In Kelowna, BC
Mike reports from Kelowna, British Columbia, having finished a technical conference on electrical grounding and lightning. Gazing into a lake in the Canadian Rockies, he candidly discusses his career and his upcoming plans back home in Montreal.
Good evening and happy Friday! I’ve had a couple of drinks tonight, which explains the rouge on my face, but I’m coming to you live from the southeast region of British Columbia. I'm in a neat little place called Kelowna, which has a population of about 100,000 and serves as a beautiful retirement and resort community near the Rocky Mountains. From my hotel room, I have a gorgeous view of the lake, where there are lots of people boating and hanging out on the beach.
I’m here for a work conference with CEATI regarding grounding and lightning. We just wrapped up two productive days of meetings. It is one of those 'shindigs' where you visit a beautiful resort town but spend all day in a hotel conference room. Despite that, I actually enjoyed the technical discussions today. Ironically, even though I’m at an electrical conference, I forgot to bring my chargers. Our work here involves ensuring grounding systems are designed properly so that people are not injured when touching electrical equipment.
I’m currently on Wi-Fi to save data because Canadian cell phone plans are not as luxurious with unlimited data as those in the US. Life has been a bit more 'steady state' lately, without the upheaval I saw in December and January. I leave Kelowna tomorrow morning at 7:00 local time. Between the flight time and the 3-hour time zone change, I expect to be back in Montreal by Saturday night around 20:00.
Montreal Life and Karaoke
I’m looking forward to being back in Montreal for some shenanigans. One thing I haven’t done yet in Montreal is karaoke, though I have fond memories of Bar Cocktail, where the incentive structure includes a free shooter for every song you sing.
My friend Daniel from Columbus mentioned that I 'slay' at karaoke, but I believe karaoke isn't just about vocal talent. It’s about the comprehensive performance, including stage presence, charisma, and choreography. It’s meant to be a fun performance, not a technical singing contest.
Personal Reflections and Vices
"I decided not to bring any marijuana on this trip, choosing instead to take a 'tolerance break'. Because of this, I’ve been drinking a bit more than usual while socializing and 'chumming it up' with the utility guys at the conference. I have been using my blueberry-flavored vape as a substitute. I also noted that I’ve been impressed by the female representation at these meetings, as it’s nice to see technical expertise coming from people other than 'old stubborn white men'."
Future Plans and Housing
"I have several travel goals for the summer, including visiting my ex-boyfriend Matthew in Denver and heading to Portland to retrieve the rest of my belongings—including my computer and my dad's ashes—which have been there since a 'she-bacle' in late 2017. I’m also working on getting my Montreal apartment in shape so I can be more social and host events like board game nights or dinner parties. I love the diversity of interests and passions in Montreal; it’s less homogeneous than Columbus, and I enjoy the curiosity of meeting new people from different backgrounds."
Closing and Shout-outs
"Before I go, I want to give a shout-out to those watching, including Pam, Paul Henders, Kevin Thornhill from Columbus, and my hair stylist Massimo, who has been coaching me on growing my hair out. The weather here has been fantastic—the first time in 2018 I’ve been able to go out without a jacket. This is Mike George coming at you live from Kelowna; I’ll be back in Montreal shortly. Take care!"
