Sunday, June 30, 2013
Saturday, June 29, 2013
My supervisor still maintains he's right even though the matter under discussion is about as close to Absolute Truth as humanly possible and he's wrong. Sensing he's not gonna win that one (especially since his boss came down hard on my side), he's making a stand on the fact that I argued with him in front of the crew. Hmmmmm... For the sake of conciliation, I apologized for that part, but I'm really tempted to tell him that if he doesn't want to tell him he's wrong in front of the crew, he damn well better be right when he picks an argument with me in front of the crew.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Pet store employee: I've never met a dog who didn't love these expensive glucosamine cookies.
Me: You haven't met MY dog.
Employee: That's true. Does she like peanut butter?
Me: She hates peanut butter.
Employee: Then try the chicken flavour. If she doesn't like them, we have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Me: Ok.
I return home.
Me: If it please Your Majesty, your servant bought a new brand of cookies.
Dog: You may bring one to me. Hmmmmm... (puts cookie in mouth) PTOOEY!!!! Your offering displeases My Majesty, human. Your incompetence is becoming quite taxing.
Me: Yes, Your Majesty.
Well, thank God I found this store with the 30-day money-back on dog food. Otherwise I was thinking of putting milk on it and calling it Weetabix. I can't afford to eat half the ingredients in there myself. Maple syrup? I've had real maple syrup like twice and you're putting it in a dog cookie??? And I'm giving you MY money in exchange for it? I must be on drugs.
Me: You haven't met MY dog.
Employee: That's true. Does she like peanut butter?
Me: She hates peanut butter.
Employee: Then try the chicken flavour. If she doesn't like them, we have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Me: Ok.
I return home.
Me: If it please Your Majesty, your servant bought a new brand of cookies.
Dog: You may bring one to me. Hmmmmm... (puts cookie in mouth) PTOOEY!!!! Your offering displeases My Majesty, human. Your incompetence is becoming quite taxing.
Me: Yes, Your Majesty.
Well, thank God I found this store with the 30-day money-back on dog food. Otherwise I was thinking of putting milk on it and calling it Weetabix. I can't afford to eat half the ingredients in there myself. Maple syrup? I've had real maple syrup like twice and you're putting it in a dog cookie??? And I'm giving you MY money in exchange for it? I must be on drugs.
At first when I had a half-hour long confrontation with my supervisor, I was pissed off that no one on the team had my back. But when I said I was going to HIS supervisor, even the people I thought had it in for me came up to me to tell me I was doing the right thing. Faith in mankind: finally acquired some. Maybe.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Me: The guy at Tim Horton's looks like he could be Pakistani, but I don't want to say "shukriya" and look like I'm making assumptions about him.
Urdu teacher: Well, how Pakistani does he look?
Hmmmmm... I'm not really good at quantifying "how Pakistani" someone looks, but I'd have to say, he looks just a shade less Pakistani than Imran Farhat.
Urdu teacher: Well, how Pakistani does he look?
Hmmmmm... I'm not really good at quantifying "how Pakistani" someone looks, but I'd have to say, he looks just a shade less Pakistani than Imran Farhat.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Monday, June 24, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013
For greater clarity: "The (Nobel) Committee does not itself announce the names of nominees, neither to the media nor to the candidates themselves. In so far as certain names crop up in the advance speculations as to who will be awarded any given year's Prize, this is either sheer guesswork or information put out by the person or persons behind the nomination. Information in the Nobel Committee's nomination database is not made public until after fifty years." So whoever you heard is nominated for the Peace Prize, don't believe it until 50 years from now.
Oh yeah, the quote is from Nobel Media.
Oh yeah, the quote is from Nobel Media.
So I put all the cold meds in my backpack to take to work, then I took them out to have them in my hand when I got to work, take some and put the rest in my locker, then I noticed the dog's water dish was low so I refilled it, then I went to work... and now the cold meds are safe at home and I'm at work.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
I thought the best part of leaving Hay River would be that no one would be able to ask for favours anymore. But aside from the fact that people have phoned me FROM HAY RIVER to ask for favours, Winnipeg seems to be getting just as bad already. Help me move. Lend me your toaster. Lend me money. Give me money. Drive me to work. Lend me your car keys. Weed my yard. Landscape my yard. WTF????? Do I LOOK like someone who does favours? Because I didn't come here to do favours. I came here to sing, dance, read books, and not do anybody any favours. I've even stopped wearing my cross so I wouldn't look like a Christian. But I must still look like someone who does favours because people keep asking me. Maybe I'll start wearing a burqa so nobody can see what I look like and figure I look like someone who does favours. Good grief.
And for greater clarity, if I'm doing you a favour, I'm doing it when I have time, not when you want it done. Cause I have my own shit to do which is way more important than yours.
And for greater clarity, if I'm doing you a favour, I'm doing it when I have time, not when you want it done. Cause I have my own shit to do which is way more important than yours.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Ross, assistant store manager: This week you need to work with Dave and learn his job, because he's going on vacation next week and you'll be covering for him.
Me: Ok.
Ross: Also work on the off-shelves.
Me: Ok. But it would really help if I could finish my reach-truck certification, because I need tons of skids brought down and the guys don't have time for that.
Ross, to Dean (lift truck trainer who's been making excuses not to train me for weeks): Your task this week is to have Elise certified on reach truck by the end of the week.
Dean: Ok.
Ross: I guess you'll be doing lots of learning this week, missy.
Me: Ok.
Me, later, talking to Herb ("nobody really knows what you do-guy"): So I have four shifts to get certified on reach truck AND learn Dave's job.
Herb: Yeah, and after that you have to learn MY job.
Me: *I* have to learn your job? Why do *I* have to learn your job? Get John to learn something.
Herb, darkly: Please. We can't even get him to learn to count. (Both laugh.)
A job where learning is valued. I've come to the right place at last.
Me: Ok.
Ross: Also work on the off-shelves.
Me: Ok. But it would really help if I could finish my reach-truck certification, because I need tons of skids brought down and the guys don't have time for that.
Ross, to Dean (lift truck trainer who's been making excuses not to train me for weeks): Your task this week is to have Elise certified on reach truck by the end of the week.
Dean: Ok.
Ross: I guess you'll be doing lots of learning this week, missy.
Me: Ok.
Me, later, talking to Herb ("nobody really knows what you do-guy"): So I have four shifts to get certified on reach truck AND learn Dave's job.
Herb: Yeah, and after that you have to learn MY job.
Me: *I* have to learn your job? Why do *I* have to learn your job? Get John to learn something.
Herb, darkly: Please. We can't even get him to learn to count. (Both laugh.)
A job where learning is valued. I've come to the right place at last.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
Ok, so I work from 22:30 to 07:00 weekdays, and 20:00 to 04:30 Sundays. It never, ever, ever changes. So yesterday, Sunday, at 15:30, I walk into the house where I've been living for six weeks.
Roommate: Did you just get off work?
Me (apart): How the FUCK would I be getting off work at 15:30??? (Aloud:) No, I went to church.
Today, I'm leaving the house at 17:15.
Roommate: Are you going to work?
Me (apart): Fucksakes you moron, how the FUCK would I be going to work at 17:15???? (Aloud:) No.
Roommate: Church?
Me (apart): ????? How the FUCK would I be going to church Monday at 17:15? (Aloud:) No. I'm going to the library. (Ed: I added that part to avoid sounding too curt.)
Roommate: Is it far to walk?
Me: It's downtown.
Ok, here is the thing, you stupid fuck: if you want to get all up in my business, memorize my schedule, like normal stalkers do. I'm so fucking tired of answering your lame questions every time I come and go. Good thing I'm moving again...
Roommate: Did you just get off work?
Me (apart): How the FUCK would I be getting off work at 15:30??? (Aloud:) No, I went to church.
Today, I'm leaving the house at 17:15.
Roommate: Are you going to work?
Me (apart): Fucksakes you moron, how the FUCK would I be going to work at 17:15???? (Aloud:) No.
Roommate: Church?
Me (apart): ????? How the FUCK would I be going to church Monday at 17:15? (Aloud:) No. I'm going to the library. (Ed: I added that part to avoid sounding too curt.)
Roommate: Is it far to walk?
Me: It's downtown.
Ok, here is the thing, you stupid fuck: if you want to get all up in my business, memorize my schedule, like normal stalkers do. I'm so fucking tired of answering your lame questions every time I come and go. Good thing I'm moving again...
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Aaaaaaaaaugh! My computer is typing in Urdu!
Ahsan: Very well ! . . .. your computer is also learning urdu with you : )
Me: Apparently Windows detected the fact that I was writing a lot of Urdu and automatically added "Urdu (Islamic Republic of Pakistan)" as a keyboard option, so when I accidentally hit the secret key combination that toggles the keyboard, it switched to Urdu instead of its previous favourite, "Canadian French". And what's really strange about this is that MS Word, which is made by the same people, has been consistently telling me that I'm writing "Arabic (Saudi Arabia)". How is it possible that the same machine reads the same text as two different languages?
Ahsan: Very well ! . . .. your computer is also learning urdu with you : )
Me: Apparently Windows detected the fact that I was writing a lot of Urdu and automatically added "Urdu (Islamic Republic of Pakistan)" as a keyboard option, so when I accidentally hit the secret key combination that toggles the keyboard, it switched to Urdu instead of its previous favourite, "Canadian French". And what's really strange about this is that MS Word, which is made by the same people, has been consistently telling me that I'm writing "Arabic (Saudi Arabia)". How is it possible that the same machine reads the same text as two different languages?
Friday, June 14, 2013
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Srsly dude, you've milked this "I fell off a forklift" story more than long enough. Jack Layton died of TWO CANCERS and he didn't post photos of his sickbed all over Facebook. You're alive, you can walk, hopefully you learned something about forklifts. You're FINE. If you want to be photographed on a bed, at least give us a "come hither" pose or something.
Faiz: A funny comment, making me laugh in this morning...2 cancers lol
Me: The two cancers was tragic. The funny thing is that your Pakistani cricket players are really just French soccer players: all high drama and low scores. (Ed.: too bad this awesome cross-cultural joke is wasted on everybody.)
So I find a seat on the bus, open my Economist, and the enclosed subscription card flutters out and onto the lap of the guy sitting next to me. As I apologize and retrieve my card, I'm thinking "wow, that is one smooth move". And then he says to me... "that's quite an effective marketing strategy." Is it just me or was that just a vicious burn?
Monday, June 10, 2013
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Me and a big burly coworker, trying to lift a 175-lb box to shoulder height in two steps. Coworker: "One two three! (doesn't lift) Oooooooooh it's heavy! Wait wait. Ok one two three! (doesn't lift) Wait, this is heavy! One two three! (doesn't lift) Oooooooooooh... it's heavy!" FOUR TIMES the lazy bastard let me lift my side and didn't pick up his. He's lucky this isn't a construction site or there would have been some pretty intense language happening.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
After four months of telling me to breathe through my mouth, my voice teacher discovered that I can breathe through my nose with my mouth open. So now I have to sing with a pencil in my mouth, my nose plugged, and soon, no doubt, a broom between my elbows. And it's d-ed hard breathing with your nose plugged, you know.
Donna: I am picturing this in my head.....comes out pretty funny the way I am picturing this!
Me: Yeah, it looks pretty absurd. But it sounds awesome.
Donna: I am picturing this in my head.....comes out pretty funny the way I am picturing this!
Me: Yeah, it looks pretty absurd. But it sounds awesome.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
The greatest mystery of the Pyramids is who came up with all this unreferenced material that gets repeated in every single source. Like the 2.3 million blocks. Really, 2.3 million blocks? How do we KNOW it's all blocks and not a form filled with sand and rubble? Because that would have made way more sense.
Barbara: We know it is made from blocks because there are passages, some very small, some large enough to walk through, that run through the pyramids. That, remote sensing and some basic arithmetic. Lots of ancient constructions were rubble filled, like the pyramids at Tikal, Guatemala, for example. But Giza, nope - blocks excavated from the nearby quarries.
Me: I don't think any of that can do without a proper reference.
Barbara: Any decent library has many references. You can start with The “Djedi” Robot Exploration of the Southern Shaft of the Queen's Chamber in the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt
Author: Grieve, Ron; Ng, TC; ...
Journal of Field Robotics 30 (3) 2013-05 p323
or Building the Great Pyramid: Probable Construction Methods Employed at Giza
by Edwards, James Frederick
Technology and Culture, ISSN 0040-165X, 05/2003, Volume 44, Issue 2, pp. 340 - 354
Me: Cool thanks.
Barbara: We know it is made from blocks because there are passages, some very small, some large enough to walk through, that run through the pyramids. That, remote sensing and some basic arithmetic. Lots of ancient constructions were rubble filled, like the pyramids at Tikal, Guatemala, for example. But Giza, nope - blocks excavated from the nearby quarries.
Me: I don't think any of that can do without a proper reference.
Barbara: Any decent library has many references. You can start with The “Djedi” Robot Exploration of the Southern Shaft of the Queen's Chamber in the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt
Author: Grieve, Ron; Ng, TC; ...
Journal of Field Robotics 30 (3) 2013-05 p323
or Building the Great Pyramid: Probable Construction Methods Employed at Giza
by Edwards, James Frederick
Technology and Culture, ISSN 0040-165X, 05/2003, Volume 44, Issue 2, pp. 340 - 354
Me: Cool thanks.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Sunday, June 2, 2013
When you put ticks in fire their insides boil until their hard exoskeleton explodes. That's what you get for biting my dog, you ugly mofo.
Faiz: oooh scary status
Me: Damn right. If you're gonna bite my dog you better be a lot bigger and meaner than me. OR ELSE. Also, guess what you're teaching me on Wednesday?
Faiz: lol...how to kill a tick paki style?
Me: What, you think because you're Pashto you can think of more vicious ways to kill ticks than me? What's the past tense of "hay"?
Faiz: tha...
Me: Mere kutta pe chichar tha?
Faiz: But we are widely known to be the most violent though
Faiz: hmm chichar? can we chat?
Me: Not even. Hell hath no fury like a woman whose dog got bit by a tick.
Faiz: hahahaha i guess so
Me: Yeah, none of the Urdu dictionaries has a translation for "tick", so I found a Pakistani blog that alleges that this is what you'd call it. Thus proving that there are ticks in Pakistan so don't try to tell me you don't need a word for it.
Faiz: well, like u said u couldnt find a word for it in dictionary, i dont have a word for that in my memory...may b in pashto...
Me: NOT LEARNING PASHTO. LOL
Faiz: And when you put a noun as a subject, it changes just a lil bit...it becomes "kuttay" pe
Me: Declension. I suspected as much. So on Wednesday we can talk about conjugation and declension. But for now, I gotta run. More ticks to kill before I sleep.
June 2 at 1:16pm · Like · 1
Faiz Khan sure...sleep well
Faiz: oooh scary status
Me: Damn right. If you're gonna bite my dog you better be a lot bigger and meaner than me. OR ELSE. Also, guess what you're teaching me on Wednesday?
Faiz: lol...how to kill a tick paki style?
Me: What, you think because you're Pashto you can think of more vicious ways to kill ticks than me? What's the past tense of "hay"?
Faiz: tha...
Me: Mere kutta pe chichar tha?
Faiz: But we are widely known to be the most violent though
Faiz: hmm chichar? can we chat?
Me: Not even. Hell hath no fury like a woman whose dog got bit by a tick.
Faiz: hahahaha i guess so
Me: Yeah, none of the Urdu dictionaries has a translation for "tick", so I found a Pakistani blog that alleges that this is what you'd call it. Thus proving that there are ticks in Pakistan so don't try to tell me you don't need a word for it.
Faiz: well, like u said u couldnt find a word for it in dictionary, i dont have a word for that in my memory...may b in pashto...
Me: NOT LEARNING PASHTO. LOL
Faiz: And when you put a noun as a subject, it changes just a lil bit...it becomes "kuttay" pe
Me: Declension. I suspected as much. So on Wednesday we can talk about conjugation and declension. But for now, I gotta run. More ticks to kill before I sleep.
June 2 at 1:16pm · Like · 1
Faiz Khan sure...sleep well
Saturday, June 1, 2013
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