Well, this was... a day.
Nov. 29th, 2005 11:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lance_sibleySigns had been posted around the building for the last week or so that they were going to be testing the fire alarms today between 9 and 5 (can't they be any more precise?). I was awakened by the first such alarm at 9 o'clock precisely (gah! I only went to bed at 5!), along with an announcement from the superintendent that they were starting up on the 15th floor (I live on the 12th). I managed to get back to sleep for a few minutes once it stopped, before it started again. Rinse and repeat. A little while later there was a knock at my door, followed precisely 1.8 seconds later by a louder, more insistent knock and the simultaneous ringing of the alarms again. I hollered, "Just a minute, I'm coming!", threw on a pair of boxer shorts and opened the door to find my superintendent standing there.
Him: "Can you hear that?"
Me: (groggy) "Yes."
Him: "Good. Now close the door."
Before I got the door closed, one of my neighbours across the hall opened hers, looking about as happy to have to do so as I did.
I do love the way the sign was phrased: "We will be testing the fire alarm system. Do not be alarmed." (Isn't that the point of an alarm? To alarm people?)
I stumbled back to bed and somehow managed to get back to sleep, though it was interrupted several times by more false fire alarms. I finally got up around 1, having decided that I wasn't going to be allowed to sleep any longer, and turned on the bathroom taps.
No water.
Oh, right. The other sign said that they were going to be working on the pipes again, and that the water would be shut off and the laundry room closed all day.
So I put on the same clothes I'd worn yesterday (disgusting, I know, but no point in dirtying clean clothes, right? and I did put on deodorant first, anyway) and stumbled up the street to Starbucks for caffeine. One of the usual baristas was working today:
Him: "Grande bold?"
Me: "Yes, please. I really need it today."
Him: "Oh?"
Me: "They're testing the fire alarms and shut off the water in my building again."
Him: "Was there a flood?"
Me: "No, they're just testing the alarms and repairing the pipes, apparently."
Him: "Oh. Well, here's your coffee."
Me: "Thanks." (Holds out a toonie.)
Him: "No, thanks. It's on me today."
Sometimes it's good to be a regular. A couple of them even call me by name now. :)
So I came back home, and some folks were standing outside the front door of the building while the alarms went off yet again. I stood with them for a bit until they were shut off, then came upstairs and picked up the newspaper. Around 5, I heard the rushing of water through the pipes. I waited about 45 minutes, in case they shut the water off again, then went and checked, and it was still running. So I stripped off the dirty clothes I'd been wearing all day and took a delightful, long, hot shower. So long that I got through about six songs while I was in there. :)
Then, putting on my shorts and a clean t-shirt and socks (it's been very warm in my apartment for the past few days, which no doubt made it even worse that I had to wear dirty clothes for most of the day), I had dinner and settled down to watch the Tuesday night lineup: Bones, House and Boston Legal.
About 45 minutes into Bones, the phone rang. It was my father, who wanted to know if I'd heard about any Christmas plans. I told him that I haven't spoken to my mother in months, to which he replied that she must still be angry at me over the inheritance issue. I told my father that I still hadn't gotten it, to which he said, "Really? She said you had. I guess she must've lied." Anyway, she says that she can't host dinner in her apartment, and I certainly can't, and my father is all the way up in Emsdale (and neither my mother nor I drive), so the choices are two: either have dinner at the condo (apparently my mother still hasn't moved in there) or have dinner out.
So I'm having Christmas dinner at the Granite Brewery with my father on Christmas Eve.
He said he'd call my mother and let her know. This is going to be fun (NOT!).
Anyway, having missed enough of Bones that the ending didn't quite make sense to me, I then watched House. I have to agree with
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ozreison - the writers are teasing the fans. House's line about how he must be gay because he has no girlfriend and is always hanging around with Wilson made me laugh out loud, literally.Boston Legal was pre-empted tonight for a Barbara Walters special. Shit. Isn't she dead yet? So I watched the last half of "The Birdcage" instead, likely chopped to bits because it was being aired on the Family Channel.
My weekly television fix having almost been met, I came over to the computer to play catch-up with my friendslist. Lots of politics today. It seems that Stephen Harper started the campaign with a promise to revisit the gay marriage law. He wants to hold a free vote to "restore the traditional definition of marriage." Some people didn't think he would dare to reopen this can of worms, but I can't say I'm surprised in the least. It seems that Pat O'Brien, a former Liberal backbencher who became an Independent because he disagreed with the Liberal policy during the vote on C-38, has teamed up with a former Conservative MP to form a lobby group called "Defend Marriage." According to the article I've linked to, "he says same-sex weddings are not accepted in the minds of 'millions of Canadians.'" That may be true, but they are accepted in the minds of millions more.
What I find particularly galling is Harper's comment that he will allow the roughly 3000 same-sex weddings that have already taken place to remain in force. Well, gee. Thanks a lot.
I was mildly amused to see Belinda Stronach quoted at length in the article defending gay rights against this attack by her former leader.
The CBC site has some interesting quotes on it as well: Jack Layton today said, "Canadians can get Parliament working again. Here's how to do that: elect more New Democrats."
Excuse me while I laugh my ass off. NDP candidates generally receive votes that bleed off from the Liberals, not the Conservatives. So Layton thinks that by electing roughly the same number of Liberals and Conservatives, Parliament will work better? An even smaller minority than last time - regardless of which party forms the government - will last an even shorter length of time than this one did. And nothing will get done. Harper is almost certainly not going to even entertain the thought of implementing NDP suggestions the way Martin did. Layton's best bet for influencing Canadian policy was to support the Liberals. If the next election is a Conservative minority (god forbid), he'll have next to no influence.
The next 54 days are going to be... interesting. Who wants to be in a pool to see when Harper next shoots himself in the foot?
montymark posted something interesting today that I'm passing along: here's a site that takes a photo of a person and compares it to a database of celebrity photos to determine the closest resemblances. With my normal hair colour, and using a picture that was taken about 7 years ago, I apparently look like Lech Walesa, Grover Cleveland, Ralph Waldo Emerson and a bunch of guys I've never heard of. Not exactly a bunch of palatable choices. As a blond, using a picture taken at this year's Gaylaxicon, apparently I most resemble Russell Crowe.OTOH, if I ever want to do drag, apparently I could do Lindsay Lohan, Alanis Morrisette or Audrey Hepburn as a brunette, or Hilary Duff, Sigourney Weaver, Uma Thurman or Meryl Streep as a blond. (The scary thing is, looking at the picture of Audrey Hepburn that was used, from "Breakfast At Tiffany's", I can actually see the resemblance...)
And before I sign out,
h8torun, I apologize for taking so long, but how's this:
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no subject
Date: 2005-11-29 09:59 pm (UTC)Of course it is, which is why it's useful to tell people not to be alarmed when it's only a test.
Hey, I still feel for all the poor doors in Scotland. Every time I saw a sign saying that "This door is alarmed," I wanted to reassure it that everything would be OK. :)
And have they given you a time frame as to when you can expect your money?
no subject
Date: 2005-11-29 10:08 pm (UTC)Oh, I know. I was just being facetious and making a play on the word "alarm". :)
Hey, I still feel for all the poor doors in Scotland. Every time I saw a sign saying that "This door is alarmed," I wanted to reassure it that everything would be OK. :)
ROFL! And the scary thing is that I can see you doing just that. ;)
And have they given you a time frame as to when you can expect your money?
Nothing at all. I haven't even heard so much as a peep from my mother in months. I should call her myself, but it's hard to figure out a way to do it that won't immediately devolve into a screaming match. I may have to call the lawyer, though getting him involved last time didn't seem to make my mother understand that she has no rights here.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-29 11:55 pm (UTC)ROFL! And the scary thing is that I can see you doing just that. ;)
I only actually did it once or twice. :)
And yes, call the lawyer. There's no point calling your mother. Go over her head.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-29 10:16 pm (UTC)Oh, and we apologize for the freezing cold weather too...
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 12:01 am (UTC)Heh. I remember a fire alarm at Conadian in 1994. My ex and I were sound asleep when our friend Lise, who was staying in the living room area of the suite, came running in and woke us up. I was so out of it that I grabbed the wrong pants - it's amazing I got them done up, considering that I was probably 30 pounds heavier and half an inch shorter than he.
Besides, we heard something about a UFO landing at the airport, but I don't suppose anyone could see it, what, with the bright moon, and the heavy cloud cover...
Cool!
Oh, and we apologize for the freezing cold weather too...
Oh? It's been fairly nice, temperature-wise, for the past two days. Pissing rain, but fairly mild.
I think it's due to drop back down to freezing either tomorrow or Thursday, though.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 12:13 am (UTC)Er, then again, maybe they just wanted to remind us that this was WINDY con!!!
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 12:58 am (UTC)LOL, that's great. Now for some reason I'm reminded of Torcon 3 and all the doors around the MTCC that had "This is not a Door" labels on them. Now, there are some doors with reasons to be alarmed!
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 01:17 am (UTC)When I ran Operations at Cascadia Con (2005 NASFiC), I actually made a rule that we NOT use that phrase. They could say "This is not an entrance/exit;" "Do Not Enter;" "Warning: Disintegration Chamber;" "Airlock: environmental suit suggested" or any variation.
So instead of sarcastic scribbles as to whether the doors were really doors, people scribbled arguments as to whether our "3 person at a time in the elevator" rule was too stringent.
Torcon "This is not a door" signs
Date: 2005-11-30 05:30 am (UTC)Re: Torcon "This is not a door" signs
Date: 2005-11-30 08:51 pm (UTC)Sounds amusing, though.
Re: Torcon "This is not a door" signs
Date: 2005-11-30 10:23 pm (UTC)I'd have to dig up my Torcon photos. They're around here somewhere. And in that stack, I do have a picture of the door. :)
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 09:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 08:51 pm (UTC)Out of context
Date: 2005-11-30 10:26 pm (UTC)"It is my pleasure to open for you, and my satisfaction to close again, with the knowledge of a job well done!"
Response: "Oh, I bet you say that to ALL the guys!"
Face recognition
Date: 2005-11-29 10:01 pm (UTC)Course, I also got Celine Dion. :(
Re: Face recognition
Date: 2005-11-29 10:11 pm (UTC)(Note: I almost typed "Parker-Bowels". I wonder how many people have made that particular typo...)
no subject
Date: 2005-11-29 10:32 pm (UTC)... my highest match was with Terry Pratchett at 55%. I also got Mikhail Gorbachev, Kevin Mitnick (I'll take that as a compliment - he's by far the most adorable criminal hacker! *laughs*), and Kieth Moon (I will also take that as a compliment; even though I don't think I look anything like him). ;P
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 12:04 am (UTC)You just know they're online and reading fan forums. :)
... my highest match was with Terry Pratchett at 55%. I also got Mikhail Gorbachev, Kevin Mitnick (I'll take that as a compliment - he's by far the most adorable criminal hacker! *laughs*), and Kieth Moon (I will also take that as a compliment; even though I don't think I look anything like him). ;P
Those are quite the varied examples. :) I can't make any judgment on the accuracy of the site, since we've never met and I don't know what you look like...
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 06:25 pm (UTC)They are! I'm convinced!
I got Pratchett with the first picture (don't laugh! I was just playing around with my camera!), and all the others with a second one that I tried just to see if I got any of the same people (I didn't).
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 08:56 pm (UTC)I don't know if you consider that to be a good thing or not, though it may turn out to be a blessing. ;) I get the same comment - in fact, I even got it tonight at the bowling alley from someone who pegged me at about eight years younger than I really am).
The tie is a nice touch. Fortunately it matches the t-shirt - if it didn't, the results could have been tragic.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 09:41 pm (UTC)Well, I am only eighteen. ;P
I think it's the Noel Coward interest that made me picture you looking older. I think I was picturing you in a smoking jacket or something. ;)
That's how I am in my head.
The tie is a nice touch. Fortunately it matches the t-shirt - if it didn't, the results could have been tragic.
I took that photo not long after I learned how to knot a tie (a lesbian taught me *laughs*). It's the only tie I own (I'm planning an exursion to Value Village so I can get more). I serious lust for ties and sweater vests... and jackets with patches on the elbows. I'm such a professor at heart.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 10:44 pm (UTC)Eep. For some reason I thought you were 21 or 22.
(* makes note to tone down any flirting *)
I took that photo not long after I learned how to knot a tie (a lesbian taught me *laughs*).
Heh. It always amazes me that so many people don't know how to tie a tie. I know that it's not something people commonly wear (unless they work in a retail clothing department, a bank or some such), but it's still useful to know.
Though I have yet to figure out how to tie my one bow tie - I bought it to wear in a movie (a no-budget production) in which I was playing a cub reporter for a tabloid newspaper who finds Elvis, and had to get a fellow cast member to tie it for me. It has a bunch of tiny Winnie-the-Poohs on it. *grin*
It's the only tie I own (I'm planning an exursion to Value Village so I can get more). I serious lust for ties and sweater vests... and jackets with patches on the elbows. I'm such a professor at heart.
Now there's an interesting image. But you need a pipe to complete the ensemble. ;)
no subject
Date: 2005-12-01 02:54 pm (UTC)*laughs* My boyfriend is probably older than you. (... though he's another good reason to tone down any flirting *laughs more*).
It always amazes me that so many people don't know how to tie a tie.
I never had any occasion to wear one before.
I bought it to wear in a movie (a no-budget production) in which I was playing a cub reporter for a tabloid newspaper who finds Elvis, and had to get a fellow cast member to tie it for me.
That's so cool. I love amateur movies. :D
But you need a pipe to complete the ensemble.
... for purely aesthetic purposes, of course. ;)
no subject
Date: 2005-12-01 10:42 pm (UTC)So noted.
And are you sure he's older than me? How old do you think I am, anyway?
And why is that I'm never the right age for anyone? I'm either too old or too young. *sigh* :P
It really bothered me a few years ago when I met this really cute guy through my bowling league who was into science fiction and everything - even attended the conventions I work on - and I was told that he was only into significantly older men. As in, the 10 years or so difference in our ages was about 30 years too little for his taste. Then, a couple of years ago, he started dating a guy his own age. They're still together. *facepalm*
--It always amazes me that so many people don't know how to tie a tie.--
I never had any occasion to wear one before.
No job interviews, formal photo sessions, proms, or anything like that?
That's so cool. I love amateur movies. :D
I just wish I had a copy... I loaned my copy to a friend to watch and never got it back. :(
--But you need a pipe to complete the ensemble.--
... for purely aesthetic purposes, of course. ;)
But of course. :)
no subject
Date: 2005-12-02 08:23 am (UTC)Mid-thirties.
Then, a couple of years ago, he started dating a guy his own age. They're still together. *facepalm*
Facepalm, indeed! I have a tendency to favour those older than I, but I don't like to restrict myself. ;)
No job interviews, formal photo sessions, proms, or anything like that?
Of the two jobs I have had, I only have to interview for one... and I just wore a t-shirt (it was at the public library); all photos (i.e. school photos) were just done informally; and I skipped out on prom to go into Manhattan and see Fiddler on the Roof (starring Harvey Fierstein!) with a friend. :) Anything that possibly could have been formal, I have managed to avoid. *laughs*
no subject
Date: 2005-12-02 05:44 pm (UTC)Mid-thirties.
Okay, then... I'm actually 38. I couldn't remember if I'd previously mentioned my age, though now that I'm thinking about it, I think I did because I once mentioned getting carded at the last Homohop I went to.
I have a tendency to favour those older than I, but I don't like to restrict myself. ;)
Ah, I see.
(* takes notes for future reference *) :P
Of the two jobs I have had, I only have to interview for one... and I just wore a t-shirt (it was at the public library); all photos (i.e. school photos) were just done informally;
Nice if you can get away with it. I don't mind wearing a tie for an interview, but I always enjoy taking it off afterwards. :)
and I skipped out on prom to go into Manhattan and see Fiddler on the Roof (starring Harvey Fierstein!) with a friend. :)
Ooooo, lucky you!
Anything that possibly could have been formal, I have managed to avoid. *laughs*
I wonder if you'll say the same thing if/when you get married. :P
no subject
Date: 2005-12-02 08:03 pm (UTC)If you ever mentioned a specific age, I didn't remember. I was guessing mid-thirties, but I went to your user page and based on your schooling years, I was pegging you at 38 (not joke!). ... and my boyfriend is older than you (by two years).
(* takes notes for future reference *) :P
Hahahahaha. ;)
I wonder if you'll say the same thing if/when you get married. :P
I certainly won't be avoiding that! ;)
no subject
Date: 2005-11-29 11:53 pm (UTC)We could always hope for an NDP majority government...*g*
no subject
Date: 2005-11-29 11:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-29 11:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 12:39 am (UTC)"I'm gay. Oh wait, that's not what you wanted to hear."
Mmmm.... Slash. :)
I think the barista may have been trying to tell you something? ;)
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 01:35 am (UTC)Nah, most of them will occasionally give me a free coffee. And the fact that he asked me for convention flyers a few weeks ago doesn't really mean anything - he was more interested in Ad Astra than the others. And of the ones for which I gave him flyers, that's the one that I'm not involved with.
I'm not even 100% sure that he's gay (though there aren't too many straight guys working at Starbucks).
Fire Alarm Testing
Date: 2005-11-30 01:01 am (UTC)Re: Fire Alarm Testing
Date: 2005-11-30 02:23 am (UTC)But yes, it gets annoying after a while.
Re: Fire Alarm Testing
Date: 2005-11-30 02:24 am (UTC)Okay, where the hell did that icon come from?
Date: 2005-11-30 05:49 am (UTC)Alarm testing AND no water??? I hate it when one of those things happens, even worse if they occur at the same time!
...between 9 and 5 (can't they be any more precise?)
I never understood that either! When my internet connection got installed, the guy told me he'll be there "sometime between 10am and 5pm" *rollseyes*
Well, at least he already arrived at 11:30am, I think.
Re: Okay, where the hell did that icon come from?
Date: 2005-11-30 08:59 pm (UTC)Interestingly, when I deleted it just now and re-uploaded it using the same keyword, the original icon I'd used came back.
Alarm testing AND no water??? I hate it when one of those things happens, even worse if they occur at the same time!
I think they may have scheduled them both together because last time they were working on the pipes, the welder set off the fire alarm. So they wanted to make sure that the alarm was working before they let the plumbers anywhere near the pipes again.
...between 9 and 5 (can't they be any more precise?)
I never understood that either! When my internet connection got installed, the guy told me he'll be there "sometime between 10am and 5pm" *rollseyes*
Well, at least he already arrived at 11:30am, I think.
We have the same problem here with delivery people. They're always really vague. I wish they would at least narrow it down to a three-hour window.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 02:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 08:10 am (UTC)Hey I like the NDP. I always hear people bitching about how they piss money away on social programs, but I much rather that than the parties that piss our money away stuffing the wallets of thier fat cat friends.
Personally I wish I had a crystal ball that could tell me which party would actually protect our public health care system.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 09:15 pm (UTC)Now, while I don't mind paying taxes (when I'm employed, that is) for social programs, I do want to have enough money left over to enjoy myself occasionally. After all, what's the point in working if one can't enjoy the fruits of one's labours?
While I can see the attraction of a purely socialist society where we never have to worry about feeding, clothing or housing ourselves and the government does it all, I don't believe that such a society could be efficiently administered, nor do I believe that manufacturers would have any motivation to create the things that we enjoy if you take away the profit motive. Not to mention that manufacturers would have trouble finding employees, because the government would need to have a highly bloated civil service. We would become completely dependent upon imports and our society would stagnate as everyone would work just hard enough to get by.
I have no problem with the NDP being the moral conscience of Parliament; that's how they work best. But I don't want to see them get into power.
Besides, look what happened when Bob Rae was elected Premier of Ontario. He got in, saw the mess he'd inherited and immediately began to govern from the right. Admittedly, he may have been the victim of bad timing, as the national economy was no great shakes at the time, but even if the national economy had been at today's level, I'm not sure he would have done things all that differently. We might not have had Rae Days, which were, IMHO, an idiotic way to solve the problem he was faced with.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 06:58 pm (UTC)Who is he? He's cute! ;)
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 09:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 09:33 pm (UTC)Hot Darcy
Date: 2005-11-30 09:25 pm (UTC)& congrats on a great night of bowling too!