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Monday, June 30, 2003
I had been planning on writing a nice little story tonight, but it's been too friggin' busy. Here it is already after 6am, two hours left on my shift and what is usually the busiest two hours, and I'm just getting around to this now. It just hasn't stopped. Just trying to write this takes a lot of grabbing of stray seconds and bouncing back and forth. I just want to go home and to bed. That's not too much to ask for, is it? It's now 6:15, an hour and 45 minutes to go, then just one shift left after that.
posted
by Tabby at 6/30/2003 06:20:00 a.m.
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Sunday, June 29, 2003
I haven't gone camping since I was a fairly young girl, but it's been something I've wanted to do again for years. Well, it looks like on my next days off I'll be getting my chance. It'll be nice to get away from television and computers and showers, even if for just a couple of days. It will also give me a chance to see if it's something I'd like to do for a longer period during vacations. It should also give me a chance to put a serious dent into Anna Karenina, which is a very long book that I'm still not even half way through.
***
Pain management update: I really need to see my dentist, because if I wait too long before taking my pain killers, I do indeed start to notice it. Ow. The problem is between those, the throbbing, a little nausea, and fatigue, I was getting a little loopy when I got home yesterday and found myself enjoying being Tabby the Hip Hop Queen way too much. That's T to the A to the B to the B to the Y! Tabby! Word! Yup. I was doing that with everyone's name at home and quite frankly I was even starting to annoy myself after a while. Word.
posted
by Tabby at 6/29/2003 03:57:00 a.m.
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Saturday, June 28, 2003
Yeeeeeah baby! I've got me some extra strength acetaminophen (generic Tylenol) and some ibuprofen (generic Advil because why pay more for a brand name) and I'm able to get through the night pretty much pain-free! I don't take them at the same time though. I discovered quite by accident last time I had the horrible tooth pains that if I take the Advil, then 30 minutes to an hour later take the Tylenol, the pain because a memory. I don't know why one of them alone wouldn't work, but the two together provide a sweet, sweet relief. I have enough that it should now tide me over until I can make an appointment with my dentist. Maybe I shouldn't be using two painkillers like that together, but I can't put into words how debilitating the pain was that I went through the other night. If you've ever been through anything like that you'd be able to empathize.
***
Canada Day is coming up and I'm looking forward to the fireworks. I'm going to be sitting on a balcony with what should be a fantastic view of them. This will be later on in the evening after my last graveyard shift, so I'm going to have to treat that day a little different than I usually do after such shifts, when I try to stay up all day and into the night. I usually fall asleep and take short naps, but I think this time around I'll have to go to bed so I can stay up and actually enjoy the fireworks.
posted
by Tabby at 6/28/2003 04:32:00 a.m.
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Friday, June 27, 2003
I thought I was finished with the debilitating tooth pain ever since I had the two offending molars pulled, but nooooo. Last night was excrutiating. I was almost in tears. I was rolling around on the couch with ice packs moaning in pain, and if someone would have offered to shoot me I would have taken them up on the offer. It finally took soaking my head in the bath to finally make it subside, and I was in that bath for quite a while. I think I even fell asleep in it a couple of times. The pain is still mostly gone, but the tooth is still throbbing somewhat today. Oh well, time to make an appointment with the dentist again.
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by Tabby at 6/27/2003 04:58:00 a.m.
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Wednesday, June 25, 2003
I really must apologize. I haven't been writing because, well, that damned game. No worries though. I will eventually tire of it then I'll be back doing other stuff! Right now I'm enjoying some time off from work. Oh, and looking at my last post, I'd like to say the other day I was up for about 28 hours, because I just came off graveyard shifts and wanted to get my sleep back around. I'm yawning as I type this, just thinking about it!
posted
by Tabby at 6/25/2003 01:31:00 p.m.
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Tuesday, June 24, 2003
Normally I'm perfectly willing to share my flaws here, but that's not fair to myself so damn it, I'm going to share what I see as one of my good points. If I am wrong, I will apologize. It doesn't sound like much, but it amazes me how many people don't do this, especially if the wrong committed is a big one. The size of the wrong shouldn't matter though. If you are wrong, admit it and apologize. Of course on the flip side, if I feel I'm in the right, or if I'm falsely accused, I will fight to my last breath defending myself.
One embarrassing example of the latter was one day at work, there was some confusion that resulted in a supervisor accusing me of doing something I didn't do. I'll tell you now that there was a mistake made, I didn't make it, and the accusation made towards me was in no way malicious. Anyway, I got called in to my manager's office over this incident and seeing as it was my word against a supervisor, it got to the point where I was fighting tears and I'm not a big cryer.
In my entire working life there have been times I've been called into managers' offices for good reason, usually over something boneheaded I had done. When this happens, I admit I made a mistake and apologized, and have tried not to do the same thing again. So if a situation ever arises where you see me standing up and fighting for my innocence, you can be damned sure I am innocent, or at the worst guilty but ignorant of my guilt.
I was thinking about this tonight because I snapped at someone at work. In fact, I mentioned her yesterday and normally I do have cause to snap at her but I never do. But what caused my anger today was something completely unrelated to anything she does or doesn't do and my reaction to her question was unwarranted. I was having a bad day, that was no excuse for taking it out on other people. After I took a short break to cool down, the first thing I did when I got back was apologize.
Yeesh. I start out trying to talk about the positive aspects of me, and I still manage to work my way towards bad things I've done. Really, I do have a good side!
Anyway, I have had a bad day, but you know what? It's almost over. Not just the day but the work week. In less than an hour I'll be walking out that door and going home and not having to do another thing for some time. Not a lot of time though. I have to be back Thursday night for a shift starting at midnight Friday but at least it's time off, and I have had a good amount of that this month.
posted
by Tabby at 6/24/2003 10:19:00 p.m.
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Monday, June 23, 2003
This has been a really busy week so far, but that's okay because I'm in a better mood today if you discounted my pissiness over a lazy co-worker. The only problem is I'm very distracted and while I want to write, nothing is coming to me to write about.
I could suggest catching Keen Eddie tomorrow on Fox. There may be much wrong with the ownership of that network, and they may put on some of the trashiest shows on television, but the people who brought us The Simpsons can put on quality show. Sure, many of their quality shows are treated poorly then cancelled, but they do put them on so catch this gem before it too is gone (R.I.P. John Doe...)
posted
by Tabby at 6/23/2003 09:49:00 p.m.
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Sunday, June 22, 2003
Half way through the work week and I really can't wait for it to end. That's not really conducive to my theory that if time drags slowly, your life is virually extended. I don't care though, I want the weekend, and I want payday to get here sooner. I'm trying to save money for when I move into my own place, and it's happening slower than I would like because I have to keep dipping into the funds. At least I can put my Christmas bonus towards it unless there is some sort of emergency I need that money for.
posted
by Tabby at 6/22/2003 05:52:00 p.m.
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Saturday, June 21, 2003
Spam is the bane of the Internet, but there was a line in one today that just totally cracked me up: "We are tired of corporate assholes who charge hardworking people like us for porn." I don't know if it was intended to be funny, but I thought it was.
Not everything that's intended to be funny is though. Take for example the now pitifully annoying "Blame Canada". The song in the South Park movie was funny. The constant inane refrain of "Blame Canada" everytime my country is mentioned now, especially to a certain American demographic, isn't. You see, for that to be laugh inducing it has to actually fit into the context of whatever is being discussed. For example, when discussing the scenery around Kelowna, if someone asks where that is and you name the country, chiming in "Blame Canada! LOL!" is not only not funny, it's downright stupid.
I've hurt some feelings in the past mentioning it, but really, enough is enough. If anyone reading this ever feels the desire to say "Blame Canada", just ask yourself first if it fits the context or makes no sense whatsoever other than referencing a song, then ask yourself if you really want to be the ten millionth person to say it. Yeah, I know I'm being harsh on this, but you have no tired I am of reading those two words together. Maybe next time people feel the urge to say "Blame Canada", they can instead substitute it with "We are tired of corporate assholes who charge hardworking people like us for porn." That would make me laugh.
posted
by Tabby at 6/21/2003 06:05:00 p.m.
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Friday, June 20, 2003
Wow, it's busy at work tonight. That's what I get for having such a relaxing long weekend. It's really annoying, let me tell you.
I did have a good time on my days off though. Went on a picnic, and went kite flying for the first time this year. I also made sure to get exercise on two of the three days, including riding my bike to the doctor's office to get a presciption for my brand new allergies. All in all, not a bad break at all. Then to come back to this horror...
Anyway, there is a Shakespeare festival I want to attend this year. I've never gone to it before and it does look like it should be a good time. I'll take a closer look at the days later and see if there are any I can make it to. Three days and this is all I'm writing. I'm sorry, but it's just too friggin' busy.
posted
by Tabby at 6/20/2003 07:15:00 p.m.
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Monday, June 16, 2003
Yee haw! That's another work week done and now it's time for a long weekend! Three glorious days off. Oh yeah baby, that's what I'm talking about! Yup. I'm tired. These day shifts do that to me. The ironic thing is they're the ones I like the best as far as having any sort of life goes. Maybe that will change once I'm living by myself again and become a complete hermit, but right now I really do enjoy actual human interaction.
Using that as a segue, speaking of human interaction, I'd like to get together with a bunch of people in an inflatable boat braving dangerous currents! Last year I went skydiving, this year I'd like to try my hand at a new adventure: white water rafting. Granted it probably won't be as existential and terrifying as climbing out of an airplane and dropping from the wing, but it should be one heck of a thrill. I've looked into it and the price is something I can swing. It's just a matter of transportation because the closest one is still hours away. I'm sure eventually I'll be able to do it, because it's part of my master plan to have more adventure in my life.
posted
by Tabby at 6/16/2003 02:28:00 p.m.
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Sunday, June 15, 2003
I need to get more active and cut down on the Coca-Cola. I've never had a job this passive before, sitting at a computer all day for as long as I've had this job, and when I decided to weigh myself this morning I had no idea things had gotten this bad. All my life I've been gifted with a fantastic metabolism where I could eat all I want and never gain a pound. Okay, maybe "gifted" isn't the best word, because it seemed like I was always hungry, so a large amount of my pay would go towards food. But the fact of the matter is I was skinny and happy.
But a great metabolism can't do it all by itself. Some degree of physical activity is neccessary too, especially as the years go by and the aging process starts kicking in. I'm not happy when I look in the mirror or have to squeeze into jeans that just slid on a few short months ago. Don't get me wrong though. I know I'm complaining, but I also know there are people with serious weight problems who would love to only be as "overweight" as I am. The thing is it's not too out of hand yet, so if I have the willpower there's no reason I can't turn it around. I just need to find some sort of physical activity I can enjoy, because what's killed off previous attempts at exercise has been sheer boredom.
posted
by Tabby at 6/15/2003 01:44:00 p.m.
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Saturday, June 14, 2003
Here I am, this big ol' atheist and skeptic, but if you notice I didn't write yesterday. Except for one month when I didn't notice the date, I never do on the day after the 12th. I don't know why that number bothers me so much, because I know it's totally irrational. It's just a number like any other. I also don't believe in "luck" as something tangible that can be influenced positively or negatively by numbers, charms, not changing socks, or anything like that. It's just being on the right side of completely random events. Though I pretty much have to believe that, or I'd have to believe that most of the time (with a few nice exceptions) that someone is out to get me. Oh, some of the tales of misfortune I can share. Like the time that started with my roommate, the friggin' manager of the apartment building, getting us evicted, and ended up with my car's engine blowing up on the highway...
Anyway, yesterday I went in to get my watch battery replaced and wound up having to buy a whole new watch, seeing as the whole thing apparently crapped out and wasn't working when they put the new battery in. It was needing a new strap anyway, and so I just decided to buy the cheapest I could find, under $20 if possible. As luck would have it, the only one I found in the preferred price range was the exact same watch I already have, so here I am with a brand new watch and it looks exactly the same, short a few scratches.
I have some of my clocks set just right, so I know what time to leave to catch the bus. The problem is that when I got home to set me new watch accordingly, there was a power outage while I was away work and so all my clocks lost their time, and I couldn't reset them according to my watch. Argh. But you know what? I had some good fortune too. After I bought my new watch, I went grocery shopping and bought more than I expected, and wasn't looking forward to lugging all those bags and weight on and off the bus then the two blocks home. There I was though, sitting at the bus stop when suddenly I hear someone talking to me. It was the daughter of a friend of my roommate's saying her mother wants to know if I want a ride home. Hey, maybe the 13th, and a Friday the 13th, isn't all that bad after all.
posted
by Tabby at 6/14/2003 10:50:00 a.m.
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Thursday, June 12, 2003
Oh, that was a jam-packed two days off! I did... nothing. I think I still have the imprint of the couch on my ass. Okay, maybe I wasn't on the couch all the time. I did have to eat, and I did putter around on my computer a bit. In other words, a nice relaxing weekend. Now I'm back for five days straight, which sucks in a way but is good for my bank account and for updates to this diary.
I started reading Naked Brunch by Sparkle Hayter on Monday during my commute, and was hoping to continue reading it on commutes, but it was just too damned good not to finish reading it during my time off. This is a writer I can't recommend enough for a purely fun read. I only read her first book out of curiosity because she's the daughter of a former Edmonton city councillor, but I'm glad I did, and her books should be available internationally.
If you'll excuse me now, I've got work to do. So far has been pretty darned busy, and I'm suprised I've managed to write as much as I have. But before I go, a little reminder that July 9 what is surely going to be one of the greatest movies ever opens. I've been seeing commercials for Pirates of the Caribbean, and I'm more excited than ever to see this grand cinematic event!
posted
by Tabby at 6/12/2003 10:49:00 a.m.
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Monday, June 09, 2003
You're hearing it here for likely the first time, considering that most people who read this are from elsewhere, but Jeff Haslam is quite simply one of the, if not the, sexiest men in Edmonton theatre. He is good-looking and funny as hell, and was in The Margin of the Sky, a play I saw Saturday night. Also in the show, well, starring in it actually, was Ron Pederson, local boy making good by becoming a regular on MAD TV and was very funny too, but sorry you Hollywood bigshot, Jeff Haslam is my local Johnny Depp.
As for the play itself, I was lucky to get in. I got there and all that was left was standby, so I waited for half an hour with fingers crossed, and breathed a huge sigh of relief when I got my ticket. I'm glad I did, because it was very, very funny. The play wasn't perfect though, and I felt a couple of times that it got a little pretentious, especially near the end when it stopped being just a pure comedy and Stewart Lemoine, one of our best playwrights, tried making it more than that. That's just nitpicking though because it was an evening worth having.
I have noticed one thing about plays is that they're so transitory. Sure, you can read the text of a play, but the work of the actors vary from performance to performance, and of course different actors bring something different to a character. Unlike a great movie where you can buy the DVD then tell people they just gotta see it, a great performance of a play is over when the curtain goes down (figuratively speaking, as there isn't always a curtain). It's a little sad in a way, because anyone who wasn't there to share a wonderous theatrical experience will never get the chance again
Anyway, this is going to be my shortest work week yet. I had this weekend off, work today, and then I get the next two days off. Good, I could use the rest.
posted
by Tabby at 6/09/2003 11:55:00 a.m.
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Friday, June 06, 2003
If it weren't for the fact that I couldn't afford it, I could really get used to a three day work week. This has gone by so nice and fast I can't believe it's almost done. Even better yet, after this weekend off, I come back Monday for a day, then have two more days off. After a regular five day work week, I then have a nice three day long weekend. Ah, what a nice June it's going to be! Don't worry too much about my finances though, I'm getting holiday pay for this weekend.
Currently I'm borrowing a digital camera from one of my bosses, and he wants it back on Monday so I'd better do a lot of picture taking this weekend. If you've seen any of my more recent photographs, that's the camera I've most likely used. It gave me some pretty nice stuff the other day, and when I get back online at home I'll post some of them. One of these days, just you wait and see, I will have a digital camera of my own. And a printer too! Oh, that would be sweet. Then I can print out and frame my best work.
There is nothing like having your own art or crafts on the walls, let me tell you. That feeling of pride and being able to say, "I did that," well, that only adds to the decore and makes up for any shortcomings in sheer talent.
posted
by Tabby at 6/06/2003 10:20:00 p.m.
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I had written this last night, but our network crapped out and couldn't get online to post it, so here is what should have been here yesterday in its entirety...
...
It's a busy night tonight. Along with the regular work which is pretty steady, I had a nice little handful of extras to take care off, but those are pretty much all done now. Good, because it's really very steady.
The itchy eyes are going away! No, not the eyes themselves, but the itchiness that was driving me crazy. After work yesterday I dropped by the pharmacy and picked up some eye drops that are working very nicely. Cromolyn is the brand name. Good thing I asked a pharmacist, because I probably would have just gone with Visine, and apparently if you use that stuff too much, your eyes adjust to the point that you need to keep using it. Not a good thing. The Cromolyn is great though, because I haven't had to heavily rub my eyes since I started using them. You have no idea how hard I pressed down, it was that bad, and it was worrying me because that can't be good for my eyes.
...
Since I wrote that there was an itchy eye setback when I got home, and it was pretty bad. I didn't want to OD on eyedrops though so just used the old rub method as well as a damp facecloth which soothes it somewhat for a while. Except for a minor itch, so far so good today.
posted
by Tabby at 6/06/2003 05:47:00 p.m.
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Wednesday, June 04, 2003
That'll learn me. I have a habit of waiting until late on my last day off to check when I have to be in to work the next day, and I knew I was going to be going into evening shifts. So late, late last night, or early this morning if you want to be technical, I took a look at my schedule and oops, that's right, the shift I took today was a day shift, so say hello to Ms. One Hour Sleep. Tomorrow is the start of the evening shifts, and that means good sleep tonight if I'm smart. At least the day is busy and going fast.
I'd like to wish a belated happy birthday to the legendary Bob Hope. When all the kids around me were idolizing pop stars or athletes, I idolized comedians, and Bob Hope at the top of his game was one of the absolute best. 100 years. Wow. Thank you for a great century, Mr. Hope.
posted
by Tabby at 6/04/2003 04:39:00 p.m.
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Sunday, June 01, 2003
This work week has gone by fast. Too fast, according to my new "slower time" philosophy on an extended life. I guess I'll just have to find some way to make this weekend drag by now. Maybe it will be really hot and humid. Those days just never seem to end. Or maybe the flu. That would do it too. Heck, I'll probably just sleep, even if that does go against the whole concept. Oh, and I'll watch movies. A lot of movies. I recorded three off the movie channels today, plus I have some DVD's I need to watch still. As it stands right now, there are six I have to watch, which isn't bad. It's couch potato time!
Ah, all the matters is that I don't have to be back here until the evening of June 4th. Originally I had that day off too, but that was just too much time off, considering I won't be here next Saturday or Sunday either. I do enjoy the relaxation, but I enjoy having enough money to eat too. The lowest point I ever reached in my life was when I wasn't working and had absolutely no income. The result of that was me not eating for almost an entire month of February. The eight days total I did eat came around from the only couple of times I asked for help, but even then I didn't let them know how bad it was. When I had to move out at the end of the month, I was so weakened and sick that I wasn't as helpful as I should have been, which looked bad to the people who were helping me, though I'd like to think the 40 lbs I had lost and the gauntness of my face and body would have been some indication I wasn't being lazy. To be fair though some of them were family who did come in to help, and who I don't see often enough that they would have noticed the dramatic change in appearance over the month. I admit I had made some bad choices that led up to it, and there was no reason I should have been in that position. What's life without learning lessons? I vow that's not a position I will ever be in again as long as I have any choice in the matter. I have a good job now because I refuse to ever work a shitty one again.
posted
by Tabby at 6/01/2003 02:19:00 a.m.
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The
critics are calling
I
Was an Atomic Robot Jungle Vixen...
"Very
cool!" "Awesome!" "Good times!"
"Inspires
me..." A Critic - I
respect
"Cool.
And miles more exciting..." Someone Else -
You
might not know
"I
totally love it!" Whoo hoo! -
Posted
somewhere
"All
I have to say is... Cool!" Another Critic
"I
like the look..." An Opinion - YACCS
Comments
"You
think I have time to give you a quote? You're out of your
mind!" Wil Wheaton -WWfreakin'DN!
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