44R jacket. Matching 34/32 slacks. Complimentary 17 dress shirt. Vibrant, yet professional, tie. I’m a time bomb? Okay, not exactly, but considering I put it together in under an hour at Value Village while retaining current-century fashion sensibilities is worthy of a little fist bump. Such was my Friday afternoon last. An unforeseen, panicked shopping […]
I’m Spoiling My Ballot
I don’t want to vote. Like, I really don’t want to vote. This is something that’s been eating at me for years now. There are many reasons for my, let’s put this politely, disinterest in voting, but the most pervasive is the reality that for the past twenty-one years of my adult life, my vote […]
Geology’s God Complex
If I’ve learned anything on LinkedIn, it’s that a lot of geologists fancy themselves climatologists. Expert ones, even. Almost weekly, one or another of my connections likes, shares, or comments on a post that either questions anthropogenic climate change or outright denies it. Some of these articles are obvious partisan rants, borne of frustration and […]
The Return Intern
I have a fantastic idea. It’s a self-serving idea, to be sure, but I believe it to be fantastic nonetheless. I haven’t looked for a job in nearly fifteen years. I haven’t had a job for more than ten of those. But kids age and spouses lose jobs. So like a fledgling, I awkwardly tumbled […]
Know Thy Golden Handcuffs
Aristotle said, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” The man was centuries ahead of his time with that meme-worthy nugget. He was Facebook before Facebook was cool. Or invented. He was also full of shit. Truth is, knowing yourself is the beginning of depression. And self-loathing. Knowing myself has never so much as […]
On the Matter of Voting in Alberta
Four years ago, I voted for the NDP in the Alberta provincial election that shocked the wor … country. Mine wasn’t a principled vote, born more out of mischief and curiosity. I certainly held no love for the splintered conservative party who had governed for 44 years but were now running as two entities. The […]
I Am Albertan and I Am Angry!
I am Albertan and I am angry! Really, really angry! Incredible Hulk in cowboy boots and white Stetson angry! The code of allegiance to the True Alberta Residents Syndicate and Social Society, or TARSandSS, requires that I say that. If I don’t, I risk being branded a traitor and hung, as some of my […]
The Unity We Don’t Know We Have
It’s election time in Alberta. Yay? You are forgiven for thinking election time is perpetual these days, what with the non-stop campaigning that goes on. There’s seemingly no end to the pep rallies, town halls, leadership contests, policy announcements, billboards, radio spots, and television commercials. And don’t get me started on the social media memes. […]
There’s No Vaccine for Layoffs
You think you’re immune, until you discover you aren’t. In February 1995, god that’s nearly thirty years ago, I grew up in a hurry. Or at least my budding work persona did. I was one of five wide-eyed geology students freshly fallen from the Ontario turnip truck in the early weeks of eight month, co-op, […]
A Rediscovered Bucket List
Another new year is upon us and with it comes the ritual making of resolutions. Unless you’re me and gave up doing resolutions after the twin failures of 2015 and 2016. I’ve been resolution free for two straight years and see no reason to alter this uninspiring path going forward. Spilling my guts to all […]