I know updates have been slow here, but what are you going to do about it? I've been lazy. I haven't really gone anywhere in the past few days. Went to about 4 different car audio shops to get an antenna adapter for my focus, but still no luck. So it looks like I'll just place a special order with the next shop I go into. Pay through the nose. That's what I get for buying a ford. Ahh well, maybe they'll have some in Montreal.

Speaking of Montreal, I'm leaving for there tomorrow morning, so if you didn't already figure it out, this will be my last update of the year. I'm thinking I should do a year in review for me right now, but it's pointless, as a year 2003 had way more downs than ups. In fact too many for me to mention. In 2003 I lost my father (after a huge battle with cancer). That's pretty much why 2003 was the worst year of my life. But I've had good times too, the trips to Niagara, Semester 5 and 6 at school, visitng (in no particular order) Niagara Falls, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Calgary, Banff, Victoria, Nanaimo, Vancouver, Whister, Burnaby, Surrey, Kelowna, Kamloops and Montreal (damm, if I visit Ottawa, that makes it all 6 NHL cities in the same year...hmmm) Oh yeah, I think I found time to graduate somewhere there too.

There were the new friends I've made, the evolution of my blog (some good ones through my blog), the virus memories (hey who remembers the blaster worm?) Don't forget about that major blackout we had in August (I still say that was the best excuse to drink EVER). I think of those who grew closer to me over the last year and those that drifted further away. The advice I was given (both good and bad), the mistakes I've made (and we all know it's been a whole lot more than you've made).

But through all this, I've always managed to keep my head up, spirits high, pants on and make it through (although sometimes with less than a perfect attitude). Some quotes that'll stick with me are : "Stu, you are a very good employee, you just have to learn to keep the wisecracks down to a minimum", "Can I use 802.11b through my Infrared port?", "I need some sugar before I pass out", "You're an asshole" <-- my personal favorite as I was told that about once a day.

Who can forget my MANY SRL victories? How about my 2 court appearances this year? Who remembers Crazy GT stylez? Or Krazy Karts? Or Thugs Of New Brampton? What about Terror With 9 Lives? 2 CST FC seasons. The exam that wasn't (good old drunken teacher forgot to make one!).

Ok this year in review blog has gone on for a while, I'll get around to posting the rest of it when I get back from Montreal.

Hope everybody had a Merry Christmas this year! I did. Christmas eve had my whole mothers side of the family come over (18 in total) for a big chirstmas dinner. Christmas day we first went to Hamilton to see my sister at work. Now I'm not one to call people lazy, or say other people have it more/less difficult than me, but come on, when you are making $36/hour and only have ONE PAITENT don't you think something is wrong with the health care system. Wait she's overworked. Yes that is the life of nurse in the maternity ward on Christmas day. Ok, so maybe most of her patients specifically requested they go home for christmas, but it's still funny to see her at "work" with only one patient and getting a premium wage for that shift.

I saw a newborn baby get a hearing test and have bloodworks done. Didn't interest me too much because I'm not really into the healthcare field, but my mom liked looking at the newborn. Then she asked me when I was going to have a kid and I told her the day after I become a millionare.

It seems like that even though I'm on vacation I still find a new reason every day NOT to sleep in. Like today for example woke up early to bring the van in today. Tomorrow I'm going to wake up early to bring the fruit platter to the guys at the shop as a christmas gift. Thursday is Christmas, no sleep in there. I might not be able to sleep in until boxing day. Ahh well, at least I'm not working.

Rumors of my retirement from Sheridan IT were premature. Just like a bad case of foot fungus that will not go away no matter what you try, it looks like I'll be working a couple more days at Sheridan in January. Yes I am dissapointed in myself too, but I have to admit, Sheridan it's exactly the worst place in the world for the first couple of the semester (MMmmm new students). So yeah, just when I thought I could get away, they pull me back in.

It's Saturday and for the last time (hopefully ever) I'm working a morning shift. Yes it does suck, but what am I to do? I'm downloading American Wedding and Cabin Fever. Yes I am THAT bored that I am downloading Cabin Fever. Man how the mighty have fallen. I should have returned my laptop on Wednesday (because I was at work and stuff) but I acted like I was busy so we had to wait a couple more days for my laptop to be returned. Then I found out that when I was imaging a room today, I imaged 4 comptuers that I wasn't supposed to. Doh...ahh well, what can they do? Fire me, like that's going to accomplish anything since Monday is my last day at this job. Ahh well I've had a good run here. If it wasn't for this job, I probably wouldn't have a blog anyway. So for what may be the last blog ever from this job, I say farewell and goodnight!

Had my job interview with Grand and Toy today. Went pretty smooth I guess, my favorite part of the interview is:

G&T guy: Yeah I just need to check your references to make sure you haven't killed anybody in your past jobs.
Stu: About that....yeah....well there was this one guy that kind of got into an argument with me and ended up in the bottom of a lake.
G&T guy: But they never found the body yet right?
Stu: Nope, so as long as they don't drain the lake we'll all be fine.

I'm not joking, we actually said that! So who knows, maybe he liked my sense of humor. We'll have to wait until next week to find out.

Happy Birthday Mary-Anne! Yes it's my sisters birthday today.

But what is really important is I got phase I of my car stereo installation complete. I put in my new deck. I think I posted up a link earlier about it...if not too bad for you guys...I'll post it later, I just don't feel like searching for it. Right now I can play some MP3's in my car (one cd has 160 songs on it! I can make it to Montreal without repeating a track!). But what has to happen to me while driving down the 403 to Robb's house? I realize my speakers are shit and I want new ones. Now I've always known in the back of my mind that I'm going to get a new set of speakers, but man I was about ready to pull the car over and buy a new pair right away. So once I get coop my first cheque will be spent on speakers for the front. Knowing me, it's not going to end there, but we'll see how far my ego takes me.

Went out for lunch with the guys today. Korean BBQ is pretty good if you can put it paste your head that regardless of what they tell you, it's Dog and Cat meat that you are putting in your mouth. But hey, McDonalds does the same thing and they still manage to serve billions every year. Now I'm at work and spending the last day with my laptop (/me sheds a tear). I'm actually kinda sad to see this thing go, because lately I've been keeping it around me so in the morning when I wake up, I don't have to be bothered by family members when I'm replying to my MSN messages.

Looks like I might be building a second computer for my mom. She's taking night school courses and thinks it's too noisy in the family room to do any work (wow, I said the same thing to her and I'm told to shut up and take it). Well the good thing out of all of this stuff is I'll have an LCD monitor on my computer, since the CRT I'm using now is kinda fading. And plus, LCD would look super cool in my house.

2 days away from the coop interview, I highly doubt I'm going to get the job, but maybe by not putting any pressure on myself I may be able to get the job (wouldn't that be funny). My buddy Yan is also going for an interview with them so we'll see what happens. Last time me and him interviewed for the same job I ended up working at Toys R Us (and we all know how far I went with that job...to the west coast...and Kamloops, but we'll just say the west coast to keep things simple).

Time to get back to some laptops that need to be imaged. Later all!

Man things slow down once you graduate. Really, I had the grand idea last night of pulling an all nighter while watching Band Of Brothers. I got through the first episode then fell asleep while watching the second. Today I wake up, check the home line (something I rarely do) and to my suprise, there's a message for me from Grand And Toy. Evidently, they want me to come in for a job interview. So remembering the past mistakes I've made with potential employers, I decide things are going to be different this time. So I take 2 shots of sambuca and call the guy back (figuring that the alcohol in my system would make me more friendly, as it normally works on a Friday or Saturday night). Anyways, to my luck I get voicemail.

So I wait around the phone, watch episode 2 and 1/2 of 3 before he calls back. By then my buzz has worn off and I'm just normal asshole Stu. Well, we'll see how the interview goes, it's Friday afternoon, but I don't know how good my chances are of keeping the job. They want me to start on the 29th, and I'm going to Montreal on the 30th for New Years Eve (wow, conflict of interest!). So I told the guy I can't start that soon, I've got part time commitments (but hey, he still wants to interview me) so we'll see how things go.

It's Monday and for the first time in a while, I don't have ANYTHING to do on Tuesday. Man that's such a good feeling. Too bad the rest of the real world can't be like this. Yeah....that's about all I have to say today. Nothing really going on in my world right now.

I'll admit it, I don't mind the cold. In fact as long as there's snow outside, I actually like it. With all the fun you can have in the snow, why do people hate it so much? I'll take snow over rain any day of the week. Anyways, what does this have to do with anything? I don't know. Was talking with Talon last night before Bad Santa (good movie btw, go see it if you like to laugh at people that are pure assholes) about school and how differently things could have been if we made different decisions 4 years ago.

Then I got to thinking...maybe I would have been better off if I took business at U of T instead of Computer Science. If that were the case (and I stuck with it) I'd have graduated in May instead of now and my life would have been tottaly different (well there'd be no blog, that's for sure). Who knows hiow much better/worse I would have been. It just made me think about things. Ahh well, 4 1/2 years since making that decision is too late to change my mind (well not really, I'm still young and I don't know if I'm ready to join the real world just yet). All I know is the future is uncertain.

IT'S OVER! IT'S OVER! IT'S OVER! In case you are a complete idiot, I wrote my last exam and I'm done! So let the drinking begin! I am done with Sheridan College!

Wow, no sleep last night, only 5 hours this afternoon, I'm hungry and I have a business exam tomorrow. Man this stuff sucks, I should start studying very soon, then start drinking after the exam. Yeah, I'm defeintely going out drinking tomorrow night.

It's 2:40am and I'm still studying for java. Doesn't look like I'll be sleeping AT ALL tonight. Oh well, my punishment for slacking off during the semester I guess. Who cares, all I need is a 56 on the exam and I'll make it through the course. Naturally I'm aiming for a 100% (why the fuck wouldn't I set the bar as high as possible, setting it any lower only shows to myself that I accept not being the best). Actually the funny thing is I go into every exam EXPECTING to get 100% on it, just my mindset I guess. Weird how I'm probably the only one in the room that thinks like that yet doesn't put in the hours needed to get those marks. Yeah, I know, it's an ego/slacker issue. I don't really care either as long as I pass the course and get that piece of paper that says I've put in X amount of dollars now hire me.

So I'll update you guys tomorrow with the results of the exam.

So here I am, happily driving along with The Professor (don't bother clicking the link, he doesn't update his blog) when on the 401, there's some idiot happily cruising along (in the left hand lane) while in the blind spot of a big rig. Yeah you don't have a death wish. Idiots. But that has meaning to my story. Anyways, picked up my new deck. So anyways, on the way back, I get stopped by RIDE. I figure no biggy, it's been 15 months since I last got stopped by them (ahh foam party memories...I had alcohol in my system that time and still got away with it...umm no I didn't. Kids don't drink and drive!). Anyways, I drop off The Professor, and head on my way home. Guess who I see on Derry Road? STUPID RIDE AGAIN!

Ack, so anyway, I one cop is signaling like he wants me to go through, the other wants me to stop, so naturally I get confused. So I go into there a litte quicker than normal before I realized that I'm supposed to stop. Get on the brakes and my tires squeal fright infront of a cop (stupid tires have turned into a rat on me!) Cop says to me "Take it easy out there!" And right away I can tell he's not too impressed. "Watch how fast you are going".

I'm like "sorry sir" in the little puppy dog voice. So Cop says to me "Have you been drinking tonight?" I say "No I haven't...look I've been stopped by ride once already today..here's my booklet" And I show him the booklet too. Cop (in an obviously disgusted and still angry voice) says "alright, get on your way" and tosses the booklet at me. I don't think he was too impressed with me. So I look over see some poor sap that thought he could get away with a drink or two before stepping car on the side of the road...a little smirk appears on my face knowing that I could have easily got a careless driving ticket if the cop wanted to be a real prick.

Yeah, maybe Monday wasn't so slow after all.

And so another Monday at work concludes. Yeah I know, the highlight of my day was seeing that girl bend over while not wearing any underwear. Then as she proceded to talk about her jeans, I said they look nice on you. I doubt she put 2 and 2 together. Thats what kind of day it was for me. Sad really, but that's life @ Sheridan for you! Man less than one week left here, what will I do with myself?

We had our last business class today. Last actual class altogether really. Man to think it's already been 3 1/2 years at Sheridan and all I have left is 2 exams. Where did the time go? So many people I met there it's going to be tough to leave, but life will go on. I think right now, what my main problem is I look around and think "What Next?" I mean I know I'm going to have to get a job and work for the next 40-50 years but can you blame me for wanting to go back for another year if I could. This raises the question of what the hell would I do if I go back? Just delay moving on with my life? There's not much left for me to do at Sheridan. Well nothing that interests me of course.

I don't see myself working full time just yet. I'm only 23 after all. I know there's people around that can't wait to get out of school, but for me, I keep asking myself "what's the rush"? Maybe my outlook is a little blurry because I don't have a job lined up at the moment. Who knows, all I know is that long 3 years I signed up for as a 19 year old went by in the blink of an eye. I'm now 23 and ready to move on to the real world, but would prefer to stay in school for just a bit longer.

Barry Sanders. True Pro Athlete. The man is a legend and he had the balls to walk away at the top of his game (unlike Emmit Smith) when he knew he couldn't handle it anymore. But what you do end up respecting the guy for most is his personality. A millionare that never bought a new car (always used from his teammates), his house was never that expensive (I remember hearing he was living in a $250,000 home at the time of his retirement) and he wouldn't change himself just so you would like him. That says a lot. Espically when there are people out there who can't stand the fact that somebody may or may not like them. So to Barry Sanders, I give you my personal seal of approval! Sure I'm a little biased that he was my favorite player of all time, but that's beside the point.

CST FC's championship dreams came to a crushing halt today. But you know what, even though we got beat 7-3 I'm proud of the guys for giving it their all on the floor today. Our star player was busy doing his school work, so Celeste didn't show up. That left us with 5 people. Waldo was shaking off the flu, and Clive wasn't feeling too well either. But you have to admire them for coming out and giving it their all. Not to mention Yan and his 2 goals and Randy's opening minute goal that totally shocked the crap out of Metro United. At half we were down 3-2 and if we had just one sub, I think we could have taken those guys. But we didn't have the legs out there.

So good work on a great season guys! One more game for the bronze medal, lets go out there and retire CST FC on a winning note, we owe it not just to ourselves, but to CST FC to do it!

I love the first snowfall of the year. Nothing beats coming out of B222 at 12am, waving at the security gaurd, heading to a parking lot and watching as Mike and Yan try their best to swing their cars around the lot. Man that's some good action. It helps a whole lot too that there are no lightposts to worry about in the parking lot. So you see people, winter can be fun as long as there's snow. What really sucks is when it's cold and there's no snow on the ground.

Man do I have some sappy blogs on my list. First there is Robb. Ok, he gets a pass because of what happend to him this weekend, can't really blame him for his blog. Then there is Yan who seems like he's lost out there somewhere. Then there is CST Crew webmaster Ed. Gotta give him credit, he's putting on a good face. Then there's Mike and his clog. Yeah, it's not a blog, but I figured since the rest of the CST crew is getting their plugs in, I'm going to push his site (sorry about not adding you to my template, I'll put it up today...I swear!).

Those are the guys (with Blogs and a clog) that I've been going to school with for the past 3 years. Sure there's still Arthur and Steve, but I guess they never wanted to write a blog. Maybe I didn't inspire them enough or something. Yeah I know what you people are thinking right now, Stu is about to blow his own horn for being the first in CST with a blog blah blah blah. Well I won't say that today. Sure my blog is almost 17 months old and has gone nowhere that I expected it to go, but there have been some good times.