Why is it that after it snows, the majority of the population loses all perception of straight lines? This phenomenon seems especially prevalent in parking lots. Cars are arranged in strange geometric patterns, like crop circles. And how did the standard parking space suddenly increase in width by two feet? So, for about four months in the year, the parking lot at work mysteriously decreases in capacity by something like 20-30 spaces, and people decide that they have no choice but to block the loading dock and potentially have their car taken out by a tractor trailer that's just trying to get off the property. Bizarre.
Maybe extreme whiteness affects the logical part of the brain...
While we're still on the topic of cars and straightness...does anyone out there who's right-handed find that they have no problem driving with only their left hand, but somehow can't keep the car straight with only their right? One of the girls at work was talking about it today. She finds it very easy to drive left-handed, but when she switches, her driving exhibts the characteristics of a crazy drunkard.
I think she's a weirdo. But perhaps I should test this out tomorrow before I render the final verdict.
I'm still pretty confident that she's a weirdo.
Finally, on a completely different note and in light of current and future adventures overseas, take this little quiz to make sure you don't offend anyone with your eating habits.
"Tell all your friends, make believe all 'round"
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Across The Crowded Room
It's January, so you know what that means.
The gym is packed.
I have to admit that I haven't been to the gym in about a month and a half. But it's a new year and another new beginning, and I'm determined to return to the "3 times a week" routine.
Sunday morning hasn't been this busy in a long time. The majority of the machines were in use, and the step class was almost filled to capacity. But I still managed to bump into Olga A. Who, of course, looks exactly the same as the last time I saw her. Come to think of it, she looks the same as the first time I saw her too. I carry very specific memories of some of the people in my past. For Olga, I will forever remember her as the wizard in the Grade 5 musical. Somehow, I'm pretty sure that she would love it if I didn't.
Tonight's step class was similarly crammed. As the previous class was exiting the studio, I bet all my money that I would see someone I knew. And sure enough...how many of you remember Lauren D.? (I can hear copies of the Panteria whipping open already)
Looking at all these women running/stepping/cycling in a row, or moving in sync with the instructor, or making small, repetitive movement with disproportionately large machines, it made me think of the things that we value. Are all these people here to improve their health? Or are they attempting to mold themselves into what we have all been tricked into thinking is the acceptable norm? Or both? And how important is it to them, really?
I guess we'll find out in February.
"If you believe it's in my soul, I'd say all the words that I know"
The gym is packed.
I have to admit that I haven't been to the gym in about a month and a half. But it's a new year and another new beginning, and I'm determined to return to the "3 times a week" routine.
Sunday morning hasn't been this busy in a long time. The majority of the machines were in use, and the step class was almost filled to capacity. But I still managed to bump into Olga A. Who, of course, looks exactly the same as the last time I saw her. Come to think of it, she looks the same as the first time I saw her too. I carry very specific memories of some of the people in my past. For Olga, I will forever remember her as the wizard in the Grade 5 musical. Somehow, I'm pretty sure that she would love it if I didn't.
Tonight's step class was similarly crammed. As the previous class was exiting the studio, I bet all my money that I would see someone I knew. And sure enough...how many of you remember Lauren D.? (I can hear copies of the Panteria whipping open already)
Looking at all these women running/stepping/cycling in a row, or moving in sync with the instructor, or making small, repetitive movement with disproportionately large machines, it made me think of the things that we value. Are all these people here to improve their health? Or are they attempting to mold themselves into what we have all been tricked into thinking is the acceptable norm? Or both? And how important is it to them, really?
I guess we'll find out in February.
"If you believe it's in my soul, I'd say all the words that I know"
Monday, January 03, 2005
Crappy New Year
Well...the dream of having a good year was somewhat short-lived...
Where do I start? Okay...last night our car was broken into. Maybe not so much broken into as it was opened due to my father forgetting to lock the car. Since we don't keep that much junk in any of our cars, they only took a change purse (a few bucks at most), a cheap flashlight, a granola bar, and...our garage door opener. Which they of course used to open our garage. Since we had two cars jammed into it and two cars on the driveway, they didn't end up taking anything. The whole thing looks random, but I learned today it's not actually a rare occurrence on my street. My dad was talking to the neighbours this afternoon and found out that almost everyone had experienced something similar at one point or another over the past few years. Someone had left their car unlocked on their driveway in broad daylight and some punk went in and rifled through their stuff. The old couple on the corner were robbed recently. The little old lady had stepped outside to rake leaves or something, and some guy just walked into the house and stole their antique watch collection, while the old man (who's ill) was lying in the bedroom. I mean, come on, the guy(s) that paid us a visit last night took the light bulb from our motion detector.
So, after looking over the car as quickly as possible, I headed to work. Where I was told that my boss had died yesterday. She had lost her battle against the tag-team cancer (breast, then lung). The only good things that can be said about this are:
a) her suffering is finally over, and
b) she died they way she wanted, peacefully at home in her favourite rocking chair, instead of hooked up to a bunch of machines in a hospital.
She would have been 42 in February.
Monica was the nicest and the best manager I've ever had. She had an amazing sense of humour, and she never failed to help me out whenever I had a question or problem. Her conviction in beating the illness was awe-inspiring.
Despite the heaviness of the day, it wasn't a complete bust. I got some work done, and I was actually okay for the most part until the grief counsellor showed up. We went in to see him as a group and spent an hour talking and sobbing. We all came out of there more depressed, and I had blown my nose so much it hurt.
Lesson of the Day: Grief counselling is not for me.
The funeral is on Thursday. I've never been to a funeral with a cremation before. I hope I'll be able to hold it together.
I know this has been a downer of a blog, but the pamphlet did say that writing down your feelings can be theraputic in these situations. So here it is. Thanks for reading.
"It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right, I hope you had the time of your life"
Where do I start? Okay...last night our car was broken into. Maybe not so much broken into as it was opened due to my father forgetting to lock the car. Since we don't keep that much junk in any of our cars, they only took a change purse (a few bucks at most), a cheap flashlight, a granola bar, and...our garage door opener. Which they of course used to open our garage. Since we had two cars jammed into it and two cars on the driveway, they didn't end up taking anything. The whole thing looks random, but I learned today it's not actually a rare occurrence on my street. My dad was talking to the neighbours this afternoon and found out that almost everyone had experienced something similar at one point or another over the past few years. Someone had left their car unlocked on their driveway in broad daylight and some punk went in and rifled through their stuff. The old couple on the corner were robbed recently. The little old lady had stepped outside to rake leaves or something, and some guy just walked into the house and stole their antique watch collection, while the old man (who's ill) was lying in the bedroom. I mean, come on, the guy(s) that paid us a visit last night took the light bulb from our motion detector.
So, after looking over the car as quickly as possible, I headed to work. Where I was told that my boss had died yesterday. She had lost her battle against the tag-team cancer (breast, then lung). The only good things that can be said about this are:
a) her suffering is finally over, and
b) she died they way she wanted, peacefully at home in her favourite rocking chair, instead of hooked up to a bunch of machines in a hospital.
She would have been 42 in February.
Monica was the nicest and the best manager I've ever had. She had an amazing sense of humour, and she never failed to help me out whenever I had a question or problem. Her conviction in beating the illness was awe-inspiring.
Despite the heaviness of the day, it wasn't a complete bust. I got some work done, and I was actually okay for the most part until the grief counsellor showed up. We went in to see him as a group and spent an hour talking and sobbing. We all came out of there more depressed, and I had blown my nose so much it hurt.
Lesson of the Day: Grief counselling is not for me.
The funeral is on Thursday. I've never been to a funeral with a cremation before. I hope I'll be able to hold it together.
I know this has been a downer of a blog, but the pamphlet did say that writing down your feelings can be theraputic in these situations. So here it is. Thanks for reading.
"It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right, I hope you had the time of your life"
Saturday, January 01, 2005
Glance Back, Look Forward
Happy 2005 to one and all.
As everyone counted down the last seconds of 2004 at our annual New Year's party, I made my biggest resolution: this is going to be the best year ever. I am going to make it happen, no matter what.
This morning I woke up and it was the first thought in my head. It's a new year, a new beginning, and I am excited. I know it's not going to be an easy thing to accomplish, but I already have a plan in mind and a few surprises hidden up my sleeve.
Stay tuned.
"So let go, jump in, oh well whatcha waiting for?"
As everyone counted down the last seconds of 2004 at our annual New Year's party, I made my biggest resolution: this is going to be the best year ever. I am going to make it happen, no matter what.
This morning I woke up and it was the first thought in my head. It's a new year, a new beginning, and I am excited. I know it's not going to be an easy thing to accomplish, but I already have a plan in mind and a few surprises hidden up my sleeve.
Stay tuned.
"So let go, jump in, oh well whatcha waiting for?"