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RL Dilemma, Suggestions Please.
So, I'm now a student again! Yesterday I signed up with Athabasca University, where I hope to get a degree in Canadian Studies. It sounds like a really cool course that covers a lot of material. Everything from history, language, politics and literature. I'm not really sure what I'll do with it, but as I've been told over and over again, half the time they don't care what your degree is in, so long as you have one.
I haven't signed up for any classes yet, I'm hoping to speak to an adviser to find out what courses they suggest.
The thing that's nice about AU (which I'm so going to be calling it :P) is it's a school based on distance education, so I can take it and live wherever.
Right now I'm living in Ottawa and working full time. It's a good job, I enjoy it, and it pays well, but I don't actually enjoy living in Ottawa right now. I don't have very many friends here, most of them live in Guelph, or are online. I'm living with my parents, which is really pathetic, and means I haven't much (or, you know, any) of a social life. I live in the country where there's nothing to do, and it's easiest to do nothing.
Also, I'd really like to travel. Like, a lot. Since I don't have to be in one place to take this degree, I kind of want to use that as an excuse to travel, try living in a couple different places. I have a decent amount of money saved up right now, I was thinking of buying a house, but it would be more than enough to let me move and support myself until I found another job. But! I have a really good job right now. Dilemma.
So, I want to ask my flist what they think I should do.
[Poll #1155347]
I haven't signed up for any classes yet, I'm hoping to speak to an adviser to find out what courses they suggest.
The thing that's nice about AU (which I'm so going to be calling it :P) is it's a school based on distance education, so I can take it and live wherever.
Right now I'm living in Ottawa and working full time. It's a good job, I enjoy it, and it pays well, but I don't actually enjoy living in Ottawa right now. I don't have very many friends here, most of them live in Guelph, or are online. I'm living with my parents, which is really pathetic, and means I haven't much (or, you know, any) of a social life. I live in the country where there's nothing to do, and it's easiest to do nothing.
Also, I'd really like to travel. Like, a lot. Since I don't have to be in one place to take this degree, I kind of want to use that as an excuse to travel, try living in a couple different places. I have a decent amount of money saved up right now, I was thinking of buying a house, but it would be more than enough to let me move and support myself until I found another job. But! I have a really good job right now. Dilemma.
So, I want to ask my flist what they think I should do.
[Poll #1155347]
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dogcat, too!) and there are jobs around here. But I have no idea how hard it is to get a work visa for the US.no subject
And Texas wouldn't be a bad place to try, the company that I currently work for has the equivalent American office in... I think it's Austin, I bet it would be really easy to get a job there, with all the experience I have I'd probably be overqualified to work in the call centre.
Btw, you know that con we were talking about? Fedcon? Are you still thinking about going? Because I'm thinking that if I haven't heard back from Vividcon by now, I'm probably not going to make it off the waiting list until really close to the wire, if at all, and I'd rather be able to plan ahead. And hey, I could use it as a chance to see if I could live in Texas (me+heat=/=BBF it might be a clincher).
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I am still thinking about Fedcon. One of the deciding factors would be if there was someone to go with (I can go to cons with just me, but it's infinitely more fun with more than just me). You would have to keep in mind that while it is in the warmer month, July and especially August are our worst. But if you waited to actually move down here until October or later, you'd have time to acclimate while we through the cooler months.
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personally, I'd prefer it to be in Houston just because I'm closer to it
How close are you to Houston. I just went and looked it up, and the office *is* in Houston. 9999 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038
I am still thinking about Fedcon
Cool. I'll take another look at what they're offering, and maybe look into a budget or something.
I can go to cons with just me, but it's infinitely more fun with more than just me
Oh totally. It can be fun to meet people when you're there, but it's still better to have someone with you that you know you can squee with :P
And I'll keep the temperature thing in mind. How cold does it get in your area?
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I know there's an easier way. If you end up staying with your same company, I'm sure there's an office somewhere that helps you get those things straightened out.
How close are you to Houston. I just went and looked it up, and the office *is* in Houston. 9999 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038
Oh, wow. I figured the office would be in downtown somewhere, but you would actually be really close to me. The thing about Houston is that it's huge. All Texas cities are the sprawling kind. We don't do compact. Where I work (Conroe) is considered to be part of the Houston Metropolitan Area. If I told someone unfamiliar with Texas where I work, I'd tell them it was Houston. The very outeredge of Houston, but still Houston. Everything you've heard me reference (except College Station) is along I-45. Huntsville (school) is farthest north, Conroe (work) is middle, The Woodlands (night school) is unmistakabley Houston. When I Mapquested that address, it is about two miles off of 45 a little further south.
I'm not sure how similar Canadian and American roadsystems are (I assume fairly similar, but you never know), but the exit number is based on what mile markers it falls between. To get to that part of Veterans Memorial looks like you take Exit 60. Maybe 58. To get to where I work, you take Exit 91. Sam Houston is Exit 114. Where I take night classes is Exit 77. Basically, everything is within about 50 miles of each other. Depending on traffic, that can take anywhere from a half hour to an hour to drive.
Cool. I'll take another look at what they're offering, and maybe look into a budget or something.
Cool. I haven't really looked at the hotels around there, but keep in mind that I work at LaQuinta and I can get an employee discount. I assume you'd be cool to room together?
And I'll keep the temperature thing in mind. How cold does it get in your area?
Ah, the vagaries of Texas temperature. The thing that we always say about Texas weather is, "If you don't like it, wait 5 minutes and it'll change." No joke. First weekend of Spring Break, it was snowing as far south as I am. Middle of the week, we were at 89 F in College Station and Austin actually hit 95. But the weather's weird right now even for Texas, so don't take that as total norm. Winter temps do get below freezing. Most winters we have a couple of hard freezes. It's not uncommon to get into the teens, but single digits are rare. But usually we stay around the twenties. Day time temps in winter average in the 40s. Does that help any?
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I looked a bit at the US visa's office, and yes there is a visa option for transfers, the thing is though, I highly doubt my company would do that for me. Getting work visas is a bitch, and I'm rather low on the ladder, they're not going to put in the effort for an extra person in their call centre. Also, I don't think the people on my end will be all that happy to see me go. I mean, they'll be happy for me, but I've always felt like a valued empoyee here (or at least I have with my current boss, and the boss before her, the one before that wasn't as nice), and I know that my leaving will leave a spot that might not be that easy to fill (they kind of made the position for me, so I'm not sure if they'll try and find a full time replacement). I probably won't apply for a transfer (I wouldn't even know how to go about it in my company, we're kind of huge), I was more planning on just going there and applying for a job and using my experience to get me the job, if that didn't work, I'd just try for another job.
Oh, wow. I figured the office would be in downtown somewhere, but you would actually be really close to me.
Oh cool. I'm not all that surprise it's off to the side, it's not the head office, that's in Pittsburg. This is just a call centre (well, I'm assuming they do more, but mostly it'll be a call centre), and the it's more about space rather than location.
The thing about Houston is that it's huge. All Texas cities are the sprawling kind. We don't do compact.
Hah, you're talking to a Canadian. We have more land than we can shake a stick at, we don't really do compact either. The GTA (Greater Toronto Area) encompasses pretty much all of Southern Ontario. Ottawa is 1800 square miles and only has a population of just over 800,000. We're also Canada's 4th largest city. The rest of Canada? Well, Nunavut, our largest territory (about the size of Western Europe) has a population of just over 31,000. Imagine the sprawlingness there. :P
I'm not sure how similar Canadian and American roadsystems are (I assume fairly similar, but you never know), but the exit number is based on what mile markers it falls between.
Well, in Canada it's the kilometer marking, but close enough.
Basically, everything is within about 50 miles of each other. Depending on traffic, that can take anywhere from a half hour to an hour to drive.
From where you live? Also, how are the buses in Houston? Is it viable to take public transit? Or would it require getting a car?
Cool. I haven't really looked at the hotels around there, but keep in mind that I work at LaQuinta and I can get an employee discount. I assume you'd be cool to room together?
That was in my theoretical budget. I'm way too cheap to get a place on my own. :P Plus, staying up talking or whatever and getting no sleep is all part of the con experience, right?
But usually we stay around the twenties. Day time temps in winter average in the 40s. Does that help any?
Ahh, it was helpful once I got a converstion program to put all those numbers into celcius. I can get most American units of measure, inches, feet, no problem. I would suck at trying to tell you how long a mile is, but I wouldn't be able to do much better with a kilometer, so it's more of a long distance thing than the unit itself. But temperature, I just have so much trouble wrapping my head around Fahrenheit. Like, saying that it's 20 degrees outside? That's a beautiful late summer/fall afternoon. 100 degrees? That's boiling, literally. The only time I ever use Fahrenheit is when I'm taking my body temperature, since it's more accurate that celcius.
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That works, too. It's not all that hard to find employment here, though you do have to show proof of eligibility for employment (visa) and I can't remember if you have to have the job to get the visa or the visa to get the job. That might be the only snafu.
This is just a call centre (well, I'm assuming they do more, but mostly it'll be a call centre), and the it's more about space rather than location.
That makes sense. Mostly, I expected it to be either on Westheimer or within the 610 loop, since that's the big business district. But that is slightly more compact (as compact as we get, anyway). Plus most of the stuff in there is either older or really ritzy.
Hah, you're talking to a Canadian. We have more land than we can shake a stick at, we don't really do compact either.
Yeah, I thought about that after I posted. HMA covers about a third to half of the Texas coast line and goes inland quite a bit. They actually had to extend the Gulf Coast Channel (the channel where ships dock in Houston) inland by about fifty miles because there was so much development. Granted, that was some sixty-odd years ago, but still. I think we do cram more people into a city than y'all do. But 31,000 people? That's about the size of Huntsville (I think...the college is about 18,000 plus there's the townies).
...damn...I just surpassed the character length. We gotta break this up again. I'll post the second half in a sec.
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Yeah, I didn't really have time to look. I found the page with the information (and hey! There may be a special visa for Canadians, so that sounds promising), but didn't have a chance to read it, because I was distracted by looking into some choices for class. I'm thinking I'll take French first, and I'm slightly nervous, since it's been quite a few years since I've taken a French class. :S
But 31,000 people? That's about the size of Huntsville (I think...the college is about 18,000 plus there's the townies).
Keep in mind, Canada only has a population of 33 Million. We've got oddles of space, but not many people want to live above the tree line. Hell, I think something like 80% of the population in Canada lives within 100 miles of the US/Canadian boarder. It's beautiful up north, but it's really cold, and can be very expensive.
...damn...I just surpassed the character length. We gotta break this up again.
Yesss! I win at LJ, I can make people talk and talk.
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I've actually been wishing I could go back and take French again, but with my German so far along and as close to burn out as I already am, any further delay would be a very bad idea. Although I have discovered through my starts and stops with German that you can pick stuff up again pretty easily. Good luck with it.
Hell, I think something like 80% of the population in Canada lives within 100 miles of the US/Canadian boarder. It's beautiful up north, but it's really cold, and can be very expensive.
I think I remember reading a statistic to that effect somewhere. But since anywhere above that is just incredibly inhospitable, I can kinda understand. I know if I had to be holed up in my home for weeks on end because the snow was that high, it would drive me mad. Although I did catch a few episodes of Ice Road Truckers back when it was on TLC (I have no idea if y'all got that show or not) and it looked interesting. Granted, they drive huge ass trucks through it, so...
Yesss! I win at LJ, I can make people talk and talk.
Of course, it's not that hard to do between us. Also, I just realized how really badly I split the comments in "half" so I'm gonna rearrange.
God, it's not just you. Most of North America is going the route.
I have noticed that. Although while I was in NYC last year, I got to ride on the subway and I really didn't mind it. I don't know if it was just because of timing, but it wasn't all that crowded and it wasn't as dirty as people say it is. I know subways aren't always feasible (here, we have really hard clay beneath us, so digging is an issue), but that doesn't preclude a good bus system. In College Station, Texas A&M University has a good shuttle bus system that could be used to sort of model (I'm sure there are other good systems, too, but that's the one I know). Unfortunately, it would take something of an attitude shift on the part of the population to really achieve.
Oh god, if I do move here, you're really going to have to keep an eye on me for things like that.
I don't know how much of an issue it really is since I've never used it and the only information I have may or may not be all that reliable. But I do tend to be more aware of stuff like that simply because I'm soon-to-be law enforcement and I expect crap like that to happen. I'm the one whose going to be teaching anyone who spends any length of time in my home how to shoot my weapon (once I have one, of course) because I want them to be able to use it if something catastrophic happens and they have no choice.
Okay...I think that's a better split. Let's try again.
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One of the reasons why I want to take French now, is that my workplace is bilingual. Actually where I'm sitting, I'm the only one who isn't fluent, and a lot of the time they all talk to each other in French, unless I'm in the conversation (and sometimes not even then). Also, even in my job now I sometimes have to deal with French. Just yesterday I was working on a cross reference where all the descriptions were in French. I think the classes will stick more if when I have that level of exposure. I'm certainly not going to get that in Texas :P
But since anywhere above that is just incredibly inhospitable, I can kinda understand. I know if I had to be holed up in my home for weeks on end because the snow was that high, it would drive me mad.
It's not as bad as all *that*. Even really far up north you can still go out. You might be better off taking a snow mobile instead of a car, but you can still go out, so long as there isn't a snow storm or anything, and sometimes even then. It's just really cold.
The thing that drove my mom crazy when we lived in Edmonton was more how long the days were in the summer and how short they were in the winter. You know how if you go really far up north, there's 6 months of day and then 6 months of night? Well it wasn't that bad in Edmonton, but it bleeds over. Hell, for most of the winter here I barely saw any sunlight, I'd drive to work in the dark, and it'd be dark by the time I left too.
Of course, it's not that hard to do between us
Yeah, I tend to go on and on, I'm just glad someone else started the multiple comments for a change. I'm really bad with
Although while I was in NYC last year, I got to ride on the subway and I really didn't mind it.
I think NYC is the one exception in N. America for really good public transit. There are just too many people in too small a space. I know when I visited it I was shocked that the streets were filled with taxi's, delivery trucks and limos, and those were like 90% of the cars on the road. Also, parking a car in NYC is ridiculously expensive. They were giving stats on the news once, and it's something like $3000 a month to park there.
Unfortunately, it would take something of an attitude shift on the part of the population to really achieve.
Yeah, people here can afford cars. It's become a necessity really, since the public transit doesn't do a great job of covering needs, and since the majority of people don't use public transit, than it doesn't get the attention it needs. It's one of those circles.
But I do tend to be more aware of stuff like that simply because I'm soon-to-be law enforcement and I expect crap like that to happen.
I'm just so oblivious to that kind of stuff.
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That's the reason why I *should* be taking Spanish. All the housekeepers and the maintenance guy are Mexican and don't speak much English beyond what they have to know. And there have been a couple of times already when I've needed to ask them something and I can't. The horrible thing is that whenever they're around and I think about something, I usually think it in Latin or German (I have no idea why my Latin "fluency" is suddenly returning, but it is) and I have to bite my tongue not to say it because I don't want them to think I'm mocking them.
I'm certainly not going to get that in Texas :P
Not totally true (but basically true)! I can't remember where I was, but I was sitting somewhere (knowing me, it was probably Starbucks somewhere...The Woodlands, maybe) and I heard a couple of people speaking French. And not the stilted learning French like they were practicing for a test or anything. No, this was actual fluent talk. They were talking too fast for me to get a feel for what was being said or if they were French French or French Canadian, but that goes to show you that you do hear it sometimes.
It's not as bad as all *that*.
All that snow would probably still make me feel trapped. I go stir crazy just when we have flash flood warnings or something and I can't go out for fear of being washed away. It's probably my natural contraryness. Tell me I can't do something and, even if I didn't want to do it before, suddenly I *have* to do it. The cold probably wouldn't bother me. I'm weird in that I love extreme temperatures. The summer we have 100+ (usually 103+) temps everyday for two and a half months straight (there was record breaking and everything!), I was in heaven and usually wearing long sleeves and sweat pants. The really cold weather we've had, I've always loved and usually have very few clothes on. But I'm weird like that.
and since the majority of people don't use public transit, than it doesn't get the attention it needs.
Even other forms besides personal cars. When I saw a card for a taxi service at work, I was amazed that there were taxis in The Woodlands (which is the really rich area around here). I mean, I knew there were taxis in Conroe because I saw them when I worked security...but that was only ever in the poor/Mexican part of town. To see it in the rich areas...that was truly surprising.
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Hey that's a natural response. In Canada, at least where I live, if the person you're speaking to doesn't speak English, they generally speak French, so when I was in China, and I would see that people didn't understand what I was saying, I say it in French, or at least think about doing that, and that was sooo not helpful. :P
When I saw a card for a taxi service at work, I was amazed that there were taxis in The Woodlands (which is the really rich area around here). I mean, I knew there were taxis in Conroe because I saw them when I worked security...but that was only ever in the poor/Mexican part of town. To see it in the rich areas...that was truly surprising.
Wow... I would never think that. I don't necessarily associate public transit with poor people. Maybe buses a little, but the times I've taken the bus, there was a fair share of men and women in suites and whatnot. In Ottawa they really try and push the buses for environmental reasons. Also, it can be a bitch parking down town, so people take the bus to avoid the hassle, not because they don't have a car. Also, because Ottawa is sprawling, there are a lot of people who live in the country, and commute in, so they'll drive their car to the edge of the city, leave their car in a Park 'n Ride then take the bus in (which often have their own lanes so it's faster anyways, that was the fastest way for me to get to college when I was living with my parents).
Taxi's on the other hand... maybe it's just because taxi's here are really expensive, but I would certainly not associate taxi's with poor people. I associate them with visitors, drunk people or kids not old enough to drive. *shrugs* It's funny to hear about the different assumptions and what not people make :)
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Well, in Canada it's the kilometer marking, but close enough.
I was thinking that's what...one of the truck drivers I know said. Is it sad that all my highway knowledge comes from truckers?
From where you live? Also, how are the buses in Houston? Is it viable to take public transit? Or would it require getting a car?
This is one of the many ways that Texans are stupid. We feel like we have to drive everywhere. It probably comes from our rebellious history. Houston does have a bus system and I've heard from some that it's pretty decent. I've also heard that lone women should carry mace on it after dark. I'd have to really look more into it to know for sure. There's also the issue that the bus system only goes so far out and then you have to either drive or get a taxi to that location. We do have a good network of taxis and there is a devoted HOV lane on all the highways for carpoolers. We do have crapload of carpoolers.
That was in my theoretical budget. I'm way too cheap to get a place on my own. :P Plus, staying up talking or whatever and getting no sleep is all part of the con experience, right?
Yay for cheap! Now that I have the employee discount I've been checking out what cities have a LaQuinta to see where I could go for cheaper. You mean there are people who actually sleep at cons? I occasionally pass out, but never just sleep! Dude, all those conversations that we've started but never finished because the e-mails or whatever got too long...we could actually finish those!
Ahh, it was helpful once I got a converstion program to put all those numbers into celcius. I can get most American units of measure, inches, feet, no problem.
I have no idea why Americans decided that Fahrenheit was a better system. Okay, I do know (because we're contrary and wanna be different and special and just ended up being special ed), but it was still a stupid idea. If I ever had a chance to use Celsius system, I'd probably switch to it, but I've never gotten the conversions straight in my head. 100's is hot, but only excessive when it gets over 101 (to me, anyway). Your body temp is normally 98.6 and that's just two degrees above. 32 and below is freezing. The thing that'll get you in this part of the state is the bloody humidity. A vast majority of our weather systems are coming off the Gulf Coast, so avg humidity is around 70%. But that's why we feel worse than some place like, say, Vegas because they have 120+ but just heat and we have 100~ but with 90% humidity...you feel like your drowning in your own sweat sometimes. It's much more stifling. Who needs a sauna when you could just go outside? As for mileage, you just get a feel for it. I'm better with distance in reference to time anyway, because this close to a major population centre, mileage can be small, but time is huge.
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I'm not surprised it was a trucker. I'm constantly surprised by the amount of people who don't know what the numbers stand for. *rolls eyes*
This is one of the many ways that Texans are stupid. We feel like we have to drive everywhere.
God, it's not just you. Most of North America is going the route. Ottawa doesn't have stellar public transit, and I so wouldn't be able to bus to work from where I am now. Ottawa is too much a rural city, trying to get buses to all the corners is a huge waste. That's one thing I miss about China, they have *awesome* public transit, because they really don't want people owning cars, there's not enough room.
I've also heard that lone women should carry mace on it after dark.
Oh god, if I do move here, you're really going to have to keep an eye on me for things like that. I've never lived anywhere were I fear anything more than slipping on the ice and getting stranded. Even in China it wasn't really scary, hell the one time we were mugged, we left with the purse, and he went running for his life (I was going to punch him and it scared him off, I somehow doubt that will work here).
You mean there are people who actually sleep at cons?
*blushes*
Actually, the only two cons I've gone to I got a decent amount of sleep. I was staying at my sister's, not at a hotel, and the last one was with my younger cousin Nick, so there just wasn't that much fangirling going on. Although, to be fair, Nick's a great sport, and can keep up with my fangirling when he wants to.
Dude, all those conversations that we've started but never finished because the e-mails or whatever got too long...we could actually finish those!
That'll be awesome! It'll be so nice to talk to you in person. I never did end up calling you when I did that RL meme eons ago.
Okay, I do know (because we're contrary and wanna be different and special and just ended up being special ed)
Ah ha ha, that made me laugh. American's as a whole can be so funny. Some things just can *not* be traditional, whereas other things, no way in *hell* are they going to change. And the metric system is just so much *easier*. I mean, want to convert 10mm to cm? 1cm. Base 10, doesn't get much easier. Whereas, who the hell wants to deal with converting things between feet and inches and miles and yards or whatever the crap. You lose accuracy if only because of the decimals.
I know the general idea of temp in F. I know 100 is hot but not dangerously so. I know that when people complain about the temperature being in the 20s isn't because it's cold (although, with the way I've heard some people complain about it, I thought it was a lot lower than it really is.
The thing that'll get you in this part of the state is the bloody humidity.
Oh god, I was hoping that the weather where you live is one of those "hot but dry" places. Ottawa gets super muggy too. I have trouble breathing in the summer sometimes, since I have asthma. I think if I do end up going, I'm going to have to stay less than a year, and skip the summer. Or else devote a lot of my paycheck to air conditioning. I somehow doubt that it'll be as inexpensive where ever I end up living as it is in this house (we have a ground source heat pump, and electricity isn't that expensive here).
As for mileage, you just get a feel for it. I'm better with distance in reference to time anyway, because this close to a major population centre, mileage can be small, but time is huge.
Yeah, I'm bad at dealing with distances, if you're giving me directions, it's sooo much better to say "You;ll be on this road for about 15-20 minutes rather than saying it'll be 20kms, because I will spend my entire time looking for my turn, because I just can't judge distance like that.
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Actually, the only two cons I've gone to I got a decent amount of sleep.
I've actually done both ways. Cons when it's just me or I'm with people who need to sleep, I tend to sleep more just because I get bored and don't want to bother with figuring out how to entertain myself. When I'm with my security people and others who work the cons, we're usually up at all hours trying to get ready for the next day or we're being vagrant and boozing/smoking it up. Then you make do with catnaps or just dozing and pass out when you get home.
That'll be awesome! It'll be so nice to talk to you in person. I never did end up calling you when I did that RL meme eons ago.
I remember we kept trying to arrange times but then shit would come up on one end or the other. But it was actually probably for the best because my dumbass cell phone (which, incidentally, is the *only* phone I own) has been getting fairly crappy reception for awhile and I tend to get really irritable when that happens (I *hate* it when technology fails me so spectacularly) and I've been told I'm not always all that pleasant to talk to.
Some things just can *not* be traditional, whereas other things, no way in *hell* are they going to change. And the metric system is just so much *easier*.
Originally, I had something really good about dumbass Americans and our need to be different which really just makes us seem conceited (we're too good to use your simple system) and involved something about Daylight Savings Time, but I really don't feel like retyping that, so *insert witty and interesting discussion about those things here*
Oh god, I was hoping that the weather where you live is one of those "hot but dry" places.
Most days it actually doesn't feel that bad, but it's the days that do that really stick in yout mind as memorable. I'm not sure if it's just because I've been living with it all my life and so I'm used to it or what, but it's only some days and it's only when you're outside that it becomes an issue. So, I'd say don't take really long, strenuous walks those days. Hell, even days when it's a little more humid, we usually have enough of a breeze that it doesn't feel as bad as days when it's muggy and still.
I think if I do end up going, I'm going to have to stay less than a year, and skip the summer. Or else devote a lot of my paycheck to air conditioning.
In all the good places for living and working, the A/C systems are all good. When looking for a place to live, you just have to be aware of conditions. Don't get anything that has direct sunlight coming through the windows most of the days and get downstairs if you can to keep A/C escaping through the roof down to a minimum.
If you do get to come to the con and depending on how early you were able to fly in, I'd encourage you to try and fly into Houston and I'd pick you up and that way I could really show you the places I'm talking about. It would certainly give you a better feel for how far apart these places really are. Granted, it would then involve the three hour-ish drive to Dallas, but I'm sure we'd manage to keep ourselves amused. ;)
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Oh god, I *hate* when that happens.
I've only ever gone to the sci fi con in Toronto, once with
my dumbass cell phone (which, incidentally, is the *only* phone I own)
I hate cell phones in general. I spent almost a year with just a cell phone as my phone and hated it.
I had something really good about dumbass Americans and our need to be different which really just makes us seem conceited (we're too good to use your simple system) and involved something about Daylight Savings Time
People do want o be seen as differnt. Canadians spend their fair share of time doing it, but generally it's more along the lines of listening to The Arrogant Worms instead of using outdated measurement systems. :P
I'm really curious how you were going to work Daylight Savings Time into it. I was talking with someone else about it, and we were trying to figure out why we do it. :P
Hell, even days when it's a little more humid, we usually have enough of a breeze that it doesn't feel as bad as days when it's muggy and still.
Yeah, a breeze can make such a huge difference in that kind of weather. And you're close enough to the water that I'm sure you get enough wind.
In all the good places for living and working, the A/C systems are all good.
Do most places have air conditioning units? Or central air?
If you do get to come to the con and depending on how early you were able to fly in, I'd encourage you to try and fly into Houston and I'd pick you up and that way I could really show you the places I'm talking about.
That's an awesome idea! I hadn't thought of that. And I'm sure it'll be nicer for you to have some company on the drive :)
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Most of my con experience is actually with anime cons and that's...not totally different, but not the same. The people are usually younger and a little scarier (seriously, have you ever seen rabid fangirls dressed like Sailor Moon suddenly shreik "YUKI!!!11!!" and run and tackle some other rabid fan-whatever (boy/girl/creature). Those are the cons I work because I like the other people who work them and because I'm into anime, but only on the fringes of it. Sci fi I've only ever done AggieCon and that's becuase it's in the town I grew up in. Unfortunately, that one is moving more toward anime, but there's still some awesome opportunities to find older fans. One of the authors has come the last few years always dressed in Stargate-esque BDUs. The first time I saw that, I was so amazed and wanted more like that.
I spent almost a year with just a cell phone as my phone and hated it.
Right now, it's the most practical option for me. I don't really use a landline for anything and since I'm usually on the road, it makes like so much simpler. Unfortunately, all that driving means I hit bad signal areas a lot and the constant annoyance of not hearing anything but random snatches has quickly become a pet peeve.
I'm really curious how you were going to work Daylight Savings Time into it.
Does Canada actually follow Daylight Savings Time as well? I always assumed it was a purely American form of stupidity. DST was started back in the energy crisis and, like Social Security (don't even get me started on *that*), it was supposed to be a short term program to help the people cope. I'm cool with that. But when they kept doing it even after it was obviously no longer needed, then it really became stupid. There are scientific studies that show that that hour change is incredibly disruptive to the human internal clock and can be unhealthy in other ways. This information has been presented to Congress every year since it came out and still they make us go through it twice a year. *sigh* DST and Social Security are two things that I can rant on and on about.
And you're close enough to the water that I'm sure you get enough wind.
Most definitely! We're in our really windy season right now and we have daily winds averaging about 10-15 mph and gusting to as much as 40. It's crazy. And maddening when you're trying to open a door and the wind is so strong that you can't. Also makes phone calls a bit of an (added) annoyance.
Do most places have air conditioning units? Or central air?
Most places have central air. If it doesn't, it probably has a window unit. Seriously, places that don't have one or the other are probably derelict or have long since been torn down.
That's an awesome idea! I hadn't thought of that. And I'm sure it'll be nicer for you to have some company on the drive :)
I pride myself on my awesomely clever ideas. While I can make the drive on my own (have, actually), it usually involves loud music and plot ideas going randomly through my head. Or audiobooks. Lots of audiobooks.
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I've never gone to an exclusively anime con, but the con that I do go to has a side of anime, so you still get to see people dressed as Sailor Moon.
Right now, it's the most practical option for me.
Yeah, it was practical for me too, but I still hated it. Especially since the ringer on my phone wasn't that loud, so I missed a lot of calls because I didn't hear it ring. It drove my mom crazy too (she was the one that was always calling me) because she'd call and call and call, and I wouldn't pick up. With a cell phone, there's that expectation that since it's portable, you can answer it anywhere, I hate that. I like having times where I'm not expected to answer the phone.
Does Canada actually follow Daylight Savings Time as well?
Oh yeah, large portions of the world use DST, see.
Also, what's wrong with social security?
Most places have central air.
Oh good, because there's such a difference between central air, and units.
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