For those of you who don’t know - I create advertising for a living. Not fancy graphics stuff, but text-based in-column adverts. Now that you have that bit of information - you may understand my frustration.

I work with the LEAST intuitive program EVER. I have to link together dozens of tidbits of information, and make them line up properly. And sometimes they just don’t. For no good reason. At least, not a reason that’s apparent to me.

Eventually, I exhaust all my resources, and go ask one of the more seasoned employees how to make that thing do the thing it’s supposed to. Their answer is usually to explain some bizarre workaround that doesn’t actually apply to anything but this situaion. I have binders full of procedure that explains these workarounds. BINDERS PEOPLE. Big ones.

And two of these books that I create advertising for, including the company’s biggest book, they roll to print on Friday. I am going completely insane. Fortunately, I can relax with some beautiful music later tonight when I go listen to dearheart belt her pretty little lungs out.

After an entire summer fighting with my tomato plants (they refused to grow, then they refused to pollenate), I bring you….
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The main purpose for this post is to give me a little something to do for a brain break. The thing that I’m doing isn’t going the way it’s supposed to, and it’s driving me crazy that I can’t figure it out. So it’s either blog, or defenestration. I’m sure it will all look clearer tomorrow when I go back to it.

I really hate working on a computer with no IM service. Apparently it’s too distracting and not related to work - so has been outlawed. I feel really isolated with no IM to keep me company. Also, nobody much has been commenting or emailing the past few days either - so I feel extra alone.

So how ’bout you all comment just to say “hi.” If you read this post - even if you wanna leave a bunky email address so you can remain anonymous, that would be cool

So I finally got off my lazy arse and, with a little gentle prodding from a friend, scrapped Win2Kpro for XP.

HOLY HELL WHERE THE FUCK HAVE I BEEN?

I should’ve done this a year ago, if not more.

Cleartype is a gift straight from the gods, and now that all my earlier fuck-ups have been erased, my computer is once again running as smoothly as it did on the day it was born. I ruined that exactly 3 days after that (about 3 years ago) so it hasn’t run this nicely for a LOOOOOOOOONG time.

The only thing I messed up on was the burning of my old email - so If you’ve emailed me anything of any importance in the last 48 hours, it’s gone. Please send it again. I did keep my contacts though, so it’s not a total loss.

Now I just have to get around to reinstalling all my old software. Ah well. I’ll need things to keep me busy after the big walk is finally over.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU! 1000 2000 TIMES, THANK YOU!

That’s right folks, I’ve finally made it! I raised all the boobie money! At this point in time, the official total is a whopping $2091.11. Unfortunately, that won’t show up on the website until after the event, as I’ve got a few cheques that I need to present at the check in on Day Zero (August 20th). But it’s all there!

And I’m there! That’s such a huge weight lifted off my shoulders, and you can’t even imagine how good I feel about having raised such a significant amount for such an important cause. And I couldn’t have done it without the overwhelming support of everyone who donated. Of course, I’ve reached the minimum, but if you love boobs - yours and/or someone else’s - please keep donating. What a sad place the world would be with no boobs.

And now, the fun starts. I get to put my training to the test, and try to not die on this 60k walk. If you’d like to cheer (or heckle) me on, the cheering stations are in the extended entry.

Thanks again everyone! I’m getting all misty over here. I LOVE YOU GUYS!
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Holy hell it’s getting worse. I don’t have any “illness” symptoms that usually accompany either a cold (like stuffiness) or flu (like nausea). I just feel all over disgusting.

I feel like I’m on the very cusp of something horrible. My head feels huge (and I’ve been sneezing a LOT the past couple days), and my stomach feels queasy, but not outright bad yet. And my body aches. And I still have a background headache.

And I’m going to bed. Maybe if I don’t work too long on Saturday (that’s right, working. On Saturday) and lay about and do nothing most of the day Sunday I won’t feel as bad.

I hope.

ps. Know what would make me feel a whole lot better? Boobie Money. I’m almost there! Less than 10 days to go and less than $200 to raise! Please!

I think I’m ill. This is not good.

I have a headache that feels like it could get big - and for no good reason. I get headaches all the time, from lack of caffeine, eye strain, and hangovers. But I’m well-hydrated, well-caffeinated, and have been dutifully wearing my glasses.

I’m also kinda sneezy and run-down in general.

Could the timing be any worse? I have too much shite to do with this walk coming up in less than 2 weeks. Can it just hold off until August 23rd? Please?

I wish I had something exciting to say, but I don’t. Instead, a brief book review.

50 Best Day Trips from Vancouver by Jack Christie. This is an ideal book for those of us (and I’m big-time guilty of it) who sit around on the weekend and say “there’s nothing to do”.

Mr. Christie (you make good cookies) leaves out the usual overdone (and expensive!) tourist traps, and instead focuses on the multitude of beautiful provincial and municipal parks, trails and beaches from North of Whistler all the way just past Hope. Many of his recommendations do include the option of paying for some extra amenities like a canoe rental, but they aren’t necessary to enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

I remember many of these spots from my childhood - spending time doing these daytrips with my family - and it’s a great reminder to visit some of these spots again, as well as a resource to discover some new ones.

I know the rest of my summer is too busy, but we have a fantastic fall in this city - so who wants to take a couple weekends and be my adventure buddy? I’m thinking about starting off with the first of the 50 chapterettes, Bowen Island, in September for a nice walk and a picnic. Who’s with me?

You know, there are three half-naked navy boys sitting on my couch right now.

Do Sunday mornings get much better than that?
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“What is the point of having FRIENDS if you can’t post passive-aggressive rants about them all over the Internet?”

Courtesy of the fabulous Miss AB.

Dear Post Office Employee,

It’s obvious you’re new, and want to do a “good job” serving the esteemed clients of the Canada Post Corporation. But there is a fine line between good service, and overbearing. Also, if it takes you triple the time it takes most other employees to provide the same service - your service ceases to be good.

Case in point: If the gentleman who’s obviously in a hurry says to you “put it in whatever envelope fits, and get it there as soon as possible” he really means for you to do just that. Not go over the merits of different kinds of shipping containers he can purchase, or various options for getting it there (only one of which is actually the fastest). I’m sure he, and the rest of the patrons in line, would really appreciate it if you would just grab the goddamn envelope that fits and send the thing express post so he can get the fuck outta there.

Also, a few tips for you (since you’re obviously new at this):
-yes, I do track my packages and know when they arrive.
-yes, I can claim a package without the mailbox slip if I present my photo ID
-yes, you can search for my package using either my name or delivery address. Your colleague (who so unfortunately had gone home for the day), whom I spoke to earlier, did just that to confirm that my package was indeed in your possession.

I know you witnessed the supervisor you finally called for help do all of the above in a matter of moments, but I just wanted to make sure you understood that you can do it yourself when I need to pick up another parcel, so I don’t have to stand around and look at posters of stamps for 10 minutes while you pull your head out of your ass.

Gratefully yours,
peechie.

p.s. In the future, we’d also all appreciate a little less turtle, a little more hare, if you know what I mean. I know slow and steady wins the race and all that - but this isn’t a race, and next time you might just be a first-hand witness to what it means for someone to really “go postal.”

Although he doesn’t always like to, my boyfriend is a really good listener when I really need to get something off my chest.

And when I talk about him, I’ve got a few great listeners I can go to to do so.

But now I’ve got something I’ve just gotta get off my chest that I can’t talk to any of the aforementioned about, and it’s driving me crazy!

I am in need of some serious girl talk. I wish I had time to grab coffee with someone sooner rather than later.

Aarrgh.

My amazon.ca order shipped on Friday.

Canada Post’s delivery standard is to have it in my hot little hands no later than tomorrow.

According to their tracking page (the worst tracking page ever, btw) it hasn’t yet left Missisauga.

I am not a happy camper.

ps. If anyone was concerned, I feel much better this morning

I am cranky and anxious.

I could be proactive and try to exercise some of it off (which usually helps), but instead I’ll just bury myself in a book and hope I sleep through the night.

I did not get enough sleep.

Man am I paying for it now.