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Just came back from The Factory. I wasn't going to go out tonight. I figured that I'll be staying up late tonight.. Hmm.. that's a little confusing. Let me restate that. I wasn't planning to go out last night, but after taking my shower, I had a talk with Colin (one of my tentmates) and he tried to convince me to go out and enjoy myself. I told him that I had a phone call to make (with AgentP for plans for today) and he asked me if I had a girlfriend (who wielded a very large whip - which was implied). This was also after he saw me writing up a whole bunch of postcards, so it did seem that I was on a very short leash or something. Anyway, I got tempted to go, and mulled around with the idea while I was walking towards the Lounge. Then, in the lounge before talking with AgentP, I bumped into Becky (who's name I had forgotten) who asked me what I was going to do tonight (nothing) and then told me that she was going out and if I would go with someone (a guy okay?) to the Factory. This time I agreed for some reason and.. geez I really need sleep. I'll finish this some other time (although I'll probably forget). I need to get some sleep.
Today was our day off. We didn't have any events planned, nor did we have to stay in the village. In fact, we were encouraged to go out and join in in the Canada Day festivities.
There were actually plans set up for anyone who was interested in going to see Rideau Hall, or go to Meech Lake and lie on the beach, or to check out the marketplace, but most people wanted to just go downtown and wander around. There were buses that would bring us down to the area at around nine, but I hooked up with Don and we walked instead. The weather was very good. Sunny, and not too breezy. It made the morning quite nice and warm.
We went downtown via the Alexandra Bridge were we checked out our work (again) and took a number of pictures. We then headed down to Major's Hill to check out the pavilions, then down past Parliament hill to check out on the Supreme Court, and then down through the streets of downtown Ottawa where there were buskers, entertainers, peddlers, beggars, tourists, kids.. it was.. busy. It was also quite enjoyable. There was much to see, but there was little time to witness all of the events. We tried to see the changing of the guard, but there were so many people (and the television billboards were hard to see) that we didn't get much out of it.
We eventually made our way to the main court of Parliament Hill where we set up camp (in the oppressing heat) and had lunch. We waited there until the noon show started up, and there were singers, dancers, speeches, and dignitaries. It all went by very quickly. I was trying my hardest to block out the sun and stay cool (I had also forgotten to put on sunscreen), but my tolerance for heat is very low, and if I didn't have so much water on me, I would've ran for the first sign of shade that I could've found (actually I would've run for available shade anyway, but there was none to be found!).
The show itself was very quick, and didn't dwell with one performer, or speaker for long (although I cringed when the Prime Minister said "in this new Millennium"). The show ended with a round of O Canada and congratulatory happy birthday from the captain of the Snow Birds, just before they roared overhead to the delight of all onlookers.
It was at that point I decided to leave Don and start heading to AgentP's place. As I was making my way from the grounds, the Snow Birds made a second pass, to my chagrin as I didn't see them until they were already flying away. Moment later, a loud roar could be heard coming from the sky and a very large plane (an AWAC? It had a big dish thing attached on top) made a low pass over the Parliament Buildings, confusing most of the people around me (including myself). The reason for it's appearance became apparent when a number of parachuters could be seen fluttering their way down towards the War Memorial (near Parliament Hill). I watched as they landed, one by one, into their designated target zone (a little park next to the War Memorial).
After that, I quickly marched off and headed towards AgentP's home (away from home).
I found his place without a hitch, but I was a little surprised to see the number of people that were milling about his place. I asked one of the girls where AgentP was, and she told me,
"He's in the washroom"
That didn't seem all too surprising, until I found out the reason why he was in the washroom..
For secrecy's sake, I will keep this quiet unless AgentP says otherwise.
Anyway, I got to meet some of AgentP's friends, and I showed him 'George Lucas in Love' and the new Halo trailer, but the star attraction was this Collector's Edition of Diablo 2. As AgentP would say,
"Oooooooooo!"
I watched the intro, and played for a bit.. longer than i should have. Gosh darned it, it's an addictive game. It's still the type of *click* *click* *click* Die dangit! *click* *click* *click* type of game, but it's still very entertaining.
They were able to tear me away from the computer and we headed back out into the chaos to see what was happening. I wasn't particularly sure what was planned, but after checking out a (very full) bar, we seemed to lose everyone, so AgentP and I wandered out to Major's Hill to check out the tent events. We didn't stay there long because there was a mass of dark clouds heading towards us. The wind also seemed to pick up and the temperature began to drop. The front looked ominous and when I saw lightning flash in the formation, I knew we had to head back ASAP. We made our way back to his place (after a headed direction discussion) and there we ordered some pizza for dinner.
After that little meal, we went back to Major's Hill to watch the fireworks. We were able to push our way though the crowds and make our way to one of the better viewing spots on the hill. (At least that's what AgentP told me.) We had situated ourselves next to a couple of vans, one of them being the Weather Network. What the Weather Network was doing here, I have no idea, but they made a broadcast while we were standing there. Their floodlight blinded us whenever they made a sweep over our area, and the cheering crowd welled up every time the camera looked at them.
Personally, I was a little cold, wet (I was wearing sandals), annoyed at the noise, and coughing from the smoke (a group of people lit up right next to us). Tempers started to rise as people started jostling for good viewing positions, and as more and more people continued to entry the fray, we were being pressed ever closer together. Sardines would've been more comfortable than us.
The time had already passed for the start of the fireworks, but there was nothing to be seen in the sky, apart from some small effects that people had brought along with them. In these close quarters, dozens of conversations were going on around us, drowning whatever thought processes I tried to conjure, and the tension began to rise.
But when that first explosion lit the sky, the crowd fell silent, the air seemed to clear, and everything else was forgotten. It's amazing what fireworks can do for a large crowd of people.
Most of you have seen what a fireworks display looks like, so I'll skip on the details (and besides, I don't remember much anyway). But after the bridges were reopened (which took half an hour or so) I showed AgentP the mural that we painted. I would've also shown where I had signed, but it was getting very cold, and the wind was strong on the bridge, so he headed off home, while I headed back to the village.
When I made it back, they searched my bags for alcohol before letting me in. That surprised me since it was the first (and only) time that they've done that. I then updated my page, took a shower, and went to sleep.
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Wednesday, July 05, 2000 at 01:24:12 (UTC)
A customer enters a jewellry store and buys a watch that is priced at $12. He pays with a $20 bill. Not having enough change, the jeweller goes to a neighbouring store to break the $20 bill into smaller bills. The jeweller returns and gives the customer the watch and $8 change. A few moments later the neighbouring store clerk arrives and demands a new $20 bill since he has discovered the previous one to be counterfeit. He jeweller hands the store clerk a new $20. If the watches are priced to have a 100% markup, how much did the jeweller actually lose in this transaction ? (Spoiler tomorrow)
CueWhyVee
Thursday, July 06, 2000 at 16:54:28 (UTC)
Where's the spoiler?
Anyway, if there was a $6 markup on the watch, then the storekeeper loses the $6 on the watch, plus the $8 on the change, which comes to a total of $14 in total losses.
Then again, if you consider that he also lost $6 in the markup (lost possible revenue) then he's actually lost $20! Ack!
QYV