nonzero.ca
I am still figuring out exactly how this "blog" is going to go. I doubt that I will have interesting things to write every week - but I will try to post something regularly and maybe some photos. Thanks for the comments. They are great!
The weather here has been pretty mild. Usually just below freezing and a bit of snow. I am slowly picking up the whole clothing process. The roomates and I went out to a local bar the other night. The ten minute walk required a polar fleece, a scarf, a tuque, a warm jacket and mittens. All of which was taken off immediately upon entry to the bar. It feels funny getting suited up for everything.
As people in Victoria and Vancouver are learning right now. Good street snow removal is important. In Montreal, they are extremely efficient. Sitting in Tim Horton's yesterday I witnessed a convoy of two plows, two graders then two sanders clearing a downtown street. This evening I watched a fleet of tow trucks come through our neighbourhood with sirens wailing - warning people to move their cars or get towed - a snow convoy was on it's way. Very effective.
Late last week I made one of those great trips to IKEA. Bought a lamp, desk, dresser and some photo frames. All of it arrived today via a delivery company (no desks allowed on the bus) and I spent part of today assembling all the particle board pieces. It is really nice to have my room setup and feeling like my own space. It is something that I never did on work terms, as they were only four months long, but I really should have.
I still have a ton of stuff coming from Victoria. Still missing from these photos is my bike, the trainer, my Jan Ullrich poster and all my damned textbooks.
Jeff asked me last week for photos of girls. I wish. Unless I am indoors and somewhere very warm, they wear more clothes than I do. I could maybe upload some recordings of their french accents though...
Jeanine also asked me about the metro system here. It sure is no Kiev subway - but it is pretty good. You only have to descend a storey or two (it seemed like ten in Kiev) and downtown is full of tunnels (to minimize the required outdoor time).
Ok, all for now. I will write something soon about the biggest differences I have noticed between McGill and Uvic ... and I guess about being a grad student.
Posted by Alistair Howard at January 11, 2005 12:01 PM
The computer desk set-up looks nice. I like the minimalism. And the new laptop...post pics of that beauty if we're going to have to go without the girls.
Posted by: Jeff Werner at January 11, 2005 02:12 AM
Nice hardwood floors! I'm very impressed w/ the decorating so far, Alistair. Have you by any chance been watching Trading Spaces? :-P
Posted by: Sandra at January 11, 2005 12:01 PM
Hi,
We, on the other hand, noticed the chocolate orange!
Posted by: Rebecca at January 11, 2005 12:15 PM
Jeff, you want to see a picture of Alistair's computer? here you go:
http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~mfhoward/2.jpg
Posted by: Malcolm at January 17, 2005 03:08 AM