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Vancouver drivers

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Vancouver, 2001.08.13

If the sudden gaps in my journal are any indication, I'm starting to have a life again! This weekend, Ken, Heidi, Charlie and I went hiking/camping in the interior. Went to Manning park, and stayed somewhere in the three-brothers region. Our main objective was to learn about camp coking, and I think we did (even me, though my main contribution was to act as foil, it seems).

I got out for a real spin on my bike this aft. Went to demonstrate a connection between my cell phone number and my home address, to meet the bank's paper requirements. I had to take my phone bill, and it's a fair haul, so I thought it best to take my bike at 4:30. I've learned a few important things:

Vancouver drivers are even worse than Torontonians (though less aggressive). They seem to pick and choose the street signs they'll obey at random.

A possible reason for this is the distraction caused by all of the scantily clad women on in-line skates. No wonder in-line skates are banned in Sydney!

I managed to avoid major injury, but my bike is clearly in need of help. I made an appointment to have it checked out. The best they could do was Monday!

Actually, I lie. I'm also in need of help. Used to be able to cycle twenty/thirty blocks I just put in without raising a sweat. No more!

rand()m quote

One day you will take a fork in the road, and you're going to have to make a decision about which direction you want to go. If you go one way, you can be somebody. You will have to make compromises and you will have to turn your back on your friends. But you will be a member of the club and you will get promoted and get good assignments. Or you can go the other way and you can do something [...] for yourself. If you decide to do something, you may not get promoted and get good assignments and you certainly will not be a favorite of your superiors. But you won't have to compromise yourself. To be somebody or to do something. In life there is often a roll call. That's when you have to make a decision. To be or to do.

—John Boyd, US Air Force