Well my work here is done – I am on the train out of Montreal heading back to Toronto after a whirlwind 2-day tour in which names were kicked and ass was taken. The imminent 2-monthday of baby Thomas reminded me that I’ve been in my “new” job for a full quarter at this point. So I guess I oughta stop smirking every time someone asks me an important question.

In the bullshit leadership sweepstakes, I won the Powerball. I picked up a kickass team of people who are superb at their jobs and willing to tackle pretty much anything; all that’s left for me, under ideal circumstances, is to simply get out of the way. I used to say that my boss was my shield against bureaucratic crap; now I’m the shield, but the bureaucratic crap is easier to scare away. So it’s an even trade.

Meanwhile, I am moving in 12 days, picking my TIFF flicks in 8, and taking leadership classes for the next 3. At some point in the next 9 I need to sort out my key objectives for the 2nd half of the year, and in exactly 1 month I’ll turn 32. Oh: and I can smell Hallowe’en, as of today. Still no idea what I’ll be or where I’ll go, but I am fairly content with the simple fact that the next 10-odd weeks really are my very favourite time of year.

Going home simply never ceases to be satisfying.