Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Time to find Peace

now today was a better day...still stressful, lots of stuff to do at work and a busy day, but no crying or falling apart. it was all about GETTING THE JOB DONE. so I can take my time off guilt free (if there is such a thing). I didn't get all the time I was looking for because of stuff at work. Most people think they are indispensable and aren't really, but in this job, sometimes you have certain responsibilities that have your name on it and aren't transferable. Our agency has made a decision to pursue a court action against a family, and I am the agent (name who goes on the affidavit) and HAVE to finish the affidavit by Monday, and then be in court on Thursday. No one else can do it because I am the caseworker with all the information and it is my assessment that we are basing the court application on. So there, just when I try to get some time off, I am SUCKED BACK INTO THE VORTEX. If I absolutely pressed them, I could just take sick time and tell them I am not available, and legally, there wouldn't be anything they could do. However, that would be career sabotage I think so I will simply take some time off around this pesky court thing.

I was able to get through the day just knowing I would be getting some time for me this week. So now that I am home...WHAT A RELIEF!!! And many have asked, ok, what are you going to do for you? Well, we got a flyer in the mail the other day about swedish healing massage and dammit, I'm going to sign me up for one this week. This local gal is offering 90 minutes of healing stone massage for just $40. How can I pass it up???

So there, that's the update, no cracker crumbs today...

Monday, November 29, 2004

Losing My Grip

Well, its happened...I am finally losing my grip. At work, at home, in my mind, in my body...you name it. I fell apart at work today. I tried to hide it best I could and only crumpled in the office of my supervisor with another co-worker present. Then I scurried back to my own office, which I am not currently sharing - office mate has moved out to her own, just waiting for her replacement. In my office, I put a sign on my door to leave me the fuck alone (actually, it said Think about why you are coming in) and fell apart again. If I stayed focused on work, I wasn't too bad, but as soon as I took a break...the cheese began to slip. Oh the tissues I used up...and the sahara that soon inhabited my contact lenses...

I have never been in this state, ever. It is hell. So I realized that I have to take some time off. How can I be there for my clients if I can't even be there for me? I'm going to start tomorrow afternoon after I take care of a couple of work related things that cannot wait, and stay off until at least Tuesday. Honestly, I don't even want to go back. Its not the job, its me. My caseload isn't even that high. I just don't want to be a social worker anymore. I don't even want to be me anymore.

Now before those that know me all run to the crisis line, I'm basically fine and have no plans to off myself, but I can certainly understand how my clients get to that point. Its a feeling of pure and utter helplessness. I think I know how "I" got to this point. I have been everything to everybody for so long, or at least have tried to that I just don't have anything left for me at the end of the day. I've always been the good listener, the one people turn to for help, with their problems, big or small. And certainly I hear lots of problems from clients too. Problem solving is my job. I am just out of solutions right now.

So if I don't want to be a social worker anymore, what do I want to do with my life? I know this isn't the time for making big decisions, so I won't, but I do intend on checking some things out. Like writing for example. I have always wanted to be a published writer. I have long pictured myself sitting in a cabin in the woods, churning out a book or two a year on various topics, travelling the world from time to time to research them. Perhaps I'm at THAT time in my life where I need to do something just for ME. Something I want to do that no one would ever expect me to do. I have always been so RESPONSIBLE, all of my DAMN life. I'm sick of it.

Wanna know what my biggest issue is? Who takes care of me? When all is said and done, and others have unloaded their problems, who the hell takes care of me?

Sunday, November 28, 2004

The Beatles

Have I said before how much I like The Beatles? I'm a huge fan...not a maniacal fan, like one who saves dryer lint, or has every image every taken of them. I just like them. And I recently bought The Beatles Anthology on VHS off e-bay and have been watching it this past week.

I don't know when I have been this happy watching videotape. Honestly, I have a smile pasted on my face the entire time I have the tape on, and have to watch every frame. Ordinarily I'll knit, or do something else while watching a movie (the multi-tasker in me) but not with this. I am focused entirely. It is the first movie/mini-series that seems honest and real. If you haven't seen it before, it is a series that was first aired on television in 1996 I think and involved the three remaining Beatles - Paul, George and Ringo. They were interviewed extensively for it, and provided much of the footage they clipped together. The whole series is a chronological story of The Beatles, with tons of musical footage from shows and concerts and numerous interviews and since you can't have a series about The Beatles without John, they have clipped in past interviews with him when relevant to the topic, usually with every single story they talk about, so that it seems like he was right there with the other three as the movie was made.

Its just awesome, and I got it for a steal on e-bay, just $9.99US. It is available on DVD for a much higher price, but I was just happy to have what I bought. What I have been enjoying most about it was seeing how very happy John was back then, during the early years. I've fallen in love with him all over again! He was so goofy and funny, and so very talented. Oh John...why did you have to die so soon?

I remember the day that he was shot. It was December 8, 1980. I was in Stephenville, and the radio was on, and the announcement came over the radio. I could't believe that someone would do that, and I had been listening to his solo music for a few years by then, and was just devastated. Damn you Mark David Chapman.

So when I watch this movie, I am taken back to a time when everything was groovy, and the boys were the best of friends, which they say in the movie that they really were, really good friends, especially John and Paul. I've never seen all their own movies either, but would love to. Maybe that's my next buy on e-bay...

I miss you John!

Girls Day Sucked

Well, that was a bomber of an idea. As you know, I have been having Girl's Day for about a year now. They started as a way for me to teach some of the gals from work how to knit. Then we started bringing snacks and movies and then we just expanded it to include anyone who wanted to come, from work or otherwise and everyone to bring snacks and crafts. We were also not to be chatting about work, as we are prone to. It was a day off from everything. Some of them were rather busy, with 9-10 gals there, while others were quieter, with just 3-4 of us. Well, today there was just K. and I. And I have to say, I am rather disappointed. I had sent out the invite some weeks ago, and I guess I should have known then, no one would remember it. But the this week we all chatted about it, and I had responses from about 6 people that were coming for sure, while others were less commital. Well, only one showed up. Great. I came home early from Ingonish, and whipped through some baking and creating for today, rearranged all the furniture, bought more food, and all for just the two of us. I even made a cheese ball...and I don't make them for just anyone! And the worst is, no one called me to say they couldn't come, or weren't coming, or got busy, changed their minds. I know I recently changed my number, but I SENT IT TO THEM. So there are no excuses for the behaviour. They just didn't show up.

I don't know if I'll bother trying to organize another one...phoohey on them all, I say.

but I did get a number of pages done for my scrapbook, and we watched a couple of movies - Shrek 2 and Riding in Cars With Boys. And now I have lots of snacks, and leftovers.

Naughty girls...

Sunday Morning Musings

Another girls days is upon us...food, movies, games, crafts, liquor and no talk of work! They usually begin dribbling in about noon and stay often until 8pm or so, but tonight I have a few sleepovers, so they don't have to watch what they drink. Responsible drinkers, I like that.

My tv remote is working again...I had been sitting in my favorite chair, with my feet bubbling away in my foot bath, when I bent over to check on them and it slipped right into the bath...I was so shocked, it was a moment before I plucked it out thinking, that can't be good. So I picked it up, the water drained out of it, and I laid it out to dry for a few days...and lo and behold, its working again! go figure...its covered by my extended warranty from Future Shop, so I wouldn't have been totally lost. Those universal remotes can only do so much. This one changes the input source, and I might not be able to do that on a universal remote.

I made cookies yesterday, and bribed my next door neighbor, Maxine, to cut up some table legs for me this morning. I have an old (but not antique) wooden dining table that I want to cut the legs short on in order to make it into a coffee table for doing crafts on in the living room. A few of the girls love their scrapbooking (of which I partake from time to time) and this is our solution to them working on the floor all the time (where I trip over it or step on it).

The non-resident teen is struggling again...for some reason, she doesn't know the meaning of life...lol. Ahhhhh...she is so young yet. She wants her life to have a specific direction, her degree to be for something in particular, for her boyfriend to talk to her more, to have more time to herself, and so on. After two and a half hours on the phone, we have discovered a possible path in life that she might be satisfied with. She is interested in Spanish, and travel, so we are thinking about possibly working for an embassy somewhere in a spanish speaking country. She also loves to write, to learn more languages and meet new people. I remember the days...wandering through your degree and not knowing what you're going to do with it at the end...my theory is just do the courses that interest you within the contrains of a particular major and requirements and HAVE FUN AT IT!!!

Then I told her that I have three degrees and I STILL don't have definite direction in my life. I struggle all the time with my career...where am I going next, what am I going to do, and do I have to do something next...why can't I just stay in this job. Where will I go, and why?

Okay, I just can't solve the meaning of life this morning...so lets move on to breakfast...

Thursday, November 25, 2004

ramblings and musings

Just a little of everything tonight, now that I know I am limbo...lol. Its pissing rain here and I am SO HAPPY about that. Why? Because you don't have to SHOVEL rain. The more it rains, the less it snows. I hope it rains all winter.

And then there was the time I dropped the fish food. Big canister of flakes, lost half of it on the floor, the fish tank, the stand, the couch, the blanket on my knitting basket...everywhere. The cat went nuts, tried to walk through it all. Then I hauled out old bessie...the vacuum cleaner. She wasn't long hittin' the road then.

Went out for a few drinks with the gals from the office...oh yeah, and Mike, our token male social worker. We had a few birthdays to celebrate, so that was fun. Ate more than I should have, but what the hell else is new...

Survivor is on again tonight...yeahhhh! I have already lost the pool, but thats okay, its still fun to watch...as was the Amazing Race on Tuesday night. People just love to act stupid on national television. And I just love to watch them do that.

Got my first Christmas card today...well holy shit. Now I have to actually do something about my newsletter. I have it written but have not yet sent any out. Many are going by e-mail, and people can print their own if they like. The pics just look better online, and I have a bunch of pics in it this year. I have to scrounge around for some Christmas paper too, to print it on. My first card was from my aunt Thelma. She is getting up there in years but still manages to get out all her cards and write a couple of pages to me every year. I'll have to go see her the next time I'm up in Halifax. She used to work for the post office, so it might be a requirement or something to buy so many stamps each year to subsidize your pension, lol...

I miss the kid. As always. It doesn't hurt any less now that it did 5 months ago when she moved out. Okay, I gotta stop or I'll cry...

did I mention that its raining out?



Dante's Inferno Test

I always felt like I was in limbo... thanks Mads for another great quiz.

The Dante's Inferno Test has sent you to the First Level of Hell - Limbo!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

LevelScore
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)High
Level 2 (Lustful)Moderate
Level 3 (Gluttonous)High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)Very Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)Moderate
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)High
Level 7 (Violent)Moderate
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)High
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)Low


Take the Dante's Inferno Test

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Stress Management

Well, I can certainly identify with the word STRESS. I have enough in my life, as do many people these days who try to cram everything in. Mine is mostly caused by work, as I knew it would, doing the work that I do. Sometimes its task oriented, meaning I just have too much to do...other times its WHAT I am doing that stresses me out, and I spend too much of my personal time thinking about it. So when someone sent me this today, I though, hmmm, I like that...so I'll share it here!

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "how heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it."

"If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour,I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance."

In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.""So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don'tcarry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can."

"Relax; pick them up later after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it!"

And then he shared some ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning too thers.
Never buy a car you can't push.
Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.
When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors but they all have to live in the same box.
A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.


Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Time Travel

Don't you wish you could travel through time? I often think about travelling backwards, to times and events that I missed out on. Like The Beatles. I REALLY wish I could have been there to see them in concert, you know, in their early years, like late 60's. I was just a toddler then, so didn't get to enjoy them much, although my mother did, somewhat, when she wasn't playing her twangy country music, like Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty. I'm watching The Beatles Anthology on VHS that I bought recently off e-bay and just loving every minute of it, wishing I had been there. Now there are only two members left and I have only recorded history to help me out.

I would also love to have been a flower child in the 60's and early 70's...peace, love, sex, drugs and rock and roll...sounds like utopia to me. I could totally see me living on a commune, and oh how I wish I could have been there for Woodstock in 1969, but again I was just a toddler...the music, the people, the sights, sounds and vibe...

Maybe I was just born 10 years too late...it seems I really only want to travel back to the 60's as a teenager. Far out.

Time For A Change

time for a new look, new color, the whole nine yards. So I changed the template for my blog...then I had to sort out all the customizations I had done in the past year. I can't quite get it to look like I want, but it looks good enough for now. Considering I didn't know anything about HTML before I began blogging, I think I'm doing pretty good!

now its back to REAL work...lunch is OVER!

Lasting Friendships

Are there any? When you move a lot, you tend to lose touch with them. You would think that in this day and age with the many methods of communication at your fingers, that no one would ever lose touch. But yet I have. Or should I say, they have. I speak to one friend from high school, and that's only a couple of times a year, if that. I don't talk to anyone else from any of my school years. We did first after I moved each time...an occasional letter, but that all faded away. I have rediscovered some friends from school through Classmates.com but after a couple of intro-catch-up messages, not another word. Although now I have found my way onto their mass mailing lists...harumph...

Even friends I met during university, which was just a few years ago, have faded away. Once in a while I get a phonecall from my old roomie, or my really good friend Nat, and I chat daily with my friend Steve. E-mail here and there from other uni friends. But I fear that once I move or change my e-mail, they will fade too.

Then there are the friends I have here. One moved to NWT and I hardly hear from her anymore. I know, things change, people move on, but it makes me think about something a co-worker said to me - our workplace has such a huge turnover that its hard investing time in a relationship with anyone if you know they will likely leave in a year or two. Why bother? So I ask myself the same thing...do I really want to invest time, energy and emotion in these friends I have made here? Will they even remember me after I move on next year? How long will I last in their address book, or they in mine?

I've often envied those who grow up in the same town and continue to work and make their life there. They are the ones who seem to have lasting friendships, people they went to kindergarten with. That is impossible for me...even if I found someone I went to kindergarten with, that was also the last time I saw them. I don't have a "best friend" although my friend Nat and I are very close, we have grown apart these last few years since we both moved away from our university town where we met. Now, we can still call one another up and the missing months melt away, but I don't know when I'll ever see her again, or when the last phonecall from her might just be, the last phonecall before we lose touch.

Its sad really. But what to do? I hate saying good-byes, but do I just not make any more close friends for fear of losing them? I don't think that's the answer...it makes for a very lonely life. Maybe it just makes for a large network of friends throughout the world?

My Newfoundland Heritage

just in case anyone read the last post and wondered - what the hell? I do have a rich Newfoundland heritage...I lived there for over 20 years, my father is a Newfie(and all his family before him), my ex-husband is one, and I borne my daughter there. I still own a house there, and my parents have retired there. Give me a few drinks and I'll even sound like one. And I kissed that GD codfish.

Just so you know... :-)

Monday, November 22, 2004

I AM A NEWFOUNDLANDER

First off, WE INVENTED RANTING long before there was MOLSON CANADIAN, or even the MONTREAL CANADIENS.

I am not UNEMPLOYED, but I know people who are. Some of them may be related through marriage, but they WEREN'T RELATED BEFORE THEN.

I hate the SMELL, TASTE, and TEXTURE AND SIGHT OF FISH. I don't fish, my father didn't fish, my grandfather probably did, and I KNOW his father DEFINITELY DID... BUT ONLY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FARM A GODDAMNED ROCK! If I do happen to eat FISH, it's going to be bloody well COOKED. None of this raw sushi shit they serve in restaurants. We call that BAIT!!!

Our best export is our PEOPLE.

Newfoundlanders are the only people who use the name "JESUS" as an adjective. As in, "LOOK BYE, HAND ME THAT "JESUS" HAMMER WILL YA?"

Our weather embraces DIVERSITY. It is the only place where you can both swim and ice-fish all within the same day, in the same water.

I have RUNNING WATER. I don't shit outdoors except when the Main-landers come from away and want to go out in the woods as if it's PLEASURABLE.

Drinking fine wine and finer RUM is PLEASURABLE. Sex is PLEASURABLE. Getting EATEN ALIVE by "Vampire" mosquitos that have numbers on their sides is NOT.

Newfoundland is a PROVINCE. It is not a TOWN, VILLAGE, CITY, PARISH or HAMLET. I don't know everybody who was BORN, REARED, SCHOOLED, STAYED, LEFT OR DIED HERE. Some I'm sure were NICE and I'm SORRY for not having met them. Some I'm sure were SONS of BITCHES and for not having crossed paths, we're all better off.

It's ST. JOHN'S, not SAINT JOHN. That's in New Brunswick and they rant differently there. It's their accent.

It's pronounced New-fin-LAND, NOT New-FOUND-land. Do you pronounce it ONTA-rio, or KWEE-BECK?

I don't drink much COFFEE. I drink TEA for BREAKFAST, TEA for DINNER and TEA for SUPPER. Oh, by the way, LUNCH we don't DO. We eat DINNER in the middle of the day and SUPPER.. well, at SUPPERTIME.

We don't have SKUNKS or SNAKES... at least not in the woods. Plenty of them in government though, and most come from away.

An EXPERT is always some BASTARD that came through the Narrows. That's the gap in the north and south side of St. John's Harbour that leads to and from the North Atlantic... the most inhospitable place on the "JESUS" planet outside of OTTAWA.

We DRINK Blue Star Ale, Dominion Ale, India Pale Ale, Black Horse Beer and RUM. Any kind, as long as it's DARK. See, we traded OUR salted FISH to Jamaica for THEIR RUM... who says Newfoundlanders aren't very smart?

We were Britain's OLDEST colony and are Canada's NEWEST province. Our GDP hasn't changed a bit.

We don't have COTTAGES ON THE LAKE. We have CABINS ON THE POND. A POND is a body of water... a LAKE is a "hole in yer boot."

We have a wonderful sense of HUMOUR... until we feel we're being made fun of. Then we have a wonderful sense of REVENGE.

A Newfoundlander as a friend, is a friend for life. Have one as an ENEMY... and you'll start CURSING your own mother for having given you birth.

We have more SEX than anyone... at least that's what we tell Main-landers who survey such shit. We have to... everyone gets told there's only two things to do in Newfoundland, FISH or ----, and as I said, I don't FISH.

Soap comes in CAKES, not BARS. Chocolate comes in BARS and so does the occasional BLONDE.

Speaking of BARS, we call them PUBS and we've got LOTS. More than anywhere else in Canada. All of them serve RUM. They have to. IT'S THE LAW.

Besides, they have to Screech in the MAINLANDERS, who in order to gain honorary citizenship in Newfoundland, down a JIGGER (that's a shot glass) of Famous Newfoundland Screech (that's a dark RUM), then kiss a codfish on the LIPS (that's in the front of its face). Many line up to do this... all Mainlanders of course. That's cause no self respecting Newfoundlander would dare kiss a codfish... in some outports, he'd have to marry it!

TOWNIES are from St. John's. Everyone else is a BAYMAN. Except a BLEEP BLEEPING BAYMAN... that's yer NEIGHBOUR!

Oh yeah, did I tell you I don't FISH?... but I know what FISH is... it's COD. Anytime a Newfoundlander refers to FISH he means COD. If he's referring to salmon, or herring, or halibut... HE'LL CALL THE GODDAMNED THING SALMON, OR HERRING, OR HALIBUT.

We like MUSIC... as long as you can dance to it. Except the Pentecostals on the Central Coast. They don't DANCE or DRINK... but they have lots of youngsters... you see they don't FISH either.

That wraps it up.

So, now you know. Newfoundland has gotten a bad rap over the centuries. But there are only two types of people in the world....people who aren't from NEWFOUNDLAND and those FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE.

How Much Are You Worth?

Found this site though Steppe's blog...apparently I'm worth LESS than she is! Wahhhh...

I'm worth $1,658,759.21! How much are you worth?

Sunday, November 21, 2004

Around the World in Three Years

I am insanely jealous of these people. To travel for three years, going wherever you please (within the restraints of your budget) and the amazing tales they have of the places they have been. If anything, this site is a great resource for anyone planning a backpacking adventure to any of the countries they have been. Thanks again Madley, for another great idea!

Now my feet itch again...

What Kind Of Blogger Are You?





You Are a Life Blogger!



Your blog is the story of your life - a living diary.
If it happens, you blog it. And make it as entertaining as possible.


Idea stolen from the Hairy Hoser's Blog...but they captured my true essence...yeah, right. Funny how the first question was about political blogging...because that's all I could find for the last two months was Americans rambling on about the election when using Next Blog...either that or Blogs from Central or South America. I don't know that Canadians ramble so much about politics. But I do know that it interests me about as much as the hairball under my bed.

Saturday, November 20, 2004

And Then There Is The Noise

I work in a building that is currently under renovations. The previous tenants in the floor below me have moved out to a brand new Civic Centre and the future tenants need a different kind of space. So they have decided to do some destruction and construction in the space available below me. I can understand that, but I didn't realize it would involve all this POUNDING, BANGING, and POISONOUS STENCH. They are removing all of the interior walls, which are brick, so they pound and bang with sledgehammers, and cut the metal parts with a grinder, which stinks to high heavens like something electrical burning. Then they will have to hammer into place all of those metal uprights for the new walls.

Kill me now. My desk has been vibrating for days. I have a permanent headache. And my asthma is acting up, due to the cloud of filth that is seeping out of the construction area...probably through the open windows and doors...How can they expect us to do the work that we do with all that RACKET??? I work as a child protection worker, so faced with some pretty important decisions.

Yesterday it got to be too much by noon so I took off and went shopping. Now, it wasn't for me, it was for the Christmas Sponsorship Program we run out of there too. I had $900 to spend on 6 kids ($150 each) so off to Wal-Mart I went, GLADLY. I was hoping it would be fairly quiet, as it was during school hours, but I was wrong. Apparently there is an inservice at some of the local schools, so there were plenty of kids at Wal-Mart...in the section I needed to be in too, TOYS. But their noise was nothing compared to the pounding and banging, so two hours later, I emerged with two shopping carts full and returned to the noisy building.

Then our upstairs neighbors made the mistake of pissing me off. Our offices are located in a building that used to be all residence rooms for the local Nautical College...now they only house them on the third floor. I understand that they have a right to live in their rooms, but they have been told before about playing the headbanger music at top notch during our business hours. So when I returned to my office and the first thing I heard was bass, I was stomping off upstairs to have a chat. I spoke to the security guard, who is the meekest little man who asserts very little authority. He used to guard our floor before we had our own reconstruction last year that placed us behind locked doors. Now he guards upstairs...mostly to see that they don't destroy the building. I told him that if this young person does not turn down the music, I am taking the stereo and pitching it out through the upstairs window. So superguard Ron tells me who the culprit is and asks me to complain a little louder so that said culprit can hear me complain, because when he tells them, they don't really believe that the music is too loud. I inform superguard Ron that I can do one better, I'm going to tell him in person...point him out and I'm there. Ron the superguard and I walk down the hall, towards the culprit who isn't even in his room, but down the hall farther. Hence the music needing to be so loud. I informed him that my office was directly below and that I would like it if he could turn the music down. He asked why and I informed him I heard enough pounding below me, I certainly don't need it above me. We're gone at 4:30pm, so after that, play what you like but until then, can it. Surprisingly enough, he complies and immediately turns down the music.

Finally, some peace and quiet. The pounding below me has stopped. The pounding above me has stopped. Too bad the pounding in my head has not stopped.

I hope they are finished soon, but that is highly unlikely...I heard February...

Thursday, November 18, 2004

I CAN'T BELIEVE I AM DOING IT AGAIN

I can’t believe it, but I have to change my phone number YET again. The calls for Trevor just don’t stop. I checked on my phone and there was a consistent caller from a particular number….6 times this week so to hell with it, I called it and it was Trevor’s mom. Yup, she had been looking for him. "Sorry, I called your number by mistake". 6 F-ing times??? Not to mention all those other times she called from the hospital. Nice to know you're home though. We did actually have a nice chat about Trevor. He's 22.

And THEN, as if Trevor’s calls weren’t annoying enough, I have discovered that the local movie store, Movie Gallery has a very similar number - same numbers, two are reversed. I have only answered a couple of calls for Movie Gallery, but I have notices a bunch of calls from names I don’t recognize, and considering my number is unlisted and I have hardly given this one out yet, I didn’t understand how I could have so many. Now I know. They were all calling Movie Gallery.

Then I was talking to a friend tonight who said he actually knew Trevor and that he was a drug dealer, and lots of those calls might be for him, people looking for drugs…that explains why I saw one of my client’s names on my phone…DAMMIT!

So, tomorrow I am changing my number, AGAIN. This will be my fourth number this year. I can’t believe it. I just can’t believe it.

Monday, November 15, 2004

Snowless in Cape Breton

well, I made it home in one piece. And managed to leave ALL of the snow behind. I drove though some though, it was storming something awful part of the way. There was still a fair bit in Halifax, and the closer I got to Truro, the more snow there was, up over the guardrails and all. Then I passed through New Glasgow and wondered if they got any snow at all..and Cape Breton is dry. And here I was worried about having to shovel out my driveway, heh heh. silly girl. that comes later.

Got home and the poor kitty, ate all her food, even the extra and went after the fish food, but couldn't get it open. I can only imagine the frustration...and how lucky those fish are to still be alive...thankfully I wasn't gone longer than I was...guess that extra day was just too much for her!

I managed to spend too much money again in Halifax, as per usual. What is it with the city...you go into a store to buy a spool of thread and come out with a fridge...(not that I did..just an example).

The Amazing Race starts again this week...I'm so excited!!!! I just love watching OTHER people race through countries. It looks to be an exciting season too, from the website and previews.

Anyone catch the American Music Awards last night? WELL HOLY F***. I damn near died laughing at Anna Nicole Smith. She was completely bombed, toasted and left for drunk...I still don't know what the hell she was talking about. I'd love to see it in rerun, and can imagine it will tonight on the entertainment news...also, Uncle Cracker appeared to be under the influence of something, and left his singing partner fumbling for words that he seemed to have forgotten...I think they all had some of Snoop Dogg's $100 brownies...those that Bobby Brown didn't eat, anyhow...

Ahhh, good to be home again.

Still driving after all this snow

Ah, it wasn't as bad as all that for us...we still have power, although the reports from outside the province say we don't. We were out shopping and had lunch at Pogue Fodo (an Irish Pub) yesterday, in downtown Halifax. We saw some snow, but it wasn't too bad and the power was on. Now, as you move out of town, the power is out in places and there is more snow. We visited relatives in Hammonds Plains and they had lost power at 2am yesterday morning.

We'll see how things change and I head back to the island today after a work appointment downtown...stay tuned...

Saturday, November 13, 2004

The More Things Change...

the more they stay the same...by the time we got ourselves together today to head out, it was storming snow so we opted NOT to tramp around downtown and took the car up to Bayer's Lake instead. Which we are so glad we did. The weather just got worse as the day wore on, with snow piling up, and beating into us each store we came out of, which would have been miserable to walk about downtown in. And stupid me, went out in sandals...brrrr...I have dye all over my feet from the snow melt on my leathers.

ANYHOW, thanks to K., I did find a very nice scapbooking store in Bayer's Lake, and managed to get out of there with less than $50 worth...sheesh...I only went in for some paper and a set of blue lettering...after I bored the poor child with that, we went to get something delicious to eat at Montana's, which was just awesome. We made a few stops after that at the ever present Wal-Mart, Dollarama, and a visit to the pet store. Then we took in a movie...

SPOILER ALERT!!!

Well, let me tell you...we saw Ladder 49 with John Travolta and Joaquin Phoenix. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, so don't read on from here if you haven't seen it yet...but what a wonderful and tearjerking movie. I was literally sobbing out loud, it was so well acted. You felt like you were right there with them, through all the triumph and tragedy. I won't say how it ended just in case you ignored my warning and read on anyhow, but if you see one movie this fall, and enjoy John Travolta, GO SEE this movie. I will be buying it for sure, when its released on video. And I haven't felt like that in ages about a movie.

So after the movie, we went all over town to look for some thread to finish my quilt with, and finally found it at Atlantic Fabrics right behind the kid's apartment building...go figure. Of course, I bought more scrapbooking stuff there too...

Now we're in for the night, snacks are bought, and curling up in the living room to watch some Saturday night television, while the rain and snow sort themselves out. With any luck, it will be all gone by the time I go home again tomorrow.

Saturday with My Kid

I've landed, gone ashore in Halifax, lol. I rooted her out of bed and told her we had a full day ahead of us. We're taking a pass on the malls...gawd, its a city thing to forget about the downtown area and take the easy route to the malls. In Kitchener-Waterloo where we used to live, the downtown area sucked big time, so we always went to the malls. Here in Halifax, its GREAT! So we're heading down to shop for the day, taking the bus so we don't have to find somewhere to park or have to WALK BACK to the car, wherever it may be. I haven't ridden the bus since I moved away from K-W. Cool. I'm hoping we'll have a great day, and not too stressful. I hear we're supposed to get a big snowstorm today, so hopefully it holds off until we are finished walking around!

I went shopping last night, as I arrived here early and the younguns weren't off work yet, and I still have not gotten a copy of the apartment key...something we have to try to remember to get that done today. I bought a beautiful subtle purple top, loose, flowing and very thin cotton. Then Amber told me it looked just like the drapes I bought at the dollar store a few years ago. Sad thing is, she's right. Maybe I'll make a skirt out of the drapes to match.

I also bought one of those flip-chairs for the kids...self-serving of course. I just can't sleep on that damn leather loveseat anymore...squeak, squeak with every turn. And then there's the sweating on the leather...so the flip chair was quite comfy last night on the floor...just thick enough that my hips are still loving me today, and wide enough that my ass didn't hang over the edge (I heard that snicker). So, the kid is just about ready, lets get this day started!

Friday, November 12, 2004

Much Needed Mommy Daughter Time

I'm all packed for my weekend in Halifax for some much needed mommy-daughter time. After yesterday's endless meltdown over academic papers again, it will be good to spend some quality time together, doing fun stuff. She managed to get all of her papers completed so we will hopefully have fun this weekend. I hate the 3 hour drive there, especially alone, so have to be sure to bring some good CDs in the car as the radio SUCKS ASS. I wish I could get one of those sattelite radios for my car as I just love my sattelite music stations at home.

We're hoping to take in the new Bridget Jones movie, unless something else catches our eye. We also plan on scoping the malls for Christmas presents as well, and go out for dinner somewhere different.

So, I should really get the lead out and get to work...the quicker I get through this day, the better...Once again I am alone in my team, so anything could happen and I have to deal with it.

Wednesday, November 10, 2004

And Yet Another GREAT Idea from Madley

Thanks Madley, for yet another great idea. A Poll! I didn't even consider that you could post one on a blog, but like my new friend, Madley, I might even attempt to change it once a week or two. I'll accept suggested polls too. Look to the left under my ads (I hope) and you should find the poll.

Tuesday, November 09, 2004

The Nine Lives of the Resident Cat

Well, she tried to use up one of them tonight by catching herself on fire. Stupid cat. I am sitting here in my computer room/spare room/Amber's room and because the bulb burnt out in the lamp and I hate overhead lights, I have a couple of candles lit and sitting on the desk. Now, candles are not NEW to this feline, but apparently she has forgotten their flame like qualities. She has a habit of jumping up on my desk all the time, and parking her ass in front of the monitor to watch what I'm doing, or play with the mouse onscreen. Which irritates me sometimes, but I'm usually tolerant. But today, she decided to push her luck and jumped up right next to the candles. Now, her fur is longish and it wasn't long before I could smell burning fur and she wouldn't get down. I yelled at her, but didn't want to grab her because she might go up in a POOF! Finally she realized she was getting a little warm on the belly and jumped off...and as she did, there was smoke following her! So I chased her down to see just how bad she had burned herself, but she ran from me and gave me a dirty look like I had done that on purpose. Get over it feline. I grabbed her and surveyed the damage. Well, she is definitely scorched on the fur, but no burns on her skin. Now she's out licking off the curly ends of her fur. YUCK. I wonder if she learned that lesson?

poor kitty...

Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!

That was how my day began. I was wearing a long skirt (picture it, orange fabric with shiny satin inside...beautiful embroidered trim on the bottom...but it was probably too long. I was taking out the trash to my car, where I drive it to the bottom of my long driveway and then leave it for pick-up in an old freezer...you know the kind everyone in the country seems to have, that is, if they don't have an old oil tankwith a hole cut in it. Anyhow, there I was, in my orange skirt, bag of garbage in one hand, and over the right shoulder, my purse and lunch bag. In my right hand, my keys and a pack of gum for the car (I was out). Then it happened.

I stepped into the hem of my skirt after the first step...I knew I was going to fall. You kind of have that feeling. Like a train wreck in slow motion, I just knew it was going to hurt and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I landed on both knees (WHY, OH WHY IS IT ALWAYS THE F-ing KNEES???) and then subsequently fell over onto the bag of garbage...soft landing for my ass anyhow...not like it needs it. Then the pain set in. And the crying began. I was sure I had cracked open my knee cap this time, let me tell you. It went right past that sick to your stomach lurch you get when you give it a good crack on the coffee table and into serious pain. Holy Cow. now what. I've fallen and I can't get up. Here I am, out in the country that I thought would be so good for me and not a soul in sight. My neighbor Max is gone to work, and her husband has gone hunting, hours ago. My neighbor on the other side is an ailing old lady who sounds like she's gonna cough up a lung, and the others are too far to hear me! No one lives across the street from me, and my driveway is so long, even the garbage man wouldn't hear me.

Great. Now what in the hell was I going to do? I didn't even think about the CELL PHONE in my purse, next to me. I was in too much pain. But the pain eased up after about 10 minutes and I was finally able to pull myself up, stop screaming out and the crying had settled to a low whimper. My knees were both skinned over, with scrapes about five inches across on my right knee and just 2-3 inches on my left. And you can bet there will be a nice bruise on one or both of them. My friends, when they stop laughing, say I'm lucky I didn't hit my head. Yeah, that's luck. They don't know how hard my head is. Or big. It can take a helluva hit, more than my poor knees.

So off I hobbled into my car, garbage in tote. Of course, the temptation was to leave the damn garbage right where it was, but I didn't want little critters making a mess while I was gone. I dumped off the garbage at the end of the driveway and headed into work late. I did get some sympathy when I got there and people saw the size of my scrapes...once the laughing died down.

I saw my neighbor when I got home today and told her about it. She was very upset that she didn't get to see me fall. Thanks Max. I'll remember that the next time that horse of yours tosses your sorry ass on the ground, heh heh. Hope I'm there.

When does the clumsiness stop again? I have been clumsy my whole life. I'm ready to end it now. As you recall, I just healed up from my last fall, in front of the courthouse in September. Now I have fresh wounds to scar my poor battered legs.

whimper, whine...

My Friend Phyllis

Have I talked about my friend Phyllis? I met her on my trip to Ireland in 2001. It was after I arrived in Ireland and had spent 3 miserable days in Limerick. I didn't know anyone and the hostel was very unfriendly. I was afraid they were all going to be like that, as I had never stayed in a hostel before, nor had I travelled like this before, with just a backpack and no plan. But then I met Phyllis. We were both just off the bus, heading for the Barnacles Quay Hostel in Galway, so weeding our way through busy streets, wondering where in the hell we were. We happened to bump into one another after seeing the Canadian Flag and so headed to the hostel together, following a very considerate local who showed us the way. Once we got there and found our room not to be ready, Phyllis and I headed over to the Quays Pub and had a few pints.

For the next 3 days, Phyllis and I toured Galway, and being a Canadian, it was easy communication. There were many foreigners in our hostel, including one Dutch gal named Madeleine, who joined our group as well. We went sightseeing, to the pubs, and out for meals. It was great! Then we parted ways on the fourth day with Phyllis travelling north and Madeleine and I were heading to the Aran Island of Inish Mor together. Its just more fun to travel with someone you just met for a few days. After we returned from the island, Madeleine moved on to her next destination, which was back to her au pair job in England, and I moved on to Cork, then Kilkenny.

Where I was in the kitchen, cooking supper with some folks there, when in walked Phyllis! So we grouped up again, this time with a bunch of other likeminded travellers and toured that city, went to the movies, the pubs, out for supper, etc. Since then, I have lived vicariously through Phyllis. While I only had just three weeks abroad that year, Phyllis kept on travelling. She's in her late 60's and full of energy. Please feel free to visit her blog that I keep for her from all her e-mails she sends out and read of her amazing tales. Just this week while in England again, she met Brian May from Queen and talked to him!!! On another adventure in Australia, she was sitting next to Charlie Watts, the drummer from the Rolling Stones and proceeded to chat him up for a while, and THEN he gave her Big Mouth memorabilia, right there in the restaurant. He was sitting there with a Roadie who was from Toronto. And the most jealous I am of her was when she met Matthew McConaughey in Ireland, at a pub and chatted him up for the longest time, while pulling back a pint. She even danced with him, and saw him play the bongo drums...Now I am severely JEALOUS.

Anyhow, she's a good friend and fellow traveller, who inspires me to keep on travelling until I can't anymore. I hope to bump into her again some day, in some exotic location. Way to go Phyllis!

Sunday, November 07, 2004

Anger Management (taken from an e-mail foward)

When you occasionally have a really bad day, and you just need to take it out on someone, don’t take it out on someone you know, take it out on someone you don’t know.

I was sitting at my desk when I remembered a phone call I had forgotten to make. I found the number and dialed it. A man answered, saying, “Hello.” I politely said, “This is Andrew. Could I please speak with Robin Carter?” Suddenly, the phone was slammed down on me. I couldn’t believe that anyone could be so rude. I tracked down Robin’s correct number and called her. I had transposed the last two digits of her phone number.

After hanging up with her, I decided to call the ‘wrong’ number again. When the same guy answered the phone, I yelled, “You’re an asshole!” and hung up. I wrote his number down with the word ‘asshole’ next to it, and put it in my desk drawer.

Every couple of weeks, when I was paying bills or had a really bad day, I’d call him up and yell, “You’re an asshole!” It always cheered me up. When Caller ID came to our area, I thought my therapeutic ‘asshole’ calling would have to stop. So, I called his number and said, “Hi, this is John Smith from the Telephone Company. I’m just calling to see if you’re familiar with the Caller ID program?” He yelled, “NO!” and slammed the phone down. I quickly called him back and said, “That’s because you’re an asshole!”

One day I was at the store, getting ready to pull into a parking spot. Some guy in a black BMW cut me off and pulled into the spot I had patiently waited for. I hit the horn and yelled that I had been waiting for the spot. The idiot ignored me. I noticed a “For Sale” sign in his car window...so, I wrote down his number.

A couple of days later, right after calling the first asshole, (I had his number on speed dial), I thought I had better call the BMW asshole, too. I said, “Is this the man with the black BMW for sale?” “Yes, it is.” “Can you tell me where I can see it?” “Yes, I live at 1802 West 34th Street. It’s a yellow house, and the car’s parked right out in front.” “What’s your name?” I asked. “My name is Don Hansen,” he said. “When’s a good time to catch you, Don?” “I’m home every evening after five.” “Listen, Don, can I tell you something?” “Yes?” “Don, you’re an asshole.” Then I hung up, and added his number to my speed dial, too.

Now, when I had a problem, I had two assholes to call. But after several months of calling them, it wasn’t as enjoyable as it used to be. So, I came up with an idea. I called Asshole #1. “Hello.” “You’re an asshole!” (But I didn’t hang up.) “Are you still there?” he asked. “Yeah,” I said. “Stop calling me,” he screamed. “Make me!,” I said. “Who are you?” he asked. “My name is Don Hansen.” “Yeah? Where do you live?” “Asshole, I live at 1802 West 34th Street, a yellow house, with my black Beamer parked in front.” He said, “I’m coming over right now, Don. And you had better start saying your prayers.” I said, “Yeah, like I’m really scared, asshole.”

Then I called Asshole #2. “Hello?” he said. “Hello, asshole,” I said. He yelled, “If I ever find out who you are?” “You’ll what?” I said. “I’ll kick your ass,” he exclaimed.

I answered, “Well, asshole, here’s your chance. I’m coming over right now.” Then I hung up and immediately called the police, saying that I lived at 1802 West 34th Street, and that I was on my way over there to kill my gay lover. Then I called Channel 13 News about the gang war going down on West 34th Street. I quickly got into my car and headed over to 34th street. There I saw two assholes beating the crap out of each other in front of six squad cars, a police helicopter, and news crew.

NOW, I feel better.

Anger management at it’s very best.

this cracks me up every time I read it!

And We Have Jelly

Well, it was a piece of work, but I think I have jelly! I let my pulp hang on the cupboard door all night, draining into a large bowl and by morning I had five whole cups of liquid...ok, so there wasn't going to be lots of jelly...thats ok, though I don't EAT lots of jelly. I then set the jars on to boil as you have to pour hot jelly into hot jars, sterilized. And then I set the jelly on to boil with sugar for nearly an hour. Lacking a candy thermometer (I still like to do some things the old fashioned way) I found a recipe on the net that just said to boil for an hour...fine with me. It boiled and boiled, and then I went to stir it when it was almost done, and spilled it all over the stove...and began to burn. If you have ever burnt sugar before, its not entirely unpleasant, however, will cause the smoke detector to go off...so I ripped the battery out of that, and went back to the jelly.

Seems jelly has to be timed just right and its GO GO GO...take jars out of boiling water (without scalding onself...they are HOT afterall) and place on cupboard...search for funnel so jelly can be poured into jars, pour jelly into jars, ooops, need lids to be in hot water for good seal...pour scalding water over them, seal jars immediately, screw on lids, throw them back into the pot of water where the jars had boiled to seal the jelly for 5 minutes and WHEW! Its all over. Mind you, the jelly looked very liquid when I poured it in, and I was somewhat disheartened, but after checking it just now, only 30 minutes later with the jars still warm, it has begun to set...WHOO HOO!

We have jelly. 4 and 1/2 jars.

Saturday, November 06, 2004

Let there be Jelly

My first batch of jelly, ever. Its not done yet, but about halfway. I have taken dozens of apples from my little orchard out back and cut them up, cooked them for nearly an hour and now they're hanging in a "jelly bag" that I made from some muslin. There doesn't seem to be much juice there, so I think I will have to let the apples hang all night and make the jelly in the morning. Its a very simple recipe, all natural. Apples, sugar and water. That's it. So I'm hoping it will turn out okay. If not, not big loss as I can try again...tons of apples out back yet.

When I was cutting up the apples, there were seeds flying all over, and you don't cut them out, but cook them with the apples. They add pectin to the jelly. Of course, seeds were flying everywhere as I chopped up the fruit. And I didn't think too much about it...vacuumed the floor when all done and thought that was the end of it. Oh no. Was cooking something just now and as the burner heated up, I discovered that apple seeds make a very large POP when they get heated, kind of like popcorn. Go figure. Sure scared the crap out of me though. So then I checked the rest of the burners for stray apple seeds.

Fresh apple pie for dessert tonight too. My friend Mel is coming over to share supper with me...steak, mushrooms, baked potatoes, glazed corn, and fresh bread is on the menu tonight...and of course, the apple pie.

Yum.

Friday, November 05, 2004

Phone Woes

Just when I thought I had my problem solved, the phone woes continue. Shortly after I had my number changed, I began getting calls from "Patient Hospital" and someone asking for Trevor. I told them they had the wrong number, but this woman kept calling. I also had calls from a Mac something, asking for Trevor. I was beginning to get irritated as this new number was supposed to be an unused one since 1999, Aliant has assured me. I was getting plenty of hangups on my voicemail too, corresponding to the times when Patient Hospital and the Mac something would call. Then Mac something left a message for Trevor. This woman was calling to let Trevor know that his mother was getting out of the hospital today and could he pick her up. Ok, enough was enough. Time to call Mac something and let her know that Trevor's mother was going to be waiting a long time at the hospital if they didn't stop leaving messages for Trevor on my phone. When I told her this, the mac something woman became irate with me, and didn't believe me that someone had left a message on my machine. Ok lady, I am some random stranger that just happens to know that Trevor's mom is getting out of the hospital...sheesh...she informed me that Trevor's number is ***-**** which was just ONE number off from my own. So I told her that. She still didn't believe me. So I said, look lady, believe what you want but believe this...Trevor ain't picking his mom up today unless you call the right number. Fine. Bye. So now when you call my answering machine, it says "Hi, you have reached ***-**** and this is not Trevor's number. If you would like to leave a message for Jude, please feel free to do so. Do not leave messages for Trevor."

So thinking I had dealt with that problem, there would be no more. Oh yes, there is more. Three calls (and subsequent hang-ups) from a long distance caller today, with no name or number identified. Then I happened to be home this afternoon and answered. On the other end was an east Indian accent asking for Dor-o-tee MAC DonALD.

Sorry bud, you have the wrong number.

What, this is not Dor-o-tee MAC DonALD?

No, it isn't, you have the wrong number.

I am looking for Dor-o-tee MAC DonALD, are you sure this is not Dor-o-tee MAC DonALD?

Yes, I am sure. There is just one person living here, and it is me and I am pretty sure I'm not Mac Donald.

Well, do you know Dor-o-tee MAC DonALD?

No, I do not know Dorothy MacDonald.

Do you know MAC DonALD?

Listen buddy, I live in Cape Breton, I know hundreds of MacDonalds. Take your pick.

Do you know Dor-o-tee MAC DonALD?

No I do not.

What number is this?

You tell me what number you think you called.

***-****.

Well, that's my number but it is not Dorothy Mac Donald's number.

Are you sure?

Yes, I am quite sure. I just got assigned this number a few weeks ago and it hasn't been in use since 1999. If you haven't called her since 1999, she is probably dead. Now stop calling me.

OK Ma'am. You are not Dor-o-tee MAC DonALD?

No.

Click.

I kid you not.

Thursday, November 04, 2004

I Smell It

It is winter, and I smell it coming. And I am not happy about it. Not that I can do much, other than move south. But I feel the chill in the air as I wake up each morning and freeze putting my clothes on. I try to conjure up images and feelings of overheating from this summer, and from my trip to Guatemala and Belize where I thought I could never feel cool again...and sometimes it actually works. I do like the feeling of curling up with quilts and watching television, or reading a good book though. I just wish I had a fireplace to snuggle by...darn it. I did, however, get an invitation to sit by one should the power go out. Although they don't have any wood, so I don't know where that would go. But then, there is that big woodpile out by my house that my landlord's brother is cutting...hmmm...think he would miss a piece or three???

I've begun to wear gloves, and scarves...don't know if I will break out the winter coat just yet. I hate my winter jacket, and its a shame, because there isn't anything wrong with it. I want to get an actual COAT to wear to work. I haven't had a nice wool coat for many years...since I was in high school if you can believe that. So I think its about time. I saw one in the Sears catalogue that I had my eye on, down past the knees it was, so I can wear it with my skirts this winter. On me, shortass that I am, it will likely be down past my ankles...fine with me! Now I just need the pesos to buy it...

Roomie and I have to break down and buy some oil soon. I haven't checked the tank this week, but last week, it was finally starting to dip below half. There is no panic yet, but I want to get a delivery before the end of the month if I can, before we do run out. One cold snap can sure make fast work of the oil in there.

Someone told me the Farmer's Almanac stated that we are in for a long and snowy winter...I also heard that because there are lots of apples on the trees, we are in for a lot of snow. Great...another winter to bitch about the snow...get ready. At least this year, I do have the scoop, which I didn't have my first winter here when I nearly had a breakdown...what am I talking about...I did have a breakdown. Amber will remember the tantrum I threw in the driveway when I got my agency car stuck...

Anyhow...here's to cozy warm beds, piled high with homemade quilts...I think I shall be spending a great deal of time there...

Wednesday, November 03, 2004

Incidentally, I have been kicked out of school...did I mention that on my lists?

It was the summer of 1982...I had been attending Integrated High School (the school for the protestants) and just hated school at the time, and the principal, Mr Penney. I was waiting to write my second to last exam, and we were all stuffed into these open classrooms...you know the kind where they have these stupid heavy vinyl folding doors they open to make huge classrooms for exam writing, or whatever. Anyhow, we were in with three other grades, who had already received their exam by that point and it was about 20-25 minutes into the writing time and our exam had still not shown up. So I called over whoever was supervising closest to me...happened to be Mr Penny. So I asked him when they were going to show up. He asked me if I had somewhere else to be, and my reply (smartass that I was) was that I was just getting sick and tired of the exam room, so I'd like to know if we are writing this exam today.

And so he kicked me out. Out of the exam room, and out of the school. Uh-oh. I ended up enrolled in Catholic School the following fall - St. Stephen's High. Which turned out to be a much better school without a dork for a principal. This was the guy who kicked out a pregnant girl for being pregnant AND her boyfriend for getting her pregnant. What an ass. That was his last year there. The following year, my friend was pregnant and encouraged to stay until right before she gave birth. As well, another friend was also pregnant the year before at the Catholic school and was ALSO encouraged to stay and delivered a day or two after her last day of school.

Oh, the memories...I was kicked out of class at Integrated more times that I can count. I certainly didn't feel like I was there to learn. Perhaps it was the company I kept, but likely my smartass attitude at the time. Interestingly enough, I only ever failed one class at that school, and that was Biology, as previously mentioned, with Mr Rubberhead.

Robbing yet another post idea from Madley (thanks!)

You are Catcher in the Rye!
You are Catcher in the Rye! Schools ban you or kick
you out, but there's really nothing wrong with
you. You're a pretty average Joe, kind of dopey
and preoccupied with sex, but at least you
aren't as fucked up as some people you know.
Straighten up a bit, it won't hurt you. You'd
enjoy books like...well... go find yourself
some nice National Geographics, kid.

Which Piece of Classic Literature are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

HASH(0x8ca4ce8)
Bai Hu - Tiger!Mythological Background: The tiger is associated
with strength and the desire for a challenge.
It is also associated with hope to win, or
rather, the blooming season. It is also linked
to meandering, or the ability to be in contact
with a lot of aspects. The tiger also stands
for war and soldiers fighting to the end, for
the sake of their country.

Which Chinese Mythological Being Are You?
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An Oldie But a Goodie

Inquiring minds wanted to know about the skidoo in the pond, since I said it was a story for another day, well, today's that day. First of all, a Skidoo is just a brand term for a snowmobile, kind of like we call all facial tissues - Kleenex. Only my snowmobile was actually a Skidoo. Anyhow, the story happened about 13-14 years ago in the small outport in Newfoundland where I used to live. I had left my daughter at home with her dad and taken my skidoo for a ride in over the country. When I had crossed Big Pond, it had some water on it, but just a skim of it, so I crossed it and wend on my way. After skidooing for about an hour, I decided to head back, as I had told my husband I would only be about an hour. On the return though, that pond had started to flood. This is when rains from the previous night raise the waterfall that feeds the pond and flood over the top of the pond, instead of its usual path, under the pond. And flood it did...the centre of the pond was yellow with the brownish pond water. Still, I thought, well, I can cross that, I'll just give it the gas and get through, thinking it was just a few inches, no big deal.

Well, it was a BIG deal, and it was about 2 feet of water. I began into the water, and once it was about 6-8 inches, I realized I should turn back, but alas, the skidoo refused to turn any which way, because now the ice was smooth and held no traction. So I kept on going, hoping to go through it all the way and anyhow, how much deeper could it get? Well, it got deeper, and eventually it was deep enough to cut the engine out on my skidoo, leaving me stranded.

If you have ever walked across any large pond or lake in the winter, you may have heard the thunderous cracks they make, you know the kind...they scare the bejesus out of you, but don't really amount to much and the ice is safe for months afterwards. But they also happen in the spring when the ice breaks up. So as I sat there on my soggy skidoo, surrounded by an above ice pool of water, the pond ice began those thunderous cracks, and I knew with the weight of the pool on it, it might even collapse. I couldn't sit on my skidoo any longer and knew I needed help, besides that, my legs were soaking wet now. So I stood on my skidoo and hollered for help, hoping that SOMEONE would hear me and do something for me. The pond was right next to the community, so anyone crossing the Brook Bridge would hear and see me.

Someone did. Thank goodness my husband's Uncle Cyril came to the rescue. Of course, he cursed at me first for being so stupid...I likely deserved that. But lecture me later, man, just get me out of here! I was afraid to get off the skidoo because of the cracking ice, but afraid to stay on, because of the cracking ice...didn't want to go down with it! So Uncle Cyril ran for help and the next thing I see is an aluminum row boat being dragged over the snow by some of my brother-in-laws, and they put it in the water to row out to get me. Of course, by this time, my husband had been watching out the window, wondering where I was and saw the aluminum boat being hauled up the road to the pond. So he wondered - where in the hell are they going with that and I bet it has something to do with my poor stupid wife. He was right.

So they rowed out to get me, and brought me in, then rowed out to tow in the skidoo. I was freezing by then, but very grateful! I went home and dried off, as did the skidoo and believe it or not, a few pulls and the skidoo started right away. I was quite nervous about going skidooing again, but you can bet I stay FAR away from wet looking frozen ponds.

The following day, there was a big hole in the pond where my skidoo had been, as it likely created a weak spot in the pond, and ate through the pond thickness. The men in the community placed an old tree there to mark the hole as a danger sign, where it stayed until the spring thaw came.

Most all that live in Grand Bruit will remember that story...I sure do!

Tuesday, November 02, 2004

Friendship - without the saccharine

Are you tired of all those sissy "friendship" poems that always sound good, but never actually come close to reality? Well, here is a series of promises that really speaks to true friendship:

1. When you are sad - I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against the sorry bastard who made you sad.
2. When you are blue - I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.
3. When you smile - I will know you finally got laid
4. When you are scared - I will rag on you about it every chance I get.
5. When you are worried - I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be and to quit whining.
6. When you are confused - I will use little words.
7. When you are sick - Stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.
8. When you fall - I will point and laugh at your clumsy ass.

This is my oath...I pledge it till the end. Why? You may ask. Because you are my friend.

(this got me a few chuckles today...its too much like me I reckon)

I'm in Password HELL

It was a story on msn online, and I can sympathize...I began thinking about all the passwords I have to remember and wonder how in the hell I ever do. I have a bunch of them written down, but I don't carry that book with me, so then I have to remember them. And then there's the ones at work that I have to change monthly, two of them, and one of them does not permit you to use the same password twice. So I've been there two and a half years, I am running out of memorable passwords. They also say that you should not use family member's names or birthdates, etc, nor should you repeat your password...great, more stress. I wonder how many actually do that. So for another list, I'm naming all of the places I need passwords...but not the passwords, because that would be, uh, STUPID.

  1. my blogger account
  2. my classmates.com account
  3. my network account at work
  4. my DCS (department of community services) account
  5. my hotmail
  6. my sympatico dial-up
  7. my two debit cards
  8. not to be confused with my on-line banking passwords
  9. my voicemail at home
  10. my voicemail at work
  11. my QUEST password (from university of Waterloo, though not so much anymore, but if I want to print off a copy of my transcript)
  12. my Yahoo mail account
  13. all of my other hotmail accounts
  14. my secret words to talk to bank people
  15. my code word for Amber (back when she was younger, we had one so she would know if I sent someone to pick her up)
  16. my calling card PIN
  17. the security code for the door to my office area, which changes every 6-8 weeks
  18. the combination to my lock I use on my backpack when I travel...its hard to remember it when I only use it maybe once a year

I'm sure there's more if I just think about it longer...I'll be glad when the bring in fingerprint or iris recognition for general use...now THAT would be cool.

Monday, November 01, 2004

Another 101 things about me (or nearly so)

Now you may know these things...and you may not. But I thought of some more and wanted to continue... read on...

  1. I squeeze the toothpaste from the middle and I don't care either what it looks like. It will call come out just the same. I usually just throw it out when I get tired of it and buy another one, with a better flavour, if I don't lose it first by leaving it at someone's house.
  2. when I was in high school, I got kicked out of class numerous times. Only at Stephenville Integrated High though. I was a better girl at all my other schools. Apparently there is a famous story still circulated about me and why I got kicked out this one time from Biology class. Its true, I just can't believe they remember it. It had to do with a detailed report I gave to the teacher as to why I was late.
  3. my Biology teacher's name was Mr Combden...of course, we never called him that. Mr Condom, Frenchy, Rubberhead...whatever
  4. I failed his class intentionally...I drew pictures on the exam. I won't say of what.
  5. I passed it the following year at another school
  6. I failed one other class in my whole life...math in grade 11.
  7. the school had a strike that year, and we lost 5 teaching weeks.
  8. 100 of 110 students failed math that year
  9. I once kept a kitten in my locker for a day. Someone had brought it to school and I wanted to take it home, but had to wait until after school, so hid her in my locker. The principal found out when he walked by my locker and it mewled...
  10. I did take the kitten home and we had that cat for 13 years
  11. her name was Patches (but secretly named Fame)
  12. she was a calico cat, just like the current resident feline
  13. I went on a school trip in high school to the Yukon. We camped at Kluane National Park and swam in the hot springs
  14. I panned for gold on that trip too and got some. I also got my photo taken in a bear skin coat that day
  15. I have travelled to every province and two of the territories. I had them all covered until they made another territory.
  16. my ex-husband used to work at a gold mine
  17. my daughter and I toured the gold mine, twice and saw a gold bar being poured
  18. we got to hold a gold bar, worth over a half a million bucks
  19. once when my ex worked a day in the refinery there, he came home with gold dust in his nose
  20. I can drive a skidoo and once floated mine in a pond...that's a story for another day
  21. I was just little when I learned how to drive a skidoo, maybe 5 or 6.
  22. It was a Bombardier Elan
  23. My skidoo was a Bombardier Tundra
  24. florescent lights give me a headache. I have a lamp on at work and never turn the overhead on if I can help it
  25. I don't regret getting married. I just regret staying married for so long.
  26. I worry about being alone in my coming years
  27. but I don't regret getting divorced
  28. I have gone on a number of blind dates I met on the internet through dating services
  29. they all sucked but one...then he sucked for not calling me ever again
  30. my favorite magazine is the Reader's Digest...but then its not really a magazine. Otherwise I really like Biography Magazine, although I can't find it anymore
  31. I hate newspapers lying around. I throw them out minutes after I finish reading them
  32. I keep magazines for years. We once buried dozens of them when I lived in Newfoundland because there was no recycling program at the time and I had to get rid of them.
  33. I will never raise another dog unless it comes with a man to take care of it
  34. I once owned a dog named Gypsy that was blind as a bat. He had hydrocephalus and had to be put down a week after I got him
  35. I cried like a baby.
  36. I don't really like candy. Although I have recently rediscovered Fun Dips..go figure.
  37. I am addicted to chips, of just about any kind
  38. I have god parents, my aunt and uncle from my dad's side and I never hear from them. I guess they never took their role seriously...either that or gave up when they heard I was an agnostic
  39. I once had a babysitter named Tammy, from up the street who burned the popcorn EVERY time she made it.
  40. I love popcorn, especially the kind you get at the movies
  41. I am rarely late for anything
  42. I am a morning person, and often try to be a night owl, but get tired and go to bed. I can't even sleep in on the weekends and wish that I could.
  43. I like a good Texas accent, especially on Matthew McConaughey
  44. I would like to date someone with an Australian accent, or Eastern European, like Croatian...I just know I like Luka's from ER
  45. I hate hospitals. The smell is awful.
  46. I don't particularly like ice cream, but if forced to eat it, would choose some sort of chocolate kind with stuff in it
  47. I don't drink coffee or tea...ever.
  48. I do drink cappuchino's from Tim Horton's, both kinds
  49. I hate shopping when little kids are around. Their parents make too much noise.
  50. Once when I took Amber shopping, she was sitting in the cart at the checkout and announced to everyone "you never feed me". that was cute.
  51. My hair is pimpin purple. someone commented on my halloween hair from last night. I loved the look on their face when I told them it wasn't halloween hair, but my regular hair. You could hear a pin drop. It was at the Ultramar.
  52. if there was a fire in my house, I would take my kitty and my CDs of photos. The rest is just stuff.
  53. I am sitting in my spare room, with a book case full of paper, a futon, a night stand and of course, my computer desk. I hate that it is not Amber's room.
  54. when I get extra money on my paycheck, I want to spend it. It doesn't matter on what, but I rarely save anything
  55. I expect to retire poor.
  56. my feet are always hot. I am still wearing sandals to work and its November.
  57. right now, my feet are bare. and hot
  58. I am near sighted with an astigmatism. I hate it. I would love to have lasik surgery, but don't have the money. So I wear contacts during the day and glasses at night
  59. I am wearing my glasses right now
  60. I once left my glasses outside and the dog chewed up the ear pieces
  61. I applied for the military twice and my eye exam is the only thing I failed. I lost my contact three days before the first attempt and could have gotten in if I hadn't.
  62. I love watching Maternity Ward on TLC...all those babies being born and I don't have to feed any of them
  63. I was in labour for 34 hours with Amber
  64. on the day I got home from the hospital, I wallpapered my bathroom
  65. her father got drunk both on the day she was born and the day we came home
  66. I can't sleep with the light on
  67. My kitty sleeps with me, often tucked into my arm, under most of the covers
  68. I don't usually sleep very well and have had insomnia for many years
  69. when I feel stressed, I feel it in my chest as a big knot
  70. I don't often get stressed
  71. I like tall guys...not super tall, but at least 5'10"
  72. my ex-husband was just 5'3"...what a shorty!
  73. I am just 5'4"
  74. my eyes were dark brown when I was younger
  75. I used to smoke and quit in 1987
  76. I used to drive a moped
  77. I had my motorcycle license at the time
  78. I can also drive a motorcycle AND an ATV
  79. I own neither
  80. I once dressed as "Satan's Slut" for a school Halloween dance. My friend JoAnne did too, but chickened out at the last minute and changed
  81. I have a recurring dream about being lost in a school full of rooms, corridors, stairwells, and balconies
  82. I used to have another where I was lost in a subway station, in downtown Toronto. It went away when I moved back to Ontario and went on the subway again
  83. I have another recurring dream where I am packing to go somewhere and just never can get packed in time to catch my flight/boat/train
  84. I have only ever missed the plane once, when Amber and I were flying out of London to Italy. We missed it by about 15 minutes
  85. It cost us another $200 to get out of there the following day
  86. I usually pack days in advance
  87. I own purple luggage. really purple.
  88. I lease a silver echo.
  89. the name I gave the car is also "Silver" although I never call it that. I usually just call it "the car"...much like the resident feline is known as "the cat".
  90. I am a huge fan of Survivor and The Amazing Race. All other reality shows don't interest me
  91. I bet in a Survivor pool at work
  92. I have never picked a winning survivor
  93. I can't sleep nude, ever. I get too cold and worry about what I would do in a fire
  94. thongs are NOT for me
  95. neither are high heels
  96. and forget about panty hose...I don't even own any these days
  97. I hate shaving, but slave to conform as other western women do
  98. I hate wearing a bra even more, but also do because it is expected
  99. I have never gone topless
  100. I came close in a hot tub a couple of years ago, but decided it would be gross
  101. I can't believe I am at the end of another 101 list. Thanks Madley for the inspiration!

Time for another list

now, since I enjoyed that last list so much, I'm feeling like its time soon for another list. Perhaps my favorite movie quotes, or something like that...open for suggestions, by all means. Something to think about for tonight when I get back home from work.

time to go save the world...

 
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