Hungry Ghost's Daily Diet (TM)

In which finally bye might be spelt properly...

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In which I am almost driven to driving needles through things...or am I?

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In which synchronicity makes an impression...

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In which I give myself advice that I promptly ignore...

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In which part of a tooth is lost...

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Ahh. Saturday night. Am home, ready to settle down with nice cuppa and cookies before heading to bed. Life, it has been exhausting of late, but well-balanced.

Wednesday. V. rushed off feet. Run around putting things RIGHT in the workplace. Some agonizing over presentation for Thursday. But really, ees beyond my control so decided to go with the flow and hopefull not be flushed.

Some v. succesful pilot studies done today. Much easier than anticipated. Potentially good results too - at least, we're pretty sure they're real results. So came back feeling pretty good about the day despite impending presentation on Thursday.

Wed night run. Run, run, run - long run tonight because as it turns out, the first-half is coming up too quickly - Feb 11th actually... Was a good run though, it was even dry - no rain!

Dinner at Moxie's that night, not vurry good. J was v. quiet, wouldn't answer questions...but not to worry, we'll get the answers yet...

Back late, slept late - not v. smart of me I'm afraid

Thursday Simply awful day. Rushed around to get to dumb meeting. Wait, delays, lousy lunch. Then my turn to present and the committee were awful to me. I was spluttering with indignation, but was in no real position to argue the point. Last year, the same people told me that my Rplan was overly complex and it would go nowhere, so I simplified it and separated the components into different streams. This year, they told me it was too simple and that I should recombine the separated components and essentially have the same Rplan I had last year.

How not to get tulan I ask you? If you're easily offended, don't click on this link, and definitely don't click on the second link that this one will take you to. You have been warned.

Came home in high dudgeon with the occasional fit of towering rage at the injustice of it all.

Bah.

Friday Still feeling very annoyed with the events of the previous day. Even more annoyed when the underlings reported...nuffink. Everything seems not to be working again in the lab. Gah. Tear hair out.

Grumble incessantly. Go home early because v. fortunately, JB¹ had called earlier this week to suggest going up to Cypress this Friday - makes sense since we do have passes for night-skiing on Fridays. Plus, there was no rain nor cloud. So off we went - even more of a bonus, JB¹'s parents are visiting and so we had delicious meat soup and healthy salad made by his mum before heading out to the hills. Was a beautiful clear night, warm and very still - no wind. Snow was a tad icy so it was slippery, but the conditions (I think anyway) were much better than last week when we had whiteout conditions on the slopes. Managed 9 runs this time in the 3 hours or so we were up there. There was a bit of delay because we spent a few minutes waiting for K, F, ML, DW¹ and MH who also came up, but later than us.

Anyway - so for the record, now that I've done 17 runs, the cost of each run is down to a more reasonable $20.00. Definitely have to do more this season to get full use out of the night pass...

Came back exhausted, but still couldn't sleep because of creepy-tulan-making committee. Feh. Should set Judi Dench on them. So spent too much time surfing the net looking for meaningless news stories to read. Blah blah blah.

Also had lunch with PJ and was excoriated by him for flying in planes. Shall ignore his objections as I am trying hard to offset my carbon emissions. Hrumph.

SaturdayToday, was absolutely determined to be productive, efficient and rise above the debacle that was Thursday.

Up early. Biked (first time in a long while because hate biking in rain) in the morning sun(!) over to the West end, met up with JB¹ again to go running with the group at Stanley Park. Trees still down all over the place, we're constantly rearranging our runs these days. Brunch at the Wild Garlic as usual. Catch up with those I don't see all that regularly.

Then home, cleaned kitchen and floor, did laundry, had a nap, CUK called and we chatted for a while - nice to catch up after all the holiday rush in December. Biked out to the gym, did some grocery shopping and stopped off at hte office to get some files to work on. Was too annoyed to work on this last week so will try and spend a few hours on them tomorrow.

Also made another Kuih Sarang tonight; arms v. tired after all that beating - I don't have a cake mixer you see - with a wooden ladle. Dinner tomorrow at JB¹'s tomorrow with the usual suspects - his mum is making dinner for us as a treat, and I said I'd bring something sweet along.

Called home and had long chat with mum and dad too.

Tomorrow will be another long day I rather fear - ML, DW¹, RL and I are running to the dam in the morning. Have always wanted to run there, but not had the chance yet - it's about 26 kilometers and I'm a leetle beet apprehensive about it. But whatever happens, happens - have been assured that it will be a slow run. In anycase, this will be good for the first-half.

The other thing I accomplished today - got my tickets to Italy (for the most part) arranged. I had no idea how difficult it is to fly into Florence! Feh.

In other news.

Have made two resolutions for 2007:

1) Use no more than one plastic bag per week from shopping, groceries etc. So far, I've taken exactly three plastic bags from shopping expeditions.

2) Use no more than one disposable cup every fortnight from coffee stores. So far, I've used exactly 2 cups from the local coffee place.

Anyone care to join me in this little competition?

The sun, nice as it is, has also brought out the meanderthals in full force. Feh^TM. Eeejits on the road and pavements!.

Have decided that will make a cosmic list, but that this will be deposited with the future me. THen it shall be sent to me one year's hence and I'll post then what happened in all that time.

As January slowly but surely comes to an end, things are finally showing some signs of life. The weather this week has actually been v. good. Much less rain and a modicum of sun. I was out on my deck - it's a mess - some fecking raccoons have been wreaking havoc on various pots and things, but there are buds which have popped up and I saw my first snowdrop of the season - photo tomorrow! The roses are putting leaves out and I could just sense a little promise of spring in the air.

It's been a good start to the year even though I'm about to enter my busy period...There are a few deadlines and applications coming up, but it shall all be done. This time, I know enough to have several back-up plans and am sanguine enough now to settle for less than optimal results.

After all, what's the point of being controlled by something which is out of your hands anyway? There is so much else in life that happens. What happens to my work life is hugely irrevelant in light of so many other things. But that's another post.

GPTH^TM GPTH^TM GPTH^TM GPTH^TM




Die spambots, die

In which LWU suddenly disappears...

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In which LWU gets ready for a cross-country caper...

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In which the second last Monday of the year gets off to a bad start.

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It's not over yet. But... but... but...


The weather forecast for here on Friday and Saturday...

Friday



Saturday






Yes, I know San, you welcome the snow, but you're a tough mountain girl, I'm a delicate tropical flower. There is a difference you know.
*****

Today.

Whizzed around like an out of control spinning top, or gasing as they're known in M'sia. Image of gasing from here. Spinning tops on steroids, they spin for hours and the gasing masters scoop them up on paddles and carry them around while still spinning (the gasing that is, not the masters).
Absolutely lacked concentration and focus today. It was just one of those days. Don't know how I got through the day, but obviously I did. No intention of doing any unecessary exercise today; it was chilly and walking back, I was rained upon.

Drivers on the roads still crazy; I swear - it's the time of year which makes people frustrated and so they take it out on other drivers. Haven't heard so much honking since the Canucks won the last Stanley Cup. Oh wait, they've never won or have they. San or Mickeyjoe - care to let us know?

Am tired, need to sneep^TM, which is exactly what I intend to do after hitting the save button. Feels dry even though it's raining (for now - if it turns to snow overnight, I shall weep weary tears) and my skin is all prickly and flakey. Feh^TM

Just had a big salady type meal with some chicken and beans. Why do I feel so bloated and fatty? Why? Why? Why?

This after a run last night.

oh wait. it was lunch with PJ and ML today - curry. Thai. Green. Beef. Not exactly light. Oh wait. The mince pies and poppyseed bear claw didn't help either. Okay. I'm binging today. Yes, an unscheduled binge day I rather fear.



Last night, skipped out of work a bit earlier than I should have - joined the group to run, not many there even though it was actually quite warm and dry last night. So run, run, run. Then we convened at DW¹'s apartment - DW², ML, DW¹, DS, CA, PT and your faithful correspondent were the convenees. Pizza for all, chocolate profliteroes (can't spell, can't be bothered to look it up), wine, beer, coffee, almonds, sausage rolls and Austrian Wieners, but of course not in that order. Or maybe for some. Pizza a bit salty though.

Quick and witty banter over various things of interest. Including the wonderful Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders who were one of the funniest comedic teams ever. Nuffink was sacred. Ever. Not even Helen Mirren. If you have 5 minutes and 43 seconds to spare, click on the link and see how Helen Mirren is told that comedy isn't easy love.

Also made our arrangements for Christmas Eve dinner. PJ is to have a Christmas Eve Eve party with drinks and all manner of gaiety (one hopes). Then on the 24th 11 of us shall descend upon JB's home, who at the time this conversation was taking place was in Medicine Hat, about to sleep in his undies and t-shirt. We know the details because he was phoned to be told that the dinner arrangements had been made, and no arguments please.



Don't remember what happened the day before Wed. Memory - it fades, all goes to black. But that's probably because the sun isn't coming up before 8 am and setting by 4:15. Lazy orb. Feh^Tm

The saddest thing you ever did see. Maybe not you, but I found this sight absolutely heartbreaking and tear inducing. Dug into a bag of biscuits tonight - chocolate covered tea biscuits actually and found a biscuit which had divorced its chocolate robe!!!

The pathos. Why? Why? Why? I don't understand this world. It's so wrong seeing the two separate pieces. The crispy slightly sweet biscuit just seems so nekkid without it's slightly bitter dark chocolate.



*****

Made a list of things to be done before the 25th and then slumped infront of the computer at work muttering "Put me out of my misery. Quickly. Please" (there's no need to not be polite when under duress).

So much to do and so little time.
*****

Have had some run-ins with people who say they will do things only then they don't. Hate that. There's just no excuse for flaking out. A pox on them. Yesh. A nasty puke-coloured pox; pox used to be associated with syphilis. Even better, an antibiotic-resistant pox on them.

I mean. Really. Life can be annoying enough these days, and then these people have to let you down so badly. It's simply scandalous that this allowed to happen.
*****

Just this once.

I feel sorry for George Bush Jr. Yes, I actually do. I really do. Not even a hint of sacarsm intended.

Between Dec 4th and 20th he and his wife will host 26, count them, that's 25 + 1 Christmas parties for various groups and people.

For most of that period, the Bushes will have "two-a-days," hosting one party from 4 to 6 p.m. and a second from 7 to 9.

I don't know about you, but I'd die if I had to make small talk (come to think of it, he's probably good at that) over that many parties.

Of course this doesn't mean that silly things won't happen. Rather the contrary actually. Some choice comments:

1) The press release promoting the decor reads like Southern Living: "The color schemes of tangerine, lime green and hot pink boldly accent the traditional touches of the holiday decorations."

2) The parties run with the precision and efficiency of a military parade, while making an effort to have you feel like you're the only guest invited for the night.

3) ...on another [table] squat topiaries of the White House pets...

Of course if you wondered why you weren't invited....
*****

Why. I must be imbued with some Christmas Cheer if I feel sorry for Shrub. But never will I be filled with enough bonnehommie to relinquish my crown of Grinch which I won last year after DW² stumbled and in a moment of weakness not only went to midnight mass (at 10:3) and toasted and showered love amidst his friends at the dinner table. Ha. I was away at the time, but DW¹ e-mailed me the next day to say that I'd won.

That's it. Good night all.