Everyone can relax; James has arrived

Whistler, British Colombia. That's where I am. Moved into my place last night and it's pretty nice. Less than 10 minutes walk from town. Share with some ok blokes. The season is shaping up nicely. Halloween is looking promising; my costume is pretty badass. I'll post all about it once I have pictures to go with it. Got myself a guitar at a ridiculously low price from a pawn shop and it's damn good considering. Still have a cold though; after tonight I'm going into solitude until I'm cured. Must be done. Stay in touch kiddies.

As the big day approaches: what is James thinking?

While the big day approaches, less than a week now and I will actually have my own place on the mountain, you would think that images like this one would be what inspires me and instils me with a feeling of hope, awe and excitement.

But the sad truth is that it is images like this one that are what really motivate me. Yup; this is a picture of pretty much every one of my worldly possessions stacked ever-so carefully in the corner of my hostel. Do you have any idea what it is like to live out of a bag for 5 months? No really just try to picture it. You can’t spread your stuff out, you have to constantly be locking away your things and conscious of where you have left something, you can’t get any new stuff for fear of not being able to fit it in your bag. At this stage my bag is absolutely 110% full. I had to buy pants and a jacket for boarding? I am going to have to wear them on the bus. So you know what I am going to do Monday night? No, not walk outside and enjoy the mountain air. No, not go down to the local bar and meet people and start to do some social networking. You know what I’m going to do Monday night? I’m going to unpack. Slowly and carefully unpack and put everything right where it is going to stay for the next six months. Hulla-fucking-lujah.

Digging up the past

I know many of you might be looking at this just because you are bored and have nothing better to do. Good for you. But if you REALLY have nothing to do. You should check this out:

http://members.iinet.net.au/~jthorpe1/

This is a little site I made way back in the day while in high school. Half the picture links aren't working but some of the content deserves a second look. If any of you know David Kennedy at all this is an absolute must. Pay special attention to the David section and the first comic competition. Does anyone remember what Kenny used to be like? I miss him.


Likewise for the Miles section as well as the Quote of the Day. And finally, if you check out the few remaining working links in the Drawings section; you may easily reach the conclusion that I took way too much acid in high school.

Timberland

Hey kids, once again it has been too long since I have written on here and I should really do a bit more in this department. The whole reason I started that blog to keep some sort of record of my travels because God knows my memories from them are pretty much non existent.

One of the best things imaginable happened a few days ago. I got a job on the mountain. Actually, not a job, THE job. I am the sales host for the Ski School in Whistler. Which is not only a pretty cool and prestigious job in itself but it also make doing my CASI certification that much easier. Only catches were that I don’t start for a month and staff housing was full up so I would have to start looking for a place to live; a more expensive and shittier place… But yesterday I got a phone call and more good news! I heard from the recruitment department and apparently people employed as part of the domestic recruitment fair had positions reserved for them in staff housing. I rang them up yesterday and it’s not 100% but I’m pretty sure I can move in on the 30th of Nov. This is fantastic news for one; finding a place was going to be a real pain two; staff housing is by far the cheapest option (about $300-350 a month from what I have heard) and three: I really wanted to stay there for the social aspect.

I got a haircut today. And once again, like every other haircut I have had on this continent (except for one: thanks Sonia! xo) I got absolutely butchered. Although to tell the truth this one isn’t nearly as bad as the last two. After the one I got in Montreal I found a big clump of hair next to my ear that he had completely missed. I’m not surprised the way he came at me was like an uncoordinated Edward Scissor Hands. Now I just look like a regular army boy. Love it.

Lately it seems like whoever walks through the door to my room at the hostel is my new best friend. Finding drinking buddies is essential for keeping myself occupied until I start work. Earlier in the week I was hanging out with a guy from Victoria (the state) and yesterday I went shopping with a guy from Canberra. Last night I went out with a guy from the UK. It’s all a bit crazy really.

I was also supposed to be going out with Richie (my friend who I stayed with at the hostel in Montreal, also went to Québec city with him) tonight but turns out he has to pick up his grandmother from the airport. She is flying in from India tonight.

I tried on these boots yesterday and they are the most comfortable things I have ever come across. In the store they were $315 but I found them online for $199 so I’m pretty happy about that. Once I get an address I’ll get them posted out from the US. Although; I have been told that in working for the mountain I get 20% from their stores in Whistler so I’ll take a look around there. Only catch is that I can’t get a reduction on items already on sale which is exactly what I would be looking for. I am really pulling out all the stops on the boots and easing back on the rest of the gear. Boot fit and comfort is paramount in snowboarding whereas the board and the bindings are less of a factor so I’ll find some cheapies in that department.

So everything is really starting to fall into place and the next 6 months is shaping up to be, to put it mildly; pretty bloody awesome.

This is me trying to tone down the awesomeness of my life so I don’t make those of you who thought you were making the best and most responsible life choices feel too bad about having done so. That’s just how nice a guy I am.

Home away from home

Does anyone still read this thing? No seriously. I wouldn't be surprised because I never update it. Right now I am in Montreal for my last night. Nice and reasonably timed flight at 7am tomorrow. That is going to hurt. The boys are going to kick my ass with 99c shooters at Peel Pub tonight; it's going to hurt. Thanksgiving weekend down in New York City was wild. It was Phil's birthday on Sunday so Saturday night at Sigma Phi Epsilom was absolutely debaucherous. 3 kegs, beer pong, boat races, keg stands... you name it. Frat life is exactly how you would imagine it. I don't know how anyone gets any work done. No really, how does this shit work? Animal House wasn't lying at all. The only thing missing was a Toga Party and Dean Wormer's wife. This is going to be a sad departure; Montreal has become a second home to me. Having said that; where is my first home? From here I am headed to Edmonton for the weekend. Don't ask me why because I can't answer that. I have time to kill before the season and should probably see more of Canada than inside Sir Winston Churchill's. After a quick look around town there it is back to Vancouver for a week or so; catch up with some friends there and then the big one: Whistler. The last straw, the last round of interviews before crunch time. Whistler awaits. This season could prove to be something else entirely. Wish me luck peoples. Peace and much love from the Chateau on the Plateau.