Old Business, the Queen, and Parlour Tricks

For the next couple of days I put in a mad bit of cleaning after work to get things in respectable order (Yes! The dishwasher worked!). Oh, and some last attempts at baking (thankfully fairly uneventful). I even had time to kick start the project of getting rid of of my old desktop computer (the one from when Siew Chui moved back to Malaysia - much predating this blog). The Challenge: (without internet) move the documents from the old "Time Machine" (which has no visible USB ports, and no CD burner) into some sort of storage device that I could access on my computer now. The Solution: (atleast the one I came up with) transfer my files to 3 1/2 floppy disks and then find a computer with the same kind of floppy drive, and a CD burner... and then voila! Upload, burn a CD, and access to my heart's content. Tedious, yes, but workable (mostly). And thankfully Rem and Steph had a machine that fit the criteria. With my 40 or so disks and a couple of runs in the past week I have made a dent.

And after all this, Rem and Steph returned! First hugs, then food. And then along with a display of their tan lines, they show me their photos: trees and rocks (and rocks and trees) and water, a lighthouse, a plaid lobster, Rem with beer, pretty houses, barns, and fluffy-headed ducks! I hand back their keys, glad they're back.

Next day, Catherine picks me up from work. We're off on another adventure - this time to see the Queen! It was Parlour Magazine's "A Mid-Summer Night's Fling" and Catherine's connections got us onto the guest list, and onto the Edmonton Queen Riverboat. Neither of us had been there before. I laughed at a sign that said "Muster Point" (such a funny sounding phrase). The deck had chairs and tables, but we didn't sit there for very long: the sky threatened to rain, and it was windy.

Down in the cabin space were tables, chairs, and booth seating near the windows. Black and white historical pictures of the downtown skyline (what there was of it), and the river hung along the walls. Otherwise, it was like a restaurant/club. Purple pink orchids on the tables with some candles, a DJ playing music loud enough to make conversation difficult, and pretty people dressed in stylish clothes (that might have been a result of association with Parlour) with drinks in hand. Soon we started moving - I almost didn't notice it because it was so smooth. The skies had cleared and I went on deck for a while feeling (yes, cliche-ish) that I could fly just a little, and then my senses (or is that irrational fear?) kicked in and I headed back inside before I fell off.

I did take some photos, but soon ran out of batteries. Too bad because there definitely was to be a show, and not just from looking outside. May I say burlesque? Three girls and the songs of Christiana Aguiliera (Candyman, Moulin Rouge) danced and and danced. And returned to do a lap dance (Nasty Naughty Boy). I want to say I learned some moves overall, but really, I don't think I should even try, especially not in heels.

Neither Catherine or I really liked the DJ that took over. No one seemed interested in dancing and the Queen had redocked. So we decided to leave. Taking another look around we saw people on the river's edge talking on cell phones, taking a smoke break, standing next to a cruiser bicycle. They still looked as though they had stepped out of a magazine. I went "click".

Annalanapalooza!

"Parties are an adventure with you." ~ Anne

Anne is here! Rem and Steph are away! It's the perfect time to throw a party at their place. (Note: Party was R&S approved.)

Arrived Sunday morning to finish up some baking. Things had not turned out so well yesterday with over-expanded and flattened cookies (what were supposed to be Bachelor's Buttons from Bill Richardson's BB B&B Pillow Book) that I pulled out of the oven and ended up abandonning on the the counter to go swing dancing with Anne and friends.

It was quiet as I tried to make some scones. That was until, I set off the fire alarm. Standing on a chair, but still unable to reach the device to try and disarm it. I waved a tea towel in the air mimicking what I've seen Steph do at the old place. It felt like forever, and I was panicking: Would sprinklers start up even though there was nothing actually burning? Would a fire crew arrive? I was sure everyone in the building was going to wake up... and then it stopped. And then it started again. And then it stopped again. And I decided to stop any further cooking attempts, and concentrated on sandwiches.

It was much better once people started arriving. Annalanapalooza was to really begin! Anne bought a tuxedo cake, and Michael brought triffle (along assurances that Steph's set off the fire alarm while boiling water and it was probably a problem with the sensors). Erik comes a little later while Anne builds a playlist from the other room. Her disembodied greeting didn't convince him that she was actually here. But she was! Catherine, Beth, Dave, and Ben show up in differing degrees of wet from the rain. And then Chris shows up with swords! Anne showed us some moves and before long someone found "Trogdor" online. Expect a new battle cry the next time Anne is in the ring :) (All together now: TROGDOR!)

With tea and "savoury scones" (a.k.a. sodium bi-carbonate surprise), we talked about different theories on baking, and crab buckets and what happens in a crab bucket (giving a whole new meaning to the song), we moved the party outside. Took a walk to the park with the water fountain and we played Poohsticks. Then it was off the to graveyard. Chris had gone for a tour there and knew of some interesting grave stones and the mystery structures, so he lead Anne, Beth, and myself through.

I was a little creeped out by all the cobwebs and spiders, and noticed that I actually believed in this gravestones (versus the ones in New York that seemed like set pieces) because there was actual moss growing on them, and showed signs of weathering. Beth's quick eye caught a Mason symbol on one of the stones, and we started hunting out for them (and other interesting features). A rose cross... the letters IHS... (an online search gives further meanings to these than just decoration). By the end of it, I think we all agreed that the marble sculpture / art piece was one of the most interesting grave markers, and that we'd like one like that too - Support the arts even in death.

On return, socks soaked, we heated up more tea. It was already late, but we still stuck around to talk about Emo-definitions, Emo fashion, and goth dancing (Anne provides these visual aids). My dinner now consisted of more cucumber sandwich crusts, and sardines. Chris decided to take on Anne's words ("We can always sprinkle it on ice cream, and it's a topping.") by crumbling and adding my flattened cookies to ice cream.

Beth convinces me to use the dishwasher. I cross my fingers and hope it all turns out when I return to do the larger stuff - and to return the place to its immaculate clean, removing evidence of an earlier night of tea with Anne and Sophie (Krispy Kreme crumbs), dinners of sardines and soup, and this party - as Rem and Steph had left it for me. But all this for later!

Do not shy away

Beth comes for visit today. An hour passes by before I even know it. I feel bad that I wasn't working, but I feel energised from our talk. She shares this:

Our Deepest Fear
it is our light not our darkness that most frightens us
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

—Marianne Williamson

Calgary Away!

Mission: Return with a husband. :P

With everything that was going on, wasn't sure if I'd actually make it to Calgary. It was Judy's wedding and I was looking forward to seeing her again, but the logistics were just nuts! Would someone from Calgary come down and pick us up? Would we be busing down? Should we carpool with Aunt Linda and Uncle Gary... or should I drive Mom and myself? The indecision was throwing a wrench in my planning. I was not pleased.

In the end though, Patrick, Angela, and (a different) Uncle Raymond (from Ohio) came to Edmonton on Thursday to do a bit of visiting and the plan was go back with them. We had dinner out on the Thursday at Good Buddy. Back at home, Angela made a big deal about how Patrick and Raymond should go out for a walk to work off the big dinner. They gladly agreed and Angela was happy. I however, suspected the walk would quickly become a search for the source of the music box tune floating in the air: an ice cream truck.

The next day, Erik's hosted a barbeque Feast. Rob brought blackbirds baked in a multi-apple pie (right). We ate hamburgers and hotdogs and listened to Weird Al. Later into the night we talked about the power of soap marketing: wouldn't we all rather have women dripping over us (Axe) rather than babies (Lever 2000)? We were to set out early next morning, so after fortune cookies, I headed home. I took with me the mission of bringing back a husband for myself, and some for the other single ladies present.

Arrived in Calgary early afternoon next day, and set things motion. Went downtown and was amazed that Jeff let me drive. He said it was so he can gauge expectations for XinXin's driving developments. Apparently having over 5 years under my belt didn't help too much. I was still nervous as heck and gripped the steering wheel tightly as we headed down the hill we lived on (it was a little too much like a rollercoaster's descent for my liking). But we did get there in one piece (and I think Jeff didn't notice).

Dropped off, I took a walk in the downtown area. Didn't realise just how beautiful it was. There's a park right next to all the skyscrappers that had trees, stone bridges over water, ducks, and an outdoor stage... made me think of a minature Hawrelak Park (is this where they hold the Calgary Folk Festival?) Sunshowers drove me to take shelter in the Chinese Multiculture Centre. I then continued to McNally Robinson bookstore, which unfortunately was closing. I stumbled to Olympic Park (where Clarence and I attended a Salsa festival last year) to find there was an in progress an Argentine Tango Festival! What luck! While I waited for Nick, I listened and watched intently the singer from Buenos Aires, and the dance demonstrations.

Caught up with Nick through sushi and walk through his neighbourhood. A sign there (left) made smile. He took me back to Angela's after we figured out how exactly to get there (my explanation of "up the hill and around the bend" did not prove sufficient).

Next morning Jeff took me out to the driving range. Us lefties totally ruled! (Key: It becomes very easy once one changes one's goal from hitting straight and far, to simply hitting the ball). Jack then came by to show off his race car (something that looked extremely like a Hot Wheels). And all of us went to visit Jeff's new condo. Now only a few months away from completion, it was much more interesting than the pile of dirt that he showed me last time we visited. But his smile (unfortunately can't find the before and after photos) was no less big.

When I met Clarence for lunch, we ate simply and then went to Krispy Kreme! It was a must-tourist thing for me. Inside the store was a large scale version of the mini doughnut machines seen at festivals - and it was totally hypnotic! (Yes, Clarence laughed at me.) We left with doughnuts - but they were my souveniers for people back in Edmonton. Afterwards we headed over to Clarence's and he showed me a couple of West Coast Swing videos. Pretty impressive stuff... then he tried to lead me through them (and teach me to shimmy). Was very tempted when he offered to take me to his WCS class later that night, but really, really needed to be at Judy's wedding reception.

Back at Angela's - time to get ready! Lots of fussing from all areas because it turns out the boys' wardrobes were mostly black and blue, and my shoes were not acceptable. We left the house anyway.

Finally at Judy's wedding reception: I saw her in her red and gold mandarin collared dress. She was tiny as ever. And just as lovely. As she came around to each of the tables to wish everyone luck and thank us for coming, I remembered how she introduced me to Judy Blume books as a kid and had me over at her place for my first "sleepover". She smiled happy, and clinked my glass to her also smiling, and then she was gone to another table. Then I was wisked away with Uncle Gary and Aunt Linda to catch a ride back to Edmonton.

The drive was long, but I was mostly asleep anyway. Cousin Donald drove, which was good because when we reached Edmonton and changed cars, I came to the conclusion that Uncle Gary should not drive... o.k. that's maybe a little bit of pot and kettle. Any how, the talk in this short length was extremely disagreeable since it was mostly about how they had felt slighted at the reception. *shaking head*

I definitely feel like a need a break after this weekend. I had missed Father's Day, but Dad was pretty happy with the going out dinners in advance with all of us, and to top things off, the Chinese instrumental CDs I gave him (thanks Rem!).

Came in to work later since I didn't get home until 1 a.m. And was (though probably shouldn't be) surprised that everyone knew. I had only gotten my letter on Friday that I was being moved to a new team... and Lidia was not happy. And people knew that too.

Other testing

"Hmm...but what about the adage? WHAT ABOUT THE ADAGE!?!?"
~ Darren on why he really can't tell me about Las Vegas

It is proven! Lana has the memory of a goldfish. But she doesn't care because the sun is shining and her hair is clean!

It felt so good to be able to wash my hair in the afternoon. All this because I signed up for a research study (they kept me on the list when I did that other study which involved cameras and eye-scanning).

This time I was put in a sound proof room, and had to wear a white swimming cap with holes, that had been filled with gel, that connected wire sensors from my head to a measuring device (at least, that's what I thought of the equipment required to measure my ERP [Event-Related Potential]). This was for psycholinguisitc experiment which the very cute researcher explained to me was to see how my brain responded to various words in sequence shown on the computer screen. So while after thinking about whether one could park a car on a flower (I had said it made sense, and was told I was wrong), I'm sure my brain registered the disturbance (my pause to think) in the way they wanted. Was very glad at the end of experiment they gave me a sink that had a shower attachment, and some nice smelling shampoo.

Oh, and the whole goldfish thing: One of the first tests was to measure my memory capacity... you know, in case it affected the main experiment (if the string of words was too long, I may incorrectly identify if something made sense or not).

On the work front - my email and regular mail in-boxes are full. But I'm feeling pretty good because people are talking some sense: They're postponing the go-live date for our system upgrade.

Food, Family... other rationalisations

I studied past the point of where studying would help. And wrote the exam. I'd like to say that all the practice questions and calculator testing made me feel confident of good results - but it didn't. It was a fairly comprehensive exam, and the not-for-profit question was a surprise. I can do all the accounting entries required for deferred and restricted method accounting... but could I make a PowerPoint presentation about it? I have no clue. I drew slides in the exam book and even included font choices and layout notes (those were my strengths after all), but who knows? I only have to wait 2 months to find out.

In between the studying, there were still lots of cool things going on. Figuring I still had to eat, (and after a whole day of studying) I went to Kelly's Piled Higher and Deeper party to celebrate her official status as Doctor Kelly. Congratulations! After eating a large share of fruit skewers and Funky Pickle pizza (debuting the "knspork" a.k.a. "sporknf"that Catherine got me from the East Coast), we played some board games. I learned from the heated Dutch Blitz and Loaded Questions games, that counting can be very difficult when people are pounding the tables, and that the feet and neck are the most common "missed cleaning" places during a shower... And after signing the waiver, we tried jumping stilts!

Also on the weekend, Theresa and I take Dad and the family out for Father's Day dim sum. It had also been Theresa's birthday recently, but she had kept quiet about it. My birthday gift to her was well received... and maybe a little too popular: Kevin immediately took and attached the faux-gold pocket watch to his pants. And so we headed out to a community barbeque, him with a ridiculous (at least in my mind) gold chain hanging from his pocket. I wonder if he even knows how to read an analog clock? At the barbeque, I made a smoothie by pedalling a bicycle, and got to hold a snake. Very cool.

Must head home now. I think my body is ready to give in to a cold... I'm wearing a sweater indoors - the calculator says it's 22 degrees.

Death of a Calculator

I had expected a "pop" and billows of smoke. But actually it was just a fade-out on the screen until promptings of the red button that had turned it on, just didn't any more. It feels a little silly to be sad about a calculator, but I've had this one for over ten years. The (now faded) sparkly butterfly sticker on the back differentiated it from all the other grey calculators in class, and reminded me that I did well in a high school biology quiz. It had incredibly survived multiple drops and a couple of spills, and it seemed wrong for it to stop working now. Because... because... it's an in-opportune time! It's days before the exam, and I need a calculator! O.k. enough sulking. Onward to the store!

When I get there after work I see 2 main types of calculators:

1. Extreme: Lines and lines of text storage available and large screens for graphing capabilities... all for a much lower prices than what I remember. The packaging outlined exactly what kind of exams this calculator would be allowed for, along with the button combinations required to produce a super secret move (um... formula)... and probably could slice and dice too. But noticeably no dual power function (perhaps a reasonably-sized solar panel just can't provide enough juice to run these over-complicated things... or is it that most lights are power saving and don't actually give off as much energy?)

2. Simple(r): The standard arithmetic buttons, with dual power (if I wanted it), happy jelly colours (if I wanted it). Some could even tell me the time and convert imperical to metric.

The choice should have been simple. But still I spent over 90 minutes reading all the packaging, and being indecisive. Part of the hold up: Thinking my trignometry and stats days are over if I go with a simple model... I know! Those abilities left my head a long, long time ago, and I wouldn't be able to do them now whether I have a fancy calculator or not.

In the end, common sense won out: simple, with a solar panel, and temperature gauge.

O.k. back to studying!

A Day without Laughter...

... is a day wasted. ~ Charlie Chaplin

"Ha. Ha. Ha." Lidia had looked at me directly when she made the pronoucement. The two of us burst into a fit of real giggles. This was months ago at the beginning of Lidia's workout and diet plan (goal: loose X kilograms before she goes to Poland for her class reunion). She had read laughing would burn calories, and that a happy body would also be more efficient at losing unwanted weight. It seemed like a good philosophy all round.

It feels like I haven't really laughed for a while. Maybe the whole office is in the same state, and that's why Susan forwarded us info for a laughing workshop, hosted by the Edmonton Laughter Club.

It probably would have done some good, but I didn't go. Instead I prepared, and am heading out for another meeting in Chemistry. I don't think it'll go well. Maybe next month...

Lana is indifferent, and quite difficult.

Went to Friday Feast with Kirsten last week and learned a little more about her studies, and her love of cats and Ewoks. Steph impersonation of singing slugs convinced me that I should watch "Flushed Away" at some point (having missed movie night). My attempts to engage Erik in car chases and party crashing after Feast were thwarted by the Na's cool appeal to reason. And so we all return home safely and at a decent hour.

One more week to study. Things are funny at home. Mom and Dad understand I'm trying to concentrate and are trying to work around me. It's sweet... and counterproductive. They tip toe around the house trying to keep quiet, but don't understand that the little noises create the white noise I need to drown out (take the surprise out of) the larger noises and interruptions they make. I feel even more princess / tyrannical than ever. And since I'm home, Mom is making sure I'm eating (all the time).

Catherine returned from Newfoundland! At work, baby fever has hit: Poonam is pregnant, and Lidia's is going to be a grandmother in 5 weeks.

Things in my life just don't feel quite real.