525,600 minutes...

If you have seen the musical Rent, then this number should mean something to you. Or even if you haven't seen the musical or rented the movie you have likely heard the song Seasons of Love. But if you're still confused - 525,600 minutes = a year in the life. Now let's multiply that by 10. Ten years = 5,256,000 minutes. Somewhat alarming, but I do have a purpose for all this math.

As I was walking home from the bus today, I realized that if I do start a postdoc at McGill this summer, it will likely begin on July 1st. What's special about July 1st? If I move to Montreal on July 1st, 2007, I will be moving back exactly 10 years after I originally moved away. Yup, on July 1st weekend 1997, my family (minus my little brother who came later on) packed up all our worldly goods and moved out East. That was such a hectic weekend. It was incredibly hot, and we had the dog with us:


While my parents went from the bank, to the lawyer, to the real estate office, the dog and I sat in the car, sat on the curb, even sat in the office a few times. I was 19 years old and starting my undergrad degree at Mount A that September. Now I will be 29 years old (scary!), have defended my PhD dissertation (or at least have done my departmental defense), and will be starting a post doc. I've now lived in three other provinces, have met all kinds of new people, have lived in 8 houses/rooms/apartments with 7 other roomates (in various combinations), have acquired a cat (see exhibit A)

Made some of the best friends of my life...

Strange coincidence? Yes...exactly 10 years to the day - 5,256,000 minutes. I have decided it must be a good sign! Julio agrees - he thinks he'll like Montreal - his Spanish should help him learn French :-)

Bonne nuit,
me and julio

P.S. Update re: Jon Stewart stand-up gig - I BOUGHT THE TICKETS! I still may not be able to go, and probably won't know if I can for a long time - but I just could not pass up the chance. Thanks to #1 Labmate for agreeing to come with me :-) I am beyond excited!