Sick & Rainy Days.

It was all gloomy and rainy this morning and I had a pounding headache, but I managed to get to work on time. One hour in, I decided that I wasn't going to last, excused myself, went home, and curled up in bed instead.

It was a little difficult to sleep, so I did some reading and just thought about things.

I realized just how much I enjoyed working in the public sector, for governments and such. My current work term, and my last one with the federal government have made me realized how much more rewarding it is to be working for an organization whose priority is the quality of it's product and service, and not it's bottom line. Both my terms have been in the public work's departments, so taking care of the infrastructure that our society and cities rely on... but yet are taken for granted so often.

The jobs are stable, the tasks interesting, and you feel like a part of a community. Working for the federal government made me feel at home with practically everyone. My term here in the Region of Niagara made me feel like this region is my home. You take every person's smile and joy as payment for your hard work. Likewise, you use every person's sadness and anger as motivation for you to work harder.

The public works agencies of cities and nations really strive for one thing, to improve the standard of living for its people. Without a doubt, this is an area that I wouldn't mind finding myself in many years down the road.

But for now, I'm still set on continuing with the family businesses. Next term should be relatively light, so I plan to be in the student shop a lot trying to make something marketable. Hopefully I'll meet some professors doing some interesting research that I can apply to my work. My brother is likely heading back to Waterloo to do his masters, so when he's finished in 3 years time, I should have something established.

It's a good thing that the school has so much resources to help students commercialize products and ideas. I'll have to consult with a few of my friends who've already started their own endeavors, draft a business plan, get loans, get good partners, and go forward with unending devotion and passion.

A lot is riding on this. At least my back ups are in place now, soooo lets do this.

Track: Augustana - Boston

Snagged

It's kind of funny where we find ourselves sometimes. Without suspecting it, I'm snagged on something, but I'm liking it here right now. Life is interesting, exhilarating, and I'm seeing the limits I've imposed on myself breakdown.

My coworker, another co-op student from Brock and I have been running around. We've explored a few hiking trails, talked a lot, and tried a few restaurants. The trails were my favorite. I love being outdoors. She made it pretty obvious that she liked me, but I didn't feel the same in return. So, I made it clear that I wasn't looking for something. She seemed disappointed, but she cheered up after wards and said that we could still be friends. I'm glad that went well.

---

I guess it has been an interesting few weeks. All the girls from my original social group are now happily with someone special, so I don't expect to hear from them too much. It's been pretty nice observing how their relationships are forming. The beginnings are always so cheerful and so full of hope. They better all do well, I trying to put those days of me taking care of broken girls behind me. I've learned. They come, I help them, and then they leave. I won't hear from them until they need help again.

Things have been busy. We've been experimenting with a new polymer at work, so I've been busy pouring over the data. I love what we're doing, it's like real science. :)

I gotta get working hard on the projects from my American internship. I don't think they're really impressed with my progress so far, but I really haven't had much time to devote to it. Gotta get on it, can't give Waterloo a bad name now can I?

On another note, we've got a new Karaoke machine at home, like any good Taiwanese family, you've gotta have a piano and a K machine. At least this one has new songs and has actual KTV songs. Although, to be honest, it is just a linux box, so I probably could've made it myself if I had the time.

Back to singing, and playing with my doggies. Damn I've missed them.

Another One Off the List

If you ask someone what they'd like to be like in the future, where they'd like to find themselves, they'd probably tell you that they want to be successful. I have no doubt that most people have some image of what "success" looks like. But of course it isn't the destination that really matters right? I mean, the trip is usually the longest and most interesting part of any adventure. Arriving is simply the garnishing at the end of an epic journey.

After a conservative childhood that has lasted all the way to... last year, life has been a mad dash to cram as much into every moment possible. It is exhilarating, and eye opening.


I guess, after this weekend and another spontaneous drive to Waterloo, I can finally cross another first off my list. Getting Drunk.

Everything was just right. I unexpectedly found myself surrounded by good friends, who helped me enjoy the night safely. Special thanks to: the girls who kept a lookout for me so that I didn't run off. To the girls that let me pass out on their shoulders and to those that kept giving me water. To the guys who took my car keys, drove me to their place and set me on their couch. I'm glad to hear that I was quite entertaining intoxicated, but yeah... don't expect it to happen again. I didn't think those shots would hit me quite as hard as they did.

Overall, it has been a great weekend. Juliana jumped on me while I was semi-passed out on bed, and was half hugging me and slapping me at the same time. I managed to walk into a door twice, and bent my glasses out of shape. I think I actually told someone I didn't like that I'd try to stop being a jackass to him. Got some practice playing tennis on Sunday, and got to spend more time with a very special girl.

Speaking of which. She's surprising me every time I take her out, and I've been trying to spend time with her as often as I can. On the surface, she seems like an anti-social individual who lacks opinions. But in the right conditions, you can see that she does have something to share. There's much more to her than what appears on that simple and calm demeanor of hers. I wonder what I'll see if I keep digging. If I'll find what I'm looking for.

Track: Kill Paradise - Couplet

Kids

Today was day one of the Region of Niagara's water festival. It is supposed to raise awareness about water conservation, and so we've had schools shuttle students in all day long. It began with me picking up my coworker and classmate Olivia who was going to be my partner. Then a moment fumbling with my GPS, only to learn that the conservation area we were supposed to go to wasn't on it. So, we relied on good old physical maps and made our way down country roads, over old bridges, and winding through vineyards.

Tents, signs, and even breakfast was already set up when we arrived. We checked in, threw on our shirts, and headed to our station. A sizable white tent with tables and seating.

For the next 5 hours I was "mad scientist Dan" and she was "mad scientist Olivia." Together we demonstrated the tests we did on water in the lab, albeit in a much simpler sense, and taught grade three and five students about water quality analysis.

They were so full of energy, so promising, so bright, so enthusiastic. It felt like frosh week again, except with frosh that were hyped up on caffeine.

The highlight of the day was as we were packing up and about to leave. Two little boys came back to our tent to wave goodbye to us, and yelled out "goodbye mad scientist Dave!" to me. The expressions on their faces and flailing waves, were just awesome. I didn't even bother correcting them about my name.

A full week of this, it's like being a camp counselor. This job just gets better and better.

Life here is comfortable. Ottawa was nice, I still love Mississauga... so that leaves one more place to visit before I decide where I'd like to be for the next few years... Vancouver (:

Recall.

A block or so away from my house in St. Catherines is this lake. I pass by it every morning on my way to work, and so I've always been curious about it. Olivia, my classmate and coworker, met up with me during the corporate orientation. We grabbed lunch together, got caught up a bit, and then decided to kill the last thirty minutes of our lunch with a walk on the boardwalk. It was quite a sight. It was sunny, but cool. A light but steady breeze blew over the surface of the lake, and we tried to point out features that we knew and attempted to judge the quality of the water (it sucked). It was a nice reprieve from work.

Halfway through September already.

Do you ever get those random flashes of memory? You know, the fuzzy images of lost hands finding each other, nights spent tangled up with her, holding her as close as possible, leaving flowers and little notes at her doorstep... six months already. I hope she's doing well, wherever she is now. Oh sure, I'm still mad at her, but that doesn't mean I don't still care.

Anyways, for the rest of this week, Olivia and I will be demonstrating to grade three and five students how we do analysis on water samples. We're supposed to act like mad scientists. It's been a while since I've done improve and drama, but this should be interesting.

Going to be in Hamilton with the McMaster Taiwanese Student Association this weekend, so hopefully that'll take my mind off things.

Track: The Secret - I Wish

Just for something familiar.

 

Lately, its been trips back to Mississauga, and excursions to Waterloo and Guelph... all for the sake of potentially finding something familiar. One on one hangouts with friends, photo shoots, random adventures, laughs, and conversations that go on for hours. St. Catherines has been wonderful to me, work is engaging and interesting, and people are amazingly open and friendly. But I don't know this city, I don't know these people. In the end, it is still a little lonely here.

Not that this wasn't expected of course, I enjoyed Ottawa because I already knew people there. So I could explore it with friends, but it is different here.

It's been nice seeing everyone these past few weeks and getting caught up. I doubt I'll be hearing from many people from now on, since it looks like everyone is busy with their relationships. I don't blame any of them, I disappeared during my last relationship too. Best of luck to all of you. :)

Kinda sucks that most of my photo shoot partners are in that group of friends too. Looks like I'm back shooting solo for a while.

Track: Kill Paradise - Beautiful Colors

New Beginnings

I really only set this up to follow everyone who has either:
a) Started blogging and have decided to use Blogger's service
b) Migrated here from one of my other blogging communities

I do not know if I will be using this site to blog, as I am unsure of which niche to fill with this one. I'll figure it out later.

Why hello Blogger community, I'm delighted to meet you all.

Track: A Rocket To The Moon - Baby We're Invincible