I could bore you with details of my first day on the new job, but it was really just setting myself up and doing some light subject matter reading. The fun begins tomorrow when we sit down to discuss what I'll be doing.
But instead, I'm going to share with you this: Derek.
If you don't have Netflix, you are missing one of the true delights of television. It's a show that will make you laugh, cry, and just be that much more aware of how amazing life can be. These are characters and sentiments that seem so far removed from your everyday life, but yet you can still relate to them, and that's the simple brilliance of the show.
Tonight, we watched all of season two, and I cried buckets, laughed heartily, and best of all, I was just glad to see the world through such goodhearted eyes.
Watch and enjoy...
...Wish you were here.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Sunday, June 8, 2014
June 8/14
Today is the last day of my vacation. Tomorrow morning, I'll get up, get ready, and go to work. I'll head off to my oversized government complex, arriving sometime around 9 am, and head to the bank of elevators. I'll enter an elevator, and select the third floor. Not the fourth. That's right, tomorrow, I start a new job.
I have to confess, I'm not feeling all that nervous about the change. I've been ready for a new challenge for a while, and I'm coming into this having earned a good deal of confidence from my old and new colleagues. Over three years ago, when I arrived at the department, I was better known as Etienne's girlfriend than I was for my own work; tomorrow, I'll still be known as Etienne's girlfriend (understandable though...I am moving into the same directorate that he's in), but now I'll also be known for my experience and abilities (and let's be honest...maybe my attitude too).
Today, Etienne and I went down Elgin, sat on a patio, and just hung out, reading magazines and chatting. It occurred to me that it was Sunday, and instead of begrudging the fact that tomorrow was Monday, I was feeling very good about it. I've had two weeks of vacation, and I'm feeling pretty relaxed. The stresses of my old job (many self-imposed) have disappeared, and I've mentally moved on. I'm ready for the new files.
Moving on...
...Wish you were here.
I have to confess, I'm not feeling all that nervous about the change. I've been ready for a new challenge for a while, and I'm coming into this having earned a good deal of confidence from my old and new colleagues. Over three years ago, when I arrived at the department, I was better known as Etienne's girlfriend than I was for my own work; tomorrow, I'll still be known as Etienne's girlfriend (understandable though...I am moving into the same directorate that he's in), but now I'll also be known for my experience and abilities (and let's be honest...maybe my attitude too).
Today, Etienne and I went down Elgin, sat on a patio, and just hung out, reading magazines and chatting. It occurred to me that it was Sunday, and instead of begrudging the fact that tomorrow was Monday, I was feeling very good about it. I've had two weeks of vacation, and I'm feeling pretty relaxed. The stresses of my old job (many self-imposed) have disappeared, and I've mentally moved on. I'm ready for the new files.
Moving on...
...Wish you were here.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
June 7/14
Oh boy, okay. Today, we drove an hour into Quebec to help Etienne's father move into his new house. We didn't know what to expect, other than the stuff shipped for Geneva to arrive, but we certainly didn't expect to find contractors working on renovations and the shipping company unloading and setting up most of the furniture. We'd gone in thinking it would be a day of heavy lifting and labour, but ended up just taking care of a few things like cleaning and some light unpacking/assembly.
It's a nice little country house on a marshy pond that turns out to be protected for wildlife. As far as I can tell so far, his neighbours include a retired professor, a beaver, a pair of nesting ducks, and itinerant deer. Oh, and every damn bug species that inhabits Quebec.
While it's a pleasant experience, I can't say I have any desire for the country living. We live in an area of the country where weekend cottages are a big thing; people here love to camp or cottage their weekends away. When I was in Ottawa in 2009 for my co-op term, I was taken for a camping trip near Mont Tremblant. I tried to make the best of it, cracking jokes and being a (fairly) good sport, but my friend Donovan, theperpetrator gracious host of my camping adventure, swore in the most good-natured way that he would never, ever take me camping again. I think he figured out I wasn't the country-loving type when I wrapped my feet in my only dry pair of socks and plastic bags to keep the water out. Or maybe he figured it out when he dragged me down Mont Tremblant after a rainstorm.
Now, if any family is reading, of course you'll remind me that I had no trouble going out to grandparents' cabin at Salt River, but I would remind you that I was just a child...unaware of how dumb the countryside is. Plus, I only went because my pink chair that Grampa made me was there (and that's the story I'm sticking to).
Darling, I love you, but give me Park Avenue...
...Wish you were here.
It's a nice little country house on a marshy pond that turns out to be protected for wildlife. As far as I can tell so far, his neighbours include a retired professor, a beaver, a pair of nesting ducks, and itinerant deer. Oh, and every damn bug species that inhabits Quebec.
While it's a pleasant experience, I can't say I have any desire for the country living. We live in an area of the country where weekend cottages are a big thing; people here love to camp or cottage their weekends away. When I was in Ottawa in 2009 for my co-op term, I was taken for a camping trip near Mont Tremblant. I tried to make the best of it, cracking jokes and being a (fairly) good sport, but my friend Donovan, the
Now, if any family is reading, of course you'll remind me that I had no trouble going out to grandparents' cabin at Salt River, but I would remind you that I was just a child...unaware of how dumb the countryside is. Plus, I only went because my pink chair that Grampa made me was there (and that's the story I'm sticking to).
Darling, I love you, but give me Park Avenue...
...Wish you were here.
Friday, June 6, 2014
June 6/14
Another shopping post, so if you don't want to hear about my purchasing prowess, turn away!
This afternoon, I treated myself to a matinee showing of 'A Million Ways to Die in the West' out at Gloucester (Review: Seth MacFarlane writes a movie to get Charlize Theron to kiss him lots), and then to a quick trip to the Jacob Outlet store.
Now, in case you haven't heard, Jacob had announced earlier this year that it was going to be shutting down and liquidating, so I've been dropping by to see how the sales have been progressing. Well, at the outlet, really well. Granted, the issue at the outlets is that it's harder to come by the small/medium sizes, so I have to really pay attention to everything and then when I find something I like, carefully scour the racks to see if my sizes are available. Still, the stock is voluminous enough that you can collected a good-sized pile of items to try.
The deal is that things are already on sale, but there's an additional 60% off of the whole purchase if you are buying three items or more. So, a tank top originally tagged at $19.90 (before tax), marked down to $11 ended up being $3.20 because I bought three items. In all, I got $223.63 (tax included) worth of items (the tank top, a chemise and a dress) for $55.60. If you're curious, that's a total savings of 75%.
Ladies, if you have a Jacob Outlet nearby...go forth and good luck!
The Shopper's high...
...Wish you were here.
This afternoon, I treated myself to a matinee showing of 'A Million Ways to Die in the West' out at Gloucester (Review: Seth MacFarlane writes a movie to get Charlize Theron to kiss him lots), and then to a quick trip to the Jacob Outlet store.
Now, in case you haven't heard, Jacob had announced earlier this year that it was going to be shutting down and liquidating, so I've been dropping by to see how the sales have been progressing. Well, at the outlet, really well. Granted, the issue at the outlets is that it's harder to come by the small/medium sizes, so I have to really pay attention to everything and then when I find something I like, carefully scour the racks to see if my sizes are available. Still, the stock is voluminous enough that you can collected a good-sized pile of items to try.
The deal is that things are already on sale, but there's an additional 60% off of the whole purchase if you are buying three items or more. So, a tank top originally tagged at $19.90 (before tax), marked down to $11 ended up being $3.20 because I bought three items. In all, I got $223.63 (tax included) worth of items (the tank top, a chemise and a dress) for $55.60. If you're curious, that's a total savings of 75%.
Ladies, if you have a Jacob Outlet nearby...go forth and good luck!
The Shopper's high...
...Wish you were here.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
June 5/14
I've had a raging headache all day, so unless you want it, I haven't got anything to share with you today. Sorry, check back in tomorrow :(
Pain relief...
...Wish you were here
Pain relief...
...Wish you were here
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
June 4/14
I may soon be a pseudo-adoptive squirrel gramma.
This morning, Purrball was so agitated, and until I got up and went to the windows in the living room, I had no idea why. Our apartment faces into a secluded inner courtyard, and there's not much out there, so we didn't plan on seeing much wildlife. Well, it turns out that there is a large, black squirrel who decided to drop by. Of course Purrball was agitated! She wanted the squirrel!
Eventually, I scared the squirrel off by opening the door, and I thought nothing of it...until this evening, when I noticed Purrball was agitated again, and I saw that the squirrel was not only back, but had brought a small pile of leaves, and was dozing on the pile. I was thought perhaps because the squirrel wasn't moving that it had died. I tapped on the glass, and it moved its head. Okay, alive, but maybe injured? Etienne and I fretted about the possibility of removing an injured squirrel, but we opened the door, and slowly, the squirrel moved, crawling onto the mesh screen. Then it let off a huge yawn, and I thought, "Oh you cheeky little bugger, you think you're nesting here?"
Off the little critter went once Etienne shooed it. He did a bit of quick googling, and we quickly learned that this squirrel is most likely a pregnant female, as they like to seek quiet, protective areas such as balconies to birth and raise their kits. So, yeah, let's just assume that we're dealing with a pregnant squirrel. But if this is what's actually happening, that means there's likely an imminent birth, followed by what could be four weeks or more of nesting until the kits are strong enough to leave with Mum.
We don't have a balcony, it's really just a small ledge protected by glass in front of the door, so it's indeed quite a snug little spot; but we're not encouraging her to stay, as we'd prefer she didn't birth here. It's not an ideal place, given that the caretaker and his family lives right below, and they have a young son who may scare the mum away from the nest. The squirrel doesn't seem phased by seeing Purrball, so that's not going to be a solution. It's dark now, so we're not going to be able to see if there's a black squirrel out there.
I'm too young to be a pseudo-adoptive squirrel gramma.
Wildlife...
...Wish you were here.
This morning, Purrball was so agitated, and until I got up and went to the windows in the living room, I had no idea why. Our apartment faces into a secluded inner courtyard, and there's not much out there, so we didn't plan on seeing much wildlife. Well, it turns out that there is a large, black squirrel who decided to drop by. Of course Purrball was agitated! She wanted the squirrel!
Eventually, I scared the squirrel off by opening the door, and I thought nothing of it...until this evening, when I noticed Purrball was agitated again, and I saw that the squirrel was not only back, but had brought a small pile of leaves, and was dozing on the pile. I was thought perhaps because the squirrel wasn't moving that it had died. I tapped on the glass, and it moved its head. Okay, alive, but maybe injured? Etienne and I fretted about the possibility of removing an injured squirrel, but we opened the door, and slowly, the squirrel moved, crawling onto the mesh screen. Then it let off a huge yawn, and I thought, "Oh you cheeky little bugger, you think you're nesting here?"
Off the little critter went once Etienne shooed it. He did a bit of quick googling, and we quickly learned that this squirrel is most likely a pregnant female, as they like to seek quiet, protective areas such as balconies to birth and raise their kits. So, yeah, let's just assume that we're dealing with a pregnant squirrel. But if this is what's actually happening, that means there's likely an imminent birth, followed by what could be four weeks or more of nesting until the kits are strong enough to leave with Mum.
We don't have a balcony, it's really just a small ledge protected by glass in front of the door, so it's indeed quite a snug little spot; but we're not encouraging her to stay, as we'd prefer she didn't birth here. It's not an ideal place, given that the caretaker and his family lives right below, and they have a young son who may scare the mum away from the nest. The squirrel doesn't seem phased by seeing Purrball, so that's not going to be a solution. It's dark now, so we're not going to be able to see if there's a black squirrel out there.
I'm too young to be a pseudo-adoptive squirrel gramma.
Wildlife...
...Wish you were here.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
June 3/14
Well, Tim Hudak officially ruined my day, so it's only fair I share it with you.
A little context: Tim Hudak is the inept leader of the Ontario Conservative Party. He's not good at, you know, people. What he lacks in charisma, he makes up for in.......? I dunno. Honestly, I can't seem to find anyone who likes or trusts the guy. Even among the few Conservatives I know.
As the stupid twit was called on to give his final statement in the Ontario Leaders' Debate this evening, (and you haven't seen it for yourself) he honest to fucking gawd uttered the words, "Hope is on the way."
I don't remember anything else he said after that statement. My brain short-circuited, and I was too busy answering Etienne what he incredulously asked me, "What did he just say?"
"He said, 'Hope is on the way.'"
Seriously, from damn near anyone else, that would be cliche, but from him, it was so patronizing and unbelievable. As in, Not to be believed.
Congratulations, Mr. Hudak...you've made grown, articulate men and women across the province revert to immature 10 year olds, yelling a collective "Barf-ola" across the Twitterverse.
Skeezy politicians...
...Wish you were here.
A little context: Tim Hudak is the inept leader of the Ontario Conservative Party. He's not good at, you know, people. What he lacks in charisma, he makes up for in.......? I dunno. Honestly, I can't seem to find anyone who likes or trusts the guy. Even among the few Conservatives I know.
As the stupid twit was called on to give his final statement in the Ontario Leaders' Debate this evening, (and you haven't seen it for yourself) he honest to fucking gawd uttered the words, "Hope is on the way."
I don't remember anything else he said after that statement. My brain short-circuited, and I was too busy answering Etienne what he incredulously asked me, "What did he just say?"
"He said, 'Hope is on the way.'"
Seriously, from damn near anyone else, that would be cliche, but from him, it was so patronizing and unbelievable. As in, Not to be believed.
Congratulations, Mr. Hudak...you've made grown, articulate men and women across the province revert to immature 10 year olds, yelling a collective "Barf-ola" across the Twitterverse.
Skeezy politicians...
...Wish you were here.
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