Journey & Adventure

Today’s version of Random Thoughts is all about honesty. I’m always excited to see Christmas come, but I’ll be honest – I’m equally excited to see it go. I like it when my version of normalcy returns, as skewed as it may be. Although when I receive my credit card statement, I’ll be wishing I was permanently living in an alternate dimension. Today is the first day back at work since December 23 rd and I’m going to say that it is AWESOME to be here for a few reasons. Reason one - I love my family and my afternoon naps, but I’ll be honest – I’m tired of looking at them, cooking for them and cleaning up after them. Reason two - I can’t possibly stand watching Rio Bravo (again) or any other damn John Wayne western that happens to be on television. Reason three – there isn’t anyone else in my immediate vicinity at work today, so it’s like I’m by myself. Ahhh, it’s so peaceful…almost heavenly. In family tradition, J, the Boy and myself set out on D...

Today is my last day of work before the holidays. Until Tuesday next week, it will be nothing but family, family, more family and the freakin History Channel. God knows there is nothing on television over the holiday season... I love my family, but I'm not sure how much I can possible stand of them (or the History Channel) before I entirely flip-out. I guess only time will tell... Good luck to those that are also spending time with family members that drive you crazy...I'll be feeling your pain.

I work with scrooges. Three of the women (yes women) in my immediate vicinity have done nothing but flaunt the fact that they are NOT putting up a Christmas Tree this year and essentially are NOT celebrating the holiday season and it has nothing to do with religious beliefs. I can totally understand not being festive, but is it really necessary to be so verbal about it. I say “shut the hell up and let me be merry damnit!” The dipstick HR Assistant on the other side of my cube wall has something contagious. She has been coughing (without covering her mouth) for the past 5 days. It would be nice if it was laryngitis and she couldn’t talk at all. Not to be mean, but when she tries to talk she starts to cough even more which results in more germs being spewed about my vicinity. She doesn’t blow her nose either – Ugghhh! I’m totally done my shopping and the presents are wrapped; however I have a sense that I’ll be returning a number of them. I just wasn’t “feeling” the gifts this ye...

With the exception of this year, I have faithfully mailed out Christmas cards to friends, family and acquaintances (both old and new). I typically take the time to hand-write a personal greeting to each and every recipient. For some odd reason, I have found this task to be therapeutic – perhaps a simple way of showing my appreciation of how much this person’s friendship has meant to me. I never expected the card giving gesture to be reciprocated by all, but I admit that it was nice to arrive home to find a Christmas card or two in the pile of mail sitting on the kitchen counter. A card is a relatively cheap gift to give, but the warm thoughts that come with them are priceless. I don’t know what happened to me this year and I don’t have an excuse – other than I was lazy in failing to write a single note or managing to mail even one card. I’m saddened by my lack of Christmas cheer. In not sending these cards, I have also notice that I did not rece...

For this occasion only, please disregard my post from yesterday about being a bad Canadian. I'm still a bad Canadian 362 other days of the year, but with these Canadian icons, I couldn't be more proud to be a Canadian than I am at Christmas Time... Introducing Bob & Doug McKenzie and their version of The Twelve Days of Christmas - Enjoy!

So, in response to the question - what is a toque?  Here is a repost I had done awhile back about Canadian fashion attire...enjoy the beauty of it all....(jealous aren't you?) There is no escaping the crap that is a Canadian winter and there is no denying the fact that – I am a terrible Canadian. I detest winter so much that I daydream that the Canadian government would realize how terrible of a Canadian I actually am, kick me out of the country, ban me for life from watching hockey and revoke my god-given right to wear a toque or a dickey for the rest of my life. For those not familiar with Canadianisms a toque is a hat, which is most likely made of wool, knitted in a hideous pattern and colors and perhaps with a baseball size tassel adorning the top. These wonderful items are worn with pride, pulled down as far as possible, to cover your ears and most of your eyebrows, essentially hiding the identity of the wearer. In honesty, there is no pride in wearing this item; they...

I've never prepared a New Year's Resolution List, as I've always believed that if you did so, you were destined to fail. This year, I've prepared a list of promises. Promises to myself do something better with my life. Here is my Promise/Wish List for 2010: ~ I’m going to lose a minimum of 20 lbs. This will include eating healthier and working out more – a lot more. ~ I’m going to find a new job and get myself out of this mind-numbing, life-force sucking one. As an added bonus, this will include shortening my daily commute. ~ Instead of sitting on my ass during my lunch hour, I’m going to start going for walks around the block. This one will be challenging during the winter months because I HATE winter, but I’m going to do it nonetheless. I’ll be miserable, but I’ll do it. ~ I’m going to take more time for myself. ~ I’m going to read more. Not just e-books - real books, but not boring ones. So any s...

After my rant of earlier today, I just have to provide an update.... Not only am I DOING the compensation letters that the HR Department is too stupid/lazy to do themselves. I know this must come as a big surprise to you - it certainly did to me. *insert sarcasm* BUT, just moments ago, the entire company receives an e-mail (from my boss) announcing the promotion of the Director of HR to Associate VP of HR. WTH? Apparently, I've been going about it all wrong. I've actually be WORKING to get ahead in my career. Shame on me... All you need to get ahead in the world is be a lazy ass and hire people dumber than yourself, so that you look like a freakin rock star. Who knew?

I have spoken many times of the dislike for the personnel in my company’s HR Department. I should clarify, I’m sure that outside the workplace, they are fine people. I’m sure they have friends, family, hobbies and a life, but I don’t really care to find out because let’s be honest - I try not to socialize with the people that drive me bat shit crazy on a daily basis. I should also clarify that I am not affiliated with the HR Department. I am not a member of their team, although the HR Director seems to be misinformed on this note. The only thing that perhaps ties me to them – is that (1) my cubicle is in their vicinity and (2) my boss is also the boss of the HR Director. Last year in December, I was asked by my boss to assist the HR Director with the preparation of sales compensation letters because (and I quote) “You are the only one out there smart enough to figure it out and get it right.” I’m not sure if it was actually a compliment or his way of sayin...

My holiday spirit has been found. Who knew it could come in the form of watermelon liquor? Don’t judge me on where I found it – just appreciate that it’s here… Anyhow, I found this excellent idea to brighten up the Christmas season or in my case the holiday party I will be attending this upcoming weekend. “We're always looking for that little something extra for our holiday parties, and we've stumbled upon this recipe for creating a drunken watermelon snowman that would do Frosty proud, being the legendary drunk he was. And you'll never convince us he wasn't a drunk, because A) he was a jolly happy soul, B) he danced like an idiot, and C) we've had eyes like lumps of coal when we were hung over too. Our theory is he went down to the village with that broomstick in his hand to try to find a college bar and get the kids to limbo or something.” Excerpt and Photo Courtesy of Liquor Snob In case, you are looking to make one for yourself here are the instructions and re...

“Nothing helps a bad mood like spreading it around.” Bill Watterson I’m lonely, but am not alone. I love, but do not like. I care, but not enough. My heart aches, but it’s not broken. I’m loved by many, but appreciated by few. I long for respect, but it’s not forthcoming. I’m a body, but not a person. I speak, but am not heard. I want peace and solitude for friends, family, but most of all…for myself. I wish for more, accept less than I should, but am thankful for what I have…most of the time. Tomorrow is a new day…

First, please excuse the quality of the photos. Since J wasn't around, I had to resort to taking my own photos and well, they are self-explanatory. In case you were wondering, they were taken in my cube at work. Anyhow, I thought I would share another side to my ever evolving self - my darker creative side. This time of year, I enjoy creating holiday decorations (mostly wreaths and Christmas trees) from pine cones and other nature-like stuff. I do make them to sell and this year I am donating a $10 from each one sold to the Salvation Army's Tree of Angels campaign in the name of the buyer. People are buying them, so they either like them or it's their own little way of giving to a worthwhile cause - either way the Salvation Army wins.

As I reflect back through my "I Want Wednesday Posts of 2009", I realized that I've obviously been aiming too high. I've wanted much, but haven't received a damn thing on my lists. So in order to not be disappointed at Christmas, I'm revising the lists - from "I Want" to "I'll Settle For". The way I figure it, Santa can't possibly argue with my reasoning (compromise)... I Wanted... D&G Sunglasses But, I'll Settle For... A Pair of Oakley's (P.S. They are on sale.) I Wanted... D&G Boots But, I'll Settle For... Hush Puppy Boots I Wanted... Rolex Watch But, I'll Settle For... Timex Watch I Wanted... Tiffany Emerald Ring But, I'm NOT settling on this one. I want this ring damnit!

I work for a hardware/software company whose product is supposed to make the internet experience better. Really? Because right now my internet experience sucks! Dial up internet would be a better experience than what I’m getting right now. We have discovered that our cat has once again chewed through the electrical cord to our battery backup unit on our home computer. This is the third time it has happened, so either the cat does have nine lives or that scene in the Christmas Vacation movie is false and cats don’t parish so easily. The Jim Carey version of The Grinch was on television last night. Am I the only person on the planet that finds that movie creepy and disturbing? If I was a child, I would have had nightmares for sure. On the note of things that freak me out – so do clowns, Tele-Tubbies, as do pretty much any member of Sesame Street and The Muppets. What is wrong with me? We put up and decorated our Christmas Tree on the weeke...

I’m happy The Boy has completed all of his college applications. Now the wait begins to see whether or not he gets accepted into his program of choice – Film Production. I’m happy that with the college applications looming, The Boy has finally applied himself and is actually achieving good grades. I guess all he needed was some motivation and apparently the idea of getting out of my house is all the motivation he needed. I’m happy I’m having dinner with an old co-worker tomorrow night. She really is as old as the hills…older than dirt actually…LOL! I’m happy that after dinner tomorrow night, I’m going to see Blue Rodeo in concert. For those of my National friends, Blue Rodeo is an iconic Canadian band that isn’t actually half bad. I’m happy I’m 75% done my Christmas shopping. I’d be happier if I was completely done and the damn gifts were wrapped. And, the obvious one – I’m happy it’s Friday! Have a great weekend everyone...

I just went up to our reception area and saw a gentlemen standing with his back to me. The slight tilt of his head and his stance from behind looked oddly familiar. Could it be? I knew he worked in town, but it’s been about 10 years since our paths had crossed. As my heart rate quickened, I felt myself beginning to blush. Should I say something just to be sure or should I just turn and walk away. What if I was wrong and it was a case of mistaken identity? I moved a little to his left side just to confirm my suspicions. It was him! It didn’t take me long to swoop in and grab him for a hug. I’m not a total creeper and did announce his name to ensure that he had a chance to turn around and not be totally freaked out by the sudden movements of a crazy person sexually assaulting him from behind. The man in my reception area just happened to be one of the best bosses I have ever had – even if he is a lawyer. I loved him once (in a boss sort of way)...

Once upon a time, I had a great job, but the pay was less than stellar, so I decided to make a move back into corporate Canada (not quite as exciting sounding as corporate America huh?). I guess you could say I “sold out to the man”. It just so happened; the man looked exactly like George Lucas. During my interview process with “George”, he was charming, witty and intelligent. He knew the right things to say and obviously knew how to bullshit with a skill that blinded me. I took the job and with it, gained a great salary. It's true - if something seems too good to be true – it is! The George Lucas look-a-like with “denial” disease challenged my willingness to live on a daily basis. This man might have had it together at one time in his life, but he certainly forgot where he put it. I realize that any form of dementia is not a joking matter and should not be taken lightly; however if not for laughing about it, I would of went insane. At first, I suspected this gentleman was...

I love online shopping for a couple of reasons (beside the obvious one that I am female). One, there is nothing more exciting than receiving a package in the mail and two, there is nothing more thrilling than knowing you avoided the hassle of the mall, it’s parking lot and the numerous crazies to get it. Winter is officially here. It snowed this morning and on my way to work, there were cars in the ditch. Why the hell can't people figure out that snow most likely equals slippery roads. I’m planning on taking a *cough* sick day this week. Am I sick? Not really - unless you can count being sick of your co-workers and boss an illness and if so - I’m sick as hell. I went to see the apocalyptic epic movie 2012 on the weekend. May I suggest that you wait for it to come out on DVD and then rent it - save yourself the price of admission, popcorn and snacks – not to mention 2.5 hours of your life? Unless of course, you enjoy bad acting and over-the-top a...