I have today off from work, which is totally groovy, but where in the hell is the maid? Heh heh...lots of housework to do again today...sigh. All I want to do is sit and watch my DVD collection I got in the mail yesterday, Four Flicks (Rolling Stones) and moon over Mick in his younger years. Blast this housework!
As I mentioned last week, I bought a new laptop from Dell. And I got a bunch of mail from them, first my contract, then my invoices for both my computer and my printer. Then I got another invoice today for a different computer, addressed to someone totally different, but at my mailing address. Its paid for, and the way it has worked in the past when I bought a new Dell, twice before, I got the invoice a day before delivery. So I was left to wonder if the computer on the invoice would also show up here. Wouldn't that be nice? And it was a more expensive computer than mine, higher end. So I called Dell. They have this guy, James down as living at my address and with my phone numbers. They asked me why would James do this, give out my address and phone numbers as his own. Um. I don't think so. I think the mistake is yours, poncho. I think when I ordered my computer, my information was not cleared in some way from the system and then they took the next order, which was for our friend James. I mean seriously, how would someone get both my unlisted home number AND my blocked government desk number AND my house number all together. And then why would they proceed to order a computer and have it sent here. I think he thought I was hiding James here somewhere. Anyhow. Now I realize I probably could have just let things happen, take the new computer and sell it immediately. I'm moving in two months, they might never find out what happened to it...heh heh...
but dammit, I'm too honest.
but he can be very evil...last night I thought he broke my laptop...jumped up on my lap where it was, scratching and clawing his way and plastic flew off on the floor...thankfully it was just a key that popped of and I simply snapped it back on, but for a few minutes I was freaking out...and he got a stern talking to, ha hah.
Well, not too long ago the thought of company coming for a few days would have sent me into a cleaning frenzy and baking spree. The fridge would be stocked, and everthing would be 'just so'. Tomorrow my parents and my sister's in-laws arrive for a few days and I have done none of those things. What has become of me? Heh heh. I don't feel like impressing anyone any more I guess. My house is a little untidy, so what. I live alone and am the only one I have to answer to. (When did that happen???) I like baking but eat too much of it as it is, so haven't baked in eons. stocked fridge...um, I hardly ever cook anymore, let alone shop for groceries. Oh how the times have changed. Do I like the new, more relaxed person I am becoming? (hold the chuckles, I am not the same at home that I am at work, M. and you know it.) You should have seen me before, when I lived in Newfoundland. A little high strung, you might say. I have mellowed a fair bit over the past years, particularly since I began living on my own.
So, there will be no 3 course meal tomorrow night, nor sparkling commode, but they will have a clean bed to sleep in. What else could they need?
I am looking forward to some company for a few days though...with M. gone for the week, the nights will be dull! Hope you're having fun in the city, M.
Its been a slow weekend. Hung out at my friends new house on Friday night, but didn't stay late. Last night I was hanging out at M.'s house, just watching movies...notably a very different kind of movie, Coffee and Cigarettes. The days have been spent just puttering around the house, cleaning up, organizing, going through junk I don't want to move with. I know what's missing...I haven't talked to my daughter this weekend. One way to solve that...
My parents arrive on Tuesday night, just after supper. The coming weeks will be busy ones with family coming and going, my surgery and wrapping up my cases before I go, not to mention getting organized to move. Sigh...I just wish I was already there, so I could say it was over. But I don't want to wish the time away...
The neighbors cut the grass today...it had been getting long. It might be the last cut of the year...I love the smell of fresh cut grass, allallergies aside. It's gonna be a loooong winter.
And it's finally cool enough to sleep at night. So what am I complaining about, its actually been a good weekend. I think I need to go to bed soon so Monday will come faster...har har.
I got it, my new laptop. Its really nice, and very compact and thin. I've spent the night downloading stuff, with lots more to go yet. I set some up before going out tonight to download, so it was done when I got back. I think I have a buyer for my desktop too, which is great. AND I have a place to unload my desk too, my friends who just bought a new house are in need, so perfect! I think I might look for a small table to put my computer stuff on, like my printer and scanner...down the road though.
I have to figure out a way to close the lid without disconnecting from the internet. I want to leave it on to download for long periods of time, but don't want the cats jumping on the keyboard, so would prefer to close the lid, but both times I did that, it put the computer in standby and disconnected from the internet. hmmmm...
So the weekend will be partly spent cleaning off my desktop computer and desk, and transferring most of my files to cd rom. This new puter has a dvd burner, so now I need to figure out how to work it.
so much to do...so little time...
yeah, its a Wednesday. Only two days left in this work week. Surely it can only get better. My cats are getting along much better these days. Not near as much snarling as before.
I saw my kid yesterday and it was GREAT! We hung out, went out for lunch, and she got a wicked special with shrimp and fries for just $4. We picked up a carpet cleaner and did her apartment. It looks sharp now :-)
I contacted the Yukon agency today to give them dates for when I want to leave, and when the movers should come for an estimate. I also sent back my signed offer of term employment. Now I have to go.
I saw my friends' new house today - it is so cool, and I am so happy for them. My favorite part is the wood stove/hearth. I hope I can find a little house with a wood stove in it.
my parents are coming on Tuesday. I guess I have to clean the house...luckily its not too bad right now.
Had me one of those yesterday. I've been getting increasingly frustrated at work, for a lot of reasons. Staff changes - people leaving the agency, not all positions are filled(this means I can't transfer any files until they do, but it doesn't stop new ones from coming in); challenging clients who just don't want to listen to what you say, or better yet, clients who avoid or hide from you; not enough money...same old issue, hence the move north for bigger $$$; and frustration with paperwork and our archaic computer program. Then to top off an already frustrating day, a disheartening call from my professional association. So I got up and left, stomping out the door, muttering something I recall, probably that this job sucks and I quit.
Of course, I can't quit, but I came awful close yesterday to quitting social work altogether. Who needs this shit? The clients mostly hate you, the judges are out to get you, the pay sucks, there are never enough hours in the day to do the work, there is little recognition in society for the difficult work we do, other than the token "glad I don't have your job" or my personal favorite "I could never do your job". And then you have clients who screw up time after time, and regardless of how one tries to distance themselves, you still end up feeling guilty for their mistakes.
I know part of it is that I am just under a lot of stress lately. I didn't think I was, but that's how it goes, it just sneaks up on you and you have a melt down. Only mine have been more frequent, and I have no patience at work, either with clients or co-workers, which is not something I am very proud of, although I don't think I have done my clients any disservice, they just aren't getting the warm fuzzies from me these days. Information only. You want hand holding, look elsewhere because it ain't my job.
You would think that getting a new job would be exciting, and I am but I am too stressed to enjoy that part of it. I am also having surgery in a few weeks, plus a possible root canal, I am flat broke, I have all this crap to sort through at home before I want movers to pack me up, I'm leaving behind some very good friends, and a lovely house, not to mention my daughter, who I will miss the most. I need to get all my shit sorted out at work before I go, and I just don't know when its all going to get done.
I had said I would keep doing this job until I got up one day and didn't want to go to work. That was my yesterday. However, I am choosing to ignore my own advise and will go to the Yukon and make big money and get myself out of debt at least. That would remove that stress at least (those damn student loans).
I think part of the entire problem is that I live alone, so at the end of the day, there is no one there to listen, support and comfort me. I hate it, but don't know what else to do to change it. I find myself ALMOST wishing I had never divorced, but then I would be in a different sort of hell, so thank god that thought never gets far...
Ok, enough ranting...I am in the city for work today and will be taking my daughter to lunch, even if I can't afford it. I just want to soak up every minute with her. Can you blame me?
Jennifer's mother had found the PERFECT dress to wear and would be the best-dressed mother-of-the-bride ever.
A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father's new young wife had bought the exact same dress. Jennifer asked her to exchange it, but she refused.
"Absolutely not. I look like a million bucks in this dress, and I'm wearing it," she replied.
Jennifer told her mother who graciously said, "Never mind sweetheart. I'll get another dress. After all, it's your special day."
A few days later, they went shopping and did find another gorgeous dress. When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother, "Aren't you going to return the other dress? You really don't have another occasion where you could wear it."
Her mother just smiled and replied, "Of course I do, dear. I'm wearing it to the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding!
"LATEST INDICATIONS ARE THAT OPHELIA WILL MOVE OVER CANADIAN WATERS SOUTHWEST OF NOVA SCOTIA THIS AFTERNOON. THEREAFTER IT WILL CROSS NOVA SCOTIA TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING WHILE UNDERGOING POST-TROPICAL TRANSITION. POST-TROPICAL OPHELIA IS THEN EXPECTED TO TRACK ACROSS CENTRAL NEWFOUNDLAND SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. "
this is our local warning from the Weather Network. I know, nowhere's near the worry as a hurricane, particularly one like Katrina. However, we don't get a lot of severe weather here this time of year, its usually later on, and more likely to be a blizzard (which IMHO rarely REALLY happens. We get lots of snowfall, thats what I think) warning. This is not to say we haven't been hit by a hurricane...Hurricane Juan in 2003 sure left its mark on parts of Nova Scotia.
In any case, better to be safe than stupid sorry, so I have filled the bathtub with water, gathered my candles, lighters, matches, taken the patio furniture in, secured my kayak, and closed most of the windows (a few cracks open to help with air/wind pressure); I have drinking water, blankets, am wearing socks now (very unusual for me), lotsa junk food, beer, bread, fruit, etc. (maybe not lots of the healthy stuff, but some) and I have my portable radio above me as I type, for those weather news updates. Gawd. I feel neurotic, but what the hell...I am moving away from hurricane waters, so have to soak up the storms when they come.
So what do you think of fate? Do you think some things were meant to happen? Do you think that you have all of the control in your life? Do you think there is a mapped plan out there with just a few choices and others will be blocked by events in your life? Interested in hearing what others have to say.
Hotel Room Shopping SUCKS ASS
What I thought would be an easy task for me today turned into a goddamn hassle. It began with a RCMP officer calling my house, had gotten my number from work and needed to talk to me about a joint interview we are doing next week out of town (work related) so I realized I had not yet booked a room. Fine. I’ll stay where I usually stay, at the Cambridge Suites. First I have to get the phone number off the net, as I am at home and have no phone numbers on me or the proper phone book. Dial-up, search web, get number and call. They give me a ridiculous government rate of $155 in SEPTEMBER. WTF? So I told them no way I can make that fly with my agency, I’ll try somewhere else.
Back on the internet, dial-up, search, get number, and call the Future Inns, where I was positive some of my co-workers had stayed before so direct billing would have been set up. Apparently not, and it required too much thinking for me today to sort out. Fuck it.
Back on the internet, dial-up, search, get number and call the Lakeview Inn and Suites where I had stayed before in Halifax. No rooms available. Ok, give me the friggin Dartmouth number. She gives me a toll free number that turns out to be a booking centre, not the actual hotel. Fine. They have a room, I go to book it and they can see that I have stayed there before and that we are set up for direct billing, but won’t allow me to direct bill because they are not actually the hotel, but a booking centre. FUCK. Can you please give me the goddamn number for the fucking hotel in Dartmouth?
They provide the number, and FINALLY I have secured a SUITE at $87/night. FINALLY, an hour later. WTF!!!
Ok, I am frustrated. I am definitely putting in for a callback on this deal…RCMP and how many hotels, and never mind the runaround I got calling the office in Dartmouth to book an interview room…4 people it took to get someone who could help me. I am going to have a drink. I don’t care what time it is.
Semi-Lucid Thoughts on a Friday
Well, its my day off, gotta be glad about that. I went into town today to pick up a few things, including my freshly neutered kitty, poor thing. He tried to jump up on the end table and fell back down…apparently has some soreness “there”. Awww…so I moved his basket off my desk to the floor for now and he is curled up there now, at my feet. The look of utter bewilderment and then disgust on his face as he failed to make the jump was hilarious so pathetic…I am curious to see if it alters his personality any over the coming weeks.
I had to have blinders on going into town because I didn’t want to see any clients that might cause me concern…the problem solving department is closed for the weekend, so I am OUT until Monday. My mother was seeking help today with her camera, but I had to tell her the same thing. I can’t deal with anyone else’s problems right now piss off please don’t ask, I won't be of any help anyhow…sigh.
in other news, I did buy a new corduroy purse that I am crazy about. How’s that for excitement. We also have a hurricane headed our way, so will be hiding out here in the boonies, drunk watching television and reorganizing my crap for the move.
and how cool was the CSI episode last night, season finale directed by Quentin Tarantino...he really likes to push viewers to the edge, to see what they can take. It was very well directed...way to go Q.
The husband had just finished reading the book, "Man of the House". He stormed into the kitchen and walked directly up to his wife. Pointing a finger in her face, he said, "From now on, I want you to know I am the man of this house, and my word is law! I want you to prepare me a gourmet meal tonight, and when I'm finished eating my meal, I expect a sumptuous dessert afterward. Then, after dinner, you are going to draw me my bath so I can relax. And when I'm finished with my bath, guess who's going to dress me and comb my hair?"
His wife replied, "The fucking funeral director would be my guess."
sent to me by my soon to be sister in law, heh heh, gotta love how she plans to look after my brother :-) he is so far from this. I can however, recall similar sentiments from my ex-husband...he never got what he wanted though, heh heh.
Ok, I have blathered on here before about what to do with my left next, because there has to be something next, right? I did an interview last year for Inuvik, and ended up not going (turned them down when they offered). So now I had another interview for up north (the Yukon) and was offered the job yesterday and I ACCEPTED. Wow. Now I am really moving.
I begin the new job on November 21st, so have a couple of months here yet. The groovy thing is that because I will be working for the government now, they pay to move me AND they pack up all my shit themselves. I LOATHE packing, so that is a true bonus. I still have some organizing to do, and of course, have to find a place to live up there, but this is the beginning of the end for the east coast experiment. I've been here over three years and will be leaving many good friends behind. sniff...
I wish I could wiggle my nose and just be there with all my stuff set up. Wouldn't that be nice. I wonder how the kitties are going to like the long plane ride...tranquilizers, lots of tranquilizers...
Fine
This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
Five Minutes
If she is getting dressed, this is half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given 5 more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
Nothing
This is the calm before the storm. This means "something" and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with "nothing" usually end in "fine".
Go Ahead
This is a dare, not permission. DON'T DO IT!
Loud Sigh
Although not actually a word, the loud sigh is often misunderstood by men. A "Loud Sigh" means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you over "Nothing".
That's Okay
This is one of the most dangerous statements that woman can make to a man. "That's Okay" means that she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
Thanks
This is the least used of all words in the female vocabulary. If a woman is thanking you, Do Not question it, just say you're welcome and back out of the room slowly.
Well, I have a date. October 5th I go under the knife. Gall bladder surgery. It just sounds like something my grandmother has done. Sheesh. I have to be off for 2 weeks after surgery too, in order to heal properly. I've never had any real surgery, so this shall be interesting. Give me drugs, please.
Incidentally, my parents will be visiting the province about this time, so I hope they come and nurse me, heh heh.
So this might set back my departure from Nova Scotia (if I get the job) for Whitehorse by two weeks, which they are fully aware of. Fine with me, then I can begin work there in mid November, and move into my own place for the 1st of December.
They tell me it is routine surgery, so should I be concerned? What shall I wear? heh heh...I remember when Jamie from Mad About You went for surgery, she wanted to wear a black negligee, lol. Um, I don't think so.
Last post about the concert, I swear. Got a pic from my friend K. of the concert, and a couple here of a cool bus I saw leaving the concert. The big object in the back is the stage, with the huge screen. I stood where the pic is taken from for most of the concert until I shook the deadweight my friends hit the road and then I moved down much lower to be beyond both TV screens, and could really see the band.
oh, and by the way, I am now in love with Mick Jagger.
The pilgrimage into the concert grounds was basically just a group of swiftly moving people going in the same direction, except for the gal who was sitting/slouching on the side of the road with her old man, who was trying to bring her around…they definitely had the look of people who make a career out of partying…
Got our bags checked at the huge row of makeshift corrals (for all the illegal food we were trying to smuggle in – WHATEVER!) and then the next line took our tickets and we were GOOD TO GO!
We had known we didn’t want to sit/stand right up front, too many people, too little services, so tucked ourselves away on the slight incline, just on the other side of the fence from the beer garden. They had makeshift alleys made for paramedics to get through easy enough and they wove their way through the concert field, which was a pretty good idea, and I saw it in motion as the gal right across from me dropped the ground, passed out, then threw up and never really came to much after that. They came and got her. Poor fucker never saw the Tragically Hip, let alone Stones. I think it was a combination of heat exhaustion, dehydration and drunkeness…she was a little effed up.
Anyhow, the music was playing shortly after we got in – Our Lady Peace, then Maroon 5, and the Tragically Hip. The crowd really got going with the last one. And then it was time for the main event. Meanwhile, P. and I did a little jaunt through the bigger crowd, the beer garden, food vendors, etc. She got some cigarettes, I got some food, and we were good to go, without waiting in line for either. Got back to our corner and hung out for the evening, switching from standing to sitting on and off to save our SOLES.
Then The ROLLING STONES came one and I was mesmerized for sure. The stage is just awesome. There is a 7 storey construction surrounding the stage in a kind of slight bow shape, with the stage being hundreds of feet wide. Mick had his exercise cut out for him, that’s for sure. Directly behind the band was a huge 5-storey screen with close-ups of the band as they played. There were also big screens (smaller) on either side of the stage, and two huge ones placed midway and ¾ way up the hill for the rest of the crowd to see. The big screen only came on for the Stones, while all the others were on for the other bands. They began with a flash and the song “Start Me Up” of course, good tune to get the crowd going. The 7 storey construction I just mentioned has screens on it and the entire area lit up like the biggest screen you could imagine. I will have pics later as my friend K. gets her developed. Mick was wearing his signature red clothing, and boy did it ever stand out on the stage and on the screens!
I have to say, for a man his age, Mick can shake ass! He is trim and fit and he MOVES when he sings. He went from end to end of the stage, for a fabulous workout and everyone had to feel his energy while he sang his heart out for us. The rest of the gang looked good too, but Mick seems to be the show stopper with his voice, ease of movement, and stage presence. I was hooked and entranced. Thanks Mick and the boys.
From HUGE flames shooting rocketlike from the top of the stage, to the fireworks shot into the air, to the light show of the stage, to the fabulous sound of the equipment, it was a brilliant concert and worth every effort to get there, even if I did forget my ticket…
Other noteworthy highlights of the weekend/show:
- the mass exodus from the concert field to the busses, parking lots, etc was the largest moving crowd of people I had ever been in thus far
- they told us that because there was an estimated 85,000 people there, we made up the largest congregation of people on the east coast, including any single city (not the greater municipal area, such as the HRM, the cities themselves)
- the smell of weed hung over the crowd like incense
- the pizza I got at the food stand was piping HOT and so good, even if it cost $7 a small slice
- my friends K., T., P., and her nephew N., left 30 minutes into the 2 hour Stones show, just because they didn’t want to be caught in the crowd later…WTF???
- I didn’t fall, not even once. I know, I can hardly believe it myself
- I ACTUALLY slept, in my car.
- I was standing next to the CTV reporter and I may even be in some of the shots, even if they do end up on the cutting room floor…
- I never waited more than 5 minutes to use the porta potty and it was CLEAN with TOILET PAPER and outside the potties, they had washing up stations with running water, SOAP and paper towel. I felt quite spoiled and grateful all at the same time
- While P. and I got our food easily with no wait, T. and K. waited for 2 hours to get theirs…
- The Rolling Stones sounded just as good as I had hoped they would, and seeing them was the ultimate for me
- T. let me use her phone to call my daughter from the concert and say hi…
- Some kid was taken to hospital for appendix and they announced it for the benefit of his parents who were in the audience somewhere…
- The medical tent was giving out free cold water all day and night
- some frustrated souls lit a fire in a garbage can to keep warm and the crew SWOOPED in and put it out in minutes with their trusty fire extinguishers
- It took me an hour to get out to the parking lot where I got off the bus and another 2.5 hours to get back to the campground…we waited forever because the roads were so PACKED with people and traffic
So there you are, my long-winded account of The Rolling Stones (and others) concert, more for my benefit and journalling than your entertainment. I can live on this weekend for years of reflection…
Without a doubt, the best concert I have been to in my life…haven’t been to many, but I know this one will remain up there for decades for me. It was a late decision to even go. I hadn’t gone to many concerts over the years, and no REAL ones, on concert grounds with a HUGE band. So when I heard that The Rolling Stones were going to be playing in Moncton, it was well after the tickets were sold. Hmmm…what to do…I checked e-bay and low and behold, a ticket was located…anyhow, fast forward to leaving work on Friday at noon to drive to Moncton with my friend K. to meet other friends, T. P, and her nephew, N. Finding the campground was easy enough and we didn’t have to wait in line to sign in as T. had picked up campground bracelets for us already and just got out of line when we pulled up – WHOO HOO!
Set up was easy…no trees to hammock from, so slept in the car. The others set themselves up and then the drinking began for the evening portion at the campground. Spirits were charged as everyone at the campground was hyped up over the concert tomorrow. Beausejour Campground was reportedly the Official Campground of The Rolling Stones concert in Moncton. Lots of characters there, but overall a pretty tame crowd. There was the guy in the next site who was cranked on something, dancing by himself around the fire (and over the fire, in the fire, threw his shirt in the fire, leaned over and scorched the hairs off his chest) and when he came down off of that, he was really drunk and fell down numerous times, and limped through the following morning.
I stayed up until about 2am, and then crawled into bed, running things through my mind as people do as they drift off…when a simple thought trickled through my sleepy head “Where’s my ticket?” “Where did I put it” and then when realization set in that I had left it on the top of my desk at home in Cape Breton, a resounding FUUUUUUUCCCCCKKK was heard throughout the campsite…
So I was off to wake the girls and freak out with them, we brainstormed the whole thing and came up with a whole lotta nothing and I was resigned to driving home in the morning and missing the concert. I didn’t have a lot of money to go buy a new one, and it was just a bad scene all around….could’t believe my STUPIDITY. Anyhow, we woke up in the AM with P. who discovered that her brother and his wife were driving though my hometown area as we spoke, and we arranged for them to get the ticket and try to meet up later at the concert grounds, outside the gate. WHEW…little nervewracked thinking about getting the ticket, but felt a little less hopeless about the situation. I had even made a sign to carry around – NEED TICKET!
We finally got ourselves together to get the shuttle ($20 return) to the concert grounds at Magnetic Hill, just outside of Moncton. Met a couple of characters on the bus, and got there in 20 minutes, where we hung out under a lovely tree for 3 hours, hoping to meet up with P.’s brother. After 3 hours, they were still only trying to get to a parking lot, never mind the long hike up to the grounds, and what gate were we even at??? When an angel crossed my path…yet another friend of P.’s (she seems to know EVERYONE) was strolling by with a handful of tickets to sell, cheap, so I picked one up for $20. So now I am in $105 for my ticket, still less than the others I went with, and I phoned the gal who had mine, and told her to go ahead and sell it if she can.
WHEW. LETS GO PEOPLE!!! I HAVE MY TICKET!
As gas in eastern Canada tops out at $1.35+ per litre, an increase from about $.85 we were paying at the beginning of the summer, filling up your lawnmower, car, etc is like a mortgage payment...I'm off to the Rolling Stones concert in Moncton today, and am concerned that I will pay more for my gas than I did for my ticket!!!
