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.:Wednesday, July 30, 2003:.
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I am spicing up my blog with images today. I got the robot image from Blambot.com, a comics sight that has fonts for download. Lots of fun, especially if you like excercising your creative muscle. Click the link and check it, yo.
The other image I made myself. On MS Paint. I wish I had a better graphics program at work.
And, because Junko thinks I am a hot tamale, I've added a pic of a twitching chili: 
Have a nice day!
12:08 p.m.
posted by tre
.:Monday, July 28, 2003:.
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This blog is starting to look bland.
Will have to spice it up with some graphics to amuse you soon.
8:56 p.m.
posted by tre
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"I dream the same dream we can fly..."
Ahhh... over the years I have come to appreciate Chantal Kreviazuk. Not all of her stuff appeals to me (e.g. "This is the way God made me" and "Leeeeeeeeeaving, on a Jet Plane" which sometimes just pisses me right off... er... bad memories...) but I do like "In This Life" a whole lot.
I've been having very weird dreams lately... too weird to recount in coherent detail - lord knows I've tried with a select few. In one, I got flowers - red roses to be exact - from a former admirer who I think congratulated me on figuring out the Advertising Code of Ethics (see July 27 posting). Why these dreams are vivid are strange... there are some times when I go through a spat of remembering very vivid dreams and others where it is completely blank. Not sure how that translates to what goes on in my everyday life. And I'm still scratching my head about the Asian chick in the leopard print bathing suit.
8:55 p.m.
posted by tre
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New Blogger on the Block
But she's not at Blogger per se... as you will notice there's a new link on the side there... my buddy Nafeesa has joined the blog train... welcome aboard!
7:50 p.m.
posted by tre
.:Sunday, July 27, 2003:.
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Advertising Code of Ethics?
A couple of weeks ago I noticed the alternating ads on the corner of Main & 49th, at the gas station. It was advertising Telus Mobility, then A&W, then KFC. Normally I wouldn't pay much heed to any of the ads... I mean, Telus and their stupid 'nature' campaign with the monkeys with the cell phones, like that's really going to make me switch to... oh, wait, I already have Telus... ANYWAY, my concern was with the other two ads rotating, the A&W "Double Seasoned" in lovely orange and brown, and KFC's bucket of genetically modified chicken. Both perfect for a day at the beach, you think? Erm...
It's probably none of my business cuz I'm not in advertising nor do I know much about selling ad space... but if I were either an A&W or KFC exec I'm not sure I'd want my ad, both about the exact same thing, to be up against my competition. I guess it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, I mean, "double-seasoned" is not the same as "eleven herbs and spices" so neither A&W or KFC can realistically sue Pattison Outdoor, can they? For some kind of misrepresentation? But what if the mistakenly-informed consumer gets mixed up? Isn't there some kind of rule against that? I'm trying to think of another situation where this happens... like bus stops with Real Estate Agent #1 next to Real Estate Agent #2. Or Fitness World vs. Ron Zalko on the same rotating billboard.
This is where I should know more about the law. Hmm, I will have to think more about this and entering law school just to be an expert in advertising law. Screw Thorougly Modern, I'm going to make this decision over a bucket of GM-chicken. Mmm.
4:02 p.m.
posted by tre
.:Saturday, July 26, 2003:.
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Thoroughly Modern Girl...
...the project begins. First things first... actually I have no idea what comes "first" in these sorts of things. Not having done this professionally or having taken any university courses on it... well except Communications with Crawford Killian at Capilano... but we focussed on technical writing, so I don't think it counts so much... as it happens I did get an A+ in that class... not to toot my own horn or anything...
Anyway. Listen up folks, you three or four blokes that regularly read this: I need input. I am planning on doing a character profile first. I am planning on 52 installments, one for each week of the year. Granted I'm not going to write a new installment each week; rather compile 52 as a goal and see where that takes me, however long that takes. I have a few ideas tossed around so far, some you have already seen if you've searched the blog archives. E.g. The Scary Interview with Middle Eastern Men in a High Rise Apartment Building; The Thong Experience; and others. At Lena's request there will be an installment on suburban white girls' phonics (Subonics, a corrupted version of Ebonics, which I know, is already ironic), and and AND the much hyped "Bitter Ex's: Love spelled backwards is Evil"
I am quite aware that this may come off as a rip-off of the Bridget Jones and Sex and the City set... but whatever... collectively we are all asserting our creativity. Mua. Ha. Ha.
8:19 p.m.
posted by tre
.:Friday, July 25, 2003:.
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Last post
Hey everyone... last night's post was finished in haste, I had planned on writing more but I guess you can't really tell... had a sort-of digestive tract emergency and when I finally came to, my brother was shutting the computer down. D'oh! And then I forgot that I could post from my own computer. I edited it and added a short paragraph in the end, as you can see... and then I noticed there were already 2 comments this morning. Wow!
9:14 a.m.
posted by tre
.:Thursday, July 24, 2003:.
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Creative Writing
I know that if I were to ever write a book about anything it would more than likely be based loosely on my life. Bits and pieces and whatnot. Between the blog and a collection of e-mails that rivals the 30 volumes of our 1985 version of the Encyclopaedia Britannica... it's safe to say I have quite a bit of 'material.' So, how to get on with this daunting task? I've never committed to writing anything more than 30 pages... and even then that was double-spaced in a large font and peppered with large-ish pictures.
But what of character development? Plot? Story arc? Possible sequels? You know I'm probably one of those retards who reads a few chick lit novels and thinks, hey, there's a formula to this, let me have a go at it!
I need to do more research on this. They say that living well is the best revenge. I say, that, and being published. Muahaha.
10:32 p.m.
posted by tre
.:Tuesday, July 22, 2003:.
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Pet Peeve of the Day
I try to stay away from the negative on this blog because we all know how 'bitter' I can get... (ha ha)... but I just have to air this one grievance, just for today.
People that block parking spaces annoy me. Especially when I'm arriving home from work to have some dumbass' car parked in front of my spot. Clearly, whoever has parked there knows it's my spot, but is too lazy to move the car to a proper spot where no other cars will be parked. I mean, for heaven's sake... if you're going to block the freakin' spot why not take the damn thing? Because either way I have to park on the street and get sap all over my newly washed car. Feck.
In other news, my employers graciously gave me free tickets to the Molson Indy this weekend. I knew I was getting them but not sure if I was going to go... not being a fan of race cars and all... BUT I do know it's a good thing for the city and was happy to give away my free tickets to whomever asked first. Lena gets Friday's; Sean gets Saturday's; Joe gets Sunday's for fixing my car. So that good deed past... I need to find another one to do. Hmmm. Mean people beware, I may barrage you all with... niceness.
6:25 p.m.
posted by tre
.:Sunday, July 20, 2003:.
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Break-up Letter Generator
Hmm. Surfing the web is interesting when you are aimlessly surfing the web. I found a 'break-up letter generator' link on a Vancouver Weblogger's blog. But here it is, in case you want to check it out. I mean, not that you are breaking up with any one, or am I contemplating breaking up with any one... but hey... it could provide you some amusement.
8:23 p.m.
posted by tre
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Mum's new summer hobby
She is going to be canning salmon this summer. How do I know she's gotten serious about it? When she phones me from Oakridge to pick her up, with her 3 boxes of wide mouth mason jars. Heheh. I only mention this because when I picked her up, I parked in the space reserved for "Expectant or New Mothers Parking Only" ... well it was right next to the door and I'd only be there for like, 2 minutes... and really, who keeps tabs on that? What if the "New Mother" doesn't bring her kid with her? What if the "Expectant Mother" is not yet noticably pregnant? In all justification, we are all expectant mothers, aren't we?... just haven't had the eggs fertilized yet. That's my justification, so there.
2:18 p.m.
posted by tre
.:Friday, July 18, 2003:.
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HOPELESSLY NOT EUROPEAN
I am never going to get used to that kiss-on-both-cheeks thing, no matter how many "European" people I hang out with. Argh.
In other news, I have brought my speakers to work so I can listen to the radio at work. Internet radio. BBC Radio and Virgin Radio. Hmm. But looks like the more distractions I find, the more work I get to do. Yes!
3:12 p.m.
posted by tre
.:Thursday, July 17, 2003:.
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Comments have now moved...
...to the end of each posting. Hope you haven't gotten used to the old version... if not, well at least this spices things up a little!
Foo Fighters
...last night, at Plaza of Nations... was pretty good. Lots of teenagers. Glad I had earplugs. Will have pictures online soon. Er, there'll be like, on pic of the stage more likely, my camera battery died on me. Probably from taking loads of ISL bus pictures... oh well. The one thing I like about Dave Grohl is that he introduced his band... not something many 'big' acts do so much any more... maybe it's lead singers not wanting to share the spotlight? Which is kind of stupid when you think about it. Nah, anyway... the opener, Pete Yorn was pretty good. Totally missed the first act, My Morning Jacket, because we were tied up at dinner and then couldn't find (cheap) parking. Downtown around that area is messed up because of all the Indy (re-)construction. Can you believe Tony was getting antsy about not getting his tickets at the will-call window on account of being late? Heheh, obviously hasn't been to enough concerts. Or at least, hasn't had enough experience with the will-call window.
12:55 p.m.
posted by tre
.:Wednesday, July 16, 2003:.
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Irrational Justifications of Being Female
1. it's 10 in the morning, I'm at work, and having my Wendy's frosted malt thingee that I forgot about and left in the freezer at work yesterday. Let's just say it's my version of morning coffee today.
2. I'm wearing real business-like attire today - black and red - and my piece de resistance is the baby blue fleece I'm using to keep warm (damn air conditioning). I don't care.
3. I drank 3 litres of calcium-enriched OJ (not from concentrate!) in less than 36 hours. Any bones of mine will not be broken... this week at least!
4. I finally got my Coupling DVD and Sophie Kinsella book in the mail yesterday... a week and a half late... so first thing I do after coffee with the Cro's, start reading at 11:00. I finished the whole book in one go. (Needless to say I had planned to put Bryson to the side for a bit, but turns out not, since I've finished the damn thing already. Damn Chick-Lit! Does it have to be so readable?? >sigh<)
5. in light of reading the whole book in one go, I had less than 3 hours' sleep last night, hence the need for frosted malt in the morning. Gotta keep the energy up - Foo Fighters concert tonight.
6. e-mailed an old McD's colleague of mine out of the blue - hadn't seen or talked to the guy in 10 years but saw his name and company in the Vancouver Courier so I thought I'd send him a note. He calls me back and invites me and everyone I know to a fundraiser he's throwing for his organization. So I am shamelessly plugging it here: "Summer Sundays is putting the funk back in Funk-ouver!" says CEO Lorenzo Pederzani. Good times.
10:36 a.m.
posted by tre
.:Monday, July 14, 2003:.
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Aluminum or Aluminium?
I recall a conversation some weeks back with Junko and David where the difference in North American English vs. UK English came up. I mean, aside from boot = trunk and jumper = sweater and all that, was the unanswerable question of why the British called the element known as Al, atomic number 13, aluminium with the extra 'i' vs. aluminum which is how North Americans choose to think of it.
So I am reading this book right now called A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson. Bryson is a travel writer, mostly, and forayed into the scientific realm, as it were, with this book. I personally highly recommend reading anything by Bill Bryson. Not only is it hilarious, it's informative too. I am a little past halfway in the 500+ page book, which covers the history of the universe, our solar system, our planet, and life as we know it... and how we came to figure out all this stuff. (This afternoon at lunch I discovered the cradle of life exists on the north western coast of Australia in the form of stromatolites.)
Anyway, getting to my point... there is a footnote that Bill Bryson wrote in the book, in regards to the aluminum/aluminium dilemma: "The confusion over the aluminum/aluminium spelling arose because of some uncharacteristic indecisiveness on [Humphrey] Davy's part. When he first isolated the element in 1808, he called it aluminium. For some reason he thought better of that and changed it to aluminum four years later. Americans dutifully adopted the new term, but many British users disliked aluminum, pointing out that it disrupted the -ium pattern established by sodium, calcium, and strontium, so they added a vowel and a syllable."
We put (some) of our faith in the hands of scientists and they can't agree on how to spell something? Doesn't send a very assuring message, does it? Suddenly I feel like quoting Douglas Adam's Marvin: "Life... don't talk to me about life!" Hee hee.
9:26 p.m.
posted by tre
.:Sunday, July 13, 2003:.
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Comments on the comments
Does it make better sense that I put the 'comments' link immediately after the post than at the line with the stamp date? 'Cuz it seems like a lot of you's are commenting on a particular posting that refers to the wrong one... I think y'all know what I mean. Let me know if I should change it.
Or rather, I probably will anyway but input is always nice.
1:23 a.m.
posted by tre
.:Friday, July 11, 2003:.
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You've Got Mail...
Or rather, I do. I love the post. I just wish the mail service were a little more predictable.
This last week has been really good for mail for me... four postcards and a bubble-wrapped surprise! When I came home from work today it was lying on the dining room table and I thought, SWEET! My DVD and book from Amazon.co.uk has arrived, finally! But no, it was something else... but it was still a surprise!! Junko and David had bought me an Oxford T-shirt... Nice. I must have subconsciously known something was in the mail for me from there, because I was wearing my goofy Union Jack socks. (Hidden in boots of course.)
That stuff counteracted what else I got in the mail the day before, a letter from ICBC telling me I owe them $1635 for damages to my car... which I have to pay if I want to keep my Roadstar status. Now I have to find out if that is the full amount or not including the deductible I/Fri already paid. After freakin' four months they FINALLY send me that letter... and then the next day a cheque from them for $75.00. Geez, thanks.
Anyway, about my t-shirt. THANK YOU JUNKO AND DAVID!! It fits... albeit a little snug (I'm sure it will stretch with use). And on the inside there was a little fabric sticker that said "Made in Britain" with the washing instructions. It even smells like a British clothes shop! Ahhh. Okay, just a little obsessed there... it smells like new clothes, but maybe I'm inferring just a little too much. Who cares! Have you gotten any bubble wrapped packages in the mail lately? Let me bask in the warm glow in knowing that people like me. Ahhh...
11:32 p.m.
posted by tre
.:Wednesday, July 09, 2003:.
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Weird
My computer at home shows a different Blogger set-up than my computer at work, or my brother's. This I find strange... I know Blogger is supposed to be doing some upgrading, but I'm not really a fan of the "new" Blogger... something about lofi, maybe that's it. Who knows.
Anyway, I was kind of a dumbass today at lunch... McD's, first of all (kill me now Junko)... and not only did I go there, but I drove there (it is only 2 blocks away). I was planning on staying there for my lunch break but sitting at a table was someone I knew and I just passed him without saying anything. Didn't even say 'hi'. And the longer I stood in line thinking about it, the more embarrassed I became. I know this guy, we're on friendly terms... I haven't spoken to him in almost two years but still? (Maybe longer actually, but still.) Ergh. I left, took my lunch back with me to the office (give me credit Junko, it was fajitas. Semi-healthy.) I had my lunch with Chris, one of our dispatchers - we had a discussion about currency and the cost of a Big Mac in Canada vs. the US vs. Hong Kong. Then we talked about how China is a lot more capitalist than ignorant folk are likely to think.
Anyway, my mind was wandering about my non-encounter. You see, I work in the middle of nowhere in Ditchmond. Not exactly Nowhere, but pretty damn near close enough. What surrounds Cambie and Shell are a strip of airport hotels, an Executive Park (read: office multiplex), plus a bunch of other industrial 'headquarters'. So maybe the McDonald's is a gathering place of sorts for all the non-people that congregate (work) in these buildings?? At any rate it doesn't seem likely that your average citizen would end up at this particular McD's if one didn't work in the area. Not a 'destination' McD's, like on No. 3 road or something, but who knows. He looked like he was dressed pretty casually, and was with friends/colleagues. Another reason not to 'intrude'.
<sigh> Kind of frustrating when I complain I'm not meeting any new people when I can't even be social with people I already know. Grr.
11:41 p.m.
posted by tre
.:Tuesday, July 08, 2003:.
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Postcards from the Edge
Hello Summer
12:06 p.m.
posted by tre
.:Monday, July 07, 2003:.
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Panty lines and other grievances
One great thing about having a web log is the ability to rant on about random things. I mean really, of the maybe five people who read this, maybe one or two of them will get the inferred message... and if they do they never acknowledge their own presence by leaving a comment (!!!)...
At any rate, I've decided to use this medium to tell you all about my very interesting weekend. And talk about panty lines.
Friday night was Niko's housewarming get-together. A small gathering of sorts, not terribly publicized but was the place to be on Friday night. That is, until things got loud. Or rather, Dan Lerer got loud. (Really!) I'll be working on putting some pictures of that up eventually too, but I'm sure Kreso will have something up, namely of Marko runway walking and slipping on the hardwood floor and landing on his... um, yeah. Anyway, it was soon decided that we should leave the apartment and it was also decided that we would all head to the Croatian Cultural Centre. Now, I've never been there so I was quite interested in seeing what the big deal was. Well basically it's a whole bunch of people getting together and drinking. There was an interesting mix of people there on Friday night - some dressed casually, some really hooched up... and I'm guessing not everyone knew each other and often the first line you'd hear out of someone's mouth whenever they started a conversation with someone was, "Are you Croatian?" Heheh. ("No, but I'm in the Volkswagen Club!") I almost got in a fight with a chick as I left the bathroom. Well, I was leaving the bathroom and heading towards where all my friends were (outside) and there were people in my way so obviously I had to make my way through them... not pushing or shoving but rather mildly nudging and saying "Excuse me" like a polite Canadian... This chick comes from behind me and shoves me like she had something against me... I was like, WTF?? Luckily I was sober enough to shove a little back but kept moving because my friends, would be of no help to me if I got in a rumble, outside as they were.
Saturday night was another animal. I got to tell my shoving story twice, to Lena and Tanya... and went to Tanya's bf's house for a last-minute barbecue. Hung out with a bunch of Italians. And people intent on marrying Italians. Talked wedding plans. (Oh god, we're at that age...) I was going to go on about being "bitter and shit" but I seem to have lost interest in talking about Saturday night. Good time, though. Swatted mosquitoes and drank Rocco wine. BTW, "bitter and shit" does NOT refer to aforementioned wedding plans!!! It's stock in the F5 secret language.
Sunday! Did nothing, all day! And then Tanya and I went down to English Bay to have a walk and chill. Our other compatriots bailed on us for no good reason, but that was okay; me and Tanya had a picnic on the beach! We had Greek/Mediterranean food from some place on Denman where the woman serving us was incredibly relaxed about everything. And Tanya really wanted humous so she went across the street to a competing Greek restaurant and had to stand in line for 20 minutes waiting for a bowl of humous and some pita bread. We watched a Professional Street Performer from Australia, Steve Balance or something like that. His schtick was, at the very end of his show, standing on six milk crates (disguised as dice) and juggling fire. Not as good as Byron from Britain who got himself out of a straightjacket last time I was out with Junko... but good picnicking entertainment. After that we walked for a while and headed out to Starbucks for coffee, where whilst sitting down and enjoying my mocha Frappucino, Tanya and I noticed some city workers outside. One of them was cute so I meowed at him. In relative obscurity. Little did we know until Tanya noticed another city worker, the guy's partner we preseumed, was inside fixing his coffee and heard mine and Tanya's remarks, and was giggling to himself. Oh, how embarrassing! But whatever - Tanya and I left not long after and lucky for me my phone rang at the same instant we walked outside and past the city workers... heheheh.
On to the panty lines. I'm discovering more and more that even if you buy "no seam" underwear you can still see it. I wore a skirt to work today - not an uncommon occurrence, but this particular skirt was, and I just looked really hot in it. It's khaki, with nice embroidery on it. Paired with my new Banana Republic top, it was a good combination. Except for the side profile underwear line that practically screamed GRANDMA PANTS... Mental note, of course, is to wear a thong... but whatever. I didn't wear nylons either; too hot for it. So knock off a couple points in the fashionable category for me. I can't be bothered.
9:56 p.m.
posted by tre
.:Thursday, July 03, 2003:.
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You know it's summer when...
 ... you have the unhealthy urge to have ice cream on a stick for breakfast. And drive while you're at it.
10:38 a.m.
posted by tre
.:Wednesday, July 02, 2003:.
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New comments link
I am not sure about the rest of you, but I've been having problems with the Comments link showing up whenever I access my own weblog (outside of Blogger). It should have shown up as "chart your own territory now (comments)" or "# territories charted so far"... but half the time it doesn't show up! So I have changed my Comments provider to Haloscan, so hopefully all yous guys [sic] who read the blog will harass me to no end, and do so repeatedly. The comments link now, along the post line should just say something along the lines of "Charted (# comments)"
8:49 p.m.
posted by tre
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Olympic Proportions of Giddiness
Thanks Fri... I know the Olympics have a lot to do with me and my 'industry'... but I meant that I, personally, had not much to do with the actual bidding process. But that said, yeah, it's going to be a wild ride for the next 6.5 years. That is not to say that we don't have our work cut out for us, cuz we do. As much as I have wanted the Olympics, and now that they are here I am glad. Guess those lucky loonies worked after all!
This is a definite economic boost for BC. I can foresee almost every sector benefitting from this - even healthcare and education. For those naysayers who claim that this money is better spent on healthcare and education itself, I say they have their point, but politics are powerful forces.
There is something to be said about this 'economic shot in the arm' that we call the Olympics. For the last few years BC has been in decline and had recently been declared a 'have-not' province. What disturbs me about this is that now that we have the Olympics are going to reap the benefits for the next 10-15 years, what happens after that? How can we sustain Olympic-sized growth?
Something to think about.
In the mean time, there's a party at the Plaza of Nations on Saturday July 5, from noon until 2 PM. It's a countdown party, and everyone's invited. I'm going to go down and see if I can score tickets to the opening ceremonies. Anyone else wants to go let me know...
.:Teresa, on the bandwagon since 1998.:.
2:59 p.m.
posted by tre
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of Olympic proportions...
I am kind of disappointed to say that this morning I was too nervous to listen to the radio in case we lost the bid... but at the last moment I turned on the radio AND the TV just in time to hear the announcement... and phew...
We won. Being the optimist that I am, this can only mean good things. Sweet!
10:07 a.m.
posted by tre
.:Tuesday, July 01, 2003:.
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Relatives on TV
So it's crunch time for this 2010 Bid thing... I have to say I am getting quite nervous, even though I had nothing (or at least not much) to do with the bid itself. I have been trying to stay away from the TV and news until tomorrow, because all we hear is speculation... if, when, blah blah blah. Last night on the news while trying to pay attention to other current events I caught a bit on the Whistler preparations in the Village... and just happened to see my Auntie Charing standing on a podium cheering. And then Manang Asa and Papa Tommy (aka Lola and Lolo) also looking on quite pleased with themselves. And it was such a short piece I couldn't very well go and call someone... although I did e-mail my cousin Jane in NY about it today.
Anyway keep a lucky loonie on you for luck that we win the bid! (Click the loonie to read the story at Canada.com)
I also stumbled upon the nearest 7-11 to my work this afternoon. Not quite sure if it's the actual closest but easiest to get to, at least! I was on a mission to find a gas station and, alas, all of them were packed because gas dipped down to 69.9... and WTF, are all the gas stations in Richmond full serve? Whatev. Anyway, I stopped in at 7-11 to pick up a Slurpee (Pepsi/Mountain Dew, I bet a certain Musson is jealous!), and the guy at the counter asked me if I would like some Mexican taquitos. He was also wearing a Mexican hat. Declining, and paying for my Slurpee and sandwich, he bade me Happy Canada Day... which was strange coming from a dude in a Mexican hat. Go Multiculturalism, praise to Sheila Copps! Heheheh.
2:53 p.m.
posted by tre
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copyright? what copyright? (2005)
guess what?
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