Just like the good ol' days

It always amazes me that developers think that tech writers will learn things by osmosis or something. They can put down minimal information about something and the tech writer will just guess from that what the new feature does. And guess correctly mind you, or else they get in a huff. It reminds me of the old SmartSales days when developers saw me as the 'girl writer'. More and more I think that Joe was right and freelancing is the way to go. That way if they don't provide information, it's clear that they're only hurting themselves. And the new VP wants shorter development cycles. Yeah, right.

The thing is that I don't feel confident as it is, so I blame myself that I did not read the dev mumbo jumbo correctly. Luckily I remember that Chrissie had the same problem where she wrote stuff and they crossed it through and said 'wrong'. Well then, tell me what's right! There's always Starbucks, I guess.

I need to quickly publish a bestselling novel or three or five. Basically, I need to be J.K. Rowling.

Nice government

Yes, yes, the government came through and Arthur got his permanent resident card yesterday! Oh, there'll be dancing on the streets and champagne flowing! That is there would be, if we didn't have a prenatal class today.

I am now telling all and sundry that I'm pregos. I am still not really showing though. I am 20 weeks, that is half way there!

The little jacket and hat I am making is not really progressing. I have about 3cm. Sigh. Good thing I bought green yarn and not pink, as we're having a boy. I hope he won't mind that one sleeper with pink giraffes. :) I suspect that he will spit up on it just as well as on blue bears.

Bad day for riding the subway yesterday. I swear, you can't make this stuff up! When I got on there was a gentleman already there who was very overserved, but was generally quiet, that is until a woman got on who used a small raisin box to whistle. She emitted these extremely high pitched whistles in frequency of about every two seconds. Well, the man, in a clear effort to quiet her, whistled as well, but very loudly. The woman, ecstactic that someone was playing along with her, whistled all the more. They whistled to one another like that for two stops and then the man got fed up and got off. Well, she continued to whistle until another woman asked her to please stop. At this point Whistler's sister, started to sing at the top of her voice and clap her hands. She got tired of it after about ten stops and went back to whistling. Luckily it was time for me to get off.

Rodrigo is really starting to bug me. This morning he asked me to correct cover letters he will write for himself when he applies for other positions. OK, that's not unreasonable in itself, but he creates such an atmosphere of panic when he talks about 'the future here is so uncertain and there are no new projects coming up.' OK, bud, I know it, but I don't necessarily want to hear about it! I do not need the stress right now. I think I will do my best to avoid him from now on.

Arthur is now a permanent resident. Yippeee! I am strongly hoping that this will lead to a job for him soon. Oh, boy, that would be good.

I did not gain any weight in the last month and that's good. Mind you, I'm sure that I will gain some soon enough. Monday is the ultrasound to find out if it's a little boy or girl. I'm excited and can't wait!

Turns out Lorena is pregnant too. She sent her wedding photos and announced she's due in mid November.

People are exercising in the parking lot of the TD bank across from us. Hm. Wondering if these are TD bank employees and if not, why in heaven's name are they exercising here?

Power Rangers Movie!


What movie Do you Belong in?(many different outcomes!)
brought to you by Quizilla


Hee heee!

Yesterday's loooong meeting just confirmed the fact that marketing big wigs have no clue. At least here at the Evil Corporation they don't. Sat through an hour of endless discussion on the superiority of RIMs over phones and how POP mail is impossible to get on a RIM and is a messenger even a feasible thing. Let me just clarify, Evil Corporation does not make RIMs. As the initiator of the discussion was a Senior Director, nobody dared change tack, though I was sorely tempted to say, 'yes, but the REASON we're here is to discuss specs!' And put that damned Blackberry back in your pocket, we all know you have one, stop showing off. I bet he has a big car too.

Watched season finale of West Wing last night with its requisite cliff hanger. How refreshing it would be if a major show opted to end a season without a cliff hanger! OK, I know all about having expectations met, but sometimes I could go for a little originality.

Finally someone realized I'm pregnant based on my belly! Maybe he was tipped off before, but he clearly pointed to the belly and said, 'oh, I didn't know because you didn't show before.' Yay! Of course, I was sliding off the chair at the time, which always makes my belly look bigger, but it counts all the same! How do these women do it that only their tummy looks pregnant and not the rest of the body? I have pregnant calves! Guess I'm just extra special.

I think ultrasound machines are the best invention of the century! We went to see our little one on Friday and actually got waved at. OK, OK, sceptics would say that's impossible, but hey, I saw it!

Major layoff at the Evil Corporation last week. It took them three days to finish it.

I should really take example from Glacia and start knitting things like little socks for example or little hats. I would not have the first idea what size to make them though. :)

Had a nice chat with Emma today. Her work environment is even worse than mine. I guess I should not complain too much. Occasionally the sheikh talks down to me (like yesterday) and he's all serious and displeased with me (like lately), but at least I can have a telephone conversation with someone without the whole office hearing it. Are there no good places to work?

Having a low confidence day yet again. Feeling very blonde, which is not like me. Also am not blonde. I think in this job I've had more days like this than in any other job I've had. Mostly this must be because I am finding it hard to muster up enough interest to do what I need to do. I've been with Evil Corporation for over a year and I still feel new.

OK, also finding it hard to concentrate when it's hot and sunny outside and I have the prospect of shopping later. To tell the truth, I'm bored!

Finally, a sunny day! Yesss!

I really think that mothers to be should also be celebrated on Mothers' Day. Are we not mothers? Do we not carry the next generation? I was told by my own father though that this did not count and that Mothers' Day is to be celebrated by children for the mother, not by husbands and other family members. Hmph! I think only Emma agrees with me. Mind you, on TV, it's all about expectant moms as well as those who already have their children.

Waiting patiently for meeting with the Sheikh. Tu du du du du du du, tu du du du du, tu du, tu du tu du... Jeopardy tune.

So, probably like most people I have mixed feelings about the last Friends episode. How predictable that Rachel did not go to Paris after all! And why oh why did she come back to be with that loogan who has to mention 'unless we're on a break' at the moment they reunite. Turn yourself right around, honey and head to Paris. After all, it's a city filled with Gunthers. ;)
It was quite sweet to see Courtney Cox so obviously pregnant. She looks so much better when she's not skeletally thin. All in all, the scene in the hospital stole the show.
Anyway, that's my take on it. I also predict that "Joey" will be cancelled after the first season.

As birthdays go, yesterday kinda sucked. In retrospect however, I realize that it's because I had such impossibly high expectations. I suppose that mature and adult people realize that being showered with presents and affection just because you happened to be born on a certain day, is rather unrealistic. People have their own lives and your birthday is not as magical to them as it is to you. So in that light, expecting people to show up with cakes and baloons is just nuts. Certainly, bawling incontrolably because it did not happen makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Must be the baby hormones. I swear, I can be happy as a clam one minute and totally misreable the next with no apparent reason.

Anyway... found all the forms Arthur needs online and the poor guy will have to fill them out now (something he loathes) and then go and stand in line at the various government offices. At least most of them do not require fees with the notable exception of the drivers' license.

Christopher Judge is coming to Toronto! And we are going to see him. I better procure a photo asap. I am counting on the fact that I'm pregnant to be able to sneak in past the long line of authograph fiends. That man is just so gorgeous. I realize that it's not him, it's the whole persona of Teal'c, but hey!

I wonder how Glacia would take it if I asked her to knit a blankie for baby. :)

I do not understand why my hips and thighs are getting bigger. Well, OK, the bagel, muffin and ice cream may have something to do with it. But really, there is no baby on my hips. No need for them to get bigger! Of course, tummy is not far behind. In fact, I am sad to report that I am losing my waistline.

The sheikh has gone for the afternoon so I guess it will be zzzzzzzz time for me. I was worried that he took only the afternoon off because in the morning there might be firing squads. Perhaps there were, but I heard nothing.

Trying hard to come up with a way of taking a vacation and not spending any money. It's proving very difficult. Damn hotels are SO expensive! I wanted to go to Halifax or even Ottawa. All hotels are about $100 a night. B&b's are about the same. Damn!

Oh too funny, Chrissie just left too. You can tell when the sheikh is not here!

Being sick sux. Not being able to take anything to make yourself feel better sux even worse. It all puts me in a foul foul mood. I can't even have a hot toddy to warm myself up. Pregnant people can't do anything! Grrrr!
I was all miss grump last night. Arthur offered to make me chicken soup and I told him not to put any weird vegetables in it. Last time he put in some sweet potato. He's so sweet. I love him so!

Maybe it's a sign that I'm getting older, but increasingly I notice how tactless people are. Yesterday Rodrigo asked me if Arthur minded that he's not working and not able to contribute financially. No, Rodrigo, he loves it! What do you think? Obviously he hates it! What is wrong with people? I mean do I go around asking him if he likes the fact that his wife couldn't 'stick it out' with him and left after eight months? Grrr!
I also don't make sure I enumerate to Gina all of her problems and keep saying 'you must be so stressed' all the time. But then that one is a regular little ray of sunshine. No matter what she says, it come out negative.
OK, done griping for the moment.

Italian scientists have discovered that the reverse side of the Shroud of Turin also contains an image of the face and hands of Jesus or whoever was wrapped in the shroud.

http://www.iop.org/EJ/news/-topic=735/journal/1464-4258

Interestingly, some say that this can be proof that the Shroud is authentic. It is sure to spark more debate.

No enlightened answers emerged yesterday. Obviously things like the queen of England and the most read writer in the world are not options. I wonder who is the most read writer in the world. Hm.

The search continues.

Sometimes I have the irresistible urge to run away. Then I come to the question - who would I be if I were not me. Suppose that there was an accident and everyone thought I died in it, but of course I didn't. Would I go back to my life? In the end I think I would because I would not want to live without Arthur. But let's just suppose that I didn't. I could start my life from scratch. Who would I be?
Or what if I got amnesia and could not remember any of my past including upbringing and childhood. I could become someone completely different. I would have no ingrown fears and inhibitions because everything would be starting anew.
I guess what I'm saying is that I want a new start of some kind. I want a change, a good change. There are some patterns in my life that are bringing me down and I want to get rid of them. Running away would be a lot easier though.

Manners are officially a thing of the past. All the farty people in this city were riding the subway with me today. Whatever happened to holding it until you get to a bathroom?! No, instead they regale everyone with their essence.
Of course, on the other side from farty boy on the Bloor line, sat a lady who had an accident with a perfume bottle. Clearly all the contents of it had spilled on to her and she had no time to shower to get the stink off before she boarded the subway. So, here were my alternatives, breathe in the human aroma or the concentrated flowery sticky sweetness of some knock off perfume, which made me sneeze uncontrollably. I tried to breathe in the small area of space between the two pungent passengers and prayed for Yonge station to come soon.

Three days of training. My brain is about to ooze out of my ears. The trainer, Jumba was from Nigeria and had a very interesting accent. Sometimes I could not quite catch what he said. It took me a while to realize, for example, that Elia Vachon, whom he insisted on talking about was in fact 'earlier version'. It kept making me think about Prescious Ramotswe. On top of it he kept referring to certain processes as 'this thing' and that made me think about "The Gods Must be Crazy". All, in all, quite pleasant reminiscing there. But of course I could not do that for three days. Am quite tired now. Learning is a very energy consuming process. Maybe will take a snooze at my desk...Zzzzzzzzzzzz

Been feeling sick like a dog. Riding buses is especially challenging, with all the smells of people around and the sudden breaking. This morning I thought I was going to throw up then and there. Ah, the joys of impending motherhood!