More to Life than Blogging
Sometimes, well, you just don’t feel like blogging. The past month of my life has been just such a time- what with the holiday season, job searching, a new web project to get up and running AND a research project on the renewable energy sector, well let’s just say entries on Ape Rifle have taken on a rather low priority as of late. I spend much of my time during the week in front of a computer, whether it be to fill out applications or summarize government reports on the commercialization prospects of the hydrogen fuel cell, so when I get home in the evening I find it difficult to sit in front of the computer screen anymore than I need to. So when not authoring one of my now-very-occasional Ape Rifle posts, here is what I get up to:
1) researching the renewable energy sector in Canada for possible investment opportunities (wind and hydrogen to start).
2) looking for employment and/or internships which are both more related to my qualifications in urban development and more career-building than part-time research.
3) going to a fair amount of hockey games to watch the Montreal Canadiens dig themselves out of their current slide.
4) working on posts and ideas for Urban Impressions, and also pestering others to do the same.
5) keeping up-to-date on all the latest China news and online blog chatter. I’ve noticed that more than a few staple China blogs have been quasi-dormant these days- what’s going on? Is the whole thing just getting old? Are we all finally running out of ideas? Can people no longer stomach yet one more “Changing China/Crazy China” story? The movement I knew and loved is perhaps running out of steam; one of China’s most famous bloggers has resigned himself to discussing customer service telephone numbers. Or maybe the Golden Era of the China bloggers I grew up with is coming to a close, to be replaced by a new generation of astute commentators of which I am not aware.
6) desperately trying to maintain my already-not-so-hot abilities in Mandarin. I try to do a few hours a week on my own, but I’ve finally accepted this just won’t cut it. I’m setting up actual lessons, to start soon hopefully.
7) trying not to get sick in the wild temperature fluctuations we’ve been experiencing here in Montreal lately. Last Saturday afternoon, it was pouring rain and hovering around 3C. By Sunday, it was a nice balmy -15C. Yesterday, it hit -18C in the morning (and that’s not even counting wind chill), it is currently -9C and tomorrow the prediction is for….5C! Please stop this train, I want to get off. There is enough ice to slip on already, I don’t think we need anymore freezing rain.
8) volunteering my time for an electoral campaign. Seeing as how I sit in front of a computer all week, what do I do on Sundays? Well, I go sit in front of a computer compiling polling lists, obviously! The work might be tedious, but one of my best friends manages the campaign office (and I don’t see him much, since he’s in Ottawa apart from the election campaign) so I figured I’d lend him a hand and put my money where my mouth is regarding my opinions on citizen participation in democratic processes. As an added bonus, I even got to work the phones the other day!
9) watching the Jackass DVD box set. Yes, despite my deep disgust at the absolute trash that passes for television these days ( I barely even bother to watch it anymore), I will admit that watching grown men ride a tandem bike with no brakes down a hill wearing bunny suits (with a rather inevitable outcome involving a huge crash) makes me laugh. A lot. I might be some cynical, intellectual freak, but I’m also human.
10) trying to make up for the number of hours I was out partying over the holidays through the number of hours of sweet, sweet slumber I can now afford.