Mucho Better.

I went up to the library and walked home (a nice 3k stroll). Felt nice to get out of the house.

I also finally found out the specifics of my EI claim. It’s never enough - but it’ll definitely be enough to get me by for the near (and even the not-so-near, should it come to that) future.

Things are looking up.

A little something new:

The Weather Eye desktop weather service from the Weather Network online.

I know I’m one of those retards who never actually looks outside until about 2 seconds before I’m about to leave the house - meaning I’m usually dressed totally inappropriately for the weather. This thing consistently shows the temperature, and a quick double click will give the rest of the details.

This funk I’m in will just NOT go away.

What’re your favourite things to do to alleviate a bad mood?

Oh, and shopping will not work (I’m broke), and neither will eating (I’m on a diet).

So lets get creative here people - what gets your mojo flowin’?

My roommate is dating. Not in and of itself anything special - but it’s fun to hear her horror stories. She’s a bit of a drama queen about it all.

What makes it significant though, is that I just heard a distinctly male cough come from her bedroom. It could be one of two gentlemen.

I’m now extremely curious to see which one it is (or perhaps an unknown third!)

… but this seems like the most reasonable explanation (in light of a complete and utter lack of any evidence of any toxic substances) for the “bus poisoning” debacle.

Dr. Richard Mathias says it’s very possible there was never any noxious or toxic substance on the bus, where several people became ill. And he says the incident is almost a textbook case of mass anxiety.

“Somebody starts to get sick and then it rapidly spreads to other people. (It’s) quite a classic presentation for this sort of thing.”

Granted, there was likely some agent (food poisoning or illness) that initially made the driver sick - but how often do we find ourselves blaming anyone or anything for the ill that sometimes befalls us? And really, they found DIRT AND WEEDS in those “mysterious pellets” - perhaps some serious spring allergies triggered it all?

What do you think?

I’m grumpy today. Not sure why - just a bit of a mood swing. I hope it clears up soon.

Colene has asked on her blog what we all like and dislike about where we live.

I live in the Brentwood area of Burnaby - and I love it.

I find it an ideal area for someone who doesn’t have a car. I’m a block or less away from just about everything a person needs to get on with daily life. A grocery store, two small malls, restaurants, Canadian Tire, Home Depot and a community fitness center are all within a 10 minute walk.

I’m also a block away from a major transit hub (Brentwood Station) meaning I can get to most points north/south/west/east of here really quickly, with buses and skytrains leaving frequently, and most routes are fairly direct.

On top of that, the neighbourhood still feels really safe. I’m not scared to walk a block to the bus station or go to the store after dark. Being out of the city, residences tend to be larger and less expensive. This area also contains almost exclusively condominium properties - no rental buildings (aside from the retirement home) - which makes for a neighbourhood where more people are invested in and care about where they live.

The only things I’m not a huge fan of:
- There’s no beach (hey, you can’t have it all I guess)
- No video store nearby, although that may change with a number of business spaces for lease. In the meantime, there’s always DVDFlix.ca if I get desperate
- It’s not Vancouver, where most of my friends live. And, like most Vancouverites, they’re usually a bit loathe to leave the confines of the city, which means I’m on the road whenever I want to visit. This isn’t to say people never come by though. I just have to invite them.
- It’s a bit too hilly for rollerblading. I can’t just strap on the blades and go - I’d have to head across town to the translink pathway under the skytrain in south burnaby. Again, only a 10 minute bus ride, and like the beach, it’s not a dire necessity.

Overall, my goal is to see how the neighbourhood develops (3 new residences went up in the past 2 years, and there are 4 more that are under construction) and probably purchase here eventually. It just feels like home.

So, first off, IT’S NOT STREP THROAT! YAY!

What it is, is some kind of ulcer. No matter though. The friendly neighbourhood GP at the clinic just STUCK A MATCH DOWN MY THROAT AND BURNT IT OFF.

He then said “sorry, that hurt didn’t it. oh well, now it’ll be gone in 3 or 4 days.”

Uh.. thanks?

Oh, and I had another good interview today, and one scheduled for tomorrow.

This job-finding thing is going so much better than the last go-round. Then again, this time I’m also putting effort into it - which could have something to do with it, heh.

First off, happy belated birthday to my dear bf. It was on Saturday the 22nd - and made for a 2nd, then a 3rd day of alcohol consumption - leading to an extra 2 days of hyjinks and debauchery. Which is why it took me so long to update.

And now, I have a horrible horrible throat injury. It’s been a bit sore off and on for a week or so, and for the past couple of days, despite rapid hydration and a lot of throat spray, it’s painful. And no, my drunken escapades did not involve much screaming (well, less screaming than last time, and I didn’t injure my throat then).

And not just hurting in that scratchy “it got really dry from too much talking and shouting” way, it hurts in the uncomfortable “something is stabbing into the back of my tongue/throat” way.

I get tonsil stones every now and again, and this feels like that, except on the wrong side, and with a grand accompaniment of PAIN.

If it’s not gone in another few days, I’ll go to the real doctor - but in the meantime, does anyone wanna entertain me by self (or in this case internet)- diagnosing?

ow.

Also titled “Jen likes to blog when she’s drunk.”

If you’re way drunker than you should be, and find that you need to go to bed, the best way to stop the spinning is to either:

a) slide one leg out of the bed and place your foot on the floor

or, if your bed’s too tall for that,

b) place your hands on, or grab firmly to a strong object that won’t move, such as a nightstand or your headboard.

Both actions help ground you, stop the spinning, and make for a more sleeping/less vomiting nighttime after drinking experience.

That is all.

Goodnight.
(more…)

I spent tonight celebrating friendship. Some old, some new - all that will last through at least the next few years (at least) I’m sure.

Disclaimer: said celebration involved more drinks (mostly shots) than I have fingers for - so I’m quite drunk.

That being said, in my life, I’ve never maintained friendships with anyone (nevermind fellow females) for more than a few months to a year at a time. I just figured I wasn’t built that way. Suddenly I find myself surrounded by women whose company I enjoy, and who seem to enjoy my company in return. And that amazes me. And I just wanted to say thank you. And I love you. And I’ll miss you.

And one more round of shooters to say BFF! i <3 u 4 ever!

And so much for the promise I made to myself that I wouldn’t cry tonight!

I think I’d like to focus on reading again this summer. It’s something I enjoy, and is much more interesting than TV and the Internet these days.

So, stealing an idea from Mac, give me your ideas for a summer reading list! Comment with your top few books (3-5 titles is ideal) and then I’ll post the start of my list next week, and trundle off to the library to get started.

One more word: I’ll be editing comments just to indicate if I’ve already read something that’s been recommended.

I had a phone screen this morning for a position that I’m only about 60% qualified for. I’m really REALLY good at that 60%, but just not experienced with the other 40% that they’re looking for.

So the guy who called asked me a lot of questions, to see just how much of that 40% I had a basic grasp of - and I honestly didn’t do too well with his questions. Granted, they weren’t very good questions, really general and vague, but I probably could’ve done better than I did.

That being said, when it was all over, he made a couple clucking/thinking noises, and said “ok then, well I’m just doing some preliminary screening right now, and I hope to get back to this round of applicants either later today, or on Tuesday.”

Which brings me to what this post is all about. DUDE! I may not be exactly what you’re looking for, but I’m not stupid! I know that was totally the brushoff. So why can’t interviewers just say “you know, we’re really looking for someone with more XYZ, but thank you for your time.” Because even though I know it was a total brush off, I’m still thinking in the back of my mind “but what if it wasn’t? What if he’s actually going to bring me in for a face to face?” Yah right.

I know I’m going to be an asset to whichever company I end up with - and if I’m not a good fit for that one, it’s ok. Just stop stringing me along!

If I ever end up ina position where I’m interviewing people (and remind me of this if I get there), I’m totally going to be honest. Not mean, I’ll tell them that they’re good in some areas, but not a great fit for this particular job.

I had the same experience last year, when I had a couple of really amazing interviews that I was subsequently and seemingly mysteriously not chosen for. I was hurt and puzzled until I got some answers. For the first one, the company actually decided not to fill the position at all (an inside tip from someone I knew who worked there), even though they sent me a letter saying they “went with another candidate.” For the 2nd interview, I asked the interviewer “why” after her short “thanks but no thanks” response, and she said that although I was a great candidate, 75% of the job would entail doing something I admitted to hating (cold calling). Fair enough.

But why couldn’t they just SAY SO IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!!

I know this has turned into a rambling rant, but I’m just sick of the bullshit. That’s all.

UPDATE (1:45pm): I just got the official “thanks but no thanks” email from the aforementioned phone screen. I knew it was coming. He could’ve saved himself the typing time by just saying it on the phone though.

So, I’ve been unemployed for exactly 1 week, and have managed to get in my first interview. Not too shabby. It went pretty well too - so good vibes please people!

Then again, I also wouldn’t be devastated if I had a couple more weeks to enjoy the sunshine…