So, I finally finished reading Stephen King's newest (I believe - it took me a long time to read this). It was so bad. It had an interesting idea behind it but it went on for way too long. Probably would have made a good short story.
After that I read Bruce Campbell's second book "How to Make Love, the Bruce Campbell Way". It wasn't near as good as his autobiography but there were laugh out loud moments.
I'm currently reading "A Thousand Splendid Suns". It is so good. The author's first book, "The Kite Runner", was amazing. So far his second is shaping up to be just as good. The writing is amazing, I can't put it down (and not because there is action every second, just because the writing sucks you in).
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Monday, October 08, 2007
Hockey Weekend
This past weekend I was supposed to go to Wonderland with my friend Sharon and her daughter. Unfortunately, I did something to my back last week (I think it was during Aquafit, but who knows). It hurt to breathe so I figured roller coasters weren't the best idea. I'm glad that I decided against it because the weather was crazy on Saturday - water everywhere.
My cousin Andrew ended up having an extra ticket to a Marlie's hockey game and I figured my back could handle sitting watching a game and drinking some beer. The game was quite good and it was really nice to be sitting watching a live hockey game again. After the game a group of us went for dinner and then I hung out at Michelle and Andrew's chatting for most of the night.
Last night was our second hockey game of the season, but our first with a goalie. I think we played really well, but we lost 2-0. I think we have a good team, but we need to get used to each other's playing styles. I miss having a coach on the bench.
My cousin Andrew ended up having an extra ticket to a Marlie's hockey game and I figured my back could handle sitting watching a game and drinking some beer. The game was quite good and it was really nice to be sitting watching a live hockey game again. After the game a group of us went for dinner and then I hung out at Michelle and Andrew's chatting for most of the night.
Last night was our second hockey game of the season, but our first with a goalie. I think we played really well, but we lost 2-0. I think we have a good team, but we need to get used to each other's playing styles. I miss having a coach on the bench.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Microsoft Sucks
So, I have a document. A couple of weeks ago my appendices were appearing in the cross-reference list and the table of contents. This week they have disappeared from the cross-reference list. I have tried everything. I've applied different styles (as per Microsoft's instructions), but then they either appear in the cross-reference list or the TOC, but not both. It is a mess. Even if I set the TOC to pick up the style it doesn't. How can they allow such crappy software on the market? And why do I keep using it?
It is making me mental.
It is making me mental.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Too Much TV
Last night at trivia I learned that I watched too much television in the 80s (I'm not sure that has changed).
I actually did really well in last night's game. I was able to get my current events question correct (I was worried for awhile): 'What American university hosted the Iranian president for a Q&A' (well, the question was way wordier than that) and I actually had Columbia somewhere in my brain (I had read an article on the visit, but I didn't think Columbia was actually correct).
There were two rounds that I absolutely loved: Entertainment and Audio. The audio round this week was on Canadian artists. My team had a perfect round (everyone answered their question without the team's help). My song was by Feist (so thank you Jason for downloading a ton of Feist onto my MP3 player). The Entertainment round was on 80s sitcoms. I knew all of them except the Bosom Buddies question (I had a different show in my mind, but it wasn't our question). Somedays it does help to be the youngest person at the table. I was also really happy with my question in the challenge round. I don't think I have ever gotten a challenge question correct, but this week there were two questions on Yellow songs. I was hoping for Yellow Submarine, but that really is way too obvious. My question was about Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi. I would have also gotten the steal correct (if it had come back to me) as that was about Coldplay's Yellow (I'm not a fan of Coldplay at all, but I did know that they sang Yellow).
So, a good night for our team. We did win at our table. Rod's team, though, kicked butt at their table. Rod and I went out to Green Mango for dinner before the game. It was soooo good! We then stopped in to a great furniture place on Yonge. If I had any room in my house I definitely would have found many things to buy. Rod has a new house so he will definitely be going back for some pieces.
I actually did really well in last night's game. I was able to get my current events question correct (I was worried for awhile): 'What American university hosted the Iranian president for a Q&A' (well, the question was way wordier than that) and I actually had Columbia somewhere in my brain (I had read an article on the visit, but I didn't think Columbia was actually correct).
There were two rounds that I absolutely loved: Entertainment and Audio. The audio round this week was on Canadian artists. My team had a perfect round (everyone answered their question without the team's help). My song was by Feist (so thank you Jason for downloading a ton of Feist onto my MP3 player). The Entertainment round was on 80s sitcoms. I knew all of them except the Bosom Buddies question (I had a different show in my mind, but it wasn't our question). Somedays it does help to be the youngest person at the table. I was also really happy with my question in the challenge round. I don't think I have ever gotten a challenge question correct, but this week there were two questions on Yellow songs. I was hoping for Yellow Submarine, but that really is way too obvious. My question was about Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi. I would have also gotten the steal correct (if it had come back to me) as that was about Coldplay's Yellow (I'm not a fan of Coldplay at all, but I did know that they sang Yellow).
So, a good night for our team. We did win at our table. Rod's team, though, kicked butt at their table. Rod and I went out to Green Mango for dinner before the game. It was soooo good! We then stopped in to a great furniture place on Yonge. If I had any room in my house I definitely would have found many things to buy. Rod has a new house so he will definitely be going back for some pieces.
Monday, October 01, 2007
I'm a Goalie
Well, I was a goalie for part of our game last night. Our hockey season finally started up again and unfortunately our normal goalie (Theresa) didn't join the Mississauga league this year. The league is supposed to be responsible for finding us a goalie (they should considering we each paid $450 to play). But, they haven't found us one yet. Last night we had to play without a goalie. Which means we can have 6 skaters on the ice for the game. We only had 8 in total so who ever was in the net was kind of taking a break. I actually liked being in net. I made quite a few saves and Kim was an excellent addition to the defense. As much fun as I had, I really hope we have a goalie for next week's game.
I went to Wonderland with Julia and Jana on Saturday. Jana was hungover and I was suffering from flu-like symptoms myself (not self-induced). While there the Minebuster had some kind of problem. We were waiting in line for the Italian Job and noticed that the Minebuster was stopped on the way up. It was there for quite a while and we really don't know what was going on. The people were still in the cars, but at one point four people got out. Jana did not feel comfortable going on the ride :( I was still willing to chance it, but I deferred to the group. It was a beautiful day at the park and we got on a lot of rides. I'm heading back next with Sharon and her daughter Livia.
I went to Wonderland with Julia and Jana on Saturday. Jana was hungover and I was suffering from flu-like symptoms myself (not self-induced). While there the Minebuster had some kind of problem. We were waiting in line for the Italian Job and noticed that the Minebuster was stopped on the way up. It was there for quite a while and we really don't know what was going on. The people were still in the cars, but at one point four people got out. Jana did not feel comfortable going on the ride :( I was still willing to chance it, but I deferred to the group. It was a beautiful day at the park and we got on a lot of rides. I'm heading back next with Sharon and her daughter Livia.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Missing Book
Last weekend I lost the book I was reading while in Goderich. I checked out a copy from the library and finished it last night. So, I have read 'The Princess and the Goblin'. Apparently, one of Tolkien's favourites. It was okay, but I really thought it was going in a different direction. There is a suspicious grandmother in the story and the character didn't go where I thought it would (maybe I have read to many horror stories in my time).
It was okay, a cute kid's book.
I'm back to reading 'Lisey's Story' by Stephen King. I've actually taken to skimming the book. I used to love reading King, but lately not so much. I know I've said this before, but his short stories are still excellent, but it appears that he needs more editing for his novels (or, I have just grown out of reading his style - but I'm pretty sure his style has changed since his earlier works).
I'm hoping to be done shortly as I have checked 'Make Love The Bruce Campbell Way' from the library. I loved his first book and I'm hoping this one is just as funny.
It was okay, a cute kid's book.
I'm back to reading 'Lisey's Story' by Stephen King. I've actually taken to skimming the book. I used to love reading King, but lately not so much. I know I've said this before, but his short stories are still excellent, but it appears that he needs more editing for his novels (or, I have just grown out of reading his style - but I'm pretty sure his style has changed since his earlier works).
I'm hoping to be done shortly as I have checked 'Make Love The Bruce Campbell Way' from the library. I loved his first book and I'm hoping this one is just as funny.
Feeling Like Crap
So, I had one good day after my depression clinic and now I feel like crap. I had a horrible day at work yesterday and I did not want to come in to work today. (But, I have a major problem with my project and I need to get it fixed, so I did come in.) I just want to go home and curl up in bed. I am supposed to go out dancing with the girls tonight and I hope that is still on.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Dealing with Depression
Last night I went to my first clinic session for mood disorders: Dealing with Depression. I almost didn't go because I was having a crappy day. Luckily Lisa pointed out that this is exactly why I should go.
I think that it will be really good. I learned how depression feeds on itself and makes itself worse. Yeah! We learned about the vicious cycles of depression and how small changes can make big differences. Going away from the first session we are all to practice one thing to help break some of those cycles. Mine is to get off the couch. For over a year now I have been finding it quite difficult to get off of my couch (as many of you have noticed). Last night I did find myself on the couch a couple of times, but everytime I did I made myself get up and do something around the house. I was still able to watch the show I had on the tv, but I was also getting stuff accomplished.
Some of the other things I need to work on: stopping the negative thoughts and getting out and doing the things I used to love (i.e. hockey). So, even if I don't feel like going to hockey one day I still need to make myself go. I will be looking to all my friends to help me with this. I don't think I can do it all on my own (and they definitely pointed that out last night).
The clinic is ten sessions long and there are about 15 people in the session. Apparently they have a hard time getting people to come to this clinic since almost all of us have problems with getting out or helping ourselves. So, you may get emails on Tuesdays saying I don't feel like going. I may need you to push me :)
I felt really bad for one woman because her family believes that this is all in her head and not a real disorder. I am very lucky to have family and friends who do understand that I can't just make it go away (THANKS).
I think that it will be really good. I learned how depression feeds on itself and makes itself worse. Yeah! We learned about the vicious cycles of depression and how small changes can make big differences. Going away from the first session we are all to practice one thing to help break some of those cycles. Mine is to get off the couch. For over a year now I have been finding it quite difficult to get off of my couch (as many of you have noticed). Last night I did find myself on the couch a couple of times, but everytime I did I made myself get up and do something around the house. I was still able to watch the show I had on the tv, but I was also getting stuff accomplished.
Some of the other things I need to work on: stopping the negative thoughts and getting out and doing the things I used to love (i.e. hockey). So, even if I don't feel like going to hockey one day I still need to make myself go. I will be looking to all my friends to help me with this. I don't think I can do it all on my own (and they definitely pointed that out last night).
The clinic is ten sessions long and there are about 15 people in the session. Apparently they have a hard time getting people to come to this clinic since almost all of us have problems with getting out or helping ourselves. So, you may get emails on Tuesdays saying I don't feel like going. I may need you to push me :)
I felt really bad for one woman because her family believes that this is all in her head and not a real disorder. I am very lucky to have family and friends who do understand that I can't just make it go away (THANKS).
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
First Air Sucks
I know I haven't posted my blog about my trip to Nunavut (I'm trying, really), but I will have intermediate postings. So, we flew with First Air and it was really expensive ($2000 each). I also had a flight to Ottawa from Toronto and Liz and Michelle were going to drive. But, Liz found a seat sale and booked us all on flights from Toronto to Ottawa (and return). This would have been great except that our plane broke down in Pangirtung on our return date. Little did we know that because we hadn't booked the Toronto / Ottawa portion with First Air they would not cover the change costs when we missed this flight. So, it ended up costing each of us $240 more for our flight to Toronto.
I just received the response from First Air and they are giving us $160 vouchers for flight with them over the next year. Did you see my note above where our flight cost $2000? You can go one way from Iqaluit to Pang for $135. Where (and why) would I go anywhere they fly again? I've been up north I don't plan to go again.
They suck. I do not recommend every flying with them because if their planes break down (which didn't seem to surprise anyone up there) they don't cover shit. They gave us each $25 for dinner for a restaurant where the cheapest meal was $45. Nice.
I just received the response from First Air and they are giving us $160 vouchers for flight with them over the next year. Did you see my note above where our flight cost $2000? You can go one way from Iqaluit to Pang for $135. Where (and why) would I go anywhere they fly again? I've been up north I don't plan to go again.
They suck. I do not recommend every flying with them because if their planes break down (which didn't seem to surprise anyone up there) they don't cover shit. They gave us each $25 for dinner for a restaurant where the cheapest meal was $45. Nice.
Must Study
I did not do as well at trivia last night as I did the week before. I missed the current events question on the Giller Prize. For the history round I was able to come up with the correct answer (Jesse James) for the epitaph given (I also guessed correctly for Winston Churchill's epitaph, but it wasn't our team's question). Other than that I did not do very well. The audio round this week was classical music and unless I danced ballet to it (which, really, was only Tchaikovsky - and that wasn't my question) I'm not that good at the classical (which means I need to get downloading!).
I've decided I need to find more time to check out websites, books and the news!
I've decided I need to find more time to check out websites, books and the news!
Monday, September 24, 2007
New TV Season
I watched my first new shows of the Fall 2007 season last night. I was able to watch Gossip Girl, Survivor: China and Beauty and the Geek.
Gossip Girl is a new show from the CW (which used to be The WB, which brought us Buffy, Angel and Veronica Mars). Kristen Bell is very welcome as the 'gossip girl' voice (I miss Veronica Mars). I think this will definitely be one of my guilty pleasures for the upcoming tv season.
On the weekend (I didn't actually publish this post when I started writing it) I watched the first episode of Prison Break season 3. Over the weekend I had read that the actress playing Sarah will not be back this season (as she had a baby). That sucks, I want her and Michael to get together!
Survivor: China made me really want to go back to China. No big surprises, there is a team that can't get their shit together and a team that seems to work well together.
Beauty and the Geek is another guilty pleasure (I do like those geeky guys). I was happy to see Nate back from last season with Jenny-Lee (sp?). There are definitely some very geeky guys on the season, but what I really like is that there is a geeky girl on the show this season!
This week more of the season premiers will be on: CSI and Grey's Anatomy.
Gossip Girl is a new show from the CW (which used to be The WB, which brought us Buffy, Angel and Veronica Mars). Kristen Bell is very welcome as the 'gossip girl' voice (I miss Veronica Mars). I think this will definitely be one of my guilty pleasures for the upcoming tv season.
On the weekend (I didn't actually publish this post when I started writing it) I watched the first episode of Prison Break season 3. Over the weekend I had read that the actress playing Sarah will not be back this season (as she had a baby). That sucks, I want her and Michael to get together!
Survivor: China made me really want to go back to China. No big surprises, there is a team that can't get their shit together and a team that seems to work well together.
Beauty and the Geek is another guilty pleasure (I do like those geeky guys). I was happy to see Nate back from last season with Jenny-Lee (sp?). There are definitely some very geeky guys on the season, but what I really like is that there is a geeky girl on the show this season!
This week more of the season premiers will be on: CSI and Grey's Anatomy.
Trivia Stats
I just received the stats from last week's trivia night. My team came out on top with the highest score. This is causing me some nervousness that it was all a fluke and I will fail miserably tonight. Hopefully the fates are on my side again tonight and we get some categories that I actually know something about. I will be really happy if there is no poetry this week (in last week's literature round they gave part of the poem and you had to name the poet). Last week no one did well at the poetry round. Unless it is Shakespeare I have no idea (even then I probably can't get the sonnets).
Lost Book
While in Goderich this weekend I lost the book I was reading. This is rather annoying. I only had about ten - twenty pages left. But, what I am most upset about is losing the bookmark. It was a bookmark that Christi gave to me for my birthday a couple of years ago and it is quite pretty (and talks about friendship).
I hunted all over my grandmother's house and my car, but no luck. I lose things all the time, but they normally show up in a place I have already looked. No such luck this time. I was reading it while walking back to my Grandma's on Saturday but that was the last time I saw it.
I've requested the book from the library and they have one on hand so I will hopefully get to pick it up tonight and finish. In the meantime I've gone back to reading 'Lisey's Story' by Stephen King. It is really uninteresting. I've taken to skipping whole passages of the story. This is not normal for me. I wonder what I'll read when I'm done 'reading' this book?
I hunted all over my grandmother's house and my car, but no luck. I lose things all the time, but they normally show up in a place I have already looked. No such luck this time. I was reading it while walking back to my Grandma's on Saturday but that was the last time I saw it.
I've requested the book from the library and they have one on hand so I will hopefully get to pick it up tonight and finish. In the meantime I've gone back to reading 'Lisey's Story' by Stephen King. It is really uninteresting. I've taken to skipping whole passages of the story. This is not normal for me. I wonder what I'll read when I'm done 'reading' this book?
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Motorcycles Not Environmentally Friendly?
I was just checking out a link that David Suzuki put on his facebook page about greener living.
While I was there I read an article on motorcycles. Apparently, they are less environmentally friendly than passenger cars (due to the less stringent rules for motorcycles, currently).
http://www.ec.gc.ca/envirozine/english/issues/32/any_questions_e.cfm
This just seems counter-intuitive. Must do more investigation on my bike.
While I was there I read an article on motorcycles. Apparently, they are less environmentally friendly than passenger cars (due to the less stringent rules for motorcycles, currently).
http://www.ec.gc.ca/envirozine/english/issues/32/any_questions_e.cfm
This just seems counter-intuitive. Must do more investigation on my bike.
Trivia - Awesome Music Round
Last night was my first night on my new trivia team: The Misplaced Modifiers. When I got there it was looking a little dicey. Only 3 guys from the other team showed up and then only two guys from my team showed up (normally you have 5 team members), plus no QM (quiz master). I gave my cousin Michelle a call, but her and Andrew weren't feeling well so they weren't up for it. After I got off the phone the rest of my team showed up and the QM. So, it was 5 against 3 (this means that the other team can't get the full two points on two questions every round).
Out of my first 5 questions I answered 4 of them correctly without help from my team. I couldn't believe it, I've never done that well. The last half of the night I did not do as well, only one question did I answer correctly.
But, my favourite part was the audio round. The round was 'non-hits' off of albums that had a number of hits. So, they played the 'non-hit' song and you had to name the artist. Well, I had some issues with what they took as 'non-hit' songs. 'Pictures of Lily' was a hit for The Who. Any song that makes it on to a greatest hits package is a hit by definition. Also, 'Nautical Disaster' by The Tragically Hip is a song they play almost every concert so really I wouldn't think of that as a 'non-hit'. I knew every band except my question and the guy across from me. I had a song by the Indigo Girls (and I should have known it after all the songs I heard in the car on the trip to Newfoundland with Liz and Michelle) and the guy across from me had Sam Roberts. I was really excited about the song by The Stones. It was a song I had never heard but I knew who it was as soon as the guitar started. It was classic Keith. Still not sure if it was Mick on vocals, but the guitar was unmistakable.
Out of my first 5 questions I answered 4 of them correctly without help from my team. I couldn't believe it, I've never done that well. The last half of the night I did not do as well, only one question did I answer correctly.
But, my favourite part was the audio round. The round was 'non-hits' off of albums that had a number of hits. So, they played the 'non-hit' song and you had to name the artist. Well, I had some issues with what they took as 'non-hit' songs. 'Pictures of Lily' was a hit for The Who. Any song that makes it on to a greatest hits package is a hit by definition. Also, 'Nautical Disaster' by The Tragically Hip is a song they play almost every concert so really I wouldn't think of that as a 'non-hit'. I knew every band except my question and the guy across from me. I had a song by the Indigo Girls (and I should have known it after all the songs I heard in the car on the trip to Newfoundland with Liz and Michelle) and the guy across from me had Sam Roberts. I was really excited about the song by The Stones. It was a song I had never heard but I knew who it was as soon as the guitar started. It was classic Keith. Still not sure if it was Mick on vocals, but the guitar was unmistakable.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Looking for a New Job
I had a meeting with my boss last week and we made a decision on when my contract will end. We are targeting the end of October. So, I'm starting to look for a business analyst job in Toronto.
I spent all day in Toronto yesterday and I can not wait to be back downtown.
I spent all day in Toronto yesterday and I can not wait to be back downtown.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
I Hate Rogers
So, Rogers has been bothering me to upgrade my modem for months. Of course, they did not make it easy for me to do this. The Rogers store near me is never open when I am home (except for movie rentals) so I could never pick up the new modem. Then when I got them to courier it, they used UPS that is also only open until 6pm (once again, does not help someone that works in the falls). And since they don't have hi-speed internet in the falls, I can't get the modem in one of the stores in Niagara.
Today, I was actually home on a Saturday so I went in and exchanged the modem. But, of course, it doesn't work with my wireless router. How surprising is that? So, now my wireless doesn't work. Way to go Rogers!
I hate them.
Today, I was actually home on a Saturday so I went in and exchanged the modem. But, of course, it doesn't work with my wireless router. How surprising is that? So, now my wireless doesn't work. Way to go Rogers!
I hate them.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Go Green
My brother just sent me this link: http://www.bullfrogpower.com/home/ontario.cfm. I am really excited about this! I will be switching as soon as I can find my electricity bill (my house is a disaster). Please take a look and make a step to a greener environment.
Tennis Update
I had my second tennis match last night. I lost 6-3, 6-1. I am okay with losing because the week before I lost 6-0, 6-1. So I am definitely improving and I'm having a great time.
I have my first night of trivia on Monday. I used to be a sub on a team, but I am a full-fledged member of a team this season. I'm hoping that I don't bring them down too much. This league is crazy. It's hard to explain what the rounds are like. Go check out the website and click on the link for some of the previous questions. One season there was a history round on the royal houses. They gave you the years and you had to state the name of the house / family. Really, that's what it's like. This isn't bar trivia. http://torquiz.freeshell.org/ I'm still bitter that I missed the night when they had a round of entertainment trivia on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I would have kicked ass on that one (yes, I am on the team for my pop trivia knowledge).
Wish me luck.
This weekend is the annual Terry Fox run. My friend Julia and I will be heading to High Park in Toronto to do our part. I missed last year and am happy to get back into it this year. Remember all he wanted was a dollar for every Canadian. I think we can all get behind that for what he did.
I have my first night of trivia on Monday. I used to be a sub on a team, but I am a full-fledged member of a team this season. I'm hoping that I don't bring them down too much. This league is crazy. It's hard to explain what the rounds are like. Go check out the website and click on the link for some of the previous questions. One season there was a history round on the royal houses. They gave you the years and you had to state the name of the house / family. Really, that's what it's like. This isn't bar trivia. http://torquiz.freeshell.org/ I'm still bitter that I missed the night when they had a round of entertainment trivia on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I would have kicked ass on that one (yes, I am on the team for my pop trivia knowledge).
Wish me luck.
This weekend is the annual Terry Fox run. My friend Julia and I will be heading to High Park in Toronto to do our part. I missed last year and am happy to get back into it this year. Remember all he wanted was a dollar for every Canadian. I think we can all get behind that for what he did.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Adoption
As many of you know I have been talking about adopting for many years now. Well, I just took the first step. I emailed the children's aid society to find out what my first step will be. I am very nervous and very excited!
For years I had hoped to adopt from China. Unfortunately, they changed their policy back in May and singles can no longer adopt :( I began looking at other countries, but none of them had the same emotional hold on me. It is extremely expensive to adopt internationally (upwards of $20K) and to not have the country I hoped for open to me, seemed like a lot of money when there are children at home to be adopted. I know I was very adamant on the international adoption, but I have to face reality and know that I can't afford that.
I believe a home study will be one of the first things I need to do. Which is pretty intimidating, I think. What if I'm not what they are looking for? What if I'm really not ready for this? I shall keep you posted.
For years I had hoped to adopt from China. Unfortunately, they changed their policy back in May and singles can no longer adopt :( I began looking at other countries, but none of them had the same emotional hold on me. It is extremely expensive to adopt internationally (upwards of $20K) and to not have the country I hoped for open to me, seemed like a lot of money when there are children at home to be adopted. I know I was very adamant on the international adoption, but I have to face reality and know that I can't afford that.
I believe a home study will be one of the first things I need to do. Which is pretty intimidating, I think. What if I'm not what they are looking for? What if I'm really not ready for this? I shall keep you posted.
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