Lots of changes going on... mostly for the better.
Driving
I've decided to start driving into work. For the moment, I've had enough of racing to catch trains that never come on any kind of schedule, and pack in tight coming home with the inevitible bums that want to hang out on the train during rush hour. Trains that get above 30 degrees in the summer and stink like urine and stale booze. So when one of my work compadres had a spot to sublet I jumped all over that. Besides, the city of Calgary is planning to start charging to park at the c-train, which will make it a big $40 difference to drive in rather than take the train.
Public transit is broken in Calgary big time. It's not a profit center guys -- it's to get people to stop driving into downtown and polluting so much! This means more trains, free parking, and get rid of the free downtown zone during rush hour. The homeless need lots of help but you're not going to get folks like me using the train as much when they're full of passed out drunks and stinky people looking for money.
Aikido
The new dojo started up this weekend. It's a great space and the time slots are much better. Classes start in the morning whenever you get there and end when you have to leave. Now that I'm driving, I don't have to race for the train and be 20 minutes late if I miss it. It's only a 10 minute drive away first thing in the morning so it work so it's also much faster.
Saturday morning classes also start at 10:30 rather than 8:00 so I get a chance to take the kids in the morning and let Hiyat sleep in. Works better all 'round.
Perhaps the best thing -- I only teach once every 3 weeks. Allows for greater flexability and a whole lot less stress from the dojo senpai.
Work
Everyone that was outsourced is now gone at work. It's sad but it also allows for some clarity and clearing out of some of the negative energy at work. It also means that everyone in the department will be on one floor for the first time and perhaps we can actually start working together.
