Present Perfect

left work around 38 degrees C, got a haircut, went for some great tapas on my own reading Darkly Dreaming Dexter, went to a bar, met up with friends, an impromptu bbq plan was hatched, went to a lovely atico at Portal De L'Angel, barbecued in a soothing summer breeze, rode home on the back of a motorcycle hanging on for dear life. All in all a typical Barcelona summer Tuesday.

left work around 38 degrees C, got a haircut, went for some great tapas on my own reading Darkly Dreaming Dexter, went to a bar, met up with friends, an...

At home, close to the toilet because I've needed it about 20 times over two hours yesterday evening, and a bunch more this morning. Sigh.

With such a low energy level I decided to go through some of my pending tasks, picking out low-hanging fruit. That's one of the situations in which a GTD system pays off - those wasted days of low-energy where you basically want to execute simple mechanic tasks on some list without needing to do the thinking of which those tasks are in the first place.

One of those tasks is to replace my venerable booq backpack that I got right after moving to Barcelona more than 5 years ago. It has served me well, with a few minor problems along the way (the felt on the carrying handle tearing for example, now replaced with awesome-looking gaffa tape), and now recently the zipper started tearing, which could be fixable but would just take way too much time.

I'm sure there might be just as good or better bags from other brands, but in our 21st century ecosystem we vote with our cash, so I'm going to buy another booq backpack. (If you are looking for a new bag or backpack, I recommend you give them a look. I have no idea how many people ended up buying one over the years on my recommendations, I hope there are many.)

This time I went with the BOA 3M without the Vyper sleeve. The Vyper sleeve looks awesome and cool, but basically my laptop sleeve from the previous Booq backpack still works fine, and has a top pocket (in which I store 2 USB drives, a network card, some pens, earplugs, some spare batteries) and a back pocket in which I can slide documentation, so that sleeve on its own actually works really well as a light bag just for the laptop.

The sleeve might be a problem by the time I get my next laptop though, because I doubt there will be any more 14 inch 4:3 laptops around by that time. For now it will serve me just fine.

These backpacks don't come cheap (I just paid 185 euros including shipping from Germany) but given the durability of my previous backpack, which I've basically used daily for 5.5 years, I have no doubt the pack will be worth the money.

My only real gripe with my previous backpack was the fact that I would get a sweaty back at the end of my 30 minute walk/metro ride to work. The BOA should be slightly better for that, though I guess all backpacks (except the ones with metal wire frames that lift the pack off your back) make you suffer from a sweaty back.

Looking forward to walking around with my new bag soon ! One task knocked off the list.

At home, close to the toilet because I've needed it about 20 times over two hours yesterday evening, and a bunch more this morning. Sigh. With such a low energy...

A few weeks ago a few neurons tragically misfired, causing me to click a buy button on a 20 item shopping cart at Amazon.

Really, I just wanted to buy Overqualified, after reading how Joey sold out his first run already and realizing I did not want to wait for a second print. But somehow I thought I'd optimize my costs if I added some more stuff from my wishlist.

Anyway, the post office had trouble finding the books I had ordered. Probably because instead of a normal box, the books were packaged in this:
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Inside was the traditional Amazon box:
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Sadly, things that look like a bag are thrown around like a bag. The soft carton inside the bag was not strong enough to protect the books inside of being damaged.

If your spine reading is good, you can see what I ended up ordering:
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The problem is I already had stuff I still have to read; I have a special hole in my bookshelf just for that:
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Maybe it's time for another week of stay-at-home-holiday...

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A few weeks ago a few neurons tragically misfired, causing me to click a buy button on a 20 item shopping cart at Amazon. Really, I just wanted to buy...

I finally went out and bought Vin Diesel's Wheelman. It is set in Barcelona, awesome!

At least, some weird Frankenstein version of Barcelona. The map is a bit screwy, things are slightly out of place. I had read the game designers claimed they did so to make the game more dynamic, which is weird - Barcelona has one of the best city plans in the world, but these guys think they can do better than Ildefons Cerdà. So far it's just confusing.

The first mission didn't allow me to stray, but as soon as I dropped off the woman thief in Raval, I drove straight to work, to the World Trade Center. I wanted to drive underneath the hotel building, to the north building, up the stairs, and jump straight off the side, onto a ferry.

But they put FENCES in front of the World Trade Center!!! I can't get through!

I guess I'll have to take an actual plane and take the subway to work again on Monday...

Still, I already like the game. The effects are awesome, if comical. I already smashed 15 police cars into bits.

What is up with that casino just smack next to the World Trade Center though ? Hello ? It's not like it is that far to the two towers....

I finally went out and bought Vin Diesel's Wheelman. It is set in Barcelona, awesome! At least, some weird Frankenstein version of Barcelona. The map is a bit screwy, things...

Yesterday Kristien was crossing over, with a bus stopping for her on the one side, and another car coming from the other direction. She was crossing over with her bike in her hand. While she was passing the bus, a motorcycle was racing past the bus, with no intention to stop. In a reflex, Kristien jumped forward, so the motorcycle only hit the back of her bike.

The back of her bike was completely squashed. The motorcycle slowed down a little, looked behind him, then raced away, even as other cars were trying to block him from fleeing.

The car that was stopped in the other direction originally pulled a U-turn and pursued the motorcycle. He was able to write down the cycle's license plate before the guy fled.

On the one hand I'm incredibly relieved Kristien's fine, beside a broken nail. On the other hand I want to make sure the guy that did this is taken off the streets. I have little hope of the police finding him, from what the police is saying, even if someone did give them the license plate.

If anyone knows how I can track down the owner of a Polish license plate, feel free to let me know. Irresponsible scum should be taken off the streets.

The witnesses, and the people that chased the bike to get the license plate, where all incredibly friendly and helpful. This kind of thing restores my faith in humanity. All of them where what people sometimes euphemistically call 'New Belgians'. Thank you all.

Yesterday Kristien was crossing over, with a bus stopping for her on the one side, and another car coming from the other direction. She was crossing over with her bike...