Coupla Things

I had a response from the customer service folks at Eagle Records advising me that the DVD release of Jeff Beck's latest has been delayed from Dec 08 or Jan 09 until April. Me not happy.... but I thanked them for the info anyway. Maybe they should just update their website???

On the sleep front - newsflash!!! Today I slept like a king and didn't get up until after Lynda had arrived home from work... and that NEVER happens. Ah, bliss. Praise the Lord, I was due.

Weather front - a high pressure system has pushed it's way into the area bringing clear skies and much colder temps. We're back down near -20 once again tonight. Unfortunately I was so late getting up I didn't get any photos taken of the snow. Maybe later today.

Beard update - I know everyone is breathlessly awaiting word on the latest developments here. Geez! For the last month I've let it grow on my cheeks to raise the line of it from running along the jaw line. Made it through the itchy stage last week without scratching myself up too badly. I think if I give it an overall trim today it should all be the same length and then I can start subtracting with the razor and figure out where I want it.

Once I was up for the day Lynda and I tuned in to CNN and caught the inauguration parade. Since getting to work I've viewed the actual swearing in ceremony and excerpts from Obama's speech. The satellite shot of the crowds before the White House was incredible - I haven't as yet heard any estimates of crowd size but it must be in excess of 2 million. I'm happy and relieved that everything went off according to plan and without incident. Blessings on Barack Obama and through you, to all your citizens.

Excuse me but I have to go view some WordPress tutorials now and consume a rather large bar of chocolate and almonds.

Update: Obama's Playlist

The final selections were announced Tuesday morning for the 49 songs chosen for the compilation to be sent to Barack Obama by CBC Radio 2 and their listeners. A little inauguration present from north of the 49th parallel. The list can be seen here: http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/obamasplaylist/

You are able to hear sound clips of each song and go on to purchase them from iTunes if you wish to.

A few of them I heard for the first time during the submission and voting period but I'll note a few faves here:
This is probably the most recent release and one that carries quite a message -'Brother (Watching) by Shad, a hip-hop artist.
One of Leonard Cohen's most sardonic and compelling songs - 'Democracy'.
The Oscar Peterson Trio performing - 'Hymn To Freedom'.
#1 personal favourite tied most closely to 'good times' memories of being up north enjoying the cottage - 'Bobcaygeon' by The Tragically Hip.

Apparently CBC received over 100,000 messages in regard to this by way of song submissions and the voting procedure. Nice to see so many engaged in the process. Enjoy Mr. Obama!!

Family Times

It's been a busy weekend spent with Owen and his Mom, Mom's friend Lynn and then at Saturday night's dinner both of Lynda's other 2 sons, plus one of their g'friends. Owen's Dad will be in Australia for another week working on a project. He finally had a day off for sight-seeing Sunday after a solid week of 16 hour days.

Owen and I coloured and drew pictures, counted, read, played with cars, planes and helicopters. Between times I shovelled snow. He decided again to sleep with his Gramma and I, and once again made it through the night. Owen and Milo are best friends except when Owen decides to cuddle up to Freedom. Then Milo and Freedom put on a play wrestling demonstration that is hilarious to hear and see.

It started snowing late Saturday afternoon and didn't let up until tonight. In total we had about 14 inches and it had me leery about attempting the drive to work tonight. The roads were lousy but funnily the worst part was getting off our own street - the drive took double the usual amount of time. Then I got to work and found our plowing contractor hadn't been here to do the job and almost got stuck in the driveway. Oh joy!! I managed to slide the car into a spot and will be moving it if he ever gets here tonight. The plus side of this is that the very cold weather is over for awhile - the milder temps brought the snow. That cold snap was a trans-polar airflow straight out of Siberia, btw, and it felt like it, too.

Back at work here for another week of nights so I've organized myself and reviewed the new admission's files. Very unusual but we have three new guys straight out of jail so there is some posturing going on, lots of street talk and gangsta stuff. (Knock, knock, knock.) 'This isn't jail, so knock it off' is the general message. Good house, growing in numbers finally.

Although I'll be sleeping during the actual ceremony I'm very much looking forward to Obama's inauguration on Tuesday. (Is anyone truly disappointed McCain didn't get in?) I can catch the highlights on the news or CNN when I get up that afternoon. Lots of good wishes to my Obama backing friends south of the border. Cheers to a brand new era in American politics.

Musical Gift

CBC Radio 2 has been soliciting listener suggestions for a compilation of 49 'must-hear' Canadian songs which will then be presented to Barack Obama come Inauguration Day - a nudge to remind him he has neighbours north of the 49th parallel who can make great music. Here's a link to a list of some of the suggested tracks:

http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/obamasplaylist/

There are a great many here that aren't familiar to me. I assume they are classical music, jazz or by French artists / groups. But scanning through it there are plenty of reminders for iPod fodder.

Monday they announce the top 100 and will begin to pare the list down to 49. I'm looking forward to seeing the result. It should be quite a combination of great material.

Obama - rama

Johnny Canuck checking in to say Yahoooo!!! I started watching the election coverage at 9 pm local time and quickly caught the drift once Ohio & New Mexico went blue, woo-hoo!! Add the west coast and it totals out to 270+.... that's all she wrote. By 10 o'clock our national network had declared Obama the winner even as the west coast polls were closing.

McCain said all the sorts of things you could ask for in a concession speech; he really showed the good stuff he is made of. A class act indeed.

When Lynda got in from work I told her we had to watch Obama's speech, that it would be a barn-burner, a once in a life time event. I was envisioning something along the lines of Churchill, JFK or Martin Luther King and I wasn't disappointed. Same as King's "I had a dream" speech I found myself tearing up throughout his delivery. God bless him and best of luck through his term in office.

What's Ahead??

The plan is to try and do the quicky shift switcheroo so I can get my days and nights flipped around to 'real' world hours. I'll have a much abbreviated sleep after I get off work in the morning so I can be back in bed early Sunday evening, back up and semi-functional Monday morning. I intend to report to a couple of temporary employment agencies to see if I can line up any sort of work for the balance of the week. The hope is that I can make a positive impression somewhere and get hired on a full time basis. At the very least I can make some contacts and get a line on who is hiring in the area.

There are a couple more CVs and cover letters to be sent out; a couple of follow up calls to make for others I sent out previously. One guy I know works for a printing firm and had mentioned the possibility of a CSR position opening up - gotta track him down and bend his ear. I used to work in print.

What else? The countdown is on for that Dylan concert here in town next week, the 12th. Woo-Hoo!! I'm glad I splurged for those tickets. Here's hoping he has a good night. Hmmm.... let's listen to some 'Modern Times', shall we? Get online and check some reviews and set lists.....

Lynda will be working her later shift this week so maybe I'll try to take in a couple of extra AA meetings - get out and see some friends.

I'm also looking forward to the American election Tuesday and to see what the result will be. (Plus it will FINALLY!! be over.) It has been a long, exhausting process. All rhetoric aside, in a political sense Obama fills the bill for me. McCain is too much of a hawk for me. And although expectations are that this will be a close race I do hope there is a clear winner.

Enjoy your week - I'll be back around when I'm able.