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Thursday, July 31, 2003
Yeah! Seafood salad sandwich for lunch today made with imitation crab meat! I would have bought the real thing, but I think the imitation is cheaper. I don't know, because they never have actual crab meat in the freezers at the Safeway I shop at. Hey, as long as the imitation crab meat is actual seafood and not imitation food, it's still yummy enough that I will buy and eat it. I should get some shrimp though and make it an actual seafood salad, instead of the fake crab salad it currently is.
I'm sorry to say this is the last day of my work week. Well, I'm not sorry that the week is over. But because I had to go three days without Internet access, I only got to make two entries, and will now have the next three days off before writing anything else. I can't afford so many days without entries if I want people to keep coming back! It's not like I'm Wil Wheaton, with scores of devoted fans, a new book, or the occasional television appearance to get people returning here day after day! I need to write, and I need to entertain. I don't know how well I do the latter, but the former is something I can do when I can get online.
Anyway, the imitation crab meat is calling out to me, so I'd better go eat. Maybe it's made from flounder...
posted
by Tabby at 7/31/2003 04:22:00 a.m.
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Wednesday, July 30, 2003
"Tabby! Where are you?"
This question has been asked a lot the last few days. Would you believe a few drunk people asked? Okay, I thought I overheard a donkey braying it. We got some upgrades at work, one of the side-effects being our Internet access had conked out for a few days, but I'm back now in time for tonight and tomorrow.
Not that too much has been missed. I went to my volunteer orientation for this year's Fringe Festival. Now, I went in knowing I'd be getting a t-shirt and hoping for possibly a show, but for every four hour shift I work I earn enough Fringe Bucks to see a show (or bid in a silent auction, but it's all about the plays for me) as well as a sweet goody bag. I should have done this years ago! Oh, I am so looking forward to spending time in an artistic atmosphere again.
***
When I got off work yesterday morning, I saw the newspapers in their boxes and noticed Bob Hope's picture on most of them. I didn't have to read the headlines to know that he had passed away.
All my life I have loved comedy, and those who did it well were amongst my biggest idols. Bob Hope didn't just do it well, when he was at his peak he did it great. Nobody could have touched him. I didn't get too see too many of his television specials, we lived in too many foreign locales for that, but I did get to see his movies and that's how I will always remember him. Quick, witty, and having fun. In this era of Adam Sandler and Tom Green (sorry, I just don't find them funny) it's nice to be able to go back and see Hope and Crosby on the road to humour.
The only thing I'm sad about though is that I'll never get the chance to meet this comedy legend. At 100 years old and with all he had accomplished, he had a good life. We should all be so lucky. So long, Bob, and thanks for the... well, you know.
posted
by Tabby at 7/30/2003 12:44:00 a.m.
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Wednesday, July 23, 2003
First a quick sorry to conservatives reading this for my comment about intelligence last night. I was reacting to an insulting generalization with an insulting generalization. Conservatives may be wrong, but they're certainly not all stupid (but it is my blog, so I don't have preface my comments with "I feel/believe/think/etc... ha ha).
I get migraines I think. Why do I not know this for sure? It's because they don't come with the blinding pain people tend to associate with them. Sure, I do get a bit of a headache, but it's usually very negligable, and my head does feel a little strange at the time, but the biggy is that it really screws up my vision for the duration of it. I think it's the onset period that happens though because it doesn't really last for too terribly long, but it can be a real pain at work like it was tonight where I have to be able to read. I can't watch television well either, but that's bearable unless it's something I really want to see.
Anyway, this is it for me for the week. I'll be back in a couple of days hopefully nice and rested. And with my head feeling better. Sorry if this entry is a little strange, because I really do need to go lay down. But I'm here for another hour and a half. Oy,
posted
by Tabby at 7/23/2003 10:25:00 p.m.
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Tuesday, July 22, 2003
Holy freakin' shit, it's busy tonight!
Don't really have the time or inclination to write tonight, but here's a quick laugh by way of an actual closing paragraph that appeared at the end of a column in today's Edmonton Sun: "When you look for true morality, real concern and genuine courage, you have to look to conservatives." That has a strange effect on me, leaving me somewhere between laughing and barfing. To put it into context, the column was about such things as the noble Iraq war, Canada's apparently abhorrent stance on it, and topping other dictators in the same way.
Judging by how well Iraq is going, I guess "intelligence" doesn't rank up there
with conservatives' virtues.
posted
by Tabby at 7/22/2003 10:50:00 p.m.
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Monday, July 21, 2003
I got a glimpse of the August schedule and I have to say, those holidays just look so friggin' sweet! Two weeks away from this daily grind. Oh man, I can't wait. Of course without Internet access at home this poor little page will suffer, but I'll see if I can make it to the library every so often to make an occasional update. That's not until the 12th though, so I'm not going to worry about it until then.
Spackle. I have no reason for saying it other than I love that word. Spackle. Go on, say it out loud. It's really fun to say and is inherently funny. "Boy, she just spackled that make-up on!" "Ick, this tastes like spackle!" See what I mean? It is a really great word.
Speaking of words, have you ever looked at one long enough that after a while it starts to look strange and not quite right? I'm not even talking about unusual words but common every day words, like "boy" and "girl". There are times I look at those words and they just seem so very unwordlike. Not at all like "spackle".
posted
by Tabby at 7/21/2003 09:22:00 p.m.
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Sunday, July 20, 2003
Another busy, busy night. So it's bad enough that I'm gushing about the Pirates of the Caribbean movie, but my roommate also got the game for his X-Box, and it's by the fine people who brought us Morrowind so I've been playing that too. Luckily though I'm not as addicted to the new one I was to the other, though it is very good and submersive (however it is somewhat buggy and crashes at the most inopportune times, something Morrowind did too but not until you were higher up in levels).
I forgot to mention this before but I received an e-mail accepting me as a volunteer at this year's Fringe Festival. This is so good, because I really miss doing any sort of theatre-connected work. Even though I won't be connected with any sort of creative aspect, just being around that atmosphere makes me feel better. The only problem will be that I'm doing this on my holidays, so going to "work" when I should be relaxing may be a wrong thing to do. We'll see how it goes. I don't expect it to feel like work, but if it does then I will do things differently next year.
posted
by Tabby at 7/20/2003 10:43:00 p.m.
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Saturday, July 19, 2003
Oops. Getting ready for work today I went to listen to some music, something I don't do that often because I'm usually in too much of a rush. Not sure if I had a CD in, I pressed play and the music that came out sounded horribly familiar. I was sure I had taken that disk back to the library in May but it must have just been an empty case. Damn. I'm not looking forward to seeing what the late fees are. Maybe they'll think I'm pirating the damned thing...
And speaking of pirates (smooth segue), I finally got to see Pirates of the Caribbean on Thursday! All my joking about the 30-odd Oscars and highest grosses of all time aside, this movie was every bit as great as I expected, and the worst thing to do to a movie is go in with high expectations. The special effects were frankly quite astounding, and I enjoyed the whole cast. Even whatshisname, the effeminate hippy elf guy from Lord of the Rings, did well (ahhhh, the fun I have with LotR fans). Johnny Depp though... Oh Johnny, what an interesting twist you put on the role of the scallawag buccaneer! It was a brave route to take, and it paid off in spades. It worked, worked well, and if there was any justice in the universe he would at least get an Oscar or Golden Globes nomination. It won't though, because it wasn't a "serious" role in a "serious" movie. The movie was based on a Disneyland ride, for cryin' out loud. It doesn't matter that the performance was original, nuanced, and suspenseful (I didn't know if he'd turn out wickedly good or just wicked in the end), and it was comical, surely a kiss of death right there.
The most important thing though for this kind of movie is that it was fun. Go see it if you haven't already.
posted
by Tabby at 7/19/2003 09:39:00 p.m.
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Wednesday, July 16, 2003
This is the last day of my work week and it couldn't have come soon enough. We're having a bad night here and everyone is pretty much just pissed off for one reason or another. Heck, it took me all of 10 minutes into my shift to get angry. It's been a long, annoying week and I really need these days off. I have my ticket though and if all goes well tonight I'll be $5,000,000 richer and won't have to stay. Like I've even been able to match a single number lately, let alone six. Is it showing that I really need my holidays to get here? Less than a month to go!
I had been wanting to go see a Shakespearian play this weekend, but I discovered the park where they're showing is a pain in the ass to get to by bus, so screw the Bard, I'm going to go see Johnny Depp swash his buckles instead. Arrrr.
posted
by Tabby at 7/16/2003 05:07:00 a.m.
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Tuesday, July 15, 2003
I kissed Johnny Depp. It wasn't what I expected. What a kiss though! This was at Cannes, I was just coming out from seeing some film - I can't remember what it was now, I'm still a little flustered - and he was in a bit of a rush, resulting in my being knocked down and hitting my head. He apologized profusely, helped me back up, then noticed just a little blood on my forehead where I scratched it against some unseen hazard. Apologizing again, he brought his lips to the wound to make it better, then pulling away he looked into my eyes, gasped, then wordlessly then came in once more and placed his lips on mine.
There was a spark of passion, a hint of what it could be if we got to know each other. It was soft, tender, cliched but so be it, and just a little bit urgent. But mostly it was... succulent. His tongue finding mine, playing with it but never intruding, a tentative but welcome visitor. Pulling it out, he gave my lip a quick and gentle nibble, then just like that it was over. Muttering a quiet "I'm sorry" he turned around and left.
Maybe I should have called out to him, but I let him go. Whatever happened was for that time, that place. It was then I noticed the throbbing in my skull from the bump I got, but I didn't care. I kissed Johnny Depp.
***
I can dream, can't I?
posted
by Tabby at 7/15/2003 06:13:00 a.m.
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Monday, July 14, 2003
I wrote the following yesterday, and went so far as to post it until I realized the date. Honestly, I have no idea why that date bothers me because intellectually I know it's just a number. It was written in a sleep deprived state, and I discovered last night how badly I needed the rest when I overslept and had to take a cab to work because I missed my bus by a few minutes. Anyway, here's what should have been posted yesterday in all its not-so-hallucinatory glory...
***
I'm over my existential angst for now, but that's probably because of sleep deprivation. For some reason I just wasn't tired enough to go to bed yesterday, the result being two whole hours of slumber. For some reason I doubt that's going to be a problem today.
Sleep so sound
Head on my pillow
A cushion of down
Whisper to the moon
"Bathe me in your light
Watch over me"
The dreams will come
Even if memories of them
Are forever gone
See? I need sleep. When I don't get enough, I write frickin' cheesy poetry.
***
That was certainly worth saving. Anyway, I did go to bed later than I had planned yesterday, but when I did go getting to sleep wasn't a problem. It was just my own stubborn refusal to go to bed that kept me up too late the second day. This is day three. Third time's a charm?
posted
by Tabby at 7/14/2003 06:10:00 a.m.
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Saturday, July 12, 2003
Some days I just really hate my job. Today is one of them. It was busy, that's nothing new. There were some not very bright people I've had to talk to, that's nothing new. It was just one of those days. I just want to go home. Thankfully I can because I'm off work now. I would have written earlier but when I finally had time to start, the e-mail was down. And to finish my day off, I went to close my pen by may have already done so without thinking, and wound up stabbing myself in the palm of my hand with the nib. If the two pencil marks in the back of my right hand from my childhood are anything to go by, it looks like I've now got a new pinpoint tattoo.
Maybe I'll feel better tomorrow. Who knows. I'm going home now and try to think of how I can get a job I love with decent pay.
posted
by Tabby at 7/12/2003 08:13:00 a.m.
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Wednesday, July 09, 2003
Well, I caught my connection last night so I couldn't check for the pigeon then, but this afternoon I took a look as my bus passed the spot and it was gone. And it looks like my literary presumptions went with it this evening. That may be because it's been so freakin' busy today and last night though. But that's okay, because this is the end of my work week! Whoo hoo! I get almost two whole days off! I do have to come in on what should be my second day off because I'm back on graveyards.
It would be nice if it were payday. This is the day Pirates of the Caribbean opens! I have to wait to go see it unfortunately but at least that will just increase my anticipation. Arrrrr! Did you know that Johnny Depp based his performance mainly on Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones? He saw pirates as 18th Century rock stars, so his look in the movie makes sense, not that I had any problem with it. Heck, I've got a picture from the newspaper here right beside me and quite frankly I like it very much.
This is it until Saturday morning now. I really need to get reconnected at home, even though it seems like I write more now that I'm doing it from work.
posted
by Tabby at 7/09/2003 09:23:00 p.m.
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Tuesday, July 08, 2003
I saw a dead pigeon on the sidewalk last night. Life and death happens, but this made me sad because it was just laying there on the cold concrete rotting away, not entering higher into the food chain feeding some scavenger and giving that animal another day of life. Poor dead pigeon on the sidewalk.
Over half a day has passed and I haven't been back there yet. Is it still there, decay and feathers and bypassed by the urban dwellers racing for the train and the cars with people who wouldn't notice a human being laying by the side of the road in need of help, let alone the corpse of a bird most of them would have considered dirty when it was alive? Rats with feathers, isn't that how pigeons are described? Disease-ridden blights on the landscape? I like pigeons. I think they're beautiful. Poor dead pigeon on the sidewalk.
When my train pulled up to the station last night, I just barely missed my bus. That's why I went for the walk instead of waiting. That's why I saw the dead pigeon on the sidewalk. If I miss it again tonight I'll take a look to see if it's still there. Maybe a city employee cleaned it up or maybe a hungry scavenger got a decent meal. I just hope it's no longer laying there on the cold concrete rotting away. Poor dead pigeon on the sidewalk.
posted
by Tabby at 7/08/2003 08:01:00 p.m.
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Monday, July 07, 2003
It's another busy night. I should be thankful because it means the night won't drag by, but frankly it's just annoying. There's barely time to get one thing done and another pops up. It gets particularly aggrivating when you think you have just the one more thing to do, get it done and voila, there's two or three more. Heck, this paragraph alone is taking me forever to write.
This is the halfway point to my work week though, so I'm taking solace in the fact that I'm only about two and a half days away from more rest. I guess. I did agree to come in tomorrow an hour and a half earlier to cover for someone, so that's going to be a long, long day. Maybe I should go to bed earlier tonight so I can half a good night's sleep. Okay, okay, I could barely type that with a straight face. I need my "me time" when I get home from work, and if that means two hours sleep as it has at times in the past, so be it. But fortunately it's been some time since I've cheated myself of restful slumber like that.
posted
by Tabby at 7/07/2003 07:47:00 p.m.
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Sunday, July 06, 2003
The Winter Olympics are coming to Canada in 2010, hosted by Vancouver/Whistler. I'm not normally big on sports, but I do greatly enjoy the Winter Games and this will probably be my best chance to go see them, so I have seven years to be able to afford to go. Or if I take up curling now, I have about that much time to qualify. Hmmmm... Nah. I think spectating will be good enough.
Between Montreal's summer in 1976 and Calgary's winter in 1988, we're the only host country in the history of the Olympic Games to never win a gold medal at home. This is going to put a lot of pressure on our athletes in Vancouver, but I've no doubt that this time around it will be done.
***
I've been really good at not scratching my mosquito bites, but the one on my left ankle is just driving me crazy. I know that scratching it will only bring the most temporary relief, but I can't stop. It could be my sock rubbing against it that gets it going, and I know that if I can bring myself to ignore it for a while, it will become tolerable, but damn, it just feels too good digging my fingernails right in there.
posted
by Tabby at 7/06/2003 09:27:00 p.m.
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Saturday, July 05, 2003
Oy. I got back to work today only to discover that we've had the Internet access removed from our terminals again, which means I have to e-mail my entries to myself once more and use the computer in the foyer.
That was bound to happen, because I had a great few days off. We went to the Rainbow Valley campground right here in the city, and honestly I never knew we had an actual campground smack dab in Edmonton. The outskirts I could see, but in the city? It turns out that except for being able to see traffic on Whitemud Drive, a major thoroughfare, you can't even tell you're in the city when you're there. We were surrounded by trees teeming with squirrels and there were insects galore, though thankfully the mosquitoes were quite minimal and most of my bites are on my feet and lower legs because I was wearing flip-flops most of the time. We were even able to go on a nature hike along a creek and saw a couple of ducks flying low across the water.
There was some rain and the first day there we got set up just in time to avoid a storm but frankly I'd have been a little disappointed if there was no rain. There's nothing like the pitterpat of raindrops against your tent when you're going to sleep for the night.
One of the best things was being able to finally roast weiners over a fire again. That's always been my favourite way to make a hot dog. Dark and crispy on the outside, warm and moist on the inside. Delicious! I can't tell you how much I was looking forward to doing that. And I had a s'more for the first time in my life! Marshmallow, chocolate, and graham crackers. It was so freakin' good. Who knew?
The good thing about being in the city was being able to go watch the fireworks on Canada Day with one of my roommate's daughters, after a short worry that the storm would last long enough to cancel them. The view we were able to get, well, we were eye level or higher with some of them and close too. It was really impressive. The train ride back though, not so impressive. I don't think I've ever been on one so crowded. We were pushed right back into the corner. The nice thing was we made one more stop home before going back to the campground, so after sweating on the train a familiar shower went really well.
My last shift before all this being a graveyard then not knowing for sure when we would be leaving, I think I was able to get about 30-45 minutes of sleep. Then staying up for the fireworks and stopping at home, well, when I finally climbed into my sleeping bag around 2am I was pretty zoned out. In fact I was pretty shocked I only slept for about 8 hours after that.
What it all comes down to is that I had a good time, and for the first time in a long time I feel very much reinvigorated and recharged, ready to get back to work again. I hope it's not this long before I go camping again.
posted
by Tabby at 7/05/2003 06:06:00 p.m.
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Tuesday, July 01, 2003
After work I get to go home, pack up, and go camping. I am so looking forward to it. The good thing too is that it's not too far away, so we'll still be able to come in and watch the Canada Day fireworks. Oh yeah, happy Canada Day! For my non-Canadian friends, this is our country's birthday. But anyway, the camping and stuff. I also have to do a quick load of laundry before we leave if I want to have clean clothes by the second day.
Actually what really matters is that I don't have to be back to work until Saturday night, no matter what else happens. That's right, you read that correctly. Almost four whole days off, if you include that I'm off work here at 8am and will be going to sleep as soon as we set up the tents. The only thing better would be if we were travelling way out of town to some nice place with a river and whitewater rafting, because that really is what I would like to try next. More adventure in life, that's the way to go.
***
On a sad note, I tried to check out my original journal site last night, The Tabby Diaries, and it's finally gone thanks to it not getting the required 15 page views per month that is now part of the host's terms of service. I believe the last entries there were from March of last year, and I don't think I saved them. That means if and when I do get around to making my supersite, that will be the one month missing from the archives.
I knew this was coming, and it has been over a year since I updated, but it's still a little sad because it was a very important website for me at one time, I put a lot of work into it and was quite proud of what I had achieved. Unfortunately for it, I discovered Blogger which makes posting so much easier than going into the code and entering everything by hand. The archives at still up though if you want to check The Tabby Archives out.
***
Almost four whole days! Yay! See you Saturday!
posted
by Tabby at 7/01/2003 03:46:00 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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