popped around for lunch, and then I went shopping for when John and Dan came around for dinner and Sopranos later that evening. I made Malay Beef Curry with brown rice. Brown rice is the new Jesus as far as I’m concerned. Completely different texture, and better for you. Who can ask for more? Finished up the meal with delicious froghurt. Sopranos was good, but my DVD player is dead I think. We ended up watching them wirelessly from the computer.

Sunday I headed over to M&D’s, confident that a day of watching the cricket in airconditioning with dogs on my belly would await. Bryce isn’t one to skip a cracker of a match like this, so I was supremely confident. Imagine my suprise when he and Woo were entertaining guests and planning to watch Kill Bill instead! I had to lie in the spare bedroom, with the ceiling fan set to “3″ with Chaz and Simba watching the cricket. Bryce joined me after a few overs, before heading back to his guests. I went home after India’s 50 overs batting to watch the second half at home.

Glenn was there, playing Playstation with Mick. Good to see him for what might be the last time this year, what with the baby’s impending arrival and so on. :thefinger:

Oh, Mum and Dad get home today-ish. I must ring them and ask whether they will be home in time for dinner or not.