Irish Family Trip, Day 11
Last (full) day in Ireland. To zero surprise, I was up before everyone. I thought about where to go for breakfast – we’d had a few other ideas on our mind – when a thought crept across… Premier …
Topic
Bars
67 posts tagged with this topic.
Irish Family Trip, Day 10
One of the problems with renting a car is returning it, especially before you get dinged for another day. The car was of no more use to us – everything from here is on foot. So I got up at 6:30, while my family …
Christmas Blitzkrieg
When I have those moments when I think I’ve gotten too old, and I think I’m starting to feel like my age, I’m thankful for sudden sustained bursts of activity that remind me that, really, I just lead a much duller life …
Thanksgiving in Costa Rica
It was always a foregone conclusion that we’d end up spending various holidays and celebrations doing things differently here. The ubiquitous summer long weekends (every month except June) are one thing, but when it …
Second weekend in Costa Rica
You might be wondering: Gee, Geoff, where are all the posts you had for Costa Rica? Well, it’s not that I don’t want them up, it’s an issue of timing. I can’t really go into that right now, but let’s just say that this …
First weekend in Costa Rica
Last week was a rough one. It’s almost hard to believe we’ve only been here a week now. (A week ago right now, I was in the lobby of our hotel, chatting with Jason and Javier, waiting for our realtors to come and whisk …
I love pubs
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: I love pubs.] Last night, Amy and I decided to check out some of the local pubs near our hotel. Here’s what we noticed. Local pubs have a great atmosphere. Some don’t, …
Mercedes-Benz meetings, team building
Allard and I hit the restaurant in the main atrium for breakfast, joined shortly thereafter by Christian and a very tired-looking Jules. Powdered eggs aren’t exactly the breakfast of champions. Jules has been up late …
Thelton McMillan leaves Critical Mass
A couple of weeks ago, we received a note in our inboxes that Thelton McMillan, the President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) had left Critical Mass. Needless to say, this had come as a bit of a shock to the staff, who …
Mercedes-Benz Ride and Drive
There’s something about driving like a maniac that makes for an interesting afternoon. I’ve been working on the Mercedes-Benz USA account for over four years now. In all that time, the closest I’ve ever come to a Benz …
Topics
Luke leaves Critical Mass
Today, My Favourite Giant left Critical Mass. And we are lessened by his departure. Luke Puxley started at Critical Mass not quite two years ago. He was a daunting figure, mostly due to his sheer size. Luke is not a …
Search Engine Strategies Conference 2004 San Jose, Last day
Search Engine Strategies 2004, San Jose, California, Day 4 I should have woken with another hangover. Especially since I had slept only about three hours. It was the last of the seminar, and I didn’t want to miss …
Search Engine Strategies Conference 2004 San Jose, Yahoo! Party
Search Engine Strategies 2004, San Jose, California, Day 3 I wasn’t hungover. Since I had only two beers at the Google party (and they ran out!), I wasn’t really reeling from any overdoses. I skipped the swim in favour …
Search Engine Strategies Conference 2004 San Jose, Overture and LookSmart
Search Engine Strategies 2004, San Jose, California, Day 1 After an exceptionally sound sleep, I awoke to get my day started. I had planned to start all my days with a workout (I’ve been slacking for the last little …
The Red Mile
There’s just something inherently wrong with watching Stanley Cup hockey while sweating because it’s so warm. The season needs to be shorter. Or there need to be fewer teams, especially in places where you can’t …
Calgary Flames win Western Conference
Flames Fever is running at a pitch I could have never have imagined before. Tonight, it broke a new high. Tonight was game six in the NHL Western Conference final, pitting the Calgary Flames against the San Jose Sharks. …
So long, Jude!
And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain, Don’t carry the world upon your shoulders. For well you know that it’s a fool who plays it cool By making his world a little colder. — “Hey Jude”, The …
Calgary Flames and the 2004 Stanley Cup
There’s a new disease running through Calgary. It’s highly contagious, spreads like wildfire, and while it has yet to prove fatal, it certainly causes some debilitating effects. Symptoms include sore throats, aches, …
Going Curling for the First Time
As the weather turns more spring-like in Calgary, you start hearing unmistakable calls in the air: the robins, the magpies, the geese, the curlers… “Sweep! SWEEP! Harder! HARDER!” One of my …
David Bowie plays Kelowna Prospera Place
We all woke at about the same time. I was awake, though eyes closed, when I heard Tamara and Andrea whispering. I joined into the conversation, joined shortly thereafter by Dan. At that point, there wasn’t much reason to …
Turning Japanese Again, Chris and Kaz's Wedding
I woke just before sunrise. I probably should have gotten up to look around, but decided that I’d rather sleep a bit more. I had a sneaky suspicion that it was going to be a long day. I woke again around 7:00, when my …
Fond Farewell, Mr. Fullerton
It seems that Critical Mass is losing too many good people within a very short period of time. First, it was a round of layoffs nearly three weeks ago. Now it’s a series of resignations. Among them is Arthur. Arthur came …
The Amazing Freeze
I hereby lodge as much a formal complaint to the final outcome of last night’s team building event as one can without a process by which to handle it. So I’m throwing it out on the Internet for all to see. But more on …
Happy 30th Birthday Teak
It’s not every day that you turn 30. Unfortunately, it’s long since been my turn. This time, it was for my friend Teak. You may remember Teak from a previous birthday of his, when Chris and I felt the need for a little …
Jim and Luke's 26th birthday
You’d think I’d have learned from my jaunt out on Thursday night. I guess I did to a point, but I made one key error: I went out to celebrate Jim’s birthday. For the record, Jim’s a great guy. He’s a lot of fun — he has …
2003 planning meeting wrap party
There were green alligators, and long necked geese, Some humpty-back camels and some chimpanzees, Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as your born, The loveliest of all was the Unicorn. — “The …
Disc (Frisbee) golf in Canmore
Heat arrived in Calgary this weekend. It’s been warm here for a few weeks now (off and on, anyway), but this was the first really hot time in the ol’ town. Which, of course, is a perfect excuse to flee the city for a …
Critical Mass Reckless Summer Reunion
There are certainly worse ways to spend Friday the 13th. There are certainly more healthy ones. But when Critical Mass decides to throw a party for its employees, you can be sure of two things: There will be a lot of …
My Trip to Japan, Harajuku and Shibuya
I think a good rule of thumb for how long you should stay in one place while on vacation is your comfort level. When you become too comfortable, you’ve stayed too long. I’ve become very comfortable with Tokyo. That’s not …
My Trip to Japan, Shinkansen to Mount Fuji
We woke up relatively early this morning. For anyone on vacation, that’s before noon. For us, it was around 09:00. The goal today was Mount Fuji, about an hour south of Tokyo. An hour by bullet, that is. Following the …
My Trip to Japan, Tokyo and Shibuya
I’ve gone clubbing in Tokyo, and lived to tell about it. It’s an odd statement, I know, but allow me to explain. Chris and I didn’t have any real set plans. In fact, I didn’t really know what we were going to do until …
CBC documentaries at the Glenbow Museum
Last October, I bade farewell to my newly-made friends from the CBC Television 50th Anniversary Train. Since then, I have only talked to them over email and phone. It’s not the same as being there in person. And I’ve …
Old friends in Southern Ontario
With Cathy at work, and Craig sleeping for the day (he’s currently working nights), there was little that would cause me to rise early. Well, almost nothing. I had a lunch date to keep. Rising at a reasonable hour, I …
Test driving a Mini
Like most people who work the ol’ 9-5 grind, my weekend started just as the whistle blew Friday afternoon. It was time to get my nose off the grindstone and into something far more pleasant. A beer. Not that I want to …
I want to go home
I’ve been on the road far too long. Last night was Thanksgiving dinner up at the cottage. Good food, family, friend (there was only one), and good times. Even better sleep, in my old bed (since co-opted for use in the …
Touring Halifax, Part 2
Sleeping in is good. Too bad I didn’t sleep in. Instead, I woke around 8:30 and began to get on with the day. The first order of business was typing out some of the journal entries I was behind on. The second was making …
Touring Halifax, Part 1
Sleeping in is one of those little pleasures of life that I’ve been ignoring for far too long. The fact that I was still exhausted from yesterday made passing through my alarm even easier. I skipped breakfast. I was in …
CBC TV 50th Anniversary VIA Rail train, Bay of Fundy
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
CBC TV 50th Anniversary VIA Rail train, Halifax finale
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
CBC TV 50th Anniversary VIA Rail train, Peggy's Cove
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
CBC TV 50th Anniversary VIA Rail train, Campbellton
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
CBC TV 50th Anniversary VIA Rail train, Quebec City (Day 2)
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
CBC TV 50th Anniversary VIA Rail train, Eastern Ontario
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
CBC TV 50th Anniversary VIA Rail train, Melville
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
CBC TV 50th Anniversary VIA Rail train, Saskatoon
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
CBC TV 50th Anniversary VIA Rail train, Kamloops
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
CBC TV 50th Anniversary VIA Rail train, Safety training
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
CBC 50th Anniversary VIA Rail train, First day on the job
T-minus 3 days I awoke with my alarm ready for a day of discovery. That was important because I had only met three people in the crew of 30-odd. When I arrived in the restaurant for breakfast, I stared at a seemingly …
Visiting More in Vancouver
T-Minus 4 days First order of the day was to move out of Joel and Michelle’s piano room. Although I greatly appreciate their hospitality, I do need to be with the rest of the CBC. The show starts tomorrow morning. I …
Critical Mass 5th Anniversary Surprise Party
There are parties. Then there’s a Critical Mass party. Five years ago yesterday (4 July 1997), Critical Mass launched its first ever website, MBUSA.com. That first launch wasn’t perfect, but it started a business …
Gerry and Sam's Wedding in Ottawa, VIA Train to Toronto
I knew something was up a few months ago, when Chris told me he was going to Ontario for “a friend’s wedding”. Chris is rarely that vague. More often than not, he’ll include a name, even if it’s someone I …
Janine and Dory's Wedding, White Water Rafting on the Kicking Horse River
I need a weekend from my weekend. Every so often, I get involved with a very busy Saturday and Sunday. Not necessarily physically demanding, but no less a drain on one’s energy level. I’m fortunate in that I don’t get …
Stag Party in Innisfail, Strippers in Red Deer
Note to self: Never let anyone hold a stag party for me. Stuart, Chris, and I were invited to a stag party for our friend Dory. (Dory is Janine’s fiancée; Janine is one of Therese’s best friends.) Chris opted out, as he …
Three Parties and a Little Hockey
Who’d ever have thought that I would one day become the centre of attention? Okay, be invited to come near the centre of attention… Alright! Be allowed to look towards the centre of attention from a far away, but …
Critical Mass Town Hall
Things have been pretty quiet since the summer — not a lot of activity, not a heck of a lot to report. But this is a habit I’ve gotta keep up, if for nothing else so that I’ll be in practice if/when this Japan thing pans …
Touring Alberta, Calgary Stampede, Columbia Icefields, Lake Louise, Banff (Bamf!), Drumheller
Owing to a very hectic week, I really haven’t had a chance to get to this one. Hopefully my workload will drop a bit in the not-too-distant future so I can return to the simpler things in life … like writing …
A Whitewater Rafting Adventure on the Kicking Horse River
It all started when I received an email during my stay in Cincinnati. (This was a couple of weeks ago, obviously.) It was entitled “Kicking Horse Blazing Paddles”. It was a call for those interested in …
Live from Cincinnati, Working for the Weekend
Ugh. It never fails. I get a long weekend, I get lousy weather. I had hoped to go to the Cincinnati Museum today, but the weather kept me indoors. Okay, that sounds like a really stupid statement — if I’m going to a …
Chris' Arrival in Calgary, Living with my Best Friend
My time here in Calgary is finite. I’m not staying here forever. Don’t get me wrong, I like this city — but there’s more to this planet than a single settlement near the foot of the Canadian Rockies. When I first arrived …
Easter in Calgary, Visiting with Friends, Eating Russian Food
Years ago, Easter weekend meant a trip to my grandmother’s in Toronto for a dinner with the rest of the family. It’s been a while since I’d been in a large family gathering for Easter, but this year certainly did put a …
A Boys Night out in Calgary, Drumheller, Banff (Bamf!), and Star Wars
This weekend, I did something a little different than usual. I went to Calgary. Alone. Well, not totally alone. I went to visit Stuart, who I had only seen for a whopping six hours at Christmas. Ideally, I would have …
Taking the Ferry to Nanaimo, Easter Weekend on Vancouver Island
It’s been an interesting few days. This weekend, as you already know, was Easter. This was the first time I was not in Ontario for Easter. I had been away from home before — usually on co-op terms (although university …
Road Trip of the Southwest United States, Touring New Orleans
The morning was sunny and humid, much like the day before. We awoke between 08:00 and 08:30 following a long and comfortable night’s sleep. Showers were the order of the morning, to prepare oneself for the long day …
Behind the Iron Curtain - My Trip to the Soviet Union, Traveling to Helsinki
Observer’s Log: Traveldate 890713.11 Day 14 We have just visited St. Issac’s Cathedral near the Neva. It is a very large cathedral, compared to others that we have seen. Established in the early to mid 1800’s, it is a …
Behind the Iron Curtain - My Trip to the Soviet Union, Traveling to Leningrad (St. Petersburg)
Observer’s Log: Traveldate 890711.18 Day 12 If you’re wondering what happened to Day 11, it was spent trying to figure what the hell happened to this journal. Two nights ago, I gave the journal to Greg the Wonder Dummy …
Behind the Iron Curtain - My Trip to the Soviet Union, Boating on the Black Sea
Observer’s Log: Traveldate 890709.20 Day 10 Today, almost everyone (except Jason ) was in higher spirits. Jason felt as if he were dead and spent the entire day in bed. Lisa and Greg disappeared for the whole day, which …
Behind the Iron Curtain - My Trip to the Soviet Union, Flight to Moscow
Day 2 began pretty much the way Day 1 ended — at 35,000 feet. The only thing that really marked the passage of a day was a change in the clocks. Unfortunately for me, it wasn’t clear when the day actually started. You …