So much news...
CBC PEI headline:
Canned beverage sales in P.E.I. well above expectations
Umm, great. No, not really, as I am quite confident that the bulk of this is soda. I have doubts any health professional encourages one to increase consumption of pop in order to maintain (or eventually achieve) a healthy lifestyle. I highly doubt that people are purchasing in bulk to stockpile in event of emergency. ("Earthquake!!! Quick, get the soda stockpile!")
CBC Canada headline:
GG agrees to suspend Parliament until January
Extra long Christmas holiday for MPs!! Sigh, why didn't I run? I haven't decided yet what I think of this, but I think it's wrong for the Conservatives to point fingers because I have this sneaking suspicion they would try to pull something similar if the election had resulted in a minority Liberal government. That being said, I don't know who the Conservatives would align with - NDP/Conservative love affair seems awkward. The Bloc?
I don't think suspending Parliament is the right reaction. A majority of MPs, the folk whom we chose to elect, are discontent with the PM. The majority is actually supposed to chose the PM, in theory, it's not automatically the party leader of the party with the most seats. Watching our democratic system "work" is interesting. Things are happening! It's half cooperation (the left) and half war fare (the right). The Bloc must be thrilled. They have the chance, in theory, to become a party that represents the country, not just one province.
I do find the possibility of Stephan Dion becoming prime minister... awkward. I know his party has the second highest number of seats, but it just seems wrong to give the 'second place winner' the first place prize. That being said, that is what would happen in an athletic competition if the athlete who won first place was suddenly disqualified.
Things that made me giggle from the above referenced article: "Harper was greeted by about 40 chanting supporters, including many Tory staffers, when he arrived at Rideau Hall, the Governor General's residence, at 9:30 a.m. ET. A single anti-Harper demonstrator stood waving a sign reading 'Harper Must Go.'"
At first I slightly laughed over the single anti-Harper demonstrator, but then I snickered and snorted at the 40 chanting supporters. His staff. I'm pretty sure they have a vested interest (job security) not directly to the overall well-being of our country. Nothing wrong with them being there, I would also go hang around outside chanting if my boss told me it would augment my job security.
Anyway, this is fueling my interest in politics again, which is nice.
It also means more Jack Layton and his mustache. I am happy.
The PEI Legislature is closed after 13 days. Thirteen days?!?! How can you even accomplish anything in 13 days? Right, you hide controversial items until the legislature closes, and hope they are tidied up before it opens again.
Government confuses and amazes me, both in positive and negative ways.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Les mots francaises du jour
This evening I am working on some French stuff. (I say this evening because I didn't get out of bed until 9:30 and didn't plunk myself into my desk until 10:30. However, I have been super productive today, because I spent the least productive time period of my day in bed. Listening to your inner clock is actually incredibly useful.)
English- French translations that amused me:
Fire pit = foyer
Petting farm = « Petting farm » ( ferme où l’on peut caresser les animaux ) (instead of making a french word, the French have apparently decided to be descriptive)
Turn-down service = service « bonne nuit »
Maid service = Femme de chambre (woman for/of room... prostitute?)
Cot/roll-away bed = Lit pliant/berceau (I only recognize the first word so the others blew my mind)
DVD Player/VCR = Lecteur DVD/magnétoscope (again, last word puzzles, but amazes me)
Steam room = hammam
In an unrelated note, Virgin Mobile Canada now only offers flip phones, slide phones w/ QWERTY keyboards, or blackberries. I don't like flip phones. Perhaps because I never had one. But it's just one extra step in answering the phone. An extra second to slow you down when already spent 27 seconds digging through your bag searching for your phone.
Every mobile I have ever owned has been a Nokia (four phones - one in UK, two in US (RIP phone in toilet), one in Canada). Their phones are not prominent at all anymore. Curious. Did they go out of business and I miss it somehow?
No, says the internet, they did not.
English- French translations that amused me:
Fire pit = foyer
Petting farm = « Petting farm » ( ferme où l’on peut caresser les animaux ) (instead of making a french word, the French have apparently decided to be descriptive)
Turn-down service = service « bonne nuit »
Maid service = Femme de chambre (woman for/of room... prostitute?)
Cot/roll-away bed = Lit pliant/berceau (I only recognize the first word so the others blew my mind)
DVD Player/VCR = Lecteur DVD/magnétoscope (again, last word puzzles, but amazes me)
Steam room = hammam
In an unrelated note, Virgin Mobile Canada now only offers flip phones, slide phones w/ QWERTY keyboards, or blackberries. I don't like flip phones. Perhaps because I never had one. But it's just one extra step in answering the phone. An extra second to slow you down when already spent 27 seconds digging through your bag searching for your phone.
Every mobile I have ever owned has been a Nokia (four phones - one in UK, two in US (RIP phone in toilet), one in Canada). Their phones are not prominent at all anymore. Curious. Did they go out of business and I miss it somehow?
No, says the internet, they did not.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Icky Dream
I had multiple dreams last year, likely due to my weird sleeping pattern. I 'took a nap' on th couch from 11:00 - 12:30, woke up, had an extremely late supper (Honeycombs), then went upstairs to my bed. Couldn't fall asleep for another hour or so, then woke up at 7:00. Feel asleep again for a wee bit, but perma awake by 8:00. That is a lot of sleep for me.
I have two very vivid memories from my dreams. I warn you, the first is GROSS, and the second is TERRIFYING.
1. I was looking in the mirror and noticed a blackhead or hair folicle on the side of my chin. So I tried to squeeze it out and this gross, thick, clumpy, gaggy brown stuff started coming out, followed by a fruit fly. I thought about it for a second, and quickly realised that a FRUIT FLY had been LIVING IN MY CHIN. And until it died, all of its poop had just been collecting inside my chin. Sooooo gross. Ugh.
2. My was getting ready for my mum's wedding, rushing since my dad was about to pick me up. (No idea if they were having a cute second wedding/renewing vows or my mum was marrying someone else???) A wasp flew in my window and started chasing me, literally hunting me. It kept stinging me on my bare back and I was quite upset.
This afternoon a stupid orange dishtowel turned my laundry orangish. I had accidentally put it in with my whites. Survival of clothes is still unknown as they are currently being rewashed. After I angrily threw them all over the laundry room and into the foyer/livingroom/porch. The dish towel, however, will never see the light of day again.
Because I cut it up with a large butcher knife.
It felt really good.
In other news, I am going to Hawaii. I haven't booked it yet, but a wee leprechaun inside of me keep whispering in my ear that I should book a one-way ticket. The leprechaun is very wise, you see.
I had a good morning. I started cleaning my room, did laundry (first load was okay - problems were with second load) and SHOVELLED! I secretly love shovelling.
I am going to a bar now. Stupid dish towel
I have two very vivid memories from my dreams. I warn you, the first is GROSS, and the second is TERRIFYING.
1. I was looking in the mirror and noticed a blackhead or hair folicle on the side of my chin. So I tried to squeeze it out and this gross, thick, clumpy, gaggy brown stuff started coming out, followed by a fruit fly. I thought about it for a second, and quickly realised that a FRUIT FLY had been LIVING IN MY CHIN. And until it died, all of its poop had just been collecting inside my chin. Sooooo gross. Ugh.
2. My was getting ready for my mum's wedding, rushing since my dad was about to pick me up. (No idea if they were having a cute second wedding/renewing vows or my mum was marrying someone else???) A wasp flew in my window and started chasing me, literally hunting me. It kept stinging me on my bare back and I was quite upset.
This afternoon a stupid orange dishtowel turned my laundry orangish. I had accidentally put it in with my whites. Survival of clothes is still unknown as they are currently being rewashed. After I angrily threw them all over the laundry room and into the foyer/livingroom/porch. The dish towel, however, will never see the light of day again.
Because I cut it up with a large butcher knife.
It felt really good.
In other news, I am going to Hawaii. I haven't booked it yet, but a wee leprechaun inside of me keep whispering in my ear that I should book a one-way ticket. The leprechaun is very wise, you see.
I had a good morning. I started cleaning my room, did laundry (first load was okay - problems were with second load) and SHOVELLED! I secretly love shovelling.
I am going to a bar now. Stupid dish towel
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Try, try, try again
This may sound deep, but it's really not.
You know, there are some things in life you really get only one shot at. First impressions, not tripping on the stage during high school graduation when accepting your diploma, birth, etc.
However, there is something I consistently fail at, but always get a second, third, fourth, fifth shot at:
Getting up early.
I always have good intentions, but every morning something seems to come up, and I don't get to work until 9:00 generally, at the earliest. I thought today would be the big day when I would be there by 8:30, alas, I was there at 9:05. I'm starting to notice the difference between biking to work and driving. My attire that I bike to work in is definitely not work-wear (though sometimes I wear it for a bit until I feel like changing) so a bit of care is required when packing my backpack up for the day. Sometimes I am trying new combinations of clothing (oh my!) so must try them on in the morning. So I try on the day's work outfit. Then I take it off. Then I put on my biking clothes (sometimes multiple layers - must think ahead as likely will be biking home at 8:00pm). Then I pack my work clothes up. Then I pack my gym clothes up (weather pending - nice days I still try to bike instead because it's 800x better). Then I get distracted. And eventually I get to work. If I drove to work I would get dressed, look for keys, then drive to work. Simpler.
It is 11:00pm right now, and I am going to try and get up at a decent hour tomorrow so I can take an afternoon bike ride as weather is supposed to be uncharacteristically, well, nice. Curious.
Today I ditched work for an hour and a half or so in the afternoon to go biking. Went downtown since it was a bit windy and quite gusty. I like biking downtown when windy because you never have to bike right into the wind for too long. Was super nice out and I wish I wore shorts instead of 'knickers' (bike term for 'bike capris', I guess) and the long sleeves were even a bit much. Granted I probably would had been cold if I had been walking, or simply standing still, but I was a disgusting sweaty, rosey-cheeked mess when I got back to work. Love it :)
Sleep!~
La fin.
You know, there are some things in life you really get only one shot at. First impressions, not tripping on the stage during high school graduation when accepting your diploma, birth, etc.
However, there is something I consistently fail at, but always get a second, third, fourth, fifth shot at:
Getting up early.
I always have good intentions, but every morning something seems to come up, and I don't get to work until 9:00 generally, at the earliest. I thought today would be the big day when I would be there by 8:30, alas, I was there at 9:05. I'm starting to notice the difference between biking to work and driving. My attire that I bike to work in is definitely not work-wear (though sometimes I wear it for a bit until I feel like changing) so a bit of care is required when packing my backpack up for the day. Sometimes I am trying new combinations of clothing (oh my!) so must try them on in the morning. So I try on the day's work outfit. Then I take it off. Then I put on my biking clothes (sometimes multiple layers - must think ahead as likely will be biking home at 8:00pm). Then I pack my work clothes up. Then I pack my gym clothes up (weather pending - nice days I still try to bike instead because it's 800x better). Then I get distracted. And eventually I get to work. If I drove to work I would get dressed, look for keys, then drive to work. Simpler.
It is 11:00pm right now, and I am going to try and get up at a decent hour tomorrow so I can take an afternoon bike ride as weather is supposed to be uncharacteristically, well, nice. Curious.
Today I ditched work for an hour and a half or so in the afternoon to go biking. Went downtown since it was a bit windy and quite gusty. I like biking downtown when windy because you never have to bike right into the wind for too long. Was super nice out and I wish I wore shorts instead of 'knickers' (bike term for 'bike capris', I guess) and the long sleeves were even a bit much. Granted I probably would had been cold if I had been walking, or simply standing still, but I was a disgusting sweaty, rosey-cheeked mess when I got back to work. Love it :)
Sleep!~
La fin.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Holding in laughter makes it look as though I've been crying
So I finished my work early today, and went to read some more archives of my favourite blog du jour.
The difference between boys and girls
Particularly when taking photos. I was trying to hold back laughter and now have watery eyes and let out a few unfortunate snorts.
Amazing.
The difference between boys and girls
Particularly when taking photos. I was trying to hold back laughter and now have watery eyes and let out a few unfortunate snorts.
Amazing.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Abuse in the Wind
This afternoon I left work a bit early as I had pretty much finished for the day and wanted to go for a bike ride before the sun disappeared. (No worries, I'm a good lady and am back at work now to make up for the lost time.)
It was a super ride! It was quite windy but I hardly ever was in a direct headwind, most headish winds were coming at me from an angle. Still difficult, but not nearly unmanageable.
I got back to work and the pain started. My knees were throbbing when going up and down the stairs. As I started to cool off I got super cold and really wished for a blanket. But the worst, and I have noticed this even since biking on chilly spring days, is when you boobs get cold. It is actually quite painful as your nipples get tight and shrivel up.
It feels good to get that off my chest, no pun intended.
Do males experience such a phenominum?
I re-launched my UPEI gym membership last night. I thought I would hate the gym as I have been on a bike all summer and haven't been to the gym since sometime in early June, I suspect. Regardless, it was okay. I hopped on one of the spin class bikes for about a half hour and proceeded to sweat about 30 gallons of liquid from every pore on my body. I've had sweaty arms before, but actually being able to see the round beads of sweat all over yourself is really something. I'm hoping that something is "attractive" and not "disgustingly repulsive". You would think I would want to use a different piece of machinery rather than a bike, but no. The spin bikes are amazing and are much more similar to an actual bike than the other exercise bikes. They adjust size/height wise in many wonderful ways. And they seem so much less... machine-y. On the ellipticals, treadmills, and stairmasters, you are surrounded by massive pieces of plastic and various parts. Bike = simple, elegant, sexy. Much like myself. Hense why I like bikes.
I managed to stay at the gym for a bit over an hour. I think that's my time limit, depending what's on the telie. I'm not going to get too crazy or anything. Maybe once winter hits and I get bored and the sun vanishes by, oh, 4-freaking-15. I seem to plump up in the summer (drinking on patios, laying in a sedetary fashion in the sun) and then de-plump in the winter. Except the two years I skipped winter in the UK and US. Deplumping did not occure, results were evident in various photos. Had nice Jen Jugs though. Hee hee...
La fin. To the gym? Meeeh... I guess, I did pay for it. Maybe I will sit in the sauna to fix this nipple problem.
It was a super ride! It was quite windy but I hardly ever was in a direct headwind, most headish winds were coming at me from an angle. Still difficult, but not nearly unmanageable.
I got back to work and the pain started. My knees were throbbing when going up and down the stairs. As I started to cool off I got super cold and really wished for a blanket. But the worst, and I have noticed this even since biking on chilly spring days, is when you boobs get cold. It is actually quite painful as your nipples get tight and shrivel up.
It feels good to get that off my chest, no pun intended.
Do males experience such a phenominum?
I re-launched my UPEI gym membership last night. I thought I would hate the gym as I have been on a bike all summer and haven't been to the gym since sometime in early June, I suspect. Regardless, it was okay. I hopped on one of the spin class bikes for about a half hour and proceeded to sweat about 30 gallons of liquid from every pore on my body. I've had sweaty arms before, but actually being able to see the round beads of sweat all over yourself is really something. I'm hoping that something is "attractive" and not "disgustingly repulsive". You would think I would want to use a different piece of machinery rather than a bike, but no. The spin bikes are amazing and are much more similar to an actual bike than the other exercise bikes. They adjust size/height wise in many wonderful ways. And they seem so much less... machine-y. On the ellipticals, treadmills, and stairmasters, you are surrounded by massive pieces of plastic and various parts. Bike = simple, elegant, sexy. Much like myself. Hense why I like bikes.
I managed to stay at the gym for a bit over an hour. I think that's my time limit, depending what's on the telie. I'm not going to get too crazy or anything. Maybe once winter hits and I get bored and the sun vanishes by, oh, 4-freaking-15. I seem to plump up in the summer (drinking on patios, laying in a sedetary fashion in the sun) and then de-plump in the winter. Except the two years I skipped winter in the UK and US. Deplumping did not occure, results were evident in various photos. Had nice Jen Jugs though. Hee hee...
La fin. To the gym? Meeeh... I guess, I did pay for it. Maybe I will sit in the sauna to fix this nipple problem.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Elephant dream
Last night I had a dream about elephants. Baby elephants, specifically.
Sometimes I feel like I have such a kindergarten brain. Elephants!! Clap!!
In my dream I was at the Calgary Zoo and two baby elephants walked out of the elephant pen. Apparently they really wanted to see me. How they communicated this with the zoo keeper is beyond me. Of course they were adorable, and of course I wanted to play with them. However, for some reason I did not play with them. So very curious. I think I was a bit intimidated. Anyway, this dream served as a reminder that I must read the Globe & Mail this weekend. According to Friday's edition, there is to be an article on elephants in the travel section.
Completely related, I turned to an online dream dictionary to find out the significance of elephants in my dream. I don't think, however, that the fact they were elephants were key to the dream; it was more about how much I loved them, but was scared of them.
From astrology.com ....
"In the Zulu culture, the elephant is the symbol for wisdom, patriarchy, and sacred relationships (similar to the bear or eagle in Native American culture). It is important to notice that geographically different cultures find symbols within their own contexts to convey universal themes of human concern.
"Also, most western cultures revere the elephant as powerful and possessing a strong memory. Because of our common acknowledgment that elephants have powerful memories, to dream of an elephant may be an association with the act of memory-this may point to something forgotten in your life."
Another website mentions that baby elephants specifically symbolize good luck or forture.
What really bothers me about the dream, other than the fact it was only a dream and I did not have the real opportunity to play with elephants, is that I was kind of scared. It was clearly something I wanted to do, but I was too scared to do it. On the other hand, at least it reminded me to read the Globe today, perhaps that was the real meaning of the dream - to trigger a memory?
Anyway, I shall do something now. Perhaps head for a bike ride (though it is supposed to get quite windy which makes my left knee hurt) or go to the library to return some books.
La fin. Encore.
Sometimes I feel like I have such a kindergarten brain. Elephants!! Clap!!
In my dream I was at the Calgary Zoo and two baby elephants walked out of the elephant pen. Apparently they really wanted to see me. How they communicated this with the zoo keeper is beyond me. Of course they were adorable, and of course I wanted to play with them. However, for some reason I did not play with them. So very curious. I think I was a bit intimidated. Anyway, this dream served as a reminder that I must read the Globe & Mail this weekend. According to Friday's edition, there is to be an article on elephants in the travel section.
Completely related, I turned to an online dream dictionary to find out the significance of elephants in my dream. I don't think, however, that the fact they were elephants were key to the dream; it was more about how much I loved them, but was scared of them.
From astrology.com ....
"In the Zulu culture, the elephant is the symbol for wisdom, patriarchy, and sacred relationships (similar to the bear or eagle in Native American culture). It is important to notice that geographically different cultures find symbols within their own contexts to convey universal themes of human concern.
"Also, most western cultures revere the elephant as powerful and possessing a strong memory. Because of our common acknowledgment that elephants have powerful memories, to dream of an elephant may be an association with the act of memory-this may point to something forgotten in your life."
Another website mentions that baby elephants specifically symbolize good luck or forture.
What really bothers me about the dream, other than the fact it was only a dream and I did not have the real opportunity to play with elephants, is that I was kind of scared. It was clearly something I wanted to do, but I was too scared to do it. On the other hand, at least it reminded me to read the Globe today, perhaps that was the real meaning of the dream - to trigger a memory?
Anyway, I shall do something now. Perhaps head for a bike ride (though it is supposed to get quite windy which makes my left knee hurt) or go to the library to return some books.
La fin. Encore.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Internet obsession du jour
I have found my favourite blog of the moment (with the exception of mine, which continues to amazine the masses, no doubt):
Fat Cyclist.com - http://www.fatcyclist.com
Even if you are not a biking fan, he is a fantastic writer - aka, he is HILARIOUS. I'm reading through the archives now and will be sad when I complete them for I will have to return to unhappy life full of humourless blogs (again, other than my own).
I am supposed to be social now with the people in my home. Perhaps I should take Mr. Laptop downstairs and entertain them with oral readings of my new favourite blog? Surely it would be much more entertaining than the silly hockey game that is on the telie at present. Vomit.
Fat Cyclist.com - http://www.fatcyclist.com
Even if you are not a biking fan, he is a fantastic writer - aka, he is HILARIOUS. I'm reading through the archives now and will be sad when I complete them for I will have to return to unhappy life full of humourless blogs (again, other than my own).
I am supposed to be social now with the people in my home. Perhaps I should take Mr. Laptop downstairs and entertain them with oral readings of my new favourite blog? Surely it would be much more entertaining than the silly hockey game that is on the telie at present. Vomit.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Science Experiment: bar de power
Today I am doing a research project not related to tourism.
On my adventure at the Superstore last night, I noticed many Powerbars on the discount rack. (I was originally looking at the hair dye, as my hair continues to be a case for the fried-rainbow convention.)
Apparently these Powerbars are generally about $3.00 but these were marked down to $1.15. I became curious. What would happen to me were I to eat such a powerful bar? Would I work faster? Become more restless? Be able to move furniture with the tip of my pinky?
Today I am going to find out. After work I shall eat what remains of my powerbar. I slightly cheated and nibbled a bit off last night (wanted to know what it tasted like to avoid disappointment the following day), and have had a few munches today out of Office Boredom (tm). Over half remains of this "Vanilla Crisp" flavoured Powerbar. After work, I shall don my biking clothes, mange my Powerbar, and proceed to bike to the moon.
Maybe.
Two questionable conditions have developed this afternoon.
1) As stated, almost half of the powerbar is already gone. This reduces potential derived power by almost half. Power gained is directly related to the amount of power eaten.
2) I'm really full. I made chili last night and had some of my 800 litres of leftovers for lunch and am already proteined out. I feel I may need to use the washroom soon, so I am hoping that will create more room for the Powerbar.
3) I am uncertain as to when the Powerbar should be consumed. Should I eat it about a half hour prior to my bike ride? Perhaps I should consume it right before my ride, swallowing the last bits as I mount Sexay Bicyclette (my bike's name today, sometimes it changes). Should I even eat it after my ride as an attempt to re-fuel?
WHY DOES THE POWERBAR NOT COME WITH DIRECTIONS?!?!
It also should be noted that the Powerbar is apparently step one of three. I am unsure as to what the other two steps are. Step 2: Physical activity? Step 3: Throwing up Powerbar after too much physical activity? Such mysteries.
4) It is cold out, about 5C apparently. This means my bike ride may not be that long, because I hate the cold with a very special passion. This morning my TEETH hurt when biking to work. Biking into the wind proved difficult thus my mouth was open in an effort to increase my air intake. The result was a chilling breeze skimming the top of my bottom teeth, which still feel weird right now. My face and ears were also cold, but my torso did its usual, "Holy crap your wind breaker works well and is an amazing insulator, I must sweat profusely now!"
I think it would be useful to perform a similar experiment on the same day next week. However, this time I will not eat a Powerbar. I will still eat the excessive (sigh) amount of chili. This will aid me in determining if it is the Powerbar giving me the strength of a bear, or simply the Jen Mac chili (extra lean ground beef, corn, zuchini, green pepper, red pepper, onion, kidney beans, tomatoes, chili seasoning, ketchup, and wee bit o' cheese occasionally).
What an educational evening this will prove to be. Now if you will excuse me, I have a Powerbar to slowly eat. It must be eaten slowly because it almost has the delicious texture of taffee, so it is impossible to eat quickly.
On my adventure at the Superstore last night, I noticed many Powerbars on the discount rack. (I was originally looking at the hair dye, as my hair continues to be a case for the fried-rainbow convention.)
Apparently these Powerbars are generally about $3.00 but these were marked down to $1.15. I became curious. What would happen to me were I to eat such a powerful bar? Would I work faster? Become more restless? Be able to move furniture with the tip of my pinky?
Today I am going to find out. After work I shall eat what remains of my powerbar. I slightly cheated and nibbled a bit off last night (wanted to know what it tasted like to avoid disappointment the following day), and have had a few munches today out of Office Boredom (tm). Over half remains of this "Vanilla Crisp" flavoured Powerbar. After work, I shall don my biking clothes, mange my Powerbar, and proceed to bike to the moon.
Maybe.
Two questionable conditions have developed this afternoon.
1) As stated, almost half of the powerbar is already gone. This reduces potential derived power by almost half. Power gained is directly related to the amount of power eaten.
2) I'm really full. I made chili last night and had some of my 800 litres of leftovers for lunch and am already proteined out. I feel I may need to use the washroom soon, so I am hoping that will create more room for the Powerbar.
3) I am uncertain as to when the Powerbar should be consumed. Should I eat it about a half hour prior to my bike ride? Perhaps I should consume it right before my ride, swallowing the last bits as I mount Sexay Bicyclette (my bike's name today, sometimes it changes). Should I even eat it after my ride as an attempt to re-fuel?
WHY DOES THE POWERBAR NOT COME WITH DIRECTIONS?!?!
It also should be noted that the Powerbar is apparently step one of three. I am unsure as to what the other two steps are. Step 2: Physical activity? Step 3: Throwing up Powerbar after too much physical activity? Such mysteries.
4) It is cold out, about 5C apparently. This means my bike ride may not be that long, because I hate the cold with a very special passion. This morning my TEETH hurt when biking to work. Biking into the wind proved difficult thus my mouth was open in an effort to increase my air intake. The result was a chilling breeze skimming the top of my bottom teeth, which still feel weird right now. My face and ears were also cold, but my torso did its usual, "Holy crap your wind breaker works well and is an amazing insulator, I must sweat profusely now!"
I think it would be useful to perform a similar experiment on the same day next week. However, this time I will not eat a Powerbar. I will still eat the excessive (sigh) amount of chili. This will aid me in determining if it is the Powerbar giving me the strength of a bear, or simply the Jen Mac chili (extra lean ground beef, corn, zuchini, green pepper, red pepper, onion, kidney beans, tomatoes, chili seasoning, ketchup, and wee bit o' cheese occasionally).
What an educational evening this will prove to be. Now if you will excuse me, I have a Powerbar to slowly eat. It must be eaten slowly because it almost has the delicious texture of taffee, so it is impossible to eat quickly.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Useful Things to do with Office Supplies
Oh, I had so much to say and my brain just crashed about ten minutes ago. Case in point, I actually wrote "ten minutes away" instead of ago before fixing it.
Today my too-large-but-wonderful pants (aka capris) were falling down, so I fixed them with a binder clip. What a wonderful invention. Suddenly my pants fit better than they have in YEARS. (And by 'years' I mean twelve months.)
Now, let's not just stop there. These binder clips could be used for MANY wonderful things!
I am very confident that there are many other uses for binder clips, but I encourage you to use YOUR imagination and free time (or work time) to explore further options.
Now I must learn about H2B visas. Or go to bed? No, learn about H2B visas. I have the feeling Canadians cannot apply for them, but I will use the power of Google and my reading skills to make certain.
Five minutes later: Canadians can apply for them!! Now, I just need a plan *cough* Hawaii *cough cough*
Today my too-large-but-wonderful pants (aka capris) were falling down, so I fixed them with a binder clip. What a wonderful invention. Suddenly my pants fit better than they have in YEARS. (And by 'years' I mean twelve months.)
Now, let's not just stop there. These binder clips could be used for MANY wonderful things!
- Hair clips - the clips come in multiple sizes, but I'm thinking they would generally be ideal for the end of a braid.
- Paper weight - although I suppose one could simply bind the papers together using the clip with its intended purpose.
- Curtain shutters - you know how sometimes your curtains just don't *quite* meet in the centre? You could use a binder clip to piece the curtains together. I can't actually test the level of usefulness for this as I do not own curtains. You will find this entertaining if you are outside of my house between 8:00 - 8:30am or 11:30 - 12:00am. Location of said house withheld.
- Nose plug - I am terrible at swimming without a noseplug. While the binder clip would be a bit much and possibly crush some important part of the nose structure. However, this would serve as a catalyst or incentive for the swimmer to learn how to swim without a nose plug.
- Nail file - not to file the top of ones nails, but to pick out dirt that may appear under the nail. There are many edges and sides to binder clips, especially when one considers the silver squeeze things (technical name). Those could also be used to pick small objects/wax/general dirt from the ears. And nose, if your into that, which I know everyone secretly is when you have some mucus up there that blowing the nose just doesn't seem to wedge free.
- Clothes pins - this is an easy substitue. In fact, I suspect he/she who invented the clothes pin was probably influential in the design of the useful (in so many ways, as we are learning) binder clip.
- Torture device - well, yeah, clearly. It is recommended that men not be bastards when naked next to a woman yielding multiple binder clips.
I am very confident that there are many other uses for binder clips, but I encourage you to use YOUR imagination and free time (or work time) to explore further options.
Now I must learn about H2B visas. Or go to bed? No, learn about H2B visas. I have the feeling Canadians cannot apply for them, but I will use the power of Google and my reading skills to make certain.
Five minutes later: Canadians can apply for them!! Now, I just need a plan *cough* Hawaii *cough cough*
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
100% with election predictions
I am so proud, my two measly elections predictions were spot on. I have become a wee bit of a politics junkie over the past few weeks. Replace my Olympics junkiness, I suppose. Anyway, I predicted three Liberal and one Conservative seat on PEI, and figured it would still be a Conservative minority.
Anyway, now that the election is minutes away from being over, I suppose I can retire my mini-crush on Jack Layton. I felt he would look after me. If I were to be locked outside of my house and Jack Layton was walking by, he would get me in. He would either kick in the door with his mighty cycling legs or punch through the window, letting me in. He would probably fix either the door or window afterwards too. Then he would smile at me, and his teeth would sparkle and make that ding noise. *ding* I also wanted him to challenge someone to an arm wrestling contest at the end of the Engish debate. (I geeked out and watched both the French and the English debate. Listened to Elizabeth May speak at the University too.)
I've been a wee bit sickish lately. Cough. Me and everyone else in this great G-8 nation, apparently. It makes me want to sleep a lot, which is not possible, because of other commitments. Like work. Riding my bike. Eating. Growing a belly. Making funny faces in the mirror. And so forth.
I'm supposed to be in bed now actually, but it's kind of Jen Mac tradition not to sleep much prior to travelling. I'm leaving tomorrow after work con la familia to travel to Haut Canada (high five doing history in French) pour visiter mon frere. Mon frere est grand. Il aime couper ses cheveux. J'aime mon frere parce qu'il est drole par fois. Mais je suis plus drole, parce que je parle plus que lui. Mais comme pour cent, je ne sais pas. Peut etre nous sommes egalement droles.
I've started wearing fall clothing now. This means I wore jeans once for a couple of hours (so... weird...) and wore dress pants one day at work. I have also wore a coat about a half-dozen times. I actually quite like my spring/fall/not-so-cold-days-in-winter coat. However, mostly I just wear my black boots with long shorts or capris. Oh, and I wore sandals the day I wore pants. Don't want to get too crazy all at once. Pfft.
I've been quite busy at work lately writing a kajillion reports (give or take). I feel like I could write them in my sleep, which is productive, because sometimes writing them makes me want to fall asleep. Hee. (I poke fun, but things are still going well at work. Like today there was apple pie and there are often lollypops in the admin office.)
On Saturday I was going to bike to Hunter River, but my legs were not cooperating. Instead they were pointing and laughing at me. So about three-quarters of the way there I decided to lay on a bench and enjoy the sun. There was not a SINGLE CLOUD in the sky, and the warmth of the sun felt amazing. I'm convinced people who live in sunny locations must be, overall, statistically happier and less likely to suffer from depression and thoughts of suicide. I hope to replicate this sunny sensation at some point in the near future.
Oh election. I could start following the American election, but I kind of don't care. It's interesting... and, wait, no, no it's not really. I feel like the US election has been going on for a decade or so. It is like a long running TV series.
The Canadian debates were interesting, but a bit irksome. I enjoyed how they were all sitting around the table, face to face. However, it just seemed so finger-pointing-esque. Point at Harper, complain, hiss, stamp feet, then smugly smile. Actually, I think the most smug smiles came from Harper. His tactic to make the other party leaders more emotional. Let them freak out at you, and simply stare back at them with a smug smile. Watch their blood pressure slowly rise as they ramble more to try and make their point better.
I liked the French debate because I am much better at understanding anglophones speaking French than francophones speaking French. So I had to pay super attention to the frenchies, but could slightly relax with the.. anglies.
Anyway, a shower would be pleasant. I have to return library books before work tomorrow morning because the library AND the drop-box were closed yesterday. I have never before encountered a closed DROP BOX. Weird.
La fin.
Anyway, now that the election is minutes away from being over, I suppose I can retire my mini-crush on Jack Layton. I felt he would look after me. If I were to be locked outside of my house and Jack Layton was walking by, he would get me in. He would either kick in the door with his mighty cycling legs or punch through the window, letting me in. He would probably fix either the door or window afterwards too. Then he would smile at me, and his teeth would sparkle and make that ding noise. *ding* I also wanted him to challenge someone to an arm wrestling contest at the end of the Engish debate. (I geeked out and watched both the French and the English debate. Listened to Elizabeth May speak at the University too.)
I've been a wee bit sickish lately. Cough. Me and everyone else in this great G-8 nation, apparently. It makes me want to sleep a lot, which is not possible, because of other commitments. Like work. Riding my bike. Eating. Growing a belly. Making funny faces in the mirror. And so forth.
I'm supposed to be in bed now actually, but it's kind of Jen Mac tradition not to sleep much prior to travelling. I'm leaving tomorrow after work con la familia to travel to Haut Canada (high five doing history in French) pour visiter mon frere. Mon frere est grand. Il aime couper ses cheveux. J'aime mon frere parce qu'il est drole par fois. Mais je suis plus drole, parce que je parle plus que lui. Mais comme pour cent, je ne sais pas. Peut etre nous sommes egalement droles.
I've started wearing fall clothing now. This means I wore jeans once for a couple of hours (so... weird...) and wore dress pants one day at work. I have also wore a coat about a half-dozen times. I actually quite like my spring/fall/not-so-cold-days-in-winter coat. However, mostly I just wear my black boots with long shorts or capris. Oh, and I wore sandals the day I wore pants. Don't want to get too crazy all at once. Pfft.
I've been quite busy at work lately writing a kajillion reports (give or take). I feel like I could write them in my sleep, which is productive, because sometimes writing them makes me want to fall asleep. Hee. (I poke fun, but things are still going well at work. Like today there was apple pie and there are often lollypops in the admin office.)
On Saturday I was going to bike to Hunter River, but my legs were not cooperating. Instead they were pointing and laughing at me. So about three-quarters of the way there I decided to lay on a bench and enjoy the sun. There was not a SINGLE CLOUD in the sky, and the warmth of the sun felt amazing. I'm convinced people who live in sunny locations must be, overall, statistically happier and less likely to suffer from depression and thoughts of suicide. I hope to replicate this sunny sensation at some point in the near future.
Oh election. I could start following the American election, but I kind of don't care. It's interesting... and, wait, no, no it's not really. I feel like the US election has been going on for a decade or so. It is like a long running TV series.
The Canadian debates were interesting, but a bit irksome. I enjoyed how they were all sitting around the table, face to face. However, it just seemed so finger-pointing-esque. Point at Harper, complain, hiss, stamp feet, then smugly smile. Actually, I think the most smug smiles came from Harper. His tactic to make the other party leaders more emotional. Let them freak out at you, and simply stare back at them with a smug smile. Watch their blood pressure slowly rise as they ramble more to try and make their point better.
I liked the French debate because I am much better at understanding anglophones speaking French than francophones speaking French. So I had to pay super attention to the frenchies, but could slightly relax with the.. anglies.
Anyway, a shower would be pleasant. I have to return library books before work tomorrow morning because the library AND the drop-box were closed yesterday. I have never before encountered a closed DROP BOX. Weird.
La fin.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Such a character!
This morning I did something stupid, so I redeemed myself by doing two unstupid things. One of which was cut my own hair (well, trim my fringe). They're a bit crooked, but so darling cute, but I believe the non-linearness simply adds character.
Now people will say, "Oh that Jen, such a character," and I'll smile and point to my fringe. Then we'll burst in loud, hearty, gay laughter and continue sipping our brandy.
Oh Miss Mac.
Now people will say, "Oh that Jen, such a character," and I'll smile and point to my fringe. Then we'll burst in loud, hearty, gay laughter and continue sipping our brandy.
Oh Miss Mac.
Monday, September 29, 2008
But I am le tired...
Today was a very sleepy day at first, a morning that would have been spent well in bed cuddled into some blankets. Or perhaps not, as my room was quite warm last night. So cuddled into one wee blanket and a couple of pillows, I suppose.
C'etait un bon fin de semaine. On Friday I went for a bike ride (where I saw Tom DeBlois vans simply IDELLING (sp? while he was knocking on doors, ugh - environment, much?). After I had work related stuff today, then met up with some people for a drink. I had a banana split martini.
Hey, you know what's gross? Banana split martinis. It was a sad drink. Eventually we split off. I went home, stayed up way too late, then woke up before my alarm on Sat morning because I had to man (woman?) a booth for work. Later on I decided I needed new biking shorts! So I went to MacQueen's and, despite my intentions to just be in-and-out, left with a pair of biking shorts AND biking... something. Capris? Ankle pants? Something. It was almost shameful and completely un-Jen how much of an easy upsell I was. $85 later (pretty good deal though) I biked home, excited to change and test 'em out. On the way home it started to rain, as it had been threatening to do all afternoon, and I was disappointed.
But I went on my bike ride anyway, and my new shorts are amaaaaazing. They aren't as long as my other ones (good), and they give more comfort. I suspect this is the case though as my older pair were worn almost everyday so I'm sure the padding is starting to thin out.
And holy Jesus it rained. I was such a mess when I got home, but so happy. It was warm out so the rain was very refreshing. My sneakers had massive pools of water in them, my rain coat was soaked and quite muddy (but kept me dry, as it should), but I was in very good spirits. The rain was very energizing, and I'm sure all the cruise ship tourists thought I was a bit of a nutter. Maybe not at first, "Oh, poor girl was probably biking home and got caught in the rain!", but then they would see me again, and think, "Oh, she's actually just a moron. Heh."
Heh indeed.
So turns out there is a six-week fencing course starting in two weeks, and lacrosse every Sunday night at the sports centre! Me thinks I found some stuff to do. I'm a bit ansy on both, as I feel my temper and easily-frustrated self will not bode well with fencing, and I never really learned to excel at lacrosse, mostly just run around and get in the way of other players when necessary. If anything, it will give me people to go to the Wave with after our matches :P
I've been working in French most of the afternoon. It was a nice for a change. Bien!
Oh look, it's a giant strawberry from my bike ride a few weeks ago. So very excited!
C'etait un bon fin de semaine. On Friday I went for a bike ride (where I saw Tom DeBlois vans simply IDELLING (sp? while he was knocking on doors, ugh - environment, much?). After I had work related stuff today, then met up with some people for a drink. I had a banana split martini.
Hey, you know what's gross? Banana split martinis. It was a sad drink. Eventually we split off. I went home, stayed up way too late, then woke up before my alarm on Sat morning because I had to man (woman?) a booth for work. Later on I decided I needed new biking shorts! So I went to MacQueen's and, despite my intentions to just be in-and-out, left with a pair of biking shorts AND biking... something. Capris? Ankle pants? Something. It was almost shameful and completely un-Jen how much of an easy upsell I was. $85 later (pretty good deal though) I biked home, excited to change and test 'em out. On the way home it started to rain, as it had been threatening to do all afternoon, and I was disappointed.
But I went on my bike ride anyway, and my new shorts are amaaaaazing. They aren't as long as my other ones (good), and they give more comfort. I suspect this is the case though as my older pair were worn almost everyday so I'm sure the padding is starting to thin out.
And holy Jesus it rained. I was such a mess when I got home, but so happy. It was warm out so the rain was very refreshing. My sneakers had massive pools of water in them, my rain coat was soaked and quite muddy (but kept me dry, as it should), but I was in very good spirits. The rain was very energizing, and I'm sure all the cruise ship tourists thought I was a bit of a nutter. Maybe not at first, "Oh, poor girl was probably biking home and got caught in the rain!", but then they would see me again, and think, "Oh, she's actually just a moron. Heh."
Heh indeed.
So turns out there is a six-week fencing course starting in two weeks, and lacrosse every Sunday night at the sports centre! Me thinks I found some stuff to do. I'm a bit ansy on both, as I feel my temper and easily-frustrated self will not bode well with fencing, and I never really learned to excel at lacrosse, mostly just run around and get in the way of other players when necessary. If anything, it will give me people to go to the Wave with after our matches :P
I've been working in French most of the afternoon. It was a nice for a change. Bien!
Oh look, it's a giant strawberry from my bike ride a few weeks ago. So very excited!
bye .
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Hump day
Woo, Wednesday! It's pretty much official the hump MOMENT because I'll be heading for lunch soon on the mid day of the work week.
What's wrong with my attention span lately? It seems all that I want to do is ramble ramble ramble, bike, or read. Ramble via speach or script.
Earlier I was wondering if anyone was thinking or talking about me. Not in a lustful way (okay, maybe a wee bit), but in the same way I think of people throughout the day. For example, if someone were to speak of a city in BC, I would think of the people I know from that city. The various things I associate with various people. You know how sometimes you say, "Oh yeah, my friend ______ does that/likes that/worked there, etc." I wonder how many people are thinking about me at one time. Or not even me, pick a co-worker with many contacts, how many times a day does that person come up in conversation? I kind of wish I knew... Or maybe not. If my name didn't appear at all I would be concerned as to why I am so un-memorable or un-mentionable. And what if it came up in a bad context? Some, of course, in understandable, definitely not everyone out there loves me. My personality is borderline space cadet/scattered/anal/perfectionist. I feel like the extreme corners of a mishapen polygon, ha! Anyway, some bad talk is okay, but clearly one would wish the majority be positive.
******
Ha ha, I just came back from a hilarious lunch. Anyway, apparently I'm stressed (unrelated to previously mentioned lunch). Generally I can pinpoint this from small blisters on my fingers and the urge to sleep. I would love to have a 20-minute nap right now. Actually no, I wish I was in a hammock reading.
Is it bad that I am, technically, only 16 months into my "career" and I already think it would be lovely to have 6 weeks off to "expand my horizons"? I wonder what I would actually do.
Six weeks off paid, of course. Because the likelihood of that is, oh, none.
Ideally someone else would have a lot of time off and would also think riding camels in Northern Africa sounds like a good day.
I wish more other people had blogs, I remember during university that the blogosphere was endless - apparently everyone had something to say! Either that or the lack of a "structured" day gave people more small periods of free time to spit their thoughts out to a computer. A free 40 minutes here (clearly not enough time to do anything class related), the odd 15-minute break there, etc.
It's kind of a weird feeling the first time you fully realise that people you do not know are reading your blog. You almost feel like your privacy has been invaded, but also proud that someone thinks your life is interesting enough to read about. Then your mind quickly darts to the content that has been presented - did I sound like a loser? Whiner? Boring? Was it filled with grammatical errors (GASP!), spelling errors, directionless dribble? Did it anger anyone? Was it "controversial"? Was it too detailed? Not detailed enough? Is it going to get me in trouble? Suddenly, the meeting of this person ends just as quickly as it started, and you are left standing there concerned as the person has already moved on and is now thinking about beer, parking fines, foreign languages, etc., anything but you and your blog. But afterwards, you feel a slight bit famous and find yourself winking at people more.*
* this may be a slight dramatization of what really happened, but I aim to entertain even if it jumbles the facts.
Really though, if someone does not want to be heard, he/she would be saving writings to a Word doc. If it wasn't meant to be shared, if would be in a hand-written journal shoved into a random drawer with spare batteries and free pens from various booths at employment fairs. Not saying that is me, as I keep my pens in a Poly plastic "glass" on my window sill. In a related note, perhaps why my pens dry up...
I'm back to rocking the curly hair today. I don't know why people with curly/wavey hair spend so much time straightening it. Of course I understand once in awhile, but daily? Soooo much time waaasted, and the heat is super hard on your hair. My hair dresser (who I see, oh, once or twice a year) commented that my hair doesn't need to be cut that frequently because I don't damage it with heat. High five lazy!
I'm eating dried mango. So good! Also, looked like mangled cat. Sad.
My workplace is a little hilarious. So many eccentric personalities (professors) in one place. At lunch today one professor went into detail about how to cook "fartless beans".
Two hours left of work. Two hours til I go on a bike ride! Okay, probably 2 1/2 by the time fifteen minute nap is factored in, as well as changing. Biking in boots is not difficult, but I wouldn't want to do it for many many kilometres.
Last night I saw a pair of shorts (but long shorts - so wearable until November) for sale. But I didn't buy them. 1 - was rushing through, no time to try anything on, and 2 - I am never the same size for, it seems, more than twelve months. See capris I am wearing today (almost wore "real" pants today - so glad I didn't, it's not that time of year yet and the mere THOUGHT of putting on pants made me depressed), I love them, but they are pretty much hanging off me. Contrast with capris purchased in summer 2004 in Scotland (red, kind of awesome) that I can barely stuff myself into and then worry about ripping the seams. My size seems to fluctuate based on many factors... I wonder if I can work out an equation for it?! That would honestly make my day. Factors included is current residence (out of Canada = bigger), season (summer = bigger, more BBQs, drinking on patios), workmates (drinkers after work vs not), relationship (always seem to be skinnier when have a boyfriend), relationship "quality" (on verge of break-up or actual break up means I stopped eating because everything tastes like woodchips), roommates (how much we eat out on fun, random nights out), workplace some more (in the UK people were always bringing in sweets, basically sinning is okay if it occurs in a group. Have another cake!), etc.
How will I roll all these wonderful factors into one?!
Differences between current workplace and UK workplaces: first night out with UK workmates (FIRST DAY OF WORK) led to a big conversation of how old everyone was the first time they got laid. Canada? "Would you like a drink?" "Well, what are you having?" "Oh, a beer I suppose." "I suppose I shall have that as well." "How are things going?" "Pretty good, and you?" "Also good." "I wonder if anyone else is coming..."
Post.
What's wrong with my attention span lately? It seems all that I want to do is ramble ramble ramble, bike, or read. Ramble via speach or script.
Earlier I was wondering if anyone was thinking or talking about me. Not in a lustful way (okay, maybe a wee bit), but in the same way I think of people throughout the day. For example, if someone were to speak of a city in BC, I would think of the people I know from that city. The various things I associate with various people. You know how sometimes you say, "Oh yeah, my friend ______ does that/likes that/worked there, etc." I wonder how many people are thinking about me at one time. Or not even me, pick a co-worker with many contacts, how many times a day does that person come up in conversation? I kind of wish I knew... Or maybe not. If my name didn't appear at all I would be concerned as to why I am so un-memorable or un-mentionable. And what if it came up in a bad context? Some, of course, in understandable, definitely not everyone out there loves me. My personality is borderline space cadet/scattered/anal/perfectionist. I feel like the extreme corners of a mishapen polygon, ha! Anyway, some bad talk is okay, but clearly one would wish the majority be positive.
******
Ha ha, I just came back from a hilarious lunch. Anyway, apparently I'm stressed (unrelated to previously mentioned lunch). Generally I can pinpoint this from small blisters on my fingers and the urge to sleep. I would love to have a 20-minute nap right now. Actually no, I wish I was in a hammock reading.
Is it bad that I am, technically, only 16 months into my "career" and I already think it would be lovely to have 6 weeks off to "expand my horizons"? I wonder what I would actually do.
Six weeks off paid, of course. Because the likelihood of that is, oh, none.
Ideally someone else would have a lot of time off and would also think riding camels in Northern Africa sounds like a good day.
I wish more other people had blogs, I remember during university that the blogosphere was endless - apparently everyone had something to say! Either that or the lack of a "structured" day gave people more small periods of free time to spit their thoughts out to a computer. A free 40 minutes here (clearly not enough time to do anything class related), the odd 15-minute break there, etc.
It's kind of a weird feeling the first time you fully realise that people you do not know are reading your blog. You almost feel like your privacy has been invaded, but also proud that someone thinks your life is interesting enough to read about. Then your mind quickly darts to the content that has been presented - did I sound like a loser? Whiner? Boring? Was it filled with grammatical errors (GASP!), spelling errors, directionless dribble? Did it anger anyone? Was it "controversial"? Was it too detailed? Not detailed enough? Is it going to get me in trouble? Suddenly, the meeting of this person ends just as quickly as it started, and you are left standing there concerned as the person has already moved on and is now thinking about beer, parking fines, foreign languages, etc., anything but you and your blog. But afterwards, you feel a slight bit famous and find yourself winking at people more.*
* this may be a slight dramatization of what really happened, but I aim to entertain even if it jumbles the facts.
Really though, if someone does not want to be heard, he/she would be saving writings to a Word doc. If it wasn't meant to be shared, if would be in a hand-written journal shoved into a random drawer with spare batteries and free pens from various booths at employment fairs. Not saying that is me, as I keep my pens in a Poly plastic "glass" on my window sill. In a related note, perhaps why my pens dry up...
I'm back to rocking the curly hair today. I don't know why people with curly/wavey hair spend so much time straightening it. Of course I understand once in awhile, but daily? Soooo much time waaasted, and the heat is super hard on your hair. My hair dresser (who I see, oh, once or twice a year) commented that my hair doesn't need to be cut that frequently because I don't damage it with heat. High five lazy!
I'm eating dried mango. So good! Also, looked like mangled cat. Sad.
My workplace is a little hilarious. So many eccentric personalities (professors) in one place. At lunch today one professor went into detail about how to cook "fartless beans".
Two hours left of work. Two hours til I go on a bike ride! Okay, probably 2 1/2 by the time fifteen minute nap is factored in, as well as changing. Biking in boots is not difficult, but I wouldn't want to do it for many many kilometres.
Last night I saw a pair of shorts (but long shorts - so wearable until November) for sale. But I didn't buy them. 1 - was rushing through, no time to try anything on, and 2 - I am never the same size for, it seems, more than twelve months. See capris I am wearing today (almost wore "real" pants today - so glad I didn't, it's not that time of year yet and the mere THOUGHT of putting on pants made me depressed), I love them, but they are pretty much hanging off me. Contrast with capris purchased in summer 2004 in Scotland (red, kind of awesome) that I can barely stuff myself into and then worry about ripping the seams. My size seems to fluctuate based on many factors... I wonder if I can work out an equation for it?! That would honestly make my day. Factors included is current residence (out of Canada = bigger), season (summer = bigger, more BBQs, drinking on patios), workmates (drinkers after work vs not), relationship (always seem to be skinnier when have a boyfriend), relationship "quality" (on verge of break-up or actual break up means I stopped eating because everything tastes like woodchips), roommates (how much we eat out on fun, random nights out), workplace some more (in the UK people were always bringing in sweets, basically sinning is okay if it occurs in a group. Have another cake!), etc.
How will I roll all these wonderful factors into one?!
Differences between current workplace and UK workplaces: first night out with UK workmates (FIRST DAY OF WORK) led to a big conversation of how old everyone was the first time they got laid. Canada? "Would you like a drink?" "Well, what are you having?" "Oh, a beer I suppose." "I suppose I shall have that as well." "How are things going?" "Pretty good, and you?" "Also good." "I wonder if anyone else is coming..."
Post.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Inventory of the brain's day
1:54pm: And so the day goes.
When I was at my disgusting filing job back in the lovely summer of 2005 (such a good year!!) I remember having a few blogs just open all day, then posting at the end of the day. Often involved were, I'm sure, records of papercuts. Today is a wee bit of a data entry day, after reviewing a report this morning we will be releasing soon. I wrote the first draft back in February, but we did not have enough staff and it never got around to being released. Now our new staff are reviewing it, and I had my review day this morning. It's actually pretty good, but could be better as some was clearly filler blabber for length.
1:58:Bathroom break!
2:02: Bathroom break successful! Hair looked kind of greesy in the mirror, probably because I haven't washed it since Saturday and did a half-ass job of straightening/de-poofing it. I went to bed with wet hair on Saturday, which made for a hair disaster on Sunday so I half-straightened it. I like doing that once in awhile, though it gets greesy much more quickly because I play with it because, shock, I can actually get my fingers through my hair! Back to work...
2:11: I hate when people spell "Anne of Green Gables" without the 'e' on their survey comments. Did they not pay attention to the book/musical AT ALL? (Anne & Gilbert possibly excluded, I suppose, as I do not believe that is referenced in that specific musical.) I'm going outside now.
2:55: Someone who filled in one of our six-kajillion surveys is from "Newalla, OK". I picture someone with a thick southern twange shouting NEwaaallllalayayay okay! -- what a magnificent find.
3:09: I wish I could see Beauty and the Beast on stage again. I'm singing "If I Could Have Love Her' in my head right now (and doing a very good job of it). I missed it in Edmonton by mere DAYS (which I'm sure relieved le ex-boyfriend) in March, alas. But I could have easily sat through it by myself, loving it to bits. It makes you feel good inside, like the play is giving you a hug. (I've stopped singing the song in my head and am now listening to it instead. I'm swooning.)
3:17: Song ended. Repeat! swooooon
3:36: I cannot believe it's only 3:36. Tick, tick, tiiiiiick. If this were a movie and I was still a student, I would be half-hunched over my desk staring at the clock... Flash to clock, where the second hand starts ticking even more slowly. My eyes shift, confused, suddenly, the second hand starts to go BACKWARDS! CLASS WILL NEVER END, because suddenly it is only 3:15 again. Oh my!
4:00: Uggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggh. If I had arrived at work this morning at 8:00 I could leave now. Instead I only got out of bed at 8:15. Oooh, weird dreams last night too! Sadly, can't remember them at this exact moment.
I'm hungry. Grr, says stomach, GRR. I'm listening to the ET theme and have visions of biking to the moon. Wouldn't that get a wee bit chilly? DID THE PRODUCERS CONSIDER THIS?
Song over. Now the Jurassic Park theme. Spectacular! It's so... unvieling. The music wants you to be awed, and you are awed, because there are dinosaurs. It makes me think of the Jurassic Park ride at Universal Islands of Adventure that is scary and makes want to dive out of the boat.
Post!
When I was at my disgusting filing job back in the lovely summer of 2005 (such a good year!!) I remember having a few blogs just open all day, then posting at the end of the day. Often involved were, I'm sure, records of papercuts. Today is a wee bit of a data entry day, after reviewing a report this morning we will be releasing soon. I wrote the first draft back in February, but we did not have enough staff and it never got around to being released. Now our new staff are reviewing it, and I had my review day this morning. It's actually pretty good, but could be better as some was clearly filler blabber for length.
1:58:Bathroom break!
2:02: Bathroom break successful! Hair looked kind of greesy in the mirror, probably because I haven't washed it since Saturday and did a half-ass job of straightening/de-poofing it. I went to bed with wet hair on Saturday, which made for a hair disaster on Sunday so I half-straightened it. I like doing that once in awhile, though it gets greesy much more quickly because I play with it because, shock, I can actually get my fingers through my hair! Back to work...
2:11: I hate when people spell "Anne of Green Gables" without the 'e' on their survey comments. Did they not pay attention to the book/musical AT ALL? (Anne & Gilbert possibly excluded, I suppose, as I do not believe that is referenced in that specific musical.) I'm going outside now.
2:55: Someone who filled in one of our six-kajillion surveys is from "Newalla, OK". I picture someone with a thick southern twange shouting NEwaaallllalayayay okay! -- what a magnificent find.
3:09: I wish I could see Beauty and the Beast on stage again. I'm singing "If I Could Have Love Her' in my head right now (and doing a very good job of it). I missed it in Edmonton by mere DAYS (which I'm sure relieved le ex-boyfriend) in March, alas. But I could have easily sat through it by myself, loving it to bits. It makes you feel good inside, like the play is giving you a hug. (I've stopped singing the song in my head and am now listening to it instead. I'm swooning.)
3:17: Song ended. Repeat! swooooon
3:36: I cannot believe it's only 3:36. Tick, tick, tiiiiiick. If this were a movie and I was still a student, I would be half-hunched over my desk staring at the clock... Flash to clock, where the second hand starts ticking even more slowly. My eyes shift, confused, suddenly, the second hand starts to go BACKWARDS! CLASS WILL NEVER END, because suddenly it is only 3:15 again. Oh my!
4:00: Uggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggh. If I had arrived at work this morning at 8:00 I could leave now. Instead I only got out of bed at 8:15. Oooh, weird dreams last night too! Sadly, can't remember them at this exact moment.
I'm hungry. Grr, says stomach, GRR. I'm listening to the ET theme and have visions of biking to the moon. Wouldn't that get a wee bit chilly? DID THE PRODUCERS CONSIDER THIS?
Song over. Now the Jurassic Park theme. Spectacular! It's so... unvieling. The music wants you to be awed, and you are awed, because there are dinosaurs. It makes me think of the Jurassic Park ride at Universal Islands of Adventure that is scary and makes want to dive out of the boat.
Post!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Writer's Field
I was trying to think of the opposite of writer's block - the block being a large figure before you that no light seeps around. So I thought of a field, light drenching it, no obstacles in sight. I'm in a middle of a field.
I think it's because I've been spending far more time alone than I'm used to. It's... trying to think of a positive adjective... "enlightening", I suppose. I remember Shan and her well used Myers-Brigg book from the Canon Street days. I am apparently an extrovert, and get my energy from being around other people. I kind of thought of myself as more middle ground - border line extrovert, border line introvert. Now I'm pretty sure that I flirt far more with the extrovert label than the introvert.
I think if I wrote as much as I wanted to in the course of a day, this blog would be essays long. But I don't, because it's not always accessible. I rarely write at work - except wonderful, ground-breaking, industry-changing reports - and I cannot hop off my Bicyclette at any given moment to dive for a laptop, thought sometimes I do take pen and paper with me.
I saw the sunset again tonight. Actually, I'm almost always outside for the sunset. It sets so early now that I'm usually still out biking and on my way home at that point. Tonight's sunset was different. If someone asked me to describe it, I could do so in two ways: a visual description, and an emotion-evoking description. One, the sunset was pretty, and much more yellow than usual. Beautiful gradient from a soft blue to a vibrant yellow. It actually looked more like a sunrise, the sky was stripped of the frequent pink, purple, and deep blue shades. Emotionally, it felt like a very optimistic sunset. It was weird, usually sunsets don't really draw much emotion from me other than a logical statement of, "Look, the sun is setting," to no one as I'm generally peddling on my own. I try to avoid talking to myself. Apparently society frowns upon it after your eighth year or so. Really though, I think speaking to oneself can provide clarity, much like walking away from a paper for a couple of days. Maybe it has to do with the different ways people learn or retain knowledge. For a audio learner, maybe speaking out loud to him/herself is more efficient. I don't judge. I still haven't figured out if I'm a visual, audio, or hands-on learner. I tend to link things very logically, but I don't think that is due to preferred learning method. However, I definitely think I have a visual memory (though I believe I'm getting rusty - will need to play more games of memory with a deck of cards). Sometime when trying to remember something it's almost like flipping through a series of files, and I know exactly which one to stop at and can pull a mental picture of it. It's interesting. I'm good at flipping through books and easily finding the page I'm looking for, was especially good at that with textbooks during uni.
I was looking at some pictures I took this weekend last night thinking about the role pictures play in my life. I love pictures. I have very, very, very few printed off, but my laptop is filled with digital photos. I then thought about the role a camera plays when you are by yourself. Sometimes I think it's a bad replacement for a person. Like this weekend, I would had rather been biking with someone, it makes for good encouragement and good company, but I was on my own so once in awhile I stopped to take pictures because I had no one to stop and talk to. By taking a picture of myself do I give myself someone to be with? "Lookie! You're with her! Gosh, she looks just like you..."
In a related note, if anyone ever wants to go on a bike ride... :) Apparently there is an PEI biking/cycling group that goes on rides every Monday night. Something to look into, if it's not too late! I also need to start, UGH, wearing warmer clothes. Sigh. Oh, just checked out calendar for said group and next Monday is the last ride. My timing is impeccable.
I kind of have the urge to get something pierced. Not sure what though. Realistically, probably nothing. I don't like bellybutton piercings... I just find them weird. Eyebrow reminds me of junior high, and that would be putting me back more than a decade. Maybe something in my ear(s). I feel this is similar to last summer when I couldn't stop sooking after getting home from vacay so promptly cut of 90 percent of my hair. Bizarrely, my mood lifted fantastically well. But I don't feel like chopping my hair this time - I'm having curiously good hair days as of late (by Jen standards) and don't want to tempt the Gods to end those days.
Imagine if people actually lived out their daydreams? Those sighs, some days, and if onlys. My life would be a circus. There would be animals everywhere, and I would be in a million different places, fluent in tens of languages. Some of my daydreams are unrealistic (baby elephant), but others much more obtainable. I just feel very ADD that I have very few long-term daydreams, they scatter so quickly based on my mood of the day and, so frequently, based on what book I'm reading or what other people are doing.
What if everyone lived out their daydreams? Would the economy crash into the fiery depths of the Underworld, or would equilibrium still be found? (Arguably never truly found due to the lack of an actual free market economy.) If my dream is to move to Hawaii and take hula dancing lessons for three months, does someone else have the dream to teach me that? Or would we exchange, and I would somehow help my teacher achieve his/her dream? Wouldn't that be nice - people putting forth so much effort to help others achieve happiness.
How would population demographics shift? Would people start living longer because they are happier? Or would the average life expectancy drop as people realise their life-long dreams of extreme, dangerous activities? What regions would emerge as centres, and which would turn into ghost towns?
And would people actually be brave enough to do it?
Change causes fear in some people. Would people happy with the present status-quo become disturbed when their hometown is overcome with dream-chasing immigrants? (Immigrant used in the sense of an outsider, not necessarily a foreign individual from another country.) Would the people who live in temples in the hilltops of Japan be happy that so many people are coming there to find inner peace? Or does the presence of the new individuals disrupt the inner-peace of the current, can't think of the word, temple person? Would the person that can help others find that inner equilibrium even still be there? Or will he/she be with me somewhere giggling in the ocean, trying to stand up on a surfboard?
So many questions. But it would be interesting to be approached by someone saying, "I just achieved one of my dreams, now I will help you achieve yours so long you pass the favour onto someone else." So this person achieved his/her dream, and now must help me find my way to working on a vineyard in France. He/she doesn't have to actually escort me there, but perhaps give me encouragement, help make arrangements - put the wheels in motion. I get to France, do my vineyard stint, and move forth to help a friend of a friend of a friend perhaps, say, be reunited with a childhood penpal from decades ago. Imagine having someone whose purpose was to help you achieve one specific dream... What would you ask for? If would have to be achievable. "I want you to mend my broken leg with the single tap of a wand!" isn't valid.
I have such word driblage lately, like my mouth won't stop spurting things out that my brain randomly touches on. Uh, see above for reference.
I was reading CBC news today and a discussion had been opened on the possibility of Canada having talks to try and arrange trade agreements with the EU.
Well, WHY NOT? There is no reason we shouldn't partake in talks. They may not lead to anything, but I believe variety, and versatility, make for a stronger, more reliable economy in the long run. In simple, simple, SIMPLE terms, imagine eating only one kind of food. That food suddenly gets wiped out by say, a storm, or perhaps is recalled due to health reasons. Now that food is unavailable, and one is left searching for a new kind of food to be enjoyed. Compare that to the person who eats a variety of food (let's leave food qualities out of this and assume neither is missing nutrients/minerals due to food choice) has also lost access to that particular kind of food. Unfortunate, but he/she has many alternatives to fall back on. The other person does as well, but may have to go through more work to find such food. Where does one purchase it? How does one know if it is ripe or has gone sour? How is it best prepared? Learning curves take time. Our trade is so dependent on the US, and it wouldn't surprise me if there are secret trade agreements that force us to remain so interdependent, but all other things equal, expanding trade partners is good. Some people that commented in the discussion mentioned us aligning with the Euro and *joining* the EU, but I think that was mere speculative thinking, or perhaps miscomprehension of the topic. It's no secret that I would happily move back to Europe for a short stint (founder of the Tourism Research Centre - Salamanca Branch), but the idea of Canada joining the EU in the near future makes me scratch my head in confusion. I haven't been following the currency markets at all, but I believe the Canadian dollar is doing decent?
Holy Jen MacRamble. In an effort to be in bed (though I type from my bed) by 1:00am, it's 12:58 and I need be trying to shut down the brain for bed, otherwise I'll soon have a dissertation written. Yay, Jen Mac, PhD.
Oops, now 1:01am by the time I finished spellcheck. Ahh well. Long live the job of no official start time...
I think it's because I've been spending far more time alone than I'm used to. It's... trying to think of a positive adjective... "enlightening", I suppose. I remember Shan and her well used Myers-Brigg book from the Canon Street days. I am apparently an extrovert, and get my energy from being around other people. I kind of thought of myself as more middle ground - border line extrovert, border line introvert. Now I'm pretty sure that I flirt far more with the extrovert label than the introvert.
I think if I wrote as much as I wanted to in the course of a day, this blog would be essays long. But I don't, because it's not always accessible. I rarely write at work - except wonderful, ground-breaking, industry-changing reports - and I cannot hop off my Bicyclette at any given moment to dive for a laptop, thought sometimes I do take pen and paper with me.
I saw the sunset again tonight. Actually, I'm almost always outside for the sunset. It sets so early now that I'm usually still out biking and on my way home at that point. Tonight's sunset was different. If someone asked me to describe it, I could do so in two ways: a visual description, and an emotion-evoking description. One, the sunset was pretty, and much more yellow than usual. Beautiful gradient from a soft blue to a vibrant yellow. It actually looked more like a sunrise, the sky was stripped of the frequent pink, purple, and deep blue shades. Emotionally, it felt like a very optimistic sunset. It was weird, usually sunsets don't really draw much emotion from me other than a logical statement of, "Look, the sun is setting," to no one as I'm generally peddling on my own. I try to avoid talking to myself. Apparently society frowns upon it after your eighth year or so. Really though, I think speaking to oneself can provide clarity, much like walking away from a paper for a couple of days. Maybe it has to do with the different ways people learn or retain knowledge. For a audio learner, maybe speaking out loud to him/herself is more efficient. I don't judge. I still haven't figured out if I'm a visual, audio, or hands-on learner. I tend to link things very logically, but I don't think that is due to preferred learning method. However, I definitely think I have a visual memory (though I believe I'm getting rusty - will need to play more games of memory with a deck of cards). Sometime when trying to remember something it's almost like flipping through a series of files, and I know exactly which one to stop at and can pull a mental picture of it. It's interesting. I'm good at flipping through books and easily finding the page I'm looking for, was especially good at that with textbooks during uni.
I was looking at some pictures I took this weekend last night thinking about the role pictures play in my life. I love pictures. I have very, very, very few printed off, but my laptop is filled with digital photos. I then thought about the role a camera plays when you are by yourself. Sometimes I think it's a bad replacement for a person. Like this weekend, I would had rather been biking with someone, it makes for good encouragement and good company, but I was on my own so once in awhile I stopped to take pictures because I had no one to stop and talk to. By taking a picture of myself do I give myself someone to be with? "Lookie! You're with her! Gosh, she looks just like you..."
In a related note, if anyone ever wants to go on a bike ride... :) Apparently there is an PEI biking/cycling group that goes on rides every Monday night. Something to look into, if it's not too late! I also need to start, UGH, wearing warmer clothes. Sigh. Oh, just checked out calendar for said group and next Monday is the last ride. My timing is impeccable.
I kind of have the urge to get something pierced. Not sure what though. Realistically, probably nothing. I don't like bellybutton piercings... I just find them weird. Eyebrow reminds me of junior high, and that would be putting me back more than a decade. Maybe something in my ear(s). I feel this is similar to last summer when I couldn't stop sooking after getting home from vacay so promptly cut of 90 percent of my hair. Bizarrely, my mood lifted fantastically well. But I don't feel like chopping my hair this time - I'm having curiously good hair days as of late (by Jen standards) and don't want to tempt the Gods to end those days.
Imagine if people actually lived out their daydreams? Those sighs, some days, and if onlys. My life would be a circus. There would be animals everywhere, and I would be in a million different places, fluent in tens of languages. Some of my daydreams are unrealistic (baby elephant), but others much more obtainable. I just feel very ADD that I have very few long-term daydreams, they scatter so quickly based on my mood of the day and, so frequently, based on what book I'm reading or what other people are doing.
What if everyone lived out their daydreams? Would the economy crash into the fiery depths of the Underworld, or would equilibrium still be found? (Arguably never truly found due to the lack of an actual free market economy.) If my dream is to move to Hawaii and take hula dancing lessons for three months, does someone else have the dream to teach me that? Or would we exchange, and I would somehow help my teacher achieve his/her dream? Wouldn't that be nice - people putting forth so much effort to help others achieve happiness.
How would population demographics shift? Would people start living longer because they are happier? Or would the average life expectancy drop as people realise their life-long dreams of extreme, dangerous activities? What regions would emerge as centres, and which would turn into ghost towns?
And would people actually be brave enough to do it?
Change causes fear in some people. Would people happy with the present status-quo become disturbed when their hometown is overcome with dream-chasing immigrants? (Immigrant used in the sense of an outsider, not necessarily a foreign individual from another country.) Would the people who live in temples in the hilltops of Japan be happy that so many people are coming there to find inner peace? Or does the presence of the new individuals disrupt the inner-peace of the current, can't think of the word, temple person? Would the person that can help others find that inner equilibrium even still be there? Or will he/she be with me somewhere giggling in the ocean, trying to stand up on a surfboard?
So many questions. But it would be interesting to be approached by someone saying, "I just achieved one of my dreams, now I will help you achieve yours so long you pass the favour onto someone else." So this person achieved his/her dream, and now must help me find my way to working on a vineyard in France. He/she doesn't have to actually escort me there, but perhaps give me encouragement, help make arrangements - put the wheels in motion. I get to France, do my vineyard stint, and move forth to help a friend of a friend of a friend perhaps, say, be reunited with a childhood penpal from decades ago. Imagine having someone whose purpose was to help you achieve one specific dream... What would you ask for? If would have to be achievable. "I want you to mend my broken leg with the single tap of a wand!" isn't valid.
I have such word driblage lately, like my mouth won't stop spurting things out that my brain randomly touches on. Uh, see above for reference.
I was reading CBC news today and a discussion had been opened on the possibility of Canada having talks to try and arrange trade agreements with the EU.
Well, WHY NOT? There is no reason we shouldn't partake in talks. They may not lead to anything, but I believe variety, and versatility, make for a stronger, more reliable economy in the long run. In simple, simple, SIMPLE terms, imagine eating only one kind of food. That food suddenly gets wiped out by say, a storm, or perhaps is recalled due to health reasons. Now that food is unavailable, and one is left searching for a new kind of food to be enjoyed. Compare that to the person who eats a variety of food (let's leave food qualities out of this and assume neither is missing nutrients/minerals due to food choice) has also lost access to that particular kind of food. Unfortunate, but he/she has many alternatives to fall back on. The other person does as well, but may have to go through more work to find such food. Where does one purchase it? How does one know if it is ripe or has gone sour? How is it best prepared? Learning curves take time. Our trade is so dependent on the US, and it wouldn't surprise me if there are secret trade agreements that force us to remain so interdependent, but all other things equal, expanding trade partners is good. Some people that commented in the discussion mentioned us aligning with the Euro and *joining* the EU, but I think that was mere speculative thinking, or perhaps miscomprehension of the topic. It's no secret that I would happily move back to Europe for a short stint (founder of the Tourism Research Centre - Salamanca Branch), but the idea of Canada joining the EU in the near future makes me scratch my head in confusion. I haven't been following the currency markets at all, but I believe the Canadian dollar is doing decent?
Holy Jen MacRamble. In an effort to be in bed (though I type from my bed) by 1:00am, it's 12:58 and I need be trying to shut down the brain for bed, otherwise I'll soon have a dissertation written. Yay, Jen Mac, PhD.
Oops, now 1:01am by the time I finished spellcheck. Ahh well. Long live the job of no official start time...
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Weekend Adventure
Oh, the weekends are full of such adventure.
On Friday I suddenly worked a Tourism Research Centre booth at work for the official opening of the new building. It was nice to actually be out and talking to people, instead of hiding in my office, hissing when the sun comes up and people walk by with cloves of garlic. So that took up most of the morning and a wee chunk of the afternoon. At 4:30, the TRC went to our director's house to partake in "team building"/"beer drinking". Then I tried to go on a boat cruise with Doug, but we missed the boat. Literally. So we went to Peake's, ate, and left. However, we did get free things at Peake's as part of the Shellfish Festival promotions - glow bracelets, a blinking set of lip lights, t-shirt, and an OYSTER.
The oyster taste like ass; I can't believe people happily eat those as a delicacy. They could just lick the beach - it would almost taste the same. Just add hot sauce.
Saturday was the REAL adventure - oh my. I hitched a ride down east with ma and pa (70-mile coastal yard sale - I bought stuff, it was fun) who dropped me off in Montague so I could bike home. It felt a little windy, but I figured I would be okay as most of the trail is pretty sheltered. I checked when I got home, and the winds were about 30 km/hr, sw. Not sure what gusts were. Anyway, I biked the trail from Montague to "Montague Junction" (10 km). I was just going to head on west towards Mount Stewart, then to Charlottetown, but decided I may as well go to Georgetown since I was so close and, well, had never been! So I detoured 10 km to Georgetown and biked around there a wee bit. Took the road back to the trail, and away I went! I biked about 18 km and noticed the trail was washed out and muddy ahead. No worries, I will BIKE AROUND THE WASH OUT! Ooops but the grass was actually holding a kajillion litres of water and poor Sexay Bicyclette promptly sunk into the ground. So I had to hop off and walk through the mush, feeling water filled my primarily mesh sneakers. I biked to the nearest bench, listening to the squish squish of my thick socks. I sat there, took off my sneakers to survey the damage. Actually - not bad! My feet had been getting cold biking lately so I was wearing thick socks which pretty much absorbed most of the water from my light sneakers. I had brought an extra pair of thin socks in case my feet were to get too hot, so I happily put those on after sitting in the sun letting my barefeet dry, and my damp sneakers. Thumbs up!
I biked about another 6 km or so and met another cyclist on the trail. He warned me about a loose dog ahead, a large german shepherd, that had chased him for awhile, and the trail was pretty soft and ick as they were resurfacing. This didn't sound very ideal, so I didn't I would take the road for awhile... possibly all the way to Mount Stewart, then the trail or Rte 2 home, or maybe just take the road all the way back to Ch'town on the other side of the river. Hmm. So I started biking on Rte 22 in St. Theresa's, heading towards Mount Stewart. Looked at map and decided to take Rte 21 back to Ch'town, thought it would be a nice change. What a friggin mistake. I literally turned onto Rte 21 only to be standing at the bottom of a massive hill and the feeling of my jaw dislocating as it hit the pavement sharply. No worries, a hill won't kill me, I've done 'em before! So up and up and up I go... heading south... into the previously mention winds. Find myself a little windy at the top of hill so stop to take picture of giant strawberry. Cute. Proceed to go down hill a bit, peddling against the wind... to find... another massive hill. Begin to second guess decision to take road. More hills, and more wind later, I find myself in Fort Augustus, wondering if crying will magically transport me back to Ch'town. Instead I sit down on the side of the road to look at my map to see how much further. How discouraging. Very far. In the meanwhile, mosquitoes feast on me, euphoric to have found such a delicious, accessible treat. They did quite a number, and must travel in packs as I have multiple bites on my lower and upper legs, a few on my ass, two on my elbow, a couple of the back of my arm, two right next to each other on my stomach, and one (!) on my forehead.
I hop back on my bike and trek towards Stratford. Eventually I make it (hurrah!) and contemplate stopping at Captain Sub in Stratford. I realise that if I get of Bicyclette, I may have difficulties getting back on it. So I bike straight past and over the bridge... the bridge leading into magnificent Ch'town. I'm heading west, and the winds don't bother me nearly as much. I dramatically stumble through the door at 223, collapsing onto the couch. Sweaty and dirty. Then I kind of pass out and wake up freezing about two minutes later. Struggling, I make it up the stairs and, even further eventually, manage to work up the effort to stand up in the shower. The rest of Saturday night involves me eating, oh, everything in sight.
According to the trail map and google map, I went 89.5 km yesterday. I'm rounding up to 90 km in about 5 hrs. I've had longer days (distance wise) before, but not against such hills and wind. My knees are shot right now, but I went for a walk in Greenwich National Park today and they were okay, just a bit tender on the drive home.
Which leads to Sunday's adventure! Not quite as exciting, but I felt like going for a wander so I went to Greenwich National Park. I had never been before, but the pics of the floating boardwalk have intrigued me. So away I went! It felt nice to go for a drive on the highway, I don't drive very much. Mostly because I bike everywhere, and also I don't really have anywhere to go. First I went to the beach where it was windy and the water was full of waves! The water looked frigid. Then I went to the walking trails and went exploring on those. You know, all the interpretive signage showed many wonderful animals that live in the woods/marsh. I saw only a hare, chipmunk, and a dog someone was walking. Anyway, I will write a strongly worded letter requesting more ferrets and owls.
Then I ate lots of pizza with Keri Shields. If my body were a temple, it would be crumbling under marathon bike rides and junk food. The empire of Jen Mac wouldn't hold many armies away.
11:15. Time to wind down and get ready to face tomorrow's work day. Cry.
On Friday I suddenly worked a Tourism Research Centre booth at work for the official opening of the new building. It was nice to actually be out and talking to people, instead of hiding in my office, hissing when the sun comes up and people walk by with cloves of garlic. So that took up most of the morning and a wee chunk of the afternoon. At 4:30, the TRC went to our director's house to partake in "team building"/"beer drinking". Then I tried to go on a boat cruise with Doug, but we missed the boat. Literally. So we went to Peake's, ate, and left. However, we did get free things at Peake's as part of the Shellfish Festival promotions - glow bracelets, a blinking set of lip lights, t-shirt, and an OYSTER.
The oyster taste like ass; I can't believe people happily eat those as a delicacy. They could just lick the beach - it would almost taste the same. Just add hot sauce.
Saturday was the REAL adventure - oh my. I hitched a ride down east with ma and pa (70-mile coastal yard sale - I bought stuff, it was fun) who dropped me off in Montague so I could bike home. It felt a little windy, but I figured I would be okay as most of the trail is pretty sheltered. I checked when I got home, and the winds were about 30 km/hr, sw. Not sure what gusts were. Anyway, I biked the trail from Montague to "Montague Junction" (10 km). I was just going to head on west towards Mount Stewart, then to Charlottetown, but decided I may as well go to Georgetown since I was so close and, well, had never been! So I detoured 10 km to Georgetown and biked around there a wee bit. Took the road back to the trail, and away I went! I biked about 18 km and noticed the trail was washed out and muddy ahead. No worries, I will BIKE AROUND THE WASH OUT! Ooops but the grass was actually holding a kajillion litres of water and poor Sexay Bicyclette promptly sunk into the ground. So I had to hop off and walk through the mush, feeling water filled my primarily mesh sneakers. I biked to the nearest bench, listening to the squish squish of my thick socks. I sat there, took off my sneakers to survey the damage. Actually - not bad! My feet had been getting cold biking lately so I was wearing thick socks which pretty much absorbed most of the water from my light sneakers. I had brought an extra pair of thin socks in case my feet were to get too hot, so I happily put those on after sitting in the sun letting my barefeet dry, and my damp sneakers. Thumbs up!
I biked about another 6 km or so and met another cyclist on the trail. He warned me about a loose dog ahead, a large german shepherd, that had chased him for awhile, and the trail was pretty soft and ick as they were resurfacing. This didn't sound very ideal, so I didn't I would take the road for awhile... possibly all the way to Mount Stewart, then the trail or Rte 2 home, or maybe just take the road all the way back to Ch'town on the other side of the river. Hmm. So I started biking on Rte 22 in St. Theresa's, heading towards Mount Stewart. Looked at map and decided to take Rte 21 back to Ch'town, thought it would be a nice change. What a friggin mistake. I literally turned onto Rte 21 only to be standing at the bottom of a massive hill and the feeling of my jaw dislocating as it hit the pavement sharply. No worries, a hill won't kill me, I've done 'em before! So up and up and up I go... heading south... into the previously mention winds. Find myself a little windy at the top of hill so stop to take picture of giant strawberry. Cute. Proceed to go down hill a bit, peddling against the wind... to find... another massive hill. Begin to second guess decision to take road. More hills, and more wind later, I find myself in Fort Augustus, wondering if crying will magically transport me back to Ch'town. Instead I sit down on the side of the road to look at my map to see how much further. How discouraging. Very far. In the meanwhile, mosquitoes feast on me, euphoric to have found such a delicious, accessible treat. They did quite a number, and must travel in packs as I have multiple bites on my lower and upper legs, a few on my ass, two on my elbow, a couple of the back of my arm, two right next to each other on my stomach, and one (!) on my forehead.
I hop back on my bike and trek towards Stratford. Eventually I make it (hurrah!) and contemplate stopping at Captain Sub in Stratford. I realise that if I get of Bicyclette, I may have difficulties getting back on it. So I bike straight past and over the bridge... the bridge leading into magnificent Ch'town. I'm heading west, and the winds don't bother me nearly as much. I dramatically stumble through the door at 223, collapsing onto the couch. Sweaty and dirty. Then I kind of pass out and wake up freezing about two minutes later. Struggling, I make it up the stairs and, even further eventually, manage to work up the effort to stand up in the shower. The rest of Saturday night involves me eating, oh, everything in sight.
According to the trail map and google map, I went 89.5 km yesterday. I'm rounding up to 90 km in about 5 hrs. I've had longer days (distance wise) before, but not against such hills and wind. My knees are shot right now, but I went for a walk in Greenwich National Park today and they were okay, just a bit tender on the drive home.
Which leads to Sunday's adventure! Not quite as exciting, but I felt like going for a wander so I went to Greenwich National Park. I had never been before, but the pics of the floating boardwalk have intrigued me. So away I went! It felt nice to go for a drive on the highway, I don't drive very much. Mostly because I bike everywhere, and also I don't really have anywhere to go. First I went to the beach where it was windy and the water was full of waves! The water looked frigid. Then I went to the walking trails and went exploring on those. You know, all the interpretive signage showed many wonderful animals that live in the woods/marsh. I saw only a hare, chipmunk, and a dog someone was walking. Anyway, I will write a strongly worded letter requesting more ferrets and owls.
Then I ate lots of pizza with Keri Shields. If my body were a temple, it would be crumbling under marathon bike rides and junk food. The empire of Jen Mac wouldn't hold many armies away.
11:15. Time to wind down and get ready to face tomorrow's work day. Cry.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Free water!
Yesterday K-Rock was handing out "Aquafina plus+ - vitamin enhance water" at the student centre. Someone brought a bunch back to the School of Business, so now I'm sipping on the pomegranate cherry flavour.
It's weird.
Looking at the ingredients list compared with the frequently-refilled regular Aquafina bottle on my desk, the regular water has demineralized treated water, and ozone. (Yum, ozone! Is this why the ozone layer is getting thinner, because we are plucking it from the sky and adding it to our water?) The "enhanced" water features water, SUGAR (quantity not specified), natural pomegranate cherry flavour, citric acid, sodium citrate, modified corn starch (high five!), chocineal, calcium phosphate, gum arabic, caramel colour, silicon dioxice, and sodium benzoate. Now, I'm not knocking these because I drink gallons of Crystal Lite, or more accurately, Sobey's knock-off non-aspartame version of it, but it seems weird that these are in water. The enhanced bottle is more attractive than the regular one, but also holds less water, though it looks like it would hold more ( 473 mL vs. 500 mL).
It tastes fine, I feel fine (should I feel enhanced?), but I'm kind of reluctant to give it a thumbs up because, well, it's vitamin enhanced water. I guess I don't really get it. I'm sure it's better for you than pop (at only 80 calories a bottle versus whatever 473 mL of cola would have) but I don't think I would buy it. But I will gladly accept a free bottle as part of a promotion to encourage me to buy it.
The other flavour was some sort of orange mandarin... something. Didn't appeal to me so much. Though I love the colour orange, artificial flavouring wise, orange is my least favourite.
ALTHOUGH, it must be noted that while I was very tired earlier, I am not as tired now. Enhanced water side effect?! Or perhaps just a water side effect? Curious. Or maybe the banana I ate a half-hour ago. So many possible answers... Gosh, scientists must never run out of topics.
You know, I am arguably a researcher (which may get me to Hawaii next year - high five!... long story. Beer was involved. Story may prove to be fictional in long run) but don't get a cool title like "SCIENTIST". From now on I am a TRAVELOLOGIST - someone who studies travel patterns.
Jen Mac - Travelologist. High FIVE!!!
It's weird.
Looking at the ingredients list compared with the frequently-refilled regular Aquafina bottle on my desk, the regular water has demineralized treated water, and ozone. (Yum, ozone! Is this why the ozone layer is getting thinner, because we are plucking it from the sky and adding it to our water?) The "enhanced" water features water, SUGAR (quantity not specified), natural pomegranate cherry flavour, citric acid, sodium citrate, modified corn starch (high five!), chocineal, calcium phosphate, gum arabic, caramel colour, silicon dioxice, and sodium benzoate. Now, I'm not knocking these because I drink gallons of Crystal Lite, or more accurately, Sobey's knock-off non-aspartame version of it, but it seems weird that these are in water. The enhanced bottle is more attractive than the regular one, but also holds less water, though it looks like it would hold more ( 473 mL vs. 500 mL).
It tastes fine, I feel fine (should I feel enhanced?), but I'm kind of reluctant to give it a thumbs up because, well, it's vitamin enhanced water. I guess I don't really get it. I'm sure it's better for you than pop (at only 80 calories a bottle versus whatever 473 mL of cola would have) but I don't think I would buy it. But I will gladly accept a free bottle as part of a promotion to encourage me to buy it.
The other flavour was some sort of orange mandarin... something. Didn't appeal to me so much. Though I love the colour orange, artificial flavouring wise, orange is my least favourite.
ALTHOUGH, it must be noted that while I was very tired earlier, I am not as tired now. Enhanced water side effect?! Or perhaps just a water side effect? Curious. Or maybe the banana I ate a half-hour ago. So many possible answers... Gosh, scientists must never run out of topics.
You know, I am arguably a researcher (which may get me to Hawaii next year - high five!... long story. Beer was involved. Story may prove to be fictional in long run) but don't get a cool title like "SCIENTIST". From now on I am a TRAVELOLOGIST - someone who studies travel patterns.
Jen Mac - Travelologist. High FIVE!!!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
La neige...
I kid re title above, there is no snow.
BUT IMAGINE IF THERE WERE???
Oh my, that would be disastrous.
Things at work are busy, and I like it. I'm at a good place right now where I have been there long enough that I really know what I'm doing and am *knock on wood* pretty good and efficient at it. New projects and responsibilites keep popping up. I quite like working in a project based position, rather than a "day to day routine"esque position.
There was a firedrill today at work and I could only think of Dwight running around in The Office yelling, "DO YOU WANT TO DIE?!" when people wouldn't leave the Office quickly enough upon Ryan burning something in the toaster oven.
Things at home are not so busy. During Topical Depression Hannah on Sunday I went to the library and took out some books. Apparently I am going to read four books in the next three weeks? And last night at 1:30am I decided it would be great fun to go online and request four more books. Oh Gosh the excitement! Hee hee...
In my current possession we have a book on the history of the modern olympics, a French book about a mute kid and something about a rabbit ("J'enterre mon lapin", which babelfish humourously translated to "J' bury my rabbit", something I plan to start saying a lot)?, a book about quarter-life crisises (what is the plural of crisis?) in women, and a "humourous" book about brain differences in men and women regarding sex. The cover is cute because it has two very small ladybugs humping each other. Oh how clever. Sigh. Based on book choices it was clear I was feeling a bit lost mentally and emotionally on Sunday. Physically, I knew exactly where I was and felt much better upon brushing my teeth (MAGIC TOOTHPASTE?!) and leaving 223. I got a FREE ice cream at Cows, wandered through the Confederation Centre, and spent much time reading at the library. Whenever I am slightly glum I wander to a bookstore or the library; it's really a store of inspiration, ideas, and escape.
It's getting quite fallish. I can tell because I have to dress more warmly when biking, the winds are a bit insane as of late (exhibit a: jen biking in Victoria Park with watering eyes from the wind, so fun :) ), the hours of sunlight are diminishing, and I had to buy a parking pass at UPEI. A sure sign of autumn if there ever was one! And why did Miss "Oh my God, I love my bike soooo much, I am so awesome and 'GREEN', give me a prize!" buy a parking pass? Well, the one day I drive to work [meeting downtown in afternoon] in the past couple of weeks turns out to be the day parking permits will start to be enforced. SUCH AMAZING TIMING. Of course this occurred on a Monday, when I was already angry, tired, bitter, and thinking about slaughtering fluffy animals for my own pleasure. Anger levels peak on Monday morning when I pretty much need a forklift to get out of bed at some point before 8:00. Any volunteers? I will complain, groan, sigh, and make evil faces towards you, but I do have a spectacular smile during non-morning hours and a wonderful cereal collection that I would be willing to share as payment. I have also recently purchased some hummus, and would share that as well. Nothing says "great start to the day!" like garlic breath. Yum.
Another summer has passed and I managed to again fail on a journey to the Mags. Maybe Thanksgiving weekend? Or just a random long weekend coming up? Anyone want to come? My plan would be to bike as there is a hostel only 4 km or so from the ferry terminal.
I went on a lovely 65-km bike ride on Saturday, the longest ride I've done since the tip-to-tip (generally weekend rides are about 45 km). I took the trail to Hunter River and faced a wee bit of a headwind on the way there, on a slight incline. It took me about 90 minutes to get there, and about only 65 mins to get back. I was also much better mentally on the way home because the sun was shining, I was listening to some music, and purchased AMAZING cookies from the bakery in Hunter River. Biking makes me crave sugar like no other... I inhaled four of them by the day's end and had extreme biker/sugar high on the way back from Hunter River and thought about making it, say, an 80-km day. Then I started getting some stomach pains east of Ch'town and turned around to head home. Forgot about the winds coming from the west and felt like I was going to be blown of Sexay Bicyclette. Luckily I wasn't, but we both got a wee bit dusty.
Also, I saw the most beautiful field just east of Hunter River!!! I am completely serious, it was so many shades of green, was spotted with hay bales with perfect parallel, curvy lines segmenting the field. It was really stunning, I stopped to appreciate both on the way to and home from Hunter River and really wish I had a camera. I may sneak back this weekend, weather and sky pending. In a way, it was almost better I didn't have my camera because I decided to engrain the sight into my memory and can know pull it out whenever I need it. :)
I slept for a solid 7-8 hrs on Fri, Sat, and Sun. I don't remember Monday night, but I had some sad dreams and woke up in a bum mood. Anyway, it eventually passed and I'm back into the norm of staying up late and struggling to pull myself dramatically out of bed at 7:30, with a hand delicately draped over my forehead as I stumble into the kitchen questioning why Apollo has chosen to make the sun appear again to signalise the start of a new day. Well, provided the sun is even around... Grey clouds are quite common as of late.
12:41, I should go to bed.
J'bury my rabbit, eh?
BUT IMAGINE IF THERE WERE???
Oh my, that would be disastrous.
Things at work are busy, and I like it. I'm at a good place right now where I have been there long enough that I really know what I'm doing and am *knock on wood* pretty good and efficient at it. New projects and responsibilites keep popping up. I quite like working in a project based position, rather than a "day to day routine"esque position.
There was a firedrill today at work and I could only think of Dwight running around in The Office yelling, "DO YOU WANT TO DIE?!" when people wouldn't leave the Office quickly enough upon Ryan burning something in the toaster oven.
Things at home are not so busy. During Topical Depression Hannah on Sunday I went to the library and took out some books. Apparently I am going to read four books in the next three weeks? And last night at 1:30am I decided it would be great fun to go online and request four more books. Oh Gosh the excitement! Hee hee...
In my current possession we have a book on the history of the modern olympics, a French book about a mute kid and something about a rabbit ("J'enterre mon lapin", which babelfish humourously translated to "J' bury my rabbit", something I plan to start saying a lot)?, a book about quarter-life crisises (what is the plural of crisis?) in women, and a "humourous" book about brain differences in men and women regarding sex. The cover is cute because it has two very small ladybugs humping each other. Oh how clever. Sigh. Based on book choices it was clear I was feeling a bit lost mentally and emotionally on Sunday. Physically, I knew exactly where I was and felt much better upon brushing my teeth (MAGIC TOOTHPASTE?!) and leaving 223. I got a FREE ice cream at Cows, wandered through the Confederation Centre, and spent much time reading at the library. Whenever I am slightly glum I wander to a bookstore or the library; it's really a store of inspiration, ideas, and escape.
It's getting quite fallish. I can tell because I have to dress more warmly when biking, the winds are a bit insane as of late (exhibit a: jen biking in Victoria Park with watering eyes from the wind, so fun :) ), the hours of sunlight are diminishing, and I had to buy a parking pass at UPEI. A sure sign of autumn if there ever was one! And why did Miss "Oh my God, I love my bike soooo much, I am so awesome and 'GREEN', give me a prize!" buy a parking pass? Well, the one day I drive to work [meeting downtown in afternoon] in the past couple of weeks turns out to be the day parking permits will start to be enforced. SUCH AMAZING TIMING. Of course this occurred on a Monday, when I was already angry, tired, bitter, and thinking about slaughtering fluffy animals for my own pleasure. Anger levels peak on Monday morning when I pretty much need a forklift to get out of bed at some point before 8:00. Any volunteers? I will complain, groan, sigh, and make evil faces towards you, but I do have a spectacular smile during non-morning hours and a wonderful cereal collection that I would be willing to share as payment. I have also recently purchased some hummus, and would share that as well. Nothing says "great start to the day!" like garlic breath. Yum.
Another summer has passed and I managed to again fail on a journey to the Mags. Maybe Thanksgiving weekend? Or just a random long weekend coming up? Anyone want to come? My plan would be to bike as there is a hostel only 4 km or so from the ferry terminal.
I went on a lovely 65-km bike ride on Saturday, the longest ride I've done since the tip-to-tip (generally weekend rides are about 45 km). I took the trail to Hunter River and faced a wee bit of a headwind on the way there, on a slight incline. It took me about 90 minutes to get there, and about only 65 mins to get back. I was also much better mentally on the way home because the sun was shining, I was listening to some music, and purchased AMAZING cookies from the bakery in Hunter River. Biking makes me crave sugar like no other... I inhaled four of them by the day's end and had extreme biker/sugar high on the way back from Hunter River and thought about making it, say, an 80-km day. Then I started getting some stomach pains east of Ch'town and turned around to head home. Forgot about the winds coming from the west and felt like I was going to be blown of Sexay Bicyclette. Luckily I wasn't, but we both got a wee bit dusty.
Also, I saw the most beautiful field just east of Hunter River!!! I am completely serious, it was so many shades of green, was spotted with hay bales with perfect parallel, curvy lines segmenting the field. It was really stunning, I stopped to appreciate both on the way to and home from Hunter River and really wish I had a camera. I may sneak back this weekend, weather and sky pending. In a way, it was almost better I didn't have my camera because I decided to engrain the sight into my memory and can know pull it out whenever I need it. :)
I slept for a solid 7-8 hrs on Fri, Sat, and Sun. I don't remember Monday night, but I had some sad dreams and woke up in a bum mood. Anyway, it eventually passed and I'm back into the norm of staying up late and struggling to pull myself dramatically out of bed at 7:30, with a hand delicately draped over my forehead as I stumble into the kitchen questioning why Apollo has chosen to make the sun appear again to signalise the start of a new day. Well, provided the sun is even around... Grey clouds are quite common as of late.
12:41, I should go to bed.
J'bury my rabbit, eh?
Friday, September 05, 2008
Le francais?
After many, many busy days at work, I think I finally *knock on wood* am all caught up! What a difference hiring new employees makes.
Aujourd'hui, je veux parler en francais, sans les accents parce qu'ils sont difficile a trouver sur mon ordinateur. Il y a un fruit fly dans mon bureau. Je lui deteste. Maintainent, il est sur mon banane. Le fruit fly (Fred) est tres vite. J'assaye plusieurs fois de lui tuer, mais il est trop vite pour moi.
C'est presque la fin de semaine! Dans, comme, deux heures. J'ai lu la temps pour les prochaines jours et, comme d'habitude, il pleut beaucoup. Mais, c'est plus que 24 heures depuis la derniere pleuit. Wow.
Je veux manger du gateau vanille. Beaucoup de gateau. Et apres ca, quand je me sentirai malade, je dirais, "Dans le futur, je ne mange pas gateau." Mais quand je dis ca, je vais etre un menteur.
Aujourd'hui je porte des souliers avec les heels. C'est depuis la commencement de l'ete que je porte ces souliers, alors je marche comme un vache. Ils faisont trop de bruit aussi, et c'etait pour cette raison que je ne les porte pas. Presque tous les autre travailleurs portent les souliers qui ne faisont pas de bruit. Shhh.
Mes mots en francais c'est commes des mots d'enfant, je ne sais pas les mots difficiles. Ou les forms de verbes difficiles. Peut etre demain je vais etre plus intelligent, et je pourrais ecrire avec l'air d'un personne qui a 20 ans.
J'aime mon bicyclette. Il est un bon ami, il est toujours ou je le departs. Quand je veux jouer, il veut jouer aussi. Il dit rien quand je lui monte dans la pleut or la vente. Oui, il est un bon ami. Et apres je bois d'alcool et mon auto dit, "Non!", mon bicyclette me voulait.
Maintenant je dois depart mon bureau pour chercher des choises. Ca va etre difficile dans mes soulieres. Peut etre quand je depart Fred le fruit fly va trouver une nouvelle maison. Je l'espere beaucoup. Sigh.
Au revour - bonne fin de semaine!
Aujourd'hui, je veux parler en francais, sans les accents parce qu'ils sont difficile a trouver sur mon ordinateur. Il y a un fruit fly dans mon bureau. Je lui deteste. Maintainent, il est sur mon banane. Le fruit fly (Fred) est tres vite. J'assaye plusieurs fois de lui tuer, mais il est trop vite pour moi.
C'est presque la fin de semaine! Dans, comme, deux heures. J'ai lu la temps pour les prochaines jours et, comme d'habitude, il pleut beaucoup. Mais, c'est plus que 24 heures depuis la derniere pleuit. Wow.
Je veux manger du gateau vanille. Beaucoup de gateau. Et apres ca, quand je me sentirai malade, je dirais, "Dans le futur, je ne mange pas gateau." Mais quand je dis ca, je vais etre un menteur.
Aujourd'hui je porte des souliers avec les heels. C'est depuis la commencement de l'ete que je porte ces souliers, alors je marche comme un vache. Ils faisont trop de bruit aussi, et c'etait pour cette raison que je ne les porte pas. Presque tous les autre travailleurs portent les souliers qui ne faisont pas de bruit. Shhh.
Mes mots en francais c'est commes des mots d'enfant, je ne sais pas les mots difficiles. Ou les forms de verbes difficiles. Peut etre demain je vais etre plus intelligent, et je pourrais ecrire avec l'air d'un personne qui a 20 ans.
J'aime mon bicyclette. Il est un bon ami, il est toujours ou je le departs. Quand je veux jouer, il veut jouer aussi. Il dit rien quand je lui monte dans la pleut or la vente. Oui, il est un bon ami. Et apres je bois d'alcool et mon auto dit, "Non!", mon bicyclette me voulait.
Maintenant je dois depart mon bureau pour chercher des choises. Ca va etre difficile dans mes soulieres. Peut etre quand je depart Fred le fruit fly va trouver une nouvelle maison. Je l'espere beaucoup. Sigh.
Au revour - bonne fin de semaine!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Grr
So in an effort to get ahead a work a wee bit since I'd like to take an afternoon off this week, I brought some work home for me. Little did I know that fate had a different plan for me. The internet is as slow as molassis having a race with cold honey, and the UPEI servers are even slower. Pathetically slow. Going back to work and simply working there would actually have been about a kazillion times faster. Even if I had hopped to work, backwards, on one foot. And stopped to save an abandonned cat from a tree, and then brought the cat home, fed it, bathed it, then knit it a sweater. It still would have been more productive than sitting in the 223 livingroom watching my laptop screen gather dust. Anyway, my brilliant planned failed, and it put me in a bit of a bad mood. Unfortunate as I already shook off one bad mood today. (A rainy Monday morning, clearly a bad-mood catalyst.)
Grr. Grr. GRRRRRRR! One step forward, two steps back. Well, not really two steps back, it just means now I have to carry everything to work tomorrow in my backpack so I can do the work there. Sad, I was quite looking forward to working, drinking a beer, and listening to music. Cocooning, like I do on a bus.
Ooh, there was a loud clap of thunder outside. I hate thunder and lightening. Time to hide. The only thing worst than storms of such is being eaten by a dinosaur.
List of non-regular fears (i.e., not including death of loved ones, being eternally unhappy, etc.):
* Dinosaurs
* Hot things
* Thunder and lightening
* Wasps
* Wooden rollercoasters
* People thinking I'm boring, unintelligent, bad-weird, etc.
* Giant, flying bulls (related to a dream I had when I was 4)
I could be so much more productive. Doing my work. That I can't do from home.
Cleaning ones room is productive, but that won't save me time at work in the coming days. Prepping a lunch for tomorrow is also unproductive because there is a free BBQ on campus tomorrow.
Big lightening clap. Sign off.
Grr. Grr. GRRRRRRR! One step forward, two steps back. Well, not really two steps back, it just means now I have to carry everything to work tomorrow in my backpack so I can do the work there. Sad, I was quite looking forward to working, drinking a beer, and listening to music. Cocooning, like I do on a bus.
Ooh, there was a loud clap of thunder outside. I hate thunder and lightening. Time to hide. The only thing worst than storms of such is being eaten by a dinosaur.
List of non-regular fears (i.e., not including death of loved ones, being eternally unhappy, etc.):
* Dinosaurs
* Hot things
* Thunder and lightening
* Wasps
* Wooden rollercoasters
* People thinking I'm boring, unintelligent, bad-weird, etc.
* Giant, flying bulls (related to a dream I had when I was 4)
I could be so much more productive. Doing my work. That I can't do from home.
Cleaning ones room is productive, but that won't save me time at work in the coming days. Prepping a lunch for tomorrow is also unproductive because there is a free BBQ on campus tomorrow.
Big lightening clap. Sign off.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Injury!
First off, long weekends are amazing. I may consider taking either Monday or Friday off every week for the rest of my life. Sure it won't help me financially, but it'll keep me happier, thus I will be able to tolerate work life well into my later years, and perhaps I'll be happy with a shorter retirement and will retire at 65, instead of my planned 33. (Yes, overly ambitous, especially considering I keep spending all my money on vacations.)
I received a SPORTS INJURY this weekend. Nope, not from biking 100ish km (yes, I'm a geek and usually map out my rides on Google Maps afterwards!) over the long weekend, nor from kayaking from a couple of hours....
But by doing a cartwheel on the front lawn.
My cartwheel went over well, 10s all around, but I pulled a muscle on the inside of my thigh during "launch". Anyway, it's still a bit sore. Hurting myself doing a cartwheel makes me feel old.
I received a SPORTS INJURY this weekend. Nope, not from biking 100ish km (yes, I'm a geek and usually map out my rides on Google Maps afterwards!) over the long weekend, nor from kayaking from a couple of hours....
But by doing a cartwheel on the front lawn.
My cartwheel went over well, 10s all around, but I pulled a muscle on the inside of my thigh during "launch". Anyway, it's still a bit sore. Hurting myself doing a cartwheel makes me feel old.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
My life has revolved around a select few things in the past week or so:
So yeah. In more detail, I looooove my bike. It wasn't an instantaneous love. I'm kind of a commitment phobe in such matters. Test ride 1 went okay, but it was my first time on a hybrid bike and it felt a bit weird. I was a bit disappointed. Then I did a second test ride the following day and loooooved it. So now I own it! I bought it last Saturday morning and have put about 135 km on it so far. Not too shabby seeing as I do work all day and have some other commitments. Only concern is that there are some random noises coming from it already, but I assume it's the bike "breaking in" and the kind folks who sold me the bike will spiff it back into shape when I take it in. I biked to trivia on Tuesday in Brackley and going down the hill where the Snoopy barn is was a bit scary - not sure I have ever went that fast on a bike before! Somewhat reminded me of the adrenaline rush experienced post-SheiKra at Busch Gardens. Anyway, in conclusion, I love my bike, and I wish I had bought it ages ago. It only took me about 50 minutes to bike to trivia! (~22 km) I dunno, some may consider that slow, but on my old bike it probably would have taken six days. Approximately.
I love the Olympics so much. The opening ceremonies blew me away, specifically the sequence with the drummers, and the large yellow globe (sun?) that people were "running" around. The torch lightening was also impressive. Not so exciting was the parade of nations as the individual countries entered the Birds Nest. However, it makes for a good flag lesson. "Oh, that's what [insert county name]'s flag looks like." Also, I have determined again, that I would love to hang out with Ron MacLean. Was never a huge Don Cherry fan; I always thought he was rude and saying your point more loudly doesn't make it a better point. But Ron? I'd buy him a beer.
Olympic commercials are also entertaining.
Winners:
Least favourite commercials are the McDonald's ones. Although I do want Olympic glassware now... So although annoying, somewhat affective.
Every summer I like to try something new, sports wise. Last summer was tennis. Result? Never picked up a tennis racket again, although I would play if someone asked. Maybe I'll play this weekend?! Anyway, this summer I am taking GOLF lessons. So PEI. One of the students at worked proposed it, and it seemed like a good idea. It's only five lessons, and so far "wedging" is my clear favourite. I also felt satisfied when I saw two foxes at the first lesson, confirming that the name "Fox Meadows" is not misleading.
I need to go to the Olympics in Vancouver. Not so much go, but work at them. Then maybe I can somehow get on-board for London 2012. Then Chicago 2014. Then I will put forth a proposal for PEI 2016. We will rename PEI "Olympic Island". It's sounds very majestic and forceful, in a good way though. We will be well suited to host the summer games because, umm.... we have beaches. And we are hosting the 2009 Summer Canada Games so they are digging up the ground at UPEI (again) to build track facilities.
I would like to work at a winery. In France. But as of late I have been disturbingly all talk and no action, and it's slightly bumming me out. Am I getting "comfortable" on PEI? It makes me nervous. I'm actually not getting comfortable, and in the past couple of weeks have been desperate to make a plan to escape... but... eek... nerves.
I would like to learn more about architecture. Like the differences between modern, contemporary, neogothic, post-modern, etc. I spent awhile learning on wikipedia one rainy weekend, but learning via Wikipedia is a wee bit risky.
I think I am going to take up swimming in the fall. I need a decent bathing suit (i.e., probably not a bikini with strings and such) and a nose plug, because I never learned how to properly blow bubbles out my nose. A nose plug will definitely up my sexy factor by at least two points. I believe last winter there were some adult competitive swimming lessons. I already know how to swim, I finished swimming lessons long ago, but I'm sure my form could improve.
I would also like to try squash and fencing.
There is a male gymnast on the telie and he is doing some crazy things on the floor. He's all springy with legs flying every which way. Bounce bounce.
My arms look puney. Apparently cycling and watching the Olympics doesn't build your triceps OR biceps?!
I may cook supper now. Cooking in summer just doesn't really happen. Kind of like wearing pants. I refuse refuse refuse refuse refuse refuse refuse to wear anything longer than mid calf in the summer. And even then I feel awkward, and that's sort of "Oh, have to do laundry" or "It's rainy and cold and your office will be even colder."
I'm still undecided about what I think of the Olympics being in China. I feel like it's the world showing support for China, a "we believe in you". Kind of like an unknown, young actor or actress being nominated for an Oscar. You know he/she won't win, but it's a vote of confidence. Anyway, my least favourite part about the Olympics being in China is the bloody time change. Bah. Stuff doesn't start happening much until 9:00pm here. If I watch Olympic coverage when I wake up, then in the evening... Nothing has changed. Vancover will be better... but Chicago and London will be even BETTER. London especially because if they host a big event in the evening, I can watch it in the afternoon. This is also why we should consider bidding to host the 2016 Olympics: it would be much more convenient for me.
La fin.
- My new bike!!!!! Except mine is black and a ladies frame.
- The Olympics. I love them. I have a bizarre interest in syncronized diving.
- Patty O'Malley's trivia in Brackley. We reigning champions. We're kind of awesome.
- Work. Kind of a given as I spend 40ish hours a week there.
- Tutoring an energetic, ridiculously cute Korean girl. I would so much rather play in the park with her then try to make her sit still and learn.
- Golf lessons. Seriously.
So yeah. In more detail, I looooove my bike. It wasn't an instantaneous love. I'm kind of a commitment phobe in such matters. Test ride 1 went okay, but it was my first time on a hybrid bike and it felt a bit weird. I was a bit disappointed. Then I did a second test ride the following day and loooooved it. So now I own it! I bought it last Saturday morning and have put about 135 km on it so far. Not too shabby seeing as I do work all day and have some other commitments. Only concern is that there are some random noises coming from it already, but I assume it's the bike "breaking in" and the kind folks who sold me the bike will spiff it back into shape when I take it in. I biked to trivia on Tuesday in Brackley and going down the hill where the Snoopy barn is was a bit scary - not sure I have ever went that fast on a bike before! Somewhat reminded me of the adrenaline rush experienced post-SheiKra at Busch Gardens. Anyway, in conclusion, I love my bike, and I wish I had bought it ages ago. It only took me about 50 minutes to bike to trivia! (~22 km) I dunno, some may consider that slow, but on my old bike it probably would have taken six days. Approximately.
I love the Olympics so much. The opening ceremonies blew me away, specifically the sequence with the drummers, and the large yellow globe (sun?) that people were "running" around. The torch lightening was also impressive. Not so exciting was the parade of nations as the individual countries entered the Birds Nest. However, it makes for a good flag lesson. "Oh, that's what [insert county name]'s flag looks like." Also, I have determined again, that I would love to hang out with Ron MacLean. Was never a huge Don Cherry fan; I always thought he was rude and saying your point more loudly doesn't make it a better point. But Ron? I'd buy him a beer.
Olympic commercials are also entertaining.
Winners:
- Wonderbread, with the kids doing Olympic events in front of a white background. Particularly I enjoy the speedskater, and the bobsledders.
- Aliant's "Believe" commercials supporting Atlantic Canadian athletes.
- Bombardier.
Least favourite commercials are the McDonald's ones. Although I do want Olympic glassware now... So although annoying, somewhat affective.
Every summer I like to try something new, sports wise. Last summer was tennis. Result? Never picked up a tennis racket again, although I would play if someone asked. Maybe I'll play this weekend?! Anyway, this summer I am taking GOLF lessons. So PEI. One of the students at worked proposed it, and it seemed like a good idea. It's only five lessons, and so far "wedging" is my clear favourite. I also felt satisfied when I saw two foxes at the first lesson, confirming that the name "Fox Meadows" is not misleading.
I need to go to the Olympics in Vancouver. Not so much go, but work at them. Then maybe I can somehow get on-board for London 2012. Then Chicago 2014. Then I will put forth a proposal for PEI 2016. We will rename PEI "Olympic Island". It's sounds very majestic and forceful, in a good way though. We will be well suited to host the summer games because, umm.... we have beaches. And we are hosting the 2009 Summer Canada Games so they are digging up the ground at UPEI (again) to build track facilities.
I would like to work at a winery. In France. But as of late I have been disturbingly all talk and no action, and it's slightly bumming me out. Am I getting "comfortable" on PEI? It makes me nervous. I'm actually not getting comfortable, and in the past couple of weeks have been desperate to make a plan to escape... but... eek... nerves.
I would like to learn more about architecture. Like the differences between modern, contemporary, neogothic, post-modern, etc. I spent awhile learning on wikipedia one rainy weekend, but learning via Wikipedia is a wee bit risky.
I think I am going to take up swimming in the fall. I need a decent bathing suit (i.e., probably not a bikini with strings and such) and a nose plug, because I never learned how to properly blow bubbles out my nose. A nose plug will definitely up my sexy factor by at least two points. I believe last winter there were some adult competitive swimming lessons. I already know how to swim, I finished swimming lessons long ago, but I'm sure my form could improve.
I would also like to try squash and fencing.
There is a male gymnast on the telie and he is doing some crazy things on the floor. He's all springy with legs flying every which way. Bounce bounce.
My arms look puney. Apparently cycling and watching the Olympics doesn't build your triceps OR biceps?!
I may cook supper now. Cooking in summer just doesn't really happen. Kind of like wearing pants. I refuse refuse refuse refuse refuse refuse refuse to wear anything longer than mid calf in the summer. And even then I feel awkward, and that's sort of "Oh, have to do laundry" or "It's rainy and cold and your office will be even colder."
I'm still undecided about what I think of the Olympics being in China. I feel like it's the world showing support for China, a "we believe in you". Kind of like an unknown, young actor or actress being nominated for an Oscar. You know he/she won't win, but it's a vote of confidence. Anyway, my least favourite part about the Olympics being in China is the bloody time change. Bah. Stuff doesn't start happening much until 9:00pm here. If I watch Olympic coverage when I wake up, then in the evening... Nothing has changed. Vancover will be better... but Chicago and London will be even BETTER. London especially because if they host a big event in the evening, I can watch it in the afternoon. This is also why we should consider bidding to host the 2016 Olympics: it would be much more convenient for me.
La fin.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Mr. Sunshine?
I've been trying very, very hard not to complain about the weather... but I think the time has come.
What has happened to the sun? Why the wind? Should I build an ark in case the rain continues? I understand it hasn't rained much this summer, but I definitely haven't seen the sun for more than a ten-minute spurt for over a week. I'm fading - I should be fading in the middle of summer! I'm stubborn, and I find it chilly to be outside in just a t-shirt.
I think the rain has, knock on wood, stopped for today, meaning I can test-ride bikes after work, and bike to my GOLFING LESSON later. Every summer I try to play a new sport, and every summer, I learn to hate said sport because I am not good at it instantaneously. Last week during the putting lesson, the instructor said, "You need some work." Well, unless he was talking about my nose or chest, that's kind of, you know, the reason I was at golf lessons.
Anyway, it's time for me to leave! That's pretty exciting.
What has happened to the sun? Why the wind? Should I build an ark in case the rain continues? I understand it hasn't rained much this summer, but I definitely haven't seen the sun for more than a ten-minute spurt for over a week. I'm fading - I should be fading in the middle of summer! I'm stubborn, and I find it chilly to be outside in just a t-shirt.
I think the rain has, knock on wood, stopped for today, meaning I can test-ride bikes after work, and bike to my GOLFING LESSON later. Every summer I try to play a new sport, and every summer, I learn to hate said sport because I am not good at it instantaneously. Last week during the putting lesson, the instructor said, "You need some work." Well, unless he was talking about my nose or chest, that's kind of, you know, the reason I was at golf lessons.
Anyway, it's time for me to leave! That's pretty exciting.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Remember that time I had a blog?
Oh wee blog, I remember you. Perhaps I shall continue to chronicle my adventures to entertain the masses. There has been writing the past seven months, just in my "real" journal and fictional stories, nothing worthy of a blog. But that shall change, and some day, some day soon, I will shall with you again the life of my.
I got to dress up as an elephant trainer for a party tonight. It was pretty amazing, and I got plenty of stares at Jake's later on.
Charlottetown disappointed me tonight. At & and Jake's, I just felt like not too many people wanted to have fun.
What has happened to fun? Has it become an endangered species?
No. It has not. I recall having great fun only recently.
I'm buying a new bike soon and am super excited. It's going to become my baby. I have become curiously attached to my current bike; we have been through so much together. I bike pretty much everywhere, and Bike has been very reliable. The chain comes off ocassionally, but I can fix that easily. That being sad, Bike is sometimes hard on the knees, and has many, many kilometres on it - perhaps much more than a $120 bike should. It's the wonderful Supercycle 1800... one of the cheapest bikes offered by Canadian Tire. And it has a bit of a following!!! Actual cyclists seem to have a somewhat curious attachment to Creeky(the name of my bike, because it makes many strange noises), seeing how long it tastes to destroy the SC1800. My favourite saga of the SC 1800 is Bike of Doom.
I'm attached to Creeky McClunky for multiple reasons.
1) The seat is the right height, so the (L) knee pain has mostly stopped.
2) Nice seat. Though not the original seat; I don't remember how that one felt as I haven't sat on it in years.
3) McClunky really should be dead by now, and it baffles me that he still works. I don't treat him very well and bump through Charlottetown over curbs, through potholes, etc. It actually makes me question why I'm about to spend close to $500ish on a bike.
4) Creeky has a very low chance of being stolen (knock on wood). When I park by bike at the uni, I easily have the cheapest, dirtiest bike at the bike rack. (Yet I also have an AMAZING bike lock leftover from my backpacking days.) Mine would be the least preferable to steal, unless one was looking to destroy his/her knees.
5) Creeky accompanied on my treck across an ENTIRE PROVINCE. Granted, it was the smallest province, but such a cheap, heavy, questionable bike went 60 km one day, ~100km on each of the following two days, and 43 km on the last day. Some bikes don't see that many kilometres in a lifetime.
This all being said, I am so excited to have a bike that offers a smooth ride. I also kind of want to rip apart ol' Creeky, just to see all the different components required to put together a bicycle. Trying to put it back together will be a difficult puzzle, but New Bike will exist by then, so returning Creeky to it's previous condition isn't critical to the daily commute.
Good night. Love.
I got to dress up as an elephant trainer for a party tonight. It was pretty amazing, and I got plenty of stares at Jake's later on.
Charlottetown disappointed me tonight. At & and Jake's, I just felt like not too many people wanted to have fun.
What has happened to fun? Has it become an endangered species?
No. It has not. I recall having great fun only recently.
I'm buying a new bike soon and am super excited. It's going to become my baby. I have become curiously attached to my current bike; we have been through so much together. I bike pretty much everywhere, and Bike has been very reliable. The chain comes off ocassionally, but I can fix that easily. That being sad, Bike is sometimes hard on the knees, and has many, many kilometres on it - perhaps much more than a $120 bike should. It's the wonderful Supercycle 1800... one of the cheapest bikes offered by Canadian Tire. And it has a bit of a following!!! Actual cyclists seem to have a somewhat curious attachment to Creeky(the name of my bike, because it makes many strange noises), seeing how long it tastes to destroy the SC1800. My favourite saga of the SC 1800 is Bike of Doom.
I'm attached to Creeky McClunky for multiple reasons.
1) The seat is the right height, so the (L) knee pain has mostly stopped.
2) Nice seat. Though not the original seat; I don't remember how that one felt as I haven't sat on it in years.
3) McClunky really should be dead by now, and it baffles me that he still works. I don't treat him very well and bump through Charlottetown over curbs, through potholes, etc. It actually makes me question why I'm about to spend close to $500ish on a bike.
4) Creeky has a very low chance of being stolen (knock on wood). When I park by bike at the uni, I easily have the cheapest, dirtiest bike at the bike rack. (Yet I also have an AMAZING bike lock leftover from my backpacking days.) Mine would be the least preferable to steal, unless one was looking to destroy his/her knees.
5) Creeky accompanied on my treck across an ENTIRE PROVINCE. Granted, it was the smallest province, but such a cheap, heavy, questionable bike went 60 km one day, ~100km on each of the following two days, and 43 km on the last day. Some bikes don't see that many kilometres in a lifetime.
This all being said, I am so excited to have a bike that offers a smooth ride. I also kind of want to rip apart ol' Creeky, just to see all the different components required to put together a bicycle. Trying to put it back together will be a difficult puzzle, but New Bike will exist by then, so returning Creeky to it's previous condition isn't critical to the daily commute.
Good night. Love.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Thirsty Sleepy One
This morning as staring confusingly into my closet trying to decide what to wear, my eyes took a downward shift. At the bottom of my closet there is a grand collection of unconsumed beer and coolers. All of a sudden it seemed like the best idea in the world to have a Schmirnoff Ice (Wild Grape, mmm,) before work. I really, really wanted it. It would taste just like a grape freezee. I knew it would taste oh-so delicious, and perk my taste buds for the day, but I refrained because, umm, consuming alcohol before 8:30am seems kind of pathetic and something to be judge negatively for. At the same time, one probably wouldn't be terrible, really, it probably has no more sugar than a glass of apple juice and the alcohol content is probably lower than cough syrup which people consume in mad quantities when fighting off a cold.
Actually, it was probably a bad idea not to have that drink this morning.
Actually, it was probably a bad idea not to have that drink this morning.
almost like the scientology test
| Global Personality Test Results |
| Stability (76%) high which suggests you are very relaxed, calm, secure, and optimistic.. Orderliness (13%) very low which suggests you are overly flexible, improvised, and fun seeking at the expense too often of reliability, work ethic, and long term accomplishment. Extraversion (56%) moderately high which suggests you are, at times, overly talkative, outgoing, sociable and interacting at the expense of developing your own individual interests and internally based identity. |
personality tests by similarminds.com
This makes me laugh. It kind of reminded me of when Shan and I took personality tests at the Church of Scientology because they were free. Basically they really stressed your negative traits and would try to sell you a book. I recall being, in a nutshell, kind of bitchy and self-centred, but extremely happy! However, I don't think this website was trying to sell me a book. It says word that describe me are, "messy, tough, disorganized, fearless, not rule conscious, likes the unknown, rarely worries, rash, attracted to the counter culture, rarely irritated, positive, resilient, abstract, not a perfectionist, risk taker, strange, weird, self reliant, leisurely, dangerous, anti-authority, trusting, optimistic, positive, thrill seeker, likes bizarre things, sarcastic". I don't know if I'm "tough" (I wouldn't start a fight in the street... except for the McDonalds and chippy incident long ago), but I giggled at "sarcastic" and "weird". Hannah thinks I'm weird. Maybe she was onto something?
Not sure about the perfectionist thing... I am a bit of a control freak, but I guess that's not a perfectionist. I can't delegate well because I'm concerned the person won't complete the task to my standards. Insert issues with excessive group work in the School of Business.
I should go to bed. I stayed up until 2:00 with a racing mind last night and didn't bother trying to shut it down as today was supposed to be a storm day. Alas, when I looked out the window at 2:00, I knew the snow day was not meant to be. But as per usual I made it through the day on 5 1/2 hours of sleep. Once again I rode my emotional rollercoaster for the day, and now I'll hop off and go to sleep and have quirky dreams.
I was thinking today that I have some extra time on my hands and should organize myself a wee bit. Maybe start going to bed a little earlier so I can somehow make it to work before the rest of the world takes their first coffee break. I started cleaning my room on Sunday night, got distracted, and nothing really happened. I also think I'm tired of candy. Actually, I'm tired of food in general. I'm suddenly sick of all my favourite foods (except strawberries which I will eat until the Earth crashes into the sun) and can't be bothered to buy groceries because I feel like I've eaten it all before. Not true, but I may need some inspiration. I have salmon defrosting, maybe I'll get a little crazy with that tomorrow. I remember learning to "cook" in Jr. High. We made cookies, muffins, potato something or other, and .... ? Why didn't we learn to cook something useful? Cooking class didn't even help me get over my fear of hot things. I could barely take stuff out of the oven until I worked in the Food and Wine Festival and was serving hundreds of ridiculously hot soups everyday. Working in a restaurant forces one to rather quickly get over her fear of hot things. Maybe not completely, but let's not be irrational - baby steps all the way.
Poor brain doesn't know how to shut down. She'll keep whirling for a while, it's been a whirly few days for her. She's excited about the World and its unlimited opportunities, but she's disorganized and can't plan ahead any further than a week.
This weekend I'm going cross-country skiing with Shan and am rather excited. See, I can have fun in the winter!!! I suspect people think I hate winter far more than I actually do... It's okay, it's not my favourite, but I'm not afflicted with SAD by any means. Last winter was definitely not the standard - it was too much culture shock too quickly combined with loss of too many friends/job/apartment/home, etc. I haven't lost anything yet this winter! Well, a boyfriend (sad) and THREE FREAKING EARRINGS. How do I keep losing them? Of course, all three belong to different pairs. One I don't care about, actually, I broke it playing with the claspe because apparently I don't know how to sit still, but the other two are lost. One in Victoria Park somewhere, and the other... just somewhere. No idea. The second one MUST be replaced when I head down to Florida in March. I used to wear them everyday, so my ears will go through some sort of withdrawal if they are not replaced.
I also lost a button off my new, wonderful coat, but found that about two seconds after the event occured. Hmm, what else have I misplaced... Oh yes, one of my winter hats, and something else that I remember looking for and not being able to find... But I recall thinking, "Sigh, it's been forever since I've seen _______." Oh yes, hair clips. Nothing major.
And now it's about 1:00am. This is why here needs to be more hours in the day, or people should sleep only four hours a night. I took a wee nap after work, (okay, after work, after the gym, and after shovelling snow,) for almost an hour at 8:30. I kind of wish I hadn't woke up and just slept through til, like, 5:30. That would be pretty amazing. Maybe I'll try that tomorrow night.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
she's not a smart one
So I'm trying to distract myself this evening. My first night on PEI since Mr. (Now ex on good terms) Boyfriend departed the Isle. I'm moping. But people are allowed to mope; it shows that at one point they were very happy. I think to feel one extreme emotion, one must have felt the opposite emotion on a very extreme level as well.
I'm a moron and f-ed up my taxes for 2007 already. There is something to be said about not planning ahead and the punishments that come with being a disorganized, scattered-brained lady. Anyway, won't go into detail, we don't need the gov't googling me =P
I don't think I ever finished recapping my NYC adventure. On New Year's Day, Keri and I went to play in Central Park. Loved it! I actually think it was one of the highlights of the trip, just being able to be outside in the grass, trees all around, not overly crowded, and, YES!, going to the zoo!! The Central Park Zoo. I feel like I have somehow filled a secret, unknown-until-now, childhood dream. I know I shouldn't love zoos, captive animals and all, but I do! At least "nice" ones. I don't think I would enjoy seeing a donkey in a cage that was far too small. We saw sea lions, penguins, lots of unique birds (in the "rainforest"), polar bears (maaaaaassive), goats, monkeys, pacas, and more. I loved it all! Then we wandered a bit and giggled at Park Avenue, because neither of us, uh, really belonged there ;) I found the Flat Iron Building, which made me immensely happy. Something about it, I adore it. It was a challenge to get a decent photo of it though. I pretty much ran circles through the park across the street and the surroundings streets. The tall buildings were blocked the sun as it was already setting on the horizon. I don't think any of my photos really do it justice, but I think it's a wonderful building. Probably something about the unique shape and symmetry appeal to me. I love symmetry. So much that I can't even spell it properly - heh.
Eventually Keri and I split up, and I ended up wasting too much time waiting in line for the toilet at Toys R Us in Times Square. Really though, it wasn't a waste of time because I, well, really needed to use the toilet. It was actually a very worthwhile experience. And I stood in line behind a Spanish mother and her ridiculously cute children. I love eavesdropping on Spanish conversations. I think it's a beautiful language and I wish I could speak it with greater skill than I can. I'm proud of what I can do with my limited vocabulary (although it's rusty given I never use it now) but I want to be better.
All seven of us met up to eat before the long bus ride home. I had a salad at the pub we were at, and it was disgusting. So instead I ate on the bus, random bits of food that I had packed.
The bus ride home was very long - about 22 hours. We didn't really drive directly into bad weather, but were kind of behind it so it made for some rather nasty road conditions. The Bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles when we arrived, so shuttles were to take us across. Sitting at the front of the bus, we got on the first shuttle! .... and the only shuttle to take some weird route through Gateway Village and get stuck. Heh. Anyway, while we were crossing, the Bridge opened back up to all traffic, so we hopped back on the bus to return to Ch'town. The bus ride was long, but I didn't really mind it too much. We watched movies, slept some, I did random number puzzles, wrote some, played on my phone, listened to music. It's kind of nice to have some time to oneself!
New York? C'est la fin.
Sheena, Shannon and I went to Halifax this weekend. It was lovely. Halifax still isn't my favourite city, but I had a good time there. Saturday morning involved sleeping in, something I've been lacking as of late.
I need something new. Now something new to buy, but a new challenge. It was hard saying good-bye to Tom for many reasons, one being that he is leaving on an adventure and I'm not. It's supposed to be me that leaves for fun adventures, damn it! I just don't know what to do. I went on some weird Africa kick for a couple of weeks, but I was looking through the internships offered by CIDA and I don't think I qualify because I already have "international experience". However, I do believe I can argue that my international experience is a completely different level of the positions they look to fill. Luckily there are other ways to get to Africa. My only incredibly selfish issue is that I want to get paid, or at least no blow a crapload of money getting there and while there.
I'm also itching for South America or Mexico, mostly due to the Spanish language thing referenced above.
Sometimes I wonder if I like adventures or think about them a lot in an effort to distract myself from some unknown... demon? Element? Can't think of an appropriate word to use. Growing up, perhaps? Adventures are good reasons not to buy houses or nice cars. Or purchase some sort of cell phone "package". Contract of doom, if you will. My wee Virgin Mobile pay-as-you-go and I have a wonderful relationship. Although it won't be used so much now as my texting partner in crime has fleed. Fled? Fleed? Fleeddededededed? Probably.
This year I am going to keep track of spending. I threw out a crapload of receipts tonight hoping to find gas receipts, and realized that I charge a lot. It's fine, I pay off my balance, but what the hell do I spend so much money on?! Based on the quantity of receipts, food and liquor. Seriously. Probably 95% of them were from Sobeys/Super Store, the liquor store, or some restaurant. In 2008 I start spending my money on better things, things that will last longer than the digestive cycle. Like my wonderful new, cheap fleece that I already love to bits and pieces and picture myself standing atop a mountain in - or at least a large hill. Hannah I went walking this moring/afternoon in Point Pleasant Park. It was such a nice (but non-typical winter) day out. I bet people thought I was all out-doorsy because I was wearing a lovely fleece and ankle pants rolled up. That are BROWN. Out-doorsy people wear brown, I bet. Because it matches the Earth so they don't stain as easily? I was also wearing sneakers. Clearly I must be some sort of professional hiker, trekker, mountain guide, or something. Or perhaps a sneaker salesperson.
Well, my "real" journal beckons me to take my stress-filled head and smatter it all over her pages in permanent ink. It's funny, I like writing in it, but I don't so much enjoy going back to read it. I like re-reading my old blog entries, perhaps because they record my happy times. Writing on paper records my emotional, probably more negative times. Or completely, immature, "OMG - a hot guy looked at me today! I have a crush on ___________! I like puppy dogs! Like, I can't believe that he totally looked down my shirt and blah blah blah blah blah." Very deep and meaningful. I hope someone finds it someday and comes to the conclusion that all twenty-some-year-old females are completely nuts, insecure, and clearly put on a fake front when pretending to have it all together when facing the public.
Adventure, much?
I'm a moron and f-ed up my taxes for 2007 already. There is something to be said about not planning ahead and the punishments that come with being a disorganized, scattered-brained lady. Anyway, won't go into detail, we don't need the gov't googling me =P
I don't think I ever finished recapping my NYC adventure. On New Year's Day, Keri and I went to play in Central Park. Loved it! I actually think it was one of the highlights of the trip, just being able to be outside in the grass, trees all around, not overly crowded, and, YES!, going to the zoo!! The Central Park Zoo. I feel like I have somehow filled a secret, unknown-until-now, childhood dream. I know I shouldn't love zoos, captive animals and all, but I do! At least "nice" ones. I don't think I would enjoy seeing a donkey in a cage that was far too small. We saw sea lions, penguins, lots of unique birds (in the "rainforest"), polar bears (maaaaaassive), goats, monkeys, pacas, and more. I loved it all! Then we wandered a bit and giggled at Park Avenue, because neither of us, uh, really belonged there ;) I found the Flat Iron Building, which made me immensely happy. Something about it, I adore it. It was a challenge to get a decent photo of it though. I pretty much ran circles through the park across the street and the surroundings streets. The tall buildings were blocked the sun as it was already setting on the horizon. I don't think any of my photos really do it justice, but I think it's a wonderful building. Probably something about the unique shape and symmetry appeal to me. I love symmetry. So much that I can't even spell it properly - heh.
Eventually Keri and I split up, and I ended up wasting too much time waiting in line for the toilet at Toys R Us in Times Square. Really though, it wasn't a waste of time because I, well, really needed to use the toilet. It was actually a very worthwhile experience. And I stood in line behind a Spanish mother and her ridiculously cute children. I love eavesdropping on Spanish conversations. I think it's a beautiful language and I wish I could speak it with greater skill than I can. I'm proud of what I can do with my limited vocabulary (although it's rusty given I never use it now) but I want to be better.
All seven of us met up to eat before the long bus ride home. I had a salad at the pub we were at, and it was disgusting. So instead I ate on the bus, random bits of food that I had packed.
The bus ride home was very long - about 22 hours. We didn't really drive directly into bad weather, but were kind of behind it so it made for some rather nasty road conditions. The Bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles when we arrived, so shuttles were to take us across. Sitting at the front of the bus, we got on the first shuttle! .... and the only shuttle to take some weird route through Gateway Village and get stuck. Heh. Anyway, while we were crossing, the Bridge opened back up to all traffic, so we hopped back on the bus to return to Ch'town. The bus ride was long, but I didn't really mind it too much. We watched movies, slept some, I did random number puzzles, wrote some, played on my phone, listened to music. It's kind of nice to have some time to oneself!
New York? C'est la fin.
Sheena, Shannon and I went to Halifax this weekend. It was lovely. Halifax still isn't my favourite city, but I had a good time there. Saturday morning involved sleeping in, something I've been lacking as of late.
I need something new. Now something new to buy, but a new challenge. It was hard saying good-bye to Tom for many reasons, one being that he is leaving on an adventure and I'm not. It's supposed to be me that leaves for fun adventures, damn it! I just don't know what to do. I went on some weird Africa kick for a couple of weeks, but I was looking through the internships offered by CIDA and I don't think I qualify because I already have "international experience". However, I do believe I can argue that my international experience is a completely different level of the positions they look to fill. Luckily there are other ways to get to Africa. My only incredibly selfish issue is that I want to get paid, or at least no blow a crapload of money getting there and while there.
I'm also itching for South America or Mexico, mostly due to the Spanish language thing referenced above.
Sometimes I wonder if I like adventures or think about them a lot in an effort to distract myself from some unknown... demon? Element? Can't think of an appropriate word to use. Growing up, perhaps? Adventures are good reasons not to buy houses or nice cars. Or purchase some sort of cell phone "package". Contract of doom, if you will. My wee Virgin Mobile pay-as-you-go and I have a wonderful relationship. Although it won't be used so much now as my texting partner in crime has fleed. Fled? Fleed? Fleeddededededed? Probably.
This year I am going to keep track of spending. I threw out a crapload of receipts tonight hoping to find gas receipts, and realized that I charge a lot. It's fine, I pay off my balance, but what the hell do I spend so much money on?! Based on the quantity of receipts, food and liquor. Seriously. Probably 95% of them were from Sobeys/Super Store, the liquor store, or some restaurant. In 2008 I start spending my money on better things, things that will last longer than the digestive cycle. Like my wonderful new, cheap fleece that I already love to bits and pieces and picture myself standing atop a mountain in - or at least a large hill. Hannah I went walking this moring/afternoon in Point Pleasant Park. It was such a nice (but non-typical winter) day out. I bet people thought I was all out-doorsy because I was wearing a lovely fleece and ankle pants rolled up. That are BROWN. Out-doorsy people wear brown, I bet. Because it matches the Earth so they don't stain as easily? I was also wearing sneakers. Clearly I must be some sort of professional hiker, trekker, mountain guide, or something. Or perhaps a sneaker salesperson.
Well, my "real" journal beckons me to take my stress-filled head and smatter it all over her pages in permanent ink. It's funny, I like writing in it, but I don't so much enjoy going back to read it. I like re-reading my old blog entries, perhaps because they record my happy times. Writing on paper records my emotional, probably more negative times. Or completely, immature, "OMG - a hot guy looked at me today! I have a crush on ___________! I like puppy dogs! Like, I can't believe that he totally looked down my shirt and blah blah blah blah blah." Very deep and meaningful. I hope someone finds it someday and comes to the conclusion that all twenty-some-year-old females are completely nuts, insecure, and clearly put on a fake front when pretending to have it all together when facing the public.
Adventure, much?
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Tick Tick - NYC
I am killing time at work. I've been killing time for most of the day. If I continue this tomorrow, I'll be on trial for murder by the end of the week.
Christmas break was lovely - it was great to have family and friends home. It's always so rushed, but I love it. Life has such an unfortunate slow pace in the winter months that I want to be ran off my feet over the holidays so that I want at least a few days of peace in January. But only a few.
Six of my friends and I went to New York City for New Years Eve. The NYE thing didn't really matter to me, I just liked the idea of leaving PEI. To make a long story short, the adventure began 7:00pm on Friday, Dec 28th. I was excited, but a bit bummed as I had said good-bye to Tom (which I thought was going to be a perma-foever-and-ever-and-ever good-bye, but wasn't thanks to the PEI Weather Gods), Brother, friends, etc. Then I got forced to sit with a random stranger away from my friends on the bus. Wasn't so bad though, I made myself a little cocoon and spent some hrs immersed in music, writing, and reading. I never read as much as I plan to on long plane/bus trips. In fact, I don't have much focus on reading at all lately. Apparently I would rather stare at grids of numbers and do sudoku or similar puzzles.
About seventeen hours later, we checked into our hotel in New Jersey and had a slight "room issue" on which I will not elaborate here. Sheena, Julie and I trucked to the mall (along with hundreds of other people, apparently) for part of the afternoon and evening, and then pretty much collapsed on our beds in dramatic shopping exhaution. After a treck to the liquor and grocery store of course. I love groceries stores outside of Canada. I know the US isn't that different, but walking around in a non-familiar grocery store with different food enthralls me. As with liquor stores. Plus liquor is much cheaper in the States. For the liquor Sheena and I brought home, we figured it would have cost us $36 CAD for what cost us $15 US. Hardly seems fair.
Sunday we left the hotel at 9:00 for a "four-hour long" bus tour (actually only 3.5 hrs) which was a waste of time. I won't get into it, but I was rather disappointed and chose to skip the night tour. After the tour, a few of us grabbed some food from the greasiest diner ever, and wandered around for the next few hours. I parted ways with the others at about 5:00 (after a note-worthy struggle through Rockefeller Center which was far over-filled with people) and walked around. I felt like a regular New Yorker by the end, cursing at the strollers, sighing at pedestrians that stopped to gawk in the middle of heavy foot or car traffic, etc. It had also been lightly raining since about 4:30, so by the time 9:30 rolled around I was a wee bit wet. However, actually didn't really notice too much - until I sat on the bus at 10:00 and promptly started to freeze from the not-warm air coming out of the air vents. Upon arrival in our room, I pretty much stripped, rushed into my pajamas, blasted the heat, and cuddled into 410 blankets. La fin de dimanche soir.
Monday was the 31st. We took public transit into the city because our free shuttled was mysteriously cancelled. First we went up to the Museum of Natural History to check out the crowd levels. Packed. We snapped some photos of the area, and took a wander through the area just west of the museum. Afterwards we headed to China Town so Sheena could indulge in the "real" knock-off purses. Quite an experience! We dined in Little Italy (which given how the area is changing may need to change its name to "Very Little Italy"). Afterwards I squealed in excitement and bought watches. Yay! Sheena, Julie and I had decided that it would be nice to take a rest before heading into the crowds for NYE and headed back to the hotel. However, before catching the bus (which we unknowingly timed ridiculously perfectly) we decided to take a peak of the crowds at Times Square. Couldn't really get close to the area, but I didn't really care too much. The people you see on TV have to put in pretty much a whole day of waiting to watch the ball drop. I had better things to do with my time [buy watches].
We rested at the hotel for a bit [after a liquor stop] and, not gonna lie, I was a bit mopey for the same reasons as the bus ride down. However, turned out PEI was getting blated by Madame Nature, and Mr. Boyfriend had not departed the province. My mood may have perked up ;)
We ventured back into the city arriving at about 9:30. Our bus dropped off at... I get mixed up, either Penn Station or Port Authority. The one on the corner of 42nd and 8th. We decided to walk around the area around Times Square to soak in some of the atmosphere. Apparently we weren't the only ones with that idea. There were loads of people, but traffic flow was decent since many roads were blocked off and there were always a couple of cops attempted to direct the crowds and vehicles. After a half-struggle with the crowds, we had our fill and joined the rest of our group at a bar/restaurant close to our bus pick-up point. Great location, great seats, and great fun! So much better than standing with 1.1 million of my closest and new best friends in Times Square!
The following day shall wait because I get to leave work now. Woohoo!
Christmas break was lovely - it was great to have family and friends home. It's always so rushed, but I love it. Life has such an unfortunate slow pace in the winter months that I want to be ran off my feet over the holidays so that I want at least a few days of peace in January. But only a few.
Six of my friends and I went to New York City for New Years Eve. The NYE thing didn't really matter to me, I just liked the idea of leaving PEI. To make a long story short, the adventure began 7:00pm on Friday, Dec 28th. I was excited, but a bit bummed as I had said good-bye to Tom (which I thought was going to be a perma-foever-and-ever-and-ever good-bye, but wasn't thanks to the PEI Weather Gods), Brother, friends, etc. Then I got forced to sit with a random stranger away from my friends on the bus. Wasn't so bad though, I made myself a little cocoon and spent some hrs immersed in music, writing, and reading. I never read as much as I plan to on long plane/bus trips. In fact, I don't have much focus on reading at all lately. Apparently I would rather stare at grids of numbers and do sudoku or similar puzzles.
About seventeen hours later, we checked into our hotel in New Jersey and had a slight "room issue" on which I will not elaborate here. Sheena, Julie and I trucked to the mall (along with hundreds of other people, apparently) for part of the afternoon and evening, and then pretty much collapsed on our beds in dramatic shopping exhaution. After a treck to the liquor and grocery store of course. I love groceries stores outside of Canada. I know the US isn't that different, but walking around in a non-familiar grocery store with different food enthralls me. As with liquor stores. Plus liquor is much cheaper in the States. For the liquor Sheena and I brought home, we figured it would have cost us $36 CAD for what cost us $15 US. Hardly seems fair.
Sunday we left the hotel at 9:00 for a "four-hour long" bus tour (actually only 3.5 hrs) which was a waste of time. I won't get into it, but I was rather disappointed and chose to skip the night tour. After the tour, a few of us grabbed some food from the greasiest diner ever, and wandered around for the next few hours. I parted ways with the others at about 5:00 (after a note-worthy struggle through Rockefeller Center which was far over-filled with people) and walked around. I felt like a regular New Yorker by the end, cursing at the strollers, sighing at pedestrians that stopped to gawk in the middle of heavy foot or car traffic, etc. It had also been lightly raining since about 4:30, so by the time 9:30 rolled around I was a wee bit wet. However, actually didn't really notice too much - until I sat on the bus at 10:00 and promptly started to freeze from the not-warm air coming out of the air vents. Upon arrival in our room, I pretty much stripped, rushed into my pajamas, blasted the heat, and cuddled into 410 blankets. La fin de dimanche soir.
Monday was the 31st. We took public transit into the city because our free shuttled was mysteriously cancelled. First we went up to the Museum of Natural History to check out the crowd levels. Packed. We snapped some photos of the area, and took a wander through the area just west of the museum. Afterwards we headed to China Town so Sheena could indulge in the "real" knock-off purses. Quite an experience! We dined in Little Italy (which given how the area is changing may need to change its name to "Very Little Italy"). Afterwards I squealed in excitement and bought watches. Yay! Sheena, Julie and I had decided that it would be nice to take a rest before heading into the crowds for NYE and headed back to the hotel. However, before catching the bus (which we unknowingly timed ridiculously perfectly) we decided to take a peak of the crowds at Times Square. Couldn't really get close to the area, but I didn't really care too much. The people you see on TV have to put in pretty much a whole day of waiting to watch the ball drop. I had better things to do with my time [buy watches].
We rested at the hotel for a bit [after a liquor stop] and, not gonna lie, I was a bit mopey for the same reasons as the bus ride down. However, turned out PEI was getting blated by Madame Nature, and Mr. Boyfriend had not departed the province. My mood may have perked up ;)
We ventured back into the city arriving at about 9:30. Our bus dropped off at... I get mixed up, either Penn Station or Port Authority. The one on the corner of 42nd and 8th. We decided to walk around the area around Times Square to soak in some of the atmosphere. Apparently we weren't the only ones with that idea. There were loads of people, but traffic flow was decent since many roads were blocked off and there were always a couple of cops attempted to direct the crowds and vehicles. After a half-struggle with the crowds, we had our fill and joined the rest of our group at a bar/restaurant close to our bus pick-up point. Great location, great seats, and great fun! So much better than standing with 1.1 million of my closest and new best friends in Times Square!
The following day shall wait because I get to leave work now. Woohoo!
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