Man it's cold. When my apartment heaters seem almost innefective, I know the weather's bad.

On Entertainment Tonight yesterday, I learned of two more of the greats of show business passing away on Xmas weekend. I want to share my memories of them:

Victor Borge True, his act has faded in popularity over the years, but like all great Vaudevillian-style comedians, he didn't need to really change with the times; the times needed to change to appreciate him.

Victor Borge turned playing the piano into an elegant form of comedy. He had a few videos made of his work that again some found corny, but I'll always remember his routine of playing a few bars of music, stopping, turning the music sheets around, and discovering it was really the William Tell Overture reversed.

Billy Barty This little man was a big part of film and TV over a lifetime that encompassed seven decades in show business.

I saw him on-screen before then, but I'll always remember his regular roles on John Byner's Bizarre... in many ways, a raunchier, Canadian version of The Benny Hill Show. He also played a significant role in George Lucas' film Willow, as the ruler of the little people there.

I'll miss them both.

Joy. Bliss. It's a sharp cold as far as weather outdoors... one of those winters where my apartment heating doesn't feel warm - and since I pay for my heating, and basement apartments tend to heat that upstairs, I won't be turning it up any.

I have to go out soon anyways, to go feed that kitty cat. I've been going earlier each day; kittens need attention and company, and I'm happy to give it,

I was at a friend's apartment yesterday, to feed his kitten while he's away on a trip.

Poor little kitty's lonely; he cried when I left. As a cat-lover, I felt awful for this. I'll go back early this afternoon just to give the little guy company.

- But I'm digressing a little bit. While I was there, I checked out The Actor's Studio on Bravo. This show was actually a deviation of sorts... instead of an actor or director, they were interviewing a musical performer. Billy Joel, to be specific.

Billy is one of my all-time favorite performers. Every chance I can, I either pick up one of his albums on tape or CD, even if it's just a "Best Of" compilation of songs I already have.

To say that I greatly enjoyed this show is an understatement.

Today was the office holiday party... the day started off on a bad note with the hot water tank for my part of the building crapping out. Because of this I didn't get to shower, shave, or brush my teeth before heading to Anjou. This was a really annoying way to begin my day.

Fortunately, the party itself was a lot of fun. Great food, great cameraderie, and I got a real cool Xmas gift (a large Zodiak disk). Plus, my cab ride home was paid for by the office. Travelling on someone else's bill is always a positive thing.

I can sleep easier tonight! With pressure to get stuff done, I have a new 3 month contract starting on the 25th... it's one that can be renewed after that period too.

It's amazing how knowing you'll still have an income in the new year can help your outlook. :)

I just realized: I haven't posted on this Blog in three days. Sorry about that.

A lot of stuff has been happening in that time... but most of it pretty bad crap. I vented on it in my personal Journals, but I don't want to drag readers down here too.

Suffice to say: it'll likely be much longer than I anticipated before I'm back to work next year.

I learned that the cab-driver strike in Montreal last Thursday was just called off because of bad weather... for all I know, they could start it again next week.

That makes me very nervous... next week is the end of my contract. I might know if it's renewed by end of week, I might not. Regardless, I'll have an unpaid vacation for at least 17 days before I can start again.

Realizing that a strike could screw me out of even being there for my last day... that really concerns me.

I took the subway to right near the office today. I intended to get in to work, but my co-workers couldn't guarantee a car to bring me back at day's end... so I was given my pay, and got the day off.

I had to nap for awhile after I got home though; it was almost an hour's travel each way, and I was wiped out from it.

Figures that the cab driver strike was over barely after it started, though. Made the whole exercise moot.

Speaking of moot: Indecision 2000 is finally over. It ended what was the closest race in ages, with G.W. beating Gore by 9 votes, but it's finally done.

I'm sure that many will try to analyze Bush's win over the next while; it may have been a backlash against Clinton, it may have to do with anti-Semitic feelings against Joe Liebermann (I hope not. In this day and age, that feelings of ethnic hatred may still be part of our makeup would sadden me greatly)... or it may have been due to the censorship-beliefs the Gore/Liebermann ticket espoused. Regardless, the United States now has the leader of a party that stresses military might over all as President. I suspect he'll only be a one-term pres like his father, but that's just guesswork at this point. I just hope we all live to regret him.

Make no doubt about it - things have gone from bad to worse.

Montreal cab drivers go on a 24-hour strike tomorrow. The result is that Adapted Transport not scheduled for medical trips are all cancelled.

That means I can't get in to work tomorrow - and it's payday. I don't earn enough that I could skip funds for the weekend.

... time for one of those non-vocal screams of frustration again.

I just checked my calendar: Dec 22nd - the last day of this contract - is next Friday.

I've sent in the request to get it renewed, but even if a government division says yes, the extension won't kick in until early January... so I'm facing an unpaid vacation of 17 days.

To think: when you have MS, you're supposed to avoid stress. sigh

As always, Netscape 6 seems incredibly buggy when I use it to post to this Blog. I'll still persevere though.

I just visited the site for Evrsoft, makers of my web-tool of choice, First Page 2000. They were supposed to release an updated version in January, but pulled it for a revamp due to legal issues with the name. Then they had a poll for a new name. Their website hasn't had an update on the product since June 2000; their support email adress is silent, their ICQ adress is silent. I think they just closed shop and didn't tell anyone.

I know that's the breaks of business (if true) - but it still stinks.

Winter's hit Montreal big time since Tuesday! We have 30cm of snow on the ground (over a foot, for those of you not using metric) in the space of a day and a half... and it's so cold, I'm staying in my computer room just to retain some heat. Oy.

I just made another small triumph in my Flash studies/ work: I made text scroll on demand!

Overall, today was a truly crappy Saturday... it's many degrees below zero celcius outside, so my 'wonderful' basement apartment is cold. Too cold to even take a shower. Almost too cold to encourage myself to do anything... except I needed food for my cats, so I dragged myself to the store.

I also bought a copy of X-Men at Blockbuster. Originally, I thought to buy it at Wal-Mart... but I had a $15 gift certificate here. With the difference, paying $5 for a video is still less than $17 plus tax.

Today marked another major loss in our cultural existence... but if I hadn't been watching Access Hollywood, I wouldn't have remembered the date:

Today is the 20th Anniversary of John Lennon's murder.

Was it really 20 years ago? Ghod... I was only 13, just newly Bar Mitzvahed a few months earlier. Back then, it didn't really affect me, but as I grew older and discovered the Beatles, it was a loss that hurt me more than I could imagine.

Anyone else who forgot like me: Remember.

It's another cold day here in Montreal... the low was 22 below freezing (I think that's 8 degrees for those of you who use Fahrenheit), went up only a few points to 14 below - and will drop back to -22 this evening.

That I was able to get out today to photocopy my Comicopia zine at all was a miracle. Getting out for our section hand-in tonight'll be another.

I had a small pseudo-coronary today: my job counselor left me a message on my home answering machine to call him back. His voice led me to think he had bad news.

Turns out he just has a cold. He was calling to invite me to the office X-Mas party tonight, which was too short notice.

The aggrivating thing is: he said the OPHQ will make a decision on sponsoring an extension of my contract within two weeks - which comes to the end of this current contract.

That would be a great holiday gift: "You no longer have a job! Merry Christmas!"

Today marked another sad event of recent history... it marked the 11th Anniversary of mysoginist Mark Lepine's execution of a class of women at the University of Montreal

It didn't affect me directly when it happened - but one of my acquaintances was engaged to one of the young woman who were slaughtered.

By the time I first met him, he'd healed - somewhat. That pointless, tragic event will live on in the memories of the people of the world for ages to come though.

It's very sad to me: jo the webmistress has been taking a mental break from Blogging for several weeks now.

Pity. I really enjoyed the stuff she discovered online.

I just finished another Odigo chat - again with a Spanish speaker. Man, is my Spanish rusty from lack of use...

I commented on this to mom Tuesday: I also spoke with a French-speaker in Algiers. Thank Ghod the French and Spanish chats weren't at the same time! I'd have a massive headache from multiple mental translation!

This is cool...

Yesterday, I installed Odigo on my PC. I liked the idea of having on app that could bring an AIM and Yahoo Messenger account into one single program. Since I have accounts on both, I was able to free up some Hard Disk space by installing this instead.

Anyway, I listed in my info that I spoke Spanish (not very well from lack of practice, but I do). So, a young lady from Panama contacted me to chat last night.

I could see I've forgotten a lot, but I was at least able to hold my own in basic conversation. :)

Food fight pupils ordered to lunch with parents

Some folks just like taking the fun out of being a kid...

Space station hit by hitch

As both a fan and writer of Science Fiction, this space station is of interest to me. I hope it finally works out!

Well, it looks like it was actually two days here without posts from me!

I actually spent Saturday (and this morning) at my sister's home, spending some quality time with my nephew and nieces.

We took some photos of me and the kids. I had to chuckle a bit, as I realized that I'm currently wearing the same sweater I wore in our photos from last year too. :)