Sailor

I'm not much of a sailor, or at least I haven't been.
I don't mind boats, just not something I had yearned for.

Now this on the other hand might just change my mind.

Reminds me of Snow Crash. A good cyberpunk book.

Annular eclipse

We missed the last lunar eclipse, being that it was too cloudy to see it, so I give you these pictures found at the BBC of the Annular eclipse. . I have yet so see a full lunar eclipse, or solar eclipse or even shooting stars for that matter. The weather has either been uncooperative, or I have left my specs, or have been otherwise occupied. It bothers me, because these are things I would very much like to see in person, and not as a byproduct of someone else’s sightings, thrown up on a screen or hung on a wall.

Pooped.

The stress that was holding my body upright has dissipated a little, and I feel like a puppet whose strings have been cut. It’s all I can do not to slump in a corner, let my head fall to my chin and fall into to a deep sleep. [wide yawn] Time for sleepy-bye.

me me meme

There’s a meme over at Nicole’s place that I was supposed to be doing. However it’s a little long and I don’t have enough time this morning to get it done this morn before dashing off to work, so will see about doing it later. In the meantime, why don’t y’all give it a try!

Hooked

The Amazing Race II Amazing Race IV** is on, and all it took was 15 minutes and I was hooked. Again. I never expect to become addicted to show like these, and when I do, it always feels as if they are a guilty pleasure.

*Spoiler.
** I am a twit. For some unfathomable reason I was convinced that this was indeed, the second installment of the show. But, no it's the FOURTH! Goes to show you how much attention I actually pay to details. Thank you Christine, for the heads up!

Was I the only one to tear when the married couple were disqualified, or is just the further proof of my complete and utter sappiness? They were just so amazingly in love.

Memories

It's odd the things we have seen/watched when we were younger, that we remember only after having completely forgotten about them. Like a little treasure that was in a coat pocket we were wearing and only just found.

I remember liking the Hustler when I was younger, Jackie Gleason and everything. When I found it again, I realized that it wasn't a very nice movie and I had left out all of the non-pool playing bits...

Here's another movie I remember (now) having seen and enjoyed. It was atypical in ending, but enjoyable.

But then again, what am I forgetting? What editing has my mind done for me to make this memory more interesting?

Curious the way the mind works, the way memory functions, or doesn't.

We remember the bad more readily than the good; except sometimes it is the other way around.

Speedy Reading

I like reading and I read relatively quickly, depending upon what I am reading.
I don't read as quickly as my dad, but fast enough I suppose.

So a friend started in on speed reading, as he reads slowly and wants to read many things; makes sense.

So I started looking into it also.
It is something I've looked at before, but never bothered with. I find the methods interesting, but not compelling.

However, in the most recent examination I encountered a book talking about the way in which we read. And that slows down many people.

What the book said, in part, was that we subvocalise the words and that the act of `saying' the words in our head slows us down.

Rather than doing this, we should be able to understand the word by recognizing it, like a picture almost, and thereby be able to read faster.

This was interesting, because I do read that way. When I read to myself, I hear the words in my mind. If I get into a book, I see the scenes also. But it's the `saying' of the words that slows things down.

So I've tried it a little. One trick they give it counting, out loud at first and then subvocal, in order to supplant the `saying' of the words in our head while reading. Interesting.

I'll have to see how it goes. It is very different letting the words be understood rather than read. So far so good though.

Photoblog Thingy

Does anyone have suggestions for Photoblog software? Need to find a quick and easy way to post pictures. Software must be non-geek friendly, user friendly and geek proof, requiring very little fiddle time.

Brief flash of insight:

Amidst the usual drone of work, a thought came barreling to the forefront of my mind; I realized that it’s not what you have in common, but the idiosyncrasies, the little quirks, follies and differences and the acceptance of those differences that separates your good friends from your acquaintances.

I wonder if this epiphany means that I’m maturing, becoming wiser in the ways of the world. Nah. Probably not. Must have just been something that I ate.

'Back from out of space.'

Yes. We're back from outer space.
Things were a little awry and now we're back again with a smile upon our face.
Yes we're back. We are ba-aack. [sung too 'I Will Survive' -Diana Ross]

Seems the serves experienced a few hiccoughs*/difficulties today. But everything seems to be back on track. A big thank you to Erika for the heads up.

*Hiccups. Which is the way I normally spell it. I believe this is the first time I have encountered the word hiccoughs.

Internet Deprivation - DAY 2

2:45 PM.
Subject begins to twitch.
Hand movements are sporadic.
Concentration is almost non-existent.

3:00 PM
Twitching has turned to spasms.
Subject seems to be drooling.
Pupils are dilated and subject is looking about furtively.

3:45 PM
Subject has now taken to humming the songs from Buffy Episode ‘Once More With Feeling’
Eyes are beginning to glaze over and subject is no longer responding to verbal cues.

4:15 PM
Subject is swaying back and forth.
[observer talking louder]
The subject’s eyes have glazed over and the humming has gotten louder.
Mouse hand is spasming in a series of erratic mouse clicks.
A puddle of drool seems to have accumulated in front of the keyboard.
Offers of coffee and sugary food stuff gone unnoticed
[/observer shouting]

4:45 PM
Subject is now gnawing on mouse, mumbling frantically:
I believe the words to be: “Net. Must have net. Gimme back my net. Net. Where’s is my net”

5:00 PM
Subject is now sobbing uncontrollably
[observer murmurs to colleague] Honestly you think they would put the poor girl out of her misery. It’s cruel, and pathetic to see someone so lost and dismal. [/observer conversing with colleague]

5:05 PM
Subject has passed out in pool of own drool.

Hobgoblins

Why is it that the thought demons chose to plague your mind in the middle of the night when you should be sound asleep, completely oblivious to the going ons of the rest of the world, snoring blissfully and dreaming of soft cuddly fluffy things whilst you are snuggled up next to the one you love? Cowards. They are cowards, I say. To top it all off, not only am I up at this godforsaken hour pondering all matter of silly things, worrying over equations and numbers, and standards and finances. But, my skin is itching something fierce and the dust fairies have decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to valiantly attack my nose, making it stuffy, and tickly and unpleasant. Blarghy. Need cream, Kleenexes and something potent enough to knock me out. Oh Bullocks. Now me toes and thighs are itching too. Fneh!

Inspiration vs Persperation

It's an interesting question as to which is the better of the two.

In posting I try to go for a 99:1 split. As we can see from scanning the recent posts, this has been less than effective in producing posts.

I'm thinking that perhaps I should try to be either more casually inspired, or work harder at it... I think I'll try the casual approach.

So, casually speaking.

Still looking into computer components, motherboard, processor and ram. That should do nicely.

Reading, waiting for books I want to come out in paperback, walking in the rain in a t-shirt while carrying my leather jacket, holding a folded up umbrella and with a fleece in the backpack, basically just enjoying and waiting to enjoy what the future has to bring.

The future looks nice. The present is good... hmm, present, future... would like some presents in the near future :D

Yup, things good.

Oh, one thing... avoid the seafood pasta salad...

Giddy.

Giddy seems to be the best word to describe today, almost to the point of flighty scatterbrained enthusiasm. Even now the adrenalin still pumps through my body, drumming out a tempo, that starts deep in my tummy, tingling as it moves up my spine making the ability to think in coherent structures and not equations, an almost futile activity. The need to be up and active, applying thought and knowledge to problems makes me want to buzz about, gleaming information from people who have long since gone home and then sit through the night bent over sheet and paper playing with numbers, equations and theorems.

As for the rest of the day, it felt good to be back in an engineering milieu, it was wonderful to see old friends, and catch up with people I haven’t seen in a dog’s age.

early

Am no longer use to waking up at this hour, feeling groggy, sleepy but happy and nervous about going back to the company. The world feels surreal, almost as if the rest of the world is asleep as I gather my things, dress and prepare for the full day ahead of me. Soon the anticipation of meeting new challenges will kick in, natures adrenalin 100 times more potent by caffeine, which should mean that by the time 2 O’clock rolls around I’ll be a drooling mess, ready for blankets, pillows and bed. Got to get cracking, see y’all later. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Ok. Thanks. Squishy hugs.

News. Good/Bad.

Work gave us some good news this week. They have managed to land us a contract! Good bye, part time. Adios days without pay. Hello Fulltime! [happy dance]. Well at least for 8 weeks, and than I am seriously hoping that our sales people/managers manage to keep us working full time. Ahem. [looks pointedly at sales people.] I don’t think I can handle the stress of part time again. At least not, for a long, long while. The only downside to this is that that we’ll be going back to the Company of Internet Dearth. No emailing. No Chatting. No MSN’g. No daily news. No perusing of sites. No posting of silly daily occurrences as they transpire. No snippets of online life. Just work, work, and more work. [sad snivelling pout]

Hopefully, Hugin will pick up the daytime slack. [nudge, nudge - wink, wink - poke, poke] and I will redouble my posting/visiting efforts in the evening/nights and on weekends. See you all then. Will miss you all greatly. Big squishy hugs!

Foot in mouth

‘I don’t know if you read’, is perhaps, not the best phrasing of words when one is trying to recommend a book and inquire if the person you are talking to, does indeed enjoy reading books in their spare time. It would seem that I have become quite adept at placing foot firmly into mouth with this particular manager.

Now if you don’t mind, I’ve got to find me a crowbar.

one little word.

Some days all it takes is one little word to get the ball rolling. Other days, it feels as if a lifetime can be lived while trying to find the right turn of phrase to express what is hidden deep within. One little word. Go. Play. Discover.

link nabbed from the wonderful Jill Matrix

psst!

Kaydee turned 39 today. Go wish him a Happy Birthday.

Hope you had an absolutely fabulous day Kaydee! Many happy returns. Wishing you the best of everything!

Odour of munchy

A light breeze wafts by my nose, imbedded with the heavy scent of sweet oily smoke. Cognizance kicks in, a sense of familiarity and recognition. Recollections of outdoor concerts percolate to the foreground. The smell of lazy summer afternoons, sitting in a crowd, clothes moist, sticking to body as the sweat trickles down our backs, heart beating to the rhythms of the band while a greyish blue haze envelopes the concertgoers around us.

It’s official, am gradually but unquestionably losing my marbles. It smells as if someone was smoking Ganja in the office. The concept is bizarre, almost ludicrous. But the scent is still there, hanging in the air, evasive and yet present, tantalizing memories of years past. Perhaps someone is wearing a hemp perfume or something.

Beloved.

Happiness does not begin to describe the delightful richness, contentment, and joy that you bring into my life. Happy ‘love you’ day. yours always. munin.

Corporate Rebel

Am not very good at following the rules and regulations of an office. I dislike being constrained by other people’s notions of what they deem to be appropriate behaviour, let alone appropriate work wear. My general philosophy when it comes to workplace etiquette ‘Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself’. So far it has served me quite well.

The Big Guy decided that today would be the day to impose policies regarding dress code. New policy requires all employees to wear semi-formal attire Men: dockers, dress pants, dress shirts. Women: semi formal wear, semi-formal foot wear.

My instantaneous response is outright indignation/rebellion. ‘What do you mean I have to dress in a particular manner when coming into work? How dare you insinuate that my current work attire is inappropriate. Semi formal. Fneh. Buddy you want me to wear semi formal attire you’d better be prepared to give me a raise. Sputter. Sputter. Sputter!’

It’s not that I am completely against some form of dress code: No holey jeans hanging onto body by last thread. That I can agree with. What I dislike is the idea that you have to be dressed to the nines in order to be productive. Personally I find the opposite to be true. Have you ever tried working in high heels, and a tailored skirt? I have, and from past experience I can tell you that productivity flies out the window when most of your day is spent fidgeting, as you try to re-arrange yourself so that the cold blast from the air conditioner does not ride up all the way, leaving you nippley, agitated and just plain old grumpy.

These ain’t your regular grits.

Breakfast foods have sho changed since I was I young’ing. Why we had to trudge through 4 feet of snow and blizzard just to get us something warm to fill our bellies in the morning. No Fruit Loops for us, no siree bob, no Captain Crunch and none of that flavoured oatmeal stuff that you kids have now a days. We just got us some bland old gruel, with maybe a teaspoon full of honey to sweeten it up, if we were lucky. You young’ings sho have it good. Yup. [gums chops] Banana bread oatmeal: not bad, not bad at all.

Breathe. Must remember to breathe.

I tend to stress over the little things. The little niggly matters that are not directly in my control, where someone else is holding all the cards, guarding them like some overzealous paranoid poker player. These will drive me to distraction. So much so that I will keep picking at the issue, a scab on my conscious, until it is a raw festering wound, painful to the touch, inducing a sense of nausea whenever it is poked. I need to learn to let go of my concerns. I need to become that calm center in the eye of any storm, but as of yet, I have not been able to find the secret, the trick, the Zen know how of complete and utter serenity. Until I do I must remember to breathe.

Lazy bones

Weekend: fresh air, trekking about town, watching movies, lazing on the lawn, grilling ourselves to mild perfection, squidgey vegetables in the sun.

Workday: yen for weekend activities has unfortunately transferred itself over to the work environment. Am quite content to curl up under the desk and spend the afternoon blissfully daydreaming of the lazy summer days to come.

Culture Shock

Alright, I knew it worked across generations and wonder what music my children will listen to that will drive me bonkers and question the validity of `that noise' being classified as music.

But I must profess to a certain amusement regarding choices used here.

Certainly the music (not the Barney songs though) are ones that I have on my playlist...

Da Goddess!

Happy Birthday Goddess! Wishing you a fabulously delicious and blissful Birthday! Hoping that the day is filled with much love, joyous laughter and happiness. May all your hearts desires be granted. May all your cravings be satiated. Many happy returns! Big squishes, hugs and kisses!

Now get, go give the Goddess as much delectable birthday loving as you can muster!

Two Little Words

Matrix: Reloaded!

Hope y'all have a g'day!
Catch y'all later.

Playing in the sun

Sun shining through the window, teasing me as it flits about the floor. The warm weather seeps in, beckoning those staring at screens and chained to desk. ‘Come out and play’ the sun sprites whisper softly in their ears. ‘Come out, the weather is warm, the air is fine and the hints of fresh spring blooms play in the breeze.’ The Sirens join they fray. My resolve weakens; the sun is warm and inviting, time to go play.

Tear jerker.

I just can’t do it. I can’t watch 'Remember the Titans' without breaking out into sappy snuffley sobs. We’ve watched the movie over a dozen times, and each time without fail, I am teary-eyed mess.

Loonie!

This applies outside of Canada as well.

Lunar Eclipse tonight. Moon turns strange and offputting colors and hence provides many omens to do strange and wonderful things.

More info here.

Clear skies and good omens to all.

...and You Thought We'd Forget!

Marked, scrawled in bold, tattooed, scribbled on walls, plastered all over screen in an attempt to fight senility and indicate that today is Brainy’s Birthday! …See we didn’t forget [impish wink]

Dear Brainy, wishing you many warm luscious Birthday Wishes! Hoping that your birthday is filled with decadent relaxation, pampering, much love, teasings, laughter, and happiness. Wishing you all the best for the years to come. May all your hearts desires and wishes be granted. Many, many happy returns! All our squishes, love, and hugs!

Go give her some decadent birthday loving!

Words that sell.

Gimp?!? I have been instructed to install software named Gimp. How very, very odd. I wonder what the marketing/programmers were thinking when they named the software. Come to think of it, I wonder what most programmers/marketing people think of when they are naming new products. ‘What’s catchy? What are we trying to sell? Sex. No, that’s not it. But it works. Hmm? Think, think, think. Eureka! I’ve got it. Gimp!’

Phone courtesy

Morning started off ok, and then came the message of doom. Person leaves name, number, followed by a quick, ‘call me this is extremely urgent.’ This in turn sends me into a tizzy of nervous dread, mind spinning erratically as the onslaught of questions, fears and worries begin. Hello? Who are you? Where are you calling from? Why is this so bloody urgent? Is there an emergency? Has something terrible occurred? Is someone ill? Has a relative passed? Is my family ok? Have I done something wrong? What?!? What has happened? Tell me! Don’t leave me like this, an anxious worried mess.

I ask you, is it so hard to leave the name of your company when leaving a message on the phone? Is it so difficult to tell the person why exactly you are calling, so that they don’t freak out? Hmm? Is it?

The dog ate my homework.

Having the hardest time figuring out exactly how I want to post the pictures for our Mayday entry. It’s driving me completely and utterly wacky, batty, cuckoo, cockamamie, loopy. You get the picture. I am not sure if I should quickly code a page for them or give in and use MT and post them on our main page. The problem with giving in and using MT is that I am so anal retentive that I need them to be on a page of their own. Yes, it is all rather silly, but trust me I am mildly neurotic. So until I quit dragging my heels and actually figure out what’s what: The dragon ate my homework.*

I promise that by the end of the week they will be up. By then it may just be a little too late, but they will be up.

*love, these are individual links [teasing smile]

Elucidation

Can someone please explain to me why I am willing to venture out into the gray, cold, frigidly humid rainy weather to pick up a pair of jeans that were shortened, just so I can do laundry? Shouldn’t I be staying indoors, where it is nice and sort of warmish, snuggled under blankets, watching movies, relaxing and working on our Mayday submission?

An Aside:

After clicking on this link provided the Sweat Mrs. Pea, A Hundred Acres and Pooh Bear will just never be the same. I wonder if it comes in Eeyore. Now that turn of phrase can seriously be misconstrued, but I am assuming that your minds aren’t as guttered as mine and hence you’ll understand what I meant.

Please note. Link may NOT be child/work safe. Click at your discretion.

Order of things

When dressing in the morning one must remember that the brassiere, otherwise known as the over the shoulder bolder holders*, must be placed under the camisole and not on top of it.

*I have no idea who coined the phrase; it is one I grew up with, handed down to me by none other then my mom.

Mother's Day.

Quiet Graces and Muses. * Artist. Inspiration leaders. Best Friend. * Dream Catchers. Monster Slayers. Knights in Shiney Armour.* Educators. Nurses. Doctors. * Story Tellers. * Disciplinarians. Martial law setters. * Cooks. Chefs. Bakers and Maitre-d. * Chauffeur. Mechanic. Driving Instructor * Domestic Engineers. Pearl Diver and sometimes Scully maid. * Seamstress. Costume makers and Make-up Artist. * Decorator, Plumbers and sometimes Renovator. * Occasionally Wives. Lovers. Care givers and Best friend. *

Mothers fill all these roles and more. They are women who inspire, who love, who give of themselves unconditionally. They are amazing individuals, who do so many wonderful things, and touch so many lives.

Wishing our Mothers, and all the Mothers out there a wonderful Mother’s Day. Thank you for all that you have given us. Thank you for being there. Thank you for the love. The laughter. The Joy you have brought into our lives.

Torture: Cruel and Unkind.

This is a form of torture: cruel and unkind.

Geekgrrl, how could you do this to me? [sob] You know I have not yet had the pleasure of devouring one. You are a devious, evil temptress of a woman.

* No Krispy Kremes were hurt in the making of this post.
**Please note that this post was written with tongue in very much in cheek and with affection.

I’m too sexy.

Should a Saturday morning really start off with: “And I'm too sexy for my hat. Too sexy for my hat what do you think about that. I'm a model you know what I mean. And I do my little turn on the catwalk. Yeah on the catwalk on the catwalk yeah. I shake my little touche on the catwalk. I'm too sexy for my too sexy for my too sexy for my. 'Cos I'm a model you know what I mean. And I do my little turn on the catwalk. Yeah on the catwalk on the catwalk yeah I shake my little touche on the catwalk. I'm too sexy for my cat too sexy for my cat. Poor pussy poor pussy cat”?.

I don’t think anyone should have to deal with Right Said Fred this early in the morning on a weekend, especially before having had a chance to consume copious amounts of caffeine. It is just morally wrong to subject someone to that amount of bouncy noise. And the lyrics. What they could subconsciously do to an unsuspecting groggy mind. Next thing you know, the owner of said mind will be prancing about, belting the lyrics at tops of lungs, disrupting house and kin as they attempt to convey just how sexy they are to the world at large. This type of music should only be allowed on the radio at a decent respectable hour, when people are less likely to be effected by the lyrics.

Now if you’ll excuse me I’ve got to sashay my way back to the kitchen, the coffeepot is a calling. ‘Oh yeah, I’m too sexy for my coffee. My coffee’s gonna leave me. Yeah, I’m too sexy, for this coffee cup, for my coffee cup. I’m a model, you know what I mean, and I shake my little arse on the catwalk…’

Disclaimer: This post was written without the benefit of any coherent thought, as the owner of said post was rudely woken by cat repeatedly pouncing on derriere to the tune of I'm Too Sexy. The management is not responsible for the mad ravings, delusions, or mumblings of the writer.

Mayday Project.

I was seriously considering partaking in this little adventure, Mayday Project, but we do not have a digital camera and I am not one hundred percent sure that my old SLR will be up for the task. It is in need of a new battery, and the film has been catching of late*. So, we are hoping to convince Ed to participate in our stead, as she is an incredible photographer. What you think Ed, up for the challenge?

*We might still do it. It just depends on if I can get the battery in time. I make no promises. Ed, I will help you edit/set up/post the images. Whatever you need. Just, please consider it. I think you'd enjoy doing it!

Link to Mayday Project graciously nabbed from Photojunkie.

Mmm tasty

OK, just had my first Krispy Kreme.
They just opened here.

It was a day old, reheated in the microwave and only one half.

Wow.

It was good. Sweet, but not too sweet. Although I wouldn't want to eat more than one without a good bit of time and some strong coffee between them.

Now, if only they hadn't put it in the middle of nowhere...
Of course, considering how sweet it was, that's probably a good thing.

Viva

OK, just noticed Munin's Seattle pic... I'm out of it.
So I did mine too...

Congratulations, you're Las Vegas, Sin City.
What US city are you? Take the quiz by Girlwithagun.

Yup, that's me... uh-huh... don't know why, but ok :D

It is I

What type of Bishounen are you? Find out at artificial-soul.net by Rin.

Seattle.

Seattle: Verdant, green and filled with coffee. Not green, and mildly verdant, but definitely in need of caffiene. How is it that no matter how early you get up, someone almost invariably beats you to the laundry machine? And does it seem bizarre that the vibrations from my computer that are travelling upwards from my knee, which is resting against the machine, are sending shivers down my spine? Odd. It's just odd. And, why is it that after 3 decades of life experience there is still so much I can learn?And, why is it that I feel the need to bob along to most music? Supreme: Robbie Williams is a damn fine catchy song*.

Congratulations, you're Seattle, the Emerald City.

What US city are you? Take the quiz by Girlwithagun.

I have never been to Seattle, how strange that I should be likened to the place. Mayhap it’s time to remedy that oversight.

Meme found through the deliciously fabulous Brainy!

Nibbles

Lately there has been something compelling about eating a mix of sunflower seeds, peanuts, cashews, almonds and raisins. I don't know what it is, but I find I just can't stop eating them.

As a direct contrast to the concept of nibbling, I offer this picture.*

*Found through Robyn.

misplaced data

The big boss came in on Monday and reclaimed my luverly little workstation, Bessie, to whom I have become quite attached. The man said he needed Bessie to act as a server for a project he was working on. It would seem that my little machine was the only one in the office to hold multiple licences for a software that we use. Who would have thunk?!? That being the case, my computer was hauled off and prepped leaving me with the trusty standby, George. Now George is a fine strapping young lad of a machine, the only thing that he was missing was a good music player and me files. Easily fixed, all that had to be done was upload my files to the server and download them to the new machine. Easy pleasie nice and simply. Right? Well, no. The files never made it onto the server. The directory structures where there, but none of the actual files were copied. So two days of work were lost*, along with all of my music files. [faint]

No music. How was I going to survive without any music? [yes my priorities are a little skewed] No Cd’s! No mp3's! [technically we don’t have any of those, no siree bob. And, if we do they were all obtained legally.] Nothing to be played in the background, a salve to soothe the beast. Two days were spent in mindless grey drudgery, until this morning when Hugin suggested that I try Shoutcast. Once again I am heavenly ensconced, wrapped in the soft rhythms of tune, light beats tapping out a cadence, setting the pace of work.

*I have been emailing myself the files just in case of some unforeseen wonky event, so luckily only the two days of work were lost. A bunch of handwritten notes will cover the missing data.

Bonbons: Wicked little treats

People who bring jujubes to work are evil. Evil I say! Little morsels of chewy candy, brightly coloured, sitting there waiting to pounce into the mouths of unsuspecting passer-by’s and be gobbled up with relish. Tantalizing taste buds, teasing the sugar senses, making you beg for more until there is no more room left in your treats&dessert belly^tm. Leaving you to waddle off, bloated, uncomfortable and wondering how you managed to wolf down the entire box. Yes people who bring candy to work are quite wicked indeed. Now where did I hide my stash?

Aide Mémoire

Senility is fast encroaching foe. My memory once sharp and precise has now become foggy, muddled and obtuse. Dates, birthdays, anniversaries; numbers that were once held at the tips of fingers are laid to waste as my minds ability to hold figures dwindles into obscurity. No longer the sharp doe-eyed girl, I find myself needing technology more and more, to keep me up to date, to keep me informed, to keep those numbers that were once so clear from becoming a muddled mess in hopes that things like this won’t happen again. It is in this vain that I ask of you my one request.* If you would be so kind to pop over to this link and enter your birthday so I may be forewarned, and not have to muddle my way through another groveling of belated birthday-ness. **

Linky goodness found through the magnificent Nicole
and the very snazzy snazzykat: Erika!

*I am sure there will be others. But for now there is one.
**I would do it myself but with senility has come a sloth like laziness that I can't seem to shake. [tongue very much in cheek]
I am also hoping that those birthdays I seem to be missing will be added to the fray.
***If you do not want to leave your birthday on BirthdayAlarm, just post it in the comment box or send us an email.

Day-O

This morning found Hugin and I singing the Banana Boat song*.
Come, Mr. Tally Man, tally me banana
Come, Mr. Tally Man, tally me banana

However as we prepared to face the day and head off to work in the frigid pouring rain, the lyrics progressively changed:

Hey Mr Tally Man, Tally me Banana
Daylight come man me wan’ to stay home
Hey Mr Tally Man, Tally me Banana
Daylight come man me wan’ to stay home

Day me say day-ay-ay-o
The rain is pouring
Me wanna stay home

Big splash, small splash, big splash
Jump
Daylight come man me wan’ to stay home

One bag, two bag, three bag
Go. I no wanna work
Me wanna stay home

Blankets, movies, Diablo II
Daylight come man me wanna
stay ho-Ome.

*The actual song title is: Day O by Harry Belafonte

X-Men 2

The movie is a lot of fun. That's all I need say. And it sets things up in a forthright way for the next one.

Here's a little quote for those who haven't seen it or want to see it again that puts watching the movie into perspective:

"We've always been ready for female superheroes. Because women want to be them and men want to do them."
-Famke Janssen, on her role in X-Men.

Coned, Cupped or Right out of the Container.

Gorgeous outside. The sun’s dappling through the twigs and the breeze is filled with the scent of the first spring flowers. The air is temperate, not too hot nor too cold, and the wind gusts gently swooping autumns leaves as it goes, occasionally sending a mild tickling of cold down your spine. Almost the perfect day for sitting outside on a fire escape, watching the wind play and enjoying a huge honking helping of ice cream. Which is exactly what I am going to be doing in an hour from now. Haagen Dazs* here I come!

*What's your favourite flavour?
*Do you like it 'Coned, Cupped or Right out of the Container'?

Same old. Same old.

Back to documentation, text editing, writing, editing, scratching head, and trying to make coherent sentences out of words that have lost their meaning, staring vaguely off into space as the minutes leisurely tick by. Same old spiel, same old mild drudgery just a different day. Which feels almost like a let down after last week’s activity. My mind doesn’t feel as sharp. It’s just sitting there, creative juices lurking in the recesses, waiting for the stress to bring liveliness back into the thought process. How odd that I miss that feeling of whirlwind panic. How strange that I seem to be quicker to respond when backed up against a wall, wrecking ball swinging in to strike. Now all that exists is the daily grind, an arid purgatory of foggy cognition, waiting for the ball to strike again.

music mania

Geekgrrl is currently running a music study. 'She would like you to please post the three most diametrically opposed songs on your playlist, and then post two songs that no one would ever guess you'd have. (Five songs total.)'

Diametrically opposite songs:
Three most diametrically opposed songs on my playlist. Unfortunately three just doesn't do it so here are seven songs that are currently on my playlist and are diametrically opposite.

Carlos Vives - La Gota Fria
Yo yo ma - Cello suite no 1.
Sarah McLachlan - Possession
Anita O'Day - Fly me to the moon
Heather Nova- London Rain
Lynard Skynard- Simple man
Poe- Hey Pretty

Two songs that no one would ever guess I have:
Shania twain- Man I feel like a women.
Bruce Willis - Singing on a Star!

And just cause it's a fun song:
Gilbert and Sullivan - I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General [Pirates of Penzanz ]

We also have
Anamaniacs - I am the Very Model of a Cartoon Individual

Changing Roles

"Once, my wife did everything," said one member. "Then I discovered the pleasure of housework. Now, I do all the cooking. I can't iron yet, but I want to learn." -BBC

I was raised in a household that was quite different from most of my friends. I grew up in a home where my mom fixed the car, and my step dad cooked, baked and made the best pies in the world. [Shh don't tell my mom this; she still believes that I consider her to be the baking/cooking queen. Which she is, my dad was just better at it.] It is good to see that the roles are balancing out. Better yet, it is good to know that both sexes are taking on the housework and not expecting that one of them should be solely responsible.

A Big Thank You!

To all if you who left so many wonderful words of encouragement over the past few days. Words alone cannot express how much they meant.
Thank you, each and every one of you!
*Squishy hugs*
*Mwah*

... and it’s a wrap!

The three days of training are over* and the course went mostly well minus a few minor difficulties:

‘No. NO! Pick that icon. Yes the green one. No! Not the red one!! That is not the green icon. Look it is directly to the right of you at the top of the screen. No not left, right! … What are you doing? You should never design a part like that. What are you thinking?!? Don’t you know that the software isn’t stable enough to handle those computations? You’re damn lucky that the whole thing didn’t…’ [popping sound as the computer exits the program in one fatal sweep taking all the pertinent information with it] ‘ Please, please tell me that you saved your work! What? What you mean you weren’t saving on a regular basis?!? You know that this software doesn’t save automatically! Dunkauf! [Sp?] Repeat after me: ‘Save often.’ Good! Now the next time this happens, I promise I’ll tattoo that phrase on your forehead. ‘

In all seriousness, it was wonderful to be interacting with people again, helping them with their technical difficulties and guiding then in the right direction. I am hoping to be able to give training again soon. I hadn’t realized how much I missed it, yes even with the amount of stress and nervousness that I experience before each course, until it ended. It felt good to be doing something that didn’t involve staring at a screen for hours on end while trying to make sense of words and sentences, strewn haphazardly across a page, attempting to form them into coherent thoughts.

Well it’s time to be catching up on all our wonderful reads… see y’all soon!

*Three days of constantly being ‘on’, waking up early, going to bed late and subsiding mainly on copious amounts of caffeine. Which strangely enough have left me feeling energized and alert, even though I abhor waking up at the crack of dawn.

Club Car?

OK, this is all very well and good, but what is the service like?

brain candy

Hello! Well we are almost there, just one more day to go and then I get to drool all over a pillow for a day or two. In the meantime, here are some little morsels to keep y’all entertained, amused and philosophical. Mmm. Brain Candy.

*Naked ambition
*Blog from the top of the world
*Mother invents 'orgasm machine'
*Gilgamesh tomb believed found.
*Do online rants get results?

The ruling means that the labels and studios cannot ban 21st century technology in defence of their inefficient and outmoded 20th century distribution model - BBC

Scientists are unveiling one of the world's leading laboratories looking for "dark matter", in a cavern 1,100 metres underground. - BBC