Yaaaawn

Too tired to post. I stole this from over at R*belle's site. Very amusing. I've seen something like it before, but I still giggled.

THIS is amazing. I wish I was this talented.

Real post tomorrow.

Personality test results

I took this personality test just now. Some of it's accurate--that I don't worry much, and don't freak out a lot. I'm not terribly romantic. But I certainly don't avoid work, and my work ethic is not lacking in the slightest. Avoid conflict? Sure. Work? Never. Anyway, it was still a little bit of fun.

BTW, inventory went really well, and I was home by 2:30 pm. Fantastic. I'm a little manic right now, so I'm about to clean my house and hang some pictures, and unpack some boxes before I crash hard and fast to sleep for 12 hours straight!

Happy Sunday Afternoon!

** results have been removed as they turned out to be a big nasty bit of HTML spam ** consider that I did you a favour.

more tests.

**HTML spam removed for your reading pleasure. In retrospect, I should have just removed the post, but where's the fun in that? Now you'll NEVER know about my personality. Mwahahahaha! **

Hmm....here's another similar, with VERY similar results. Intriguing how balanced I am. Perhaps the tests are skewed?

** more spam removed **

I took this personality test just now. Some of it's accurate--that I don't worry much, and don't freak out about a lot. I'm not terribly romantic. But I certainly don't avoid work, and my work ethic is not lacking in the slightest. Avoid conflict, sure. Work? Never. Anyway...it's a little bit of fun.

BTW, inventory went really well, and I was home by 2:30 pm. Fantastic. I'm a little manic right now, so I'm about to clean my house and hang some pictures, and unpack some boxes before I crash hard and fast to sleep for 12 hours straight!

Happy Sunday Afternoon!

Advanced Global Personality Test Results Extraversion 70% Stability 80% Orderliness 36% Accommodation 83% Interdependence 50% Intellectual 63% Mystical 23% Artistic 23% Religious 50% Hedonism 56% Materialism 76% Narcissism 70% Adventurousness 70% Work ethic 90% Self absorbed 16% Conflict seeking 43% Need to dominate 76% Romantic 30% Avoidant 56% Anti-authority 43% Wealth 16% Dependency 16% Change averse 43% Cautiousness 56% Individuality 36% Sexuality 76% Peter pan complex 36% Physical security 50% Physical Fitness 57% Histrionic 63% Paranoia 30% Vanity 76% Hypersensitivity 16% Female cliche 56%

Take'>http://similarminds.com/global-adv.html">Take Free Advanced Global Personality Test
personality/'>http://similarminds.com">personality tests by similarminds.com

Sleepy Saturday

I'm exhausted. I can't stick around to post, because I'm SOOO cranky and tired. I'm off to shower, and sleep.

If I'm less miserable tomorrow, you'll get a post. If not, consider yourselves lucky.

They call me The Count...

Soooooo tired.

I've worked 4 days this week with shifts of 15 hours or longer. I spent my entire day off on Tuesday sleeping--waking at 1:20 pm. 11 hours of sleep. Soooo tired.

With the big renovation coming up, I've had a ton of planning and organizing to do. I've been trying to get my departments ready for our annual inventory this weekend. I've been trying to cover my departments which are hugely understaffed. I've been busy.

I have a rather involved rant about piss-poor planning and a lack of communication at work. I have unexpressed emotions about my boss and his inability/unwillingness to commit to any particular course of action. I am, quite frankly, stressed out and cranky.

But more than that, I'm sleepy. So you don't have to read the rant until tomorrow--possibly even Sunday. Maybe by then, I'll be over it and less keyed up. But I doubt it.

Tomorrow is another 16 hour day, as I start work at 6:30 am, and the inventory counting goes until 10:00 pm. We start again at 7:00 on Sunday morning, and count widgets until we are finished widgeting. It's two days jam-packed with fun and excitement. Don't you wish you could come and play too?

One....One beautiful widget. Two....two beautiful widgets. Mwa-ha-ha-ha!

I didn't think so.

Remote posting.

Blogger is down.

 

I can't log into R*belle's chat tonight.

 

And, I was supposed to close the store tonight, but I thought I opened, so I was up at 4:30 am to catch the bus.  Sheesh.

 

I will post for real tomorrow.  For now, take this link.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Cold enough for ya?

"Conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative." - Oscar Wilde



Earlier, I was walking back from the grocery store. I was wearing my red fleece. It came as a complete shock to me to realize that I've had that fleece for 15 years now. It made me both sad and nostalgic for my University days.

I purchased the fleece just before Christmas during my first year, from a floor-mate in residence. Most of the girls on my floor were enrolled in the Journalism program (Carleton's famous for it). The program is incredibly difficult to get into, and even more difficult to graduate from. This girl had entered the program with spectacular marks, and so far as I recall, she was showing quite a bit of promise.

She dropped out of University just before Christmas to join Greenpeace. She was selling off all her belongings before she went off on an ocean liner to spray-paint harp seals.

The thing that stuck most in my mind is the fact that I do not, with any accuracy, remember her name. I think it was Jennifer, but that's the point at which I draw a blank.

I loved my fleece. I was pleased to get such a bargain, particularly just before Christmas. I was shocked anappalleded that someone would drop out of school, even before they were really started, to become a professional activist. Someone with such promise, going off to do the unthinkable--LIVE.

Well, that's how I see it now, anyway. I don't know what I thought she was going to do...I remember thinking about how horrified her family must have been. I remember thinking that she must have gone off her rocker to give up her entire future. I didn't see that she was carving out for herself a future that was different than any I had considered. Now, I admire her audacity and courage.

I wish today that I had the courage it takes to throw up your current reality in favour of one that is new and different. To take that terrifying first step and try something unfamiliar.

I wonder though, is it daring to take a leap of faith? Or is it foolhardy? I know that at this point in my life I should be most prepared to take these risks--and yet, as it stands at this moment, I'm not.

I am working my ass off to try and pay down debt accumulated during my University years. I have established a plan that will have me debt-free in just over a year from now. However, that means I'm on a poverty/near-starvation diet until then.

Don't get all panicked--by 'near-starvation' I don't mean that I'm not eating. I mean, rather, that I'm on what amounts to a social-starvation diet. Consider it a social-Atkins, if you will. I can do whatever I want, so long as it doesn't cost much and there's no substance. A social life with no theoretical carbs--where's the fun in that? *grin*

I can afford to muse about having a life because I'm currently living in a place where it is theoretically possible for me to have one. I'm in a city. I'm surrounded by the possibility of meeting other intelligent, educated individuals. I don't have to live through the drought of conversation that I've endured for the last few years. And yet, without the funding, it's difficult to get out there and meet these people.

I can't remember the last time I met someone I wanted to be friends with at a club. (Yes I can, it's never.) I think I'm just all introspective because I met a man who is interesting, intelligent, and attractive at Heidi's on the weekend. It's reminded me that not everyone in the world is as obsessed as I am with lumber and the ability to merchandise my store in an acceptable manner. It's reminded me that I have other interests, and other viewpoints that are far more interesting than how you should install your ceramic tiles.

I was also reading some really great blogs today, by some really very talented writers. I am very pleased to have this speedy and lovely computer with which to read all these blogs. Even though this computer's speed and grace is the single-largest cause of brain atrophy in my home. *grin* I spend far too much time reading blogs and not nearly enough time cleaning my apartment and purging my stuff!

That's enough with the links already! Time for bed.

Note to self: Remember to thank Luke at some point for introducing me to Phish's version of 'Gin and Juice' - even though it's not really Phish at all. What a scam. Great tune though!

Apparently I was born in the wrong era. Three guesses which generation I SHOULD have been, based on my work-a-holic tendencies. The first two don't count.

If only my workaholic, addictionist tendencies applied equally to my blogging--then there'd be a lot more to read, a lot more often! And if my perfectionism were allowed to enter the picture, it'd even be more interesting--or at least more well-written!

I'm working hard at leaving all the smilies and emoticons (I hate that word!) out of my emails and posts. They're incredibly unprofessional, and they make me less reliant on making my language clear and concise. I figure that if I can insert a happy face every now and again people will be able to figure out that I'm joking or that my sarcastic crack is more tongue-in-cheek than bitter-harpie. But if I can't do that without using semi-colons and right parentheses, I really shouldn't be permitted to create text.

After I eliminate smilies, I will endeavour to omit the exclamation point, and then the ellipsis. These forms of punctuation have their rightful place in everyday language, don't get me wrong, but I use them just a little too munificently.

Tomorrow is my day off and I can't wait to sleep in. I've been so exhausted lately. A number of reasons, primarily because I can't get myself to bed before midnight. That, combined with the new 4:45 am wake-up time, is killing me. Add to it the 1 hr 45 minute bus trip home in the evenings and I'm done for. I'm eating poorly, sleeping inadequately, and am generally cranky.

Sometimes it doesn't pay to be Little Mary Sunshine at work. When I'm having a particularly bad day at work, and answer "How are you doing?" with "Cranky. That's how."--I'm not looking for a "but you're NEVER cranky! What's wrooooong?" I'm just cranky, dammit. I know I should tell you I'm 'FANTASTIC!' like I usually do--but why the hell am I not allowed to have a bad day like the rest of the world? Why not? Enquiring minds want to know.

Okay, I"m done ranting now. In fact, I think I"m done typing now. I'm off to drink some tea, check the election results, and then head to bed. Here's hoping for a minority government with a strong NDP presence. Hey, a girl can dare to dream, can't she?

** UPDATE**

*woohoo* Conservative minority...Although it's pretty freaking close still. Stupid Bloc. On the up-side, Jackie is leading or elected in 29 ridings!

Night folks!

Are you Canadian?

If so...and you're reading this...make sure to

VOTE!!!

Subliminal messages hidden in a note of suffrage.

Now go! Vote! Be part of the solution!

Sleepy Sunday

This is awesome.

As is this.

Someone found this blog while searching for "Canadian Bus Photos". I knew I'd gained a few pounds, but I had no idea it was this bad! Time to get back to the gym!

So last night I went over to Heidi's to meet her boyfriend/room-mate and drink with some of her friends. As it turns out, they were her boyfriend's friends, but they were fun. Well, the guy was--the girl was a little uptight.

It was great--I met new people with whom I do not work, and they were SMART. And FUN. Wow. The guy I met was fantastic--intelligent, clever, and (my favourite) TALL. He was also attached, and with child, but he's a fun person to know. And bantering with him all night reminded me that I need to get off my ass and meet new people. And it also reminded me that I do not have to settle for the sub-par conversational abilities of the rocket scientists I call co-workers. I used to be smart and well-spoken, and I can be that way again, goshdarnit!

But I drank too much. And I slept on Heidi's couch. So I got up early-ish (10:30) and walked to the bus-stop and came home. I went to Pete's for some veggies, and the market for some inspiration. I had a lovely Sunday afternoon. The rest of it, I have wasted sitting on the couch watching bad TV and being tired. It's been grand.

I have downloaded about a bazillion songs, give or take a couple of million...and I'm enjoying my Limewire immensely. I'm only feeling a little bit guilty about stealing songs from talented musicians.

If you're looking for a new album to buy, you should consider Porcella by The Deadly Snakes. This is my sister's boyfriend's band, and they're great.

I'm off to bed--must work tomorrow, even though I don't want to. And 5:00 am comes earlier and earlier it seems. Perhaps I just need to get my ass to bed before midnight once ina while. That would likely help.

Thursday

This is graphic, but fascinating.

I'm becoming quite the video-whore. God bless my new computer and all my family members who are responsible for my having it.

Real post in the morning, too tired now. Night folks.

Wednesday's Linkly Love

**EDITED**

I just found this, and it's so freaking amazing that you need to see it now. It's a la Schoolhouse Rock...and so fun! Now, I return you to your regularly scheduled post.

** end edit **

So today was my day off. Heh.

We are planning a big renovation in two of my three departments beginning in just 12 short days. The man in charge of store set-ups and store planning was in today to discuss the plans. So I went to work. I worked a short day, just under 9 hours.

It was mostly productive. However, there was a job posting announcement this morning. My old boss, Darren Fitzgerald, the manager of the Yarmouth store whose ass I bailed out--has been switched to Outside Contractor sales, and some new guy has been appointed manager. Apparently he's been with the company for almost 10 years, but he's only been an assistant manager for just over a year. Both Scott and Tim smirked when they asked if I knew him, so I'm assuming they don't think much of the fellow. I wouldn't know the guy if he backed over me with his shiny new green truck...But I'd hate him anyway.

It's made me do a lot of thinking today. I need to figure out where I stand with my career, and what I want from this company. I know that there are a zillion things that must be considered when making an appointment like this, and yet I still feel slightly jilted.

I worked in that store as an Assistant, and that may be a very convincing reason that I would not have been considered. And perhaps I was--but who's to say?

I have to get my ducks in a row, figure out what I want, and get a little more confrontational. Not "Give me a store, or else!" confrontational, but rather--"This is where I stand. This is what I would like to see happen. Do you see this happening any time in the future or not? If so, how soon might that realistically be happening?"

I'm not prepared to waste my entire life waiting for these people with their Neanderthal concepts of what women can and cannot do. I'm prepared to prove them wrong, but I need to have some assurances if they expect me to wait it out.

What's equally disconcerting though, is the fact that lately I've been feeling less productive than I would like. I used to feel that I was excellent at my job, nobody better. (Well, not very many anybodies anyway!) Lately, I've been questioning that. I have a lot of drama happening in terms of staffing issues in two of my three departments. Just being extremely short-staffed, one girl going out on 'stress-leave' (don't even get me started!), a new department manager to train, and an older department manager that's a world class pedant. (I bet you never knew that 'arsehole' was a synonym for 'pedant', did you?)

All these things combine to make me feel frazzled and question my skills. And then there's a posting announcement to make it all hit home at once. Bleh.

Happier things.

The other day, I had made a list of somewhat important Life Things that I need to do. One of these things included finding a Doctor, no matter what it took.

In my new "public transit is so cool" state of mind, I have to transfer buses in order to get home from work. So today, having missed the first transfer by mere seconds, I was waiting at the bus stop for the 80 to come by when I spotted a rather large billboard with neon lettering outside the Superstore...Announcing that they have a female doctor at the walk-in clinic that is accepting new REAL patients! So I decided that carpe diem was my watchword, and went inside. Not only do I now have a doctor--but I have an appointment for Friday afternoon! I felt very accomplished as I walked out. I didn't even miss my bus in the process. :)

Now, if only MSI will send back my new health card pronto, I'll be all set!

If you're in Halifax, and you need a doctor, Joe Howe Superstore is taking patients, and the new Dr.'s name is Mary Sidhom. Apparently, she's Egyptian. I'll let you know how I like her after Friday! :)

Funny.

I had my paint re-tinted yesterday, and last night I put the first coat onto my new headboard. I love it! But the paint is Melamine paint (more durable) and it is incredibly stinky--not to mention that you have to wait 16 hours between coats for the paint to cure properly--so I have to leave the windows open while it dries. Can we say chilly? But it's nearly done, and hopefully tomorrow night after work I can hang the headboard, and my hard work and patience will be rewarded. I'll have an headboard, like a grownup! Considering I've only had a frame for the last 2.5 years, I think I'm moving quickly into my late-teen years. *snort*

Guess that's all for now, I'm exhausted and off to bed soon.

beefhaikudaily.blogspot.com

testing some posting tricks

If I want to open a new window to Flylady I do that. It's a bit more hassle, but I think it may be worth it.

Likewise, if I think you might like to go to The Onion to read Savage Love...I would do that.

So, that being done, I think I have accomplished what I set out to do, which is learn a new trick. Tomorrow, I will practice it.

You know--some days the world really is your oyster.

I was about to come in and post about how productive my evening has been, and what a great day I've had overall. I decided to first check my email, to see if there were any Flylady reminders that I could delete. And I found happy news!

I had requested to be waitlisted for tickets for the Halifax taping of 'Go!' on CBC radio, and was told that it was highly unlikely any would become available. So when I checked my email, I was happily surprised to see an email saying that there were indeed tickets for Saturday's taping, and how many did I want? (insert dance of joy here)

I replied that I'd like four if possible, but I'd be happy with two, as I didn't want to be greedy, I just wanted to attend the taping. I get to see 'Go!' live! I get to watch them play Groove Shinny! I get to see Brent Bambury with a goatee! Wheee :) It's almost as good as getting Rick Mercer for Christmas!

So now I just have to trade shifts and get long enough off from work to attend the show. :) Whee me :)

And now, back to your regularly scheduled post.

Today was a productive day. I got up. I showered. I even dressed myself. Nothing so miraculous, but I did so without benefit of migraine headache, so the day started out super-fantastic already.

I made myself some coffee, which I remembered to buy during my 10:00 pm shopping expedition last night. Hurray for me.

I gathered together 5 photos from Christmas (harder to accomplish than you might imagine), and set out to attend a scrapbooking seminar where I was supposed to learn how to make (and actually make!) a page with a Christmas theme. I'm not super-keen on the whole scrapbooking thing as it requires an attention to detail that I just don't have. And like tole painting, I appreciate the amount of effort and dedication it requires, I just don't want it at MY house. But, it was a way to do a craft, spend some time with some friends that have kids--sans kids, and it was only $5, materials included.

So we went. My feet nearly froze off, but it was fun. I determined that scrapbooking is really only cut'n paste for adults, just with much more expensive scissors and glue. I made two cut'n paste soldiers and a strip of green with some tree ornaments on it. All this, with only some construction paper and some outrageously expensive cutters and glue. (Henceforth referred to as 'adhesive' because it's more grown-up that way.)

After the arts and crafts portion of the day, I came home and watched some bad TV. I had cheese, bread, and balsamic vinegar for lunch. I then proceeded to prep my door for painting.

I have a beautiful knotty pine, 8-panel door that I purchased about 3 years ago for a BARGAIN price. It was a $300 door, and I paid $25 taxes in. God bless Darren and his pack-rat ways. Anyway, this door was purchased with the intent that one day it would become an headboard. It's moved with me at least 3 times, and it's never made it out of its original plastic. Until today.

I took it in to the store a few weeks ago to have the end trimmed to size. Now it's perfectly symmetrical. It then lived propped behind the sofa for a couple of weeks. I decided Friday that this weekend off was the perfect time to address my lack of headboard. I purchased all the goodies, and even had my DIY mounting system cut to size.

Yesterday, migraine hit. I figured that since I was going to be using alkyds, I should likely start
without an headache. So I put it off until today. I sprayed the knots with coverstain. I waited 45 minutes, and sprayed them again. At this point, I was feeling incredibly productive, so I decided to tackle my closet door.

My closet bi-fold door has been broken since before I moved in. The pins don't reach, so the door won't stay on the closet. I bought the necessary pieces on Friday when I bought my paint. So while the cover-stain was drying, I began to repair the door. I felt powerful.

The phone rang, and Heidi invited me to the movies. So I abandoned the door and went to see Narnia. Save your $10.50. It was terrible. The animatronics were fabulous, but the movie itself dragged. Do yourself a favour and read the series instead. C.S.Lewis has a much better imagination than does the adapter of the screenplay.

When I came back, I finished hanging the door, and put a coat of primer on the door. In another 40 minutes it gets its first coat of paint...then tomorrow evening after work, one more. Tuesday night, I can hang the headboard, and I will be done! So happy!

I tend to put things off forever, but once I decide I want something done, I want it done YESTERDAY! It kills me that this door requires 4 coats of anything! Stinking oil-based paints! Better finish, but still. I'm so glad that it's been 10* and higher the last couple of days...It meant that I could leave the patio door open all afternoon while I was out to let the smells dissipate a little.

If I can figure out how to upload photos from my digital camera, I will perhaps post one here. My camera isn't very good quality, but it was a lovely, thoughtful gift, and I'm grateful to have it.

Can you tell I'm just overjoyed to not have an headache anymore? I hope you all had a lovely weekend, and an even better afternoon.

could you please keep it down a little?

Day two of the migraine and I think I've finally figured out WHY. The stupid temperatures have been changing so wildly over the last week that the air pressure changes have caused my head to expand.

Today, it's 11*C. Yesterday it was 10*. It's likely to be 11* tomorrow and Monday as well. It's JANUARY! It's not supposed to be this warm!

Not to say that I would be complaining about it if I didn't have this stupid headache. :)

I went to the grocery a couple of hours ago, thinking that the fresh air might help. Since when is "Uh-huh" the correct response to 'Thank-You'? Stupid teenagers without mothers.

First, I asked the cashier which register was open as I was the only customer at Shopper's at the time. She was standing directly between two registers, neither of which had a light on, or a sign up. She looked up at me as though I had 3 heads and waved vaguely to the other side of the room..."Over THERE". "pardon me," I thought to myself..."Silly me, thinking it might be somewhere near where you're STANDING". However, I just went over to the empty cash station and waited. I waited some more. Then, when I was just about through waiting, she sauntered over and said, "Card." She did not say "Card?"...but rather "Card." An imperative, not an interrogative. I said as politely as I could, "Oh, not with me. Thanks for asking though."

After paying for my milk and sunflower seeds (my addiction!), I took back my card and said "Thank you," with the usual smile in my voice. In return, I got "Uh-huh". It made me feel particularly well-disposed to the teenagers of the world.

Perhaps I'm just cranky because my head hurts and I feel it might make things better if I could just kill someone for a valid reason like poor manners. I just smiled and said, "Have a good night" as I walked away.

Bleh. I'm just cranky.

I hope I feel better tomorrow, I'm really tired of this. Also, I REALLY want to paint my headboard, and I need to use oil paint, so I really need to not have an headache before I start. Anyway--the screen is hurting my eyes so I'm off to bed to try and get some sleep. Hopefully this migraine will be gone tomorrow and I can get back to a normal life.

Tuesday Choose-Day on Wednesday

I just found this, and I think it's a hoot. So I'm cheating and copying it, even though it's really not Tuesday anymore.




either leave your answers or a link to your webpage with your responses.

Would you rather:
1. get a prank phone call at 2:00am OR sit on a whoopie cushion on a public bus?
2. get poked in the eye OR get a wedgie?
3. taken to the hospital because of a freak accident involving a llama and whipped cream OR an allergic reaction on your nipples from latex?
4. get bit by a rabid chihuahua OR a wild badger?

My responses are as follows:

1. Whoopie cushion -- it'a bit more embarassing, but at least nobody woke me up and made me cranky. I hate waking up and having to be polite to a stranger, then using curse-words to lull myself back to sleep.

2. Wedgie all the way. Both are uncomfortable, but at least with a wedgie there's no possibility of permanent blindness.

3. This one's a toss-up. My immediate reaction was the allergy; however, the llama would definitely provide me with an obviously hilarious story to tell at a later point in time. And I'm all about the drama. So I'm thinking the llama.

4. Wild Badger. Frankly, a rabid chihuahua would be more painful in the long run, and there's no comedic value in a tiny dog causing me pain and suffering. A fight to the death with a wild badger, now....that's comedy!

Your turn. Or not. As you will.

Did anyone else watch the AMAZING documentary on PBS the last few nights called 'Country Boys' by David Sutherland? It was riveting. And funny. And sad. And scary. And makes me grateful. All at once. If you get the chance, get it from the library, or go watch it online. It was incredible. I may even buy it, I enjoyed it so much. I certainly lost sleep watching it, and boy am I feeling it now!

So on that note...g'night.

Nukes, anyone?

Fun Link.

That's all for now.

So much to post...

...I've had about a bazillion great ideas of things I'd like to post about. Things I've been wanting to post for a couple of days now...But I've been soooo tired! So today, you will get an Hodge-podge assortment of shiny things that have caught my attention this week.

This one, I found over at Busy-Mom and to be honest, it's the first time I've been even remotely tempted to do a 19-80's AOL-style 'Me too!'

FOUR On THE FLOOR (no connection here, just a fun link to a fond memory)
Four Jobs You've Had in Your Life: Going all the way back to high school: Sub-shop clerk (submarine technician), deli-clerk, amusement park guest services co-ordinator (professional company picnic organizer), and currently my gig as resident know-it-all and bossy-bitch at the hardware store.

Four Movies You Could Watch Over and Over: Shawshank Redemption, Singin' In The Rain, Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, and South Pacific. I'm a bit of an old-movie freak.

(Four Books You Could Read Again and Again:) To be honest, this wasn't part of the original but I read more than I watch movies. I also care far more about books than I do about movies--so I added it.
A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry. This is, simply put, a phenomenal story. Every time I hit the end, I am saddened that there is no more to read when there is obviously so much more to know.
The Last Time They Met - Anita Shreve. This book makes me happy, but also makes me consider the intricacies of mental illness and imagination. I don't know if that's what the author was looking for, but that's what it does for me. Also, I love Shreve's writing style.
Ken Follet - Pretty much anything he has published. I know they're all pretty much the same, but they're good, and they make me happy. I feel the same way about Agatha Christie. So there.
A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving. I love this book.

Four TV Shows you Love To Watch: The West Wing, Prison Break, Grey's Anatomy...I'm digging on now...there's nothing much else that I LOVE to watch...But Prison Break really rocks my world. The Sopranos--I forgot about them. I like them too.

Four Places You've Been on Vacation: I don't often GO on vacation--when I get it, I usually use it to visit my family in Southern Ontario. I have been to France (wonderful!), and I also enjoy Montreal and Ottawa. I have been camping at Algonquin Park several times, as well as Kejimikujik National Park and Kouchibougouac Park.

Four Websites You Visit Daily: This one is easy. Mimi Smartypants, Pajama Ramblings, Mrs.Flinger, and Page4Paige. I also visit R*belle daily. Lots of others, but these are my 'must-reads'.

Four of Your Favourite Foods: penne arrabiata, wild mushroom soup from Il Mercato (the best restaurant on earth), raspberry pie, and roast beef dinner with all the trimmings.

Four Places You'd Rather Be: Here visiting my sister, here visiting my other sister, here being a tourist, and here spending money.

Four Albums You Can't Live Without: Again--an indication that I am getting old. The Best of Neil Diamond, Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits, Cake - Fashion Nugget, Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around, (who can make it just four?) Blue Rodeo - Five Days in July, and Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever Amen.

Four People You'd Tag to Play this Game: This is why I hate these things. It's too much like a chain letter. And really, you only send chain letters to people you don't like so much anyway. So if you want to play, play. I'll be happy, overjoyed, in fact. But if you don't want to play, don't. I won't be hurt. See? Isn't it much better this way?

Okay...that's enough of that. Time for more regularly scheduled posting. And a colour chage--we could all use a colour change, I'm sure.

Man, typing out the albums part made me go fetch them all and want to play them. The problem is deciding which to play first! I'm going to have to upload them so that I can play them whenever I want while I play on the computer. That's the ticket. Then one big shuffle and I'm good to go.

Today I went and retrieved the car from the parking lot at the gym. When the car died a few days ago, I couldn't bring it home because someone was parked in front of me. (If I didn't blog this, I'll do it tomorrow--it's an amusing tale. Now.) So today, I got a lift in with Lynn (which beats the hell out of taking the bus, I assure you). I didn't have to wait long for the other car to leave, then I put it in forward and came home. Goodness knows what I'll do with the little blue monster, but I will have to decide soon as I am currently hogging prime visitor parking because it was pull-through and on a flat spot.

I'm beat, so I'm off to bed. I'll try to fill you in tomorrow evening on the joy that is public transit.

in lieu of a post...

...you get this amazing website. It makes me laugh. It makes me happy. It makes me thirsty.

You didn't really want to hear what I had to say today anyway. Trust me.

*{shrug}*

Or not. As you were. Nothing to see here.

**revised**
I figured out how to get them to post in order. It involves changing the YEAR as well as the date when you post in a post-dated manner. Colour me stupid, but Fwah. It's fixed now. :)Problem solved, crisis averted.

** Take Note! **

You are not still drunk. The first post happened before the second post. It's a miracle of technological advancement (read: I don't understand it myself). You're going to go back in time to read what I wrote on Friday, and then you're going to read what I wrote today (Monday). It'll be like we're having a little chat...it'll be fun.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled blog-stalking.

Gin & Juice

I'm Limewired up and connected. Let's get it on!

Happy New Year, everybody :) I hope you all had a great time. I ingested large quantities of alcohol, but did not have as much fun as I was hoping to. I had fun, but dragging along a mopey, needy, soppy, recently unattached friend wasn't as much of a good time as you might have imagined it to be. (What? You didn't think that would be fun? Neither did I, but I did it anyway!)

So...Heather broke up with Nathan. She ditched him because she doesn't find him attractive. And yet SHE's all teary and sopping wet. "Why would I be given a glimpse of something so perfect, and yet have it not be *right*?!" Gee, I don't know...because the second a boy shows interest in you you think "Great! Let's get hitched and have babies!!!"

They only dated for 3 months in total, and SHE dumped him. Why this ruined my New Year's Eve is beyond me...But being a good friend, and not nearly as much of a bitch as I sound, I didn't indicate to her in any way that she was dragging me down. Even when we had to leave two consecutive parties (because she didn't want to make the effort to meet new people) and the bar (because she didn't FEEL like dancing and being around happy people) and when I was home by 12:35 am. Bleh. No more.

Take notice, that I, henceforth, shall be greedy and selfish and not really concern myself with YOUR good time--even if you're crying and sopping wet. Particularly not if you get your freaking salt-water self all over my velvet. Consider yourselves warned. (See that, Mrs.Flinger? EMBRACE your inner bitch!!! Don't deny her!)

Today, I was all proud of myself and went to the gym. I worked out for an hour and a half!! That's a new personal best! I did 20 minutes hard on the elliptical, and then did 3 sets of a bunch of exercises on about 5 different machines (abs, arms, back). I was so proud!!!

Then, when it was time to leave the gym, I went out to the car which started up like a dream. I popped it into reverse to back out of my parking spot...and as I gently placed my foot on the gas, I moved forward. Slamming on the brakes, and quickly checking to ensure I had selected the correct gear (I had) I threw it back in park.

My transmission has decided that reverse is a luxury that we're just not going to embrace any longer. Forward is where it's at. Don't look back, my car says. Move forward--proceed full speed ahead. Yeah. Whatever, car.

So...after waiting around for almost two hours (hoping that the person with the car in front of me was in the restaurant or the gym--they weren't) I went into the stores in the stripmall and asked the employees in about 6 stores if they drove a black Kia Spectra (is it you? Can you please move your car so I can drive my baby to the shop? PLEASE?). It was not. The rest of the stores are all 5 minutes, in and out stores...1/2 an hour at most (the video store). While I waited, I ate an entire big bag of chips--thus nullifying any results of my monster gym session.

Then, I took the bus home. I figure that tomorrow, I'll take the bus back to the gym, and hopefully by then someone will not be parked in front of me and I can drive my car to the shop. Thankfully I have an extra day off this week to make up for the holiday, so I've got a bit of flexibility that way.


But it means that I now need to face the harsh reality that I need to replace my car. I am NOT spending any cash to fix the transmission. The poor Festiva is bound for the great big fiesta in the sky. And I'm headed for a life of abject poverty. Whee.

Anybody have a car they want to sell super-cheap? I can't afford a new bicycle, so I'm not looking for much. Alternately, anybody need to share an apartment in Halifax? I have a beautiful place with everything included (dishwasher, laundry, river-view) for bargains! Cheap like dirt, I swear! :)

Bleh--I guess it's not that terrible, it just seems that way today because I had to take public transit. {shudder}

Have a great night folks--resolutions tomorrow.