One Dream Condo FOUND

So I went to the iLoft units today to check it out, and I am seriously smitten. The layout of the condo is EXACTLY what I want (or at least close enough to it). They still have corner units available, and they face the lake. Plus, its actually within my budget, which is a total shocker to me.

So more about the lay out. First its 2 stories, which is pretty much the most important factor for me, I can't handle the claustrophoia of single floor living. Plus its a corner unit, so 2 out of the 4 walls is floor to ceiling glass, and its all hardwood. Actually, that's the one bad thing, its not real hardwood, its some enviromentally friendly laminated plank. Fucking hippies ruining it for those of us who care nothing about the environment. Anyway, all of the appliances are stainless steel along with the microwave, and the living area is huge for a condo. It even has a fairly large terrace (balcony, you strignorent bastards). They have this carpet on the second floor thats really rough, so I might have to look into getting it changed. The location of the development is beyond ideal, since its 15 minutes from my girfriend's place, 15 minutes from work, 15 minutes to my Oakville peeps, and 10 mins from Sherway (the only mall I shop at), by the lake, so running will be very enjoyable again. Basically, its almost perfect. So what is the cavat about this place that is a total downer (you knew there had to be one, nothing in life is perfect)? It won't be finished until March 2008. 2008, that's 2 years from now, what the hell, they build condos in downtown Toronto, in about 4 months. Entire communities there are built in that timeframe. Unfortunately, there isn't much I can do, so I guess my parents are going to have to put up with for a little longer.

Cross your fingers everyone, I might be a real estate owner by the end of the weekend!

Loft Update

Just a quick note this morning, I will be going to the iLoft building today to check out the floorplans. They mostly have 2 storey lofts in this place, and hopefully I will find something to my liking and in my price range. We shall see, but hopefully I see something that I like (with a lake view). The place is in south Etobicoke, which isn't the most ideal location (southwest Mississauga/middle Oakville), but its still within my livable area.

Sigh, Toronto's neighbourhoods are so homogenous/exclusionary that there are really only so many places that one feels comfortable living in. Its like, I am pretty sure people would give me the evil eye in Markham (aka New Hong Kong) everyday considering that 1) I have a skinny, blonde girlfriend, 2) I hate Japanese cars cause they just aren't built for people who are taller than 6 feet, 3) 60% of authentic Chinese food scares me, and my favorite kinds of Chinese food can be readily found at the Mandarin, and finally 4) I really really don't like Karoke.

I mean there are so many places in the city I could never move to like Scarberia (Scarbrough) or Ginoville (Woodbridge), so my options are kinda limited. Don't even get me started about Brampton or north Mississauga because going there is like travelling to a different country, I don't even think English is first language for most people there, and I don't really like butter chicken or naan all that much (wink wink).

I'll let you all know how the condo search goes tomorrow. Hmmmm, I guess the quick note turned into quite a long one.

I also have a meeting with my boss today where I am going to tell him that staying in his division is not part of my long term plans. This meeting should go really well (scarcastic smile)!

Looking for New Housing

So I'm thinking about looking for new housing. Now living with the parents have been quite the financial boon (for saving, anyway), but I am feeling the need to move out again. Surprisingly, the 'rents have been pretty cool about the whole moving home situation, and are not the reason I need to book it out of my house. The moving home scenario was suppose to be temporary as I quit my last job because I hated it.

Well the time has come to be moving on, I think. I am looking for the perfect place to move into, but there are some limitations. I can't afford a super expensive place, but I don't want to live in a rat hole either. If it is a condo building, I have to have a second floor (loft style). Toronto's condo prices are killer right now, but they should be coming down soon. Considering my living preferences the place has to be in the West/South part of the GTA (South Etobicoke, South Mississauga, or QEW Oakville), and close to the QEW. There are a lot of new buildings going up in the area, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything is going to work out!!!

You Must Watch Sons and Daughters

Sons and Daughters is a new sitcom on ABC that airs on Tuesday night at 9 and 9:30. You must all watch this show!!!! Honestly, it is one of the most consistently funny shows that I have ever seen. In fact, I can probably say that it is the best comedy to air on television in quite some time. Sons and Daughters is definitely on par with Arrested Development, and slightly better than My Name is Earl (which has slowed down after a great start. Mr. Garcia, we need more Jamie Pressley NOW!) and The Office (which is definitely hitting its stride).

The premise of the show is that Cameron is the only adult son of a totally insane family. Only the family isn't outrageous slapstick insane, instead its back-handed passive aggressive dysfunction that is perfect for TV. Describing the show does not do it justice as it must be watched, but there are gems in every episode.

A small sampling from last week:
1. Your sister is a goddess, do you realize she isn't even wearing a bra!
2. We can save some money by cutting back. We can definitely stop buying school books for him, its unnecessary. We bought a bra for her, and that was unnecessary too.

Watch Sons and Daughters, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!!!

Hoooray Today is Friday

So its FINALLY Friday. It has been an especially long week of training for me here at work. Boring, mind numbing training, but at least I got some free lunch out of it. That's all finished, and now I am looking forward to a gambling filled weekend! I'll be heading down to Casino Niagara with some friends, and it should be an intersting weekend of card playing and sports betting. I'd play craps too, but after an unfortunate incident at the World Series of Dice (damn you Quills), I'll be setting on the sidelines.

Last night's NCAA tournament was awesome. 2 buzzer beaters back to back in the late games...what I finish! Too bad my bracket is totally destroyed now, but what the hell, I am terrible at picking NCAA games anyway.

I basically locked up my Fantasy Hockey Pool last night with a huge 20+ point performance from my team, putting me safely ahead by at least 100 pts over my fantasy rival Mr. Ben Ford. I've battled Ben from football to hockey, and honestly, I can say that Ben and my buddy Chueeey are the only people that push me as hard as possible in the relm of fantasy sports. Another great season of competition.

So the OC was iffy again last night. You would think brining back yet another hot chick (Jess) would spur the show forward, but it hasn't. In fact, I think the OC has shattered every hot girl per minute of a TV soap, and still things are floundering. Marissa and Volchuck? Really, Josh Schwartz? You couldn't think of an even more random set of people to put together? Let me guess, Marissa is going to start drinking again because of Volchuck, Ryan will have to come to the rescue, destroy his relationship with Sadie, but in the process realize that he really does love Marissa. Julie and Dr. Roberts won't end up getting married, and everyone will be happy until Teresa comes back with Ryan's baby and ruins everything. That is what is going to happen with the show. Here is what I think should happen: Season 4 should be planned as the summer of senior year, then the possibilities will be endless. Marissa, Summer, Sadie, and Taylor will be able to prance around in bikinis for entire episodes at a time (90210 anyone?), while the gang gets into FUNNY and AMUSING adventures, with some serious story arcs once a month. After season 2's way too ADD story arcs (Marissa enters and ends her lesbian adventure in 4 episodes? WAY TOO SHORT), this season's protracted Johnny storyline has been painful at best, and basically the current Marissa/Ryan storyline is still feeling the Johnny repercussions. Look season one was great because it was able to mix humour and drama effectively, the OC seems to have lost the touch when it comes finding this balance, so let's hope that Josh Schwartz starts doing whatever drugs he needs to, so we can get back to OC episodes where I don't feel taken advantage at the end of the hour!

Its Monday Morning, and There is No Halo, and No Four Post Bed!!

So Monday morning has arrived, and I am back in the dungeons/cubicle farm. Actually, my group has been moved to a new part of the prison, so my personal daily "Prison Break" is going to have to be reorganized. Damn, now I know how Micheal and crew felt when the Mexican maintence worker has able to install a new titanium pipe fitting into the key point in the escape route.

So some interesting points about my new cube. Its got those really low walls that I hate because they give you no privacy, but only exist to remind of that very fact. Its like, if you're going to spy on me, at least have the decency to admit it, giving me a half wall is like spitting on me, and telling me its a fancy skin moisturizer. Um, not that I use skin moisturizer.

So the NCAA tournament kicked some serious ass this weekend! It was probably one of the best tourneys I've ever watched, and definitely missing work for it was worth it! Seriously, though Northerwestern State's best player could easily be mistaken for a rapper from the dirty South, did anyone else get blinded by that grill? Hmmm, I think probahation is definitely on the horizon for one NCAA program!

News to Me and other Ramblings

I've been told that blogging about blogging is a no no. I guess the first rule of blogging is we don't talk about blogging (who would've thought that blogging would slowly evolve into a Fight Club-esque experience). Hopefully, the blogging's version of Tyler Derdon won't ask me to blow up a Starbucks cause I really like their low-fat frappacinos.

Onto more important things like deciding whether or not to hit the ski hill (and I emphasize HILL) one last time before spring hits. My buddy Mink (his nickname is not referencing his choice of outerwear, as he is not a rapper) wants to goto Ontario's modest Blue "Mountain" to break in his new skis before he goes heliskiing (lucky bastard), and he has offered to drive me up to if I want to get one last day out before the snow disappears. My office is being moved on Friday, so I actually don't have to go into work, so I am definitely leaning on going. 2 things are holding me back though: 1 - There will be a lot of teenagers scumming around cause its March Break, and I hate dealing with anyone younger than 20; 2 - Friday is the second day of the NCAA tournament, and I really really don't want to miss any potential upsets. I think I will be going just because its going to be my last chance to hit the terrain park, and I've made a lot of great strides there this season, and I want to rock it one last time to get that big air rush. We'll be going early, so hopefully we will be back in time to see Memphis put the finishing touches on its 30 pt victory over Oral Roberts. Which leads to an interesting question, can Jesus-freaks actually play basketball? Well 5 white guys is an insurance company not a basketball team, so that really should tell you the answer. Off to Blue I go....on Friday.

On a total different note, PVR totally rocks, and it has complete revolutionized the way I watch TV. This Thursday at 9 p.m. the NCAA tourney will be in full swing, but there is also a brand new episode of The OC on FOX. Now in previous year's this would be a massive problem, but now that I have a PVR, so I can watch both, AND not have to deal with commercials when I replay The OC. PVR, you are magical.

Custom X update - went looking to buy a 2006 Custom X this weekend hoping that prices would be down at the end of the season. Well, there was a $50 dollar discount, when all other snowboards are 25-50% off! Hmmm, I guess this is what getting the "Participant" trophy in Little League feels like. Damn, you Jake Burton for making a product that doesn't have to be discounted!!!! Guess I'll have to hold off on buying until the Ski Show next year, at least I'll earn some interest on that $700.

The Restart

So I am back to blogging. Its been a really really long time since I have resorted to cyberspace to fill the monotony of trying to pass the time at work. The reasons I left blogging earlier this year are numerous and uninteresting, but I'll tell you anyway because I can't think of a better starting spot.

So, I was working at this accounting firm earlier this year, which afforded me quite a bit of free time at first, which I wasted writing a blog. Oddly enough, writing this blog was a lot of fun, but like all things in life became a chore when people wanted regular updates. Um, who do they think they are dealing with, the Sports Guy? I don't get paid, so I do this when I can. Second, and probably a way more important reason was that I got really busy at work, and the prospect of spending 30 mins a day writing random thoughts down really didn't sell itself. Finally, I quit my job at the end of June, and spent the next 3 months in blissful unemployment, translating to working out and travelling a lot. Suffice to say the summer was well spent. Unfortunately, reality has set in, and here I am back in a cubicle farm.

I am now working in the exciting world of telecommunications, which means as an accountant, very little has changed. I am currently a Financial Analyst for Internal Controls at my company, and I have few, if any, day to day responsibilities. I am responsible for a bunch of projects, but in reality, these only require a few hours a day, or cause me to be swamped at the end of every 3 months. So here I am writing to no one in particular, hoping, pleading, praying that you will like it (actually, I'm not, but please keep reading).

So going forward, I am committing myself to 3 updates a week to this blog, which doesn't mean I'll be writing every time, maybe I'll put up a new link or something, but its in my MS Outlook Calander now, so there is no getting away from it! Look for exciting updates soon about things that I like to do which center mostly around watching sports, working out, watching TV, thoughts about TV, and places I want to go visit.

You might be asking what about your thoughts on your relationship? Well, shame on you, those are private thoughts, and might only come out on a sex tape when I am rich and famous.