What a day - I am exhausted. I think the Vancouver Canucks play the most exhausting form of hockey to spectate and care about. For almost 2 months now it has been huge high followed by huge low, over and over. I barely survived the first round of the playoffs, and now we're here at the end of the 4th round. Every win is a nail biter. Every loss is like getting drop-kicked in the gut - sometimes 4 times in one period. I came in to the office this morning and was greeted by a 20 minute rant by one of the newer lawyers about how terribly painful it is to follow the Canucks. He sent me several articles over the next few hours so I'm pretty sure he didn't do any work at all today.
But its OK, only 1 game left. I'm definitely going to watch the game outside of downtown with the plan to join in the festivities if we win. If we lose, I'm undecided as to whether I should find a bomb shelter to hide in or whether I should suck it up and kill myself in the riots, taking any CBC journalists I find with me.
As if I wasn't emotionally sapped enough, I had to do some pro-bono legal work today. Nothing brings you up like meeting a woman with chronic fatigue who is being denied her disability benefits. I wish I could have helped her but she forgot to bring her policy with her, and she was too tired to remember anything it said. At least the other woman I met with has a good chance to win a case for constructive dismissal against an employer that seems to completely disregard human rights (granted, I've only heard one side of the story). For those of you who ever end up employing other people in Canada, you can't just treat someone like crap until they quit in order to avoid giving them notice of termination.
The contrast couldn't have been sharper in my meeting later in the day. I had a 4 hour meeting with a group of business people whom I do some contract work for, and a venture capitalist that is interested in a project they have. It was the first time I've attended a meeting with the "big wigs", and I was only supposed to sit there and take notes. I cannot believe that people like this exist: the venture capitalist walked into the meeting late, in a burgandy suit, long hair, no tie and top button undone, massive gold rings on both hands, and a black and gold silk oriental scarf. He promptly sat down and started spewing random business philosophy, recounting all the huge deals he had made. Lets just say he managed to offend all of the business partners there, but they didn't let him know it to his face. At the end of the day, if a guy with lots of money is interested in your company , and you want money, you should probably try to keep him around...even if he does wear burgundy pants.
Picture this but about 10 years older, with an open collar and more gold paraphenalia:
Apparently all venture capitalists are alike. That's a scary thought.
Thanks for reading, time to hit the gym. My work out buddy is a drummer in an aspiring rock band...anyone know any of those? No income, too many piercings, needs a shave and is chronically intoxicated. I'm going to keep bugging him about writing a song about starcraft...so far they don't seem too interested, but we'll see how long they can stand to be pestered before they cave in.
Until next time.