LEAFS RULE!

The hockey game on Saturday was awesome!!!! Leafs won 5:1!!!! And they were playing so well. The passing was awesome and they were staying out of the penatly box. If they can keep playing like that, we should be in the running for the cup!

Before the game, I shopped at Yorkdale and spent way too much money. I needed some new "going to workshops" clothes. Because I see a lot of the same people I see at these workshops I attend, I didn't want to have to wear the same outfit all the time. So, I bought a few new shirts, a pair of pants, and a beige cord blazer. Should be set for awhile! And the money I made from working overtime in the last couple of weeks will cover my purchases, so it all works out. Yay!

I'm looking forward to the weekend because nej, lj, and mm (hopefully!) are coming to visit to celebrate mine and lj's birthdays. I can't wait!!! Is it saturday yet????

Go Leafs Go!!!

I'm heading to Toronto in a bit because I am going to the Leafs game tonight! Woohoo! Go leafs!

Yesterday was a very hard day at work. It turns out that since my boss isn't going to a competing company, he will be allowed to stay for 2 weeks. I am very relieved about that. Now I have 2 weeks to learn as much as I can from him. It is so sad that he is leaving.

Like a lost sheep...

...that's how I feel.

Last night, I got a phone call at home from my boss. He is resigning. What a shock. So, naturally, I burst into tears on the phone. How are we going to cope without him? Today is going to be a very hard day. He is going to come into the office to let the manager of the department know, and they will likely ask him to leave right away (company policy for managers, for security reasons).

He is such a good supervisor, and my mentor. I think we are going to be hard-pressed to find someone as good as him.

I was the very first person in the company to know. He called everyone in my group last night and I guess he told another girl I was upset because she called me right after she talked to him to see if I was okay and to offer me encouragement.

Gonna be a hard day at work. Good thing I have kleenex at my desk!

Workshop was good.

The workshop I was at Tuesday and yesterday was really good, I learned a lot. And also made a few more contacts. On Tuesday evening after dinner, a few of us went to "Dave and Busters" which was right next to the hotel. It is basically a giant arcade for adults. It was loads of fun! Especially since all the men paid for all the drinks and games. Woohoo! I even won a few things, so I got a glow in the dark sticky thing as a price. Everyone needs a glow in the dark sticky thing ;)

Yesterday, after the workshop was over, I went to the new Ikea. It was right beside the hotel I stayed at. I walked around the Ikea for 2 hours gathering ideas for my house. I picked out a bunch of furniture that I want to buy. I just have to decide on colours and whatnot. The furniture is so cheap there and it is good quality too! I love Ikea! I am thinking I'm going to have to rent a U-haul in May when I want to pick up all my furniture. It's going to be so much fun to move in to my new house! Only 164 more days!

On the road again...

Tomorrow morning I get to sleep in until 8am! That's two hours longer than usual! Can I get a WHOOT-WHOOT! Yes, I am excited. The reason I get to sleep in is because I am leaving at 9:30 to drive to Toronto for, yes, you guessed it, another workshop. This one should be really interesting. Tomorrow afternoon, I get to tour 2 tripped-out recycling facilities. And for a solid waste management geek like me, that's pretty exciting stuff!

I get to stay over in a ritzy hotel - yay! I just hope I am done "schmoozing" early enough to catch some of the hockey game! Then, on wednesday, I get to learn all about the advantages and disadvantages of single-stream and multi-stream recycling. The obvious being that single-stream is cheaper on the collection, more expensive on the processing. And more residual. Multi-stream being more expensive and "pain in the ass" on the collection, but cheaper on the processing. And cleaner end product. The debate continues! The workshop is called "the debate over single stream recycling". I hope there are some concrete conclusions at the end that I can actually apply to my municipal clients!

Anyways, enough of that grown-up talk. Yuck! I like puppies and cookies!

An interesting proposition.

Today, I was talking with a guy that I dated earlier this year, just a few dates, nothing developed from it, I think refered to him as "NM" in previous posts. Anyways, he asked me today whether we could have a "friends with benefits" type of relationship. Interesting...

The strange part is, this is the guy who doesn't drink because he's against it, doesn't swear because he's against it, doesn't go to bars because he's against it. Yet, he apparently has no problem having no strings attached, totally non-committal sex with me. Doesn't make sense to me.

Since this is a guy that I know I could never have a future with, I don't really see myself getting involved with him. I mean, what's the point? I've never been a fan of the "sex without feelings" thing. I think I need to care about someone and have that committment and trust there. Otherwise, that takes all the meaning out of sex.

So, I have decided to turn down his proposition. I don't know whether to be flattered or weirded out. The whole situation is strange.

You know it's going to be a crappy day when...

I woke up with a splitting headache and a sore throat this morning! GAH! Not cool. Although, this is only my second headache since I started seeing a chiropractor, and I used to get at least a couple a week. So, I guess I shouldn't complain. I have been so healthly over the last few months when everyone else has been sick, so I guess it's my turn now. I think I will have to get a booster juice on the way to work today, they work wonders for me when I am feeling something coming on.

At least it's friday! This weekend is the last weekend of the year that I have free. Crazy! Guess I better enjoy it and rest!

Quiet Weekend

I had a very quiet weekend. Which was nice since for the last couple of months, I have been busy every weekend. On Friday, I went to Red Lobster for the all you can eat shrimp...yum! Yesterday, I went to get my flu shot (my mom and I do this together as a sort of bonding experience. Yes, we get needles together to bond) and then we had a family dinner yesterday evening to celebrate my parents' 27th wedding anniversary. That's a long time! I hope someday I will be able to celebrate my 27th wedding anniversary. We'll see.

Today, I went to church. We have a new pastor now, which is great. We had been without one for almost 2 years, so we're glad to have one again. He seems like a nice guy. Much better than our last interim pastor, who was known as the "sex guy" cuz he always seemed to slip in graphic sexual references. Obviously, with the stand that premarital relations are not what God intended when He invented sex, but whenthis interim pastor is standing up there on Easter sunday giving a step-by-step on orgies, that's when I lost respect for him. It was rediculous. Anyways, this new pastor seems to have a good head on his shoulders, and so far, no sex talk. Which is good.

Tomorrow, it's back to the grind. On Tuesday evening, I have to drive to Orangeville where I am staying overnight for a workshop on Wednesday. Should be good times! I like staying in hotels when someone else pays!

Workshop time!

Tomorrow, I'm going to my first workshop since I started my job. And it won't be the last! I think I am going to three this month. Gee, do you think maybe they are grooming me to move higher up in the responsibility ladder? I think so! It's cool cuz I get to learn all about an area I am really interested in (waste diversion) and when I am all knowledgable and stuff then I will be the company's expert on waste diversion. Sweet!

I'm lucky since one of my friends in the waste diversion industry is also going to the workshop and she offered to share her hotel room with me so I don't have to get up at 4am and drive tomorrow morning. Which is sweet! The next workshop I'm going to is mid-month, and that one is a 2 day workshop, so I have booked my own hotel room for that one.

I'm hoping I'll learn lots tomorrow! Considering I am quite new to this area, I should learn lots of neat stuff. Yay!

One sick c-dub

I woke up this morning with a raging sore throat. GAH! This is SO not the time to be getting sick! I have a crazy month ahead of me at work! I'm hoping that if I stay at home and rest today, I will nip it in the bud and be better by tomorrow. *Here's hoping*

In good news, the leafs won last night! Yay!

Two nights of partying back to back...and I'm spent.

What a weekend. Friday, I went to MM's place for an 80's party with her and the nej. It was a blast! So much fun.

Then last night, I went to a Halloween party at a friends house here in town. Good times for sure. So glad to get the extra hour last night though. That gave me an extra hour to party!

Bet I'm going to be really tired tomorrow morning, but it was totally worth it. I had an amazing weekend! Well, the only sucky part was the piss-poor job the leafs did last night against the sens. So, I decided the only way to get over that was to drink more!!

Don't everybody jump at once...

So apparently nobody missed me :( Given the lack of posts this week on everyone's part, I will not take it personally ;)

Today, I had my formal performance development appraisal meeting. I am always a little nervous before this kind of thing, but I don't know why. My boss is really pleased with me and the amount of growth I have shown over the last year. When I think of where I was a year ago, it's amazing to think that it was only a year ago, given the increase in responsibility I have been given. Now, I am a project manager for 8 landfills, I am a mentor to junior staff (yes, I am no longer junior - amazing!), and I am training to become the companies sole waste diversion specialist. I get to go to 2 workshops/seminars next month in Toronto to learn more about this field. One is even an overnight one and I get to stay in a ritzy hotel - yay!

So, given my level of responsibility and the fact I have proved myself as a valuable asset to the company, I asked for a substantial raise. The company does the wage increases in January, so I won't find out how much of a raise I am getting until then. But, I told my boss what the range is according to the OSPE's salary survey for my level of responsibility and years from graduation, so we'll see. *keeping my fingers crossed*.

I'm back!

Wasn't that quick? Anybody miss me?

Yes, I have a replacement monitor now. On Thursday, I took my monitor into Future Shop. As I'm sure all of you know, I HATE that place. But, I didn't have any choice since that's where I bought the monitor. So, I took it in, they looked at it, and yes, it was indeed broken. Thank you, genius. So, I went to the customer service desk to see what they could do for me. It turns out, when I bought the computer, I paid for the service package for 3 years for the computer, but the idiot that rang it in, rang the service package in for only the CPU, instead of the whole package, idiot. So, she said I was out of luck there. Luckily, I had looked in the owner's manual for the monitor, and it came with a 3 year manufacturer's warranty. So, I mentioned this to her, and she did some clicking away on the computer, and sure enough, I was right. So, she said that I should call the manufacturer directly and they would help me. Either that, or Future Shop could do that on my behalf, but it could take up to 6 weeks. I said and I quote "I would prefer to deal with the manufacturer rather than Future Shop because I have had the worst service in the world with Future Shop and I will never buy another computer here as long as I live". It felt so good to say that! So, I took my monitor and left.

When I got back to the office, I called up NEC (the manufacturer). They said I had 2 options. I could either get a refurbished one (of the exact same model I had), or I could drop my monitor off at one of their depots and they would try to fix mine, but that could take awile, depending on their back-log. So, I decided on the refirbished one. And, it arrived today, I plugged it in, and it works! It is even better than the one I had because my old one had a burnt out pixel. This one is like new! Yippee!

Okay, on to more important things! I had a good weekend. Met up with MM and the nej in toronto for the "everything to do with sex" show. It was a lot of fun! Went to a seminar on exotic dancing and the instructor made us all get up and try the moves. It was a lot of fun, but I am going to have to practice I think! Practice makes perfect, right? I figured I should have something to fall back on if this engineering thing doesn't work out ;)

Computer troubles...

We had a power outage last night and when it came back on, somehow, my computer monitor got fried :( Even though I have a surge protector! So, I dug out the receipt and it *should* be under warranty. Tomorrow I will have to set foot in the place I hate most in the world..Future Shop. Yikes! I hope they either fix my monitor quickly or give me a new one... I will insist on it!

So, if I don't update my blog, that means I am still monitor-less. I am using my brother's monitor right now, but he wants it back.

I hate computers...

Another Monday, can I have some coffee?

But, since I don't drink the stuff, a Timmies cappucino had to do the trick ;)

Yes, I was a little on the tired side this morning. Which came from a weekend with very little sleep, but it was totally worth it. Even if lj did paw my arm in the middle of the night ;) She CLAIMS she thought I was her cat, but I think it's just an excuse ;) She was looking so hot on saturday that she had a big ego and was trying to get a piece of me, I think ;) I'm just teasing girl, it did catch me a little off-guard though. It's been awhile since I've been caressed in the middle of the night.

Oktoberfest was a blast. WHERE WAS ONKEL HANS THOUGH?!?! He is one of the only two mascots I can tolerate (the other being Carleton), and he was a no-show. Disappointing. I still had a blast though.

Time for some Oktoberfestin'!

Yay! I am looking forward to going to Oktoberfest! Hard to believe it has been a whole year since I was there last, doesn't seem like that long ago. Should be a load of fun!

Last night, I went out for dinner and to a movie with Mary. It was so nice to spend some time with her again. We saw "Elizabethtown". It was pretty good, I think I am in love with Orlando Bloom ;)

Other than that, nothing new to report.

Edit: 12:55pm

Last night, Leafs:9, Atlanta:1. Need I say more? :)

Boys are stupid, throw rocks at them.

Compliments of kbum.

And I have to say that right now, I couldn't agree more! It has been over 2 weeks now until the break up. I am still in the "BD is a jerk-face and I hate men!" stage right now.

Here is the latest development. As I mentioned before, after much thought and careful consideration, I decided to mail BD the birthday present I had ordered for him. So, I sent it last week, and he got it yesterday. He sends me an email that says something like: "thanks for the gift, I was completely caught off guard. It was very nice of you, although I am not sure if I can keep it, given what has happened in the last month. Let me know what you think because I am not sure if I am cool with hanging onto it".

What the hell?!? I wouldn't have sent it to him if I didn't want him to have it. And I wasn't aware that we were on such bad terms that I can't even send him a gift that I bought while we were still a couple. I was hoping we could still be friends, but it seems as though he wants absolutely nothing to do with me. What did I do? So when he broke up with me by email and did the whole "it's not you, it's me" thing, was that just a lie to get rid of me? What happened? He was so smitten with me and turned cold for no apparent reason. GAH! I want some answers. And he's not willing to give me any.

Men, who needs 'em?

...unless you're talking about the Leafs, and then it's me! I need them! I am glad they won last night!

Why can't we win?!?

Three games, zero wins, two overtime losses... 2 points. Not good enough! Let's pull off some wins leafies! How about tonight, perhaps?!?

Turkey weekend

What a relaxing weekend. I ate lots of turkey at my Aunt and Uncle's cottage, and I was SOOO full! I also took my doggie on 2 long walks this weekend, which as nice. I am going to try to do more of that. We both could use the exercise!

On Saturday night, we had some family friends over and played cards while watching the game and the wine was flowing. So, I got a little buzzed which is always a good time.

Back to work tomorrow... boo... I was getting used to this life of relaxation.

Am I crazy? Or just plain stupid...

I signed up for a recreational math course and it started last night...yes, recreational math. What the heck is recreational math, you ask? Well, I wondered the same thing and figured I should take the course to find out ;) So far, we learned about all the different types of number systems and where number originated from. It was neat to learn some of the history behind math. There are 5 more weeks of the course, so I'll have to post about what is recreational about it when I find out!

The university here in town does have a really good program for adults. They have both professional development and personal development courses. There are some really neat ones. Like, in the spring, I took a forensic science for the novice course where we extracted our own dna and got to take our DNA profile home. We also learned a lot about crime scene investigation, everything from blood spatter analysis, to how the MNR uses forensics to solve deer poaching cases.

I also took a financial planning for women couse which was really useful. I think that course will save me thousands because I learned the best ways of investing (when I finally get some money!), mortgages, credit, taxes, insurance, etc, etc, etc.

They also have several courses I haven't expored yet. They have tons of writing courses, cultural courses, courses for the mind and spirit, entepreneurial courses, etc. Hmmm, I'm starting to sound like a commercial! I guess I am just loving taking courses for fun and since I am single again, gotta find some way of occupying some of my time ;)

I am soooo glad it's the weekend, it's been a long week. Tomorrow, the only thing I have planned is going to SDM, because they have a 20X the optimum points on tomorrow when you spend $50. And I think I have enough things that I need to get to bump me up there. So yay!

Sunday, I think I will go to the Norwood fair (if the weather is okay) and then in the late afternoon, it's the big family turkey dinner at my aunt and uncle's cottage. Then Monday is another rest day. Pretty quiet weekend.

I want to hit the gym a couple times as well. Need to get back in that habit. I found that the break-up with BD made me so distraught that I drowned my sorrows in chocolate and greasy food. So, I gained a few pounds. Need to get that off! Sigh, the never-ending battle of trying to lose that pesky 15 pounds that I have been trying to lose for the last year and a half. Man, I wish is was easier to lose weight. I have yet to find a good diet that works. I think the key is to combine diet and exercise, but what do you do if you're lazy and just want to sit on your butt doing nothing all day?