#364 Work Priority MalfuncShawn

Well today was far better on the commute, but far worse at the office.

There were only a total of 5 of us in the office today, which don't get me wrong, THAT was awesome,  but there were two people from Finance that basically wanted a pint of my blood, a kidney and my first born.

And as of 3PM they both fucked off until the 2nd. Meanwhile myself and 2 others have to come in tomorrow because it's the "end of year", which means there's a shit load of EXTRA things to do and only three of us to manage the entire office. 

Can. Not. Wait.

Not!

#328 Just another Manic Monday FrustraShawn

Mondays as a rule suck. 

The Monday Morning Commute, sucks to an added degree.

This particular Monday Morning Commute went far and beyond the call of duty... or rather the STM did.

So a massive Thank You and Merci to the STM for reminding me that today is Monday! (Like I could forget) But you really didn't have to have TWO Slowdowns AND an Interruption of Service to do this... the alarm clock and then the rain to start the day were more than enough.

My 45 minute commute was stretched to just a little over 90 minutes...

Bell you STM... you certainly make me feel I get my money's worth.

#321 Monday AssassinaShawn

The best part about today was that it snowed pretty much all day.

The worst part about today was a tie:

- The fact that it's too mild and the ground is not frozen, so intestate of having 5+ cms of fluffy white-stuff, we have about 2-3cms of wet slushy goo.

- Product issues at work meant I had to stay late.

Monday, you are nobody's friend, I Kill You!

#307 Internal EvacuaShawn

Not to get to detailed or personal, but I am empty on the inside. Not figuratively or existentially, but physically..  I am void of any extraneous materials other that what god gave me…

 I had some sort of intestinal attack last night / into this morning that kept me awake and in the “library’ from 3:30am or so until 6 am. At 7am I decided, as things had pretty much come to a halt, that I could head to the office. Luckily for me, I made there just in time. And within 90 minutes and 5 more “visits’ That was it, I was cramping and it was time to head home.

Ever get that sensation that you are completely empty inside, and yet you’ve no hunger, and the thought of putting anything back in, makes you nervous for what might happen shortly thereafter?

I managed to catch a couple ours rest at home in the afternoon which was more than welcome – thank you very much. And supper consisted of instant rice with a few veggies. Mm Mm Good.

Fingers crossed there is no repeat of last night.

#275 Week Day DepresShawn

Happy Friday’s Eve everyone.

Okay, I'm grasping at straws here to keep my sanity (or a close facsimile thereof). Why is it some weeks go by SOOOOOOOOOO SLOWLY,  even with a break in-between (I was home sick on Wednesday) essentially making for two tiny little 2-day work weeks…

I mean It really feels as though last weekend is as long ago as our summer vacation -(we've been back 23 days now, but who’s counting? (Me clearly)

UGH!  Slow Week Days (and conversely, fast moving Weekends) why do you curse and torment me so?

It’s all I can muster to make it through tomorrow…  

…and so with that depressing thought,  I will say good night.

#272 Post Vacation Bliss DepleShawn

Yea, I'm done.  The Post Vacation Bliss is gone. 

I started the morning commute off by standing on the Metro platform at Lionel-Groulx for 20 minutes before I could get into a train, arrived at Cote-Vertu to another huge line for the bus, because of the influx of other metro riders that were delayed, then got to work to receive a message that two of my clients received the wrong Generators (radioactive goods mistakes are NEVER fun), and to top it all off, someone took my goddamned Santa Claus mug...WITH MY NAME ON IT! (Sure I have a back-up Santa Claus mug, but that’s hardly the point)

And don't even get me started about Typhoid Mary.

*sigh*

I need another Vacation

#268 New Personal Office RegulaShawn

New rule at the office:

 If I think you are an idiot,  I will now ignore you unless you can show me you have even the slightest modicum of a clue about what your request entails, or what my actual job description is (and here's a hint, being there to do your work is not a part of it)or apologize in advance for needing my assistance.

Chances are I'll be ignoring a few people on a daily basis. Oh well, more time for me to do MY job.

#262 ExhaustShawn

Today was a double edges sword, pressed firmly at my neck.

Sure I was ecstatic that Typhoid Mary called in sick today. 

But the thing is she didn't even complete all her work from yesterday. So, not only was I dealing with my own work, plus all the A/R work (Which I have every Friday anyway), I was also cleaning up and completing her work from Thursday, plus all her work for today, and prepping all her weekend shipments.

Then on top of that she called at least 5 times to tell me other things that needed my attention because she hadn't done them as well.

She's not in on Monday (which I've known for 2 weeks) but of course none of the prep work for that was completed either because she would have completed that today as well.

Thanks for nothing old lady!

I'm on my 2nd double Gin n Tonic...  I think it's gonna be an early night...

#215 Premature Floral DepleShawn

Autumn has come early to our balcony.

Unfortunately because of construction and repairs to the Condo's roof and the balconies, we had to remove everything from the balcony today. So my beautiful flowers that have been a source of beauty and pride for the past 11 weeks has come to a premature ending.

This year, it is not the cooler/frosty conditions of our northern Autumn to dictate the hibernation and cleaning out of our urban garden oasis; it is construction workers.

But I could not say good-bye to all the flowers. I managed to save our Dragon's Wing Impatiens.  It's just simply far to lush and beautiful to have send to the curb. So it shall remain on our kitchen island for the following week or so until the roofers have gone and the balconies have been removed and replaced by new construction. Then he will be the center of focus and beauty on our new deck.

Until then I shall mourn and remember our summer Eden.

#214 End of the CompetiShawn

As of 10:30 PM tonight, Santiago will be the happiest doggie in Montreal. Why? Because the last night of the Fireworks Competition is tonight.  

30 last minutes of big bangs and shock waves. It seems the smaller the dog the worse it is for them. 

I'm hoping that as with previous years he continues to manage the night a little better than the week before. He does improve weekly in general, but then the last night always seems to be over the top,.

Fingers crossed, it's over soon.

#200 Aerial CommoShawn

It's 8:45pm on Saturday, so we're starting to prep Santi and the house for tonight's annoyance.  The Montreal International Fireworks Competition.  We're only a 1/4 km away from them and Santi, like a lot of dogs, DOES NOT LIKE THEM.  

What is amazing is the first warning shot is not until 9:30pm, but at about 8:30pm he stats fretting. The early signs of his anxiety begin to appear. What is really bizarre is that even from the first night of the competition he knows.  He knows! How does he know? We sure don't know how... 

The first night he was very worked up, and nothing we did would minimize his discomfort. He ended up on our bed on Marcel's pillows. (He likes a point of some height generally when he's in distress)  Instead of coddling him we make sure he has multiple places he can go to feel safe... : his little man cage, a blanket on the sofa between Marcel and I, a blanket on the bed he can burrow into, and even some laundry...

The Saturday after he went under the chair by the sofa where we put his bed. And last Wednesday he curled up on my chest as I was stretched out on the sofa.

We don't know where he'll go tonight but all spots are set up. And at 9pm we'll put his favorite shirt on him. IT's snug but not too tight and this is something that generally calms small dogs.

Tonight is the USofA that is competing, which does not bode well, because traditionally, theirs are the biggest, loudest most obnoxious fireworks of the competition.

*UGH*

#190 Unwanted Bullshit RedempShawn

Today was Monday and Tuesday combined.  I don;t know what I did to who, or what or when, but clearly I was a rat bastard. It's the only explanation I can come to given the steaming, heaping pile of never ending crap that passed my desk today.

Clearly I've done someone wrong and Karma thought that today was a good day to cash in.

Also clearly; my boss is a total idiot.

As is my co-worked the coughing old bird.

Honestly, if both of them went away I'd clearly have a lot less stress and after a month or so of tidying up all the loose ends and fixing their mistakes, all would be well with the world.

Alas for now... I can only dream... of that day or winning the lotto... whichever comes first.

#189 Unwanted Job RenditShawn

I think my boss want's to make me into his Mini Me. And by that, I think he thinks that if he teaches me all his responsibilities (as his "back-up", yea right) that he can just have me do his work.  

Well, all I have to say to that is "Wake up, Sleeping Stupid! As it is I'm already doing two people's jobs AND you want me to document the entire department.  So no, I ain't got time for the pain. Do yo own damn job!"

Ain't gonna happen!

#163 Wet Foot FrustraShawn

Not only did it rain again today; apparently we have a mischievous elf in the house that managed to put a hole in not one, but both of my shoes. 

Yesterday everything was fine. No wet feet yesterday.

Today, however I may as well have walked bare foot in the St-Lawrence.

Yay... shoe shopping. Meh.

#156 News Sensory ExhausShawn

More and more, I want to watch / read, less and less of the News. 

More and more, I am less and less impressed with our species.

Mass shootings in schools, in peaceful neighbourhoods. 

Children premeditating the murder of a ‘friend’ to be with a fictional character.

Pretty much anything Municipal, Provincial, Federal or International on Politics.

Mass kidnappings of school girls, forcing them into arranged marriages, in the name of religion.

Civil wars, pretty much the globe ‘round.

Systemic homophobia, misogyny, racism.

Mistreatment of those most vulnerable in society (elderly, military veterans, children, disabled) 

Anything Kardashian / Beiber / Lohan <insert media addicted celebrity here>.

Animal cruelty. 

Still debating thinks like Gun Control, Climate Change, Who has the Right to Marry, etc in 2014.

It’s just exhausting, and thoroughly depressing. 

I need a break.

Maybe ignorance is bliss. Let's find out.

#153 Movie QuotaShawn

"I'm melting! Melting!"

Okay, so I know it's not even Summer yet. But last year we had the AC going by May.   But due to a necessity of a new window needing to be installed, we haven't been able to install the AC unit yet.  It's a custom fit window so we've been waiting for it to be delivered and to replace the existing one.

Good news, it will arrive on Friday.

Bad news, the weather hit 29'C with 35'C humidex.  And the low tonight is only going to be 22'C.

Screw you, Dorothy!

#130 Heat AverShawn

Today was a reminder that Summer is coming.  And I'm not altogether happy about it. 

It was 23'C, with a 27'C Humidex. 

My personal Limit is about 22'C. but I would say no to 20'C

While there are elements of Summer that DO appeal to me:
-Barbecuing / Grilling food

-Gardening (if even only in patio and window boxes)

-The smell of fresh cut grass

-2 weeks at the cottage on PEI
-Walking the dogs

But that's pretty much it.

I don't care for high heat or humidity, and even less for the Hydro bills due to our almost four months of non-stop Air Conditioning the apartment... don't get me wrong, I'm very happy to have the AC, but it's not cheap when it's running 24/7 for four months!

After today, I'm considering starting my annual Countdown to the First Day of Winter early. I usually start on the first day of Summer, but I'm not above starting early, and the first day we touch 30'C I very well just might start the countdown. 

#085 Client DeleShawn - Employment CauShawn

Today at work, we lost 6 client contracts. That makes 11 lost contracts this year.

I'd like to blame our Account Managers, but in reality this goes far above them and it's a systemic issue with the company. They still view us as the main and in many cased sole supplier in the industry in Canada, where in reality we are now one of 3 and they do not understand how to work in a competitive market.

I do fear for my job, but at least not in the short term. After talking with my inside connection, it's likely there's still a good 2-3 years before we go super-nova.  Fortunately to my benefit I'm fully trained in the departments 3 divisions, and am cross-trained into Accounts Receivable and other parts of Contracts and Finance. And what with the current AR employee retiring in Dec and my direct co-worker expected to retire in another year, I am about as secure as anyone can be for the moment. It's unlikely they lay me off and have to train someone else from scratch given that the total training needed for what I have is over two years.

I'm not that naive to think it couldn't happen, but seeing as the mots du jour are 'downsize' and 'cost cutting', the two mentioned above would be ahead of me in departure times.

Regardless I think it's time to update my CV and keep my eyes open for new opportunities.  And hope that I can hang on for a few more years and hope that when the day arrives I'll get a bit of a package... 

Fingers crossed.

#070 DisinfecShawn (please)

I want to not cough any more.

That is all.

#069 InfecShawn?

Well, I've been fighting off some hell-spawn bug for the past week. It started a week ago as a simple cough. And over time the cough has deepened and intensified.

Now I'm congested and body ache has made the trifecta.

I've been consuming meds of all makes. Gel Caps, Syrups, and Pills.  All sort of help, but all not so much either. 

Today was a day off, and while not what I had in mind, it was fortunate because I don't think I'd have managed the day at work. 

I've got a Dr's appointment on Thursday morning, I just hope I don't lose a lung in the mean time.