Best Cab Driver Ever

So I am on my way from Ottawa to Winnipeg for meetings. I had to cab it from my new home to the airport. This is just part of traveling.

I had the best cab driver ever.

First he asked me which route to take to the airport. Seriously, I have never had that happen in my life. Then his phone rang. He asked me if it was or for him to answer. How courteous is that!

It is rare to see service that great in these times, however with a sluggish economy, that is exactly what you should see. Good service is an attitude to have the customer a part of the service delivery. I really don't know which route is faster but having the option is truly unique.

I don't expect this to become the norm but it is nice to see from time to time.

I took a routine taxi ride to the airport and had the best driver ever.

The Walk

I started my new job this week. I found a place within walking distance. It's a longer walk but it is quite manageable.

On the first day of work it had rained the night before. It was rather slippery. At one point I was doing the Bambi on ice. I could have but my skates on and skated in a few places. I did make it to work so all was well. It took me a bit longer to get there but I made it. On the way home yesterday it had warmed up and was raining very lightly. It was a bit damp but very manageable.

Today it was warmer. It was a fairly steady rain this morning. It let off as I walked to work. I managed to cut 7 minutes off my time from the first day. The best trip has been the walk home today. There was some sun, it was dry and 12 degrees C. It was a very nice walk. Walking home is a bit easier as it is primarily down hill. It is nice to have that at the end of the day.

I know there will be some colder, nastier days but I'm from Manitoba. I have seen some really bad winter days.

So far I seem to be enjoying this walking to work. I can see this getting better as my body gets more used to it. I also need to get back into my gym routine. With that I will be improving my fitness to where it should be.

I live in a new city and I like it so far.

Quickness

I was walking about downtown Ottawa today. I headed from my place to the Rideau Centre. This is a part of my walk to work. I think my walk to work is going to take longer than my walk home. It is up hill. It seems to be more up hill than I first realized. It is not insurmountable. I did notice that going home was a much easier walk. I was also walking into a very stiff breeze. This probably added to the effort. I realize this in not mountain climbing but I'm from Winnipeg (read very flat.)

I am excited to be walking to work.

There is the cost savings. I will not be spending money on a bus pass or fuel for my vehicle. This is always a benefit.

There is the fitness aspect. Walking between 25 and 30 minutes twice a day, 5 days a week will be a good addition to my fitness routine.

I think the biggest benefit is the quickness factor of walking. I have discovered downtown Ottawa rush hour traffic is ridiculous. It moves slow. People drive like idiots. It is difficult to make turns. The downtown area is not designed to drive to work. By walking I will be able to move quickly. I will be able to keep moving when traffic is at a standstill. I will not have to wait for public transit. I will not be tied to a schedule. I can stop and take care of errands on the way home. I will be able to enjoy the city atmosphere.

I realize a rainy day will lessen my enjoyment as will very cold weather. In January I will be walking in the dark. Considering all that, I will probably miss the walk once I get into it. I have not been exercising since I left for my house hunting trip. I need to get back at it. Having said that I have missed my regular exercise and I will have to get back at it.

There are pros and cons to every course of action. I see the pros of this walk to work significantly outweighing the cons.

I'm looking forward to work on Monday.

Connecting Digitally

This evening I was watching a documentary on CBC about how we have become so connected and how it may not be good for us. I don't know if this is a true. I am very connected. You can pretty much get in touch with me by multiple methods at any time you want. I don't find it stressful and I don't find it extends my workday.

Laptops, tablets, and smartphones are tools.

A tool is only as effective as the person who uses it. In society we must ensure we use technology to effect. We must leverage the technology to improve our lives.

The first thing is you must know how to prioritize your tasks. This is not new. This has been an issue in the workplace since there were locations with people working in them. A smartphone does not tell you what to do first. A smartphone sends receives, and processes information. This is what you use the tool for. It does not make decisions for you.

I think a lot of people expect their technology to do their job for them.

The human input has been and will always be the most important part of work. We can use tools to organize, find and manipulate information but ultimately we must continue to make the decisions.

It maybe that connective technology is just faster at exposing people's weaknesses. It shows who can and who can't prioritize themselves and their tasks. It shows who makes and who doesn't make decisions. It shows who is good and who isn't.

There is the same amount of work. If you can get it done quicker and more timely it should allow you to shift your free time to when you want it.

I see a lot of people using technology poorly. We need to figure out how to use our tools better.

Looking Good

Today I drove from Thunder Bay to Sault Ste Marie Ontario. The highway works its way around Lake Superior. It meanders in and out of the bush. This is one of the most scenic drives in Canada. It is not a short or easy drive. Parts of it are very curvy and hilly however, some of the views along the way are amazing.

Canada is a vast nation. I have been to many but not all parts yet. I think a true Canadian experience is to drive the north shore of Lake Superior. It is a two lane highway the whole way. Several passing lanes make it possible to get around slower traffic at various times. It is not the fastest route between these two Ontario cities but it sure looks good.

This may be one of the most difficult drives to make in Canada. I have driven through BC and I found it an easier drive than either time I drove this route. It is full of curves and hills. There is very little straight road. Around Marathon Ontario, you could be in any number of mountain ranges.

The most enjoyable part of the trip was to come out of the bush and there was the lake. Looking out down the hill to the water below with the hills above. The raw and rugged beauty is obvious everywhere you look.

If you are travelling from one end of Canada to the other, I recommend you travel highway 17 along Lake Superior. You will enjoy the view.

Delays

As I relocate from Winnipeg to Ottawa I have to travel from one to the other. Today was the first leg of the drive. I went from Winnipeg to Thunder Bay. Sounds easy enough.

There were a few delays.

The Elevator. Yes the elevator in the hotel in Winnipeg delayed me. It would not come to my floor and pick me up. I would push the button, the light would go out but no door would open. This happened several times.

The Accidents. As I was driving down Fermor Ave in Winnipeg and I approached Lagimodiere Blvd, the road was closed by a police cruiser. No big deal, I will just zip down to the Perimeter Highway and zip around to the Number 1. When I got to the interchange at the Trans-Canada it was closed so I had to go up to Dugald Rd and back down PTH 207 to Deacon's Corner.

The Restaurant. I stopped for lunch in Dryden ON. I sat down in a restaurant I have ate at several times. It took over twenty minutes for someone to come over and greet me.

The Semi in the Ditch. There was a semi being towed out of the ditch that stopped traffic for at least 25 minutes.

The Snowplough. I caught up to a snowplough going 50 km/h. It was ploughing the shoulder, not the driving lane.

Now there are some upsides to the trip today.

I arrived safely.

I am closer to the destination.

I did the only time change required on the trip.

I may sound as if I am complaining. I may be a bit but when you are driving all day it is easy to get a bit grumpy. Some of these delays are part of travelling. Some are caused by people doing their jobs poorly. It doesn't really matter in the end.

Tomorrow I drive to Sault Ste Marie and the adventure continues.

One Great City

The Weakerthans wrote a song about Winnipeg titled, "One Great City." in it they talk about everything that is wrong with Winnipeg. The idea is everyone in Winnipeg knows everything that is wrong with this city but Winnipeggers will vigorously defend their city. I am like that as well.

I have always lived in Manitoba. Tomorrow I leave this province as I move to Ottawa. I will always seeManitoba as home. I may never live here again or I may move back some day. I don't know what the future has in store for me in that aspect of life.

I am excited to be moving but in the last few days I have noticed that this move has become real. I have returned my keys ton my Winnipeg landlord. I am holed up in a hotel. Everyone wants to see me again before I leave. I'm sure this is natural. I want to see my friends too as they are what I will miss the most. It is much easier to stay connected over distance in 2010 but it's the sitting and having a beer and a great conversation that I will miss. I'm sure I will make more friends in Ottawa but I have really good ones here.

Leaving my apartment was tougher than I thought. I have a lot of great memories there. It's the longest I've lived in one place in my life. It was a nice place in a great location. It's part of what defined me for the last 8 years. Many concerts and hockey games started in my place. Everyone was always welcome and great times were had. It quickly felt like home and I can't believe I'm leaving it. I know there will be good times ahead.

I know a lot of people in Winnipeg. It is not uncommon to randomly come across people while in the mall or the grocery store. It will take a long time to know that many people in Ottawa, if I ever get to that level. I like a certain level of anonymity but I like some familiarity as well.

And up above us all, leaning into sky, a golden business boy, will watch the north end die.

I will always have a place for Winnipeg.

Coming and Going

As I am relocating from Winnipeg to Ottawa there are a few things that I am going to miss in Winnipeg and a few things I am looking forward to enjoying in Ottawa. This is a normal part of moving and changing.

A few of the things I'm going to miss in Winnipeg are...

Bomber Games. I am a huge Winnipeg Blue Bomber fan. I enjoy going to the games. The atmosphere, the crowd and the trough. The Bombers are not in Ottawa and I will only get to go to a couple of games a year, if even that much.

Socials. In Manitoba you can always have a social. You need to raise money, have a social. You want to celebrate, have a social. Despite all the bad socials I have been to I have been to a lot more good socials. Some of my best fuzzy memories are from socials.

Winnipeg Old Country Bologna. Yes, I am going to miss a deli meat. But this is the best bologna in the world. It is well spiced and has great flavour. The plant is inspected provincially so you can't sell it outside Manitoba, as such, I will not be able to buy it in Ottawa.

The Pal. I don't go very often but I am always entertained when I do. It is a unique vortex in Winnipeg night life. Yes there are cougars. Yes there are guys chasing cougars. But there is also so much more.

Montana's at Polo Park. It's just like every other Montana's out there except for a long time the staff was great. I ended up spending a lot of time there. I even took some of the bartenders flying, that's how much time I spent there. I can get the food at any Montana's but being able to walk in and everyone knows you is a unique feeling.

There is a lot more that I will miss. Winnipeg is a unique city and it has its quirks.

There are a few things I am looking forward to in Ottawa...

Shorter Winter. I once said the best thing about living in Winnipeg is no matter where you go in the world winter is better. I am ok with snow in mid-December and a melt in early March.

Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwiches. If you have never had one in Ottawa or Montreal, you don't know what you are missing. 8 ounces of thick cut Montreal Smoked Meat on rye bread. It doesn't get much better that that.

Walking to Work. It was usually about 20 minutes to drive to work. I should be able to walk in about 25 from my new place to my office. Only 5 more minutes to get to work and the health, financial, and environmental benefits. The added benefit is I will be walking past Parliament every day. Kind of cool if you ask me.

Proximity. Not only do I get a new city to explore I'm 8 hrs driving to Boston and NYC. 4 hrs driving to Toronto and 2 hours to Montreal. There will be a lot to explore and discover.

Variety. Although Ottawa is a company town there is a lot of variety there. All the embassies (I will be living next door to the Turkish Embassy) and both official languages will help make it a varied experience. I will find my regular places but there is a lot of different in that city.

Last week when I was in Ottawa looking for a place, I was impressed with the city and my want to live there is only growing. Once my stuff is in place, look out, I will be ready to move forward.

I'm moving to Ottawa and I am excited.

So Real

My relocation to the Canada's National Capital has become very real to me this week. I have a place to live, which was the the last big hurdle I had to overcome. It is even available when I wanted it for so I don't have to delay my move.

Through this whole process I have come to realize how integrated you can become in your community. It's a lot more than being near your family and friends. Your community also includes the people you interact with on a regular but occasional basis. I need to find I new barber. It's too bad, it like the one I've been going to for the last 10 years. I need to find a new place to buy my groceries. I need to find a new gas station that's convenient. These are the little things that I will have to deal with.

The big parts of relocating are taken care of. All the details to to find a new home and move myself and my personal effects are cared for. The details of integrating into a community are up to me. Part of this is very exciting. Seeking out the good places and people in a new city will be exciting. Finding new service providers for the things we tend to take for granted will be fun.

I also realize it will take some time to get things rolling. I know a few people and I have some people skills so, it will come together.

I have discovered that Ottawa is going to be a great city. It is a city that people live in. It has pubs and restaurants and bars and shops. It has every convenience and a lot that is unique. I will be walking past Parliament Hill every day to get to work. It is a nice city to move about. It has a pace of life to it. People have purpose. They have a focus and a purpose.

I'm about to start a new chapter in my in a new city. I'm a little bit scared but really excited.

The Sandwich

Eight years ago this week I attended a conference in Ottawa. During that conference I discovered the Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich. Ever since, anytime I have been in Ottawa I have tried to have one. Today I had one for lunch. This sandwich never gets old.

How can you not like eight ounces of thick cut Montreal Smoked Meat on rye bread with mustard. It is very close to a perfect sandwich.

I know that I can't eat one everyday. I could but my health would suffer.

This sandwich is one of many things that will be different when I relocate to the Nation's capital. I plan to embrace the good that my new home will bring. I realize that in will miss things from Winnipeg but I can always enjoy a Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich to take my mind off what I am leaving behind.

Choosing A Neighborhood

Today, as part of my quest for a place to live in Ottawa, I took a look at many neighborhoods. You can have a great space but if it is not in an area you like you will be unhappy.

Choosing the location of your home may be more important than the actual home. The location has to match you. You have to be ok with the type of people you will see. You have to have what you want to see and do around you.

Your location must also meet the needs of your family situation. A family with young children have different needs of single working age people who have different needs of retired folks. You need to match your needs with your community.

For me, at my current spot in life, I want to be in the middle of it all. I want to walk out my door and be living life. I want the energy that people bring. I want to walk to work. This may change as I move through life but this is what I want for now.

I don't know if I could ever live in the suburbs. It just feels so blah. You have to drive everywhere and the streets have no character or energy.

As I work toward finding a place I know what will suit me. Now to secure the space.