slowdown

I've had a blogging slowdown recently, partially because I've been fairly busy with work and school in recent weeks, and probably just a small bit because I'm trying to hold off on hitting 800 posts until 2010 (currently sitting at 794, this will make 795).

I made the upgrade to Office 2007 at work this week. I'm glad that there's a menu emulator for 2003 otherwise I might have to gouge my eyes out due to the stupid uses of space in the Office 2007 menu structure. I don't need to see the style spread out like it is, but alas, they think I do and don't give me the option of turning it off. M$ is stupid.

This month was a big month for events at work. First came curling where we had 16 people out. Once we got into the club (a few minutes late due to it being locked when we got there), we had a ball. Only 1 person was new to the sport that evening, which meant there was less time for training, but hopefully more new people are interested in coming out next semester. Secondly was the 10.6 km hike from near Milton to Speyside on the Bruce Trail. This is the 3rd time I've done this section of the trail and it gets better every time. This was the best weather of all the times I've gone, and the most people I've had on an outing through the school so far. We'll see how things go in January (still need to get snow tires before that one) with the next one. And thirdly, what is quickly becoming a semesterly event, Taize happened. We tried to record it, but it didn't work, unfortunately. Good times with harmonies and singing and different languages and such.

Next semester, on top of Outdoors club, Taize, and curling, I'm co-directing a choir for an art show fundraiser we're doing in March. I'm excited for it because I really miss singing in choir and this should be lots of fun. There are many people who are interested in joining, so hopefully the sound will be full.

But otherwise, life continues. A take-home exam is all that's left for this semester's course. Next semester I'm taking two classes - Social Psychology and Soundtracks: Music in Film. Should be a ball. Or something.

Out.

probably not

With all news sources being turned into Pandemic Central over the past few weeks, there could be a lot of concern in my head over getting ill with the piggy flu.  Thousands have lined up for hours to get the pain in their arm so far - many of them perfectly healthy and not in the high risk groups.  Sure, a lot of people are probably in the right to get the shot, but I'm not planning on taking that step unless I'm forced to by some reason unbeknownst to me at this time.

I'm probably ok with getting sick and just riding out the recovery time at home.  I have 6 seasons of Corner Gas and 7 seasons of Scrubs to keep me company if I do.  I can also download other seasons of shows if I'm that bored.

Besides, if there's some side effect like infertility, I do want to be able to have kids at some point in time in my life [staying hopeful, Mom.]

So here's me keeping well with handwashing, sneezing into my elbow, and cleaning up after myself where needed until that point.  Hopefully I can get along just peachy without getting ill or getting the shot.

i [don't] want candy...

Many years ago, I remember going to a pizza place in Sarnia and wanting a sucker out of the bowl by the front door. But since then, I cannot recollect liking candy. In recent years, even the smell of it triggers a mild gag reflex. Chocolate is not included in this for some reason, although I don't enjoy chocolate in mass quantities unless it comes with gorging on a pack of Oreos.

But back to the candy. Over the years, I've received different reactions to this. Some people choose to ignore it entirely [or forget it] and offer every time they have some. Others realize it and don't even offer, which is fine. Others look at me like I'm some kind of wierdo [which I do not look like, not unlike Captain Vegetable], which seems to be the most chosen response.

Enter the one Hallmark Holiday of the year where candy takes centre stage in North American culture. I used to go out for Halloween and take in a massive haul of the stuff. I went through the piles of loot and took out the things that I would consume, including some chocolate, and pop. The rest went into a container under my bed and stayed there until the next time I did a massive cleaning of my room and then it was moved to a location where someone might enjoy it more than I was. This happened until around Grade 8 when I decided that it was a pointless venture for me to continue on, so I stopped. Although it's occasionally fun to try a new outfit [probably the best I've done was Alfalfa from the Little Rascals], I'm not too much a fan of the holiday, and I don't really see a need personally to propogate it into the future.