To PC or Not to PC, that is the question.

I know it's been a long time since we've spoken blog, but I'm making a big change in my life and I didn't think I could hold back.

I'm no longer going to be a PC.  I'm becoming a Mac!  (Once you go Mac, you never go back, so I've heard...:) )

This week I took the plunge and ordered myself a Macbook Pro from the Apple website and I'm now waiting for it to arrive.  I thought I was waiting patiently.  Turns out I'm not very patient at all!  Between obsessively checking my tracking number through UPS (and you can only get the good tracking if you sign up for their site.  Seriously, do I need to sign up for anything else?!?!  I can barely remember the things that I use frequently!) and making my poor husband check the mail and wait by the phone in case they call, I managed to figure out that I'm absolutely desperate for the change.

You may say, 'Oh, but Windows is so much better, they got rid of that Vista crap and it's amazing!'.  All I can see now when I look at PC is how much they want to be like Mac.  Why settle for an imitation when I can get the real thing?! 

I'm not going to lie, this decision has also been made out of peer pressure, with several of my friends and coworkers already on the Mac wagon.  Flaunting the amazing graphics, ease of use and lack of viruses in my poor, PC using face. 

However,  the last nail in the PC coffin was the virus that inflicted itself upon my computer (to be fair, it's probably been lurking amongst all of the trojans that are always on here).  This virus also turned up on a couple of computers at my office.  It cost me $100 to have it scrubbed and then after I installed my new virus program, the virus program ended up getting infected, so I had to remove it.  I still can't click on links from Google without getting routed to spam sites and I continually get pop up windows telling me how I can make my fortune by doing nothing at home.

So yes, I am saying sayonara to Bill Gates and bonjourno to Steve Jobs.  Let me hope that I don't eat my words, but if I do, at least they will taste like Apple.

Cat Sitting for 2 weeks: who's watching who?

  While my friends are off for a jaunt to Jolly Olde England for the next 2 weeks, I am living at their house and watching their cats.  I did this last year for them and it worked out perfectly as Mike and I were in the midst of moving at the time, so we could work between 2 broken homes and come home to a put together one every night.

  This time we're not moving, but the 'joy' of cat sitting is still there.  Namely, the cats.  I don't know if any of you know this about me, but I love cats.  Love 'em to bits!  I'm just a big ol' sucker for a cute fuzzy face (you've seen Mike right?  Tee hee, just kidding, love you honey!)  I read icanhazcheezburger.com daily.  And even though I sure have developed a mild allergy to them, I always want to pet, cuddle and ultimately rub my face on a soft fuzzy kitty.

  Part of the reason I love cats so very much is their strong personalities.  And the four I'm watching (you read that right, 4 cats) are no exception.  Let me introduce them.  

• Tugger (aka: The Ringleader, Bad Cat, TUGGER!!!!) - This cat would be deadly if he had opposable thumbs.  He is the most outgoing of the four, and he knows how to open the cupboard where the cat treats are kept (last time I would hear it open in the middle of the night and find empty treat bags on the counter when I woke up).  He is also very vocal and somehow needy.  About 10 minutes ago he was sitting on my lap and rubbing my hands as I was typing.

• Tar (aka: The Quiet One, The Good One) - Tar is all black and kind of laid back.  He's got some hip problems and some skin problems, so he doesn't move as fast as the others.  He flops quite heavily when he lays down and likes to steal the warm spot that you were just sitting in.
  

• Rigby (aka: Rigatoni, The Orange One) - Rigby is kind of jumpy and nervous.  He doesn't like to be petted much, but is starting to get better.  He likes to engage in staring contests.  Once I was visiting and laying on a couch in the basement.  He sat over me like a vulture and stared at me for about 15 minutes.  I couldn't outlast him.

• Milo (aka: The Baby) - At only a year, Milo is the newest to the gang.  He wasn't around when I sat last time.  He's still precocious and likes to get into everything.  His favourite activity is drowning things, be it Q-tips or toy mice.  The toilet lids stay closed when Milo is around!
  

  So, over the next two weeks, I'm making sure these 4 don't burn the house down.  If I'm jittery over the next couple of weeks, it's only because I'm sure the cats are plotting something, but I don't know what.  Don't make any sudden moves and we'll be alright.

How can you get a Driver's License if you have a fear of signalling?

Dear Bad Drivers;

Let me just preface this by saying, I've made mistakes too.  I've used my cell phone whilst driving.  I've exceeded the speed limit once or twice.  I haven't always stopped at a crosswalk when I see a pedestrian waiting to cross.

I've been getting more and more worried though by the apparent allergy that people have developed to using their turn signals.  Is it like the allergy to peanuts that has developed so much over the last 20 years?  We've been driving too long and now we go into anaphylaxis whenever we touch the turn signal?

Maybe it's a time thing.  I know, I know.  It takes SOOOOO much time to extend the fingers on your left hand approximately 1 inch and reach that turn signal.  And then that EXTRA time it takes to push it to the up or down position.  What we're talking, A FIFTH OF A SECOND to do all that work.  And then there has to be shoulder checking too.  Man.  That's a good 2 seconds of applying the signal AND checking to make sure you aren't hitting another vehicle.  Time you could use to speed up and try to side swipe me while I'M driving! 

Also, those line marks they put down the middle of the road?  I know you think that they are a 'suggestion' of where you need to be.  Guess what.  They aren't.  If you had bothered to try the aforementioned shoulder checking, you would notice that I'M DRIVING BESIDE YOU!!!!!!

Since it's obviously hard for you to remember these things, here is my action plan to help you out.  You know how ambulances have the word AMBULANCE written backwards in big letters so you can read it in your rearview mirror.  Actually, you may not know what or where your rearview mirror is.  Nevertheless, it's time for me to be proactive.  I'm going to get some of those big, backward letters and write on my windshield, "Please use your signal lights, I cannot read minds".  Will that help you to remember.  Maybe on my rear window I will put, "Please use your signal lights, not everyone can read minds".  Just as a reminder to those bad drivers behind me who have forgotten how to do things. 

So, bad drivers, grab your Epipens and give those turn signals a go!  And when you see a green Ford Contour with big white lettering all over the windows, that's me.  And when you 'forget' to do these things.  I'll follow you to your destination and give you a lesson on the finer points of signalling.

All the best, hope your insurance skyrockets,

Trish

Schaudenfraude Fun!

So, you ask, what has Trish been up to for the past 8 months? The answer: very little. But I have been surfing the internet. A lot. I don't work nearly as hard as many people in my office. I probably should, but I'm a known procrastinator and slacker.

I believe in schaudenfraude, that seeing something bad happen to someone else makes you feel better about your life. Not that my life is bad by any means, but I sure like to laugh at stupid people too.

icanhascheezburger.com

Any of you cat lovers out there will know this site. This is the home of the LOLcat, LOLdogs, ROFLrazzi, Pundit Kitchen, the ever popular Fail Blog (another one that I love) and Engrish Funny. I would highly recommend that you check these out and have a good laugh at someone else's stupidity and really really cute kitty cats!

probablybadnews.com

This lovely little site touts itself as 'News fails, because journalism isn't dying fast enough'. I feel that the failure we see in modern journalism is due in large part to the fact that our society is now full of functionally illiterate adults being churned out of Universities (as a friend commented who teaches at the college/university level, she teaches students in their 3rd year who cannot read).

thisiswhyyourefat.com

A photo journal of the heart attacks we're all waiting to have. The concoction photos range from the very-tasty-man-I'd-try-that to the Oh-My-God-what-kind-of-dare-do-you-have-to-lose-to-eat-that. Many battered deep fried treats, covered in either meat or cheese, which also happen to be 2 of my favourite foods.

itemnotasdescribed.com

The tag line here is 'FREE is a four letter word'. If like to laugh at witty commentary on what people post on Craigslist, this is THE site for you. Come for the items, stay for the dialogue.

emailsfromcrazypeople.com

Crazy = funny. Enough said. A particular favourite, the Thanksgiving list.

These sites make a great conversation piece, or give you something that is reasonably safe to read at work. Really, I believe in schaudenfraude, and these sites make it easier to feel good about your life.

Another update...almost a year later

...and I still remembered how to login! How awesome is that!

Long time no blog. I guess I've mostly jumped the trend bandwagon onto Facebook, but I still like the idea of my blog. I'm going to try and keep up with my blogging a little more now and see what life has when I read a full year worth.

So, 2008. Almost done. Can't quite believe how quickly the year has gone! It was busy too. The new position, which isn't new anymore, has been good. Mike and I bit the bullet and actually BOUGHT a condo! That's still pretty exciting. It has that new car smell (even though it wasn't new and isn't a car...maybe we should look into that.) and I love living there. We got to paint and really make it ours and that's been wonderful.

I did another Fringe show this summer, which was actually fun! I got the worst review of my life, but it didn't really bother me that much. It's a be careful what you wish for thing, because I had just been saying to Mike that it would be really nice to just get mentioned for once in a review...Ooops. Whatever. I must have eaten the reviewer's baby on my last baby eating binge and didn't even realize.

The fall has been busy too. I went on a week long cruise with the 'rents to Alaska, which was amazing. Then I went almost directly to Montreal for a conference and a little more vacationing. It did kind of break me financially, but isn't that what life is all about?

2009 is coming fast and furious. What's going to happen? Well, Mike and I are going to Vegas with Jody and Anthony for easter. Not moving during event season will be a real treat this year! I'm looking forward to keeping more connected with my friends. That's been a really nice treat in 2008. Making myself more available to just hang out and enjoy life and the people in it. I think I got myself too wrapped up in too many other things, but I've realized it's okay to let that go.

Well, that's it for now. I may have a Christmas rant in a few days when I go shopping again! Take care Blog, glad to have chatted with you. We'll be doing more of this in the near future. I can feel it.

Trish

Long time, no blog

So, it's been almost eight months since my last blog. Wow. Time flies when you're having fun!

Things have been good. In my last post I had just recently moved in with Mike. Well, it's been eight months and things are great. We're hoping to buy a place of our own this spring.

Work is great. I've moved from being Development Coordinator to being Super Cities WALK Coordinator, which came with a raise and an office. It's still a contract position, but there is a strong chance that I'll become permanent. And I have an office!!! 4 walls and a door I can call my own, how sweet is that?

In October, we went to Disneyworld in Florida with Tom & Sandi. They were on their honeymoon, we went as a precursor to my 30th Birthday. We had a blast!! Best time ever! Hopefully we can go again in the near future...

And yes, I turned 30 in November. And, I've got to be honest, my year has been awesome so far. I can't wait to see how the rest of it plays out.

I'd like to make this a regular thing again. Much like everyone else, I've been lured into Facebook (or Crackbook, or Facecrack, or the devil...whatever you want to call it), but I'd really like to blog it up again.

I've missed you blog...have you missed me?

Finally Reconnected

Hello everyone!

This is me, finally blogging from the sanctity of my own home with Mike leaning on me. I FINALLY have my internet connection back!! After a trying 3 1/2 weeks trying desperately to get Telus to set up my damn high speed, it's back!!!!! I'm so happy I could pee...in fact, I'm going to stop blogging and do that. Then we're off to see Shrek the Third tonight and tomorrow I'm off to the folks house. Ciao for now!

Hi Everyone...long time no blog...

Yes ladies and gentleman, I'm back. Well kind of. My internet STILL isn't hooked up at home. I'm a little miffed with Telus right now. Me no likey. So I thought I'd do a quick hey how's it going post to all my dear friends and let them know I haven't forgotten them, I just can't get to you. And most of you probably are on Facebook anyhow. I'll blog again soon.

It's official, I'm a trendhopping sheep...BAAA

Hello bandwagon!

Remember me? Trish? You know, when I discovered everyone else had blogs, I decided I should do one too. Well, my dearest bandwagon, guess who just joined facebook.

Yup, it's me.

Seriously.

I can barely remember my login for my e-mail, let alone the hundreds of things that I have signed up for over the nearly 10 years that I have been on the web.

Mr. Bandwagon, sir, why do you make it so tempting?

I'm supposed to be packing. I'm moving this weekend. I mean, I have things to do, I have a life! But no. I've been here finding friends. And finding out which of my friends are on, and adding them to my friends list.

Remember when we actually used to call each up and actually talk? Why aren't we doing that again? Is there a good reason, or is it less awkward and inconvenient than having to make polite conversation? Maybe we need to find that art again. How about real face time instead of Facebook time. I'm gonna try that out.

Sincerely,
Trendhopping Trish

Maybe It's not so scary after all...

Since I have a 4 day long weekend, I decided that this would be a good weekend to do the bulk of my packing. And I was feeling incredibly daunted by the task at hand. I assumed that I mountainous piles of stuff all over the place. And every time I looked it was all I could see, clothes here, dishes there, random unused crap all over. Now, after the first real day of seriously doing something, I can see it's really not that bad.

The probable saving grace of it not being so bad is the fact that Mike and I spent a day in the summer cleaning out my storage cupboard. I did a huge purge of crap at that time. Stuff that had been piled in there since I moved in. We moved what was left out of there today and it all fits in my dining room (I dismantled my table this afternoon, so there's space).

So the plan is this. Tomorrow, I will do a second round of purge. This should finalize getting rid of all the things I don't need/want and thought I might during the summer.

I feel better now. Only 2 weeks until the big final move. We're doing it the 3rd weekend of the month because I knew well in advance I would have to work on the last weekend.

My posts will most likely be minimal for the next couple of weeks. But it doesn't mean that I don't love you all, I'm just a little busy. Wish me luck!

A New CAAAAARRR!!!

So, why did I give up my beloved (and often accursed) 1992 Corsica? I said I was starting think about getting a new car out loud while I was in the car. It staged it's final coup, and I cracked under the pressure. But I didn't let it get the best of me, hahahahaha!

Monday night, Mike and I came out from dinner and it was hemorraghing antifreeze for either the 4th or 5th time. I was unimpressed. My exact words may have been "fuck it, I'm getting rid of this goddamn piece of shit", I don't exactly remember.

Tuesday night I loaded the old bitch with antifreeze and headed back to Innisfail, where I had been on the weekend. I saw a car there and it was within my price range. I tested it with my dad and got a hella good deal from the guy at the dealership. He knocked $1500 off the asking price and threw in new tires and wipers as well. I'm super impressed.

After that, all the insurance and registration crap had to be taken care of. I got a hella good deal on the insurance too, they gave me a loyalty discount because I've been on my parents insurance for so long, I also found out that I have the highest rating for drivers because of being insured with my parents for so long.

So, it took about 7 hours to do all the crap, then I drove back here in my very nice, very reliable, not rattling and shaking and wheezing new car! I was a little tired, but it was totally worth it.

Oh, and my new license plate start with JAG, so I get to say I it's my Jag...

Adventures In Trishland

Well, I've done it. We all knew this day would come. Nothing could have been done to stop it.

I bought...




A NEW CAR!!!!! (This is where the cheesy gameshow voiceover come in)

More details later, bed now.

Eleven Saints

My friends find the coolest, weirdest videos on You Tube. I love them for it. It saves me so much time...

I have a lot of CRAP!!!

I'm trying to pack up because I'm moving in with Mike at the end of April. I'm wondering why I have so many old magazines. I have a garbage bag that is almost too heavy to move, and the majority of the stuff in it is old magazines. I don't need them. They serve no real purpose, other than gathering dust.

Oh, and speaking of dust, I have a lot of that too.

Here's hoping I can purge a lot of the stuff I don't need anymore. This week, we moved 7 boxes of books to his place. And the sad part is, I can't bear to part with any of them. Well, I guess it's not sad. Reading is important. But I have a book called 'Theatre in Lethbridge' that I got free from a lecture I had in University. I've never read it or had any use for it. I perused it and it was so dry my contacts hurt. Maybe it's time to let go...

The Horror of Swimsuit Season...

So, yesterday I had to do the thing that I think may be the most degrading thing that any woman has to face. Ladies, you all know what I'm talking about, and you've all had to do it. Yup, I'm talking about swimsuit shopping.

Tis the season when a young ladies thoughts turn to needing a new swimsuit because her current one is starting to stretch out. My current suit has served me very well, I've had it for...gee, I guess about 8 years or so. I bought it when I worked at Addition Elle in Red Deer. Some of you out there remember that period.

I started in the most obvious of places, Sears. Sears is always good for that kind of thing. I found the suits, found the rack with the fat kid suits, then pawed through until I found some not hideous ones in my size...or rather, what I thought my size was, but apparently not in swimsuit sizes. I think my problem is that I have a long torso, but I'm not really busty. Of course clothing manufacturers assume that fat kids are all short with big boobs. Sorry. I don't fit that mold.

So I find the fitting rooms in Sears and I head in, and it smelled like BO and a lot of Cinnamon scent to cover it up. On top of putting myself into the swimsuits (which really didn't work out for me) I had to smell this terrible smell that was making me nauseous. Or rather, not helping the nauseous feeling I had from trying on the suits.

After my harrowing experience, I head over to Addition Elle (I was at Kingsway mall, where true Edmontonians shop. West Ed is located in a little part of town that I like to call 'West Angria', mostly because I develop incredible rage when I drive to the west end. Then I have to try and park at the mall, which increases the anger. Then I have to go IN the mall, where the stupid people are...) and plunge headfirst into the swimwear area.

Part of my problem is that I really don't want a fancy, froofie bathing suit. I don't like crissy crossy, tummy tucking, boob lifting beaded things. I want a plain suit that I can do laps in. That's what I'm going for. I also don't believe that fat kids should wear 2 pieces or 'tankinis' as they are called. No no. Nobody needs to see that. Nobody. It's bad enough they have to see me in a one piece.

I think I'm gonna check online suits now. Maybe I can be spared some of the humiliation of doing this in public. Check y'all later, don't let the bathing suits getcha down!

Text Message Breakup

Don't be a deck! Watch this video betch! (Can I just say Margaret Cho rocks!)

shoes

If any of you know me, you know how why I love this song and video...

Watching the Oscars

Last night I watched the Oscars. Doing this only affirmed for me that I don't enjoy watching the Oscars. Now, I must qualify this if I'm going to say it. There are 7 categories that I want to see. I'm pretty sure that they are the same 7 categories that everyone wants to see. I think it's wonderful that they give technical awards and I believe that the people who receive them are wholly deserving. However, I don't give a crap about the art design or costume design, but the people who do these things are amazing, I won't ever say otherwise. The slobs who are watching from home (myself included) only care about the famous people. I may be cynical and terrible and shallow, but I want to see the really famous people, the songs and the host. I want them to be witty and charming and subtley mock their famous friends, but in the time frame of 60 - 90 minutes.

Maybe I only say this because I'm jealous. I've never been on an award show. I haven't received any recognition for being the creme de la creme in my field. I think that all of the technical achievements though, screenwriting and cg effects and all, should be presented at the separate technical awards night. I think I would be more gratified being recognized by my peers than being recognized by millions of people who won't remember my name, face, design, whatever tomorrow.

The timeframe is really too long as well. I have better things to be doing than spending almost 4 hours listening to speeches that thank all kinds of people that aren't there. If I do ever win an Oscar (hahaha!), when I get up to the podium, I'm going to thank myself. That may sound arrogant, but realistically, I'm the one who's done all of the work to get me where I am. Sure I had support, but I'm the one who drove all over hell's half acre, spent hours rehearsing, and more hours learning all of the nuances that made my performance stand out. And all the time learning the techniques to recognize the nuances. Yup, it's all me baby! Oh and definitely not thanking gob, or jebus, or anyone. They weren't the ones running themselves ragged while I performed in back to back shows, while taking a full class load and directing my own projects. No sirree bob! Jebus wasn't pulling all nighters with me.

So, that's my award show rant. Tell me how you feel about them.

Stuck at home sick

Yesterday, I woke up and thought I was going to die. Well, it wasn't really waking up, I had been awake on and off most of the night because everytime I swallowed, it felt like I was trying to swallow either razorblades, or a fork sideways. I have tonsillitis. I haven't had tonsillitis for almost 10 years. Maybe I should have had the little buggers yanked out when I had the chance. My neck is swollen and I can't eat because it hurts too much. I feel somewhat better today. The fever is down and the dizziness has subsided. It felt like it attacked me in my lower back too, I was having lots of trouble walking yesterday. Thank god for penicillin.

So, I called in sick to work for the past 2 days. I haven't slept so much in a long time. Yesterday I would wake up, attempt to do something, like go to the doctor, have a shower, make a phone call and end up sleeping for another 2 hours or so. I spent about 18 hours in bed. That's a record for me. Today, I can't go to sleep at all. I would like to, but I just can't. I ate a granola bar. Maybe I can eat a little more of the sandwich I have in the fridge. I feel like I should be hungry, but I'm not really.

One of the things I hate about being home sick is I feel like I should be doing something productive, like cleaning or something. I just don't have the energy to do it. But enough of me whining, how's everyone else doing out there? Take care of yourselves.

A nifty little blog

I had a gentleman post on my blog about after I did my David Copperfield post. I went to his and found a link to a great blog called "Post Secret". The person who runs the blog has people anonymously send in 4 X 6 postcards with a secret on them and he posts scans and posts them. Check it out

www.postsecret.blogspot.com

I like other peoples' dirty laundry...