Well, good morning everyone from Brussels. Last night I took a quick walk around the city, trying to orient myself so that by the time Friday rolls around, it will all seem like old and familiar territory.

I then realised that at like 22.30, that I wanted a snack. So I called down to the room service to see what they had on offer. They didn’t have very much in terms of selection, since the kitchen had just closed. So I order a fruit salad. And then I realised that one of the reasons I like being at home so much is that I decide what I am going to eat whenever I want. But at least the bed is comfortable, so I can’t complain about that.

I’m kinda excited about this project management class. I want to do very well in the class and to ask a lot of questions to make sure I understand. Especially since I didn’t do so well in some of the modules (think Earned Value, Project Scheduling, and Estimating were the most difficult for me). But out of 11 modules, to only have difficulty with 3 of them is not too bad at all I think.

Anyway, it’s now 07.05. For a class that begins at 09.00, I am up super early. Maybe I’ll take this chance to get some work done for about the next 30 minutes or so.

So I am on the flight, typing this, even though I know that actually submit this until I land and reconnect, but it actually cool that I can begin to write this now, and then post it when I have a later opportunity to do so.

I get to the airport in plenty of time (for a change). And after a brief argument with the check-in agent (over something stupid), I get my boarding pass and then go to the gate. Except I am so early that there is no one there. So I decide to do what anyone does in a predicament like that. I hit the bar. I order a Absolut Vanilla Vodka and ginger ale. The drink is so strong it knocks me right off my ass (that and I have not drank anything since Thursday). I literally am stumbling onto the plane (thanks to the 3/4ths alcohol 1/4ths ginger ale drink). Where I sit down and relax only to find that the plane has come with “the crying baby” attached installed. I always wonder why the airline gods curse me, by putting crying babies literally in my lap. Luckily, I have Bose (c) Noise-Cancelling Headphone, which drown out both the baby and that important safety information….

So here I type now, after I nice meal in-flight (chicken and garlic…I better not talk to anyone…oh wait, I have Altoids strips…the day is saved!), I am now typing away and working on e-mail and scoping out the cuties on the plane (there aren’t many…this flight must be in association with Mugly Airline. And now there is a gross old lady with her ass in my face. It’s soooo gross….I’m gonna barf those 4 beers I had in the first 30 minutes of the flight. And now her stomach blocks my keypad. So round, so plump. Has Santa had a sex change. I am sur that she would be polite and kind, if only she could pull the slabs of wrinkly flesh from over her eyes to realise that her stomach — which I suspect are her breasts plummeting towards her knees, are in my way….

Well, ignore that little tirade. She’s gone now…. 🙂

Anyway, that’s enough for now. I am in a rare mood… apprehensive….

…oh wait…that woman might not be a woman baby…it might be a man-man. I feel like grabbing it’s hair and shouting “why won’t this wig come off?”.

Eeeeeekkk…..the thing just smiled in my direction!!! Rodney is scared….Rodney tries to hide the overhead storage bin….this is unbearable…the smell of old washes over me…I want nothing more than an escape pod or a transporter.

Anyway, ok, I am leaving now. I realise just how little sense this is making, and perhaps this random stream of consciousness was better left in my own head…

So, I just came back from lunch with my manager (we went to McDonalds), and it was pretty good. We talked a lot about strategic directions and what has to happen to bring us to the next level of excellence. It was refreshing to hear that not all was lost in the world.

So, it’s now only 2.5 hours until I get on a plane and find myself in Brussels. I am excited about it. I will be studying a topic that I have long wanted to begin working on (Project Management) on the road to certification (maybe I won’t fail this certification like I have the previous ones ;).

Hmmm….well, back to work. There is so much to do and so little time, and I am *so* happy to be going to Brussels, I can barely contain my happiness! I am even staying my first choice hotel, the Hilton, because I have super status there and they will treat me like the God I am. 🙂

2003-07-08 – 01:26

“It’s so hard to say goodbye” or “Don’t let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya!”

8 July 2003

Hey journal. This is kinda hard to do to you, but it’s time to say goodbye to you @ Diaryland.

The reasons are many, but this journal has been such a part of my life, it sucks to let it go. 🙁 But I have to. There are things I want to do and things I want to say in this journal that just aren’t meant for everyone. And since I can’t have much security around you journal, I have to put you to rest 🙁 *sobs*

However, all is not lost, readers. There is so much that I want to share with you all. You can follow my new adventures at:

http://rcornelius.livejournal.com

It will allow me to do so much more, and target who sees what entries based on interest and stuff like that. It will be a good thing, even though it is a sad event.

So I hope you update your bookmarks (if you kept them), and if you haven’t joined my notification list, take the opportunity to so do now.

Love you journal…I’ll keep the entries, but I’ll miss you just the same! 🙁

OK, so I bit the bullet and decided that a paid account was the way to go. So now that I have money invested in this site, I guess that I will make a greater atempt to use it. Another one of the cool things is the stand alone interface one can use, meaning that I don’t have to go to the webiste. Because I am a lazy bitch, I would always say “don’t have time to go to the website”. But I do have time to click on the taskbar and update in a text box. 🙂

Well, I guess I should go now and be a little productive. It is 12:30am here in Stockholm and I siuppose I better do something.

“Testing, Testing, 1-2-3…Testing” or “Swinden, I am Here”
01 July 2003

So my friend Rob told me about this Live Journal thing, and it definately sounds kinda cool. Locked and private entries, general availibility entries. And it is seems to be about as soon as DiaryLand is, so I figure that I will give this thing a chance.

Perhaps the only problem is that the URL is not as easy to remember unless I have paid account, so I might just bite the bullet and go with a paid account.

Anyway, here’s the first entry. I’ll add some more once I get around to it. Maybe the change of pace will help me to post more frequently.

2003-06-24 – 02:47

“So Me and Ronald McDonald Were Sitting at a Bar…” or “Visions of Drunkeness”

24 June 2003

Hello everyone. Hello journal. It’s really early in the morning, so I will keep this short and brief, especially before going to bed.

So as it turns out, one of my friends, we’ll call him Scott, gave me a call on Sunday from a bar on Stureplan. Scott proceeded to tell me that Ronald McDonald was in a bar across the street having a few beers (probably with the Hamburgler no doubt, since he’s been a known pickpocket operating in high-traffic tourist areas in Stockholm).

So, in the age of camera-equipped phone – and this guy, Scott, has one – I told him that I couldn’t believe it was true and that he should take a pictures. Excitedly (like when he finds loose swedish change on the sidewalk), he hangs up the phone, presumably to take a picture.

Fast-forward 10 minutes later, when I get a phone call from Scott. Scott informs me that when he went to go take the picture, Ronald McDOnald (The Hamburgler was nowhere to be found) abruptly walked away, leaving Scott unable to take a photo. Furthermore, as it would turn out, when Scott called me to deliver the bad news, it was at that very same moment that Ronald McDonald passed by the bar that Scott was at, and Scott still wasn’t able to snap a photo of Ronald McDonald getting down in the funky swedish town.

Now, “Scott” swears this happened. But let’s ask ourselves, who doesn’t want whatever Scott was on that day? 😉

Now I know what you are thinking: “but Rodney, where I live, I see Ronald McDOnald at the local bar everyday. And when I go to McDonalds, Ronald is usually stumbling around. I even see him passed out at train stations sometimes.”

….

Well, tell you what…you take a picture of it and send it to me. Show me the money. Go on. I’ll be here waiting. Holding my breath even. 🙂

So anyway, the weekend wasn’t all that eventful, but it was a nice weekend anyway.

Well public, I am afraid that I must be going now, but I am glad that I could share this update with you, dear readers. And “Scott”, you know you’re God’s special little man, and I really do believe you about Ronald McDonald boozing at the bar. I do. Really. I swear.

Hej då everyone. Love you journal! 🙂

“It’s My Party…” or “Knock Knock Knocking on Heaven’s Door”

22 June 2003

Hello again journal!

So I decided that I would do something I don’t normally do…post two entries in a day. But the reason is that I wanted to share my birthday journal entry while I was inspired to write, because let’s face it, who knows when I’ll write again (I am a lazy sommabezotch!)

I had grand plans for my birthday. Loads of plans. Plans since April 2003. So when the does the planning begin for my birthday? A week before. And I can’t even claim the credit for such a good turnout and successful party. That credit belongs to my friend Maria, who helped me so much with the hotels and room and everything. There were about 20-30 people at my party, and it was great time (at least that what everyone says).

Rodney got waaaaay drunk, and it wasn’t even a weekday for a change. And many others were way drunk as well! 🙂 And then we went partying out to the clubs and stayed out all night. It was a cool birthday party and I owe a lot to Maria! (THANKS MARIA!!!!) It was also cool because Steve is back in town, doing work to state the obvious to those who need to hear it for the millionth time.

For my birthday, I got a wig and some really cool champagne glasses. There are pictures of the wig and me in the wig (oh my god Rob and Caroline, please don’t post those pictures 🙂 But I will probably post them once I get them! 😉 Remember, a man who cannot laugh at himself can always laugh at others 🙂

I really wish I could remember most of that night. Or better yet, share some more of the details, but oh well! Hee hee…

Finally, I guess it’s easier for me to have some kind of notification list when my site is updated, rather than you having to list the log seperately. So I present you this opportunity to sign up for my diary update list. Now really, don’t all rush at once. Stop pushing, this isn’t 29 crown night at Patricia. Grr…dammit all to hell, open the flood gates, tear down the wall, and sign up sign up sign up now! 🙂

Lots of Love Everyone! 🙂 Love you journal, even though I am now 27 years old! :-/

Hej då, Rodney