Wine for One
Introduction and Work Projects
Good evening, this is Mike George coming at you from my quiet little apartment here in Montreal. Life has been chill but moving at a million miles per hour at the same time. Work has been really busy in a good way; I have some pet projects, specifically a major energy storage conference for the electrical transmission grid. It’s a nifty technical topic that I’m personally very interested in, but I’ve had a lot of work on my mind and just needed to unwind with some wine.
V-Day Single Life
I see y’all out there coupling up, having romantic dinners and being "lovey-dovey" for Valentine's Day. I remember those days, but I’m just a "single bitter bitch" this time around. Honestly, I’m comfortable doing my own thing; I haven't had the time to properly carve out room for someone else lately. I did go on a blind date last week with an attractive, intriguing fellow. I was genuinely interested in picking his brain, but he just wasn't into it—a simple rejection scenario. I’m not actually that invested, but it’s Valentine’s Day, so I have to vent and bitch about a little heartbreak; it goes with the holiday theme. ###
After Dark…
I’m pouring a glass of a Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot mix. I’m also occupying my friend Kevin’s old abode, so this feels like a little connection through time. (To the viewers): I’m running a slideshow on my projector in the background. That’s a view of Manhattan from Queens across the East River—the Queensboro Bridge, to be exact. I’m struggling with the lighting in here; it’s either a "dramatic dark me" or grainy fluorescent light that’s hard on the skin. Since it’s after 10:00 PM, let’s just call this the "after dark special". ###
National Emergency in the US
I want to check in on my American friends because y’all are currently in a national emergency. I’m at a safe distance in Canada, but I’m eager for updates from the "battlefield". Is everyone okay down there?. It feels like the U.S. is in a "slow danger," like the analogy of the boiling frog. If you put a frog in boiling water, it jumps out, but if you turn the heat up slowly, it doesn't realize what's happening until it's too late. I’m a bit of a traitor for leaving the States, but I still voted in the 2018 midterms. I’m trying to keep my Ohio residency as long as I can so I can keep voting there, plus the driver's licenses are way cheaper than in Quebec. ###
Nostalgia and Engineering
Here’s a picture of Wright State University, my old undergrad. That structure is called "BART," a student nickname for "Big Ass Red Thing," though the official name is Turning Points. There’s also a photo from the top of a water slide at Disney World’s Blizzard Beach. It’s about 10 to 14 stories high. Standing naked before the Lord on top of a 100-foot plunge really humbles you and makes you realize how insignificant and vulnerable we are to the chaotic forces of the world. ###
Smart TV’s and Retail Struggles
I don't trust modern electronics, especially ones without mechanical off switches. These Smart TVs bother me; even when the screen is black, that little red light stays on in standby mode. I’ve heard conspiracy theories about them having cameras and recording people. We need a law requiring a visual indication that a device is truly unpowered. Also, I recently had the most absurd experience trying to buy a power cord for a monitor. I tried to describe a basic AC cord to the staff, and they kept looking at HDMI cables like I was talking about a foreign object from the future. I probably seemed like a rude, bitter customer, but that’s what happens when you’re single on Valentine’s Day.
Closing
It’s after hours now, so I’m going to smoke a bowl. I’m in Canada, so I can’t get arrested for it like I could in the States. My thoughts and prayers go out to my fellow Americans and also to my own lungs—I shouldn't abuse them so hard. I’m going to end this video here; consider this the prequel. In the next segment, I’ll be playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. I’ll probably be drunk, stoned, and distracted, so it’ll be a "shit show," but I invite you to join me. Until we meet again, Montreal out!.
