Wednesday, January 23, 2008

My New Job Rox

I love my new job and it's only day three. My body is slowly adjusting to rising at 6 am and commuting to work for 8 am. Today will be tough because I have an evening class from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

Learning about Human Resources for three different unioned employees is interesting. At times, my brain is on information overload. But I like all the tasks I have learned so far. I have already started to create outlines for three different projects. I even have my own office!

It is lovely seeing and meeting all the elderly patients. They often smile and say hello. There is also a mascot: Jerry the cat. He took it upon himself to nap behind my desk next to the heater. I almost forgot about him and locked him in the office over night. He wouldn't budge out when I was pushing his butt with a day timer. My mentor had to flick him with water to get him to scoot.

Listening to: Republica - Ready To Go

 

Friday, January 18, 2008

Angry Alien Bunnies Make Me Laugh Longtime

So, A's son C showed me last weekend these online movie spoofs with bunnies by Angry Alien. Needless to say, I love them and have been laughing non-stop.

Some of my favourites are: Jaws, The Shining, Pulp Fiction, Titanic, and Napoleon Dynamite.




I got my hair cut today. Brandon at Toni & Guy is so talented. I have been having my hair styled by him for years. The salon has these gigantic red lanterns hanging from the ceiling in clusters. They look very lovely against the stark white background.

Walked around downtown and checked out the shops. Most places still have clearance sales from 30 to 70% off. Crazy. Came home and napped. Feel so much more revitalized. Waking up around 6 am on Monday for work will be quite the adjustment. I have to be at my new job at 8 am on Main Street.

Tonight, I am going out with friends to see the new movie Cloverfield. Excited with goosebumps already. Even better that it is getting good reviews by the critics.

 

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Things you can accomplish while off work

Well, I quit my job. I had been at a part-time job for almost two years. It was a publishing company for three magazines (fashion and tourism). I quit it last week and found a new job in two days. Administration in the Human Resources department of a non-profit organization that manages housing for seniors. I start Monday and could not be happier.

In the meantime, I have had the week off. It is amazing what one can accomplish in a week free of responsibility and routine. I have managed to accomplish the following tasks:

- catch up on sleep
- go on a coffee date
- grocery shop
- visit the doctor
- massage therapy
- catch up with homework
- take a friend to an appointment
- clean dish rack
- clean sink
- clean toilet
- mop bathroom floor
- Swifter floors
- cat tete-a-tete
- get a hair cut
- catch up with friends
- make long overdue phone calls
- have a Lush face masque
- update driver's license
- go for dinner and see Sweeny Todd


Needless to say, I keep having to check to see what day of the week it is. Thank dogness for having two day timers.


Listening to: The Cars - Let the Good Times Roll

 

Monday, January 14, 2008

A la weekend

Whew, weekend went by quick, but I am so at ease because I quit my job on Friday. I have been there just shy of two years, but it was time to let go and move on. Also, passing through another cold. Nothing like the flu last month, or these sinus infections going around.

On Friday, I went to the VanCity Theatre downtown to see Daft Punk's Electroma. A fantastic artistic film about two robots attempting to become human. The film has long sequences with no dialogue. I found it interesting and intense. I think watching clips online would take away the impact of this film as a whole. I wish Daft Punk were touring in Vancouver.

On Saturday, I went for brunch and our first Burn BC board meeting. Long, but we managed to cover almost every agenda topic. A good start to a new beginning. I went over to A&G's after to play Cranium. First time ever and I am hooked! Cranium is awesome! I think it would be even better with more pairs of competitors.

We went over to Commercial Drive to get some take away. We saw an intriguing window display at Mintage. There were two mannequins in bed and a photographer taking their photo. A's son and I immediately thought of Hair Peace with John Lennon and Yoko Ono. A's son told me that Yoko is almost ready to forgive the assassin of John. We continued on by discussing the US presidential race and voting in Canada. That kid really wows me sometimes. He's so far along at his age.

After chowing down on Red Burrito and Belgian Fries, we watched I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. Halfway through, B&D came over and I went to chat them up in another room. I missed the last half of the movie, but I heard it was quite predictable. We were all too knackered for another round of Cranium. Never did make it to the Work Less Party's Enchanted Forest.

Sunday, I slept in very late (which helped my health and lack of sleep all week). Went out to Surrey to visit with my niece. I have not seen her in a month and a half. We did the belated Xmas thing. I also took her to the mall so she could play at the indoor playground. It's such a test to take a child through the mall and do the tug-of-war of let her look at stuff and move her along. Finished the evening watching her play a N64 tank game and helping my dad surf real estate on the Internet. Even got some doggy action with Max.

Listening to: Dave Matthews Band - Too Much

 

Thursday, January 10, 2008

So, you get off on torturing animals?

A cat is back with its owner after getting shot in the face. The vet bill is at least $11,000. The cat had to have it's jaw rewired and eats through a tube. I can understand the owner's love for the cat. A pet is sometimes an extension to the family, like a child. I remember paying $1,000 for Bear to have a broken canine removed after he was hit by a car crossing Cornwall Avenue years ago. Luckily, he had no internal injuries, but he could not get himself home. He lay between parked cars meowing until someone found him and took him to a 24-hour vet hospital. I eventually got him back from the SPCA. I was so mortified when he did not come home for 2 days. He's all happy-go-lucky now; he is missing a tooth.

There is also the story about the guy in the West End who repeatedly beat his puppy with a hammer because it bit a friend. The puppy was probably teething. The puppy's injuries were so severe, it had to be put down. The SPCA is calling for charges. But animal protection laws are so weak and laughable that probably nothing will happen. Why doesn't the SPCA lobby for stricter laws and fines? Puppy millers usually get a slap on the wrist. I remember reading about a puppy mill where dogs lived outside in chicken wire cages in the snow with frozen water and maggot-infested food.

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Top Culture Moments of 2007

CBC's web site has an article listing their favourite top pop culture moments of 2007. The moments that I personally enjoyed were: Daft Punk Live, return of the Coen Brothers, HBO tv show Tell Me You Love Me, My Humps by Alanis Morrisette, and Ellen Page in Juno.

I just watched the pilot episode of Cashmere Mafia. I love it! I really like Frances O'Connor's character. Hmm... successful and powerful women in New York balancing the work-family-play triangle. I wonder how it will compete against Lipstick Jungle.

 

Love this video Here It Goes Again by OK Go.




My laundry beckons.

Listening to: Hanson - Go

 

Monday, January 07, 2008

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Happy New Year

Yep, another year has gone by. I have to admit it, 2007 was one of the best years I have had in awhile. Why? I participated in local and regional BM events more, I hung out with old friends, I camped a lot, I went to England, I started dating again, and I got to hang out with my niece. There was also a lot of that maturing, growing and soul-searching hub-bub. But really, I am grinning, and it is from ear-to-ear.

I had to work new year's, but alas it's how I pay the rent. I grabbed Delilah and we met up with about 20 or so friends at a Skytrain Station for the 2nd Annual NYE Skytrain Party. There was even a live brass and percussion band. We decorated the train, danced, and drank. The Skytrain staff laughed hysterically and took photos when we rode by. We did a loop on the Millennium line. Most riders who got on our train were estatic and started dancing along with us.

After the train party, we went to Amanda and Geoff's for a lively and energetic karaoke party. They, as always, host with the most. We continued on to a loft party near Main Street where the mood was more demure. Both parties had impromptu fire performance jams. Rang in the new year well amongst great friends and free of paying a cash grab for entrance to a lame-ass bar or club. Could have continued on to another party, but decided to call it a night at 3 am.

I finally figured out why my Langara College registration time was so late from the start these past semesters. Apparently, the college did not process my transcript from first year. I learned this after receiving an error while trying to apply for second year courses. I did not fill out a Credit Transfer Application. Shesh, no wonder my GPA was ZERO. I did get into one course: Intro to Cultural Anthropology. Jesse always said I should take this course. Let's see if he's right.

Listening to: Timbaland feat. One Republic - Apologize