actually, for an ice floe this is really quite comfortable

I just had to fill out a questionnaire online. When it came time to pick my age, I had to put myself in the "35-49" category. Ugh. My opinion is the same as someone's grandpa when it comes to filling out surveys. And just 10 days ago I was still completely relevant.

Something this powerful cannot be diluted

It's almost 4:30 in the morning, and I have been awake for an hour. Which is good, because on Wednesday of this week I will need to be leaving my house by now to go to work. Every 2 weeks or so we need to be in our stores by 5:00 am, something I'm not sure I've ever done before. Should be interesting.

I've spent the last hour doing homework, something I should have been doing all weekend but couldn't bring myself to actually pick up. The last 48 hours has been entirely Kong related. Also there was some shopping, but I'm choosing not to focus on that. I've decided that I need to embrace my utter lack of clothing originality and just get with the fact that I am a TipTop Tailor kind of guy. If and when I ever have any real money to spend, I would do well to remember that and not fool myself into thinking I need to upgrade to Harry Rosen. That just gets expensive.

But back to the various simian delights. From opening The Production Diaries, something I never in a million years thought I was going to need (but I completely do) to seeing the movie for the first of what will undoubtedly be many many times, to the great birthday dinner where 3 different large parties felt the need to launch into a spontaneous happy birthday sing-off to Meredith's christmas do, Saturday was as nice a day as I have ever had to celebrate my birthday in. Once again I am ever grateful to still have so many people to celebrate it with. Wasn't I supposed to be isolated and bitter by now? What happened to that plan, dammit?

Sunday was brunched up with Leah's cousin getting engaged in front of many people who's faces I recognized and who's names always escape me. I am just no damn good with the names. What is wrong with me? (Don't answer that.) Then it was back to Kong, with the long rumoured jumbo sized mamo and a birthday present of even more Peter Jackson with the director's cut of The Frighteners.

Mamo continues to surprise me at just how much fun it is, still after 30 of these things. I think I truly have found something I would do for free; spout off on whatever takes my fancy. Then home to a simple repast of salad, cheese and bread, some dvd collection cataloguing and the aforementioned homework. I was in bed by 10:30, up again 5 hours later (something I have learned not to question is my body's ability to just wake up for no reason once in a while) and more homework at that point. I am going to spend the next hour finishing up as much reading as I can do, then drive to work and visualize myself delegating responsibly. Then maybe some lunch.

panther quick and leather tough

I made myself some elk for dinner tonight. And it was good.

The great thing about having a butcher, as opposed to shopping at loblaws, is that I'm not scared to ask for advice. Things don't have to be so complicated, food wise. I love trying new stuff, and the best part is it isn't even expensive.

There's only about four basic rules for food, and after that it's just about how you combine them.

1) Always cream the butter and the sugar.
2) Sear, don't steam.
3) Don't burn the eggs.
4) Work clean.

If you can do these four things well, you can cook. period. everything else is just technique and bullshit.