Days, weeks and months go by, again and again. My new position as part of the Edison Engineering Development Programme (EEDP) has revealed to be both interesting and challenging, with continuous opportunities for professional development and fulfillment. My first assignment in the aerodynamic and acoustic team was challenging, with limited experience in that field, the learning curve was quite steep. All ended well and I am now getting started with multibody simulations in the enhanced simulation team, interesting stuff. Still 10 weeks (out of 34) or so to go with A-Course (Advanced Course in Engineering), leading us to May, where a well deserved break is anticipated with sequential visits from PAC, LePhilippe and the little brother. Until then, weekly reports and presentations must be complied with. But that’s a lot of work and not so much play, and life should be a lot more about play, than only pay...
After this first rotation, a play-camp had to be scheduled back home. And with the imminence of MartLaf entering a new decade, the promise of highlighting the fact with an epic ski-trip was answered. So, my inner directivity vector aimed at the homeland, for the sake of fun and I must admit, for some introspection.
First stop, 1505 Auguste Comte, newly declared headquarters of Groupe Reaction (http://groupereaction.com/), where Christmas had to be celebrated and convivial times had to be lived. After years abroad, away, elsewhere, it was certainly a warm celebration despite the expat status of brother POBD in Russia. Periodical thoughts about the driving mechanisms which have brought me to flee from home are recurrent. Somehow I cannot help but question the purpose of this exile, which has provided so much in experience and self growth, but has also detached me from those I love and cherish. In the mean time, I had the chance to reconcile with most of them, friends, and despite the utopicity of the life I sometime imagine, life is pretty good and touching ground with the folks provided a replenishment of mojo highly required, for another yearlong journey. Baby step...
Gros Big Champlain pis son Château
After nearly two weeks home, spending time as Santa Claus with Vincent+Karine+kids, the new Leni+Alexe couple, the Mirveille+Kim quasi-lesbian duo, the visit of Darcy and meeting up with GED who had had his kidney surgery postponed, and of course, the parents, warm feelings replenished my lone self. Some people around whom we evolve, despite the distance, share with us something that is untimely and unconditional, such friendship is priceless. British Columbia was calling though, and it was soon time to depart, chase some powder and spend some time in the Purcell mountains.
I tend not to plan things so well. As long as the framework of my thoughts and intentions is clear, the unveiling of the story is always revealed, in a chaotic fashion at a rhythm of freestyle punches. That is how, a long time ago, the B-Factor (http://www.vmqca.qc.ca/chroniquesdegilles/chronique/16-4-2002.html) emerged, to verbalize the act of being partially aware of one’s surrounding, while travelling. Living in my brain, indeed, this tends to characterize me quite well. Missing a flight for a second time in Frankfort, after visiting MSP, and another one in Toronto, within two weeks, certainly had nothing to do with this. Without going into more details, I arrived in Golden on the 29th of December, relatively fresh and hyped on Mother Nature’s beauty and smell. She smells good that one, she doesn’t kiss but still she’s more than sweet!
First Tracks in the Midst of the Kootenays
MatToulouse+Veronique, by coincidence, profited from a week off to visit conjointly the 609 residence, which had just been renovated by PAC, MartLaf+So and cie. Good times in Kicking Horse, and Rogers Pass were had, and a few days later the departure towards the Qua Yurt, in Ymir (http://www.kootenayexperience.com/yurts.htm), was imminent. With GabFortin spreading a bug to the 609 family members, we all succumbed to the virus and puked/shitted ourselves out for the course of one day, which incidentally coincided with the day of departure for me.
Veronique, Toulouse & Out of the Twenties MartLaf
Nevertheless, we reached the Qua hut, and had great times in the snow, celebrating MartLaf’s 30th birthday, proper. While the Yurt didn’t impress us initially, after some cleanup, it soon became quaint and a lovely stay was experienced by all, even IzaLabelle, enjoyed the vomiting in the midst of the Kootenay mountains...
The Loaded Crew, Departing from Qua
Back from the Yurt, some time was spent enjoying ever more of the area, sledding with PAC, skiing the resort or Rogers Pass, drinking beer with all, updating each other on relationshits and future-ex potential maybes, and even freestyle cooking for Mari, Hanne and Kjetil, our new friends from Norway! Golden, as a quasi-recluse town, really offers a lot, and with the 609 crew well anchored there, there is no better place to be while vacationing!
Norway Connection at the 609 Residence
Germany was calling, though, and again I had to return. With an EEDP meeting set for Jenbach, Austria, it was imperative that I returned and depart, with a 9hr jetlag, to the Alps. Not bad, I must admit. Several sites were united, for a few days to fraternize, and work a little bit. Spain, Germany, Poland, UK, France and of course Austria were represented sites in the festivities...As per the picture below, sledding in Austria with a bunch of colleagues.
Sledding with Colleagues in Jenbach, Austria
With a few days of simili-work, colleague MatsGoldenBerg (as would say Rafa) and I decided to extend our stay and experience the goods of Tirol. While I had, two years prior, passed by Innsbruck in the summer, I have to admit the winter introduces elements of greatness to this region of true beauty. Awesome, anyway. While the first skiing attempts were mediocre, at best, the last day of fresh delicious pow (60-70cm) was truly amazing, not bad Mayrhofen! The Jenbacher team is certainly blessed with an amazing setting, and thus, the promise of spending my 4th rotation in the midst of the Tirolean mountains is very exciting.
Smiling with my Legs with Limited Facial Expressivity (Mats and I)
And now back to Osnabruck, a new year, a new rotation project, a cancelled never-agreed civil-status turmoil implicit to a rough tour through the Montagnes Russes de l’humour, and I am now on the recovery road to wherever this life takes me. Promiscuous relationshit gyrations no more. I apologize to all, for being so down and unlike myself during the holidays, and as of late, but my preoccupied mind could not escape the situation. Focusing on the good stuff, school is over, work is awesome, health is fine, GED is back at peeing strong jets and is even considering visiting over the summer, my entrepreneurial adventures are slowly kicking off and there are a few trips in the making planned for 2012 (before the end of the world), yeah, there is positive stuff to focus on. Consequently, I promise a revitalized self next year, and sincere thanks to all in Qc and BC for the good times!
My inner fu/Vk will be back, surely...
The source of the fu/Vk, and the fu/Vky produce (if you click, you MUST watch the fullllllllll video, at the very least around min 22...): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZxV4MwGWt4
