The Lamb

Bridge

I learned a little more about CS5 the other day; there is a program built in that allows me to see the meta tags of each photo taken. Interestingly enough, I can view details such as when a photo was taken, the type of camera used, and even it’s serial number. 

Kinda creepy but cool.

Now that the weather and season (that I LOVE SO EVER MUCH) is upon us, I feel more excited to get out and take pictures of things that inspire or just invoke some kind of sentiment. Music is always my number one drive but I feel more and more drawn to my new hobbie of photography…

Also, I bought a new hula hoop the other day! SHAKE THAT BOOTY!

*love*

Archaeology of my Fragments

I have discovered so much over the past year! There are worlds within worlds of people who share common experiences and desire for adventure. A person must seek out the fun and submerse thyself within these worlds to discover the fun; that addictive and life altering fun.

Here I am, writing something that I have meant to write months ago yet have had no desire to show my on line presence because it felt unnecessary….until now.

I have a new camera (Canon EOS Rebel T3) that has become my favorite newly acquired piece. While I am no “professional” in my talents, I have plans to capture life and particles in an artistic way.

Learning how to use CS5 is challenging and requires many hours of painfully dry trial and error attempts. However, I have discovered that nearly all the beautiful pictures that people post on line are altered and “finished” in some way. It feels like there is no purity in photographic talent any more yet digital revolution is the way forward so I embrace it! 

And hula hoops! yes…so very fun.

So…I leave you for now…..or do I?

and just cause it’s so very groovy:

bye.

Meeeeeyou!

I like people who are creative, unique, and have a really good sense of themselves.

That shiz is what makes this world the way forward.

Lick My Moose Sausage

You know you are on the verge of being a pariah when you suddenly notice that you no longer belong to a FO group.  IT’S ALL MY FAULT FOR BEING A MOST FOUL DOUCHERY WRITER AKA Participant in the community! Oh yes…It’s true.

My fear and loathing has tempered all attempts of being creative with words but that doesn’t mean that I haven’t been playing life up a bit! *grin*

In fact, I have been busy doing stuff in real life to help distract me from the addiction that is called the INTERNET. I figured that at some point a person can get all caught up in the virtual world and forget the stuff that is what we call “organic matter”. This was my problem and I needed to fix it….STAT!

I’ve just returned from camping here this week:

Can you believe that I took this picture with my BB? 

The camping was super fine and the weather was perfect! I love the smell of a campfire and the lack of noisy riff raff that living in the city imposes on your psyche.

Of course, camping wouldn’t be “camping” without my usual encounters with the wild life. This time is was the local chipmunk! I am not sure if you have heard of these chipmunks but in case you do not know what I am referring to, here is a link to an accurate depiction of what type of character we are dealing with here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6018173/Squirrel-is-surprise-star-of-holiday-photo.html

<————random couple. Awww…how adorbs!

Anywhore, the trip started out with my placing a tablecloth on the picnic table and promptly going about my own business of having a couple of drinks with friends, telling stories, and eventually passing out for the night. Upon awakening the next morning, we noticed a chipmunk on the table staring at us but not really acting like it was scared. In fact, this chipmunk exhibited the attitude characteristics of a nasty gang leader. Surely if he had a low rider and leather gear, he would have been a contender in the race for “Meanest Dude on a Bike” category.

We were thinking, “Awwwww…cute! Look at the guy.. He’s just hanging out with us!”

But I kept staring at him and was thinking, “Something isn’t right here…..”

Sure enough, I was right. That little sh*t wasn’t “hanging out”, he was pilfering our camp site for nesting materials and MY TABLECLOTH was his first target!!!

As soon as he thought that we weren’t watching him any more, he picked up my tablecloth and starting chewing on it like corn on the cob.

I start yelling, “HE’S EATING MY TABLECLOTH!!”

And that is when all hell broke loose. The chipmunk sort of freaked along as we freaked and it was a good ‘ol freaking party until he took off….with my tablecloth in his mouth.

So…here we were…chasing a chimpmunk who was trying desperately to drag this material up various trees and under cars throughout the camp site (and other sites). He finally dropped it and scampered up a old pine tree with a big hole in it. I picked up the remnants my tablecloth of which consisted of two VERY LARGE holes and smaller chewed up pieces.

As things settled down, I placed my half eaten tablecloth back on the table just for the sake that I was not going to let some ratty  gangster chipmunk OWN my table but I secretly knew in my heart that this meant WAR.

The rest of the day was fairly non eventful until later on that evening when we were all sitting around a camp fire a few sites down. It started off with a few noises in the trees…chipmunk chattering to be exact. They came from the trees all around us….kind of like the following Roman Army Tactic but in Chipmunk formation:

“There is an advantage of height over the enemy (Trees) and if you are pitting infantry (whole damn chipmunk family) against cavalry (big lunky slow humans), the rougher the ground the better. The sun should be behind you to dazzle the enemy. If there is strong wind, it should blow away from you, giving advantage to your missiles (pinecones) and blinding the enemy with dust (campfire smoke)”

 Obviously, we sensed that something was going down but it became evident when we noticed varying sizes of bits and pieces of my tablecloth being whisked through the entire campsite area by a series of chipmunks and up into this one particular tree with a hole. A pile of vindictive thoughts swirled in my head as I watched the whole event unfold but decided that it simply wasn’t worth fighting since I already felt immobilized by the shock and trauma of what I was witnessing! So, I laughed it off……temporarily.

On my last day, I accidently found a Heineken bottle and accidently lodged the bottle in the tree hole in which my tablecloth disappeared. 

Wilson!

It’s funny (and pathetic) that I can become so disheveled during an impromptu encounter. Obviously, I was caught off guard and wasn’t sure that I was inclined to converse considering I have 3 hours sleep banked from the night before.

Note to self: Eating a late dinner that is huge and heavy right before bed = REALLY POOR SLEEPING SITUATION. DON’T DO IT!!!

On the other hand, it makes me think that I have also become more introverted than I have ever felt before. Hmmm…Oh well! That’s just the way life flies, eh?

Now for a real update:

- I have managed to remove a crazy infestation of quackgrass and misc. weeds from the ‘gardens’ in the front of my house. That stuff is NASTY and I have a new appreciation for people with green thumbs who can maintain immaculate gardens! However, I have conquered and can resume my plans for recreating the landscape. With some preplanning and research, I have a good idea of what will grow and look fabulous!

- The job is interesting. While I still have no clue what direction we are headed, it still involves a pile work that keeps growing and has many of the same challenges that I have seen in the past. I hope that one day, I can turn it into something that is admirable. For now, I am still navigating and occasionally wonder if it’s my cup of tea!

- I read an artcicle in today’s paper that discussed the possibility that war (probably on a larger scale than 9/11) could hit North American soil in the 21st century. Obviously, this is a tragic prediction and I am sad to think about it ever happening. War is such a disgusting and gruesome mandate that has huge implications and it makes me sad to think that our future generations have such dire things to look forward to. I hate it and wish that I never had to read about it.

- Hacking has really taken over the internet headlines lately. I am just wondering who will get “hit” next? Also, it makes me think about all the people who are standing and will stand on their soap boxes to self proclaim themselves as educated “experts” in the field of security. It’s funny how we have all these know-it-alls who advise on security awareness, prevention, architecture yet how many of them actually put their knowledge to practice? I guess that we will see Hacking Specialists as part the new mainstream IT job/educational standard. Then there is the business ops for insurance, government funding/spending, IT security firms, banking fees, and other interesting ventures that feed off of our paranoid tendencies. I, of course, will keep my eyes open for good stocks to buy because I am a self proclaimed opportunist. LOL

- I am finally feeling much better after my insane stint of pneumonia! The feeling of drowning and constantly being out of breath is pretty much over. I am a bit pissed that it stole some much valuable time away from doing fun stuff! Boooooo…. Thanks to those who were very kind, sent me some well wishes, and were genuinely concerned about my well being! :)

- Is it cruel for me to wish that the Canucks lose in game 7? I can’t help my long seeded “hate on” for that team even though it may mean that Canada get’s that Stanley Cup. GO BRUINS!

- I can’t wait to go camping in the mountains this summer!

Recently watched movies:

The Hangover = Funny like the first.

Bridesmaids = Silly and kind of cheesy. I like Chris O’Dowd and he was great!

Hanna = Cool!

Apocalypse Now = Sheen machine

Bend it Like Beckham = Makes me want to go kick some balls.

City of Gods = I like this non-American flare.

Recently read:

The Passage

***I promise to write more.

When I Fall.

I float like a feather in a strong wind.

That wind will push me around and I will tumble through the volatile air until I eventually land far from where I started.

The real intrigue lies in the story that happens between taking off and landing. 

I have had many conversations with friends who believe in destiny and that they control their future or unknown outcomes. Sometimes, they even present a very convincing argument about “control of ” certain things but reality dictates it’s all calculated speculation. In the end, I find myself thinking, “How boring and frustrating for you to think you need to control that! Perhaps, you should buy insurance because you are at risk of losing that control.”. These are the types of people who will point fingers at other when things don’t go in their expected way.

Personally and professionally, I know so many people who look to blame others for their action and or actions, in general, which are deemed socially or morally irresponsible. In fact, I have been the victim of this type of judgement and have most likely unconsciously made those judgements about other people.

In the workplace, this superiority complex and devaluing way of off-loading your own flaws onto others, will only propagate amongst your peers and down the chain of hierarchy.

Lately, I have been given some very interesting scenarios to deal with that have left me feeling more like I am being blamed for something. It mostly involves my needing change and exploring new ways on how to improve upon situations that have gotten stale. Do I know how it will turn out and will I be able to shake this near demonization of my character? Unknown.

What I will tell you, is that I stand by what I say and if I tell you that I like you, I mean it! This approach is, perhaps, breaking new ground in the environment that I work in….or not.

If I have opened up by having conversations laden with too much hyperbole, then I am also a person that is being projected as being the one who is needing the help. The only difference is that I am able to share and will move forward from where I fall down.

Take a Bathos and just relax.

Authenticity

This past week has been so cold and I have limited my exposure to the outside world. Now I feel a bit cooped up! My bad.

I must admit, I have been sleeping really solidly and I think it’s because I have finally started to relax a little about life. Winding down from stress isn’t the easiest thing to do but once you get on the right path, everyday feels a little bit better than the day before.

I can tell that I am not as “high strung” as I was because coincidentally my stove died and the fridge lost it’s legs all within a week of each other and my reaction was that of someone who just found out that they won a free trip! I was excited to finally have an excuse buy some new appliances whereas if I was in my stress induced state, I would have broken down into  a sobbing victim of great despair.

Life is good!

Of course, I am trying to figure out what type of fridge to buy; freezer on the bottom or on the side? Stainless steel? Brand?

I have a Bosch dishwasher and that thing is amazingly quiet…I luuuurve it! The question is, will my fridge be quiet?

The stove was much easier…I have decided on the gas on top and two door electric.

(Gosh, I can’t wait for my Sunday dinner!)

Anywhore, I wanted to mention the whole coffee thingy. Since I have been sleeping so deeply, getting up in the mornings has been rather difficult. I have basically stumbled out of bed, gone straight to my Kuerig, and then opened my eyes to try to comprehend what day it is. BUT…the other day, however, I ran out of coffee and ended up drinking a Tim Horton’s (Canada’s addiction!).

That Tim Horton’s coffee is HIGH TEST! I have a new weapon and I be will saving my TH visit’s for dire times or for those moments where I know that I am about embark on a really long conference call.

Oh yay! Coffee…I love caffeine. Super fine stuff!

Hmmm…..what else?

Well, I made the stupid move of voicing my thoughts on a particular point of interest during a staff meeting yesterday, Why was it a stupid move? Well, I ended up being tasked with coming up with a solution. DAMMIT!! I just started this new position and walked right into the age old trap: Where if the whole team is silent, then be silent because they obviously knew something that you don’t! 

Don’t get me wrong, It’s not that I don’t mind working but I certainly am hesitant when my learning curve has the potential to be high when just starting out. How am I supposed to gage my work scope when starting up a new job and commit to additional work right off the mark? I made sure that I pointed out to my manager that he can expect me to NOT voice my thoughts if the result will always be my getting extra tasks from it. REJOICE!

But all is good…(I keep reminding myself that this is the case!) because I managed to get a good solid handle and a answer to the burning question which will make some people VERY happy! Dealing with the situation just involved calling half a dozen people and writing up an email that summarized all the areas of concern so that WE were all on the same page. 

Extra cycles burned? A few…but worth it in the end because client will be happy.

Question du jour: Have you communicated today?

Did I mention that caffeine (coffee berry) is a miracle drug? It’s good for your skin too….certain dermatologists have said so.

Okay. I think that I have run through the gamut of subjects that are on my mind ATM.

Good day.