Post Script

Every once in a while (alright, every day. well, I guess it's more like several times every day.) I feel overwhelmed by life. And then I read something like Gord's philosophy that amazes and uplifts me.

Let me off the train

When my life gets busy, it really gets busy. I try to make it less busy and it becomes more hectic than it was before. I'm quitting my old job, starting a new one, have lots of singing practice and competitions on the go, still have to finish my class, and have family and my honey to see. It feels like I shrug off one obligation only to pick up two or three more. And I can only handle so much. There is a limit to my sanity. Look, back off just a bit please, Life, I'd appreciate it right now.

And I'm not even married with kids. Scares you, doesn't it? It sure scares me.

And because I just about died laughing:

In the warning for Haribo Smurfs in a Tub:

We are not able to reimburse for damaged containers, color tone variations, or Smurf texture.

I need Smurf texture...

Update: AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I'm really starting to hate Blogger again. I was okay with it for a while, but now it got rid of my update to this post. Sigh

Anyways, the Smurf vendors changed their website, so to get to the Smurfs in a Tub go to Sweets in the top menu bar, then Gummi Candies, then Haribo Gummi Candies, and it's on the left side. The warning is great. We also cannot control the firmness of the Smurfs from tub to tub...

Update #2: Sorry, been an ass, this was via mimi smartypants.

Argh!

I find it really freaking annoying that the links, which I already checked when I put them into the sidebar, aren't working any more. Damn you Gravity, I'll get you yet...

Update: Okay, they work in IE but not in Firefox. I apologize, you'll just have to suffer.

Update #2: Alright, they sorta work in Firefox, but only some of them, and something keeps changing them. I think it's Blogger's fault. Feel free to throw some rotten tomatoes at them.

I'm sure it will come in handy some time

The recipe for the ever-popular Evil Chocolate Cookies:

1 1/4 c. butter
2 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 t. vanilla
2 c. flour
3/4 c. cocoa
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
2 c. chocolate chips

Bake 8-9 minutes at 350. (or 7 minutes using the Amy Method - basically the cookies should look like they're not done when you take them out, then they're nice and soft and droolingly delicious)

NOTE: The management is not responsible for any addiction therapy necessitated by the eating of these cookies (Yes, Gil, I'm talking to you).

For the sake of posterity

I don't think I told you about the time on Friday when I had a flat tire. Once upon Friday, a long time ago (or possibly just a few days ago), I was returning at 6:30am from sleeping over at W's, and I turned onto Lewvan. I drove for a few seconds and could hear a nasty dragging noise coming from my car. I debated pulling over right there, but traffic was pretty busy. So I turned off at the next intersection and hopped out to have a look. And lo and behold, there was one of my rear tires completely flat.

I assumed I'd ruined the tire and rim by driving on them, so drove a bit farther to get to a large empty parking lot where I could do some damage control. For Christmas I got a handy tire fixin' kit, so I pulled that out and proceeded to use it and then pump up the tire. Which was a complete waste of time, as it turned out, because there were at least 3 big holes in the unhappy tire. It deflated again within 30 seconds.

I've never actually changed a tire before. I know in theory how it's supposed to work, but I also know communism works on the same principle. So I pulled out the owner's manual. Which was useless. How To Change A Tire: take out the spare and change it, using the jack - check your owner's manual for more details. Thanks guys, that was a ton of help.

But they did have a diagram on where to put the jack, which was all I needed. Lucky for me the nuts came off okay. Mmm, nuts. I put on the donut and noticed that the manual said the pressure in the donut is supposed to be 60psi. So about twice a regular tire, I thought. However, checking it gave me a pressure of 10. It looked okay, so I gave up. I'm just a girl! (dumb blond shrug with giggle)

Who had to buy new tires. Never go to Canadian Tire. They charge an arm and a leg to install and balance and magically spin round the tires. Oh, did I mention they don't explain what they're charging for, just "And we'll need you to hack off your right arm and leg with this rusty dagger. No, not the left, we don't take un-quality limbs." Look, I just want the tires. My dad has a tire changing machine, so I can get him to put them on. Sorry, it's mandatory to have them balanced and spun, we can't do anything about it. You'll die if they're not put on instantly. That's the way these things work.

Oh, and when I got back and actually looked at the tire, it was fine inside, no chewing or anything. So I could maybe have gotten away with patching it. Sigh.

Oh right. That.

So along with the mundanity of my life, I got a new job. I will be working for CGI in a couple weeks. It should be good. H told me the manager of the group I'll be in is really good to work for, so that'll be a nice change. If I develop any ambition it will probably be good on my resume. And if not, it's at least something different. Me having the attention span of a small gnat and all.

I had two really long, really good conversations today. One with the counselling chick and the other with one of the managers at work. I'll miss him, and the other guys who take calls here. But oh well.

Ugh, so I discovered yesterday that the Toronto Conservatory of Music, who I'm doing my voice exam through, has again created a new syllabus and new grade books. So I'll be shelling out more for that. Also, I had a flat tire this morning and my tire was completely screwed, so I need new tires. And I need to get some dress clothes because I don't have much right now. I hate paying for things that come up. I foresee that I'm never going to be able to get anything fun. Damn you, Sense of Responsibility, damn you!

My cousin is getting married in a couple weeks and requested that instead of gifts, people should give donations to a couple specific charities. It's a great idea. So my aunt is throwing a shower for her, but we're supposed to bring food bank donations. I don't think I would be that un-materialistic. Not that I need new things, or that I'm ever planning on getting married, or that I would want extremely expensive stuff if I did get married. I just kind of like stuff. I don't covet, and money and material goods aren't everything to me, but there are things that I just like having or want to get at some point. Like my car. I love my car. It's not the greatest car, and it sucks a lot of my money up, but I still love it to pieces. Because it's mine. And I love it even more since I'm paying for it myself. It's something I've worked for and earned.

So. Not much happening here. Try to change that, will you?

My life has been pretty mundane lately. In a not-much-to-write-about sort of way. Not that you shouldn't still make an effort to read what I'm writing. Far from it. In fact, you should be happy that I'm taking all this effort to give you something to read. And varying the non-topic too, aren't you lucky?

I went out to the farm and played with children and kittens and crocuses, does that count? I didn't think so. Nothing of note happened while out there, just the usual. Kids made amusing comments that didn't stick in my brain. I wandered around a lot. It was sunny and fairly warm.

To sum up, things are okay. Lets leave it at that.

okie dokie

I just went bike riding. My bike and I had a disagreement, and I think it won. It showed its displeasure by getting greasy tire marks all over my leg, hands and possibly my spleen (I haven't checked that yet). But I went for about half an hour, so it's all good. The laundry detergent and I can conspire against whatever my bike throws at me. Victory is mine! Either that or it's time for new jogging pants.

So my voice teacher told me I should get a ritual thing that I do before performing, so that I don't look and sound so nervous when I get up to sing. I think my thing should be not brushing my teeth. Every time I brush my teeth, my mouth gets super extry dry and I lose the salivation necessary to open my throat and sound like I'm not chewing on gravel. Okay, maybe it's not that bad, but I still don't like not being able to hit notes that only 20 minutes before sounded just fine. It's frustrating, and we all know how well I take to frustration.

Speaking of which, I really like the chick I'm seeing for counselling. She's a sweetheart. She asked me at the end last time if she was actually helping me because it just seemed like we were hanging out. Dude, that's what I need, someone I'm comfortable enough hanging around that I can just blab out my soul. Believe me, it's working.

I was trying to record some of my songs today, but I really need a better microphone. The cheap thing (I'm nicing my descriptor down for politeness' sake) I have clips at the top, which ends up being about half my vocal range. So I'll soon be looking for something better. I want to make a CD for my parental units, as my mom is always saying something about recording my stuff to listen to. Gods knows the downstairs neighbours don't agree. As soon as I started singing this morning they left. Granted, they may have been going out anyways. But it was a rather coincidental escape. Odd how these things happen.

Oh, and my friend RB is back from being extremely blog-dead. Good thing too, I was starting to worry. Word on the street was that his new woman is keeping him busy, but I still don't like not hearing from people I care about. Even if they're only internet-dead.

Oy

Yeah, you know that system I mentioned for figuring out whether it's time to water the plants? I use the same system for showering. This morning the system failed. I had no idea if I showered yesterday. And it was already too late to shower today by the time I had puzzled my way far enough through to the action part, so I just did my hair as if it was the day after showering. And boy, am I going to be sad in a couple hours. My hair and I are not on good terms now.

So, haven't been here in a while, I like what you've done with the place

Yup, still here, still kicking. Nothing much to say. Been really tired lately. Starting to get lazy, having a hard time getting up in the morning. Not sure why, since it's getting light out early now. And the weather's gorgeous, not that I see much of it working in a cave. But I know it's out there, taunting me, and that's enough.

My class is almost over, which is good. Once the music festival stuff is over, I'll be mostly free again. Then I'll have lots of time to brood over how bored I am. I also plan to exercise twice a day this summer, so that should give me something to do.

I'm debating quitting my job here and going to live with my honey. Just a matter of paying off my car and figuring out a way to license and insure it while moving around. Or I could just save up for when he's done, but I don't want to wait that long. I need more patience. Or something.