another $500 spent at the garage. why is it that every pipe is connected to something expensive so that when it gets a hole in it the price jumps by $200? oh well, at least the new catalytic converter will help me pass air care in april.
the best, and funniest, part of today’s mechanical outing was running into my dad just as he was leaving after his oil change. yay for me that i didn’t have to take the bus home!
now i have to figure out what i can make for dinner with only a head of lettuce, half a dozen tortillas and a 4kg bag of rice in house.
i want to know when it became acceptable to make someone who is sitting or standing in front of you wait while you answer a phone to talk to someone who is not. it’s been bugging me for a while now, this whole pavlovian reaction to the telephone. we jump to answer it, regardless of what else we’re doing at the time. every time i pick the phone up while i’m talking to someone face-to-face i feel guilty and i wonder why i bother.
i’ve noticed people’s reaction to their ringing phones a lot lately, mostly because i’ve stopped answering the other phones in my department. the other two data entry clerks still hop-to and pick up the calls of absent co-workers, but i’ve stopped. i have work to do and if the call isn’t for me, why should i waste my time with it? if it’s important, the person will call back.
they will call back.
it’s a little different in business, where if you don’t answer the phone call you may lose a sale which could ruin your business, but what about when you’re at home. you’re having a pleasant evening, talking and laughing or just hanging out with someone. don’t you think it says “hey, you’re not important enough for 100% of my attention” when you pick up that ringing phone? i do. unless you’re expecting someone who’s a part of your plans, let it ring or let the machine get it.
my father has never had an answering machine and only just recently succumbed to the evil that is voice mail. he always said “if it’s important, they’ll call back”. yeah, it pissed me off when i couldn’t reach him, but he’s right. i called back.
it’s all part of our NOW culture. i want to talk to you, so you must be available for me to talk to or you must leave me an avenue to deposit my message immediately. you can’t possibly expect me to wait for you. that will throw everything out of whack. i’ll have to adapt. we can’t have that. you must satisfy my wants NOW! patience? that’s a girl’s name, right?
the friday five!
1. What’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever done for someone else?
i’ve done a lot of things which some people would consider romantic, but i usually don’t because i just like to do nice things for people. the most recent was last year when i planned a whole day in honour of jason’s birthday. we went to the park, played catch, walked around the aquarium, watched people playing football on the green, had lunch, drove around and then met up with some people for dinner and bowling. although, he didn’t want to hang out with them so we just played pool and then he went home. god, i’m an idiot.
2. What are your erogenous zones?
neck, insides of wrists, behind ears.
3. How old were you the first time you had sex? Care to expound?
23. it was a mistake.
4. What’s the most unusual place you’ve ever had sex?
edmonton.
5. Do you have plans for Valentine’s Day or is it just another Thursday?
just another thursday.
i’ve been interviewed. most of the afternoon was spent trying to suppress the ever increasing jitters and fluttery stomach sensation i get when i’m nervous. luckily, i arrived at the restaurant early, so i had time to grab a latte and read a while until erin showed up to calm myself. when she came up to my table and asked “are you heather?” i had almost forgotten why i was sitting there.
erin was very nice and professional and most of her questions were of the sort i’d expect from someone looking to write an article about online journals and their authors. nothing really came from left field, which was nice. i only said “ack, ignore that” or “don’t print that” to the tape recorder a couple of times.
overall, i’m really glad i did it. especially that i sucked up enough intestinal fortitude to do a face-to-face interview rather than opting for the phone or email versions she offered. i just hope i didn’t sound like a complete moron.
i’ve been harrumph!ed.
several months ago, heather champ (the heather of the blogging community) sent out a short questionnaire to several heathers who blog about what it’s like to be named heather. she was thinking about doing something with the information, but hasn’t yet, as far as i’m aware. it gave me time to pause and think back on what the experience has been like and forced me to put it all into words. if i can find the reply i sent her, i may post it when i get home. then again, maybe not. i gave it to her to do with, i should let it remain so. i will say that i, too, felt somewhat lacking in the shadow of the other heathers i’ve known.
by the way, i had no idea heather was also called ling. that’s kind of neat.
i’m seriously craving thai food, but i only have five dollars left until tomorrow and i’d like to be able to buy myself a beverage during the interview tonight. and i’m out of cigarettes. this could get ugly.
spent another night trying to get moveable type working, which it is, except for one sniggly little thing which worked the first time i tried it but not now. and it’s frustrating the shit out of me. grr! (if you use mt with the <$MTEntryNext$> tag, let me know if you’re having problems, please?) i also made a batch of spring rolls for appies tomorrow night, cleaned the kitchen, watched gilmore girls, made veggie fajitas for dinner, did laundry and phoned meghan.
hey, i think that’s productivity!
watching the student protests against the tuition hikes on last night’s news got me to thinking about the great opportunity i had to get a degree without having to rack up debt. my father always said that if i wanted to continue with higher education, he would pay for it. he did, too. all my tuition, all my books, even my bus pass. he wanted me to have the chances he didn’t. unfortunately, the stubborn pride i inherited in equal parts from both parents got in the way of that. i didn’t want to ask him for more money, even if it was for school. now, as i watch the interviews with these twenty-somethings who graduate with thrice the debt i have, i shake my head and berate myself for being a stubborn oaf. ahh, what’s another regret, huh?
anthony phoned again yesterday. basically, he wanted to know if he’d gotten the job (which he didn’t), but didn’t want to be too pushy and phone ann herself. we chatted for a bit, i consoled him about not getting it, and before we hung up he actually mentioned our getting together to see a movie or something in the future. i know he’ll never call, and i won’t call him, but it was still nice. he didn’t have to say that. then again, maybe he did mean it. wow. funny thing is, i’m going to be at the mall he works at today and i could drop in on his turf for a change… naw. i look cute today, but not that cute.
have i mentioned the latest car problem i’m having? well the other rear wheel bearing is howling like a wind tunnel now. then there’s the acceleration rattle which is getting worse. stupid car. i need to phone the mechanic and let them know i’m bringing it in on saturday. boy, it’s a good thing i have the super budget which has put money in my savings account. *grumble* i actually dreamed about taking my car to the garage last night. it didn’t bode well.
okay, that’s enough mundane crap… time for something insightful! well, i don’t know if i can manage insightful this morning. how about something slight amusing? i’ve noticed lately that all my socks have started falling down halfway through the day. every pair. i don’t have a single pair of socks which stay up. it’s not even like they’re all old, i just bought three pair at xmastime. it’s actually starting to annoy me quite a bit. i hate the feeling of slipping socks. then there was the realization that i only own three colours of socks. black, grey, & white. it’s funny because i used to be religious about matching the colour of my socks to the colour of my shirt. yes, really. i would actually twitch a little if they didn’t match. i felt incomplete. of course, half my wardrobe is black or grey, but i don’t much care what colour my socks are anymore. mmm. maybe my socks have picked up on this change in attitude, got depressed and that’s why they’re all slouchy…
i’m losing track of time and days are speeding past before i even realize what the date is. that being my excuse for tardiness, valentines are being sent out today. my heartfelt (heh) apologies to the europeans in the group whose envelopes will be more late than other’s. i really did have really good intentions of getting them all sent by the first…
spent all night on working on the redesign and trying to get moveable type installed and working (which took far too long, if you ask me). the basic layout is done, now i just have to work on some navigation issues and the supplementary pages. oh, and figure out how the hell to make templates in mt.
i have a lot of work to do, but i keep getting interrupted. either by people wanting help with things or my own distractions. it’s frustrating because i’m not concentrating as i should and i’m only distracting myself further by worrying about all the distractions!
the interview is tomorrow and i’m pretty freaked out. someone wants my thoughts, opinions and ideas. it’s different to spew them out here, where i don’t really know if anyone reads them (despite what the stat tracker and comments report), where it doesn’t matter if i stumble or sound like an idiot because i’m not trying to come off as anything other than what i am. not that i’m going to try to be someone else for her, but still… it’s human nature to try to put your best face on for something like this, to try to impress. ugh. i’m scared. i really hope she doesn’t read this beforehand!
by the way, iain is lovely and i’m terribly thankful for him.
designing for a friend & redesigning this place is taking all my creativity right now. posts will be short and uninteresting for the duration. “you must chill!” (name that movie, if you can.)
i just realized i booked a dentist appointment the same day as my interview. there’s little chance i can do both, so now i have to choose: deal with tooth pain for longer or go through an interview which could possibly be like having teeth pulled.
idiot.
yes, post.
chocolate ice cream and pistachios do not make for a healthy breakfast.
that being said, my fragrant green chicken curry went off without a hitch last night. i was worried for naught. my friends all liked it and even had seconds! phew. another culinary disaster averted.
now i’m at work, so leave me alone so i can get out of here, will you?
i want a couch which looks like it belongs to pingu.
i’m perfectly unbearable right now. i have so much work to do, but i’m perky and quippy and i want to wander about visiting, but i have to keep working and it’s making me more perky and quippy and giving me nervous energy which makes me want to get up even more. it’s a bloody vicious circle.
in other news, my bus driver home the other day asked me if i was single. “you married, single, kids? what’s the story?” i’m single, i answered. “got a boyfriend?” no. no boyfriend. “what?! you don’t have a boyfriend?! why not?!” yeah, thanks buddy.
i realized again (because i’ve realized it before, but it’s not often an issue so i usually re-realize it a couple times a year), that it’s nearly impossible to put eye makeup on so that your face is balanced when your eyes are two different colours. what looks good on light eyes doesn’t always look good on dark eyes and vice versa. one of these days i’m going to get coloured contacts to even them out.
and, before i forget again, here is my spring roll recipe (as adapted from fatfree.com):
2 tbsp ginger, julienned
6 dried shiitake mushrooms soaked until soft & thinly sliced (regular white mushrooms work just as well)
2 stalks celery, julienned
1 large carrot, julienned
1.5 cups shredded cabbage
2 green onions, diced
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 dashes sesame oil
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp pepper
salt to taste
12 spring roll or egg roll wrappers (approx.)
spray wok or large fry pan with non-stick spray. stir fry ginger and mushrooms for approximately 1 minute. add carrots, celery, cabbage and onions. stir-fry for two minutes. add soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, pepper and salt to taste (i found not much is needed with the soy sauce). mix well. remove from heat and let cool.
wrap your spring rolls as per the package directions. the amount of filling used, and the resultant number of rolls, will depend solely on your discretion. if you want big, fat rolls, add lots of filling; if you want smaller, appetizer-sized rolls, use less.
pre-heat oven to 450°. place rolls on baking sheet sprayed with non-stick spray. bake for approximately 8-12 minutes, turning once, until the wrappers are crispy. serve warm with sauce of your choice. i really like them with the traditional plum sauce. enjoy!
guess who gets to work this weekend.
this friday five business could become addictive…
1. Have you ever had braces?
twice. don’t ask. it’s a long story and not very interesting.
2. Ever broken any bones?
technically, yes. i fractured my nose while on the zipper at the amusement park. it didn’t bleed or anything and was just a hairline break, but i had to start grade nine with a green nose. i think it healed a little crooked because i slept on it funny.
3. Ever had stitches?
nope. it’s surprising, really.
4. What are the stories behind some of your [physical] scars?
i have several chicken pox scars, which aren’t interesting. i have my requisite mcdonald’s scar i got from running into a fry rack while trying to get from the front of the store to the booth to serve a customer. then there’s the scar i got when i had my finger in a beer can in an attempt to get my mom to stop drinking from it. and my pumpkin carving scar from which i learned which way to hold a knife while sawing squash. oh, i can’t forget the “let’s see what happens when i jump off my bike while i’m zooming down a hill” scar on my knee.
5. How do you plan to spend your weekend?
i’m cooking a fragant green chicken curry for my friends tonight and i might go into work either saturday or sunday.
with emmitt shrouded and put to rest in his pizza pop box coffin, i spent an hour chopping, mincing, pureeing, dicing, slicing and mixing ingredients for my culinary experiment. i never realized how much work there was to making a curry from scratch. i also need a zester because i somehow managed to zest half my thumb off along with the lime.
i have a feeling that dinner tonight is going to be a serious disaster, but i’m going through with it regardless. i’m just making sure that i have twenty bucks to order pizza, in case of emergency.
p.s. don’t ever try to masturbate after you’ve diced chilies.
emmitt died.
fifty minutes until i go home to check on emmitt, eat a turkey bacon & fried egg-white sandwich, phone meghan to confirm tomorrow’s menu, go hunting for lemongrass & lime leaves and then come home to whiz together the curry paste and watch the rest of rose red (which i can’t believe i’ve watched a second of, let alone all six hours).
i really hope emmitt’s okay.
i can’t begin to tell you how much i don’t care about accomplishing any work today. i don’t even care enough to fake working. i’m too excited about trying out a green chicken curry recipe on the friends tomorrow night. i’ve never made curry before. this could either be a roaring success or a complete disaster.
yes, shelagh… i’ll post my spring roll recipe when i get home tonight! *grin*
there was a small bird on the front porch as i left for work this morning. it didn’t fly away when i lumbered out the door, dropped my bag or reached to pick it up. the poor wee thing weakly tried to get away when i had it enclosed in my hands, but as soon as i let him sit on my palm, he just tucked his beak into his feathers, puffed up and stayed very still. i extended each of his wings and lifted up his tail feathers to try to see if he was injured. he wasn’t bleeding and everything seemed to be in working order, but he wasn’t going anywhere.
trying to think of what i could do for him, i put him back down and went inside to find something to keep him warm and safe until he recovered from his trauma. i looked around my kitchen and seized upon an empty pizza pops box. i was in the middle of cutting out an opening when i remembered something. i rummaged through the waste basket in the other room for the kleenex box i had discarded a few days earlier. taking it back into the kitchen, i lined it with crumpled paper towels (to keep him warm). thinking of what else he’d need to recover his strength, i thought of what i could give him for food. i don’t have birdseed or anything remotely birdseed-like, so i opened up the bottom of my toaster and put a small amount of crumbs in the box. hopefully he likes oats and wheat.
going back outside, he wasn’t where i’d left him and i had a moment of panic-slash-elation. panic, that he’d gone somewhere to die. elation, that he’d shook off whatever was ailing him and he’d gone home safely. it only lasted a moment. he’d hopped himself face-first into a corner, a heart-wrenching sight. i put down my makeshift bird condo, picked him up gently and placed him inside, then i slid the box into the corner, hoping that no neighbour would inadvertently (or deliberately) damage him or his small abode.
i felt so very guilty to just leave him there like that and go to work. i should have taken him to someone who knows what to do with birds. i should have been late to work and taken care of him. my poor excuse is that it was only seven o’clock, no one would be open to receive him and even if they were, i wouldn’t know where to go. i’m going to find out, though.
if, by a miracle, he’s still there and alive, i’m going to take him to a wildlife rescue facility and put him into the care of trained handlers. if, by a tragedy, he’s there but has passed on to avian heaven, i shall give him a proper burial in my landlady’s rose garden.
i really hope he’s okay. i think i’ll call him emmitt.