I could burn this place down

The day after tomorrow is the big move!

I'm getting excited, everything is packed except for the kitchen and the bathroom. Let me rephrase that, all of my stuff is packed except for the kitchen and the bathroom, there that's better. That will be my tonight project, I don't think it will take very long.

Both sets of parents are helping us. I know my family will come, move the big stuff and be on their way. Dan's family has a habit of lingering around longer. Alot of our stuff isn't getting unpacked. I suspect the biggest project will be setting up my office/spare bedroom, and only I can do that room. Well I'll get someone to put together the desk, that's a big job, one I don't want to do again.

It's shutdown week here at work. Only a couple people are still here working. It's really quiet but nice. The only thing is, they took away the coffee maker (cleaning?) and the cafeteria isn't opened. This has forced us to go out of the building (gasp!) to find replacements for these essentials. The Airport has a nice and non-busy Tim hortons. I've had my share of mocha lattes this week. Soooooo goooood. It's no wonder I can't sit still. I've also been to Quiznos more times than I can count. The people here had never tried it, now they're addicted. Quizno's makes a mean sub, I get it. But there are many other places around. BK, McDs, Extreme Pita, Taco Time, Tong's Wok (Tong is amazing), Denny's, Tona Romas, Schitzelhaus. Why are we pigeon hole-ing ourselves to Quiznos? Oh well, c'est la vie.

I'm doing some testing here for the code I'm working on. I had an office space moment yesterday, where I submitted code with the old coding standard, withdrew it and submitted code with the new standard. I had about 6 different project managers come to my office, ask me if I've seen the new standards, I say I have and say that I corrected it, then they continue to explain to me why we have the new standards. I felt like pounding my head against a wall. I almost went into a giggle fit when the last project manager came to talk to me. I thought that wouldn't be a good idea. Then Dan is phoning me in the afternoon because he can't figure out how to book an elevator! I was going to shoot him, it would of been easier to phone myself already, I'm at work, I don't have time to deal with that at that moment! So last night I packed a couple boxes and then Barb and I finished all the open alcohol in my fridge, I mean you can't move that. It was the perfect ending to an insane day.

We've all been in one situation or another, and I still love you

Friday! Weekend is here, filled with weekend events. It's Barbara's bday party tonight. I'm all prepared to have a good time and a headache tomorrow. It'll be awesome. Tomorrow we're going to head to the lake. It sounds like my whole family from Saskatchewan is going to be there. That should be fun. I can do some swimming and lounging. Better get all the fun and relaxing in now. And Stanley will be there probably. He's my cousin's dog, he's a good running buddy. He's a retriever, but doesn't retrieve or play. But he likes walks and runs so I guess he's half a dog.

Thursday we get the keys to our new place! It'll be a weekend of moving and setting stuff up and cleaning. All of our furniture is actaully going to be there the Saturday we move too, which is awesome, I wasn't expecting it that soon. I've got so many decorating ideas and such. I'll just have to pace myself. I took thursday, friday and monday off, so I hope I won't be too too rushed and exhausted. Getting all of our stuff to a new place and then setting up the new place and cleaning the old place spotless is a big job. This time I have lots of help. Dan's family and my family are helping us. Plus there's a freight elevator in the new place. Way easier than walking up and down stairs.

I downloaded some good tunes yesterday. I've got Nelly Furtado's new cd, which is really good. This is surprising, because I don't really like her, but I liked the single Promiscuous. The rest of the cd has a similar and almost european sound to it. I thought I'd just end up liking the single and tossing the rest asside, but I've had the whole cd on repeat for most of this morning. I also got Sloan A sides win. I've always liked Sloan so there's just a bunch of good singles all in one place right now. But it's awesome. Some of the songs I remember listening to when I was 12. Man do I feel old.

Barbara and I were upset at the boys for wanting to spend the September long weekend in Regina. Then we had this awesome idea that we would go to Calgary, ourselves, and raid Ikea. She just bought a new house and I'll have lots of ends, so it makes perfect sense. We'll have to measure both cars to see which one has more cubic feet of space to pack in all the Ikea goodies. So heads up Calgary folk for a possible visit September long. I betcha the boys will cave by that time and come with us too. We can get into alot of trouble in Calgary

Moving fun

So I'm on the move again. This time to a more permanent residence, my new downtown condo. Naturally we need to get all of our bills and services switched over to the new place.

Here's the 40 minute conversation Dan had with SaskTel trying to get our TV and Internet moved and my name added to the bill! Well okay not the whole 40 minutes. Either way it was insane.

Dan: I'd like to move my Tv and Internet Service to my new address

SaskTel: Okay I need some identification and we need to do a credit check

(Dan forks over the id numbers)

SaskTel: You're Account number is this (insert number here). What packages do you want for your TV service?

Dan: Do I really need a new account number and plan, can't you just move over my existing account?

SaskTel: Oh you're moving! Yes we can do that.


Note 15 minutes have passed since the beginning

Dan: Yes, can't I just book an install date to get the equiptment hooked up

SaskTel: We can do that, but it says here that you are in debt to us for $450 for a second set top box.

Dan: But I don't have a 2nd set top box

SaskTel: Well then we need $450 for the lost set top box

(Argument ensues a good 7 mins, includes SaskTel threatening us with creditors if we don't pay the $450 or return the box we don't have. If we had one, wouldn't we be paying an extra $5 a month to have it?)

SaskTel: Well I guess I'll have someone look into that

Dan: So can I set up an install date?

SaskTel: Why, you already have it installed?

Dan: I'm moving and I need the service cut off here for the current address and set up at the new address.

Finally an install date is issued, with much confusion because we want the service installed a couple days after we get possesion of the new place, this person can't understand that.


Dan: Can I do one more thing and add my fiance to the account?

SaskTel: Okay put her on.

Me: Hello

SaskTel: Hi, this is to verify that your name will appear on the account, are you willing to agree to that?

Me: Yes.

SaskTel: Okay then put Dan back on the phone.

(They never asked for my name, I don't know what was up with that, or id either, we could have put Michael Jackson on the account, he has enough debt for us not to pay that bill and be noticed)

Dan wraps things up. He spent 40 mins on the phone for an address change. He was not happy. 2nd of all we have no idea what's going on. I'm going to phone today and confirm everything and see what's up with that $450.

So far, for Dan and his SaskTel internet and tv, he's had to deal with SaskTel 4 times over some issues and 3 of the 4 times, they've screwed things up. Who is working in the call center? 3 out of 4? That's a pretty bad ratio. Or he always just gets the person who doesn't know what they are doing.

I've never had any problems with them myself. I've only had to deal with Cell phone mobility stuff, and they are pretty good. I did my address change for that over the web and it was done 4 hours later. Maybe Dan and SaskTel are bad luck.

New photo site

Since I'm never going to get around to tweeking my server so it works fast enough to view pictures, I thought that I would try google's new photo album service picasa web.

Check out the pictures of my convocation, b-day party and spring of 2006.


http://picasaweb.google.com/candygirl25

I'll get around to putting the link on the right hand side eventually. And I'll get around to upgrading my server in the fall. I have a spare p4 sitting around, that'll do nicely.

The Unpushy Salesperson

So we went shopping for some furniture for our condo last week. We went to Ashley furniture and one of the things we were looking for was a bedroom set. I found one I really liked and was deciding what parts of the set I needed. So I called the sales guy over. He then informed me the set I picked was a piece of crap and that I should pick something else a little more sturdy. So I walked around and found set #2 that I really liked. So we were looking at it and measuring it, but I still liked the 1st better. So I thought it doesn't really matter, I'll just get the sturdy-er one. It was a little more, but not a huge difference. So again I was deciding what pieces I needed. Then the salesman kept on pushing me to "go home and think about it". I was ready to put in my order when again, I was informed to "go home and think about it". After a couple rounds of this, I did go home. I was sooooo frustrated. I just wanted to order a damn bedroom set and the salesperson wouldn't sell it to me! Does this person not work on commision? We took up 2 hours of his time. I don't understand.

So the next day I went back, talked to another salesman, and he sold me the original set I wanted in under 10 mins. I'm so confused. But I'm happy that I got the furniture I wanted. It was all too strange of an experience.

One of those things

Do you watch the Gilmore Girls?:
It's my favorite show, I own all the DVDs

Have you ever enjoyed listening to Jack Johnson?:
No, I don't really like him, his music puts me to sleep.

Have you ever seen or enjoyed watching The O.C.?:
I've seen it once and it looked interesting. I just don't have room for another hour long tv show in my life.

Do you have one or more Britney Spears CDs?:
Nope not even 1.

Do you regularly watch the news?:
Everyday at 6. Well every weekday.

Which radio stations are your favorites?:
Radio is for people without iPods

Do you have a song by Ozzy Osbourne in your library?:
Not even 1 song. The Wolf has ruined Ozzy Osbourne. I don't need to hear him every 2nd song. Now I don't listen to the radio at all.

Queen?:
Yep, I've got a couple of their songs

Alanis Morisette?:
I've got all of her albums.

Do you watch Family Guy regularly?:
Nope, I'll watch if it's one I haven't seen before and I happen to sit down at the right time.

The Simpsons?:
Same here. I've seen them all so many times, I don't watch them regularily anymore, I think I can quote most of them.

Seventh Heaven?:
Never seen it, never felt the need

Do you read trashy romance novels often?:
I read a Danielle Steel once, it was pretty bad.

Do you really work out every day?:
I try too. Once I get settled in my new place I will again. Right now I consider helping friends move and running around enough exercise.

Have you ever eaten an entire pint, or more, ice cream by yourself?:
No, I'm lactose intolerant, that sounds painful.

Have you ever eaten nothing but junk food for a week?:
Yes, when we drove to windsor, that's all we ate, McDonald's, chips and chocolate bars.

Do you sing obnoxiously in the car when you're driving alone?:
Yes I do. Especially when I travel. It's hard to fall asleep if you're singing.

Do you sing obnoxiously loud in the shower when no one's home?:
nope not really. I'm usually pre occupied with shaving or getting the soap out of this damn long hair.

Have you ever watched a little kid's show when you were older?:
I watch Spongebob when he's on. I love that guy!

Have you ever looked forward to going to school?:
Elementary school I did. That's about it

Have you ever pretended your crush was with you when they weren't really?:
Can't say I have.

Did you draw for your first crush back in elementary school?:
No, I could never draw.

Have you ever liked a girl/boy but didn't ask her/him out because you were afraid?:
Yes a couple times. Then at grade 12 grad I found out both of them liked me but it was too late. But it did motivate me to dump the current bf then.

Have you ever written a poem/story about your love life?:
Yeah in high school.

An autobiography?:
In grade 8 we had to. I kept it. I came by it when I was moving, it was pretty funny.

Have you ever spent over an hour thinking about nothing?:
Never! There's always 9 million things going through my mind.

Have you ever liked someone solely for their appearance?:
No, there's gotta be something else there too.

Do you eat all the servings in the food groups on a daily basis?:
I try, but the fruits and veggies are killing me! I usually top out on 4 servings of those.

Are you ever a freak about cleanliness or organization?:
Yeppers, I thought Dan was going to have a heart attack when I organised the DVD collection. But baby steps, next step will be putting them in alphabetical order....

Have you ever been to South America or Africa?:
No, I'd like to see Africa.

Have you ever owned a Klutz book or kit?:
I don't know what that is.

Do you know how to knit?:
I do, I just don't have the time for it.

Do you have a cell phone or iPod with a patterened cover?:
they are both colored. My cell phone is orange, it matches my car. My iPod is purpley-pink.

Have you ever written love song lyrics yourself and put them in your profile?:
no

Do you keep a diary or journal (online or on paper)?:
candygirl25.blogspot.com.

Do you own a striped sweater?:
I own 3 or 4.

How often do you take a bubble bath?:
not since I moved.

When you open your closet, what is the dominant color of your clothes?:
Blue, I have lots of blue.

Baskin Robbins or Coldstone?:
Baskin

The Shins or the Decemberists?:
Shins - Destroyer is awesome

America or Canada?:
Canada

Physics or chemistry?:
Physics! Keep that chem away from me.

Chocolate brown or teal?:
I like both.

Commitment or casual dating?:
Commitment

Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings?:
Lord of the Rings. I love Gandalf and his horse.

Fly or roadtrip?:
Both are good.

Starbucks or Pete's?:
Starbucks I guess. I like the Second Cup though. They have that vanilla chocolate brownie fudge latte.

How much jewelry do you own?:
3 or 4 prized items each season. Then there's the staples, rings, watch, ruby earrings and necklace.

Have you memorized the rejection hotline, just in case?:
Didn't know it existed

Have you ever given someone the rejection hotline as your number?:
That sounds mean, but I've given guys the domino pizza number.

Do you have a comforter on your bed?:
Yep. It's really nice too.

Yargh!

This girl at work here is driving me insane! She was hired a week before me to do the same thing that I'm doing, we're supposed to be developing this new code together. But 5 weeks have gone by and she still doesn't know how to use Linux!!!!!! She's in my office every 5 mins asking the same questions over and over and over. I've tried to help and pass on my knowledge but she has no idea what I'm talking about and doesn't write down any of the commands. I've developed a Van Wilder complex when I talk to her "Write that down". She still stares at me blankly when I say grep for this word. Don't even think about piping anything anywhere. I've sent her online tutorials, lent her books, looked up handy websites. None of it works! On top of that she's never seen SNMP before and trying to pile that information on top of no linux skills is horrible. You need some sort of coding base! I finally just brought it up to the project manager. I feel awful for doing so, but I'm out of options and I would rather be doing my own coding than explaining stuff to someone who is incapable of learning. Now I'm just supposed to point to the PMs office instead of answering any questions. Isn't that what computer science is all about, the willingness to learn and adapt to new situations?

It's about time for a party at my house

When people ask me how my weekend went this week, I'm at a complete loss for words. Friday was awesome, hung out with the family, got my bday gifts, fed a hungry squirrel. Saturday day was awesome, did some tubing and swimming and tanning. Had a hot dog roast. Then Saturday night, supposedly the most fun part of the party was not. I spent most of the time worrying about Heather because she would take off in the middle on conversations, conversations we didn't even realised pertained to her. And I was a little worried about Brett's girlfriend, I know how fun allergies can be. So my ability to be drunk and stupid was just hindered and there was nothing I could do. It was nice to see everyone and everyone was so helpful with the planning and bringing of food and stuff and I'm grateful for that. It just didn't meet my expections like the last couple years birthday parties had. There was no scandal or drunken board games. I wasn't making outrageous proclamations. The mood was just different. I didn't even have a headache in the morning! What kind of cottage party is that?

Barbara is having her housewarming/bday party next weekend. I'm looking forward to that. There can't possibly be a somber mood there. And hopefully no worries for me. I plan on getting drunk and stupid and maybe I'll think of some outrageous proclamations before I go. All is not lost on the big party of the summer front. It was just I didn't host it this year.

I'm going furniture shopping today! Yay! Hopefully I can have a bed the night I move into the new condo. That would be nice. Dan's also taking me out for soup. I think he feels bad for elbowing me in the throat last night in his sleep. That hurt. I'm pretty defenseless when I sleep. I'm not used of things hitting me or getting a foot in the back. I pick one spot, curl up, and I stay that way all night. I'm used of a cat crawling all over me, but this flailing of limbs thing, I can not get used too. Maybe a peaceful sleep will find me tonight. I really need it.

Maybe Memories

So I did it! I bought a condo. It's really nice. It's on the 15th floor of a downtown high rise. It's so exciting, and it has an amazing view



This is the view from my living room window and balcony.



This is my living room.



This is the dining room.





And of course my gorgeous kitchen.

These are just pictures taken from the listing, this is not my furniture. We get possesion on July 27th! It's so exciting. I have a dining room set picked out and a bedroom set. This way I don't have to move that stuff. I'm doing without now, but I'm kinda tired of eating on my couch. Now I'll have a choice of eating at the nook or at the table. 2 places to eat that aren't the couch, imagine that!

The building has a raquet ball court, hot tub, sauna, a really good gym, pool table, shuffle board, ping pong table and underground heated parking. No more harsh winters outside for my beloved saturn. It'll be like I'm living at a resort.

It's got 2 bedrooms, so come and visit, we even have a spare bed.

Dan can walk to school or it's a 5 minute bus ride, I think it's faster to walk. It's about an 7 or 8 minute drive for me to work. That will be nice, I miss that about Regina, being at work in less than 10 minutes. No more bridges for me!