I'm wearing my new pants and shirt from Tallgirl ! Sandra hemmed up my pants yesterday and all is well. They look swank and I've already had several compliments.
Tonight is a CD release party for my mom's friend, Carmen Jones, and initially my mother had planned on coming into town for it. Unfortunately, she's too sick with a migraine today to make it, which I'm afraid dulls my own excitement somewhat. Also, I'm having wicked stomach cramps and have been since last night. I don't know if it's something I ate, or what, but it hurts and I really want to lie down.
On Monday night, I took Derek to see Ladytron at the Phoenix Concert Theatre. The waiting outside in line definitely sucked as the temperature was below frigid and the wind was blowing hard making it even worse. The opening band, unanounced and hard to understand, was pretty good, but I have no idea who they were. The 'special guests' were a band called Simian and they ... well, for the first four songs they were enjoyable. The second four songs proved that they really only had four songs and a set of rotating lyrics. In other words, quite boring. Ladytron, however; was very good. They're not that exciting on stage and the music is not that deep layered synth sound I love so much, but they're highly danceable and quite cool. I did thoroughly enjoy them. I danced so hard at one point that I ripped the crotch of my jumpsuit. Oh dear.
I went to Carrie's on Tuesday and was greeted by a surprise. Tanya was there ! She'd brought Krispy Kreme doughnuts and you know what? I still think they're creepy weird. Doughnuts shouldn't melt on your tongue, it's just ... wrong. Anyway, Tanya modeled her bridesmaid gown and I got to see how it looked. Gosh, did it look good. I'm pretty excited to be getting mine all done tomorrow. Woo !
Monday, February 24, 2003
What do you do when someone you work with is being harrassed? It becomes a much trickier question when that person is working a customer service-oriented job and the person that is harrassing them is a member of the public. Yesterday, I was confronted with this very question, as I witnessed a man talking to my co-worker. None of us knew how to help, other than to distract the customer, which failed. My co-worker backed out of the situation by giving the excuse that he had to go sort the mail, but ultimately, it was not a solution.
This has been going on for sometime. The patron comes in any old time and if this particular staff member is working, he heads straight for them. My co-worker is utterly non-confrontational, and terribly polite, and it is very hard for him to say, "Please stop talking about this, it is inappropriate and I don't want to hear about it." This particular patron makes sexually inappropriate comments, singling out my co-worker to share these nasty thoughts with.
Today, I approached Richard about the situation, leaving out my co-worker's name in order to protect his involvement, especially since he did not ask me to intervene. Richard was terribly unhappy about it and phoned Human Resources to discuss what could be done in a situation like this. The answers were not terribly satisfying, but ultimately, it is the responsibility of the co-worker to come forward in order to take action. I have emailed him to suggest he follow the informal route for now, pursuing the formal action of complaint only if all else fails. It's very frustrating. I have become very protective of my co-workers and I wish that there was something more immediate that I could do.
No one deserves to be singled out. No one deserves to be harrassed or abused and no one should have to suffer harrasment. To victimise someone for no good reason is to infringe upon that person's human rights. We're better than that.
This has been going on for sometime. The patron comes in any old time and if this particular staff member is working, he heads straight for them. My co-worker is utterly non-confrontational, and terribly polite, and it is very hard for him to say, "Please stop talking about this, it is inappropriate and I don't want to hear about it." This particular patron makes sexually inappropriate comments, singling out my co-worker to share these nasty thoughts with.
Today, I approached Richard about the situation, leaving out my co-worker's name in order to protect his involvement, especially since he did not ask me to intervene. Richard was terribly unhappy about it and phoned Human Resources to discuss what could be done in a situation like this. The answers were not terribly satisfying, but ultimately, it is the responsibility of the co-worker to come forward in order to take action. I have emailed him to suggest he follow the informal route for now, pursuing the formal action of complaint only if all else fails. It's very frustrating. I have become very protective of my co-workers and I wish that there was something more immediate that I could do.
No one deserves to be singled out. No one deserves to be harrassed or abused and no one should have to suffer harrasment. To victimise someone for no good reason is to infringe upon that person's human rights. We're better than that.
Friday, February 21, 2003
Whoops, I seem to have forgotten to publish yesterday's entry. Oh well. I've published it now. Rick was over last night. He made a delicious fish dinner for me with a lovely veggie combination that was reminiscent of chili ingredients, but without the chili beans (corn, onion, red pepper, etc.). So tasty. It was done in white wine and ... well, gosh, it was good. We watched CSI and then to my delight, we watched Army of Darkness ! I hadn't seen that since ... well, probably about eight or nine years ago, and while it's not as funny as I remembered it having been, it was still wonderful. Thanks for a nice night, Rick.
While I was processing some e-sales earlier today, I came across a new member with three children. Now, this in itself is not interesting, even with them listed on the sale (not required). However, it seems their names are: Oran, Doran, and Dorian.
Oran, Doran, and Dorian? Holy crap. If they're triplets, it's only that much worse.
My day started with a bizarre incident. I was waiting (for a long time) at the bus stop, awaiting the Dufferin bus, when this fellow got to the newspaper stand outside the corner store, where the bus stop is located, and grabbed up the copy of the Toronto Sun that I was glancing at. Now the Sun is not what one might call a high class or thought-provoking newspaper, but a headline is a headline and I'll read it while waiting for a bus. The man yanks the front page off and turns the paper over in order to see page three, which is now the cover page, and therefore revealing the 'sunshine girl'. He lets the cover page fall to the ground and sets the paper up back in its stand, sunshine girl in her yellow bikini showing off for the world to see. He nods, grunts and walks off. I watched him head down the street, expecting to see him look back for my reaction, but he didn't. I shared a look with the other woman at the bus stop, both of us with our eyebrows raised, and she and I proceded to pick the cover up and reapply it to the newspaper and set it down properly in the stand. "That was weird," she said. I agreed. There sure are some strange folks in my neighbourhood.
While I was processing some e-sales earlier today, I came across a new member with three children. Now, this in itself is not interesting, even with them listed on the sale (not required). However, it seems their names are: Oran, Doran, and Dorian.
Oran, Doran, and Dorian? Holy crap. If they're triplets, it's only that much worse.
My day started with a bizarre incident. I was waiting (for a long time) at the bus stop, awaiting the Dufferin bus, when this fellow got to the newspaper stand outside the corner store, where the bus stop is located, and grabbed up the copy of the Toronto Sun that I was glancing at. Now the Sun is not what one might call a high class or thought-provoking newspaper, but a headline is a headline and I'll read it while waiting for a bus. The man yanks the front page off and turns the paper over in order to see page three, which is now the cover page, and therefore revealing the 'sunshine girl'. He lets the cover page fall to the ground and sets the paper up back in its stand, sunshine girl in her yellow bikini showing off for the world to see. He nods, grunts and walks off. I watched him head down the street, expecting to see him look back for my reaction, but he didn't. I shared a look with the other woman at the bus stop, both of us with our eyebrows raised, and she and I proceded to pick the cover up and reapply it to the newspaper and set it down properly in the stand. "That was weird," she said. I agreed. There sure are some strange folks in my neighbourhood.
Thursday, February 20, 2003
I have things to say, really. Not just about recapping events, which I do quite often, but of events and news items and thoughts that take my fancy. You all know that. Yesterday, I was going to post some bits of blather of the latter sort, but Blogger seemed to be a little disfunctional, in that it was down. But it's back. Now, however, I have much more important things to say than my adventures at the Y on Monday (I ran on the track... and did 8 girlie push-ups !). There was some other stuff, like I was going to talk about Brazil, but that's not so important now as this.
Today, my mother was finally diagnosed. I don't think it is official yet, as the doctor sent her for some X-rays as well, but he pronounced on the spot in his office, following an hour-long examination, that my mother does, in fact, have fibromyalgia. This isn't good knews, so much as it's a relief to finally have something we can tell people. I met her at Mount Sinai Hospital at 9:30am and we were there until after mid-day. We went for sushi and walked about on Bloor St a bit. I took her into the little framing shop that I like to go to and she and Mr. Dhanka (the owner) got on very well. He's such a sweet man. Sort of in celebration, as well, we went up to Yorkdale and went into Tallgirl to buy, of all things, socks. We left with clothes numbering a great deal more than knee-highs. I got a pair of pants that is so damn sexy... and I have to have them hemmed UP. *cackle* I got a matched shirt, too, which looks swank. Mom picked up two pairs of pants and shirt. A fine celebration activity right before she goes off payroll and possibly onto EI (thanks to her less than stellar manager not doing the paperwork she should have done). Anyway, it was a good day with Mom.
We went back to Julie and Jerzy's place, where she's staying while in town, and on the dining room table were a couple of articles printed from this very good alternate news site, AlterNet. I feel that one of them, in particular, is MUCH too important to let go unnoticed, and I recommend this site very strongly. In fact, this article was so compelling, that I have copied the text directly from the site in order to paste it here. It is long, but it really is very important.
--------------------------------------------------------------
War: The Most Horrible Human Experience
By Senator Robert Byrd, AlterNet
February 17, 2003
U.S. Senator Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia) made the following statement on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2003.
To contemplate war is to think about the most horrible of human experiences. On this February day, as this nation stands at the brink of battle, every American on some level must be contemplating the horrors of war.
Yet, this Chamber is, for the most part, silent – ominously, dreadfully silent. There is no debate, no discussion, no attempt to lay out for the nation the pros and cons of this particular war. There is nothing.
We stand passively mute in the United States Senate, paralyzed by our own uncertainty, seemingly stunned by the sheer turmoil of events. Only on the editorial pages of our newspapers is there much substantive discussion of the prudence or imprudence of engaging in this particular war.
And this is no small conflagration we contemplate. This is no simple attempt to defang a villain. No. This coming battle, if it materializes, represents a turning point in U.S. foreign policy and possibly a turning point in the recent history of the world.
This nation is about to embark upon the first test of a revolutionary doctrine applied in an extraordinary way at an unfortunate time. The doctrine of preemption – the idea that the United States or any other nation can legitimately attack a nation that is not imminently threatening but may be threatening in the future – is a radical new twist on the traditional idea of self defense. It appears to be in contravention of international law and the UN Charter. And it is being tested at a time of world-wide terrorism, making many countries around the globe wonder if they will soon be on our – or some other nation's – hit list.
High level Administration figures recently refused to take nuclear weapons off of the table when discussing a possible attack against Iraq. What could be more destabilizing and unwise than this type of uncertainty, particularly in a world where globalism has tied the vital economic and security interests of many nations so closely together? There are huge cracks emerging in our time-honored alliances, and U.S. intentions are suddenly subject to damaging worldwide speculation. Anti-Americanism based on mistrust, misinformation, suspicion, and alarming rhetoric from U.S. leaders is fracturing the once solid alliance against global terrorism which existed after September 11.
Here at home, people are warned of imminent terrorist attacks with little guidance as to when or where such attacks might occur. Family members are being called to active military duty, with no idea of the duration of their stay or what horrors they may face. Communities are being left with less than adequate police and fire protection. Other essential services are also short-staffed. The mood of the nation is grim. The economy is stumbling. Fuel prices are rising and may soon spike higher.
This Administration, now in power for a little over two years, must be judged on its record. I believe that that record is dismal.
In that scant two years, this Administration has squandered a large projected surplus of some $5.6 trillion over the next decade and taken us to projected deficits as far as the eye can see. This Administration's domestic policy has put many of our states in dire financial condition, under funding scores of essential programs for our people. This Administration has fostered policies which have slowed economic growth. This Administration has ignored urgent matters such as the crisis in health care for our elderly. This Administration has been slow to provide adequate funding for homeland security. This Administration has been reluctant to better protect our long and porous borders.
In foreign policy, this Administration has failed to find Osama bin Laden. In fact, just yesterday we heard from him again marshaling his forces and urging them to kill. This Administration has split traditional alliances, possibly crippling, for all time, International order-keeping entities like the United Nations and NATO. This Administration has called into question the traditional worldwide perception of the United States as well-intentioned, peacekeeper. This Administration has turned the patient art of diplomacy into threats, labeling, and name calling of the sort that reflects quite poorly on the intelligence and sensitivity of our leaders, and which will have consequences for years to come.
Calling heads of state pygmies, labeling whole countries as evil, denigrating powerful European allies as irrelevant – these types of crude insensitivities can do our great nation no good. We may have massive military might, but we cannot fight a global war on terrorism alone. We need the cooperation and friendship of our time-honored allies as well as the newer found friends whom we can attract with our wealth. Our awesome military machine will do us little good if we suffer another devastating attack on our homeland which severely damages our economy. Our military manpower is already stretched thin and we will need the augmenting support of those nations who can supply troop strength, not just sign letters cheering us on.
The war in Afghanistan has cost us $37 billion so far, yet there is evidence that terrorism may already be starting to regain its hold in that region. We have not found bin Laden, and unless we secure the peace in Afghanistan, the dark dens of terrorism may yet again flourish in that remote and devastated land.
Pakistan as well is at risk of destabilizing forces. This Administration has not finished the first war against terrorism and yet it is eager to embark on another conflict with perils much greater than those in Afghanistan. Is our attention span that short? Have we not learned that after winning the war one must always secure the peace?
And yet we hear little about the aftermath of war in Iraq. In the absence of plans, speculation abroad is rife. Will we seize Iraq's oil fields, becoming an occupying power which controls the price and supply of that nation's oil for the foreseeable future? To whom do we propose to hand the reigns of power after Saddam Hussein?
Will our war inflame the Muslim world resulting in devastating attacks on Israel? Will Israel retaliate with its own nuclear arsenal? Will the Jordanian and Saudi Arabian governments be toppled by radicals, bolstered by Iran which has much closer ties to terrorism than Iraq?
Could a disruption of the world's oil supply lead to a world-wide recession? Has our senselessly bellicose language and our callous disregard of the interests and opinions of other nations increased the global race to join the nuclear club and made proliferation an even more lucrative practice for nations which need the income?
In only the space of two short years this reckless and arrogant Administration has initiated policies which may reap disastrous consequences for years.
One can understand the anger and shock of any President after the savage attacks of September 11. One can appreciate the frustration of having only a shadow to chase and an amorphous, fleeting enemy on which it is nearly impossible to exact retribution.
But to turn one's frustration and anger into the kind of extremely destabilizing and dangerous foreign policy debacle that the world is currently witnessing is inexcusable from any Administration charged with the awesome power and responsibility of guiding the destiny of the greatest superpower on the planet. Frankly many of the pronouncements made by this Administration are outrageous. There is no other word.
Yet this chamber is hauntingly silent. On what is possibly the eve of horrific infliction of death and destruction on the population of the nation of Iraq – a population, I might add, of which over 50 percent is under age 15 – this chamber is silent. On what is possibly only days before we send thousands of our own citizens to face unimagined horrors of chemical and biological warfare – this chamber is silent. On the eve of what could possibly be a vicious terrorist attack in retaliation for our attack on Iraq, it is business as usual in the United States Senate.
We are truly "sleepwalking through history." In my heart of hearts I pray that this great nation and its good and trusting citizens are not in for a rudest of awakenings.
To engage in war is always to pick a wild card. And war must always be a last resort, not a first choice. I truly must question the judgment of any President who can say that a massive unprovoked military attack on a nation which is over 50 percent children is "in the highest moral traditions of our country." This war is not necessary at this time. Pressure appears to be having a good result in Iraq. Our mistake was to put ourselves in a corner so quickly. Our challenge is to now find a graceful way out of a box of our own making. Perhaps there is still a way if we allow more time.
--------------------------------------------------
This never made any mainstream news. It should have, but it didn't. Thank God, this senator had the courage to stand up and make this statement.
Today, my mother was finally diagnosed. I don't think it is official yet, as the doctor sent her for some X-rays as well, but he pronounced on the spot in his office, following an hour-long examination, that my mother does, in fact, have fibromyalgia. This isn't good knews, so much as it's a relief to finally have something we can tell people. I met her at Mount Sinai Hospital at 9:30am and we were there until after mid-day. We went for sushi and walked about on Bloor St a bit. I took her into the little framing shop that I like to go to and she and Mr. Dhanka (the owner) got on very well. He's such a sweet man. Sort of in celebration, as well, we went up to Yorkdale and went into Tallgirl to buy, of all things, socks. We left with clothes numbering a great deal more than knee-highs. I got a pair of pants that is so damn sexy... and I have to have them hemmed UP. *cackle* I got a matched shirt, too, which looks swank. Mom picked up two pairs of pants and shirt. A fine celebration activity right before she goes off payroll and possibly onto EI (thanks to her less than stellar manager not doing the paperwork she should have done). Anyway, it was a good day with Mom.
We went back to Julie and Jerzy's place, where she's staying while in town, and on the dining room table were a couple of articles printed from this very good alternate news site, AlterNet. I feel that one of them, in particular, is MUCH too important to let go unnoticed, and I recommend this site very strongly. In fact, this article was so compelling, that I have copied the text directly from the site in order to paste it here. It is long, but it really is very important.
--------------------------------------------------------------
War: The Most Horrible Human Experience
By Senator Robert Byrd, AlterNet
February 17, 2003
U.S. Senator Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia) made the following statement on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2003.
To contemplate war is to think about the most horrible of human experiences. On this February day, as this nation stands at the brink of battle, every American on some level must be contemplating the horrors of war.
Yet, this Chamber is, for the most part, silent – ominously, dreadfully silent. There is no debate, no discussion, no attempt to lay out for the nation the pros and cons of this particular war. There is nothing.
We stand passively mute in the United States Senate, paralyzed by our own uncertainty, seemingly stunned by the sheer turmoil of events. Only on the editorial pages of our newspapers is there much substantive discussion of the prudence or imprudence of engaging in this particular war.
And this is no small conflagration we contemplate. This is no simple attempt to defang a villain. No. This coming battle, if it materializes, represents a turning point in U.S. foreign policy and possibly a turning point in the recent history of the world.
This nation is about to embark upon the first test of a revolutionary doctrine applied in an extraordinary way at an unfortunate time. The doctrine of preemption – the idea that the United States or any other nation can legitimately attack a nation that is not imminently threatening but may be threatening in the future – is a radical new twist on the traditional idea of self defense. It appears to be in contravention of international law and the UN Charter. And it is being tested at a time of world-wide terrorism, making many countries around the globe wonder if they will soon be on our – or some other nation's – hit list.
High level Administration figures recently refused to take nuclear weapons off of the table when discussing a possible attack against Iraq. What could be more destabilizing and unwise than this type of uncertainty, particularly in a world where globalism has tied the vital economic and security interests of many nations so closely together? There are huge cracks emerging in our time-honored alliances, and U.S. intentions are suddenly subject to damaging worldwide speculation. Anti-Americanism based on mistrust, misinformation, suspicion, and alarming rhetoric from U.S. leaders is fracturing the once solid alliance against global terrorism which existed after September 11.
Here at home, people are warned of imminent terrorist attacks with little guidance as to when or where such attacks might occur. Family members are being called to active military duty, with no idea of the duration of their stay or what horrors they may face. Communities are being left with less than adequate police and fire protection. Other essential services are also short-staffed. The mood of the nation is grim. The economy is stumbling. Fuel prices are rising and may soon spike higher.
This Administration, now in power for a little over two years, must be judged on its record. I believe that that record is dismal.
In that scant two years, this Administration has squandered a large projected surplus of some $5.6 trillion over the next decade and taken us to projected deficits as far as the eye can see. This Administration's domestic policy has put many of our states in dire financial condition, under funding scores of essential programs for our people. This Administration has fostered policies which have slowed economic growth. This Administration has ignored urgent matters such as the crisis in health care for our elderly. This Administration has been slow to provide adequate funding for homeland security. This Administration has been reluctant to better protect our long and porous borders.
In foreign policy, this Administration has failed to find Osama bin Laden. In fact, just yesterday we heard from him again marshaling his forces and urging them to kill. This Administration has split traditional alliances, possibly crippling, for all time, International order-keeping entities like the United Nations and NATO. This Administration has called into question the traditional worldwide perception of the United States as well-intentioned, peacekeeper. This Administration has turned the patient art of diplomacy into threats, labeling, and name calling of the sort that reflects quite poorly on the intelligence and sensitivity of our leaders, and which will have consequences for years to come.
Calling heads of state pygmies, labeling whole countries as evil, denigrating powerful European allies as irrelevant – these types of crude insensitivities can do our great nation no good. We may have massive military might, but we cannot fight a global war on terrorism alone. We need the cooperation and friendship of our time-honored allies as well as the newer found friends whom we can attract with our wealth. Our awesome military machine will do us little good if we suffer another devastating attack on our homeland which severely damages our economy. Our military manpower is already stretched thin and we will need the augmenting support of those nations who can supply troop strength, not just sign letters cheering us on.
The war in Afghanistan has cost us $37 billion so far, yet there is evidence that terrorism may already be starting to regain its hold in that region. We have not found bin Laden, and unless we secure the peace in Afghanistan, the dark dens of terrorism may yet again flourish in that remote and devastated land.
Pakistan as well is at risk of destabilizing forces. This Administration has not finished the first war against terrorism and yet it is eager to embark on another conflict with perils much greater than those in Afghanistan. Is our attention span that short? Have we not learned that after winning the war one must always secure the peace?
And yet we hear little about the aftermath of war in Iraq. In the absence of plans, speculation abroad is rife. Will we seize Iraq's oil fields, becoming an occupying power which controls the price and supply of that nation's oil for the foreseeable future? To whom do we propose to hand the reigns of power after Saddam Hussein?
Will our war inflame the Muslim world resulting in devastating attacks on Israel? Will Israel retaliate with its own nuclear arsenal? Will the Jordanian and Saudi Arabian governments be toppled by radicals, bolstered by Iran which has much closer ties to terrorism than Iraq?
Could a disruption of the world's oil supply lead to a world-wide recession? Has our senselessly bellicose language and our callous disregard of the interests and opinions of other nations increased the global race to join the nuclear club and made proliferation an even more lucrative practice for nations which need the income?
In only the space of two short years this reckless and arrogant Administration has initiated policies which may reap disastrous consequences for years.
One can understand the anger and shock of any President after the savage attacks of September 11. One can appreciate the frustration of having only a shadow to chase and an amorphous, fleeting enemy on which it is nearly impossible to exact retribution.
But to turn one's frustration and anger into the kind of extremely destabilizing and dangerous foreign policy debacle that the world is currently witnessing is inexcusable from any Administration charged with the awesome power and responsibility of guiding the destiny of the greatest superpower on the planet. Frankly many of the pronouncements made by this Administration are outrageous. There is no other word.
Yet this chamber is hauntingly silent. On what is possibly the eve of horrific infliction of death and destruction on the population of the nation of Iraq – a population, I might add, of which over 50 percent is under age 15 – this chamber is silent. On what is possibly only days before we send thousands of our own citizens to face unimagined horrors of chemical and biological warfare – this chamber is silent. On the eve of what could possibly be a vicious terrorist attack in retaliation for our attack on Iraq, it is business as usual in the United States Senate.
We are truly "sleepwalking through history." In my heart of hearts I pray that this great nation and its good and trusting citizens are not in for a rudest of awakenings.
To engage in war is always to pick a wild card. And war must always be a last resort, not a first choice. I truly must question the judgment of any President who can say that a massive unprovoked military attack on a nation which is over 50 percent children is "in the highest moral traditions of our country." This war is not necessary at this time. Pressure appears to be having a good result in Iraq. Our mistake was to put ourselves in a corner so quickly. Our challenge is to now find a graceful way out of a box of our own making. Perhaps there is still a way if we allow more time.
--------------------------------------------------
This never made any mainstream news. It should have, but it didn't. Thank God, this senator had the courage to stand up and make this statement.
Monday, February 17, 2003
My day began well enough and now I only hope that it continues thus. For a start, I didn't lounge about in bed like I usually do, which is more a product of awaking tired than being lazy. No, today, I was aware of my stereo going off and then by my alarm twittering like a chickadee on ritalin. I didn't flop back down into bed like usual, though, no, I sat up, played with my cat, and climbed out of bed. The result? Timely arrival at work !
Anyway, let me return to this past week, since I gave mention of various things last night that deserve better attention. Firstly, Rick came out to the Petes with me on Saturday when I had finished work at the ROM. We packed up the cat and my laundry and headed out for we had tickets to the PSO. The concert was amazing. The soloist was John Rudolph who is the principle percussionist for the TSO and he gave a resounding performance. It was super. Then, leaving Mom and Ray at the reception, Rick and I headed to Al's parent's place for a jack-and-jill. That was fun, and I didn't meet half the people there, but good times were had.
Sunday was a good deal of fun as well. I attended a bridal shower for Carrie at an aunt's house (Carol) where there was delicious food and very merry company, including one very jolly baby. I got there late, naturally, mostly because my mother wouldn't stop talking despite my saying I had to get ready. Not that I've ever done that. *snicker* I came home and Ray joined us all for dinner, which was fun. Rick seemed to have a good time out there - each time he loosens up a little more. And Mom's cat, Chester, now finds him to be merely an irritation, rather than something terrifying and to be avoided at all costs.
I dropped Rick off at the Greyhound terminal early Monday morning and then came home and went back to bed. I didn't get dressed at all that day. It was great. On Tuesday, nothing much happened, but Mom and I went to see Chicago. Ray didn't like it (he came, too), but me and Mom enjoyed it thoroughly. The choreography was very much under the influence of Bob Fosse, the show's original choreographer, and there were a number of shots reminiscent of Cabaret. I found a pretty good review of the film that reflects my personal opinion quite well, though I would add that Queen Latifa is also the most sensual and sexual character in the entire show. Damn, she was awesome.
Wednesday had Mom and I running some errands, which was kind of fun in a bland sort of way. However, following that, we went to a PSO related dinner where we mingled with musicians, board members, volunteers, and whatnot. The event was held at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club and the food was excellent. I had to teach the bartender how to make a bourbon sour, though, which was sort of fun and exciting. I felt... suave.
Unfortunately, Thursday and the early part of Friday were spent not at the ROM as they ought to have been, but in bed, in the Petes, with a migraine. That was a definitely downer. Happily, I was still able to attend the charity Valentine's dinner in Stoney Creek with Rick and his family, which was kind of fun, though the venue sucked. There isn't much else to tell. I've had a relatively uneventful couple of days since then. Nick is in Philadelphia, experiencing heavy snowfall and visiting friends, which means the appartment is very quiet (except when Willi is yelling).
Oh, speaking of Willi, she caught a mouse the night before last ! Hooray for Stinky-Bee ! She almost caught it while Derek was over (he came by to make me watch Brazil, which was pretty fascinating as far as films go, though I'm not sure it lived up to the hype), but was foiled when she fell into her waterbowl and snagged her foot on my hat (why was my hat under the couch?). Undaunted, she must have pursued her quarry throughout the night and when I awoke the following morning and walked into the living room, lo, there upon the rug was most of a mouse, carefully laid out for me to see. I gave her much praise and then immediately whisked it away into the garbage.
Tomorrow, I'm going to A&C's for girlish smashy-smashy (translates to playing Dark Alliance all day with Carrie) and then I'm doing dinner there for Buffilicious fun. Mom's coming into town tomorrow, too, because on Wednesday she will be in hospital getting checked out by a rheumatologist in order to hopefully get a final diagnosis one way or the other. I'm trying to reschedule my work shifts with Aman so that I can be there with her for support.
Anyway, let me return to this past week, since I gave mention of various things last night that deserve better attention. Firstly, Rick came out to the Petes with me on Saturday when I had finished work at the ROM. We packed up the cat and my laundry and headed out for we had tickets to the PSO. The concert was amazing. The soloist was John Rudolph who is the principle percussionist for the TSO and he gave a resounding performance. It was super. Then, leaving Mom and Ray at the reception, Rick and I headed to Al's parent's place for a jack-and-jill. That was fun, and I didn't meet half the people there, but good times were had.
Sunday was a good deal of fun as well. I attended a bridal shower for Carrie at an aunt's house (Carol) where there was delicious food and very merry company, including one very jolly baby. I got there late, naturally, mostly because my mother wouldn't stop talking despite my saying I had to get ready. Not that I've ever done that. *snicker* I came home and Ray joined us all for dinner, which was fun. Rick seemed to have a good time out there - each time he loosens up a little more. And Mom's cat, Chester, now finds him to be merely an irritation, rather than something terrifying and to be avoided at all costs.
I dropped Rick off at the Greyhound terminal early Monday morning and then came home and went back to bed. I didn't get dressed at all that day. It was great. On Tuesday, nothing much happened, but Mom and I went to see Chicago. Ray didn't like it (he came, too), but me and Mom enjoyed it thoroughly. The choreography was very much under the influence of Bob Fosse, the show's original choreographer, and there were a number of shots reminiscent of Cabaret. I found a pretty good review of the film that reflects my personal opinion quite well, though I would add that Queen Latifa is also the most sensual and sexual character in the entire show. Damn, she was awesome.
Wednesday had Mom and I running some errands, which was kind of fun in a bland sort of way. However, following that, we went to a PSO related dinner where we mingled with musicians, board members, volunteers, and whatnot. The event was held at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club and the food was excellent. I had to teach the bartender how to make a bourbon sour, though, which was sort of fun and exciting. I felt... suave.
Unfortunately, Thursday and the early part of Friday were spent not at the ROM as they ought to have been, but in bed, in the Petes, with a migraine. That was a definitely downer. Happily, I was still able to attend the charity Valentine's dinner in Stoney Creek with Rick and his family, which was kind of fun, though the venue sucked. There isn't much else to tell. I've had a relatively uneventful couple of days since then. Nick is in Philadelphia, experiencing heavy snowfall and visiting friends, which means the appartment is very quiet (except when Willi is yelling).
Oh, speaking of Willi, she caught a mouse the night before last ! Hooray for Stinky-Bee ! She almost caught it while Derek was over (he came by to make me watch Brazil, which was pretty fascinating as far as films go, though I'm not sure it lived up to the hype), but was foiled when she fell into her waterbowl and snagged her foot on my hat (why was my hat under the couch?). Undaunted, she must have pursued her quarry throughout the night and when I awoke the following morning and walked into the living room, lo, there upon the rug was most of a mouse, carefully laid out for me to see. I gave her much praise and then immediately whisked it away into the garbage.
Tomorrow, I'm going to A&C's for girlish smashy-smashy (translates to playing Dark Alliance all day with Carrie) and then I'm doing dinner there for Buffilicious fun. Mom's coming into town tomorrow, too, because on Wednesday she will be in hospital getting checked out by a rheumatologist in order to hopefully get a final diagnosis one way or the other. I'm trying to reschedule my work shifts with Aman so that I can be there with her for support.
Sunday, February 16, 2003
I can't make my archives yet, and I'm sorry for my lengthy delay in telling you this. I'm still waiting for someone at Blogger to figure it out and get back to me, but, surprise, suprise, they're slow.
There is a lot to say as I spent most of last week in Peterborough, though the final two days were with migraine and really don't count. There was a Jack and Jill and a bridal shower and Rick was there for a couple of days and we did stuff... and I saw a movie with Mom... Oh man. I'm not sure where to start. Oh, maybe I'll come back later when I'm in a writing mood.
There is a lot to say as I spent most of last week in Peterborough, though the final two days were with migraine and really don't count. There was a Jack and Jill and a bridal shower and Rick was there for a couple of days and we did stuff... and I saw a movie with Mom... Oh man. I'm not sure where to start. Oh, maybe I'll come back later when I'm in a writing mood.
Friday, February 07, 2003
I take one day off from work and something goes wrong. Figures, doesn't it? Yesterday, I decided that I would not do work. I would not do ANY work. I went to Sandra's for my dress fitting, which went well, except that I've expanded through the chest somewhat (damn back-fat), and stayed for tea and a social call. I left bearing pieces of art that John had collected for me from Lynn Robinson Gallery before it closed. I've never been much of a fan of a lot of her work, but I like the fantasy head thing he gave me and the other piece was a mazuzzah (sp?). It's hard to turn down a mazuzzah - after all, as a gift, it's a very special sort of blessing. So, I guess I'd better dig around for the prayer that should be set within it and mount it on my door frame.
Following that pleasant visit, I came home long enough to check my phone messages and make a couple of quick calls before heading off to Becca's house. I've never been to her appartment. It's a bachelor, but it's a really nice one. Though not big, it's quite comfortable with a nice big window and well appointed bathroom and kitchen. She's got a great design flare and her place looks great, except for the cat hair on everything. She has two black cats that shed like crazy, Yum-Yum and Finigan. Apparently Finney doesn't bond with strangers, but within a couple of hours, he had made my lap a second home. Becca was impressed. I had a nice time with her. We don't see much of each other but we're trying to fix that. She really wants me to move into her building so that we can be neighbours and hang out together - not live together, mind you, we've already tried that.
So, while I was ignoring the world of work, the world of work was getting irritated. Today, I got an email from my liason in Montreal for the printhouse/platemaker that Adam's newsletter went to. The images weren't clear enough. No kidding. Well, they'll have to deal - they're as clear as they're gonna get. And I should have included the fonts that I used. Okay, fair enough. Chalk that up to limited experience with printers - Kinkos doesn't count. *laugh* So, the first thing I get to do tonight - rather than attend Matt Lenner's going away party (an old friend from university who is going to teach English in Japan), I'll get to go home and DO WORK. Ask me if I'm thrilled. No, don't.
This weekend, I'll be heading to the Petes tomorrow afternoon with Stinky and Rick. He and I are going to the PSO and then to a Jack and Jill in honour of Al and Carrie. On Sunday, I'm off to a shower - what am I supposed to bring? I'll bring food. I can't afford gifties. That's the problem with showers. Why can't you just give presents when they actually GET married? Anyway, Carrie knows I love her. I love you, Carrie ! Rick will stay out until Monday morning when he'll take the bus back to TO for work. I'm staying out until Wednesday night. Why? Because I can. Besides, since I'm not going to get paid until this coming week, I won't have the money to be in Toronto feeding myself. I have enough money to gas up my car tomorrow, that's it.
Is it bad to want to write stories all day at work?
Following that pleasant visit, I came home long enough to check my phone messages and make a couple of quick calls before heading off to Becca's house. I've never been to her appartment. It's a bachelor, but it's a really nice one. Though not big, it's quite comfortable with a nice big window and well appointed bathroom and kitchen. She's got a great design flare and her place looks great, except for the cat hair on everything. She has two black cats that shed like crazy, Yum-Yum and Finigan. Apparently Finney doesn't bond with strangers, but within a couple of hours, he had made my lap a second home. Becca was impressed. I had a nice time with her. We don't see much of each other but we're trying to fix that. She really wants me to move into her building so that we can be neighbours and hang out together - not live together, mind you, we've already tried that.
So, while I was ignoring the world of work, the world of work was getting irritated. Today, I got an email from my liason in Montreal for the printhouse/platemaker that Adam's newsletter went to. The images weren't clear enough. No kidding. Well, they'll have to deal - they're as clear as they're gonna get. And I should have included the fonts that I used. Okay, fair enough. Chalk that up to limited experience with printers - Kinkos doesn't count. *laugh* So, the first thing I get to do tonight - rather than attend Matt Lenner's going away party (an old friend from university who is going to teach English in Japan), I'll get to go home and DO WORK. Ask me if I'm thrilled. No, don't.
This weekend, I'll be heading to the Petes tomorrow afternoon with Stinky and Rick. He and I are going to the PSO and then to a Jack and Jill in honour of Al and Carrie. On Sunday, I'm off to a shower - what am I supposed to bring? I'll bring food. I can't afford gifties. That's the problem with showers. Why can't you just give presents when they actually GET married? Anyway, Carrie knows I love her. I love you, Carrie ! Rick will stay out until Monday morning when he'll take the bus back to TO for work. I'm staying out until Wednesday night. Why? Because I can. Besides, since I'm not going to get paid until this coming week, I won't have the money to be in Toronto feeding myself. I have enough money to gas up my car tomorrow, that's it.
Is it bad to want to write stories all day at work?
Wednesday, February 05, 2003
After much thought and agonising over numbers and timelines and career options I come to a decision. It's an important decision and still one that does not leave me entirely satisfied.
First of all, on Monday, I was offered the sales job. I told my prospective boss that I would think about it, and in two days, I did a heavy amount of thinking. I sought out the opinions of those around me including that of Richard (a ROM manager) and of Anthony (a friend who works as a game artist, formerly of Legend Ent.). Both were of two minds, both talked of the pros and cons. My mother did some budget crunching, as did I, and we came up with similar findings. Ultimately, though I like the company and Donald, he who would have been my boss, and I'd have gotten to work with Al (big plus, there), I think now is the wrong time. Had I been offered a higher salary, I might have been swayed differently, but if I keep my freelance work with Adam and pick up another client, I will actually make more than the job would have paid. It was a very tough decision and I'm not entirely persuaded that I chose rightly, but I have decided. Corporate sales simply wouldn't allow me to spend time working freelance or even leaving me with much energy for any drawing.
What is it they say? "Do what you want and the rest will follow." Well, I'm not sure what 'the rest' is, but I am going to find out.
More decisions were made, too, or rather, one other important one. I have decided not to move. The fact is, the idea of boxing all my stuff up and shlepping it all to god-knows-where in a U-haul does not blow my skirt up. I'm going to look for a new roommate, maybe somebody knows of someone, preferably a woman (for Rick's sake, more than mine) or a gay man. I'll take over Nick's room and rent my old space. It's a lot easier to move down the hall than it is to move across the city. Living on my own can wait another year and when it comes, it will be all the sweeter for the wait. Or something.
So, there you have it. Be it for good or for bad, this is what I've decided to do. Do I feel better? Ya, I guess I do, or at least relieved.
First of all, on Monday, I was offered the sales job. I told my prospective boss that I would think about it, and in two days, I did a heavy amount of thinking. I sought out the opinions of those around me including that of Richard (a ROM manager) and of Anthony (a friend who works as a game artist, formerly of Legend Ent.). Both were of two minds, both talked of the pros and cons. My mother did some budget crunching, as did I, and we came up with similar findings. Ultimately, though I like the company and Donald, he who would have been my boss, and I'd have gotten to work with Al (big plus, there), I think now is the wrong time. Had I been offered a higher salary, I might have been swayed differently, but if I keep my freelance work with Adam and pick up another client, I will actually make more than the job would have paid. It was a very tough decision and I'm not entirely persuaded that I chose rightly, but I have decided. Corporate sales simply wouldn't allow me to spend time working freelance or even leaving me with much energy for any drawing.
What is it they say? "Do what you want and the rest will follow." Well, I'm not sure what 'the rest' is, but I am going to find out.
More decisions were made, too, or rather, one other important one. I have decided not to move. The fact is, the idea of boxing all my stuff up and shlepping it all to god-knows-where in a U-haul does not blow my skirt up. I'm going to look for a new roommate, maybe somebody knows of someone, preferably a woman (for Rick's sake, more than mine) or a gay man. I'll take over Nick's room and rent my old space. It's a lot easier to move down the hall than it is to move across the city. Living on my own can wait another year and when it comes, it will be all the sweeter for the wait. Or something.
So, there you have it. Be it for good or for bad, this is what I've decided to do. Do I feel better? Ya, I guess I do, or at least relieved.
Monday, February 03, 2003
Change. A change of pants. Change in your pocket. Change of address. Changing lanes. The changing seasons. Make change. A change of heart. Time change. To change one's mind. Change sides. A changing of the Guard. Sea change. A sex change. Regime change.
Change is good. Change is bad. Change is a whole lot of things and most people abhore it, avoid it; very few embrace it. When change comes on one's own terms, it is viewed in a positive light, but when it comes of its own whims, it can become devestatingly frightening. Paralysing, even. It comes and the butterflies begin their stomach dance, sometimes from excitement, oftentimes from anxiety. When faced with the challenge of change, it is very difficult to think without bias, to leave one's phobias out of it, to accept that it might not be so bad - a good thing, even.
And so, I am faced with change.
Change is good. Change is bad. Change is a whole lot of things and most people abhore it, avoid it; very few embrace it. When change comes on one's own terms, it is viewed in a positive light, but when it comes of its own whims, it can become devestatingly frightening. Paralysing, even. It comes and the butterflies begin their stomach dance, sometimes from excitement, oftentimes from anxiety. When faced with the challenge of change, it is very difficult to think without bias, to leave one's phobias out of it, to accept that it might not be so bad - a good thing, even.
And so, I am faced with change.
So, what have I been doing this weekend? Working. Yup, my life is ever full of fun and exciting ... work. Get used to the name, Adam G_______, for it will appear on a regular basis as it has over the last couple of weeks. This weekend, other than site sales at the ROM (today), I've pretty well done little more than work on the FYI, Adam's community association newsletter. Okay, I talked on the phone a bit tonight, to Rick, Becca, Mom, and to - no surprises here - Adam. Now, if my email would attach the files so that I could send them out, THAT would be nice.
There's a new development in my life. I'll be moving again, it seems. Nick does not want to renew the lease here, though we've come to a very amicable arrangement whereby we'll renew on a partial basis, giving me plenty of time to find a new place. I was just starting to really feel homey about this place, too. I've done a lot of moving in the past six years or so. First, in and out of residence, then in and out of Euclid, then into Manning, then into Al & Carrie's, then here... I'm frankly tired of it. The next place is going to serve as IT. I want to be able to like it, live on my own, and be darn happy there. Or at least not a victim to either roommate or landlord whims. I'm not mad at Nick, by the way, though I think maybe he thinks I am. I'm a little disappointed, sure. I thought we'd found a nice balance and I'd grown quite accustomed to having him as a fixed feature in my domestic life (the playstation 2 is a nice plus, as well). It hasn't all been milk and honey, but mostly, it's been pretty easy. C'est la vie, as they say.
Willi just walked into my room and yelled at me. This is not so unusual an activity, really, but I just thought I'd make note of this. I'm not sure when I last mentioned that I adore my cat, but I do, despite her kicking her litter (and sometimes her poops) out of her litter box. One accepts the bad with the good, you know? Anyway, she's gone again, waiting expectantly near her dish, no doubt. It's that time again.
There's a new development in my life. I'll be moving again, it seems. Nick does not want to renew the lease here, though we've come to a very amicable arrangement whereby we'll renew on a partial basis, giving me plenty of time to find a new place. I was just starting to really feel homey about this place, too. I've done a lot of moving in the past six years or so. First, in and out of residence, then in and out of Euclid, then into Manning, then into Al & Carrie's, then here... I'm frankly tired of it. The next place is going to serve as IT. I want to be able to like it, live on my own, and be darn happy there. Or at least not a victim to either roommate or landlord whims. I'm not mad at Nick, by the way, though I think maybe he thinks I am. I'm a little disappointed, sure. I thought we'd found a nice balance and I'd grown quite accustomed to having him as a fixed feature in my domestic life (the playstation 2 is a nice plus, as well). It hasn't all been milk and honey, but mostly, it's been pretty easy. C'est la vie, as they say.
Willi just walked into my room and yelled at me. This is not so unusual an activity, really, but I just thought I'd make note of this. I'm not sure when I last mentioned that I adore my cat, but I do, despite her kicking her litter (and sometimes her poops) out of her litter box. One accepts the bad with the good, you know? Anyway, she's gone again, waiting expectantly near her dish, no doubt. It's that time again.
Saturday, February 01, 2003
I grew up with Space Shuttle Columbia. I'm only a few years older than her. Hers was the distinguished career of a heroic Earth-orbitor and the men and women she carried were equally distinguished and all of them a sort of hero. Today, only days after the anniversary of Challenger's tragic ascent in 1986, Columbia disintegrated on re-entry just 15 minutes before she was due to land.
To watch spaceships explode in movies is exciting and cool. When it happens in real life it is horrific and disheartening. These were real lives that were lost, not film effects created on computers. Those that mourn are not actors but family, friends, and others who may not even have known the victims. This was a science mission, one of peace and hope. Let not their deaths be in vain.
To watch spaceships explode in movies is exciting and cool. When it happens in real life it is horrific and disheartening. These were real lives that were lost, not film effects created on computers. Those that mourn are not actors but family, friends, and others who may not even have known the victims. This was a science mission, one of peace and hope. Let not their deaths be in vain.