So I returned from Edmonton after visiting my brand new niece, Julie. I’m not biased, but she is the cutest baby of all time. You just take a look at this photo and tell me I’m wrong. And if you DO say that I’m wrong (ie. you have girls of your own and feel you are obliged to disagree), I’ll probably just ignore you until you change your mind and say the right thing.
But, seriously, Julie is fantastic and I’m very much going to enjoy being Uncle Sam.
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In the course of an average day, I probably read about a million emails and blog posts and twitter feeds all with information about the interweb, mobile phones, dwarfs and marketing. Ok, that number isn’t quite right — probably closer to two million. Anyway, today I’m looking at one of my usual mobile marketing sites and they have one of those annoying banner ads. You know the ones: “His IQ is 145! Can you beat that? Take the quiz.” and they have a picture of Bill Gates or Stephen Hawking or Bono.
The one I saw today was especially disquieting because it confirmed what I’ve been wondering for a while: those celebrity IQ numbers are total bullshit. “Her IQ is 120. Can you beat that?” coupled with a picture of Paris Hilton. ‘Nuff said.
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We got this really crazy email at the Broadburst office today. I can’t say who it was from. I can’t even speak to the substance of the email. But let’s just say that my grid was blown off its axis and I think our business will never be the same again. At least, I hope so. I know that’s cryptic, but that’s just going to be the way it is.
I like my family. They’re not always the most fun people to be around because all families are psychotic, exactly as Douglas Coupland said. Despite the actions that our parents, siblings and other family members do that drive us crazy… I remember that I’m driving them just as crazy with the things that I do. We’re all equally psychotic.
I think that’s why I like being with my family. Because they’re great people and it makes me remember who I am and where I’ve come from.
So, on Saturday I got up, packed my suitcase and made my way to Abbotsford airport. If you have to fly anywhere and you have a choice between Vancouver and Abbotsford for airports… at Abbotsford, let’s just say that traffic was non-existent, parking was almost half the cost and I was checked in and through security in less than 15 minutes.
Jen and her husband, Don, live in Edmonton, moving there a few years ago for good work opportunities. They bought a nice little house and are now working to expand the Zukowski and Kirk clans by bringing my very first niece/nephew into the world next January. I don’t care whether its a boy or a girl. I’m just excited to see the wee one!
I miss Don and Jen. I liked having the weekly family dinners at my parent’s house and having them at the same table. Now I have to do with Jen’s frequent phone calls where she tells me about how they’re doing and what is new in their world. It’s not as good as seeing them in person. It was fantastic to be in their house, help water their new lawn and join them for a dinner with Don’s family.
It was just sad to have to wake up on Monday and leave for home. Jen and I had a brother-sister breakfast and then went to the airport. I couldn’t help but be a little sad that I was not going to see her for a while. I think, though, that these absences do make the heart grow fonder. I just thought it was a trite saying… but I’m sure, now, that it’s true.
