Winning the war, in three steps

I've recently estimated how much time I spend on work and school every week. It's somewhere between 75-80 hours, which makes sense, work accounting for 40-50 and school for the rest. That's more than ten hours per day, EVERY DAY of the week.

Obviously, something's gotta give. I decided to be really strict about a few things: sleeping and eating well, as well as spending a few hours a week reading something completely unrelated to work/school. What I haven't been strict on is house cleaning. Well, not the actual cleaning, which I done once a month by the lovely staff from Aspen Clean, but the day-to-day picking up, putting away, and so on.

Yesterday, when I came back from seven hours of team work at school, my condo, usually a little oasis of peace and calm, looked more like a war zone. Two or three weeks of not picking up ANYTHING meant that no surface was usable, except for the floor (i.e. I could still walk around). I knew this was the point where I had to act, or else my day of studying today would be spent staring at the mess. It was going to bug me.

As I was making dinner, a very elaborate meal that required no attention from my part while everything was cooking, I attacked on the first front: the kitchen. Emptying the dishwasher was an easy battle, it was already almost empty. The counters and sink were another challenge all together: dirty glasses everywhere (not only in the kitchen, I noticed later on), empty containers that were waiting to be sent to the recycling (at least, they were clean), and a collection of Tupperware containers, including one that was repurposed as a Petri dish.

Then, dinner still on the way, I used the "shock-and-awe" approach to clear the dining room table. The table is often an area of conflict, due mainly to its proximity to the front door. Whatever I have in my hands when walking in ends up on the table as I attend to the alarm. 95% of the paper on the table was instantly directed to where it belongs: the recycling bin. The rest was a collection of bills (some I has already paid), three unread copies of Business in Vancouver (it's a weekly publication OK, give me a break!), and a few other papers I needed to keep (including my annual reminder of how little of my mortgage payments are used to pay down the principal on the condo).

All this in less than 35 minutes. Sweet taste of victory (and my kick-ass tomato sauce).

Finally, the biggest opponent that has been provoking me every night: the caulking around the bathtub. The Tupperware was certainly intended as a distraction from where the enemy was hiding all along. The caulking has a tendency to crack after five or six months, no matter the quality of caulking I apply or the time I spend preparing the surface. Needless to say, it was nowhere near the "bright white" promised by vendors. I had left the caulking tube on my kitchen counter and when I cleared everything else, it resurfaced as a nasty reminder. All right, this had to be done as well.

After all this, I got dressed and dropped by Raf's place for his 30th birthday party. I stayed for a few hours and left when the group made its way to Bar None. I had too much homework today to go to bed late.

I fell asleep almost instantly. Saturday was a good day.

Observations, stories I heard

Burn's night, on January 25, is the reason behind why I saw many guys walking around downtown Vancouver wearing kilts, why my morning radio show was describing how to prepare haggis, and why the Vancouver Club last night had bagpipes playing over the sound system. I was wondering where all this demonstration of Scottish love was coming from.

A garden can be a few cement boxes filled with soil and two rows of tiny green bushes. At least according to the nice people managing the building on Seymour street who would prefer you kept your dog out of there.

You can buy a 12x6 flat in Chelsea for £170,000 (CDN$400,00), should you ever want to live in this lovely neighborhood. Needs a few improvements, was used as storage for construction material for a few years and doesn't have electrical outlets. I can't find the listing, it must have already sold. Yaletown you say?

What does it really mean?

You probably heard about the Conservatives' big announcement about dedicating $1.5 billion to funding alternative energy technologies over the next ten years. This could mean giving a chance for Canada to become a leader in environmental technology. It could mean an increase in jobs in environmental technology. It could mean an increase in cities and provinces using these technologies, and potentially, improving our environment (well, maybe more like reducing how badly we are treating our environment). The problem is, we are investing money in exploring waste management and clean energy while pushing ahead madly on oilsands production. And oilsands production is terribly polluting. According to this other article, "it's already the biggest source of new greenhouse gas emissions in Canada". This announcement is the equivalent of someone deciding to start recycling their glass, paper and metal, while driving a Hummer in the city and spending 90% of their time idle, waiting for the light to turn green.

While I'm all for encouraging innovation, I'm not convinced one bit by any claim that this government cares about the environment. If you care about the environment, introduce a green tax that would penalize polluters. Not only would it force entire industries to revise how they do business, but it would at the same time encourage innovation, as companies would start funding research programs that help them find ways to reduce their impact on the environment.

Call me cynical, call me pessimistic, but a green tax is never going to happen when our government focuses on short-term action meant to only help them win the next election. The push-back from the industry would be swift and extremely powerful in convincing our poor government that their interest lies in letting the corporate world run their businesses as they see fit. The only change that can happen has to be driven by the industry itself. That's what Paul Hawken argues in The Ecology of Commerce. Every executive and business student in the world should read this book.

OK, back to reading about the management of innovation now ;)

Applying business guidelines to non-profit

I just finished reading a wonderful book: Leaving Microsoft to Change the World, by John Wood, the CEO and Founder of Room to Read. If you want to read one inspiring book this year, that's the one. John was an executive at Microsoft who was responsible for the company's expansion and activities in Asia. In 1998, while on vacation in Nepal, he visited a school in an impoverished village. He couldn't believe the state of the school's library: three books left behind by hikers that were locked in a cabinet so the children wouldn't damage them. That's when he knew his life was going to change forever. He promised to return to the school to bring books to the children (proper books, colorful and educational). The story from there is nothing but amazing.

I really connected with the book for three reasons. First, the author is so passionate about his cause, it transpires through the pages of the book. You can feel his dedication. Second, I'm an avid reader and I couldn't imagine not having access to books, both when I was a kid and today. And finally, through the book, John Wood comments on how he decided to run his non-profit along the same lines as one would run a business and how this philosophy has reaped incredible results. If you visit the web site, you will see the focus on research and results, on cost containment and on accountability.

The book also made me think about our Foundation project, and the fact that I didn't feel that I was at a point in time where I could dedicate myself seriously to the cause. Interestingly enough, when I met with Lara and Charles last night to discuss the project, we all came to the same conclusion. I'm working full-time and studying for my MBA. Lara is working full-time and studying for her degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Charles is working and is potentially going to accept an assignment abroad in the next few months. All three of us are at a point where we are expanding our professional experience and learning new skills. Starting the Foundation now would only mean lots of frustration for because of limited achievements. So, as we say in French, this is only "partie remise", but definitely not our focus in 2007.

There's a system after all

After a whirlwind, crazy, almost end-of-semester like week, I'm looking at a weekend that is just as busy. My two courses this semester are going to require a lot of reading over the weekend. Fortunately, the topics are very interesting, much more than Accounting: Management of Innovation and Strategy.

I met with a neurologist here in Vancouver. I still have to hear back from VGH about the MRI, but I'm already scheduled for an EEG. And I have to continue taking the medication they gave me in Montreal, for at least six months. If I don't get another seizure, they might consider taking me off of it. Since this medication is supposed to prevent seizures, how would I get one while I'm taking it? I didn't ask any questions. The good news is, I'm no longer feeling dizzy. The bad news is, I'm not allowed to give blood for the next two years. There was, after all, a reason why they were asking me this question at the Canadian Blood Services.

I booked a flight to Calgary in early March, to meet Annie in Banff and then eventually make our way to Lake Louise for some skiing. I think that'll be a lot of fun, I've never been in Banff. I noticed a strange thing when shopping for my flight. I initially checked Air Canada earlier this week (I usually fly with them) and the tickets were $84 one way and $94 the other way. Hmm... Not great. Then, on Thursday, I received my weekly e-mail with promotions from WestJet. I checked their price for a Vancouver-Calgary flight and it was $69 each way. Better. Before booking, I thought I'd give AC a last chance and, what do you know: prices were down to $69 each way on AC as well! Well, since I collect Aeroplan Miles and already have all my info in their database, I booked with Air Canada. Out of curiosity, I looked at the price for a Vancouver-Calgary flight on AC on Friday: $84 and $94. I get someone at Air Canada gets the same promotional e-mail that I get from WestJet ;) Even stranger, the flights for both airlines were leaving at the same times, throughout the entire day...

Go figure.

What is Vancouver talking about these days?

Take a wild guess... I'll give you a few hints: gusts of 90-100 km/h, accumulation in centimeters (not millimeters), bridges closed, parks closed, trees uprooted, and many, many more.

Trees continue to fall in Stanley Park and the Lions Gate Bridge was closed at rush hour on Tuesday. I looked out my window yesterday it was raining, I walked to school in a hail storm, it was snowing during class (and throughout the night), more people had no electricity last night... I'm telling you, the busiest people on TV these days are the weather presenters.

It snowed pretty much on and off all day, and is snowing again as we speak. They are never going to be able to inflate the BC Place roof again, it's going to be a big snow cone :-)

In the weather forecast for tomorrow: high minus 1, low minus 7, wind chill minus 16 in the morning.

Welcome to the West Coast.

Not much of a weekend... perfect!

Actually, I did quite a bit through the weekend, it just didn't feel like it. My paperwork is up to date, my laundry is done, I baked muffins, made soup, read a few texts for school, cleaned my Hotmail inbox, invited Raf over for dinner Saturday night, rented movies (Bon Cop / Bad Cop and V for Vendetta), made it to the gym, did a bit of personal reading... I feel ready to take on the week which, incidentally, is going to be brutal. I have a 7:30 a.m. start tomorrow, an 8 a.m. start Tuesday (and a class from 6-9:30 p.m.), a 7 a.m. conference call on Wednesday (and another class from 6-9:30 p.m.), should be ready for the weekend by Thursday but then will still have Friday left to work.

As another non-resolution resolution, I have written down three visits to the gym in my weekly schedule, just so I feel compelled to go. Last semester was a disaster and I have so much more energy when I go to the gym regularly. Monday after work, Thursday after work and Saturday morning should be reasonable to maintain. Hopefully ;)

All sorts of news

The big news in Vancouver today is the roof of BC Place that collapsed over the lunch hour. I was sitting at my desk, and suddenly I hear this thumping sound, like the sound of a pile driver. Except that it sounded really close to our building. So I stood up, looked out the window, and here's what I saw: http://rafers.blogspot.com/2007/01/there-goes-bc-landmark.html (Raf got the video from someone in the office who filmed the incident). This large panel of fabric was flapping in the wind, even sent a piece flying into the nearby parking lot. Fortunately, since the roof is inflated, the tear also caused the roof to start collapsing on itself and the ripped fabric wasn't sent flying into traffic. That would have been really bad. What a show!

Less exciting but just as fascinating news was my latest BC Assessment. The value of my property went up 25% since last year. Insane, when you think the prices are already too high, the market demand has a way to prove you wrong.

And good news: I have an appointment with a neurologist next week. I saw my GP today, she can't order the MRI or the EEG, I need to see a specialist before. Lucky for me, I don't have to wait until the spring to see this specialist. Good thing because the medication they gave me in Montreal makes me dizzy and gives me headaches.

Resolutions

I started the year by deciding not to make any resolutions, but I think I should work on one or two personal goals this year. First resolution: send birthday wishes to friends and family. I took the time at one point to capture birthdays on my Palm, but last year had a horrible record of acting on the regular alarms from my PDA.

Second resolution: I will take one course in 2007 unrelated to the MBA. Maybe container gardening at Van Dusen, or a cooking class at the Cookshop, or even beginner golf. Raf, are you reading this? (It's more fun to take a course with a friend...)

Holiday reading

One great advantage of having time off is being able to take the time to read books. Oh, I read all the time, but mainly for school these days. First, I read How to Change the World - Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas by David Bornstein. This was an inspirational book about extraordinary people with little means but great ideas and drive who changed the world around them. Annie bought me a book called Acheter, c'est voter - Le cas du cafe by Laure Waridel. This books talks about fair trade coffee and the coffee industry in general. Did you know that in South America, people drink instant coffee? That's because even though large coffee-producing countries such as Columbia, Brazil and Mexico are in the area, the best beans are sold to the North American and European markets. The coffee sold locally is of a terrible grade, so much that instant coffee actually tastes better. Laure Waridel really makes a case for buying fair trade coffee whenever possible.

Back in the rainy city

Yesterday was spent flying, with a three hour stop in Ottawa, 45 minutes wait for luggage and half-an-hour wait for a cab!! The flight from Montreal to Ottawa was however very cool, in a little plane with propellers. I think it could fit about 36 passengers.

I woke up this morning around 7, still going on Montreal time. I had a look outside where it was pouring rain and windy, then went back to bed.

I posted some pictures from the holidays on my Flickr account. I'm more and more disappointed by the indoors pictures my camera takes. It's very good for outdoors, but when I compare to what my brother can take with his swanky camera, mine's pretty disappointing. I'm supposed to get a few extra pictures from New Years Eve, but you can see Christmas 2006 and pictures from a dinner with old high-school friends. If you visit Dina's Flickr account, you can also see a few pictures of me looking completely uncomfortable with little Naomi. Fortunately, she's a good sport ;)