I had a fairly blah moment today at work. It was while I was scanning my list of online MSN contacts (though without having the time to actually carry a conversation with any of them) and seeing that at least half of them were silent and with an "away" or "busy" status because they were all "at work."
At work. Man, does that mean we've all grown up? Or does it mean that we just haven't found the job yet that allows us to always be "at play"?
I will know when I have found my vocation when I find that whenever I'm at work, I'm still at play.
...
Read the freakin' funniest resume--no, sorry, Curriculum Vitae--with brodder tonight. When I have more time and energy, I would like to share it with you...but I don't know if that's going to happen anytime soon. Why?
Washington D.C. in 2 days and counting...!
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Thursday, August 24, 2006
The dreadfully dark Descent of my working life
Whoa. I just took a look and realized that my last 4 blogs were gripes about work. The only gripe I have this time about it (because there probably won't be many blogs without any gripes about work from here on in) is that it kept me from posting this post on Monday when I first tried to write it.
August 21, 2006 - Monday
It's amazing how much we rely on being connected. Last night (Sunday), the power went out and regardless of the fact that we had been preoccupied with other activities prior to the loss of light, Brodder and I could only sit and wait for power to return to the electronics that we'd ignored until then. And then today at work, the internet connection isn't working and so I'm reduced to pen and paper blogging at my desk since my computer duties are basically null and void until reconnected, and since my phone lines are being tied-up, holding for the tech-guys at Bell.
Others in the office are also wandering around, having little to do without the internet either. We actually sort of look like rescued zombies, having been returned to our true human state, stepping dazed and blinking, away from our monitors and into the light. I kinda like it--it amuses me.
Speaking of amusing, while the lights were out Brodder nor I could find the flashlights. We found something to suffice, but what we we used instead only goes to show you how nerdy we are. Booklights. That's right, LED booklights that we had been given for Christmas earlier on in the year. At least when we thought of them, Brodder still had to take the plastic wrap off of his--mine was already open and broken-in. And we couldn't just hold them like you would any other light source--no. No, we had to make sure we could be as efficient as possible in our newly darkened surroundings, meaning we went the hands-free route with them.
We are so related.
Anyway, speaking further of amusement, after our tournament and dinner en masse this past Saturday, 8 of us Tigers--upon the random recommendation of the waiter's friend's friend--we went to go watch The Descent. The movie itself wasn't all that amusing--I don't think I've ever been so stressed out while just watching a movie before--but the events to unfold throughout the movie were.
First off, we turned out to be that giggly, rowdy bunch that everyone glares at, arriving late as the commercials were running; our big, shadowy, hulking mass intruding on everyone's field of vision for longer than the customary few seconds.
Next, it turns out that my teammates' volume on the court is transferable to quiet, confined spaces like the theatre too. The first startling scene to pop up set the two next to me screaming. Of course they were the only ones in the theatre to do so. But, since the bunch of us were all together, with each shriek came a slew of stifled giggles. If one girl wasn't sared, the other one would be and both would end up vocalizing her fear, despite all efforts not to. It was a hilariously vicious cycle.
Now, The Descent was the kind of movie that didn't have a strong plotline, but loved to scare the bejeebus out of you via surprising spectres and grotesque gore. Therefore, all of the girls in the group were all stressed out--myself included--in anticipation of the next big "boo!" During the suspenseful parts, I'd be hugging my knees to my chest as my heart pounded and my muscles would grow sore from being so tense for so long. Anyway, it was during one of these stressing moments that the funny-bone tickling event of the night took place.
As before, it was a terribly suspenseful scene--possibly the most drawn-out one of the whole movie. There was only one character, alone on the screen while the rest of the scene was filled with looming darkness; the kind that something was sure to spring out from. My heart was pounding, my knuckles were white, my body was losing circulation. All eyes were wide and glued to the screen in silence, waiting...and then it happened.
*Ppppppffffffttttt*
Someone farted.
I could NOT stop laughing. My face and stomach hurt SO much from trying to silence my sobbing laughter.
Of course it turned out to be one of our group that had passed the gas--but at least when he did it, you could hear his determined attempt to have held that fart in. It was simply a struggle that he didn't win--and from the sounds of it, it had been quite the struggle.
August 21, 2006 - Monday
It's amazing how much we rely on being connected. Last night (Sunday), the power went out and regardless of the fact that we had been preoccupied with other activities prior to the loss of light, Brodder and I could only sit and wait for power to return to the electronics that we'd ignored until then. And then today at work, the internet connection isn't working and so I'm reduced to pen and paper blogging at my desk since my computer duties are basically null and void until reconnected, and since my phone lines are being tied-up, holding for the tech-guys at Bell.
Others in the office are also wandering around, having little to do without the internet either. We actually sort of look like rescued zombies, having been returned to our true human state, stepping dazed and blinking, away from our monitors and into the light. I kinda like it--it amuses me.
Speaking of amusing, while the lights were out Brodder nor I could find the flashlights. We found something to suffice, but what we we used instead only goes to show you how nerdy we are. Booklights. That's right, LED booklights that we had been given for Christmas earlier on in the year. At least when we thought of them, Brodder still had to take the plastic wrap off of his--mine was already open and broken-in. And we couldn't just hold them like you would any other light source--no. No, we had to make sure we could be as efficient as possible in our newly darkened surroundings, meaning we went the hands-free route with them.
We are so related.
Anyway, speaking further of amusement, after our tournament and dinner en masse this past Saturday, 8 of us Tigers--upon the random recommendation of the waiter's friend's friend--we went to go watch The Descent. The movie itself wasn't all that amusing--I don't think I've ever been so stressed out while just watching a movie before--but the events to unfold throughout the movie were.
First off, we turned out to be that giggly, rowdy bunch that everyone glares at, arriving late as the commercials were running; our big, shadowy, hulking mass intruding on everyone's field of vision for longer than the customary few seconds.
Next, it turns out that my teammates' volume on the court is transferable to quiet, confined spaces like the theatre too. The first startling scene to pop up set the two next to me screaming. Of course they were the only ones in the theatre to do so. But, since the bunch of us were all together, with each shriek came a slew of stifled giggles. If one girl wasn't sared, the other one would be and both would end up vocalizing her fear, despite all efforts not to. It was a hilariously vicious cycle.
Now, The Descent was the kind of movie that didn't have a strong plotline, but loved to scare the bejeebus out of you via surprising spectres and grotesque gore. Therefore, all of the girls in the group were all stressed out--myself included--in anticipation of the next big "boo!" During the suspenseful parts, I'd be hugging my knees to my chest as my heart pounded and my muscles would grow sore from being so tense for so long. Anyway, it was during one of these stressing moments that the funny-bone tickling event of the night took place.
As before, it was a terribly suspenseful scene--possibly the most drawn-out one of the whole movie. There was only one character, alone on the screen while the rest of the scene was filled with looming darkness; the kind that something was sure to spring out from. My heart was pounding, my knuckles were white, my body was losing circulation. All eyes were wide and glued to the screen in silence, waiting...and then it happened.
*Ppppppffffffttttt*
Someone farted.
I could NOT stop laughing. My face and stomach hurt SO much from trying to silence my sobbing laughter.
Of course it turned out to be one of our group that had passed the gas--but at least when he did it, you could hear his determined attempt to have held that fart in. It was simply a struggle that he didn't win--and from the sounds of it, it had been quite the struggle.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
You've got hands
"Did you want any coffee?"
"No thanks, I've already got mine from Tim's." *pause* "Oh, did you want me to make you some coffee?"
"Oh, yeah, that'd be great."
...
*snarl*
Heaven forbid you should accidentally walk across the street while on one of your dozens of chain-smoking breaks and buy yourself a cup of coffee for a buck! Or even worse--heaven forbid you should learn to use the coffee maker to make yourself a cup of coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously, not only do you have the option of using your own two hands to make a cup, you've also got the option to dole out a couple of pennies from the salary of yours that's about 20 times the size of mine!
Lazy f'in ------ men.
"No thanks, I've already got mine from Tim's." *pause* "Oh, did you want me to make you some coffee?"
"Oh, yeah, that'd be great."
...
*snarl*
Heaven forbid you should accidentally walk across the street while on one of your dozens of chain-smoking breaks and buy yourself a cup of coffee for a buck! Or even worse--heaven forbid you should learn to use the coffee maker to make yourself a cup of coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously, not only do you have the option of using your own two hands to make a cup, you've also got the option to dole out a couple of pennies from the salary of yours that's about 20 times the size of mine!
Lazy f'in ------ men.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Again?
That's it: the job's gotta go.
I started work this morning at 9:00am. I finished work this evening at 9:30pm.
(Holy crap, even I didn't realize I'd worked over 12 hours until seeing it written down just now!)
Due to all the CRAP I had to deal with at work, I didn't:
Anyway, for anyone who's interested, read on to find out why I love my prof so much that I was disappointed for not getting to send this review in on time. I just want SOMEONE to know what I think!
I started work this morning at 9:00am. I finished work this evening at 9:30pm.
(Holy crap, even I didn't realize I'd worked over 12 hours until seeing it written down just now!)
Due to all the CRAP I had to deal with at work, I didn't:
- budge from the general area of my desk for the whole day,
- mail my RSVP for Jean's wedding until 10pm, meaning it'll only JUST get there in time,
- call the City of Toronto to see if I still had to pay a parking ticket,
- though I wrote it, I didn't get to send in my review of my favourite professor!
and worst of all,
Anyway, for anyone who's interested, read on to find out why I love my prof so much that I was disappointed for not getting to send this review in on time. I just want SOMEONE to know what I think!
Simply stated, I am of the opinion that ------ ----- makes an excellent professor at the University of Toronto at Scarboorugh. As a lecturer, he arrives prepared with an agenda of texts and topics to cover, and as strongly as he encourages student participation via thoughtful questions and comments, he is able to remain on schedule without having to skip material or interrupt any interesting thoughts a student may introduce. As well structured as each of his classes is, so are his entire courses; no texts are missed due to too much or too little time spent on another. Quizzes, tests, and exams are announced well in advance if not indicated on the syllabus at the beginning.
Many students—-myself included—-find Professor ----- very approachable, partly due to his comparatively young age amongst the average faculty member, and partly due to the fact that his courses cover more contemporary areas of interest. He also genuinely listens to comments students make in and out of class; it is not uncommon to see ----- take notes while a student is expressing a particularly unique idea.
With courses such as American Pop Lyric and Rap Lyrics as Poetry, I think that Professor ----- sets an example to students that obtaining a university degree is applicable not only to job situations, but to the pursuit of personal interests and curiosities as well. His enthusiasm in class is contagious at times, and all enjoy attending classes regularly—I recurrently have problems ensuring that I can enrol in his courses, let alone worrying about finding a seat.
Along with only a few other faculty members I have had a chance to study under the guidance of, Professor ----- is one of those that I think is genuinely a great asset to the staff at the university.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
It can only get better
Yesterday I thought I'd treat myself to a Timmy's on the way to work since I'd left the house early enough. Bad decision. I got there, saw the drive-through line was short, and pulled into line. Worse decision.
It took me 10 minutes just to buy a coffee and a croissant.
At first I sat in my car and grumbled at the thought of people lining up for drive-through in order to buy enough to feed their whole office at once. But as I sat there a little longer, I watch the people place their orders fast enough at the speaker, but then have to wait an eon before inching up to the window. And then I watched one of the employees come out of the back door to slowly don a pair of gloves and a traffic vest in order to sweep up the garbage that no one had had the chance to litter out of their window yet that day.
*Growl*
To top it all off, after I finally got my breakfast, raced to work, and squealed into a parking spot, my coffee got knocked over as I was reaching for my bag and fell top down onto the floor of the car.
*blech*
Oh, and to top all of that off, there was a client waiting to be let into the office by me in order to drop off some paperwork--a client with the WORST B.O. EVER. Nice guy, really, but he just reeks! Talk about starting your day off on the wrong foot; the rest of the day just followed the same, miserable suit.
*sigh*
Today wasn't all that much better. It took me 5 hours to do something that should have taken me only 1, just because my boss decided that he didn't like the address labels after he'd approved them 3 days ago. I stayed 2 extra hours today to try to get myself organized and I'm still in disarray.
Optimistically: because of my boss' indecision, I taught myself to photoshop today.
And bonus: Adam the air-conditioner guy came in today, just to say "hi" and smile at me.
Today wasn't that bad.
It took me 10 minutes just to buy a coffee and a croissant.
At first I sat in my car and grumbled at the thought of people lining up for drive-through in order to buy enough to feed their whole office at once. But as I sat there a little longer, I watch the people place their orders fast enough at the speaker, but then have to wait an eon before inching up to the window. And then I watched one of the employees come out of the back door to slowly don a pair of gloves and a traffic vest in order to sweep up the garbage that no one had had the chance to litter out of their window yet that day.
*Growl*
To top it all off, after I finally got my breakfast, raced to work, and squealed into a parking spot, my coffee got knocked over as I was reaching for my bag and fell top down onto the floor of the car.
*blech*
Oh, and to top all of that off, there was a client waiting to be let into the office by me in order to drop off some paperwork--a client with the WORST B.O. EVER. Nice guy, really, but he just reeks! Talk about starting your day off on the wrong foot; the rest of the day just followed the same, miserable suit.
*sigh*
Today wasn't all that much better. It took me 5 hours to do something that should have taken me only 1, just because my boss decided that he didn't like the address labels after he'd approved them 3 days ago. I stayed 2 extra hours today to try to get myself organized and I'm still in disarray.
Optimistically: because of my boss' indecision, I taught myself to photoshop today.
And bonus: Adam the air-conditioner guy came in today, just to say "hi" and smile at me.
Today wasn't that bad.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Not like when it was Easy
What a poor blogger I make. I sell out to one crappy job that I'm at only for the money, and even though I have my own, unsupervised use of an internet connected computer, I haven't blogged in weeks.
On my first day at work, I was all excited, hoping to become one of those faithful to get busted at work for blogging on company time, but no, not a peep from me. I'll admit I tried once, about my second day in, but to no avail, simply due to the fact that my strict work ethic (and my conscience) got the better of me. I'm going to put it down to the fact that this is a busy time for the company and that I'm being kept occupied to the point that I can't seem to spare a moment to jot a note down...but I'm hoping that will change this week.
This week, my supervisor is on vacation! Wooooooot!
So, what do I do? Whatever is needed. I think my official title there is "receptionist." How thrilling. Though I think I'm going to have to SERIOUSLY protest if they ask me to do the dishes once more. I only did it the first time because I was too tired upon my return from New York with my Tigers to have been coherent enough to complain. We got back at 4:30am, I was up for work at 7:30am. Yeah, that was my first day--soooooooooo worth NYC.
Anyway, so my duties include a LOT of order processing (which takes up pretty much my WHOLE day), making coffee (which I've done...twice), mailing letters (meh--a moderate amount), and answering phone messages (which I've forgotten to do a couple of times...at least). As of July 24th, I began my job and my three months probation--but to be honest, I don't even know if I'll stay that long.
Though the thought of actually having benefits of my own and getting to visit my dentist for the first time in probably a year is very appealing, this job isn't really worth that. I mean, it's not like it's a hard job or very taxing or anything, it's just not really any fun. After having been in the customer service industry for 10 years, getting to meet and work with new people everyday, this monotonous office job is killing me. I mean, if I at least got to answer the phones and talk to the people calling me before they left a message, I MIGHT have a different POV, but I don't, so I'm going stir-crazy.
It's sad, but it's true. I miss my old job at the Easy. *shudder*
But though I shudder, I knew that was going to happen.
On my first day at work, I was all excited, hoping to become one of those faithful to get busted at work for blogging on company time, but no, not a peep from me. I'll admit I tried once, about my second day in, but to no avail, simply due to the fact that my strict work ethic (and my conscience) got the better of me. I'm going to put it down to the fact that this is a busy time for the company and that I'm being kept occupied to the point that I can't seem to spare a moment to jot a note down...but I'm hoping that will change this week.
This week, my supervisor is on vacation! Wooooooot!
So, what do I do? Whatever is needed. I think my official title there is "receptionist." How thrilling. Though I think I'm going to have to SERIOUSLY protest if they ask me to do the dishes once more. I only did it the first time because I was too tired upon my return from New York with my Tigers to have been coherent enough to complain. We got back at 4:30am, I was up for work at 7:30am. Yeah, that was my first day--soooooooooo worth NYC.
Anyway, so my duties include a LOT of order processing (which takes up pretty much my WHOLE day), making coffee (which I've done...twice), mailing letters (meh--a moderate amount), and answering phone messages (which I've forgotten to do a couple of times...at least). As of July 24th, I began my job and my three months probation--but to be honest, I don't even know if I'll stay that long.
Though the thought of actually having benefits of my own and getting to visit my dentist for the first time in probably a year is very appealing, this job isn't really worth that. I mean, it's not like it's a hard job or very taxing or anything, it's just not really any fun. After having been in the customer service industry for 10 years, getting to meet and work with new people everyday, this monotonous office job is killing me. I mean, if I at least got to answer the phones and talk to the people calling me before they left a message, I MIGHT have a different POV, but I don't, so I'm going stir-crazy.
It's sad, but it's true. I miss my old job at the Easy. *shudder*
But though I shudder, I knew that was going to happen.
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