Roundup

[electricland]

Quite a week it's been so far and it's not even Friday yet. Was hoping to take tomorrow off but that's clearly not gonna happen. Haven't posted properly in a while -- it's surprising how dependent one gets -- so here's a sampling of my life for the past week.

In reverse chronological order, then:

• My age is showing again. Someone who graduated from my high school 2 years after I did is an instructor at the Canadian Space Agency. I am feeling somewhat inadequate. (I discovered this from a message inviting me to an Old Girls' evening... yes, I went to a school that has Old Girls. The salient part reads as follows:
  
  

  Laryssa PATTEN '93 is an Operations Engineer and Robotics Instructor
  for the Canadian Space Agency. She teaches astronauts how to conduct
  science experiments in space. She will discuss the commercialization
  of space and the impact of having non-astronauts pay to go on space
  missions.

  Yeah. I'll just go back to my life now, thanks.)



• I am probably doing a first aid course this weekend. Have to call the St. John Ambulance woman back before 1 tomorrow. This is good as it allows me to realize a long-held ambition, but bad because it's an entire weekend. Good because Mary's doing it too, bad because IT'S AN ENTIRE WEEKEND. Will be fun though.



• Dinner with Cynthia's book club at the Spirit Lounge this evening. In further proof that the world is very, very small, Mari-Ellen's sister Marisa (who I met for the first time 2 weeks ago, although I suppose we were in the same room at the wedding) is part of said book club. Was a fine and riotous evening right up until the part where the owner harangued us for not leaving sufficient tip (actually that part was pretty riotous too... we are NOT going back -- shame, food was good, service was pleasant, management was a complete asshole, but if that's how you want to run your business...).



• Drinks at the Swimming -- Alex's last day and Stacey's farewell. It was fun 'cause I haven't been in there in AGES, but was extra crazed because (a) a CBC crew was in there to air Play -- which I have never seen, but recognized the host instantly 'cause they were advertising it all over the Olympics -- live at 11 (I think. I didn't get all the details). So I have now met Jian Ghomeshi. (Everyone say "Ooooo!" -- no, it's OK, you don't have to.) And (b) because at 6:45 Mike bloody Cunningham, who is supposed to be in bloody Switzerland for God's sake, walks in the door! Shock and amazement all round. Don't have the full story because I had to leave, not that he'll probably tell me anyway. The boy has officially fallen right off the bottom of my "lousy correspondents" list.



• New project. I wish Michel would quit springing things on me before I've had my coffee. It's a 2-day workshop to be delivered 3 weeks from now. I foresee a whole lot of late nights for the next little while.



• Happily, though, I actually do have a mandate now to get things MOVING with mpc. Yes, more work, but work I want to do and have a shot at accomplishing successfully. (And don't have to kiss any client ass for, an added plus.)



• Last night: exhausted, so sat on my couch and speed-read The Bourne Identity for book club and ate a ton of Indian food. Nummy. Normally I get 2 meals out of that place but this time I ate it ALL. (My verdict on the book: OK for what it is, once you get past the highly suspect Canadian politics and the annoying treatment of the female lead. Amazing how dated something can get in 20-odd years, and funny how I think about 1980 -- I don't think of it as especially long ago, and yet for most of it I was 6 years old and the political climate the book describes is totally foreign to me. Made me feel quite young. Marisa watched the movie and it doesn't sound ANYTHING like the book, I'll have to rent it some time.)



• My congratulations-for-making-New-Year's-resolutions bookmarks from ohi arrived! Very cool. This indicates it may be an opportune time to review my resolutions, but I don't have time just at present... maybe on the weekend if I can squeeze time out of first aid course and Chinese New Year dinner.



• Unexpected road trip to Philadelphia really threw my week out of whack. My presence was pretty much completely unnecessary although Henry assures me it was good that I was there (perhaps "talismanic" would be a kind way to put it, but it would be stretching the truth -- basically I came, I sat and watched a guy go through the CD, I attempted to attend a conference call that turned out to be cancelled, I showed up to watch Eric's QA presentation, I managed to stop stupid things like "Really? We do that?" from coming out of my mouth, we drove back)... that so makes up for my 16 hours in a car, thanks. NEVER DOING THAT AGAIN. That was another one sprung on me before coffee. I have to start getting in to the office earlier.



• So no, did not have time to write postcards to Skiffy while in Philadelphia. Wish I had, but there you go.



• Nice lazy weekend, mainly an orgy of movie-watching: Blue Crush, The Abyss (hadn't seen in AGES) and About A Boy. All good fun, I was particularly favourably impressed by About A Boy.

Comments

Wow!

[(Anonymous)]

That's some week, girl!

And, um, jaw-dropping re: details of the Swimming outing. And it ain't the CBC thing. Details, please, when you have them. bad correspondents. Bad! Pictures helpful though. Putting face to name good. :D glad you had a fun evening! Book club group sounds excellent!!

LOL re: Lazy weekend. When we rented Blue Crush, the 2nd option decided against in favor of Blue Crush was About A Boy. Will have to rent it one of these days. With my exciting social life, shouldn't take long. *eyeroll*

1st Aid is a good idea. Always interesting. Doing it with a friend good -- even excellent, since you have a built in partner for practical exercises. Way less intimidating that way. And fulfilling an ambition is good! The whole weekend thing should not really be an issue, either, since you would just while it away on the computer otherwise. ;)

Re: stupid upstart schoolmate. Ignore her. You have a fun, exciting, fulfilling life. Plus you get to spend 16 hrs in a car. bet she doesn't get to do that! Seriously: be happy with where you are at. Some of us may, on rare, "the grass is greener" days, even ENVY you your job though not the living in Montreal, cuz BRRRRR!!!.

And that offer of a secretarial pos'n still stands. *WEG*

P.

Re: Wow!

[life-on-queen.livejournal.com]

Yes, very interesting. But that other thing at the Swimming is troubling. Don't let him get to you. *a-chem*

On the whole looks like a good week. Oh, and I have crappy reading for you, ELL.

Re: Wow!

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Well Negin and I are going round to the Swimming tonight to see if we can track him down and find out what's going on. Will let you know if any details materialize. Don't worry, have every intention of being friendly yet un-get-atable.

Thank you Cranky for the crappy reading and thank you P for the job offer... and the moral support... all are much appreciated!

Re: Wow!

[(Anonymous)]

Right. Reinforcing what Cranky said re: The Swimming. It was late when I posted. I forgot to say: ungettable is good!

And You're Welcome!

:D

P.