So, I had the company holiday party two weeks ago, and it was a lavish affair. The ballroom was impressive, the meal was decent, and though I didn’t win anything, people did keep coming up to me and giving me drink tickets, so that was nice. I’m trying not to read into the fact that my bosses gave me lots of drink tickets.
The borrowed necklace got a lot of praise, and everyone looked great. Also, the company continued its habit of holding the holiday party on the first bad snowstorm of the year, so the roads were bad enough that we got there late. Much thanks go to friend Dani for the ride she gave me, no thanks at all go to her GPS, which can’t navigate its way out of a paper bag.
All in all it was a good night, and unlike last year, we didn’t stay till the bitter (overly liquored) end; I was home before the wee hours, and got enough sleep to avoid being a zombie the next day when another friend and I went to the ballet (and also the mall and out to lunch). That was great, though the ballet had a lot of kids in it, and was a different version of the Nutcracker than I remembered. I hadn’t known there were different versions of that play until I got home and googled it to make sure my brain wasn’t making up Christmas stories.
Since then there’s been book club (we’re watching the most hilarious version of Jane Eyre I’ve ever seen), shopping with the brother (spread out over two days cause there’s only so much you can get done before the shops close, and it isn’t helped by the fact that he doesn’t rise from his bed until afternoon). Also, there was a rowdy meeting with one group of girl friends that also involved a Secret Santa gift exchange- I got pretty purple earrings, a mini picture frame that is studded with beads, and a magnet that keeps track of when to feed the cat. I made a pair of earrings for my giftee, along with a Starbucks gc for a splurge; she was quite pleased, I think.
Then last night was a holiday get-together with the boys. Kev picked me up from work and we picked up my potluck contribution, then headed to their place. Hugh and his sister brought in a real tree, and I ate and played games and helped the gentiles decorate their pine. We had tacos with homemade tortillas, meatballs, bacon sweet potato soup, and more cookies than twelve of us would need (and there were only five there). It was a great night…
…that did not end when I got home, cause tonight I’m having another set of girl friends over to my place, and the apartment needed a lot more than a lick and a promise. I stayed up late and then got up early, but I got *most* of what I needed done. I’m meeting friends at the grocery store (wild plans, hun?) and we’re shopping for tonight, then crashing at my pad.
And the crazy month continues! I have Jane Eyre, part two tomorrow, along with a regular book meeting (Stranger in a Strange Land, Robert A. Heinlein), Egg grooming and then holiday dinner with the brother on Saturday, Hanukkah dinner with the Robins Sunday…and then nothing except work until those few blissful days off that we have coming up.
I love December, even if all the snow has melted already. Thanks, global warming.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Blog drought over
Okay, so I haven't blogged in a while, and maybe 5am on a random Saturday in December is an odd time to get back in the habit, but then, odd is something I've never claimed to be.
For awhile I couldn't really blog because the only big thing going on was work stuff that I couldn't write about online. Then I just kind of got out of the habit for awhile, you know?
Anyways, fair readers (if there's still any of you out there), you want updates, and I plan to go back to providing them from now on.
So, here goes:
About three weeks ago we laid to rest Tripawed, a.k.a "Little Cat" "Three-legs" "Fat Girl". For those of you who knew her, she was a very soft, sweet little runt who grew to the size (and shape) of a basketball with three legs. She was quiet and meek and dumb as a post, and we loved her. She will be missed.
Also, we had a weight-loss challenge at work, and I totally won. Big $ for me, plus permanent bragging rights at the office. Not that I would brag, though. At this point I'm actually wishing my coworkers would stop mentioning it; I appreciate the kudos, but a month later, its just making me feel guilty for every cookie I might have (and 'tis the season for cookies, don't ya know).
And I went to the ballet with the Robins in my new sweater dress, both of which were lovely. The dancers wore tennis shoes, so my favourite part of the night was playing dress-up with Robins purses and make-up and jewelry.
There's been other stuff, but a lot of it is work and oughtn't be mentioned at this time (nothing bad; work is busy but good), and I'm probably forgetting a lot cause the clock is just rolling toward 6am, and this is a stupid time to be awake blogging.
Anyways, I'm going back to bed now cause I have a very big weekend ahead of me, folks. I have the dentist (big fun) in about 5 hours, then the company Holiday party is tonight, and tomorrow, hopefully, the ballet ('hopefully' because the possibility of ticket acquisition is yet to be seen). Will let you know how it all goes, but for now, goodnight, everyone.
For awhile I couldn't really blog because the only big thing going on was work stuff that I couldn't write about online. Then I just kind of got out of the habit for awhile, you know?
Anyways, fair readers (if there's still any of you out there), you want updates, and I plan to go back to providing them from now on.
So, here goes:
About three weeks ago we laid to rest Tripawed, a.k.a "Little Cat" "Three-legs" "Fat Girl". For those of you who knew her, she was a very soft, sweet little runt who grew to the size (and shape) of a basketball with three legs. She was quiet and meek and dumb as a post, and we loved her. She will be missed.
Also, we had a weight-loss challenge at work, and I totally won. Big $ for me, plus permanent bragging rights at the office. Not that I would brag, though. At this point I'm actually wishing my coworkers would stop mentioning it; I appreciate the kudos, but a month later, its just making me feel guilty for every cookie I might have (and 'tis the season for cookies, don't ya know).
And I went to the ballet with the Robins in my new sweater dress, both of which were lovely. The dancers wore tennis shoes, so my favourite part of the night was playing dress-up with Robins purses and make-up and jewelry.
There's been other stuff, but a lot of it is work and oughtn't be mentioned at this time (nothing bad; work is busy but good), and I'm probably forgetting a lot cause the clock is just rolling toward 6am, and this is a stupid time to be awake blogging.
Anyways, I'm going back to bed now cause I have a very big weekend ahead of me, folks. I have the dentist (big fun) in about 5 hours, then the company Holiday party is tonight, and tomorrow, hopefully, the ballet ('hopefully' because the possibility of ticket acquisition is yet to be seen). Will let you know how it all goes, but for now, goodnight, everyone.
Monday, August 18, 2008
UK adventure, Part 2
Our first day officially back in England was pretty tame. It involved a walk with the dog to rent movies, and a lot of lying on the couch. We were tired! But the rest was well-earned, and it set us up for the next week.
Monday Richard had to work, so Mer and I wandered Oxford. We hit the covered market, a walking tour of the colleges, and a tour of OUP (don’t let the people I work with know that)! It poured rain on the way back, but that doesn’t matter because we stopped for chocolate.
The next day we went to London. London is amazing- so busy, but there’s stuff to see everywhere, literally! Toronto is very spread out, compared to London. In London there is something to see every ten feet! We took a bus tour cause I wanted to see as much as possible, in passing. We drove past Big Ben, the parliament, tower bridge, The London Eye, The Tower of London, the queen’s house…
Then we walked through Covent Garden, ate Cornish pasties, went to a stinky cheese shop…it was a good day! We even went on the London Eye, and saw everything from above.
Monday Richard had to work, so Mer and I wandered Oxford. We hit the covered market, a walking tour of the colleges, and a tour of OUP (don’t let the people I work with know that)! It poured rain on the way back, but that doesn’t matter because we stopped for chocolate.
The next day we went to London. London is amazing- so busy, but there’s stuff to see everywhere, literally! Toronto is very spread out, compared to London. In London there is something to see every ten feet! We took a bus tour cause I wanted to see as much as possible, in passing. We drove past Big Ben, the parliament, tower bridge, The London Eye, The Tower of London, the queen’s house…
Then we walked through Covent Garden, ate Cornish pasties, went to a stinky cheese shop…it was a good day! We even went on the London Eye, and saw everything from above.
Wednesday and Thursday I was on my own, cause both Mer and Richard had to work. I spent one day in Oxford (it rained…a lot). And one day in London (it rained, a little). Oxford was cool, even in the rain. The architecture was amazing, and there are gargoyles everywhere. London on my own was crazy- I went north to Camden market (nuts), east to Brick lane (bought baigles), south to the Globe theatre (saw the lobby), and the Tate Modern (saw one FABULOUS exhibition), and west to Harrods (shopping!). At the end of the day I was weary and footsore and felt so accomplished. It was a great day. And my trip wasn’t even over!
It was over the next day. Mer and I discussed going on a day trip again, but instead we toured Oxford one last time. We bought cakes (not for us this time, I brought them home for various birthday celebrants), visited the Bodlean giftshop, and wandered a bit more. Then we rushed back to their place, changed at record speed, left for Stratford on Avon, and went to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The play was hilarious- a little over the top, in parts, but definitely the funniest version I’ve ever seen (and at this point, I’ve seen a lot of those). We splashed out at the giftshop and loaded up on last-minute souveniers. It was a great end to a great trip.
It was over the next day. Mer and I discussed going on a day trip again, but instead we toured Oxford one last time. We bought cakes (not for us this time, I brought them home for various birthday celebrants), visited the Bodlean giftshop, and wandered a bit more. Then we rushed back to their place, changed at record speed, left for Stratford on Avon, and went to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The play was hilarious- a little over the top, in parts, but definitely the funniest version I’ve ever seen (and at this point, I’ve seen a lot of those). We splashed out at the giftshop and loaded up on last-minute souveniers. It was a great end to a great trip.
UK adventure, Part 1
So, my excuse is that it’s been a summer of doing, seeing, going, tasting- and not of writing. Now there’s writing. Yay!
So, starting from when I SHOULD have written: I flew to England at the end of June. The flight was shorter than I had expected, but not quite short enough, because of the cold I was fighting against and the very talkative youngster I was seated beside. No sleep was had on that flight, despite plans to the contrary. In any case, the plane landed, and I was in England! And there was a terminal and a real British guy put a stamp in my passport! (Okay, so that looks pretty lame in type, but at the time it was very exciting!) Uncle Richard picked me up (cause Aunt Mer doesn’t do mornings), and we drove to Oxford. I like the highway between London and Oxford. There’s this one hill on the right (if you’re heading away from London) that has a path winding up it, and there’s always sheep on it. It’s lame, but by the end of my trip I’d decided that that was my favourite hill. Anyways, we got to Oxford and Aunt Mer, and had breakfast. Please note that due to extreme tiredness and some jetlagginess, the first day was a little bit of a blur. There was reading and walking Levi, and there was purposely no napping. They took me ‘punting’ which doesn’t involve chucking stuff, as I’d originally assumed, but instead involves a long, shallow-bottomed boat that one pushes down a river with a big stick. Uncle Richard punted while Mer and I sat with Levi, and we went all the way up the river to a pub for lunch. I punted on the way back- and I did well!
First thing the next day we left for Ireland. Mer and Richard teased me cause I had less luggage than Levi. The drive through Wales was long, and I slept, though I didn’t mean to. The first thing we did in Dublin was break the law! Mer and I decided to go downtown even though it was evening already, so we bought tickets for the tram (called the ‘Luas’- Irish for ‘speed’), but we didn’t pay to go far enough (by mistake). But, we just stayed on the tram a little longer to get where we were going. If we’d been caught- well, we’re just helpless tourists, now aren’t we? The first evening in Dublin was great- I walked over the river Liffey, on the Ha’Penny Bridge! That was awesome. That was, pathetically, one of my major reasons for wanting to go there. And I did it! Yay! Then there was random shops and Temple Bar, street performers and drunks and ice cream for dinner and screaming soccer fans. Like I said; awesome. Two days in Dublin and we had the city core down. Tram to St. Anne station, walk north and cross the Liffey. Northeast is Temple Bar, northwest will get you to Trinity College (I saw the Book of Kells! It was amazing- but apparently, dangerous; there were signs everywhere warning tourists about pickpockets. Mer fell in love with the library upstairs. It was wonderful, and I cursed the lack of photos- but understood it. Further north and you get to the Museum block. The National Museum of Ireland is very interesting, but it needs lessons on labeling from the ROM. Mer and I had to keep a list of things to look up on the internet when we got back to the hotel. We saw a W.B. Yeats exhibit at the National Library (I liked the poems read by famous Irish people at the entrance best). There’s some shops across the street, which is where I got Lauren the Claddagh ring she wanted.
Walking along the shops, Mer and I ducked behind them when something colourful caught our eye (the magpie Atos gene strikes again). There was this gorgeous mosaic along a huge wall- of a parking lot. Amazing. I took many photos.
…but not as many as I took later, at Tara. Tara of the Kings, I was there! It was perfect. The long drive down along stone-walled winding roads, the lack of ticket booths and operating hours, the emptiness and the light at the end of the day. It was empty and desolate and magic. Tara is probably pretty lame to everyone who isn’t me. It’s a field with lumps in it, and one hollow hill with a locked gate on it. But it’s amazing because it was considered the spiritual, religious and royal center of Ireland. The Lia Fail is there, which is a large stone that screams if the future king of Ireland touches it. (We tested it; I’m not the king of Ireland. Neither is Merilee. Or Richard. Or Levi.)
I saw the Mound of the Hostages, which the past king used to use to keep the sons of his liegemen prisoner, to keep them under control. Scarily cool. It’s also a hugely significant archaeological site- experts believe that there are still up to 150 bodies buried under the mound. Tara was my favourite part of Ireland.
The next day we went to Newgrange. No one seems to know what that is but it’s a grave mound that is over 1000 years older than Stonehenge. It’s huge, and amazing, and surrounded by hand-carved curbstones. Very cool. And unfortunately, you can only get there with a guide, and that drives me nuts, in the bad way. Ugh. Still, we got to see it, which was great.
Then we drove to Clonmacnoise, which is the actual center of Ireland, where a monk built a church forever ago, and then they built another church when the first fell down, and then another, and then another. Now it’s this amazing religious site with a cluster of falling-down churches, and a very cool watchtower, and a castle that looks like someone smashed it with a hammer (mostly cause someone pretty much did, when it was invaded). It was cool. And we got chased by cows!
A long drive to Blarney, and then a long walk up a winding staircase through a crumbling castle, and Mer and I kissed the stone. (So, it took me like a month to write this blog; that doesn’t make it any less eloquent, does it?) After vague deliberation we decided to pass Cork up for Kilkenny, and we drove on. Kilkenny was neat, but there were supposed to be artsy shops that weren’t there (most notably a hand-made bead shop that had moved to a new town). Still, we did some great shopping, ate some great pastry, and laughed about the fact that pedestrian signals in Kilkenny sound like heart monitors. Halfway through our Kilkenny day Mer got a call that our ferry was leaving six hours earlier than scheduled, so the side trip to the bead shop was cancelled, and what was supposed to be a leisurely trip back to Wales became a sleepy early morning one. But we got there, and were exhausted, and hungry, and full of amazing memories, and pictures.
So ended the first half of my UK adventure.
So, starting from when I SHOULD have written: I flew to England at the end of June. The flight was shorter than I had expected, but not quite short enough, because of the cold I was fighting against and the very talkative youngster I was seated beside. No sleep was had on that flight, despite plans to the contrary. In any case, the plane landed, and I was in England! And there was a terminal and a real British guy put a stamp in my passport! (Okay, so that looks pretty lame in type, but at the time it was very exciting!) Uncle Richard picked me up (cause Aunt Mer doesn’t do mornings), and we drove to Oxford. I like the highway between London and Oxford. There’s this one hill on the right (if you’re heading away from London) that has a path winding up it, and there’s always sheep on it. It’s lame, but by the end of my trip I’d decided that that was my favourite hill. Anyways, we got to Oxford and Aunt Mer, and had breakfast. Please note that due to extreme tiredness and some jetlagginess, the first day was a little bit of a blur. There was reading and walking Levi, and there was purposely no napping. They took me ‘punting’ which doesn’t involve chucking stuff, as I’d originally assumed, but instead involves a long, shallow-bottomed boat that one pushes down a river with a big stick. Uncle Richard punted while Mer and I sat with Levi, and we went all the way up the river to a pub for lunch. I punted on the way back- and I did well!
First thing the next day we left for Ireland. Mer and Richard teased me cause I had less luggage than Levi. The drive through Wales was long, and I slept, though I didn’t mean to. The first thing we did in Dublin was break the law! Mer and I decided to go downtown even though it was evening already, so we bought tickets for the tram (called the ‘Luas’- Irish for ‘speed’), but we didn’t pay to go far enough (by mistake). But, we just stayed on the tram a little longer to get where we were going. If we’d been caught- well, we’re just helpless tourists, now aren’t we? The first evening in Dublin was great- I walked over the river Liffey, on the Ha’Penny Bridge! That was awesome. That was, pathetically, one of my major reasons for wanting to go there. And I did it! Yay! Then there was random shops and Temple Bar, street performers and drunks and ice cream for dinner and screaming soccer fans. Like I said; awesome. Two days in Dublin and we had the city core down. Tram to St. Anne station, walk north and cross the Liffey. Northeast is Temple Bar, northwest will get you to Trinity College (I saw the Book of Kells! It was amazing- but apparently, dangerous; there were signs everywhere warning tourists about pickpockets. Mer fell in love with the library upstairs. It was wonderful, and I cursed the lack of photos- but understood it. Further north and you get to the Museum block. The National Museum of Ireland is very interesting, but it needs lessons on labeling from the ROM. Mer and I had to keep a list of things to look up on the internet when we got back to the hotel. We saw a W.B. Yeats exhibit at the National Library (I liked the poems read by famous Irish people at the entrance best). There’s some shops across the street, which is where I got Lauren the Claddagh ring she wanted.
Walking along the shops, Mer and I ducked behind them when something colourful caught our eye (the magpie Atos gene strikes again). There was this gorgeous mosaic along a huge wall- of a parking lot. Amazing. I took many photos.…but not as many as I took later, at Tara. Tara of the Kings, I was there! It was perfect. The long drive down along stone-walled winding roads, the lack of ticket booths and operating hours, the emptiness and the light at the end of the day. It was empty and desolate and magic. Tara is probably pretty lame to everyone who isn’t me. It’s a field with lumps in it, and one hollow hill with a locked gate on it. But it’s amazing because it was considered the spiritual, religious and royal center of Ireland. The Lia Fail is there, which is a large stone that screams if the future king of Ireland touches it. (We tested it; I’m not the king of Ireland. Neither is Merilee. Or Richard. Or Levi.)
I saw the Mound of the Hostages, which the past king used to use to keep the sons of his liegemen prisoner, to keep them under control. Scarily cool. It’s also a hugely significant archaeological site- experts believe that there are still up to 150 bodies buried under the mound. Tara was my favourite part of Ireland.
The next day we went to Newgrange. No one seems to know what that is but it’s a grave mound that is over 1000 years older than Stonehenge. It’s huge, and amazing, and surrounded by hand-carved curbstones. Very cool. And unfortunately, you can only get there with a guide, and that drives me nuts, in the bad way. Ugh. Still, we got to see it, which was great.
Then we drove to Clonmacnoise, which is the actual center of Ireland, where a monk built a church forever ago, and then they built another church when the first fell down, and then another, and then another. Now it’s this amazing religious site with a cluster of falling-down churches, and a very cool watchtower, and a castle that looks like someone smashed it with a hammer (mostly cause someone pretty much did, when it was invaded). It was cool. And we got chased by cows!
A long drive to Blarney, and then a long walk up a winding staircase through a crumbling castle, and Mer and I kissed the stone. (So, it took me like a month to write this blog; that doesn’t make it any less eloquent, does it?) After vague deliberation we decided to pass Cork up for Kilkenny, and we drove on. Kilkenny was neat, but there were supposed to be artsy shops that weren’t there (most notably a hand-made bead shop that had moved to a new town). Still, we did some great shopping, ate some great pastry, and laughed about the fact that pedestrian signals in Kilkenny sound like heart monitors. Halfway through our Kilkenny day Mer got a call that our ferry was leaving six hours earlier than scheduled, so the side trip to the bead shop was cancelled, and what was supposed to be a leisurely trip back to Wales became a sleepy early morning one. But we got there, and were exhausted, and hungry, and full of amazing memories, and pictures.
So ended the first half of my UK adventure.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Bon voyage to me!
Okay, I'm calm again. Excited, but calm.
After finally getting my boarding pass last night, I went out with some old friends to have dinner. Hugh, Kev, Laur and I haven't done that in a long time (its been quite a while since we were even in the same place at the same time, and I loved it). There was good food, talk, and lots of laughing. It was a fantastic send-off.
And I even convinced Laur to stay over last night, netting myself a free ride to the airport, which is hugely appreciated. I've got a boarding pass, I've got a ride, I've got a friend with me- this all adds up to a totally unstressful travel day.
In any case, I should get on with it.
Bon voyage to me!
After finally getting my boarding pass last night, I went out with some old friends to have dinner. Hugh, Kev, Laur and I haven't done that in a long time (its been quite a while since we were even in the same place at the same time, and I loved it). There was good food, talk, and lots of laughing. It was a fantastic send-off.
And I even convinced Laur to stay over last night, netting myself a free ride to the airport, which is hugely appreciated. I've got a boarding pass, I've got a ride, I've got a friend with me- this all adds up to a totally unstressful travel day.
In any case, I should get on with it.
Bon voyage to me!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
I'm on my way!!!
Dear Friends,
Please kindly disregard previous blog. Apparently, the Continental website online check-in requires a minor freakout in order to complete boarding pass registration successfully. This requirement was easily met, and the process has been completed to the satisfaction of everyone involved.
Twenty four hours from now, I will be twiddling my thumbs in a Newark airport, waiting to board the big plane.
One hour from now I will be meeting my friends for dinner, so I gotta go get ready.
Wish me a good trip, and I'll blog if and when I can from abroad!
B.
Please kindly disregard previous blog. Apparently, the Continental website online check-in requires a minor freakout in order to complete boarding pass registration successfully. This requirement was easily met, and the process has been completed to the satisfaction of everyone involved.
Twenty four hours from now, I will be twiddling my thumbs in a Newark airport, waiting to board the big plane.
One hour from now I will be meeting my friends for dinner, so I gotta go get ready.
Wish me a good trip, and I'll blog if and when I can from abroad!
B.
Freaking out
I'm packed.
My work is done.
My out-of-office is on.
The on-line check-in won't let me print a boarding pass. It keeps telling me to 'proceed to the airport'. If I had my own car, I'd already be on my way there. I'm aware I'm freaking out.
After being left behind from my flight to Florida last year, I feel the freaking is mildly justified.
I will retry the online check-in in half an hour.
And half an hour after that, and half an hour after that, if I have to.
My work is done.
My out-of-office is on.
The on-line check-in won't let me print a boarding pass. It keeps telling me to 'proceed to the airport'. If I had my own car, I'd already be on my way there. I'm aware I'm freaking out.
After being left behind from my flight to Florida last year, I feel the freaking is mildly justified.
I will retry the online check-in in half an hour.
And half an hour after that, and half an hour after that, if I have to.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Ignoring the rational in favour of excitement
Bethany's rational mind to Bethany: "It's 6am, go back to sleep... It's 6AM, go back to sleep... I know you're excited about Europe, but that's on Friday, and this is Tuesday, and you have to work, so let's sleep now... please sleep... OH FINE, I give up, get up, write a blog, pack, whatever you want, just leave me out of it."
So, for the past few days I've been mildly funked out. Not sure why, but now I'm back in my super hyper, get-me-outta-here mindset. Woo! Hopefully this won't mean work will suffer, cause the office is pretty spinney these days. Meh- I'm going to Europe!!!
Things are coming together. I've got everything I need to bring with me either purchased or washed, listed, and set out. I still won't let myself pack yet, but I also couldn't bring myself to put away things that were new and coming with me (mostly toiletries), so now the shelf beside the tv looks like a drug store aisle- a million travel-sized bottles all lined up and on display. Some people might call this a mess- NOT ME!!!
Okay, so I said that things were coming together (I'm a little scattered this morning, please blame this on the time, as I'm not supposed to be awake for almost another hour). The brother came over last night. I gave him CD's for the Mom, we fixed the Egg's nails, we had Shwarma (I found him a new place for his list, he said it ranked fifth. That's pretty good!) And he fixed my Mp3 player, so that's just awesome. I still want to get a bigger one, but now I think I can wait for it and put that on my Hanukkah wish list.
And last night, the best friend called me to see if maybe we could do dinner the night before I leave. I love this idea (I haven't seen her in a while, I'm going into withdrawal), and on the phone with her, I parlayed dinner into a possible overnight/airport drop off, meaning more time for us to gab, help for me with luggage, and a hassle-free (hopefully) ride to the airport. Woot!
And this had great repercussions, too: if I'm out with friends on Thursday, that means I get to pack a day early!!! I'm gonna go jump the gun and start now.
Have a good day, all.
So, for the past few days I've been mildly funked out. Not sure why, but now I'm back in my super hyper, get-me-outta-here mindset. Woo! Hopefully this won't mean work will suffer, cause the office is pretty spinney these days. Meh- I'm going to Europe!!!
Things are coming together. I've got everything I need to bring with me either purchased or washed, listed, and set out. I still won't let myself pack yet, but I also couldn't bring myself to put away things that were new and coming with me (mostly toiletries), so now the shelf beside the tv looks like a drug store aisle- a million travel-sized bottles all lined up and on display. Some people might call this a mess- NOT ME!!!
Okay, so I said that things were coming together (I'm a little scattered this morning, please blame this on the time, as I'm not supposed to be awake for almost another hour). The brother came over last night. I gave him CD's for the Mom, we fixed the Egg's nails, we had Shwarma (I found him a new place for his list, he said it ranked fifth. That's pretty good!) And he fixed my Mp3 player, so that's just awesome. I still want to get a bigger one, but now I think I can wait for it and put that on my Hanukkah wish list.
And last night, the best friend called me to see if maybe we could do dinner the night before I leave. I love this idea (I haven't seen her in a while, I'm going into withdrawal), and on the phone with her, I parlayed dinner into a possible overnight/airport drop off, meaning more time for us to gab, help for me with luggage, and a hassle-free (hopefully) ride to the airport. Woot!
And this had great repercussions, too: if I'm out with friends on Thursday, that means I get to pack a day early!!! I'm gonna go jump the gun and start now.
Have a good day, all.
Friday, June 20, 2008
One week
Have not been sleeping well, hence the early morning writing. I woke up super early (not on purpose), after a relatively late night last night. Tried reading to make myself sleepy again, but by the time I felt like I could crawl back under the covers, it was time to get up and get ready for work. Argh.
And I don't want to go to work, cause I have to tackle a project I've been avoiding, which I feel guilty about avoiding in the first place.
And also, there's an opportunity at work that I have to talk to someone about, but it takes guts, and when it comes right down to it, I can be pretty cowardly, especially when it comes to change.
So you can see the allure of calling in sick and spending the day in bed.
I won't do that- I just really want to.
Besides, even if unfun things await me- work, the dentist AGAIN tomorrow, cleaning my apartment, huge amounts of laundry, stocking up on uninteresting things like cat food and litter- I can do it. And you know why?
CAUSE I LEAVE IN A FREAKING WEEK!
ONE WEEK
ONE WEEK
ONE WEEK
That is my mantra for the rest of the day. One week, and I am gone, and all those things that seem to plague me now will be as far away as can be.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see whether I even come back.
And I don't want to go to work, cause I have to tackle a project I've been avoiding, which I feel guilty about avoiding in the first place.
And also, there's an opportunity at work that I have to talk to someone about, but it takes guts, and when it comes right down to it, I can be pretty cowardly, especially when it comes to change.
So you can see the allure of calling in sick and spending the day in bed.
I won't do that- I just really want to.
Besides, even if unfun things await me- work, the dentist AGAIN tomorrow, cleaning my apartment, huge amounts of laundry, stocking up on uninteresting things like cat food and litter- I can do it. And you know why?
CAUSE I LEAVE IN A FREAKING WEEK!
ONE WEEK
ONE WEEK
ONE WEEK
That is my mantra for the rest of the day. One week, and I am gone, and all those things that seem to plague me now will be as far away as can be.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see whether I even come back.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Psychologically advantageous haircuts, etcetera
Wanna know how excited I am about Europe? This excited: I have Tuesday marked on my calendar, because it’s the day that I am going to the drug store to buy stuff like travel-sized toothpaste for my trip. I also have the following Wednesday marked, because I’m not allowed to start packing before that. 16 sleeps! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Not that shopping for pint-sized toiletries is all that I have to look forward to between now and the moment the plane takes off. Recent days have been packed with dog-centric city festivals (it’s called ‘Woofstock’ and it’s a little insane, but the brother, the Robins and I, along with Eggroll the leashbound enjoyed it), book club nominations (much sharing of fries and opinions occurred), and seeing of friends and movies and shopping. Upcoming, I have the symphony Saturday (selections of Romeo & Juliet, Gershwin something, and something else), dog sitting, several dinners out with friends, and also the new Coldplay CD comes out next week.
One of my responsibilities while housing the Egg is going to be grooming him. The brother leaves for a visit with the Mom in two weeks, and for the first time ever, Eggroll will be taking to the air to come along. That is, if the airline officials say that he’s slim enough (seriously, they’re as bad as modeling agencies and gymnastics trainers!) So the brother has me clipping the Egg down to a buzz cut in order to make him appear cleaner, sleeker, and cuter- in J’s words, “to give him a psychological advantage”. Hopefully, this tactic will work, and Egg will get to be a mile-high dog. I wonder if he’s afraid of flying?
I am not afraid of flying. The flight to England is, like, 12 hours, and I plan to sleep through most of it (after the square little unidentifiable meal they’ll give me, that is). Some people are not afraid of flying because they have heard statistics like ‘you’re more likely to die in a car crash on the way to the airport’. Or statistics with actual numbers.
I believe, however, that it is impossible for the plane to fall, simply because it is impossible for the thing to fly in the first place. I know some people claim there’s physics or some such nonsense holding the thing up, but nerts to that. Really, it’s just this giant metal thing doing the impossible, and there’s no reason for it to stop doing it once it’s started.
Hey- bees aren’t supposed to fly, either.
Not that shopping for pint-sized toiletries is all that I have to look forward to between now and the moment the plane takes off. Recent days have been packed with dog-centric city festivals (it’s called ‘Woofstock’ and it’s a little insane, but the brother, the Robins and I, along with Eggroll the leashbound enjoyed it), book club nominations (much sharing of fries and opinions occurred), and seeing of friends and movies and shopping. Upcoming, I have the symphony Saturday (selections of Romeo & Juliet, Gershwin something, and something else), dog sitting, several dinners out with friends, and also the new Coldplay CD comes out next week.
One of my responsibilities while housing the Egg is going to be grooming him. The brother leaves for a visit with the Mom in two weeks, and for the first time ever, Eggroll will be taking to the air to come along. That is, if the airline officials say that he’s slim enough (seriously, they’re as bad as modeling agencies and gymnastics trainers!) So the brother has me clipping the Egg down to a buzz cut in order to make him appear cleaner, sleeker, and cuter- in J’s words, “to give him a psychological advantage”. Hopefully, this tactic will work, and Egg will get to be a mile-high dog. I wonder if he’s afraid of flying?
I am not afraid of flying. The flight to England is, like, 12 hours, and I plan to sleep through most of it (after the square little unidentifiable meal they’ll give me, that is). Some people are not afraid of flying because they have heard statistics like ‘you’re more likely to die in a car crash on the way to the airport’. Or statistics with actual numbers.
I believe, however, that it is impossible for the plane to fall, simply because it is impossible for the thing to fly in the first place. I know some people claim there’s physics or some such nonsense holding the thing up, but nerts to that. Really, it’s just this giant metal thing doing the impossible, and there’s no reason for it to stop doing it once it’s started.
Hey- bees aren’t supposed to fly, either.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Getting manic over Europe
So, in about a month, I’ll be in Europe for the first time ever. I am so excited by this prospect that I have (more than once) been in fear of the top of my head actually blowing off. Local paramedics have been informed, and the brother’s number, saved in my cell phone, is now labeled “ICE” in case of this occurring.
The second symptom of this approaching adventure is that I cannot seem to stop gushing about it, to anyone in my nearby vicinity who seems even moderately likely to listen. The other day I was approached by a nice bible-thumping boy with pamphlets on letting Jesus into my life, and I told him I didn’t need one- I am going to Europe instead. I think he was confused, but then the bus came and I escaped.
I am worried, however, about over-saturating my friends with talk of my trip, as they are those most often in my vicinity, and those I consider most likely to keep listening to me go on and on about things they don’t care about. If I was a very good friend, then I think I would make a chart of every friend I have, and ensure that I only see each one once from now until I leave, in order to spare them from the agony of my excited gushings. However, I am not that good a friend. Besides, it’s too much fun discussing these things ad nauseum. I have already gotten into a heated discussion (the fun kind of argument) over whether kissing the Blarney stone is too touristy to warrant doing, and is in fact an activity so stereotypical that it should be actively shunned, or whether it is a very much clichéd act so deeply ingrained in Irish tourism that it cannot be missed, lest one risk a less than completely authentic Irish tourist experience. Please note that Blarney is indeed on my list, though I will add that I am interested in the entire castle, as well as nearby Cork, where we will be staying, which is supposed to be beautiful and have a pub that was once owned by a witch.
Blarney is just one of the five castles on my list, six if you count Newgrange as a castle, which you shouldn’t, but my gushing has unearthed the interesting fact that far fewer people have ever even heard of Newgrange than I would have thought. This fact is a vaguely mind-boggling one; it’s older than the pyramids, people!
Another facet of my excitement has manifested itself in an old classic (for me); the infinite and detailed planning bit. You’ve already heard about the minor wardrobe freakout (to leggings or not to leggings; this issue has been finally resolved by the sage advice of one of the Robins: keep everything, buy more). Leggings crisis averted, it has been followed by a myriad of further queries: do I need a money belt, do I need a dress, do I need an electrical adapter, do I need two pairs of shoes (or three, or four?), do I need an umbrella…do I need to pack light, which bag (or bags) do I bring…this list has quickly become endless. I went researching online (my tried and true method of preparing for things), and I found what I thought was a very good site. It gave what sounded like much practical advice, including: pack light, only take a carry-on so that you don’t have to wait for the luggage to come off the plane, there is less risk, your stuff is always in your sight so it’s safe, and nothing will hold up your adventures. This site also suggested leaving space in your bag for souveniers (always a good idea in my book). Then it suggested bringing, along with clothes and toiletries, everything from ear plugs and electrical adapters to corkscrews and candles and window cleaner. Thank you for nought but added confusion, o contradictory website!
My list-making phase has begun. The Mom will readily agree that I am an avid list-writer, especially when planning an away-from-home adventure. I currently have three lists on the go, though I am proud to say that the lists are all still on paper, and my manic-ness has yet to progress to the insanity that is excel spreadsheets…though I know I will get to that point, I always do. (It’s moments like this that I admit that that person in University who called me anal was right. At the time the claim was incomprehensible: anal? ME???)
I did keep reading the list of ironic and contradictory tourist tips. It said one thing that rang true:
“The biggest mistakes that tourists make: packing too heavily, relying on outdated guidebooks, not wearing a money belt, and taking other people's opinions too seriously. Happy travels!”
I’m probably going to ignore at least two of the first three items in that list. But the fourth is pretty good advice, I thought.
Postscript on a totally unrelated subject: I got the new Death Cab for Cutie CD on Friday. It is painfully awesome, and if you have not laid hands or ears upon it, you should. You, in fact, must.
The second symptom of this approaching adventure is that I cannot seem to stop gushing about it, to anyone in my nearby vicinity who seems even moderately likely to listen. The other day I was approached by a nice bible-thumping boy with pamphlets on letting Jesus into my life, and I told him I didn’t need one- I am going to Europe instead. I think he was confused, but then the bus came and I escaped.
I am worried, however, about over-saturating my friends with talk of my trip, as they are those most often in my vicinity, and those I consider most likely to keep listening to me go on and on about things they don’t care about. If I was a very good friend, then I think I would make a chart of every friend I have, and ensure that I only see each one once from now until I leave, in order to spare them from the agony of my excited gushings. However, I am not that good a friend. Besides, it’s too much fun discussing these things ad nauseum. I have already gotten into a heated discussion (the fun kind of argument) over whether kissing the Blarney stone is too touristy to warrant doing, and is in fact an activity so stereotypical that it should be actively shunned, or whether it is a very much clichéd act so deeply ingrained in Irish tourism that it cannot be missed, lest one risk a less than completely authentic Irish tourist experience. Please note that Blarney is indeed on my list, though I will add that I am interested in the entire castle, as well as nearby Cork, where we will be staying, which is supposed to be beautiful and have a pub that was once owned by a witch.
Blarney is just one of the five castles on my list, six if you count Newgrange as a castle, which you shouldn’t, but my gushing has unearthed the interesting fact that far fewer people have ever even heard of Newgrange than I would have thought. This fact is a vaguely mind-boggling one; it’s older than the pyramids, people!
Another facet of my excitement has manifested itself in an old classic (for me); the infinite and detailed planning bit. You’ve already heard about the minor wardrobe freakout (to leggings or not to leggings; this issue has been finally resolved by the sage advice of one of the Robins: keep everything, buy more). Leggings crisis averted, it has been followed by a myriad of further queries: do I need a money belt, do I need a dress, do I need an electrical adapter, do I need two pairs of shoes (or three, or four?), do I need an umbrella…do I need to pack light, which bag (or bags) do I bring…this list has quickly become endless. I went researching online (my tried and true method of preparing for things), and I found what I thought was a very good site. It gave what sounded like much practical advice, including: pack light, only take a carry-on so that you don’t have to wait for the luggage to come off the plane, there is less risk, your stuff is always in your sight so it’s safe, and nothing will hold up your adventures. This site also suggested leaving space in your bag for souveniers (always a good idea in my book). Then it suggested bringing, along with clothes and toiletries, everything from ear plugs and electrical adapters to corkscrews and candles and window cleaner. Thank you for nought but added confusion, o contradictory website!
My list-making phase has begun. The Mom will readily agree that I am an avid list-writer, especially when planning an away-from-home adventure. I currently have three lists on the go, though I am proud to say that the lists are all still on paper, and my manic-ness has yet to progress to the insanity that is excel spreadsheets…though I know I will get to that point, I always do. (It’s moments like this that I admit that that person in University who called me anal was right. At the time the claim was incomprehensible: anal? ME???)
I did keep reading the list of ironic and contradictory tourist tips. It said one thing that rang true:
“The biggest mistakes that tourists make: packing too heavily, relying on outdated guidebooks, not wearing a money belt, and taking other people's opinions too seriously. Happy travels!”
I’m probably going to ignore at least two of the first three items in that list. But the fourth is pretty good advice, I thought.
Postscript on a totally unrelated subject: I got the new Death Cab for Cutie CD on Friday. It is painfully awesome, and if you have not laid hands or ears upon it, you should. You, in fact, must.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Somehow, Ireland turned into leggings...
So, I'm going to England, and Ireland.
Been talking to the England Aunt and Uncle, and promised them I'd do some research into where to go, particularily when it comes to Ireland.
Okay- big woot! So, I plan the busiest of days Saturday, first buying stone to feed my new carving habit, then hitting the Toronto Bead Society spring show (one day only), then burying myself in a bookstore (literally- I was there for more than three hours). After reading for three hours, about driving tours and hiking paths, and cities and several dozen monasteries, churches, burial sites, ritual sites, yadda yadda, one's mind starts to wander. Mine wandered onto the subject of what to wear in Ireland (must be comfortable, though I really ought not to live my entire life in jeans, no matter how much I might want to). And then I look up and there's this girl in leggings...and even though I thought I hated leggings, I'm suddenly remembering how Laur told me they were the comfiest things to wear...
So I'm still a little unclear how, but now my Ireland research has become a hunt for leggings. I'm in a mall, so I go down a level, and leggings are surprisingly easy to find. I also find a piece of clothing that can't quite be called a shrug- it's more like sleeves, attached in the back. And it's good cause it means I can wear that to dress up (and make warmer) tank tops for the office, etc. Buy those and then meet friends for dinner...whatever, the day ends, you get the gist.
So then it's Sunday, and I'm hunting though the pile of packages from the day before, and I have a bag of stones, a bag of beads, and leggings and sleeves- not anywhere near a wearable outfit. Not to mention, I check my closet, and sure enough- the sleeves that are meant to go with tank tops are going to be pretty lonely, cause I have no tank tops. And the leggings that are supposed to go with...this is when I realize I not only have nothing that leggings go with, I actually have NO IDEA what leggings go with.
So tonight I drag my friend Dani out shopping. We turn the eatons centre upside down. Nothing that goes with leggings falls out. I'm seriously starting to doubt my leggings revelation.
Planning to give them one more try, at another mall, tomorrow. If it's a no-go then, well, the store I bought the leggings from is in that mall, too. I'll just return them, and go back to reading about Ireland in the bookstore. Maybe my next revelation will be about capris or something.
Been talking to the England Aunt and Uncle, and promised them I'd do some research into where to go, particularily when it comes to Ireland.
Okay- big woot! So, I plan the busiest of days Saturday, first buying stone to feed my new carving habit, then hitting the Toronto Bead Society spring show (one day only), then burying myself in a bookstore (literally- I was there for more than three hours). After reading for three hours, about driving tours and hiking paths, and cities and several dozen monasteries, churches, burial sites, ritual sites, yadda yadda, one's mind starts to wander. Mine wandered onto the subject of what to wear in Ireland (must be comfortable, though I really ought not to live my entire life in jeans, no matter how much I might want to). And then I look up and there's this girl in leggings...and even though I thought I hated leggings, I'm suddenly remembering how Laur told me they were the comfiest things to wear...
So I'm still a little unclear how, but now my Ireland research has become a hunt for leggings. I'm in a mall, so I go down a level, and leggings are surprisingly easy to find. I also find a piece of clothing that can't quite be called a shrug- it's more like sleeves, attached in the back. And it's good cause it means I can wear that to dress up (and make warmer) tank tops for the office, etc. Buy those and then meet friends for dinner...whatever, the day ends, you get the gist.
So then it's Sunday, and I'm hunting though the pile of packages from the day before, and I have a bag of stones, a bag of beads, and leggings and sleeves- not anywhere near a wearable outfit. Not to mention, I check my closet, and sure enough- the sleeves that are meant to go with tank tops are going to be pretty lonely, cause I have no tank tops. And the leggings that are supposed to go with...this is when I realize I not only have nothing that leggings go with, I actually have NO IDEA what leggings go with.
So tonight I drag my friend Dani out shopping. We turn the eatons centre upside down. Nothing that goes with leggings falls out. I'm seriously starting to doubt my leggings revelation.
Planning to give them one more try, at another mall, tomorrow. If it's a no-go then, well, the store I bought the leggings from is in that mall, too. I'll just return them, and go back to reading about Ireland in the bookstore. Maybe my next revelation will be about capris or something.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Broken promises and second-rate ingredients
Dear TTC,
Thank you for ruining my day.
That was how I was intending to start this blog, several hours ago, when I had just found out that the TTC union (which had averted a strike last week by finding a deal they said was acceptible, and which had also promised Torontonians 48 hours if they were to strike), had started a stike at midnight, giving about a half hours' notice. This meant that there was no chance that I would be able to get to St Lawrence Market, would not be able to meet my friend, would not be able to purchase the ingredients for the dinner I'm making (for another friend) tonight...and had no need to wake up early, which I hate doing on a Saturday, but the market is worth it. The unreachable market.
Anyways, I walked to the usual old (boring) grocery store and got 'instead' ingredients for dinner (as in, 'instead of the good stuff'), and trudged disappointedly home, along the quiet, bus-free street.
But then I did some work on my balcony, and have watched one good movie (and another is in progress behind me as I type this), and I guess missing the market isn't the worst thing in the world...it's just what I wanted to be doing today. So yes, I'm pissed at the irresponsible TTC, which certainly has a right to strike, but which also should stand by its promises...but it's another gorgeous day outside, and my pea sprouts have a soily new home, and I have a friend coming over, for replacement-ingredient dinner, so that all sorts. And now I have to go start dinner. Have a good day people- for all those stuck at home like me.
Thank you for ruining my day.
That was how I was intending to start this blog, several hours ago, when I had just found out that the TTC union (which had averted a strike last week by finding a deal they said was acceptible, and which had also promised Torontonians 48 hours if they were to strike), had started a stike at midnight, giving about a half hours' notice. This meant that there was no chance that I would be able to get to St Lawrence Market, would not be able to meet my friend, would not be able to purchase the ingredients for the dinner I'm making (for another friend) tonight...and had no need to wake up early, which I hate doing on a Saturday, but the market is worth it. The unreachable market.
Anyways, I walked to the usual old (boring) grocery store and got 'instead' ingredients for dinner (as in, 'instead of the good stuff'), and trudged disappointedly home, along the quiet, bus-free street.
But then I did some work on my balcony, and have watched one good movie (and another is in progress behind me as I type this), and I guess missing the market isn't the worst thing in the world...it's just what I wanted to be doing today. So yes, I'm pissed at the irresponsible TTC, which certainly has a right to strike, but which also should stand by its promises...but it's another gorgeous day outside, and my pea sprouts have a soily new home, and I have a friend coming over, for replacement-ingredient dinner, so that all sorts. And now I have to go start dinner. Have a good day people- for all those stuck at home like me.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Rollercoaster month...is hopefully over
Life's been pretty busy, hence the absence of blogging. Also, this means I have a lot to catch you up on. Starting from the beginning is probably the most wise, but I've never claimed to be that. Besides, since today is freshest in my head, I'm going to start there and walk you backwards through the last month or so.
Just came home from dinner with a pile o' work friends. It was a farewell dinner for Helen, who is leaving us to go work at the Penguin office. Kudos and bonne chance to her. H and I were in publishing class together- once upon a time, I had my blog linked to hers, but like so many others, she stopped updating it, so I let the link die. I hadn't seen her for a good long time when she showed up at the workplace one day, and since then I've had me a new friend. No intention of letting that die though, despite the fact that now she won't be swinging by my cube every morning.
The dinner was good, but a little bittersweet for me; H and I had spent all the last month interviewing (and waiting on tenterhooks) for jobs we both wanted; she for the Penguin position, me for a job in editorial, working with humanities texts. I said bittersweet, so you can guess what happened; H got her glorious call up, we planned a great dinner out to celebrate her send-off, and this very same day is the day I'm told that, sorry, there were many candidates and blah blah blah, editorial experience blah blah, future opportunities blah <let me out of your office please, I got the point after 'sorry' and I'd rather just go now> blah blah blah...
I didn't say any of this at the dinner- the last thing I wanted was to mix the happy atmosphere with my disappointment, or steal H's rightful spotlight, tonight. And it's not like this is that terrible or anything- I still (of course) have my job, so I'm not desperate or anything, and I'd known there were a lot of candidates up for this one...but I did want this one; I feel very much like it's time to make a move from what I've been doing, and this felt like the right move.
There are a couple of other opportunities open- two more editorial positions (the same as what I'd interviewed for, but working on hardside books, which means subjects like math and science and engineering, etc.). The deadline for applying is Friday, but I haven't decided if I want to yet. I probably should; it's close to what I wanted to be doing, and I can recognize that a lot of my hesitation at the moment comes from the demoralizing aspect of job hunting (and lost opportunity), and I'm trying really hard not to act like the kicked dog right now. And yet I've vented about this for two paragraphs now, when I meant only to mention it in passing.
So here's the passing mention it should have been: I applied for a job, didn't get it. Life goes on, though I haven't decided in what direction, yet.
Other topics are going better for me. Friend Kevin moved in with me at the start of March- he had a new job, yet no apartment in the city, so I agreed (saint that I am) to provide a hat-hanging place while he searched for housing of his own. Kev claimed this would be a one-week arrangement. A month later, he'd found an apartment of his own; he's lucky I like him that much. No, honestly, it was okay- living quarters were a bit tight, yes, but Kev and I have lived together before (university), and we work well together. Besides, it was kind of nice to come home to someone else making dinner some nights, not to mention I've been wanting more of my close friends to be closer (and therefore more accessible for hanging out with), and now I have what I want. Yay, and welcome to the big city, friend.
And as for the rest of my free time, I've been on a huge artistic upswing. Like, a month ago, I went out with the Robins and we stopped at this art gallery/shop in Yorkville (The Guild Shop), and I talked to them about getting some of my beaded things in the shop. The woman I spoke with was pretty enthusiastic (she put real emphasis on 'original art', and worried when I said I worked with beads, trying to gently tell me that they had enough bracelets, tyvm, but then I told her I made 'non-wearable bead art' and her eyes kind of lit up; I'm not sure she'd ever heard of such a thing), and she gave me a lot of information to take with me. I'm kind of fired up over this idea, now, so I've been beading up a storm. One roadblock I ran into, though, was that my beaded things (still don't know what the f to call them; I detest the label 'spirit dolls' as much as ever), they have faces, and I wanted to start making my own faces instead of using bought ones. So a couple of weekends ago, the Mom calls me, and says she found an ad for a 'rotary tool accessory set', on fabulous sale, so get your butt to Canadian Tire, I'm buying you a present (thanks, Mom). Got me some drill bits (500, actually), finally plugged in the dremel (thanks, Uncle) and carved into that block of soapstone that's been gathering dust on my bookshelf. I'm a stone carver! Made me three faces so far, and one of them actually doesn't look like a joke! The only problem I've got now is that the chunk of soapstone I have is black, and I need some lighter colours to work with. Anyone know where I can get some square-inch sized soapstone chips, preferably in a variety of colours? And/or, what stone is soft like soapstone, but comes in light colours- and where can I get that???
Just came home from dinner with a pile o' work friends. It was a farewell dinner for Helen, who is leaving us to go work at the Penguin office. Kudos and bonne chance to her. H and I were in publishing class together- once upon a time, I had my blog linked to hers, but like so many others, she stopped updating it, so I let the link die. I hadn't seen her for a good long time when she showed up at the workplace one day, and since then I've had me a new friend. No intention of letting that die though, despite the fact that now she won't be swinging by my cube every morning.
The dinner was good, but a little bittersweet for me; H and I had spent all the last month interviewing (and waiting on tenterhooks) for jobs we both wanted; she for the Penguin position, me for a job in editorial, working with humanities texts. I said bittersweet, so you can guess what happened; H got her glorious call up, we planned a great dinner out to celebrate her send-off, and this very same day is the day I'm told that, sorry, there were many candidates and blah blah blah, editorial experience blah blah, future opportunities blah <let me out of your office please, I got the point after 'sorry' and I'd rather just go now> blah blah blah...
I didn't say any of this at the dinner- the last thing I wanted was to mix the happy atmosphere with my disappointment, or steal H's rightful spotlight, tonight. And it's not like this is that terrible or anything- I still (of course) have my job, so I'm not desperate or anything, and I'd known there were a lot of candidates up for this one...but I did want this one; I feel very much like it's time to make a move from what I've been doing, and this felt like the right move.
There are a couple of other opportunities open- two more editorial positions (the same as what I'd interviewed for, but working on hardside books, which means subjects like math and science and engineering, etc.). The deadline for applying is Friday, but I haven't decided if I want to yet. I probably should; it's close to what I wanted to be doing, and I can recognize that a lot of my hesitation at the moment comes from the demoralizing aspect of job hunting (and lost opportunity), and I'm trying really hard not to act like the kicked dog right now. And yet I've vented about this for two paragraphs now, when I meant only to mention it in passing.
So here's the passing mention it should have been: I applied for a job, didn't get it. Life goes on, though I haven't decided in what direction, yet.
Other topics are going better for me. Friend Kevin moved in with me at the start of March- he had a new job, yet no apartment in the city, so I agreed (saint that I am) to provide a hat-hanging place while he searched for housing of his own. Kev claimed this would be a one-week arrangement. A month later, he'd found an apartment of his own; he's lucky I like him that much. No, honestly, it was okay- living quarters were a bit tight, yes, but Kev and I have lived together before (university), and we work well together. Besides, it was kind of nice to come home to someone else making dinner some nights, not to mention I've been wanting more of my close friends to be closer (and therefore more accessible for hanging out with), and now I have what I want. Yay, and welcome to the big city, friend.
And as for the rest of my free time, I've been on a huge artistic upswing. Like, a month ago, I went out with the Robins and we stopped at this art gallery/shop in Yorkville (The Guild Shop), and I talked to them about getting some of my beaded things in the shop. The woman I spoke with was pretty enthusiastic (she put real emphasis on 'original art', and worried when I said I worked with beads, trying to gently tell me that they had enough bracelets, tyvm, but then I told her I made 'non-wearable bead art' and her eyes kind of lit up; I'm not sure she'd ever heard of such a thing), and she gave me a lot of information to take with me. I'm kind of fired up over this idea, now, so I've been beading up a storm. One roadblock I ran into, though, was that my beaded things (still don't know what the f to call them; I detest the label 'spirit dolls' as much as ever), they have faces, and I wanted to start making my own faces instead of using bought ones. So a couple of weekends ago, the Mom calls me, and says she found an ad for a 'rotary tool accessory set', on fabulous sale, so get your butt to Canadian Tire, I'm buying you a present (thanks, Mom). Got me some drill bits (500, actually), finally plugged in the dremel (thanks, Uncle) and carved into that block of soapstone that's been gathering dust on my bookshelf. I'm a stone carver! Made me three faces so far, and one of them actually doesn't look like a joke! The only problem I've got now is that the chunk of soapstone I have is black, and I need some lighter colours to work with. Anyone know where I can get some square-inch sized soapstone chips, preferably in a variety of colours? And/or, what stone is soft like soapstone, but comes in light colours- and where can I get that???
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Frozen moon
So, today at work friend Helen mentions that tonight there will be a lunar eclipse. Very cool, and I make a mental note to Google it when I get home and check it out when it happens. Leave work, and stop on the way home to buy really good ice cream (fried ice cream flavour; highly recommended- and contrary to the Mom's claim, NOT a carb!). And thus, mind clouded by ice creamy goodness, all mental notes, moon related or otherwise, are thoroughly forgotten.
Until the Mom text messages me, and alerts me to the celestial awesomeness that I am missing. Happy to have been reminded (and not wanting to miss this very cool event), I run to pull on boots, and then wander around my balcony, looking for the moon (cause I'm not one of those who keeps track of where it's supposed to be). I finally find it- if I stand right at the corner of the balcony, face the building, and crank my head back I can see the moon over the edge of the roof. And it's almost totally this ruddy brown colour, with this sliver of white at the edge, and I'm thinking, 'cool, I came at the best part'.
So I stand, in boots and jeans and a turtleneck, with my arms wrapped around myself, waiting for this eclipse to progress. And it's taking a while, so I reach in and grab a blanket off my bed to wrap around me, but standing outside on my balcony at 11 at night in February is redonculously cold even with a blanket, and I'm thinking 'come on, how long does this thing freaking take?'.
I call the Mom to let her know that I'm not missing the event, and my teeth are chattering as I talk to her, and when she realizes I'm standing out there freezing and staring at the moon, she chagrins me with the information that the stupid eclipse will take several hours, actually started at 5pm, and won't be done until several hours from now.
I'm an idiot. A frozen idiot. And one with no intention of staying up to see an eclipse that is taking its sweet time. I'm putting my frozen butt to bed- the moon can do whatever it wants.
Until the Mom text messages me, and alerts me to the celestial awesomeness that I am missing. Happy to have been reminded (and not wanting to miss this very cool event), I run to pull on boots, and then wander around my balcony, looking for the moon (cause I'm not one of those who keeps track of where it's supposed to be). I finally find it- if I stand right at the corner of the balcony, face the building, and crank my head back I can see the moon over the edge of the roof. And it's almost totally this ruddy brown colour, with this sliver of white at the edge, and I'm thinking, 'cool, I came at the best part'.
So I stand, in boots and jeans and a turtleneck, with my arms wrapped around myself, waiting for this eclipse to progress. And it's taking a while, so I reach in and grab a blanket off my bed to wrap around me, but standing outside on my balcony at 11 at night in February is redonculously cold even with a blanket, and I'm thinking 'come on, how long does this thing freaking take?'.
I call the Mom to let her know that I'm not missing the event, and my teeth are chattering as I talk to her, and when she realizes I'm standing out there freezing and staring at the moon, she chagrins me with the information that the stupid eclipse will take several hours, actually started at 5pm, and won't be done until several hours from now.
I'm an idiot. A frozen idiot. And one with no intention of staying up to see an eclipse that is taking its sweet time. I'm putting my frozen butt to bed- the moon can do whatever it wants.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Happy Birthday to Me...
So, it's my birthday for another 51 minutes, and I should really be heading to Somniaville, but instead I'm going to write.
I had a good birthday. The day started out a little rough, with mountains of snow (especially along all the sidewalks between home and work) thanks to yet another large snowstorm yesterday. Which resulted in cold wet socks all morning in the office. But the day only went up from there, with friends taking me out to Mongolian Grill for lunch, much accomplished at the office by end of day, Hugh making me Pad thai from scratch for dinner, and then individual little cakes, and then watching Across the Universe (quickly making it's way onto my list of favourite movies) with Hugh. It was a damn good night. And also, I started a good new book; Neverwhere, by Gaiman. Damn, can that guy write a story!
Speaking of, I'm back on the lit train myself, quill in hand. There is a short story assignment for book club that I fully intend to pen (long story how we got there, but the gist is we each have to write a story titled 'The Dirty Minister'), and also, I've got some ideas of my own flowing. We'll see if anything comes of that.
Also, I've got some sketches in my head that I think I might take a shot at getting onto paper, despite well-proven facts regarding my lack of prowess when it comes to sketching. What can I say, it's a creative time for me I guess. Next thing you know I'll be sounding out my first symphony on the back of restaurant napkins, and hiring actors for my one-woman film debut.
But until the premier, I'm going to be a recluse. In my bed. Cause it's calling.
I shouldn't have taken the time to write this- I'm overtired, and it's showing. This makes no sense. Happy Birthday to Me.
I had a good birthday. The day started out a little rough, with mountains of snow (especially along all the sidewalks between home and work) thanks to yet another large snowstorm yesterday. Which resulted in cold wet socks all morning in the office. But the day only went up from there, with friends taking me out to Mongolian Grill for lunch, much accomplished at the office by end of day, Hugh making me Pad thai from scratch for dinner, and then individual little cakes, and then watching Across the Universe (quickly making it's way onto my list of favourite movies) with Hugh. It was a damn good night. And also, I started a good new book; Neverwhere, by Gaiman. Damn, can that guy write a story!
Speaking of, I'm back on the lit train myself, quill in hand. There is a short story assignment for book club that I fully intend to pen (long story how we got there, but the gist is we each have to write a story titled 'The Dirty Minister'), and also, I've got some ideas of my own flowing. We'll see if anything comes of that.
Also, I've got some sketches in my head that I think I might take a shot at getting onto paper, despite well-proven facts regarding my lack of prowess when it comes to sketching. What can I say, it's a creative time for me I guess. Next thing you know I'll be sounding out my first symphony on the back of restaurant napkins, and hiring actors for my one-woman film debut.
But until the premier, I'm going to be a recluse. In my bed. Cause it's calling.
I shouldn't have taken the time to write this- I'm overtired, and it's showing. This makes no sense. Happy Birthday to Me.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Apparently Mother Nature reads my blog
So, I wrote last time complaining about the cold without the benefit of any pretty snow, the ground being all bare and ugly.
And the next day it snows! And snows and snows, until they close the office early and we all get to go home. Hooray! (Not to mention my performance review gets put off till Monday. Yay! But it went fine, when it happened.)
And then yesterday (less than a week later), it snows again! And snows, and snows, until they close the office and everyone obediently leaves. Hooray!
At this rate, it's going to become a weekly event.
Well, thanks M.N., but this is plenty, really. I have some plans for my birthday next week, and it would be good if the city wasn't at a standstill for them.
Big plans for this weekend; I'm finally getting around to the lasagna day with the brother, and then it's Laur's birthday, so we're dining out Sunday night (locale undecided). I was talking to her last night, and we've also decided to do a long weekend in New York, but that's not until May. Still, we're very excited. Lauren wants to do cheesy tourist things, and I can't see anything wrong with that. I have to make a list of where to go and what to see!
And planning for Britain continues. Dates have been suggested, and as soon as England Aunt confirms, a flight will be booked (a flight! It's really real!). And Mom's taken over the Mexico research, but she's keeping me posted. At this rate, I'm thinking about so many vacation spots, I'm starting to feel like a travel agent.
Anyways, I gotta get to work. Have a good day, all!
And the next day it snows! And snows and snows, until they close the office early and we all get to go home. Hooray! (Not to mention my performance review gets put off till Monday. Yay! But it went fine, when it happened.)
And then yesterday (less than a week later), it snows again! And snows, and snows, until they close the office and everyone obediently leaves. Hooray!
At this rate, it's going to become a weekly event.
Well, thanks M.N., but this is plenty, really. I have some plans for my birthday next week, and it would be good if the city wasn't at a standstill for them.
Big plans for this weekend; I'm finally getting around to the lasagna day with the brother, and then it's Laur's birthday, so we're dining out Sunday night (locale undecided). I was talking to her last night, and we've also decided to do a long weekend in New York, but that's not until May. Still, we're very excited. Lauren wants to do cheesy tourist things, and I can't see anything wrong with that. I have to make a list of where to go and what to see!
And planning for Britain continues. Dates have been suggested, and as soon as England Aunt confirms, a flight will be booked (a flight! It's really real!). And Mom's taken over the Mexico research, but she's keeping me posted. At this rate, I'm thinking about so many vacation spots, I'm starting to feel like a travel agent.
Anyways, I gotta get to work. Have a good day, all!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Anyplace in the world is warmer than here
It is obscenely cold outside, and today I suffered the indignity of being made to go outside in that twice, first to work, then back home again. There isn't even any snow on the ground to make the cold worth it, there's just freezing blowingness that stings. And no snow means no hope for a snowday of any kind. I vote we institute Cold Days, when work is called off so you can stay home and cozy, hopefully with fuzzy socks on your feet and a blanket around your shoulders. It would do wonders for morale.
Another thing that would help with morale would be to not have performance reviews. Mine's on Friday and I don't want it. I really wish this was the sort of thing I could opt-out of. Just let me keep my head down, do my work, and pay me, and everyone will be happy.
Anyways, because of the review coming up, and the cold, my day (which wasn't terrible to start with), didn't leave me feeling stellar, so I stopped at the store and splurged (perversely) on ice cream.
But there are good points. The Mom is talking about going to Mexico, and now that I have my vacation planner for this year, I can start really planning my Britain trip. I'm not really sure how I'm going to make both of those work, but I'm gonna try. Besides, planning for them both is FUN! I researched Mexico (cause I know NOTHING about it), and have floated the idea of going to the Yucatan to the Mom and brother. I like the beaches and the archaeological sites nearby, I think the Mom agrees, and when I looked up 'Yucatan' on wikipedia, it said this:
"Queso Relleno is a "gourmet" dish featuring ground pork inside of a carved edam cheese ball served with tomato sauce"...which I used to get the brother interested. Do I know how to spark his interest, or what? More foods should be cooked inside of hollowed-out cheese balls.
Anyways, I gotta go draft an email to England Aunt...and research England, and Ireland. WOO HOO, I'm finally breaking the chains North America has had on me! Escaping to the big blue!
Another thing that would help with morale would be to not have performance reviews. Mine's on Friday and I don't want it. I really wish this was the sort of thing I could opt-out of. Just let me keep my head down, do my work, and pay me, and everyone will be happy.
Anyways, because of the review coming up, and the cold, my day (which wasn't terrible to start with), didn't leave me feeling stellar, so I stopped at the store and splurged (perversely) on ice cream.
But there are good points. The Mom is talking about going to Mexico, and now that I have my vacation planner for this year, I can start really planning my Britain trip. I'm not really sure how I'm going to make both of those work, but I'm gonna try. Besides, planning for them both is FUN! I researched Mexico (cause I know NOTHING about it), and have floated the idea of going to the Yucatan to the Mom and brother. I like the beaches and the archaeological sites nearby, I think the Mom agrees, and when I looked up 'Yucatan' on wikipedia, it said this:
"Queso Relleno is a "gourmet" dish featuring ground pork inside of a carved edam cheese ball served with tomato sauce"...which I used to get the brother interested. Do I know how to spark his interest, or what? More foods should be cooked inside of hollowed-out cheese balls.
Anyways, I gotta go draft an email to England Aunt...and research England, and Ireland. WOO HOO, I'm finally breaking the chains North America has had on me! Escaping to the big blue!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Playing Nigella
So, a couple of weeks got in my way, and even though I found some time to draft a blog, I forgot to post it, so here is it, a little delayed.
Last weekend I took home work from the office (again) and buried myself in that. I had planned to have a couple of friends over on Wednesday (I had a recipe I wanted to try), so I was looking forward to that, but I figured I had enough time in the evenings Monday and Tuesday after work to prepare for that.
Then Lauren called, and said she’s coming into the city on Wednesday. Yay!
Yay, but it means a change of plans. Okay, so move the dinner to Tuesday, and make Monday the one day that I have to go grocery shopping, start cooking, clean the entire apartment, wash the sheets for the pullout couch, and do more work I’ve brought home from the office. Go to bed very late.
Tuesday rolls around and I make it through the workday, then friends come over and rave about my Nigella Lawson skills, and we eat and watch DVD’s and talk and it’s all good, and at the end of it I’m full and happy and very tired. But the house needs tidying, cause I’ve got more company coming the next day, so I clean a bit…and go to bed very late.
Wednesday is not a great day at the office, but I’m looking forward to Laur being there after work, so I get through it, and meet Lauren, and there is talk about going out, but she knows what it’s like the Wednesday of a busy work week, so we decide to be lazy and stay in and order thai food. We talk a lot and it’s great. But we also talk very long, and I go to bed very very late.
Thursday I slog though work, meet Laur briefly afterward, before she jets off to her next destination, and I grab some quick dinner, and then sit down in front of the computer, to finally blog like I’ve been meaning to. That was at 6:30pm.
At 7:05pm I woke up, curled up in my desk chair (which is NOT a comfortable way to nap), and decide that instead of blogging or beading or any of the other things I’ve had in mind to do this one evening to myself this week…I’d rather just climb in bed, and watch TV.
And that was great.
Last weekend I took home work from the office (again) and buried myself in that. I had planned to have a couple of friends over on Wednesday (I had a recipe I wanted to try), so I was looking forward to that, but I figured I had enough time in the evenings Monday and Tuesday after work to prepare for that.
Then Lauren called, and said she’s coming into the city on Wednesday. Yay!
Yay, but it means a change of plans. Okay, so move the dinner to Tuesday, and make Monday the one day that I have to go grocery shopping, start cooking, clean the entire apartment, wash the sheets for the pullout couch, and do more work I’ve brought home from the office. Go to bed very late.
Tuesday rolls around and I make it through the workday, then friends come over and rave about my Nigella Lawson skills, and we eat and watch DVD’s and talk and it’s all good, and at the end of it I’m full and happy and very tired. But the house needs tidying, cause I’ve got more company coming the next day, so I clean a bit…and go to bed very late.
Wednesday is not a great day at the office, but I’m looking forward to Laur being there after work, so I get through it, and meet Lauren, and there is talk about going out, but she knows what it’s like the Wednesday of a busy work week, so we decide to be lazy and stay in and order thai food. We talk a lot and it’s great. But we also talk very long, and I go to bed very very late.
Thursday I slog though work, meet Laur briefly afterward, before she jets off to her next destination, and I grab some quick dinner, and then sit down in front of the computer, to finally blog like I’ve been meaning to. That was at 6:30pm.
At 7:05pm I woke up, curled up in my desk chair (which is NOT a comfortable way to nap), and decide that instead of blogging or beading or any of the other things I’ve had in mind to do this one evening to myself this week…I’d rather just climb in bed, and watch TV.
And that was great.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
2008's already got me spun...
First, the back story. I haven't blogged for months because, every time I've been at a computer (for months), I've been working...even at home. The office has gotten incredibly busy, there aren't enough people to cover all the work to be done, and there isn't enough time in the day (workday or daylight) to fit everything in. So, I've been doing at the office what can only be done at the office, and taking home what I could do here. It sucks. I've been frustrated at how my work life has bled into my real life, frustrated that I'm always focused on/worrying about/making time for work, and add to that the fact that this is the most money-tight time of the year, and there is no such thing as overtime pay...let's wrap this up and say that I've been a little stressed lately. I've thought about blogging, but even when I had the time, it was hard to think about spending more time in front of the computer, even if it was for my own stuff.
But things are looking up. With some judicious sacrifices of my free time, I'm nearing the top of the 'to do list' mountain, and with the winter break behind me, I can pretty much breathe again. Workwise, anyway.
That's not to say I haven't had a life. Socially, November was beyond busy...it was actually a little nuts. Two thirds of the days of that month were taken up by something. Family visiting (that was great; our own mini family reunion- Aunt from England it was wonderful to see you), dinners with friends, pottery class (it's over now, but I had a blast; I will do that again, when it's financially viable), bead shows, farmer's market, gathering Hanukkah gifts for the Mom, book club friends getting married, the list goes on. By the time December rolled around, I was exhausted. I purposely kept my calendar pretty clear, having only the company holiday party (food was decent, music was sporadically okay, none of my friends won any prizes, and that night was the first big storm of the winter), and a couple of visits from friends to take up my time. The best part was that Lauren came home! Yep, my best friend is back in the country, and she came to visit, which was great. We haven't had much time to hang out yet, but I'm looking forward to when we can spend some real time just hanging out again, doing nothing. I miss nothing. With fake cheesecake.
Then the holidays (blessed time off!), and the Toronto branch of the family gathered for finger food and gifts and movies and games. It was a great night; we had a ton of fun, and I got home at 4am. Unfortunately, I was supposed to meet some friends at noon the next day, and totally forgot, but after one short phone call, and one quick dash to the bus, I made it downtown by one and we got to shop a little.
Christmas eve the Robins and I did the predictable Jewish thing and went out for Chinese food and a movie (Juno is awesome).
There was more to my winter break, but I'm skipping ahead to this past Sunday, when my friends half kidnapped me to Blue Mountain to go skiing. I haven't been skiing in, like, four years, but I had a great time (and paid for it the next day- ouch), and then NYE we went out for a great dinner and then hit up a med-student house party. Spent New year's day having brunch with the friends, and cleaning the apt.
Then came today.
Got to work ready for a busy day (everyone leaves for the national sales meeting tomorrow, so all the last-minute stuff had to be done by today), and instead started the day with a call from my bank letting me know that my account had been hacked and someone in Montreal withdrew all my $. Woo hoo. So I spent a very busy day running around the office, then rushed off to the bank after work, where they cut up my bank card. Yeah.
So, I came home, called the Mom for some venting, and then called the student loan office to get my payments put on hold rather than bounce one. While I was on the phone with the osap lady, the pizza I had in the oven turned into a cinder, and I spent five minutes with the osap lady on hold while I opened the patio door (letting the snow in), and waved a blanket at the smoke detector to make it stop screaming.
Got the finances triaged, salvaged enough of the pie for dinner, then thought I'd make a batch of cookies to make myself feel better and to take to work tomorrow (a little 'while the cats are away' celebration). So I'm getting out the ingredients and I can't find the brown sugar (and I know I have brown sugar), so I get the desk chair and climb up to look for it (yes, make fun of the short girl now, go ahead, ha...ha), and there's no brown sugar, but there is aluminum foil, and a whole unopened bag of peanut butter kisses, so I call that a win. Put away the cookie ingredients, and sit down to stuff my face with chocolate and peanut buttery goodness and finally blog again. The Mom said not to take today as an omen of the year to come, but it's hard not to.
But then, stolen money versus unexpected chocolate...I guess this year can go either way.
But things are looking up. With some judicious sacrifices of my free time, I'm nearing the top of the 'to do list' mountain, and with the winter break behind me, I can pretty much breathe again. Workwise, anyway.
That's not to say I haven't had a life. Socially, November was beyond busy...it was actually a little nuts. Two thirds of the days of that month were taken up by something. Family visiting (that was great; our own mini family reunion- Aunt from England it was wonderful to see you), dinners with friends, pottery class (it's over now, but I had a blast; I will do that again, when it's financially viable), bead shows, farmer's market, gathering Hanukkah gifts for the Mom, book club friends getting married, the list goes on. By the time December rolled around, I was exhausted. I purposely kept my calendar pretty clear, having only the company holiday party (food was decent, music was sporadically okay, none of my friends won any prizes, and that night was the first big storm of the winter), and a couple of visits from friends to take up my time. The best part was that Lauren came home! Yep, my best friend is back in the country, and she came to visit, which was great. We haven't had much time to hang out yet, but I'm looking forward to when we can spend some real time just hanging out again, doing nothing. I miss nothing. With fake cheesecake.
Then the holidays (blessed time off!), and the Toronto branch of the family gathered for finger food and gifts and movies and games. It was a great night; we had a ton of fun, and I got home at 4am. Unfortunately, I was supposed to meet some friends at noon the next day, and totally forgot, but after one short phone call, and one quick dash to the bus, I made it downtown by one and we got to shop a little.
Christmas eve the Robins and I did the predictable Jewish thing and went out for Chinese food and a movie (Juno is awesome).
There was more to my winter break, but I'm skipping ahead to this past Sunday, when my friends half kidnapped me to Blue Mountain to go skiing. I haven't been skiing in, like, four years, but I had a great time (and paid for it the next day- ouch), and then NYE we went out for a great dinner and then hit up a med-student house party. Spent New year's day having brunch with the friends, and cleaning the apt.
Then came today.
Got to work ready for a busy day (everyone leaves for the national sales meeting tomorrow, so all the last-minute stuff had to be done by today), and instead started the day with a call from my bank letting me know that my account had been hacked and someone in Montreal withdrew all my $. Woo hoo. So I spent a very busy day running around the office, then rushed off to the bank after work, where they cut up my bank card. Yeah.
So, I came home, called the Mom for some venting, and then called the student loan office to get my payments put on hold rather than bounce one. While I was on the phone with the osap lady, the pizza I had in the oven turned into a cinder, and I spent five minutes with the osap lady on hold while I opened the patio door (letting the snow in), and waved a blanket at the smoke detector to make it stop screaming.
Got the finances triaged, salvaged enough of the pie for dinner, then thought I'd make a batch of cookies to make myself feel better and to take to work tomorrow (a little 'while the cats are away' celebration). So I'm getting out the ingredients and I can't find the brown sugar (and I know I have brown sugar), so I get the desk chair and climb up to look for it (yes, make fun of the short girl now, go ahead, ha...ha), and there's no brown sugar, but there is aluminum foil, and a whole unopened bag of peanut butter kisses, so I call that a win. Put away the cookie ingredients, and sit down to stuff my face with chocolate and peanut buttery goodness and finally blog again. The Mom said not to take today as an omen of the year to come, but it's hard not to.
But then, stolen money versus unexpected chocolate...I guess this year can go either way.
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