Well, here we are. It has been a year now that I have scribbled these daily thoughts and updates. I am a year older, a few days from turning 30, but not much has changed in my personal life. Some exciting things have happened in terms of my writing: my first poem was published and a second one is slated to be published this fall. Now that this project is done I am looking forward to focusing more on my prose and practicing my skills. A friend has suggested that I start another year long project but of another nature and I am considering it, but for now I want to live and write without constraints so I will see what flows from the pen, or should I say keystrokes, and wait before starting another long commitment.

March 2nd: It is down to the final week now. I have to admit I am kind of happy this little project is almost over.

March 3rd: I am excited to see Sucker Punch in theaters! 300 and The Watchmen were visually stunning so I can’t wait to see what this new movie will bring.

March 4th: I had a fun night with my former roommates. Nothing like a night of drinking and video games to unwind and catch up with old friends.

March 5th: I’m glad I got to see my buddy Steve this weekend. With him being in Ottawa now it’s definitely not as easy as it used to be to see him.

March 6th: The weekend flew by and I had a blast! Back to serious things tomorrow I suppose.

March 7th: I realized today that the scar from the gash I got on my thumb a while back healed into the shape of two eyes and a frown.

March 8th: I would like to wish a Happy Birthday to my dad today! Happy Birthday!

February 23rd: I decided to stop acting like a bum and got my hair cut tonight. Always a nice feeling to have your hair freshly cut.

February 24th: I am starting to run out of pages in this journal. I am surprised that I have filled 200 pages writing these daily updates over the past year.

February 25th: Finally the weekend. Time to kick back and enjoy some downtime.

February 26th: Good win for the Habs, especially with Auld in nets. We are quickly approaching the playoffs!

February 27th: I finished Mass Effect 2 today and I must say it was one of the best video games I have played in terms of story writing. Roger Ebert can try to convince himself that video games are not art, but the fact is this 30 hour video game has a better story than most commercial movies out last year.

February 28th: My potatoes were quite dry at lunch so I poured synthetic maple syrup I found in the kitchen at work on them. Not my best idea of the day…

March 1st: In an effect to keep better track of my spending I have setup some excel spreadsheets to track all expenses. In the next few months I will be able to gauge where I overspend and hopefully it will motivate me to spend less!

February 16th: Hurray for hump day, that wonderful halfway point between day 1 and Friday! Note the difference in my views on the days of the week.

February 17th: I can’t believe I got shushed from across the hall, especially considering the amount of noise that couple makes when they fight.

February 18th: It was 7 degrees and raining today, which is bizarre for mid-February. This winter season has been the weirdest one in many years. Hopefully spring is not far away.

February 19th: It’s rare I find new music I like these days, so I was excited to come across a new band called Howl. Interesting stuff so far, but I still need to give the album a full listen.

February 20th: Today I had breakfast with my good friend Lara-Alexandra. She is right, you don’t need big extensive activities to catch up. Sometimes just a quick hour together is all you need.

February 21st: I may not have had the day off for Family Day like those in Ontario, but at least I had a quiet day where I could take care of my stuff in peace without getting hassled.

February 22nd: This project is starting to wind down and I am looking ahead to what I will do next. I’ve had a few suggestions already, I just need to think about what sounds the most interesting.

February 9th: I had a great night with my good buddy Jon. The Habs game was chaotic but it made for an interesting evening.

February 10th: Time to get a new alarm clock. I have gone through two in the past two years… but I swear I’m not being violent with them!

February 11th: Another week down. Today was a surprisingly satisfying work day; I had some new challenges, I was thoroughly busy without feeling rushed and the day was over before I knew it. And now, the weekend!

February 12th: There was no communication today: no spoken word, no sent messages. Just myself and my thoughts to chase each other around in my head. Pretty boring for a Saturday night, but soothing.

February 13th: On some nights in the last moments before I go to sleep I look out into the night at the omnipresent orange glow. I remember those true black nights out in the country away from the city’s pulse. On most days I love the lights and busy streets, but tonight I long to be back in the cover of a dark night. To be safe and home back in the country.

February 14th: My valentine’s day consisted of looking for new winter boots, unsuccessfully, and reading more of The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, which is as far as one can get from romantic love in a book.

February 15th: I bought a new pair of winter boots because I kicked a hole through my old pair with my big toe. Hurray for me!

February 2nd: I must say that this week has gone by faster than expected. Two more days until the weekend.

February 3rd: The squigee kids are taking a more assertive approach when trying to get change. A few times now on the corner of Sherbrooke and Saint-Urbain they have cleaned the windows of a stopped bus and then knock on the window to get change from you. Interesting idea, I haven’t seen it work yet, but it must from time to tome and that’s probably no different than when they clean car windows.

February 4th: I can’t believe I am getting sick again. I hope this sore throat is just a one day fluke…

February 5th: Why do I always get sick on the weekends?

February 6th: Here is a quick question for of all of you: is the rise of internet trolls just another sign that mankind is doomed? I think back to all the times I have read comments on various internet sites and blogs, and more often than not I feel a little dumber, a little more disillusioned with the ideas that are out there. I have to train myself not to waste my mental energies on internet trolls, racists, ideological zealots and the rest of the scum on the internet.

February 7th: The cough is almost gone but my throat is still killing me. Also, I am down to to my last month of this year long project. It’s probably for the best as I feel I am ready to move on to something else.

February 8th: Staying home sick makes for a boring day. It also doesn’t help to know I will have to make up the lost time for the rest of the week.

January 26th: In a few months I will be moving to a new apartment. The feeling you get once the move is done is one of optimism and possibilities, and that is what I need to feel right now. The work leading up to the move fills me with anxiety though.

January 27th: Another screaming couple in my building tonight, except this time the cops came knocking. July 1st can’t get here soon enough…

January 28th: The violent protests in Egypt are almost alien in their impact. It is hard for a Canadian born and raised in Quebec in the 20th century to fathom the complete breakdown in the social fabric. Nor can I truly understand what my good friend and coworker Arlen is thinking as he watches the news footage knowing his family is in Egypt. They may be far away from downtown Cairo but that does nothing to ease the fears, especially considering the country’s political, economic and religious future is changing. All that can be hoped is that some good might come from whatever change is eventually coming, because for now it’s hard to see any positive light in the events unfolding in Egypt.

January 29th: I was flipping through an unfinished notebook that I partly ruined with water and I was sad to find so little redeemable writing. Time to move on to a new notebook and new ideas I suppose.

January 30th: What a strange feeling. I was convinced it was a quarter to midnight so I prepared for bed. I got under the covers and reached over to set my alarm when I realized it’s only 10:30. Not sure where I thought the time went but apparently I still have a little more of it.

January 31st: That’s three Mondays in a row with minus 20 weather. It’s almost like something is trying to tell me something…

February 1st: Great come-from-behind win for the Habs. The real season has begun!

January 19th: I had something great planned for today’s entry but I forgot it on the way home. Now I’m not sure what to write so I decided to simply share this little frustration.

January 20th: If you think English sitcoms are bad, you should see some of the French ones they have here in Quebec. Terrible!

January 21st: The first week back at work is done, now I can enjoy the weekend!

January 22nd: What an emotional night with former captain Saku Koivu in town. Thanks for all the great memories!

January 23rd: I am glad I am not outside. Minus 35 does not look like fun.

January 24th: Cold one today. It’s been a while since this area has hit below -35 Celsius. Waiting 10 minutes for the bus to arrive was painful, especially once the feeling started coming back to my legs. Chances are we won’t hit that kind of cold again for a few more weeks, but then again you never know in this country. We’ve been overdue for a real cold winter here on the east side of Canada.

January 25th: I don’t know why people past 35 feel the need to pretend they are still young. I am 29 with a full-time job and big plans in life. I don’t feel the need to party like I am 18 again on a Tuesday night… Fuck what an annoying woman.

January 12th: Mad Magazine should stick to publishing print aimed at teenagers. Didn’t they learn anything from Mad TV?

January 13th: I had a nice evening playing pool with Jen. Tasty taco platter at Carlos & Pepe’s and some time at Sharx makes for a chill evening.

January 14th: Well it had to come to an end, I am down to my last few days off. One more weekend until it’s back to work. Sigh.

January 15th: One more day until the return to work. You can’t make me go back! *pouts in a corner*

January 16th: How am I supposed to write something meaningful if I have never lived a meaningful life?

January 17th: It figures that the first day back at work would be the first day below -20 Celsius of winter.

January 18th: If you are not right for each other just move on and find something better. Stop arguing every night!