My New Couch Set

After months of searching, I finally located a couch & loveseat that I liked on Thursday night, and with the service that comes from buying from an independant store, they were delivered this morning.

The micro-suede fabric is SO comfy. I like the new furniture, but as with getting anything new, it makes the rest of room look like it needs some renovating, ie. new paint; new lamps; new pictures; new drapes, etc. etc. Since it took a few months to find the couch, that should buy me at least a few months to fix the rest up.

Back to B.C.

So my friend Joanne came over tonight for a visit, as she leaves to go back home to B.C. tomorrow. We've been friends since high school, even though she moved away shortly after the end of school, we've kept in touch, on an infrequent basis, but are able to pick up as though no time has passed when we do see each other. It makes me sad to see her go, but it was great to be able to spend time with her, and the other high schoolers, thanks to her efforts.

On another note:

My site is boring, must add pictures. Oh, Not Ashley, what a green thumb you have! Not!

It's been a rough week at work, and it's only Wednesday. Now I discover that I need to work on Saturday, as we're doing phase 1 of the move...to be continued by working next Saturday, for phase 2 of the move.

I keep hoping that I'll win the lottery--me and most other working stiffs, I know. It wouldn't take much for me to leave- a few hundred thousand would be just fine, thank you very much...more would be better, but that would be enough to buy me a temporary retirement.

The "Long" Weekend

Well, it feels like it should have been a long weekend, since I crammed so much doings into it..Not Ashley is feeling a bit tired as it winds down this Sunday night.

Friday night I attended the impromptu high school reunion. About 9 girls showed up, and it was nice to see most of them. One I hadn't seen since leaving high school, let's say more than a few years ago, and it was especially nice to see her. Of the others, two I've kept in touch with on a regular basis over the years, and the rest I've seen around town on occasion. It was good to share some laughs over old memories, and as usual, I am reminded of something I supposedly did and/or master-minded, that I genuinely can't remember--must be selective memory and/or old age!

Per the norm for these things, there is always one in the crowd that feels she's better-- prettier, younger looking, more in shape, can ride 600 miles on her bike in one day, looks like her son's wife not mother, doesn't colour her hair because it's so dark, is faster than a speeding bullet, and can leap small buildings in a single bound, etc, etc,-- than the rest of us, and spends the whole evening telling us all about it. Yes this is the same one that asked if WE were bringing our hubbies to the party. I remember her being like this a bit in school, but no where near like this. One of my friends kept looking over at me, trying to catch my eye to make me laugh as she went on and on--I wouldn't look at her b'c I was having a tough time not laughing. We all politely listened, but then "perfect girl" made the mistake of leaving early. About 10 minutes after she goes, one of the others pipes up and says, was it just me or is she really "I I I me me me" now? Too funny.

Got home around 1:30, and woke up the next morning before 7:00 to catch the Go Train to the CNE. Spent about 10 hours there, walking, shopping, eating, more shopping and more eating. Besides the food and the shopping:

• they had a Levi's booth set up, where you'd go into this glass enclosures, and this machine -ultra sound, or xray, or digital imaging of some kind, would circle around you, and print out the style and size of Levi's jeans that best suit your body. Got a print out, so I'll have to actually try them on to see how well it worked.
• After watching the Guess Your Age or Weight guy, and Libbey going first, I finally mustered up my courage to go and see what he'd guess for my age. It was worth the $2.00 I spent, since he pegged me at 6 years younger than I am, and he was worried because he thought he'd guessed too high. Right before I revealed my age, he was showing the crowd his written guess and saying he should go lower. Made my day! I did cheat a bit, because I told him my name was Jennifer..was going to use Ashley, but Steph said that was pushing it just a bit too far. I'd noticed that they ask your name, which may provide a little bit of a clue, ie. not too many Jennifer's in my age bracket

After walking around there for 10 hours, on only 4 hours sleep the night before, I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

Today, I spent the day with mom, going to church at 9:00 a.m. with her--another early morning-- off to Casino for brunch--more food (A Chocolate fountain no less), and then home to wait for a few of my cousins, with new baby in tow, to attend the Feast. Too cold for baby to go in procession or hang around school yard, so after a quick walk up there, we all went home for pizza and home made capicolla with coffee and delicious but of so fattening mini cream puffs. (Even more food)

Noticing any common themes here?

Blame It On My Horoscope

My chuckle for the day came from reading today's Horoscope...

Scorpio
October 23 - November 21

Try to see the lighter side of things, dear Scorpio. This may be difficult, since your emotions may be taking on a war-like quality, and you will feel the urge to dominate in every situation. Try to focus your energy into positive channels, and work to make the best of every situation. Much of the drama you are enveloped in is created by your own imagination. You are probably making mountains out of molehills.

Serenity, Peace and Love

After two negative blogs, I have emerged from the fog, to write a positive one. Yes I had a couple of bad days, brought on by going back to work. Thanks for reading my rants and complaining. Fortunately, the weekend is now in sight, and I'll settle back into the work groove, or is it rut, by the end of the week ---just like the Borg-they assimilate you, and resistance is futile!

A few interesting things will occur this weekend, some even of an Ashley nature:

Friday night - High School Re-Union

• bring dessert, not sure what yet
• wear something that makes me look pretty good.
• Give thanks that I've gone to the gym, and my body's not half bad. (Thanks for your help, my personal trainer J)
• Think of all the stupid stuff we did in high school, so we can laugh about it.

Saturday - Let's go to the Ex.

• Wake up early to catch 9:00 Go Train
• Spend most of the day in the International Building, looking at things from around the world.
• Hope to find Belly Dance Scarves for me and my friends
• Hope they give volume discounts!

Sunday - Let's go to the Hop

• Wop Hop (aka Feast of the Assumption Italian festival)
• Annual tradition which just can't be missed, even Mangia Cakes check it out.

At some point, go with godson's girlfriend to check out Wedding Dresses, which she sweetly asked me to do.

Full report on all activities to be provided following end of said activities.

NOT Cranky Wanky!

P.S. Note to J-- I didn't mean my I noticed and didn't want to encourage you comment in a negative way--some things don't just translate well in print. Your long pause spoke volumes, and I hope you understand where I was coming from--A place of Friendship and Concern. I will try not to do that via e-mail again! Sorry

Hi Ho Hi Ho It's Back to Work I Go

So after two weeks vacation, I returned to work, and found I was not 2 weeks behind but felt like about 20 weeks behind. Somehow the little worker elves that should do my work when I'm not there, have never showed up. Needless to say, it's not been fun, and has totally stressed me out, in a mere two days. But I must admit that I haven't really been myself for the past few months, and it doesn't take much to stress me out these days.

To top it all off, my friend from high school, Joanne, who lives in B.C. is in town for a visit, and has decided that she wants to have a get together for a bunch of us on Friday night at her mom's place. She had tried to pawn the arranging off on me, when she was still at home, but I wouldn't do it. I haven't really kept in touch with most of them, and I couldn't really be bothered nor have the time to take this cause up.

So today, Joanne shows up at my mom's place at lunch, saying she'd been "all over town" looking for me, and was annoyed that I wasn't at work, since she'd stopped by there to discuss the plans and start making phone calls (and had come over last night, when I was at Sahla Thai) .

Joanne tells me she's coming over tonight so we (I) can make the phone calls, and I should spend the afternoon trying to get phone numbers--for women whose married names I know not--yeah right!

She comes over at 7:00 with her daughter, and I've got the Cable Guy here trying to hook up the internet, and wanting to take the easy way out by suggesting he drill an outside wall, and wrap the cable around the entire side, back and other side of the house to hook it up. I said, why can't you got through the linen closet, cold air return, etc and hook it up through there. Well, he wasn't pleased as this took him over an hour to do, eventually through the cold air return. But as you can see, he managed to get it done, and I'm on the computer at 12:30 am doing this.

We found about 4 names, and got ahold of them, with my unlisted number being passed around a little too much for my liking. Joanne invites one of the women to come over, which she does after about an hour, and they hang around until after 11:00--but we did laugh stupidly during their visit.

My choice for the evening would have been to BE ALONE and BE A COUCH POTATO or if I wanted to be sociable, go to my mom's to visit with the neighbours relatives from France, who I haven't seen yet, and were there having pizza and wings.

While this sounds like I'd like to add to my list, I really don't, because I know it was my mood, and not her. But really, I can't be in all places at all times, and I can't be all things to all people!!!!!!

Enough said, and while it was good to vent, the next blog must be positive! Not sure when, but it will be positive LOLOL!

Cranky Wanky

Qualifications for the List

My godson Mark, who had the misfortune? of inheriting some of my personality traits, has this great t shirt that says, Everyday I'm forced to add another name to the List of People who've pissed me off.

Today was a good day, since nobody pissed me off.

However, since this is not, unfortunately, an everday occurrence, I decided I'd think about what people do that actually bugs me. Here's what came to mind to start. I will force myself to stop at a reasonable number, as I'm sure I could keep going and going. And yet, I have mellowed as I've grown up, aka gotten older, so the list is a lot shorter than it would've been years ago.

Things people do that will get them on my list of People Who Pissed Me off Today, in no particular order.

1. Liars
2. Kiss-Asses to get ahead
3. People who expect you to kiss their ass.
4. Two faced back stabbers
5. Unreliable
6. Bitchy
7. Chronically Late
8. Inconsiderate
9. Guilt Trippers
10. Park on my lawn ( see number 8)
11. Borrow stuff and never give it back, even when you ask.
12. After taking a year to give stuff back that they've borrowed, ask to borrow it again.
13. Unfair
14. Play dumb or stupid to get out of doing things
15. Steal parking spots that you're waiting for
16. Cheap
17. No Sense of Humour
18. Selfish
19. Unreasonable expectations
20. Try to rip you off or take advantage .
21. Inconsistent
22. Judgemental
23. Pompous
24. etc, TBA

I think I better stop now. LOL

Blogs?

So up until a few months ago, I had never heard of blogs--no I haven't been living in a cave, just used my computer for work-related stuff only. At first glance, it seemed so weird, like an invasion of someone's privacy, or reading someone's diary surreptitiously, especially when it's someone you know. But then I guess the people you know wouldn't tell you about their blogs unless they wanted you to read them.

My friend J, has highly recommended the cathartic benefits of blogging, so here I begin. Her blog is fabulous, just like her! I know you are reading this, and it was great to talk to you on the phone, while you are away.

This blogging should be fun (?) for someone who doesn't like to share thoughts and feelings, and lives a pretty mundane boring life. What to say, what to say? And how to keep it balanced and not have it turn into my litany of List of People Who Have Pissed Me Off Today.

Remains to be seen!