My visit to the nation's capital has ended just about the same way that it started: running to make sure I make the train... While the stay was pleasant (if not particularly exhilirating) by itself, it was probably due to the fact that we had a freak snowstorm on the night we arrived after I went to sleep.

The veneer of 20+ cm of snow upon the city was wonderful to see, except when you have to navigate through the slush. Even then, I spent Saturday walking in the city, eyeballing the various museums.

As for my host, I don't know how good he is as a scuba teacher (although my mother doesn't seem to have any complaints) but the diver prince seem to have a personality not unlike one displayed by Willy Wonka. Not a bad host (almost felt like in a youth hostel), the man itself was scattered and seem to have difficulty focusing on anything outside the narrow field of his hobby.

One interesting thing was that I had access to his film library. Unsuprisingly, there was a lot of nautically-related (from Big Blue to Hunt for the Red October), but it was 2 totally non-related items that drew my eye...

1. An almost complete set of the Sharpe's series, which I never actually watched before. I have to admit that, after watching an episode, I can understand the appeal as it feels like a Napoleonic-era A-team.
2. And the 80's soft core sci-fi flix Heavy Metal. Which is kind of weird film to find in such a worldly man's repertoire.

Watching Sharpe, I decided to take some notes and I'll probably add it to my data. After all, even if it's not chrologically correct, it can be easily adapted.

As for my MtG pick, I've drawn CEPHALID RETAINER, which seems to fit with our gracious host.

Still racking up the hours at BigMediaCo. Somewhat regretting not enforcing the issue of taking days off to my superiors. I get the feeling that I won't be able to take any one day off until my real vacation starts 5 weeks from now. Sigh

Since today is officially the first day of my second season of data gathering, I can't wait to see what this year will bring. Adding stuff from Vancouver will provide some interesting perspective I would think.

Of course all this pales compared to what's happening in New Orleans. Watching the events unfold are even more heart-wrenching than 9/11 because there is no one to get back at, there's no rhyme or reason as it is after all a (insert irony) natural act. Never been to that area and I don't know if I ever will. I guess this is gonna provide me some additional incentive to travel. After all truly nothing is eternal ever more...

Even if it's nowhere close the level of devastation, it kind of reminds me of what happened in 1998 with the ice storm in the Greater Montreal Hub. It was a harrowing 2 weeks and I genuinely was afraid for my mum's well-being. Good thing, some friend of hers had her moved in with them.

For me, it was work / going to Long Eye checking up on the house for damage, looters, and the like, sleeping a few hours in the empty house and then going back by bus. And then there was the day that rumours were spreading of how all traffic and metro access to the South Shore would be cut and speculation that the City's water system would become inoperable. The PHB of the department I worked at the time had this great idea. Evacuate people by SENIORITY. Not, according to distance or risk, not on a voluntary basis but a mandatory evac for full-time employees. And a couple days after that, his plan to "thank" those who had to stay behind was to offer a certificate of merit!!! Fortunately for the moron, he had been talked out of it but to this day, I think it was one of the worst decision I've faced that affected myself in a negative way.

The card I've drawn is CEPHALID ILLUSIONIST. Underwater illusion, hmm... Looks like a Buddhist version of Katrina coverage.