Wednesday 30 January 2008

#27 Buy a new mobile phone

Status: More frustrated than that time I saw Bodie laugh at the Meet The Spartans trailer

New from Samsung - the sleek, sexy, seriously infuriating M300. For an exorbitant amount, you can snap up this cellular swiz, complete with a host of utterly dissatisfying features:

  • pre-emptive SMS feature that completely freezes your phone, effectively pre-empting you from typing anything
  • smooth, stylish fonts evocative of those featured in '80s era arcade games
  • gaudy yellow interface (the technical colour may be "melted butter")
  • a large selection of ear-piercing ringtones, not recommended for use near large panes of glass
  • 7 pixel camera (not to be confused with a 7 megapixel camera) that presumably captures your soul as it captures your dim, blurry image
  • available in 13,728,405 different pricing structures, each more confusing than the one before it (and paradoxically, the final pricing structure is more mind-boggling than the first one)
It does have one redeeming feature: a three-inch armour coating, capable of resisting even the most severe of knocks. It even survived a tumble down an ascending escalator, a fall which, theoretically, could have lasted for ever.

#66 See the Northern Lights

Status: Nevermind

Despite, a possible faint sighting on my final night in Flin Flon, this task remains incomplete.

I did, however, recently see The Golden Compass, an adaptation of Philip Pullman's Northern Lights. Does that count? No? Wasn't even worth trying, was it?

Monday 14 January 2008

#69 Try eggnog

Status: I came, I poured, I got stonkered

Well, not really. But the rum sure does take the edge of what is essentially, er, egg in a glass.

Surprisingly delicious.

#18 Find accommodation in Canada

Status: Sheltered

Having confirmed on Christmas day that Bodie and I had a Canadian home (how's that for a present!), we both moved in last week.

Just off-campus, the house is walking distance to Jackie's place, the University transit centre and Whyte Avenue. The only downside is it is the most static electricity-charged place on Earth.

(For those who to flood me with gifts, my new address is on Facebook.)

Tuesday 1 January 2008

#70 Ride a snowmobile

Status: On ice

After various flight/luggage/visa dramas, I made it to Canada safe and sound.

Within two days, courtesy of some friends of Jackie's mother, I was careening about on a frozen lake on a snowmobile. Looks like I know what I'm doing, huh?

I was initially taken for a ride as a passenger, when the snowmobile broke down a couple of hundred metres from our base. After walking back (snow is surprisingly arduous to walk through, despite the fact I've probably said the same thing about grass or, er, carpet), we set off again, with much better luck. And soon enough, against all odds and licencing laws, I was off on my own.

Zooming along at 40 miles per hour, in -15°C temperature (-32°C with wind chill), wearing every single item of clothing I own, I somehow managed to survive! Who'da thunk it?