I can't believe that this was even a freaking question.

My boss asked me to print out a single page from a 200-page pdf. A pdf to which he has access. I am not an admin assistant. And I've repeatedly said I am adamantly opposed to doing these menial tasks. But whatever. I printed it and threw it on his desk without even responding to him.

THEN...

He asks me if I could take the sheet of paper to the multifunction to scan and email it to him.

The original document is an unlocked pdf. We both have Adobe Standard which means we can manipulate the pdfs. WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU ASKING ME TO SCAN AND EMAIL YOU A HARDCOPY WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE IT ELECTRONICALLY!!!

YOU IDIOT!!!

And if he had just said, "I need only this page to email to someone," I would've sent him the one page electronically instead of killing a tree.

AND WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU ASKING ME DO THIS ANYWAYS!??! If you say you don't need an admin assistant, then do it yourself! Cuz I'm not your admin!

I hate working here. I really do.

Source: http://is.gd/5kL4Jc

These days, I feel like I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off. So many things to do...so little time.

Booked 2 contractors so that Home Reno phase 2 can hopefully be done before the end of 2013. Sorted out the great contact lense debacle and got 5 free pairs in the meantime. Confirmed hiking boots were delivered. Travel Clinic appointment this Saturday. Gotta buy non-medical travel insurance and sew Canada flags on my backpack.

I think all the prep is going well...but still lots to do.

Picture the Alice in Wonderland white rabbit panicking...I sorta feel like that...but in a good way.

Source: http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110816111508/
disney/images/8/80/White_Rabbit_KHREC.png

T-16 days until Operation World Domination!

I don't usually buy whole pork loin roasts, least of all ones that are already frenched. But it was on sale, so I thought, sure...why not.

Usually if I have a whole roast, I brine it, but I opted for a dry rub this time. In my dry rub, I used kosher salt, brown sugar, fresh cracked pepper, granulated garlic, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, dried mint and oregano. I covered the whole loin with it, drizzled some olive oil on it, covered it with plastic wrap and let it sit in the fridge for 2 days.

Before throwing it in the oven, I set it on the kitchen counter for 2 hours so that it comes up to room temperature.

Source: http://instagram.com/p/fv4wpNuq68/

I preheat the oven to 500 F turned it down to 275 F as soon as I closed the door after I put the loin in the oven. I let it go for an hour because 275 is pretty low. Opening the door unnecessarily would make the cooking process painfully long.

After an hour, I checked the internal temp. It was at 45 C (yeah...I used the C thermometre instead of the F...that's roughly 113 F). For perfect, it needs to finish at 63 C/145 F. So I rolled the loin onto it's side so give the bottom some heat and threw it back in the oven at 300 F for another 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, the internal temperature was 55 C. I turned it back so that the rack was on the bottom and finished it at 325 F after 15 minutes.

Source: http://instagram.com/p/fwMXuSuq5P/

It came out at 60 C, which means after 20 minutes of resting, it'll be a perfect 64 C in the centre.

And yup...it was pretty close to perfect.

Source: http://instagram.com/p/fwRpL3uqwW/

I roasted the whole loin so that I could put it in sandwiches or take it for lunch over the course of the week. But if you were serving this for your friends/family at dinner, you can pair it with a nice mushroom and thyme gravy (well...that's what I would pair it with) and serve it with roasted root vegetables.

Bon appetit!!

I might be the only one, and judging by the speed at which everyone leapt to their feet for the standing O, I probably was, but I didn't like it.

Before all the Itzhak Perlman fans scream in uproar, let me start with the fact that I truly believe he is a great violinist. However, everyone has less than stellar performances, and music is quite subjective. So while everyone else in Roy Thomson Hall may have loved Itzhak's interpretation of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, I did not.

Source: Violin

This is a piece to showcase the violin...the soloist. But I felt like the entire orchestra was held back, suppressed both in volume and speed to the point where they sounded bound and gagged. The piece didn't flow lyrically with grace and ease, but dragged cumbersomely with odd pauses in some spots and awkwardly rushed passage to catch up. There were times, too many times, when the orchestra was out of sync with the violin. This was even more noticeable when the violin solo had its "dialogue" with the flute solo and clarinet solo. It was, as the Chinese euphemism goes, like a duck and a chicken trying to have a conversation.

Source: Duck & Chicken

Many things about tonight's performance threw me off. Aside from the over all timing being messed up, there was also the matter of odd volume drops from the orchestra. This concerto already has very few full orchestra passages. So when the orchestra passages are being played, I expect that they should be prominent. Instead, the first bar came out the way I expected, only to be suddenly stifled for the remaining bars as if Peter Oundjian had shushed them.

Source: Metronome

Source: Shush

*sigh*

Maybe I just went into this expecting too much. It's one of my favourite violin concerti, and I listen to it every Sunday with my morning coffee (in place of going to church...yes, I know, I'm a bad Catholic). So yes, I did bust out the iPod on the subway and listen to the Joshua Bell version of the Tchaikovsky violin concerto...just to make myself feel better. This night wasn't supposed to go this way. And as much as it pains me to have to say anything bad about the TSO, I have to be objective. I can't say it was good if I didn't like it. I just can't.

Glee's Cory Monteith Recalled In Emmy Tribute

Yes, I get it. Your craft is what’s important to you. The skill with which you are able to pretend that you are someone else and do it so that it’s not just believable, but emotional, for your audience is of the greatest import. But you know what? If no one comes to see your show, your craft isn’t worth anything. I hate to be the one to tell you the brutal, cold, hard truth, but there it is.

So some people are pissed that Cory Monteith received an Emmy tribute for his “potential” rather than his actually “achievements”. They say that it lessens accomplishments of other actors/directors that received a tribute and insults the ones that did not – all this, just to “pander” to a narrow demographic of attention-deficient teenagers and young adults.

Honestly, where do they get off being so high and mighty that they don’t need to “pander” to young people? You know who unabashedly panders to young people and is incredibly successful? McDonalds. No one does it like they do. And they are not ashamed of it.

You are the entertainment industry. Your job is to entertain. Your industry is fickle because that’s the world of show business. Without fans (ANY fans), you will either be serving me a latte at Starbucks or playing an extra on that obscure TV show that is paying you with lunch.

I’m not saying Cory should have been included. I’m not saying he *shouldn’t* have been included. I’m simply saying that words like,

“It's an insult and it really seems typical of this youth-centric culture that has an extremely short attention span and panders to only a very narrow demographic [of young adults]" ~Adam Klugman

can only come from a hypocritical snob that has forgotten the fundamental reason film, tv and music industry people even have a career at all.

Without the fiery fandemonium of the youth, tv shows are worthless. And all the talented and gifted actors, producers, writers, and directors associated with these shows will be rendered worthless too.

Source: http://www.emmys.tv/sites/emmys.tv/files/photos/LAA2013.jpg

This morning, I got up, grumbled about random aches and pains (physical and psychological) and hauled my sorry ass to work.

I got to the office approximately 15 minutes early, so I went directly to the food court to pick up a little bit o’ brekkie. As I got closer to the food counter, I heard the customer in front of me say, “At least it’s Friday.” And I thought to myself, it’s Thursday. Oh…she must be taking tomorrow off, so it’s her Friday.”

After I ordered and paid, the cashier handed me my change and said, “Have a good weekend.” My auto-response mechanism said, “Thanks, you too.” But I was thinking, “They’re closed tomorrow? No…they can’t be.”

I walked to the pick-up counter and waited for my breakfast. When the girl making my sandwich passed it to me, she said, “Thank you, and have a good weekend.” Now, I was thoroughly confused. Is it really Friday? It’s not Friday. Is it?

You know when you’re having one of those really vivid dreaming and you’re absolutely convinced that what’s happening can’t be real, but it feels so real? Yeah…I was having something similar but I was completely awake.

Source: http://euge.ca/2013/06/16/nightmare/

So I took my sandwich and walked to the elevator bank. In the elevator, two women were talking to one another and since I don’t eavesdrop, I don’t know what they were talking about. But one phrase caught my ear… “Well, at least it’s Friday.”

At this point, I couldn’t take it anymore. It can’t be that so many people are thinking that today is Friday if it’s really Thursday.

So I pulled out my phone.

I pressed the power button.

And what did the home screen say?

Source: http://messick.edublogs.org/files/2013/03/keep-calm-its-friday-43-2dnlq4a.png

Yeah…I’m slowly going insane. Please, someone make the voices stop.

Source: http://blogimages.thescore.com/mlb/files/2012/08/happy-friday-hand2.jpg

I know…I’ll just put on some Joshua Bell music and be done with it.

Source: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uoyVMDC1A40/UUrfazv5aRI/AAAAAAAAGSQ/YAt2-gZ4bzQ/s1600/funny-friday-quotes-1.jpg

You know, I try to be nice.  I always try to be diplomatic, especially when talking to Leafs fans.  I don't hate the Leafs.  I'm completely indifferent.  I don't care whether they win or lose.  The only teams I hate in the league are the Bruins and the Flyers.  It's not a personal disdain for the cities...I have no issues with the cities.  I just hate the teams.

But Leafs, well...everyone talks about the big Habs-Leafs rivalry...but to be honest, in my lifetime, the Leafs have never performed at a level that made them a significant rival.  I'm not the kind of Habs fan that yammers on about how many cups the Habs have won, but I do point out that in my lifetime, the Habs have won 4 Stanley Cups.  And the Leafs?  Yeah...I didn't think you'd want to talk about that.  The only reason people even still talk about a Habs-Leafs rivalry is because both fanbases are mildly *cough*ridiculously*cough* insane, and they're physically close enough to have large quantities of rival fans in their own barns.

As an ex-pat Montrealer who has spent almost 80% of her life in Toronto, I've become quite the diplomat when talking to the crazies (not all Torontonians are crazy Leafs fans...and not all Leafs fans are crazy, THANK GAWD!).  I've never been into trash talk...in any sport.  I've played competitive sports.  I watch sports.  I don't engage in trash talk, because quite frankly, I don't think that's good sportsmanship.  If *you* like trash talk, that's fine.  Go to town.  I don't care.  Just be respectful and understand that I won't participate.  HOWEVER, if you piss me off, I have no problem decimating your ego with the hand of my rage.  You brought it onto yourself.  Consider yourself warned.

This isn't the first time I've dealt with idiot co-workers.  The last guy, slammed my team *and* hometown.  This guy was just over-the-top arrogant even though there wasn't a good reason to be.

Jerk co-worker (JC):*eyeing my Habs lanyard* Oh, so you're a Habs fan.

Me: I'm from Montreal.

JC: So they're just the default.

Me: No, it means it's in my blood.

JC: Habs overachieved this year.

Me: Well, we didn't have any big ticket superstars, if that's what you mean.

JC: I watched them play at the beginning of the season and said to myself, 'This team isn't even going to win 5 games.'

Me: The lockout messed up most teams. No one was really putting up spectacular hockey at the beginning of this season.

JC: But the Habs were exceptionally bad.

Me: I think that's just your Leafs' fan bias.

JC: You know what your team needs?

Me: *starting to get annoyed* No, but I'm sure you're gonna tell me.

JC: *mocking tone* Your team needs more French players. Your team was better when you had more Frenchies. Because everyone knows that's what makes for better hockey.

Me: I don't subscribe to that philosophy.

JC: But isn't that what you think your team needs? More hometowners?

Me: That's not what I think.

JC: But look at the decisions your team makes. "French French French." It all sounds like "blah blah blah" to me.

Me: *getting really annoyed* I don't make decisions for the Habs. And I have yet to receive the memo that tells me I have a say.

JC: So you agree that French isn't an asset, right?

Me: Well, in life, I guess there are some people who think being unilingual is awesome. But having been trilingual all my life, it'd be pretty hypocritical for me to think only being able to grunt in one language was superior.

JC: *confused* Uhm, right. So you don't think your team overachieved?

Me: I don't care if they over- or under- achieved. They're my team and I love them no matter what. Being on top for a large part of the season is just icing on the cake.

JC: *smug* The only thing that counts is that they didn't get as far as the Leafs in the playoffs.

Me: Uhm, you know both teams were eliminated first round, right? The Leafs didn't get farther.

JC: Yeah, but we got to game 7.

Me: *pissed* And in typical Leafs fashion, they gave it all up to the Bruins in the last 35s after being up 3 points for most of it. And they did it with all their key players uninjured and intact. *That* was a HUGE achievement. I'm pretty sure, even the Habs couldn't be that stellar...at shitting the bed.

JC:   *mouth gaping* *no audible, coherent sound*

Me:   *sweet smile* *cutesy voice*  Have a great day! *walks away*

Asshole.

Sometimes, I'm convinced that my closest friends don't really know me at all.

BFF:  Oh my! She's getting married already?  Good for her!

Source: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3zi1iJyzW0/UKuRuzdPdoI/AAAAAAAAKXY/sSmBFvUQzk4/s320/
sugar+cookies+royal+icing+custom+save+the+date+engagement+stick+figure+heart+initials.JPG

Me:  Well, yeah.  She'll be 36.  She has to get a move on.

BFF:  LOL!  Whatever...no rush!  But the guy has to be a willing partner too.

Me:  Phht!!!  That guy would've proposed after the 2nd date if he thought there was a chance that she'd say yes.

BFF:  LOL!! I've been hearing that line a lot lately...I guess it didn't take long after that.

Me:  More like people are more desperate as they get older. 

BFF:  Now now.  Be nice.

Me:  Phht!  I'm gonna be a spinster for at least 2 more lives.  I don't have to be nice to *anyone*. 

Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/
Anne_Fletcher_and_27_Dresses_at_27_Dresses_Premiere_1.jpg

BFF:  No, you're not!  You have to keep your eyes wide open!

Me:  Give me a break.  I'm seriously not interested.  I like coming home to my dog and a quiet, empty house.

BFF:  Ok, what if he looked like Leo[nardo DiCaprio] and live in Monaco?  You could just quit and play with Elfie and shop all day!

Source: http://acculturated.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/leoandtheswan.jpg

Me:  I love Leo, but when it comes to relationships, he's a superficial model-chaser.  I don't want to live in Monaco because, quite frankly, while beautiful, it's boring.  Nothing to do there.  And as for shopping, you know I'm not a huge fan.    But nice try.

BFF:  I didn't say his superficial must haves, but I know there's someone you could tolerate to be with...even common-law. 

Me:  I'm not Charlotte Lucas.  I don't want to live with someone that I have to tolerate.  I'm Elizabeth.  'Only the deepest of love will induce me to matrimony.'
Reference: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

BFF:  Obviously...you need love.  Without that, you couldn't tolerate anybody even with just good looks.  And even with the deepest of love comes tolerance and patience.  Never a win win situation. 

Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rim0_8iSZDQ/UGcO0q0B7kI/AAAAAAAACXg/
ln_B6TJwM3Q/s1600/all-you-need-is-love-and-dog.jpg

Me:  Well, looks or not, there's no one I love enough to marry, so I don't have to burden myself with tolerating someone.  I'd say I've got a win-win right now.

Honestly, I love her...and I know she means well, but I'd be more than happy if married people would just back off.  Not everyone has to get married.

I have enough earning potential to live comfortably and still save for retirement.  I do what I want, when I want, without having to explain, negotiate or justify my choices.  And I'm indifferent on the subject of having children.  So really, the "issue" of being a spinster is a non-issue. 

And while we're on the roll of being honest, let me just lay down the heart of it all.

I'm not saying that I would slam the door in Mr. Perfect's face if he deicded to make an appearance.  I'm just not searching under every rock and behind every tree to hunt him down.  While I wouldn't mind having a significant other, I don't need one.  And the cold, hard truth of the matter is that I could probably get along better through life without one.  So to be induced into entering into a relationship, I'd have be really impressed with him...because basically, I'd be sacrificing a lot to be with him.

Source: http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Perfect-Men-Little-Miss/dp/084317689X

*sigh* 

Xanga as we know and love it is gonna die (even if Xanga 2.0 comes online, it won't be the same).

Google Reader is gonna switch off.

The Bruins are beating the Pens and might go to the Stanley Cup finals...again.

I swear, if someone tells me my favourite restaurant is closing, I might have to throw myself off a bridge (not really, but I'm trying to be melodramatic here...so just humour me).

Source: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AqE-u7Kg0So/Tky987m9hnI/
AAAAAAAAEIc/Wee2eezVUHw/s1600/despair.jpg

I side with the dog. I don’t care what defence they put up. There is no excuse, ever, for that level of brutality. And the main reason I’m determined to judge him as per the letter of the law is because I don’t for even ONE second believe that his claim of mental illness is legitimate.

Crown Wants Vancouver Dog Killer To Spend Up To Six Months Behind Bars

By the time Whitlock decided to euthanize Captain, he was having trouble sleeping, acting erratically, and feeling paranoid.

“Bludgeon to death” – now the new definition of “euthanize”. Let’s look at the “old” definition.

Euthanasia http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/euthanasia
The act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy

Do these injuries sound relatively painless?

• Lacerations to head and body
• Massive bruising to head and body
• Puncture wounds to the body

And apparently inflicted with a baseball bat. Because this kind of physical contact is “relatively painless”…you know…compared to being flayed.

His role in Captain’s death has also garnered so much media attention and public scrutiny that the stigma is enough to deter him from similar actions in the future.

Yeah…and following that logic, Paul Bernardo wouldn’t need to be locked up either. Because we all know for damned sure that Bernardo got WAY more media attention and was under greater public scrutiny. I’m sure the stigma of what he did would have deterred him too…NOT!

There’s no remorse.  There’s no understanding the gravity of his actions.  I don’t think it has anything to do with mental illness.  Because there are a million things he could’ve done differently…including telling the truth.

Whitlock told the police and psychiatrists that he believed Captain had been poisoned or cursed, and that he didn’t feel safe around the animal. As a result, he decided to “put him out of his misery.”

Really? So if *you* don’t feel safe, you should put the dog out of “its misery”?! WHEN WAS THE DOG MISERABLE!?

“I should have taken him to the vet, but felt it was my responsibility because he was my dog”

And how exactly is senselessly and inhumanely, bludgeoning a dog to death considered, “taking responsibility?” The vet would’ve given the dog 2 needles. But sure, I can see how that would be considered irresponsible…TO YOUR WALLET!

Captain wasn’t just some dog.  He was a former police dog.  Why was he retired from service?  BECAUSE HE WAS TOO FRIENDLY!!! TOO FRIENDLY!!! And for that, he was bludgeoned to death by someone who should never have been allowed to buy a dog…someone who didn’t have the personal strength to get over the breakdown of his parents’ marriage, separation from his wife and son, and substance abuse. You know what? Sad as these stressors are, they’re not exactly uncommon. And no, I won’t feel sorry for a dog murderer just because he’s an emotional weakling. Lots of people come from homes with failed marriages. My parents’ marriage is so dysfunctional, I think that divorce might help with my sanity. Being separated from his wife and son…I’m sorry, I don’t view that as a big deal cuz quite frankly, IT HAPPENS TO FREAKING EVERYONE! And substance abuse…if you self-medicate with alcohol/drugs/painkillers, don’t ask me to feel sorry for you.  There are tons of services available to help those struggling with depression/mental illness.  If you choose the route that is consistently advertised as inappropriate, then you can accept all the consequences of your choice.

I know I sound completely heartless. But I’m not. Dogs are the most loyal, loving animals ever. They love you EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T DESERVE IT! Humans are experts at killing animals and each other in complete acts of senselessness.  So if you think for one second that any of these weak attempts at defense are going to move me, you’re crazy.  I would never side with a violent “crazy” person (who isn’t even legitimately crazy) over a dog.  EVER.

Lock Brian Whitlock up and throw away the key.  Or…feed him to a pack of feral dogs.  I don’t care.  For those of you non-dog people, on the plus side, it’s a good thing it was Captain who ate “something off the ground during a walk”. If it was Whitlock’s son who suffered this fate, more of you would be outraged.