700 Pictures = or > 7000 Words

Quick, name something you've done every one of the last seven hundred days! Okay, there are the obvious things like brushing one's teeth and eating lunch. I can, however, add something different to that list of basic trivialities.

I've taken photographs to document my most recent 700 days. They may not be stunning, but they're a hell of a way for me to remember things I've done.

In Progress

The students are writing now. I'm at a table in front of the group. I've corrected the listening section, filled in the marks from this week's oral presentations, and cleaned out my briefcase. Now, can I blog? One benefit of having classes in NE 1 is that WiFi blankets this area. When teaching at Royal Oak, on the opposite, south side of the Burnaby Campus, I could never connect wirelessly.

Let's see, if every student had a notebook, then I could save the assignment to my.bcit.ca. Then, they could log on and complete their work in MS Word and email the copy. I've been thinking about such scenarios for years. Eventually, it will come to pass. Using a pencil or pen to save and copy thoughts seems like such an ananchronism.

An Outdated Business Card

I have to admit, I'm really milking my briefcase malfunction for blogging fodder. I went to work with Jay's briefcase today. It's the same vintage of my now-broken one. So, I did need to completely clear out my ex-case.

Last week I scanned several artifacts I discovered inside it. Yesterday, I found new things that I've been carrying around for a decade. This is the Arabic side of my business card from the Higher Colleges of Technology in the United Arab Emirates.



The other side is in English and mentions I specifically worked at Dubai Men's College. It also mentions that I was a member of the Faculty of Academic Studies. Along the bottom is the address and telephone/fax numbers.

Keeping It Brief

I thought I'd be able to blog about buying a replacement attache for work. Unfortunately, I couldn't find quite what I wanted. It seems I'm a dying species. I'm not looking for a soft, notebook-computer-type case. I don't want wheels. Think film-noir; I just want a briefcase!

In my futile SkyTrain hop to Metrotown Mall yesterday afternoon, I couldn't find anything. I was going to bite the bullet and actually make a purchase at The Bay had they had something I liked. No dice.

What this blog entry is really about is a comment about how crowded the mall was in the middle of the afternoon on a Sunday. If you'd seen the hordes you would've thought it was the run-up to Christmas. What a shallow existence! Nothing better to do then run shopping? I'd suggest these people look for hobbies or volunteer work. Or perhaps do something OUTDOORS!

Case in Point (Part 2)

On Tuesday, I wrote about my ailing briefcase. Its working-life ends today. The other hinge is now broken. I shall have to find some sort of replacement this weekend.

It saddens me to have to give up something that has been so useful. Yesterday, a few students did point out that they aren't as old as it is. So, I'm starting the process of checking through those oft-ignored, inside pockets. Considering the junk I've been carrying around with me for decades, it's a wonder I don't have the medial deltoids of a steroids-addicted weight lifter.



I pulled out this Bahraini identity card yesterday. It's been there more than fifteen years. This means it travelled to back and forth to work during my entire time in the UAE and the ten years I've been in Canada.

Case In Point (Part 1)

I really love my briefcase. It is hard Fiberglas and says Echolac near the handle. Now, unfortunately it is starting to fall apart. There's a hinge that's broken. It's tired and worn and I've had it for what seems like half of forever.

In fact, I cannot remember exactly when I may have purchased it. I think I had it in Bahrain, and I never bought anything of value with inflated dinars. It's possible I got it during the year I worked in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Or perhaps I got it for my very first job in Kuwait! The briefcase definitely was with me in the 1980's.

My briefcase is useful because it is roomy. It's my desk away from home. At any particular time there may be several dozen markers. a stapler, and ten pounds of paper in it. There are also bits of my past. It has a number of pockets and places inside that I've never cleaned even though I once had a major coffee-Thermos leak. Today, I set the trusty accessory down before going into work. Then, near the door, I saw something on the floor. It picked it up. Honestly, this is a copy of the receipt from 1991 which had fallen out: