My God, I'm So Depressed Now...:
This has been a weird evening. I was watching Sixth Sense on TV, which if nothing else is a pretty sad movie. I flipped between that and Everwood, which featured the character who had AIDS leaving town because people were shunning her and mainly because Dr. Brown just broke up with her. And then, for some reason, I decided to log into Friendster to see what was new and found out that last month a guy I had met at CUTC had died from cancer. When I met him, he had just come back from missing about a year of school and the chemo had left him relatively bald and somewhat thin. But he was such a great guy, full of awesome ideas and energy. He came with me during our midnight grocery store raid for pop and chips, and he was one of the guys who agreed to pull the overnight shift for me at the headquarter desk.
I think he was about a year or so younger than I am, but since he had missed so much school he had to drop back a couple of terms. I remember that I didn't see him at this year's conference in January and I meant to ask someone about it but it slipped my mind.
Vince, we hardly knew ye...
Monday, April 26, 2004
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Word Play:
I don't know if any of you look closely at your spam, but I've been getting some fun ones. And not the usual teen sluts or Viagra discounts. These are just a random grouping of words. It's in both the subject line and the message, but there are too many words to list here, so I'll just give you a sample of a couple of my favourite subject lines:
liquefaction juliet rainbow religious facade cornell scram lemonade...
confucian wine tetrachloride jacobus romulus anionic child yank furtherance...
(I couldn't copy it all down, but that second one really brought out the Chemmie in me)
Has anyone ever been able to buy playoff tickets online through Ticketmaster? Is that even possible? Because I've been trying and it's like they allow you to try, but they don't have any left if you wait a second after 10am. You just end up clicking back and forth, typing ridiculous words as their way of attempting to bypass clever computer geeks and their programs. It makes you wonder if the words they use are real too. Hungred? Ostiary? Then, after a bunch of relatively small (5-8 letter) words, they threw this one at me: "trialbalance". After about half an hour of trying (while...um...at work) I started to get the feeling they were telling me something when they were reusing some of the words. And then this word showed up and made me give up all together: "damnum"
Finally, a little tidbit of something that I had heard on the radio while driving to work. There's some new book about the White House and their role in Iraq or something, and they interviewed Colin Powell for it. They asked him what his relationship with the Vice President was like. Powell said that they had an informal and friendly relationship, and here's a direct quote from the book: "When the Vice President and I are alone together in a room, it's just Colin and Dick."
If you don't get it, just remember to pronounce the names correctly.
"And I see you standing there, wanting more from me, and all I can do is try"
I don't know if any of you look closely at your spam, but I've been getting some fun ones. And not the usual teen sluts or Viagra discounts. These are just a random grouping of words. It's in both the subject line and the message, but there are too many words to list here, so I'll just give you a sample of a couple of my favourite subject lines:
liquefaction juliet rainbow religious facade cornell scram lemonade...
confucian wine tetrachloride jacobus romulus anionic child yank furtherance...
(I couldn't copy it all down, but that second one really brought out the Chemmie in me)
Has anyone ever been able to buy playoff tickets online through Ticketmaster? Is that even possible? Because I've been trying and it's like they allow you to try, but they don't have any left if you wait a second after 10am. You just end up clicking back and forth, typing ridiculous words as their way of attempting to bypass clever computer geeks and their programs. It makes you wonder if the words they use are real too. Hungred? Ostiary? Then, after a bunch of relatively small (5-8 letter) words, they threw this one at me: "trialbalance". After about half an hour of trying (while...um...at work) I started to get the feeling they were telling me something when they were reusing some of the words. And then this word showed up and made me give up all together: "damnum"
Finally, a little tidbit of something that I had heard on the radio while driving to work. There's some new book about the White House and their role in Iraq or something, and they interviewed Colin Powell for it. They asked him what his relationship with the Vice President was like. Powell said that they had an informal and friendly relationship, and here's a direct quote from the book: "When the Vice President and I are alone together in a room, it's just Colin and Dick."
If you don't get it, just remember to pronounce the names correctly.
"And I see you standing there, wanting more from me, and all I can do is try"
Friday, April 16, 2004
Why I Am Not Asleep:
Stupid me is waiting for my cell phone to finish charging. Yeah, I'm weird.
So, Hairspray was pretty good last night. It was cheesy in a fun way, like Grease. And I was mistaken, it's set in the 60s, not the 50s. The hair is impressive, and there were a number of surprises in terms of the set design. Oh, and that American Idol chick is not too shabby either. I don't watch American Idol at all, but the only thing I think I recall about this girl is that Simon called her fat or something. Okay, so she isn't a stick, but what does that have to do with anything? For Christ's sake, check out the guy who won...
Where was I...oh yeah. So yes, I would recommend Hairspray to anyone who doesn't mind some good clean cheesiness. I mean, when you've got 60s style music, racial tension, several sexual innuendos, and a large man dressed as a woman, what more do you need?
Moving on...
Is anyone out there interested in going on a cruise? Sometime between July 24-Aug 1? To the Mediterranean or thereabouts? For roughly CAD$2000? I was just wondering...
BB16
"That's the start, the middle, and the end, aren't you glad the universe pretends"
Stupid me is waiting for my cell phone to finish charging. Yeah, I'm weird.
So, Hairspray was pretty good last night. It was cheesy in a fun way, like Grease. And I was mistaken, it's set in the 60s, not the 50s. The hair is impressive, and there were a number of surprises in terms of the set design. Oh, and that American Idol chick is not too shabby either. I don't watch American Idol at all, but the only thing I think I recall about this girl is that Simon called her fat or something. Okay, so she isn't a stick, but what does that have to do with anything? For Christ's sake, check out the guy who won...
Where was I...oh yeah. So yes, I would recommend Hairspray to anyone who doesn't mind some good clean cheesiness. I mean, when you've got 60s style music, racial tension, several sexual innuendos, and a large man dressed as a woman, what more do you need?
Moving on...
Is anyone out there interested in going on a cruise? Sometime between July 24-Aug 1? To the Mediterranean or thereabouts? For roughly CAD$2000? I was just wondering...
BB16
"That's the start, the middle, and the end, aren't you glad the universe pretends"
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Back on Track:
A number of things that are finally getting done by me:
1) Joining a gym. It's been almost a year but I'm finally getting back into the groove. I guess I should eventually get around to figuring out how to use the machines, but for now I'll just stick to what I like, and that's the classes. Last week I pushed myself so hard in Step that afterwards I was dizzy and nauseous while I was getting groceries for my mom. That's the stuff.
2) Cleaning my room. Yes, the crap is back. And really never left. I just started new piles on my floor. I still haven't tackled under my bed yet (shudder).
3) Going out with co-workers. I'm not talking about meals either (because I've already done that). We're going to see Hairspray tomorrow night. It was quite last minute (we decided today), and nice and cheap ($60 for an orchestra seat that's about 10 rows from the front).
So...yeah...it's been productive.
Oh yeah, did I mention it was my birthday on the weekend? Quarter-century baby. It honestly doesn't feel any different. Although I have yet to write my age down on paper anywhere. Hopefully I'll remember what it is when I do.
This was by far one of the best birthdays ever. I'd like to say first and foremost that I have awesome friends. For the past couple of months, they've been scheming and planning and organizing my own make-over shopping spree, then dinner, then a trip up the Manulife Centre to the Panorama lounge, which came with a gigantic novelty card (signed by those present as well as those from afar) and a mix CD with personalized liner notes.
Thanks again to everyone for the gifts and well-wishes. This is going to be a year of big celebration for most of us, and this birthday extravaganza is going to be hard to top. But just watch me.
Good job, Binky.
"There's never a wish better than this, when you only got 100 years to live"
A number of things that are finally getting done by me:
1) Joining a gym. It's been almost a year but I'm finally getting back into the groove. I guess I should eventually get around to figuring out how to use the machines, but for now I'll just stick to what I like, and that's the classes. Last week I pushed myself so hard in Step that afterwards I was dizzy and nauseous while I was getting groceries for my mom. That's the stuff.
2) Cleaning my room. Yes, the crap is back. And really never left. I just started new piles on my floor. I still haven't tackled under my bed yet (shudder).
3) Going out with co-workers. I'm not talking about meals either (because I've already done that). We're going to see Hairspray tomorrow night. It was quite last minute (we decided today), and nice and cheap ($60 for an orchestra seat that's about 10 rows from the front).
So...yeah...it's been productive.
Oh yeah, did I mention it was my birthday on the weekend? Quarter-century baby. It honestly doesn't feel any different. Although I have yet to write my age down on paper anywhere. Hopefully I'll remember what it is when I do.
This was by far one of the best birthdays ever. I'd like to say first and foremost that I have awesome friends. For the past couple of months, they've been scheming and planning and organizing my own make-over shopping spree, then dinner, then a trip up the Manulife Centre to the Panorama lounge, which came with a gigantic novelty card (signed by those present as well as those from afar) and a mix CD with personalized liner notes.
Thanks again to everyone for the gifts and well-wishes. This is going to be a year of big celebration for most of us, and this birthday extravaganza is going to be hard to top. But just watch me.
Good job, Binky.
"There's never a wish better than this, when you only got 100 years to live"
Friday, April 09, 2004
The Dream is Dead:
Well, there won't be any condo-living for me in the near future. At least, not in my parents' condo. Yes, I am back on this topic, only because I finally got the guts to confront them about it again. I had to let it cool off for a while, to wait out the aftershocks. I asked my mom if she was serious about what she had said earlier about letting me rent the condo. She said that she was, but that my dad isn't. Doesn't make sense, he says. Well, fine. But then she says one of those ridculous statements of hers. She said that I should save up some money so that I can buy my own place near whatever permanent job I get later on. She went on to say that although it was okay that I was renting a place while I was at school and it couldn't be avoided, I shouldn't be renting anymore because I'm past that age. Okay...I'm TOO OLD TO RENT??? I was somehow able to walk out of the room without bursting out laughing (or screaming). I honestly can't believe that she said that. What kind of backwards bizarro world is she living in? I don't know. I think my parents are doing what some of my friends' parents are doing, living the dream that I won't move out until I'm married. Except my parents aren't being as straight-forward about it.
Oh well, onward and upward. Now I can concentrate on the car proposal. And who knows, maybe I'll wake up tomorrow with $21 million.
"Just a moment of weakness, I should examine my head"
Well, there won't be any condo-living for me in the near future. At least, not in my parents' condo. Yes, I am back on this topic, only because I finally got the guts to confront them about it again. I had to let it cool off for a while, to wait out the aftershocks. I asked my mom if she was serious about what she had said earlier about letting me rent the condo. She said that she was, but that my dad isn't. Doesn't make sense, he says. Well, fine. But then she says one of those ridculous statements of hers. She said that I should save up some money so that I can buy my own place near whatever permanent job I get later on. She went on to say that although it was okay that I was renting a place while I was at school and it couldn't be avoided, I shouldn't be renting anymore because I'm past that age. Okay...I'm TOO OLD TO RENT??? I was somehow able to walk out of the room without bursting out laughing (or screaming). I honestly can't believe that she said that. What kind of backwards bizarro world is she living in? I don't know. I think my parents are doing what some of my friends' parents are doing, living the dream that I won't move out until I'm married. Except my parents aren't being as straight-forward about it.
Oh well, onward and upward. Now I can concentrate on the car proposal. And who knows, maybe I'll wake up tomorrow with $21 million.
"Just a moment of weakness, I should examine my head"
Thursday, April 01, 2004
One of a Kind:
I experienced the One of a Kind show yesterday for the first time ever. Yes, it is full of artsy craftsy people and things. Yes, the vast majority of those in attendance were female. But it was still kinda cool. Some quick highlights:
1) Who knew that people could get so incredibly excited about custom made aprons? A snippet of conversation we overheard (and I'm not kidding):
"Ladies! Come over here and check out these aprons! Look, she has a sewing machine!"
2) Why didn't that guy think of this before? Candles that smell like burning logs. Hey, he thought it was a good idea. Through brainstorming we came up with more outdoorsy (and therefore perfectly suited to Em) inspired scents: marshmallows/s'mores, skunk, marsh/swamp
By the time we left the candle guy, our hands were covered in wax and various fruit smells and Ada discovered that by inhaling too deeply, she now had wax up her nose.
3) A veritable smorgasbord. We had a sample of every food product, except the caribou and canned fish (I had just had chocolate covered fruit and didn't think the combination would work well). Unfortunately, I had forgotten about my waxy hands. Between Ada and me, we had successfully met our wax intake requirements for the day.
My purchase of the evening? Three jars of wine jelly. Mmmm...ice wine jelly...
And now, a conversation about the weather:
Water water everywhere...but surprise! We are actually having a crisis at work concerning the water supply. In that we don't have any. Why? Well, all this lovely rain that we've been getting is washing all the crap in and around Stouffville into the local well water, which is our source, and is thus making it impossible for us to use to make the product. This is not to say that we don't treat the water before we use it...oh no. We just can't do anything to purify it ENOUGH at this point. The TOC levels are just too high. (What's TOC? Umm.....yeah.....let me get back to you on that...) And there's no way to get water from Lake Ontario (an example of good planning in the 60s). Well, it's gotta stop raining eventually.
"It's never ending as far as I know, but there's a doubt you feel between us both"
I experienced the One of a Kind show yesterday for the first time ever. Yes, it is full of artsy craftsy people and things. Yes, the vast majority of those in attendance were female. But it was still kinda cool. Some quick highlights:
1) Who knew that people could get so incredibly excited about custom made aprons? A snippet of conversation we overheard (and I'm not kidding):
"Ladies! Come over here and check out these aprons! Look, she has a sewing machine!"
2) Why didn't that guy think of this before? Candles that smell like burning logs. Hey, he thought it was a good idea. Through brainstorming we came up with more outdoorsy (and therefore perfectly suited to Em) inspired scents: marshmallows/s'mores, skunk, marsh/swamp
By the time we left the candle guy, our hands were covered in wax and various fruit smells and Ada discovered that by inhaling too deeply, she now had wax up her nose.
3) A veritable smorgasbord. We had a sample of every food product, except the caribou and canned fish (I had just had chocolate covered fruit and didn't think the combination would work well). Unfortunately, I had forgotten about my waxy hands. Between Ada and me, we had successfully met our wax intake requirements for the day.
My purchase of the evening? Three jars of wine jelly. Mmmm...ice wine jelly...
And now, a conversation about the weather:
Water water everywhere...but surprise! We are actually having a crisis at work concerning the water supply. In that we don't have any. Why? Well, all this lovely rain that we've been getting is washing all the crap in and around Stouffville into the local well water, which is our source, and is thus making it impossible for us to use to make the product. This is not to say that we don't treat the water before we use it...oh no. We just can't do anything to purify it ENOUGH at this point. The TOC levels are just too high. (What's TOC? Umm.....yeah.....let me get back to you on that...) And there's no way to get water from Lake Ontario (an example of good planning in the 60s). Well, it's gotta stop raining eventually.
"It's never ending as far as I know, but there's a doubt you feel between us both"