I can count on one hand the amount of times I have gotten really really angry. Fuming does not cover it. Sometimes I wonder why I bother doing anything within the gay community. I'm not going to say too much, the interweb is a small place, but for some reason I am , or I should say my website is a target for this one person. I had thought that as mutual professionals there would be some mark of respect between us. Alas not. Our latest project, to raise money for 2 helplines by means of table quiz is being questioned because apparently one of the helplines knew nothing about it and are concerned. CONCERNED?! That what, we raise money and give it to them? We're not robbing a bank? We're not mugging some little old lady. We are raising money through a table quiz, a community event?
I just do not understand some people's mindset and without a gross generalisation , some gay people are right bitches.
I'm trying to run through reasons why this guy dislikes our site. Perhaps he had relatives who died in the famine and this is bringing up painful memories. Perhaps the word angry upsets him be cause if you drop the r and the g and re-arrange the letters it looks like his ex's name. Perhaps its because I am a lesbian and he's a gay man who hates lesbian. They're not such a rare breed as people like to think.
My head hurts..
Friday, September 28, 2007
Its going to be a cold one
Yesterday, picture the scene if you will. I stepped out of my apartment block, complete with winter jumper, winter coat, scarf and wooly hat looking like I was about to knock over a bank. Black is the winter colour you see. When what flits past me only this lunatic, I'm being kind here, wearing a short sleeved top. Yes, I did say short sleeves. Not a sign of a jacket, a scarf, heck even a jumper of some sort. I'm unsure what her story is but she had me scared. This week has been a strange one, with regards work and the kid. She made her annoucement on Monday evening and we have seen nothing of her since. Apart from a bunch of flowers and a card telling us we are the best mammies ever. Which was very sweet. Mammy2 gets the odd txt off her, for example the other night apparently she was re-doing the boyf's garden. She sounds happy which is the main thing. Although chances are there will be questions to be answered when people start asking about college and her course.
I finally finished my proposal for the web site that is going to involve a lot of work and sent it off. They responded saying they had a quick scan of it and they like the look of it. I don't know whether to be thrilled or terrified. I don't have a lot of confidence in my skills. I still have a lot of work on. One of the sites is being tested, I need to start work on my own portfolilo site and a site I did years ago has come back and reported a bug with some date field. I am
still trying to fix it, looking at code you wrote 3 years ago is always difficult. I obviously didn't believe in comments of any kind, muppet that I am. The last few evenings we've taken it easy, now that the wild Dutch have gone back to Holland. It was a mad few nights on the town with them but great craic. I had a funny txt from the sister asking me what those black sticks you see in tourist shops were called and what were they for. I txted back they were shilelaghs
and they were used for batying the arse off leprechauns. I'm not sure she believed me because she txted back PMSL. Perhaps I am not taken seriously. Hmm.
The brother has been txting me, teasing me about the Ploughing Championships. Because of the big project I am on, we're not allowed any leave until after the going live date. Its due to go live Oct 19th or thereabouts. So for another year I miss the big event. He txted on pics of some New Holland beauties to Mammy2's phone. Tractor porn :) Its quality stuff. He also mentioned something about being on the Afternoon show yesterday. Of course, we can't watch
streaming media in work so Mammy2 tuned in and said she didn't see him at all. I must check with him and make sure it was the afternoon show. The website doesn't seem to archive stuff from the show. Pants.
Tonight I catch up with the mate C. He's managed to clear a night with the gf. We're grabbing a bite to eat and watching the rugby. Some bonding will be done over an oddly shaped ball. I'm looking forward to seeing him as the last time was months ago and he's really good to chat to and talk geeky stuff. Because I'm such a geek myself :)
Speaking of rugby
I finally finished my proposal for the web site that is going to involve a lot of work and sent it off. They responded saying they had a quick scan of it and they like the look of it. I don't know whether to be thrilled or terrified. I don't have a lot of confidence in my skills. I still have a lot of work on. One of the sites is being tested, I need to start work on my own portfolilo site and a site I did years ago has come back and reported a bug with some date field. I am
still trying to fix it, looking at code you wrote 3 years ago is always difficult. I obviously didn't believe in comments of any kind, muppet that I am. The last few evenings we've taken it easy, now that the wild Dutch have gone back to Holland. It was a mad few nights on the town with them but great craic. I had a funny txt from the sister asking me what those black sticks you see in tourist shops were called and what were they for. I txted back they were shilelaghs
and they were used for batying the arse off leprechauns. I'm not sure she believed me because she txted back PMSL. Perhaps I am not taken seriously. Hmm.
The brother has been txting me, teasing me about the Ploughing Championships. Because of the big project I am on, we're not allowed any leave until after the going live date. Its due to go live Oct 19th or thereabouts. So for another year I miss the big event. He txted on pics of some New Holland beauties to Mammy2's phone. Tractor porn :) Its quality stuff. He also mentioned something about being on the Afternoon show yesterday. Of course, we can't watch
streaming media in work so Mammy2 tuned in and said she didn't see him at all. I must check with him and make sure it was the afternoon show. The website doesn't seem to archive stuff from the show. Pants.
Tonight I catch up with the mate C. He's managed to clear a night with the gf. We're grabbing a bite to eat and watching the rugby. Some bonding will be done over an oddly shaped ball. I'm looking forward to seeing him as the last time was months ago and he's really good to chat to and talk geeky stuff. Because I'm such a geek myself :)
Speaking of rugby
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Then there were two
The kid wanted a 'chat' yesterday with us.She's had a long think about things and she wants to move out. She's moving to Balbriggin to live with the boyf. She's tired of the city, she needs space and she wants to get a job and forget about the course and college. She was ready for all our "buts" and "why" and all the questions that inevidetably arose from us. To be honest, she seemed to have thought about it a lot. Mammy2 got upset. I still don't know how I feel to be honest. I mean, knowing her she could be back next week. The whole not bothered about college
worries me but as I have learned from Mam, its best to let them make their own descisions. So technically , we're back to just the two of us. Like it used to be. I'm sort of looking forward to it. I asked the kid if we could sublet her room and she glared at me. Apparently, she'll be back and forth, its not like she's gone forever, but its still weird. Its always been the titches, inseperable. Now she's moving out. She's growing up. I suppose it was only a matter of time. The city is tiring she says. Out in Balbriggen she has space, and its near the sea and it reminds her of home. I can see where she's coming from. Sometimes you just need a break from the hustle and bustle of life and in fairness to her she has gone through a lot in the last 3 years.
We haven't said it to anyone yet, I suppose we're just processing it ourselves. We met up with the sister and all the dutch people last night again. We brought up the Debs pictures of the kid and of course there was lots of "she looks like you" , "She's the spit of you" etc, and lots of pointing at me and back at the picture and adjusting glasses. It was quite funny. They're a lovely bunch although I reckon the sister K is wrecked from being their tour guide. Having to translate a lot of the time. Tonight we're heading to a trad session in O'Neill's on Suffolk Street. It should be a good
night. I hope the music is alright, I've been in O'Neills before and caught some of it and they sounded alright. As long as the dutch don't mind the lovely blue lighting it should be grand.
As I was wrecked this morning, and overslept I had to get a taxi out and on the way there were cop cars whizzing past and ambulences and sirens all over the shop. Well, the sirens would look silly by themselves. The usual route the taxi man takes, Ossary Road was closed off as was the road off Annsely Bridge. We couldn't get in via the DART Station or Clontarf so I had to get out and walk from there. It was mad. There was a police helicopter. I finally
got into work fashionably late and heard from one of the guys in here that a garda had been shot on the North Strand. I think its the second shooting in the last week in around this area. I should take to wearing body armour to work.
worries me but as I have learned from Mam, its best to let them make their own descisions. So technically , we're back to just the two of us. Like it used to be. I'm sort of looking forward to it. I asked the kid if we could sublet her room and she glared at me. Apparently, she'll be back and forth, its not like she's gone forever, but its still weird. Its always been the titches, inseperable. Now she's moving out. She's growing up. I suppose it was only a matter of time. The city is tiring she says. Out in Balbriggen she has space, and its near the sea and it reminds her of home. I can see where she's coming from. Sometimes you just need a break from the hustle and bustle of life and in fairness to her she has gone through a lot in the last 3 years.
We haven't said it to anyone yet, I suppose we're just processing it ourselves. We met up with the sister and all the dutch people last night again. We brought up the Debs pictures of the kid and of course there was lots of "she looks like you" , "She's the spit of you" etc, and lots of pointing at me and back at the picture and adjusting glasses. It was quite funny. They're a lovely bunch although I reckon the sister K is wrecked from being their tour guide. Having to translate a lot of the time. Tonight we're heading to a trad session in O'Neill's on Suffolk Street. It should be a good
night. I hope the music is alright, I've been in O'Neills before and caught some of it and they sounded alright. As long as the dutch don't mind the lovely blue lighting it should be grand.
As I was wrecked this morning, and overslept I had to get a taxi out and on the way there were cop cars whizzing past and ambulences and sirens all over the shop. Well, the sirens would look silly by themselves. The usual route the taxi man takes, Ossary Road was closed off as was the road off Annsely Bridge. We couldn't get in via the DART Station or Clontarf so I had to get out and walk from there. It was mad. There was a police helicopter. I finally
got into work fashionably late and heard from one of the guys in here that a garda had been shot on the North Strand. I think its the second shooting in the last week in around this area. I should take to wearing body armour to work.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Once more unto the breach, dear friends...
As I type the windows in here are being rattled by 'gale' force winds and the rain is lashing down. Charming. Although the weather is nothing like they are suffering in England with tornados and what not, its still does nothing to cheer one up. The sister K and boyf and boyf's family are as I type pottering around Dublin taking in all the sights. With an umbrella I hope. They are doing the costal tour today and Powerscourt as well. We caught up with them last night for a drink. We had said to them the weather was going to be changeable but we weren't expecting this. Last nights drinkies ended a mad weekend for a change. Rugby, I won't mention it as I am sick of the over anyalasis that is going on. The latest and funniest I think is that the fact that we don't have a proper anthem is affecting the way we play. I'm not making it up. Some people have too much time on their hands.
I caught up with the mate R on Saturday in Blanchardstown. I was supposed to go down and stay with her in Trim but as I was on call and not really in a socialable mood , we met for lunch instead. It was great to catch up with her, we see each infrequently but when we go catch up its like old times. We were very close in college, sharing a room in the same digs for 4 years and for one year we were inseperable as we went to Wales to work for the summer. She's getting married next week but as its only a family affair she wanted to catch up before she heads off on her honeymoon. The poor thing is stressed to bits. Her family are a tad mad it has to be said. I know that everyone's family have that odd bit of madness. She had a falling out with her mother a few years ago and they only recently got back to speaking. The 2 brothers aren't bothered about going to the wedding at all. Imagine not going to your sister's wedding? So naturally she's upset and stressed. I just hope it all goes well for her on the day. Once she had shared
her stories for the day, I filled her in on all that was going on, or had been going on with me. She had talked about stuff that she would never normally talk to me about, so I chatted to her about stuff I don't talk to anyone else about. That makes me sound mysterious doesn't it?! I don't mean it like that, I think I mean I don't like talking about how I feel and such like things.
Two hours flew past and it was time for us to head home. I really hope it all goes well for her on Friday. She deserves to have a happy day.
The kid was in bed this morning when I got up for work. She had left on Friday evening , with the best part of 200 euros in her pocket. She was paying 50 for her gym membership and the other 150 was for her to buy some new clothes. A few txts on Saturday confirmed that retail therapy is indeed the best thing ever. When we got in last night, herself and her man were hanging in the living room. She has fallen out with the best mate K again. For befriending someone else. Apparently the mate K is supposed to sit in her room and write bad poetry until the kid decides to call her? Which is slightly unrealistic. But then again the kid is a teenager, they have a slightly different take on people and mates.
I am supposed to be swamped with work at the moment but am having a CBA day. I have however made progress with the content management tool I have been researching for my next potential client. Its very powerful and there is loads to learn but the big thing for me was how to make it look the way I wanted it to look. I found a handy tutorial and without much PHP knowledge needed I managed to make the site look slightly different. I must get it up and running at home and I can play with it some more. I have started the solutions document, I hate writing documents but it has to be done. I have to send it to the client by Friday so I really need to put some work into it.
I caught up with the mate R on Saturday in Blanchardstown. I was supposed to go down and stay with her in Trim but as I was on call and not really in a socialable mood , we met for lunch instead. It was great to catch up with her, we see each infrequently but when we go catch up its like old times. We were very close in college, sharing a room in the same digs for 4 years and for one year we were inseperable as we went to Wales to work for the summer. She's getting married next week but as its only a family affair she wanted to catch up before she heads off on her honeymoon. The poor thing is stressed to bits. Her family are a tad mad it has to be said. I know that everyone's family have that odd bit of madness. She had a falling out with her mother a few years ago and they only recently got back to speaking. The 2 brothers aren't bothered about going to the wedding at all. Imagine not going to your sister's wedding? So naturally she's upset and stressed. I just hope it all goes well for her on the day. Once she had shared
her stories for the day, I filled her in on all that was going on, or had been going on with me. She had talked about stuff that she would never normally talk to me about, so I chatted to her about stuff I don't talk to anyone else about. That makes me sound mysterious doesn't it?! I don't mean it like that, I think I mean I don't like talking about how I feel and such like things.
Two hours flew past and it was time for us to head home. I really hope it all goes well for her on Friday. She deserves to have a happy day.
The kid was in bed this morning when I got up for work. She had left on Friday evening , with the best part of 200 euros in her pocket. She was paying 50 for her gym membership and the other 150 was for her to buy some new clothes. A few txts on Saturday confirmed that retail therapy is indeed the best thing ever. When we got in last night, herself and her man were hanging in the living room. She has fallen out with the best mate K again. For befriending someone else. Apparently the mate K is supposed to sit in her room and write bad poetry until the kid decides to call her? Which is slightly unrealistic. But then again the kid is a teenager, they have a slightly different take on people and mates.
I am supposed to be swamped with work at the moment but am having a CBA day. I have however made progress with the content management tool I have been researching for my next potential client. Its very powerful and there is loads to learn but the big thing for me was how to make it look the way I wanted it to look. I found a handy tutorial and without much PHP knowledge needed I managed to make the site look slightly different. I must get it up and running at home and I can play with it some more. I have started the solutions document, I hate writing documents but it has to be done. I have to send it to the client by Friday so I really need to put some work into it.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
You know, Catholicism, we believed in the teachings of Cathol, and everything it stood for..
Friday arrives and all the hype and build-up can stop and the match can go ahead. Tonight's big game in the pool of death will ultimately decide France or Ireland's fate in the World Cup. I think there is more pressue on the french. At this stage, the irish people are just hoping for a big performence and some pride in their jersey. We are heading out to watch it as we stayed local for the last couple of games. A few of Mammy2's clan might be joining us. It should be a good night.
The kid is going to the gym so won't be joining us. She seems to have taken this training thing to heart and is working at it. She's been listening to the boyf and wants to go on a no carbs diet. Nutter. She hardly eats anything anyway and if she cuts out pasta and potatoes. Thankfully, she didn't include potatoes. Way to give me a heart attack. The thought of her not wanting to eat potatoes is not something I could deal with. She's heading into her course today for the first time all week. The anti-biotics the doc gave her appear to be working thank god. There was no sign of the 2 of them when I got home. I arrived home to an emtpy apartment. This was such a shock , I stood in the living room for a while wondering what I was going to do with an empty apartment. Mammy was gyming and then she had therapy so I had an hour to kill. I worked through all the excercises the phyios set for me and chilled out.
When Mammy2 got home, we headed for dinner, Idian as its now Mammy2's favourite food, and then onto Panti's show Dolled up in the Project. It was brilliant. I would recommend taking it in. We really enjoyed it. The last time I was at the Project, the subject matter was a lot more uncomfortable. This was pure enjoyment. From her lip synching to her stories about her life, it was amazing. With the Dublin Theatre festival starting off, I think we might be making some more trips to the theatre. Mammy2 was always a big fan, I wasn't so much but am starting to think more about it. I've moved past the annual trip to the Gate for A Christmas Carol. I still can't believe its not on this year. There are a few plays that are on during the Dublin festival I want to take in, I just need to check and make sure they are not depressing.
I don't normally comment on stories that are in the media on here. This blog is mostly reserved for nattering about the kid and our lovely life living with her. But this case has me incensed. The general gist of it. Two lesbians, lucky enough to be able to go for IVF treatment are blessed with twins instead of one baby and three years later decide to sue for damages of more than $400,000??! Like WTF? Seriously. Some people have no right to be parents. On so many levels these women are selfish. They got pregnant. They had 2 beautiful children. They want to sue. Idiots. Pure and simple. And this article sums up my feelings on it perfectly.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22448088-5000117,00.html
From the stupid to the surreal. I love the internet. Check out this guy's photo diary of a fly
The Adventures Of Mr. Fly
http://www.jpgmag.com/stories/1299
Just one of the fabulous pics he has posted on his site.
The kid is going to the gym so won't be joining us. She seems to have taken this training thing to heart and is working at it. She's been listening to the boyf and wants to go on a no carbs diet. Nutter. She hardly eats anything anyway and if she cuts out pasta and potatoes. Thankfully, she didn't include potatoes. Way to give me a heart attack. The thought of her not wanting to eat potatoes is not something I could deal with. She's heading into her course today for the first time all week. The anti-biotics the doc gave her appear to be working thank god. There was no sign of the 2 of them when I got home. I arrived home to an emtpy apartment. This was such a shock , I stood in the living room for a while wondering what I was going to do with an empty apartment. Mammy was gyming and then she had therapy so I had an hour to kill. I worked through all the excercises the phyios set for me and chilled out.
When Mammy2 got home, we headed for dinner, Idian as its now Mammy2's favourite food, and then onto Panti's show Dolled up in the Project. It was brilliant. I would recommend taking it in. We really enjoyed it. The last time I was at the Project, the subject matter was a lot more uncomfortable. This was pure enjoyment. From her lip synching to her stories about her life, it was amazing. With the Dublin Theatre festival starting off, I think we might be making some more trips to the theatre. Mammy2 was always a big fan, I wasn't so much but am starting to think more about it. I've moved past the annual trip to the Gate for A Christmas Carol. I still can't believe its not on this year. There are a few plays that are on during the Dublin festival I want to take in, I just need to check and make sure they are not depressing.
I don't normally comment on stories that are in the media on here. This blog is mostly reserved for nattering about the kid and our lovely life living with her. But this case has me incensed. The general gist of it. Two lesbians, lucky enough to be able to go for IVF treatment are blessed with twins instead of one baby and three years later decide to sue for damages of more than $400,000??! Like WTF? Seriously. Some people have no right to be parents. On so many levels these women are selfish. They got pregnant. They had 2 beautiful children. They want to sue. Idiots. Pure and simple. And this article sums up my feelings on it perfectly.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22448088-5000117,00.html
From the stupid to the surreal. I love the internet. Check out this guy's photo diary of a fly
The Adventures Of Mr. Fly
http://www.jpgmag.com/stories/1299
Just one of the fabulous pics he has posted on his site.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Feeling Good
Birds flying high you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Reeds driftin on by you know how I feel
(refrain:)
Its a new dawn
Its a new day
Its a new life
For me
And Im feeling good
Fish in the sea you know how I feel
River running free you know how I feel
Blossom in the tree you know how I feel
(refrain)
Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, dont you know
Butterflies all havin fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
Thats what I mean
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me
Stars when you shine you know how I feel
Scent of the pine you know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel
Did you ever have a song that just summed up how you felt? God bless shuffle on iTunes. Whilst I am tired and avoiding thinking about Saturday, my overall mood is great! The kid is out sick again today, in her defence she is suffering pretty badly with the infection, whatever it is. She had her doctor's appointment yesterday and she is on meds for it. Of course with Mammy2 she acts fine and when I get home she's curled up in bed with the pain. I think she thinks I am a sucker for her crying and going on about being sore. Of course she's right, once she turns on those tears I have no choice but to make tea or fuss over here. Damn her for knowing my weak spots.
Mammy2's family continue to surprise me. She was at her uncle's funeral mass and burial yesterday. Her uncle died in Australia last month and his ashes were brought back to Ireland to be buried in the family plot. Everyone went out afterwards for lunch and drinks and one of the aunties Mammy2 knows well came over and gave her a big hug and said "Your mother told me about you, and I'm so happy for you. I have to meet this woman of yours". I'm still in shock. Apparently Mammy2's mammy loves me. Which can only be a good thing! For her to accept me is one thing, to actually be telling other family members as if not to care what they think is amazing. She really has come a long way. I suppose after nearly 9 years its starting to sink in that this might be serious.
The physio man reckons I am fine for training and the shoulder is grand, just some nerve issues which he has given me excercises and posture stuff to do. You never realise how you sit until someone points it out to you. So I have a ton of excercises to do and I can continue to train. I told the mate J my plan was get in shape and back to the level of fitness I am happy with my christmas and then from there go for my first belt. I like to have something to aim for. She seems all set for it. We caught up last night and had a lovely evening swapping stories of Italians and Italy in general. She'd been there counting dolphins on some island and the poor thing was traumatised from the ferry ride there and back. She is entertaining thoughts of training on Sat morning but this depends on tomorrow night and the ruggers. I really hope we either win or put some sort of performence whereby we have pride in our jersey. We are so all over the place at the moment its ridiculous. When all else fails I suppose, I can just admire Michelak. The man is so lovely!
Tonight we are heading to see Panti's play. I'm really looking forward to it. It was a spur of the moment thing as I was supposed to be meeting up with the mate C and as he cancelled, I decided I'd like to see something in the fringe festival. As luck would have it Panti's play is showing until Sat so I booked 2 tickets for us to go tonight. A show
and lots of qt with Mammy2 should be the makings of a great night. I feel like I haven't seen her all week.
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Reeds driftin on by you know how I feel
(refrain:)
Its a new dawn
Its a new day
Its a new life
For me
And Im feeling good
Fish in the sea you know how I feel
River running free you know how I feel
Blossom in the tree you know how I feel
(refrain)
Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, dont you know
Butterflies all havin fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
Thats what I mean
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me
Stars when you shine you know how I feel
Scent of the pine you know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel
Did you ever have a song that just summed up how you felt? God bless shuffle on iTunes. Whilst I am tired and avoiding thinking about Saturday, my overall mood is great! The kid is out sick again today, in her defence she is suffering pretty badly with the infection, whatever it is. She had her doctor's appointment yesterday and she is on meds for it. Of course with Mammy2 she acts fine and when I get home she's curled up in bed with the pain. I think she thinks I am a sucker for her crying and going on about being sore. Of course she's right, once she turns on those tears I have no choice but to make tea or fuss over here. Damn her for knowing my weak spots.
Mammy2's family continue to surprise me. She was at her uncle's funeral mass and burial yesterday. Her uncle died in Australia last month and his ashes were brought back to Ireland to be buried in the family plot. Everyone went out afterwards for lunch and drinks and one of the aunties Mammy2 knows well came over and gave her a big hug and said "Your mother told me about you, and I'm so happy for you. I have to meet this woman of yours". I'm still in shock. Apparently Mammy2's mammy loves me. Which can only be a good thing! For her to accept me is one thing, to actually be telling other family members as if not to care what they think is amazing. She really has come a long way. I suppose after nearly 9 years its starting to sink in that this might be serious.
The physio man reckons I am fine for training and the shoulder is grand, just some nerve issues which he has given me excercises and posture stuff to do. You never realise how you sit until someone points it out to you. So I have a ton of excercises to do and I can continue to train. I told the mate J my plan was get in shape and back to the level of fitness I am happy with my christmas and then from there go for my first belt. I like to have something to aim for. She seems all set for it. We caught up last night and had a lovely evening swapping stories of Italians and Italy in general. She'd been there counting dolphins on some island and the poor thing was traumatised from the ferry ride there and back. She is entertaining thoughts of training on Sat morning but this depends on tomorrow night and the ruggers. I really hope we either win or put some sort of performence whereby we have pride in our jersey. We are so all over the place at the moment its ridiculous. When all else fails I suppose, I can just admire Michelak. The man is so lovely!
Tonight we are heading to see Panti's play. I'm really looking forward to it. It was a spur of the moment thing as I was supposed to be meeting up with the mate C and as he cancelled, I decided I'd like to see something in the fringe festival. As luck would have it Panti's play is showing until Sat so I booked 2 tickets for us to go tonight. A show
and lots of qt with Mammy2 should be the makings of a great night. I feel like I haven't seen her all week.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Cute pics!
First one, a user on my website angrypotato.net sent to me. They are sometimes supportive of my obessions :)
and the second one I found on a random site, can't remember which one. Will try to find it and credit the photographer.
Ahoy, me hearties!
Today is international talk like a pirate day. And I didn't make that up. So ARRRGHHHH to ye all. Today is looking slightly better then yesterday, then again a day spent in pain is never good. Stupid being a female. The sooner I get pregnant the better. Of course for this to happen there needs to be certain elements in place. We're hoping to make an appointment with the clinic for tests at the end of this month.Ideally if there's nothing wrong, they might treat us which would be great. Then there's just the case of raising the money to pay for said treatment. Anyhew, its a long way away and for the moment, I'll get by on painkillers and general grumbling. I got most of my day job stuff done yesterday, generated a lot of interest in the table quiz I am organising and managed to get Drupal installed only to have it take over the temporary holding page I had in place for aPotato.com. Stupid thing. I told it not to, but obviously not in a language it could understand. Drupal doesn't speak Westmeathian very well.Mammy2 had to pick me up from work as I worked late and then was really weak and so didn't think I could face bus/bus/luas trip home. Once home I headed to bed. The family love me, I'm spending so much time with them of late :) Today though I am feeling much better. I have physio tonight and then meeting up with the mate J. I haven't seen her in over 3 weeks so there shall be lots of catching up to do. She's back online well in an email capacity which is good. I'm an email person for communication.
The kid is at home again today. She is and I quote DYING of a bladder infection. I've never heard of anyone dying from a bladder infection but as I've learned with her there is a first time for everything. Funny how the dying is tied in with the boyf being around. I can't wait to have a talk tonight. Its been, oh, only 3 weeks since the last family meeting. I miss them. Like a hole in the head. You'd like to think once she reachs an age, such as 18 , one wouldn't have to treat her like a kid anymore. She has her mature moments, but sadly, I have learned that being of a certain age and acting a certain way doesn't always gaurentee maturity. There is a silver lining, I can still ground her. Or I like to think I can.
The mate C rang yesterday to re-schdedule our meeting up. I can't say I am surprised. Once I heard the words just clear if with the gf I knew there wasn't a chance I was going to see him. She must have gotten wind of that secret shrine I have to him in my bedroom. Women. However, he has said he will definetly meet up next week under the smokescreen of rugby. I can only assume he's telling her he's going out to watch the rugby with his mates. Me included. I don't really care what he tells her as long as he's allowed out to play. I wonder if I wrote her a letter telling her I had no interested whatsoever in him romantically or his sperm, just in case she believes all the stories that come from the likes of the Daily Mail. Lesbians target straight men, kidnap them for babies. Or something slightly more salacious.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it
The kid has a 'bladder infection'. I'm unsure if this is related to the boyf staying over again. The use the term bladder infection loosly, because much like the 'too many chips' quotation covers I've had too much to drink, the bladder infection covers the I am sexually active conversation I never ever want to have with her. Mammy2 will hopefully have a chat with her. We don't want to have to force her to go to the course, after all she's 18. Its beyond get up for your course. But she does have to make an effort. As Mammy2 said, funny how it didn't affect her when she went to the gym last night. Because of the weight she is convinced she has put on, she has decided to start training with the boyf. He is a personal trainer as well as a wrestler. Personally, I think the excercise will be really good her and will help with the depression. So I'm all for that. I am not all for her skipping the course though. I think we might have to have a conversation tonight about the boyf staying over mid week.
I went training yesterday although I had no intention of going. I was motivated. A good hour punching works out any anger or annoyence and you see things a lot more clearly. By the time I had left the class and headed to the Indian takeaway to get dinner, I was in great form. My stupid shoulder is acting up again though so I have made another appointment for physio. I reckon I'll have a zimmerframe in the next year. Mammy2 reckons the class should come with a warning, every time I go I lose a limb. I was determined to start work on the research needed for the new project. I got as far as downloading all of the software and installing it. I got to configuring and of course some of the urls needed for the plugins are out of date and some of the other ones are throwing errors. Typcial. So my fantastic tutorial that was going to get me up and running, I may have to shelve and its back to the drawing board. This task is beginning to look at little daunting.
Did I mention the drop in temperture? There was no gradual introduction to this. It was one day warm, the next day freezing. You gotta love this country. I love crisp mornings and evenings, yesterday as I headed to training, you could smell a turf fire. It reminded me of home. And to add to the misery, the evenings are starting to get darker already. Throw in some rain and wind and you have no reason to ever leave the house. Well, apart from work that is. Thankfully, I am getting through my projects in here.
The table quiz we are trying to organise is coming along well, although I have vowed to never volunteer for anything again. I don't like the stress involved in trying to get this sorted and that. I suppose the main thing is that we raise the funds for the line and it continues to be there as a support channel for lesbians. The website is getting a face lift as well, which I am awaiting designs on. Seeing as my designer is doing the work for free, I don't want to put pressure on her. She's excellent at her job and I look forward to seeing what designs she will come up with the new portal if we get it. I hate writing proposal documents. I hate writing documents full stop never mind proposing a solution to something with such unknown entities. Yes, I agree it will be worth my while to learn a content management tool, to know PHP, to be familar with mysql and its workings. But my brain can only take so much in. If only we had a USB port at the back of our head? Wouldn't that be fab.
In other news, the soft toy berry that sits on my monitor in work throw himself off the monitor in dramatic fashion this morning. I'm unsure what brought it on. He had been a bit down lately, but he usually just moved around the top of the monitor , he never would just throw himself off like that. Its hard I know in this day and age to be a berry, so perhaps the pressure or lonliness was getting to him. Thankfully, he wasn't too badly injured. The O and P of the keyboard caught him and saved him from serious damage. He's back in place now and I've moved Eeyore closer to him. Perhaps he just needs a friend. I think he also wants to be a meerkat with all the meerkat talk around this place. Its understandable, they are in the media all the time. He wants in. How do you talk to a soft toy berry and tell them
that they are needed? What do you say to him? Perhaps I should stop talking/writing :)
I went training yesterday although I had no intention of going. I was motivated. A good hour punching works out any anger or annoyence and you see things a lot more clearly. By the time I had left the class and headed to the Indian takeaway to get dinner, I was in great form. My stupid shoulder is acting up again though so I have made another appointment for physio. I reckon I'll have a zimmerframe in the next year. Mammy2 reckons the class should come with a warning, every time I go I lose a limb. I was determined to start work on the research needed for the new project. I got as far as downloading all of the software and installing it. I got to configuring and of course some of the urls needed for the plugins are out of date and some of the other ones are throwing errors. Typcial. So my fantastic tutorial that was going to get me up and running, I may have to shelve and its back to the drawing board. This task is beginning to look at little daunting.
Did I mention the drop in temperture? There was no gradual introduction to this. It was one day warm, the next day freezing. You gotta love this country. I love crisp mornings and evenings, yesterday as I headed to training, you could smell a turf fire. It reminded me of home. And to add to the misery, the evenings are starting to get darker already. Throw in some rain and wind and you have no reason to ever leave the house. Well, apart from work that is. Thankfully, I am getting through my projects in here.
The table quiz we are trying to organise is coming along well, although I have vowed to never volunteer for anything again. I don't like the stress involved in trying to get this sorted and that. I suppose the main thing is that we raise the funds for the line and it continues to be there as a support channel for lesbians. The website is getting a face lift as well, which I am awaiting designs on. Seeing as my designer is doing the work for free, I don't want to put pressure on her. She's excellent at her job and I look forward to seeing what designs she will come up with the new portal if we get it. I hate writing proposal documents. I hate writing documents full stop never mind proposing a solution to something with such unknown entities. Yes, I agree it will be worth my while to learn a content management tool, to know PHP, to be familar with mysql and its workings. But my brain can only take so much in. If only we had a USB port at the back of our head? Wouldn't that be fab.
In other news, the soft toy berry that sits on my monitor in work throw himself off the monitor in dramatic fashion this morning. I'm unsure what brought it on. He had been a bit down lately, but he usually just moved around the top of the monitor , he never would just throw himself off like that. Its hard I know in this day and age to be a berry, so perhaps the pressure or lonliness was getting to him. Thankfully, he wasn't too badly injured. The O and P of the keyboard caught him and saved him from serious damage. He's back in place now and I've moved Eeyore closer to him. Perhaps he just needs a friend. I think he also wants to be a meerkat with all the meerkat talk around this place. Its understandable, they are in the media all the time. He wants in. How do you talk to a soft toy berry and tell them
that they are needed? What do you say to him? Perhaps I should stop talking/writing :)
Monday, September 17, 2007
-6 degress in the shade
This is what I feel like at the moment. The air conditioning battle continues in our offices with casualities on either side. One of my collegaues has taken to wearing a scarf in work. Tomorrow I intend to bring a hat, scarf and gloves. One can never be too prepared. Weekend went by much too quickly for my liking. It was just like the old times, BTK ( Before The Kid ) She headed to the boyf's on Friday night and we didn't see her again until last night. Lots of quality time with the wife and chilling out. I only worked on Friday evening for a while. This was brought on by a potential new project. Which is going to be huge so I am still investigating. I have 2 projects pending but there are no deadlines as one is my own portfolio site and another is a revamp I suggested so again no pressure. I already have the templates defined, its just a case of updating the site and setting it life.The latest project is very big. The client is looking for a portal, complete with online shop, forum, polls and lots of interactivity as well as the user having an online account they can use to access the various parts of the site. For the moment, its only one site but the framework has to allow for a number of sites to sit within in. I've started researching CMS tools and so far I have found that Drupal appears to be the best. Slight problem with this is that I have to learn PHP from scratch. The main languages I use are ASP and JSP. I am looking forward to learning something new and content management software and code is always something I wanted to get into. So I suppose I have to start somewhere. I have to do up a tender document and submit to the client and if he likes what he sees, I may get the project. In the meantime I have a lot of research to go as well as see if my designer is ready for a big project.
The weekend of sport was a tad dismal. Ireland scrapped a win, France hammering Namibia and Cork not being able to stand up to Kerry in the All Ireland final. Shocking stuff. Things were so bad during the All Ireland final, I actually started one of my books. Mammy2 went on a shopping spree book wise and bought a load of books and got one for me. Its the latest Roddy Doyle book called The Deportees and so far is very good. I like his style of writing. He's a very funny man.
Saturday morning found me in the lovely postion of pushing a sweaty woman's legs apart. Calm down, kids this is not turning into an NC17 blog. I went training. I thought my partner was a beginner. That soon changed when she landed perfect round house and side kicks on my poor body. No beginner delivers kicks like that unless she is straight from the couch after a marathon Jackie Chan sessions. She had a slight height advantage on me. To 'wind down' we had to do some stretches. We had to do these in my old class as well, so I was familar with the methods. Lets just say you get to know your parter. There is the pushing down on their knees to force the stretch.The gentle pushing on their
back whilst they stretch towards their toes. It sounds painful and is at times, but you feel pretty good afterwards. The womens class on a Sat morning I really like as there is less testerone floating around then in the regular class. You learn a lot more about technique as well. Hoping to get another class in this week depending on how the body feels.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
I heart Mika
I think I may have mentioned him numerous times but his cd is the best I have heard in a long time and this is my favourite song :)
and this is just hilarious
and this is just hilarious
Friday, September 14, 2007
The dawn of a new era
The kid started the portfolio course yesterday. It was strange being up with her in the morning and not asking her
where her tie was , checking to see if we needed to write a note or just generally listening to her moan about how
the education system was repressing her individuality. It was also refreshing. She headed off and no word until
lunchtime when I got a txt from her saying she was lonely. I felt sorry for her, it was her first day but everyone
else's 4th day so of course they all knew each other and were probably after making friends. I tried to calm her down
and crack jokes. She txted back saying she was starving but afraid to go to the canteen as the people scared her. I
sent a few more txts and then heard nothing. I crossed my fingers there were some people there who took her under
their wing. Yes, I am aware she's 18 :) But still, its her first day. Thankfully Mammy2 rang after 4 and said she was talking to her and she's was in great form. Some guy showed her around and she really likes it. So much so she started working on her assignment last night. She has to create a notebook and throughout the year update it with personal stuff. She put a lovely picture of Mam on the front of it. She was up and all this morning by the time I surfaced. This is a good sign and hopefully she'll keep it up.
Yesterday was a tad stressful in work. People are holding up our work and stroppy emails are being sent with the words marketing and immoveable dates. I'm not allowed take leave until after October 20th. Thankfully I have nothing planned except for the Oct bank holiday weekend when we are going to Edinburgh. I was supposed to be going to Killary with the mate S and a group of us. Her parents own a house down there, and we go down at least once a year for a long weekend. However. the chances of my boss approving a day off before we are due to go live are slim and none. I don't mind too much , although I love Killary. Its hard to describe the place, you just have to see it. I was in here late last night and by the time I got home, it was nearly 8. Caught up with the family as I had been out the previous night with one of my baby dykes J. Not sure if I mentioned her before. She's been in London for the last year and she's doing really well. She has come on so far since I saw her last year when she couldn't even say the word gay. Whilst she still can't, she is able to talk about it a bit more. I think London was great for her. She's heading back on Monday and then heading to Bradford to study conflict resolution. Don't ask, this girl is a strange one. She's lovely though.
The mate J is back next week, I hope! I really miss her. When we got back from Rome, she was gone to Italy with the mate B to count dolphins. Yes I did say count dolphins. Its another one of those don't ask situations. The mate B hears about the strangest of things and signs up for them. One time there was rohendren, I'm pretty sure that's not how you spell it but anyways, killing in Kerry. Apparently. they are a dangerous plant. How knew?!
The mate C rang yesterday. Unprompted and actually looking for a chat. I managed to wangle a meeting out of him although as of yet its still unconfirmed. He has to check with the gf so I won't hold my breath. I would like to catch up with him though. The kid still curses him from a height. The titches don't really like anyone that crosses or upsets one of us. C still reckons the reason his infection took so long to clear was because the kid had cursed him in some way. I didn't mention it might have been karma as he probably doesn't believe in it.
where her tie was , checking to see if we needed to write a note or just generally listening to her moan about how
the education system was repressing her individuality. It was also refreshing. She headed off and no word until
lunchtime when I got a txt from her saying she was lonely. I felt sorry for her, it was her first day but everyone
else's 4th day so of course they all knew each other and were probably after making friends. I tried to calm her down
and crack jokes. She txted back saying she was starving but afraid to go to the canteen as the people scared her. I
sent a few more txts and then heard nothing. I crossed my fingers there were some people there who took her under
their wing. Yes, I am aware she's 18 :) But still, its her first day. Thankfully Mammy2 rang after 4 and said she was talking to her and she's was in great form. Some guy showed her around and she really likes it. So much so she started working on her assignment last night. She has to create a notebook and throughout the year update it with personal stuff. She put a lovely picture of Mam on the front of it. She was up and all this morning by the time I surfaced. This is a good sign and hopefully she'll keep it up.
Yesterday was a tad stressful in work. People are holding up our work and stroppy emails are being sent with the words marketing and immoveable dates. I'm not allowed take leave until after October 20th. Thankfully I have nothing planned except for the Oct bank holiday weekend when we are going to Edinburgh. I was supposed to be going to Killary with the mate S and a group of us. Her parents own a house down there, and we go down at least once a year for a long weekend. However. the chances of my boss approving a day off before we are due to go live are slim and none. I don't mind too much , although I love Killary. Its hard to describe the place, you just have to see it. I was in here late last night and by the time I got home, it was nearly 8. Caught up with the family as I had been out the previous night with one of my baby dykes J. Not sure if I mentioned her before. She's been in London for the last year and she's doing really well. She has come on so far since I saw her last year when she couldn't even say the word gay. Whilst she still can't, she is able to talk about it a bit more. I think London was great for her. She's heading back on Monday and then heading to Bradford to study conflict resolution. Don't ask, this girl is a strange one. She's lovely though.
The mate J is back next week, I hope! I really miss her. When we got back from Rome, she was gone to Italy with the mate B to count dolphins. Yes I did say count dolphins. Its another one of those don't ask situations. The mate B hears about the strangest of things and signs up for them. One time there was rohendren, I'm pretty sure that's not how you spell it but anyways, killing in Kerry. Apparently. they are a dangerous plant. How knew?!
The mate C rang yesterday. Unprompted and actually looking for a chat. I managed to wangle a meeting out of him although as of yet its still unconfirmed. He has to check with the gf so I won't hold my breath. I would like to catch up with him though. The kid still curses him from a height. The titches don't really like anyone that crosses or upsets one of us. C still reckons the reason his infection took so long to clear was because the kid had cursed him in some way. I didn't mention it might have been karma as he probably doesn't believe in it.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
I am so going to try some of these :)
WAYS TO KEEP A HEALTHY LEVEL OF INSANITY IN THE WORKPLACE
Page yourself over the intercom. (Don't disguise your voice.)
Find out where your boss shops and buy exactly the same outfits. Always wear them one day after your boss does. (This is especially effective if your boss is a different gender than you are.)
Come to work in army fatigues and when asked why, say, "I can't talk about it".
Send email to the rest of the company telling them what you're doing. For example "If anyone needs me, I'll be in the bathroom."
Phone someone in the office you barely know, leave your name and say "Just called to say I can't talk right now. Bye".
"Hi-lite" your shoes. Tell people that you haven't lost your shoes since you did this.
Put up mosquito netting around your cubicle.
Every time someone asks you to do something, ask them if they want fries with that.
When someone hands you a piece of paper, finger it, and whisper huskily, "Mmmmmmm, that feels soooooo good!".
Put your garbage can on your desk. Label it "IN."
Determine how many cups of coffee is "too many."
Put decaf in the coffeemaker for 3 weeks. Once everyone has gotten over their caffeine addictions, switch to espresso.
Walk sideways to the photocopier.
Leave the copy machine set to reduce 200%, extra dark 17 inch paper, 99 copies.
While riding an elevator, gasp dramatically every time the doors open.
If you have a glass eye, tap on it occasionally with your pen while talking to others.
When driving colleagues around insist on keeping your car windshield wipers running in all weather conditions "to keep 'em tuned up."
Say to your boss, "I like your style" and shoot him with double-barrelled fingers.
Babble incoherently at a fellow employee then ask "Did you get all that, I don't want to have to repeat it".
Reply to everything someone says with "that's what YOU think?".
Practice making fax and modem noises.
Make beeping noises when a large person backs up.
Kneel in front of the water cooler and drink directly from the nozzle.
Finish all your sentences with the words "in accordance with prophesy."
Signal that a conversation is over by clamping your hands over your ears and grimacing.
Shout random numbers while someone is counting.
Staple papers in the middle of the page.
Publicly investigate just how slowly you can make a croaking noise.
TYPE ONLY IN UPPERCASE.
type only in lowercase.
dont use any punctuation either
Repeat the following conversation a few times: "Do you hear that?" "What?" "Never mind, it's gone now."
As much as possible, skip rather than walk.
When nearly done, announce "no, wait, I messed it up," and repeat.
Ask people what gender they are.
While making presentations, occasionally bob your head like a parakeet.
Sit in the car park at lunch time pointing a hair dryer at passing cars to see if they slow down.
Ask your co-workers mysterious questions and then scribble their answers in a notebook. Mutter something about "psychological profiles".
Why not try some of the following neat little exercises, not only will it make meetings more interesting but your fellow workmates will become suddenly more alert and maintain a respectful distance. By following these simple guidelines during important meetings, you too can be an unmitigated success:
Discreetly clasp hold of someone's hand and whisper: 'can you feel it?' from the corner of your mouth.
Draw enormous genitalia on your notepad and discreetly show it to the person next to you for their approval.
When refreshments are presented, immediately distribute one biscuit to each of the attendees, then systematically smash each one with your fist in front of them.
Chew tobacco.
Wear a hands free phone headset throughout once in a while drift off into an unrelated conversation, such as: 'I don't care if there are no dwarfs, just get the show done!'
Write the words 'he fancies you' on your pad and show it to the person next to you while indicating with your pen.
Respond to a serious question with: 'I don't know what to say, obviously I'm flattered, but it's all happened so fast'.
Use Nam style jargon such as 'what's the ETA?', 'who's on recon?' & Charlie don't surf'.
Reconstruct the meeting in front of you using action figures and when anyone moves re-arrange the figures accordingly.
Shave one of your forearms.
Draw a chalk circle around one of the chairs then avoid sitting on it, when the meeting starts. When someone does eventually sit in it, cover your mouth and gasp.
Turn your back on the meeting and sit facing the window with your legs stretched out. Announce that you 'love this dirty town'.
Walk directly up to a colleague and stand nose to nose with him for 1 minute.
Mount the desk and walk along its length before taking your seat.
Reflect sunlight into everyone's eyes off your watch face.
Gargle with water.
Repeat every idea they express in a baby voice while moving your hand like a chattering mouth.
Gradually push yourself closer and closer to the door on your chair.
Hum throughout.
Pull out a large roll of bank notes and count them demonstratively.
Bend momentarily under the table then emerge wearing contact lenses that white out your eyes.
Drop meaningless & confusing management speak into conversations such as:' what's the margin, Marvin?"When's this turkey going to get basted?" If we don't get this brook babbling we're all going to end up looking like doe-eyed labradors'
Produce a hamster from your pocket and suggest throwing it to one another as a means of idea-exchange.
Use a large hunting knife to point at your visual aids.
Announce that you've run off some copies of the meeting agenda. Then hand out pieces of paper that read:
My secret agenda
1 Trample the weak
2 Triumph alone
3 Invade Poland
Re-collect them sheepishly and ask everyone to pretend they haven't seen them.
Attempt to hypnotise the entire room using a pocket watch.
Leave long pauses in your speech at random moments. When someone is prompted to interject shout 'I AM NOT FINISHED'
Page yourself over the intercom. (Don't disguise your voice.)
Find out where your boss shops and buy exactly the same outfits. Always wear them one day after your boss does. (This is especially effective if your boss is a different gender than you are.)
Come to work in army fatigues and when asked why, say, "I can't talk about it".
Send email to the rest of the company telling them what you're doing. For example "If anyone needs me, I'll be in the bathroom."
Phone someone in the office you barely know, leave your name and say "Just called to say I can't talk right now. Bye".
"Hi-lite" your shoes. Tell people that you haven't lost your shoes since you did this.
Put up mosquito netting around your cubicle.
Every time someone asks you to do something, ask them if they want fries with that.
When someone hands you a piece of paper, finger it, and whisper huskily, "Mmmmmmm, that feels soooooo good!".
Put your garbage can on your desk. Label it "IN."
Determine how many cups of coffee is "too many."
Put decaf in the coffeemaker for 3 weeks. Once everyone has gotten over their caffeine addictions, switch to espresso.
Walk sideways to the photocopier.
Leave the copy machine set to reduce 200%, extra dark 17 inch paper, 99 copies.
While riding an elevator, gasp dramatically every time the doors open.
If you have a glass eye, tap on it occasionally with your pen while talking to others.
When driving colleagues around insist on keeping your car windshield wipers running in all weather conditions "to keep 'em tuned up."
Say to your boss, "I like your style" and shoot him with double-barrelled fingers.
Babble incoherently at a fellow employee then ask "Did you get all that, I don't want to have to repeat it".
Reply to everything someone says with "that's what YOU think?".
Practice making fax and modem noises.
Make beeping noises when a large person backs up.
Kneel in front of the water cooler and drink directly from the nozzle.
Finish all your sentences with the words "in accordance with prophesy."
Signal that a conversation is over by clamping your hands over your ears and grimacing.
Shout random numbers while someone is counting.
Staple papers in the middle of the page.
Publicly investigate just how slowly you can make a croaking noise.
TYPE ONLY IN UPPERCASE.
type only in lowercase.
dont use any punctuation either
Repeat the following conversation a few times: "Do you hear that?" "What?" "Never mind, it's gone now."
As much as possible, skip rather than walk.
When nearly done, announce "no, wait, I messed it up," and repeat.
Ask people what gender they are.
While making presentations, occasionally bob your head like a parakeet.
Sit in the car park at lunch time pointing a hair dryer at passing cars to see if they slow down.
Ask your co-workers mysterious questions and then scribble their answers in a notebook. Mutter something about "psychological profiles".
Why not try some of the following neat little exercises, not only will it make meetings more interesting but your fellow workmates will become suddenly more alert and maintain a respectful distance. By following these simple guidelines during important meetings, you too can be an unmitigated success:
Discreetly clasp hold of someone's hand and whisper: 'can you feel it?' from the corner of your mouth.
Draw enormous genitalia on your notepad and discreetly show it to the person next to you for their approval.
When refreshments are presented, immediately distribute one biscuit to each of the attendees, then systematically smash each one with your fist in front of them.
Chew tobacco.
Wear a hands free phone headset throughout once in a while drift off into an unrelated conversation, such as: 'I don't care if there are no dwarfs, just get the show done!'
Write the words 'he fancies you' on your pad and show it to the person next to you while indicating with your pen.
Respond to a serious question with: 'I don't know what to say, obviously I'm flattered, but it's all happened so fast'.
Use Nam style jargon such as 'what's the ETA?', 'who's on recon?' & Charlie don't surf'.
Reconstruct the meeting in front of you using action figures and when anyone moves re-arrange the figures accordingly.
Shave one of your forearms.
Draw a chalk circle around one of the chairs then avoid sitting on it, when the meeting starts. When someone does eventually sit in it, cover your mouth and gasp.
Turn your back on the meeting and sit facing the window with your legs stretched out. Announce that you 'love this dirty town'.
Walk directly up to a colleague and stand nose to nose with him for 1 minute.
Mount the desk and walk along its length before taking your seat.
Reflect sunlight into everyone's eyes off your watch face.
Gargle with water.
Repeat every idea they express in a baby voice while moving your hand like a chattering mouth.
Gradually push yourself closer and closer to the door on your chair.
Hum throughout.
Pull out a large roll of bank notes and count them demonstratively.
Bend momentarily under the table then emerge wearing contact lenses that white out your eyes.
Drop meaningless & confusing management speak into conversations such as:' what's the margin, Marvin?"When's this turkey going to get basted?" If we don't get this brook babbling we're all going to end up looking like doe-eyed labradors'
Produce a hamster from your pocket and suggest throwing it to one another as a means of idea-exchange.
Use a large hunting knife to point at your visual aids.
Announce that you've run off some copies of the meeting agenda. Then hand out pieces of paper that read:
My secret agenda
1 Trample the weak
2 Triumph alone
3 Invade Poland
Re-collect them sheepishly and ask everyone to pretend they haven't seen them.
Attempt to hypnotise the entire room using a pocket watch.
Leave long pauses in your speech at random moments. When someone is prompted to interject shout 'I AM NOT FINISHED'
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
The day of the Debs
The kid looked fab. She really scrubs up well ;) The boyf also look very smart. Yesterday was so stressful, had I known this in advance I would have taken the day off. Although the chance of that happening with the amount of work I should be doing would be slim and none. She was supposed to get hair extensions , she got them and said they were crap. We had already said to her that we wouldn't have the money to get the whole hair and makeup thingy done, but when the extensions weren't working, a phone call was made to Mammy2. Who was in the middle of grocery shopping. We both agreed seeing as it was her Debs and should get her hair done and if she got a decent quote she could. This was at 1.30 on the day of her Debs. I was the titch switch yesterday. Back and forth from Mammy2 to the kid, back to Mammy2 to enquire if she'd be home on time to give the kid the money to get her hair done. The kid was slowly losing it and I had to go to a meeting. I kept the phone on and hoped there would be no call. The brother decides to ring. Once the meeting is over, I rang the brother. He was putting some money into our account for the Debs and that he had told the kid there were terms and conditions. I waited with baited breath. The brother is not aware of the kid's ability to bring the plague and the black death upon your head depending on what you ask of her. He said, and wait for this, brave man, that she had to get a job and couldn't be relying on us all the time to support her. I nearly fell over. I wondered why I could hear the sound of O Fortuna. I thanked him for the money, asked how things were at home and then when I finished with him rang Mammy2. No answer, tried ringing the kid but she had finally managed to get a hair appointment and provided Mammy2 had made it back from shopping on time was probably enroute to getting her hair done. All quiet for about an hour when I get another phone call asking me when I'd be home. She was all dressed and ready to go at 4 o'clock. I explained that I couldn't leave before 5 but thankfully my boss is an understanding and family man and I got out of there at 4.45 and legged it home. 35435 pictures later in the apartment and the courtyard, the poor boyf has the patience of a saint, we head for Newgrange. Of course we get lost. AA route planner assumes local knowledge of the area. Silly AA.
Whilst driving around the wilds of Meath looking for newgrange, the boyf asked her to double check the name of the hotel. As it turns out the hotel was called Newgrange hotel, the location was Navan. A quick righthandbrake turn and we were on the road to Navan. Once in Navan, there was the fun of locating the street. As soon as we turned right off the main street we saw a number of stretch limos and knew we had the right place. She was very nervous but looking forward to it at the same time. The best mate K was still enroute having forgotten her tickets and her money, she had to go back to Ballymun to get them. We left them, caught the end of the rugby game in a random pub and headed on the road back to Dublin passing about 10 hummer limos. Think this.
I mean a limo, a white limo espeically is tacky but this? And supposedly they are over 1,000 to hire. Madness. We got home, had another few glasses of the bubbly we bought to celebrate with her and hit the sack. Around 5.30 they got home and sounded fairly sober. Well she did. He doesn't drink. Another reason we like him. He's a really nice guy. If only he wasn't having sex with my sister, he would be perfect. :)
Whilst driving around the wilds of Meath looking for newgrange, the boyf asked her to double check the name of the hotel. As it turns out the hotel was called Newgrange hotel, the location was Navan. A quick righthandbrake turn and we were on the road to Navan. Once in Navan, there was the fun of locating the street. As soon as we turned right off the main street we saw a number of stretch limos and knew we had the right place. She was very nervous but looking forward to it at the same time. The best mate K was still enroute having forgotten her tickets and her money, she had to go back to Ballymun to get them. We left them, caught the end of the rugby game in a random pub and headed on the road back to Dublin passing about 10 hummer limos. Think this.
I mean a limo, a white limo espeically is tacky but this? And supposedly they are over 1,000 to hire. Madness. We got home, had another few glasses of the bubbly we bought to celebrate with her and hit the sack. Around 5.30 they got home and sounded fairly sober. Well she did. He doesn't drink. Another reason we like him. He's a really nice guy. If only he wasn't having sex with my sister, he would be perfect. :)
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Melancholy meanderings
Today is the day of the Debs. So far I've had 2 txts from the kid, one indicating she had put her hair extensions in, the other indicating her bladder infection had returned. She wanted me to ring the doctor and get an appointment ASAP. Who actually uses the word ASAP except for lawyers and police in tv dramas? She's back in the apartment today and will spend most of the evening getting ready. She mananaged to convince the boyf not to wear his bandana with his tux. She also, thankfully, doesn't want a limo. We're driving her down and there's a bus put on for them coming back. I have the cameras primed and ready, I am going to be that parent that insists on showing her Debs picture to anyone that even pauses to talk to me :) Its a strange feeling with her having her Debs. Its another day I guess when I really wish Mam were around. I suppose there will be various days when I need her more then normal
She is starting into the portfolio course on Thursday, I hope. Unless another mysterious ailment comes upon her. Its great to have her registered, now if only she would attend. Yesterday was the first day back into work and it was typically hectic. I was supposed to go training last night but was shattered. Also Mammy2 was cooking an indian dinner so I couldn't mosey off. She managed bombay allo and it was yummy! I was well impressed. As the kid had headed over to the boyf's, we had the place to ourselves. We watched the Bourne Ultimatium which was excellent.
I was going to start reading a new book, I have decided much too much of my time has been spent online and not enough reading so I'm to try and read more. Its bizzare when you think how much I used to read. I got through the Life of Pi when I was in Rome. I wasn't overly impressed. I felt certain bits were too long. I discussed it with Mammy2 and she said the big thing for her was that it was so original an idea that she was impressed with it. I did some reading up on it via the gospel according to Wikipedia and it claims that the book was plagiarism, ripped off from an earlier book called Max and the cats by Moacyr Scliar, to whom the Life of Pi is dedicated. Supposedly, there was mention of a lawsuit but this was dropped when Yann Martel met with Moacyr.
To add insult to injury, it won the booker the same year as Fingersmith was up for it?! I shall move onto to something else in Mammy's collection. She's been buying books every other week so there's plenty to chose from. I wouldn't be into the same sort of stuff she is but some of her book choices are worthy of a look or two.
She is starting into the portfolio course on Thursday, I hope. Unless another mysterious ailment comes upon her. Its great to have her registered, now if only she would attend. Yesterday was the first day back into work and it was typically hectic. I was supposed to go training last night but was shattered. Also Mammy2 was cooking an indian dinner so I couldn't mosey off. She managed bombay allo and it was yummy! I was well impressed. As the kid had headed over to the boyf's, we had the place to ourselves. We watched the Bourne Ultimatium which was excellent.
I was going to start reading a new book, I have decided much too much of my time has been spent online and not enough reading so I'm to try and read more. Its bizzare when you think how much I used to read. I got through the Life of Pi when I was in Rome. I wasn't overly impressed. I felt certain bits were too long. I discussed it with Mammy2 and she said the big thing for her was that it was so original an idea that she was impressed with it. I did some reading up on it via the gospel according to Wikipedia and it claims that the book was plagiarism, ripped off from an earlier book called Max and the cats by Moacyr Scliar, to whom the Life of Pi is dedicated. Supposedly, there was mention of a lawsuit but this was dropped when Yann Martel met with Moacyr.
To add insult to injury, it won the booker the same year as Fingersmith was up for it?! I shall move onto to something else in Mammy's collection. She's been buying books every other week so there's plenty to chose from. I wouldn't be into the same sort of stuff she is but some of her book choices are worthy of a look or two.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Highs and lows
Rome is a fabulous city, pulsating with life and history. Having spent the last 6 days, I would move there in an instant. But of course the teenager hates it. It was an 18th/well done for getting this far present. To bring her and the best mate K to Rome for a week. Word of warning, holidays mean
2 completly different things to teenagers. Regardless of location, according to the kid, a holiday means in no particular order: sleep, drink and shopping. No mention of sight-seeing. Of course she and the mate, when they left the bedroom were impressed by what Rome had to offer. When they made the effort. The heat at the start of the holiday had something to do with their mood. It was 34 degrees when we arrived and the kid can't handle heat at all. Needless to say the moods were all over the place. We tried to old lets go see the sights on the Monday.
We managed to get them to the Colosseum and the trevi fountain but that was about the height of it. There was no point in forcing them to appreciate something they just weren't interested in. The funniest was the open top bus tour. They were the only 2 sitting there listening to their iPod and snoozing whilst we went past some of the most amazing sights. They never took one picture and as soon as we get off the bus, they are beside themselves with excitement when they see a truimph motorcycle. They weren't fans of the food either, the pizza wasn't like the ones they had here. The most they ate was when we brought them to burger King. The kid declared that she loved Ireland and was never leaving it.I reminded her of her dramatic declaration of moving to Holland less then 2 years previous. She told me to shut up. She's great at winning arguments. Of course, the Italian men loved the girls and their low cut tops. Thank god they wore jeans or long dresses most of the time, or I would have had my work cut out for me.
On the first day, we sat near the Colosseum and had a snack and one of those silly Roman soldier fellows spots the kid's pink hair and marches over talking loudly in Italian and going on about madonna. He kissed her on the cheek. If he had done anything else, I would he walloped him. Thankfully, he wandered off. There were catcalls from various cars passing , even the police car one time, pulled in and one of the officers whistled out at them. So much for setting an example.
Myself and Mammy2 had a great time though, lots of walking around and relaxing. Thank god we brought the mate K else I don't think we would have survived the holiday. The kid suffered every ailment under the sun whilst in Rome. The happiest she looked was getting on the plane to fly home. The friday we got back was stressful. Flying is always stressful but this time was more so. Once we got into Dublin, we had to register the kid for her portfolio course and go out to my work place and get my on call stuff. I hated dropping out as I had a feeling I might get caught. Sure enough, the developer wanted to talk about handovers as he's off on 2 weeks leave. I told him to put it in an email and legged it.
Finally home, unpacked and settled, the kid rings the brother looking for money. She wants to get some stuff done for her DEBS which is on Tuesday and we told her we would only spend so much on it what with spending a lot of money on the holiday she hated. She was talking to him for a minute when she said he wanted to talk to me. As soon as I got on the phone, he started ranting about contact numbers and how he was trying to get through to us. Once I had calmed him down and explained that we didn't check our emails etc, he seemed okay. Then he dropped the bombshell. Our cousin had commited suicide during the week. His funeral was Friday morning. Absolute shock. I listened to the brother tell me what happended and it was just an unreal feeling. He hung himself in the garden shed of the family home. The youngest ound him. I told the brother I was very sorry and to pass my condolences onto my aunty. The sister K had flown in from Holland for the funeral and she had gotten a wreath from us. After hanging up the phone, I explained to the lads. The kid was
in shock as well, she had grown up with A. Granted we were never very close but he's still family.
A was a problem child from day 1. He was the middle child and once he hit the teens, he was always in some bother. His family background never gave him any chance to be honest. The mother and father were constantly fighting, abuse on both sides. The 3 kids never really had a supportive family unit. The eldest used to spend a lot of time out with us, as Mam always took in any child looking for love. Of course he's in bits now with the brother gone as are the entire family. A was 21. He had tried before and didn't succeed. Obviously it was more then a cry for help. I need to get a mass card and write a letter to the aunty. She was very supportive to us throughout the whole Mam ordeal. The last image I have in my mind of A was at Mam's anniversary mass. All soverign rings and attitude. Its heart breaking that someone so young would think there is nothing out there for them
that they resort to this.
I hope he's in a better place right now.
2 completly different things to teenagers. Regardless of location, according to the kid, a holiday means in no particular order: sleep, drink and shopping. No mention of sight-seeing. Of course she and the mate, when they left the bedroom were impressed by what Rome had to offer. When they made the effort. The heat at the start of the holiday had something to do with their mood. It was 34 degrees when we arrived and the kid can't handle heat at all. Needless to say the moods were all over the place. We tried to old lets go see the sights on the Monday.
We managed to get them to the Colosseum and the trevi fountain but that was about the height of it. There was no point in forcing them to appreciate something they just weren't interested in. The funniest was the open top bus tour. They were the only 2 sitting there listening to their iPod and snoozing whilst we went past some of the most amazing sights. They never took one picture and as soon as we get off the bus, they are beside themselves with excitement when they see a truimph motorcycle. They weren't fans of the food either, the pizza wasn't like the ones they had here. The most they ate was when we brought them to burger King. The kid declared that she loved Ireland and was never leaving it.I reminded her of her dramatic declaration of moving to Holland less then 2 years previous. She told me to shut up. She's great at winning arguments. Of course, the Italian men loved the girls and their low cut tops. Thank god they wore jeans or long dresses most of the time, or I would have had my work cut out for me.
On the first day, we sat near the Colosseum and had a snack and one of those silly Roman soldier fellows spots the kid's pink hair and marches over talking loudly in Italian and going on about madonna. He kissed her on the cheek. If he had done anything else, I would he walloped him. Thankfully, he wandered off. There were catcalls from various cars passing , even the police car one time, pulled in and one of the officers whistled out at them. So much for setting an example.
Myself and Mammy2 had a great time though, lots of walking around and relaxing. Thank god we brought the mate K else I don't think we would have survived the holiday. The kid suffered every ailment under the sun whilst in Rome. The happiest she looked was getting on the plane to fly home. The friday we got back was stressful. Flying is always stressful but this time was more so. Once we got into Dublin, we had to register the kid for her portfolio course and go out to my work place and get my on call stuff. I hated dropping out as I had a feeling I might get caught. Sure enough, the developer wanted to talk about handovers as he's off on 2 weeks leave. I told him to put it in an email and legged it.
Finally home, unpacked and settled, the kid rings the brother looking for money. She wants to get some stuff done for her DEBS which is on Tuesday and we told her we would only spend so much on it what with spending a lot of money on the holiday she hated. She was talking to him for a minute when she said he wanted to talk to me. As soon as I got on the phone, he started ranting about contact numbers and how he was trying to get through to us. Once I had calmed him down and explained that we didn't check our emails etc, he seemed okay. Then he dropped the bombshell. Our cousin had commited suicide during the week. His funeral was Friday morning. Absolute shock. I listened to the brother tell me what happended and it was just an unreal feeling. He hung himself in the garden shed of the family home. The youngest ound him. I told the brother I was very sorry and to pass my condolences onto my aunty. The sister K had flown in from Holland for the funeral and she had gotten a wreath from us. After hanging up the phone, I explained to the lads. The kid was
in shock as well, she had grown up with A. Granted we were never very close but he's still family.
A was a problem child from day 1. He was the middle child and once he hit the teens, he was always in some bother. His family background never gave him any chance to be honest. The mother and father were constantly fighting, abuse on both sides. The 3 kids never really had a supportive family unit. The eldest used to spend a lot of time out with us, as Mam always took in any child looking for love. Of course he's in bits now with the brother gone as are the entire family. A was 21. He had tried before and didn't succeed. Obviously it was more then a cry for help. I need to get a mass card and write a letter to the aunty. She was very supportive to us throughout the whole Mam ordeal. The last image I have in my mind of A was at Mam's anniversary mass. All soverign rings and attitude. Its heart breaking that someone so young would think there is nothing out there for them
that they resort to this.
I hope he's in a better place right now.
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