ColinTheRobot.com

Although not gainfully employed, it’s been quite a good summer so far. Just prior to my surprise layoff I went to see Evil Dead: The Musical. It was actually the second time I’d seen it (the first of which was during it’s original run several years ago), but it was much better this time around for a number of reasons. I actually watched the movies prior to seeing it this time, so some of the jokes made a lot more sense. My girlfriend and I sat front row center for the performance, right in the middle of the blood zone, and we got soaked in [fake] blood. It made for quite the interesting subway right home. I got more than my usual number of strange looks for laughing to myself. One other …Read more »

I was recently (yesterday) dismissed from my job as a result of continual budget trimming. The following is a letter I emailed to the staff earlier today, a somewhat bittersweet goodbye of sorts. …Read more »

Although it won’t officially be on sale till tomorrow, I’ve been playing Nintendo’s latest installment in the Mario Kart series since I got home from work last night. There’s an independent video game store downtown that I usually shop at and they happened to get their stock in a bit early. As such, I managed to scoop up a copy a bit early and get a head start on the action. The wife’s working all weekend, so suffice to say I’ll be spending a lot of time behind the wheel. On a side note, I’m issuing an informal challenge to anyone who visits this site. So send me an email at colin@colintherobot.com and we’ll battle it out online.

Had a great weekend with a bit of relaxing and a trip down to the Royal Ontario Museum with my girlfriend. The renovations look great, both to ROM and the subway stop below it. The exhibit currently running on Charles Darwin was quite interesting. Loads of artifacts and information from his voyages, and even a reproduction of his study where he’d do analysis and writing. Lots to see, but too much for one trip I’m afraid. We did manage to squeeze in dinosaurs, birds, and the bat cave among other things. Probably heading back tomorrow for another go since we didn’t even cover half of it in the first visit. …Read more »

Nothing noteworthy or otherwise interesting to mention as of late, which to me feels like a good thing.  The somewhat recent shift in my work schedule has afforded me a luxury I’d not seen since I started my job frying chicken for the colonel back in my high school days, free time on the weekend (both days as a matter of fact).  I’ve spent the time decompressing and relaxing, mainly playing video games and watching t.v. shows on dvd, especially The X-Files (now watching season 3).  And although not the reason for my series-spanning extravaganza, I not too long ago found out that a second movie is in the final stages of production and will be out in the summer, so I’m quite excited …Read more »

Moving is always a stressful endeavor, even when it’s someone else moving in, and this past weekend was no exception. I’m a bit particular (read obsessive-compulsive) about how I do some things and about where things go, so having boxes and stuff all over the place kind of throws me off kilter a bit. The worst is thankfully behind us though, and things are already shaping up quite nicely. Sharing one apartment instead of two really makes it feel like home. Now to get rid of all the redundant kitchenware, furniture, and appliances.

Lately I’ve been listening to almost nothing but the musical stylings of Jimi Hendrix.  One of my favourite musicians for as long as I can remember riding my bike down to one of the local record stores growing up in my home town, Hendrix has mesmerized and inspired me with his fantastic guitar playing.  I still remember the first time I heard him play (and I’m sure I’m not alone in this), in Wayne’s World (1992) when Garth approaches his dream girl in Stan Mikita’s Donuts in time with Foxey Lady (along with a few Hendrix covers performed by Tia Carrere).  I must have been living under a rock until a couple days ago when I realized one final album (not to be confused with the many …Read more »

Earlier this week I celebrated my 25th birthday.  It’s been many years since I was genuinely excited about recognizing the passage of yet another year of my life, as it seems somewhat arbitrary to me to make a big deal of one day that has no meaning for most people.  This is due in part to the fact that mine is overshadowed greatly by the birth of a more notable figure, Jesus, or the commercialized mockery of his birthday anyway.  That’s not to say that I dislike Christmas, I just prefer the family/friends getting together aspect a lot more than the shopping/gift giving part of it.  Perhaps now more than ever it would be appropriate to embrace the somewhat controversial alternate …Read more »

It turns out that Hallowe’en was only the midpoint in the ordeal with my scooter, which I’m relieved to say is now finally finished a full month after I thought it already was. The cheque is in the bank and the ownership is miles away. So now it’s finally time to shave my beard, which by coincidence I started growing around the time of the incident (Thanksgiving weekend if I’m not mistaken). At some point along the way I decided not to shave it until everything was sorted out with the insurance company, as I foolishly thought it was almost done every week for the past five weeks, give or take a week. So to everyone who wondered why I was walking around looking like I’d been living …Read more »

Although not technically a holiday anymore, Hallowe’en is one of my favourite days of the year. I associate so many memories, and a general feeling of mystery and spirituality with this day.  It saddens me to see what appears to be a general decline in overall interest in the day.  It seems like there are fewer and fewer houses in my neighborhood decorated for All Hollows’ Eve each year, and this downturn extends to kids trick-or-treating as well.  How children could lose interest in free candy is an idea beyond comprehension.  One can only hope that this is just a slump, and not the beginning of Halloween’s demise. …Read more »