Right. I’m off then.

Or I will be tomorrow. Two weeks in Scotland with the Goode Ladywyfe and the Heir for his first ever Christmas. Second Christmas will be in New Brunswick. Third Christmas in Montreal. Or maybe Cuba.

I have co-workers taking off for holidays in sunnier climes. My boss is going to Vietnam. But for me, there should always be a family element to Christmas, even if it just involves a tin of Quality Street, several rum and cokes, and hours of cheesy holiday programming. But it’s also tempting to say, ‘to Hell with all that pressure. I’m doing Christmas on a beach.’

That said, I’m looking forward to my second Christmas and New Year’s in Scotland, as well as the recently added side trip to Silverstone to visit the goode ladywyfe’s Auntie Andrea. I’m not looking forward to the 18 hours it’s going to take to get there but so long as we can keep the Heir happy, we’re happy.

We’ll even take the lad down to the town centre to usher in Hogmany. I probably won’t drink as much whisky this year, however.

You can’t jump a jet plane like you can a freight train

Because if the jet engines didn’t kill you, you’d probably get arrested.

On Friday, the goode ladywyfe and I are taking the heir to visit his family in Scotland. I always get a little antsy about international travel in the best of times. Now, we’re adding a 3 month old to the mix.

The trip will likely be Montreal-Ottawa-London, Heathrow Express to Paddington, Cab to Euston station, Virgin Rail to Carlisle, Car to Langholm. Our little guy is a pretty good traveler but this is going to be a challenge. It’ll be almost 12 hours of travel plus the bits where we’re waiting around. Plus this needs to be done while dragging two suitcases, a carry-on, a diaper bag, and a stroller. And that’s packing light.

I’m hoping he’ll learn to sleep through anything after this.

Meat Puppet

Yeah, it’s some viral video from Diesel. I’m not even sure what Diesel sells (is it clothes?) but this is just funny. And bizarre.

Maybe we’re all supposed to become vegetarians or something.

Andy Samberg’s 2008 Christmas Present to Us

Thank you, Andy.

Not safe for work in offices where the word ‘jizz’ is not used in polite conversation.

23 Years of Being Ahead of the Curve

I have to state outright that I get very irritated with blog posts that show how the writer was an early adopter of a product or trend that has recently become in vogue. I get equally irritated with “I never owned the product of which you have become tired”.  Oh yes, yes, we’re all better than the dull normals, aren’t we?

That said, the Irish Times is reporting that the latest trend sweeping workplace in these uncertain economic times is bringing your lunch to work. The story even helpfully offers advice on what constitutes an ideal box lunch for those who don’t know what the fridge in the breakroom is for, just in case they had a mind to bring a roast turkey or something. If this is a real, measurable trend and not a reporter’s collection of anecdotes in search of a feature story, then I’ve been preparing for this recession since 1985. 

Until 1985, I lived on the same street as my school so I was expected to go home every day for lunch. High school meant taking a bus to school so I lived on sandwiches of salami, processed cheese slices, and mayo on white bread that sat in my locker at room temperature all morning. Fortunately, I countered the refridgeration problem by adding a frozen juice box. This meant a sandwich with a rectangle imprinted on it. But my juice was at optimum coolness so it was a fair trade. 

This has been a habit that has seen me through university and every job I’ve had until now. I’m not religious about it and I do go out from time to time. But the idea of eating at the staff cafeteria or eating out every day just seems like a waste of money and not the most efficient use of time as you have to go to the place, order the food, wait for them to make the food, pay for the food, eat the food, and leave. Brown bagging it gives you more time for important things like, um, blogging. 

Should probably stop buying coffee at work, though.