Random Ramblings

Okay, it's been a crappy few days. I'm sick, Marc's sick, I'm missing at least one game this week and maybe two, potentially jeopardizing my new job by taking 2-3 sick days my first week... so it's time to think of some things I'm happy about:

1. I've got a really understanding, caring boss. I've only had her for five business days, two of which I called in sick, and she's okay with that. In fact, she's quite supportive of me staying home today (and maybe even tomorrow) to rest and recover.

2. I've got an awesome boyfriend. Not only did he clean the entire house before our party this weekend so I could curl up in bed and be sick, but he made me dinner last night even though he's sick too and he put the eye drops in my eye when I didn't feel up to it (I *hate* things near my eyes).

3. I've got an awesome mom who tells me things will be okay. If Mom says it, it must be true.

4. I live in an age of phenomenal technology. Not only does it provide things like antibacterial eye drops and cough drops and tissue paper, but it also provides things like running water and frozen tortellini (so I don't need to do too much work to cook), phones (so I can call my mom and get assurances that everything will be okay), and internet (to keep me occupied when I'm home sick and don't want to move).

5. I've got enough of a money cushion that I can afford to take off 2-3 days from work, at a job without sick day benefits. Heck, I've got enough of a cushion that I can take those days off from work in my first week, even knowing that there's a possibility they might fire me for it. I can afford to let my health come first, which is a nice feeling.

So... that's what I've got for now. It's not much, but it's something. Excuse me, now, while I go back to studiously avoiding rubbing my eyes.

I picked up my mom's dehumidifier last week and brought it over. I've been using it sporadically since then. When I got home tonight, it was brutally humid. Really clammy and disgusting. I turned on the dehumidifier, and in the last hour the temperature has gone up by about a degree, but the humidity has come down 8%. Which doesn't sound like much, but it's the difference between "Oh, God, I feel like I'm in a swamp" and "Huh, that's not so bad."

Thanks, Mom!

Edited to add: The only problem with a dehumidifer is that it raises the temperature. So if it's already 26 degrees in the apartment, I'm not particularly inclined to turn it on. Boo. (And, no, I feel no particular desire for an air conditioner. Thanks for asking.)

An idea stolen from reyl: For December I'm going to take one person from my friend list each day and tell you about them, and why they are awesome.

December 5 (belated): lightcastle

Life just seems to be more interesting when LC's around. Somehow, he just brings a spark of awesomeness to any encounter. This might be because he's amazing at improv and roleplaying, or it might be because he's one of the best informal storytellers I know. I know I'm going to enjoy any roleplaying game that has LC in it and any party he's attending. He's also a phenomenal swing dancer, to the point where he twirled me around on his arm while someone was singing "Zoot Suit Riot" at karaoke, and I had people asking me all night where I learned to swing dance. I didn't! He just leads that well!

An idea stolen from reyl: For December I'm going to take one person from my friend list each day and tell you about them, and why they are awesome.

December 3: photogeek_mtl

Warren gives some of the best massages in the entire world. Ever. And he's not stingy with them, either. If you find yourself in close physical proximity with him for more than, say, 30 seconds, you're probably going to find yourself on the receiving end of an awesome massage. Furthermore, Warren is one of the most laid-back people I know. He has a natural aura about him that just makes you relax when you're around him. He's also amazingly visually creative and does some stunning composite artwork (warning: not work-safe). He hosts awesome themed parties, including massage parties, darkroom/tactile parties, and chocolate tastings. Anyone hosting a chocolate tasting has a special place in my heart.

Oh, and his daughter's one of the cutest beings on the planet.

reyl has a wonderful idea on his LJ: "For December I'm going to take one person from my friend list each day and tell you about them, and why they are awesome." I've decided to steal this idea. Feel free to steal it from me if you like it. (Caveat: I've got 157 people on my friends list. I can't get to everyone. Be aware that you're all awesome.)

December 1: ericsjournal

Eric is the emperor of a a micronation with citizens numbering in the hundreds. He's a fantastic writer and one of the quickest thinkers and most creative people I've ever met. He's also probably the oldest friend I still keep in touch with. We've known each other since grade 8, and have shared such glorious memories as running for student council president as hand puppets, causing an entire classroom to go numb with shock, sowing confusion and enlightenment at every given opportunity, and laughing uncontrollably on many, many occasions. Oh, and he'll officially be a doctor by the early summer, which is step one on his path to world domination. (I'm getting Western Europe. Just wait for it.)

A few nice things that happened to me today:

1. Marc took me out for tea at Camellia Sinensis and I got to spend a few hours just talking and laughing with him.

2. A few weeks ago, when I was out clothes shopping, I found a gorgeous red jacket that was unfortunately just too expensive. In recent weeks, we've found it at a price I was willing to pay, but not in my size. Today, through a series of serendipities, my mom found the jacket in exactly my size at an even lower price than last time. So she bought it for me. Thanks, Mom!

3. Finished working on a very interesting series at work. Can't say too much due to the non-disclosure agreement, but it was a very nice four-episode mini-series and I very much enjoyed working on it. (I worked on every single episode, which is rare.)

I am blessed to have such wonderful friends.

Thank you all.

Wow, it seems like I just haven't been posting much lately. Weird.

In any case, I want to extend a big thank-you to everyone who has bought me stuff (generally food), or driven me places, or just generally done nice things for me in the last few days. The list includes, but is certainly not limited to:
- Phil, for taking me out for tea and nibblies last night
- Alain, for buying me dinner Monday night
- my dad, for taking me out for breakfast Wednesday morning
- Pat, for letting me have a free tea at the cafe on Wednesday
- Marc's dad, for driving me home last night when I was very tired
- Marc, for buying me lots of stuff lately, but especially our anniversary hot chocolate at Juliette & Chocolat
- my mom, for doing all sorts of really nice things for me lately, and making sure my car works properly
- Ian, for sharing his pizza with me on Wednesday night and for letting me drink most of his Kookie last week at shisha
- the really nice server at Tim's, who let me have a free muffin with my tea
- the librarian at Concordia, who pointed me to the free canvas bags (they fold up into little pouches! How cool!) to hold my new textbooks
- Sensei Don, who's allowing me to use my November fees to pay for January, since I only came to the dojo twice in November

I'm so blessed. Thank you all.

Okay, I know I usually put a filter on these, but I thought I'd just remind people that I was still doing them. If you want to be part of the "gratitude journal" filter, just leave a comment and let me know. I'm not doing them daily anymore; usually it works out to once every week or two.

1. I am grateful for the reception I got last night at karaoke when I performed "If I was a rich man."
2. I am grateful for the chance to explore a variety of career options.
3. I am grateful for friends who care about me enough to tell me when they think I'm doing something that will make me unhappy.
4. I am grateful for time spent with Marc.
5. I am grateful for a 4-day workweek.
6. I am grateful for wireless internet all over my house.
7. I am grateful for the pay that was deposited to my account yesterday. Yay money!
8. I am grateful for Marc and Owen, who both bought me food over the last few days.
9. I am grateful for cafes where I can spend several hours with only a few cups of tea.
10. I am grateful for Chapters and Indigo, where they let me sit for an hour or two and read books.

Looking back, it appears my first gratitude journal post was on Feb. 12, or just slightly over a month ago. Since then, the majority of my lj posts seem to have been related to it.

So the question is: what do you guys think? Do you want to keep reading them, or should I go back to my previous journal format?

I'm going to keep writing gratitude journals, but I can easily put them behind either a friends' filter (so that only selected people can read it) or a privacy filter (so that only I can read it).

So if you have thoughts either way, let me know. A simple, "these are great, keep going!" or "I'm sick and tired of this stuff and don't want to read it" would be fine.

Thanks in advance for your replies!