2 more sleeps...

...I'm starting to get into a bit of a panic mode. Why is that? [Hmmm, maybe it's the fact that my boss called me twice in the span of half an hour earlier this afternoon (and I could hear the panic in his voice)? =P]. I mean, all I can do is whatever I can manage in the next 2 days. So I shouldn't worry...right? Ugh! I hate feeling like this. But I can't help it sometimes. Yeah, I definitely need a VACATION! ;-)

Birthday/Farewell Lunch(es)...the saga continues...

I had yet another farewell lunch today with Lisa and Sue because they wouldn't be able to make it to my actual farewell lunch on Friday. Hence, another day of eating out. Not that it's a bad thing (I mean they pick up the bill), but I feel like I'm running out of places to try. And, I'm not really into the whole eating out thing everyday. Especially since I've been eating out since last Thursday. I have another dinner thing to go to tomorrow night, and then the big farewell lunch on Friday. And possibly going out for drinks Friday night. Here we go again...

Oh well. It doesn't happen that often so I'm enjoying it. :-)


Early Goodbyes and Well-Wishing

I've talked to a few people this week who didn't know I was leaving. So they were shocked to find out. Of the people I've spoken to, they all wished me well and hoped for the best for me. [Thanks everyone!]. I will definitely miss the people I interact with outside the office, whether they be clients or contractors. I only wish I had a chance to meet them all in person. Talking to them on the phone is not enough sometimes. So now I'm left with a blank face to put to their names. I can only imagine what they look like, but how you perceive someone isn't always how they really are.

I also had my first "goodbye". Ron (one of my co-workers), is leaving for Japan tomorrow morning for 2 weeks. It's too bad that he won't be at my lunch on Friday, but he wants to keep in touch and for me to call him after he gets back. Which I'll probably do, since he owes me a lunch. hehehehe. jk. ;-)

It'll be interesting to see what will happen on Friday. Not that it's going to be emotional or anything, but I will definitely miss most (key word is "most" -- as opposed to "all") of the people in the office. But it's time for me to move on. And although most of the people are great, it's not enough for me to stay.

OK, so it doesn't work...

...who broke it? =P

Oh, and for some reason the reblogger to my last post isn't working properly either. Ugh! Is anyone else experiencing problems with reblogger?

Happy Halloween Everyone!!

Click Here

3 More Sleeps...

Yup, I'm counting down again. I'm just hoping this week will go by quick. As long as I keep myself busy, I guess. But then who's got the motivation when you know you're leaving? And it seems like I still have a lot to do. I know I shouldn't really worry about it, but oh well. I'll just do what I can...

Clean Up

Just going through files and stuff. Gotta make sure to clear off any personal bookmarks I have on the net. Guess I should take off Blogger on this computer too. Wouldn't want them to think that I slack off or anything. hehehe. =P

So I guess this will be my last entry from work. That seems like it'll be hard to do, but I guess I'll be busy with other things, like filing (my favorite being the G-file), making phone calls, etc...

My Last Week

5 more days (including today) to go. Which equates to 4 more sleeps. Yeah, I've decided to stay till the end of the week, even though my last day is technically tomorrow. I figured if I left tomorrow, I wouldn't really want to come back for my farewell lunch. Not that that's the only reason why I'm staying. Maybe I'm being too nice, but it's all about karma (for me anyway). Plus, I can just finish off the week, do the lunch thing, and it's sayonara! At least I'll be leaving on somewhat good terms, keeping the "bridges" in tact. And how ironic is it that Friday happens to be my 3rd year anniversary? Hopefully this week won't drag on.

Just a note to self

"We're even now.".....Thank you.

Birthday Celebration...continued

[OK, let's try this again. Seems Blogger was acting up last night when I tried to post =P]

It was quite the busy day yesterday. My day started with another massage (this is 3 of 3). I went to Eveline Charles, and the massage was OK. I guess it's because I had a masseuse and she wasn't applying too much pressure to my muscles? But it was still relaxing. After the massage, I went home and took a hot bath in Epsom salts to get rid of the lactic acid build up. I even had the aromatherapy thing going. Yup, I pampered myself (and why shouldn't I?). Once my fingers got all wrinkly I figured it was time to get out and get ready for my day.


Being Artsy

Once I was ready, I picked up Irma and we headed downtown to go to the Edmonton Art Gallery. Neither of us had ever been, so we decided to go. It's nothing compared to SFMOMA, but it was alright. There was one exhibit which focused on the art work of high school students around the city. There was one piece done by a 16 year old, which described her "journey through life" thus far. From constant relocation to dysfunctional family issues, she had been through a lot. Kinda sad to see stuff like that happen. But I guess that's reality.

There were 2 pieces I really liked. One was a room with 1,500 glass balls suspended from the ceiling with what looked like fish line. [Mental note: this would be a cool idea in a house with high ceilings]. The other piece consisted of dried up leaves, flowers, twigs, etc. combined with electrical wire, plastic ID bands, etc., which was in a casing that covered an entire wall. It was kinda cool the way it was set up, not to mention all the different colors and textures [yeah, look at me talk about colors and textures as if I know what I'm talking about. =P]. Once we were done walking through the gallery (which took approximately an hour), Irma wanted to check out the gallery shop. She ended up getting me a Japanese rice bowl with chop sticks (my little birthday present). Thanks Irms! :-) What I didn't like was the birthday present left on my car from the bylaw officer - a $25 parking ticket for an expired meter. Ugh! Oh well.


Let's Eat

Since we hadn't had lunch yet, we decided to go to Joey Tomato's on Jasper Ave. We started off with some wine, then had dinner. And as usual, I ate too much. But it was so good! We hung out at the restaurant for a while, and then headed to The Comedy Factory at Gateway Rec Centre.


HA HA HA

The comedy club was OK, considering the comedians were local. The improv was pretty good, similar to Whose Line is it Anyway?. What made it more funny was the type of laughter you could hear in the crowd. You know, contagious laughter? There were these 2 ladies who had a bit of a delayed reaction to the jokes, and as they laughed hysterically, it made Irma and I laugh even more. There was also this lady sitting next to the stage whose laugh seemed to get louder and louder with each joke. Irma figured she had too much to drink. And of course there was this annoying one sitting at the back of the room who would yell "NO" everytime one of the comedians would ask a yes-or-no question.


And it doesn't stop there...

Yes, there's more. From the comedy club, we headed back toward Whyte Ave to meet one of Irma's friends at O'Byrne's Irish Pub, but she wasn't there. What to do now? Irma and I headed back downtown. We were hungry again, so we went to the Sawmill and had a snack [mental note: when you have an idea of what to eat, stick with it]. After we ate, we decided to call it a night. I was going on 5 hours of sleep and had been out all day, so I was pooped.


Key Notes:

"Are you lost? Wait, I forgot..."

Guys with curly hair

Name confusion (G*** vs. P*** -- right Irma? hehe)

Sidenote: The mental states of Irma and I have changed yet again. Irma has gone from being an "ultra bitch" to being a dyslexic traumatiiiiiiized amnesiac. I, on the other hand, have gone from being "clinically depressed" to being completely lost. [hehehehehe. ;-)]

Party On...

After work, I went out for sushi with Jessy, Lynne, and Sue. Sue and I had some plum wine (mmmm), and Lynne and Jessy had sake (they were feeling pretty good after dinner). After dinner, Sue, Jessy and I headed to the Billiard Club for a drink. We hung out there for a while, then I had to go pick Irma and continue the party at Rum Jungle. Sue and Jessy were supposed to be there, but they didn't show up. Oh well. More drinks for me. ;-)

Once at Rum Jungle, we met with Dimple and her boyfriend, Ghie-ghie and her date Shaw, Grace, Marose, Elaine (and all their friends), Joi, and Paul. I had so much fun! Hey Gary, Bern, and Leah, I wish you guys were here with me. After a few several drinks (I think 9?), I managed to dance on stage with Irma, Grace, Marose, and all their friends. I can't believe I did that. But hey, I had fun. And it's not like anyone's going to remember me after tonight anyway.

After Rum Jungle, Irma, Irene, Elaine, Paul, and I went to Boston Pizza to get something to eat. As usual, I was hungry. ;-) We ate, had a few laughs and called it a night. Too bad I didn't have my camera with me, but I didn't want to have to lug it around. I was going to borrow the digital camera, but it was already being used by someone else in the office. Oh well.

It was a lot of fun. And I have another massage tomorrow at 10:00 am. This time at Eveline Charles. I guess I should get to sleep, considering tomorrow is another busy day for me - day 3 of my birthday celebration. ;-)

The Waiting Game is Over

I finally got the call I was waiting for and unfortunately I didn't get the job. :-( Only because the other candidate they chose had way more experience than I did in the oil and gas industry. Oh well. I guess I'll be able to take some time out for myself and "re-group." Hmmm, I'm leaning more toward the idea of going on a little vacation. Any suggestions? Anyone want to join me?

Extended Massage

I treated myself to a massage today. I know, I just had one the other day, but hey it's my birthday so why not treat myself. Plus, as I mentioned before, it's covered by my work so why not take advantage of that too. Now, this massage was only supposed to be an hour long. But it ended up taking more than an hour. I somehow mentioned to the guy that it was my birthday, and he said that he'd do something for me (no, not that =P), so I figured he'd extend it by like 20 minutes or so. Uh nope. Try 2 hours! Maybe he lost track of time, or maybe it's because we were talking too much? But yeah, in total I had a 3 hour massage. And I feel really good! ;-) Not to mention, quite relaxed.

Well, I should probably get some sleep. But here are some pictures taken from my little birthday thing at work. (I'll do the picture thing when I have more time. It's too late to do it right now).


Unexpected Message

As I was driving home from my massage, I checked my cell phone voice mail. "You have 1 new message". It was from my ex. [We're on good terms now, but I'm so over him. But that's another story...]. He wished me a Happy Birthday (didn't think he'd remember) and wanted me to call him back because we hadn't talked in a while, and he wanted to take me out for my birthday. OK? I'm thinking he doesn't have to take me out, but whatever. He also mentioned in his message that he had something for me [not really necessary], but insisted that I call him back. Fine. So I called him back. We talked a bit, and made plans to go out for lunch on Sunday. Again, he mentioned that he had something for me and that I would really like it. Gee, thanks for peaking my curiosity. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to wait...

OK, I'm really going to sleep now...*yawn*

I did something I haven't done in a long time...

...I went to church. And I'm glad I went. I felt so relaxed and calm, listening to the organist play. I managed to lose myself for a while, and when I "woke up" I felt...better. I can't say that I came out of there with answers to the questions I have, but I think I have a better idea on how to handle them. I know God will guide me in the right path.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yay! Yup, the big 2-8. Can't really say I feel 28, but then what is 28 supposed to feel like? Or what is any age supposed to feel like for that matter? Anyway, I just spent the last hour or so going through birthday greetings on email (from Jenn, Bernadette, Marcel, Rochelle, Liz, my cousin Grace, and Myer), and sending thank you cards. I guess I could've just posted one big thank you on my blog, but I know everyone doesn't read this. Plus, I like to thank everyone personally. Well, for those that do read this THANK YOU! I wish all of you were here to celebrate it with me. :-)


An email from a friend of mine...

24 Things to Always Remember...And 1 Thing to Never Forget

Your presence is a present to the world
You're unique and one of a kind
Your life can be what you want it to be
Take the days just one at a time
Count your blessings, not your troubles
You'll make it through whatever comes along
Within you are so many answers
Understand, have courage, be strong

Don't put limits on yourself
So many dreams are waiting to be realized
Decisions are too important to leave to chance
Reach for your peak, your goal, your prize

Nothing wastes more energy than worrying
The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets
Don't take things too seriously
Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets

Remember that a little love goes a long way
Remember that a lot... goes forever
Remember that friendship is a wise investment
Life's treasures are people...together

Realize that it's never too late
Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way
Have health and hope and happiness
Take the time to wish upon a star
And don't ever forget... for even a day... how very special you are.

- by Collin McCarty

Given the circumstances on what's been going on with me lately, it was uplifting to read this message.

Random Thought

Stuck between a rock and a hard place
Torn between two choices
No matter what decision is made
no matter what the outcome is
It still seems like a no win situation
You're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't
And the longer you take to make up your mind
the longer you remain on the emotional rollercoaster
constantly fluctuating, spinning in circles
Until that moment when you get off the dizzying ride

My cell phone's fixed...

...I think. I've been having problems with it lately because my current cell phone provider is being taken over by Telus. Since I wasn't able to get the software upgrade over the weekend, I went this afternoon. And I think it's working OK now. Yay!! =P

Stress Relief

I went to the gym after work and as I parked the car, I realized that I didn't have my gym bag with me. Great. So I had to go home and grab it, which meant driving down the freeway during rush hour and in terrible road conditions. I took a different route and managed to get home in less than half an hour, considering the weather. I was pressed for time at the gym, since I had booked a massage for 7:30 pm. I usually don't go to the gym if I'm going to be there for less than half an hour because really, what's the point? I mean, you're body's only starting to get warmed up and then you have to stop? But I went to the gym anyway because I didn't want to skip a day. I went for a quick run and did some weights and then it was on to my massage appointment. And I feel SO much better. Ilya, the masseur (he's russian), did a good job on loosening up the knots in my muscles. I know the knots in my muscles aren't completely gone so I made another appointment for Thursday. Hey, this is covered by my work so why not take advantage it?! ;-)

What's wrong with this picture?

Boss calls me. Asks me about the weather, blah, blah, blah. Making small talk. Then asks if I'm going to be around when he gets back? Huh?! Well, seeing as he gets back in the office on October 30th, which is my last day, I think it's safe to say that I'll be in the office. Don't really want to be here, but oh well. He also asked if I would be around until November 15th? WTF? I told him that I didn't know and didn't want to make any promises.

What threw me was the fact that he offered to look at my resume because he says he's "an expert on it." Uh yeah, whatever buddy. Could this be just another ploy for him to try and get back at me because he feels that I somehow "owe" him something? I mean, even though he says he wants to "help me out," does he really want to do that? Or will this somehow benefit him in the long run? I know, my mind's working overtime again. But I can't help but think about stuff like this when it comes to him. After all the comments he's made to me before, I've lost all respect for him. And I'm supposed to trust him with my resume? Thanks, but no thanks! If it takes a bit longer for me to find a job, then so be it. Everything happens for a reason right? And at least this way, I know I did it by myself. Knowing him, he'll probably use this against me somewhere down the road and say that "I owe him" something. Uh, I don't think so.

Crappy Driving Conditions

I left my house at around 8:10 am. It took me half an hour to get from my house to the freeway. And it's only 8 blocks away! Traffic was insane (again) and it didn't help that the roads were like a skating rink. Having winter tires doesn't help much either. I was pretty much crawling my way down the road, barely stepping on the brakes, and I was still fish-tailing. This is one of the reasons why I don't like winter. Besides the cold weather and snow, the driving conditions are really bad. I finally made it to work in an hour, which normally takes 15-20 minutes. Ah yes, the joys of winter driving...=P

Back in the Gym

I haven't been in the gym in the longest time. It felt good to get back into it. After I did my cardio, I just happened to pass by the scale and decided to weigh myself. Great - I gained 3 lbs! I know, it's not a big deal, but for me it is (being the somewhat health freak that I am). I even noticed a bit more flab around my mid-section. Ugh! Not good at all. Well, that's what I get for not going to the gym in so long. After the gym, I went to kickboxing and it was a pretty good class. We're starting to do some spinning kicks, so that's kinda cool. Now the trick is to maintain this schedule...

No Motivation

I just got back from lunch and I have no motivation to work. I guess part of it is because my morning was pretty much a write-off (seeing as I got in at 10:00 am), and haven't really done much. Made a couple phone calls, but that's about it. I spoke to my boss this morning, and now it's just a matter of being civil towards him. Hmmm, what to do, what to do. Maybe I should get my cell phone fixed? Yeah, and waste more time. =P

It's Winter...*sigh*

I was hoping the snow from last night would've melted by this morning. Uh, nope. The snow is still on the ground and there's more of the white stuff falling down. Ugh! Well, I guess it had to happen sooner or later. Although I was kinda hoping for later. Like after my birthday perhaps? =P

The drive to work was insane. Traffic was backed up for miles and by the time I got to the southside, I had already been on the road for almost an hour. My intention was to go to the office for an hour and then go to my interview. Well, I skipped the office and went straight to the interview. I was half an hour early, so I sat in my car for a while.


Second Interview

I finally decided to go into my interview at 9:15 am. I think it went well. The "potential employer" was really nice and he was not what I expected at all. We talked for about half an hour, and I went back to the office.

So now I'm back to the waiting game again. Hopefully I hear something by this afternoon.

First snow fall

I was about to go to sleep and I happened to look out the window. And what do I see? snow! Ugh! I was hoping it would come after my birthday, but obviously not. Well, it is wet snow so hopefully it'll melt tomorrow. And if it does, then it doesn't really count as snow. The way I see it, if it doesn't stay on the ground, then it doesn't count. [yeah OK, so I seem to have a reason for everything...=P].

Now I'm going to sleep...

Blah

It's Sunday afternoon and I've done nothing so far, except play around on the computer. Checking email, surfing the net, etc. [No, I haven't done the picture thing yet because I don't feel like doing it right now. =P]. I am getting hungry though. Hmmm, what to munch on????

Knocked Out

OK, so my nap turned into sleep. Guess my body needed it considering I haven't been getting much sleep lately. I had a quick snack and thought I'd check my email. I got a message from my friend Cheryl who's in Tahiti right now, working on a cruise ship. She mentioned that she might be going to the Philippines in January for 3 weeks with her boyfriend Don (he's filipino). Lucky bum! I wouldn't mind going to the Philippines right now.

I should probably go back to sleep, so as not to screw up my sleeping pattern. g'night...

Re-cap of Today's Events

My day started at 9:00 am, which is early for me considering I didn't get to sleep until 4:00 am. I had breakfast and got ready to go to my hair appointment. I got red highlights and got rid of most of the blonde streaks in my hair. You can still see a bit of the blonde, but it kinda blends in with the rest of my hair (no more "blonde moments" for me. =P). Anyway, this process took almost 2 hours. At one point, my stylist had me under the hair dryer and I almost fell asleep.

After my hair appointment, I went home to have lunch. I cleaned my room a little and then headed to the bank. From the bank, I dropped my mom off at the mall, and I went to the drycleaners to drop off some stuff. Then from there, I headed to Edmonton Cellular to get this software upgrade for my cell phone? But when I got there, the guy said that the system was down and would stay that way for the rest of the day. Great! What a waste of time to go out there.

My trek continued to the southside where I had to pick up my prescriptions. As I was approaching 23rd avenue, I noticed all this traffic at the intersection. To avoid it, I decided to pass the intersection and go to the next one to get to Wal-Mart. Big mistake! I missed the turn off, and ended up on the highway heading toward the airport. Ugh! So I had to drive out to Nisku to turn around and come back. Did not like that at all. I finally made to Wal-Mart and the place was a zoo! Apparently it was their anniversary sale or something, so it was a mad house. I quickly went to the pharmacy to pick up my prescriptions (good thing I called them in the night before), and went back out. Trying to get out of the parking lot was a pain in the butt. Traffic all over the place. Cars trying to turn left, but can't because they don't have the right-of-way. Cars trying to turn right, but they can't either because of the 4-way stop. I managed to bypass the traffic, drove down the road a bit and made a U-turn. I was starting to run out of patience at this point.

I finally made it to Irma's apartment at around 3:15 pm (only 15 minutes late). We decided to go to Montana's for lunch and skip shopping (yes, we're feeling OK. It's just that we wouldn't have time to do both). . By the time we were done eating, Irma noticed that we still had 45 minutes left to shop. So we went to a nearby store to look for a winter jacket for her. She found one in Le Chateau and bought it (you go girl! hehe). From there, I drove Irma to the grocery store so she could pick up a couple things and then I took her home.

I am pooped! I think I'm going to take a nap...*yawn*...

Outing with Irma sans Joi

Although I was looking forward to another night out with Irma and Joi, Joi couldn't make it here this weekend because he's sick (get better by next weekend). So Irma and I went to Tim Horton's for a quick snack, and then went to see Shrek at Cinema City 12 [yeah I know, it was out long time ago, and we're just seeing it now]. That was a good movie. Cool animation. Since the movie ended at 1:10 am, we decided to go for drinks on Whyte Ave. We went to, where else, the Billiard Club and sat there until closing (hey Irma, this is getting to be another one of our "regular" hang out spots, huh?). It was pretty much a chill evening.

I'm just thinking ahead to tomorrow (well actually, later today) and what I have to do. Hair appointment in the morning, then gotta go get my cell phone fixed, pick up my prescriptions, and maybe (key word is maybe) go shopping with Irma. That all depends on Irma and if she does all her errands and wants to go shopping. *sigh* Looks like another one of my "busy" Saturdays...

I seriously need to get back into shape...

I went to kickboxing (was going to go to the gym before hand, but something came up), the class was good, but I was having trouble keeping up with some of the drills which I used to have no problems with. Ugh! I haven't been to the gym in the longest time. And it shows. Gotta get back to my regular routine, but it's hard with all that's going on right now. I know, that's probably no excuse, but sometimes at the end of the day, I simply do not have the energy to do anything active. Hmmm, maybe I should go to the gym tomorrow...

Last Minute Social

So we're about to have our first office social in a long time. Not sure I want to participate. Partly because I'm sure the whole office wants to know why I'm leaving. Like I need to deal with this right now. I've got enough stress as it is and I'd rather not get into the details. Oh well, maybe they'll focus on something else. What exactly, I don't know. Plus, I'd rather go to sleep. I'm so tired. [No Michelle, wake up!] I think I should go to the gym to get the adrenalin going...

Mental Note

Don't go shopping when you're depressed. Because you end up buying something really expensive (oh, like a cK leather coat) and then think "Why did I buy that?" Not that I'm regretting my purchase, but I didn't think that I'd ever spend that much on a coat. My justification: I liked it, it was on sale (50% off!), it was the second-last one in my size (OK, so I'm altering this one a bit), AND I'm not going to be able to buy stuff like this when I settle down and have kids (OK, so I'm stretching with this one). Oh well. It is a nice coat though. =P

Back to the Lunch Thing

The lunch thing seems is getting to be a regular thing these days. Or maybe cuz today's Friday. I got 2 invitations for lunch and I turned both of them down. I can only eat out so much before I get sick of it. I mean I already went twice this week, plus it gets expensive after a while. Not a big fan of fast food either. I guess I'm somewhat of a health nut, but that's just me.

Let's Do Lunch

With me leaving, it seems that everyone wants to go for lunch. Yesterday I had lunch with Edna at this chinese restaurant (can you believe it? I actually ate chinese! For those that don't know, I've been avoiding chinese food because the MSG just messes up my system. But the food at this place didn't have MSG...anyway...), and today I went to the Olive Garden with Spence and Sue. Next week, there's my farewell lunch, and then a farewell drink thing after work. Anyone else want to go out for lunch? ;-)

Another Phone Call

My agent called me this morning to let me know that I have a second interview on Monday. Woo hoo! I'm so excited. And a bit nervous at the same time. I mean I'll be meeting with the VP of Engineering, whom I will be working with (providing I get the job, of course). Gosh, it's all happening so fast. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I guess I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed. I didn't think an opportunity would come up this quick. I thank God for watching over me.

OK, so I still haven't added my picture yet...

...but if you notice, I did add a link to my guestbook (because no one can see it...because it's at the bottom of the page). Woo hoo! Hey, not bad for someone who has no experience in HTML and stuff. I'm just learning (by trial and error) as I go. ;-)

Rest Room Break Rebuttal

In response to Gary's blog on emptying one's bladder, here are some points which might help explain why we go in pairs or group:

1. Since girls go in pairs or groups, there's always a line up. By going with a buddy, you can scam your way through the line (i.e. if one of you is in a stall, the other one waits right outside the door to avoid waiting. A bit rude, I know, but when you gotta go, you gotta go).
   
2. I look for a clean, empty stall with toilet paper and a lock on the door. Clean meaning fresh bowl, no floaties or splatters on the seat, etc. Personally, even though I don't sit on the toilet seat, I prefer fairly clean bowl. If there's no lock, that's where the buddy comes in and holds the door for me. And vice versa.
   
3. If my buddy and I happen to each get a stall, preferably next to each other, and one is out of toilet paper, then it's an easy hand off underneath the stall. If one happens to be missing a lock, that's where the third member comes in and holds the door for you (hence groups). If there is no third member, then you just have to hold it shut yourself (takes a bit of skill to perform this maneuver, with one hand on the door and the other trying to rip off some toilet paper).
   
4. Wash hands.
   
5. Dry hands underneath hand dryer because it's more sanitary and we don't have paper towels (save the trees).
   
6. Fix make-up, check teeth, make sure everything is "in place" (hehe), etc., all while chit-chatting.
   
7. Because girls wash their hands, we don't have to worry about touching the door handles.

In conclusion, I hope this gives you a better understanding of why girls go in pairs or groups. hehehe. ;-)

I noticed you're online...

...so you better be updating your blog. hehe. =P

What's going on with Reblogger?

OK, who screwed up my Reblogger? And why are all my comments gone?

[A little while later...] I'm just a random victim of Reblogger deletions. Apparently the Reblogger guy was running low on disk space so he had to delete those with larger comment files. Which makes me wonder why he deleted mine? I mean, I only started the "comments" thing a few months ago, so how could I possibly have a "large comment file?" Oh well, at least my blog wasn't deleted...

LOL! Thanks Gary...

...for posting my picture on your site. =P Just what exactly prompted you to do that?! Oh well. Who knows, maybe I'll become famous this way! hehehehe. ;-)

Back from the Interview

Overall, I think it went OK. Not spectacular or anything, but OK. I guess it's because the lady interviewing couldn't give me a definite job description. She was very general, saying that I'd be doing some secretarial stuff (correspondence, etc.) and some projects. Uh, could we be just a bit more specific please? Apparently, no one's had this position before, so whoever gets this position would "set the standard" so to speak. That'd be kinda cool (starting something from scratch and implementing it for the rest of the office). I asked her a couple of job description type questions, to see if I could get it out of her another way. She mentioned that those were good questions for the guy I'd be reporting to (hmmm, so does that mean that I get a second interview?). So now I'm back to the waiting game. Waiting for my "agent" to call me let me know.

Official Announcement

A memo was circulated around the office announcing my resignation. Some of my co-workers already knew, but of those that didn't, they were surprised to learn that I was leaving. Those who found out today either came up to me and wished me well, gave me a hug, or buzzed me at my desk. Lynne even got teary-eyed when I told her yesterday. Ron even gave suggestions of who to call for potential opportunities (networking). Who'd ever thought I'd have this much of an affect? The popular questions were "Why?" and "Where are you going?" I sounded like a broken record saying "It's just time for me go" (or variations of the same statement). Jeff, one of the leasing guys, is even planning a "going away" lunch for me, which is really sweet. Not necessary, but thoughtful. Sue wants to go drinking that night too, so I guess I'll be partying that night! Anyone wanna come?

The irony is, everyone probably has an idea or can sense why I'm leaving, without me having to give an explanation. Yet my boss can't seem to see it. Do I have to spell it out for him? I mean Gord, another co-worker whom I hardly work with, pretty much figured out why I was leaving. As he put it, I was "all over the place." I guess you can say that I'm a jack-of-all-trades.

Well, it must be done. And I'm glad and relieved that I'm making this move. I have an interview tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. I hope it goes well.

New Links

As you can see, I've added a couple more links -- Leah (a friend of mine from Vancouver), and Deep Thoughts (a blog showing Irma's other side. Yes, despite her usual whacky state, she does have a "deep" side to her). So check them out if you have time.

Challenge #2

After talking to Gary (uh, long time no talk btw), he's given me a new challenge which is adding pictures to my blog. I tried to do it before, but I couldn't get the picture to appear. The last time I tried it, it showed where the picture was supposed to appear, but it was just an empty box. OK, like I need a new challenge right now? My challenge at this point in time is getting out of my predicament. Can I postpone it to a later date?

Persistence

My boss and I were the last ones to leave the office. I was there because he had me working on a project (what's new with that?). He was still there because he was on the phone. When he finally got off the phone, be buzzed my desk (which I think is so pointless because there's only a wall separating us) to verify that I was still around.

Obviously he was upset that I was leaving because he still tried to get the reasons out of me. Uh hello? Were you not listening to me earlier this morning? He said that he just wanted to make sure he understood me correctly. I think it was just a way for him to test and see if I'd cave in and spill my guts. Er, nice try buddy!

While we were talking he mentioned again that he wanted me to help him find my replacement. But while he was saying it, he was putting the guilt trip on me. Normally that trick doesn't work on me, but somehow he was successful. And he did it by using some reverse psychology crap ("I'm not trying to give you the guilt trip, but...). So now I feel awkward, and I'm starting to feel some anxiety again. I'm supposed to be happy at the fact that I'm leaving, but with this guilt trip he's pulling on me, I feel like I'm going to puke. The worst part was he had bring up the "we're friends" thing. I don't know when and where he got that notion from, but he has it.

I guess what gets me is the different techniques he tried to use to get the real reason why I was leaving out of me. But I managed to hold my ground. That's when made a comment that he hasn't figured me out. According to him, he has most of the people in our office figured out. Whether it be personality, demeanor, or whatever. But I'm the one person whom he works closely with, that he has NOT figured out. In his words, I'm a big mystery. [Perhaps it's because I'm a Scorpio? OK, I'm digressing...]

Which brings me to my next point...


Am I Mysterious?

I mean, is it really that difficult to figure me out. I'm a pretty easy going kinda person (I think). What else do you want to know? If I know you well enough, I'll answer most of your questions. I'm blunt and to the point. Deal with it. I never really considered myself as being mysterious. Yes, I'm selective on what I share with whom, but aren't we all? My boss also mentioned that I keep "my cards close to my chest" and I probably do, especially around him. He's my boss for pete's sake! It's not like I'm going to share my entire life story with him. I guess it's all part of the "control freak" in him. He can't figure me out, therefore he has no control over me per se. And that most likely bugs the hell out of him.

Ah well. What can I do?

That was quick

Hmmm, maybe I will be out of here by October 30th after all? I got a call from the employment agency and I have an interview lined up for Wednesday. I sure hope it goes well. Now if only I could find a replacement just as fast. *crossing my fingers*

It's Done

I made it a point to get to work early before my boss did (7:15 a.m. - can you believe it?!). When he got here, he was in a pretty good mood. We joked around a bit, and he went into his office. I asked myself "should I tell him now?" It didn't feel right and I wanted him to get all settled first before I dropped the bomb. In the meantime, I was developing the largest knot in the pit of my stomach. I finally told him about an hour and a half ago.

As expected, he was disappointed. He tried to pry the reasons out of me, but I kept it general enough that he couldn't ask any questions. Besides, I'm not obligated to tell him any details. For one thing, anything I say to him can be used against in me in the long-run. And I also didn't want to get caught up with every single thing that bothers me in this office.

The only down side is that my last day will be extended to a later date. Instead of October 30th, it's now based on when I can find my replacement and spend enough time (approximately one month) training them. I know some of you think I shouldn't stay (and I've even mentioned before that it wasn't my problem), but if this is what I have to do in order to leave on good terms and keep "the bridge in tact" then so be it. Maybe I'm too nice, or maybe I feel guilty? But despite the stress and workload, I know I would want someone to train me for a position rather than being thrown into something. Guess it's all about the karma thing -- if I do this, then maybe something good will happen to me.

The Big Day

Wish me luck...

Reblogger is down again...

...and it's definitely not my fault! =P


OK it's working now.

Countdown

One more day...At the moment, I'm pretty calm. Get back to me at the end of the day. I'll probably be flippin out by then.

You are becoming one of us

Face it, you are starting to blog on a somewhat regular basis. It's about time. hehe. Now all you have to do is add the comment feature and it'll be all good. See, this is why you need to get a laptop instead of a car. hehehe. =P

Maybe I Should Become a Consultant?

I've had this conversation with my friends Irma and Jenn before. They usually take me shopping with them because they need my advice/opinion/moral support? Or perhaps it's because of my impeccable taste? Anyway, now Ryan's asked me to help him look for a couch that will match the rest of the furniture in his apartment. So I've somehow become a fashion consultant and an interior decorator. Between the 3 of them, I could make some money out of this. hehehe. jk. ;)

It's cool that they ask me though because I find it enjoyable. Call it shopaholicism or whatever, I like being able to help my friends out like that and being able to make them feel good about their purchases [I think I've written about this before].


But at the same time...

...I wasn't in the mood to go shopping for myself today? (yes, I'm feeling alright =P). I went into American Eagle Outfitters [yes, we have it in Canada too ;-)] to look for this sweater that I've been eyeing for a while. I already bought the matching pants, but was waiting for the sweater to go on sale. To my disappointment, they didn't have any left. :-( I also wanted to get this blue sweater, which was already in my hands, but ended up putting it back on the rack. Something just told me not to buy it. Oh well, if it's still there the next time I go, then maybe I'll get it (another one of my logic. hehe. =P)

Coffee Here, Drink There...

I wasn't planning to go out tonight (it's too damn cold and windy outside), but Ryan called me and wanted to go for coffee. Fine. We met at Second Cup, chit-chatted for a while, and then he went home. I, on the other hand, called up Irma because she wanted to go for drinks. Plus I hadn't had a chance to tell her what's been happening with the work thing. Once I filled her in, she was happy for me. We had a drink at Billiard Club, then went to Keegan's for a snack.

Not really sure why I wrote this? Guess, this blogging thing has started to be an automatic thing for me? Oh well, gotta go to sleep now. *yawn*

I Told Someone

Seeing as I've known Spence for 8 years now (I used to work for him at my previous job, and now we work together), I figured I could trust him in telling him about my resignation. He was surprised to hear it, but he understood the situation. He told me to be honest with my boss, because we both knew he would have a bunch of questions. But what could I possibly say that won't bite me in the ass in the long run? I mean I still want him to give me a good reference. Spence suggested I just tell him that I'm looking for new challenges, and that I've learned a lot during my time here (which I have). At least this way, I don't have to get into too much detail (hopefully). I am grateful for the opportunities my boss has given me, but my time has come for me to go.

I'm thinking too much again. Quick, somebody slap me! Wait, scratch that idea. =P

I can see!

Light bulb's been changed. But now it's almost too bright. It's like my office is glowing!

I'm in the Dark

Literally! The lights in my office are burnt out. How can I possibly work under these conditions? Hmmm, maybe I should take the day off. Just a thought. hehehe. =P

Thinking Too Much

I have a bad habit of doing that. I start off with one idea, and in no time my imagination goes wild. At times I end up over-analyzing the situation. But it's kinda hard not to think about it when you have something that's somewhat exciting happening to you. This whole quitting-my-job-and-a-possible-opportunity-ahead thing has got my brain working overtime. Thinking about the resignation, how my boss is going to react (he'll most likely be pissed, but that's not my problem), contacting my references, looking at the company's website to get some background info, etc. Then thinking about how the interview will go, how I'm going to be, "will they like me" type scenarios, blah, blah, blah. I need to stop thinking about it and just go with the flow. I don't want to set myself up too much and then get disappointed in the end. It's not that I'm being pessimistic or anything. I'm just trying to see things from all angles.

Which brings me to my next point...


I need to bite my tongue

Now that there is this potential opportunity, a part of me is so excited that I want to tell everyone. And it's not the fact that I'm actually getting the job, but more of getting out of my current predicament and the situation looking better for me (light at the end of the tunnel type thing). I want to tell a couple of my co-workers, but the risk of it slipping out is too high. Initially, I called my mom and she was like "yeah, go for it" (she didn't really say it in those words, but you get the point). Then I called my brother at work and he was happy for me too. After talking to my family, I still wanted to tell someone. So I emailed my friend Alison in Toronto and told her the news. Haven't heard back from her yet, but I'm sure she'll be happy to hear that I'm finally taking the step. There are still a few people I want to tell, but they're either working, or I haven't been able to get a hold of them.

[OK Michelle, calm down....] Like you said, it'll be all good in the end. ;-)

Countdown

4 more days...uh, I'm starting to freak out a bit.

Gotta make a couple more phone calls...

2 hours later...

...I'm back from the meeting. Finally met Tracy in person. It's always good to put a face to a name. The meeting went pretty well. I filled out the forms I needed to fill out. She told me about the potential company and then asked me "interview" type questions (I guess to create a profile for me in their database). What I didn't expect was the evaluation I had to take. A test on Word, Excel, and then a typing test. Overall it went OK. I felt like I was in school again, taking this multiple-choice/true-false test. Now I'm just waiting to hear back from her. Cross your fingers...

Oh my gosh!!

Got the phone call I was waiting for. Now I have a meeting at 11:30 am to get registered, sign papers, etc. (mental note: make sure to ask lots of questions to be clear on all the terms and conditions). Things are starting to look good. OK, don't get too excited. Possible opportunity awaits. Wish me luck!

I'm glad I went to kickboxing

I was going to skip class, but I needed to release some tension. Plus, I haven't worked out in a while and after all that food I ate over the weekend, I was starting to feel...blech. It's all good now. ;)

Random Thought

Suppressed emotions from within
gradually surface
Too overwhelming to hold back
A burst of negative energy
released through tears
Attempting to cleanse the soul

Note to Self

I think I might actually be clinically depressed. Either that or I'm extremely hormonal. =P


The Green Mile

I watched The Green Mile last night and thought it was really good. Quite powerful. Made me cry. And the worst part was, once I started bawling, I couldn't stop. Good thing I was by myself while I was watching the movie. I don't like crying in front of people, especially if I'm watching a movie (because I feel like such a dork).


Countdown

6 more days....

Holiday Monday

What to do, what to do? I did nothing. Well, actually I went shopping with a friend to look for a sofa. But that's about it. Then I came home, had lunch, checked email, watched Oprah...and that's it. I wish I had kickboxing today. Then at least I would've been able to say that I did something. But I guess I'll have to wait until Wednesday. Not really looking forward to going to work tomorrow either. *sigh*

I'm Stuffed

I didn't realize how much food my mom cooked. I'm talking lots of food! Let's see, there were 3 salads: oriental, greek, and potato. For the main course there was rice (of course), mussels with black bean sauce, BBQ ribs, lollipop chicken, lasagna, and turkey with stuffing and cranberry sauce. For dessert, we had carrot cake, custard and fruit tarts, pionono (sp? -- one with custard and the other with makapuno), fruit salad, and a fresh fruit platter. I think that's all of it. And we still have a lot of leftovers, even though we packed up doggy bags for our guests.

It was a fun night though. I hadn't seen one of our family friends in over 8 years, so it was surprising to see that their kids were now 15, 14, 13, and 4 (a new edition). How time flies. After dinner, most of the guests were dancing (mostly ballroom) in the basement, so that was fun. It was kinda cool to teach a couple of the younger kids how to do some of the dances. Not that I know a lot of ballroom stuff, but I taught them a couple steps. Well, now that they're all gone I gotta help clean up.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just got back from picking up a couple things from Safeway. Everything's pretty much set. Turkey's in the oven, all the salads, desserts, etc. are chilling in the fridge, table's set, etc. Now it's just waiting for the guests to arrive (which won't be for another 4 hours). Anyone want to comeover? My mom has been cooking for 2 days straight, and all the smells are making me hungry [stomach's grumbling]. I helped out with the desserts only because trying to help her do any of the big stuff is just off limits.

Sidenote: You know how it is when your mom cooks, especially for special occasions -- everything has to be "just right" and the kitchen is like a sacred place to be in. No matter how much you try to help out, you're somehow just in the way. And it doesn't matter how big the kitchen is either.

Anyway, I just want to say that I'm thankful for my family for being healthy and supporting me in what I do, and my friends for being there for me. Personally, I'm thankful for being alive and being able to enjoy life. Most of all, I'm thankful for God's many blessings.

And Yet Another One of Those Evening with Irma and Joi

[This is getting to be like an episode of a multi-part series, which doesn't seem to end. I think this is episode 3 now...]

Yes, Joi is in town again. I guess because it's Thanksgiving long weekend here (yeah, we Canadians celebrate it early). We started the evening off by watching Zoolander at Paramount Theatre. The movie was OK, but not as funny as I thought it would be. After the movie, we headed to Cafe Select to hang out. That seems to be the place to go whenever we're downtown, since we went there last time. Anyway, while Irma and I were chatting, I noticed this painting on the wall above our table, which was a picture of this lady holding a bottle of wine and her breasts were hanging out? Uh, OK?! Irma and I figured that she was probably advertising the wine -- perhaps suggesting that if you drink that brand, it'll enhance your boobs? hehe. Joi met up with us a little while later (he had some "business" to take care of) and he noticed the painting too. As we looked around the cafe, there seemed to be a common theme of women's breasts hanging out in these pictures. Maybe they think customers won't notice it because it's a bit dark in there? Or maybe they think it'll put people "in the mood?"

After a while we were getting a bit bored, so we thought about going to a karaoke bar. Only thing was, no one wanted to sing without having some alcohol in their system. None of us felt like drinking either, so, so much for that idea. The next plan was to go to Metro to play pool. When we got there, the place was going to close in half an hour. So we didn't play pool either. We ended up walking along the river valley and taking some pictures, since I had a few shots left on my camera (Blue Steel or Magnum look?)

Key Notes:

Magnum Male Model Moment (Joi drinking Irma's glass of water)
"Relax"
"What movies did we watch?"

Sidenote: The status of my friends' mental states have changed again. Irma has now gone from a paranoid schizophrenic alcoholic to being an "ultra bitch". Joi, on the other hand has regressed from his undercover depressed fisherman state, back to being an alcoholic. Except this time dropping the "suicidal" and "loner" aspects of it, hence becoming an alcoholic insomniac. I too have developed a condition. Based on these 2 tests I took on the internet, I have been classified as being clinically depressed? I don't know how, but I am. *sigh* =P hehehe. ["had to be there to understand" moment ;-) ]

Bad Sad Dream

I dreamt that I went to see my friend off. I'm not sure who it was, but I knew him? I wasn't sure where he was going, but he needed to take this trip. Thinking he'd be back in a couple weeks, I was shocked to find out that he'd be gone for an entire year. What should've been a simple "See you soon", turned into an emotional goodbye. The whole thing was so overwhelming that we didn't say much. Both of us had tears rolling down our faces. And the time came for him to board the ship? (I guess he was going on a cruise). We kissed and gave each other one last hug before he boarded. I was left there crying, upset that he'd be gone for a year. Then I woke up. But the worst part was that I woke up crying. I hate that feeling -- waking up with this sad and empty feeling in the pit of your stomach. I managed to calm myself down and go back to sleep. I feel better now, but I'm not too sure why I had that dream?

Cleaning My Room...Again

I just spent the past couple of hours organizing my closet again. Yes, again. Why? Because I had all this laundry that I hadn't put away. They managed to form little piles all over the place. And since I've been having trouble lately finding some of my clothes, I figured I better put these clothes away. OK, I can see my room again. =P

One Step Closer

Initially a thought
Which led into words
Many ideas spoken
But never acted upon
Faced with a wall
Reluctance, hesitation, apprehension
to make the leap
Uncertainty of the outcome
Until now
One simple action
One small step closer
to make the leap that much easier

I know him too well

My friend Ryan visited me at work today. He thought I was off at 4:00 pm and wanted to go for coffee. When I told him I couldn't leave the office, he gave me this look and said "your boss isn't even in, so who cares." But see, I know my boss almost too well. I figured he'd probably give me a call (since I haven't heard from him in 2 days), if I left the office. Sure enough, while Ryan and I were chatting outside my office, my boss calls. He's almost predictable (key word is almost).

La, la, la...

...I have no more motivation to work...la, la, la...Even though there's a whole whack of files on my desk...la, la, la...I'm just sitting here bloggin away...la, la, la, =P

Blah Day

Today is quite blah. First of all it's hella cold! It was -1C/30F this morning, and it's only going to get up to 7C/45F today. And it's cloudy and gloomy outside. Just makes me want to go back to bed and hide under the covers. Second, I can't seem to keep track of my days. While you're a day ahead, and you're an hour behind, I'm totally lost. Maybe I just need to get something to eat. Oh look, it's lunch time! =P

Random Thought

Issues
A thought process involving many combinations and permutations to the outcome
Always a possible solution
But never an end result
Many different scenarios
So much to figure out
Factors to be considered
Determining what's important, what takes priority
Fear comes into play
Then excuses are made
Until you convince yourself otherwise
But why?
Why are we afraid?
Why do we make excuses? And give the reasoning behind it?
It becomes an endless cycle
Ideas being played over and over in your mind
Until you get frustrated
The imbalance of your well-being becomes such a strain
Eventually the realization sets in
It's not worth it
And out of nowhere the answer presents itself

I just noticed...

...that my archives are up again. Yay! If anyone cares...

hehehe. =P

Losing Daylight

As the days go on, we slowly lose more and more daylight. Pretty soon, we'll be waking up in the dark to go to work, and going home in the dark after work. Not really looking forward to it, but it's not like I can control it. Ah well. It's all part of the seasons.

Lynne and I went for our power walk today. It was still bright out, so we figured we'd be able to do our trail with no problems. We didn't think it would get dark that quick though. It was a bit difficult walking the final stretch, in the dark, through trees and stuff. Even though you could still see the path in front of you, trying to decipher between trees and other things was hard. There was one point where I heard something rustling through the leaves, but I didn't know what it was. I suggested to Lynne that if we do this again, we should bring flashlights or something. [That would almost have a Blair Witch theme to it.] But if the weather gets colder, the walk will have to be put on hold until the spring.

Inhale.............Exhale..........

10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1....

In with the good....out with the bad.....in with the good.....out with the bad.......

OK, I think I feel a bit better now.

Frosty

The weather is slowly dipping down. Currently we're at -2C/28F. BRRRRRRR!! I even had to scrape the frost off my windshield this morning. Great. I suppose this is more typical fall weather. As long as the geese don't fly south just yet, we'll be OK.

All I want to do is pay my bill online...

...is that too much to ask? I can't seem to access the bank's website to pay my Eatons bill. It's not due until next week, but I don't want to worry about it. And no, I didn't break it again. =P

Why does this seem to always happen to me? Please tell me I'm not the only one...

Potential Buyer for My Vehicle

I had lunch with Lynne today, and she mentioned her daugher was coming to visit her from Whitehorse (somewhere way up north in the Yukon Territory, next to Alaska) at the end of the month. She also mentioned that her daughter was in the market for a minivan. Immediately, I jumped at the opportunity. "Hey, I'll sell her my MPV!" At least it will eliminate her daughter having to look around for a minivan (assuming, she buys it from me of course). Plus, this vehicle is too big for me anyway. It's not like I have kids to lug around. The only thing I will miss is the huge ass sun roof, which takes up half of the roof of the MPV! Oh well. I can always get a sun roof put into whatever car I get. Haven't quite decided what type of car to get, so I guess I should start looking. I sure hope she buys this minivan from me...