Well, I've had a VERY busy week or so, as has my entire family. While many on the Holcombe side were at Church camp, I was here, at Agile 2008 in Toronto , Canada!
For those who don't know, Agile is a software development methodology that allows practitioners the ability to release business value earlier than other methods. In software its probably the biggest deal going on right now, next to the Cloud thing, and Ruby on Rails, but that's for another post.
Toronto, or as the Chub calls it, Towanto, is a great place. Crazy weather, alot of underground shopping. I saw a few interesting things. The CN Tower, seen here...
From which had this view from about 1100 feet:
Nice! Looks like an airplane, no?
The real appeal of Toronto, though, is that this is the home of my all time favorite rock band, Rush. They still live here, and their music is published here, etc. The airport's three letter code is YYZ, a famous song of theirs. So of course I googled it and found a few places to visit to make my homage....
First -- Massey Hall, where the boyz recorded their first live album, All The Worlds A Stage. This is the album where I heard what Neil Peart could do with a drum kit. Yikes. Eddy Vedder was playing there the night I was there...whatever. Where's Rush!?
Then there was this....
You may ask, what is so interesting about this building? Well, its the parliment of the government, but that's not what was interesting. The astute obvserver will note that this is the building featured in the cover of....
thats right, Moving Pictures....the seminal work featuring Tom Sawyer and the aforementioned instrumental, YYZ.
See, look if you don't believe me.....
Neat, right?! Unfortunately that was the only two things I really got to do regarding Rush....oh, except I did get a couple of cool luggage bag stamps that said YYZ on it.
Enough about Rush, I'm sure. :)
While down in that section of town, I did find a delightful Church, St. Michaels. I enclose a snippet of video, which shows both the fantastic architecture and the wonderful music that a girls choir was by chance practicing at the time. Listen more than watch...I was nervous about recording in a church without permission.
Then, after the conference was done, and my speech there long over, I decided to hit the road and go to Niagra Falls. Woot! Never been, and I went really as a scout to see if my fam would like it. I'd like to report that yes, you ALL would like it. Very fun place. Alot to do in the town, and check out some of these pics....you may have seen them already, but they deserve another look.
So, it was a crazy good trip. It was a great hotel, Sheraton Center ( join the club, u get stuff). The traffic, not so good, but I'm still glad I got a car. Air Canada rocked -- in flight entertainment, and the Flight Attendants were actually nice. Food there was great, the company ( Ryan, a co-worker) was great, and the sessions at the conference were actually better than last year. And that my family was occupied with their own fun at camp made it all the better.
The final shot from CN Tower, with some Rush thrown in....
"The clouds prepare for battle
In the dark and brooding silence.
Bruised and sullen stormclouds
Have the light of day obscured.
Looming low and ominous
In twilight premature
Thunderheads are rumbling
In a distant overture...
All at once, the clouds are parted.
Light streams down in bright unbroken beams...
Follow men's eyes as they look to the skies. The shifting shafts of shining weave the fabric of their dreams..."
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