I went back to my old neighborhood, and though much had changed, it was still very much the same...   My girl is 14 now, and is long-legged, healthy and fairly happy for a teenager.  She's in regular schooling once again, after going to a special school for kids with extreme learning disabilities. She started Grade 6 with a kindergarten to grade 1 reading level, and after 2 years, entered Grade 8 this year with a Grade 6 - 7 reading level. She's a bit behind, testing wise, b...

Whatever problem I had with Joeuser in regards to accessibility no longer stands.  Once I started using a new computer, all the certificate issues, slowness, and inability to log in has disappeared. Weird. So, a lot has changed since the last time I wrote.  The only thing left to be done in my new house is the second kitchen, and some touch up on the ceiling where it was opened up for re-wiring.   I quit my job moments before I would have gotten laid off; luckily I landed ...

It's been more than 2 months, and me and my girl are still living in one room, waiting for construction to end.  We are close to being finished; a coat of primer, a couple more gallons of paint, and some odd jobs to finish, and then the main bedroom will be finished.  The kitchen is next, and afterwards, more painting. It's been odd to be living out of a suitcase for so long.  Odd enough that I feel like I could simply haul the still-packed boxes straight to the dump and not miss ...

I'm in training again, this time for Tier 2 Tech Support.  8 bloody weeks of boredom, confirmed.  My best friend at work just completed the training, and said that she felt as prepared going back on the phones as I am right now, just brand new to book training.  How messed up does the company have to be in order to hear a sentence like that?  I'm no member of the Mensa Society, but when training for something as large but focused as tech support for Blackberry, you'd figur...

So, the paperwork and a billion other things that had to be done before it was all done is over and we get the keys in 14 days. Yes,  my sister bought a house this month and I'm moving, too.  It's a cute little wartime house on the end of a quiet dead end street. Central, and with an actual backyard.  2 bedrooms on the main floor and 2 downstairs, airconditioning, new appliances including a dishwasher! I am sure other people look for other more important details, but I was s...

I've not quite moved up in the company, but rather, across.  I still get paid the same, but instead of taking call after monotonous call as a csr does (That's c ustomer s ervice r ep, of course), I help with the training of newbies. I'm not yet an RL (Which is a R elationship L eader [ who the hell knows why it's called that ]) but I'm a roamer, which basically means I help those who have just gotten out of class training, and are starting their first few weeks on the phones.  Wh...

I took off early from work today in order to go back and work at my other job. I've got three jobs now, not just a full time and a part-time gig.  The third is part-time as well, and isn't exactly in critical mode, except for when an emergency arises and I have to scramble to get into action.  Usually, the third job is just plugging away with spreadsheets and can be done in my spare time.  Both my part time gigs are almost done, with September being the deadline. My full ti...

Another tres humid day, but it was so much better because at least it was my day off. We went to the beach and were surprised to see it packed. Because of the late spring, I figured the lake waters would be way too cold to swim much, but no, it was simply the first perfect day of the season.  I work tomorrow, and am booked for afternoons. Because its generally so bloody cold at work because of the aircon, I actually semi look forward to showing up.  Our apartment is still pretty hot...

I had just finished my first call of the day when I got a citris server error.  A typical result when pulling up info on the network, a big 'oh shit' when culled from my main program. 20 seconds later, it all came down. And when I say all, I mean ALL: Accounting program. Device tools. Network systems. Finally, what we all were dreaming for: the queue. I searched the drawers and came up with the daily newspaper, an old OK! magazine, and another glossy with a killer suduko puzzle. The girl...

Back on the night shift, and once again, I am both dreading and looking forward to it. Technically speaking, the night shift sucks because after a certain timeline, certain programs are shut down and we begin on back up mode.  Nothing can get done for people in a hurry, and even though we have a backup program, its proper to advise that if we even try to do it on the backup system, it could end up taking 20 times as long. Better to wait the 5 hrs and callback in the morning, than to ...

There's dirty houses, buildings, streets, and neighbourhoods, but nothing beats a good dirty alley. I don't have a whole list of streets in town to avoid, but like most towns, there's always a back alley with a discarded pair of underwear, a single shoe, and a bunch of random bottles, dead dry, of course. I literally hang out in one back alley on a regular basis, having been prohibited to loiter (ie: smoke) in either the front or side of the building of where I work.  Because I've got...

It feels like I've been on earlies for about 2 months now, though it's probably only been about 3 weeks. I start anywhere from between 6 to 7:30 in the morning, and it sucks the most as far as transportation goes; for example, tomorrow morning I have to cab it in because the earliest bus still hasn't hit the downtown terminal by the time I'm supposed to login. I took a couple of sick days this week as I had the stomach flu. Now, I'm not frivolous with my days off, but man, was it ever lovely ...

I did my taxes in fine time, just a week before the deadline. Not worried about oweing considering the lame-oh amount of fundage I pulled in. I'm not going to get any back either, though, but hopefully the osap hounds will quit dogging me for a bit. The weather's been a beaut this past week with temps in the eighties, and even though its slowly getting cooler, I'm no longer frightened about another dump-on this year. We did get snow 2 days ago, for like seven seconds which melted before it ev...

After 22 days without writing, you'd think I'd be chock full 'o stories and such, but nope, not really. Not much has been going on.  A couple of weeks of just working, Saturday trips to the Farmer's Market, Sunday afternoons renting videos, and dinners for two at the kitchen table.  My cooking skills are fairly adequate.  The only thing that really limits me to branch out from a plain and predictable menu is my child who simply likes things plain and predictable.  The plus...

Another day off, but not really... After trying to lock 'em out of the apartment for part of the morning, the girls are back indoors and watching Alvin and the Chipmunks , which is probably the worst movie I've seen this year (including both Spiderwick and Jumper, movies that should have delivered a whole lot more.) I love Jason Lee, which is the only reason why I consented to be in the same room at the same time while it was playing, but I don't think anyone could save this movie....