Fire, Snow, Shoes, Hair
Well, hello there, and welcome!
You may be wondering why my blog regularity has dropped so dramatically recently. I have plenty of things to talk about, but unfortunately little time to discuss.
1. I have shuffled off the Canadian coil. I was terminated (fired!) from the Canadian side of the telecom company that I work for. Fortunately, this is because I was hired on the French side. Hooray! Now I’m officially in France indefinitely (i.e. two and a half more years). Unfortunately, I get a slight pay cut. Fortunately, I get way more vacation than ever before in my life. Unfortunately, I don’t have the right to take it until 2006.
I could play the unfortunately/fortunately game for hours, covering aspects such as losing my right to the severance pay, reimbursement of public transport (a significant expense), extreme complications for my retirement, yearly bonus. In the long run, however, I believe I made the right decision.
2. It snowed here. Thursday, I left my house at 7h20, and returned at 10h10 — the buses stopped running and I was stuck out at the end of the inter-urban train. I left my house again at 13h00 and got to work at 16h00. There was an episode where I finally got a bus, but they decided to change the route so that it didn’t pass anywhere near my work.
All this for about 15cm of snow. Given the histrionic hissy fits the French drivers were having, you’d think I was in Vancouver.
3. I left the house this morning, and when I was in the elevator, I started panicking because I might have left the kettle plugged in and turned on. It has an automatic shut-off, unless the lid is slightly ajar, which it might be. I frequently have these obsessive moments, and if I give into them, I’ll end up going back to my apartment an infinite number of times before leaving. This is why I have a thorough checklist before going on vacation.
But this time, something was really bothering me, so I had to use my extraordinary powers of apathy to suppress the urge to go check on my apartment.
When I got to the street, I realized I was wearing two different shoes.
4. I got a haircut. It’s highly illogical.
Before
After
GKarlsen
Holy Smokes!!!
You know, I still haven’t seen Fire, Ice and Dynamite. I heard it was monumentally bad, so I’m curious.
Isn’t this the same hair style that you used to have? I liked the long haired look.
The short hair, although nice, suggests Canadian. The longer look is more in keeping with your new nationality. But then, a fresh start is always good.
Being born and raised in Vancouver I recall a time when snow used to accumulate on the ground at least a few times a year. So, I learned to drive in it.
Now snow falls maybe once a year, consequently people don’t get practice at it and I keep my ass at home until it melts.
I too liked your euro rock haircut. You looked very different… I might not have recognised you in the street!
I hear what you’re saying, but I have to admit that I’m pretty happy with the new cut.
I don’t feel comfortable with longer hair — my hair is frankly too straight, stiff and fine. I really like the way long hair looks on other people, and it’s a real regret that I end up not liking it very much on me.
While it’s pretty much the same haircut, the sides and back are longer than before. Not that funky, but not entirely without funk either.
And for all the ‘other’ drivers born and raised in Vancouver — one of the best things about not knowing how to drive in snow and ice is living where it’s generally unnecessary.